THE DAY  
Watsb therefore and be fiber.  
For Slow fake I would not bold my peace"  
London,  
Printed by T. w. for J. Crook ^^ are to be ibid at  
the fign of the Ship \n s.Paul *  Chuxch-y aid, 1654,  

0 F  
O R,  
IS RAEL'S RETURN  
THE  LORD:


THE PREFACE.  
' ' ...  '. '-»•'•'. - • * vt :  
H 
M tie fate  which attended the Millenaries doBrine , been  
but as propitious as the Arguments -were reasonable, it had  
doubtle js been receivd with a more civil courtjhtp through every  
age, than thofe contemptuous [fittings andunhandfome fur gings at 
the mouth , which now for [0 many -jeers have entertain d it. To  
wife off all the  foylfrom tho(e Spectacles through which it hathfo  
oft been mifreprefented,would no way fmt with the fir eight-lac d pre-
einfts of a fheet or two,  left I [pend more paper in Apologies than  
proofs. One thing, however , will deferve a peculiar reflection, to  
conjider that thisNow-dejetted Matron carried formerly fo well-fa-
vour d an afpett,that the fir ft three Centuries {by her very Adver- 
faries acknowledgments) payd a conftant  homage to her Reverence.  
Let the eminent DoCtor Feme ajfure us in the name of the reft  
(though a profeft enemy at the giving in this verdiSl ) in his pre- 
face again ft Champney. Of all that wrote (faith he ) for three  
hundred yeers, even down to Lattantius inclufively,moft of them 
avouch it, not one of them ( as he could finde) contradi&ing or  
writing againft it. I will not conceal, that through the wantonnefs  
of fome jenfual Cjofpellers {the G no flicks probably, that fcandalto  
the name of man) this beauteous flowr of Sfiritualtie was early di- 
ftorted into mif-fhapen apprehenfions , of mo ft hideous carnality, and  
warp't from its original puritte by the gr ofs conceptions of earthm  
headed Cerinthus, and fuck like bemir a Fle(h-pottsf whofe minds  
were wore dirty than the materials of their bodies : fo that I muft  
confefs the expectation according to their unclean fancies, was but  
fomewhat the more mode ft drefs of a MahumeticalParadife. t{or  
can I much wonder at the prejudice of my diffenting Brethren,  
while I remember in how unfetmely a portraiture they acre wont to 
behold it. Can any foul that dare lay claim to Chriftendom incou- 
1 A 2 rage


rilgjf the leaft conceit in his breaft of a Royaltie hlonghg to the 
Blejfed ]efas beneath a fenfe celeftia ? in a word , rl his jtdie in the 
Scripture-view is the firJt All of Heaven to reunited fpirits ; 7 he  
incomparable mirrour of mans Redemption ; 'I he itiyfterioui mar- 
riage of the All-glorious Lan-bto his thn lively Spoufe.ihe refiored  
few , and the completed Gentile ; lie Divine.untwifling of all the  
holy Prophets riddles {Ike KcwJ emblem in her robes of Innocence;  
Our Redeemers final tritmph over Sin,Death,andHell; and (with  
fobriety) Eden in her Sabbath-day-garments , where as man) as  
trre allowed the royal favour of that admirable Communion (for the  
reft are abandon d to the burning Lake) fhall converfe in their ori- 
ginal principles offpiritual integrity , after an inconceivable man* 
ner with beatified Saints and Angells - Briefly , ±An eft ate fpiri- 
tual, purely fublimd from finfuil  and carnal feculencyes, and al- 
together heavenly , though on earth. I will forbear to ftretch the 
preface any wider , left the £ity run out at the gates , and only ad- 
vert if e the Header JJOW it hath been the Devi lis mafter-ftratageme,  
through all times, to accoutre this glory in Antick^difguifesjty the 
opportunity of which Legerdemain,as he cheated the Ancient Jews  
out of the true (fhrift, even while he was among them :fo he clean- 
ly conveyd in Antichrift upon the inadvertent Chriftians. Now 
venture on me Reader through thefe inducements , ( with the in- 
touragement of brevity into  the bargain) and unlefs the premijfes  
be made firm before J part, throw me out too for Cerinthus his  
Antimasf^  
CHAP. I.  

(i )  
Chap. I.  
BemnjlrAting. thai the ft ate defer ib'd intheii,  
eft he Revel: is the fame with that portraied  
in Jtaiah 60. and other places of the Prophets, 
of Refioring the Jews, and full fiefs of the Ge»- 
tiles, to befullfilldm earth.  
is nothing hath proov'd more inja- 
m gp lious to this truth, than that l'ome have  
m raftily undertaken ro defcend too daringly  
fp|into its facred receffes, and ( by the li- 
berie of their own fancies ) to defcribe  
particulars about it unwarranted by Scripture. Thus  
-well-meaning M. Archer hath formerly heplum'd it  
with many unfuitable  Ideas, rendring himlelf ridicu- 
lous, and the opinion queftionable; upon this ftock he  
drew on his head that Reverend, and moft Religious  
Combatant B'ftiop Hall, an Adverfary of fo approv'd  
abilities that his very appearance in the caule eaftly  
everted the rocking foundations of fo tottering a fa- 
brick. Itmuft needs be held for an infobriety icarcely  
excufable, not to reft contended with general fpeau  
lationsof Cuch a glory, which is no lefle than a ray  
of that tranfeendent brightness of which the * Apo-*» Cor.  
file hath advifed us that tis not poflible for the heart of  
man-to frame conceptions.My method therefore fhall  
be toprefent the ground-work of this excellency from  
the facred Bible, and neither adventure my feif, nor  
encourage others,  to raife any private fuperftru&ures.  
Goe we on then in the Name of God/to make good  
the propofals of the Chapter. Tis evident our Tran- 
slators themielves referr the 1?, 24. and 25. yerlesof  
$ RfV.


;Rev. 21, to the IP. and IT. verfes of Jfaiah 60.  
And in thefe already inftane'd we meet with one pal- 
fage as unlikely to be fullfil'd on earth as any in the 
whole bible, viz,. The £ity had no need, of the Sun,  
&c. Which notwithftanding its parallel in Jfaiah,  
to him that weighs the Chapter prooves undeniably  
to be meant no where els. The 26. vy of Rjv. 2x.be- 
longs to the j.apd following verfes of Jfahh 60. And  
thelaft v. in Rev. to the one ana twentieth v. of chat  
in Jfaiah, Thy people fhall be all righteous, compar'd 
with Jfaiah ft. ii  
But let's take the Ch. in order. The firftw. of  
Rev. 21. is exa£V:y correfpondent with Jfaiah 6J,  
17. which p ace in the Prophet, if any lufpc&not to  
beaccomplifhton earth, let him take level by the 21. 
v. They [hall build houfest&c. with many other per- 
tinencies of the context. The 2. v. in the Rev. of the  
New Jerusalem prepared as a Bride adorned for her  
hiaband, anfwers Jfaiah 62. 2. Thou fhall be called  
[a] New Je~ fry a ]\jeyv name, which the mouth of the Lord fhall  
rufalem. name. Thou fhalt be a (frown of glory in the hand,of the  
lb New Ji- Lord, and a  
royall[b~\ diadem in the hand of thy God.  
f*Umadorned. And ^ an(j $ v^0(Jjaiah^1, Where Jefus is called  
[c] New Je. Beulah,i.earned,as the margent tells you,& @od  
' «edT PfC* comPar,<1  t0 the Bridegroom. All which moft evident- 
Bride. * Iy concerns that condition of Jerusalem when the  
Gentiles fhall come into her light, as appears by the  
2. v. there, And the Gentiles fhall fee thy righteovf- 
[rfj Our own [d] Srgo to be effe&ed on earth. See the like  
Tranflarori evidence in Jfaiah 54. J. For thy maker is thine hus- ^efume'thefc Stated °D  the lame time v' feed  
parages of The in^erit (jentiles. Compare the third v. in Rev. ,21»  
prophets to be with Eackjel 37, 27. The tabernacle of God is with  
meant on men, and frail dwell with them. For the Wurd [ He ]  
den? by'thl* not the;Greek, which is therefore, odly thruftin  
(contents they prefix. Vii: ffgiek 74. and Jftiah #x.But  Jfthey point at the  
Jews calling, as I fear not to make thee confcflc before I dole, then will.  
{ fure) none imagine any otber fc«i« than the earth,  
H  

%foMr Trail (la tors, purpcfely to referr the fcnT^rf  
[ dwelling ] to [ god J and not to [ TabermcU  
whereas both in the genuine meaning, as alio in the 
Greek it plainly belongs to [ Tabernacle; ] i'o in E- 
My 7 abernacle alfo fhall It with them, yea I will  
be their God, and theyjhali.be my people, direaly as in  
the Rev. The Tabernacle of God is with men, They  
fhall be hu people, and God will be their God. Now it  
muft needs be granted,that in that place treates  
of the foremention'd glory of Jfraels reftauration to  
be perform d on earth. Examine the whole Chapter  
dear Reader, and ufe thine own judgment, for thou  
muft be try'd by it: And that by the Tabernacle of  
God in this inftance is meant Chrift in his humane na- 
ture, I am haJf perlwaded that upon examination  
I (hall not pa lie for arrogant, in undertaking ere I  
leave thee ( by Gods blefling ) to demonftrate. Com- r '  
pare the 4. v. of Rev. 21. with Jfaiah 6%. 1 o treat- 5? 0f K01 
tog of the New heavens, be. Ue voiLf weeping  
fhall no more be heard, nor the voice of Crying. Nay % of this, I  
more, [e] Death it felfalfo is taken away as well in rc<Juire> how  
Jfaiah Chap.25. 8. ( handling the fame performance ZdtJrZ  
too ) as in the Apocalyps. He will fwalL up death fene ^  
made room for another, for 'tis evident death cntred in by fin, aTa'lfoThanhe  
world could new; have contained all'generat together, fo ,ha diversVc W  
Mg we<houU have been-removed byTranflanon, as were Enoch nd EJias 
Why then Ihould that difficulty mole ft any in this glory, which (accord£  
to the judgment of the beft agesreftores  us to the h«PPmefs of th"3  
tionwe loft in parad,fr?Andperadvcnture, if the nature of Redemption be S  
examin d, .t may be acknowledged an honour very fuitable to the nobJenefs of 
the undertaker, to let the body alio in it, primitive flare by,he worth of his  
pme Th:slamfure (Befidesthcwholernvftery inwhichthe Rev. run pa- 
rallel with the prophet to this purpofej St. IWcan n- verbe underffl 
without it Rom. 8. i9 ao. xr. xz. Though 1 will not deny but the wita of  
vammen may puzzle ,t with very tough mtncicics, -:fany befohead-ftr^  
to aigue againft what the fenpture ger.erally commendi to u« for a DyfteryiV*d  
Xcv. 10.7.Iht^tcryoj God &c vid Rom.i 1. T,ltreturnoiffr. isamy- 
llciy. Now ifihe appreaeti/ion of myftery may check cur wantonnrfs, I defire  
Ic PhUfC 1X110 Confi'cracion' ^ R^mpdon  
Bi in


(4)  
inytfjfiY). Marie well the whole fcope in tbt 6. and  
*]. v. In thu mourn tin will the Lord make to his peo-
ple afeafi of fat thingsHe will deflroy the veil fpread  
over all Nations, and take away the nb'tily of his peo- 
ple from off all the earth, &c. Te.l me, were thou left  
to chine own libertie, cruld'ft thou prffibly interpret  
thefe things otherwile than of the reftitution of the  
Jews, andinlargementof the <j entiles} And that St. 
Paul appliesthe text to theRei'urrc&ion/tis no  other- 
wife than what thou remembreft I promis'd in the Ti- f  
tie ; nor do 1 fear ( by the afliftance of my Saviour )  
torn ke appear before I conclude, that the fpace of  
this myftery is the very day of judgment. As to the  
royail magnificence of this New-Jerufalems buildings,  
from the u.v. in the Rev. downwards, conferr with  
Jf 6o. io. 13. 17. and precifely with J[. 54, 11.  
12. &c : I will lay thy fiones with fair colours, and  
thy foundations with faphirs.. Thy windows will J make j,  
of Agates, Thy Gates of Carbuncles, And all thy bor-
ders of y leaf ant fiones, &e. Which description, both  
the words preceding at v. 5. Thy (ted. (hall inhe-
rit the Gentiles, Thy maker is thy husband, &c. and  
its exa& correspondency toother paffages relating to  
this matter, evince unanfwerably that it holds forth  
the forenam'd excellency, and to be accomplifht on  
earth. Compare Jf. 54,11. with Jf. 60.15. I will  
now goe fancy as many evafionsas can pofltblyfto my  
apprehenfion ) be found out for the fubverfion of this  
parallel, and annex them as (o many feveral labells  
to this Chapter, left the continuance of its length  
difcourage any Reader (in a Truth fo obnoxious ,  
to explohon ) who peradventure may be invitted by  
the briefnefs and variety of partitions..  
/ ' /V1;: f , ' .„t 7 . .  
" Doubts  

it)  
Doubts fat is fed. Tirfi, Whether theft parages be not  
already accomplifht.  
But you will tell, me that this ftate defcrib'din the  
Prophets is dayly fulfil'd in (Sofpel-inlargments ex- , : 
preft in Jewifh relemblances, The Church bein® all 
this while the Spoufe, to which Chrift is  the Bride- 
groom and King. Nor are our Teachers wont to ex- 
prund itotherwifethan of the Lord Jefiis his fpiritu- 
all government over our Coniciences.  
'Tis a ftrange miftake whereby the unhappyChili- 
asis have been long tradue'd, in being prefum'd either ^^  
to dream Chriftsroyalrie to be fomewhat other than  
fpiritual, or that it hath not been hitherto extrcis'd 
in his Church. As to any charge-towards a carnal  
or earthly conception, my preface I hope may cleer 
me ; And who ever lutjpe&s us to mean as if Chrift  
had not conftantly reign'd, is grofsly miftaken in the  
Notion of his Kingdome prefented in the 2. Chapter'  
of Holy Daniels prophecy, where we find it protray- 
ed in its two-fold ftate, [ /] The one, what hath been, .  
and is, now in agitation, under the. type of a ftonej hath bLn,ani  
The other, what is cxpe&ed, ( but on "earth too, is now, &c.  
) under the figure of a Mountain. The one to  
be let up In the dayes of thejTjr] Gentile Monar-Cg] Thefe  
chies relembled by the Image v. 44. But the other (Doubtleffe;  
viz,. Regnum Montis, that of the Mountain,' n^t ^ urnes"^  
to be ereSed till thclmage /. e. the Monarchies were the Gentiles  
[ J&] pounded into duft, and difperft by the windf. Ch.zi. 24.  
55. Ergffoi Neceflftty yet to be effe^ed On earth. By Anfwera- 
this may eafily be explicated how much of thefe hea- j,y  
venly [/] Etpoufals is in prefent celebration, fo muchdQm$ of th f"  
namely as belongs to %egnum Lxpidis, the ftate of wov Id are &c. 
theftone : But that there is a more p enteous hopefThus i$  
(to which thefe prophecies referr J If Bleffed  ' • t • 1_• ry rr, , n 111 S\M*ti 11.  
can noc convince, me thinks St. fstttl Ihould, whoofp ereai  
B 3 expreflya&wn.


ft] Both the exprefly makes ufe of a patfage of thtt prophecy to  
fenfc & mark which the 60. Chapter of [%) cJce ly belongs,  
which our In- to rati fie a future ingrafting of the jews, and fuln°fs  
ot y*. af- The force. of th-£-fe legations from the Prophets, is,  
lure us, that I know,uiually refra&ed by applying them (as they 
the glor.pro. fp ak j to Gofpel-inJargment, allegoriz'd under J^w-
phcc (f conti- reprefentments, but with how great overfi^ht,  
60. Chap be- bc the imPloym€nc of another paragraph brief- 
gins at that ly to diicover.  
place. But(efc  
pecially ) Sc. 
Paul warrants  
it.  
I (Kail  
wonder if any impartial furveyer of the  
36. Chapter of E&fkj from the.itf. to the end, can  
imagine the contents to belong to any other than to  
very Jfrael, fince 'tis the.dtfign of that place to illu- 
ftrate this incomparable condition of her beauty  
(When bought into their own land, cled/ts'd from  
all their Idols, given a heart of flefh, &c. v. 24. 2$.  
26. ) by oppofing it to the Loathfome eftate of their  
defilement v. 17. So that if the Chara&ers of the 17. 
and 1 p.  v. ( Of defiling their own land, when they  
dwelt in it, Being fcatter'd among the heathen, &c.)  
muft needs be appropriated to the Jews In fpecial,  
how is it imaginable but the other paifages of her  
cleaning, and reftitution (through this and the whole  
following Chapter ) muft of neceflity belong to them  
in letter? There may be divers inftances to this ad- 
vantage, though I will ufe but one more, very re- 
markable indeed to the diicovery oft he Bride, name- 
ty Hojea 2. 15; 16. She that cameupout of the land  
bcr whe they °iEfW> a»d hi™ [ <* ] The fame fhe fhall  
were that wor-at that Day, call him I (hi i, e. My h tub and. Certam- 
*ilpt Baalim, ly Jfraelin kind, and no way deducible to the prefent  
i Kings 1*. Goi pel-condition. Korean the preilure of fuch texts  
** " ' be  

That the foremention'dquotations muft be verified ex- 
V, p licit ely oft he jews.  

