;.»; m- mtm ) u ^/^./ffff- LIBRARY OF THE Theological Seminary PRINCETON, N. J. Case, ^.Cr..Cr Division Slielf. Zr^ 1 V ^•HISTORY ' Of Tti E WORK o f REDEMPTION, CONTAINING The Outlines of a Body of Divinity In a Method entirely new. By the late Reverend Mr. JONATHAN^EDWARDS. Prefident of the College of New-Jerfey. N E W - Y O R K: r. Printed by Shepard Kollock, for Robert Hodge, No. 38, Maiden-Lam* M,DCC,LXXXVI. PREFACE. IT has long been defired by the friends of Mr. Edwards, that a number of his manufcripts fhould be publiflied ; but the difadvantage under which all pofthu- mous publications mud neceffarily ap- pear, and the difficulty of getting any confiderable work printed in this infant country hitherto, have proved fufficient obftacles to the execution of fuch a pro- pofal. The firft of thefe obftacles made ine doubt, for a confiderable time after thefe manufcripts came into my hands, whether I could, confiftently with that regard which I owe to the honour of fa worthy a parent, fuffer any of them to appear in the world. However, being diffident of my own fentiments, and doubtful whether I were not over jea- lous in this matter, I determined to fub- mit to the opinion of gentlemen, who are friends both to the charafter of Mr. Edwards and to the caufe of truth. ^^. The confequence v/as, that they gave their advice for publifhing them. The other obilacle was removed by a gentleman in the church of Scotland^ who was formerly a correfpondent of Mr. Edwards. He engaged a bookfeller to undertake the work, and aifo fignified his defire that thefe following difcourfcs.. in particular might be made public. IV PREFACE, Mr. Edwards had planned a body oi divinity, in a new method, and in the form of a hiftory ; in which he was firft to fliow, how the moft remarkable events, in all ages from the fall to the prefent times, recorded in facred and profane hiftory, were adapted to promote the work of redemption ; and then to trace, by the light of fcripture-prophecy, how the fame work fliould be yet further car- ried on even to the end of the world.—- His heart was fo much fet on executing this plan, that he was confiderably averfe to accept the prefidentfhip of Princeton college, left the duties of that office ftiould put it out of his power. The outlines of that work are now of- fered to the public, as contained in a fe- ries of fermons, preached at Northamp- ton in 1739*, without any view to pub- lication. On that account, the reader cannot reafonably expeft all that from them, which he might juftly have ex- pefted, had they been wTitten with fuch a view, and prepared by the author's own hand for the prefs. As to elegance of compofition, which is now cfteemed fo eft'ential to all publi- cations, it is well known, that the author did * This is nccefTary to be remembered by the reader, in order lo uiiderliand feme chronological obl'ervatiuns in the following work. PREFACE. V did not make that his chief ftudy. How- ever, his other writings, though dcttitute of the ornaments of fine language, have it feems that foUd merit, which has pro- cured both to themfelves and to him a confiderable reputation in the world, and with many an high efteem. It is hoped that the reader will find in thefe difcour- fes many traces of plain good fenfe, found reafoning, and thorough knowledge of the facred oracles, and real unfeigned piety; and that, as the plan is new, and many of the fentiments uncommon, they may afford entertainment and improvement to the ingenious, the inquifitive, and the pious reader,; may confirm their faith in God's government of the world, in our holy Chrifl:ian religion in general, and in many of its peculiar docirines ; may affift in ftudying with greater pleafure and advantage the hiftorical and prophet- ical books of fcripture ; and may excite to a converfation becoming the gofpel. That this volume may produce thefe happy effefts in all who fliall perufe it, is the hearty defire and prayer of The reader's moR humble fervant, JONATHAN EDWARDS. Nevu-Haven, Feb. 25, 1773. ADVERTISEMENT. THOSE who have a relifh for the ftudy of the fcriptures, and have accefs to perufe the following flieets, will, I am perfuaded, deem themfelves much indebted to the Reverend Mr. Edwards of New-Haven for confenting to publifh them. Though the acute philofopher and deep divine appears in them, yet they are in the general better calculated for the inftruSion and im- provement of ordinary Chriftians, than thofe of Prefident Edwards's writings, where the abftrufe nature of the fubjeo:, or the fubtle objections of oppofers of the truth, led him to more abflraci and metaphyfical reafonings. The manu- fcript being intrufted to my care, I have not prefumed to make any change in the lentiments or compofition. I have, however, taken the liberty to reduce it from the form of fermons, which it ori- ginally bore, to that of a continued trea- tife ; and I have fo altered and diverfifi- ed the marks of the feveral divifions and fubdivifions, that each clafs of head^ might be eafily diltinguifhed. JOHN ERSKINE, Edinburgh, April 2g, ij J ^y CONTENTS. Page. Qtneral introduBlon^ ^ Z 2^ PERIOD I. From the foil to the incarnation ofChriJlt - 40 PART I. Wrnw- f-h.p fall to the Jlood^ - - r- 41 PART II. 'Frnm the Jlood to the calling of Abraham^ ^ 6.t PART IIL From the calling of Abraham to Mofes, ^- ya PART IV. From Mofes to David^ ~ ^ ^ 85 PART V, From. Barnd to the Babylonifli captivity, 7^ H2 PART VI. frQmtkc Baby lonifh captivity tothcomingofChnf, 146 I M- viii CONTENTS. IMPROVEMENT. Page. Infpiration, excellency, and ufijidnefs of the books of the Old Tejlamtnt, Be. - - 182 PERIOD XL The time of Chrfl's humiliation, ^ - 194 PART I. Of Chrifl's becoming incarnate to capacitate himfclf for the pur chafe, of redenipf inn ^ - " -^95 PART IL Of the pur chafe itfelf - - - 203 SECT, I. What is intended by Chrif's purchafing redemption^ 204 SECT. II. General ob/ervations concerning tkofe things by which this piirchafc was made, - « 205 SECT. III. The obedience and fufferings by which Chrift pur- chafed redemption particularly conjidcrcd^ - 20^ 1 M^ CONTENTS. ix IMPROVEMENT. SECT. L Page. Reproof of unbelief, ftlj-righteoufnefs^ and care- Ufs negled of Jalvatioriy - - - 230 SECT. II, Encouragement to burdened fouls to triijl in Ckrift Jor falvation^ - >- • - 24a PERIOD III. From Ckrifi's reJurreBion to the end of tht world, 24a INTRODUCTION. General objervations concerning this period^ 2 4^ PART I. Of thofe things whereby Chrifl was put into an im- mediate capacity for accomplijhing the ends of his pur chafe, - - - 254 P A R T IL How Chriji accomplijhed this fuccefs, ^ 538 SECT. I. How thisfuccefs is accomplifJied by God's grace here, 2,5 S ^ I. The means of this fuccefs ejiablifhcd after Chrifl's rfurrSxon, #. - - 259 C N T E N T S. §11. The fuccefs itfelf, - - - 265 JiRST, //? the fuffcringjldte of the Churchy from Hhe refarreciion of Chri/l to the fall of Anti- • chrif}, - - '. - - 266 I. From Chrifi's reJhreBion till the dflruElion of jcrufdem^ - ' - - 268 II. From the de/lruMion of Jerufalem to ths de^ firudiGH of the Heathen empire in the. tune of Conflantine the Greats - - 279 Inference, 7>«M of Ckrifliamty argued from the fuccefs of the gofpel in both thefe periods, 289 HI. Succefs of redempttoTi- frum the time cf Con- flantine the Great till the fall of Antichnfl^ 293 1//, From Confantine till the rile of Antichnji, 294 zdly, From the rife of Antichrift iill'ihe reformation^ 298 2fdl)\ From the Reformation till the prefent tvne^ 307* 1. f the Ref or maiion itfelf , - - 307 2. (f the opbofition which the Devil has 7nade to the interejts of religion in the churches of the R.efarmation, - - > 3i» 3. What fuccefs the g of pel has lately had in thefe cJf,urches, - - - - 317 4. Prefent flate of things with regard to the Juc- lefs of the gofpcL - - - 322 APPLICATION. 1. Truth of Chriflianity argued from me events of . this period, . - - - 326 St- The fpirit of true Chrflians afpirit offuffering, 338 3. JPliat reafon ice have to ex peel that events fore- told in fcripture^ not yet fulfilled, fall be ac- complified^ - : - - 339 ^ihly^ How CONTENTS. Ki Pjge. 4/A/y, Hozv the facctfs of redfmpt.ionjkall he car- ried on from the pr'ejcnt time till Aniichnji is fallen, - - -. - 339 Secondly, Succefs of redemption through that [pace wherein the Chnfiian church fhall for the mofl part enjoy prof perit)\ - - 358 /. Profperity of the church through the greater part of this period, - - - - 35^ II . The great apoflacy that fhall take place and the. danger that fhall threaten the church towards the end of this period^ ^ - 36^ SECT. II. liow the fuccefs of redemption f tall he accompl fil- ed in glory, - - - 369 General remarks on this fuccef, -. - ■ 369 The particular manner in which this fuccefs is ac- compli filed, - - - 3-0 MPROVEMENT of the WHOLE. I. liow great a work the work of redemption is, 385 II. God the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending of all things, - - 38S III. Chrijt in all things has the pre-eminence, 391 IV. Tlie conjifiency, order, and beauty of providence, 392 V. The friptures the loord of God, - 393 VI. The mayfly and power of God in the work of redemption, - - - - 396 VII. The glorious wiflom of God in the work of redemption, - - - 397 VIII. The flahility of GocVs mercy and faithful- nefs to his people, - - - 398 IX. How happy a focitty the church of Chnf is, 399 X. The mftry of thofe that art not inter cjicd in Chnf, - - - . - ^00 bs SUJ. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, REVEREND Burgefs Allifon, principal of an academy at Bordentown, Mr. Ifaac Arnett, Elizabeth-Town, 13 books, Shelly Arnett, Printer, Nevv-Brunfwick, Thomas Allen, bookfeller, New-York, 7 books, William Allen, gunfmith, do. Henry Allen, do. do. Abijah Abbot, merchant-taylor, do* Jacob Abramfe, merchant, do* John Ailing, Newark, Pruden Ailing, do. Ifaac Ailing, do. Nathaniel Andrew do. Jacobus Anderfon, Harrington, Reuben Ayre, Stamford, Jonas S- Addoms, Orange rounty, Martin Armftrong, do. Jofeph Allifon, fen. do. Jofeph Allifon, jun. do. James Anfon, fchoolmaller, Haverliraw, Peter Allifon, do. Jofeph Ambler, Canaan. B. Mr. John Baffett, ftudent of divinity. New- York, Charles Buxton, ftudent of phyfic, do. Calvin Bateman, fchoolmafter, do. John Bennie, teacher of the mathematics, do. John Betts, diftiller, do, Thomas Barrow, do. Daniel Borden, New-Windfor, Henry Berry, New-York, David Brittot, Old-Milford, Jacob Blanck, New-York, , John Bircham, 6 books, John Banks, New-York, David Bellnap, John BinghaiB, New -York, Peter Cole, tanii^ do. SUBSCRIBERS NAMnS. xlv B. Jofiah Brown, baker, Sagg-Harbour, William Beach, houfe-carpenter,.New-York, John Bay, Claverack, William Brown, New-York, Capt. Daniel Borden, New-Windfor, Peletiah Borden, do. Hermanns Bennet, Long-Ifland, Ifaac Beers, bookfeller, New-Haven, 28 bookf^ Stephen Baldwin, Newark, Jabez Baldwin, do. Stephen Baflett Simmons, do* Jeremiah Baldwin, do. Mofes Baldwin, do. Nathaniel Beach, do. Zadock Baldwin, do. Jofeph Baldwin, do. Jeremiah Bruen, do, Jofeph Banks, do. Elifha Boudinot, do. Caleb Bruen, do. John Burnet, do. Jeffe Brufh, Stamford, Edward Bartholomew, Efq. Pniladelphi*; Robert Bell, Orange county, Matthew Benfon, do. David Baldwin, jun. Wardfeflbn, Zophar Baldwin, do. Ichabod Baldwin, do. Jeffe Baldwin, do. Silas Baldwin, do. Simeon Baldwin, do. Jonathan Baldwin, do. Jofeph BaMwin, do. Ezckiah Baldwin, do. Aaron Bal(iwin, do. Bethuel Benfon, do. Daniel Bouton, Canaan, Noah Benedi6>, do. Nathaniel Bouton, do. Abraham Ber.^^en, Second-River, Doftor Abraham Beckman, New- York, James Bowen, cabinet-maker, do. Mauhias Baker, N^w-Jerfey, 1 3 bookj, %y SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, C. Mrs. Cornelius Cadmus, Second-River, Mrs. Mary Crane, Wardfeflbn, Doftor James Cogfwell, New-York, Mr. Jofeph Cutler, merchant, New-York, Francis Childs, printer, do. 14 books, Samuel Campbell, bookfeller, 7 booksj Jofeph Cree, printer, James Chriftie, merchant, do. David Currie, merchant, do. Nathaniel Clock, merchant, Stamford, ' Nathaniel Cary Clark, Old-Milford, James Caldwell, Albany, John Carpenter, Gofhen, James Cheftney, Albany, Francis Covenhoven, Tarry -Town, Jefhua Cleeves, New-Windfor, John Croes, Newark, David D. Crane, do. Abief Camfield, do. James Crane, do. Jofeph Camp, do. . Benjamin Coe, jun. do. Samuel Curry, do. Daniel Coleman, do. Mofes Newel Combs, do, Jofeph Clark, jun. Stamford, Cornelius Clark, do. Jonas Coe, Orange county, John Coe, do. Samuel Coe, do. John D. Coe, do. 2 books, Arthur Connelly, do. • Daniel Coe, jun. do. William Coe, do. Benjamin Coe, Efq. do. William Coe, do. William Cooley, do, Peter Crouten, do. Azarial Crane, Wardfeflbn,* Nathaniel Crane, do. Aaron Crane, do. John Collins, do. Deacon Samuel Cranc^ Horfeaec^a SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xvi C. Jonas Crane, do. John Crane, do. John Carle, Efq; New-Jerfey. D. Mr. Thomas Dobfon, bookfeller, Philadel. 50 books. James Dunlap, merchant, New- York, William Davidfon, do. Cornelius Davis, do. Jofeph Dunn, do. Cary Dunn, goldfmith, do. Charles Duryee, merchant, do. Richard Davis, do. Nathan Donglafs, fchoolmafter, do» Matthias Day, Printer, • John Decker, Ulfter county, Petrus De Witts, Haerlem. Aaron Day, Newark, • Ifaac Davis, do. John Davenport, fen. Stamford, Jofeph Dod, jun. Wardfeffon, Ebenezer Dod, do. Mofes Dod, do. John Davis, do. Jofeph Davis, do. Thomas Dod, do. Amos Dod, do. Jeffe Dod, do. Ifaac Dod, do. Samuel Dod, do. Daniel Dod, do. Eleazcr Dod, do. • John Demarcft, Hackenfack, John Dow, jun. Second-River, Thomas Devenant, do. Timothy Devenant, do. Mattliias Dcnman, Springfield, N. Jerfcy, Daniel Drake, N. Jerfey, Paul Day, Chatham, N. Jerfey; Doctor Piiilip Dcy^ Packanoiik, N. Jcrfej^ SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xvii E. Mrs. Mary Ellis, South-Carolina, ^ Mr. Benjamin Egbert, merchant, New-Yoik, John Elliot, do. John Ellifon, Flatbufh-, GofTumus Erkeliurs, N. York, 2 books, Jofeph Englc, Philadelphia, Vine Elderkin, Orange county. F. jVIrs. Mary Ferril, New-Jerfey, Hev. Thomas Fleefon, London-Traft, Pennfylvania^ Mr. David C. Franks, New -York, Matthew Ford, gunfmith, do. John Fox, Peter Fleming, Enos Farrand, WardfcfTon, Stephen Fordham, do. Samuel Farrand, do. Jonathan Freeman, Woodbridgc. G. Mr Hugh Gaine, bookfeller, New-York, 7 books, John Gray, carpenter, do. Peter Garbrance, jun. do. David Gelfton, merchant, do. Robert Graham, writing-mafter, do. William Goforth, jun. do. John S. Gano, do. * [ohn Goodwin, druggift, New- York, William Gillefpie, New-Windlo: , Henry Gragg, do. David Grumman, Newark, Elifha Gordon, Philadelphia, Hugh Gorley, do. Robert Gordon, Orange count), John Gould, FIorfe-Ncck, Jofeph Gould, do. William Gould, do. Jofeph Gould, do. Daniel Graham, Richardfon Gray, cabinet-maker, EH^:. Town, Matthew Green, Printer. Ephraim Grant, Conncfticut, Rol'ert Gould, Horfencck, c sviii SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, H. Mrs. Eleanor Hockley, Philadelphia, Mrs. Jane Haviland, Elizabeth-Town, Stephen Hayes, Newark, David Hayes, Newark. Mr. John Hendricks, do. Hndfon 8c Goodwin, printers, Hartford, 14 books, Luther Halfey, Elizabeth-Town, 13 books, Benjamin Henfhaw, Middletown, 6 books, William Harper, Fort-Hunter, 3 books, John T. Hannion, New-Jerfey, Elijah Hunter, merchant, 13 books, Hercules Heren, Thomas Hazard, tanner. New- York, Chriflian Hurtin, Gofhen, Richard T. Hazard, tanner and currier, N. Yorli, Luther Harris, A. B. Newtown, Philip Howell, New-Windfor, Olive Howe, carpenter, do. Walter HeVer, New^-York, William Haliiday, do. i<.eubcn Hopkins, attorney at law, Goflien., David Hayes, jun. Newark, Robert Hayes, do. Elijah HedJen, do. Jonas Hail, Stamford, Abraham Holly, do. Julius Harris, do. JeiTe lioit, Richard Hall, Philadelphia, John Hopper, do. John Halfted, Orange countVy Jofeph Hunt, do. Robert Henry, Ilaverfiraw, Nathaniel \V. Howell, Gorlien, Lewis Hafhrouk, Eufopus, Jacob R. Hardenbergh, jun. New-Brunfwick, James Hornblower, Second-River, David Hedges, Efq. Long-IOand, Mr. Thomas Helme, Crookhaven, Theodorus Hamilton, fchoolmaller, Eliz. Town. L Rev. Wilhrm-i Jackfon, A. L. M. paflor of the Dutch rclornicd churches of Staten-llland and Bergen^ ^SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xU Rev. John Jollne, Morris county, Mr. Robert JohnTon, merchant, New- York, Rev. Jofhua Jones, New-Britain, Pennfylvaniaj Tcunis Joralemon. Thomas Ivers, New-York, Wilham Jacobs, fchoohnafter, do. John Jolmfon, Brooklyne, Wilham Johnfon, Newark, Timothy Johnfon, do. John Johnfon, do. Daniel Johnfon, do. George Ingols, Philadelphia, John Jones, Orange county, Abraham Joralemon, Wardfeflbn, K. Rev. John C. Kunze, D. D. Lutheran MinlHer, and profelTor of the Oriental languages, N. York. Rev. Samuel Kennedy, Bafl-:enridge, Rev, Abraham Kettletas, Jamaica, Long-Ifland, Mr. Shepard Kollock, printer, 14 books, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, Suffex county, 12 books, John H. Kip, merchant, New-York, Henry Kennedy, flioemaker, do. . John Keyfer, mafon, do. Peter Kinnan, do. Peter Kirby, bookbinder, do, Capt. Henry Kermet, do. Renier Knox, d(5. Aury King, WardfefTbn, John H. King, Second-River, Aaron John King, do. Ephraim Kibbey, New-Jerfey. L. Rev. J. H. Livlngfton, S. T. P. New- York, Rev. ifaac Lewis, pallor of the Prefbyterian church, Wilton, Rev. John Lindfley, New-Hampfled, Mr. Samuel Loudon, printer, New- York, 14 books, Robert L?^ncafhire, printer, do. Cornelius Ludlow, Morris county,. Andrew Law, New-York, 2 books, Ebenczer Lockwocd, Efq. one of Judges of the inferior court of common plcas^ Peter Lay ton, Morris county, Aaron Lajie Elizabeth-Town* C 2 .-.X SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Jofeph Lockwood, Stamford, Ifciae Labogh, jun. Hackenfack, John Lockwood, merchant, New-York^ John Lowth, vvhitefmith, do. Gabriel Legget, chair-maker, dp* .^neas Lament, do. Brandt Schuyler Lupton, ftudentof divinity, da* Nathaniel Little, Effex county, New-Jerfey, Mofes Lyon, houfe-carpenter, do. M. Mrs. Jane M'Kinley, New-York, Mrs. Sarah Mortimer, Rev. John Maibn, New-York, Rev. Alexander M'Whorter, D. D. Newark, Rev. Juihis Mitchell, paftor of the Prefbyterian church, Canaan, Mr. John Mycall, printer, Newbury-Port, 14 books, Mr. M'Gill, bookfeller, N. York, 7 books, John Mennye, teacher of the mathematics, do. Samuel Miles, Efq. Philadelphia, Thomas Memmenger, Efq. do. Jofeph Meeke, Andrew M'C ready, Walter M'Alpine, bookbinder, New- York, James M'Gennis, WardfefTon, Anthony Marvine, Gollien. N. Ivlr. Lewis Nicholls, New- York, Robert Nicholls, Newark, John Koyes, Canaan, Daniel Niel, New-Jerfey, 2 books. O. Mr. Wilmot Oakley, Huntington, Long-Ifland, Hugh Oir, merchant, Albany, Ichabod Ofborn, Newark, Jofeph Owen, Stamford, Abraham Orderdonck, Orange county, Jolin Ogdcn, jun. WardfeiTon. P. Mr. Nathaniel Patten, bookfeller, Hartford, 14 books, Daniel Phcenix, merchant, New- York, Cluillian Palmer, do. Jolcj)h Par fori s, do. Jnhn P. Pearle, do. Abraham PcrfeiJ, Orange county, 3 U B S € R I 3 E R S NAMES. xxi Richard Patterfon, fchoolmafter, Claverack, Nathaniel Potter, Huntington^ Long-Iflar^d, Jabez Pierfon, Newark, Thomas Prentice, do. John Peck, Efq. do. Peter Perrell, Orange county, Jacob Per fell, do. George Perfonett, Efq. Horfeneck,^ Samuel Philips^ Smith-Town. R. Mrs. Elizabeth Rodgers, Philadelphia, Rev. William Rodgers, A. M. Philadelphia, Honourable David Ramfay, Efq. South-Carolina, Mr. Alexander Riddell, merchant, New-Yof k, Peter Riker, Efq. do. John Rankin, do. Henry Roome, do. Edward Rigg, teacher of the languages, djou Andrew Rofs, taylor, do. John Reid, bookbinder, do. Richard Rohertfon, Gilbert Roberts, merchant, New-Windfpr, Jeffe Robords, Newark, Orry D. Ronde, Orange county, Henry D. Ronde, do. John Ruthven, New-York, Samuel Reynolds, Orange CQunty, Simon Riggs, Wardfeffon, John Range, Nfwark, John Ryers, New-Jerfey. S. Mrs. Joanna Schultz;, New-Windfor, Rev. John StandclifF, Philadelphia, Rev. Henry Schoonmaker, Second-Rivgr, Rev. John Shepherd, Horfeneck, Captain Leefon Simmons, do. Thomas Shields, Efq. do. Mr. Henry Snaff, Orrnge county, Ifaac Serjeant, Wardfeffon, John Smith, do. Zephaniah H. Smith, Canaan, Abraham Speer, Second-River, John Speer, jun. do, -il j ; ;J • d O. xxii SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, Mr. William Smith, New -York, Benjamin Sciidder the third, do, John Sebring, do. • Archibald Stenfon, do. Peter Sutton, Morris county, William Strachan, New-York. John Shepherd, merchant-taylor, Ncw-Yorl^ Henry Squier, Orange, Benjamin Scudder, New-Jerfey, Ifaac Serjeant, Richard Snedecker, Efq. Poughkeepfie, Oerardus Smith, fail-maker, New^-York, Peter T. Schenck, Long-Ifland, Archibald Stewart, SulTex county, N. J. 6 books, Caleb Sutton, merchant, New-York, Joiliua Sands, merchant, do. Plenry Sheaff, boat-builder, do, Prederick Shober, grocer, do, Jehofaphet Star, merchant, do. John Stagg, jun. do. 2 books, James Stuart, grocer, do. ^Bernard Sprong, Staten-Ifland, £Iiiah Sneadon, ThomRs Sloo, David Smith, Suffield, Conne61icut, Daniel Smith, Salem, Daniel Staribury, currier, New-York^ Simon Simonfon, do. Peter Stryker, fludent of divinity, Ifaac Schultz, merchant, New-Wlndfor, Jofliua Sears, New-Windfor, John Stryker, New-York, William Smith, Efq. St. George's Manor, Uzal Sayres, Charles Smith, Morris county, New-Jerfey, Benjamin Scofield, Stamford, James Seelv, do. Mofes St. John, do. Afahel Scofield, do. T. Mr. John Thompfon, merchant, New- York, John Thomj)fon, do Aaron Thompfon, New- Jcrfey, John Taylor, merchant, New-York, SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xxiil Thomas Tredwell, do. Piatt Townlhcnd, John Thoniplon, New-Brunfwick, Thomas Tucker, Danbiuy, David Tichiior, Newark, JefTe Ten Brook, do. Coonrod Tinkee, Orange county, John Tinkee, do. Jonathan Taylor, New-Hempfted, James Thomfon, Wardfeffon, David Taylor, do. John Tiittle, Nehemiah Tunis, Elizabeth Town, Col. John Taylor, New-Brunfwick» • U. Rev. Thomas Uflick, Philadelphia. V. John Van Dyke, Efq. New-York, Mr. Beekman Van Beuren, merchant, do. Daniel John Van 'Antwerp, grocer, do. Michael Varian, do. Peter Van Duerfen, do. Samuel Van Steenbergh, do. John Van Kleeck, Dutchefs county, Jonathan Vanirig, Stamford, Garret V. D. Voort, Orange county, Harmanus Van Huyfen, Nevv^-Jerfey. W. Rev. James Wilfon, New -York, Rev. Nathan WoodhuU, Huntington, Lojig-Illa!id, Thomas Wooldridge, Efq. New -York, Mr. John Woodward, merchant, do. Alexander P. Waldron, Brooklyne-Ferry, do. Hugh Walfli, tallovz-chandler, do, Profper Wetmore, do. John Wood, do. John Watfon, do. Ifracl Wool, do. James Woodhull, merchant, do, Obadiah Wells, painter, do. xxlv SUBSCRIBERS NAMES- Peter Walfli, Newtown-Landing, James Williams, fchoolmafler, Bower>% Peter Wendover, John Wigton, Philadelphia, Noah Webfter, jun, Hartford, 2 books^ fames Wallace, Newport, Barruch Wright, New-Windfor, Jonas Williams, do. Abraham Weftervelt, Efq. Berg^ii couiitjr, Caleb Wheeler, Newark, John Ward, do. Ifrael Weed, Stamford, Benjamin Weed, 3d do* Ebenezer Weed, do. Seth Weed, do. John Woolfey, jun. do. Jofeph Wood, do. Timothy Ward, WardfefTon, Ebenezer Wood, Orange count)'', W'illiam Willis, do. Jacob Waldron, do. Jacob Ward, Wardfeffon, Peter Wilfon, William Weed, Canaan^ Abraham Weed, do. Matthias Ward, Efq. Newark^ Stephen Wheeler, Eli z abet h-Towi1* Darnel Waldron. Y. Mr. John Young, faddler, New-York, John Young, grocer, do. Z. Mr. Albert Zabrifkie, Hackenfack, Chriflian Zabrifkie, Bergen county, ChriCiiaa A. Zabrifkie, do. , ji=<:xxi-^:::<'s>'^x;;:::<>cor> wlifhed, though not as to the fruits of it; for they, as was faid before, fliall be to all eternity. The work of redemptipn and the work of falvatioii are the fame thing. What is fome times in fcripturc called God's faving his people, is in other places called his redeeming them. So Chrift is called both the Sa- viour and Redeemer of his people. Before entering on the propofed hiflory of the Work of Redemption, I would, 1. Explain the terms made ufeof in the doQrine; — and, 2. Show what thofe things are that are defigned to be accompliflied by this great work of God. Firft, I would fhow in what fenfe the terms of the doftrine are ufed. And, i. I would fhow how I would be underftood when I ufe the word redemption ; — and, 2. how I would be underftood when I fay,* this work is a work of God carried on from the fall o£ man to the end of the world. I. I woiild fhow how I would be underflood when I ufe the word redemption. And here it may ht obferved, that the work of redemption is fometimes underftood in a more limited fenfe, for the purchafe of falvation ; for fo the wprd ftriftly fignifies, a pur- chafe of deliv^erance ; and if we take the word in this reftrained fenfe, the work of redemption was not fo long in doing. But it was begun and finiflied with Chrift's humiliation. It was all wrought while Chrift was upon earth. It was begun with Chrift's incarna- tion, and carried on through Chrift's life, and finiflied with his death, or the time of his remaining under the power of death, which ended in his refurreftion : and fo we fay, that the day of Chrift's refurreftion is the day when Chrift finifhedthe work of redemption, i. e. then the purchafe was finiflied, and the work itfelf, and all that appertained to it, wag virtually done and finiflied, but not aclually. But then fometimes the work of redemption is taken more largely, including all that God works or ac- complilhes, tending to this end; not only the purchafing of redemption, but alfo all God's works that were pro- perly preparatory to the purchafe, or as applying the ' purchafe jo A HISTORY OF purchafe and accomplifhing the fuccefs of it : fo t!iat the whole difpenfation, as it includes the preparatiogi ^nd the purchafe and the application and fuccefs of Chrifl's redemption, is here called the work of rede?np' iion. All that Chrift does in this great affair as media- ,tor, in any of his offices, either of prophet, prieft or king ; either when he was in this world, in his human ;iature, or before or fmce ; and not only what Chrift the mediator has done, but alfo what the Father or the Holy Ghoft have done, as united or confederated ii? this defign of redeeming finful men ; or, in one word, all that is wrought in execution of the eternal covenant of redemption ; this is what I jcall the work of redemp- tion in thedoftrine; for it is all but one work, one de- fign. The various difpenfations or w;orks that belong to it, are but the feveral parts of one fcheme. It is but one defign that is formed, to which all the offices of Chrift do direftly tend, and in which all the perfons of the Trinity do confpire, and all the various difpenfa-i tions that belong to it are united; and the feveral wheels are one machijiie, to anfwer one end, and pro* yiuce one efFe£}, II. When I fay, this work is carried on from the fall of man to the end of the world ; in. order to the full underftanding of my meaning in it, I w^ould defir© t\vo or three things to be obferved. 