N01184:74
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of…
A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-College, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]A dissertation concerning the future conversion of the Jewish Nation. Answering the objections of the Reverend and learned Mr. Baxter, Dr. Lightfoot, and others. : With an enquiry into the first resurrection. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard-Colledge, at Cambridge, in New-England. ; [Three lines from Jeremiah]
London: printed by R. Tookey for Nath. Hillier, 1709
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.
CHAP. VI. That the Scripture speaks of the first Resurrection in express Terms. That famous Text, Revel. 20. considered and vindicated. That the Resurrection there spoken of is a Corporal Resurrection, proved by Six Arguments. That the Primitive Christians believed the Chiliad, and the First Resurrection, in the Literal Sense. Concerning the Sibyls. Testimonies out of them are of no Validity.
THE Scriptures in the former Chapter in […] in, […] implicitly, and by just Consequence prove that the Resurrection of the just shall precede that of the unjust. But there is one Place which does expressly, and in Terms assert •he First Resurrection. Let that therefore be a Fourth Reason. Notwithstanding it •as been done abundantly by others, we shall a little consider and vindicate that eminent Text, Rev. 20.4, 5, 6. The Words are, I saw Thrones, and they sate upon them, and Judgment was given to them, and (there must be repeated as in our English Translation is expressed [I saw]) the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, and (there must again [Greek or Hebrew] be repeated, notwithstanding the Translators have omitted it. [I saw them]) which had not Worshipped the Beast, neither his Image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand Years; but the rest of the dead lived not again 'till the thousand Years were finished. This is the first Resurrection, Blessed and Holy is he who has part in the first Resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand Years. From which words says Dr. Thomas Burnet (in his Theory — B. 4. p. 152.) If you please we will raise this Doctrine, That those that have suffered for the sake of Christ and a good Conscience, shall be raised from the dead a thousand Years before the General Resurrection, and reign with Christ in an happy State. His Doctrine I believe is an Holy Truth, only I cannot understand why this Millennial Reign should be restrained to the Martyrs, since 'tis promised not only to them that were beheaded for the Word of God, but to them that have not worshipped the Beast, nor received his mark. Which comprehends not only the Jews yet to be converted, but many Protestants and Saints who never had he Honour (tho' they would have rejoiced in it) to die for Christ, or for earing Witness to his Truth. If it can be proved that it is a Corporal Resurrection which is here intended, it puts an end to the present Controversy.