( 7)  
be eluded by conftruing them of the Gentiles as a  
fuccedaneous, or fuccenturiated Jfrael- f0T St. Taut  
( you heard ) affords us [b ] warrant to giv* verdiaftj Kom. u.  
ror the J e w in propria perfona. • i j.  
Thus far I am fure we are right, provided thefe  
promites be not fullfild in the Jews former deliveran- 
ces ; To him that thinks they are, it ought to leem  
but reafonable that he fliould acquaint us with that  
time nr which Jerufdlem was cleaned from all her  
filthinefs, A heart of flefh given her, and her fiony one  
takfn away, as is promis'd 36. the paffage 
lo lately urg d And 'tis worth the knowing, when  
f udab znd Jfrael ever liv'd together ( fince their  
revolt from Rehoboam ) and were one Nation, not ,  
twoany more : for lb they muft, 37. 22. &c.  
free from Idolatry and all abominations, [e] fecure (Vi-Nay, and  
from the moleftation and domipion of their enimies, & planted in 
brought with lo remarkable renown from all the bor- *hcir own land  
ders of their captivity, that other deliverances fhall be a?TCr tobc  
all this to happen to them in the dayes of Davids fore of m*ef- 
righteous branch, The Lord our right ewfnefs- where- to b«  
as in our Lord Chrifts laft abode amonoft them Thev c/cacd-^  
neither dwelt together as one NatioS, C fori hope  
we have not forgot the then deadly fewd betwixt •  
the/*w, and Samaritan,) nor free from iubie&ion  
to their Domineering Enimies the Romans,Ez,^ U  
28. much lefle were they void of tranf'greflions, hek. *  
37.13. but guilty of the higheft Treafon that ever  
the fun behe d. In a word; if this ftite (h* the Pro- 
phets) be that ofNew-J^r. in Rev. zs the next pa- 
ragraph will afTert, we may I.hope reftfecure till we  
arrive at the iecond Chapter, where 'twill be prov'd <  
that the Magnalia there mention'd begin at Chriftsfe« 
cond coming.  
But how after all this, if thefe inftances from the  
Prophets aim at one thing, and that in the*%ev. a- 
nother?


on (8)  
nother, the former poimingat a Glory on earth, die  
later, in heaven? Affinkiein words, I mutt needs  
: grant, is no conviction that the macter Ihouid be the  
lame; though truly it migbebe much wordredat, that  
fo exa& an agreement ftiouid thread the phages of  
both places, and yet the things be feverai; but I pre- 
fume .this following anfwer may remoove the fcruple;  
That nape we are affuredby Rev, 10. 7. that there is  
Id] May it a .[ d ] myftery declar'd to the Prophets, to receive  
bk that>the accomplifhment under the 7. Trumpet, And that this  
Myftery here we have here treated on is declar'd through the whole 
hgnifiesthe ftream of prophecy, and to commence alto at the 7.  
J<w conver- Trumpet, as the next Chapter lliall juftifie , I can  
Salfo callsn0 wa.Y imaSine hut that the glory now infilled on,  
it a myftery, is that myftery foretold by the Prophets. This in the  
Ko«.II.^J•?, mean time is very reafonable, that what is de- 
clar'd to the Prophets fiiould be fought after in the  
Prophets. In caf; therefore the Excellency be in both  
inftances the fame, and that the replanting the  Jews  
( as the Apoftle feems to ayouch ) we may be" bold to  
conclude (for who ever fuppos'd the contrary) that  
the fcene of its performance muft be on earth, and not  
in heaven.  
One thing is much to be ta"ken notice of.Befides the  
feeffingat this conceit 2 Epift. ofSti Peter,^ Chapter,  
3. and.4.t».(of whichInom) 'Tis frequently predicted  
in the old Teftament as a thingTcarcely to befubmit- 
ted to "by Flefh and Blood, for that l am perfwaded  
you will grant may be intimated by that Epiphonema  
attheendof this very defcription,Ez,e\. 36. 7,6.1 the  
Lord have fpo&nit, and I will wake ttgood. But no-- 
tablet is 37. 14. to this purpofe, where the  
£f]Byconti- Lord convinceth humane incredulity, by a miracle-as  
ruing that g eat as the change, and very analogous to it, viz,. Of  
' STpreeeJ nt gat^erin8 bones into a living army £<?]. See the  
one, 'twill appear that the aim of die prophecie points,at the Jews conrerfion  
moft diredly, rcmcmbring what was formerly obferv'd from ibe Characters of  
36, whole  

whole Chapter, for it .wonderfully illuftrates this no- 
ble Atcheivement, being collated with the other pro- 
phets forecited. Lay together Ez,ek. 36. 35. and Ez,ek. vr  
37. 2i. with Jfoah 60. 15. (the Chapter to which  
fo much of Rev. 21. refers ) and tell me whether any  
man can judge them to point at feverai things.  
I will wind up all the attextures to this Chapter  
with a brief reflexion on the meaning of Rev. 21. 3. 
7he Tabernacle of god. That by it is underftood.  
Chrift as to his humanity,who would deny?that con- 
fiders, Firft, The Tabernacle in'its principal part,  
e. The Mercy-feat, was the Type of Chrift, whom  
therefore St. Tanl calls iW»'e»> Rom. 3.25. Which  
our Tranflation renders a Propitiation, but it is the  
Very word us'd Heb. 9. 5. and there tranflated Mer- 
cy-leat. Secondly, Chrift is [/] exprefly called Gods [/] Rfy.ij. ]  
Tabernacle, by the expofition of the beft Interpre- *<  
ters, meaning thereby the Humane Nature of Chrift, 
which the Beaft ( The Papacy ) blafphemes by his  
opinion of Tranffubftantiation, which fhews forth  
a pecce of Bread for the real Body of our Lord, and  
worfhips it for his natural Flefh, In this very noti-
on is that of St. Joh. Chapter 1.14. The word was  
made Flejh and dwelt among ft us i. e.  
Tabernacled,the very word in the Rev. So 'joh.1  
II. Deftroy this Temfle, &<?. I e. The temple of his  
body. Asalfo in exprefs terms, Heb. p. O. Adde to 
all this, That by tabernacle of God in this place muft  
neceffarily be underftood either the Lord Chrift, or  
his Church,(I know the objeftors will pretend to no *  
other fignification ) But let them remember, that it is ^^ rk T/t-
farr enough from their fenie to allow the Church a btmaele efGti 
continuance [ g ] amongft men {i.e. OH earth ) at the * w-th men, 
day of judgment , the time, at which (in the M^ftfi*  
Chapter ) I (hall proove thefe things to exped their [Jb] ^ ir 
truth.vid.v. [&] 22.in Rev. 21. the wo<ls  
there C The lamb i« tk T*®plc ] tend not to th« fcnf« 1 latdj applied I Godt 
Talkie] to. ^ c


(10)  
C*ap. II.  
Proving,that new Jerusalem, that is the [bb]co*t- 
verfion of the Jew, and fullness of the Gentile Joegtm  
[bb] I dare at tyrip coming to judgment.  
appeal to any 
unbiaft mind A S in the former Argument was made appear, that 
that expefls f  \ die 21.Chapter of the Rev.{compared with the  
(as moft IJ'Prophets jdefcribes a glory to be fullfilld on earth, 
think do ) The iuftauration of the Jews, and inlargement  
fince there ap. of the Gentiles, fo will I now indeavour to demon- 
pears not to Grate,- that the term a quo or commencement of all  
Icaft ftepfec ^hat,c^ellerCy is our Blcffed Lord Jelus's next com- 
ferwards to- in8 in the clouds to judge the world. The matter is 
wards fo great eafily decided to an Ingenuous Adverfary, by Rev*.  
awoik, and 19. 2.7. where the Triumphals over the final de- 
blc cataftro-1" ^u<ftion of the H whore,proclame the marriage of the  
phe accounted Lamb £0 be§in from that conqueft. Now the Bride  
as at the door ( the Lambs wife) is apparently the New-J^»/. Rev, 
by many of 21. 9, to. This truth alio appears by \ev.tQ. n,  
Vri?cidl«erentWhere  this mYftery decM to the Prophets ispro- 
from'mfjwhe- ,mis'd lts "compliftiment under the 7. Trumpet,which 
ther it be not js moft exprefly the found to judgment. Rev. 11. 18. 
moft fuitable Another proof of this very date (anfwerable to the  
be^he mannerwhere ^Heavenly voyces utter (at the 7. trumpet)  
and time of The Kingdoms of this world &c : This world, mark  
th«t grand that. But how I pray can the Kingdoms of this \a 1  
tranfaftionj - 1 J  
for as much as the known means of con verfion (through Gofpel-ordinances,)  
muft occelfar'ily require more time to a nation fo difpci ft, and under Go divers  
languages (yvc may adde feveral Religions toj if we remember the concomi- 
tant fullnel^ of the Gentiles,) than I am confident moft mens opinions can  
allow them to the end of the world. [c] The Church generally teacheth  
from i Thcf. a. 8. that the Man of fin,i. t. Dan. little Horn, is to be deftroyed  
' at the day of judgment. [a] fuftly anfvrerinjj Dan. 1.3 f.  
tf'Kuy; , I • £ [< - . j 'vj  
• V»» > > - f; ^vtiAi.v, Woriil  

c xx;  
World be intltled on him ctherwife than by this my*  
fterious cranfa&iou to be finiflu on earth? Again,  
Compare Rev. 9. 14. where thefixt Trumpet con- 
fills in looting the Angels bound in Euphra- To  
tes &c. with %ev. 16.12. where [aa] Euphrates is furc us thsc  
dryedup, id eft, The fixe trumpet ended. For if the ?^3gc *  
matter of the trumpet were the letting loofe the An-Xd feethe  
gels, or overflowing of Euphrates (probably thewonderfullac- 
Turks ) then the drying up of Euphrates muft needs cord ic car~  
be the concluding of the Trumpet, fo much is evident rie/ with E"  
Now the end of the fixt muft needs be the entrance ting Jf Got  
7- Therefore the [ b ] Kings of the Eaft ( with- judgment on  
out doubt the Jervs to impartial Readers.) enter at G1>and  
the beginning of the 7. for to that very end is Suphra-^, ^lBoft  
tes dryed up that a way may be prepard for  the Kings ffiS £  
of the Eaft. Compare Rev. 1.7. with Z^. 12. on which foi  
10. and St. Matth. 24. 30. From all which ( mutu-lows JfiMts- 
ally reflecting on each other, as the margent informs reftitmi°n- 
you ) it. refults byapowerfull confent,that time\f And^t  
of the Jewi feeing and mourning after him they have all this is£  
peirced, is his coming in the clouds. That Chapter ofbceffededae  
Zach . cannot be. deny'd to be a defcription of Jer the tim® here  
reftoring from the 6. v. to the end, fo that the 10. vlru  
(now quoted ) to which the 9. Ieades us by thtTth^&c  
hmphalis of That day, muft be granted to treat of Where  
their converhon. It will therefore be but equal thatJ<" done,  
we either yield that day here pointed at to be tht f|!rc cbadSe  
fame with what the two parallel texts referr to, or els CoMS 1-1  
product frem the fcriptures fome other in which they Rev^ij.  
lhall lee and mourn  after him, whom they have peir- a^he 7. viall,  
ced. Befides, 'Tis obfervable, the word in both thefe ^^ 
texts of the New teftament is the very fame (though c'om^"  
^rc ftlio til  
proclamation to the fowles,&c: at the 17. v. inwith R&^iy^t 
Certainly, one and the fame conoueft over the Churches Enimies, Amichrift.  
lb} Remember the glorious royalty of this bulinefs. every  
icftupon any ** ^ ^^lh,t of thc E*ft  
C 2 Others


(I*)  
» others might have fupplied it) with that which the  
7o. ule in {a] Zach. and were it not Orange if  the  
ble^to take fenfe (h^uld be diveric? may we not rather think^ that  
notice thac in \c hath pleas'd the fweetnefs of the Spirit to chuie the  
all the federal fame vvord) pUrpofely to guide us into the fame expe- 
thTdkcfull°f ^tion. For unleflfe this fight of him were intended as  
Woe,by weep- an extent of mercy to them that peirc'd him,(w*That  
ing, wayling. Nation,) it had not ( fure ) been expreft by Mourning  
gnafhing buthowling.Tell me now dothnot,«heChrftiaRChurch  
wuh,howling C0Jftantjy underftand his coming to judgmem by his 
New Tefta- coming in the clouds ? for fo Holy Darnel hath taught  
ment, this us to tpeak(for fr m thence is the phraleborrow'd)Drf.  
word is never „ vdiich very place (for the %gv. and other  
ufed,( though pans 0f teftament concentre as perfeftly  
texts  never £ with the Prophets about this Date of the atcheive- 
alterd,) asifment, as about the thing it ielf ) in the 14. 22. and  
the Blefled 27. verfes, ai'it apparently defcribes this royalty,lb  
Spirit had pe- ^ pJtcheth it at his coming (in the clouds ) to judg- 
• lathisglWr" ment, and overthrowing the, proud horn, which is  
phraie, left moft afluredly [ b ] Antichrift ( for al] our Synod an- 
the meaning notations) as every fenfible Reader may judge by com- 
flvould be paring his defcription with that of the beaft, %ev.  
clouded by a- r ° \  
ny fuch flain u  
upon the word. [ b ] The controvert shout Antichrift hath no way been  
niore obfeur'd than by applying to St. Ptuls man of fin and the Apocalyptical  
whore,that which is fptf e of Antichnft n S^Johrt: Epiftles. That by the Man  
of fin. and whore, is meant the R/manift, I dare  fay is demonstrated, by that  
moft incomparable hghtof our N«io.' Mr. to unprcjudic d minds.  As  
for the Name Anricbrjft'tis never us'd eithe'in the Rtvt or S u?my lothat tis  
the libertvofthe Churches fpeakiog (not {crip ure appellation,)that irapofeth  
the cerm Antichrift on the whore,and while we flare to (quarc St. Epift.  
that way to®, we fotarigh*. the cafc. For Kom denies not the father, and he Ton,  
I Epift. St. John i. 11. 'Tis moft. deer therefore that S>. fobn refers to the  
falfe Chriftspredifted by our Saviour.for the immediate Antecedents of Jet.  
ruin, S. Man, 14. U.i J. S. Mmk t$• *»• An abominable talfe- Prophet,  
of which for* being then in the*o Id, and of great Note, vi\. Omon AI*ih*> 
befides Ctrmtim, and the curfrd Gnoft.cb, &c. for there were many fuch A*- 
tichrifts faith S. M 8. This to be his meaning appears by thele follow- 
ing Charaders from the context. E.tft 'tis pr«p< u.ded by him at that 18.  
v.by way of citation, and reference to fomc other fenpture. A& J* hm  

tu)  
Sic. But'tis no Where els to be heard than from the EvangeKfts fo treating 
che'warning peeces to Jer. deftrudion. The words Amichrift andfalfe Chrift  
never occurring in the whole Bible but in the Gofpels and his Epift. Secondly  
'Tis inflane'd by S. Job, as formerly prefag'd by fome other fcripture, and now  
us'd in way af Argument by hmfelf for an immediate fon unner otfomelaft 
hour( for fo the Greek fpeaks.) and as a plain mamfeftation that that laft 
hour was then a running, forafmuch as the Badge of it (1Anthhiift ) was  
fo vifiblc. All which things were moft exaftly verified ( both as forelpoken to 
fuch a premonition by the Evangel, asalfo fulfill'd inthele'ud Deceivers of  
thac Age ) at the time of St. Johns writing thefe Epift. being hard upon the 
fatal accomplifhment of thefe truths, in that remarkable calamity which fhort- 
1 y after came upon Jtr. Now after all ths, will not the intimation ( I pray ) of 
laft hour be more naturally appliabie to that de folat ion (then at hand } than  
to any thing yet to be expetf ed,it being above 1 <00.years fince th s was fyoken?  
For though the laft times (in regard to Dan. fourth Monarchy ) are  fpoke of  
us, yet fure the laft hour ( fo longagie mentioned) is more happily applied to 
a matter already paft.  
13. So that here you fee where Sc. Paul learnt (be- 
fore the %ev. was extant ) that Antichrift fhould.  
be deftroyed ac our Loids coming, 2 Thef. .2. 8. I will 
fubjoyn othyr. Arguments by way of appendence,  
purpofely not to tire the Reader with too continu'd  
a length of any Chapter without taking refpite.  
As St. Paul was  formerly our warrant, for apply- 
ing thofe admirable glories,mention'd by thePiophets,  
to the J:ws reinfratichment,. fo he feems full-as deer  
in ranking its accomplifhment under the contempo- 
raries of the 7. Trumpet. I know not how it may  
appear to others, but Imuftconftffe I cannot fo un- 
dervalue the Holy Apoftles Logick , as to judg  
that he (hould fe;ch a Medium from a prophecy of 
the Jews reftitution, to prove the day of judgment by>  
and yet not intend to lay the date of that Reftitution,.  
at the time of judgment,look %o.m> 14^ 11. W* (hall  
all ftand before the judgment feat afChrifi ; For it v.  
u written, As I live faith the Lord every knee (hallbow  
to me, But where is it written ? fave Jf. 45. 2 
being a peece that belongs moft affuredly to this mat- 
ter from the 14. v. to the end of the Chap. Compare


