THE Day-Dawning, And the DAYSTAR Arising to the Dispersed of JUDAH & ISRAEL.  
Wherein is briefly handled Their CALL, AND CHRIST'S Second coming, whose day is near at hand.  
By THO. COLLIER.  
LONDON, Printed by H. Hills for T. Brewster, at the three Bibles, near the West end of Paul's, 1655.   
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It may seem strange, that I, at such a distance from you, and not of your nation, should trouble myself so much about your estate, being a people now despicable in the world's eyes, scattered and dispersed among the nations; and upon a rational account unlikely to be a people beloved for the Father's sake, and that shall be honoured of God when the nations shall fall before you, and confess you a people sought out and saved, and not forsaken: but I have had several prevailing arguments in mine own heart, which have occasioned me to present you with this Epistle, and I entreat and beseech you for the Lords sake, and for the love of the truth, that you do read this Epistle, and ponder it well in your hearts, desiring the God of Grace to give you an understanding in the truth herein presented to you, for with much bowels of tenderness and love, have I written to you: the reasons moving me thereunto are these.  
1. That clear discovery God hath given me by his Spirit from the Word of truth of his intention to do you good; and that although you have been a long time rejected and scattered for your own sake, yet you are beloved, and shall be gathered for the Father's sake.  
Secondly, being thus instructed in the truth of your calling, it lay much as a duty upon my heart (and I am confident from the Lord) to write unto you; that I might perform my duty to you in my generation, leaving the blessing to the Lord.  
Thirdly, Likewise being assured that the time of your gathering is at hand.  
Fourthly, knowing likewise that your fullness will be the time of the deliverance of all believing Gentiles, now dispersed and trampled under foot for their Lord's sake; for he was given to be a light to the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel.  
Fifthly and last, I find it to be the desire of Manasseh Ben Israel, in his book titled, The hope of Israel, in his Epistle to the Reader, That if any to whom his book came, had any thing worthy of posterity, that they would give him notice of it. I have not here presented you with any thing of History or outward learning, but have endeavoured, according to the grace received, in the plain evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and power of truth, to present you with such things, as may, through the blessing of God, tend to your eternal good.  
The first principle of truth I have to present you with, is, that the true and promised Messiah was, according to the counsel of God, to suffer death for the redemption of sinners; and this I shall clear unto you, by convincing grounds from the Scriptures, Moses, and the Prophets, whom you know and own; and my earnest desire for you at the throne of grace, is, that the God of grace may give you an understanding in the knowledge of this truth. This I shall confirm unto you from three grounds. 1. Promises, 2. Types, 3. Prophecies.  
First, Is that Promise of grace, Gen. 3. 15. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and hers; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This promise hath a special relation to the Messiah, and clearly presents us with his suffering, that by his death he should break the Serpent's head (viz.) the head of Satan; though he himself were bruised, though he suffered in the flesh, yet he should overcome in suffering. I do not deny, but that this hath been and is accomplished in all that truly know the Lord: Satan, sin, and evil men oppose, but the seed of the woman hath and will bruise the head of all, in and for his people, though he himself was appointed to be bruised by the Serpent's seed, to this agreeth Isa. 53. 5. He was bruised for our iniquitiès, etc.  
Secondly, see it clearly and fully presented in types and shadows; first the Paschal Lamb or Passeover, mentioned Exod. 12. was a lively representation of the crucifying of the Lamb of God, the Messiah who was to come, and by his blood to make atonement and peace for sinners, that as the children of Israel were then made partakers of a deliverance out of Egypt, by that means the kill of a Lamb, eating the flesh, and sprinkling the door-post with the blood, etc. so must the Messiah give his life and blood for the redemption of his people (out of spiritual Egypt, darkness & oppression) both of Jews and Gentiles.  
2. All the sacrifices & offerings by the Priests commanded in the law of Moses were clear types and representations of the sufferings of the Messiah; the offering of Lambs, & Rams, & Bullocks; &c. to be sin-offerings, burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, etc. all presentations of Christ the Messiah, in English the anointed, who was to be the alone peace and sin-offering for his people; the Priest was to offer sacrifice for sin, as is expressed at large, Levit. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 Chapters, and Chap. 16. 34. they were to make an atonement once a year, both for themselves and the people. All these offerings could not do away sin, but as it had a relation to the true offering, he that was to offer himself once for all, that he might by one offering for ever perfect them that were by him sanctified: this truth you shall see when the Lord taketh away the veil that is spread over your faces, that clearly under all these offerings is represented the offering up of the true Messiah once for all, etc.  
3. This truth is likewise clearly prophesied, that he that runs may read. There is scarce any prophet of God, but did foresee and foretell of this truth, the sufferings of the Messiah. Moses the servant of the Lord, and great prophet and type of the anointed, as you may see Dcut. 18. 15. he by the inspiration of the Lord, presents him much as hath been minded In his suffering estate; the prophet David likewise in Psal. 22. presents him a sufferer, particularly in vers. 16. They pierced my hands and my feet: a clear prophecy of the Messiah. I beseech you weigh it in your hearts, David was never pierced in his hands and feet. See likewise the prophet Isaiah chap. 53. throughout, describing the Messiah, that he was wounded and bruised, rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs, and that God laid upon him the iniquity of us all. And Zach. 12. 10. They shall look upon him whom they have pierced: all which confirms the truth, that the Messiah, which you look for, was to come forth, first in his humiliation, in contempt, in suffering, etc.   

SECT. II.  
THe second principle of truth that I have to present unto you, is, That that Jesus which was crucified by your forefathers at Jerusalem, without the gate, was and is the true Messiah, and this is that principle of truth, you have to this day rejected; and my earnest desire is, that you would read these lines with patience, and weigh well the truth herein presented with much tenderness and love unto you; and in this I shall present you with many new Testament-Scriptures, useful being compared with the old, be willing to read and compare them together before you judge. And, Oh that you would be mo●e in searching after the knowledge of the truth of God's grace, held forth in the new Testament, and if the Lord work upon your hearts, I should commend principally unto you the Epistle to the Hebrews, which especially concerns you, and may through the blessing of the Lord be of much use unto you.  
I desire to mind you of one thing by the way, before I come to the confirmation of the truth asserted, viz. that the true and promised Messiah, was, according to the Scripture, to have his day and time of humiliation, as hath been already proved, and then his glory, Isa. 9 6. first a child, a son, and then a King, and the government must be upon his shoulders, etc. Chap. 53. throughout till the last ver. he is presented in his suffering estate; and in the last vers. in his reign: Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong. To this agrees that of Christ, Luk. 24. 25, 26. Oh fools and slow of heart to believe that which the prophets have written, ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12. the suffering part, as in relation to himself in his own person, he hath passed through, and is entered into glory, Act. 1. 9, 1●. Though while the Church is under suffering, yet as he is considered one with his Church, the time of his humiliation is not over till all the members are glorified with him.  
