A briefe discovery of the blasphemous Doctrine of Familisme.
THat which occasioned me to write and publish this Discovery, was some Doctrines delivered in a house within the Spittle-yard without Bishops-gate, neere
London, by one Mr.
Randoll, whom I was requested (by some friends) to heare. And observing the multitude of people that followed him, and how they were affected with his doctrine, which I did plainly perceive was the very grounds of Familisme contained in the writings of
H. N. I hereupon thought good a little to inform the people therof; whereat some were much offended, and one mocked and said, See what an old man here is, and what a child here is And I asked one of them, if he did believe that the bodies of men which were dead and buried in the earth, should be raised to life againe: and he answered me saying, I cannot tel. And I mentioning Christs resurrection from the dead, one answered, Christ was not then a true man but onely God: and another affirmed, that he had known Christ after the flesh. And I asked him when and where; but hee would give me no answer. Whereupon I said, See how this people are taught. And a woman answered and said unto me, I think if you did speak with the Minister, you should not find him of their mind. And I told her she was deceived, he thought the same things. So I left them for that time.
And after this, I having a desire to heare him yet more, and that the people should be better informed, I came again, and brought with me five or six papers, wherein I had written these words following:
This Gentleman, Mr. Randall,
doth delude the people with the deceitfull doctrine of Familisme, which I will undertake to prove by the things he hath delivered; and that he therein doth pervert the straight way of the Lord, and destroy the hope of the Saints, as much as in him lieth.
And when his Sermon was ended, and that upon consideration
[Page 2] of a point of doctrine he delivered, that a man baptized with the holy Ghost, knew all things, even as God knew all things, which himselfe greatly admired as a deep mystery, and likened it to the great Ocean, where there is no casting Anchor, nor sounding the bottome, I said unto the people, This man hath many great words, and a great deale of deceit. And some of them being much displeased, and moved with anger at my saying, I went down out of the house into the yard, and gave one of the forementioned papers unto a man that was of Mr.
Randals acquaintance, and requested him to give it him: and a friend of mine whom the man knew, told him, that we desired to speak with Mr.
Randal. And about three or four dayes after, my friend spake with the man, whose name, (as I now understand) was Mr
Cullumbeame, and asked him concerning the motion of speaking with him, and he told him that Mr.
Randall was very willing: and so they appointed the day and hour, and place of meeting to that purpose, w
ch was on Tuesday the week following, being the 25. of
February, at two of the clock in the afternoon, and at the house of the said Mr.
Cullumbeame, a Grocer in
Thames street, London. So at the day and houre appointed, I (with five or six of my acquaintance) came to the house, and staid about the space of two houres, waiting for Mr.
Randall, but he came not. Then I having a paper, wherein I had written a few Arguments for proofe of the forementioned charge, I gave it to Mr.
Cullumbeame, and wished him to give it Mr.
Randall, and request him to give us his answer to the same in writing: and so we departed.
The Arguments were these following:
1. Whosoever shall teach and perswade the people, that the perfection and resurrection spoken of by
Paul, 1
Corinth. 15.51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57.
Philip. 3.11, 12, 13, 14.
Ephes. 4.12.13.
Heb. 6.1. (which in verse 18. the Apostle calleth,
The hope set before us, and describeth through the rest of the Epistle following, by the names of the true
Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man, Heb. 8.2.
Good things to come, &c. chap. 9.11.
An eternall inheritance, vers. 15.
An enduring substance, chap. 10.34.
Great recompence of reward, vers. 35.
A Citie having foundations, whose builder and maker is God, chap. 11.10.
An heavenly countrey, and a Citie prepared of God, vers. vers. 16.
A better resurrection, v. 35.
A kingdome which cannot be moved, chap. 12.28.
A Citie to come, chap. 13.14.) are to bee attained in the fulnesse and perfection of them, according to these
[Page 3] testimonies. Now in this present time, before the common death of the body, doth herein teach and perswade to the deceitfull Doctrine of
Familisme, taught by
Henry Nicholas, the principall Author thereof, and so deludeth the people therewith.
But Mr.
Randall doth so teach and perswade, as sundry persons that heard him can witnesse. Therefore he doth so delude with that deceit.
2. Whosoever shall teach and perswade, that such as are baptized with the baptisme of the holy Ghost, have from thenceforth nothing to doe with the Law, nor with the baptisme of repentance which
John preached, but away with the Law, and away with
John Baptist from such a one, doth herein pervert the straight way of the Lord, not onely in denying the baptized with the baptisme of the holy Ghost, the use of the Law of God to delight therein, and serve the same in his minde, as
Paul saith,
Rom. 7. but also in rejecting the estate of a repentant broken contrite heart, whereof the Prophet
Esay speaketh, saying,
Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people: For thus saith the high and lofty, One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy,
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite ones, Esay 57.14.15. The repentant contrite heart being it which the holy Ghost purgeth and cleanseth, comforteth and reviveth daily; and the baptisme of repentance, and the baptisme of the holy Ghost being the parts of the new birth from above, wherein he that is born anew walketh, and goeth on daily, weeping and yet rejoycing, dying and yet living, sowing in teares his pretious seed in an assured hope one day to reap in joy, and come to a Citie and Kingdome promised.
But Mr.
Randall doth so teach and perswade (as is aforesaid:) Therefore he therein perverteth the straight way of the Lord, as doth H. N. the Arch-Familist.
3. Whosoever shall teach and perswade, that the things spoken of by
Paul, 1
Cor. 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57. are to be attained and fulfilled now, in this present time in those that are baptized with the ho-Ghost, doe thereby make Christ to be already come the second time to such, without sin unto salvation, according to
Heb. 9.28. Death to be swallowed up in victory, as 1
Cor. 15.54. according to
Hosea 13.14. The sting of death, which is sin, to be quite taken away.
[Page 4] And all the great and eternall promises to bee already fulfilled in them; and so destroy the hope of the Saints as touching the personall comming of Christ in his glory to judge the quick and the dead, and of the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints, and of the kingdome, glory, and life everlasting of body and loule hereafter to come, which the Scriptures so much speak of, and all the Saints assuredly look for.
But Mr.
Randall, as well as H. N. the oldest Familist, doth so teach and perswade: Therefore he as well as H. N. doth hereby destroy (as much as in him lieth) the hope of the Saints: And so the whole charge is fully proved.