(*4>  
I pray that i pv.There {hail come overt o thee in Chains 
Cc. with Jf. 60. 14. and give your judgment if thev  
mean not the lame thing, for fo lam i'ure the [a] Jews  
W Can any alwayes expound it ; And however we throuoh mif- 
take are wont to affix a mark at the 20. v.'of the  
45. Chap, intimating a different argument, yet that the  

impartial  
Reafon dc  
fpife the  
ment in our 
Chriftim  
•afes ?  

lpue the ' . . / , ° ~ vuwu.gvuin.ui, yet mat tne  
Hrength ofu- wh0'e lc(3uele naturally appertains to the fame dif- 
nivcrfal Tra- courle, let any impartial peruier judge by the «enu- 
dmonamongftinecharaaers emergent from the context, efpedailv  
the fiaft uvcrfe> Lbein- LdoubtIcf*> not abrupt  
True and one- Parcc11 0l,a changed theme, but the united member of  
ly Chureh of^continud one) In the Lord [hall all the feed of Jf- 
This' Ytlhe jffied! i  Nor is this the one.  
trmh flciril1^ Apoftle pitcheth the Epocha of this  
by,in their A- admirable royalty at the coming to judgment. What  
ges j And  yet can amount from 2 Tim. 4. 1 ? I charge thee be- 
to much mag -fore the Lord Jefm rift, who fhall judgt the quick  
• & A kingdom joyn d with his appearance to jud°e the  
world, and yet not the final kingdom for ever to the  
Heavens, for after the univerfal refurre&ion, our Sa- 
viour refigns up the kingdom to the father,that he may  
be all in, all 1 Cor. 15, 24, 28. That kingdom there- 
fore which is neither before his appearance, not yet  
after the laft relurreftion, muft neceffarily be conclud-
ed between them:  
Who can but wonder that this Truth fhould be fo  
boggled at, which is fo harmonioufly accorded to  
through all the Prophets? Jer.2^.6.&cJn his dayes  
i''*™}' 34- 23'&c. Ezek. 37.22, 23,24,^,.  
i a,\from the^.'to  
the end ? All whtch exprefle a ttloty to [ " ] Jer ( evi- 
dently to be meant on earth ) to be eftablifht In the  
tncie things theirM<fi"k,or DaVtd their prince ^  
are fpoke of being dead long before theie things were fpoken )  
tftr.in perfon. The Lord our %jghteoufnefs is his name. But it can  
not be pretended that thefe things were fullfill'd in the  
JMeffiahs  

P] It being  
fbrmerly  
cleer'd that 
thefe things  

Us)  
tlefiahs firft coming, for then Judah and JfraeUid  
not [a] dwell together. I am fure they did not dwell r 1 «»  
as one Nation, Ez,e\ 57 22. The Samaritan woman know  
» a competent witnefs4. p. Much leffe did they they were ft.  
dwell lately without moleftation from their enimies,Par«cd. but  
£^.54.28.Therefore thefe of neceflWas the lews' tishs*rdtofay  
and the old Cbriftians expe&ed) are  to receive* per- ^f^Sr  
formance at the Mefliah's fecond comming. You will we mate the  
not I am lure denie but the fame thing is promis'd in Ending of a  
this place of ( and its complices) as in Jf. 60 %Ic Pricft  
for that appears by comparing Ez,et>. 37. 21 witbp0inftrt,a.lh*  
.14. 15. Befidcs, the whole defeription match- t^tloSam^a  
eth in each place. to be the  re'  
t* m e t ... . „. turn of the i®. 
t L l chcu' pw 17.17. 'Twill proofs but a very pinch'd 
Synrchdoche to cramp 10. Tribe J intone perfon.  
The forecited Chap, of Holy Daniel is worthy of a  
fecond furvey, being queftionleffe the facred ftore I  
ufe from whence the defcription of the day of jud<*- 
. mentis deriv'd info many correfpondencies of the  
New Teftament, viz. That the [*] (onof man fbaW\Thtvoml~  
come m the clouds ; In the Glory of his father, wtth on the  
his Holy Angels, in reference to the 10. and V*. v Ncw Tc,fta"  
That : Antifhrtfc fhall be dejiroyed with the kngk-ZTslrtw  
nefs of his corping, as Daniel had foretold of the little the Con of man  
Horn, v. 26. That thePeftruttien fhould be by fire, itis C cer- 
being faid y.9,10. His throne was a fery. flame, and'his /.takci>  
wheeles as burning fire. A fiery fiream iffnd and came Sin©«r  
forth from before hims.&c. And why (  I would fain  
know) may we nothing'hither St. J»bns parallel 
frdm Rev. 20.4f/ [aw thrones, and they fate upon  
them, and judgment was given unto them, anfwerino  
Daniel 7, 9, 10. J beheld till the thrones were pitched  
down, and the judgment was fett and (v. 12'.) judg-
ment -was gmn to the faints of the moft high. What  
difference (I pray) betwixt St, Johns \ and the  
faints lived tad .reigned with ChriS ] and Darnels  
• » (The


(t6)  
[The Saints poffefled the krngdom] viz,. with the  
ion of man who came in the clouds ? Think other  
men as they pleafe, I cannot for ray own part be per- 
fwaded (confidering the wonderfull twift of agree- 
ment running through the whole fcripture ) but that  
this kingdom of the ion of man, when the faints (hall  
reign with him, and all people, nations, and langua-
ges fbaJl Terve him v. ["*] 14. is the very fame with  
[*] VW.l(ev. what hath been fo unanimoufly inculcated lrom the  
7. 9. reft of the Prophets, concerning the Jm; converfion,  
ons, kindrd, ^ Qentiles inlargement. One thing, In the mean  
* a de- time, I think will icarce be queftion'd, that Daniels  
fcrip'ion of date feems to be the day of judgment, agreeably to  
thefaracking- Jr 66. 10. 12. 15. i(5 19. 20. 22. Wheremention  
" and f^Y indignation to be powrei forth ;  
citation jufti- The Glory of Jerufalems rcfiauration, and the Gen- 
ie, tiles fullneffe, with New Heavens, &c. in one and  
the fame particular. Trrphecy.  
By this time we may I hope make a fhifttofift out ,  
St. Meters meaning, in referring his Readers to the  
Prophets, about the fame glory, and the fame com- 
mencement, vi& . New Heavens , and new earth, 
wherein dwe.lleth rightetnufnefs, to be founded at his 
coming, 2. Epift. 3. Chap. i. 4.  13. v. From  
which Chapter though forae bufie hekds'may poflibly  
"frame obje&ions to fruftrate the efcpe&attfnj'raited  
namely from the conflagration, and diflolution here  
mention'd, yet let them know that by the fame in- 
duftry, they muft dif&ppoint St. 'Peters meaningtoo,  
who notwithstanding luch diffolution tenchethus to  
expe& the accomplishment <if that myltery mention'd  
by the Prophets of New Heavens, tfrc. By  which, if  
after recourfe to the Prophets, we find any. thing els  
that can be meant icoiifonant to the other fcriptures,.  
- - than what I have hitherto irftane'd, I (hall willing- 
ly retract all this for the advantage of ib defiderable  
a fatisfa&ion. Till then may tbefe Mowing confi- 
dent*©!?*  

^ (i?)  
derations be accepted as neither impertinent, nor te- 
dious.  
Firft, Whether St. Peter, fince he fends us to the  
Prophets v. 2. had not C probably) aneyeamcngft  
other Prophecies to Jf. 65. from the 17. to the end, 
and Jf. 60. through the whole Chapter, but special- 
ly v. 21 ? The which allegations who ever (hall de* 
cline from affixing them on the confolation of Jf.  
let him weigh maturely before he fpeak, left his pre- 
cipitancy impeach [*] Sc. Was an acceffory t6See bo- 
his rafhnefle. Secondly, Whether it be  not rational fore,what was  
to conclude that the Apoftleat the 8. v. had reipeft obftrv'd from 
to the common faying of the Jews (to whom[ a] he J^11*^5?*'*  
writ) whofe formal words of the ^y of judgment,  
were wont to be, One day with the Lord is as a thou- firft Epift.  
/and years j rather than to the 90.Tf. where the To 'he ftran- 
words One day with the Lord is as a thoufandyears,are gcrs/cattircd,  
not, though the latter part of the fentence [A thou- 
fand years as on£  day ] may allude thither ? And who 4  
fliould not fboner judge that the fame form of fpeak- 
ing, quoted by Jufiin Martyr, and Iren&us ( two re- 
nowned primitive witneffes to this truth ) was taken  
from this Epift. of St. Peter, than from the foremen- 
tion'd Pf. Foraimuch as they likewife ufe it ( as the  
Jewifh Doftors did ) for the day of judgment ?  
Jufiin CMartyr diftin<5Uy alleging in thele terms,  
treating of that day, [ we know that that faying. The  
day of the Lord is a* a thoufand years, points hither.  
Thirdly, Whether the fiery devaftation here deicrib'd  
be any greater rubb to this hope of Jfrael, than the  
fame inrimation in Holy Dan. Chap. 7. and Jf. 66.  
( where alfo the fiery vengeance is mention'd, and  
yet the I/ws reftoring, mcft pregnantly avouched,)  
or than the tenour of the whole Bible, which con- 
ftantly rankerh this glory under the 7. Trumpet >  
Fourth-y, Whether this wonderful! concordance of St.  
feter Tfith the reft of the fcripture ought not toper- 
D fwade


(i8)  
fwade us that the coming of our Lord here mention'd  
( v. 4. ) at which he [b] piccheth this ftacely change,  
[6] By com-is his expe&ed perfonal coming to judgment arche  
pariSPhc4/ 7' trumPec> not former vindi&iv;.appearance  
Vp'rorife\fbit m fury atthc Violation of/^r. by the Romans, to  
coming, with which the incomparably learned D\ Hammond  
13. v. Accord is wont to referrmany palfages of the New T.efta- 
ingto b'4 pro ment, which (my thinks) in this prefent text, the 
Sn'y^th?" Arulo8ie t0 other PIaces were iiifficientto diftinguilh? 
the Promife i,Laftiy» Whether the fcoffing here intimated-^. 3. ran  
fixtathi* com- be at any thing els [ a ] chan this very opinion, fiuce 
ing. _ the Opponent,?', e. the Scoffer,difputes direSly againft  
jtt The tiw-u>but the Rcfpondent, viz. the Apoftlc, pleads ex- 
Sftdiyes" Pre{%for See all this made good. The Queftion 
The primitivecontroverfy is about the Promife of Chrifts cora- 
dsyes being ing, which the Millenary affirms to confift in an un- 
for . exprefltb'e reftitution.Againft this the [ b ] Scoffer ob-
LUT'dl i^s( fo much light the particle [For] will afford  
face The ' us> u being a caufal Conjun<ftion naturally leading  
fcofters are into an argument. ) e. g. Where is this promife of his  
fuppo-,'d to becoming in fuch a reftitution as you Chihafts dream  
what^other APPea^nce fee ye in the leaft meafureto- 
feafe (ctfatt any mutatioiji ? For fince the-Fathers fell  
which I have aflcep all things continue as they were; Tempeftu- 
nam'd) can ous warrs ftill, angry commotions, abominable lives,  
they be faid. diffoluce manneis, Rebellions, Treafons, All things  
LoSs com U'as th*y were > ^hat ^°Pes anY luch change ?  
ing, for a$ to I ftiould be unwilling to*prevaricate one jot, but 
his coming have I hope presented the Argument in its natural  
to judgment  
(in the general notion) I think never any Chriftians did or will denieit;  
Nor can any imagine the Apoftle Ihotild bend his aim againft fpecu'a ive 
Atheifts, ,'uch as LicUti, "piaj>»as&c. For who ever heard or can think that 
fuch toothlefs Barkers as thofc D->gsare, may be of any dangerous influence  
to well-grounded Chriftians ? To tnafc upon that fcorc there had not needed fuch  
carneft incitement ro rcmemb ance and caution, as the Apoftle here ufcth,  
which certainly^nuft neceflarily import the fcoffing party not oncty 10 be 
Chriftian but-very conHle- able ;oo A<for the practical Atheiftand loofe- 
liv'dwrctch this text meddles not with that WpAcity in chief, For this feoffor  
deals with arguments. colours,  

a?) •  
colours, beifig ( for the fumm of it) fuch an one as  
(really) Imyfelfhave heard from ancient mini^  
fter. But on the other fide, The Apoftie feems tome  
moft confidently to affert it v.i evert he lefs &c.  
q.d. Say the fcoffers what they p.ieale , fVe accord-1*"] Addeto  
ing to h'k promife look,for [-}-] new Heavens,and a new p^ "^0tj  
Earth, wherein dwelleth right eoufnefs. fpeken zlhby  
S.Peter upon  
the fame affidavit of the Prophets, and on the fame pitch of time vahntht  
he*vens dijUofe bim. [ f ] By obfervmg the fpetchiii, // f i« IJ- 
of//, deliverance from Egypt, it may (peiadventure ) be gather'd what the Hew  
Weave/land New Earth may imply. lm thyGodxbo diviaedthe SeaL (%n\*the  
Red Sea ) And I put my worths in thy mouth, (i. e. I gave thee my law ) ce- 
ver'd tbie with the jhaddow of Mint hand,that 1 wight plant the Heavens, and lay the  
foundation of the Earth, (w;. Make thee a Kingdom or Common-wealth in t be  
Land of promife J for in that notion Heaven and Earth are frequently taken  
in the Prophet*. So here, New Heaven and New Earth. 1. e. a New Kingdom,or  
New manner of Government.  
Shall we after all this be difficult to grant that this  
•admirable circle of myfteries, ( I mean this renowned  
Chiliad) is that which the lcriptures call the Day  
of •judgment ? I will adde but a word or two to what  
is already faid, but ( I think) from fuch evidences  
as will hardly be evaded from particularizing the day  
of judgment, though they alio determine this expeda- 1  
t'< on of Ifrael to that very day. Examine we firftthat  
famous judging of the Heathen in the valley of leho- 
fop hat, Joel. 3. from the p. to the end, which many  
of our Divines, ( farr enough from my opinion in this 1 
bufmefs ) interpret litera'-ly of that Terrible dayt 
foraimuch-as the fpeaks the lame thing with  
Rev. 14.15. But that the Rev. in that text fpeaks oT . ,  
' the very time of judgment, none will fure deny that  
views one like the Ion of man coming in a cloud v.  
14. Read now on in loel, from v. 16. to the end,  
and tell me if this great good thing to Ifrael be not at  
.the 18. w,afl5x'drio that very day. J know thou wilt  
Da ^ ftiift '


(io)  
(hift me by the mark ^ leading f I wiflTe) to a diftinft  
argument. But I ask thee who made  that mark? did  
not they who allwaies miiundeiftood the Prophecy ?  
For that it is of the fame content with the 16. and  
17. v. (where no fuch mark appears, nay, where  
the Chara&ers point dire&iy to the judgment too )  
! let our ownreafon (unleflfewe have a mind to for- 
fetit,) inform us; The Lord (hall roar out of Sion,  
&c. The Heavens and the Earth jhall (ha^e, (frc.  
Surely that Dreadfull day. tut the Lord mil be the  
hope of his people, and the firength of the Children of  
£4] See Jf- If.&c. [a] Then (hall Jerufalem be holy, &c. We  
loin, which are wont to think Then and that Day asquipollents.  
^Pter £aLord ! That an unadvifed fcratch with a pen fhould  
performance * be able to divert fo cleer, and fo powerfull a Truth,  
for thefe Another full as pregnant illuftration of this fenfe may  
things on befetch'd from Zach, 14. Where alio is the defcrip- 
earth. tionof that wonderfull day,^. 4, 5,  6, &c. The Lord  
my (jod  (hall come, and all the Saints -with thee, v. J.  
will certainly evince fo much, collated with Daniels  
[ Thoufand Thoufsnds,) Chap. 7. IQ. and St. Pauls  
[<sAH that Jleep in lefus will God bring with him ] 
I Thef. 4. 14. as alfo [b] z Thef 1. 7. [ %evealed  
[&] Confider from heaven with his mighty Angels.] But what fol- 
whether the lows?\fa that day (v.  8.) (hall living waters goe forth  
mutual acs from feruf t0 che end of the Chap. Manifeftly 
£0rr^ noc^" describing that unmatchable glory and Indulgence to  
fufficient to where, yet, Holinefs on the horfe belles, v. 20.  
particularise is I trow legible enough to intimate the ftate to be  
the day of p€rform'd on earth,and not in Heaven, vid.fup.  
i^1 The Antient/^f kept conftantly up to tfiis tenet,  
judgment ,C never undemanding by the Great day of Judgment ( fo  
though I con-frequent in their Rabbines, and deriv'd from thence  
fefs the Au- by our Saviour and his Ap.) leffe than a time of  ihority of the  
Admirable  
Dr. Hmmond fways much to the contrary, fee the former Chapter in vttfu  
7 10.  
many  