Now that this is the true Messiah that suffered at Jerusalem, will appear, if you consider, 1. That in him was fulfilled all the legal types that did represent him in his sufferings▪ he it was that is the true Pascal Lamb, or rather the Lamb represented in the Passeover, Exod. 12. The Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, Joh. 1. 29. 36. the true  that was sacrificed for us, 1 Cor. 5. 7. that whosoever believeth in him, all their iniquities shall be passed over, John 3 16.  
And he was the substance of all those sacrifices and offerings in the law of Moses, those sin-offerings,  offerings, heave-offerings, and wave-offerings, they all lead to him, were fulfilled in him; those sacrifices served to the purifying of the flesh, suitable to the covenant that then you were under, but they never purified the conscience from dead works, to serve the living God in spirit and in truth, no otherwise then as it had relation to Christ the true sacrifice, Christ being become an high Priest of good things to come, Heb. 9 13, 14. For if the blood of Bulls and Goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, Purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God? As the high Priest then entered once a year into the most holy place, offering sacrifice for himself and the people, Exod. 30. 10. Levit. 16 2. with Heb. 9▪ 7. So is Jesus Christ become a high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of Goats and Calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption, Heb. 9 11, 12. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, etc. Heb. 9 24, 25, 26. so that what was figured out in the sacrifices, priesthood, temple and tabernacle, Christ is the substance of all, fully and completely answers them, and fulfils them, and ends them all; so that he is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes, Rom. 10. 4. By all which it appears that he is the true and promised Messiah, because that in him is fully answered all the figures and shadows of the old Testament.  
It will farther appear that this is the true Messiah, if you consider how fully in him is answered all the prophecies and promises of him in the old Testament in relation to his humiliation; and in him shall be fulfilled all the promises of his glory, but every thing in its order that God hath set it. 1. For his humiliation, see what the Prophet David personating Christ, as it might be very well (for sometimes Christ is called David, Ezek. 39 24, 25. and the promise made with David and his seed, hath a special relation to Christ, Psal. 89. from the 19 to the 39 vers.) see Psal. 22. the prophet personating Christ in his sufferings, you may clearly see Christ answering those things, or all those things fully answered in him: in way of complaint, ver. 6. I a worm and no man, this was the condition of Christ, vers. 7. All they that see me, laugh me to scorn; so it was fulfilled in Jesus, Mat, 27. 29, 30 31. and when they had plated a crown of thorns (in reproach) they put it on his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him and said, Hail King of the Jews, etc. Again, Psal. 22. 8. he trusted in the Lord, that he would deliver him, let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. See this made good Mat. 27. 43. when he was upon the Cross in the height of his sufferings for the sins of others, than his enemies tauntingly fulfilled the Scripture, and said, He trusted in God, let him deliver him now if he will have him, etc. So again Psal. 22. 16. For dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me; they have pierced my hands and my feet: and this was fulfilled in him, as is clearly employed in John 20. 24, 25. and Thomas one of the Twelve said, etc. Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, etc. I will not believe. Again, Psal. 22. 17. they part my garments among them, and cast lots upon (or for) my vesture, and this was fulfilled in Christ. See Mat. 27. 35. Joh. 19 23, 24. Again in Isaiah Chap: 7. 14. the Lord by the prophet (Ahaz refusing to ask a sign) gives him a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel: this cannot be rightly intended or understood but of Christ the true Messiah. For first, never a virgin conceived a child in the ordinary course of nature. And secondly, his name Immanuel, viz. God with us; could not properly be given to any but the Son of God, nor ever was there a virgin that bear a Son, but Marry the mother of Jesus, or any one, besides him truly called Immanuel, that is, God with us, and with his, believing in him, by his spirit and grace, & shall be with his in glory, Mat. 23. Luk. 1. 26, etc. here in is the mystery of God's wisdom & grace to men; that as by a woman sin and condemnation came first into the world; so by a Son born of a woman, a virgin, salvation is come into the world.  
As his conception and birth was according to the Scripture of a virgin, so the place of his birth was according to prophecies exactly fulfilled, viz. in Bethlehem, Mic. 5. 2. with Mat. 2. 1, 5. and for this reason it was that Herod commanded all the males in Bethlehem, and the coasts thereof from two years old and under to be slain, that so he might make sure to slay Jesus, Mat. 2. 16. and this makes way for the fulfilling of another prophecy, Jer. 31. 15. with Mat. 2. 17, 18. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they were not: though I do not question but that there may be much in this prophecy relating to the distressed estate of Israel, and afterward a prophecy of their return. But it was likewise fulfilled in this also, for Benjamin came of Rachel, Gen. 35. 18. and Ramah was one part of Benjamins' possession, Nehe. 11. 33. and the fulfilling of this Scripture made way for the fulfilling of another prophecy, Joseph at the command of God flying with Jesus into Egypt to save his life from Herod, made way for the fulfilling of that prophecy, Hos. 11. 1. Out of Egypt have I called my Son, Mat. 2. 15. he was there, viz. in Egypt, until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, out of Egypt have I called my Son. It's true, there might be something in it relating to your coming out of Egypt by the hand of Moses, but prophecies are of a large extent, and the most precious mystery is hid from our eyes, if the Lord open not our understanding.  
His life was a life of suffering assoon as he came into the world, his life was sought after, and afterwards he was the reproach of men, accounted a friend to Publicans and sinners, a blasphemer, one that cast out devils through Belzebub the Prince of devils, Mat. 12. 24. John 10. 33. and so in him was fulfilled that prophecy, Isa. 8. 18. with Heb. 2. 13. Behold I and the children which the Lord hath given me, are for signs and wonders in Israel. He came to his own, and his own received him not, and so that prophecy was fulfilled, Isa. 53. 1. Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? and that prophesy Isa. 6. 9 Go tell this people, hear ye in hearing, but understand not, and see in deed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes lest they hear with their ears, and see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I should heal them. And hath not this been your condition many years? and hath not there been a forsaking in the land upon this account, and the Lord hath removed you far away? but there is a tenth which shall return, etc. See vers. 11, 12, 13.  
