TIDINGS of PEACE, OR Acure for the many Evils that happen in the world about Religion, in a discourse OF The New Jerusalem, Proveing That The New Jerusalem is a Holy City to be built on Earth in each Kingdom, in which The Clergy are to dwell; Whereby a New and most happy Ecclesiastical Administration will arise. Behold I will bring it Health and Cure and I will Cure Them, and I will Reveal unto Them abundance of Peace and Truth. Jer. 33: v. 6. And I john Saw The Holy City the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21: v. 2. And He that sat upon the Throne, said Behold I make all things New. v. 5. To the Clergy. Srs. THe Dedication of the ensueing Model of the Holy City doth most properly belong to you, as being the Lords Heritage and Servants: In the old Administration, The Sons of Aron had Thirteen Cities and the Levites eight and Forty, but in the New and better Administration the Servants of Jesus have not one City to dwell in amongst all the Kingdoms of the Earth. Methinks I hear you Speaking as the Sons of the Prophets to Elisha viz ᵗ: Lo the Place where we dwell is to straight for us, Let us go unto Jordan and take thence every one a beam, and Let us make a Place there where we may dwell. 'tis certain your Place is to Straight, and though Some of you have room too much, yet others (unhappy unequallity) have no Place at all. I could Present you with a Catalogue of all the Evils you have suffered for many years, and of the many evils▪ the world hath suffered by you. But Prima abiêrunt, & Ecce nova facio omnia, Old Things are passed away, and lo I make all things New, Saith Christ in the Revel: I shall omit mentioning the forma Evils and proceed to the remedying of them. And do here present you with a model of a New OEconomie, and 'tis this. I have appointed you a City in each Nation and Kingdom to dwell in, where in you shall live peaceably and quietly, and shall be sufficiently provided for of all things necessary for your holy Functions, so that all Temptations shall be taken away from you of acting or moving irregularly; From this City placed in the midst ' of each Nation, you are to go or ride out, as it shall please you, every month by turns, and heal each Nation, and on the Bells of your horses shall be wrote Holiness to the Lord. The Kings & Princes of the world and all Temporal Governments will find their acco tt. in building you such a City, for 'tis not to be expressed what happiness will accrue to them and to all the world thereby: This City will put an end to all the miseries the World labours under on account of Religion And we shall hear from you riding on your Red, white, and Speckled Horses that Joyful Report mentioned in the 1st. cap. of the Prophet Zacha. & 11. verse. We have walked to and fro thorough the Earth, and behold all the Earth sitteth still and is at Rest. If this be the glorious effects of your circular Preaching as we have all the reason in the world to think it will. 'tis no wonder that the Kings of the Earth will bring their Glory and honour into this City, not only as it is a City dedicated to the honour of God, but as it is a City whose Inhabitans will establish Peace and Tranquillitty in their Kingdoms. It was in the heart of King David, to build God a House, and though God had not commanded it, yet he most graciously accepted his good intentions. But it has not yet been in the heart of any King to build God a City they have built themselves Cities for their own honour and glory. Is not this Great Babylon that I have built for the House of the Kingdom, by the might of my Power and for the honour of my Ma.tie▪ Thus speaks the proud Emperor Nabuchadnezzar, and he spoke the truth, he had built Babel for the honour of his Ma.tie And many are the Cities, which both the Heathen and Christian Emperors have built for their own honour, and have put uppor them their own Names, as Caesarea, Allexandria, Constantinople, etc. but we find not one by the Name of Deople or Christople. When I consider how in a special manner Gods hath set Crowns on many Christian Princes heads, and has raised some from a Private station to the highest dignity, and given them Several Kingdoms and many Thousand Cities, I say when I consider this, it makes me wonder, to find none returning back one single City by way of gratitude to the Donour. Pudet haec opprobria nobis etc. 'tis True They have built and ginen him Several Houses, But what is a House or a few Houses A magnificent and Royal City would be more Suitable to the Ma.tie of Heaven and Earth then a House? Besides in this City he hath said shall be no Temple, plainly insinuateing that the Temple Administration should be ended and be changed into that of a City. To me it seems to be a most Just and reasonable Thing That in Every Nation and Kingdom God the Giver and Governor of all should have one City built and dedicated to his Honour, wherem his Servants who wait in his Courts and Minister at the Altar should be honourably provided for, that their Linings and fortunes may no more be precarions, and subject to the Will of men, as to the Shame of Christianity they are at this day. I could mention what evil hath befallen the World on account of God's Ministers being-chosen by men and not by Lot, and by having their allowance and dependence from Man, but I shall here omit it having spoken of it in another place. I could hearty wish that Christian Kings and Princes and all Temporal Governments would Seriously consider on this Point. Who can tell but that their building Such a City, in which the Dispenser's of God's Graces and Blessings to each Nation, may dwell, may be as Sweet incense in the Nostrils of God in and some measure atone him, to stop the Rage of Fire and Sword which at present lays somany of their own Cities' waist? I will hope there fore, That (as David Thought of building Gods a House) so that Some King or other, whom God shall deliner from many Troubles, and bestow on him Crowns and victory over his Enemies, and shall Establish him on his Throne in Peace, will think of so holy a work, and