1. That it is not meant, that nothing was done in or- der fo it before the fall of man. There were many things done in order to this work of redemption before tliat. Some things were, done before the world was created^ yea from all eternity. The perfons of the Trinity were as it were confederated in a defign and a covenant of redemption ; in which covenant the Fa- ther had appointed the Son, and the Son had under- taken the work ; and all things to be accompliflied in the work, were ftipulated and agreed. And befides i^at^e, there were things done at the creation of the world, in order to that work, before man fell ; for the world itfelf fecms to have been created in order to it. The work of creation was in order to God's works of providence : fo that if it be enquired which of thefe kinds of works is the greateft, the. works of creation or the works of providence ? I anfwsr, the works of providence ; The Work of REDEMPTION 31 providence ; becaufc God's works of providence are the end of his \vorks of creation, as the building an houfe, or the forming an engine or machine, is for its ufe. But God's main work of providence is this great %vork of God that the doBrine fpeaks of, as may mors fully appear hereafter. The creation of Heaven was in order to the work of redemption : it was to be an habitation for the redeem- ed : Matth. xxv. 34. *' Then fhall tlie King fay unto " them on his right, Come, ye blefl'ed of my Father, ** inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foun- " dation of the world." Even the Angels were created to be employed in this ^v'ork ; and therefore the Apoftle tails them " minijlring Jpirits,. fent forth to minifter *' for them who Ihall be heirs of falvation," Heb. i. 14. As to this lower world, it was doubtlefs created to be a ftage upon \vhieh this great and wonderful work of redemption Ihould be tranfafted : and therefore, as might be fhown, in many refpefts, this lower world is- wifely fitted, in the formation, for fuch a ftate of man as he is in fince the fall,, under a poffibility of redemp« tion ; fo that when it is faid that the work of redemp- tion is carried on from the fall of man to the end of the world, it is not meant that all that ever was done in- t)rder to redemption has been done fince the fall. Nor, 2 . Is it meant that there will be no remaining fruits of this work after the end of the world ? the greateft fruits of all will' be after that. That glory and bleffed- iiefs that will be the fum of all the fruits, will remain to all the faints after that. The work of redemption \% not an eternal work, i. e. it is not a work always a do- ing and never accoinpliflied. But the fruits of this work are eternal- fruits. The work has an ifliie. But in the iflue the end will be obtained ; which end will never have an tn^. As thofe things that were in or- der to this work before the beginning of the world, a& God's elefting love, and the covenant of redexptiony never had a beginning, fo the fruits of this work, that fhall be after the end of the world, never will have anf" end. And therefore, 3. When it is faid in the doQrine, that this is a work that God is carrying on from the fall of man to \\k end of the world, \^\Ux I meau is, that thofe things ^•^ A HISTORY o^ that belong to this work itfelf, aiid are parts of this icheme, are all this while accomplifliing. There are things that are in order to it that are before the begin- ning of it, and fruits of it that are after it is finifhed. But the work itfelf is fo long a-dbing, even from the fall of man to the end of the world it is all this while a carrying on. It was begun immediately upon the falf and ^vdl continue to the end of the world, and then will be finilhed; The various difpenfations of God that are in this fp^ce, do belong to the farrie work, and to the fame defign, and have all one ilfue ; and there- fore are all to be reckoned but as feveral parts of on«^ w^ork, as it were feveral fiicceflive motions of one ma- chine, to bring about in the conclufion; one great event. And here alfo we muft diftinguifh between the parts of redemption itfelf, and the parts of the work by which that redemption is wrought out. There is a dif- ference between the parts of the benefits procured and bellowed, and the parts of the work of God by which thofe benefits were procured and bellowed. As, for« example, there is a difference between the parts of the benefit that the children of Ifrael received, confifting in their redemption out of Egyptj and the parts of that work of God by which this was ^vrought. The re- demption of the children of Ifrael out of Eg)^t, con- iidered as the benefit which they enjoyed, confifted of two parts, viz. their deliverance from their former Egvptian bondage and mifeiy, and their being brought into a more happy Hate, as the fervants of God, and lieirs of Canaan. But there are many more things which are parts of that work of God which is called his work of redemption of Ifrael out of Eg)'pt. T6 this belongs his calling of Mofes, his fending him to Pharaoh, and all the ligns and wonders he wrought iri Eg\'pt, and his bringing fuch terrible judgments on the Egyptians, and many other things. It is this work by which God effeHs redemption that \rc' arc fpeaking of. This work is carried on from the fall of man to the end of the world ; and it is fo in two refpe6is : (i) With refpeft to the effeft wrought on the fouls of the redeemed, which is common to all ages from the iLi!l of m:\:i to the end of the world. This cffe6t that The Work of REDEMPTION. 33 that I here fpeak of, is the appliGation of redemption with refpeft to the fouls of particular perfons, in con- verting, juftifying, fanftifying and glorifying of them. By thefe things the fouls of particular perfons are ac- tually redeemed, and do receive the benefit of the work of redemption in its effect in their fouls. And in this fenfe the work of redemption is carried on in all ages of the world, from the fall of man to the end of the world. The work of God in converting fouls, open- ing blind eyes, unftopping deaf ears, railing dead fouls to life, and rcfcuing the miferable captivated fouls out of the hands of Satan, was begun foon after the fall of man, has been carried on in the world ever fmce to this day, and will be to the end of the world. God has always, ever fince the firft erefting of the church of the redeemed after the fall, had fuch a church in the world; though oftentimes it has been reduced to a very narrow compafs, and to low circumftances ; yet it has never wholly failed. And as God carries on the work of converting the fouls of fallen men through all thefe ages, i"o he goes on to juftify them, to blot out all their fms, and to ac- cept them as righteous in his fight, through the righ- teoufnefs of Chrill, and adopt and receive them from being the children of Satan, to be his own children ; fo alfo he goes on to fan61;ify, or to carry on the work of his grace, which he has begun in them, and tp comfort them with the confolations of his Spirit, and to glorify them, to beftow upon them, when their bo- dies die, that eternal glory which is the fruit of the purchafe of Chrift. What is faid, Rom. viii. 30. ** Whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called, and " whom he called, them he alfo jufiified, and whom ** he juftified, them he alfo glorified :" I fay this is applicable to all ages, from the fall to the end of the world. The way that the work of redemption, with refpe6l to thefe effefts of it on the fouls of the redeemed, is carried on from the fall to the end of the world, is by repeating and continually working the fame work over again, though in different perfons, from age to age. But, (2) The work of redemption, with ref^eEi to the B grand S4 A HISTORY of grand defign in general, as it refpe6ts the universal fub- jeft and end, is carried on from the fall of man to the end of the world, in a different manner, not merely by- repeating or renewing the fame eifc6l in the different fubjefts of it, but by many fuccefTive works and difpen. fations of God^ all tending to one great end and effeft,^ all united as the feveral parts of a Tcheme, and all to- gether making up one great work. Like an houfe or temple that is building; firft, the workmen are fent forth, then the materials are gathered, then the grountJ fitted, then the foundation is laid, then the fuperitmc- ture is erefted, one part after another, till at lengtlr the top ftone is laid, and all is finished. Now the work of redemption, in that large fenfe that has been explained, may be compared to fuch a building, that is carrying on from the fall of man to the end of the world* God went about it immediately after the fall of man. Some things were done tov;ards it immediately, as may be Ihown hereafter ; and fo God has proceeded, as it were, getting materials and building, ever fmce ; and fo will proceed to the end of the world ; and tlTteii tlie time will come when the top ftone fhall be brought forth, and all will appear compleat and confummate. The glorious ftrufture will then ftand forth in its pio^ per perfection. This work is carried on in the former refpeft that" has been mentioned, viz. as to the effeft on the fouls of particular perfons that are redeerried, by its being an effeft that is common to all ages. The work is carried on in this latter refpeft, viz. as it refpe61:s the church of God, and the grand defign in general, it is carried on, not only by that which is common to all ages, but by fucceffive works wrought in different ages, all parts of one whole, or one great fcheme, w^hereby one work is brought about by various fteps, one ftep in one age, ahd another in another. It is this carrying on of the work of redemption that I fhall chieflv infift upon, though not excluding the former ; for one necefl'arily fuppofes the other. Having thus explained what I mean by the terms of the doftrine ; that you may the inore clearly fee how' the great defign and work of redemption is carried on from The Work of REDEMPTION. 35 from the fail of man to the end of the world ; I fay, in order to this, I now proceed, in the fecond place, to (how what is the defign of this great work, or what things are de* figned to be done by it. In order to fee how a defign is carried on, we muft firft know what the defign is. To know how a workman proceeds, and to underiland the various fteps he takes in order to accomplifli a piece of work, we need to be informed what he is about, or what the thing is that he intends to accQmplifh ; other- wife we may Itand by, and fee him do one thing after another, and be quite puzzled and in the dark, feeing no- thing of his fcheme, and underflanding nothing of what he means by it. If an architeft, with a great number of hands, were a building fome great palace, and one that was a ft ranger to fuch things fliould Hand by, and fee fome men digging in the earth, others bringing timber, others hewing ftones, and the like, he might fee that there was a great deal done ; but if he knew nol the defign, it wpuld all appear to him confufion. And therefore, that the great works and difpenfations of God that belong to this great affair of redemption may not appear like confufion to you, I would fet before you briefly the main things defigned to be accpmplifh- ed in this great work, to accomplifli which, God be- gan to work prefently after the fall of man, and will . continue working to the end of the world, when the whole work will appear completely finifhed. And the main things defigned to be done by it are thefe that follow. I. It is to put all God's enemies under his feet, and that the goodnefs of God fhould finally appear triumph- ing over all evil. Soon after the world was created, evil entered into the world in the fall of the angels and man. Prefently after God bad made rational crea- tures, there were enemies who rofe up againft him from among them ; and in the fall of man evil entered into this lower world, and God's enemies rofe up againft him here. Satan rofe up againfl God, endea- vouring to fruftrate his defign in the creation of this lower world, to deftroy his workman Ihip here, ^nd to wreft the government of this lower world out of his hands, and ufurp the throne himfelf, and fet up J& i^ \iimk\i 36 AHISTORYoF himfelf as god of this world inftead of the God that made it. And to thefe ends he introduced fm into the world ; and having made man God's enemy, he brought guilt on man, and brought death and the moft extreme and dreadful mifery into the world. Now one great defign of God in the affair of re- demption was, to reduce and fubdue thofe enemies o£ God, till they fhould all be put under God's feet : — 1 Cor. XV. 25. " He muft reign till he hath put all ene- " mies under his feet." 7'hings were originally fo planned and defigned, that he might difappoint and con- found, and triumph over Satan, and that he might be bruifed under Chrift's feet, Gen. iii. 15. Thepromife was given, that the feed of the woman fhould bruife the ler,:ent's head. It was a part of God's original de- fign in liiis work, to deftroy the works of the devil, and confound him in all his purpofes : 1 John iii. 8; '* For this purpofe was the Son of God manifefted, •* that he might deftroy the works of the devil." It was a part of his defign, to triumph over fin, and over the corruptions of men, aiid to root them out of the hearts of his people, by conforming them to himfelf- He defigned alfo, that his grace fhould triumph over man's guilt, and that infinite demerit that there is in fin. y\gain, it was a part of his defign, to triumph over death; and however this is the laft enemy that fhall be deftrbyed, yet that fhall finally be vanquifhed and deftroycd. ' ■.■,.■..■■ .- God thus appears glorioufly above all evil ; and tri- umphing over all his enemies, was one great thing that God intended by the work of redemption ; and the \vork by ^vhich this was to be done, God immediately went about as foon as man fell ; and fo goes on till he fully accomplifhes it in the end of the world. ' II. In doing this, God's defign was perfeftly to re- flore all the ruins of the fall, fo far as concerns the ele61 part of theworld, by his Son; and therefore we read of the rcfiitution- of all things^ A6ls iii. 21. *' Whom the heaven mufl receive, until the times of ^* the rejHtidion of all things ;" and of the tunes of re^ f'rejhyng from the prefence of the Lord Ji'fus, A8s iii; 19. " Hepcnt yc therefore and be converted, that your *' fins ' The Work of REDEMPTION. 37 ?' fins may be blotted out, when the times ofrefrejhing ^■- fhall come from the prefence of the Lord." Man's foul was ruined by the fall ; the image of God was ruined ; man's nature was corrupted and deftroy- cd, and man became dead in fm. The defign of God was, to reftore the foul of man ; to reftore life to it, and the image of God, in converfion, and to carry on the reftoration in fanftification, and to perfect it in glory. Man's body was ruined ; by the fall it became fubjeft to death. The defign of God was, to reftore it from this ruin, and not only to deliver it from death in the refurrettion, but to deliver it from mortality itfelf, in making it like unto Chrift's glorious body. The world was ruined, as to man, as effeftually as if it had been reduced to chaos again ; all heaven and earth were overthrown. But the defign of God was, to reftore all, and as it were to create a new heaven and a new earth : If Ixv. 17. " Behold I create new heavens, and a new *' earth ; and the former fhall not be remembered, nor *' come into mind." 2 Pet. iii. 13. " Neverthelefs we, *' according to his promife, look for new heavens, *' and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs." The work by which this was to be done, was begun immediately after the fall, and fo is carried on till all is finiftied at the end, when the whole world, heaven and earth, fhall be reftored ; and there fhall be as it Were, new heavens, and a new earth, in a fpi ritual fenfe, at the end of the world. Thus it is reprefented. Rev. xxi. 1. ''And I faw a new heaven, and a new " earth ; for the firft heaven and the firft earth were ** paffed away." III. Another great defign of God in the work of re- demption, was to gather together in one all things in Chrift, in heaven and in earth, i. e. all eleft creatures ; to bring all eleft creatures, in heaven and in earth, to an union one to another in one body, under one head, and to unite all together in one body to God the Fa- ther. This was begun foon after the fall, and is car- ried on through all ages of the world, and finiflied at the end of the world. IV. God defigned by this work to perfefl; and com- plete the g\ory of all the eleQ by Chrift. It was a de- fign gS AHISTORYoF fign of God to advance the cleft to an exceeding pitch of glory, " fuch as eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, *' nor has ever entered into the heart of man." He intended to bring them to perfect excellency and beau- ty in his image, and in holinefs, which is the proper beauty of fpiritual beings ; and tp advance them to a glorious degree of honor, and alfo tp an ineffable pitch of pleafure and joy ; and thus to glorify the whole church of eleft men in foul and body, and with them to bring the glory of the eleft Angels to its high- ell pitch, under one head. The work which tends to this, God began immediately after the fall, and carries on through all ages, and will have perfefted at the end of the world. V. In all this God defigned to accomplifli the glory of the bleffed Trinity in an exceeding degree. God had a defign of glorifying himfelf from eternity ; to glorify each perfon in the Godhead. The end muft be confidered as firft in order of nature, and then the means ; and therefore we muft conceive, that God ha- ving profeffed this end, had then as it were, the means to chufe, and the principal mean that he pitched iipon was this great work of redemption that we are fpeak- '' ing -of. It was his defign in this work, to glorify his onlv begotten fon, Jefus Chrift ; and it was his defign, by the Son, to glorify the Father: John xiii. 31. 32. *' Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glori- ** fied in him. If God be glorified in him, God alfo •' fhall glorify him in himfelf, and fliall ftraightway ** glorify him." It was his defign that the Son fhould thus be glorified, and fhould glorify the Father by what jhould be accomplifhed by the Spirit, to the gloiy of the Spirit, that the whole Trinity, conjunftly, and each perfon fingly, might be exceedingly glorified. The work that was the appointed means of this, was begun immediately after the fall, and is carried on till, and finifhcd at, the end of the w^orld, when all this intend* cd glory fhall be fully accomplifiied in all things. Having thus explained the terms made ufe of in the doctrine, and fhown what the things are which are to be accomplifhed by this great work of God, I pro- ceed now to the propofed hiflory ; that is, to fhow liow tiiE Work of REDEMPTION. 3^ tiow what was defigncd by the work of redemption hai been accompHfhed, in the various Heps of this work* from the fall of man to the end of the world. In order to this, I would divide this whole fpace of time into three periods : the 1 ft, reaching from the fall of man to the incarnation bf Chrift ;— the 2d, from Chrifl^'s incarnation till his refurreftion ; br the whole time of Chrift's humiliation ; — the 3d, from thence to the end of the world. It may be fome may be ready to think this a very" un^ fcqual divifion : and it is fo indeed in fome refpetts. It isfo, becaufe the fecond period is fo much the greateft : for although it be fo much fhorter than either of the other, being but between thirty and forty years, where- as both the others contain thoufands ; yet in this affair that we are now upon, it is more than both the others. — I would therefore proceed to {how diftinftly, how the work of redemption is carried on from the fall of man to the end of the world^ through each of thefe periods in their order ; which I would do under three propofi- tions — one concerning each period. L That from the fall of man till the incarnation of Chrift, God was doing thofe things that were preparatory to Chrift's coming, and working out re- demption, a:nd were forerunners and earnefts of it. II. That the time from Chrift's incar- nation, till his refurreftion, was fpent in procuring and purchafing redemption. III. That the fpace or time from the refurreftion of Chrift to the end of the. world, is all taken up in bringing about or accompliftiing the great eflfeft or fuc- cefs of that purchafe. In a particular confidcration of thefe three propofi- tions, the great truth taught in the doftrine may pea haps appear in a clear light, and wc may fee how the work of redemption is carried on from the fall of mji^ to the end of the world. PERIOD 4C PERIOD i. From the Fall to the Incarnation* MY firft tafk is, to fhow how the work of re- demption is carried on fro7n the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrift^ under the fiifl propofitioni viz. That the fpace of time from the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrift, was taken up .in doing thofe things that were forerunners and earnefls of Chrift's coming, and working out redemption, and were pre- paratory to it. The great works of God in the world during this whole fpace of time, were all preparatory to this. — There were many great changes and revolutions in the world, and they were all only the turning of the wheels of providence in order to this, to make way for the coming of Chrift, and what he was to do in the world. They all pointed hither, and all ifTued here. Hither tended efpecially all God's great works towards his church. The church was under various difpenfatioris of providence, and in very various circumftances, be- fore Chrift came. But all thefe difpenfations were to prepare the way for his coming. God wrought falvation for the fouls of men through all that fpace of time, though the number was very fmall to what it was afterwards ; and all this falvation was, as it were, by way of anticipation. All the fouls that were faved before Chrift came, were only as it were, the earnefts of the future harveft. God wrought many lefTer falvations and deliverances for his church and people before Chrift came. Thefe falvations were all but fo many images and forerunners of the great falvation Chrift was to work out when he ftiould come. God revealed himfelf of old, from time to time, from the fall of man to the coming of Chrift. The Peiiodl. A HISTORY, ^c. 41 The church during that fpace of time enjo)'edtht>liaht of divine revelation, or God's word. They had in ji degree the Hght of the gofpeh But all thefe revela- tions were only fo many forerunners and earnefls of -the great light that he ihould hring who came to be the light of the world. That whole fpace of time was as it were the time of night, wherein the church of God w^as not indeed wholly without light : but it was like the lipht oi" the moon and flars that we have in the night ; a dim light \n comparifon of the light of the fun, and mixed with a great deal of darknefs. If had no glory, by reafon of the glory that excelleth, 2 Cor. iii. 10. The church had indeed the light of the fun, but it was only as reflefted from the moon and ftars. The church all that while was a minor. This the Apoftle evidently teaches in Gal.iv. 1.2. 3. *' Now I ** fay, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth *' nothing from a fervant, though he be lord of all ; *' but is under tutors and governors, until the time ap- *' pointed of the father. Even fo we, when we were ** children, were in bondage under the elements of th^ " world." But here, for the greater clearnefs and diflinftnefs, I would fubdivide this period from the fall of man to the coming of Chrift, into fix lefTer periods or parts ; The ift, extending from the fall to the flood ; — the 2d, from thence to the calling of Abraham ; — the 3d, from thence to Mofes ; — the 4th, from thence to David ; — the 5th, from David to the captivity into Bab)don— « and the 6th, from thence to the incarnation of Chrift. ; ' PART I, F/-o?n the Fall to the Flood. THIS was a period farthell of all diftant from Chrift's incarnation ; yet then this prreat work was begim to be carried on ; then was this glorious C buildinq; a i/ T'} • 4i A HISTORY OF PeHodl buildi"^ begun, that will not be finifhed till the end of Ae world, as I would no\v (how you how. And to this purpofe I would obferve, I. As foon as ever man fell, Chrifl: entered on his Mediatorial work. Then it was that Clirift hrft took on him the work and office' of a mediator. He had un- dertaken it before the world was made. He flood en- gaged with the Father to appear as man's mediator, and to take on that office ivhen there Ihoidd be occafion, from all eternity. But now the tim,e was come. When man fell, then the occafion came ; and then Chrift im- mediately, wifhout furdier dela)% entered on his work, and took on him that office that he had Hood engaged to take on him from eternity. As foon as ever man fell, Chrifl:, the eternal Son of God, cloathed himfelf with the m.ediatorial charafter, and therein prefented liimfelf before the Father. He immediately Itepped m between an holy, infinite, offended Maicfly, and of- fendi]][g mankind; and was accepted in his interpofu tion ; and fo wrath ^vas prevented from going forth in the full execution of that am^azing curfe that man had brought on himfelf. It is manifelf that Chrift began to exercife the office of mediator between God and man as foon as ever man fell, becaufe mercy be^cran to be exercifed towards man immediately. There was mercy in the forbearance of God, that he did not delhoy him, as he did the Angels when they fell. But there is no mercy exercifed toward fallen man, but through a mediator. If God had not hi mercy r^flrained Satan, he would imjiiediately have feized on his prey. Chrift began to do- the part of an interceffor for man, as foon as he fell. There is no mercy exercifed towards man, but what is obtained through Chriit's inierceffion: So that nov/ Chrift was entered on his work that he was fo continue in dirough- out all ages of the world. From that day forward Chrift took on him the care of the church of the ele6t: He took on him" the care of fallen man in the exercife of all his offices -^ he undertook thenceforward ta teach mankind in the exercife of his prophetical office; and alfo to intercede for fallen man in liis prieftly of- fice ; and he took on him, as it were, the care and bur- den of the government of the church, and of the world Part I. The Work Of REDEMPTION. 43 world of mankind, from this day forward. He from tliat time took upon liim the care of the defence of liis eletl church from all their enemies. When Saian, the grand enemy, had conquered and overthrown man, the bufinefs of refilling and conquering him was com- mitted to Chriit. He thenceforward undertook to manage that fubtle, powerful adverfary. He was then appointed the Captain of the Lord's Hofts, and the Captain of their falvation, and always a6fed as fuch thenceforward : and fo he appeared from time to tim.e, and he will continue to aft as fuch to the end of tlie world. Henceforward this lov/er world, Vvith all its concerns, was, as it were, devolved upon the Son of God: for when man had finned, God the Father would have no more to do with man immediately; he would no more have any immediate concern with this world lof mankind, that bad apollatized from and rebelled againft him. He would henceforward have no con- cern with m^an, but only through a mediator either in teaching m.en, or in governing or beftowing any be- nefits on them. Ana therefore, when we read in facred hiftory what God did from time to tim.e towards his church and peo- ple, and what he faid to them, and how he revealed himfelf to them, we are to underiland it efpecially of the fecond perlon of the Trinity. When we read of God's appearing after the fall, from time to time, in fome vifible form or outward fymbol of his prefence, we are ordniardy, if not univerfally, to underftand it of the fccpnd perfon of the Trinitv; Vv^hich may be argued from Johni. 