Part 2. is as the Moon, and notwithstanding the nearest approaches of the Sun, there remain vast distances between them. But towards the end of the fixth Period, and throughout the feventh; her union unto Chrift fhall be immediate and intimate as that of a Wife with her Husband; therefore the Church in this feventh Period is reprefented as a Spouse which was to be brought to the Lamb.

Sun,

On the other hand, Jefus Chrift appears under three Emblems. In the fourth Period, as a which scatters the darkness of Idolatry, Paganifm, and Ignorance that covered the face of the Earth. This San is plac't in the fourth point, juft in the middle of the feven, to let us know, that he is the Center of the Church; the Sun which gives light before and behind; to the preceding Ages, and to those which follow him. Towards the end of the fixth Period, and throughout the feventh, he is A man, to whom God gives dominion over the Fowls of the Air, the Fish of the Sea, and creeping things, and four-footed Beafts, i. e. That Chrift in this laft Period shall be Lord and King, who shall rule over the Birds, tame the boldeft and moft afpiring fpirits, who mount even unto the Heavens, he thall humble them, and keep 'em within the bounds of their duty: over the Fish of the Sea, to deliver 'em from their corruption; over Creeping things, to destroy the influence of their poifon : over wild Beafts, to tame their fiercenefs, and render them meek as Lambs. In the first day Jefus Chrift was figured but by a dim Light, becaufe in the first Period of the Church, he vouchfaf't her but a very imperfect knowledge of himself.

This methinks is the Mystery of the fix days;

ry of the

Creation.

which way well ferve as a favourable omen in re- Part 2. ference to the feventh day, because every thing The myfte therein feems to accord well; what then is wanting eventh to the World, after the works of the fix daye, to day of the render it perfect? Holiness and Reft; and thefe are the two Things which God added on the feventh day Holiness, for he Sanctified the feventh day, and thereby the reft of the World. Reft, for till then God had been at work, and the World in Motion. Now God gave the World that Reft which it wanted, in that he himself rested on the feventh day. All this is an admirable Emblem of our fe venth Period, for the fake whereof all this explication of the Type of the Worlds Creation hath been given. During the fix days, God made the Church to pafs through feveral changes, he will bring it to perfection at the end of the fixth, by the ruin of the Antichriffian Kingdom, and by the Converfion of all Nations. What then is wanting to it? Reft and Holiness. Reft, for hitherto fhe hath always been in toyl and Travel. Holiness; for the hath alway been imperfect. We muft therefore look for a feventh Period, which thall be a Kingdom of Reft and Holiness, wherein the Church fhall no more be perfecuted, either by Fire and Sword, or by Herefy and Idolatry; wherein also there fhall be a plentiful effufion ofthe H. Spirit, to produce a great degree of Holiness and Sanctification among men.

be accom

Earth.

We must not fay, that the accomplishment of This mythis Type will be found in Heaven, where is Reft fery shall and Holiness, and that therein is the mystery of plisht upon the feventh day. I fay again, that cannot be meant, because this seventh Period must be of the fame kind and order with the other fix. We even pow observed, that the Sun was created on the

fourth

Part. 2. fourth day, there are three days before, and three after, exactly in the middle of the feven, to fignify that Chrift the Son of Righteousness is the Center of the intelligible World. If he be the Center of the feven Periods; he must certainly have an equal reference to all the points of that Circumference. Now what relation can he have to the feventh day, if Eternity be meant by it? In that Eternal abode Chrift fhall have no more, the relation of a Center, a Sun, and a King. For St. Paul tells us, that then God shall be all in all, and Chrift shall deliver up the Kingdom again to his Father! Moreover, 'tis certain there ought to be a proportion between the feventh Period, and the fix fore-going ones: Now there is none between Eternity and the duration of the Church upon Earth. And lastly, I am bold to fay, that the ancient Types were not eftablifht by God immediately, to figure Heavenly Things, but only the Graces and Favors of God in this World, under the Kingdom of the Meffiah; You cannot fhow me any one of the ancient Types, which hath an immediate relation to the glories of the Heavenly Paradife. The marriage of Adam and Eve was the immediate Type of the Union be tween Chrift and his Church, in the Kingdom of his Grace. It did only mediately typify their Union in the Kingdom of Glory. By confequence this feventh day, which all acknowledge to be Typical, muft have its immediate relation not to the Sabbath of the Church in Heaven, but to its State of Ref upon Earth:

CHAP

Part a

CHAP. XXIII

A farther Confirmation of the future prosperity of the Church upon Earth. The 21, and 22. Chap. of the Apocalypfe interpreted: that in thofe Chapters the Church is defcribed as victorious upon Earth, and not as Triumphant in

Heaven.

of Ezekiel

WE may not pass from the Apocalyps, without faying fomewhat concerning the last Chapters. If we needed another Head of Arguments to prove our notion of the Reign of Christ for a thouI fand years, and the Triumphant ftate of the Church upon Earth, before its final glorious Triumph in Heaven; we might be furnifht from these last Chapters. For they are not, as is commonly fuppofed, a defcription of the Church in Heaven. They The Pro exactly answer to the nine laft Chapters of the Pro-phecy of phecy of Ezekiel. That Prophet in thofe nine laft Chapters Chapters, fets forth in a figurative manner the con- is the fame dition of the Church of Ifrael after its restoration with that their glorious Kingdom, and the wonderful Peace Chapt. of they fhould injoy after their return; which return the Apoce or recalling was to be after the fall of Antichrift. St. John gives an account what the Church fhall be after with relation to that Fall, after it shall have bin accomplisht; fo that both these Prophets defcribe the Church, as to the fame Period, and the fame condition. This will eafily appear, if we briefly run over that which remains of the Apocalypfe. It cannot be questioned, but that our Prophet conRr

cludes

of the laft

Lypse

Fart 2. cludes the 20th Chapter with a defcription of the laft day of Judgement. The war of Gog and Mafollows upon the reign of a thousand years, to the revolt of Gog and Magog fucceeds their defeat, after their defeat there is nothing but the last day, which fhall come and furprize the World in the twinkling of an eye. This is fignified by thofe words:

Chap. 20.

The firft

V.11. Then I saw a great white Throne, and him that fat on it, from whofe face the Earth and Heaven fled way, and there was found no place for them. White as well as Purple is a Royal colour, and withal a Prieftly; for the Priefts were clothed in white. The Holy Prieft's garments on the day of Expiation, according to the tradition of the Jews, were called Bigdei Lavan, white garments. In like manner he that fat upon the Throne is our King and Prieft. The Earth and the Heaven fled from his face; for they fhall be burnt, that they may be renewed.

V.12. And I saw the dead fmall and great ftand before God, &c. 'Tis a defcription of the last Judgement, to the end of the Chapter; all this is plain.

The 21. Chapter begins with these words, And I faw a new Heaven and a new Earth; for the first Heaven and the first Earth were paffed away. These Vifion of words do evidently allude to what he had faid juft 21 Chapt: before, and the Heaven and the Earth fled away: V. refpects As that was interpreted of what should happen at follows the the laft day of Judgement; it is clear, that thefe end of the new Heavens and this new Earth must be underworld.

to the 9th

that which

ftood in a literal, and not a figurative sense, for the new World after it hath been refined by fire. And fo the defcription we read of here, even to the ninth Verfe, is that of eternal Rewards and

Punish