And now to bring down the matter to our New Jerusalem-state: for though it be true in all Ages, that there is between those that have taken sanctuary in Christ, and the bottomless pit, an invincible and ⟨p. 131⟩mighty Wall of Grace and heavenly Power, and of the Merits of Christ, to save to the utmost all and every one that1 are thus fled to him for safety; yet there is some thing in it more then this, for those that come into the days and state of the New Jerusalem: For, I say, this Wall being it that makes a separation between the Sanctuary and the profane place in general, and yet being spoken of as a thing extraordinary, and accompanying the state of this new City only; it implieth that at this day the Saints2 shall have that shelter by this Wall from all the force of Hell, and the damned Spirits that now from Tophet afflict them, that they never had before; and therefore you find at the beginning of the thousand Years, which (as I conceive) is the time of the building of this City, a mighty Angel is said to come down from 3Heaven, to lay hold of the Dragon, that old Serpent, called the Devil and Satan, and to bind him a thousand Years; which done, he casts him into the bottomless pit, and there shuts him up, to the end he should deceive the Nations no more, the effect of wch, will be not only a delivering of the Saints from outward persecution, but also4 ⟨p. 132⟩from being any more assailed with either wicked and erroneous Doctrine, or fierce and fiery darts from the Prince of Darkness, which now many of them are so much annoyed and afflicted with: now the Church will be free from those hellish suggestions to blaspheme, to despair, and the like, that her Members do yet most dreadfully and sadly meet with: for observe, this old Tempter is said to be tied up, or to be cast into the bottomless Pit, first, as he is a Dragon, under which name he goeth in this Book, in his persecuting the Church, Rev. 12. Secondly, he is said to be shut up, as he goeth under the name of a Serpent, under which name he went when he fomented his devilish and damning seducing Doctrine to our first Parents; the which the Spirit expressly seems to relate unto, and therefore calls him that OLD Serpent; that OLD Serpent that deceived us at the first, Gen. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
And now to bring down the matter to our New Jerusalem-state: for though it be true in all Ages, that there is between those that have taken sanctuary in Christ, and the bottomless pit, an invincible and ⟨p. 131⟩mighty Wall of Grace and heavenly Power, and of the Merits of Christ, to save to the utmost all and every one that1 are thus fled to him for safety; yet there is some thing in it more then this, for those that come into the days and state of the New Jerusalem: For, I say, this Wall being it that makes a separation between the Sanctuary and the prophane place in general, and yet being spoken of as a thing extraordinary, and accompanying the state of this new City onely; it implieth that at this day the Saints2 shall have that shelter by this Wall from all the force of Hell, and the damned Spirits that now from Tophet afflict them, that they never had before; and therefore you find at the begining of the thousand Years, which (as I conceive) is the time of the building of this City, a mighty Angel is said to come down from 3Heaven, to lay hold of the Dragon, that old Serpent, called the Devil and Satan, and to bind him a thousand Years; which done, he casts him into the bottomless pit, and there shuts him up, to the end he should deceive the Nations no more, the effect of wch, will be not onely a delivering of the Saints from outward persecution, but also4 ⟨p. 132⟩from being any more assailed with either wicked and erronious Doctrine, or fierce and fiery darts from the Prince of Darkness, which now many of them are so much anoyed and afflicted with: now the Church will be free from those hellish suggestions to blaspheme, to despair, and the like, that her Members do yet most dreadfully and sadly meet with: for observe, this old Tempter is said to be tied up, or to be cast into the bottomless Pit, first, as he is a Dragon, under which name he goeth in this Book, in his persecuting the Church, Rev. 12. Secondly, he is said to be shut up, as he goeth under the name of a Serpent, under which name he went when he fomented his devillish and damning seducing Doctrine to our first Parents; the which the Spirit expresly seems to relate unto, and therefore calls him that OLD Serpent; that OLD Serpent that deceived us at the first,
- 1Heb. 7. 25 26.
- 2The profit of the broad Wall.
- 3Satan bound as Deceiver Persecutor, and a Temptor to blasphe my and unbelief.
- 4Rev. 20. 1, 2, 3.
