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Enjoyments of the Earth, than the Saints have under the Gofpel: And yet it was not then faid that they did, but that they should inherit the Earth. And how the Saints under the Gofpel fhould be fail to inherit the Earth, any more than the Old Testament Saints did, when we have a far leffer fhare of it than they had, is a Myftery. But the Apoftle fays, Having nothing, and yet poffefs all things. It is true, Faith, when in exercife, takes poffeffion both of Heaven and Earth; but the Promife in thefe Words of the Saints inheriting the Earth, must be more than an inheriting of it by Faith only The Word inherit fignifies to have it in their actual poffefion and enjoyment: Befides, the Time when they are to poffefs or inherit the Earth is when the Wicked fhall be cut off, and the Power, Rule, and Government, fhall be put into the hands of the Saints. In Verfe the Tenth we read For yet a little while and the Wicked shall not be; yea thou fhalt diligently confider his Place, and it shall not be: That is, he fhall not be found in his Place. This will be when the Day of the Lord fhall burn as an Oven, which will burn them up, and shall leave them neither Root nor Branch, Mal. iv. 1. Then it followeth in the Eleventh Verfe, But the Meek fhall inherit the Earth, when the Wicked or Evil Doers Shall be cut off; and shall delight themselves in abundance of Peace. The fame Words we have in Mat. v. Verfe 5. They are Chrift's Words: Bleffed are the Meek, for they fhall inherit the Earth. Surely if our Lord had meant in the fame Senfe as fome take it, he would have faid that the Meek do inherit; or fure it would have been expreffed fo in one of these Places, They do: But instead of that we have it

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both in the Old and New Teftament, they shall inherit the Earth; to fignifie that this Time is yet to come: And then it is that they fhall delight themfelves in abundance of Peace (both spiritual and temporal) Abundance of Peace! There is a great Sound in that Word Abundance: They fhall not have it in small measures, now and then fome little Taftes of it; neither will there be then a Mixture of Peace and Troubles as now: But abundance of Peace will fill their Hearts and Souls; abundance of Peace one with another; abundance of Peace all over the World: There fhall be none to burt nor to deftroy in all thy Holy Mountain: Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land, Wafting nor Deftruction within thy Borders: But thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation, ard thy Gates Praife. Ifa. lx. 18. The Peace of God in Chrift will increafe and multiply like an overflowing Stream. This is the Time that the Meek hall inherit the Earth: And therefore it cannot be in this confufed World, as it has been, is, and will be, until this Time comes.

Verfe 18. The Lord knoweth the Days of the Upright; and their Inheritance fhall be for ever. The Inheritance of the Saints will be a Lafting, yea an Everlafting Inheritance; it fhall never be destroyed nor taken from them. And in Verse 22. For such as be bleffed of bim fhall inherit the Earth, and they that be curfed of him shall be cut off. They that be bleffed of bim: Thefe are the fame with those that are meek: Meeknefs is one of the Bleffings of the New Covenant; a Grace laid up in the Covenant, freely given unto us, and in time beftowed upon us. Therefore our Lord calls them bleffed, Blefjed are the Meek, for they fhall inherit the Earth: And they

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that be blessed of him (that is of Chrift) shall inhe rit the Earth. See what an Union and clofe Connexion here is between the Meek and the Blessed; for to them is this gracious Promife made, which takes in all the Children of God: They shall inherit the Earth. But when? When fuch as be curfed of him shall be cut off (by which all the Wicked are meant.) Then it is, and not till then, that they hall inherit the Earth. Take notice and fee how this is confirmed in the 29th Verfe, The Righteous fhall inherit the Land (this is the Land of Promife) and fhall dwell therein for ever. This cannot, without doing wrong to the Text, be referred unto any other State than the Kingdom of Chrift, when the Saints, the Meek, and fuch as be bleffed of him, fhall reign with Chrift upon the Earth. In the 24th Verfe we have an Exhortation to wait on the Lord, and keep his Way. And what then? Why here is a glorious Promife, and that is, He all exalt thee to inberit the Land (a Land of Righteoufnefs, flowing not only with Peace, but with Milk and Honey) when the Wicked are cut off, thoufhalt fee it. How often is this repeated in the Pfalm, the Meek and the Righteous fhall inherit the Earth, and shall inherit the Land? How often is this expreffed, When the Wicked fhall be cut off, or be that is curfed of him fhall be cut off? Which fhews not only the Certainty of what is here promifed unto one, and what is threaten'd unto the other; but that the Fulfilment of both will be at one and the fame time, when the Wicked are for their Wickedness cut off, then the Saints fall inherit or poffefs the Earth.

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CHAP. XIV.

All the Saints are made Kings and Priefts unto Go D, and therefore fhall reign with CHRIST on the Earth.

1. Every Believer, or all the Children of God, are made Kings and Priefts. 2. Thefe Perfons were then actually in Heaven, when they fung this new Song. 3. The Four Beafts and Twenty Four Elders can be underflood of no other than the Saints. 4. None are Kings and Priests unto God, but fuch who by free Grace are made fo. 5. The Place where those who are made Kings and Priefts unto God, fall reign as such, is upon the Earth. 6. The high Dignity and Privilege of fuch who are made Kings and Priefs unto God.

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F all this will not yet fatisfie thee who oppo feth this Doctrine, then look in Revel. the 5th, Verfe the Icth. And hath made us unto cur God Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the Earth. If Per

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fons were not bigotted to a contrary Opinion, but could read thefe Words without Prejudice to the Kingdom of Chrift, and without Partiality, and ferioufly confider what is here expreffed, he could not but muft either acknowledge that fuch a State and Time of Chrift's Kingdom with the Saints upon Earth, will be; or elfe remain in Silence, and fay not a word againft it. For if thou wanteft plain Texts of Scripture for proof, is not this one amongst the many that have been bronght? But let us a little confider the Words: And in opening of them I shall first enquire who these Perfons be that are made Kings and Priefts. Secondly, Shew that there are none Kings and Priefts unto God, but fuch that are made fo. And then thirdly enquire where it is that they fhall reign as Kings and Priefs. Fourthly and lastly, I fhall endeavour to fhew in a few Particulars, what a Dignity and Privilege there is conferred upon those who are made Kings and Priefs unto God. But first I am to enquire who they be that are made Kings and Priefts. The Perfons that are made Kings and Priefs are the Saints and Children of God, This I think will be granted by all that believe the Truth of the Scriptures; the Firft of Peter, Chap. ii. and Verfe 9. But ye (fpeaking of the Saints) are a chofen Generation, a Royal or Kingly Priesthood, or a Kingdom of Priefs, anbely Nation, a peculiar People. And why? To what end are we made fo? To live as we pleafe? No verily : But that we should live to the Praife and Glory of him, or fhould fhew forth the Praifes of him who hath called us out of Darkness into his marvellous and inexpreffible Light.

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