18. " No man hath feen God at " anytime; the only begotten Son; which is in the *' bofom of the Father, he hath declared him." He is therefore called ^' the image of the invifible God," Col. i. 15. intimating, that though God the Father be invifible, yet Ghrift is his image or reprefcntation, by which he is leen, or by which the church of God hath often had a reprefcntation of him, that i^ not invifible, 'and in particular that Chrift has after appeared in an human form. Yea not only was tl^is lower world devolved on ChriH, that he might ha\-e the care and government of it, and ^rdcr it agreeably to ))is defigxi of redemption, but vAio. C 2 iii 44 AHISTORYoF Period I. in fome rerpc6l the whole Univerfe. The Angels from that time were committed to him, to be fubjett to him in bis mediatorial ofhce, to be nnniftringfpirits to him in th^s affair; and accordingly were fo from this time forwaid, as is manifclf by the fcriptiire-hiftorv, where- in we have accounts from time to time of their acting as miniilring fpiriis in the affairs of thp church of Chrifl. r And therefore ^ve may fuppofc, that immediately on f the fall of man, it was made known in Heaven among ' the Angels, that God had a, defign of redemption w-ith refpe6t to fallen man, and that Chrift had now taken upon him the office and work of a mediator between God and man, that they might know their bi^mefs henceforward, which was to be fubfervient to Chrift in this oiHce. And as Chrift, in this office, has fmce that, as God-man and Mediator, been folemnly ex- alted ^nd indalled the King of Heaven, and is thence- forward as God-man, Mediator, the Light, and as it were, the Sun of Heaven, agreeable to Rev. xxi. 23. " And the city had no need of the Sun, neither of the *' Moon, to fhine in it ; for the glory of God did *' lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof;'' fo this revelation tl^at was made in Heaven among the An- gels, of Chrill's now having taken on him the office of a mediator between God and man, was as it were the firll dawning of this light in Heaven. When Chrift afcended into Heaven after his paffion, and was fo- lemnly inftalled in the throne as King of Heaven, then this Sun rofe in Heaven, even the Lamib that is tiic light of the new Jenifalcm. But the light began to {litution of facrifices it fiiil began to da^vn in the types of it; in this, viz. his beginning a61iially to iave men, it nrft began to dawn in the fruit of it. It is probable, tliesefore, that j4{Ia?7i and Eve were the firil fruits of Ghrilt's redemption ; it is probable by God's manner of tieaiing them, by his comforting tiiem as he did,, after their awakenings and terrors^ They were awakened, and afhamed with a fenfe of their guilt, after their fall, when their eyes were opened, and they faw that they were naked, and fewed fig-lea\'es to cover their nakednefs ; as the finner, under the firft a- wakenings, is wont to endeavour to hide die nakednefs o{ his foul, by patching up a righteoufnefs of his own. Then they were further tenified and awakened, by hearing the voice of God, as he was coming to con- c-jnnr them. ^ Their coverings of fig-leaves do not an- fwer the purpofe ; but, not with/landing tliefe, they ran to hide themfelves among the trees of the garden, be- caufe they were naked, not daring to truft to their fig- lca\-CG to hide their nakednefs from Cod. Then they were fart I. The Work of REDEMPTION. ji were further awakened by God's calling of them to a flricl; account. But while their terrors were raifed to fuch a height, and they flood, as we may fupi)orc, trembhng and aftonifhed before their judge, without any thing to catch hold of, whence tliey could gather any hope, then God took care to hold Ibrth fome en- couragement to them, to keep them from the dreadful effects of defpair under their awakenings, by giving a hint of a dcfign of mercy by a Saviour, even before he pronounced fentence againit them. And when after this he proceeded to pronounce fentence, whereby we may fuppofe their terrors were further railed, God foon after took care to encourage them, and to let them lee that he had not wholly caft them off, by taking a fa-'' therly care of them in their fallen, naked and mifer- able liate, by making them coa^s of fkins, and cloath- ing them. Which alfo manifefled an acceptance of thofe facrifices that they offered to God for (in, that thofe were the fl^ins of, which were types of what God had promifed when he faid, " The feed of the woman ■*' fhall bruife the ferpent's head;" which promife, there is reafon to think, they believed and embraced. Eve feems plainly to exprefs her hope in, and dependence on that promife, in what flie fa)'s at the birth of Cain, Gen. iv. i. "I have gotten a m,an from the Lord ;" i. e. as God has promifed, that my feed fhould bruife the ferpent's head ; fo now has God given me this pledge and token of it, that I have a feed born. She plainly owns, that this her child was from God, and hoped that her promifed feed was to be of this her eldeif fon ; though {l:ie was millaken, as Ahiahamw^s witlirefpe6t to IJlimad, as Jacob was with refpecf to Efaa^ and as Samuel was ^vith refpe^^t to the firll born of J'JJe. And efpecially does what (he faid at the birdi of Serb, ex- prefs her hope^and dependence on the promife of God ; fee ver. 2j. " For God hath appointed me another feed *' inllead of Abel, whom Cain flew." Thus it is exceeding probable, if not evident, that as Chrift took on him the woik of mediator as foon as man fell ; fo that he no^v immediately began his work of redem.ption in its elTeft, and that he immediately encountered his great enemy the De\al, whom he had undertaken to conquer, and refcued th.ofe two firlt D 3 capti\-es 52 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L captives out of his hands ; therein baffling him, foon after his triunjph for the victory he had obtained over the:n, whereby he had made them his captives. And though he was, as it were, fure of them and all their pofterity, Chrift the Redeemer foon fliowed him that he was miftaken, and that he was able to fubdue him, and deliver fallen man. He let him fee it, in delivering thofe firiL captives of his ; andfo foon gave him an in- flance of the fulfilment of that threatning, " The " feed of the woman fliall bruife the ferpent's head ;" and in this inftance a prefage of the fulfilment of one great thing he had undertaken, viz. his fubduing all his enemies under his feet. After this we have another inftance of redemption in one of their children, viz. in righteous Abel, as the fcripture calls him, whofe foul perhaps M^as the firft that went to heaven through Chrift's redemption. In hira we have at leaft the firlt inftance of the death of a redeemed perfon that is recorded in fcripture. If he was the firft, then as the redemption of Chrift began to dawn before in the fouls of men in their converfion and juftification, in him it firft began to dav/n in glori- fication ; and in him the Angels began firft to do the part of miniftring fpirits to Chrift, in going forth to condaft the fuuls of the redeemed to glory. And in him the eleft Angels in Heaven had the firft opportu- nity to fee fo wonderful a thing as the foul of one of the fallen race of mankind, that had been funk by the fall into fuch an abyfs of fin and mifeiy, brought to Heaven, and in the enjoyment of heavenly glory, which was a much greater thing than if they had feen him returned to the earthly Paradife. Thus they by this ■; faw the glorious effe6t of Chrift's redemption, in the great honor and happinefs that was procured for finful, miferable creatures by it, V. The next remarkable tiling that God did in the farther carrying on of this great aff'air of redemption, that I fhall take notice of, was the firft remarkable pouring out of the Spirit through Chrift that ever was, Vv'hich was in the days of Enos. This feems to have been the next remarkable thing that was done toward (Ere£ling this glorious building that God had begun and Jajd t}ic fpuiidation of in Chrift the mediator. We read, Fart I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 5^ read, Gen. iv. 26. " Then began men to call upon the " name of the Lord." The meaning of thefe words has been confiderably controverted among divines. We cannot fuppofe the meaning is, tliat that time was the firft that ever men performed the duty of prayer. Prayer is a duty of natural religion, and a duty to which a fpirit of piety does moil naturally lead men^ prayer is as it were the very breath of a fpirit of piety ; and we cannot fuppofe therefore, that tliofe holy men that had been before for above two hundred years, had lived all that while without any prayer. Therefore fome divines think, that tlie meaning is, that then men firft began to perform public woifhip, or to call upon the name of the Lord in public affemblies. Whether it be fo to be underftood or no, yet fo much muft necef- farily be underftood by it, viz. that tiiere was fom.e- jhing new in the vifible church of God with refpeft to the duty of prayer, or calling upon the name of the Lord ; that there was a great addition to the perform- ance of this duty; and that in fome refpe6i; or other it was carried far beyond what it ever had been before, which muft be the confequence of a remarkable pour- ing out of the Spirit of God. If it was now firft that men were ftirred up to get together in aflemblies to help and affift one another in. feeking God, fo as they never had done before, it ar- gues fomething extraordinary as the caufe ; and could be from nothing but uncommon influences of God's Spirit. We fee by experience, that a remarkable pour- ing out of God's Spirit is always attended with fuch an effeft, viz. a great increafe of the performance of the duty of prayer. When the Spirit of God begins a work on mens hearts, it imimediately fets them to call- ing on the name of the Lord. As it was with Paul after the Spirit of God had laid hold of him, then the jnext news is, " Behold, he prayeth !" fo it has been in all remarkable pourings out of the Spirit of God that we have any particular account of in fcripture ; and fo it is foretold it will be at the great pouring out of the Spirit of God in the latter days. It is foretold, that it w^ill be poured out as a fpirit of grace and fupplica- tion, Zech. xii. 10. See alfo Zeph. iii. 9. "For then *- will I turn to the people a pure language, that they ?* may ,54 A HISTORY OF Period L •*' may all call upon the name of the Lord, to fervc " him with one confent." And when itisfaid, " Then vegan men to callupoij *' the name of the Lord," no more can be intended by it, than that this was the firll remarkable feafon of tliis nature that,ever was. It was the beginning, or the firft, of fuch a kind of work of God, fuch a pouring out of the Spiril of God, After fuch a manner fuch an expreffionis commojilyuiedin fcriptuxe ; fo, i Sam. xiv. 35. " And ^i2zJ built an altar unto the Lord; the *' fame 'vvas the £rft altar that he built unto the " Lord." In the Hebrew it is, as you may fee in the margin, " that altar he began to build unto the Lord.'* Heb. ii. 3. " How^ Ihall we efcape if we negle6t fo *' great falvation, which firft began to be fpoken by the " Lo.d?" It miay here be obfcrved, that from the fall of man, to this day wherein we live, the work of redemption in its effect has mainly been carried on by remarkable pourings out of the Spirit of God, Though there be a more conftant influence of God's Spirit always in fome degree attending his ordinances ; yet the way in ^vhich the greatefl things have been done towards carry- ing on this vv'ork, always has bsen by remarkable pour- ings out of the Spirit at fpecial feafons of mercy, as may fully appear hereafter in our further profecution of the fubjeft we are upon. And this pouring out of the Spirit in the days of Enos, was the firll remarkable pouring out of the Spirit of God that ever ^vas. There had been a faving work of God on the hearts of fome before; but now God was pleafed to grant a more large effufion of his Spirit, for the bringing in an bar- veil of fouls to Chrift ; fo that in this we fee that great building that is the fubjeft of our prefent difcourfe, which God laid the foundation of immediately after the fall of man, caYried on further, and built higher, than ever it had been befoic. VI. The next thing I fliall take notice of, is the emi- nently holy life of Enoch, who we liave reafon to think was a faint of greater eminency than any ever had been before him ; fo that in this refperl: the work of re- demption w.js carried on to a greater height than ever it had been before. With refpe^l to its elfeQ in the vi- fiblc fart I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 55 fible cliurcli in general, we obfervcd juft now haw it was caniecl higher in the clays oi Euos than ever it had been befoie. Probably Enoch was one oithe (aints of that harvell ; for he lived all the days that he did live on earth, in the days of Enas. And with refpeft to the degree 10 which this work was carried in the foul of a paiticular perfon, it was raifed to a greater height in Enoch than e\er before. Plis foul, as it was built on Chriil, was built up in holinefs to a greater height than there had been any iniiance of before. He was a. wonderful inflance of Chrift's redemption, and the ef- ficacy of his grace. VH. In Enoch's tiir.e, God did more exprefsly reveal the coming of Chrill than he had done before, in the prophecy of Enoch that we have an account of in the J4diand i^th verfes of the epiiUe of Jude : " And E- ** noch alfo, the feventh from Adam, piophefied of *' thefe^ faying. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten **■ thoiJpP of his faints, to execute judgment upon *' all, arid to convince all that are ungodly among *' them, of dieir ungodly deeds which they have un- " S^^h committed, and of all their hard fpeeches '' which ungodly finners have fpoken againft him.'* Here Enoch prophefies of ^the coming of Chrift. It does not feem to be confined to any particular coming of Chiifl ; but it has refpe6f in general to ChrilPs co- ming in his kingdom, and is fulfilled in a degree in both the firft and fecond coming of Chrilf ; and in- deed in every remarkable manifelfation Chrift has made of himfelf in the world, for the faving of his people, and the deflroying of his enemies. It is very pa- rallel in this refpettwith msreiy other prophecies of the coming of Chiift, that were given under the Old Te-« {lament; and, in particular, it feems to be parallel with that great prophecy of C brill's coming in his kingdom that we have in the 7th chapter of Daniel, whence the Jews principally took their notion of the kingdom of Heaven. See ver. 10. *'A fiery ftream ifTued, *' and came forth from before Lim : thoufand thou- *' faiids miniflred unto him, and ten thoufand times ten *' thoufand Rood before him : the judgm.ent was fet, *' and the books w^ere opened." And ver. 13. 14. " I *' hw ill the night-yifions, and behold, one like the «' foil 56 A H I S T O R Y OF Period " fon of man, came with the clouds of Heaven, and •' came to the ancient of days, and they brought him *' near before him. And there was given him domi- " nion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, na- " lions, and languages, fnouid ferve him : his domi- " nion is an everlafting dominion, which fnall not pafs " away, and his kingdom that which fhall not be de- *' ftroycd." And though it is not unlikely that Enoch might h^ive a more immediate refpeft in this prophecy to the approaching deftruftion of the old world by the flood, which was a remarkable refemblance of Chrill's- deftruclion of all his enemies at his fecond coming, yet it doubtlefs looked be)'ond the type to the antetype. And as this prophecy of Chrilt's coming is more ex- prefs than any had been before ; fo it is an inftance of the increafe of that gofpel-light that began to, dawn prefently after the fall of man; and is an inft^ce of that building that is the fiibjecl of our prefen^jfcourfe, being yet further carried on, and built up h^B|r than it had been before. And here,' by the way, I would ob ferve, that the in- creafe of gofpel-light, and the carrying on the work of redemption, as it refpefts the ele6l church in general, ^*^from the firft erefting of the church to the end of the world, is very much after the fame manner as the car- rying on of the fame work and the fame light in a- particular foul, from the time of its converfion, till it is perfected and crowned in glory. The work in a par- ticular foul has its ups and downs ; fometimes the light fhines brighter, and fometimes it is a dark tim.e ; fometimes grace feems to prevail, at other times *it feemiS to languifh for a great while together, and cor- ruption prevails, and then grace revives again. But in general, grace is growing : from its firll infufion, till it is perfeftedin glory, the, kingdom of Chrift is build- ing up in the foul. So it is with refpeft to the great affair in general, as it relates to the univeiTal fubjeft of it, as it is carried on from the firlf beginning of it after the fall, till it is* perfetted at the end of the world, as will more fully appear by a particular view of this affair from begin- ning to end, in the profecution of this fubje61, if Go I give opportunity to carry it through as I propofe. VIII. The Part I. The Work of REDEMPTION b1 VIII. The next remarkable thing towards carrying on this work, that we have an account of in fcripture, is, the tranflation of Enoch into Heaven. The ac- count we have of it is in Gen. v. 24. " And Enoch •* walked with God, and he was not; for God took *' him." Here Mofes, in giving an account of the ge- nealogy of thofe that were of the line of Noah, does not fay concerning Enoch, he lived fo long and he died, as he docs of the reft; but,7z^ xuas not for God took him ; 2. c. he tranflated him ; in body and foul carried him to Heaven without dying, as it is explained in Heb. xi. ,5. " By faith Enoch was tranflated that he fhould not fee *' death." By this wonderful work of God, the work of redemption was carried to a greater height in feve- ral refpefts, than it had been before. You may remember, that when I was fliowing what were the great things that God aimed at in the work of jiljmption, or what the main things were that he l^Sided to bring to pafs ; I among other things mentioned (p. 36.) the perfeft reftoring the ruins of the fall with refpeft to the ele6f, and reftoring man from that deftruftion that he had brough^,. on himfelf, both in foul and body. Now this traj^flation of Enoch, was the firft inftance that ever was of B- ftoring the ruins of the fall with refpeft to the body- There had been many inftances of reftoring the foul of man by Chrift's redemption, but none of redeeming and aftually faving the body till now. All the bodies of the ele6f are to be faved as well as their fouls. At the end of the world, all the bodies of the faints fhall aft ually be redeemed ; thofe that then fhall have beea dead, by a refurreftion ; and others, that then fhall be hving, by caufmg them to pafs under a* glorious change. There was a number of the bodies of faints raifed and glorified, at the refurreftion and afcenfion of Chrift; and before that there was an inftance of a body glorified in Elijah. But the firft inftance of all was this of Enoch, that we are now fpeaking of. And the work of redemption by this was carried on further than ever it had been before ; as, by this won- derful work of God, there was a great increafe of go- fpel-light to the church of God, in this refpeft, that E hereby 5§ AHISTORYof Perioci L hereby the church had a clearer manifeftation of a i\u ture Hate, and of the glorious reward of the faints ii^ Pleaven. We are told, 2 Tim. i. 10. "That life an(i *' immortality are brought to li^^ht by the gofpel." And the more of this is brought to lights the more clearly does the light fhine in that refpeft. What was faid in the OldTeftarrient of a future ftale, is ver)' obfcure, in col^lparifo^ with the more full, plain, and abundant re\'elation given of it in the New. But yet even in thofe early days, the church of God, in this inftance, was favoured with an inftance of it fet before theii* tiyes, in- that one of their brethren was aftually takeri lip to Heaven without dying; which we have all reafoii to think the church of God knew then, as they after- wards knevv' Elijah's tranflatioo. And as this was a clearer maiiifeftation of a future ftate than the church liad had before, fo it v;as a pledge or earneil of that future glorification of all the faints which God intend- ' through the redemption of Jefus Chrift. flp' IX. The next thing that 1 fhall obferve, was tne up- holding the church of God in the family of v.diich Cliiiil: ^v-as to proceed^ in the time of that great and general d-efeftion of the world of mankind that was bjgfore tlie flood. The church of God, in all probabi- flt)% was fmall in comparifon with the reft of the world^ from the beginning of the time that iTrankxind firfl be- gan to multiply on the i'dcc of the eartli, or from the time of Cains defeftion, and departing from among the people of God; the time we iead of, Gen. iv. ib, *' When Cain went out fiom the prefence of the Lord, *' and dwelt in the land of Nod;" M'hich being inter- preted, ^s the land ofbanifhment : I fay, from this time of Cain's departure and feparation from the churcli of God, it is probable that the church of God was fmati in comparifon with the reft of tlie Avorld. The church feems to have_been kept up cliiefiy in the pofterity of Serh ; for this was the feed that God appointed inftead of A^el* \vhom Cain flew. But we cannot reafonably fiippofe, that Setk's poileiity were one fifrieth part of the world : •' For Jdam was one hundred and thirty •* years old when Sdk ^'/as born." But Cazn, who feems to have been the ringleader of thofe that were no: of the church, w^as Adam'^ eldell child, and pro- bably Part I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 5^ bably was born foon after the fall, which doubtlefs v.-as foon after Adauis creation ; fo that there was time fur Cain to have many fons before Sctk was born, and be- fides many other children, that probably Adam and Eve had before this time, agieeably to God's blcfnng that he gave diem, when he faid, " Be fruitful, and multi- *' ply, and replenilh the earth :" and many of thefe children might have children. The llory of CoSn be- fore Setli was born, feems to reprefent as though there were great numbers of men on the earth : Gen. iv. 14, 45. " Behold, thou haft dri\x-n me out this day from ♦' the face of the earth ; and from thy face fliall 1 be hid, *' and \ (hall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; " and it fhall come to pafs, that every one that find^ *' eth me fhall flay me.. And the Lord faid unto him, *' Therefore whofoever flay eth Cain^ vengeance fliall ** be taken on him feven-fold. And the Lord {cl *■' a M|irk upon Cainy left any finding hi:Ti fhould. ** kiiniim." And all thofe that were then in being when Scth was born^ muft be fuppcfed then to ftand in equal capacity of multipl)'ing their poflerity with him ;, and therefore, as I faid before, Seth's poilerity w^cre }p\xt a fmall part of the inhabitant^ of the world.. But after the days of Encs and Enoch ffor Enoch was. tranflated before Enos died) I fay, after their days, the church of God greatly diminiflied, in proportion as. multitudes that \vere of the line of Setk, and had been born irx the church of God, fell away, and joined with the wicked world, principally by means of intermar- riages with them ; as Gen. vi. 1. 2, & 4. "Audit came *' to pafs when meir begaTi to multiply on. the face of *' the earth, and daughters were born, unto them, that *' the fons of God fav^ the daughters of men, that they *' were fair ; and they took them wivQs of all which " they chofe. There were giants in. the earth in *' thofe days; and alfo after that, when the fons of *' God came in unto the daughters of men, apd they *' bare children to them, the fame became mighty men, *' which were of old men. of renown.' 'Qy the Jons of God here, are doubtlefs meant the children of the church. It is a denomination often given them in fcripture. They intermarried with die wicked world, snd fo had. their hearts led away frgiij God ; and there E a \yaj» 6o A HISTORY of Period I. was a great and continual defeftion from the church. And the church of God, that ufed to be a reftraint on the wicked world, diminifhed exceedingly, and fo wick- ednefs went on without reftraint. And Satan, that old ferpent the devil, that tempted our firft parents, and fct up himfelf as God of this world, raged ex- ceedingly ; and every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually, and the earth M'as filled with violence. It feemed tp be deluged with wickednefs now, as it was with water afterwards ; and mankind in general were drowned ip this deluge ; al- mofl all were fwallowed up in it. And now Satan, made a moft violent and potent attempt to fwallow up the church of God ; and had almoft done it. But yet Ood preferved it in the midft of all this flood of wick- ednefs and violence. He kept it up in that line of which Chrift was to proceed. He would not fuffer it to be cleltroyed, for a bleffing was in it. The Lord dae Re- deemer w'ds m this branch of mankind, and was after^ wards to proceed from it. There was a particular fa- mily that was a root iri which the great Redeemer of th^ world was, and whence the branch of righteoufnef^ was afterwards to (hoot forth. And therefore, however the branches were lopped oft, and the tree feemed to be deftro\ ed ; yet God, in the midft of all this, kept alive this root, by his wonderful redeeming power and grace^, fo that the gates of hell could not prevail againft it. Thus I have lliown how God carried on the great affair of redemption ; how the building went on that God began after the fall, during this firft period of the times of the Old Teftament, viz. from the fail of man till God brought the flood on the earth. And I would take notice upon it, that though thehiftory which iV/<7~ Jes gives of the great works of God during that fpace be very fliort ; yet it is exceeding comprehenfive and inftru61ive. And it may alfo be profitable for us here to obferve the efficacy of that purchafe of redemption that had fuch great effe^ls even in the old world fo many ages before Chrift appeared himfelf to purchafe redemption, that his blood fhould have fuch great efli* cacy fo long before i^ was fhed. ;PART PART II. From the Flood to the calling of Abraham. I PROCEED now to Ihow how the fame work was carried on through the Jecond period oi the Old •Teflanient, ihdii fro fn the beginning of the flood till the. calling of Abraham : for though that mighty, overflow^ ing, univerfal deluge of waters overthrew the world ; yet it did not overthrow this building of God, the work of redemption. But this went on yet ; and inflead oi being ovei-thrown, continued to be built up, and v/a5 .carried on to a further preparation for the great Savi- our's coming into the world, and working out redemp- tion for his people. And here, I. The flood itfclf was a work of God that belonged to this great affair, and tended to promote it. All the great and mighty works of God from the fall of man io the end of the world, are reducible to this work, and if feen in a right view of them, will appear as parts of it, and fo many fteps that God has taken in order to it, or as carrying it on ; and doubtlefs fo great awork, fo remarkable and univerfal a cataftrophe, as the deluge was, cannot be excepted. It was a work that God wrought in order to it, as thereby God re- moved out of the way the enemies and obftacles of it, that were ready to overthrow it. Satan feems to have been in a dreadful rage juft be- fore the flood, and his rage then doubtlefs was, as it always has been, chiefly againft the church of God to overthrow it ; and he had filled the earth with violence ^nd rage againfl; it. He had drawn over almoft all the world to be on his fide, and they lifted under his ban- rer againft Chrift and his church. We read that the (earth "was filled with violence ;" and doubtlefs that vio- lence was chiefly againft the church, in fulfilment of what was foretold, twill put enmity between thy feed and her feed. And their enmity and violence was fo great and the enemies of the church fo numerous, the whole world being againft the church, that it was come to jj^? laft extveriiity, Noah's reproofs, and his preach- ing ^3 A II I S T O R Y OF Period L ing of righteoufnefs, were utterly difregarded. God's, fpirit had ftriven with them an hundred and twenty years, and all in vain ; and the church was almofl: iwallowed up. It feems to have been reduced to fo nar- ro^v limits, avS to be confined to one family. And there "ivas no profpeft of any thing elfe but of their totally fwallowing up the churcli, and that in a very little time ; and fo wholly deftroying that fmall root that had the blefling in it, or whence tlie Redeemer was to pro-* ceed. And therefore, God's deftroying thofe enemies of the church by the flood, belongs to this affair of re- demption : for it ^vas one thing that was done in fulfil-, ment of the covenant of grace, as it was revealed to Adam : " I will put enmity. betwpen thee and the wo- *' man, and between thy feed and her feed ; it fhali ** bruife thy head." This def}ru6tion was only a de- llruftion of the feed of the ferpent in the midft of their moff violent rage againif the feed of the woman, and fo delivering the feed of the woman from them, whea in utmoft peril by them. We read of fcarce ai'iy great deflru61ion. of nations aiiy where in Scripture, but that one main reafon given for it is, their enmity and injuries againft God's church ; and doubtlefs this was one main reafon of the deftruftion of all nations by the flood. The giants, that were in thofe days, in all likelihood, got them- felves their renown by their great exploits againfl Hea- ven, and againft Chrift and his church, the remaining fons of God that had not corrupted themfelves. We read, that jufl before the world Ihall be deilroy- ed by fire, the nations that are in the four quarters of the earth, fliall gather together againfl the church as. the fand of the fea, and fhall go up on the breadth of the earth, and compafs the camp of the faints about, and the beloved city ; and then fire fhall come down from God out of Heaven, and d,evour them. Rev. xx, 8. 9. And it feems as though there was that which was, very parallel to it, jufl before the world was deflroyed by water. And therefore their deftruftion was a work of God that did as much belong to the work of re^. demption, as the deftruftion of the Egyptians belonged to the rede.mption of the children of Ifiael out of f^* t^artit. The Work of REDEMPTION. 63 gypt, or as the deflruflion of Sennacherib's miglity ar- my, tliat liad comjjafTed about Jerufalem to deflroy it^ belonged to God's redemption of that city from thern. By means of this flood, all the enemies of God'3 church, againjfl vvhom that little handful had no ftrength, were fAvept off at once. God took their part, and appeared for them againft their enemies, and drowncl thofe of whom they had been afraid in the flood of water, as he drowned the enemies of Ifrael that purfu- ed them in the Red fca. Indeed God could liave taken other methods to deli- ver his church : he could have converted all the world inllead of drowning it; and fo he could have taken an- other method than drowning the Egyptians in the Red fea. But that is no argum.ent, that the method that he did take, was not a miCthod to fhow liis redeeming mercy to them. By the wicked world's being droAvned, the wicked, tlie enemies of God's people, were difpoffefled of the earth, and the whole earth given to Noah and his fa- mily to poITefs in quiet ; as God inade room for the Ifraelites in Canami, by calling out tlieir enemies from before them. And God's thus taking the pofTeiTion of the enemies of the church, and giving it all to his church, was agreeable to that promife of the covenant of grace : Pfal. xxxvii. 9. 10. 11. " For evil doers fliail *' be cut off : but thofe that wait upon the Lord, they *' fliallinherit the earth. For )^et a little while and the *' Vvicked fhall not be : yea, thou ffiall diligently confi- •' der his place, and it fhall not be. But the meek *' fliall inherit the earth, and fliall delight themf elves " in the abundance of peace." II. Anotlier thing here belongincr to the fame work^ v,'as God's fo wonderfully prcferving that family of which the Redeemer was to proceed, wj:ienall the rell of the world was drowned. God's ''drowning tlic \\'orld, and Oiving Noah and his fam.ilv, both were works reducible to this great work, 'j'he fa\-ing Nook and bis family belonged to it t^vo wavs. As that fami- ly was the family of which the Redeemer was to pro- ceed, and as that family was the cliurch that he had redeemed, it was them, ^n'ca! bodv of Chrift tliat \va.'? there faved. The mduner of God"s faving thofe per- ions, 64 A HISTORY of Period IL fons, when all the world befides was fo overthrown, was very wonderful and remarkable. It was a wonder- ful and remarkable type of the redemption of Chrift, of that redemption that is fealed by the baptifm of wa- ter, and is fo fpoken of in the New Teilament, as i Pet. iii. 20. 