Fehovah, or God in Chrift, is the Heaven of the

Saints

Yet fome may further object and fay, If this be fo, that the Lord Jefus Chrift, with all the Saints and Angels fhall come down from Heaven, to live and reign for a thoufand Years upon the Earth: What then must that glorious Place called the Third, or the Imperial Heaven, be left empty for fo long a Time? Such needlefs Queftions as these may be fooner afked than they can be answered by feven Men that can render a Reason. We ought not to be wife above what is written: And therefore not too curioufly fearch into that which is a Secret. As for the Imperial or Third Heaven (if I may modeftly give my Thoughts) I believe will not be left empty in this time; because the way between Earth and Heaven, will be fo wonderfully opened in that Day, by the Coming of the Lord Jefus Chrift, with all the Saints and glorious Angels, (the Impediment of Sin, Weakness, and Mortality, being wholly removed) there will be, (upon all Occafions) a continual egrefs and regrefs, by the Saints then (as well as now there is by the Angels) from Earth to Heaven, and from Heaven to the Earth, by the Appointment of Chrift, during the Time of that glorious Reign. But let this be how it will, we must leave that until the Day comes, which will make thefe Myfteries more plain and confpicuous. This is certain that Chrift will have Kingdom, in which he will reign with the Saints, or they fhall reign with him, in that bleffed Millenium, or thoufand Years Glory, according to the Scriptures.

a

As to the fecond Thing treated upon, touching the Manner of the Kingdom, I have indeed given

my

ry Thoughts, but with as much Humility and Moderation as poffible I could. And that because I believe the Manner of that Kingdom, how it fhall be in all the particular Parts and Branches of it, will not be known by any of the Saints, nor those who have the greateft Light into it, until that glorious Time comes. But what then? That fhould be no Difcouragement unto us from believing or fearching into this Kingdom, which the Word is fo full in proving the Certainty thereof. Something we may know of the Manner, and the more we fearch into it (which is but our Duty) the more I believe we fhall know how this Kingdom fhall be. As for those who do speak, or write upon this glorious Time, each one have the Liberty of Speaking or Writing according to what their Light is: If fo be that they are not too pofitive in afferting their Opinions. We cannot make others fee with our Eyes; no more then we can fee with theirs. In this therefore it is good to be moderate; and to let our Moderation be known unto all Men, the Lord is at hand, who will when he comes put all Things into rights, Phil. iv. 5.

As to what I have faid, with refpect unto the first Branch of Christ's Kingdom, in his fpiritual Glory, it is no more than what moft believe (excepting a few) we all look for a greater pouring down of the Spirit of God; for Anti-chrift to be deftroyed, and the Jews to be converted: A greater Glory to come upon the Churches of Chrift, than has yet been, before his coming to Judgment.

Again, 2dly,As to what hath been faid,concerning the 2d Part of the Kingdom of Chrift in his Perfonal Reign, as running contemporary with the Time of the Judgment. Something of thefe are believed by all who profefs Faith in the Lord Jefus. We all believe that the Lord Jefus Chrift will come again from Heaven,

the

the fecond Time, without Sin, unto Salvation. And that his Coming will be Perfonal, in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory. We all believe that at this Time of his Coming the dead Saints fhall be raised." and the living Saints fhall be changed in a Moment, in the Twinkling of an Eye, at the Sound of the laft Trumpat. We all believe that the Change of the Saints, both living and raised, will be into a State of Incorruptibility and Immortality, like the glorious Body of Christ: And that they fhall be caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air, and fo fhall be for ever with the Lord. We all believe that the Coming of Chrift will be in flaming Fire, rendring Vengeance upon the wicked, who know not God, ner have obeyed the Gofpel. We all believe that there will be a Day of Judgment both amongst the Godly and Ungodly, and that we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Jefus Chrift, to give an Account of what we have done in the Body, whether it be good or bad. We all believe that Christ must reign, until all his Enemies are put under his Feet, and that after the laft Judg. ment is over he will deliver up the Kingdom to the Father, That God may be all in all; and that then the Wicked must go away into everlasting Punishment, but the Righteous into Life Eternal. Herein I think with fome other thing, we are all agreed, who believe the Scriptores to be the Word of God. And tho' we do differ in fome other particular Point, in relation to the Perfonal Reign of Chrift with the Saints, in the Glory of his Kingdom for a thousand Years; yet I defire that this may not hinder thee from Reading, nor take off thy Mind from a serious Confideration of the Matter contained in the Book: But that thou wouldeft patiently Read, and beg of God to give thee Underftanding.

