A49255:638
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin…
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the privilege of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the priviledge of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1657
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Lastly, there is to be the Salvation of the Souls of all the Elect, that is a fifth concomitant of Christs coming, Heb. 9. 28. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation. This cannot be referred to Christs Personal coming upon the earth to reign a thousand years, because he doth not come then to save the souls of all the Elect; that is the first reason why Christ cannot come to reign upon the Earth, because when the Scripture speaks of Christs coming out of heaven, it doth annex five concomitants with it, which belong not to any coming of Christ upon the Earth, but to come to judge the world. A second reason is this, that Christ cannot come to reign upon the Earth, because if it should be so, it would be worse for Christ, and it would be worse for us then now it is, it would be worse for Christ, for to leave Heaven and come to the Earth, for Christ to leave Saints and Angels and Heaven, for to live upon the Earth among the wicked and the good, for they themselves confess that wicked men shall live upon the Earth then. Then besides, they fancy Earthly delights, that the fruit of the Vineyard shall not fade, as now it doth, yet they would lessen Christs Glory, because he sits this day at his Fathers right Hand: again, for to fancy this, that Christ must come to reign upon the Earth, it would be a great loss to all the Elect, for we have the benefit of Christs everlasting Intercession; and were Christ upon the Earth, we should lose that benefit, Heb. 8. 4. For if he were on the Earth, he should not be a Priest, seeing that there are Priests that offer gifts according to the Law. So that if he were upon the Earth, we should lose the benefit ⟨p. 157⟩of his Priest-hood; therefore it would it be a great wrong to us, to have Christ here on the Earth, because the benefit of his Priestly Office would not be so available to us as it is in Heaven. Thus I have laid down scripture and given you reasons, why Christ cannot come, before his last coming.
Lastly, there is to bee the Salvation of the Soules of all the Elect, that is a fifth concomitant of Christs coming,