(n) •  
many years, yea, fome (ftrangeto tell) pun$ually  
a [c] thoufand years continuance,in which tearm they [e] if the 
conceive thofe tremenda Magna ha, through all the Iem be not 
Prophets to be atchieved by the Meffiah. Whence e- 
ven at this day they look not for him, untill the^J1™"^  
great day of judgment j So that every Thunder-clap formerly 
follicits them to this expe&ation. Under this notion proov'dj who 
was the fam'd Millennium, beheld in the firft three ever imagind 
centuries, looking on this whole fpaceasthe Day.tf^'S*^ 
judgment, and the myfterious fabbath in which the glorious ftate  
iaints fhould reign with Chrift the Lord. Jufiin Mar- of their refti- 
tyr, Iren&M, and Laftantius, are (affuredly) wor- ^jj?. ^ ^F" 
thy to be reported after, amongft whom the Zelous ^ ® a  
<JM.artyr, in his dialogue with the Jew could in no 
wife forbear from faftningthe impeachment of Atheifm ^ Sce Dr  
and Herefy, upon the diffenting Chriftians, pofitively Fernti tefti; 
concluding, that who ever were [a] in all points Or- mouy in the  
thodox, embraced this contemplation.. prefccc.  
After all thefe premifles take I pray another Ihort  
view of that lofty portray in Rev. 21. and another 
parallel reference of the New Teftament. Unlelfe  
the performance there defcrib'd of the marriage of  
the lamb, and its appendant royalties, were the ve- 
ry day of, judgment, how comes it ( not onely to be  
a [bb] continued vifion to the 20. Chap, but,) to^ ^  
abandon the unbeleeving, and abominable, to the fpiric uW|;  
lake of fire and brimftone.f. 8 ? Queftionleffe Joels tranfit ons  
great and terrible day of the L rd, yet attended with into dift nft 
that incomprehenfible lolemnity of the marriage, an- 
fwerable to the records of the Holy Prophets. How ting varieT,"  
fuitable to all this is the parable in St. (JMatth, 2$. e .g. After '  
repreienting Chrifts coming to judgment by a Mar- thefe thing*,  " j 1 i . I . . . x I ...J. 1- fkijn 7.1  riage, V. 10. And they that were ready went in with ^'P 
himl&e. This is that very wedding to which the ££  
Jews were bidden fo long agoe, S. Matth. 22. but &(t eut i'n  
then like rude (havelings they kickt at the favour, fo th's place a*  
that the Gentiles were furrogated to the firft part of fucb tbins*  
P 3 the


(IV)  
the entertainment. Far be alfuted (dear Reader) that  
ill I it enters not into my. thoughts -todeny thefe Nupti- 
3' alsto be coxtaneous wkh Religion ; but chat the  
[* 3 7fr. muft [ * } royal banquet is not yet faVd in, and that the  
be admitted latter part of the feftivity is the fame with that in  
onedaycocallthe ^. there is one notable circumftance in the 
were ihc that COntCXt which ftrong'y evinceth,^. * cafttng forth  
call'4 him Ba- one of the Abominable guefis (according to Rev. 2i.  
ali ui fum 8.  )  imo the Lake of darknefs, where there is weep- 
Mofi.ig, ingand gnajhing of Teeth, v. rj. How foil might  
the way be into divers obfcurities of Scripture by the  
dexteritie of this Key, were it once approov'd of I  
I have not indeavoured to heap together what eve*  
might be coJle&ed to this illuftration, for truly the  
facred writings every where abound with fuch tefti- 
monies, fo that 1 might quickly outftrip my defign  
of briefnefs. It lufficeth, if the conftant harmony of  
both the Teftaments may imprint on' our Ip&its this 
notion of the Da f of judgment, a considerable  
duration in which the myftery of God decW'd to tke  
r«TBefides ^r0pheLS keftabfi&t on [a] earth; But why  
what is above ^^ we mince 'n all this while, and not rather  
afferted, twere {peak out, fince the time is exprefly declared by the  
not amiffe to word, and believ d by the firft three Ages to be^i coo  
weigh the »ears? ; • I , ^ f; \  
phrafes here J  
in Rev. ix. if'they can pofTibly mean otherwhere than on earth.'  Comhig forth  
fi§» God, out of Huven. v. i. ougBtit net rather to be ( if'fighifying in He«!  
ven^oinrup «© God, from the earth. So v. j.  Tabernacle of God it mib men, and  
jball drpiUwiib them, not, Men are with the Tabernacle of God, and fhall dwell  
with him, in Heaven.  
The Thoufand years of Satans being bound ( Rev.  
. J0. 2.) if they fhould be allow'd fti;l-oaCome, our  
interpreters are fo fenfible the refult will then be that  
there is a definite Millennium yet to be run over in,  
which our Lord is to be invefted'with lome idiftinft  
manner of royaltie, that they generally -bend their  
forces  

tn)  
forces (though upon ieveral perfwafions ) to make 
this ligation already paft . The ui'ual dates from [a] The mi- 
whence they (divsrfly ) reckon his bidding are [a] ei- ftake of 
ther our Saviours Nativity,or his Palfion ( about what *h:m who  
times 'tis likely iome Oracles did ceafe ) or the d?- jjfjf thtc,  
ftru&ion of Jerufalem, or laftly from So already pV 
liberal may we be to. all thefe miftakes, as to proffer ar'f th by 
them their choice, and yet ufe but one weapon to o- thinlcing Sa- 
verthraw them all;, For which foever of thefe be,l£habinding  
pitch'd on, the entrance of the ten-horned and the the fame ^ 
two-horned beafts in %ev. 13. commonly expoun- with Mich*.  
ded ( even by thefe accountants) of the papacy, and e(ic°nquering  
the arifing of the JLocufts from the bottomleffe pit, at ^™rCJha?,.u'  
the fift Trumpet, underftood (probably ) of cMalik- one^hing'to  
ytedifm, muft neceflanly be included within the li- be beaten  
mits of ligation j The former as appearing in the Heaven,  
fourth or nft century, the latter at the-feventh. But''c„his.fove"  
can any reafonable man yield that Satan (during RonL'em- 
thefe times was, not onely bound, and {hut up, bu- pire which  
feal'd too, (mark -that) that he might deceive the tl?efl. worfhipt  
nations no more; while he was both loofe, and a&ive h!™iah<"«hc- 
hi conveying into the world two the grandeft impo- ft j^jjj*  
fhires that ever the Chriftian ages knew? And thatcaft ,nto the  
his obftctricacion was affiftant to both thefe births let b<><tomIefie  
the Spirit .decide the controversy, who (as to theal- PiC> ^ UP>  
cent of Ldcufts Chap. 9. ) attributes the opening the ^ 
pit-to the ftarr which " fell {from Heaven,  v. 1,2. But binding the  
what I pray can this ftarr 'be hut Satan? and that in ftrong nun  
a double capacity, firft as a lapled Angell, lecondly is reckr'nJd in  
as lately bat d »-m from heaven by: ^oly Michael fvT"^-". 
Chap. li. 7,9. Again, Thefe Loo,fk>hkd.a King!  
• . , • - bur Michael  
W« nor Chr. a? appfaresO^. lo.where Chr. (w^.th' man in lmnem/ f  
4:with Rev. 1.1^,14, if.) fpeaks of MicM as one dives s from him,See  
I«.»I. But efpeciajly the place ditfingnifhetb them Rtv. i 1. 1*. m to the  
Inhabit, frc. WnercfK f Chip. 10 h - fo b -urtd ^nd fral'd as not able 
to dcccive or hurt the nations &c. He is (crujy ) Xooxo0 mucti wedded to his  
©wn opimoa that wUl not take the fpirits cotument on the action,  
the


the Angel of the bottomleffe pit, whofe name is  
baddch,t. e. a Dcftroycr; which elogies who ever fhall  
attribute to any other, he muft begg leave either to in- 
terpret the bottomleffe pit of tlomewhat els behdes  
Hell, or the Deftroyer belonging to that pitoffome  
one els than the Devill. Nor is our evidence lefife cleer 
for his energy (farr beyond the nature of ligation and  
fettling ) at the nativity of the Beaft %ev. 13. of  
whom it is expreflely deliver'd v. 3, that the Dragon  
gave htm power, and his feat, and great authority. If  
•either of thefe inftances may fpeak him bound, I  
think the onely difficulty will be to produce a villany  
of fo aggravated a malice, whereby ever to affert his * 
liberty'.  
But examine we them fomewhat more diftin&Jy.  
The firft three Spochaes ( yet that way takes the very  
learned Primate of Ireland) befides what is already 
obje&ed, implie the Drvill to be bound for that whole 
fpace in which Bleffed Michael confli&ed with him,  
Rev. 12. Surely the bitter throwes by which Chrifti- 
anity wrung in, andthe warm blood of fo many con*  
ftant Martyrs, were arguments fufficient to make ap- 
pear that ^Michael had not to deal with a bounden 
Adverfary. Again, If he were then bound, the little  
feafon of his loofing Chap. 20. 3. runs on apace to fi- 
nifti a fcvench centurie, and hath (Seemingly) much  
overftiot the proportional limits of /u*f« be- 
ing farr more than hair the in cervail of  his binding.  
Serioufly, I am farr from aiming to blaft any reverend  
Authorities, but d ubtleffe the Holy Jelus requires  
more exa& enucleations of his lacred meffages, than  
either of thefe faint refolutions can amount to. Into  
fuch intanglements are thole men falln who have orice  
Slipt the clue of Truth ! Li a word. Can. it confift  
with Satan in a cage, and coop'd up from abufing the  
world, that he fliould be able to impofe upon the  
young  

-m  

(I5) • • •  
the young Chriftiansfo [a] rank a peeceof Lcgerde- theft 
mane, as by making (hew of miraculous cures, wrought  
( I wiis) by the reiiques of Martyrs,to cheat the credu- (doubtlds,)  
lous world into the cftahlifhrnent of Saint-wcrfliip.u^- (nndnoFto  
on the miftaken ground (ibgrofly were they abulcd) oiGamets  
Revel. 20. which prerogative ot the Martyrs reigning jjrdw,>). the  
with Chrift loco. yrers , they expounded of this * £  
Idolatn us Royakie , into which the Dragon had tbus [by ly;ng n.i'  
oull'd them by the eccantm of thole wondejs , which raJts, after  
they prefum'd to be the feftques of prcvider.ce as in- 
tended to point them to luch expeditions. Truly if it * 
can be prooved that Satan was all this while in his pe,fwaded)  
dungeon , I ftull be the a pier to think thar he fpake there is no  
from his hole (through a Trunk ) into Duncan's cru- ojonin  
cifix, at a Council in Canterbury , Anno Domini 972. JJ^JJ u$ 
(which falls within his binding , begin the account but (jfwcJ1 ' 
where ycu pleaie,) uttering an audible voice to this fcarch'dafter) 
purpofe [Dur.fians cpimon is the right], he at that time was either m- 
being a moft ardent Pro&our againft the allowance of troduc'd» or «s  
w & 1 r-i maintain d by Marnage to the Clergy. fuch collufcon.  
What fhould now deter us from making this dedu- whe- 
&ion,That this very UMtllennium is that fpace which ther [ Jy by  
the.lacred writ hath defm'd for thefe myfteries?wor<*s  
Hearan txprefs from che Spirit, tow/. 20.4. if aw the  
* * foals of them that were beheaded for the wttnefs of onthc^w. &  
20.4. Mti'tto  
sum ib/ jh & vixirw , & repjanmt. gktmadmodum vidtmxi ttiam fub fidilibm  
Regit* mq-y frmtif&iu, dim Adowcttiitr, tontra o%uem ttiam corpora i*$rmitattm^c  
Vamonum tnt'parr ofuvdunt doLim fibi a Dcotruiw, {0) The M'tllen. of ligation 
is confelfedly itmput dtfimtuK. For after muft he be l«>ofed a little fealbn , F.rgg  
that of thrifts l(f' gdwis fo too; iince oe and she fame fpacc is meant, (V) If  
any count me over critical 'n ftreining the Emphalis of (ti) in the Text, their  
partiality oufcht n tto nuke 1 hem forget with what ztalthe fame obfei Vation is  
put futd n the difpute of» 'aHt^i:. ) Sure this cxpicflion will no way com- 
ply with their expofit ion who interpret the firft refuircft.on ofthelifcofgrac«j 
that notion being difag* eeable to fcparattd fouls, or if it were no', yet could not  
the reft of the dead, alter the thoufand yeers (fuppoi'd to be the W-ckcd) ever  
live that life,v.;^. of graced But if we pive way thar : hr fame word {Live in the 
fpace of one line , may be appliab'eto two fo difte cr.t fenfes, as to iorport the  
life of Grace to the one fortj and life in its pi oper fewfe t-j the otVcr ? we open  
E Uich


(26)  
filch a gap of licence to perverfe Cavillers,that by the opportunity of fuch f ee- 
dom of acceptions they may diftort thefe Holy fimbaflics into what ever com- 
pliances may beft fute with their defigncs.  
Jefus t/ind they lived and reigned with Chrift a  
thoufand jeers, which that we may reft aifured to be  
the very fame thoufand in which the Devill is bound,  
the Greek affords an unavoidable evidence , for having  
expreft the time of Satans binding {yerf. 2.) without  
an article,it delivers the fame meaiure of Chrifts King- 
dom with the article as emphatically refitting upon  
the forelaid thoufand, verf. 4. Where doubt- 
lels we fhould not have injur'd the idiome ( c'onfide- 
ring the want offw) in the l'econd verfe,)to have En«- 
liftit it thofe thousand years. Now fay in pood earneftj  
Is it not more than likely that St. Teter intended the  
fame thing , remembring , 'twas the Jewifh pavapl.rafe  
(as you heard) of the Day of Judgment, [Oneday with  
the Lord is as a thoufand yeers] to which St. Peter  
(fure) alluded ? I fhall not need to tell you of the ex- 
tant tradition of old Eli as , ( a Jew that liv'd under  
the fecond Temple ) to this fenle. 'Twere handfomer  
for us to remember (with lome reverence) that the 
moft inlightned , the moft pious ages, and the moft  
fruitfull of Zelous Martyrs through all the Chriftiari  
times , were of this minde too. And peradventure, it  
might do us no injury to reflet that in the thirteen  
u!followin8 Centuries ( which oppos'd it) Antichrift  
(a) The Sod- both gain'd and kept his footing by the advantage of 
mans and An- that overfight. 
ans, &c. have Give fcntence now impartially if this Incomparable  
warrfdus that keauty ^rae>' commence not at our Lords next co- 
wanton wits ming, and if the commenfuration of thefe Tranfcen-
mayintangle denciesbe not (inthe facred language) the day of  
any Troth Judgment. What now though fome obje&ions may 
with very per- jnterfeer ? n0t readily to be refolv'd * Myftery ( my 
jmmtrica- might eafily ftop fuch (a) gaping mouthes. But  
for  

( *7 j  
for reconciling the difficulties emergent from this Te- 
net, I hope hereafter ^as the Lord (Ir s:!  Lend me affi- 
ftance and time) to appear to thv World with more  
ample fatisfa&ionjTili thettgiv: me leave fuccin&'y td  
propoJe a few fuggeftions, to abate, at ltaft, the vigour  
of relu&ancies. If any (in the firft place ) conceit that 
this larger duration than they have hitherto imagiii'd  
leads into too grofs conceptions of that divine Aflize ,  
as if caufes before the Searcher of Spirits requir'd fo  
flow a di'.cuflion, as before our earthly Tribunals ; Let  
fuch obje&ors know , that fcruples of this kinde pro- 
ceed meerly from the miftaken notion which them- 
felves have fram'd of that Terrible Day; prefuming it C1) JeeEj  
to confift onely in fome (horter hearing and deciding H<afren(batt  
the deeds of the World,whereas  in truth (by Scripiur e-fee my Jad^- 
aflfurance) it conteines that noble chein of miracles, ww*, &c. The  
within which period his Judgment and righteoulnels fc**  
(hall in an inconceivable way be manifefted ov«r the (jod/abouc  
whole earth , and the world presented with a Legible the reftaura- 
Comment upon that Text, [ He will have mercy on t onof fer.  at  
whom he  will have metcy ] Then fhall the {a) Hea-theconfufion  
then know that he is ihe Lord, when he fhall be fan- 
ih fied before their eyes, It being his own holy names that we may  
fake ( not Ifrael's j for which he doth theie things, conclude it ce  
£z,ek; 36.22,7  3. po mat the  
But time ftiall then be no longer, Revel,10. All du- 
ration being fwailowed up in eternity , and no more™t"aij,Jer/J 
meafuiingby Thoufand yeers. I will not here difcufs Tbuu ibe Day  
the Philofophical quirk of Temyus , <cvum , and <eter- whereof I have  
nitxs, though from thence (I chink) was this obje-|^''»!,r^rc. 
<&on hatch'd , (and this is not the firft point in Divi-  done)ha firm  
nity that hath been injur'd, by laying it too dole to token of the  
the Phltbfophy-M&f-Wa*id.) Nor fhali I need to de- final Day; as  
te& the fhallownels of that conceit, which foundeth  
the nature of Time on the'motion of the Orbs, as if a "i^iAnd  
yeer were not 5 2.  Weeks though there were no Sun in 2i. g. ut/upra.  
the firmament, nor an hour the twelfth part of a day ,di EupkratA, ,  
E 2 though