Thirdly, As to what I have expreffed concerning the Nearness of this Time. I have given thee undeniable Proof out of the Word of God; Ift, From plain Scrip ture Affertion. 2dly, From Scripture Arguments. 3dly, From Scripture Signs: With an Obfervation of

he

the Providence of God, concurring in their Fulfilment; and fo confequently fhewing the Time to be near, even at the Door: Which fhould ftir each one of us up to a greater Diligence, to fee that we are found ready, having Oyl in our Veffels with our Lamps, that fo we may enter in with Chrift into the Marriage.

But it may be fome will be ready to fay, Seeing that fo many great and learned Men have writ upon this Subject, there was no need for me to write about fo myfterious a Point. I muft acknowledge, (and the Lord hath made me fenfible in fome Measure) that I am a poor, weak, nothing Creature. But that hath been fome Encouragement to me, the Confideration that the Lord bleffed Barley Bread for the Feeding of many thousands. Now if the Lord will be pleafed to blefs my weak Endeavours, how defpicable foever it is in it felf, yet with his Divine Bleffing it may be made of Ufe to fome, which is, and hath been my Cry unto the Lord.

And now Chriftian Reader, this I earneftly beg of thee, that what Weakness thou mayeft find in this little Piece, thou wouldst cover it with the Mantle of Chriftian Love; and alfo if thou findeft any thing that is not agreeable to thy Judgment, or if thou thinkeft it is not according to the Mind of God in his Word; be not too hafty in condemning it; but give thy felf a little Thought of Confideration, whether thefe Things may be fo, or no. And if thou thinkeft they are not, yet thou oughteft to forgive me, or at leaft be favourable in thy Cenfure; becaufe I do not affert thefe Things as an Article of Faith, or that the believing of them is abfolutely neceffary to Salvation, but have only given my Thoughts upon fuch Places wherein the Kingdom of Chrift is afferted, with all Humility and Moderation, leaving thee to thy Liberty, either to accept or refufe as thou fhalt fee Occafion.

That which has made me the more earneft in the Proof of the Kingdom of Christ, that fuch a glorious State and Time will certainly be in this World, was firft, from the full Satisfation which I had, in my own

Mind, of the Reality and Visibility of fuch a Kingdom to be upon this Earth, from many undeniable Scripture Promifes and Prophecies. Secondly, From the Comfort and Confolation which my Soul hath found in it, and the Hopes of the near Approach of that promifed Glory. Thirdly, The Oppofition which I have met with in this Caufe, from fome good People, hath kindled in my Affection, a greater Earnestness to vindicate thofe Truths of Chrift, (according to my Light) wherein the Glory of God, and the Comfort of the Saints is fo much concerned: And therefore my End and Defire in this, has been the Instruction and Spiritual Confolation.

In the mean Time, my earneft Cry unto the Lord is, that thou and all the fleepy Virgins may be awakened into a due Preparedness to meet the Bridegroom, whose coming must be near at hand; that we may not fleep as others do, but watch and be fober :. Coming behind in no Gift, waiting for our Lord, and be found both in an habitual and practical Readiness, that fo we may lift up our Heads with Joy in the Day of Chrift, faying, This is the Lord we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation.

And if thou findeft any good, or fpiritual Comfort from any of thefe Things, I fhall have my defire; only that which I further beg of thee is, that I may be remembred by thee at the Foot of God; for the Affection of the true Spouse of Chrift, continually crying out, Make haft my beloved, and be thou as a Roe, or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether. Therefore not to detain thee any longer, but that the Father of Mercy, the God of all Comfort, may give a divine Bleffing upon the whole, that he may have the Glory, and thy Soul the Benefit, is the Prayer and earnest Defire of him, who remains (candid Reader) thinè unworthy Servant, in the Kingdom and Patience of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

JOSEPH PERRY.