with a most grateful heart build a Royal City to the God of Heaven, as a Pattern and Example to other Princes. And 'tis my opinion that That Prince who first sets his hand to so holy a work will as far exceed all others, as a City shall exceed a house or Temple, T'or as Soloman exceed all other Kings of his Time. To you Therefore the Preachers of the Gospel who are to be Inhabiters of this City, To you, whose interests are so unhappily mixed in temporals, To you who have been so much abused, and who have abused so much, To you who are, and have been so unhappily and unequally provided for in this Late Administration, I address myself; And make it my Request, that instead of writing, disputing and Preaching one against another, and instead of making parties and Factions, and stirring up Kings and Princes and the Particular States where you dwell to defend your Controversyes and interests; That you rather apply yourselves to dispose and move the Hearts of Prince and People to the building you a City, wherein you may live peaccably, and out of w en. you may with ease and Comfort dispense the pure word of God to Each Nation. This will be more for the Honour of God, for your interest and happiness, and for the interest peace and Happiness of each King and People. And who then is willing to consecrate his Service this day unto the Lord? The 1 Cron. 29 cap. & 5 verse. This to me seems to be a more pleasing Text then, Curse ye Meros', or Some others that I could Name, I recommend you to the Demonstration of Truth in the model of the City and following Pages, and will not further add, only when your City is built, and you are in your Possessions, I hope you will be very Thank full to God, and's not be altogether unmindful of Your Humble Servant T. B. GOd saith by the Prophet Isaiah, Behold! I create a New Heaven and a New Earth etc. in the 56 Cap. & the 17 verse: And from thence in the 18: 19: & 20 verses. The Prophet proceeds to describe the happiness of the Jews in this promised state; And in the 21: verse further Saith, And They shall build Houses, and inhabit them, and They shall plant Vineyards, and eat the fruit of them etc. Now in Heaven there is neither building, nor planting, so that this New Heaven and New Earth can mean nothing else but a New and happy state of affairs here upon Earth. Further in Heaven our Saviour saith that there is neither eating, nor drinking, marrying nor giving in marriage, but that men shall be there, as the Angels of God. So that I am sattisfied there will be no Cities there. If we are to have Cities then, we must have them on Earth, Now I find two Cities, one in the Proph: Ezek. The other in the Revelation of St. John. I shall leave speaking of the first to the Jews, and only treat of this latter, which indeed is very glorious. Without all doubt the meaning is certain. For in the 22 cap. & 6 verse. 'tis said. These say are faith full and true. And the Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angel, to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done, But how and where these things are to be done, and what the meaning of this Holy City should be, is the subject of my present Enquiry. Some will have it to be Heaven, and when ever this New Jerusalem is spoken of, that is Heaven say They; Others will have it a representation of the Church purely, and others of a new Condition and happy state of the Church. But there is not one thinks in the least of its being a City to be built upon Earth. First then, as to those that think it Heaven, I answer that without all doubt Heaven in a Spiritual sense is the New Jerusalem, but it doth not at all follow that the New Jerusalem is Heaven, especially this New Jerusalem, for it may be a City built in the Place where the old Jerusalem was, or another City built in another place like the old Jerusalem either in the Model, or Serving the Same Ends and designs, and for any of these reasons may be called the New Jerusalem. Besides this New Jerusalem is said to come from God out of Heaven, therefore cannot be Heaven itself. This is a plain confutation of all those who think it Heaven. Further it is said, that the Nations of them which. are Saved shall walk in the light of it, And that the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and honour unto it, Now it is certain that the Kings of the Earth can bring no Glory or honour into Heaven, but rather receine glory from thence, from God Who is the Fountain of all honour and Glory; It seems plain therefore that this New Jerusalem is not Heaven itself, and at best can only be something that is a Type of Heaven, What can it then be? it cannot be only a bare representation of the Church, The comparison, and Circumstances will not in the least quadrate, it has toomuch order and beauty in it, to represent any thing we at present have, or hitherto have had, in the Church: The Church hitherto is rather represented to us by a Woman in the Wilderness persecuted by the Dragon Then by such a Glorious City as this is. Nor can We Suppose that Such a Glorious City can be built upon Earth in a Literal Sense with such costly Materials. What therefore can the meaning and import of This City be, only to represent to us the beauty and glory of Heaven and of the Church Triumphant? No, not this only. Yet I must acknowledge in part it doth represent the Same but not wholly. for 'tis attended with too many particular Circumstances relating to things here below, then wholly and entirely to signify that; it must be something which at the first appearance in the World must seem to Strike and make impression on the Senses of Men. For St. john saith, And Isaw the Holy City The New jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. That my Model is such I will not say. But This is my Sense of the Whole matter. That The New Heaven and the New Earth mentioned by St. john doth represent a New and Glorious Condition of Church and State, And That this New and glorious Condition will be procured by means and influence of this New Jerusalem, And that This New Jerusalem is a