(28) .  
though we knew not how to bound it by the fhadow.  
To hde-flip fuch toyes as thefe , Let any one judge of  
this following fenfe, if it be not cleer and round. The  
lb] 'Hi the Lord (b) Chriftiwears (and his Oath lure is worth the 
Lord (who is heeding) That upon the expiring of the Time,Times,  
Angel that and half 11 Timc > or the 1 260 Diyes> (being the Vimi-
ftoodonthe ted cycle of the beaft and his contemporals in the  
Sea) as evi- Revel.) there (hall be no [a] longer time, but thismy- 
dently appears ftery fhall be fulfil'd, nothing els fhall intervene, but 
JLSES. thel'eventh Trumpet foall iound. That I have not  
tion verfe the mifcommented upon this lacred Oath read the fixt and  
firft. leventh verfes together, and try if thoucanft find any  
[ai Suitably to otjjer meaning. Again, examin the 5,6, and 7. verfes  
ffpeaki"* of of this ChaPter in the by D*»> 12. and 7.  
this myftery) The [£] perfonin both places ftanding upon the wa-
I the Lord will ters, lifting up his hand to heaven , and fwearing by  
fcaftenit in him that liveth for cver.but in holy Daniel particular- 
ly he ly qxpreffing the Time,Times,and half a Time. Lord 1  
Revtl. fo in that mcn eycs in heat^s ftouJd ftumble in  
pan. he that fo plain a way , and rather expound this in Daniel of  
takes this oath ^Antiochus Epiphanes ( be their account [ by Days]  
"^hn.fthim-never f0uneven ) than allow it (in its genuine deer- 
toafford a?y 1'glit towards lo delpis'd a truth.  
/i»««Jofwhom °ne thing I am iure of, that the cnuntre-intcrpreta- 
fce Dan. 10. J, tions to this opinion, are fore'd , hal'd and per dures, 
6. with&v, 1. but fuch as run with it facil and natural, it being  
i?»»4>if. (without queftion) an incomparable advantage to the  
extricating many Knots in the Bible, cou'd we but 
once conquer that pecceof pride (which we know who  
is fo chid for) in efteeming our lelves more infallible  
than the firft three hundred yeers.  
'Tis often ask't how can thefe things confift , fince  
the notion of Judgment imports a diftribution of Juftice  
according to every ones works, allowing no capacity  
for conveifion? fo that ifth£ Jews return be not till our  
Lord appears in the clouds, how is it that they perifii  
' notamongftthe enemies of his Kingdom whereof they  
' are  

are the principal ? I will return ( for anfwer ) the 
words  of that admirabje Divine Mr. (JMede (a gentle- 
man certainly of as deer a brain as ever the world  
could boaft of) I falve it with a fuppofition of [erne (a)  [4] No- w'llit  
latitude in that appearance, ai being firft to be  uttered one j t take  
with fome preparation or preludium tothe JemfhNation, off tllC  ; / J , . ' ' , ! r , • \ .1 1 1 exactrefs or  before hu great  and umverfal appearing to the whole thc -t<tj  
world to judgment. So Ceftius Gallus the Prefident tf Epoch a (  
Syria compared Jerufalem with an Army , by way of Chiifts com*  
anticipation , three yeers before the final and fatal ir,E tot Hfc"  I XT r  r • . L r 1 mentlconh- 
fiege by Velpafian ,for a warning to the behevtng jews der]rJ how  
to fiigh to the mountains of Arabia , according to our ft,ort a fpacc  
Saviours fign given them Luke 21. 20. For ftrengtlj- this miraru- 
ning of fuch a(u ppofuton, me things I difcera in. Saint  
Matthew ( the Hebrew Evangel ft ) c. 24. verfe 30. ^y^Vteef- 
twojuch appearances intimated, The one in the words, fe^e(j ,a, if. 
Then fhall appear The (lb) fign of the Son of. man 66. 8 a place  
in Heaven,and all the Tribes of the earth fhall mourn; undoubtedly  
{out of Zach. 13. vcrj. 10, II, 12.) The other A^SS**?  
words following , And rhey Hull fee the Son of man , Cion-rr/e 20.  
coming in the. clouds of Heaven, with power and great where alfo is  
glory {out of T)an. 7.) _ n.ent oncd the  
£ut in cafe this may not fatisfie, fliall we therefore  
dare to gainlay fome Truths becaufe our (*) fliallow l6'  
reafons cannot manage them ? though truly without ww, dc.v, 
fome fuch conceflion that reverend man j leads for, I a- The in- 
dare conclude that Mulachy 4,5, 6. will never beun- 
derftood while the  world ftands. Which great and  
dreadfull day, th-:t burnesl/kj oven, &c. verfe 1. If yea and per_ '  
not the day of judgment, 'twill proove but of little al- haps This v«-
fiftance to unravell one Text by another. As for the 'f  
marginal reference ,  
pointing at John the  Btp fft , £  
thc (c) Fathers (if we dare credit them) may deliver,,. 19, Andi 
will fend a fign  
among them—confiderit. (*) MyHeiy, Myftery. (c) Ada it the Fathers erred  
concerning the perfonjand fome other circumftances about this yet might  
the fubftance of their opinion be true,for fo they err'd in many part culars of the 
perfon,quality,and reigrt of Antichrift,yct for the fubftance the thing was true,  E 3 us


(to)  
tis of that fcruple , generally inclining that Chrifts hi$.  
feccnd coming, well as his former) (kili b t.flur'd  
in by that ceieftial harbinger, and(probably; the lame 
Elias too , viz.. John the Bapttft. If lo , the margent  
breeds no repugnancy at all. If any yet had rather  
conftrue this chapter of our Lords former coming , I 
require of him how he dares call that the Terrible Day  
of the Lord, burning as an Oven, and devouring all the  
voiced root and branch, i/erf, r. which our Saviour  
'himielf calls the Acceptable yeer of the Lord, that pro*  
clames general mercy to the fiptives , fight to the  
blind, &c. Luke 4. 18, 19, *i. How can that fa  
fweet a day be the fame with this fo dreadfull, which 
fweeps away root and branch , and a'lowes no quarter  
to the ungodly ? or who will fay that the lpiritually (*)  
Captiv'd, and blind,are not (during fuch captivity) in  
the ftate of wickednels, yet, not then cortfounded;but  
ilIuminated?But elpecially how was it true of the Ho-
ly Baptift in his former miniftry (which yet Truth jt  
ielf fpake of him) that Eli as firft comes and reftoreth  
all things,Mark, 9. i2.Thephrafe being'tWi fafiieWith 
what Saint 'Peter ufeth , Atts Reftimil* of all  
things ; affixt to the time when he fhall be reve-al'd 
from heaven, verfe 21 ? But of that time Saint Paul  
wiH fatisfie us, 2 Theff. i. 8. that it is when he comes  
in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know  
not God; Surely this very flaming day in Mulachie,  
when the ungodlyfhallbe as the ftubble, and that day as  
a burning Oven. Laftly , who can polTibly understand  
the Prophecy otherwise, than of Ifrael's reftiiution ,it 
being fo confonant to the reft of the Holy;*) Pen-men,  
Note. The 
glorious promifes began to draw out inChrifts former coming (the Kingdom,  
as was before advertis'd , being the fame, 1 hough the flate twofold,) Whence it 
comes to paii ihat this Pr©| hecyof isquoted n Afc i.of thofe dayesj  
to wit, The Myftery beginningto ifluc forth then : but not to receive full ac-
comptifhmcnt (as to diverlc particulars) till thi$ Tembt Day, llfherd in by the  
Sms datfafi, tbtcttoons tmim into blood, &c, all which, the Evangeliils thtm- 
fclves  

(*) Remem- 
ber the Apo- 
ftles phrafe 
[ Led captive  
by the DtviU,  
(*) See Jotl  
Zub, &(. ut  
fupra- 
Joel i.  
Si tut and Ter- 
rible Day.  
The  

fetves (in the receiv'd opinion of the Church ) refer to the time of judgment  
Truly, thi? Note, if well obferVViighc cure m*ny the like webi in this co itto'  
verfy. ' • 1  
who conftantly date it on that" Terrible Day ? Pick a- 
ny other meaning from the lecond and third Verfe, who  
can ; Oncly take in the -fourth verfe , foy a Mo- 
nitor that I\rael is here fpoken to in propria 'per*  
fona. And for a corollary , See how eafily'the  
fixt verfe comes up to the fame lenfe. He jUiU turn 
(or {a) reftore, lee the LXX.) the hearts of the Fathers  
to the Children , ani the hearts of the Children': to the ™»fo M l,k 9  
Fathers,i.e. He (hall bring the refra&avy and unbelie- h^laf'^  
ving poltery of the Jewtjh nation , to haw the* &me t^riLl?1'  
heart and minde their holy Fathers and Progenitors 4W?, w'he- 
had , who feared God andbeleeved his promifes; that therthisno- 
fo their Fathers might as it were rejoyce in-them , aftd tl0"»('l'^ C0n-
own them for their own children ;In plain Englifh, 7^°) may  
he fhall convert thefa to the faith of that Chrfft,whom not  chilly de- 
their Fathers hoped in , and looked fori; l am now n°minate  
much deceived , unlefs holy Gabriel interpret it the chriflsfe- 
fame: way, Luke 1, 16,17 both in fpeaking literally  
of Ifrael, and in paraphrafing the latter part [ *And reftitution.  
The Hearts of Children to thetr Fathers,] by [-And  
The difobedient to the Wifedom ^ the >juft].< Read the  
Blefled Angels comment chorow. [. He fhall go before  
him in the fpirit and power of-ghas, to turn (or reftore)  
the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the difo- 
bedient to . the wifdom of the Juft, , to make ready a 
people prepared for the Lord; to Wiethe fhall teduee  
the difobedient offspring who now kick at Chrift , to  
the wifdom and piety of the moft zealous of their Fa- 
thers , &c. This (by the way) is moft lure, that the  
Gentiles in Chrifts former coming had gafn'd little by  
this promile, in being effected upon them,namely [ re- 
ftoring the hearts of the fathers to- the children,J their  
Artceftry being all Pagan.  
As to the main difficultie of the Apocalyptical  
Gog


on  
;' iGog and fwarming, and peiiflilng at the end  
' of the iooo. years; I commend every fober Reader to  
the learned ditcourfe of the worthy Mr. Mead, whole - 
.judgment about it was exceeding iblid , and vertuoufiy  
modeft, ( as truly in all his tenets j. and to powerfully  
convincing, that no vtforfe man than Dr. fwiffe ad- 
mir'd hisdifcovery,; Be onely thus far advertis'd, that  
Cjog and Magog in the Revelation, are very far dif- 
ferent from thofein Ez,ek.cap. 39. the one namely,  
to be deftroy'd at the beginning, the other at the end  
of that renowned chiliad ; So hath it pleas'd hiswif-
dome, with two fiery conqueW to begin and end  
that Terrible Day ^ The Dawning whereof, or begin- 
ning of the Millennium is attended with the fiift re- 
furre&ion, and the morning-judgmeut on the then- 
appearing enemies of his Kingdom; the evening, (hut  
! • up with the univerlal refurre&ton , and the final  
ih- perdition of the latter GVgand Magog,  with the Caft- 
ing of Satan into his everlafting dungeon.  
There's none I hope will to diftruft Gods provi- 
1 " , * dence, as to queftioli the means of deliverance from  
the wrathful! flames of that day. How eafy is it for  
the\God we fevve to. fend forth fire with a limited  
commi0\op ? The guard of/Angels upon the ele&  
( Matt Ik 2 4. 31.) is neither weak norTubje& to 0-
verfight. The God of the Chriftians can fecure us ( if 
he pleale) without findging in the midft of the furnace,  
Dan. 3. 27. Or peradvenruve the objeds of that  
fury (hall be feparated within the appoimeddifts ef'  
vengeance. Who; can lay, but that Holy JoeJ'svMkf.  
fM Quxre ifof * 3- I*- and Sz.John's [") Ar- 
the vafley be rnageddon, Rev. 16. 16. may intimate loifle fuch  
not S. Johns thing ? And why may not St. Tauls catching up in  
Arraag. the clouds, and meeting our Saviour in the air? point  
atibme miraculous refcue from that burning oven Mi,  
F.om may not perchance work much upon any, - to Htsyt  
Tjbbi Eliot, that the Jewf can produce a [ * J tradition to this  
pur- 

(33)  
purpofe, farr Elder than the dayes of our Saviour,  
though of this I am certain, that the Apoftlesin their  
writings alluded to divers paffages for which there  
is no other Teftimony extant in the earth fave Jewiih '»  
traditions. 'Twill ( I dare fay) pofe the concordance  
to find where the Arch-Angel difputed with the  
Devill about the body of Mofes, verf. 9. of S. Jade.  
And who could be angry  with me if I fliould tell  
him the Apoftle feems to fpeak wide enough from  
their l'enfe that prelume this catching up tq be our  
immediate tianfport to heaven ? He expreffeth hitn-
felf (me thiuks ) warily enough to avoyd that mif- 
take, by Cloudes, and Air, left ( poffibly ) we might  
imagine Heaven to be meant, whereas we meet with  
many other places where this caution is not fo curi- 
oufly prompted, e. g.  The fowles of heaven or of the  
air indifferently, for in the Hebrew notion the air  
is comprehended under the name of Heaven, bnt  
here ( though the hebraifm would have allpw'd it)  
no mention of heaven, but clouds and air. Confi- 
der well the context 1 Thejf. 4.14. Thofe that pep  
in J ejus- will g0d bring with htm, not carry with  
him. Does not [ Bring with him ] imply the immedi- 
ate ftage ( after the fiery vengeam* ) to be the earth,  
not heaven ? Again, Thofe that pep in Jefus, not all 
the dead, wUh'Gvd bring with him, So v. 16. The  
dead in Chri ft flail rife firft. 1  What think you of  
the firft and fecond refurre&ion, moft' exa&ly parallel  
to .1 Cor. 15 .23, 24. Of an order in the reiurre&ion*  
Chrift the firft fruits, afterwards,they that are Chrift's 
at his coming j not all the dead at Chrift's coming, butr * f, 
they that are Chrift'sj remember that; [a] AfterwardsS^fo^  
dring it [Af- 
terwards] I demand why our Tranfiation turn'd the former word fo, the two 
words being of the very fame cognnion and extent, the one <TT«, the other  
Imil*, (ome I perfwade my felf will tax them of partiality here and not me; The  
truth is, they obferv'd the former had allow'd a grew latitude betwixt Chrift  
the firft fruits and thofe at his coming,1UJ4. years ( now) befideswhat  
F 1 *- may


may be. And left the Millenaries fhotild catch hold on this handle, and require|  
Why may not the latter alfo afford the extent they plead for betwixt the two re- 
furre<Xions,'>eine words of equal force aad mean'ng,(difter'ng no way, bur one  
made of the after) To avoid this rock, they Englifot th •  fisft, Afterward,  
/implying the refpit of ab-jvc r<foo. years) butthe fecond, Thenvasif ( for- 
footh ) it had been to}., intimating an immediate profecution of the fame afti- 
on, whereas 'Tis in theG eek noc in!!* and ith, batl-rnl* and tfr*. Truly, this  
is fomewhat, but I would ro God thi . had been all rhe foull play Trauflitions 
had offend to this opinion. \ fhall mike thee ftart in the next Chapter,  
Reader. ,  
comes the end,the univerfal refurre&ion,&c.How clofe  
to this runs Rev, 20. 4 J. and who might not mar- 
veil, if the fenfe were divers? If now univerfal tra- 
dition through the whole  Church of the Jtrvs, and  
theconftam do&rine in the firft three centuries of  
Chriftians, (acknowledge by the Adv-rfaries ) foun- 
ded onfo harmonious concordance of old and new  
Teftament, be not fufficient to vindicate a truth a-
gainft the fcoffings of flefh and blood, objecting car- 
nally, to what is deliver'd for a Myftery, I know 
not what can. The Lord open our Eyes.  
Chap. III.  
Vmvlng {from what hath heen premis'd)  
Cbrifis personal reign on earth.  
T 
Hat the foremention'd Beatitude is to be per- 
form'd on earth, will (I think ) fcarcely be doub- 
ted by reafonable men, for moft certainlyV the 60. 
Chap, of Jf. all over, and the 6$. from the 17. v. to  
' the end (to which two, the 21. Chap, of the %£v.  
is in many verfes adequate) can no way be fatisfied  
' but on earth, and 'tis as deer that the reft of the pro- 
phets hold an even proportion with thofe two Chap- 
ters. That all this blitfe takes rife at the Blejfed J efts' s  

on (5)  
coming to. judgement in fire and vengeance, (for I  
defire to be underftood without any amphibology ) I  
.tm at prdtnt ftrongly peri waded tliat ,the lecond  
Chapter makes good. The onely.demand that can 
remain is .this, How for all this can Chrifts perfonal  
reign be afferted? To which I fir ft retort thus', if  
fuch ap incomparable myftery ( to receive achieve- 
ment on earth ) muft enter at his next coming, how  
well can it be avoyded ? it being muft irrefragable  
that the Jews reftauracion, and the Gentiles fullnefs,  
neither was ever, orrcan be imagin'd a beauty of a  
dayes term, but a continu'd ftate of fome very confi- 
derable permanence; and if no more but this be gran- 
ted/twill proove a good ftep to the Tenet, it being  
(I doubt not) more than ever the Adverlaries expeft- 
ed to find proof. But that's not all. Sttjer, 23. J,  
6. The Lord our righteoufnefs jhall execute judge'  
ment and jufitce on the e(trth. If on the earth be not  
English, I jiw no more to fay. The prophecy is [ *]. „  
certainly-yet unfiilfill'd, f. vide fupm jweigh the verfes fuffici. 
following. Xook Sz.ekj' 54. 23,  24.1 the Lord have entlyproov'd.  
fpoken it, may help to afl'wage incredulity. See Ez,e^.  
37. 24, 2.5. To this purpofeis Zach. 6. 12. Where  
the Righteous branch muft build the temple, (and in  
a prophecy for certain to be verified on earth v. 15.)  
So Zach. 14. 16. where the King,the Lord of Hoftesy  
is to be worjhrft at Jerusalem. I am fenfible enough  
how thefe places are commonly fruftrated, by anfwer- 
jng, that they may all be made good though Chrift a- 
bide in heaven . I yield fo too, they might and  
would be true if that onely were the meaning. But , •  
then remember y that the [  * ] fulfilling is to be at  his ^, Astfce';  
coming, at what time that admirable Prophecy (a* former Chjpi  
mongft the reft) is to be completed, Jf. 54. 5. Where proovci.  
Jerufalemr maker becomes her husband , in moft  
admirable harmony to Rev. ax. 2. Jf. 62.4,  
J. As alfo that other %ev. ai. 3. The Tabernacle  
Fa of