And in him was fulfilled that prophecy Zach. 9 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold thy King cometh to thee, he is just, having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an Ass, and upon a Colt, the foal of an Ass. This was fulfilled in him, Mat. 21. 5. to the 10. this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet saying Behold thy King cometh unto thee meekly, sitting upon an Ass, etc. Note, this was an act of Christ to be performed in his humiliation he must come lowly, meekly riding upon an Ass; this is not to be expected in his glory, than he shall come in power and great glory. Who will abide the day of his coming? and who will stand when he appeareth? Mal. 3. 2. But first he must come meekly and humbly; and yet riding in this meek estate; wherein was a resemblance of his glory; the great multitudes that went before and followed after him cried, saying Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest, Mat. 21. 9 if there was so much glory appeared in his meekness in his humiliation, how will he appear glorious when he shall appear in his power, when the song of Saints shall be, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  
With what clearness was that prophecy fulfilled in all the circumstances of it? Isa. 52. 14 & cha. 53. throughout, Cham 52. 14. as many were astonished at thee, his visage was so marred more than any man's, and his form more than the sons of men. Was not this fulfilled when your fathers cried out crucify him, crucify him, give us not this man but Barrabas? Mat. 27. 20, 21. Jesus was so marred in their eyes, that they preferred Barrabas a thief and a murderer before him, Act. 3. 14, 15. thus was he a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs, despised & rejected of men, and not esteemed▪ Chap. 53. 3. Oh was not this prophecy fulfilled to the life in Jesus? verse 4, 5. Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted; but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, etc. the reason was in vers. 6. Because that all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, and he bore our sins on his own body on the cross, 1 Pet. 2. 24. In him was fulfilled that saying of the Prophet Micah 5. 1. They shall smite the Judge of Israel with the rod upon the cheek, Mat. 27. 30. They spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head, and so fulfilled that Scripture, Isa. 50. 6. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, I hide not my face from shame and spiting.  
Thus was he numbered among transgressors, Isa. 53. 12. accounted worse than Barrabas crucified between two thiefs, Mark 15. 27, 28. and the Scripture was fulfilled. In all which he fulfilled that saying Isa. 53. 7. he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer is dumb, so opened he not his mouth, with Mat. 26. 62, 63. And thus in silence for the sins of men he suffered death, even the shameful death of the Cross: and that Scripture was fulfilled, Isa. 53. 8. He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people was he cut off, and verse 9 he made his grave with the wicked, etc. and vers. 12. he poured out his soul to the death, and he was numbered with the transgressors for he bear the sins of many. Thus have I given you a brief taste of this truth so necessary to be known in this day of grace, that Jesus Christ is the true promised Messiah. The Lord give you an understanding in this precious truth, which in itself is so full of clearness, that whosoever runs may read if the vail remain not still untaken away.  
I shall add in the last place, that he according to the Scripture came of the tribe of Judah, and so was the Son of David according to the flesh; and in him were the prophesies fulfilled, Gen. 49. 10. The sceptre shall not departed from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet till Shilo come, and to him shall the gathering of the people be. And that prophesy Isa. 11. 1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of jesse; and a branch shall grow out of his roots, with Act. 13. 22, 23. I have found David the son of jesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will, of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised a Saviour Jesus, and this is proved both by Matthew, Chap. 1. and Luk. chap. 3. in their account of the genealogy of Christ both agree in their account that he was the Son of David, though probably there may seem some scruple, because they reckon upon a contrary line, yet I do believe there is much of the wisdom of God in it: Matthew reckoning after the genealogy of joseph, who was the supposed father of Christ, and Luke after the line of Mary the mother of Christ; so that take it on which side you will, both came of David, and so Christ was the son of David, and the son of Abraham, Mat. 1. 1. and so he was acknowledged in his incarnation by all that had any convictions of heart upon them, Mat. 9 27. The two blind men cried, Thou son of David have mercy on us, and the woman of Canaan, Chap. 15. 22. Cried, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord thou son of David, and Chap. 21. 9 the multitude cried out Hosanna to the son of David, etc. Let this suffice, he was the son of David, he was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Rom. 1. 3. 4. For he did not only die for our sins, but he was also raised again for our justification, according to the Scriptures, Rom. 4. 25. and so that Scripture was fulfilled, Psal. 16. 11. Thou wilt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption. David saw corruption, but this man saw no corruption, being quickened and raised by the Spirit, Mark. 16. 6. 1 Cor. 15 and being risen, he is ascended to the Father, joh. 20. 17. Act. 1. 9, 10. And the heavens must receive him till the time of the restitution of all things, Act. 3. 21. Thus much shall suffice at present in confirmation of this truth, that that man Jesus who was crucified at Jerusalem is the true and promised Messiah, though I might give many grounds more, as the wise men coming by a star from the East to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? together with the many and great miracles which he did? as to turn water into wine? joh. 2. heal the sick? open the eyes of the blind? raise the dead? preached with authority, Mat. 7. 29. Never man spoke like this, by the confession of those that were sent to apprehend him, joh. 7. 46. Thus his works do witness that he was the son of God, john 36. and john was a witness to him, joh. 1. 15. & 5. 33. the father by his Spirit bare witness to him, Mat. 3. 17. with joh. 5. 37. all his disciples and servants were witnesses to him in their cleaving to him, and bearing up of his name, though in a way of suffering; the Sun being darkened in the day of his sufferings, was an evident witness that he was the Son of God, Mat. 27. 45. the rending of the veil of the temple, and raising of the dead, and quaking of the earth, convincing witnesses, Mat. 27. 51, etc. that he was the Messiah.  
And finally, your being cast out of your own country amongst the nations, your City and temple destroyed, according to his word, Mat. 24. 2. for your rejecting of him according to that parable, Mat. 21. 33. 38. 41. This is the Son, come let us kill him, etc. Read that parable, and consider all these, with many others that I could produce do confirm that Jesus is the Christ.   

SECT. III.  
THe third general truth I desire to present you with, is, that the rejecting of this Jesus hath been and is your sin, and that its your duty to own him, and to believe in him. I say unto you as once the Messiah said unto your fathers, john 8. 24. If ye believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. There are several reasons why your fathers did, and you to this day do reject him.  
1. The meaness of his condition in outward appearance. Oh you looked for him to come in glory, a King to deliver you from all your enemies. Oh you did not, you do not know the mystery of his humiliation; it was hid from your eyes; it was hid from his own disciples, till after it was accomplished. Hence it is Christ saith, Luk. 24. 25, 26. O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things▪ and to enter into his glory? the meaness of Christ was and is to this day a veil cast over your faces, by reason of which you did not, you do not know him.  
2. The meaness of his followers, Oh they were too mean for such a presence as was supposed would attend the true Messiah, hence it was (I will not say and yet is, yourselves best know) that the chief Priests and Pharisees said, have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? joh. 7. 48. Oh consider that prophecy, Isa. 8. 14, 15 He shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stubmling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and many of them shall fall and be snared, and be taken; and hath not this been your condition, merely upon this account of rejecting Christ for his meaness, and for the meaness of his followers? upon this account it was that he was set at naught of the bvilders, and yet is become the head stone of the corner, not understanding the Scriptures which spoke of him, Isa. 14. 32. That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall betake themselves unto it, Chap, 29. 19 the poor among men shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel.  