2 1. " Which fometime were difobedient, when *^ once the long-fuffering of God waited in the days of " Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, '' that is eight fouls, were faved by water. The like " figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth alfo now fave " us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flelh, *' but the anfwer of a good confcience towards God) «* by the refurreftion of Jefus Chrift." That water that wafhed away the filth of the world, that cleared the world of wicked men, was a type of the blood of Chrift, that takes away the fin of the world. That water that delivered Noah and his fons from their ene- mies, is a type of the blood that delivers God's church from their fins, their word: enemies. That water that was fo plentiful and abundant, that it filled the world, and reached above the tops of the higheft mountains. Was a type of that blood, the fufficiency of which is fo abundant, that it is fufficient for the whole world ; fufficient to bury the higheft mountains of fin. The ark, that was the refuge and hiding-place of the church in this time of ftorm and flood, was a type of Chrift, the true hiding-place of the church from the ftorms and floods of God's wrath. III. The next thing I would obferve is, the new grant of the earth God made to Noah and his family immediately after the flood, as founded on the cove- nant of grace. The facrifice of Chrift was reprefented by Noah's building an altar to the Lord, and offering a facrifice of every clean beaft, and every clean fowl. And we have an account of God's accepting this facri- fice : and thereupon he blefled Noah, and eftabliflied his covenant vv'ith him, and with his feed, promifing to deftroy the earth in like manner no more ; fignify- mg how that it is by the facrifice of Chrift that God's favour is obtained, and his people are in fafety from God's deftroying judgments, and do obtain the blef- ling of the Lord. And God now, on occafion of this Joah ofTercd to God, gives him and hi& pofterity PartIL The Work OF REDEMPTION. 65 pofterity a new grant of the earth ; a new power of do- minion over the creatures, as founded on that facrifice, and fo founded on the covenant of grace. And fo it is to be looked upon as a diverfe grant from that which was made to Adam, that we have, Gen. i. 28. " And " God blefled them, and God faid unto them, Be fruit- " ful, and muUiply, and replenifh the earth, and fub- *' due it ; and have dominion over the fifli of the fea, *' and over the fowl of the air, and over every living " thing that moveth upon the earth." Which grant was not founded on the covenant of grace ; for it was given to Adam while he was under the covenant of works, and therefore was antiquated when that cove- nant ceafed. The firft grant of the earth to Adam was founded on the firil covenant ; and therefore, when tliat firft covenant was broken, the right conveyed ta liim by that firft covenant was forfeited and loft. And hence it came to pafs, that the earth was taken away from mankind by the flood ; for the firft grant was for- feited ; and God had never made another after that, till 9fter the flood. If the firft covenant had not been bro- ken, God never would have drowned the world, and fo have taken it away from mankind : for then the firlt grant made to mankind would have ftood good. But that was broken ; and fo God, after a while, deftroyed the earth, when the wickednefs of man was great. But after the flood, on Noah's oflfering a facrifice that reprefented the facrifice of Chrift, God, in fmelling a fweet favour, or accepting that facrifice, as it was a re- prefcntation of the true facrifice of Chrift, which is a fweet favour indeed to God, he gives Noah a new grant of the earth, founded on that facrifice of Chrift, or that covenant of grace which is by that facrifice of Chrift, with a promife annexed, that now the earth fhould no more be deftroyed, till the confummation of all things; as you may fee in Gen. viii. 20. 21.22. and chap. ix. 1. 2. 3. 7. The reafon why fuch a promife, that God would no more deftroy the earth, was added to this grant made to Noah, and not to that made to Adam, was becaufe this was founded on the covenant of grace, of which Chrift was the furety, and therefore could not be broken. And therefore it comes to pafs now, that though the wickednefs of man has dreadfully raged, F 66 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L and the earth has been filled with violence and wicked- nefs thoufands of times, and one age after another, and iTiiich more dreadful and aggravated wickednefs than the world was full of before the flood, being againft fo much greater light and mercy ; efpecially in thefe days ofthegofpel: yet God's patience holds outj God does not deftroy the earth ; his mercy and forbearance abides according to his promife ; and his grant cftablifh- ed with Noah and his fons abides firm and good, being founded on the covenant of grace. IV. On this God renews with Noah and his fons tlie covenant of grace, Gen. ix. 9. 10, "And I, behold, I *' eftablifh my covenant with you, and with your feed *' after you, and with every living creature that is with " you," &c. which was the covenant of grace ; which even the brute creation have this benefit of, that it fhall never be deftroyed again until the confummation of all things. When w^e have this expreffion in fcripture, ?ny covenant, it commonly is to be underflood of the cove- nant of grace. The manner of expreffion, " I will efta- " blifli mv covenant with you, and with your feed af- *' ter you," fliews plainly, that it was a covenant alrea- dy in being, that had been made already, and that No- ah would underftand '^vhat covenant it was by that de- nomination, viz. the covenant of ffrace. V. God's difappointingthe defign of building the city and to^\^er of Babel. This work of God belongs to the great work of redemption. For that building was under- taken in oppofition to this great building of God that we are fpeaking of. Mens going about to build fuch a city and tower, was an effe61; of the corraption that man- kind were now foon fallen into. This city and tower was fet up in oppofition to the city of God, as the god that they built it to, was their pride. Being funk into a difpofitiori to forfake the true God, the firft idol they fet up in his room, was themfelves, their own glory and fame. And as this city and tower had their foundation laid in the pride and vanity of men, and the haughtinefs of their minds, fo it was built on a foundation exceed- ingly contrary to the nature of the foundation of the kingdom of Chrift, and his redeemed city, which has its foundation laid in humility. llierefore God faw that it tended to frullrate the dc- Part II, The Work of REDEMPTION. ^'j flgn of ihat great building that was founded, not in the haiightinefs of men, but Chriil's blood : and therefore the thing that they did difpleafed the Lord, and he baffled and confounded the defign, and did not fuffer them to bring it to perfe6lion ; as God will frullrate and confound all other buildings, that are fet up in opr pofition to the great building of the work of redemption. In the fecond chapter of Ifaiah, where the prophet is foretelling God's fetting up the kingdom of Chrillin the world, he foretells how God will, in order to it, bring down the haughtincfs of men, and how the day of the Lord fhall be on every high tower ^ and uppn eve- ry fenced wall ^ &c. Ghrift's kingdom is eflablifiied, by bringing down every high thing to make way for i% 2 Cor. X. 4. 5. " Eor the weapons of our \varfare are *' mighty through God to the pulling down of flrong *' holds, cafling down imaginations, and every high *' thing that exalteth itfelf againft the knowledge of *' God." What is done in a particular foul, to make way for thcfettingupofChrifl's kingdom, is to dellroy Babel in that foul. They intended to have built Babel up to Heaven. That building that is the fubjeft we are upon, is a building that is intended to be built fo high, that its top fhali reach to Heaven indeed, as it will to the highelf Hea- vens at the end of the world, when it fhall be finiflied : and therefore God would not fuiTer'the building of his enemies, that they defigned to build up to Heaven in oppofition to it, to profper. If they had gone on and profpered in building that city and tower, it might have kept the world of wicked men, the enemies of *the church, together, as that was their defign. They might have remained united in one vafl:, powerful city ; and fo they might have been too powerful for the city of God, and quite fwallowed it up. This city of Babel is the fame with the city of Baby- lon ; for Babylon in the original is Babel. ButBabylon was a city that is always fpoken of in fcripture as chief- ly oppofite to the city of God. Babylon, and Jerufa- lem, or Zion, are oppofed to each other often both in the Old Teflament and New. This city was a powerful and terrible enemy to the city of God afterwards, not- withflanding this great check put to thebuildingofit in Fa th^ 68 AHISTORYoF Period I. the beginning. But it might have been, and probably would have been vaftly more powerful, and able to vex and deftroy the church of God, if it had not been thus checked. Tiius it was in kindnefs to his church in the world, and in profecution of the great defign of redemption, that God put a fiop to the building of the city and tow- er of Babel. VI. The difperfmg of the nations, and dividing the earth among its inhabitants, imm.ediately after God had caufed the building of Babel to ceafe. This was done fo as moft to fuit that great defign of redemption. And particularly, God therein had an eye to the future pro- pagation of the gofpel among the nations. They werefo placed, the bounds of their habitation fo limited round about the land of Canaan, the place laid out for the ha- bitation of God's people, as moft fuited the defign of propagating the gofpel among them : Deut. xxxii. 8. *' When the Moft High divided to the nations their in- ** beritance, when he feparated the fons of Adam, he V fet the bounds of the people according to the number *' of the children of Ifrael." A61s xvii. 26. 27. " And •' hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to *' dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath deter- *' mined the times before appointed, and the bounds of ** their habitation ; that they (hould feek the Lord, if *' haply they might feel after him, and find him." The land of Canaan was the moft conveniently fituated of any place in the world for the purpofe of fpreading the light of the gofpel thence among the nations in general. The "inhabited world was chielly in the Roman empire in the times immediately after Chrift, which was in the countries round about jerufalem, and fo properly fitua- ted for the purpofe of diffufing the light of the gofpel among them from that place. The Devil feeing the ad- vantage of this fituation of the nations for promoting the great work of redemption, and the difadvantage of it with refpecl to the interefts of his kingdom, afterward led av/ay many nations into the remoteft parts of the world, to that end, to get them out of the way of the gofpel. Thus he led fome into America; and others into northern cold regions, that are almoft inacceilible. VII. Another thing 1 would mention in this period, was Part 11. The Work OF REDEMPTION 69 was God's prefei-ving the true religion in the line of which Chrill was to proceed, when the world in general apoflatized to idolatry, and the church were in immi- nent danger of being fwallowed up in the general cor- ruption. Although God had lately wrought fo won- derfully for the deliverance of his church, and had fhewn fo great mercy towards it, as for its fake even to deflroy all the rcll of the world ; and although he had lately renewed and edablifhed his covenant of grace with Noah and his fons ; yet fo prone is the corrupt heart of man to depart from God, and to fnik into the depths of wickednefs, and fo prone to darknefs, delu- fion, and idolatry, that the world foon after the flood fell into grofs idolatry ; fq that before Abraham the diitemper was become almoft univerfal. The earth was become very corrupt at the time of the building of Ba- bel ; and even God's people themfelves, even that line of which Chrift was to come, were corrupted in a mea- fure with idolatry : Jolh. xxiv. 2. " Your fathers dwelt *' on the other fide of the flood in old tim.e, even Te- *' rah the father of Abraham, and the father of Na- *' hor; 2xidi they ferved other gods r The other fide of the flood means beyond the river Euphrates, where the anceftors of Abraham lived. We are not to underlland, that they were wholly drawn off to idolatrv, to forfake the true God. For God is faid to be the God of Nahor: Gen. xxxi. ^3. "The; '-' God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God *' of tkeir father^ j'-^^g^^ betwixt us." But they on- ly partook in fome meafure of the general and almofl univerfal corruption of the times ; as Solomon was in a meafure infefted with idolatrous corruption ; and as the children of Ifrael in Egypt are faid to ferve other gods, though yet there was the true church of God a- niong them ; and as there were images kept for a con- fiderable time in the family of Jacob ; the corruption being brought from Padan-Aram, whence he fetched his wives. This was the fecond time that the church was al- mofl brought to nothing by the corruption and general dcfeftion of the ^vorld from true religion. But Itill the true religion was kept up in the family of which Chriff v/as to proceed. Which is another inffance of God's remarkably 7?> A H I S T O R Y GF Period L remarkably preferving his church in a time of a general deluge of wickednefs ; and wherein, although the god of this world raged, and had almoft fwallowed up God's church, yet God did not fuffer the gates of hell to pre,^ vail againit it. PART III. Fro?}i ike calling of Abraham to Mofes. I PROCEED nowtofhowhow the work of redemp- tion was carried on through the third period of the times of the Old Teftament, beginning with the call- ing of Abraham, and extending to Mofs. And here, I. It pleafed God now to fcparate that perfon of whom Chriftwas to come, from the reft of the world, that his church might be upheld in his family and pofterity till Chrift fliould come ; as he did in calling Abraham out of his own country, and from his kindred, to go into a diflant country, that God fhouldfliow him, and bring- ing him firft out of Ur of the Chaldees to Charran, and then to the land of Canaan. It was before obferved, that the corruption of the world with idplatiy was now become general ; mankind were almoft wholly over-run with idolatry : God there- fore law it necefTary, in order to uphold true religion in the world, that there (hould be a family feparated from the reft of the world. It proved to be high time to take this courfe, left the chuixh of Chrift Ihould wholly be carried away with the apoftacy. For the church of God itfelf, that had been upheld in the line of Abraham's an- ceftors, was already confidcrably corrupted. Abraham's o^vn country and kindred had moft of them fallen off"; and without fome extraordinaiy intei^pofition of Provi- dence, in all likelihood, in a generation or two more, the true religion in this line would have been extinft. And therefore God faw it to be time to call Abraham, the perfon in whofe family he intended to uphold the true religion, out of his own country, and from his kin- dred, to a far diftant country, that his pofterity might there remain a people feparate from all the reft of the world ; tliat fo the true religion might be upheld thertf, while Part III. The Work of REDEMPTION. 71 while all mankind bcficlcs were fwallowed up in Hca- thenifm. The land of the Chaldees, that Abraham was called to go out of, was the country about Babel; Babel, or Babylon, was the chief city of the land of Chaldea. Learned men fuppofe, by what they garher from fome of the moll ancient accounts of things, that it was in this land that idolatry firft began ; that Babel and Chaldea were the original and chief feat of the worfhip of idols, whence it fpread into other nations. And therefore the land of the Chaldeans, or the country of Babylon, is in fcripture called the land of graven images ; as yoii may fee Jer. 1. 35. together with ver. 38. "A Avord *' is upon the Chaldeans, faith the Lord, and upon the *' inhabitants of Babylon, antl upon her princes, and *' upon her wife men. — A drought is upon her waters, *' and they (hall be dried up ; for it is the land of gra- *' ven images, and they are mad upon their idols.'* God calls Abraham out of this idolatrous country, to a great diilance from it. And when he came there, he gave him no inheritance in it, no not fo much as to fet his foot on ; but he remained a flranger and a fojourn- cr, that him and his family might be kept feparate from all the world. This was a new thing : God had never taken fuch a method before. His church had not in this manner been feparated from the reft of the wori'd til! now ; but were wont to dwell with them,without aiybar or fence to keep them feparate ; the mifchievouj confequences of which had been found once and again. The efFeft before the flood of God's people living intermingled with the wicked world, without any remarkable wall of reparation, was, that the fons of the church joined in marriage with others, and thereby almoft all foon be- came infefted, and the church was almoft brought to nothing. The method that God took then to fence the church was, to drown the wicked world, and fave the church in the ark. And now the world, before Abra- ham was called, was become corrupt again. But now God took another method. He did not deftroy the wicked world, and fave Abraham, and his wife, and Lof^ • in an ark ; but he calls thefe perfons to go and liv H While ^2 A H I S T O R Y OF Peiiodl . While Jacob ^s^as reftingon this ftone, and faw this lad- der, God appears to him as his covenant God, and re- news the covenant of grace with him ; as in Gen. xxviii. 14. " And thy feed fliall be as the duft of the earth ; *' and thou flialt fpread abroad to the weft, and to the *' eaft, and to the north, and to the fouth ; and in thee *' and in thy feed fhall all the families of the earth be *' bleffed." And Jacob had another remarkable confinnation of this covenant at Penuel, where he wreitled with God, and prevailed ; where Chrift appeared to him in a hu- man form, in the form of that nature which he was afterwards to receive into a perfonal union with his divine nature. And God renewed his covenant with him again, af- ter he was come out of Padan-aram, and was come up to Bethel, to the ftone that he hadreftedon, andwdreie he had the vifion of the ladder ; as you may fee in Gen. XXXV. 10. &:c. Thus the covenant of Grace was now often renewed much oftener than it had been before. The light of the gofpel now began to fhine much brighter, as the time drew nearer that Chrift fhould comie. VI. The next thing I would obferve, is God's re- markably preferving the family of which Chrift was to proceed, from perilhing by famine, by the inftrumen- taHty of Jofeph. When there was a feven years famine approaching, God was pleafed, by a \vonderfuI provi- dence, to fend Jofeph into Egypt, there to provide for, and feed Jacob and his family, and to keep the holy feed alive, which otherw^ife would have perifhed. Jo- feph was fent into Egypt for that end, as he obferves. Gen. 1. 20. " But as for you, ye thought evil againft *' me; but God meant it unto good, to favemuchj'.co- *' pie ahve." Plow often had this holy root, that had the future branch of righteoufnefs, the glorious Re- deemer, in it, been in danger of being deftro)'ed ! But God wonderfully preferved it. This falvation of the houfe of Ifrael by the hand of .Jofeph, was upon fome accounts very much a refem- blance of tlie falvation of Chrift. Tlie children of Ifrael w^ere faved by Jofeph their kinfman and brother, from perifliing by famine ; as he that faves the fouls of the fpirituaJ Part III. The Work of REDEMPTION 83 fpiritual Ifrael from fpiritual famine is their near kinL man, and one that is not afhamed 10 call them brethren. Jofeph was a brother, that they had hated, and fold, and as it were killed ; for they had defigned to kill him. So Chrift is one that we naturally hate, and, by our wicked lives, Ixave fold for the vain things of the world, and that by our lins we haveflain. Jofeph \vas firiliii a Hate of humiliation ; he was a lervant, as Chriit ap- peared in the form of a fervant ; and then was caft int5 a dungeon, as Chrift defcended into the grave ; and then when he rofe out of the dungeon, he was in a ftate of great exaliation, at the King's right hand as his de- puty, to reign over all his kingdom, 10 provide food, to preferve life ; and being in this ftate of exaltation, he difp.enfcs food t.o his brethren, and fo gives them life - as Chrift was exalted at God's right hand to be a prince and faviour to his brethren, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, and them tliat hated, and had fold him. VII. After this there was a prophecy given forth of Chrift, on fome accounts, more particular than eve;* any had been before, even that which was in Jacob's blefling his fon Judah. This was more particular thari ever any had been before, as it fliowed of whofe polle- rity he was to be. When God called Abraham, it was revealed that he was to be of Abraham's poflerity. Be- fore, we have no account of any revelation concerninsj' Chrift's pedigree confined to narrower limits than the poilerity of Noah : after this it w^as confined to ftill narrower limits; for though Abraham had many fons, yet it was revealed, that Chrift was to he of Ifaac's po- fterity. And then it was limited more Hill : for when Ifaac had two fons, it was revealed tliat Chrift was to be; of Hrael's poilerity. And no^v, though ifrael had twelve fons, yet it is revealed that Chrift. fhould be of Judah's pofterity : Chrift is the lion of the tribe of Ju- dah. Refpeft is chiefly had to his great a6ls, when it is f?.id here. Gen. xlix. 8. "Judah, thou art he whom " thy brethren Ihall praife; tliy hand Ihall be in the " neck of thine enemies ; thy father's children fhall " bow down before tlicc. Judah is a lion's whelp ; " from the prey, my fon, thou art gone up : he ftoop- •' cd down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion j II 2 ^ V ho 84 A HISTORY OF Period I. " uho fhall roufe him up ?" And then this predic- tion is more particular concerning the time of Chrift's coming, than any had been before; as in verf. lo. " The fceptre Ihall not depart from Judah, nor a *' lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; *' and unto him fnall the gathering of the people be." 71ie prophecy here, of the calling of the Gentiles con- feqiient on Chrift's coming, feems to be more plain than any had been before, in the exprefTion, to him Jhall tht gathering of the people be. Thus \'oa fee how that gofpel light which dawned immedialely after the fall of man, gradually encreafcs. VIII. The work of redemption was carried on in this period, in God's wonderfully preferving the chil- dren of Ifrael in Egypt, when the po^ver of Egypt was engaged utterly' to dcllroy them. They Teemed to be wholly in the hands of the Eg)'ptians ; they were their fervants, and were fubjeft to the powder of Pharaoh : and Pharaoh fet himfelf to weaken them with hard bondage. And when he faw that did not do, he fet him- felf to extirpate the race of them, by commanding that e\cry male child fliouldbe drowned. But after all that Pharaoh could do, God wonderfully preferved them ; and not only lb, but increafed them exceedingly; fo that, inflcad of being extirpated, they greatly multi- plied. IX. Here is to be obferved, not only the prefervation of the nation, but God's wonderfully preferving and up- holding his invifible church in that nation, when in danger of being overwhelmed in the idolatry of Egypt. I'he children of Ifrael being long among the Egyptians, ?.nd being fervants under them, and fo not under ad- vantages to keep God's ordinances among themfelves, and maintain any public worfhip or public inftruftion, tvhereby the triib religion might be upheld, and there ][Teing no^\^ no ^vritten word of God, they, by degrees, in a great meafure loft the tiue religion, and borrowed the idolatry of Egypt; 'and the greaterpart of thepeo- rle fell away to the 'worfhip of their' God's. This we learn by Ezek. xx. 6. 7. 8. and by chap, xxiii. 8. This now was'the thi rd time that God's church was al- inoll: fv. allowed up and carried away with the wicked- nefs of the world ; once before the flood ; the other time. part III. The Work of REDEMPTION. 85 time, before the calling of Abraham ; and now, th^ third time, in Egypt. But yet God did not fuffer his church to be quite overwhelmed ; he ftill faved it, like the ark in the flood, and as he faved Mofes in the midft of the waters, in an ark of bulruflies, \yher0 he was ii> the utmoil danger of being fwallowed up. The true religion was ftill kept up with fome ; and God had ftill a people among them, even in this miferable, corrupt and dark time. The parents of Mofes were true fer- vants of God, as we may learn by Heb. xi. 23. *'^y *' faith Mofes, when he was born, w^s hid three *' months of his parents, becaufe they faw that he was " a proper child ; and they were not afraid of the '* king's commandment." I have now gone through the third period of the Old Teftament time ; and have fhown how the work of re- demption was carried on from the calling of Abraham to Mofes ; in which we have feen many great things done towards this work, and a great advancement of tiiis building, beyond what had been before^^ PART IV. Fro?n Mofes to David. I PROCEED to the fourth period^ which reaches from Mofes to David. — I would fhow how the work of redemption was carried on through this alfo. I. The firft thing that offers itfelf to be confidered is the redemption of the church of God out of Egypt ; the moft remarkable of all the Old-Teftament redemp- tions of the church of God, and that which was the greatefl pledge and forerunner of the future redemption of Chriit, of any ; and is much more infilled on in fcrip- ture than any other of thofe redemptions. And indeed it was the gieateft type of Chrift's redemption of any providential event whatfoever. This redemption was by Jefus Chrift, as is evident from this, that it was wrought by him that appeared to Mofes in the bufh ; for that v/as the perfon tliat fcnt Mofes to redeem that people. But that was Chrifl, as is evident, becaufe he is called th» A-nigel of the Lord, Expd, iji. 2. 3. The bulli re- prefented 86 A HISTORY of Period!. prefented the human nature of Chrift, that is called the branch. This bu(h grew on Mount Sinai or Horeb, which is a word that fignifies a dry place, as the human nature of Chrift was a root out of a dry ground. The bufh burning witli fire, reprefented the fufferings of Chrilf, in tlie fire of God's wrath. It burned, and was not confumed ; fo Ghrift, though he fuffered extremely, yet perifiied not ; but overcame at laft, and rofe frorn his fufferings. Becaufe this great myftery of the incar- nation and fufferings of Chrift was here reprefented,. therefore Mofes fays, " I will turn afide, and behol(i '* thi^ great fight." A great fight he might well call it, when there was reprefented, God manifeft in the flelh^, and fuffering a dreadful death, and rifing from the dead. This glorious Redeemer was he that redeemed the cliurch out of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh ; as Chrift, by his death and fufferings, redeemed his peo- ple from Satan, the fpiritual Pharaoh. He redeemed them from hard fervice and cruel drudgery ; as Chrift redeems his people from the cruel ilavery of fin and Sa- tan. He redeemed them, as it is {d\di, frojn the iron fur- mace ; as Chrift redeems Ihis church from a furnace of fire and everlafting burnings. He redeemed them with a ftrong hand and out-ftretclied arm, and great and terrible judgments on their enemues ; as Chrift with mighty power triumphs over principalities and powers^ and executes terrible judgm.ents on his church's ene- mies, bruifing the ferpent's head. He faved them, when others were deftroyed, by the fprinkling of the blood ojF the pafchal lamib ; as God's church is faved from death by the fprinkling of the blood of Chrift, when the reft of the world is deftro)^ed. God brought forth the peo- ple forely againft the will of the Egyptians, when they could not bear to let tTiem go ; fo Chrift refcues his people out of the hands of the devil, forely againft his will, when his proud heart cannot hear to be overcome. In that redemption, Chrift did not only redeem the people from the Egyptiatis, but he redeemed them from the devils, the gods of Egypt; for before, they had been in a ftate of fervitude to the gods of Egypt, as well as to the men. And Chrift, the feed of the woman, did now, in a very remarkable inanucr, fulfil the curfe on the fer- pent. part IV. The Work OF REDEM pent, inbiTiIfing his head : Exod. xii. 12. '' For I will *' pafs through the land of Egypt this night, and will *' finite all the firft-born in the land of Egypt, both *' man and beaft, and againftall the gods of Egypt will *' I execute judgment." Hell was as much and more engaged in that affair, than Egypt was. The pride and cruelty of Satan, that old ferpent, was more concern- ed in it than Pharaoh's. He did his utmoft againft the people, and to his utmoft oppofed their redemption. But it is faid, that when God redeemed his people out of Egypt, he broke the heads of tlie dragons in the wa- ters, and broke the head of leviathan in pieces, and gave him to be meat for the people inhabiting the wildernefs, Pfal. Ixxiv. 22. 13. 14. God forced their enemies to let them go, that they might ferve him ; as alfo Zacha- rias obfen'es with refpeft to the church under the gof- pel, Luke 1. 74. 