(3«)  
of God is with men, and (hall dwell  with them, it  
being formerly averr'd and deer'd,that by Tabernacle  
is meant the humane nature of Chrift: I would feift  
be latisfied what other fenie can amount from thefe 
fayings ? It the humane nature's being and dwelling  
with men ( which £alio pratdi&ed c. 37.) and 
Chrift in his body exercifing righteoufnefs and execu- 
ting juftice in the [ *] land, ( and this in fuch a ftatc  
t*]J«M3. which can not poffibly be Momentary, to wit, the  
converfion of the Jews, &c. ) require not a meaning  
and performance in this world, we muft  defpair of  
anya(furancein expounding fcripture. 'Tis very re- 
markable (inpafling ) that St. Taut interprets this  
particular prophecy of Jf. 54. ( which yet I perfwade 
me, will not be imagin'd accompli{hable any where  
than on earth, See v. 3. ) to the New Jerufalem that 
is above. Galat. 4. 27. How think you, is not this  
the very fame Jerufalem, which S.John tells  
Us (at the appointed time^ comes down from God  
\ out of Heaven? Which hath been before' proov'd to  
be the myftery defcrib'd by the Prophets^of J tics and  
Gentiles, &c.  
From the new Teftament, view Rev. i t. 15. The  
Kingdoms of this World, &c. Sure, This-world isEng- 
liflju For the earth, doubtleffe, and this lower world,  
(hall be the fcene of fome moft eminent; tranfa&ion, 
meant by Chrifts kingdom • Howbeit it was never  
[*] Rw.ii. imagin'd by any butbafe, carnal, and ignoble tern- 
PERS>T0 be lelfe than [•] fpiritual,andof quite another  
pi ^VtTf* mode than the fafhion of this world; which confiderai  
fec jBb.1s.19. tion alone, I am deceiv'd if it doe not fully extricate  
Whew the thofe words of our bleffed Saviour, which fome havf  
k,lc*isjfnti'demade ufe of for their cheif argument againft this  
™ phrafe apprehenfion J^« 18. 36 My kingdom »not[*]of  
[ je mi m  of this  world: Tis not faid (tn ) but ( of) viz,, not af- 
tbt mid 2 ter the manner of worldly pompe, or adminiftration,;  
w. not word-not of the fame notion with what flefh and blood  
- fuggefts,  

(37) .  
fuggefts. or our (hallow capacities are wont to ap- 
prehend, briefly ( as himfelf expreffeth it) not from 
hence, but outof Heaven from God, %ev. 2. and  
every way aHeavenly glory,though on earth.  
Mean what it will, (for I never incourag'd to too  
much boldnefs in this myfterious abyfs)'Ti> certain we  
fmd(^M/.(*) 3.21.) a diftinft throne appropriated to _  
Chrift from that which belongs to his Father. I will Tim.  
not multiply Texts till I have gain'd fome footing , at The final |Io- 
what time fome I dare fay will wonder tV'te what ry inhcavenii  
(otherwife inextricable ) problemes this cj^e may dif- (furcly) (he  
in tangle. Jake one other, which if well lyiderftood ^ c 
fpeaks-To home , that it can never be avoided by any \ j^/jj. 
that underftands the Greek. Hebr. 1. 0. A — Erg0 the fons  
—tit rit e/«it|M'nr- Our Tranflators (to avoid this proof) throne muft  
do ftrangely tranlpofe [Again] contrary to the order m"n fomc-
of the Greek,that it may have reference to [he faith,] ™ ~^  
by way of a new quotation , and not to [bringeth,] be meant of 1  
But how dilingenuoufly, let any judge. Befides, while his prefenc  
by fuch a tranfpofition they indeavour to refer the Kingdom 
meaning of the pafl'age to Chrifts former coming, do jJ^J^  
not they diametrically ftruggle againft St. Paul, who Hearts fin our  
determineth his meaning to his next coming Heb. mortal ftatej  
2. 5? and that in the fame word too, [tmp/w, ] which being pro- 
all thatunderftand the Greek know to fignify moftj*J"d^«* 
properly, ftri&ly and unavoidably [The Earth,] It be-ward?and not  
ing a participle of the feminine gender, us'd in fingle, as a prefent 
fuppofing >»f to be underftood, e. g. «<**/«'»« >*, The in- fruition,for we 
habited Earth. Read then the Text according to the arc buJvMo\  
original, and judge. [ And when he (a) bringeth again 7?  
the firft begotten upon the earth he faith , But bim that over- 
Lord ! what pains fome men will take to fool them- ctmth mil I  
felves out of truth ! One thing may not be pretermit- 
iimytyf nath  
the fignificat'on of the future tenfe, being the fecond aorift of the lubjun&ive  
Mood , befides, 'tis joyn'd with «o*<» , Again], fo that «im «Af iwyiyi]  
ought (inftrfctnsfs) to be re wlwd iAnA when be fhall bring , &c.\  V 3 ted,


(38) 1  
ted, that the text (as indeed the whole context) im- 
plies fome very glorious matter * which ( if S. Paul  
may be allow'd the Judge of his own fenfe) is deter- 
(b) By turning min'd to (b) wm'w The Earth to Come. What  
it The mid to difference now between Saint Pauls ftate of the earth  
would fbem to "  ^d Meters new earth?  
mean the  
Kingdom of glory, but we fhall find that the world in that fenfe is always 
iitit and ««» but no where in all the Bible bt^n»*«.  
.-MfUll*  
B:  

Chap. IV.  
Brlefij jbewfag the ufe of this Tenet.  
»Ut to what purpofe is all this? May we not be 
)lay'd without the knowledge of it ? Yes, I doubt  
not, or els, God help 1 But in the firft place , 'Tis I  
am lure no great bleffing to ftand in the number of  
/uchas S. 'Peter brands for Scoffers, nor certainly any  
fmall exemption to be deliverd from  that rable. Second- 
ly, if it were propos'd fo many thouland yeers agoe as  
a matter of forich confolationto the hearers at that di- 
ftance, it affuredly cannot want its Trealures of felici- 
ty, (if well examin'd) to us who in all likelyhood live  
jufton the borders of lb great a mutation; lam Aire  
much neerer than the ancient Jews. Thirdly it would  
take off a great ftumbling-block,and hindrance to con.  
verfion, from the poor miftaken Jew, who (being for- 
tified with fo univerfal tradition of Anteftry ) upon  
this ftock , both hates and fcorns us ; And count we  
it a fmall thing to be inftrumental in fo great a work  
•Seethe 137*towards Ifrael ? for whom the Deareft Jdus hath * yet  
Pjal. and the fo yerning bowells that he will blefrthem that blefs  
Jf' Jnd,iI4,ch'her ? Numb. 24. 9. What though the plenteous vin- 
* * over' tage of their return be not expected till our Lords com- 
ing, yet think we not thjLt lpme few clutters of grapes 
would be an acceptable offering unto our Lord ? How  
: ardently  

(39) \  
ardently might it affe& the defpifed Hebrew to fpie the  
oracefull port-ay of his hopes in our New Teftament ?  
How could his heart perfift fo irrationally obftinate,as  
not ftraitway to yield our Jel'us to be their Mefliah , 
did but cur Commentators dandle their rugged foules  
by the gentle parallels of our Teftament with theirs , 
and Kindty point from %evel. 1. 7. to Zach. 12.10?  
By which feftque tliey might loon difcern that this is  
He , whom they once fo bfrbaroufly piere'd , and for  
whom (at * his itfxt coming ) they fhall mourn with * Th* Jtxn t©  
fodeep compunaion. But while theyobferve us todi- 
ftort the Scriptures (in avoidance of this opinion; by jjcfl)ah ^ 
rouchand unnatural expofttions, ingroffing all to * our fore the day of 
felves and defrauding their expe&ations of fuch  pro- Judgment, ut  
miles, 'in which I dare fay they have the better half: ^  
they are fcandaliz'd at our partiality , deride our gid- of £ofp;I_ 
dinefs, and grow confirm'd in their infidelity. Foutth- times,&c. ut 
ly, it were the way to avoid almoft every herefy that fupra.  
now reigns, fince there can fcarce one be namM,  
which hath not been built upon the miftaken grounds 
of this opinion. Thus Vavtfor Vowel Imps his fa- „ J  
aion upon this ftock, counting the Kingdom of the v {  
Saints  to be ereaed in his tribe. The Anabaptifts in  
Germany ( and the Levellers , their offering , here,)  
pleaded that they were the Saints that muft inherit the  
earth. Nay , it is wonderfull, that Popery , and ma- #  
ny other « abominations crept in by the overfioht of  
this tenet. Laftly , It opens an eaiy pollibihty lor the  numerous a- 
interpretation of many knotty perplexities in Scripture, o^gus.  
about which the weaknefs of fome . the countrefl ifes  
of many . and the uncertainty of all, make our Com- 
mentators ridiculous, and our Religon fubjea to con- 
tempt. I could name divers, (and hope to do lo in an  
sfter-treatife) But now 1 aim at briefnefs.  
Chap.


(40)  
Chap. V.  
v' 4 •  
Shewing, that by  mifunder(landing this opinion,  
the femes mifiook Chriji, and the Gent lis let in  
Antiehrijl.  
-11  1 a 
'Hat the Meffiah was expe&ed by the Jews in tht  
__ age our Saviour was born, is io clter.chat it needs  
*Chap.?.»4,no proof, Daniels + WEEKS had fo daded them  
to the very time; From hence arole their fwelling  
hopes that the Kingdom of God (hould immtdiatly ap- 
. pear, S. Luke 19.11. Which appreheftfion, tc as ma- 
thc feme King- nY as underftood it (a) rightly, the Holy Spirit never  
dom, though taxeth, but backs it with a gracious elogie, S. LMark^ 
undcratwo- 15. 43. Lake 23. 51. Luke 2. 25. 37. 38. But  
fold ftate as a- ayas j the traditions of the Elders had interlac'd it  
from Dan'1. many W lecular appertenancies , and exter- 
&c> ' ' nal pageantryes, that the fubtil Dragon by this ad- 
(fy About that vantage daZZeld their fancyes with the glaring fplen- 
time AUthe dour 0f their miftaken , and falfly pitched pomp ,  
Eaft (as Tm- thereby the eyes of that unhappy age , now ( God  
expedeTa * wot >) mac^c W fuch fpangling flafhes3quite over- 
King to rule lookt the meaner oblcurkie of his former coming ,  
overthewholc through their ill-manag'd conceptions of that mil-re- 
world. prefented glory. Upon this miftake they proceeded ,  
( John 6.) being convinc'd by the miraculous enter- 
tainment , that he was that Prophet in whom thefe 
glorious promifes ( mifmterpreted ty them ) were to  
find accompUlhment, to make him a King. verfe 14,  
*R«v. n. 16.15. Thus in a word they overfaw that * morning-ftar,  
becaufe their abufed minds had not learnt to look for  
him in that duskie cloud of his firft appearance , nor  
rightly to diftinguifh of his two-fold coming, whereas  
the paffages for both , through the whole Scriptures, 
werefo deer and pregnant, that it had been impoflible  
for  

(40  
for any Sophifter below the Devitl to have fruftrated  
their perfpicuity ; nor he ( I think ) by any weaker  
(hade than the power of darknefs.  
'Twas a feat of the fame hand that juggl'd Anti- 
ehrift into the world; for this moft lovely beauty  
within fome while contra&ed fo much fdyl(through  
the odious defilements of unworthy minds j that by  
zealous Eufebius'sdzyes many confcientious profeflors  
chofe rather to gainfay the authority of the * Apoca- * Eufcb. was  
lyps it felf,than afford enrerteinmetit to what they con- one  ofthofe  
ceiv'd fo ridiculous a vanity. The Devill could wilh 
for no greater averfenefs than to become lo fhie, as ra- jy hisbeft to  
ther to deny Scripture than embrace a truth ! About undermine the  
thofe times the accurfed Julian muft needs inquire offav.oftringc!  
Apollo's Oracle concerning his Perfian War,where the  
cunning Devill turns fullen , and would not be flat- 
cerd by his many Sacrifices to the favour of an anlwer,  
At laft4iis Coynefs ( being follicited Why fo mute )  
wascourted forfooth into this'fly return,that the corps  
(I wis) of Baby la* the Martyr (buried neer his temple  
in Daphne) flopped his wind-pipe. Babylas is forth- 
with (at the Emperours appointment) diflodg'd by  
the Chriftians, ( when without doubt reliques of  
fo apparent an efficacy were covetoufly fnatch'd at 
by the remoovers ) fo that a conceit was quick- 
ly fprung , that other Martyrs bones might befoun<|  
upon triall as terrible to the Devill as thofe of Ba-' „ 
bjlas , which was no fooner effayd , but expe- 
rience presently verifi'd it wkh improvement, and all  
the world fo rung with wonders done by Martyrs, that  
even holy men were at length lurprifed , and carried Wonder  
away with  the power of delufion • No more need now^^®^  
of questioning the (a) Revelation ; Nay , but ftiakep0fcr«ofthls  
truth, fhould  
anciently challenge tho Revel- for this Myfterie i$ fo clofely interwoven with  
that facred Book, that it is impoffible for rational and impartial men to re- 
tein the one and rcjeift the other. See Revel. 10.7* (bap. 11.1 f.cbap-zo. 4, cbaf,  
a 1. all oyer, paralleld with Prop. &c,  
G hands


(40  
hands and be friends rather, for Heaven hath refolv'd  
the controvertie—Thus divers ran a gadding after the  
Dragons lure , and fhordy fell to luch expofitions of  
Revel. 20. 4. ( about the Martyrs  reigne) as might  
leem to etlablifh Saint-worfhip cam pdvilegio , and  
atdTimda*'11 aut^oriZe ^ ^ invocations upon the avouc'nment  
mentaU* or of providence it lelf ,  v. [npra.^  
of Antichrift, 
is fpititual-foroicitioa  , or plurality of obje&s in divine worlhip, for this caufe  
is it laid, The More of Babylon , not, the Lyar, Murdrels, Or Tyrant of Baby- 
lon ;fo that the rfte of Saint-worlh'p is certainly the Epocha of Antichrift. But  
thou wilt marvail Reader how th s abomination furpnz'd (in a manner} the  
whole Chrift an world fhortly after the time of Julian, this cheat ( no doubt )  
ptooying an unimaginable fnarcto the inadvertent Chr;ftians.  
Chap. VI.  
Humbly prefenting to all Chrijlian minds certain  
chambers from the facred Bible, whichfi em to  
: denote that Thif Dreadfull Day , which (hall  
burn like an oven> ts hard by upon us.  
IN the firft place it is moft certain that there is a li- 
mited time , cleerly expreft in  the Revelation, upon  
[hi Lord 'that rhe firing whereof hath paft an oath from (c) Chrift  
fwears, and Himfelf, that time Hi all be no longer, Revel. 10. 6.  
this the mea- /Fhislimit isdeclar'd to be 42. months, %evel. 1 3. 5. 
fure of rime, or 1260. day ts, chap. 11. 3. chap. 12. or a Ttme, 
2-St Times*nd half a time ' ch' 12- T4* bei"g all but the  
pitch'd, See a- vari°us expreflions of the fame Meafure (viz,, of the  
We,from Beaft , and his costaneans,) So many dayes making  
Holy Dan. cap. exa&'y 4 2.months,and thole months amounting juftly  
11.7. Where £0 jime ^jmeSj ancj an t0 wit,three yeers  and a  
tLn'Tc in the half. If now the Spirit hath alfo determin'd whether  
Oath) Time,  
Times, and half a Time. Befides, 'tis the bound of Antichrift, the Beaft,  
cap. i 3. f.) whofedeftruftion we know to be at the day of judgment, 1 Thejfal.  
a. 8. Ht fupra.  
" this  

c 43)  
this period be meant literally for 3. fingle ysers'rfd  
a half, and manifeftly propounded where the account  
/hall begin , we can not lure be fo irrational but to  
conclude this to be an incomparable aS of favour in , \ T«, 
our Lord (to afford his Church fo fweet a (a) warning, hepleas* To'  
and incouragement to vigiiancy ) and a moft rude ne- deal with his 
gi ea in our 1'elvesifwe de-ipife fo great- falvation : But PeoPleconcer- 
(really) both thefe doubts are explain'd, (and therefore ninShis*l ft 
Reader, truft our Bleffed Jefus on his Word, for the^asaifo  
Apocalyps, ( as thou fhalt fee ere I conclude) unties about the de- 
all the obje&ions to the contrary.) The former, aboutftru,ftion ot  
the undemanding of the Dayes, is apparently difco-  Je,.ufalcm»  
verd to be (b) Prophetical, ( namely Dayes for Yeers) StVwo^f  
cap.11. Ic being the ipacc of the Witneffes prophecy- fagesofashigh 
inginlackcIoth,^<?r/<? 5. who muft lie dead three dayes concernment  
and a half, verfe 9. and after that flourifh again,verfe ?? c°uW Poffi- 
n.Nowif the three days and a half of their lying dead n^edtoZ"  
cannot poflibly be underftood hiftorically , [ for three Church, 
fingle days] ( for how can the Inhabitants of one fide (*) They muft  
of the earth fend gratulatory Melfages to the other by nccds imP!;  
jay ofinfulting over the dead Prophets, in three bare f^iJete  
dayesanda half} verfe 10.) No more can the 1260. ScriS  
dayes of tneir mourning; for as much as they are all ufing no man- 
parts of the fame ftory, and muft necefTarily be taken ber indefinicc- 
in the fame fenle. £r<ro, Day for Teer ly,buc thofc  
A J \ ' which the ufe  
. r , offpeechhath  
maae iucn,as, t. 10. 1000. Butmixr and comp-und numbers as thefe are  
41. Iitfo are neither in the Hebrew , nor (perhaps ; in any other Language  
Ufco tndefimee y. If rhen. a definjre limit be here implyed , it m. ft needs S ef  
the, • HtWalor PropheticaKmy^hatthot, mayit bP L&cn" te Day ta-
ken.here fo Yeer , I may chance hereafter to a 4ert,fe thee of a moft wondrous  
ped.aon^nncegrven out upon thn vCryg!cund in the Rev. which proved «!  
cordingly to the very djy. ^ *it  
The latter, of the Ep chairom whence the Lord will  
have this number reckond feemes full as evident ,ch. 1 2.  
The v/omans abode in the Wifdernds ( whither 'fhe  
fled from the Dragon ) is bur thefe 1 260. daye^ v. 6.  
G 2. if