City to be built upon Earth, after the Same Model and Form as The Angel hath described, except the costliness, which as Isaid before cannot be fulfiled here on Earth; And This City seems to me by the Angel to be represented so costly and Magnificent in part to Typify to us the Glory of Heaven and of the Church Triumphant; and in part to instigate us to build it in the best manner we can; And in part to insinuate to us, those Glorrious Effects which This New Jerusalem will produce in the World, introduceing a New and most happy OEconomie: It's Inhabitans are to be Angeli Evangelizantes Preachers of the Gospel, and every Monrh, are to go out and Heale The Nation, for Proof hereof peruse the following Texts of Scripture And He That sat upon the Throne said Behold, I make all Things New. john's Revel the 21 cap. & 5 verse, This relates to the New Administration, which I hereafter prove in those things that are changeable, in this world. And it came to pass that he went throughout Every City and Village, preaching and showing the Glad tidings of the Kingdom of God, and the Twelve were with him. Luc. 8. verse 1. And jesus went about all the Cities and Villages, teaching in their Synagogues, and Preaching the Doctrine of the Kingdom etc. Mat. 9 cap. verse 35. Lo; this was the Method Our Saviour took when on Earth, And can the Disciples imitate a better Copy than their Masters? And 'tis certain that Doctrine will be best nourished and perserved by the way, and Method it was first planted. I Have Set Watchmen upon Thy Walls which shall never hold their Peace day nor night. Isaiah 62. & 6. Thy Watchmen shall Lift up the voice, with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall See Eye to Eye when The Lord shall bring again Zion the 52 Cap. 8 verse. And I will set Shepherds over them that shall feed them, and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord Jer. 23: 4: Then again God saith by his Proph: Jer. 3 & 15 verse. And I will give you Pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with Knowledge and understanding. The Pastors of this Administration which are to go out of the City every month to heal the Nation, seem to me to be the Pastors here mentioned. The Proph. Zac. the 14: & 8. saith thus, And it shall be in that day that Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them towards the former Sea, and halve of them towards the hinder Sea in summer and in winter shall it be. Can any thing more plainly chalk out the Method of this new Administration then this Text? The living waters are Preachers, which are to go out of this City in their courses, Some one way and some another both in Summer and in Winter, that is for ever to the world's end, for so long will Summer and in Winter last. But as to these living waters these Evangelicall Preachers hear what the Prophet Ezek. in the 47 cap. beginning at the 6: verse. Then he brought me and caused me ro return to the brink of the River. Now when I had returned, Behold at the Bank of the River were very many Trees on the one side, and on the other. Then said he unto me, These water's issue out toward the East Country, and go down into the desert, and go into the Sea, which being brought forth into the Sea, the Waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that Liveth that moveth, whither soever the Rivers shall come, shall live, and there shall be a very great multitude of Fish, because these Waters (These Preachers) shall come thither: for they shall be healed, and every thing shall live where the River cometh. And it shall come to Pass, That the Fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim: There shall be a Place to spread forth Nets, Their fish shall be according to their Kinds as the Fish of the Great Sea exceeding many. But the miry places thereof, and the marshes (That is Private standing Churches that will not hear or admit of these Public Preachers) shall not be healed but given to Salt. And by the River on the bank thereof, on this side, and on that side, shall grow all Trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade neither shall the Fruit thereof be consumed: (that is These Preachers shall not fail to make their constant monthly circuits out of their City) it shell bring forth new fruit according to his Months, because the waters issued out of the Sanctuary, and the fruit thereof shall be for Meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Here The Gospel very propely is Typefied by a River and by waters which cleanse and purifies and heals all places, and makes every thing fruit full wherever they go, Alsoe the Preachers are Typefied by Fishers, and by Trees, whose fruit serves both for food and Physic, in further confirmation of which, Hear what St. John sairh, And he shown me a pure River of water of life clear as Christ all proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it; and of either side the River was there the Tree of life, which bore Twelve manner of Fruits, and yielded her fruit every Month, and the leaves of the Trees were for the healing of the Nations. This seems to be plain in all the Circumstances thereof, And therefore I have taken the Model and delineation of the City there from. But may be some may doubt whether The Throne of God be Jerusalem. To which the Prophet Jerem: will answer for me, in the 3 cap & 16 & 17 verses. And it shall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increased in the Land; in those days saith the Lord, they shall say no more— The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they Remember it, neither shall they Visit it, neither shall that be done any more. At that Time they shall call Jerusalen The Throne of the Lord, and all the Nations shall by gathered unto it, to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem. As to the Fountain I have put in the middle to give source to the Rivers. See what the Prophet Zach. saith the 13 cap. verse 1. In that Day shall there be a Fountain opened to the House of David for sin and for uncleanness. And and a Fountain shall come Forth of The