Other reasons might be presented, but not so useful in this place. Oh therefore let it be your wisdom to embrace him, and not to stand it out with him any longer. I say the night is far spent, and the day is at hand, Oh kiss the Son lest he be angry, and his wrath be kindled, but a little, blessed are they that trust in him, Psal. 2. I say unto you as once Paul, Act. 13. 38, 39 be it known unto you, that through this man is preached unto you, the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. Oh do not contradict and blaspheme any longer; for he is still good and gracious, the arms of his mercy are yet open to receive you; he is not yet risen up out of his holy habitation to take vengeance on his enemies; but he is yet complaining, as in Isa. 49. 4. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain; yet surely my judgement is with the Lord, and my work is with my God: Behold Christ complaining for the rebellion of his nation, as if he had spent his labour in vain, suffered in vain, because of their long rejecting of him; but see the answer of God unto him to comfort him in his sad complaint, v. 6, 7. And he said, art thou ligher than that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of jacob, and to restore the restored of Israel (and till Israel doth receive thee, and is gathered by thee, for thy comfort) I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth: thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel, Israel shall be redeemed with judgement, and her converts with righteousness. Oh therefore stand it not out with the Lord any longer, for if ye will not believe, ye shall not be established; the way by which God will work your deliverance, will be your owning of the holy child Jesus, he it is that must be your peace, and that by faith in his blood, for he hath given his life a ransom for many to be testified in due time, and that prophesy Zach. 12. 10. shall be fulfilled; they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for him, etc. and he it is that was pierced by your fathers, and by yourselves too, in so much as you have justified your fathers in their sin, by your rejecting of him, and that opinion will prove but a fancy mentioned in Menasseh Ben Israel, his book page 33. Sect. 26. that some of your wise men say, that there is Messiah the son of Ephraim, and that he shall die in the last war of Gog and Magog, and do apply this Scripture to that, they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, etc. This cannot be for these reasons.  
1. There is never but one Messiah spoken of in the Scriptures, Dan. 9 25, 26. and that Messiah is the Son of David, and he was to be cut off, but not for himself but for men.  
Second Reason, Because the cutting off of the Messiah was to be after the building of the City jerusalem, in their coming out of Babylon; and before the second destruction by Titus, expressed in these words, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build jerusalem (viz. in coming forth of Babylon) unto Messiah the prince, seven weeks, that is seven times seventy weeks, and the seventy weeks is seventy times seven weeks, which is all one in computation of time, than the Messiah was to be cut off, and after jerusalem destroyed again by the people of the Prince that shall come, for the Roman Monarchy was not then in being, but was to come so that it cannot be so understood that Messiah should be cut off in the last war of Gog, because he was to be cut off before the destruction of jerusalem by the Roman power.  
3. It cannot be understood so, because that word in Zachariah, clears itself; he doth not say Gog & Magog shall look on him whom they have pierced; so it must be if he were to be slain by Gog, but I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of jerusalem, the spirit of Grace, etc. and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, etc. he was pierced by you, and you it is that shall look upon him and mourn, when the Lord doth pour out the spirit of Grace upon you.  
4. It cannot be in the last war of Magog, for than shall be no destruction to any but Gog himself, for there are two destructions to Gog, as in its place I shall make it appear. Oh therefore be entreated to sit down a little, and sadly consider your estate. If this be truth, which is undeniable, that the true Messiah was according to prophecies to suffer, and all things spoken of by the prophets was fulfilled in him, and so it appears that he was, and is indeed the Son of God, King of Israel, Is it not high time for you to awake out of sleep? Doth not the Lord say by the Prophet, that there is a veil & covering cast over all people▪ Isa. 25. 7. And Paul 1 Cor. 3. that the covering in the reading of Moses law remaineth untaken away. When that is taken away, you shall see him to be the substance, as hath been minded, of Moses law, Priest sacrifice, atonement, prophet, and king, and to him you will submit in all things; Do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe them: Oh then desire the Lord that you may understand them, that you may not remain in that estate, that Christ being come, you do not know him; it was want of knowledge that was the cause why your fathers crucified him, so Paul speaks, 1 Cor. 2. 8. had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Oh continue not in that sin of ignorance and unbelief; I know you shall not long. I do rejoice in the hearing of your zeal against idolatry, Images & Pictures; in your keeping close to your own people in your marriages, by which you are preserved in your great expectation of the Messiah: but Oh my soul longs that you might know him in his humiliation, that so you might suffer with him, and for him, and reign with him, that you might know who it is you look for, one that hath suffered and been tempted, that so he might be your king in his humiliation, a little, before he come in his glory. Oh it will be your joy and crown of rejoicing one day, if you have hearts to own him truly in his humiliation. Well, your duty is, and its that which the Lord calls you to, to repent and believe the Gospel, to be baptised after believing, in the name of the Lord Jesus, wherein is represented the washing away of sin both in conscience and conversation, through faith in his blood; it's only the duty of believers to be baptised; we own no national Church under the Gospel (before the day of Christ's glorious appearing) but whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall be saved; the nations delude themselves with the form of godliness without the power; Oh it's the life and power of godliness that will stand us instead at the last: it's your duty to own him in every part of his word and will, for God hath raised him up a Prophet to you; and it's your duty to hear him in all, Dcut. 18. 15. with Act. 3. 22, 23. Moses gives up all to him, if Moses were upon the earth he would willingly submit himself to this prophet; therefore stand it not out with him, remember that word of Christ, Luk. 19 27. but those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me. The Lord Jesus in his glorious appearing will render vengeance to them that know him not, to them that obey him not, but will be admired in all those that have believed in him: in that day, 2 Thess. 1. 8. 9, 10. Oh therefore fear and tremble to stand it out with him any longer, he is that stone, that whosoever falls on him will be broken, but on whomsoever he shall fall, he will break them to pieces: you have been stumbling at him a long time.  
Oh take heed lest he fall on you, he is not only a Lamb full of meekness, patience and forbearance, slain for the sin of sinners, but he is the Lion of the Tribe of judah, and when the Lion roareth all the beasts of the Forest will then tremble, Oh then blessed are all those that put their trust in him.  
To conclude this word, remember I bessech you these three things.  
1. That without him there is no life, there is no other name given among men, whereby you may be saved, but by the name of Jesus, viz. through faith in his blood.  
2. Consider the grievousness of your sin, in rejecting him so long as you have, consider of that word of the Prophet, if it had been an enemy I could have born it, but it is thou O man my acquaintance, Psal. 45. 13. it is his own, and they have not received him. Oh thats it will cause you to weep bitterly every family apart, Zach. 12. when you shall come to look upon him whom you have pierced, and shall mourn for him. Oh it's that will break your hearts, when you shall see and say, he that is our king hath been our reproach; we it is that have wounded and pierced him, we it is that have rejected him, and trampled him under our feet, and accounted the blood of the covenant an holy thing; yet know, that if the Lord make you sensible of your sin, he is gracious, he is yet a Lamb full of meekness, & his blood shall cleanse you from all your sins; for the promise is to you as many as the Lord our God shall call. For this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance, Heb. 9 15.  
3. Consider, that notwithstanding your rejecting of him, yet he shall be your King at last, and he it is that shall be manifest to be the Lord of lords, and King of kings, that one Lord Jesus Christ who hath been so much set light by you, see Hos. 13. 10. I will be thy King, Where is any that may save thee in all thy Cities? and this leads me to the fourth particular.   

