Part 2 of the Good fhall one day as much exceed that of the wicked, as now the number of the wicked doth that of the Good.

Chap. II. 6, &c.

Prophecies

But that these Oracles are not accomplisht, we fhall be fully convinc't, if we proceed to thofe Prophets who were fent on purpofe to Characterize theKingdom of J.Chrift. Among whom the Prophet Ifaiah fhines as a Sun among the Stars. It would be neceffary to make a juft Commentary on all his Book; to make it plain, that what he fore-told is not come to pafs: For most of his Prophecies have for their object this glorious and bleffed ftate of the Church, in its laft Period. But to be as fhort as may be, Ifhall reduce all that he hath faid of the Church under the Meffiah, to these two Articles. 1. Its Righteousness and Holiness. 2. Its Peace and Profperity; and thall make it evident, that neither the one or the other have been fulfilled to that degree which they ought to be fulfilled, according to thofe Prophecies,

For the Righteoufnefs and Holiness of the Church, the Prophet Ifaiah faith, That the woolf of the fu- shall feed with the Lamb, & the Leopard he down ture Holi- with the Kid; the Calf, and the young Lion, and Church the Farling together, and a little child shall lead

nels of the

them. The Cow and the Bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together; and the Lion shall eat ftraw like the Ox; And the fucking Child shall play on the hole of the Afp, and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den.. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain: for the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea. Behold the most ravishing and fair defcription of it that can be feen. It amounts to a return of the State of Innocence. Tis plain the Prophet borrowed

his Characters of it from that Happy state of the Part 2. firft Man, wherin he was filled with the knowledge of God and his Righteoufnefs. And during which the brute Animals were innocent, kind, and gentle, as himself. 'Tis alfo undeniable, that this Prophecy refpects the days of the Meffiah.

which for

great

not

accom

plisht.

But I would fain be told fincerely, whether this oracle hath ever yet been accomplisht? in what time, in what place, in what age or generation of the world? It will doubtlefs be answered, that it was in the Apoftolical Church, and in the time of the Apostles; for only in that new-born Church, could it be faid, that there was none to hurt or deftroy, that Wolves, and Lions, and Bears became Lambs. Yet even in that new-born Church The ProWolves and Lions might be found. But it cannot phecies be of that Church which the Prophet there fpeaks, told the because he fpeaks of a time, when the knowledge at Folie of the Lord fhould fill the Earth, which then it Church are did not. For this great Holinefs, this admirable union is reprefented to us only in the Church of Ierufalem Moreover, we fee not that this lafted. for any confiderable time. There is a great deal of difference between the Church, in the first. ༤༥ Chapters of the Acts, when Believers had but one heart and one foul and the Church we read. of towards the end of the fame Book, where were falfe zealots who oppofed St. Paul for having preached to the Gentiles. Befides, Ifaiah fpeaks not of the Holiness of fome particular perfons, but of a general Sanctification. That a time fhall come, when Righteousness fhall univerfally cover the focieties of men, as the waters cover the bottom of the Sea. I know well enough that the Prophets do oftentimes make ufe of the figure. called Hyperbole. But in truth, the Hyperbole here

004

would

Part 2. would be forc't, and carried too far, and would not be intelligible, if the Holy Spirit fhould fo defcribe the Church of the first Ages, where were fome Incestuous, fome Adulterers, fome Heretiques, Schifmaticks, Apoftates, and all forts of crimes. De Lapfis. We need but read the writings of St. Cyprian, to be assured, that in the good days of the Church, there were already things very horrid and abominable. Every one may think as he fhall please, but for my own part, I expect from this prophecy, fuch an age wherein Holiness fhall as much exceed vice, as vice now doth exceed and overtop vertue.

Chap. 32. V. 15. 16.

Chap. 35.

8,9.

go up

We read alfo in the fame Prophet, that the Spirit shall be poured from on high upon us, and the wildernefs be a fruitfull field, and the fruitfull field a forrest. Judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and Righteousness remain in the fruitfull field. The work of Righteoufnefs shall be Peace, and the effect of Righteousness, quietness and affurance for ever. An high way shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of Holiness, the unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No Lion' shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall thereon, it shall not be found there. All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the Peace of thy Children, thou shalt be eft ablisht Chap. 59. in Righteoufnefs. This is the Covenant I will make with you, faith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, or out of the mouth of thy feed, nor of thy feeds feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. And they shall call them, the Holy People, the redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, fought out, a City not forsaken. Add to this the Prophecy of feremy.

Chap. 54.

13, 14.

21,22.

Chap. 62.

32.

Chap. 31.

33.

This shall be the Covenant that I will make with Part 2. the house of Ifrael; I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my People, and they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour, and every man his Brother, saying, know the Lord, for they shall all know me from the leaft of them unto the greatest, faith the Lord. Thefe Prophecies fpeak four things 1. They paint out the State of the Church under the Meffah. 2. They defcribe it by a more then ordinary Holiness, that fhall every where be poured out. 3. By a perfevering Holiness to which no return to vice, or no apoftacy fhall fucceed. For 'tis faid, the Spirit of God shall not depart from them, or their feed, or feeds feed. 4. Lastly, This is a Holiness, whereof the Jewish Nation is to have the chiefeft part. For 'tis to that People, and concerning them that God fpeaks.

Now I demand, whether any one can show me that age of the Church, wherein fuch an Holiness, which anfwers the Idea given us by these Prophe-" cies, can be found, where we fhall meet with a perfevering Holinefs? If the Church for any time hath been pure, that hath not continued from one Generation to another; yea, let fuch an Age be named, wherein the Ifraelitish Nation did pertake of this Evangelical Holiness. Hath not that People been always obftinate, unbelieving, Enemies to Christ, without faith in refpect of men, as well as in reference to God? we muft than open our eyes, and confefs, that there fhall be a Kingdom of Holinefs, fuch a one as fhall fill all Nations, and not fubject to thofe unhappy Revolutions, that by corru-" ption have changed the face of the Church from year to year. Thus far Righteousness and Holiness.

A

Part 2. Next we are to confider the Peace and Profperity Glorious of the Church, whereof the Prophets (peak more of the largely, and in an higher ftrain, becaufe under the peace of the Images of Temporal Profperity, they fet forth that

Prophecies

Church.

If.2, 4.

19.

Spiritual Profperity, which we have spoken of under the names of Holinefs and Righteousness. Concerning Peace,the Prophet Ifaiah faith,that they shall beat their fwords into Plough-shares, and their Spears into pruning-hooks that Nation shall not rife against Nation; neither shall they learn war any more. Concerning its future Profperity, he 6.41.18, faith, The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unftop't, the lame shall leap as the Hart, and the tongue of the Dumb shall fing for joy. I will open Rivers in high places, and Fountains in the midst of Valleys. I will make the wilderness a Pool of water, and the dry Land fprings of water. I will plant in the wilderness the Cedar, the Pine, the Myrtle, and the Olive-tree; and I will fet in the defert the Fir-tree, the Pine, c. 49.10, and the Box tree together. They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat or Sunfmite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the rings of water shall be guide them. e. 55. 12, I will make all my Mountains a way; and my high ways shall be exalted; ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. The Mountains and the Hills shall break forth before you into finging, and all the Trees of the Field shall clap their hands. Inftead of the Thorn, shall come np the Firr-tree; and inftead of the Bryer, shall come up the Myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a Name, and for an everlasting Sign, that shall not be cut off. The Sun shall be no more thy Light by day, neither for brightIf.60.19. nefs shall the Moon give Light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light, and

II.

thy