House of the Lord, and shall water the Valley of Shittim joel 3 & 18: and Our Saviour saith in St: Ino. the 4 Cap. & 14 verse, Whosoever shall drink of the Water that I shall give him, shall never thirst. But the Water that I shall give him, shall be in him a Well of water springing up into everlasting life. The Watet which Christ will give, is the Water of the Gospel, out of this Holy Fountain, this holy City, And see how by the Prophet Isaiah he inviteth all to these waters in the 55 cap. & 1 vers. Ho, Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no money: come ye buy and eat, yea come by wine and milk without money and without price. Many have paid very dear for a draught of these Waters, But old things are passed away, and all things are become New. These Evangelicall Preachers shall go from Town to Town and from City to City, and are to offer these Waters of the Gospel Gratis, inviteing all to come, and drink, and will not in the least be chargeable to any one, being sufficiently provided for from their City, with all things, necessary for their Function and voyage, If any man Thirst let him come unto me and drink saith our Saviour John the 7. & 37. and in the Rev: the 21. & 6. I will give him that is a thirst of the Fountain of the water of Life freely. And in the 22 cap. & 17 verse. And let him that is a thirst come, and who soever will let him take the water of life freely. But then again as to the Preachers going to and fro, the following Texts seems to be very favourable Gen. 28. & 12. And hedreamed and be hold a Ladder set upon the Earth, and the Top of it reached to Heaven. And behold the Angels of God ascending and descending: These Angels of God seem to represent these evangellical Angels who from Heaven this New Jerusalem are to go to and fro, to do God's message and to dispense his word and blessing among the sons of men in each Land. And in Dan. the 12. & 4. And thou o Daniel shut up These words, and seal up this, writing to the Time of the End: What are These words and this writing which are to be sealed up to the Time of the End? To me it seems to be the ensueing sentence which is a sentence entire and independent of itself, having no Relation either to the words going before or after vizt. Many shall go to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased. That is from this New Jerusalem many Preachers shall go to and fro, instructing and preaching to the People, where by Knowledge shall be increased. But the Proph: Zacha seems yet to be plainer both as to the manner of These Preachers going out, as alsoe to the happy Effect of Theit Doctrine in the 1 cap. & 7 verse, He saith thus, And I saw by night and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the Myrtle Trees, that were in the Bottom, and by him were red Horses speckled and white (for these Preachers to ride on) then said I o my Lord what are These? And the Angel that talked with me, said unto me I will show thee what these be, And the Man that stood among the Myrtle trees, answered and said these are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro thorough the Earth (And now observe the happy Effects of their preaching,) And they answered the Angel of the Lord, that stood amongst the Myrtle Tees & said We Have walked to and fro thorough the Earth; And behold all the Earth sitteth still and is at Rest. But lest it should be doubted the office of these Walkers is not to settle peace and quietness in the world, but only to pass through and view the World, my sense herein seems to be confirmed in the 6 cap. & 7 verse, where speakeing of Four Chariots sent out From God, in the first of which were Red Horses, in the second Black, in the third white, in the fourth grizzled and Bay Horses, 'tis said, And the Bay went forth, and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro thorough the Earth: And he said get yet hence, Walk to, and fro, through the Earth. Then cried he upon me and spoke unto me, saying Behold These that go toward the North Country have Quieted my spirit in the North Country, so that it seems plain to me that the office both of those that road on the Horses, and in the Charrets, was to quiet the Earth. The Earth at Present hath much need of being quieted, Pray God of his merey send and Establish These To and fro Walkers. When they come We shall say as 'tis in the Proph. Isaiah cap. 52. & 7 vesse. How Beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of t'him that bringeth good tidings that Publisheth Peace, that bringeth good tidings of Good, that Publisherh Salvation, that saith unto Zion thy God Reigneth. I hope These Arguments and Texts of Scripture carry such a Face of probability upon them as to persuade any Person disengaged from prejudice, to believe that a Holy City is to be build upon Earth, which is to Give birth to a New Administration. And Why may we not believe that God may use the same OEconomie in His Church as he doth in the World, since what conduces to the good of one will alsoe conduce to the happiness of the other. The Earth is at it were passive, acted on by the Heavenly influences, the Sun the Moon and stars and all the Heavenly spheres make Their continual and constant circuits round it, administering their Light and heat, making day and night and differing seasons, and impregnateing the dull matter so as it may bring forth food both for man and beast in due season. And we find that Gods OEconomie in the Little World man, is the same as 'tis in the Great one. He makes his Blood and Spirits to make their constant circuits, and thereby Keeps his Body in due frame and temper. This Spiritual OEconomie would procure the like effect, For this City would be as the Sun in the Firmament, or the Heart in Man's body, for as the Heart by continual sending forth blood and Spirits into all the Members of the Body procureth a perfect health; So These Heavenly Preachers acting on the Dull minds of men, dispersing their Heavenly influences as they go, in a continual ltineration and circulation through all the Cities and Villages of each