75. The people of Ifrael went out w^ith an high hand, and Clirift went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire. There was a glorious triumph over earth and hell in that deliverance. And when Pharaoh and his hofts, and Satan by them, purfued the people, Chrift over- threw them in the Red fea ; the Lord triumphed glo- rioufly ; the horfe and his rider he caft into the fea, and there they flept their laft fleep, and never follow'ed the children of Ifrael anymore; as all Chriil's enemies are overthrown in his blood, w^hich bv its abnndant fuffi- ciency, and the greatnefs of the fufferings with w^hich it. was fhed, may well be reprefented by a fea. The Red fea did reprefent Chrift's blood, as is evident, becaufe the apoftle compares the children of Ifrael's paffage through the Red fea to baptifm, 1 Cor. x. 1. 2. But we all know that the w^ater of baptifm leprefents Chrift's blood. Thus Chrift, the Angel of God's prefence, in his love and his pity, redeemed his people, and carried them in the days of old as on eagles wings, fo that none of their proud and fpiteful enemies, neither Egyptians nor de- vils, could touch them. This was quite anew thing that God did towards this great work of redemption. God never had done any thing like it before ; Deut. iv. 32. 33. 34. This was a great advancement of the work of redemption, that had been 88 AHISTORYoF Period I. been begun and carried on from the fall of man ; a great ftep taken in divine providence towards a preparation for Chrifl's coming into the world, and working out his great and eternal redemption : for this was the people of whom Chrift was to com.e. And now we may fee how that plant flourifhed that God had planted in A- braham. Though the family of which Chrift was to come, had been in a degree feparated from the reft of the world before, in the calling of Abraham ; yet that reparation that was then made, appeared not to be fuffi- cient, without further feparation. For though by that feparation, they were kept as ftrangers and fojourners, kept from being united with other people in the fame political Ibcieties ; yet they remained mixed among them^ by which means, as it had proved, they had been in danger of wholly lofmg the true religion, and of being over-run with the idolatry of their neighbours. God ^now, therefore, by this redemption, feparated them as a nation from all other nations, to fubfift by themfelv€S in theirown political and ecclefiaftical ftate, without ha- ving any concern with the Heathen nations, that they might fo be kept feparate till Chrift fhould come ; and fo thatthe church of Chrift might be upheld, aiidmightkeep the oracles of God, till that time ; that in them might be kept up thofe t)'pes and prophecies of Chrift, andthofe hiftories, and other divine previous inftruftions, that were neceflary to prepare the way for Chrift's coming. II. As this people were feparated to be God's pecu- liar people, fo all other people upon the face of the whole earth were wholly rejefted and given over to Heathenifm. This, fo far as the providence of God w^as concerned iri it, belongs to the great affair of re- demption that we are upon, and ^vas one thing that God ordered in his providence to prepare the way for Chrift's coming, and the great falvation he was to ac- complifh in the world ; for it was only to prepare the wav for the more glorious and fignal viftory and tri- imiph of Chrift's power and grace over the wicked and miferabl^ world, and' that Chrift's falvation of the world of mankind might become the more fenfrblc. This is the account the fcripture itfelf gives us of the matter, Rom. xi. 30. 31. 32, The apoftle there fpeak- ing to the Gentiles that had formerly been Heathens, fays, Part IV. The Work of REDEMPTION. 89 favs, " As yc in times pafl have not believed God, yet *' have now obtained mercy through th(nr unbelief; *' even fo have thefe alfo now not believed, that *' through )our mercy tliey alio may obtain mercy. For *• God hatii concluded them all in unbelief, that he *' miglit have mercy upon all." i. e. It was the will of God, that the ^vhole world, Jews and Gentiles, ftiould be concluded in vifible and profeiTed unbelief, tliat fo God's mercy and Chriii's falvation t wards them all miglit be vifible and fenfible. For the apoflle is not fpeakingonly of that unbelief that is natural to all God's profelling people as well as others, but that which ap- pears, and is vifible ; iuch as 4he Jews fell into, when they openly rejected Chrift, and ceafcd to be a profefiing people. The apc^ftle obferves, how that firlt the Gen- tiles, even the Gentile nations, were included in a pro- feffed unbelief and open oppofition to the true religion, before Chrift came, to prepare the way for the calling of the Gentiles, which was foon after Chrift came, that God's mercy might be the more vifible to them ; and that the Jews v/ere rejefled and apoftatized from the vi- fible church, to prepare the way for the calling of the Jews, which (hall be in the latter days : fo that it may be feen of all nations, Jews and Gentiles, that they are vifibly redeemed by Chrift, from being vifibly aliens from the common vv'ealth of Ifrael, without hope, and without God in the world. We cannot certainly determine prccifely at Vvh.at time the apoftacy of the Gentile nations from the true God, or their being concluded in vifible unbelief, became uni- verfal. Their falling awa)' was a gradual tiling, as we obferved before. It was general in Abraham's time, but not nniverfal : for then wa find Melchifedec, one of the kings of Canaan, was prieft of the moft high God. And after this the true religion was kept up for a ^vhile am^ong foir.c of the reft of Abraham's pofterity, befides the family of Jacob ; and alfo in fome of the po- fterity of Nahor, as x/e have inftances of in Job, and his three friends, and Elihu. The land of Uz, where Job lived, was a land poirelfed by the pofterity of Uz, or Huz, the fon of Nahor, Abraham's brother, of whom we read Gen. xxii. 21. Bildad the Shuhite was of the offspring of Shuah, Abrahaio'.5 fon by Keturah, Gen. I ' XXV* go AHlSTORYoF Period L XXV. 1. 2. and Elihu the Buzite, was of Buz the Ton of Kahor, ih^ brother of Abraham. So the true religion lailed am:>Lig fome other people befides the Ifraelites, a while .'Iter Abraham- But it djd not lafl long : and it is probable that tne time of their total reje6iion, and gi- ving up to idolatry, was about the time when God fepa- rated the children of Ifrael from Eg)'pt to ferve him ; for they are often put in mind on thatoccafion, that God had now feparated them to be his pecuhar people ; or to be diftinguiflicd from all other people upon earth, to be his people alone ; to be his portion, when others were rejefted. This feems to hold forth thus much to us, that God row chofe them in fuch a manner, that this vifible choice of them was accompanied with a vi- hble rejeftion of all other nations in the world ; that God vifihly came, and took up his refidence with them, as forfdking all other nations. And fo, as the firil; caHing af the Gentiles after Chrift came, was accompanied with a rejeftion of the Jews; fo the firft caliirig of the Jews to be God's people, when they were called out of Eg}'pt was accompanied with a re. jeftion of the Gentiles. Thtis all the Gentile nations throughout the whole world, all nations, but only the Ifraelites, and thofe that embodied thcmfelves with them, were left and given up to idolatiy ; and fo continued a great many ages, even from this time till Chrift came, which was about fifteen hundred years. They were concluded fo long a time in unbelief, that there might be a thorough proof of the necefhty of a Saviour ; that it might appear by lo long a trial, paft all contradi61ion, that mankind were utterly infufficient to deliver themfelves from thatgrofs^ darknefs and mifery, and fubjeftion to the devil, that they had fallen under ; that it might appear that all the w^fdom of thephiiofophers, and the wifeft men that the Heathen had among them,- could not deliver them from their darknefs, for the greater glory to Jefus Chrift, who, when he came, enlightened and delivered them by his glorious gofpel. Herein die wonderful wifdom of God appeared, i!i dius preparing the way for Chrift's redemption. This the fcripture teaches us, as in i Cor. i. 2 1. 'Tor after that, in the wifdom of God the world, *' by Part IV. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 91 *' bv wifdom knew not God, it pleafed God by the fool- ^' iiimefs of preaching to fave them that beheve." Here I might conlider as another work of God, whereby thegeneral work of redemption was carried on, that wonderful deliverajice which he wrought for the children of Ifrael at the Red Sea, when they were pur- fued by the holts of the Egyptians, and were juft ready to be fwallowed up by them, there being, to human ap- pearance, no polhbility of an efcape. But as this may be referred to their redemption out of Eg)'pt, and con- fidered as a part of that more general work, I Ihall not further enlarge upon it. III. The next thing thsit I fhall take notice of here, that was done towards the work of redemption, is God's giving thernoral law in fo awful a manner at Mount Si- nai. This was another new thing that God did, a new Hep taken in this great affair. Deut. iv. 33, "Did ever •* a people hear the voice of God fpeaking out of the. ^* midft of the fire, as thou haft heard, and live ?" And it was a great thing that God did towards this work, and that whether we confider it as delivered as a new exhibition of the covenant of v/orks, or given as a rule of hfc. The covenant of works washereexhibited robeas a fchoolmafler to lead to Chrift, not only for the ufe o£^ that nation in the ages of the Old Teftament, but for the ufe of God's church throughout ail ages of the world ; as an inftrument that the great Redeemer, makes, ufe of to convince men of their fm and milery, and helplefa ftate, and of God's awful and tremenduousm,ajefty and juftice as a lawgiver, and fo to make men fenfible of tlie neceffity of Chrift as a Saviour. The work of re- demption, in its faving effect on mens fouls, in all the. progrefs of it to the end of it, is not carried on without tlieufeof this law that was now delivered at. Smai. It was given in an awful manner, with a terrible voice exceedingly loud and awful, fo ihat all the people, that were in the camp trembled ; and Mofes himfeif, though fo intimate a friend of God, yet faid, Lexceedingly fear and quake ; the voice being accompanied with thunders and lightnings, the mountain burning with fire to the midft of Heaven, and the earth itlclffhaking and trem- ^ bJing; to m.ake all fenfible how great that authority^ 92 AHISTORYoF Period I. power, and juftice was, that flood engaged to exa6l the fulfilment of this law, and to fee it fully executed; and how ftricrly God would require the fulfilment ; and how terrible his wrath would be agaiall every breaker of it ; that men being fenfible of thefe things, might have a thorough trial of themfelves, and might prove their own hearts, and know how impoffible it is for them to have falvatiori by the works of the law, and might fee the abfolute neceflity they flood in of a Me- diator. If we regard fhislavv^ now given at Mount Sinai, not as the covenant of works, but as a rule of life ; fo it is- made ufe of by the Redeemer, from that time to the end of the world, as a diretiory to his people, to fhow them the way in which they muft walk, as they would go to Heaven : for a way of fincere and univerfal obedience to this law, is the narrow v/ay that leads to life. IV. The next thing that is obfervable in this period, was God's giving the typical law, in which I iuppofe to be included moW or all thofe precepts that were given by Mofes, that did not properly belong to the moral law ; not only thofe laws that are commonly called ceremo- nial, in difrinftion from judicial laws, which are the laws prefcribing the ceremonies and circumflances of the Jewifli worlhip, and their ecclefiafhcal ilate ; but alfo many, if not all thofe divine laws that were poHti- cal, and for regulating the Jew ifh commonwealth, com- monly caWedjudiciai law's ; thefe were at befl many of them typical. The giving this t)'pical law was another great thing that God did in this period, tending to build up this glorious flrufture of redemption that God had been carrying on from the beginning of the world. There had been many typical events of providence be- fore, that reprefented Chrifl and his redemption, and fom.e typical ordinances, as particularly thofe two of fa- crificesandcircumcifion : but now, inflead of reprefent- ing the great Redeemer in a few inflitutions, God gives forth a law full of nothing elfe but various and innume- ra])le typical reprefentations of good things to come, by •which that nation were directed how, every year, month, and day, in their religious aftions, and in their condu6l of themfelves, in all that appertained to their ecclefiafti- cal and civil ftate, to Ihow forth fomething of Chrifl; ■ - one Fart IV. The Work of REDEMPTION. 93 one obfervance f]io\ving one thing, exhibiting one doc- trine, or one benefit ; another, another : fo that the whole nation by this law was, as it were, conflitnied in a typical Itate. Thus the gofpel was abundantly held forth to that nation ; i'o that there is fcarce any doftrine of it, but is particularly taught and exhibited by fome obfervance of this law ; though it was in fhadows, and under a veil, as Mofes put a veil on his face when it fhone. To this typical law belong all the precepts that relate to builduigVhe tabernacle, that was letup in thewilder- nefs, and all the form, circumftances, and utenfils of it. V. About this time was given to God's church the firll written word of God that ever w^as enjoyed by God's people. This was another great thing done to- wards the affair of redemption, a new and glorious ad- vancement of the building. Not far from this time, was the beginning of the great written rule, which God has given for the reguLuionof the faith, worfhip, and prac- tice of his church in all ages henceforward to the end of the world ; which rule grew, and was added to from that time, for many ages, till it was finifhed, and the canon of fcripture compleated by the apoftle John. It is not veiy material, whether the firft written word that ever vyas, was the ten commandments written on the tables of flone with the finger of God, or the book of Job ; and whether the book of Job was written by Mo- fes, as fo'Tie fuppofe, or by Elihu, as others. If it was written by Elihu, it was written before this period that v,-e are now upon ; but yet could not be far from it, as' appears by confidering whofe pofterity the perfons were that are fpoken of in it, together with Job's great age, that was pall before this \vas written. The written word of God is the main indrument Chriil has madeufe of to carry on his work of redemp- tion in all ages fnice it was given. There was a neceffi- ty now of the word of God's being committed to writ- ing, for a ileady rule to God's church. Before this, the church had the word of God by tradition, either by immediate tradition from eminent men that were infpi- red, that were then living (for it was a common thing in thofe days, before there was a written word, for God to reveal liimfelf immediately to eminent perfons, as ap- pears 54 A H I S T O R Y OF Period I. .pears by the book of Job, and many other things that might be mentioned, in the book of Geiicfis,) or eHe they had it by tradition from former generations, which might be had with tolerable certainty in ages preceding this, by reafon of the long lives of men. Noah might converfe with Adam, and receive traditions from him; and Noah lived till about Abraham's time ; and the fons of Jacob lived a confiderable time to deliver the re- velations made to Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, to their pofterity in Egypt. But the diftance from the beginning of things was become fo great, and the lives of men be- come fo fhort, being brought down to the prefent ftan- dard about Mbfes's time, and God having now feparated a nation to be a peculiar people, partly for that end to be the keepers of the oracles of God ; God fawit to be a needful and convenient time now to commit his word to writing, to remain henceforward for a fteady rule throughout all ages. And therefore, befides the book of Job, CKrift wTOte the ten commandments on tables of itone, with his own finger ; and after this the whole law, as containing the fubftance of the five books of Mofes, was by God's fpecial command committed to writing, which was called the book of the law, and was laid up in the tabernacle, to be kept there for the ufeof the church; as you may fee, Deut. xxxi. 24. 25. 26. VI. God was pleafed now wonderfully to reprefent the progrefs of his redeemed church through the worl4 to their eternal mheritance, by the the journey of the children of Ifrael through tlie wildernefs, from Egypt to Canaan. Here all the various fleps of the redemption of the church by Chrift ^vere reprefented, from the be- ginning to its confuinmation in glory. The ftate they are redeemed from is reprefented by Eg\^pt, and their bondage there, which they left. The purchafe of their redemption v»^as reprefen-ed by the facrifice of the paf- chal lamb, which was ofifered up that night that God Hew all the firft-born of Egypt. The beginning of the application of the redemption of Chrift's church in their converfion, was reprefented by Ifrael's going out of E- gypt, and paffing through the Red Sea in fo extraordi- nary and miraculous a manner. The travel of the church through this evil world, and the various changes through which the churcli palfes, in the different fiages of Part IV. The Work of REDEMPTION. 95 of it, was rcprefcnted by the journey of the Ifraelitea through the vvildernefs. T1t€ manner of their being conducted by Chrift, was reprefented by the Ifraelites being led by tlie pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night. The manner of the church's being fupportcd in their progrefs, and fupplied from the be- ginning to the end of it, with fpiritual food, and conti- nual daily conmiunications from God, was reprefented by God's fupplying the children of Ifrael with bread, or manna, from Heaven, and water out of the rock. The dangers that the faints muft meet with in their courfc through the world, were reprefented by the fiery flying ferpents which the children of Ifrael met with in the wildernefs. The conflifts the church has with her ene- mies, were reprefented by the battle with the Amalek- ites, and others they met with there. And fo innume- rable other things might be mentioned, wherein the things they met with were lively images of things which the church and faints meet with in all ages of the world. That thefe things are typical of things that pertain to tlie Chriflian church, is manifeft from 1 Cor. x. 11,. *' Now all thefe things happened unto them for enfam^- *' pies, and they were written for our admonition, up- *' on whom the ends of the world are come." Here the apoflle is fpeaking of thofe very things which we have now mentioned, and he fays exprefsly, that they happened unto them for types ; fo it is in the original. VII. Another thing here niuft not be omitted, which was a great and remarkable difpcnfation of Providence, refpe6fing the whole v/orld of mankind, which was fi- nifhed in this period ; and that v/as, the fliortening the days of man's life, whereby it was brought down from being between nine hundred and a thoufand years, to be about feventy or eighty. The life of man began to be fhortcned immediately after the flood : It was brouglit down the firft generation to fix hundred years, and the next to between four and five hundred years; and fo the life of man gradually grew fliorter and ihort- cr, till about the time of the great mortality that was in the congregation of Ifrael, after they had murmured at the report of the fpies, and their carcafes fell in the wildernefs, whereby all the men of war died ; and then ikiQ life of man was reduced to its prefent flandard, as Mofes 96 A HISTORY OF Periodl. Mofes obferves in that pfalm that he wrote on occafion of that mortaUty : Pfal. xc. lo. " The days of our " years are threefcore years and ten ; and if by rea- ** fon of ilrength they be fourfcore years, vet is *' their ftrength labour and forrow : for it is foon cut " off, and we fly away." This great difpenfation of God tended to promote the grand defign of the redemption of Chriil. Man's life being cut fo very Ihort in this world, tended to prepare the way for poor, mortal, fnort-lived men, the more joyfully to enjoy the glad tidings of everlalling life in another world, that are brought to light by the gofpel ; and more readily to embrace a faviour, that purchafes and offers fuch a bleffmg. If m.ens lives were ftill commonly about nine hundred years, how much lefs would they have to move them to regard the proffers of a future life ; how much greater temptati- on would they have to refl: in the things of this world, they being of fuch long continuance, and to negle6l any other life but this ? This probably contributed greatly to the wickednefs of the antedeluvians. But now how much greater motives have men to feek re- demption, and a better life than this, by the great Re- deemer, fmce the life of man is not one twelfth part of what it ufed to be, and men now univerfally die at the age when men formerly ufed to be but as it were fet- ting out in the world. VIII. The fame work was carried on in preferving that people, of whom Chrift was to come, from total- ly perifhing in the wildernefs, by a conftant miracle of forty years continuance. I obferved before many times, how God preferved thofe of whom the Redeemer was to proceed in a very wonderful manner ; as he prefer- ved Noah and his family from the flood ; and as he preferved Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, with their fami- lies, from the wicked inhabitants of Canaan ; and as he preferved Jacob and his family from perifliing by the famine, by Jofeph in Egypt. But this prefervation of the children of Ifrael for fo long a time in the wil- dernefs, was on fome accounts more remarkable than any of them ; for it was by a continual miracle of fo long duration. There was, as may be fairly computed, at tiift two millions of fouls in that congregation, that could Part IV. The Work of REDEMPTION. 07 could not fubfift any better without meat and drink than other men. But if this had been withheld, they nuilt all have periihed, every man, woman and child, in lefs than one month's time, io that there w^ould not have been one of them left. But yet this vaft multitude fubfilied for forty years together, in a dry barren wildernefs, without fowing or reaping, or til- ling any land, having their bread daily rained down to them out of Heaven, and being fuiniihed with water to fatiijy them all, out of a rock; and the fame cloaths with which they came out of Egypt, lafling, without wearing out all that time. Never was any mllance like this, of a nation being fo upheld for fo long a time to- gether. Thus God upheld his church by a continual miracle, and kept alive that people in whom was the blelhng, the promifed feed, and great Redeemer of the world. IX. God was pleafed in this time of the children of IfraeFs being in the wildernefs, to give a further reve- lation of Chrift the Redeem.er in the predictions of him than had been before. Here are tliree prophecies given at this time that I would take notice of. The firll is that of Balaam, Numb. xxiv. 17. 18. 19. "I Ihall fee *' him, but not now ; I ihall behold him, but not nigh : •' there fhall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre *' fhall rife out of Ifrael, and fliall fmite the corners of *' Moab, and deffroy all the children of Sheth. And *' Edom fliall be a pofTeflion, Seir alfo fliall be a " pofTefTion for his enemies, and Ifrael fliall do va- •' liently. Out of Jacob Ihall come he that Ihall have " dominion, and fliall deflroy him that remaineth of *' the city." This is a plainer prophecy of ChriJI, e- fpecially with regard to his kingly office, than any that had been before. But we have another, that God gave by Mofes, that is plainer Itill, efpecially with regard to his prophetical ofHce, in Deut. xviii. 18. &c. "Twill raife " up a prophet fjom among their brethren, like unto *' thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he *' fhall fpeak unto them all that I cammand him," 8cc. This is a plainer propliecy of Chrifl than any that had been before in this refpetl, that all the prophecies that iiad becnbefore of Chrift were in figurative myflical language. Tiic firll prophecv was fo, That the feed of tlie woman. K fliould ^^ A HISTORY OF Period!. fhould biuife the ferpent's head. The prdmifes made to Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, " That in their feed all " the famiUes of the earth fhould be bleffed," were alfo myftical ; which prophecy is not fo particular, becaufe the expreflion, tky Jeed, is general and not plainly li- mited to any particular perfon. The prophecy of Ja- cob in bleffing Judah, Gen. xlix. 8. is in myltical lan- guage ; and fo is that of Balaam, which fpeaks of Chrift under the figurative exprelTion of 3. Jiar. But this is a plain prophecy, wifchout being veiled in any myfiical language at all. There are feveral things contained in this prophecy of Chrifl. Here is his mediatorial office in general, ver. 16. Here it is revealed how he Ihould be a perfon to fland between them and God, that was fo terrible a being, a being of fuch awful majefty, holinefs, and juftice, that they could not have come to him, and have intercourie with him immediately, without a me- diator to {land between them ; becaufe, if they came to fuch a dreadful fm revenging God immediately, they fhould die ; God would pi ove a confuming fire to them . And then here is a particular revelation of Chrift with refpeft to his prophetical office : " I will raife them up " a prophet from among their brethren, like unto *' thee," &c. And further, it is revealed what kind of a prophet he fiiould be, a prophet like Mofes, who was the head and leader of all the people, and who, under God, had been their redeemer, to bring them out of the houfe of bondage, was as it were, their ffiep- herd by whom God led them through the Red Sea and wildernefs, and was an interceffor for them with God, and was both a prophet and a king in the congregation ; for Mofes had the power of a King among them. It is faid of him, Deut. xxxiii.^. he was king in Jefliurun, and he was the prophet by whom God as it were built up his church, and delivered his infiruftions of wor- fhip. Thus Chrift was to be a prophet like unto Mo- fes ; fo that this is both the plaineftand fulleft prophe- cy of Chrift that ever had been from the beginning of the world to this time. The next prophecy that I fhall take notice of, re- fpe8s only the calling of the Gentiles, which ffiould be after Chrift's coming, of which God gave a very plain prophecy Part IV. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 99 prophecy by Mofes in the wildernefs, Deut. xxxil. 21. Here is a very plain prophecy of the reje6Hon of the Jews and calhng the Gentiles. They mo\'ed God tQ jealoiify, by that which was not a God, by cailing him ofF, and taking other gods that were no gods, in his room. So God declares that he will move them to jealonfy in the like manner, by calling them off, and taking other people, that had not been his people, in their room. The Apolll.e Paul takes notice of this prpphecy, as foretelling the calling of the Gentiles, ia Rom. X. 19. 20. "But I fay, Did not Ifrael know ? *' Firft, Mofes faith, I will provoke you to jealoufy by *' them that are no people, and by a foolifli nation I *' will anger you. But Efaias is very bold, and faith^ *' I was found of them that fought me not ; I was made ** manifeft to them that afked not after me." Thus you fee how the light of the gofpel, which firft began to dawn and glimmer immediately after the fall, gradually increafes the nearpr we come to Chrilt's time. X. Another thing by which God carried on this work in this time, was a remarkable pouring out ot his fpirit on the young generation in the wildernefs. The generation that y»^as growai up when they came out of Egvpt, from twenty years old and upwards, was a very froward and perverfe generation. They were tainted with the idolatry and wickednefs of Egypt, and were not weaned from it, as the Prophet Ezekiel takes notice, Ezek. XX. 6. 7. 8. Hence they made .' :' golden calf in imitation of the idolatry of Egypt, that was wont to worlhip a bull or an ox ; and therefore cattle are called the abomination of the Egyptians, i, e. their idol. This generation God was exceeding aiigry with, and fwore in his wrath, that they fhould not enter into his reft. But the younger generation were not fo ; the genera- tion that were under twenty years old when they came out of Eg\'pt, and tliofe that were born in the wilder- nefs, the generation fpolien of Numb. xiv. 31. " But *' your little ones, whom ye faid Ihonld be a prey, them *' will I bring in ; and they fhall know the land that " yc have defpifed." This was the generation with %vhom the covenant was renewed, as we have an ac- count in Deuteronomy, and that entered into the land K3 of ^ loo A HISTORY OF Period I. of Canaan. This generation God was pleafed to make a generation to his praife, and they were eminent for piety ; as appears by many things faid in fcriptnre about them; as, particularly, Jer. ii. 2. 