4. Whosoever shall teach and affirme, that every creature in the first estate of creation, was God, because they were made by the word of God, doth therein teach and affirme a very erroneous and blasphemous thing. But Mr.
Randall doth so teach and affirme: Therefore, &c.
And although (as I confesse) he said, mistake me not, I doe not say the creature is the Creator, neither doe I say, Man is God; that were blasphemy: for man is vanity, yea a lie, yet did not Mr.
Randall hereby contradict his first doctrine: for if I should ask him and say, Did God by his word make vanity, or a lie? No doubt he would answer and say, No. What is that man then which hee calls a lie, and vanity? Doubtlesse he means man in his fall, and so the creature, though he denieth it to be the Creator, yet he denieth it not to be God, no more then he denieth the Word or Sonne of God to be God, because he is not, nor can be the Father. This Mr.
Randall counts not blasphemy, but I affirme it is.
Neither because the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost is one God, are the Saints which are baptized with the holy Ghost, therefore God also.
Neither because they have the holy Ghost dwelling in them, doe they therefore know all things as God knoweth all things, as Mr.
Randall taught and affirmed, according as
H. N. hath done.
5. Whosoever shall presume to turn the holy Writings and saying of
Moses and the Prophets, of Christ and his Apostles, and the proper names, persons and things mentioned and contained therein, into allegories, and give them out to be the mystery and spirituall meaning of the same, The holy Ghost in the writings or sayings of
Moses and the Prophets, of Christ and his Apostles) having not
[Page 5] so done, nor left any rule or direction for it, doth therein presume above that which is written; and so addeth to, and taketh from the sayings, writings, and prophesies of the holy Scriptures, and deceiveth the people, themselves also being deceived. But Mr.
Randall as well as
H. N. hath so done, as by the Sermons of the one, and the printed books of the other compared together, may appear. Therefore.
And so Sir, not to mention every thing delivered by you, against which just exception may be taken, wee desire you to consider of these things, and to give us your answer in writing. And beleeve us, we have not the least thought of raising persecution against you, as you perhaps or some other may think, nor of wronging you any kind of way: onely our desire and end is, that the truth may bee known unto us all, and that we should not delude, nor be deluded. And so I rest your Christian friend,
These were given to Mr.
Randoll by the said Mr.
Cullumbeam, but hee returneth no answer, nor will, as some that are of his hearers, and inward with him, say, as from himselfe.
And now to the end all men may see that Mr.
Randall is not wronged in the forementioned charge, I will here set down the own words of
H.N. with his quotations, as they stand printed in his book intituled,
The joyfull Message of the Kingdome.
As first in his Preface, where he hath these words:
COnsider on the time, O all yee people which love the truth of Jesu Christ.
Presently in this day of the love and of the appearing of the comming of our Lord Iesu Christ in the resurrection of the dead, wherein the Law,
Esay 65. 1 Cor. 15. the Prophets, and all what is written of Christ, becommeth fulfilled.
And in Chap. 1. he hath these words:
H.N. Through the grace and mercy of God, and through the holy Spirit of the love of Iesu Christ, raised up by the highest
[Page 6] God from the death,
Iohn 6. Act. 17. Eph. 2. Rom. 8. Ephes. 4. Ioh. 14. Apoc. 21. Iohn 1. 1 Iohn 1. Ier. 33. 1 Cor. 13. Apoc. 14. Esay. according to the providence of God, and his promises, anointed with the holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Iesu Christ, Godded with God in the Spirit of his love, made heire with Christ in the heavenly goods of the riches of God, illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth, the true light of the perfect being, elected to a Minister of the gracious word, which is now in the last time raised up by God according to his promises, in the most holy services of God under the obedience of his love, for to publish now in the last time, out of the same grace and heartie mercifulnesse of God, and through the same holy Spirit of the love of Iesu Christ, good tidings, or a joyfull message of the Kingdome of God unto all people, &c.
And in Sentence 9. of the same chapter he hath these words:
Esay 3. Matth. 24.25. Iude 1. Esay 16. Acts 17. Zach. 8.FOr behold in this present day the glorious comming of the Lord Iesu Christ, with the many thousands of his Saints, be commeth manifested, which hath set himselfe now upon the Seat of his majesty, for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordained or appointed, the whole world with equity and with faithfulnesse, and truth, according to his righteousnesse.
For that cause, O all yee which dwell upon the earth, feare now the Lord the most highest, and give him alone all honour, laud, and praise: for the day of his judgement is now come:
Apoc. 14. that it mought now in the same day of the true judgment of God and Christ,
Luke 22. become all fulfilled in Christ, whatsoever is written of him.
Sentence 10.
And in chap. 34. (he having before from chap. 31. to this 34. spoken of the Catholick Church of
Rome, of the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Sextons, Services, Ceremonies, &c. and in great commendations of them for their time, untill contentions arose about them) saith here:
BƲt the while now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians flourished in their vigor, and that the discordable minds, out of the knowledge of the Scripture, did daily increase to a more intangling, with much contending and disputation of Christ, and of his Services and Ceremonies. And that many good willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousnesse,
Matth. 5. searched the Scriptures for to understand the truth and will of God,
Exod. 3. Psal. 9. and to live therein, with great diligence and zeale, and sighed, and prayed unto God. So bath God at last remembred the desolate hearts, the sighings and prayers
[Page 7] of the poore, and for his chosen sake, (to the end that his truth and what his will is, mought before all lovers of the truth,
Matth. 24. Abac. 3. Acts 13. Ioh. 6. Acts 17. Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 6. 2 Cor. 4. Ephes. 2. Ezek. 37. Iohn 17. 2 Pet. 1. Iohn 14. 2 Cor. 6. Apoc 21. Psal. 45. & 89. Esay 16. Esay 2. Ioel 2. Acts 2. Gen. 2
[...]. Matth. 24. Apoc. 14. Psal 4. & 68. Rom. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 2 Reg. 7. Psal. 98. Esai. 16. & 32. & 42. Ier. 23. & 35. Acts 17. be made manifest or declared, and the Scripture fulfilled) shortned the dayes according to his promises, and through the hearty mercifulnesse of his love, wrought a great and wonderfull work upon earth out of his holy heaven, and raised up me
H. N. the least among the holy ones of God, which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead, from the death, and made me alive through Christ, as also anointed me with his godly being, manned himselfe with me, and Godded me with him, to a living Tabernacle or House for his dwelling, and a seat of his Christ the seed of
David, to the end that his wonderfull works mought now in the last time be known, the light of his glory with full clearnesse and instruction revealed, and the comming of his Kingdome to an Evangelie of the same Kingdome, and to the blessing of all generations of the earth, published in all the world, according to the Scriptures.