Nation, would settle each Nation in perfect peace and Tranquillity. I have said each Nation, because I believe that a Holy City will be built in each Nation. For though I believe that the City which the recalled Jew's will build in the Holy-Land will be the most Glorious City and more honoured by God then the Rest, yet I believe not that she is to be built and no other, Nor that she is to have superiority or Command over the Rest, this would be to run bacl into Egypt and into the old Babylonish Captivity, and we should not better ourselves, by the change of Administrations having only changed Rome for Jerusalem; Besides to confine all power & Dominon to one City or Nation, would be a weakness that would fall much short of that Perfection we say this New OEconomie is to have, for one City or Nation cannot send out such speedy orders and commands as to serve the present necessities and exigencyes of the whole World, especially to the remotest Nations: The fall of Rome's both Temporal and spiritual power, will convince such a Government of Weakness, so that Jerusalem I believe will only have the honour of an Elder sister but no more power than the Rest. The Rest Isay, for I suppose others, and that she is not to be built alone, for that she would not be able send out preachers to serve the necessities of the whole world: I know very many promises are made to Jerusalem, and I acknowledge that many are made to her in a particular manner, which she alone shall enjoy. Yet notwithstanding this, 'tis certain, that most of the Promises made to her are made as to a part for the whole, and that the whole Church is interressed therein, there fore When the Proph: Zacha. saith. And it shall be that who so will not come up of all the Families of the Earth to Jerusalem to Worship the King the Lord of Hofts even upon them shall he no rain, I cannot understand the meaneing of this to be, that all the World should go up to Jerusalem in Palestine once a year, For some live so remote that they cannot go thither and return bacl in a years Time, Nor do I think that God would oblige all the world to so painful a voyage. Yet I believe that when the Jews are settled in their Land and have built their City, zeal will draw up Persons of all Nations to visit their Land, I say zeal, to see that Land and People whom God hath blessed and not obligation will draw them up. And as to the obligation, When God saith that All Nations shall go up to Jerusalem to worship him there, I rather believe that Persons of every Nation shall go up once a year to their own Jerusalem, I say some persons and not all. For all must not be admitted to enter in it, only such as bring good testimonials of their Christian Conversation and holy living. For David alludeing to this Holy City saith. Lord Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle? and who shall dwell in thy Holy Hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness and speaketh the truth in his heart. An St. John saith There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth etc. Blessed are they that do his commandments ehat they may have Right to thee Tree of Life, and may enter in thorough the Gates into the City, For without are Dogs etc. so that when God saith that all Nations shall come up to worship him at Jerusalem, I understand by Jerusalem all other Jerusalem's, as a part for the Whole, And by All Nations I understand Some of Every. Nation to represent all, And these Figures are very common in holy writ. But some will say that What the Proph. David and St. John speak of, is Heaven; in the ultimate degree and scope I allow it is heaven. But I contend earnestly that we must first have the Types upon Earth. And what can Typify Heaven better than a Holy City whose Inhabitans are to be God's servants and Ministers, representing the Angels, and into which no impure thing, no unholy man shall enter, but such as are of an unblemished life and Conversation. But suppose it was Heaven absolutely, I see not, but that the imitation of Things done in Heaven, here on Earth is very commendable. For the better Strengthening of the Proposition of this my Holy City and New OEconomie I would further suggest the ensueing Considerations, That the Jews as yet have had no benefit of Our Saviour's Death And are at Present a wretched miserable People, under God's displeasure, dispersed over the Face of the whole Earth. That the Christians as yet have had no Settled or lasting Peace amongst them since their embracing so peaceable and holy a Religion: so that I think it will be easily granted me that the Religion of the Holy Jesus has not as yet had its proper and Natural Effects upon Earth. And that all those glorious promises of Justice, peace, and Truth, made by God to the Jews in the old Testament, and to the Christians in the New are not yet accomplished: And as I take it for granted that they are not yet accomplished, so I more certainly take it for granted that they will be; for all the promises of God are Yea and Amen. It cannot enter into my Mind that the Son of God should come into the world, and take upon him humane Nature and preach unto Mankind. And that the World should remain in the Same unhappy circumstances of War and misery as it was before. 