that the Saints at this time of Reftitution will not immediately go up to Heaven, but will continue fome time, to wit a Thousand Years, according to what is expreffed in the 20th of Revelations, That they may reign with Chrift in his Kingdom, and fo en-> joy the Benefit of this glorious Restoration, for whofe fake it is to be restored: Yea they fhall con tinue here at this time, that they may live and reign with Chrift in that World called the World to come, which will be fubjected unto Christ, and in another Place is called the New Heavens and a New s Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness: That is, Chrift and the Righteons, with the reft of the Creatures, fhall only dwell there.

Now what can appear more plain for the proof of Chrift's Kingdom upon this Earth, than thefe Words? Therefore it followeth in this Text of Ifaiah, v. 9. They fhall not (fpeaking of thefe Creatures when reftored) burt or deftroy in all my Holy Mountain : For the Earth (pray mind that this Holy glorious Mountain of Chrift's Kingdom, wherein nothing fball burt nor deftroy (is to be, in respect of Place, upon the Earth) fhall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. Oh how wonderful are thefe Words, As the Waters cover the Sea! Is this a Truth, or is it not? If God's Word may be credited then this is a Truth: But who is it that dare deny the Truth of God's Word? And therefore who is it that dare deny the Truth of this Text, and fay that the Knowledge of the Lord fhall not cover the Earth, as the Waters cover theSea? Surely this does fhew that the Knowledge of the Lord, the Lord Jefus, or God in the Mediator, will be glorious and wonderful! Very deep and large

Has

every manner of way, as filling and spreading it felf into all Parts and Places of the Earth, or covering the whole World, according to the Nature of the Simile, as the Water covers the Sea. there ever been fuch a Time as this is faid to be? Surely there has not. Then this bleffed Restoration is yet to come. What an Agreement do we fee then as to the Kingdom of Chrift; both in the Old and New Teftament; and here, as to the Restoration of the Creature in this glorious Time, both in Ifaiah and the 8th of the Romans.

But to pafs on to Verse 22. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in Pain together until now. For we know: This is fpoke of as a thing that is well known to all fenfible Perfons, and was in the Apostles Time; how the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in Pain, even until now. Oh what Groanings have there been in all Creatures, from the Fall unto this very day! Longing with earneft Defires, as a Woman in Travel, to be delivered from that Vanity, Suffering, and Bondage, which they are under! Oh how does every Creature, according to its Nature, groan and travel with Pain, for the Manifeftation of the Sons of God, that their Deliverance may come. Verse 23. And not only they, but our felves alfo, which have the First Fruits of the Spirit, even we our felves groan within our felves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit the Redemption of our Bodies. Is there a Groaning and a Travelling with Pain for to be delivered, in the whole Creation, or in almost all forts of Creatures? How much more then is there a Groaning in the Children of God? We which have received the First Fruits of the Spirit; not only the Apostles and

the

the primitive Saints, but all that have had a Revelation of the Spirit, do groan unto this day. Yea there is an inward Groaning from an inward feeling Senfe of the Spirit upon our Hearts. Thofe Weights and Burdens of Sin and Corruptions which we feel in our Nature,does make us groan with Pain and earneft Strugling in our Souls, like a Tra velling Woman, for to be delivered. Even we our Selves groan within our felves. Oh who can tell the inward Groanings that are and have been in the Saints, in all Ages of the World, and will be, until this Time comes. What Travellings, Struglings, Longings, and Defires have been, and are in the Children of God, for this glorious Day to break forth! Waiting for the Adoption, to wit the Redemption of the Body. The Redemption of the Body is in this place called an Adoption, to fhew that not only the Redemption of our Souls from Sin, Hell, and Eternal Wrath, is by Grace, as flowing from the free adopting Love of the Father; but the Redemption and Glorification of the Body, yea of the whole Man, at the Refurrection, from that Suffering, Bondage and Corruption, which until then it will lie under.

Well then! This Redemption of the Body called an Adoption, can mean no other than for the Bodies of all the Saints which are faid to fleep in Jefus, to be raised up out of their Graves (with the Living changed) into a perfect State, like the glorious Body of Chrift; and fo Soul and Body re-united and glorify'd together for ever, that they may reign with him, not only in the ultimate Glory of the eternal Heavens, but that they may be in a capacity to reign in that bleffed Millenium, or the Thousand Tears

Tears Glory, at the perfonal Coming and Kingdom of Cbrift.

Now that these things must be fo, and that fuch a glorious bleffed State and Time (which I have been fpeaking of) fhall take place, and have its fulfilment in this World, or upon this Earth when the Saints, with other Creatures, fhall be restored ino a Parauifcal State, appears plain and undeniable from thefe, with many other Scriptures, unto all who do not thut their Eyes, as not being willing to fee.

But if a Cloud of Teftimonies that hath been brought and produced out of the Old and New Teftament, for the proof of Chrifl's Kingdom and the Saints reigning with him, will not fatisfie; it is a wonder to me they are not afhamed, or at leaft blufh, when they have fo many Evidences and Demonftrations held forth in the Holy Scriptures, as it were looking of them in the Face.

Therefore to proeeed, befides what hath been faid, if plain Texts will fatisfie for proof that the Saints fhall reign upon Earth, look into the 37th Pfalm, v. 9. For Evil-doers fall be cut off, but thofe that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the Farth. This Word inherit or poffefs the Earth. is doubtless fynonimous with their reigning upon Earth: For to deny this would be to deny a King's reigning in his Kingdom, when we fay he inherits or poffeffes his Kingdom. Surely if a King inherits and is in the peaceable poffeffion of his Kingdom, there is no fcruple to be made whether he reigns in bis Kingdom or not. I know fome will fay that the Saints do inberit the Earth now. But I well remember that it is eafier to fay fo, than it is to prove that they do

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inherit the Earth. Is not this World a Wilderness to the Saints? Does not our Lord fay, In the orld ye fhall have Tribulation? And that through many Tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God? And he that will live godly in Chrift Jefus, muft fuffer perfecution? Does not the Experience of all the Saints, in all Ages, more or lefs confirm this, that this World is a World of Diftrefs, Trouble, Sorrow, Suffering, and Affliction? How many of the poor Saints are there daily pinched with Poverty? Under great Wants, Straits, and Neceflities ? Are these things agreable and confiftent with their inheriting or poffefling of the Earth? Can this be a Time of reigning, or poffeffing their Kingdom, while they are furrounded with Sorrows, Diftreffes, and Sufferings, on every fide? Surely this would be as much as to fay that Light is Darkness, and Darknefs is Light. How can it be faid then that the Saints do inherit the Earth, when the Word fpeaks quite the contrary? It does not fay they do, but they hall, not in the prefent, but in the future Tenfe. And if the Saints might be faid to inherit the Earth at any time, fure they did, when the Land of Canaan was given to the Ifraclites for a poffeffion: And yet Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, unto whom it was given were but as Strangers and Pilgrims in it. Yea let us go thro' the Time of the Judges and all the Kings of Ifrael, efpecially the Reigns of David and Solomon, when Silver, for the plenty of it, was like the Stones of the Street. And therefore if the People of God did at any time inherit the Earth, fure they might be faid to inherit it then. This is very well known, that the Old Teftament Saints had greater Poffeffions and larger Enjoyments