^ (44)  
If then it be reveaTd, when firft ftie flew thither, the  
intent of fuch a mercy was (afluredly}for his people to  
reckon from ; Come now and fee the goodnels of our  
God i/.i 3,14. And WHEN the Dragon law that he  
was caft unto the earth,He perfecuted the woman-And  
to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle  
that flie might fligh into the wildernefs;Tell me, is not  
here a plain [WHEN] from which thou ought'ft to 
count ? Doth the light of Hiftory cleerly make appear 
when the Dragon was finally caft down,that is,when  
heathenifm receiv'd fo remarkable a blow , that it ne- 
ver after that made head any more in the Roman  
. x XlieDra- Empire? a moment fo eminent that after it their never  
gon was caft lucceeded a Pagan (a) Emperor ? ( b ) Ethnicifm ne- 
down from yer after publickly maintained, nor any open attempt  
Heaven, verfe ever ma(j£ for reftoring it again ? If all this be legible  
fhe fovera?gn- (°reat Otters)toas many as will take the pains to 
ty and top of look into Ecclefiaftical ftory, wilt thou ftill perfift in  
dominion , doubtfulnels about what time the Dragon was thrown  
which he in- ? Nay , has providence fo ftrengthned our aflu- 
Ihe'timeThe rance ' ^ a collateral confirmation , that (c-) fcarce  
Empcrours was this noble vi6^ory accomplifht,butthe great Eagle  
were heathen Si was manifeftly difplayd in her two wings by which  
&c. the Woman fled , and muft all this parte for cafualtic?  
(b) This muft  
for the very next yeer, good Theodofius ( under whom  
genuine expo- this renowned battle was fought ) was call'd for by  
lition of de- our Lord, of whom the Hiftorians (never dreaming, in 
throning the t^atj I dare fay , of the Apocalyps) make this exprefs, 
DTn,fonfand animadverfion , that He remarkably by his  
champion of Teftament divided the Empire (the enfigne whereof  
the Church, was the Eagle , as every School-boy hath heard) be-
paw. ix. i.Thetweenhis two fons Arcadius and Honoriut , afligning  
Dragon (that one ^ £mpire 0f the Safi, to the other of  the VPefti  
fights againlt 1  
him) muft  
needs be the Chieftain of Heathenifm. (c) The very words of the Hiftorian  
run thus,Tbeodof. con t rafted his ficknefs foon after his return from the battail 
againft EugenM} and dyed, &c.  Say  

(45)  
Say Reader, were not here given the two wings * of * From tint  
the great Eagle? Confider it. But I will relate thee 
the ftory more diftin&ly,with the very oblervable cir- p!rJ betwccn  
cumftances attending it, in the very words ( for the two c*fars, 
moft part) of fober and godly Mr. Simfon. Erf, and  
About the year 394- (tbat flCf^Ciiam1Lr3d;- 
pion for the Dragon, and one that threatned to De ano- y ded ^ £othe  
ther Julian) came with his Chieftain sArborafim, a: very mine of  
the head of an exceeding formidable Army a gain ft the Empire,  
Theodofius the great, upon the bare q^rred of Reli-wherea^the  
g'ion,and the very defign of reftoring Ethnicifm, brief- conjUnlinms  
ly, the two Armies ingage , The battail went hardly qU;c|<iy made  
with the Chriftians at the beginning , but Theodcfius up again; And  
had his reconrfe to God by prayer , and the Lord {em a ^mai'- 
7nighty tempefi of (a) mnde, which blew fo vehement- c0i.l(lantmldc  
ly in the face of Eugenius his Army , that their darts k t0 three  
•were turned bach, by the violence of the wind in their fons,butrW.  
own faces. The Tyrant Eugenius_fW/ down at the feet to two only;  
0/Theodofius to beg pardon, but the Souldiers H^^ o'Sm  
himfo fir ait ly , that they flew him at the Smpsrours dmt Dco!chi  
feet Arbooaftus fled,and,being out of all hope of fafety, fundit ab an- 
flew him [elf.  
J How thinkft thou (Reader) ? Is it altogether im- 
probable that this fliould be the date of the Dragons Etm.  
downfall ? Could providence have us'd a more oppor- j«r<r/i venrnt  
tune feftque to point at a conqueft over the Devill, ad claffica ven- 
than by the'fuggeftion of a tempeft ? Whereby the f-C^dian.  
Prince of the Air might leem vanquifh d in his own culm)$ con. 
dominions, and by his own weapon too (a tempefi.) <jUefl.  
Where (hould Angells skirmifli ( Revel. 1 2. 7.) but (*; Howbeir,  
in the Air ? And if Sri Johns words [ b tVar inf.lea- ( 
ven] may chance not to intimate fome luch thing ,ome ,  
( though in the Hebrew notion the Air ( as I laid) is f ,ch manner  
comprehended under the name of Heaven,) yet what of confliaati- «  
hinders but we may be prompted to make refle&ons '  
wards the managing of fublunary affaires.DM 10. Jo. This will all grant, that % 
the worki of divine providence,and government,are executed by Angels.  
G 3 UP0"  

I


(V)  
upon them by fo tranlcendent fand figni Scant) a cir~  
cumftance as this of a tempeft t Befides, may not the  
confideration of 7beam's praying hint fome fuel  
divine matter to thee ? Thou ha'ft heard, I date fwear  
(I would then had-ftalwayes rememberd as well)thaJ 
t as been a ml d cale in the Church, time out of mind  
Erects & Lachrym* , -&Cm Np ochcr wcapons are £  
low d us (m the conteft of Religrun) but thole; while  
ThelTZ concended by armes , the Devill was too  
hard for him, the Chriftians were fore put to't 'Twas  
not the proper artillery for Religion. But fofoon as 
the hand drops the fword, and is lifted up, Holy Mi- 
chael s partie carryes it deer ? No iboner is this Ange- 
lical Ammunition recurr'd to , ( payer's a Win^d  
Weapon) but the Adverfary's darts recoyl upon "his  
00About P^ > and ^he Dragon maul'd by a tempcft  
the beginning It this therefore fliould be the paffage at which the 
llf^SB. i f" 7 aimes'(and Praycrfpeaksas fair for W- 
ffwead " £ ^ ' a$ 5hVempert to the Dragon,) then 
it guides down can " not bc far't0 0Ur P™™ s end. I am lure ( how- 
to about ever) thou canli not but take notice of fome admi 
I determin rable exa&ne!s ( mean what it will ) that about the  irrh the Em/ire,fliouid be ^ ^  
«thee Reader » C;<f too wide a latitude might render the  
as the duty of relt doubtful!) fickning and dying (a) fliortly after his  
my charity,  
Though other mens principles (as well as thefe)have leveld ar << or << or fnm,  
time thereabouts. The Judge ( for certain) is at the d^^ThcIord'makeus 
watch full. Though 1  am no great favourer of Modern Revelations yet Icaiinoe  
but account «t the ofterir g of my Charity to advertife thee o TJZ T?  
paffage of Mr. WrUiam < t\wilk / being Snifter ofc 3nd very oTf ^  
Itious account, wh - Anno Dom. ,6,6. at his devotions, recc v'd a vo ce wih3n~  
^/appearance to this fenfc, Go, ceil thy fclLw-brechren rTar v^ rS ?  
•'the Day of the Lord fhallbe. 'Tis well known, he w« fii SS^ta JS  
^mand and mifunderftanding the import of the 7iwi^inM k t^ifie^"  
" latura days. But he was n<£ the fir ft that might receive* 1 v*eX IZ  
^underftandthem^ I heard (faith Daniel) it I  
this I am ccrtam : He was carried on with 1 otxtraordinaiyapowcr da e'x  
^reeding grave, rational, and Holy men ca„ bear witnefs for him ho^ in lii  
places he came, he overthrew all the ftrong holds to the Zm^ZZZ^  
that  

(47)  
that part of the Kingdom know him by the moc-name of Dooms-day-Sedgmcft.  
But confider it Reader, for it fuits very maryailoufly with the period of the Apo- 
calyps. And remember our Chronologers compute the diftance from  the firft .  
Adam to the flood about the lame fpace that the Revelation fecms to allow from  
the fecond to Adam the fire.  
return from this battail, lay's Mr. Symfon, who , ( I  
dare cleer the man) never thought of the Apocalyps in  
lpeaking it. This facred Book affords many other mar-'  
vailous chara&ers of the lame importance, all concen- 
tring in the forefaid date of Theodofius's death ; as,the 
firft°Trumpet, the arifing of the Beaftout of the Sea ,  
(applyable to ^Alaricm's ftormy invafion that very  
yeer) The firft trampling the outer Court by Gentili- 
zing Ghriftians, (for ferioufly popery is no better than  
Chriftned-Paganifm) and the appearance of the two  
horned falf Prophet, for the emergency whereof about  
this very time you would wonder to hear what might  
be produe'd, but my defign at preient allowes it not,  
but hereafter may. Iwill therefore fhut up all with  
thefe following Queries.  
Firft, Whether the flaughter of the Witneffes, Rev.  
11. 7. might not be intended by our gracious Lord for  
a fign to his Church of the 1260. dayes of their mour- 
ning , Cverfe 3.) and the contemporals , to be then  
drawing to an end,when we fhould fee that more than  
ordinary contempt,and defolation upon the Prophets?  
and for this regard chiefly (not fo much (happily; for  
the grievoufne<s) might it obtein a fmgular remem- , . Pcradven.  
brance and delcription, (a) even as the environing of tu4 if this in- 
Jerujalem by the Army of Ceftius (j alius , about  three ftance of Saint  
yeers before the fatal liege by Titus, was foretold by i»ke»*nd Da- 
out Saviour as a warning, that the delolation thereof "XbfoVtf"  
drew neer, Luke 21.20. it may feem toJ  
be the method  
of our Lords gracious dealing with his fervants to be fo indulgent to their frails  
ties as to allow them predictive warnings of his future intendments, to ferve as 
fweet incitements to their watchfulnefs 1 and incouraging-advantages to thei*  
diligence,.  
Secondly r


(48)  
Secondly, Whether this prefent calamityand un- 
. matchable conculcation of  Proteftantifm,(for that, (ef- 
pecially the miniftry,) muft needs be theatteftation of  
Gods truth, if the Papacy be the beaftj Sound not as  
a comment on Revel, n. 7. confidering how vifible  
it is to every eye, that the beaft which aicends from 
the bottomiels pit, (/. the fame b?aft we are wont  
to expound Antichrift , %evel. 17. 8.) is the contri- 
ver and a&or of our ruin , as appears by his Legion of  
(ad) Inquire Jefuits and other emiffaries fwarming amon°ft us ,  
(Reader) of transforming themfelves often into illiterate (but (aa)  
Ted'oftK- g'^ed) £«r^^,otherwhile into defperate e^rL/,  
yond- Sea-Se- Yea and i°metimes (doubtlefs) into Anabaptifts, Qua- 
m naries, that kers , and Converted Jews (as that late famous Impo- 
the Students ftor at Hull,) ftnkmg by ail means poflible at the ve- 
f'forTheir're- ^ and life °f °Ur ReJigion > verting ( to their  
creation at Povver) the principles of our holy faith, diftra&ing us  
lurory houres) into infinity of fchifmes, and  varieties of opinion; and  
to addid (upon all oportunities) intuiting over our weaker £a- 
foCmmaVnufa° teckumeni i Where's now your Proteftant Church ?  
Aureor'othcr, Can there any fix of your Minifters be producd that  
whereby they confent ( univerfally ) in one belief ? nay can ye pro- 
become profi- duce any minifters at all?Have not your felves confeft  
cients not on- (an(J 0ften ftrUgoled in the Controverfie ) (b) No Bi- 
but'mechanick ' m Mim$er1>Epifcopacy being the known and  
knowledge on£ly through all ages by which minifters were  
too; whatever initiated into their function, &c. In plain tevmes this  
thou thinkft blow fiabs usto the hear-t, the truth being a gran- 
feemes no lefs/ccl cnc>and made good by thofe two admirabTe Lights 
tome than a Hammond and D. Taylor, againft all the Presbyte-
head-form po- riansin Chriftendom. Judge ro w whether the Prote^  
licy of the  
Dragon; for by this epportunity they iflce out among the reformed Churches  
fome for gifted Shoomakers , others, for infpir'd Wearers, &c. to the under- 
mining of our Reformation. (b) Whatever excufc maybe found in this matter  
for other Reformed Churches (who arc wont to plead neceffity) can no way (as  
f I fee) relieve the Presbyterians of England, where Epifcopacy, was wilfully, in- 
l confiderately, abominably, ("and well if not facrilegioufly) rejected by them.  
ftant- 
\  

ftant-Prophets be not (c) dead,which cannots (at pre- Cc) Miftak'e  
^ fern) propagate their likenefs. * not all the  
('timein which  
' the Propheu  
lay with dying pangs upon them (for that's far more than three dayes ~ ) for 
that for which they lye dead, But happily I may hereafter acquaint thee with  
fuch a moment of their fatal blow,(after which dierc appeared no more hope for  
them in the world) that may feem very probable to theejFrom that time might'ft  
thou call them ftark dead,all hopes being then cut off j whereas while anyhopc 
Iaftcd thou could'ft not fay they were Dead.  
Thirdly, would it not be confider'd whether the •  
fundry preffing importunements to read this Book (be- 
ing far more than to any book in the Bible) may not  
import that the contents of this letter do after fome pe- 
culiar manner concern the Ions-of men, in refpe& of - 
thofe advantaging difcoveries, and moft indulgent  
communications of our mafters picaiure, through all 
the ages of the Church ? the Chriftian and pious ob- 
fervation whereof may fortifie our refolutions againft  
all the black accidents we meet with in our pilgrimage;  
(being no other than what our Lord hath given us no- 
tice to expea in their appointed feries;) and conftant- 
ly iohcit us to a prudent watchfulneis , and hold us to  
our continual guard (againft any poflible furprizallin  
our times ) down to the great and dreadful appearance  
of our Deareft Lord.Examin this thing well (as thou  
lov ft thy foul ) Good Reader, and try if it be a fan.  
cy of my uwn. See , if the proemc to this facred peece  
rcadeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, this time  
and keep thofe things that are written therein for (a) the henceforth  
time is at hand. How often is inculcated f in the fe-  'f? ^ord,5 of  
condand third1 Chapters) that memorable ^J? SSSgT  
Y"e that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the rank of events  
zptrtt Jatth to the Churches] even leven times ( the inthcirordcr, 
number of the Churches, all concein'd in it) at the end S'jfe  
of each Epiftle What lefs can'ft thou make of Revel.  
M- «- Cme'»? hither, and I will flew thee the things &c  
« which


which fhatibe hereafter ? That lure muft needs be a ve- 
ry diftruftfull Soul which accounts not this invitation  
to extend farther than barely to S. John. Or, fuppofe,  
no!farther,yet was not all Scripture given for inftru&i- 
on?Such winning compilations we find from the mouth  
• every of the four proclaming * creatures ( chap. <$.)  
VSSwS * C0me wM&l And that none may at any time  
Saviours own  think bimfelf unconcern'd,  look Revel. 13.9: If any  
invitinglan- man have an ear to hear let him hear. After all this , 
guage John 1. begin to think with thy felf, whether it may not be  
39- one of the (aJ Devills principal ftratagems , to deterr  
(d) Sjhtrte If the Christians ( as we ufually fee } from ve nturing on 
it be not the this book, and to reprelent it as a lort of high prelump-
Devils me- tjon j f0 much as to take a Text from it , being drcft  
ey°to°caft ioraeali over in riddles' 'Tis true indeed our Lord Pleas'd  veil of pre- to fpeak there in prophetical Schemes and Allegories,  
judiceupon which ('tis probable) were once "no lei's familiar and  
fuch Scrip- ufual t0 the Nations of the Orient, than our Poetical 
She moft Schemes and Pidures are to us at this day. This is  
advantagious certain , that a wary obferving the Prophetical 
dircoverics to language , and emblematical manner of fpeakings in  
the Church > the Old Teftament, is a moft unconceivable advantage  
ThC wel?18 t0 d^uc^da"on vifions, whereby it may  
knownfthanksfeem that fuch types as thofe were Anciently very fre-
to that Oracle quent , and of eafy apprehenfion to the (b) Eaftejn  
Mr. Mede, no  
other man, I think , ever difcernjng it) If. 1. i. by muddying  
whereof, he ftruck the chief ftroke to the Jewes overfeeing the Mefliah, which  
had they cleerly underftood, it had led them down moft infallibly to expeft his  
chiefeft convention and rriniftery in Galilet. Whereas their want of intelli- 
gence in this paffage of Jf. turn'd it into their chiefeft fnare, wanting ( as they  
mifprefum'd) divine warrant for his abode thete, fo that it became their flume  
blingublock, Doth a ny Prophet arife out of Galilee} Nay > and that to good Na- 
thaniel himfelf, John 1.46. Doth any good thing come out of Nazareth ? being a  
City of Galilee. For fo grofs a mift had the Dcceiver thrown on that Text ( and  
confequcntly fo aliene an interpretation)that S.Matth.being carried by the Ho-
ly Spirit to refer ffor this purpofe/ to that place, was fain to leave out the Devils  
trumpery with which the Septuagint was choak'd in the E vangelifts dayes, and  
fo ftill remains} compare,Mattb. 4.1 j. with If. 1. (b) Such Symbolical fpeech  
wc find in Indian> ofjjftim, and Ptrfian monuments ftill extant among us.  Countryes;  