Behold and consider my beloved, how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones, and how that in this day or light of the love, the judgment seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of heaven, to a righteous judgement upon earth, from the right hand of God. And how that on the same judgment seat of Christ, that the Scriptures mought be fulfilled, there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of
David, which judgeth uprightly, thinketh upon equity, and requireth righteousnesse.
Through him God will now in this day which he himselfe hath appointed, or ordained thereunto, judge the compasse of the earth with righteousnesse.
In which this same day, or last time, namely in the perfection of the works of God, and in his righteous judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himselfe and his Christ together with all his Saints, unto us his elect, and also made a dwelling with as, and brought even so unto us out of his holy Being, the most holy of his true Taberncle, with the fulnesse of his garnishing and spirituall heavenly riches, to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem, and house for Gods dwelling, according to the Scriptures. The which is the very true undisturbable Kingdome, full of all godly power, joy, and of all heavenly beautifulnesse; wherein the laud of the Lord with fulnesse of the eternall life and lovely sweetnesse is sung from everlasting to everlasting. And wherein all mindes of pure hearts doe dwel, live and walk with freedome and Christian triumph in all love.
This great day light of the most high God hath presently in his righteous judgement shined about us, &c.
Sent. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.
[Page 8] And in chap. 35, Sentence 8. these words:
Esay 26. Dan. 12. 4 Esdr. 7. 1 Thess 4. Matth. 24 & 25. Luke 17. Acts 1. Matth. 24. Apoc. 14.BEhold, in this present day is this Scripture fulfilled, and accrrding to the testimony of the Scripture, the raising up and the resurrection of the Lord, dead c mmeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his majesty; which resurrection of the dead, seeing that the same is come unto us from Gods grace, we do likewise in this present day to an Evangelie or joyfull message of the kingdome of God, and Christ, publish in all the world under the obedience of the love.
9. In which resurrection of the dead God showeth unto us that the time is now fulfilled,
Esay 26. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thess. 4. that his dead, or the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord, rise up in this day of his judgement, and appeare unto us in godly glory, which shall also from henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ, and reigne upon the earth, wherein the Scripture becommeth fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof,
Deut. 32. The Lord shall judge his people &c.
And in chapter 38. Sentence 2.
VVHerefore awake now all, lift up your heads, heare and see the wonderfull acts of God,
Matth. 24. Luk. 21. Cor. 15. Thess. 4. and have regard unto the sound of the last Trumpet, and consider, the forefrunt of the true Tabernacle of God, wherein the beginning of the true God service, and of the upright Christian life, becometh erected, &c.
So farre are
H. N. his own words, with his quotations in the Margine.
And that he makes the anointing or sanctification of the holy Ghost, which he calleth the perfection, holinesse and the Sabbath, to be the Christ; and the contrary anointing the nature of sinne, and child of the Devill, as he calls it, to be the Antichrist which the Scripture speaketh of, it is manifest by his owne words, Chap. 18. and sundry other places of the book of his Evangely, wherein also many other matters of the like nature, all grounded on the forementioned principles, are spoken by him, too many for me here to relate.
Compare now the Sermons of Mr.
Randall and those Doctrines of
H. N. together, and you shall see how Mr.
Randall (like a right disciple of
H. N.) followeth him therein.
And here you may see by the writings of
H. N. before rehearsed, in what an allegoricall and mysticall sense he expoundeth all
[Page 9] those Scriptures, which he coats in the margent, making the coming of Christ in his glory, and his sitting in the Throne of his glory spoken of,
Matth. 24.30. and 25.31. the day of judgement, and sounding of the last trumpet, spoken of also by
Paul, 1
Cor. 15. 1
Thes. 4. the resurrection from the dead, and every thing else in the same places mentioned, the perfection, the incorruption, the salvation, and all whatsoever the Scriptures have spoken concerning the everlasting kingdome and glory of Christ and his Saints, now, in this present day of
H.N. and his family of love, and in them, and by them, to become all fulfilled.
And now, This being their very doctrine (as their own words do plainly and often in their doubling kind of speaking) declare, it necessarily followeth, that they who are fully possest with the belief thereof, neither have nor can have the least hope or expectation of any other coming of Christ hereafter, of a perfection, of a resurrection of the body, of an eternall life, salvation, glory, rest, peace, paradise, city, kingdome to come.
And the case being so, that their hope and happinesse is only here in this their new & last day, as they speak then it is best for them to rejoyce and be glad while their day lasteth, and deck themselves here with Rose buds before they be withered, to take their fill of pleasure: as in youth to eat and drink, for to morrow they shall die, and all will be past.
And then what are all their pretended spirituall joyes, but meere fancies? A man that imbraceth all the pleasures that this world can afford, and his carnall appetite shall desire, is in as happy a case as they; for if the body being dead, shall rise and live no more, nor the spirit after that have any sense of his being or felicity, more then it had before the body was, or can now remember or think of that it ever had (which is also a point or consequence of their doctrine) then
Augustus Cesar, that Pagan Emperor, who lived and raigned so long in wealth and glory in pompe and pleasure, was a happier man far then any of them. And so all the great and glorious boastings of
H.N. the high stile and manifold rare tiles, he ascribeth to himself, will prove to be no better then blasphemies against God and against Christ, and against the Holy Ghost; and all his sweet intising words of his Evangely, and his pleasing Allegories, though carrying never so fair a shew of godlinesse, to be nothing else but meere inchantments, to delude the minds, and feed the fancies of people.
And what are all his threatnings and sentences of judegment and condemnation he pronounceth against those that reject his doctrine, but a devillish device to feare the people, himself being filled with the spirit of pride and high presumption.
[Page 10]Besides, if there be no other resurrection nor salvation then what is now presently, as H. N. saith, then what condemnation is there other, then what is also now presently; and so when the body dieth, condemnation endeth.
Therefore, let all true faithfull Christians, whose hope is not here in this life only, but hereafter chiefly, conclude against this H. N. otherwise
Henry Nicolas, that he was, and is a lyer, an Antichrist, a blasphemer, and so let him go.