SECT. iv  
THe fourth particular that I shall present you with, is that this Jesus shall reign on earth and the twelve Tribes of Israel shall be gathered by him to their own land in peace.  
1. That this Jesus shall have his kingdom and dominion here on earth manifest among the sons of men. Having had his day of humiliation among the sons of men, He shall have his day of glory on earth among the sons of men, that as he hath been abased in person on earth, so shall he in person reign on earth. In the confirmation of this glorious truth, I shall present you with many Scriptures both in the old and new Testament, Psal. 2. throughout. Where the Lord hath said it, that notwithstanding the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing, for they imagine that Christ shall not reign, which is a vain thing, vain imaginations, etc. yet verse 6. Have I set my King upon the holy hill of Zion. And verse 8. He shall have the heathen given him for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; & what shall he do with them? he shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. This is a clear prophecy of the reign of Christ the anointed. I have set mine anointed upon Zion the hill of my holiness; and all the rage of men on earth shall not hinder it, or prevent God in his great design of the exaltation of the man Jesus; to this fully agreeth that glorious prophecy, Psalm 72. throughout though it may be supposed, that the Prophet in this Psalm intendeth Solomon, which I do not altogether deny, yet he intendeth Solomon not otherwise than as he was a type of Christ, but in the Messiah, the man Jesus, shall this prophecy be truly and fully made good in the day of his glory, vers. 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgement, vers. 4. He shall judge the poor of the people, and shall save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressor, vers. 5. they shall fear thee so long as the Sun and Moon endureth throughout all generations. This was never made good in Solomon, nor in any man else, but it shall be in Christ, Dan. 7. 27. all dominions shall serve and obey him; but to return, vers. 7. in his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, till there be no Moon, vers. 8. he shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth, and so to the 17. verse are many glorious prophecies of his kingdom, and his name shall be for ever; he shall be a son to continue his father's name for ever; and men shall be blessed in him, all nations shall call him blessed, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things▪ and blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory, Amen, Amen. So likewise in Psal. 82. 8. after the description of Magistrates, what they should be, and what they should do, defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy, rid them out of the hand of the wicked, etc. and then what they did judge, unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked, etc. the Prophet seeing no justice to be done by men, what ever they should be, or whatever they pretend to be, even as Gods upon earth, pretending to do justly, yet nothing less: he looks further, even to the righteous branch. Arise O God, judge the earth, for thou shalt inherit all nations; this is that should be the faith, prayers, and consolation of the Saints amidst all the troubles of the world and injustice and unfaithfulness of men, that the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and his countenance doth behold the upright, Psal. 11. 7. and that he will take to himself his great power, and will reign, Rev. 11. 17. Isa. 11. 1. there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, that is Jesus Christ the Son of David, Act. 13. 23. and he shall be filled by the father, through the Spirit of the Father, withal accomplishments for so great a work, vers. 1, 2, 3. and then with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth, and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked▪ vers. 4. Isa. 32. 1, 2. Behold a King shall reign in righteousness, and Princes shall rule in judgement, and man shall be a hiding place, even the man Christ Jesus, whom the Lord hath made strong for himself, Psal. 80. 17. and by whom he will rule the nations; its true, this prophecy hath been, is, and shall be made good in a measure, even in the day of his humiliation, he hath been and is a King, and a hiding place to all that truly believe in him, but it shall be much more fulfilled in the day of his exaltation, when every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue shall confess him to the glory of God the Father, Psal. 45. 23. Phil. 2. 11. Isa. 42. 1, 2, 3, 4. Where you have, 1. A description of Christ in his humiliation.  
1. What he is to his Father, vers. 1. His servant, his elect, one in whom his soul delighteth, etc.  
2. His humility and patience in his suffering. He shall not cry nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.  
3. His meekness and harmlesness. A bruised reed shall he not break, the smoking flax shall he not quench.  
Yet 4. He shall bring forth judgement into truth. He shall bring forth judgement in the earth, the Isles shall wait for his law; all the discouragements shall not hinder him, the greatness of his sufferings and the long time of his being rejected by his own nation, etc. shall not hinder him, but he shall bring forth judgement into victory, and establish Jerusalem a praise in the earth, Isa. 62. 7. Jer. 22. 5, 6. Chap. 33. 15. Behold the days come saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and justice in the earth etc. this is the King promised in Ezek. 37. 25. and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever; this is the fifth Monarchy mentioned Dan 2. or the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands, that shall break in pieces all that have gone before it, and shall be the last government in the world, for he shall not leave the government to another people as all the rest have done and shall do, v. 44, 45. this is the kingdom and glory of the ancient of days, spoken of Dan. 7. 9, 10. & 26, 27. this is that Michael Dan. 12. 1. that shall stand up, a great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one, Zach. 14. 9 See this glorious truth preciously held forth likewise in the New Testament, Phil. 2. from vers. 6. to the 12. where the Apostle, first describes him in his humiliation, and then in his exaltation, that God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus (viz. his kingly authority) every knee should bow, etc. and this is it the Apostle minds in the Epistle to the Hebrews Chap. 2. applying that which is written concerning Christ in Psa. 8. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet, vers. 8. but now we see not yet all things put under him; but allthings in this world shall be put under him, and he shall reign till all his enemies are made his footstool, Psal. 110. 1. Mat. 22. 44. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 1. 13. this is likewise preciously minded, Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever; and this is the thousand years reign spoken of Rev. 20. 4. Thus much shall suffice as in clearing the truth of the reign of Christ.  
2. The place where he shall manifest his glory, in his kingdom, and that is at Jerusalem in the land of Canaan, that land which the Lord chose for himself, a habitation for his name and people, the place and City of his holiness, even the mount Zion; that place where our Lord suffered his shame and reproach, shall he manifest his glory: the Lord shall reign in (Isa. 24. 23.) mount Zion, in Jerusalem, and there shall be glory before his ancients, Joel 3. 12. Let the heathen be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehosaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about, there will the Lord sit and judge of the heathen, and there will the Lord govern his people, Zach. 2. 12. and the Lord shall inherit Judah, his portion in the holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again; let all flesh therefore be silent before the Lord when he ariseth up out of the habitation of his holiness.  
3. In this day of the reign of Christ, will he gather together the dispersed of Judah and Israel into their own Land; that although for their sins they have been put far away for along time; yet they shall be gathered, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from him that was too strong for him, therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, etc. and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not see sorrow any more, jer. 31. 11, 12, the Lord will gather them out of all places whither they have been driven and they shall come with weeping and supplication, vers. 8. 9 that is, they shall come in with the sense of the sin that hath been the cause of their being put far away, they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for him, Zach. 12. First he will gather judah and Benjamin, and let them have some sight of his grace, Zach. 12. 7. the Lord also will save the tents of judah first, and pour first upon them the Spirit of Grace and of supplication, that the glory of the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah; that which I understand in it, is, that because judah and Benjamin had their hands especially in the crucifying of their King.  