3. "I remember thee, *' the kindnefs of thy youth, the love of thine efpoufals, •' when thou wenteft after me in the wildernefs, in a *' land that was not fown. Ifrael was holinefs to the *' Lord, and thefirft fruits of his increafe." Here the generation that went after God in the wildernefs, is Jpoken of with very high commendations, as eminent ior holinefs : " Ifrael was holinefs to the Lord, and *' the firft fruits of his increafe. And their love to God is fpoken of as diflinguiflied like the love of a bride at her efpoufals. The going after God in the wilder- nefs that is here fpoken of, is not the going of the chil- dren of Ifrael out of Eg)'pt into the wildernefs of Sinai, but their following God through that dreadful wilder- riels that the congregation long wandered in, after tliey went back from Kadefh-Barnea, v/hich is fpoken of Deut. viii. 1^. " Who led thee through the great *' and terrible wildernefs, wherein were fiery ferpents *' and fcorpians, and drought, where there was no " v/ater." Though this generation had a m.uch greater trial, than the generation of their fathers had before they cam.e to Kadefh-Barnea, yet they never murmured againfl God in any wife, as their fiithers had done : but their trials had a contrarv effetl: upon them, to awaken thein, convince, and humble them, and lit them for great mercy. They were awakened by thofe awful judgmeiius of God that he inFuHed on their fathers, whereby their carcafes fell in the wildernefs. And God poured out his fpirit with thofe awakening pro- vidences towards their fathers, and tlieir own travel in the wildernefs, and the word preached to them by Mo- ics ; v/hereby they were greatly awakened, and made to fee the badnefs of tlieir own hearts, and were hum- bl-Td, and at length multitudes of them favingly con- verted ; as Deut. viii. 2.3. " And thou fhalt remem- *' ber the way which the Lord thy God led thee *' thefe forty years in the wildernefs, to humble thee, " and to prove thee, to know what was in thine ** heart, whether thou wouldfl keep his command- " nienls, or no. And he hunibled tliee," &c. And verf. Part IV. The Work of REDEMPTION, loi verf. 15. " Who led thee through the great and terri- ** ble wildernefs, — that he might humble thee, and that *' he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter *' end." And therefore it is faid, Hof. xiii.5. " I did *' know thee in the wildernefs, in the land of great *' drought." God allured them, and brought them in- to that wildernefs, and fpake comfortably to them, as it was foretold that he would do afterwards, Hofea, I'hofe terrible judgments that were executed in the congregation after their turning back from Kadefii- Barnea, in the matter of Korah, and the matter of Peor, were chiefly on the old generation, whom God confumed in the v/ildernefs. Thofe rebellions were chiefly among the elders of the congregation, who were of the older generation, that God had given up to their hearts lull; and they walked in their own counfels, and God was grieved with their manners forty years in the wildernefs. But that this younger congregation were eminent for piety, appears by all their hifl:ory. The former gene- ration were wicked, and were followed with curfes ; but this was holy, and wonderful bleflTmgs followed them. God did great things for them ; he fought for tliem, and gave them the poffeflion of Canaan. And it is God's manner, when he hath veiy^ great mercies to beflow on a vifible people, firfl;, to fit them for them, and then to beflow them on them. So it was here : . They believed in God, and by faith overcame Sihon and Og, and the giants of Canaan ; and are cornm_end- ed for cleaving to the Lord : Joflj. xxiii. 8. Jofhua fays unto them, " Cleave unto the Lord, as ye have done " unto this day." And fo Ifrael did all the while that generation lived. But when Jofliua and all that gene- ration were dead, there arofe another generation that knew not the Lord. This pious generation Ihowed a laudable and fervent zeal for God on fevcral occaflons ; on occafion of Achan's fm ; but efpecially when they fufpe6fed the two tribes and a half had fet up an altar in oppofition to the altar of burnt-offering. There ne- ver was any generation of Ifrael that fo much good and fo little evil is mentioned of, as this generation. It is further obfcrveable, that in the time of this generation was 102 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L was the fecond general circumcifion, whereby the re- proach of Ifiael was fully rolled away, and they became pure ; and \vhen afterwards they were polluted by A- chan, they purged themfelves again. The men of the former generation being dead, and God having fan6lified this younger generation to him- felf, he folcmnly renewed his covenant with them, as we have a particular account in the 29th chapter of Deuteronomy. We find that fuch folemn renovations of the covenant commonly accompanied any remarka- ble pouring out of the Spirit^ caufing a general reforma- tion : So we find it was in Hezekiah'3 and Jofiah's times. It is queftionable whether there ever was a time of fo great a flourifiiing of religion in the Ifraelitifti church, as in that generations and as, in tlie Chriftian church, religion was in its moHflourifhingcircumftan- ces in the day of its efpoufals, or firft fetting up of that church, in the days of the appftles, fo it feems to have been with the Jewifh church in the days of its firft eftablifhment in Mofes's and J.ofhua's times. Thus God at this time did glorioufly advance the work of redemption, both by his word and Spirit. By this pouring out of the Spirit of God, the work of re- demption was promoted, not only as it was in itfelf a glorious inftance of the carrying on of that redemption in the application of it, but as this was v/hat God made ufe of as a means of the good and orderly eftablifhment of the church of IfVael at its firft beginning, when it was firft fettled in the regular obfervance of God's ordi- nances in Canaan : even as the pouring out of the Spi- rit, in the beginning of the Chriftian church, was a great means God made ufe of for the well eftablifhing the Chriftian church in the world in all fucceeding ages. XL The next thing I would obferve, was God's bringing the people of Ifrael under the hand of Jofhua, and fettling them in that land where Chrift was to be born, and which was the great type of the heav^enly Ca- naan, which Chrift has purchafed. This was done by Jo- ihiia, who was of }ofe])h's pofterity, and was an eminent type of Chrift, and is therefore called the ftiepherd, the ftone of Ifrael, in Jacob's blefling of Jofeph, Gen. xlix. 24. Being fuch a type of Chrift, he bore the name of ChrilL jofnua Scj^jiis are the fame name, only the one is Hebr?^Y Part IV. The Work of REDEMPTION, lo^ Hebrew, the other is Greek ; and therefore, in the New Teflament, which was originally written in Greek, Jofhua is called Jcfus, A6ls vii. 4^. " Which alfo our *' fathers brought in with Jefus," i. e. Jolhua; Heb. iv. 8. " If Jefus had given them reft, he would not have " fpoken of another day ;" i, e. if Jolhua had given them reft. God wonderfully pofTeffed his people of this land, conquering the former inhabitants of it, and the mighty giants, as Chrift conquered the devil ; firlf conquering the great kings of that part of the land that was on the eaftern fide of Jordan, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Balhan ; and then dividing the river Jordan, as before he had done the Red Sea, caufmgthe walls of Jericho to fall down at the found of the trum- pets of the priefts ; that found typifying the found of the gofpel by the preaching of gofpel-minifters, the walls of the accurfed city of Jericho fignifying the walls of Satan's kingdom ; and after this wonderfully deftroy- ing the mighty hoft of the Amorites under the five kings, caufmg the fun and moon to ftand Hill, to help the people againft their enemies, at the prayer of the typical Jefus ; plainly holding this forth, that God would make the whole courfe of nature to be fubfervi- ent to the affair of redemption ; fo that every thing fhould yield to the purpofes of that work, and give place to the welfare of God's redeemed people. Thus did Chrift fhow his great love to his eleQ, that he would make tlie courfe of nature, in the frame of the world, that he had made, and that he governed, to give place to their happinefs and profperity ; and fhow- ed that the fun and moon, and all things, vifible and invifible, were theirs by his purchafe. At the fame time, Chrift fought as the captain of their hoft, and caft iloWn great hailftones upon their enemies, by which more were (lain than by the fword of the children of Ifrael. And after this Chrift ga\'e the people a mighty viftory over a yet greater army in the northern part of the land, that were gathered together at the waters of Me- rom, as the farid of the fea-fhore, as it is faid Jofh. xi. 4. Thus God gave the people whence Chrilt was to pro- ceed, the land where he was to be born, and li\e, and preach, and work miracles, and die, and rile again, and Avhencc 104 A H I S T O R Y OF Period I, whence he was to afcend into heaven, as the land which was a great type of heaven : which is anofher thing whereby a great advance was made in the affair of redemption. XII. Another thing that God did towards carrying on this affan-, was his attiiahy fetting up a ilated wor- ihip among the people, as it had been before inftituted. in the wildernefs. This worlhip was appointed at Mount Sinai, wholly in fubferviency to this great affair of re- demption. It was to make way for the coming of Chrift ; and the innumerable ceremonial obfervances of it were typical of him and his redemption. This wor- fhip was chiefly inftituted at Mount Sinai ; but it was gradually fet up in pra6Hce. It was partly fet up in the wildernefs, where the tabernacle and its vefTels were made; but there were many parts of their inilituted worfhip that could not be obferved in the wildernefs, by reafon of their unfettled, itinerant ftate there : and then there were many precepts that refpeci the land of Canaan, and their cities and places of habitation there; which therefore could not be put in praftice, till they came into that land. But now, when this was brought to pafs, God fet up his tabernacle in the midft of his people, as he had before promifed them, Lev. xxvi. ii. ** I will fet my tabernacle amongft you." The taber- nacle was fet up at Shiloh, Jofh. xviii. i. and the priefls and Levites had their offices appointed them, and the cities of refuge were appointed ; and now -the people were in a condition to obferve their feafts of the firft fruits, and their feafls of in-gathering, and to bring all their tithes and appointed offerings to the Lord ; and moft parts of God's worlhip were fet up, though there were fome things that were not obferved till af- terwards. XIII. The next thing I woi'ld take notice of, was God's wonderfully preferving that people, from this time for^ward, when all the males went up, three times in the year, to the place where God's ark was. The people of Ifrael were generally furrounded with encmaes, that fought all opportunities to dcflroy them, and difpof- lefs them of their land; and till David's time there were great numbers in the land of the remains of the Canaan- ites, and the oiher former inliabitauts of the land, that were Part IV. The Work of REDExMPTICN. 10.3 were bitter enemies to ilie peo^)le of Ifrael : and thefo had tVom year to year, ihiee limes in tlie year, a lair opportunity of over-running their country, and get.ing poilellion of their cities, when all the males were gone, and only the women, and thofe who were not able to go up, were left behind. And )'et they were remark- ably preferved throughout all generations at fuch fca- fons, agreeable to tlic promiic that God had made, Exod. xxxiv. 24. " Neither Ihall any man defire thy " land, when thou flialt go up to appear before the " Lord thy God thrice in the year." So wonderfully did God order affairs, and infl-.'.ence the hears of their enemies, that though they weie fo full of enmity againfl Ifracl, and defired to diipoifcfs them of their land, and had fo fdir an opportunity fo often in their hands, that the whole country was left naked and empty of all that could rehfl them, and it would have been only for them to have gone and taken pofTjjfTion, and they could have had it without oppofition, and diey were fo eager to take other opportunities againft them ; yet we never read, in all their hiltory, of any of their enemies taking thcfe opportunities againft them ; wdiich could be no lefs than a continual miracle, that God, for the prefer- vation of his church, kept up for fo many generations, even throughout the ages of the Old Teltament. It was furely a wonderful difpenfation of divine provi- dence to maintain and promote God's great defign of redemption. XIV. God's prefervinghis church and the true reli- gion from being wholly extinft in the frequent apofla- lies of the Ifraelites in the time of the judges. How prone was that people to forfake the true God, that had done fuch wonderful things for them, and to fall into idolatr)' ! And how did the land, from time to time, leem to be almoft over-run with idolatry i But yet God never fufFered his true worfhipto be totally rooted out: his tabernacle flood, the ark was preferved, the book of the law was kept from being deftroyed, God's prieft- hood was upheld, and God flill had a church among the people ; and time after time, when religion feemed to be almoft gone, and it was come to the laft extremitv, then God granted a revival, and fent fome angel or L prophet, io6 A H I S T O R Y or Period I.. prophet, or raifed iip' fome eminent perfon to be an in- flramcnt of their reformation. XV. God's prcferving that nation from being deilroy- ed, and delivering them from time to time, although they were fo often fubdued and brought under the do- minion of their enemies^ It is a wonder, not only that the true religion was not wholly rooted out, and fo the €hurch dellroyed tliat way ; but alfo that the very na- tion in which that church was-, was not utterly deftroy- ed ; they were fo often brought under the povrer of their enemies. One while they were ful dusd bv Chu- fhan-rilhataim king of Mefopotamia, another while they were brought under the Moabites ; and then they zoere fold into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan ; and then they were under the dominion of the Midianites ; and then were forely diftreffed by the children of Ammon ; and then by the Philiilines. But yet God, in all tiiefe dangers, preferved them, and kept them from being wholly overthroAvn : and from time to time, when it \vas come to extremit)% and God faw tliat they were up- on the veiy brink of ruin, then God raifed up a deli- verer, agreeable to Deut. xxxii. 36. " For the Lord " fliajl judge his people^ and repent himfelf for his fer- *' vants ; when he feeth their pov/er is gone, and there *' is none fliut up or left." Thofe remarkable difpenfations of Providence are very livelily and elegantly fet forth by the Pfalmift, Pfal. cvi. 34. &c. Thefe deliverers that God raifed up from time to time were all types of Chrift, the great redeemer and deliverer of his church ; and fome of them very re- markably fo ; as, particularly, Barak, Jephthah, Gide- on, and Sampfon, in very many particulars • and above all in the afts of Samfon, as might be fhown, were it not that this would take up too much time. XVI. It is obfervablc, that when Ghrift appeared to manage the affairs of his church in this period, he often appeared in the foira of that nature that he took upon him in his incarnation. So he feems to have appeared to Mofes from time to time, and particularly at that time wlien God fpake to him face to face, as a man fpeaketh to his friend, and he beheld the fimilitude of the Lord (Numb. xii. 8.) after he had befoughtiura to ihow ?m IV. The WoRr. of REDEMPTION. 107 fliow him his glory ; which was the moft remarkable vifion that ever he had of Chrift. lliere was a twofold difcovery that Moles had of Clirifl : one was fpiritual, made to his mind, by the word that was proclaimed, when he proclaimed his name, faying, " The Lord, the " Lord Qod, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and *' abundant in goodncfs and truth, keeping mercy for *' thoufands, forgiving iniquity and tranlgreffion and *' fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifit- *' iug the iniquity of the fathers upon the childien, and " upon the childrens children) unto the third and to tlie *' fourth generation;" Exod. xxxiv. 6. &:c. Another was external ; which was that which Mofes faw, when Chrifl palled by, and pm him in a cleft of the rock, and covered him with his hand, fo that Mofes faw his back-parts. What he h\v ^v^s doubtlcfs the back-part§ of a glorious human form, in which Chrift appeared to him, and in all likelihood the form of his glorified hu- man nature, in which he (liould afterwards appear. He faw not his face ; for it is not to be fuppofed that any man could fubfift under a fight of the glory of Chrifl's human nature as it now appears. So it was an human form in which Chrill appeared to the feventy elders, of whicli we have an account, Ex- od. xxiv. 9. 10. 1 1. " Then went up Mofes and Aaron, •' Na.dab and Abihu, and feventy of the elders of Ifraeh. " And they faw the God of Ifraei : and there was un-. ♦' der his feet, as it were a paved-work of fapphire-llone, " and as it were the body of heaven in his clcarnefs. *' And upon the nobles of the children of Ifraei belaid *' not his hand : alfo they fa'w God and did eat and *' drink." So Chrift appeared afterwards to Tofl^.uaiii the form of the human nature, Joih. v. 13, 14. " And *' it came to pafs when Jodiua was bv Jericho, he lift *' up his eyes, and looked, and behold there flood ainan *' over againft him, with his fword drawn in his hand : *' and Jolhua went unto him, and faid un *' and at that time, I will caufe the branch of r-ighteouf- ** nefs to grow 'up unto David, and he fliall execute " judgment and righteoufncfs in the land." So Ghrilf^ in the New Teftament, is called the root and oJJ-spnng of DavuL Rev. xxii. i-6. It is obfcrvable, that God anointed David after Saul to reign in his ri}om. He took away the crown from him and his family, v,ho was higher in ftature than any of his people,, and was in their eyes the fittefl to bear rule, to give it to David, who w^as low of ftature, and in companion of defpicable appearance : io God waspleal-^ ed to Ihow how Chriil, who appeared defpicable, with- out form orcomelinefs, and was defpifcd and rejecledof men, fliould take the kingdom from the great ones of the earth. And alfo it isobfervable, that David was the youngell of Jeffe's fons, as Ja<:ob the younger brother llipplanted Efau, and got the birthright and blefling from him : and as Pharcz, another of ChriU'sancellors, fapplanted Zarah m the birth ; and as Ifaac, another of the ancellors of Chrilt, caft out his elder brother Ifli- mael; thus was that frequent faying of Chmft fulfilled;^ « The laff (hall be firll, and the'fidf laff/' II. The next thing I would obferve, is God's fo pre- ferving Da\id's life, by a ferics of wonderful provi- dences, till Sauks death. I before took notice of the \\'onderfLil prefer vation of other particular perfons that ■v^ere the ancefl^ors of Chrift ; as Noah, Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob ; and have obfcrved how, in that Chriit tlie great Redeemer was to proceed from them, that in their pre- fervaiion, tlie work of rcdcmpaon itfelf mav be looked lapon as prelerv ed from being defeated, and the \vliole church, which is redeemed through him, from being «)vcnhIO^vn« But tlie prefervation of Da\'id,was no \ck remarkable Part V. Th e Wo r k of REDEMPTION. 1 1 ^ remarkaWe than that of any others tliat have been al- ready taken notice o(. How often was it fo that there w^s but a ilep between him and death. The firll in.- ilance of it we have in his encountering a Hon and a bear, when they had -caught a Iamb out of his flock, which, without miraculous affiftance, could at once have rent this young ftripling in pieces, as they could the lamb that he delivered from them : fo afterwards the root and offspring of David was preferved liom the roaring lion that goes about feeking whom he may devour, and conquered him, and refcued the poor fouls. of m.cn, that were as lambs in the mouth of this lion. Another rcr rearkable inftance was, in preferving him from that mighty giant Goliath, who was ffrong enough to have taken him, and picked him to pieces with his finger.s, and given his fleih to the bealfs of the field, and to the fowls of the air, as he threatened him : but God pre- ferved him from him, ajnd gave him the viclory over him, fo that he cut off his head with his own hvord,, a^d made him therein the deliverer of his people ; as Ghrift flew the fpiritual Goliath with his own vvreap>on, the crofs, and fo delivered his peo])1e. And how re- markably did God preferve him from being fiain by Saul, wlien he firfl fought his life, by giving, him his daughter to be a fnare to him, that the hand of the Fhiliftines might be upon him, requiring him to pay for her by an hundred forefRms of the Philiilines, that fo his life might be expofed to them ^ and in preferving him afterwards, when Said fpake to Jonathan, and to all his fervants, to kill David; and in inclining Jonathan, inftead of his killing him, as his father bade him, to love him as his own foul, a«d to be a great initrument of his prefervation, even fo as to expofe his own life to pre- ferve David ; though one would have thought tliat none Vv'ovdd have been more willing to have David killed than. Jonathan, feeing that he was competitor mth him for his father's cro^^/n ; and again faving him, when Saul threw a javelin at him to fmite him even to the wall ; and agaia preferving him, when he fent meOengers to his houfe, to watch him, and to kill him, when JNlichal, Saul's daughter let him do^vn through a window ; and v.-hen he afterwards fent mcflengers, once and again, to. Jvaioth in Ramah, to take him, and they were remark- M 2 dhlv ii6 A HISTORY ot Period I. ably p-'-evented time after time, by being feizsd with mi- raculous impreflions of the fpirit of God ; and after- wards, when Saul being refolute in the affair, went himfelf, he alfo \vas among the prophets : and after this, how wonderfully was David's life preferved at Gath among the Philillines, M^hen he went to Achifti the king of Gath, and was there in the hands of the Philillines, who, one would have thought, would have difpatclied him at once, he having fo m\ich provoked them bv his exploits againft them : and he was again "wonderfully prefeived at Keilah, when he had entered into a fenced town \vhere Saul thought he was fure of him. And how wonderfully was he preferved from Saul, when he purfaed and hunted him in the mountains ? How remarkably did God deliver him in the wildernefs of Maon, ^vhen Saul and his armv were compafling Da- vid about ; How was he delivered in the cave of Enge- di, when, inftead of Saul's killing David, God deliver- ed Saul into his hands in the cave, and he cut oflPhis Ikirt, and might as eafilv have cut off his head ; and afterwards delivering him in like manner in the wilder- jiefs of Ziph ; and afterwards again prefcrving him in the land of the Philillines, though David had fought a- gainif the Pliilifiines, and conquered them at Keilah, fince he v/as laft among them; which one would think would have been fufficient warning to them not to trull him., or let him efcape a fecond time, if ever they had him in their hands again ; but 3-ct rov/, when they had a fecond opportunity, God wonderfully turned their hearts to him to befriend and protect him, inftead of deftroying him. ■ ' ' ' Thus was the precious feed that virtually contained the Redeemer, and all the blefTmgs of his redeniption, wonderfully preferved, when hell and earth w^ere con- fpired againft it to defiroy it. How often does David himfelf rake notice of this, with praife and admiration, in the book of Pfalms ? ' . - III. About this time, the written word of God, or the canon of fcripture, was added to by Samuel. I have before obferved, how that the canon of the fcripture w-as begun, and the firft written word of God, the firft written rule of faith and manners that ever was, was gi- ven to the church about Mofes's time : and many, and I Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION, xi; I know not but moft divines, think it was added to by Jolhua, and that he wrote the laft chapter of Deutero- nomy, and moil of the book of Jolhua. Others think that Jofhua, Judges, Ruth, and part of the firfl book of Samuel, were written by SamueL However that was, this we have good evidence of, that Samuel made an addition lo the canon of fcripture ; for Samuel is ma- nifeftly mentioned in the New Teflament, as one of the prophets whofe writings we have in the fcrlptures, in that foremen tioned Atts iii. 24. " Yea and all the pro- *' phets from Samuel, and thofe that follow after, as *' many as have fpoken, have likev/ife foretold of thefe ** days." By that exprelfion, "as many as have fpoken,'* cannot be meant, as many as have fpoken by word of mouth ; for never was any prophet but what did that : but the meaning muft be, as many as have fpoken by writing, fo that what they have fpoken has come down to us, that we may fee what it is. And the way that Samuel fpoke of thefe times of Chrifl and the gofpel, v/asby giving the hiftory of thofe things that typified them, and pointed to them, particu- larly the things concerning David that he wrote. The fpirit of God moved him to commit thofe things to wri- ting, chiefiy for that reafon, becaufe they pointed to Chrift, and the times of the gofpel ; and, as was faid be- fore, this was the main bufmefs of all that fucceflion of prophets, that began in Samuel, to forefhow thofe timesl That Samuel added to the canon of the fcriptures feems further to appear from 1. Chron. xxix. 29. " Now ** the afts of David the king, firft and laft, behold they ** are written in the book of Samuel the fecr." Whether the book of Jofhua was written by Samuel or not, yet it is the general opinion of divines, that the bocks of Judges and Ruth, and part of the firft book of Samutcl, were penned by him. The book of Rtith was penned for that reafon, becaufe though it fccmed to treat of private affairs, yet the perfons chieHy fpoken of in that book were of the family whence David and Chrift proceeded, and fo pointed to what the apoftle Pe- ter obferved of Samuel and the other prophets, in the 3d chapter of A61s. The thus adding to the canon of the fcriptures, the great and main inftrument of the ap- plication of redemption, is to be looked upon as a fur- ' ■ ther ii8 A H I ST Oil Y OF Periods 4ker carrying on of that work, aud an addition made to that great building, IV. Anoilier thing God did towards this work, at that time, was his infpiring David to fhow forth Chrift and liis redemption, in divine fongs, Avhich fliould be for the uie ot the church, in public worfhip, throughout a]! ages. David was himfelf endued with the fpirit of prophecy. He is called a prophet, Afts ii. 29. 