And let Mr.
Randall and all his hearers and followers take heed, and before-warn'd in time, (and not begin to frame arguments in their minds, and say, It is not M.
Randall and we only that teach and entertain this doctrine of H. N. there have been and are, great Doctors of Divinity, so called, yea, and some great Peers, and Persons of quality, and estate in this land, as elsewhere, that have taught and entertained the same with great affection, and high applause, I say, let them not reason thus: for although this be true, as I my self do partly know, having had speech with some of them forty yeeres ago, and sundry times since, and with one great person severall times, who plainly professed the doctrine of H. N. and stood to maintain by argument, that every creature is God, and that there was not a resurrection of the body after the common death therof to be expected, whereupon I hearing him, and speaking with him, said, My Lord, out of all doubt, the whole doctrine of H.N. is a very blasphemous deceit, and requested him to beware of it, and did what I could to inform him in the truth which I knew, and said H. N. doth admit and will have it, that men may, and shall have wives and children in his resurrection in a successive manner continually, but Christ saith, that they which shall be counted worthy of that world to come, and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, to which hee suddenly replyed, saying, no, they shall not marry, nor be given in marriage, they shall take them wives; and I presently answered, but Christ saith, they shall be as the Angels in heaven, whereunto he replyed not.
Now, what of all this? and that there have been Doctors, aed others that have taught the doctrine of H. N. as one D.
Everet, one
Shaw, and at this present one D.
Gill, publikely in the midst of this city of
London, and one that went from hence to
Redding, D. Pordage, who was in expectation of (if he he hath not obtained) the chief publike place there; all whom I have both heard and spoken with, and know that they have usually taught the same doctrine; although this be so, I say, and that
[Page 11] some of my own speciall acquaintance, neer forty yeeres agoe fell unto the same, yet is not all this a sufficient argument to perswade mee or any Christian else to entertain or believe the doctrine. Nay, there is as great reason in that kinde for the Turks, and for Christians also to believe their
Mahomet and his doctrine, as there is for me or any Christian else to believe this Dutchman
Henry Nicolas and his doctrine.
Although I confesse, as touching my self, I being in my youth zealously affected, was very inquisitive into those severall sorts of Religions which I heard of, then professed, & was as apt naturally, as another to be seduced, some way or other from the truth, and had been, but that the Lord of his goodnes (he having of his free grace shewed mercy unto me in giving me repentance and forgiveness of my sins) by the same grace kept me. And as touching this of H. N. especially (praised be the Lord) I never had any the least inclination in my mind toward it, but have always since the time that I first saw into it, oppos'd the same as a very blasphemous deceit, though I have bin by some very falsely charged with it.
And now, because some may object and say, the Scriptures speake plainly in some places of a perfection, and resurrection, and of an entrance into the rest of God and everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, here in this present time, as
Mat. 19.21.
Phil. 3.15.
Joh. 5.25.
Heb. 4 3.
Rev. 20.5.6.
Col. 2.12.
& 3.1. 2
Pet. 1.11.
To this I answer and confesse it is true, that in the Spirit the faithfull have through faith an entrance into the eternall rest of God & kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so are risen from the dead, and live, and shall not come into condemnation, soul nor body, and this is called perfection, the first resurrection & renovation spirituall, the first fruits of the Spirit, &c. but this is not the perfection nor the resurrection spoken of,
Joh. 5.28.
Joh. 6.39.40, 44. so
Luk. 20.35. 1
Cor. 15.32. 1
Thes. 4.16
Phil. 3.11.
Heb. 6.1. Neither is this entrance into the rest of God and kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ, the full possession promised the Saints, and which they look for: But they presse hard toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, looking unto that which is before them, and not casting off any of the principles or beginings of Christ, as to say as Mr.
Randall did, away with this, or away with that, nay, but only not to look upon them as if that were all, but to leave and forget them in that respect, as things behind, and yet neverthelesse, as
Paul also saith, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by one rule, &c.
Phil. 3.16.
The prize of the high calling, being the full perfection and possession of all things promised, even
the Crown of righteousnesse,
[Page 12] concerning which
Paul saith,
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.7.
And although the very perfection of the Law of God be now required of the Snints, and that they are to set the same before them as a perfect mark, as well in respect of the Spiritual intent thereof, as the literal to love and delight therein with their whole soule, and to keep it in the very perfection, not in part, or for an hour or day, but fully and continually, yet do they not attain thereunto here, nor can, though D. G. one of the Doctors of Familisme before mentioned hath very much laboured to prove, they may and can) but they sigh and mourn, and weep, because of their sins, and daily failings, and would fain keep it perfectly, (this is the law of their mind through the spirit) but they have another law in their members, which leadeth them captive to the law of sin and of death, and yet neverthelesse (they crying out against themselves, bewailing the same, do assuredly believe that they shall be delivered from their body of sin and death, as
Paul saith,
Rom. 7. the sting of death which is sin, shall be taken away, and death swallowed up in victory, when the Lord cometh, as he also saith 1
Cor. 15. And as touching the coming of the Lord at the last day, it is not to be understood in a mystical manner, in the Spirit onely, as H. N. would have it, as if Christ had left or quite put off his humane person; neither because Christ hath been, is, and will be with his Church and chosen people to the end of the world, in respect of his Spirit according to his promise, to instruct, to guide, and comfort them, is the presence of his Spirit, to be taken for this coming, nor the instruction, guidance, comfort of the Spirit (which the Apostle himself at that present time injoyed) the resurrection he speaks of, 1
Cor. 15. as H.N. and the teachers of Familisme would have it; Nay, but the Lords coming shall be in a most open, manifest and glorious manner; so as that every eye shall see him, and all shall know him to be the very same man, Jesus the Chiist that was crucified and pierced at Jerusalem, he shall in person really and truly come, as the cleer Words of the Scripture speak,
Matth. 24.30
Rev. 1.7. and sundry other places: and this resurrection shall be also in a most plain and evident manner; all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce, and shall come forth, and that truly and really, as the Word saith,
Joh. 5.28, 29. Then
Abraham, Isaac, &
Jacob, and all the holy Fathers before them, and the holy children after them, which sleep in the dust of the earth, shall come forth out of their caves, tombs, graves,
[Page 13] and places where they have slept, each bone of every one shall come to his bone and sinnes shall knit them together, skin shall cover them, breath shall enter into them, and they shall live and stand upon their feet according as
Ezekiel prophesied 37. and as
Paul testifieth 1
Cor. 15. 1
Thes. 4. and also Christ himself,
Rev. 20.12.13, 14.
