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Children into fuch or fuch a Truth, which he does not reveal to all; let not others quarrel at it, but rather beg of God that they may be led into all Truth. Thirdly, Because the Prophefies are ftrangely intermix'd which relate to the Coming and Kingdom of Chrift; fome part of the fame Prophecy refpecting Chrift's Firft, and fome his Second Coming: Again, fome part of the Prophecy relates unto the Spirit's, and fome part unto his perfonal Reigning, as may evidently be feen in many Places. But fourthly, A Fourth Reason of this Difficulty is, from the Diverfity of the Style, Language, and Phrafes, which the Spirit of God is pleafed to exprefs himself in. These among other things I apprehend to be the Reafon of thofe different Thoughts that there are in the Saints as to the manner of Chrift's Kingdom.

Some there be that think Chrift will have no other Kingdom in this World than what he now hath and had in all Ages; which is a fpiritual Kingdom in the Hearts of his People; and fo refer all the Prophefies of the Old Teftament, which refpect the Latter Day Glory, unto the Difpenfation of the Gofpel: And that fhe will remain and continue in this State until Chrift comes to Judgment. But what thefe Perfons will do with a great part of God's Word, I cannot tell, nor themfelves neither, if they did but ferioufly confider it. Sure I am that if no other Glory is to be upon the Churches than what has been, a very great part of God's Word muft go unfulfilled. But

Secondly, There are fome that do believe there will be a fpiritual Glory upon the Churches of Christ, greater than ever yet was, and that all

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thofe Prophefies of the Latter Day expreffed in the Old and New Teftament, are to be only Spiritual; that the Spirit of God will be poured down upon the Churches in a greater measure; and that there will be a wonderful Work of Converfion at this time, both of Jews and Gentiles; that Chrift will have a Spiritual Kingdom, and will fpiritually reign among the Saints. It is to be acknowledg ed that thefe Perfons are right, as to a Spiritual Kingdom of Chrift in this World, far beyond whatever has yet been feen upon the Church. But herein they do certainly mifs it, in referring fuch Texts of Scripture which clearly hold forth the Perfonal, only to a Spiritual Reign.

Thirdly, There is another fort which do not believe that there will be fuch a Time of the Spirit's pouring down upon the Saints or Churches of Chrift, and Converfion-Work in fuch a wonderful manner to go on as thefe fpeak off, before, nor until the Time when the Lord Jefus fhall perfonally come from Heaven: And therefore refer all the Prophefies of the Latter Day, the Kingdom of Chrift with the Saints in the Thousand Tears, unto the Time of his Perfonal Reign. These look upon the Church to have no greater Glory put upon her than what he has had, but that the will grow worfe and worse, inftead of better; and that there will be no Appearance as to thefe great Wonders, until the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall come in the Clouds of Heaven, with Power and great Glory: And that then he will fit upon his Throne in his Kingdom, and reign in the midft of the Saints. Now I humbly conceive that thefe Perfons are in the right as to the Perfonal Reign and Kingdom of Christ, in

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the Glory of the Thousand Tears; but here they mifs it, according to my prefent Thoughts, in overlooking the Spiritual, the Firft Branch of the Kingdom of Chrift, and in referring fuch Prophefies which have a peculiar refpect to this Time, unto his perfonal Coming. For to take all theProphefies and Promises of the Latter Day Glory, the Coming of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the bleffed Kingdom and Reign of the Saints, to begin and continue together, without Diftinction, is the ready way to run all into Confufion, and makes one part of Scripture to thwart and contradict another; which muft not be. There is certainly a fweet Harmony in. all the Scriptures, tho' we, by reafon of Darkness, find it difficult to reconcile them together. Therefore in this, as well as in all other Truths of the Gofpel, I would not (if I knew it) hold any particular Point of Doctrine, but when I can fee an Agreement run throughout the whole. Again,

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4thly,There be fome indeed that do make a diftin&tion in the Prophefies relating to the Kingdom of Chrift, which do hold, that part of theSaints, fuch as be dead, fhall be raifed,at the time of his Coming,into a perfectState, and reign perfonally withChrift in the New Heavens, which they fuppofe will be in the Air. The other part of the Saints in an imperfe&t State will reign with Chrift in a wonderful fpiritual manner, upon the New Earth. Now here are fuch Difficulties in this to me, as that I cannot readily embrace it For I cannot fee that when Chrift fhall come perfonally from Heaven, that. fome of the Saints fhall reign with him in a perfect State, in Heaven, or that which is called the New Heavens; and the other part of the Saints, or Ee

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Myftical Body of Chrift, at the fame time be in an imperfect State on the Earth, tho' it be a New Earth. I know no Scripture that proves any fuch thing But where the Body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together, Luke xvii. 37. Where Chrift is at this time, there I believe fhall not fome, but all the Saints be; not fome in a perfect, others in an imperfect; but all in a perfect State.

Sixthly, My Thoughts are, and fome others I underftand (except in fome particular things) that Chrift will both Spiritually and perfonally reign with the Saints in his Kingdom: But herein we differ, I look upon the Spiritual Reign to be firft, and his Perfonal Glory afterwards; they, that the fpiritual and perfonal Kingdom of Chrift will be altogether, at one and the fame time: Which I cannot yet believe that it will, for the Reafons following. Wherefore I conclude that the Kingdom of Chrift will confift of Two Parts: First, By his Spirit, in a wonderful manner, among the Saints. Secondly, In his perfonal Glory after his fecond Coming, and the Refurrection of the Dead. The Firft Part and Branch of Christ's Kingdom will be fpiritual, by a wonderful Pouring down of the Spirit of God upon his People, and a wonderful Converfion both of Jews and Gentiles; a wonderful Flocking of the Jews out of all Nations unto their own Land; a wonderful Appearance of God in fpiriting of his People to fall upon Babylon: A wonderful Agreement among the Saints at this time; no Difference in Judgment nor Affection: But they fall fee Eye to Eye, and lift up their Voices together. This fpiritual Glory that is at this time to be upon the Church of Chrift, in which many Prophefies

Prophefies are to be fulfilled, is looked upon to be as it were preparative unto the perfonal Coming and Kingdom of Chrift, with all the Saints; and that after this fpiritual Glory hath had its Fulfilment, then the Lord Jefus Chrift will come from Heaven with great Power, attended with an innumerable Company of Angels: The Dead Saints being raised, the Living changed, hall both be caught up together in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, that they may come along with him to reign in his Kingdom, during the time of that bleffed Millenium or Thoufand Years Glory; which I call the Second Part or Branch of the Kingdom of Chrift.

This is that which I do apprehend to come neareft God's Word, and, as I humbly conceive, to an harmonious Agreement of the Scriptures. But here are fome things that these laft do hold, that I cannot by any means affent unto; and that is, when Chrift fhall be eftablished on the Throne of his Glory, in his Kingdom, and all the Saints with him in a perfect incorruptible State of Immortality; that then there fhall be preaching of the Gofpel, and Converfion-work go forward among the Multitude of the Nations that fhall be found living when Chrift cometh (according to the Opinion of fome good Men.) I fay this is that which I cannot fall in with, but muft profess my Dislike againft, because I cannot believe that the Lord Fefus Chrift will come down from Heaven, and leave that great Work of his Interceffion now at God's Right Hand, until the whole Number of God's Election, among Jews and Gentiles, are converted, and the Myftical Body of Christ is compleated: And if fo, then where is there any room Ee 2

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