A69028:2517
A69028:2517
London: printed by G.M. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith, 1626
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.
The third thing is the creation of new heavens and new earth, according to these Scriptures, Isaiah 65. 17. and 66. 22. Reu. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Now about this Creation we are to consider of two things:
The third thing is the creation of new heauens and new earth, according to these Scriptures, Esay 65. 17. and 66. 22. Reu. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Now about this Creation we are to consider of two things:
1. The firing of the world. 2. The liberty of the creatures.
1. The firing of the world. 2. The libertie of the creatures.
For the first of these it is manifest, that the world, that it may be made new, shall be cast into the fire, as into a furnace: The heavens and the earth are reserved unto fire, the heavens shall perish, and shall all wax old as a garment, and as a vesture God shall fold them up, and they shall be changed; the heavens being on fire shall pass away, and be dissolved with a noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works thereof shall be burnt up, Psal. 102. 27, 28. 2. Pet. 3. 5, 7, 10, 11, 12. The substance of the heavens and the earth shall not be annihilated, but the qualities only shall be altered, that is, bettered: The figure of this world shall pass away, not the nature, 1 Cor. 7. 31.
For the first of these it is manifest, that the world, that it may be made new, shall be cast into the fire, as into a furnace: The heauens and the earth are reserued vnto fire, the heauens shall perish, and shall all wax old as a garment, and as a vesture God shall fold them vp, and they shall be changed; the heauens being on fire shall passe away, and be dissolued with a noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the workes thereof shall be burnt vp, Psal. 102. 27, 28. 2. Pet. 3. 5, 7, 10, 11, 12. The substance of the heauens and the earth shall not be annihilated, but the qualities only shall be altered, that is, bettered: The figure of this world shall passe away, not the nature, 1 Cor. 7. 31.
For the second of these, all things shall be so made new, as all creatures that were brought into bondage shall then be set at liberty, and receive restitution, as is manifest, Acts 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. That this point may be the more clearly understood, I must consider of two things. First, how the creatures are in bondage now, and then how they shall be at liberty then. The creatures be now in bondage many ways: First, as any of them are corruptible, so in bondage to corruption. Secondly, as they are subject to mutations, and ⟨p. 532⟩confusions, as in the case of the Air and Seas. Thirdly, as they are forced to serve the turns of wicked men, and their uses. Fourthly, as they are teachers of the world, and men will not learn: the creatures are Gods great book, and it is a bondage to teach and lose their labour. Fifthly, as any of them are either the instrument, or the subject of mans punishment. Sixthly, as since the fall they have lost their vigorous instincts, as they are dulled and distempered in them.
For the second of these, all things shall be so made new, as all creatures that were brought into bondage shall then be set at libertie, and receiue restitution, as is manifest, Acts 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. That this point may be the more clearely vnderstood, I must consider of two things. First, how the creatures are in bondage now, and then how they shall be at liberty then. The creatures be now in bondage many wayes: First, as any of them are corruptible, so in bondage to corruption. Secondly, as they are subiect to mutations, and ⟨p. 532⟩
Now for the second point, they shall then be freed from all that vanity, or pain, or misery, or mutability fell upon them since the fall of man; and withal they shall be restored into a glorious estate, when the Elect are glorified: and so they partake of the glorious liberty of the sons of God. But this restitution shall not be made to each particular creature that hath been, but to each sort of creatures shall be then found alive at the last day: But what shall be their glory, or how long they shall continue, cannot be determined without curiosity and rashness.
Now for the second point, they shall then be freed from all that vanitie, or paine, or misery, or mutabilitie fell vpon them since the fall of man; and withall they shall be restored into a glorious estate, when the Elect are glorified: and so they partake of the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God. But this restitution shal not be made to each particular creature that hath beene, but to each sort of creatures shall be then found aliue at the last day: But what shall be their glorie, or how long they shall continue, cannot be determined without curiositie and rashnesse.
The fourth effect or consequent of the Judgement, is the delivering of the kingdom of Christ into the hands of God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is to be understood, not of the glorious estate of Christ, but of his temporal government over the world and the Church, as he ruled by means in this world: for this kingdom ends, when he hath fully subdued the devils and death, and wicked men, and hath fully delivered the Elect from all sin and misery. Then there shall be no need to govern men by Magistrates, or Preachers, or Sacraments, or discipline, or of any of the helps of natural or spiritual life.
The fourth effect or consequent of the Iudgement, is the deliuering of the kingdome of Christ into the hands of God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is to be vnderstood, not of the glorious estate of Christ, but of his temporall gouernment ouer the world and the Church, as he ruled by means in this world: for this kingdome ends, when hee hath fully subdued the deuils and death, and wicked men, and hath fully deliuered the Elect from all sinne and misery. Then there shall be no need to gouerne men by Magistrates, or Preachers, or Sacraments, or discipline, or of any of the helps of naturall or spirituall life.
Thus of the explication of this Article.
The use that may be made of this Article in general follows, and so first it may extremely affright all men that lies in their sins without repentance, for there are many things in this doctrine terrible, as
The vse that may be made of this Article in generall followes, and so first it may extremely affright all men that lies in their sins without repentance, for there are many things in this doctrine terrible, as
1. That God hath set them a day, wherein he will certainly bring them to account.
2. That this day is most certain, and God will not alter his mind, Act. 17. 31. Heb. 9. 27.
2. That this day is most certaine, and God will not alter his minde, Act. 17. 31. Heb. 9. 27.
4. That all his sins shall then be discovered, even all his secret sins, and none can be forgotten, in as much as the evidence shall be given out of so many books, where all things are written, as it were, with a pen of iron, and the point of a Diamond, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Revel. 20. Jer. 17. 1.
4. That all his sins shall then be discouered, euen all his secret sins, and none can be forgotten, in as much as the euidence shall bee giuen out of so many bookes, where all things are written, as it were, with a pen of iron, and the point of a Diamond, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Reuel. 20. Ier. 17. 1.
6. That no means will then be available to deliver them. Riches will not help them, Job 36. 18, 19. nor multitude cannot shelter them, Jude 15.
6. That no meanes will then be auaileable to deliuer them. Riches will not helpe them, Iob 36. 18, 19. nor multitude cannot shelter them, Iude 15.
7. That though thou hast excelled in many gifts, and done much good in the world, yet if thou die in sin without repentance, thou shalt not escape Gods vengeance, 1 Cor. 13. 3.
7. That though thou hast excelled in many gifts, and done much good in the world, yet if thou die in sinne without repentance, thou shalt not escape Gods vengeance, 1 Cor. 13. 3.
8. That it is but a little while thither, 1 Pet. 4. 7. Jam. 5. 8. The signs of Christs coming are the most of them run out; and we see that divers of the last signs run together, as if the Lord made haste to make an end of all things: and if general judgement were yet further off, yet death is at hand, which gives a particular judgement upon thee.
8. That it is but a little while thither, 1 Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 5. 8. The signes of Christs comming are the most of them run out; and we see that diuers of the last signes run together, as if the Lord made haste to make an end of all things: and if generall iudgement were yet further off, yet death is at hand, which giues a particular iudgement vpon thee.