And when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sonne of Man (for so hee stileth himselfe) shall indeed so come in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, as he hath said,
Matth. 25.
Then shall he sit in the Throne of his glory, even in that Throne whereof he spoke unto
David, concerning him, saying,
I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall bee of thy sonnes, and I will establish his Kingdome, and he shall build me an house, and I will estabbish his throne for ever, I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And I will not take my mercy away from him as I took it away from him that was before thee. But I will settle him in my house, and in my kingdome for ever, and his throne shall bee established for evermore, 1
Chron. 17.11, 12, 13, 14.
And again,
Once have I have I sworn by my Holinesse, that I will not lie unto David, his seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the Sunne before me, it shall endure for ever as the Moon, and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven, Psa. 89. According to which the holy Angel
Gabriel spake unto his mother
Mary, saying,
He shall be great, and shal be called the son of the highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reigne over the house of Iacob for ever, and of his kingdome there shall be no end, Luke 1.32, 33.
And as God the Father will settle his Son Jesus Christ in his House and in his kingdome for ever, and in the throne of his father
David, even upon his holy hill of Sion, as he also said,
Psal. 2. and establish the same throne for evermore. So
will he give unto him the he
[...]hen for his inheritance, and the utmost ends of the earth for his possession: hee shall breake them with a rod of iron, and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessell. He shall also have dominion from Sea to Sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him, and the enemy shall lick the dust: yea, all Kings shall fall downe before him, all Nations shall serve him, Psa. 772.
What can be more plainly spoken then these things are? These are no mysticall fantasies, nor allegories of humane invention, as those of H. N. are, but they are the most true Oracles of God.
Now at this present time Christ sitteth in the throne of God the Father at his right hand in the heavens, reigning in the supreme kingdome
[Page 14] with him, and there he is to sit and reigne yet a little while, till God hath put downe all enemies under his feet. And then at the last day when he commeth, he is to resigne and deliver up the same unto God even the Father, as it is written, 1
Cor. 15.
Psa. 89. And then is he to take possession of his own kingdome and throne, which God the Father had promised and appointed unto him long agoe, even the throne & kingdome of his Father
David (it being Gods kingdome also) to reigne over the house of
Iacob for ever, as it was foretold, 1
Chron. 17.
Luke 1.31, 32. Not in this corrupt world, where and while his enemies rule and reigne, but in that which is to come, when God shall have created new heavens, and a new earth, and wherein righteousnesse shall dwell for ever, according to his promise,
Esay 65.17. 2
Pet. 3.13.
Rev. 21. For all enemies, even the last, which is mortality, and death of the body, and the sting thereof which is sin, shall then be destroyed, swallowed up in victory, & taken away,
All iniquity shall now stop it mouth, as the Scriptures testifie, 1
Cor. 15.
Psa. 117.42. And then also shall the Bride, the Lambs wife, even the holy Citie, the new Jerusalem, appeare complete with all her children) in her perfect beauty, brightnesse and glory, according as the Scriptures declare,
Esay 60.
& 62.
Rev. 21.
& 22.
God wil create Irusalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy; he will rejoyce in Ierusalem, and joy in her children his people, the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voyce of crying,
Esay 65.19. There shall be no more thence an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes,
Esay 65.20. There shall be no more marrying, nor giving in marriage, nor taking of wives, nor getting of children, neither shall they die any more, as H.N. would have it to be in his resurrection. Nay, all these things will be passed away, as it is written,
Luke 20.35.36.
Rev. 21.4. God will now dwell in the midst of his people, as in his own Tabernacle: and his Sanctuary also shall be in the midst of them for evermore, as he hath spoken,
Ezek. 37.
Rev. 21. And they shall bee a treasure in the hand of the Lord, a peculiar people, an holy nation, and a kingdome of Priests before him for ever, as it is also written,
Exo. 19.5.6. And as it is given to the King,
Psa. 2. So hath he promised, and will give unto them power likewise,
and they shall rule the nations with a rod of iron, and break them in peeces like a potters vessel. Rev. 2.26.27. And as he overcame, and is sitten down with his Father in his throne, so will he give them all that overcome, to sit with him in his throne,
Rev. 3.21. This for the present, and if farther occasion shall require, and oportunity serve, there may be yet a more full discovery.
FINIS.
And now to the end all men may see that Mr. Randall is not wronged in the forementioned charge, I will here set down the own words of H.N. with his quotations, as they stand printed in his book intituled, The joyfull Message of the Kingdome.
As first in his Preface, where he hath these words:
COnsider on the time, O all yee people which love the truth of Jesu Christ.
Presently in this day of the love and of the appearing of the comming of our Lord Iesu Christ in the resurrection of the dead, wherein the Law, Esay 65. 1 Cor. 15. the Prophets, and all what is written of Christ, becommeth fulfilled.
And in Chap. 1. he hath these words:
H.N. Through the grace and mercy of God, and through the holy Spirit of the love of Iesu Christ, raised up by the highest [Page 6] God from the death, Iohn 6. Act. 17. Eph. 2. Rom. 8. Ephes. 4. Ioh. 14. Apoc. 21. Iohn 1. 1 Iohn 1. Ier. 33. 1 Cor. 13. Apoc. 14. Esay. according to the providence of God, and his promises, anointed with the holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Iesu Christ, Godded with God in the Spirit of his love, made heire with Christ in the heavenly goods of the riches of God, illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth, the true light of the perfect being, elected to a Minister of the gracious word, which is now in the last time raised up by God according to his promises, in the most holy services of God under the obedience of his love, for to publish now in the last time, out of the same grace and heartie mercifulnesse of God, and through the same holy Spirit of the love of Iesu Christ, good tidings, or a joyfull message of the Kingdome of God unto all people, &c.
And in Sentence 9. of the same chapter he hath these words:
Esay 3. Matth. 24.25. Iude 1. Esay 16. Acts 17. Zach. 8.FOr behold in this present day the glorious comming of the Lord Iesu Christ, with the many thousands of his Saints, be commeth manifested, which hath set himselfe now upon the Seat of his majesty, for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordained or appointed, the whole world with equity and with faithfulnesse, and truth, according to his righteousnesse.