( 51 )  
Countryes; Nay, who can lay hut the primitive  
times had Apoftolical expofitions ( commended to  
choicer hands) to untie the more relerv'd perplexities  
of Scripture ? One thing I can tell thee , that many  
wile men have conceiv'd Saint Paul's words to Tim. 2. 
epifi. 1. chap. 14. verfe' , of the good depofitum com- 
mitted to him , to imply fome luch matter. Then tell  
melerioufly, fhall we therefore negle& our Lords moft  
deer and Iweet letter ( and one of lb much admirable  
and ufeful importance to our ielves ) becaufe he hath  
veild it with fuch a dialed as may prove an inftigatlon  
to our induftry ? And why wi/t thou fo wrong our ma-
tter as to intitle upon him a meffage of his  commands  
to us, which yet can no poflible way be in our times - 
underftood; elpecially after fo familiar a key as he hath 
been pleas'd to afford us [Revel. 17) by which if well 
regarded, and us'd to the beft advantage , we may ( irt 
a good meafure )open the reft of the iecret ?-Which 
Ch. whoever {hall anfwer to be alfo allegorical, muft 
give me leave to tell him-that he appears little better  
than a mad man (if not a blafphemerof our Lord) who 
will yenture to fay , when the Angel undertakes the  
part of an interpreter, verfe 71 that luch words alfo are  
Enigmatical. If to tell the my fiery, be not to fpeak in 
plain termes, and make a darkdr matter deer, wc muft  
never expe6t to underftand £nglijk while we breath.  
Again, what poffible ufe could there be of that di- 
vine outcry, Revel, 18. 4! Come out ofher (i, :e. Baby- 
lon } 0 my people, ( which yetnone can defty to be  
an infinit favour) if it could in no wile be learnt where  
that Babylon fhould be ? O therefore take we heed <*) Jf opt", 
(Deer Reader) left we injure the facet ingenuity of^Jfurctobc  
the Lamb who was flayn, and bach open'd that fealed*>7j$ chrift  
Book for our fake, Revel, 5. 9." [ a ] who therefore that holds the  
holds it forth to us,no longer in a fealed,but an * open Book > ^  "g  
form, Revel. 10. 8. and fends forth ftrait'eharge that [^  
thenceforth .t ftiould  be feal'dnomore ,  Rev, 22.10.


<50 .  
yea,and at the drawing up quickens our regard towards 
it, with the fame motive he had us'd in the beginning  
Bleffed is he that keeps the payings of this Booi^ , Rev1  
22. 7. As before , Bleffed is he that reads, frc. But  
who can be bleffed in reading,or who can poflibly keep 
what he cannot underhand ? Reading without undcr- 
fianding was never any way to bleffednefs.  
But of that Day and hour knoweth no man , no not  
the tAngels, neither the Son, but the Father, (JMark.  
13.32. Ideftretp feem no other wife than fcepticai  
in all thefe difficulties.But I pray confer with Rev. 5.9. 
Where our Bleffed Lord opens the fealed Book , and  
the worthinefs to open it,is attributed to his being ftain,  
[ Thost art worthy, &c. for thou wafi flam.] The Son  
himfelf (as man) before his Paffion ( we may lpeak't 
with a holy Reverence) had not this myftery revealed  
to him ; 'Twas onely (as yet) in the Fathers han^s,  
jitts 1.7. The Son at this time-unflain, unglorified.f  
The Book was as yet a fealed one ( arifwerabie to  
Da. 12.4. 9.) But the Captain of our falvation (who  
was made pe»fe& through fufferings,Heb. 2. 9, 10.)  
hath now both; unfeal'd it,and Commanded it for ever  
to abide fo, Revel. 22. iq. So that may.we not now 
think (as the Apoftle feemes to intimate, 1 Thef. 5. 4.  
& 5. ) that if that Day doe overtake any as a  
Theef in the night , ( though this alio ufeth to be  
another obje&ion)they'r onlyluchas are in darknefs,  
andnot tbe Children of the'slight ?'Twill ( indeed)  
appear as the flood in the dayes of Noah, finding men  
eating, drinking , &c. Matth. 24. 37. But neither  
doth that Text implie the want of all light in the fa- 
cred Oracles whereby we may be guided into this ex- 
pectation, but rather the hardnefs of mens hearts, as it  
was in the dayes of Noah>; when (fure) his fo long  
continuance in the building an Ark might have been 
convi^ion fufficient to any (but men before drown'd 
in fecurity ) that the Flood was coming. Might not.  
every  

(S3)  
every ftroke upon that fignal Fabrfck have proov'd a  
Sermon of repentance to ingenuous minds ? Confult  
with that place of St.*?eter ,and fee if upon this very  
fcore it call not holy Noah the Preacher of rightecuf- 
nefs. 2 Pet. 2. 5. To which purpofe alfo may that 
other more obfeure paffage of the fame Apoftle be  
urg'd far more fenfibly ( Irrow) than it is wont to  
ferve for Purgatory , 1 Vet. 3. 19, 20. Namely that  
Chrift by his Spirit preacht (in the Minift'ry of Noah,)f' 
to thofe rebellious mifcreants, of  fo narrow and con- 
fin'd Spirits, that they allow'd not themfelvesfo much  
liberty of reafon, and freedom of difcourle,as to colled  
that the threaten'd Flood muft needs be approaching ,  
though they faw an Arkfo long in rearing. Anfwer me  
(Reader) doth not [the long fuftering of God, waiting  
in the days of Noah , while the Ark was preparing J  
mention'd by St. Peter, produce this refult, That they  
in the days otNoah obtain'd a very mcrcifull premo- Gen g y 
nition , in which they might have read the intentions hisdayjfhaibe  
of his vengeance upon thofe times , had not their ob- an hundred &  
ftinate relu6tancies rendred thofe lweet opportunities twemy years,  
ineffeaual to themfelves ? And if the State of "the J^f0*"  
World at his fecond coming be as it was then, ( as fo ded^nay^Hi  
we hear it muft)dbth it not imply the Indulgence of our by our Sy- 
Lord in gracious forewarnings, but our own defeaive- noc|e-Notes  
nefs in their obfervation ? too) of Gods  
Who ever ( after all this) fhall think this fpecula- S  
tion of time a needlefs curiofity,Iet him remember how the Deluge,  
our Saviour reproov'd the Jewes for neglea hereof, 
Lu^e 12. $6. 0 yee Hypocrites, yee can difcern the  
face of the skjefiut how is a that yee do not difcern this  
time }viz,. thatthis isthe very age in which the Mef- 
fiah is to be born. And that this was our  Holy Saviour's  
meaning appears by that other famous paffage of his  
recorded by the fame St. Luke ch. 4.Where curdeereft  
Jefus;inmeerdefign to point at Daniels Weeks,(which 
led down to him) by the identity of the phrafe,takcsa  
H 3 Text


C$4)  
Text from I fay t- He bath annointed me to preach the  
CjojpeL Luke 4/18. From whence he raifeth this fo  
uletull do&rin, ( had not his heareis been unimagina- 
bly .ftupid ) Thus Day if this Scrip: ufe fbifid tn your  
ears, verfe 21. But why ( I pray )^This Scripture ,  
and this D y ? Why ? txk in Darnel, and you will  
eafily fee the reafon %*J)ar\ iz. 24. Seventy weekj,  
&c. And to anoint the rhofi holy. q. d..The ap- 
pointed time leading to me is now expir'd , This  
Day is this Scrip ure fulfild in your eares , The  
Sptrii hath anointedme -- How is it therefore Q yee  
(^N-otejThis Hypocrites that yee do not difcern this time? The  
every one of us from the danger of the  
the world,'butlike exl ofluiation,How is it, &c. Since the Epocha, 
our Lord with guiding us in the %evel\tion to his fecond coming , is  
all the circum- far more deerly expreft than that which led tohisfot- 
ftai!TSandhUo.mer 111 Dan'el > Lec any one wci8h ' [ 4nd whence  
veityy,' which" Oregon fant he was cafl unto the Earth , &c.) with  
jggravati- !J [ Seventy weekj are determind upon thy people and upon  
onsno que- thy holy City ] Their [fVHE N] from whence they  
D^vil^made vvere t0 rec^on» feemes t0 he but obfeurely impli'd, 
ufcoftoapply ours cleeriy exPrcft ' and yet they were call'd Hypo- 
iRedtunt Sa~ crites, Sec. And (hall not we ? God grant we be not.  
tuma ngtt*] to I will prefent but one fuggeftion more to this con- 
the merry fideration, and take leave. Is it not probable that tho 
foThe3defpN iubcil old Serpent, about the times in which Chrift  
fed Infant, be- was to be born (of which he was able enough to make  
ing affifted to colle&ion from Daniels Weeks) perceiving the Na«^  
this fuggeftion tions(as I told thee) partly from rDantcl, and partly  
leSal Mo-from the Sibls fcatterd Predi^i°ns > to be Jul 1 of the  
narchy, by the expe&arion of fome admirable change , thruft in that  
vain hope marvellous peece of impofture about Salonita, Pollio's  
whereof he ^ Son, born fmiling , purpolely to become the fubje&  
ih?world for on whom thole glorious Elogies of happy mutation,  
this after-im- might be fixt, (a) as his exceeding remarkable manner 
predion. of coming into the world ( fo quite contrary to all 0*  
(ther births) might very fignifkantly portend, in defign  

(s 5)  
co div«rt that age from pitching their eyes on the holy 
Infant Jefus? fid. £log, 4. Virgil. But wilt thou not  
marvail if I fliew thee that the Devill ( being loath to  
ufe any other method than what formerly fucceeded  
foprofperoufly) feeing,(doubtlefs) that his fecond co- 
ming is neer approaching, hath laid the fame fnare to  
divert our Nation from ejcpe&ing this mannfc* of his  
appearance, by tempting.one Ari[e Evans {z man ve-
ry exemplary in having predicted divers things which 
have anlwerably fuccaeded, and coniequently, authen- 
rick enough to be his inftrument in fuch a fnare ) to  
fatten feveral prefages concerning the fate of the for- 
mer King (of pious memory) all which obteind effeft,  
and the reftitution of this his fon, upon many paffages 
of Scripture that evidently concern this matter, as  
thou wilt eafily acknowledge ( Reader) if in his  
Book intitled A voice from Heaven , where thou wilt-
find great variety from the Bible (belonging to this my- 
ftery.) applied to our ftate of things partly in what is  
paft , partly in what he incourageth us to expe& in  
England ? In a word, All the glorious promifes meant  
in Scripture of our Lord, he applyes to the King of  
England (calling him as I remember the root of Jeffe)  
and in exprefs termes bids them that expe& Chrifts per- 
fonal reign, to look for the accomplilhment of thofe  
promifes in that lpeculation he acquaints us with about 
our K. Charles , made by him to be the King that (hall  
rule in righteoufnes,yea and that man by whom God 
will Judge the World. V. pi.  
Confider it Reader, and the Lojd direft thee.  
rh


(5*)  
The Holy Trinity , to whom be e- 
verlajling honour 0be pleas'd to  
open  our hearts and eyes to the  
difcerning this myjlery9 and the  
time leading down unto it.  
Amen.  
The  
/  

(57)  
TheRequeftofthe Author to his Fellow-Bre- 
thren5imploring their fatisfa&ion in thole fol- 
lowing confiderations.  
I, Pi Ince by the principles of this Difcourfe the fore- 
^^ mention d CM.]fiery (commencing at our Blef- 
fed Saviours coming ) begins with RomeV  
%#ine , ( for if She be Babylon, her fall ( as to the 
City ) is affixt to the very hour of the Witneffes rijing,  
being the complete term of the 1260. Dayes,Revel.11.  
'13.) Whether it be altogether unworthy of our attention 
to obferve how full the world ts at this very day of expe- 
ctation of that Long d-for Overthrow , in Jo much that  
Divers mouths and pens ( without any reference at all 
to the Apocalyps) have publifht their judgements of that 
incomparable cDefolation likely to be before i6$6. paffc 
over us. Nay more, Is it of no moment that the Diffo- 
itttionofthe Turkifh Empire {the Apocalyptical Eu- 
phrates) is aimd at by Gaffarel about Anno 1655?  
Really , fuch prognofiications are wont to affeti me as  
little as moft men (/ perfwade my felf) breathing j but 
in thii cafe , where the matter feems fo cleerly pointed 
nt by the facred ^Authority of the Apocalyps, ( efpe- 
tially their proofs being of a different nature from mine9  
jet pitching on the fame  term,) I could not but prefent  
this humble expoftulation.  
2. Whether the Holy Spirit feem not to have ( af- y .  
ter fome peculiar way ) determined the badge of the I^cZuV  
Witneffes-flaughter to be loo^'t after in Britain rather j * '  
than any other parts of the Reformation j and that for '  
theje Reafons„  
Firft ythe words , Revel, n.8. Which »1 • «,«  
m mder In the ftreet, will very Naturally fignify, In \ "s all will  
the Latitude ( coming from a*«7of, as every School-boy grant) is here  
knows ) In the Ou£?C<wft, border or Frontier , of the Puc ^bftan- 
grcat City , or of the Roman Dominions j and in thistivcI*'  
I fenfe


(5«)  
fenh mho fees not how well it frits with the State of  
Britair; in thofe times ?  
Secondly , Whether thofe words [were alfo our Lord  
wa* Crucified] muft not needs be underftood figurative- 
I)} for where Chrift was really (frucified ( viz,. Jerufa- 
lem ,)there are (Ifear) no Witneffes to be Jlai*,The Grand 
Mahuroetan Lording it there •or if there be any poor  
Chrt /?ian-cPilgrtms ,yet are their conditions no harder  
row 'ban they have been for many hundred yeers toge- 
ther ; fothat this flaughter can in no fenfe be verified  
of that place at this time : And of the times paft we  
have no reafon to inquire, ftnce this pa/age leads 
down to the Conclufion. Be  fides, may not the Word^ Spi- 
ritually) in  the Text, be a Key to open into fuch an ac- 
cept ion ? But if fuch a fenfe be here allowable, need we  
go far for the application , if we do but re fie SI upon the  
horridnefs of what this loft age hath been guilty ? The  
Lords Chrift might be Crucified when fome little 
dream't ont. vid. Heb.6. 6. God (the fearcher of  
Hearts) knows how far I am from an Incendiarie's  
fpirit tn thefe demands, (for how can the grounds upon  
which this traEtate is fram'd poffibly fuit with fuch a  
defign ?  ) All my aim is at my own and others fatisfa- 
Etion, and watchfulnefs.  
(*) Sec his te- Laftly , fince 'tis Generally granted, that (') Juftia 
ftimony in the Martyr ( within 30. jeers of St. Johns death,) was ft  
Ducouric. jirm a„ ajp,mr 0ftfje Notion 0fthe Day 0f jU£|gment  
deliverdin thistreatifeyat likewife Irengeus Jboth which  
livd and conversd with the Apoftles immediate Dif- 
ciples, and peculiarly, Ircnarus brought up at Pojycar- 
pus'i feet, who was St. Johns Vifciple, and could relate  
to Irenasus (as  himfelf is known to fay) what St, John  
was wont to do and fpeak^: 1 now earneftly begg of all  
my fellow Brethren ferioufly to conjider , whether it be  
sot more than probable that this very doUrine -was de-
rivdto them from St. Johns fw* mouth, efpeciallure- 
s memtrinf  

(5 9)  
membring how fait able it is to the tenoMr .  
lotion , in which St. John was the tnfdib  
Ten-man.  
E R k A TA,  
pAgc 2. for Jcfus read Jerufalem,  p. 3. 1  
Divines.p. p. »«»wi> read 10, to  
p. 15. ftore I ufe read ftorehoufc.  
FINIS,