The Lord will first, to show that he is gracious, save judah first, called the tents of judah, because the two tribes known by that name, live as it were in tents, not so possessed of any Nation as to call it their own.  
And secondly, he will save the tents of judah first, that the glory of the house of David, and the glory of the inhabitants of jerusalem, do not magnify against judah, not but that judah is the house of David, but the glory of it will be the coming in of the ten tribes so long lost, that will be the glory of the house of David, that is of Christ, but the tents of judah must be first, that the ten tribes may not magnify against them, because they had a hand in the crucifying of their king, they it were that said, this is the heir, come let us kill him, but Israel was ignorant of this.  
Therefore to prevent Israel's magnifying against judah, the Lord will save the Tents of judah first: behold the riches of his grace, and kindness to men: this is one prevailing thing that hath at this time drawn forth my heart and pen in writing to you.  
And secondly, He will save the ten tribes and bring them to their own land, who have been for a long time driven far away, yet not so properly said to dwell in tents as judah, because I do believe that they are not only in being, but that there are great and strong nations of them; as for the many places mentioned by Menasseh Ben Israel, of their habitation, I am not so curious about it, it is enough to me to know that they are, and that they shall return when their day is come. I do give much credit to that mentioned by you in 2 Esdra 13. their being passed through the River Euphrates into a strange land, where never mankind dwelled, etc. and that there they shall remain till the latter day, and then the Lord will work signs for them, and return them the same way, and will dry up the river again for them to pass through; and to this agreeth that prophecy in Isa. 11. 11. when the Lord shall set his hand the second time to recover the remnant that are left from Assyria, etc. then vers. 15. the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over in shoes, and v. 16. there shall be a high way for them that are left from Assyria, etc. that is the ten Tribes that was carried away captive by Salmanazer king of Assyria, where Euphrates is called the Egyptian sea, in way of allusion, because it shall be like, as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt, vers. 16. to this agreeth that in Zach. 10. 11. and he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up, and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down (because Assyria carried them away) and the Sceptre of Egypt shall departed: now the reason why Egypt is so much spoken of and the return from Egypt. I do judge is, because there was a remnant that was not carried captive into Baylon, but went into Egypt, Jer. 43. 5, 6, 7. and I have not read of their return, but its probable, that they might be driven away into some obscure place, and shall undoubtedly return at the time appointed. But to return, to this agreeth that in Rev. 16. 12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. Doubtless the ten Tribes are in all this time of their being in the unknown parts of the world grown into many kingdoms and great people, and their coming in through the river Euphrates will be a great amazement to the world; thus shall both judah and Israel be gathered to their own country under Christ the head of his Church▪ and that prophecy shall be fulfilled, Ezek. 37. 16. judah and joseph shall be both written on one stick, and shall become one, and shall have one king, even David (that is Christ) shall be their prince for ever, and he shall make a covenant of peace for them, and they shall be no more two; the envy of Ephraim shall departed, and the adversaries of judah shall be cut off, Ephraim shall not envy judah, nor judah shall not vex Ephraim, Isa. 11. 13. this is that which the Lord hath said, that though thy bruise be incurable, and thy wound grievous, yet the Lord will restore health, and will heal thee of thy wounds, etc. Jer. 30. thus shall jerusalem be inhabited again in her own place, even in jerusalem, Zach. 12. 6. I shall say no more to this at present, because I find Manasseh Ben Israel so full of clearness in this part of the truth, and I do perceive by his lines your earnest expectation of the accomplishment of this great salvation by the Messiah, which is indeed my joy; but Oh that your souls did know him and believe in him, who will appear for your joy; and as for the time, I dare not pitch upon it, because I believe, as is mentioned in the hope of Israel, the Lord hath reserved it to himself. So Christ answered his disciples, Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my father, Mat. 24. 36. and when his disciples asked him after his resurrection, if he would at this time restore the kingdom to Israel: He answered them, it is not for you to know the times and seasons which the father hath kept in his own power, Act. 1. 6, 7. yet I do believe, and have very much confidence, that the time is at hand; and it is yet but a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry, even so amen. But who will abide the day of his coming, and who will stand when he appeareth? Mal. 3. and this I desire to mind you by the way, that as at or in the beginning work of your deliverance, You must come in by weeping cross, not only in the sight and sense of your sin, Jer. 5. 4. Looking on him whom you have pierced, and mourning for him, Zach. 12. but likewise in relation to the great trouble you are like to meet with also from the world, that as you have been scattered among the nations, and Israel hath been kept in obscurity, so the nations will rage's in your gathering together, and then will be the first war of Gog and Magog, mentioned in Ezek. 38. and 39 and it will go hard with you for a time, see Zach. 14. 1, 2. to this that agreeth, Rev. 16. 12. when the River Euphrates is dried up, that the way of the kings of the earth may be prepared, vers. 13, 14. on their appearance, three unclean spirits like frogs went out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast and the false prophets, which are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth, and to the whole world to gather them together to the battle of the great day of God almighty; that is the great battle of Gog and Magog mentioned before, called the great battle of God almighty, because it is that great battle appointed of God, where he will destroy both his and your enemies.  
And in this great distress, by reason of the nations fury, called Gog and Magog, then shall Michael the great prince of his people, stand up for your deliverance, Dan. 12. 1. Then will the Lord send a fire upon Magog, and he shall know that there is a God in Israel, and the Lord will make his holy name known in the midst of his people Israel, and he will not let them pollute his holy name any more, etc. Ezek. 39 6, 7.  
And then shall that prophecy be fulfilled, Isa. 2. and Micah 4. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more, only after the glorious reign of Christ and his Saints, Satan shall be loosed for a little season, Rev. 20. and shall gather together Gog and Magog (that is those that were left of the nations in the first destruction, Ezek. 39 2) and they shall compass the camp of the Saints about, & the beloved City; & fire shall come down from God and destroy them, this shall be the last encamping together of Gog, and the last destruction and final judgement; in this day of glory shall all believing Gentiles be gathered in with you, for he is given as well to be a light to the Gentiles, as to be the glory of the people Israel, Isa. 49. 6.  
Thus have I in tenderness and faithfulness both to the Lord and you, discharged this as my duty in commending these few lines unto you; the Lord grant that it may find acceptance with you. Here are many prayers presented for you at the throne of grace, by those who clearly see and believe God's intention of good to you; for myself I trust my heart is so much set at liberty towards you, that I could not only prostrate my pen and prayers for your good, but my person likewise, if I saw a clear call from the Lord to serve you.  
In a word to conclude, I do believe that you have some of those remembrancers, in this nation, spoken of Isa. 62. 6, 7. That will give the Lord no rest till he have made jerusalem a praise in the earth; which is the earnest and daily prayer of him who is both yours and the truth's servant, as far as he may, though unworthy.   