For that cause, O all yee which dwell upon the earth, feare now the Lord the most highest, and give him alone all honour, laud, and praise: for the day of his judgement is now come: Apoc. 14. that it mought now in the same day of the true judgment of God and Christ, Luke 22. become all fulfilled in Christ, whatsoever is written of him. Sentence 10.
And in chap. 34. (he having before from chap. 31. to this 34. spoken of the Catholick Church of Rome, of the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Sextons, Services, Ceremonies, &c. and in great commendations of them for their time, untill contentions arose about them) saith here:
BƲt the while now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians flourished in their vigor, and that the discordable minds, out of the knowledge of the Scripture, did daily increase to a more intangling, with much contending and disputation of Christ, and of his Services and Ceremonies. And that many good willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousnesse, Matth. 5. searched the Scriptures for to understand the truth and will of God, Exod. 3. Psal. 9. and to live therein, with great diligence and zeale, and sighed, and prayed unto God. So bath God at last remembred the desolate hearts, the sighings and prayers [Page 7] of the poore, and for his chosen sake, (to the end that his truth and what his will is, mought before all lovers of the truth, Matth. 24. Abac. 3. Acts 13. Ioh. 6. Acts 17. Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 6. 2 Cor. 4. Ephes. 2. Ezek. 37. Iohn 17. 2 Pet. 1. Iohn 14. 2 Cor. 6. Apoc 21. Psal. 45. & 89. Esay 16. Esay 2. Ioel 2. Acts 2. Gen. 2 [...]. Matth. 24. Apoc. 14. Psal 4. & 68. Rom. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 2 Reg. 7. Psal. 98. Esai. 16. & 32. & 42. Ier. 23. & 35. Acts 17. be made manifest or declared, and the Scripture fulfilled) shortned the dayes according to his promises, and through the hearty mercifulnesse of his love, wrought a great and wonderfull work upon earth out of his holy heaven, and raised up me H. N. the least among the holy ones of God, which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead, from the death, and made me alive through Christ, as also anointed me with his godly being, manned himselfe with me, and Godded me with him, to a living Tabernacle or House for his dwelling, and a seat of his Christ the seed of David, to the end that his wonderfull works mought now in the last time be known, the light of his glory with full clearnesse and instruction revealed, and the comming of his Kingdome to an Evangelie of the same Kingdome, and to the blessing of all generations of the earth, published in all the world, according to the Scriptures.
Behold and consider my beloved, how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones, and how that in this day or light of the love, the judgment seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of heaven, to a righteous judgement upon earth, from the right hand of God. And how that on the same judgment seat of Christ, that the Scriptures mought be fulfilled, there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David, which judgeth uprightly, thinketh upon equity, and requireth righteousnesse.
Through him God will now in this day which he himselfe hath appointed, or ordained thereunto, judge the compasse of the earth with righteousnesse.
In which this same day, or last time, namely in the perfection of the works of God, and in his righteous judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himselfe and his Christ together with all his Saints, unto us his elect, and also made a dwelling with as, and brought even so unto us out of his holy Being, the most holy of his true Taberncle, with the fulnesse of his garnishing and spirituall heavenly riches, to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem, and house for Gods dwelling, according to the Scriptures. The which is the very true undisturbable Kingdome, full of all godly power, joy, and of all heavenly beautifulnesse; wherein the laud of the Lord with fulnesse of the eternall life and lovely sweetnesse is sung from everlasting to everlasting. And wherein all mindes of pure hearts doe dwel, live and walk with freedome and Christian triumph in all love.
This great day light of the most high God hath presently in his righteous judgement shined about us, &c. Sent. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.
[Page 8] And in chap. 35, Sentence 8. these words:
Esay 26. Dan. 12. 4 Esdr. 7. 1 Thess 4. Matth. 24 & 25. Luke 17. Acts 1. Matth. 24. Apoc. 14.BEhold, in this present day is this Scripture fulfilled, and accrrding to the testimony of the Scripture, the raising up and the resurrection of the Lord, dead c mmeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his majesty; which resurrection of the dead, seeing that the same is come unto us from Gods grace, we do likewise in this present day to an Evangelie or joyfull message of the kingdome of God, and Christ, publish in all the world under the obedience of the love.
9. In which resurrection of the dead God showeth unto us that the time is now fulfilled, Esay 26. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thess. 4. that his dead, or the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord, rise up in this day of his judgement, and appeare unto us in godly glory, which shall also from henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ, and reigne upon the earth, wherein the Scripture becommeth fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof, Deut. 32. The Lord shall judge his people &c.
And in chapter 38. Sentence 2.
VVHerefore awake now all, lift up your heads, heare and see the wonderfull acts of God, Matth. 24. Luk. 21. Cor. 15. Thess. 4. and have regard unto the sound of the last Trumpet, and consider, the forefrunt of the true Tabernacle of God, wherein the beginning of the true God service, and of the upright Christian life, becometh erected, &c.
So farre are H. N. his own words, with his quotations in the Margine.
And that he makes the anointing or sanctification of the holy Ghost, which he calleth the perfection, holinesse and the Sabbath, to be the Christ; and the contrary anointing the nature of sinne, and child of the Devill, as he calls it, to be the Antichrist which the Scripture speaketh of, it is manifest by his owne words, Chap. 18. and sundry other places of the book of his Evangely, wherein also many other matters of the like nature, all grounded on the forementioned principles, are spoken by him, too many for me here to relate.
Compare now the Sermons of Mr. Randall and those Doctrines of H. N. together, and you shall see how Mr. Randall (like a right disciple of H. N.) followeth him therein.
And here you may see by the writings of H. N. before rehearsed, in what an allegoricall and mysticall sense he expoundeth all [Page 9] those Scriptures, which he coats in the margent, making the coming of Christ in his glory, and his sitting in the Throne of his glory spoken of, Matth. 24.30. and 25.31. the day of judgement, and sounding of the last trumpet, spoken of also by Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. the resurrection from the dead, and every thing else in the same places mentioned, the perfection, the incorruption, the salvation, and all whatsoever the Scriptures have spoken concerning the everlasting kingdome and glory of Christ and his Saints, now, in this present day of H.N. and his family of love, and in them, and by them, to become all fulfilled.
