N01184:82
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.
5. The First Resurrection spoken of in the Apocalypse is either a Spiritual, or a Political, or Corporal Resurrection: But neither of the former. It has commonly been interpreted as meant of a Spiritual Resurrection of the Soul, in Respect of Regeneration; as if it were the same with what Paul speaks, Eph. 2.5. You hath he quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins. But if this were intended, how is it •aid, that they lived and reigned a thousand Years? Do all that are made Partakers of Regeneration live a Thousand Years? And how is it said that the rest of the dead lived not again until the Thousand Years were finished? There never was a Thousand Years in which there was no Conversion, or Spiritual Resurrection of Souls. Besides, a Death in Sin is not called the first Death, and consequently Conversion from a State of Sin is not properly called [the] first (supposing it be [a] first) Resurrection. The Spiritual Resurrection began presently after Adam's Fall, and shall continue to the End of the World; when as that which John speaks of is proper to the Thousand Years, and not to begin before Antichrist's Reign is ended. Yet again, how can it be said of Men that were beheaded, that they were converted after their beheading? Such Absurdities has this (tho' a vulgar) Exposition in it. This Notion is therefore rejected by most that have studied the Apocalypse: But there are many learned and judicious Authors who take the First Resurrection in a Political Sense, as if it were of the same Nature with the Resurrection of the Witnesses spoken of in the 11th of Revelation, and did intend only thus much, that when Antichrist is destroyed, the Church shall be delivered from the Death of Affliction, and continue in a glorious State for a Thousand Years before the ultimate Judgment, during all which Time Men shall be ruled by the Laws of Christ, and only Saints shall have Power in their Hands. All this I freely acknowledge to be true and according to the Scriptures: But with all due Respect to these Expositors, I conceive that does not comprehend the full Meaning of the Text before us. For this Interpretation does imply that the Saints of the First Resurrection suffered a Political Death only, like that of the Two Witnesses. Were that so, a Political Resurrection would be intended by their living again.
5. The First Resurrection spoken of in the Apocalypse is either a Spiritual, or a Political, or Corporal Resurrection: But neither of the former. It has commonly been interpreted as meant of a Spiritual Resurrection of the Soul, in Respect of Regeneration; as if it were the same with what Paul speaks,