30. *' Let " me freely fpeak to you of the patriarch David, that *' he is both dead and biiried, and his fepulchre is with •' us unto this day : therefore being a prophet, and *' knpv/ing that God had fworn with an oath," &c. So that herein he was a type of Chrift, that he w:as both a prophet and a king. We have no certain account of the time when David was firft endued with the fpirit of prophecy ; but it is manifeft, that it either was at the time tlrat Samuel anointed him, or \&rf foon after; for lie appears foon after afted by this fpirit, in the affair of Goiiath : and then great part of the pfalms were pen- ned in the time of his troubles, before he came to the crown ; as might be made manifeft bv an induftion of particulars. The oil that was ufed in anointing David was a type of the fpirit of God ; and the type and the antetypc %vere given both together ; as we are told, 1 Sam. xvi. 23. "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed *' him ill the midft of \\\z brethren; and the fpirit of tlie Lord cam.e upon David from that day forward :" r.nd it is probable that now it came upon him in its pro- plietical influences. The way that this fpirit influenced him was, to infpire liim to fliow^ forth Chrifl, and the glorious things of his redemption, in divine fongs, fweetly expreffmg the breatiiings of a pious foul, full of admiration of the glorious thingr, of the Redeemer, inflamed with divine love, and lifted up with praife ; and therefore he is call- ed the fweet pfalmi/i of I/rael. 2 Sam. xxiii. i. "Now "" thefe be the lall words of David : David the foh of *' JefTe faid, and the man who was raifed up on high, ',' the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the fweet *' pfalmift of Jfrael." The main lubje6fs of.thefe fweet ^png^ were the glorious things of thegofpel ; as is evi- dent by the inter]) relation that is often put upon them, aiid Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION, rr^ and the ufe that is made of them in the New Teflament : for there is no one book of the Old l^lhiment tliat is \'o often quoted in the New, as the book of Pfahns. lovfully did this holy man fing of thofe great things of Chrift's redemption, that had been the liope and expec-r tation of God's church and people from the beginning of the church of God on earth ; and jo)'fully did others follow him in it, as Afaph, Heraan, Edian and others ; for the book of pfalms was not all penned by David, though the greater part of it was. Elereby the canon of fcriptme was further added to ; and an excellent por- tion of divine writ was it that was added. This was a great advancement that God made in this building ; and the light of the gofpel, which had been gradually growing from the fall, was exceedingly increa- fed by it ; for whereas before there was but here and there a prophecy given of Chrift in a great many ages, now here Chrill is fpoken of by his ancellor Da\'id a- bundantly, in multitudes of fongs, fpeaking of his incar- nation, life, death, refurre6tion, afcenfion into heaven, his fatisfaftion, interceihon ; his prophetical, kingly^ and prieltly office ; his glorious benefits in this life and that w^hich is to come ; his union with the church, and the bleffednefs of the church in liim ; the calling of the Gentiles, the future glory of the church near the end of the world, and Chrilt's coming to the final judgment. All thefe things, and many more concerning Chrift and his redemption, are abundantly fpoken of in the book of pfalms. This was alfo a glorious advancement of the affair of redemption, as God hereby gave his church a book of divine fongs for their ufe in that part of their public worfhip, viz. finging his praifes throughout all ages to the end of the world. It is manifeft die book of Pfalms- was given of God for this end. It was ufed in the clmrch of Ifiael h) God's appointment : this is manifcli by thq title of many of thepfidm.s, in which they are in- fcribed to the chief mulici.m, ?. e. to the man that was appointed to be the leader of divine fongs in the temple, v\ die pubhc worfhip of Ifrael. So David is calUxl //at > w/ pfalmiji of Ifrael, becaufe he penned pfalms for the ide of the church of Ifrael, and accordingly we have an account that they were a61ually made ufe of in tU^ church 120 A H I S T O R Y OF Period I. church of Ifrael for that end, even ages after David was^ dead ; as 2 Chron. xxix. 30. "Moreover, Hezekiah the *' king and the princes, commanded the Levites to fmg " praifes unto the Lord with the words of David and of ** Afaph the feer." And we find that the fame are ap- pointed in the New Teftament to he made ufe of in the Chriflian church, in their worfhip : Eph. v. 19. "Speak- •* ing to yourfelves in pj'alms, hymns, and fpiritual " fongs." Col. iii. 16. Admonifhing one another in " pfalms, hymns, and fpiritual fongs." And fo they have been, and will to the end of the world be made ufe of in the church to celebrate the praifes of God. The people of God were wont fometimes to worfhip God by fmging fongs to his praife before; as they did at the Red Sea ; and they had Mofes's prophetical fong, in the 32d chapter of Deuteronomy, committed to them for that end ; and Deborah, and Barak, and Hannah, fung praifes to God: but now firft did God commit to his church a book of divine fongs for their conftant ufe. V. The next thing I would take notice of, is God's a6lually exalting David to the throne of Ifrael, not- withftanding all the oppofition made to it. God was de- termined to do it, and he made every thing give place that ftood in the way of it. He removed Saul and his fons out of the way ; and firft fet David over the tribe of Judah ; and then, having removed Ifhbolheth, fet him over all Ifrael. Thus did God fulfil h's word to David, He took him from the (heep-cote, and made him king over his people Ifrael, Pfal. Ixxviii. 70. 71. And now the throne of Ifrael was eftabliflied in that family in which it was to continue for ever, even for ever and ever. VI. Now firft it was that God proceeded to chufe a particular city out of all the tribes of Ifrael to place his name there. There is feveral times mention made in the law of Mofes, of the children of Ifrael's bringhig their oblations to the place which God Ihould choofe ; as Deut. xii. 5. 6. 7. and fo in many other places; but God had never proceeded to do it till now. The ta- bernacle and ark were never fixed, but fometimes in one place, and fometimes in anodier ; but now God pro- ceeded to choofe Jerufalem. The city of Jerufalem was never thoroughly conquered, or taken out of the hands of the Jebufites, till David's time. It is faid in Joftiua XV. Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION. 121 XV. 63. ** As for the Jebufiies, the inhabitants of Jem- ** falem, the children of Judah could not drive tliem " out; but the Jebufites dwell with the children of Ju- " dah at Jerufalem unto this day." But now David wholly fubducd it, as we have an account in 2 Sam. v. And now God proceeded to chufe that city to place his name there, as appears by David's bringing up the ark thither foon after; and therefore this is mentioned af- terwards as the firft time God proceeded to chufe a ci- ty to place his nam.e there, 2 Chron. vi. 5. 6. and chap, xii. 13. Afterwards God proceeded to fhow David the very place where he would have his temple built, viz. in the threlhing-floor of Araunah the Jebufite. The city of Jerufalem is therefore called the holy city ; and it was the greatefl type of the church of Chrift ia all the Old Teltament. It was redeemed by David, the captain of the hofts of Ifrael, out of the hands of the Jebufites, to be God's city, the holy place of his reft for ever, where he would dwell ; as Chriif , the captain of his people's falvation, redeems his church out of the hands of devils, to be his holy and beloved city. And therefore how often does the fcripture, when fpeaking of Chrift's redemption of his church, call it by the names of Zion and Jeru falem ? This was the city that God had appointed to be the place of the firft gather- ing and ereding of the Chrillian church after Chrift's refurreftion, of that remarkable powering out of the fpirit of God on the apoftles and primitive Chriftians, and the place whence the gofpel was to found forth in- to all the world; the place of the firft Chrifiian church that was to be, as it were, the mother of all other church- es through the world ; agreeable to that prophecy. If. ii. 3. 4. " Out of Zion {hall go forth the lav/, and *' the word of the Lord from Jerufalem : and he fliall " judge among the nations, and ftiall rebuke many peo- " pie," &c. Thus God chofe Mount Sion whence the gofpel was to be founded forth, as the law had been from Mount Sinai. VII. The next thing to be obferved here, is God's folemnly renewing the covenant of grace with David, and promifing that the Mefliah (liould be of his feed. We have an account of it in the /tk chapter of the fe^ N go^d 152 A HISTORY OF Period I. cond book of Samuel. It was done on occafion of the thoughts David entertained of building God an houfe. On this occafion God fends Nathan the prophet to him, with the glorious promifes of the covenant of grace. It is cfpecially contained in thefe words in the i6th veri'e: *' And thy houfe and thy kingdom fhall be eUablilhed ** for ever before thee ; thy throne (liall be efiablifhed *' for ever." Which promife has refpeft to Chrift, the feed of David, and is fulfilled in him only : for the kingdom of David has long fmce ceafed, any other- v;ife than as it is upheld in Chrift. The temporal king- dom of the houfe of David has now^ ceafed for a great many ages ; much longer than ever it flood. That this covenant that God now eliablifhed wiih David by Nathan the prophet, was the covenant of grace, is evident by the plain teftimony of fcripture, in If. Iv. 1. 2. 3. There we have Chrift inviting finners to come to the waters, r, wiiich we have an account of in the 23d, !24th, 25th, and 26th chapters of the firftbookof Chro- nicles, confifting in the feveral orders and courfes into which David divided the Levites, and the work and bu- fniefs to which he appointed the.m, different from what Mofes had appointed them to ; and alfo in the divifions of the priefts the fons of Aaron into four and twenty courfes, affigning to every courfe their bufmefs in the houfe of tlie Lord, and their particular ftated times of attendance there : and appointing fome of the Levites to a new office, that had not been appointed before ; and that was the office of fingers, and particularly or- dering and legulating of them in that office, as you may fee in the 25th chapter of ift Chronicles ; and appoint- ing others of the Levites by law to the feveral fervices of porters, treafurers, officers, and judges : and thefe ordi- iiances of David were kept up henceforth in the church of Ifrael, as long as the Jewiffi church lafted. Thus we find the feveral orders of priefts, and the Levites, the porters, and fingers, after the captivity. So we find the courfes of the priefts appointed by David ftill continuing in the New Teftamcnt ; fo Zacharias the father of John the Baptift was a prieft of the courfe of Abia ; which is the fame with the courfe of Abijah appointed by Da^ vid, that we read of 1 Chron, xxiv. 10, Thus Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION. 127 Thus David as well as Mofes was made like to Chrift the fon of David, in this refpeft, that by him God gave a new ecclefiaftical eftablifhment, and new inftitutions of worfhip. David did not only add to the inflitutions of Mofes, but by thofe additions he abolifhcd fome of the old inftitutions of Mofes that had been in force till that time ; particularly thofe laws of Mofes that appoint- ed the buhnefs of the Levites, which we have in the 3d and 4th chapters of Numbers, which very much confifted in their charge of the feveral parts and utenfils of the tabernacle there affigned to them, and in carrying thofe feveral parts of the tabernacle. But thofe laws were now abolifhed by David ; and they were no more to car- ry thofe things, as they had been ufedtodotill David's time. But David appomted them to other work inftead of it ; fee 1 Chron. xxiii. 26. " And alfo unto the Le- *' vites, they fhall no more carry the tabernacle, nor *' any velfclsof it for the fervice thereof:" A fure evi- dence that the ceremonial law given by Mofes is not perpetual, as the Jews fuppofe; but might be wholly abolifhed by Chrilt : for if David, a type of theMelfiah, might aboliih the law of Mofes in part, much more might the Mefhah himfelf abolifh the whole. David, by God's appointment, abolifhed all ufe of the tabernacle, that was built by Mofes, and of which he had the pattern from God : for God now revealed it to Da- vid to be his will, that a temple fhould be built, that fliould be inftead of the tabernacle : A great prefage of what Chrift, the fon of David, would do, when he fhould come, viz. abolifh the whole Jewifh ecclefiaftical confti- tution, which was but as a moveable tabernacle, to fet up the fpiritual gofpel-temple, which was to be far more glorious, and of greater extent, and was tolaft forever, David had the pattern of all thmgs pertaining to the temple fhowed him, even in like manner as Mofes had the pattern of the tabernacle ; and Solomon built the temple according to that pattern which he had from his father David, which he received from God, 1 Chron. xxviii. 11. 12. "Then David gave to Solomon his fon the *' pattern of the porch, and of the houfes thereof, and of *' the treafuries thereof and of the upper chambers ** thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of ** the place of the mercy-feat, and the pattern of all 128 A HISTORY Off Period I. *• that he had by the fpirit, of the courts of the houfd: " of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of ** the treafuries of the houle of God, and of the trea- " furies of the dedicate things." And, ver. 19. "All " this, faid David, the Lord made me underhand in " writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of *' this pattern." X. the canon of fcripture feems at or after the clofe of David's reign to be added to by the prophets Nathan and Gad. It appears probable by the fcriptuies, that they carried on the hiftor)' of the two books of Samuel from the place where Samuel left it, and finifhed it. Thefe two books of Samuel feem to be the book that in fcrip- ture is called the book oj Samutl the Jeer ^ and Nathan the prophet^ and Gad the Jeer, as m 1 Chron. xxix. 29. " Now the ads of David the King, firft and lalf , behold, " they are written in the book oi Samuel the feer, and *' in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book *' of Gad the feer." XL The next thing I would take notice of, is God's wonderfully continuing the kingdom of his viOble people in the line of Chrill's legal ancellors, as long as they re- mained an independent kingdom. 1 hus it was without any interruption worth takmg notice. Indeed the king- dom of all the tribes of Ifrael was not kept in that hue ; but the dominion of that part of Ifrael in which the true worfhip of God was upheld, and fo of that part that were God's vifible people, was always kept in the family of David, as long as there was any fuch thing as an independent king of Ifrael ; according to his promifc to David : and not only in the family of David, but al- ways in that part of David's poftcrity that was the line whence Chrift was legally defcended ; fo that the very perfon that was Chrill's legal anceftor was always in the throne, excepting Jehoahaz, who reigned three months, and Zedekiah : as you may fee in Matthew's genealogy of Chrilh Chrift was legally defcended from the kings of Judah, though he was not naturally defcended from them. He was both legally and naturally defcended from David. He was naturally defcended from Nathan the fon of David ; for Mary his mother was one of the pofterity of David by Nathan, as you may fee in Luke's genealogy' : but Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION. 129 but Jofeph, the reputed and legal father of Chrift, was naturally defcended of Solomon and his fucceffors, as we have an account in Matthew's genealogy. Jefus Chrift, though he was not the natural fon of Jol'eph, yet, by the law and conftitution of the Jews, he was Jo- fcph's heir ; becaufe he was the lawful fon of Jofeph's lawful wife, conceived while (he was his legally efpouf- ed wife. The Holy Ghofl raifed up feed to him. A perfon, by the law of Mofes, might be the legal fon and heir of another, whofe natural fon he was not ; as fome- times a. man raifed up feed to his brother ; a brother, in fome cafes, was to build up a brother "s houfe ; fo the Holy Gholl built up Jofeph's houfe. And Jofeph being in the direft line of the kings of Judah, of the houfe of David, he was the legal heir of the crown of David ; and Cliiifl being legally his firll- born fon, he was his heir ; and fo Chrift, by the law, was the proper heir of the crown of David, and is therefore faid to fit upon the throne of his father Da- vid. The crown of God's people was wonderfully kept in the line of Chrift's legal anceftiDrs. When David was old, and not able any longer to manage the affairs of the kingdom, Adonijah, one of his fons, fet up to be king, and feemed to have obtained his purpoie ; all things for a while feemed fair on his fide, and he thought himfelf ftrong ; the thing he aimed at feemed to be ac- complifhed. But fo it was, Adonijah was not the foa of David that was the ancellor of Jofeph, the legal fa- ther of Chrift ; and therefore how wonderfully did Pro- vidence work here ! what a flrange and fudden revolu- tion ! all Adonijah's kingdom and glory vanilhed away as foon as it was begun ; and Solomon, the legal an- cellor of Chrift, was eftablifhed in the throne. And after Solomon's death, when Jeroboam had confpired againft the family, and Rehoboam carried himfelf fo that it was a wonder all Ifrael was not pro- voked to forfake him, and ten tribes did a£iually forfake him, and fet up Jeroboam in oppofition to him ; and though he was a wicked man, and deferved to have been rejefted altogether from being king ; yet he being the legal anceftor of Chrift, God kept the kingdom of T.he two tribes, in which the true religion was upheld, O m iSo' A H I S T O R Y G/ Period h in his pofTefTion : and though he had besn wiclLcd, and his fon Abijam was another wicked prince ; yet they being legal anceftors of Chrill, God lli-11 continued the crown in the family, and gave it to Abijani's fon Afa.- And afterwards, thoi'^gh many of the kings of Judah were very wicked men, and horribly provoked God, as particularly Jehoram, Ahaziah, Ahaz, Manaffah, and Anion ; yet God did not take away the crown from their family, but gave it to their fons, beCaufe they were' the anccilors of Chiift. God's remembering his cove- nant that he had eifablifhed with David, is given as the- reafon why God did thus, notwithftanding their wicked lives ; as- i Kin'gs xv. 4. fpeaking there of Abijam's wickednefs, it is faid, " Nevertheiefs, for David's fake *' did the Lord his Godgi ve him a larnp in Jerufalem, *' to fet up his fon after him, and to eflablilh Jerufa- " lem :" fo, 2 Chron. xxi. 7. fpeaking there of Jeho- ram's great v.'ickednefs, it is faid, " Howbeit the Lord *' would i:xDt deft roy the houfe of David, becaufe of the ^' covenant that he had made with David, and as he '^' promifed to- give a light unto him, and to his fons *' for ever." The crown of the ten tribes was changed from ons ^mily to another continually. Firll, Jeroboam took it ; But the crown remained in hi| family but for one gene- ration after his death ; it oirly defcended to his fon Na- i'dh : and then Baafha^ that was of another family, took it ; and it remained in his pofierity but one generation after his death : and" their Zimri, that v/as his fervant,. and not of hi5 poilt-rity, took it ; and then, without dc- fcending at all to his pofterity, Omri, that ^vas-of ano- ther family, took it ; and the crown continued in his family for three fiicceffions : ai>d then Jehu, that ^va3 ©f another family, took it ; and the crown continued ii> his family far three or four fncceflions: aiid then Shal- Inm, that was of another family, took it ; and t'je crown did not d^fccnd at all to his poflerity ; but Menahem, that was of another family, took it ; and it remained m his family but one generation after him : and then Pe- kah, that Vv'as" o^ another family, took it : and after him liolhca, that was IHll of another family, took it : fo great a difference was there l)etween the cro^vn of Ifrael aiid the cruwn of Judah ; the one was coiiiiiiued ever- more Part V. The V/ork of REDEMPTION. 13; jnore in the fame family, and with very little interrup- tion, in one right line ; the other was continually toffed about from one family to another, as if it were the fport of fortune. The reafon was not, becaufe the kings of Judah, many of them, were better than the kings of If- rael ; but the one had the blefling in them ; they were the anceftors of Chrift, ^vhofe right it was to fit on the throne of Ifrael. But witii the kings of Ifrael it was not fo ; and therefore divine providence exercifed a continual care, through all the chang^?s that happen- ed through fo many generations, and fuch a long f|)ace of time, to keep the crown of Judah in one direct line, in fulfilment of the everlafting covenant he had made with David, the mercies of which covenant were fjre mercies ; but in the other cafe there was no fucli co- venant, ar.d fo no fuch care of Providence. And here itmuft not be omitted, that there vras once 4 very ftrong confpiracy of the kings of Syria and If- rael, in the time of that wicked king of Judah, Abaz, ^o difpoffefs Ahaz and his family of the throne of Ju? liah, and to fet one of another family, even the fon of Tabeai, on it ; as you may fee in If. vii. 6. " Let us go *' up againft Judah, and vex it, and let us make a f breach th^erein for us, and fet a king in the midit of *' it, even the fon of Tabeai," And they feemed very likely to accomplifli their pui-pofe. There feemed to be fo great a likelihood of it, that the hearts of the people funk ^vithin them ; they gave up the caufe. It is faid, *' The heart of Ahaz and his people was m.oved as the ^' trees of the Avood are moved with the wind." And on this occaficn God fent the prophet Jfaiah to encou- rage the people, and tell them that it fhould not come to pafs. And becaufe it looked fo much like a gone caufe, that Ahaz and the people vrould very difficultly believe that it would not be, therefpre God dirc61s the prophet to give them this fign of ir, viz. that Chrill jhouid be horn of the legal feed of Ahaz ; as If. vii, 14. " Therefore the Lord himfelf fhall give you a fign : ^' Behold, a virgin fhall conceive, and bear a fon, and *' fliall call his name Immanuel." This was a go^d fign, and a great confnmation of the truth of what God piomifed by Ifaiah, viz. that the kings ^ Syria and Jfrael (hould -never accomplifh tlieir purprofe of (iif-, Q 3 poJIe.Tiiiff \^^2. A H I S T O R Y OF Period I. poireffing the family of Ahaz of the crown of Judah, and fetting up the fon of Tabeal ; for Chrifl the Imma- nuel was to be of them. I have mentioned this difpenfation of Providence in, this place, becaufe though it was continued for fo long a time, yet it began in Solomon's fucceflion to the throne of his father David. XII. The next thing I would take notice of is, the building of the temple: a great type of three things, viz. of Chriit, efpecially the human nature of Chrift ; o£ the church of Chrift ; and of Keaven. The tabernacle feem.ed rather to reprefent the church in its moveable, changeable ftate, here in this world. But that beauti- ful, glorious, coftly ftrufture of the temple, that fuc- ceeded the tabernacle, and was a fixed, and not a move- able thing, feems efpecially to reprefent the church in its glorified ftate in heaven. This temple was built ac- cording to the pattern fiiown by the Holy Ghoft to David, and by divine direction given to David, in the place where was the threfliing-iloor of Oman the Jebu- fue, in Mount Moriah, 2 Chron. iii. 1. in the fame mountain, and doubtlefs in the very fiim.e place, where Abraham offered up his fon Ifaac ; for that is faid to be a miOimtain in the land of Moriah, Gen. xxii. 2. which mountain was called the mountain of the Lord ^^^ this moim^ain of the temple was. Gen. xxii. 14. "And *' Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-ji- *' reh; as it is faid to this day, in the mount of the " Lord it fliall be feen." Tliis was the hoiife where Chrift dwelt, till he came to dwell in tiie temple of his body, or human nature, v»'hich was the ante'ype of this temple ; as appears, be- caufe Chrift, on occafion of fliOwing him the temple of Terufalem, fays, _" Deftroy this temple, and in three days *' will I raife it up," fpeaking of the temple of his bo- dy, John ii. 19. 20. This houfe, or an houfe built in this place, continued to be the houfe of God, the place of the worftiip of his church, till Chrift came. Kere was the place that Godchofe, where all their facrifices were offered up, till the great facrifice came, and made the ficrihice and oblation to ceafe. Into bis temple in this place tl^ Lord came, even the m-eflbnger of the co- venant. He: c he often delivered his heavenly doftrine, and Part V. The V/ork of REDEMPTION. 133 and wrought miracles ; here his church was gathered by tlie pouring out of the fpirit, after his afccnfion. Luke xxiv. 53. fpeaking of the difciplcs, after Chriil's afcenfion, it is faid, "and they were continuaily in the ** temple, prailing and blei&ng God." And, A6is ii. 46. fpeaking of the mul.itudes that were converted by that great outpouring of the fpirit that was on the day of Pentecoll, it is laid, " And they continued daily with *' one accord in the temple." And, Acls v. 42. fpeak- ing of the apoftles, "And daily in the temple, and in " every houfe, they ceafe.d not to teach and preach Jefus ** Chriit." And hence the found of the gofpel went forth, and the church fpread into all the world. XIII. It is here worthy to be obferved, that at this' time, in Solomon's reign, after the temple was finifficd, the Jewiih church was rifen to its higheff external glory. The Jewiih church, or the ordinances and conftitution of it, is comapared to die moon, in Rev. xii. 1. "And *' there appeared a great wonder in Heaven, a woman *' cloathed with the fun and the moon under her feet, " and upon her head a crown of twelve flars." As this church was like the moon in many other rcfpecls, fo it was in this, that it waxed and waned like the mxoon. From the firll foundation of it, that was laid in the co- venant made with Abraham, v/hen this moon was now beginning to appear, it had to this time been gradually jncreafmg in its glory. This time, wherein the temple was finilhed and dedicated, was about the middle be- tween the calling of Abraham and the coming of Chrift, and now it was lull moon. After this tlie glory of the Jewifh church gradually decreafed, till Chrill came ; as I fhall have occahon m.ore particularly to obferve af- terwards. ■ Now the church of Ifrael was in its higheft external glory : Now Ifrael was multiplied exceedingly, fo that t^iey feem to have become like the fand on the fea- fliore, 1 Kings iv. 20. Now the kingdom of Ifrael was firmly eftabliihed in the right famiily, the family cf which Chrift vv- as to comiC : Now^ God had chofen the city where he would place his name: Now God liad fully given his people the poffcffion of the promllcd land ; and they now pofiefred the dominion of it all in ^uieUefs and peace, even from the river of Eg>T^ ^^ the i34 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L the great river Euphrates ; all thofe nations that had formerly been their enemies, quietly fubmitted to them ; jione pretended to rebel againft them : — Now the Jew- ^lli M-odhip in all its ordinances was fully fettled : Now, inftead of a fnoveable tent and tabernacle, they had a glorious temple ; the moft magnificent, beauti- ful, and coftly ftrudure, that there was tlren, ever had been, or ever has been fince : Now the people enjoyed peace and plenty, and fat every man under his vine and fig-tree, eatuig and drinking and making merry, as 1 Kings iv. 20. — Now they were in the highefi pitch of earthly profperity, filver being as plenty as ifones, and the land full of gold, and precious floncs, and other precious foreign commodities, which ^vere brought by Solomon's fhips from Ophir ^nd which came from other parts of the world : — Now they had a king reigning over them that was the wifeft of men, and probably the greateft earthly prince that ever was : ■ — Now their fame went abroad into all the earth, fp that they came from the utmioft parts of the earth to fee their glory arid their happineis. Thus God was pleafed, in one of the anceflors of Chrift, remiarkably to fliadow forth ijie kingdom of Chrift reigning m his glory. David, that was a man of war, a man who had fhed much blood, and whpfe lif? was full of troubles and conflifls, was more of a repre- fcntation of Chrifl in his flate of humiliation, his mi- litant flate, \vherein he was confli6]ing with liis ene- jnies. But Solomon that was a man of peace, was a icprefcntation more efpecially of Chrifl exalted, tri- umphing, and reigning in his kingdom of peace. And the happy glorious frate of the Jewifh church at that time, did rcm.arkably reprefent two things: 1. That laborious flate of the church on earth, that fhall be in the latter ages of the world ; thofe days of peace, when nation fliall not lift fword againfl nation, nor learn war any more. 2. The future glorified flate of the church iii Heaven. The earthly Canaan never was fo lively a type of the Heavenly Canaan as it was then, when the hap- py people of Ifrael did indeed enjoy it as a land flowing with milk and honey. XIV. After diis the glory of the Jewifh church gra- {liially declined mpre and more till Cjirifl came ; yet not Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION. 135. fo but that the work of redemption fllll went on. Whatever failed or declined, God i\i\\ carried on this work from age to age ; this building was ftill advancing higher and higher. Things ftill went on, during the dechne of the Jcwifti church, towards a furtlier prepa- ration of things for the coming of Chrift, as well as during its increaf'e ; for fo wondei fully were things or- dered by the infinitely wife governor of the world, that whatever happened was ordered for good to this gene- ral defign, and made a means of promoting it. When the people of the Jews flourifhed, and were in profpe- rity, he made that to contribute to the promoting this dtCign ; and when they ^vere in adverfity, God made that alfo to contribute to the carrying on of the fame defign. While the Jewifh church was in its increafmg ilate, the work of redemption was carried on by their increafe ; and when they came to their declining ftate, which they were in from Solomon's time till Chrift, God carried on the work of redemption by that. That decline itfelf was one thing that God made ufe of as a further preparation for Chrift's coming. As the moon, from the tim.e of its full, is approach- ino- nearer and nearer to her coniunclion with the fun ; fo her light is fliil more and more decreafmg, till at length, when the conjunftion comes, it is wholly fwal- lowed up in the light of the fun. So it v/as wiih the Jewifh church from the time of its higheft glory in So- lomon's time. In the latter end of Solomon's reign, the ftate of things began to darken, by Solomon's cor- rupting himfclf with idolatry, which much obfcured the glory of this mighty and wife prince ; and withal trou- bles began to arife in his kingdom ; and after his death the kingdom was divided, and ten tribes revolted, and withdiew their fubje6Hon from the houfe of Da\'id, withal falling av/ay from the true ^vorflrip of God in the temple at Jerufalem, and ^ttin^x up the golden calves of Bethel and Dan. And prcfently after this the num- ber of the ten tribes was greatly diminiflied in tlie battle of Jeroboam with Abijah, wherein there fell down flain of Ifrael five hundred thoufand chofcn men ; which lofs the kingdom of Ifrael probably never in any mcafure recovered. The ten tribes finally apodatifed from the true GqcI under Jeroboam, and the kingd»om of Judah was grear- iy 136 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L ly corrupted, and from that time forward were more generally in a corrupt ilate than otherwife. In Ahab's time the kingdom of Ifrael did not only worfhip the calves of Bethel and Dan, but the worlhip of Baal was introduced. Before they pretended to worfhip the true God by thefe images, the calves of Jeroboam ; but now Ahab introduced grofs idolatry, and the diretf worfiiip of falfe gods in the room of the true God ; and foon after the worfhip of Baal was introduced into the king- dom of Judah, VIZ. in Jehoram's reign, by his marr)'- ing Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. After this God began to cut Ifrael fhort, by finally deftroying and fend- ing into captivity that part of the land that was beyond Jordan, as you may fee in 2 Kings x. 32. &c. And then after this Tiglath-Pilezer ftibducd and captivated ail the northern parts of the land ; 2 Kings xv. 29. and then at lafl; all the land of the ten tribes was fubdued by Salmanefer, and they were finally carried captive out of their own land. After this alfo the kingdom of Judah was carried captive into Babylon, and a great part of the nation never returned. Thofe that return- ed were but a fmall number, compared with what had been carried captive ; and for the moft part after this they were dependent on the power of other Hates, be- ing fubjeft one while to the kings of Perfia, then to the monarchy of the Grecians, and then to the Romans. And before Chriil's time, the church of the Jews was become exceeding corrupt, over-run with fuperftition and felf-righteoufnefs. And how fmall a flock was the church of Chrifl in the da)^s of his incarnation ! God, by this gradual decline of the Jewifh ffate and church from Solomon's time, prepared the way for the coming of Chriil feveral ways. 1. The decline of the glory of this legal difpenfation, made way for the introduction of the more glorious difpenfation of the gofpel* I'he decline of theglor)'- of the legal difpenfation, was to make way-^br the intro- duftion of the evangelical difpenfation, that was fo much more glorious, that the l^-ral difpenfation had no glory in comparifon wi:h it. Tlie glory of the ancient dif- penfation, fuch as it was in Solom.on's time, confifling fo much in external glory, was but a childifli glory, compared with the fuiritual glory of the difpenfation introduced Part V. The Work of REDEMPTION. 