And now, This being their very doctrine (as their own words do plainly and often in their doubling kind of speaking) declare, it necessarily followeth, that they who are fully possest with the belief thereof, neither have nor can have the least hope or expectation of any other coming of Christ hereafter, of a perfection, of a resurrection of the body, of an eternall life, salvation, glory, rest, peace, paradise, city, kingdome to come.
And the case being so, that their hope and happinesse is only here in this their new & last day, as they speak then it is best for them to rejoyce and be glad while their day lasteth, and deck themselves here with Rose buds before they be withered, to take their fill of pleasure: as in youth to eat and drink, for to morrow they shall die, and all will be past.
And then what are all their pretended spirituall joyes, but meere fancies? A man that imbraceth all the pleasures that this world can afford, and his carnall appetite shall desire, is in as happy a case as they; for if the body being dead, shall rise and live no more, nor the spirit after that have any sense of his being or felicity, more then it had before the body was, or can now remember or think of that it ever had (which is also a point or consequence of their doctrine) then Augustus Cesar, that Pagan Emperor, who lived and raigned so long in wealth and glory in pompe and pleasure, was a happier man far then any of them. And so all the great and glorious boastings of H.N. the high stile and manifold rare tiles, he ascribeth to himself, will prove to be no better then blasphemies against God and against Christ, and against the Holy Ghost; and all his sweet intising words of his Evangely, and his pleasing Allegories, though carrying never so fair a shew of godlinesse, to be nothing else but meere inchantments, to delude the minds, and feed the fancies of people.
And what are all his threatnings and sentences of judegment and condemnation he pronounceth against those that reject his doctrine, but a devillish device to feare the people, himself being filled with the spirit of pride and high presumption.
[Page 10]Besides, if there be no other resurrection nor salvation then what is now presently, as H. N. saith, then what condemnation is there other, then what is also now presently; and so when the body dieth, condemnation endeth.
Therefore, let all true faithfull Christians, whose hope is not here in this life only, but hereafter chiefly, conclude against this H. N. otherwise Henry Nicolas, that he was, and is a lyer, an Antichrist, a blasphemer, and so let him go.
And let Mr. Randall and all his hearers and followers take heed, and before-warn'd in time, (and not begin to frame arguments in their minds, and say, It is not M. Randall and we only that teach and entertain this doctrine of H. N. there have been and are, great Doctors of Divinity, so called, yea, and some great Peers, and Persons of quality, and estate in this land, as elsewhere, that have taught and entertained the same with great affection, and high applause, I say, let them not reason thus: for although this be true, as I my self do partly know, having had speech with some of them forty yeeres ago, and sundry times since, and with one great person severall times, who plainly professed the doctrine of H. N. and stood to maintain by argument, that every creature is God, and that there was not a resurrection of the body after the common death therof to be expected, whereupon I hearing him, and speaking with him, said, My Lord, out of all doubt, the whole doctrine of H.N. is a very blasphemous deceit, and requested him to beware of it, and did what I could to inform him in the truth which I knew, and said H. N. doth admit and will have it, that men may, and shall have wives and children in his resurrection in a successive manner continually, but Christ saith, that they which shall be counted worthy of that world to come, and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, to which hee suddenly replyed, saying, no, they shall not marry, nor be given in marriage, they shall take them wives; and I presently answered, but Christ saith, they shall be as the Angels in heaven, whereunto he replyed not.
Now, what of all this? and that there have been Doctors, aed others that have taught the doctrine of H. N. as one D. Everet, one Shaw, and at this present one D. Gill, publikely in the midst of this city of London, and one that went from hence to Redding, D. Pordage, who was in expectation of (if he he hath not obtained) the chief publike place there; all whom I have both heard and spoken with, and know that they have usually taught the same doctrine; although this be so, I say, and that [Page 11] some of my own speciall acquaintance, neer forty yeeres agoe fell unto the same, yet is not all this a sufficient argument to perswade mee or any Christian else to entertain or believe the doctrine. Nay, there is as great reason in that kinde for the Turks, and for Christians also to believe their Mahomet and his doctrine, as there is for me or any Christian else to believe this Dutchman Henry Nicolas and his doctrine.
Although I confesse, as touching my self, I being in my youth zealously affected, was very inquisitive into those severall sorts of Religions which I heard of, then professed, & was as apt naturally, as another to be seduced, some way or other from the truth, and had been, but that the Lord of his goodnes (he having of his free grace shewed mercy unto me in giving me repentance and forgiveness of my sins) by the same grace kept me. And as touching this of H. N. especially (praised be the Lord) I never had any the least inclination in my mind toward it, but have always since the time that I first saw into it, oppos'd the same as a very blasphemous deceit, though I have bin by some very falsely charged with it.
And now, because some may object and say, the Scriptures speake plainly in some places of a perfection, and resurrection, and of an entrance into the rest of God and everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, here in this present time, as Mat. 19.21. Phil. 3.15. Joh. 5.25. Heb. 4 3. Rev. 20.5.6. Col. 2.12. & 3.1. 2 Pet. 1.11.
To this I answer and confesse it is true, that in the Spirit the faithfull have through faith an entrance into the eternall rest of God & kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so are risen from the dead, and live, and shall not come into condemnation, soul nor body, and this is called perfection, the first resurrection & renovation spirituall, the first fruits of the Spirit, &c. but this is not the perfection nor the resurrection spoken of, Joh. 5.28. Joh. 6.39.40, 44. so Luk. 20.35. 1 Cor. 15.32. 1 Thes. 4.16 Phil. 3.11. Heb. 6.1. Neither is this entrance into the rest of God and kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ, the full possession promised the Saints, and which they look for: But they presse hard toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, looking unto that which is before them, and not casting off any of the principles or beginings of Christ, as to say as Mr. Randall did, away with this, or away with that, nay, but only not to look upon them as if that were all, but to leave and forget them in that respect, as things behind, and yet neverthelesse, as Paul also saith, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by one rule, &c. Phil. 3.16. The prize of the high calling, being the full perfection and possession of all things promised, even the Crown of righteousnesse, [Page 12] concerning which Paul saith, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.7.