'tis true I know he saith that he came not to send peace into the world but a Sword. But this he speaks of the accidental effect of his doctrine and not the natural. His doctrine has no such innate propensity in itself, but such Evil Effects come ab extra We may with great Justice therefore Expect the natural Effects of Christ's doctrine upon Earth. God hath promised it, and very pathetically describes the state of its accidental Effects, and its Natural in the 8 cap. of Zacha. and beginning at the 10 verse. saith Herald Before These days (speakeing of this New OEconomia) there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast, neither was there any Peace to him that went out, or came in, because of affliction: for I set all men every one against his Neighbour. But now I will not be unto the Residue of this People, as in the former days saith the Lord of Hofts. For the seed shall be prosperous: The vine shall give her fruit, and the Ground shall give her increase, And the Heavens shall give their dew, and I will cause the Remnant of this Teople to posesse all these things. It has been the Expectation of many devout and Pious Christians for this Last hundred years, to see the Prophecies and Promises of God fulfiled, to see the Jews converted, the Church in a most Flourishing condition, and Peace Truth and Justice Established upon Earth: But their Expectations have failed them; and we are still in the dark: so that the Present Times seems to be that Dunkell Day Spoken of by the Proph. Zacha. Known only to the Lord, in which. it should be neither Day nor night but saith that in the Evening there should be Light: which is of great ●freshment to all those good Souls who wait for this blessed evening. It must be confessed, that 'tis neither Day nor night with us, We have waited and looked up and calculated, and all our calculations have been Erroneous But notwithstanding we have erred yet God cannot mistake, he is true▪ and will certainly send forth his Light and his Truth in due Time; For the writings of the Prophets are not as waste paper, or the Fables of Poets, but the real dictates of the Spirit of God. Men There fore may with great reason Expect Glorious and happy Times because God hath promised them, their Expectation is good and commendable but nothing else. For they neither rightly inquire into the Nature of things, Nor are fitted to receive any such Mercies. First Isay they make not right Enquiry into things. 'tis true they may depend wpon God to fulfil his own promises, Yet they ought a little to inspect into the means, For God works all his purposes, by just and Mediums; Glorious Times are expected, But we ought to say How? by which ways? and methods, and from what spring will they have their original? the natural Answer hereto will be by changing something, this aught next therefore be enquired into vizt. on what Bottom and Ground the Natural and Pollitical Constitution of this World stands: And since These Happy Times are to come by Changes, We ought diligently to find out Those things which will admit of a change, and those things which will not, And this will facilitate the work and make us more easily comply with those Mediums and Propositions which are amongst the changeable predicaments. The Things the refore here below that are unchangeable for brevities sake I shall comprehend under Seven Heads as folls. 1. Life and Death. 2. Pleasure and pain. 3. Business under which may be comprehended the inequality of Persons and Differing Interests of Men. 4. The Faculty of Chooseing, under which may be comprehended the passions and affections of Men. 5. Divine Worship and Love to our Neighbour. 6. Justice. 7. Power. These are all Essential and perpetual, constituting the natural and Political Administration of this World, And to take a way any of these is to pull down the pillars of the Earth. It must therefore be granted me that what ever things are changed in order to pocure the Expected Times These must continue in statu qno. Then 2dly. The things that are changeable are only Three vizt. 1. The Minds and opinions of Men. These are Accidentalia and mutable, And whatsoever changes may be expected in order to the producing of Happy Times can only be in these Three. 2. The Outward Administration of Justice and Power. 3. The Outward Administration of Divine Worship. First I need not Prove that the opinions of Men are changeable, it being sufficiently Known, And since the World in a manner is Governed by opinion, and it has so great power & influence over men, It must of necessity follow that the abolition of many corrupt and bad opinions which at present disturb the peace of the World, and the admission of new ones, more conduceing to its welfare and happiness; will make up a great part of that felicity which is expected in the change of affairs. Secondly I need not prove that the outward Administration of Justice and Power are changeable. The Names of Despoticke, Monarchick, mixed, Aristocraticke, Democraticke, being the present Inscriptions on these Sovereign Metals will easily convince this. Nor will I mention which of these Methods of Government is best, Several Nations having been happy under all of them. And lastly I shall have as Little occasion to prove that the outward Administration of Divine Worship is changeable, for nothing is more apparent in holy Scripture than this; There has been a series of mutations, from Noah to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Soloman, from Solomon to Our Saviour, and from Our Saviour to this day: And These things being well considered I hope the New way of Ecclesiastical Administration proposed will be more easily admitted: The Present Administration in all Countries is differing, and very unhappy, especially in England God he Knows! But this most exquisite and uniform Way I Have proposed will cure all Evils the World Labours under on this acco tt. But more of this hereafter. I said before that I found men Expecting to receive the Benefit of happy Times, but no way willing to comply with any Reasonable propositions that might introduce them. The Greek, the Roman, the Lutheran, the Reformed, the English, and all other private and particular Churches, would have their own opinions, and particular Method of Administration be established Throughout the World. And jam sattisfied that when God shall begin to work his designs and fulfil his promises made to the Sons of Men, that they will not be more content Than the Jews was with Our Saviour, they will think it should be something else, And think all should be done after their own way. But alas! they are mightily mistaken, For hear what God saith by his Prophet Isaiah. For my Thoughts are not your Thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord, For as this Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Ways, higher than your ways, and my Thoughts then your