T. C.   

THE POSTSCRIPT.  
MY Friends, to whose hands this Epistle may come; The estate of the Jews having been a long time sad, and indeed as once the Gentiles were, and all unbelieving Gentiles are, without Christ in the world, and so without hope in themselves, as in relation to the true Messiah, the Lord having given me some apprehension concerning his purpose both of grace and glory towards them, I could not with good conscience altogether hold my peace at this time, without writing these preceding lines unto them; it being translated into French (that being a language that they are exercised in) and so sent unto them, the work being done, the issue I leave to the Lord, who I know doth usually honour himself in working by weak means; and being desired by some friends, I have likewise got it printed in English, thereby not only to provoke others, who perhaps may be more enlarged in this work toward those poor dark despised people, but likewise that all whose hearts are (truly) Zion-ward, may be instant with the Lord in prayer for them, and so much the more, because their coming in will be to us life from the dead; and their fullness will be our glory. Oh therefore let all be warned, not to be wise in their own conceit, and know that blindness is happened to Israel but in part, but that till the fullness of the Gentiles is come in, and then Israel shall be saved.  
I have a few words, my brethren and friends, to present you farther with, concerning the reign of Christ; and that is, that he shall have a kingdom upon the earth, and shall reign with his people upon the earth, manifesting his power and glory amongst them, and over the world.  
But before I proceed any further, I shall answer one objection, that is, some may say, It was not long since that yourself was against this principle, etc.  
Answ. It's true, in part I was, being much informed in the truth of the reign of Christ, but judging it to be a glorious reign in the spirits of his people over the world, and this is the apprehension of many precious sons of Zion at this day; but the Lord opening the seals by degrees unto his people, he gives them to see farther into the mystery of his will concerning his kingdom, and as light shines in, their darkness doth fly away: I could not but judge it my duty to give some hints concerning my farther apprehension of the kingdom of Christ, in which I shall be very brief.  
That his kingdom shall be manifest on earth, will appear from these ensuing grounds.  
1. It was and is the great design of the Father to exalt the Son here on earth before the sons of men; this was his design before he made the world, and ever since all things, hath, doth, and will concur to the bringing about of this great design; therefore he at first made the world by him and for him, Eph. 4. 9 Col. 2. 16. Joh. 1. 1. afterwards man being fallen, and the curse come in upon the whole creation, Gen. 3. God did by him and for him recover the world again, Col. 1. 20. that so he might have a selected people to himself, that might enjoy his grace and glory, Col. 1. 21. chap. 3. 4. His suffering in the flesh was a preparative to this great glory, both for himself and people, it being the appointment of the Father, and there being no other way left or appointed by the Father for the redemption of the sons of men, Luk. 24. 26. Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Heb. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 20. he being ascended to the father, Joh. 20. 17. to receive for himself a kingdom, and return, Luk. 19 12. 15. and in the mean time by his Spirit in the Ministry of the Gospel, he is gathering together of his people to himself (among the Gentiles) that when he do appear, they may appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. for to them that look for him, he will appear a second time without sin to salvation, Heb. 9 28. that God having made the world, and again redeemed it to a state of continuation by his Son and for him, and purchased a people to himself out of the world. We may conclude that the Sons dominion shall be over the world: see Psal. 72. throughout; and that all dominions shall serve and obey him.  

Obj. So they do serve him now, and he rules over them.  
Answ. True, they serve the design of God now, but the kingdom of Christ is not of this world; but there is a time appointed when the kingdom of Christ shall be visibly manifest, and the world shall knowingly he subject to the Son, Rev. 5. 13.  
Second ground is, that this truth is clearly held forth in the Scriptures; of truth, when our understandings are opened, we shall see it. The first Scripture I shall present you with, as a foundation, is Act. 3. 27. Whom the heavens must receive until the time of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his prophets since the world began, where we may note two things.  
1. That at the coming of Christ from heaven will be the restitution, not the dissolution.  
And secondly, it is that restitution spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets.  
Now it will be good to search into the prophets, and see what they have prophesied of, and we shall find all agree in one, that Christ must reign, Psal. 2. 6. 7. that his dominion shall be from sea to sea, even to the ends of the earth, Psal. 72. that he shall possess all nations, Psal. 82. 8. that he shall reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously, Isa. 24. 23. that a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement, Isa. 32. 1. that God will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and justice in the earth, Jer. 23. 5. and David my servant shall be king over them, etc. and they shall dwell in the land which I gave to Jacob my servant, etc. Ezek. 37. 24, 25. and all dominions shall serve and obey him, Dan. 7. 27. that the Lord shall be King over all the earth, Zach. 14. 9  
These and many others I might produce to this purpose, and likewise then will be the restitution or restoration of the whole creation; that Scripture will be fulfilled both in the letter as well as in spirit, Isa. 11. 6, 7▪ 8, 9 chap. 65. 25. considered with Rom. 8. 20, 21, 22. and then shall those blessed promises be made good to the Saints here on earth, Psal. 37. 11. Mat. 5. 5. Isa. 25. 8. and chap. 65. 13. etc. and all this must be done when Jesus Christ is sent from heaven to manifest his power to take to himself his great kingdom, and to reign; and this is likewise confirmed in the New Testament, the Nations and kingdoms of this world are become the Nations and kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever, Rev. 11. 15. This is the thousand years spoken of in chap. 20, etc.  
A third ground I take from his suffering, he fulfilled all that was prophesied of him concerning his suffering, according to the very letter of the Scriptures, he hath so fulfilled it, Act. 3. 18. and why should we think it incredible that he shall even so fulfil the Scriptures in his reign on earth? And why shall we think it a high and glorious discovery of grace for the Son to abase himself on earth in his humiliation, and think it too low a piece of service for him to come and reign, to receive the due desert (if I may so say) of all his labour to manifest his glory before his Saints, and to set his feet on the necks of his enemies? Why should we not think it to be a great degree of honour for the Lord who have suffered on earth to receive his glory on the earth. And why shall we make an Allegory or mystery of those Scriptures that do foretell of his reign on earth, any more than of those Scriptures that did foretell of his sufferings, I do believe that it hath been the policy of Satan, and the weakness and pride of men, in turning Scripture into Allegories and myste-so much, that we had almost lost the truth; therefore let it suffice, that as Christ and his people hath had their day of humiliation on the earth, so they shall have their exaltation on the earth, Psal. 2. 8. Rev. 2. 26, 27. Psal. 149. 5, 6, 7, 8.   

Obj. We do not question but that the Saints shall rule the earth, and that the power of Christ in them shall subdue the Nations.  
Answ. And if the Saints, why not Christ their head with them? Can you afford the kingdoms of this world to the Saints, and not to Christ? I say that the Saints shall never reign on earth till the Kingdom of Christ is come, till he is descended from heaven in power and great glory; as he hath suffered before us, and for us, so we, if we suffer with him, shall reign with him, Rom. 8. 17. When Christ comes to rule the nations than shall the Saints reign with him.   