And although the very perfection of the Law of God be now required of the Snints, and that they are to set the same before them as a perfect mark, as well in respect of the Spiritual intent thereof, as the literal to love and delight therein with their whole soule, and to keep it in the very perfection, not in part, or for an hour or day, but fully and continually, yet do they not attain thereunto here, nor can, though D. G. one of the Doctors of Familisme before mentioned hath very much laboured to prove, they may and can) but they sigh and mourn, and weep, because of their sins, and daily failings, and would fain keep it perfectly, (this is the law of their mind through the spirit) but they have another law in their members, which leadeth them captive to the law of sin and of death, and yet neverthelesse (they crying out against themselves, bewailing the same, do assuredly believe that they shall be delivered from their body of sin and death, as Paul saith, Rom. 7. the sting of death which is sin, shall be taken away, and death swallowed up in victory, when the Lord cometh, as he also saith 1 Cor. 15. And as touching the coming of the Lord at the last day, it is not to be understood in a mystical manner, in the Spirit onely, as H. N. would have it, as if Christ had left or quite put off his humane person; neither because Christ hath been, is, and will be with his Church and chosen people to the end of the world, in respect of his Spirit according to his promise, to instruct, to guide, and comfort them, is the presence of his Spirit, to be taken for this coming, nor the instruction, guidance, comfort of the Spirit (which the Apostle himself at that present time injoyed) the resurrection he speaks of, 1 Cor. 15. as H.N. and the teachers of Familisme would have it; Nay, but the Lords coming shall be in a most open, manifest and glorious manner; so as that every eye shall see him, and all shall know him to be the very same man, Jesus the Chiist that was crucified and pierced at Jerusalem, he shall in person really and truly come, as the cleer Words of the Scripture speak, Matth. 24.30 Rev. 1.7. and sundry other places: and this resurrection shall be also in a most plain and evident manner; all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce, and shall come forth, and that truly and really, as the Word saith, Joh. 5.28, 29. Then Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, and all the holy Fathers before them, and the holy children after them, which sleep in the dust of the earth, shall come forth out of their caves, tombs, graves, [Page 13] and places where they have slept, each bone of every one shall come to his bone and sinnes shall knit them together, skin shall cover them, breath shall enter into them, and they shall live and stand upon their feet according as Ezekiel prophesied 37. and as Paul testifieth 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. and also Christ himself, Rev. 20.12.13, 14.
And when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sonne of Man (for so hee stileth himselfe) shall indeed so come in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, as he hath said, Matth. 25. Then shall he sit in the Throne of his glory, even in that Throne whereof he spoke unto David, concerning him, saying, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall bee of thy sonnes, and I will establish his Kingdome, and he shall build me an house, and I will estabbish his throne for ever, I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And I will not take my mercy away from him as I took it away from him that was before thee. But I will settle him in my house, and in my kingdome for ever, and his throne shall bee established for evermore, 1 Chron. 17.11, 12, 13, 14.
And again, Once have I have I sworn by my Holinesse, that I will not lie unto David, his seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the Sunne before me, it shall endure for ever as the Moon, and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven, Psa. 89. According to which the holy Angel Gabriel spake unto his mother Mary, saying, He shall be great, and shal be called the son of the highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reigne over the house of Iacob for ever, and of his kingdome there shall be no end, Luke 1.32, 33.
And as God the Father will settle his Son Jesus Christ in his House and in his kingdome for ever, and in the throne of his father David, even upon his holy hill of Sion, as he also said, Psal. 2. and establish the same throne for evermore. So will he give unto him the he [...]hen for his inheritance, and the utmost ends of the earth for his possession: hee shall breake them with a rod of iron, and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessell. He shall also have dominion from Sea to Sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him, and the enemy shall lick the dust: yea, all Kings shall fall downe before him, all Nations shall serve him, Psa. 772.
What can be more plainly spoken then these things are? These are no mysticall fantasies, nor allegories of humane invention, as those of H. N. are, but they are the most true Oracles of God.
Now at this present time Christ sitteth in the throne of God the Father at his right hand in the heavens, reigning in the supreme kingdome [Page 14] with him, and there he is to sit and reigne yet a little while, till God hath put downe all enemies under his feet. And then at the last day when he commeth, he is to resigne and deliver up the same unto God even the Father, as it is written, 1 Cor. 15. Psa. 89. And then is he to take possession of his own kingdome and throne, which God the Father had promised and appointed unto him long agoe, even the throne & kingdome of his Father David (it being Gods kingdome also) to reigne over the house of Iacob for ever, as it was foretold, 1 Chron. 17. Luke 1.31, 32. Not in this corrupt world, where and while his enemies rule and reigne, but in that which is to come, when God shall have created new heavens, and a new earth, and wherein righteousnesse shall dwell for ever, according to his promise, Esay 65.17. 2 Pet. 3.13. Rev. 21. For all enemies, even the last, which is mortality, and death of the body, and the sting thereof which is sin, shall then be destroyed, swallowed up in victory, & taken away, All iniquity shall now stop it mouth, as the Scriptures testifie, 1 Cor. 15. Psa. 117.42. And then also shall the Bride, the Lambs wife, even the holy Citie, the new Jerusalem, appeare complete with all her children) in her perfect beauty, brightnesse and glory, according as the Scriptures declare, Esay 60. & 62. Rev. 21. & 22.
God wil create Irusalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy; he will rejoyce in Ierusalem, and joy in her children his people, the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voyce of crying, Esay 65.19. There shall be no more thence an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes, Esay 65.20. There shall be no more marrying, nor giving in marriage, nor taking of wives, nor getting of children, neither shall they die any more, as H.N. would have it to be in his resurrection. Nay, all these things will be passed away, as it is written, Luke 20.35.36. Rev. 21.4. God will now dwell in the midst of his people, as in his own Tabernacle: and his Sanctuary also shall be in the midst of them for evermore, as he hath spoken, Ezek. 37. Rev. 21. And they shall bee a treasure in the hand of the Lord, a peculiar people, an holy nation, and a kingdome of Priests before him for ever, as it is also written, Exo. 19.5.6. And as it is given to the King, Psa. 2. So hath he promised, and will give unto them power likewise, and they shall rule the nations with a rod of iron, and break them in peeces like a potters vessel. Rev. 2.26.27. And as he overcame, and is sitten down with his Father in his throne, so will he give them all that overcome, to sit with him in his throne, Rev. 3.21. This for the present, and if farther occasion shall require, and oportunity serve, there may be yet a more full discovery.