A85442:63
The world to come. Or, The kingdom of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures…The vvorld to come. Or, The kingdome of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures…
The world to come. Or, The kingdom of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures of Ephes. 1. 21, 22. verses. Proving that between the state of this world as now it is, and the state of things after the day of judgement, when God shall be all in all: there is a world to come which is of purpose, and is a more especial manner appointed for Jesus Christ to be king, and wherein he shall more eminently reign. / Preached by Mr. Tho: Goodwin many years since, at Antholins, London. Published for the truths sake.The vvorld to come. Or, The kingdome of Christ asserted. In two expository lectures of Ephes. 1. 21, 22. verses. Prooving that between the state of this world as now it is, and the state of things after the day of judgement, when God shall be all in all: there is a world to come which is of purpose, and is a more especiall manner appointed for Jesus Christ to be king, and wherein he shall more eminently reign. / Preached by Mr. Tho: Goodwin many years since, at Antholins, London. Published for the truths sake.
London, : Printed, and are to be sold in Popes-head-Alley, and in Westminster Hall, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
First of all it is the body of men that are said to be dead, that is plain, for they are said to be beheaded, or slain with the sword, for the witness of Jesus. It cannot be said so of the soul, that it's beheaded or slain with the sword. And as the death is, such must be the resurrection, but their death was a natural death, and their resurrection must be answerable. And saith he, They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is not meant the glory of heaven, that reigned with Christ only there, for so they shall reign for ever with him, and so they had reigned from the first time that they were slain, they were with Christ in glory; but this reigning is upon their rising from the dead, for saith he, The rest of the dead lived not again; therefore this rising of theirs is a living again; This (saith he) is the first resurrection. Now (my brethren) consider further, where do these reign? It seems it is on earth by this argument, because why else is the Devil bound up, he need not be bound up for their reigning in Heaven; but we see here as a preparation to their reigning, the Devil is bound: this is a place I could urge multitude of things out off, but I must not enlarge; ⟨p. 33⟩I know not likewise how to answer another place, Rev. 5. 10. where we have the the Saints in Johns time, saying, Thou hast made us Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on earth: They do not say, we do reign, but we shall reign on earth, and then join with that what is said in 2 Pet. 3. 13. We according to his promise look for new heavens, and a new earth, &c. We Apostles, we Saints that live now, we look for it; how prove you that? because the use he makes of it shows as much, as in ver. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. It could be no argument to them in those times to be holy, and blameless: If they that lived in those times might not personally look for it; and what was it which according to his promise the Saints then looked for? it is for a new heaven and a new earth. If we take heaven properly, there is new heavens to be made, but the old heavens shall continue which was made from the foundation of the world, and where we shall ever be with Christ after the day of judgment: And how is there a new earth?