Obj. Is it not said 1 Thess. 4. 16, 17. that when the Lord shall descend from heaven, etc. and that the dead in Christ shall be raised, and then we who remain and are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, and so shall ever be with the Lord?  
Answ. 1. That is to make good the Scripture which saith, Zach. 14. 5. The Lord our God shall come, and all the Saints with thee, and if they be not caught up to meet the Lord, he cannot bring them with him.  
And secondly, the Scripture do not say that they shall abide above, but with the Lord, that is, they shall come down with him, as Joel 3. 11.   

Quest. Do you suppose that the Jews be called before that day?  
Answ. I do believe that there will be something done amongst them upon that account; and that there will be a great gathering together of them at Jerusalem, before that day, but their fullness will not be till the day of his appearing in glory, that will be their uniting, Jer. 23. 5, 6. Ezek. 37. 22.   

Qu. Will the raising of the dead, and the calling of the jews to their fullness be at one time.  
Answ. To me it so appears, those Scriptures considered, 1 Cor. 15. 44, 45. with Hos. 13. 14. the prophet Hosea clearly prophesying the coming in of Israel, and particularly the ten tribes; the Apostle applieth it there to the resurrection of the dead, etc. Rom. 11. 15. what shall their coming in be but life from the dead, that is, if their rejecting was an occasion of so much mercy to the world. What miracle of mercy at their receiving or coming in, even the resurrection of the dead. To this prophecy fully agreeth Isa. 26. 19 speaking throughout that Chap. of the the glory of Jews, thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise, Awake, and sing ye that dwell in the dust▪ etc.   

Quest. If so, how will those Scripture be reconciled, that of Christ, Mat. 22. 30. in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of heaven, and that of the propbets which seems to hold forth building of houses and plainting of vineyards and procreation of children, etc. Isa. 65. 2.  
Answ. Why may not both these stand together as a truth? what if we should suppose, that after the the coming of Christ▪ and the raising the dead in him (for they must be first raised, 1 Cor. 15.) and changing the believing Gentiles that raised and changed, may be ever with the Lord, that the Jews then brought in in their fullness, may remain in a glorious estate (Satan being shut up) yet not changed; and so the prophecies may be fulfilled concerning them, and those that are raised and changed likewise; and so much the the more because its evident that the resurrection and their coming in in fullness will be at one and the self same time.  
And what if we should suppose according to the Scripture, that the new jerusalem spoken of Rev. 21. that must come down from God out of heaven, be a material City now above according to Gal. 4. 26. jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all, it is above, but it shall come down, etc. and what if we should suppose this new Jerusalem which is so full of excellency (& probably may be the place now where the Father doth most manifest his glory, though the heaven of heavens cannot contain him; and where Christ and the spirits of just men, are Heb. 12.) when it comes down from God out of heaven, and the tabernacle of God is with men, and that doth dwell among them. I say that this City may be the head place of residence for Christ and the changed Saints; and the twelve tribes to inhabit without the City, according to Ezek. 48. which is the prophecy and description of the same City; and if so God may have a seed among them to be brought forth in the world in the time of the reign of Christ, and if so, they shall be all righteous, Isa. 60. 21. with chap. 59 20, 21. which is applied by the Apostle to the calling of the Jews, and coming in of the ten tribes, Rom. 11. 26.   

Quest. Shall this new heaven and new earth be before or after the destruction of the world by fire, spoken of by Peter, 2 Pet. 3.  
Answ. I do believe that it will be before the dissolution; my reasons are (though Peter mentions the dissolution first, yet never theless we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, etc.)  
1. Because that promise is clearly to the Jews, and shall be made good to them when their redeemer doth come to take away their sin.  
2. Because that holds forth a destruction of the world by fire, as once it was destroyed by water.  
3. Because after the dissolution and judgement, the kingdom shall be given up to the Father, and God shall be all, 1 Cor. 15.   

Quest. Will not Christ's coming be the day of judgement?  
Answ. It will be the beginning of Judgement. 1. The glorifying of his people. 2. A great judgement and destruction to the world, Ezek. 38. and 39 3. He shall all that time with his Siants judge the world. 4. At the end will be the final judgement, Rev. 20. 11, 12, 13, 14.   

Quest. What shall be the condition of the world at that time?  
Answ. The men of the world shall on condition enjoy peace and plenty, the condition will be they shall own and honour Christ and the Saints, and come up to jerusalem, doing homage there, and bring presents thither as an acknowledgement; not for any need of it there, but as Christ and the Saints have been at the feet of the world: now shall the world be at their feet according to those Scriptures, Ps. 72. 9, 10, 11. Isa. 60. 24. ch. 66. 23. Zach. 14. 16. Rev. 3. 9 Chap. 27. 26.   

Quest. If this be truth, that Christ and the Saints shall reign on earth, what advantage will it be to the Saints in the knowledge of it more than to believe his coming and kingdom at the end of time.  
Ans. It must needs minister consolation in the knowledge of the truth of things; there is no truth of God but the knowledge of it ministers joy, much more; this about the kingdom and glory of Christ, that the place of suffering shall be for a time the place of glory and liberty.  
2. It will keep us more to a constant expectation of his coming and not to put it far away, as of necessity we must, if we suppose a state of glory and liberty for the Church here on earth before his coming, as almost all do expect; when Paul only minds the Apostles to be first, 2 Thess. 2. 3. and that hath been, and I believe is almost over, and the day of his glory is at the doors.  
3. It will tend to the establishing of the Saints in the truth in opposition to all false ways and false Christ's, knowing it to be their duty to wait upon him in his appointment until the day of his appearing, thereby manifesting not only their owning of him, by virtue of their being owned by him, but also that they do indeed look for him, for none durst to look for him indeed, but those who upon a right account do serve him. What advantage hath Satan had in our days for want of souls being principled in this truth, one saith here, another there is Christ, and all because we turn his reign all into a mystery, viz. in the Saints: but hold right here, and you shall be able to discover all false and Antichrists, be they never so deceivable: own Christ thy justification, thy king to serve him according to the Scriptures, the resurrection his personal coming and reign, and look for it, and thou shalt live above all those false notions that are in the world, able to judge them all, in the light of this truth.  
4. It will keep the Saints in peace and quiet in their minds, though under persecution, till the time come, the contrary, an imaginary that the Saints shall reign, makes them vex when things go not to their minds, fills them with trouble and unquietness, if not turbulence of spirit, thinking now is the kingdom of Christ going up, but if the Saints knew that their day must be a day of suffering till Christ come, they would not trouble themselves about the kingdoms of the world till that time come, for all powers set up in the world before Christ come, are but members of the fourth Monarch, even the most righteous, etc. must be broken when he comes, therefore let the Saints wait with patience, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Amen.   
FINIS.