Thoughts. The Jews sent the Prophet Jerima. to inquire of God for them what they should do, and made a Protestation to obey what ever should be commanded them, yet when the command came they refused to be obedient, and cleaved to their own ways and to the imagination of their own heart. So it is with us We say in our Prayers thy Kingdom come thy will be done in Earth as it is Heaven, And pray and Expect Glorious Times, yet for all our hopes, and Prayers We would have our own Kingdoms, Our own will, and our own ways be done upon Earth notwithstanding whatever we may seem to wish or desire. Great was the hopes and Expectation of the Jews of a Saviour, And when they had him they crucified him. And jam sattisfied should he come again in the flesh to the Christians, in the same humble manner as he did to the Jews and preach against Some of their evil Customs and Constitutions, The Christians (Notwithstanding their present adoration of him in heaven) would as certainly crucify him as did the Jews: for the Nature of mankind is in all places and at all times much the Same, Whoever crosses their humour or interest or speak againsts any thing in which they have been educated shall certainly find ill treatment. Our Saviour pulled down the Jewish OEconomie but it cost him his Life, And the Apostles and Martyrs extinguished the fire on the Heathen Altars, but it was with their Blood, And whoever speaks against the bad customs and constitutions of the Christians no doubt but will find his share of misery. But Gods will be done. But then further since Every Denomination of Christians, have a differing way of Administration, And since there are many parties, and that every party would have their own way be preferred and to be established in the world before all others; What Remedy is there for these things? to set up any particular way before the other will not do well, for that will inflame and provoke the opposition of all the Rest. The only remedy therefoe is to set up a way differing from all, whereby all being pulled down and none in particular set up or preferred before the other, None will have reason to complain. And such is the way of Administration I propose, 'tis different from all their ways, nay and it is God's way to, as I plainly prove by Scripture, and then no wonder 'tis differing from men's ways. For as I said before, God saith my Ways are not like your ways. But in order to conclude I shall speak a little of the advantages of this Administration. Supposeing therefore in Each Kingdom and Nation a City built in the midst thereof, Blessed God What a Glorious change should we Suddenly See in the World? What a Blessed Harmony would there be betwixt these Holy and chaste Sisters? The Blessed Effects of this OEconomie is almost unspeakable, All those Evils the World Labours under on Account of Religion, would speedily vanish like the morning dew before the sun. Upon the building of these, all the old ill built Fabrics would fall to the ground. First the Man of Sin would tumble from his Throne like Dagon before the Ark, And how Happy and easy would the Princes of Christendom find themselves, when rid of all his Ecclesiastical pretensions. They and their Kingdoms have tomuch Suffered by his grievous yoke and unjust usurpations (I need not Quote old stories We have a certain King at present struggling in the Ecclesiastical Net) But this OEconomie would absolutely free them for ever from all the Scourgeing of the Ecclesiastical whip: And we should hear no more of Pope's Kicking down of Emperor's Crowns, Thundering out Curses, forbidding the Subject to pay his Homage to his Lawful Prince: All the Doleful noise of Persecution would be no more heard of in the World. All sects and parties, would speedily vanish, And we should have no more Flying for Religion, from one Country to another the Protestants from France or Papists from England; No Kingdom or Country turned upside down by Religious Men, contending to get or keep their parties in, and to turn others out of the Government. For these preachers being Sufficiently provided for in their respective Cities, all Temptation of acting irregularly would be taken away. And by this means temporals would be absolutely Separated from spirituals A thing much hitherto wished for but never yet effected, And we should hear no more of King's imprisoning Bishops, or of Bishops dethroneing Kings, nor of this or that Party being upper or under in the Government, For these Spiritual preachers should have nothing to do in any Government, Nor should Princes or Temporal Power have anything to do in spirituals, for this has been the occasion of many Evils in the World, and has corrupted the purity of the Christian doctrine, And a certain King hath said, so long as it was in his power so choose Bishops he could have what Gospel he pleased, Therefore these spiritual Men, in respective their Cities, (as in another place I have said) are to be chosen by Lot as was Mathias, And hereby God as is most Just and fit will choose his own Ministers and Servants, and then no doubt but we shall have the Stream to run pure. And these Streams coming out from this Holy City every Month, how will they cool and refresh each Nation, there will be no dry or barren Corners therein But all things will live, and all places be Green and flourishing where these living waters come. At present by the unhappynesse of the presenr Administration, many are the Dark Corners of the World, where the Light of the Gospel shines not, and no provision is made for Preachers. But These Gospel's Angels, these Rays of the Sun, will illuminate all the Dark Corners of Each Land, so that The Earth will be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea; No dry or barren corners will want watering by these ever Flowing Fountains And no Dark corners want the Rays of these glorious and evershinning Ligbts. But jam not able to describe all the advantages of this most Excellent OEconomie but must send you to the Prophets who do it very largely and pathetically. These things we Suppose will come to