to read, and fearch the Prophecy of this Book (how deep Joever the Mferies thereof be) wherein the Glory of Chrift's Kingdom is fo confpicuoufly held forth unto us.

Therefore it is (candid Reader) that I have, in thefe infuing Sheets, prefented thee with a fhort Expofition of many Texts of Scriptures out of the Old and New Teftament; which do treat fo much upon that glorious Subject, of the Kingdom of Chrift.

The Method which I have ufed, in the Explanation of thofe Texts, is, (as you may find) Firft, To prove the Certainty; Secondly, The Manner; Thirdly, The Nearness of this bleffed Time: Each one of which does greatly concern all thofe, who love the Lord Jefus Chrift, to be acquainted about.

As to the Certainty of fuch a Kingdom to be in this World, I would appeal unto all (who are not bigotted to a contrary Opinion) and do defire them to tell me, whether there be any one Point of Doarine, which the Holy Scriptures treateth upon more than this glorious Kingdom.

And if fo; Why fhould any of the dear Saints call this precious Truth into queftion? Why then fhould it by others be fo much oppofed and quarrelled againft?

As to the Truth of fuch a glorious State to be in this World, you have here a Cloud of Witnesses bearing Teftimony unto the Reality thereof, as it were on every Side. If the Lord hath recorded nothing in vain, or fuperfluous in his Word (as none without Blafi bemy dare fay there is) than the Glory of Chrift's Kingdom, which is founded upon fuch a Multitude of Divine Promifes and Prophe

cies, ftands as an unmoveable Rock (against all the battering Rams of Oppofition) in the Holy Scriptures of Truth.

Befides the Account which we have given us in the Word of God, I find that there has been fome eminent Perfons in the Church, who have believed the Truth of Chrift's Kingdom to be in this World, from the Time of the Apoftles.

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I fhall mention three or four.

Firft, The Council of Nice was for the Opinion of the Millenarians (as it has been reproachfully called) which Council was by the Appointment of Conftantinus the Great, wherein they did fet forth certain Forms of Ecclefiaftical Doctrines; according to which, all Teachers in the Church were to frame their Difcourfe: Some of which Forms are recorded by Gelafius Cyzicenus. Among which there is this Form for the Doctrine of the Refurrection, which is, That the World was made more minute, or viler, becaufe of Fore-knowledge; for God faw that Man would Sin: Therefore we expect new Heavens, and a new Earth, according to the Holy Scriptures, when fhall fhine forth the Appearance and Kingdom of the Great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift. And then, as Daniel faith, the Saints of the most High fhall take the Kingdom, Chap. vii. 18. And there fhall be à Pure Earth, Holy, a Land of the Living, not of the Dead, which David foreseeing, by the Eye of Faith, cries out, Pfal. xxvii. 13. I believe to fee the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living; a Land of the Meek and Humble: For, faith Chrift, Matt. v. 5. Bleffed are the Meek, for they hall poffefs the Earth; and the Feet of the

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Meek and Humble fhall tread upon it, Ifa.xxvi. 6. This being the Opinion of the whole Orthodox Chriftian Church, in the Age immediately following the Death of St. John when yet Polycarp, and many of the Apofles Difciples were living) as fuftin Martyr exprefly affirms. A Teftimony without all Comparifon, to perfwade fuch as rely upon Authority and Antiquity. And therefore it is to be admired (Jaith Mr. Mede) that 'an Opinion, once fo generally received in the Church, fould ever be fo cried down and buried. Secondly, Fuftin Martyr who flourished about the Year after Chrift's Birth, 140. (many of those who was converfant with the Apofles were then living) was of this Opinion of the Millenarians, with many others, as he affirms, befide himself. I fhall give you fome of his own Words as quoted by Dr. Homes.

Jefus (faith he) commanded us to love our Enemies, which is by Ifaiah published in many Words, in which is the Mystery of our Renovation, and of all abfolutely, that expect Chrift to appear in Ferufalem, and do endeavour to please him by their Works. And in another Place, this Jefus < is he of whom we know Heaven and Earth was made, and by whom the Father will make new the Heaven and Earth. This is he that shall 'fhine in Jerufalem as an eternal Light.

Again, freaking in Oppofition to the Saducees who denied the Refurrection, Mark xii. 18. If there be any that are in all things Orthodox 'Chriftians in Opinion; we all know well the Refurrection of the Flesh, and the thousand Tears in ferufalem built again, and beautified, and enlarged, as the Prophets Ezekiel, Ifaias, and others declare.

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And furthermore, a certain Man among us (Speaking of him as living in bis Time) whofe Name is John, one of the 12 Difciples of Chrift, ' hath foretold in that Revelation that was given to him, that thofe that believe in our Chrift, fhall finish a thousand Tears in Jerufalem. Juftin Martyr writing unto one Trypho faith, That many, who are not of the Pure and Pious Judgment of real Chriftians, deny this Opinion of the thousand Years; but all Chriftians who were 'Sound and Orthodox did believe it. And fo, according to fuftin Martyr's Opinion, All those 'who denied fuch a Kingdom to be in this World, were looked upon by him as Heterodox, and of an unfound Judgment.

Again, one Ireneus famous for Piety and Learning, who flourished about the Year of Chrift, 178. hath thefe Expreffions, in how many Days this World was made, in fo many thoufand Years it is perfected: For if the Day of the Lord be as it were a 1000 Years, and in fix Days thofe Things 'that were made, were finifhed, it is manifeft 'that the perfecting of thofe Things is the fix thousand Year. When Anti-chrift reigning 3 Years, and 6 Months, fhall have wafted all Things in the World, this muft mean the Latter End, or juft upon the Expiration of his Reign, in which time he will be more defperate, and in which 2 Days and an Half the Witneffes are to be flain) then fhall the Lord come from Heaven in the Clewis in the Glory of his Father, cafting Anti-ctdift, and them that obey him into the lake Pie; but bringing to the fut the • Times of the kingdom, that is the Ref, or Sab

bath,

bath, the Seventh Day fanctified, and reftoring < to Abraham the Promife of his Inheritance. Thus Ireneus.

What wonderful Things hath Tertullian expreffed concerning this bleffed Kingdom? who flourished about the Year 181. Take his own Words. For, we alfo confefs, that a Kingdom again is promifed us on Earth, but before that in Heaven, and in another State; to wit, after the Refurrection, for a thousand Years, in the City of Divine Workmanship; Ferufalem brought down from "Heaven: Which the Apoftle alfo Points out to be our Mother above. And pronouncing our foliteuma, that is our Traffick to be in Heaven, doth indeed affign the fame to fome heavenly City; and this Ezekiel knew, and the Apoftle John faw. This we fay was provided of God, for the receiving of the Saints at the Refurrection, and the refrefhing of them, with all fpiritual good Things, in Recompence of thofe Things which in the World we either defpifed, or loft; for it is both juft and well befeeming the Lord, that there alfo his Servants fhould triumph, where they have been afflicted for his Name. This is the Manner of the Heavenly Kingdom. • After the thousand Years, whereof within which is included the Refurrection of the Saints. Rifing fooner or later, according to their deferts, then alfo the Deftruction of the World, and the Burning of the Day of Judgment being executed, we being in a Moment changed into an angelical • Substance (to wit, by that incorruptible Cloathing upon) thall be tranflated into the Cœleftial Kingdom. Thus far Tertullian.

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