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Part 2 neither more or less; for the H. Ghoft is not fo cri tical and precife, and often makes ufe of a round and certain number, tofignify one that is uncertain,unlefs when he makes ufe of a broken number, as three and half; for then we cannot doubt, but we are to reckon exadly fo much. So that these two things being always doubtfull, we can never know the precife time of the Judgement day.

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6. object? 16. After this,they fay,that if the Church must reign The World a thousand years on Earth, the World is yet to last for taff a long a long time, which is not likely it should, because while ว the Apofiles even in their days fpoke of the end of the world as a thing approaching, and near at hand. We are in the last times, faith St. Paul. The coming of 1. Chrift is at band, faith St. James. My littie chil dren, It is the last time, faith St. John. They ought to confefs, that thefe paffages make against them, instead of being for them. The Apostles called their Days,the last times, and the last hour, and yet almoft two thousand years have passed since. Thofe Texts therefore must not be taken in too rigid a sense. We have spent one Chapter on purpose in this Book to explain thofe Paffages.

7. Object.

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7. Lastly, they tell us, that according to the Scri The Scri- ptures, at the coming of our Lord J. Chrift, All the peaks but Dead must be raised at once, the Righteous and the of one Re- Wicked: which agrees not with the fuppofition of the Millenaries, who would make one part of the Dead to rife at the beginning of the reign of a thoufand years, and the reft at the end of it. But how can any one fay, that the Scripture faith that, when it fpeaks the quite contrary; that one part of the Dead muftrife firft, which is the first Refurrection; and that the Reft of the Dead are not to rife till the thousand years are fullfilled? There are fome paffages, 'tis wherein the Resurrection of the Good and

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395 Bad is fpoken of, as that which fhall be at the fame Part-2. time; and fo it fhall accordingly be for this first, Refurrection will be but of a very few, viz. of the Ancient Martyrs. The remainder of the Faithful fhall not be raised, till the end of the World. Many Dead were rifen with Chrift, when he rofe, and are certainly with him, body and foul in Heaven. Notwithstanding this, the Scripture fpeaks of the Refurrection of all the Dead, as a thing deferr'd and adjourn'd to the last Day: because one little Exception destroys not a general Rule. Tis ftrange that these Gentlemen find fo much difficulty in this firft Refurrection! Methinks they fhould remember, the many Saints who were raised with Chrift Why may not Chrift raise fome of the New Tefta ment Saints, at the coming of his Kingdom, as well as raife fome of the Ancient Patriarchs, when he rofe from the Grave? However, notwithstanding all that I have faid on this fubject of that first RefurreEtion, I once again declare, that I am not follicitons to decide it. Therefore I have and do again place it among those things which are doubtful. I am informed, that the learned and famous Prof. Mr. Wit fius of Utrecht, hath thought fit to declare his mind on this fubject, in fome publick Lectures. Iam told, that he agrees with me concerning a great change, which is to be in the Church, before the end of the World, with refpect to Manners, Union in Doctrine, and the fpreading of the Chriftian Faith, as. well among the Jews, as among the Nations which as yet are Pagan. He is alfo willing, that the Jews thould hope to return to their own Land, and rebuild Ierufalem. I would ask no more, and am more rejoy't to meet with the concurrence of fo great man in that which is Effential, than I can be troubled that he differs from me, concerning that firft Re

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Part 2 furrection: for I muft acknowledge, that I meet with very great difficulties about it. But when I look upon it on that fide, and in that manner, as I have reprefented it, I find it to be very probable: Nevertheless, I am far from being fully perfwaded of the Truth of it, as I am concerning those Arti cles wherein we two agree.

Thefe I think are all the Objections wherewith thefe Gentlemen oppofe us. For I regard not what they fay, when they tell us, That this Reign of a thousand years is a lewish vifion, a Fancy derived from the impure Fountain of their Traditions. This is to declaim, and not to prove. 'Tis not impoffible but there may remain fomething that is good a mong the Traditions of the Iews; at leaft, St. Paul and St. Inde believed fo. The first learnt from their Tradition the names of the Magicians of Egypti who oppofed Mofes ; and likewife thofe words of Mofes, I exceedingly quake and fear, which we no where read in the Old Teftament. And St. Iude learnt from thence the combat of Michael the Arch-angel with the Devil, for the body of Mofes ; alfo the Prophecy of Enoch. They urge like wife against us a multitude of ancient and modern Authors. But I had rather give credit to Instin Martyr, and Papias, who might have feen St.John, than to all those who have wrote fince. God hath his particular reasons, why he will not that the Prophe ties fhould be understood in every Age.

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