pass to make up the fullness of the Gentiles which St. Paul speaks of, But then as to the jews may I speak in the Terms of the Angel, in the 12 vers of the 1: cap. of Zacha. who when the men had brought in their Report That all the Gentiles were Still and at Rest, said, O Lord of Hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem etc. Without all doubt God will Remember his promises made to the Jews by the mouth of all his Prophets, and will bring them and Establish them in their Own Land, Where they will build also a City holy to the Lord, out which will flow Living Waters (vizt. Peachers) half of them toward the Former Sea and half of them toward the hinder Sea, both in Summer and in Winter, as both the Proph: Zach ᵃ: and Ezek: mention: And Palestine being placed in the midst of the Earth, (as some Writers affirm) And Jerusalem built in the midst of Palestine, And a Jerusalem or Holy City built in the midst of Each Kingdom, How will every thing answer one another? Ye Admirers of order, Ye Sons of Uniformity, Where can there be greater order and Uniformity then in such an OEconomie? What a glorious Harmony will there be betwixt These Holy and chaste Sisters Jerusalem in Palestine being the first borne? How Glorious will the Spouse of Christ be in such Days? Let us be glad and Rejoice, and give honour to him: For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. I dare not affirm with what particular presence and manner God will Honour these Cities, But it is said that the Lamb will be the Light there of. And what if God should Honour these Cities of the Gentiles, with the same honour with which he honoured the Tabernacle and Temple of the Jews? Who can tell? Great are his mercies to his unworthy creatures. In our Daily Prayers We beg of God that his Kingdom may come and that his will may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, But I pray you tell me, was there ever a Kingdom without Cities? will a Few Houses make a Kingdom? God has Houses in the Earth, 'tis true, but as yet has no Cities Therefore if we would have his Kingdom come We must build him Cities. And when in Each Kingdom he has a City built, they all together will make him here on Earth a Kingdom, or at Leastwise by their influence make the whole Earth his Kingdom. And so our Prayers of thy Kingdom come, will be fulfiled, both in a Literal and in a spiritual Sense. And as Other Kings of the Earth, amongst all their Cities do choose one for the Royal seat of their Kingdom, so God will choose Jerusalem, and put his Throne there, and make it as it were the Head of this spiritual Kingdom. The Prophet jerem. saith at that Time they shall call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, And all Nations shall be gathered unto it. And the Proph. Mica. saith in the 4 cap. & 8 verse. And thou O Tower of Flock etc. unto Thee shall it come, even the First Dominion, The Kingdom shall come, to the Daughter of Jerusalem. Here it is said that she shall have the First Dominion, And that the Kingdom (which we have so often begged for) shall come to her, We know 'tis the Custom on Earth, that the Eldest Son or daughter shall Inherit the Crown, Now God has here a spiritual Kingdom, And these Cities or Several Churches are his daughters, But Jerusalem is the Eldest: Now to which of the Daughters should the Kingdom come? God here answers, To Thee (as the Eldest) shall it come, even the First Dominion, the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem. But These Words the First Dominion, may admit of a double construction, First they may imply that all these Cities, sisters, or Daughters, are to have Dominion But that the Holy City built at Jerusalem as the First and Eldest Daughter shall have The First or principal Dominion, or they may signify that all these Sisters, as God's Daughters may have a right to the Dominion and the Kingdom, But that the City at Jerusalem as eldest Daughter shall have the Dominion first, And the others afterward Successively, Whether of these are the more genuine I leave to the more Judicous to determine, But for the Reasons formerly mentioned I think not that the Nature of this Dominion is Imperial, or that the Lady at Jerusalem, should as a Queen Exercise an absolute command over the Rest, But I rather think that the nature of it relates more to order than command, And that she shall have a Priority of order and pre-eminence of Respect due to her on acco tt. of being Sister, and as enjoying more particular honours and favours from God. I must confess I have found this Little Book in the inditeing or eating of it as Sweet as honey, I hope that no one hereafter will make it bitter in my Belly, For I have wrote Nothing but for what I have alleged the Word of God and Great probability. The Apostle saith there are different Administrations, but one Lord. The Lord is King of the Universe, And Christ is the Head Administrator, and can Govern his Family after what method and manner he pleases: What therefore if he first order an Altar, than a Tabernacle, than a Temple, and then a City, And then at Last bring us to Heaven the New Jerusalem itself. The Prophet David saith, They shall pass from strength to strength until they come to God in Zion: Heaven itself without a Type, To which Place God of his infinite mercy bring us all through the merits of Jesus Christ Amen. Postscript. The Julian and Gregorian Account of Time are both vicious and puts the world in no small confusion. I would therefore humbly propose that they both may be regulated by an exact calculation. It will not only be the greatest honour, but also the greatest Profit and advantage to that King or Prince Who shall undertake so Honourable a Task. Since therefore all things are to be come New, And the Angel saith that Time shall be no more (which I understand to be the Time of the old Administation, as also of the Old Vicious calculation) I hope that this Proposition will also be considered, that with the New Administration, we may have a New account of Time That we may write Anno domi, & Anno ab Urbe conditâ.