137- introduced by Chrift. The church, under the Old Tellament, was a child under tutors and governors, and God dealt with it as a child. Thofc pompous ex- ternals are called by the apoftle, weak and beggarly elt^ meats. It was fit that thofe thuigs Ihould be diniinifli- ed as Chrift approached ; as John the Baptiil, the fore- runner of Chriif, fpeaking of Chrill, fays, " He muft *' increafe, but I muft decreafe," John iii. 30. It is fit that the twinkling ftars Ihould gradually withdraw their glory, when the fun is approaching towards his rifmg. The glory of the Jewifh difpenfation muft be gradually diminilhcd, to prepare the way for the more joyful re- ception of the fpiritual glory of the gofpcl. If die Jew- ilh church, when Chrift came, had been in the fame external glory that it was in, in the reign of Solomon, n\i^\\ would have had their eyes fo dazzled with it, that they would not have been likely joyfully to exchange fuch great external glory, for onl)^ the fpiritual glory of the poor defpifed Jefus. Again, 2. This gradual decline of the glory of the Jewifh ilate, tended to prepare the way for Chrift's coming an- other way, viz. as it tended to make the glory of God's power, in the great efiPefts of Chrift's redemption, the more confpicuous. God's people's being fo diminifhed and weakened by one ftep after another, till Chrift came, was very much like the diminilhing Gideon's ar- my. God told Gideon that the people that was with him, was too many for him to deliver the Midianites into their hands, left Ifrael fhould vaunt themfelves a- gainft him, faying, " My o\v^n hand hath faved me.'* And therefore all that were fearful were commanded to return ; and there returned twenty and two thou- fand, and there remained ten thoufand. But ftill they were too many ; and then, by trying the people at the water, they were reduced to three hundred men. So tlie people in Solomon's time were too many, and mighty, and glorious for Chrift ; therefore he dimi- nifhed them ; firft, by fending off the ten tribes ; and then he diminiflied them again by the captivity fhto Ba- bylon : and then they were further diminifhed by the great and general corruption that there w^as when Chrift came ; fo that Chrift found very few godly perfons among them : ^d with a frnall handful of difciplcs, P Chrift ^38 A H I S T O H Y pt Period t Chrifr cOxnqr.cred the world. Thus high things were brought down, that Chrift might'he exalted. 3. This prepared the way for Chriil's coTning, as it inade the Talvation of thofe Jews that were hvcd hy "Chrift, to be more fcnfible and vinble. Though the greatcf part of the nation of the Jews was rejetied, and the Gentiles called in their room ; yet there were a great many thoufands of the Jews that were f^^ved by Chriri after his refurre61ion, Afis xxi. 20. They being taken from fo low a ftate under temporal calamity in- their bondage to the Rom.ans, and from a ^ate of great fnperflition and wickednefs, that the Jewifii nation was' then fallen into ; it made their redemption the more i'enfibly and vifibly glorious. I have taken notice of this difpenfation of providence in. the gradual decline of the Jewifli church in this place, becaufe it began in the reign of Solomon. XV. 1 would here take notice of the additions thr.i tvere made to the canon of fcriptnre in or foon after the reign of Solomon. There were confiderable addi- tions made by Solomon himfelf, who wrote the books of Proverbs and Ecclefialles, probably near the clofe of hi;? reign. His writing the Song of Song?, as it is called, is what is eipecially here to be taken notice of, which h tvholly on the fubjeft that we are upon, viz. Chrift and his redemption, reprefenting the high and glorious re- lation, and union, and love,' that is between Chrift anc? his redeemed church. And the hiftory of the fcrip- tures feems, in Solomon's reign, and fome of the next fucceeding reigns, to have been added to by the pro- pliets Nathan and Ahijah, and Shemaiah and Iddo. It is probable that part of the hiftory which we have in the firft o-f Kings, was written by them, by what is faid 2' Chron. ix. 29. and in chap. xii. 15. and in chap. :Kiii. 22. XVI. God^s wonderfully upholding his church and ilie true rehgion through this period. It was ver)- won- derful, .confidering the many and great apoftafies that there were of that people to idolatiy. When the ten tribes had generally and finally forfaken the true wor- fnip of God, God kept up the true religion in the king- dom of Jiidah ; and when they corrupted thcmfelves, as Part V. The Work of REDEMFI^ION. 139 iis tlicy very often did exceedingly, and idolatiy was jready totally to fwallow all up, yet God kept the lamp alive, and was often pleafed when things fee ned to be comfc to an extremity, and religion at its lafl gafp, to grant blcffed revivals by remarkable outpomings of his Ipirit, paiticularly in ficzekiah's and Jofiah's tunc. XVII. God remarkably kept the book of tlie law from being loll in times of general and long-continue," i. e. the diadem and crown of Ifrael, or the fupreme temporal dominion over God's vifible people. This God faid Ihould be no more, i. e, the crown fhould be takien off, and the diadem remo- ved, as it is faid in the foregoing verfe. The fupreme power over Ifrael Ihould be no more in the royal line of David, to which it properly belonged, but fliould be removed away, and given to others, and overturned from one to another : firft the fupreme power over If- rael Ihould be in the bands of the Perfians ; and then it Ihoi^id b^ overturned again ; and then it lliould be in the Part VL The Wo h k o f REDEMPTION. 15 1 the hands of the Grecians ; and tlien It fhould be over- turned again, and come Into the hands of the Romans, and fhould be no more in the line of David, till that very perfon (houkl come, that was the (on of David, whofe proper right it was, and then God would give it to him. That thofe great fhaklngs arwi revolutions of the na- tions of the world, were all to prepare the way for Chrift's coming, and fetting up his kingdom in the world, is further manifefl by Haggai, ii. 6. 7. *' For •* thus faith the Lord of holls, Yet once, it is a little " while, and I will fhake the heavens, and the earthy ** and the fea, and the dry land : and I will fhake all ** nations, and the defire of all nations (hall come, and *' I will fill this houfe with glory, faith the Lord of *' hoRs." And again, veri. 21. 22. and 23. It is. evident by this, that thefe great revolutions and {bak- ing of the nations, whereby the thrones of klngdoma^ and armies were overthrown, and every one came down by the fword of his brother, were to prepare the way for the comi-ng of him who is the defire of all na- tions. The great changes and troubles that have fometimes been in the vifible church of Chrift, am in Rev. xii. 2. compared to the church's being in travail" to bring forth Chrift : fo thefe great troubles and mighty re- volutions that were in the world before Chrift was bom, were, as it were,, the worlds being in travail to bring forth the Son of God. The apoftle, in the 8th of Romans, reprefents the whole creation as groaning; and travailing in pain together until now, to bring fortU the liberty and manifeftation of the children of God. So the world as it were travailed in pain, and was ia continual convulfions, for feveral hundred years toge- ther, to bring forth the fitft born child, and the only- begotten Son of God. And thofe mighty revolutions were as fo many pangs and throes in order to it. The world being fo long a time kept in a ftate of war anct bloodlhed, prepared the way for the coming of the Prince of peace, as it ihowed the great need the world ftood in of fuch a prince to deli\ er the world from its miferies. It pleafed God to order it in his providence, that earthlv 152 A HISTORY of Penod I. -earthly power and dominion fhoiild be raifed to its greatelUieight, and appear in its utmoft glory, in thofe four great monarchies that fucceeded one another, and that every onefhoidd be greater and more glorious than the preceding, before he let up the kingdom of his Son. By this it appeared how much more glorious his fpiri- tiial kingdom was than the moll glorious temporal kingdom. The flrength and g'ory of Satan's king- dom in thefe four mighty monarchies, appeared in its greaieft height: for thofe monarchies were the mo- narchies of the heathen world, and fo the llrenoth of them was the ftrength of Satan's kingdom. God fuf- fered Satan's kingdom to rife to fo great a height of power and magnificence before his fon came to over- throw it, to prepare the way for the more glorious tri- umph of his Son. Goliath muft have on all his fplen- did armour when the llripling David comes againft liim with a fling and a ftone, for the gi-eater glory of Da« vid's viftory. God fulfered one of thofe great mo- narchies to fubdue another, and ereft itfelf on the o- ther's ruins, appearing flill in greater ftrength, and the laft to be the flrongeil: and mightieil; of all ; that lo Chrift, in overthrowing that, might as it were, over- throw them all at once ; as the ftone cut out of the mountain without hands, is reprefented as deftroying the whole image, the gold, the filver, the brafs, the iron, and the clay ; fo that all became as the chaff of the fumraer threlhin{T-floor. Thefe mighty empires were fufFered thus to overthrow the world, and deftroy one another : and though their power was fo great, yet they could not uphold them- felves, but fell one after another, and came to nothing, even the laft of them, that was the ftrongeft, and had fwallowed up the earth. It pleafed God thus to fliow in them the inftability and vanity of all earthly power and greatnefs ; which ferved as a foil to fet forth the glory of the kingdom of his Son, which never Ihall be deftroyed, as appears by Dan. ii. 44. " In the days of ** thefe kings ihall the God of heaven fet up a king- *' dom which Ihall never be deftroyed ; and the king- *• dom fhall not be left to other people, but it fliali *' break in pieces and confume all thefe kingdom.s, and *• it fhall ftand forever." So greatly does this king- dom Part VI. The Work of REDEMPTION. 153 dom differ from all thofe kingdoms : they vanifh away and are left to other people ; but this ihall not be left to other people, but Ihall Hand for ever. God fuHered the devil to do his utmoll, and to ellablifti his intcreft, by fetting up the greateft, ftrongeli, and moft glorious kingdoms in the world that he could, before the defpi- fed Jefus overthrew him and his empire. Chrill came into the world to bring down the high things of Satan's kingdom, that the hand of the Lord might be on every one that is proud and lofty, and ever)- high tower, and every lofty mountain ; as the prophet Ifaiah fays, chap- ii. 12. 8cc. And therefore thefe things were fuffered to rife very high, that Chrill might appear fo much the more glorious in being above them. Thus wonderfully did the great and wife governor of tlie world prepare the way for the erefting of the glori- ous kingdom of his beloved ion Jefus. 3. Another thing for which this laft period orfpace of time before Chrift was particularly remarkable, was the wonderful prefervation of the church through all thofe overturnings. The preferv^atiori of the church was on fome accounts more remarkable through thi,$ period, than through any of the foregoing. It was very wonderful that the church, which in this period was fo weak, and in fo low a ftate, and moilly fubjeft to the dominion of Heathen monarchies, fhould be pre- ferved for five or fix hundred years together, while the world was fo often overturned, and the earth was rent in pieces, and made fo often empty and wafte, and the inhabitants of it came down fo often every one by the fword of his brother. I fay it was wonderful that the church in its weak and low ftate, being but a little handful of men, fiiould be preferved in all thefe great convulfions ; efpecially confidcring that the land of Ju- dea, the chief place of the church's refidence, lay in the midft of them, as it were in the middle between the contending parties, and was very much the feat of war amongft them, and was often over-run and fubdued, and fometimes in the hands of one people, and fome- times another, and very much the objeft of the envy and hatred of all Heathen nations, and often almcft ruined by them, often great multitudes of its inhabi- tants being flain, and the land in a great meafure depo-- R pulated; iS4 A H I g T O R r oy P And thefe are over and above thofe ways wherein the fetting up and overthrowing the four monarchies of the world did promote the work of redemption, which have been before obferved. IV. What next followed this was, the return of the Jews to their own land, and rebuilding Jerufalcm and the temple. Cyrus, as foon as he had deitroyed the JBabylonifh empire, and had erefted the Pcfian empire on its ruins, made a decree in favour of the Jews, that they might return to their own land, and rebuild their city and temple. This return of the Jews out of the Babylonifli captivity is, next to the redemption out of Eg^'pr, the moft remarkable of all the Old Teflam.ent redemptions, and moft infifted on in fcripturp, as a type of the great redemption of Jefus Chrilh It was under the hand of one of the legal anceftors of Chrift, viz. Zerubbabel, the fon of Shealtiel, whofe Babylo- nifli name was Shefhbazzar. He was the governor of the Jews, and their leader in their firft return out of captivity; and, together with Jofhua, the fon of Jofe-r dek the high prieft, had the chief hand in re-building Ithe temple. This redemption was brought about hy the hand of Zerubbabel and Joihua the prieft, as the redemption out of Egypt was brought about by the hand of Mofes and Aaron. The return out of the captivity was a remarkable dif- penfation of providence. It was remarkable, that the heart of a Heathen prince, as Cyrus was, fhould be fo inclined to favour fuch a defign as he did, not only in. giving the people liberty to return, and re-build the city and temple, but in giving charge that they fhould be helped with filver and gold, and v/ith goods, and with beafts, as we read in Ezra i. 4. And afterwards God wonderfully inclined the heart of Darius to further the building of the houfe of God with his own tribute-. money, and by commanding their bitter enemies, the Samaritans, who had been ftriving to hinder them, to help them without fail, by furnilhing them with all that they needed in order to it, and to fupply them day by day ; making a decree, that whofoever failed of it, timber ihould be pulled down out of his houfe, and he hanged thereon, and his houfe made a dunghill ; as we have an accouyit in the 6th chapter of Ei^ra. And after this ibG A H I S T O R Y OF Period I. this God inclined the heart of Artaxerxes, another king of Perfia, to promote the work of reftoring the {late of the Jews, by his ample commifTion to Ezra, which we have an account of in the 7th chapter of Ezra ; helping them abundantly with filver and gold of liis own bounty, and offering more, as fhould be need- ful, out of the King's treafure-houfe, and commanding his treafurers beyond the river Euphrates to give more, as fhould be needed, unto an hundred talents of filver, and an hundred meafures of wheat, an hundred baths of wine, and an hundred baths of oil, and fait, with- out prefcribing how much ; and giving leave to eftablifh inagiilrates in the land ; and freeing the priefts from toll, tribute, and cuftom, and other things, which render this decree and comniifrion by Artaxerxes the moft full and ample in the Jews favour of any that, at any time, had been given for the reftoring of Jerufalem : and therefore, in. Daniel's prophecy, this is called the decree for reftoring and building Jerufalem ; and hence the feventy weeks are dated. And then, after this, another favourable commifti- on was granted by the King of PeiTia to Nehemiah, which we have an account of in the 2d chapter of Ne- hemiah. It was remarkable that the hearts of Heathen princes ihould be fo inclined. It was the effeft of his power, who hath the hearts of kinscs in his hands, and turneth them whitherfoever he will ; ^nd it w^as a remarkable inftance of his favour to his people. Another remarkable circumftance of this reftitution of the ftate of the Jews to their own land was, that it was accomplilhed againft fo much oppofition of their bitter indefatigable enemies the Samaritans, who, for a long time together, with all the malice and craft they could exercife, oppofed the Jews in this affair, and fought their deftruftion ; one while by Bifhlam, Mith- ridath, Tabeel, Rehum, and Shimfhai, as in Ezra iv. and then by Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and their compa- iiions, as in chap v. and afterwards by Sanballat and Tobiah, as we read in the book of Nehemiah. We have fhewed before how the fettlement of the people in this land in Jofhua's time promoted the work of redem.ption. On the fame accounts does their rcfti- tuticxi Part VI. The Work of REDEMPTION. 167 tulioii belong to the fame work. The rc-fettlcment of the Jews in the land of Canaan belongs to this work, as it was a neceffary means of jirefervlng the Jewifli church and difpenfation in being, till Chrilt fliould come. If it had not been for this reftoration of the JewiOi church, and temple, and worfliip, the people had remained without any temple, and land of their own, that fliould be as it were their head-quarters, a place of worfliip, habitation, and refort ; the whole conflitu- tion, which God had done fo much to eftablifli, would have been in danger of utterly failing, long before that fix hundred years had been out, which was from about the time of the captivity till Chrift. And fo all that preparation which God had been making for the coming of Chrilt, from the time of Abraham, would have been in vain. Now that very temple was built that God would fill with glory by Chiift's coming into it, as the Prophet's Haggai and Zechariah told the Jews to encourage them in building it. V. The next particular I would obferve, is the ad- dition made to the canon of the fcriptures foon after the captivity by the prophets Haggai, and Zechariah, who were prophets fent to encourage the people in their w^ork of re-building the city and temple ; and the main argument they make ufe of to that end, is the approach of the time of the coming of Chrift. Haggai foretold that Chrift fhould be of Zerubbabels legal pofterity, laft chapter laft verfe. This feem^s to be the laft and moft particular revelation of the defcent of Chrift, till the angel Gabriel \vas fent to reveal it to his mother Mar)^ VI. The next thing I would take notice of, was the pouring out of the Spirit of God that accompanied the miniftiy of Ezra the prieft after the captivity. That there was fuch a pouring out of the Spirit of God that accompanied Ezra's miniftry, is manifefl by many things in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Prefently after Ezra came up from Babylon, with the ample commif- fion which Artaxcrxes gave him, whence Daniel's fe- venty weeks began, he fet himfelf to reform the vices and corruptions he found among the Jews ; and his great'fuccefi in it we have an 'iccomit of in the loih chapter i68 A HISTORY OF Period I. chapter of Ezra ; fo that there appeared a very general and great mourning of the congregation of Ifrael for their fins, which was accompanied with a foleran co- venant that the people entered into with God ; and this was followed with a great and general reformation, as we have there an account. And the people about the fame time, with great zeal andearneffners and reverence, gathered themfelves together to hear the word of God read by Ezra ; and gave diligent attention, while Ezra and the other priells preached to them, by reading and expounding the law, and were greatly affefted in the hearing of it. They wept when they heard the words of the law, and fet themfelves to obferve the law, and kept the feaft of tabernacles, as the fcripture ob- fcnes, after fuch a manner as it had not been kept ilnce the da) s of Jofhua the fon of Nun ; as we have account in the 8th chapter of Nehemaah : And after this, having feparated themfelves from all flrangers, tliey folemnly obferved a fall, by hearing the word of God, confefling their fins, and renewing their cove- nant with God : and manifefted their fincerity in that tranfaftion, by a8.ually reforming many abufes in re- ligion and morals ; as we learn from the 9th and fol- knving chapter of Nehemiah, It is obfervable, that it hasbeen God's manner in every remarkable new eflablifliment of the Hate of his vifible church, to give a remarkable outpouring of his fpirit. So it was on the firft ellablifhment of the church of the Jews at their fiifl coming into Canaan under Jolhua, as has been obferved ; and fo it was now in this fecand fettlement of the church in the fame land in the time of Ezra ; and fo it was on the firft eflablilhment of the ChriP.ian church after Chrifl's refurreftion ; God wifely and gracioully laying the foundation of thofe eRablilhments in a work of his holy Spirit, for the lading benefit of the ftate of his church, thencefor- ward continued in thofe eflablifliments. And this ])t)uring out of the fpirit of God, was a final cure of that nation of that particular fin which jufl before they cfpecially run into, viz. hilermarrying with the Gen- tiles : for liowever inclined to it they were before, they e^ cr iUici iliC'.ved an avcrfion to it. VII. Ezra Part VI. The Work of REDEMPTION. 169 VII. Ezra added to the canon of the fcriptures. He wrote the book of Ezra ; and he is fuppoled to have written the two books of Chronicles, at Icaft of com- piHng them, if he was not the author of the materials, or all the parts of thefe writings. That thefe books were written, or compiled and completed, after the cap- tivity, the things contained in the books themfelves make manifefl ; for the genealogies contained therein are brought down below the captivity ; as 1 Chron.iii. 17. 8:c. We have there an account of the poflerity of Je- hoiachin for feveral fucccfFive generations. And there is mention in thefe books of this captivity into Babylon, as of a thing paft, and of things that were done on the return of the Jews after the captivity ; as you may fee in the 9th chapter of 1 Cliron. The chapter is moftly filled up with an account of things that came to pafs af- ter the captivity into Babylon, as you may fee by com- paring it with what is faid in the books of Ezra and Ne- hemiah. And that Ezra was the perfon that compiled thefe books, is probable by this, becaufe they conclude with words that we know are the words of Ezra's hi- flor}^ The two laft verfes are Ezra's words in the hi- llory he gives in the two firfl verfes of the book of Ezra. VIII. Ezra is fuppofed tohave collected all the books of which the holy fcriptures did then confift, and dif- pofed them in their proper order. Ezra is often fpo- ken of as a noted and eminent fcribe of the law of God, and the canon of fcripture in his time was manifeftly under his fpecial care ; and the Jews, from the firft ac- counts we have from them, have always held, that the canon of fcripture, fo much of it as was then extant^ was collefted, and orderly difpofed and fettled by Ezra; and that from him they have delivered it dov/n in the order in which he difpofed it, till Chrift's time ; when *the Chriftian church received it from them, and have delivered it down to our times. And the truth of this is allowed as undoubted by divines in general. IX. The work of redemption was carried on and promoted in this period, by greatly multiplving the co- pies of the law, and appointing the conflant public read- ing of them in all the cities of Ifrael in their f)'na« gogues. It is evident, that before the captivity, there T wer? i-jo A HISTORY OF Period L were but few copies of the law. There was the original, laid up befide the ark; and the kings were required to write out a copy of the law for their ufe, and the law was required to be read to the whole congregation of Ifracl once every feventh year. And we have no ac- count of any other ftated public reading of the law be- fore the captivity but this. And it is manifeft by feve- ral things that might be mentioned, that copies of the law were exceeding rare before the captivity. But af- ter the captivity, the conflant reading of the law was let up in every fynagogue throughout the land. Firft, they began with reading the law, and then they pro- ceeded to eftablifh the conflant reading of the other books of the Old Tellament. And lelfons were read out of the Old Teftament, as made up of both the law raid the other parts of the fcripture then extant, in all the f) nagogues, which were fet up in every city, and every -where, wherever the Jews in any confiderable number dwelt, as our meeting-houfes are. Thus we find it was in Chrift's and the apoftles time, A61s kv. 2 1 . *' Mofes of old time hath in every city them that preach *' him, being read in the fynagogues every fabbath-day." This cuftom is univerfal.ly fuppofed, both by Jews and Chriilians, to be begun by Ezra. There were boubt- lefs public affemblies before the captivity into Babylon. They ufed to alTemble at the temple at their great feafts, and were direfted, when they were at a lofs about any thing in the law, to go to tlie prieft for inllruclion ; and they ufed alfo to refort to the prophets houfes: and we read of fynagogues in the land before, Pfal. Ixxiv. 8. But it is not fuppofed that they had copies of the law for ccnftant public readin\-hich human wifdom would have taken. He brought Kis own vifible people very low, and made them weak; but the Heathen, that w^ere his enemies, he exalted to the greateft height, for the more glorious triumph of the crofs of Chrift. With a fmall number in their greateft weaknefs, he conquered his enemies in their greateft glory. Thus Chrift triumphed over principa- lities and powers in his crofs. Auguftus Caefar had been for many years eftablifh^ ing the ftate of the Roman empire, fubduing his ene- mies in one part and another, till the vei-y year that Chrift was born ; when all his enemies being fubdued, and his dominion over the world feemed to be fettled in its greateft gloiy. All was eftablifhed in peace ; in to- ken whereof the Romans fhut up the temple of Janus, which was an eftablifhed fymbol among them of there being univerfal peace throughout the Roman empire. And this univerfal peace, which was begun that year that Chrift was born, and lafted tvv^elve years, till the year that Chrift difputed with doftors in the temple. Thus the world, after it had been, as it were, in a continual convulfion for fo many hundred years toge- ther, like the four winds ftriving together on the tu- multuous raging ocean, whence arofe thofe four great monarchies, being now eftablifhed in the greateft height cf the fourth and laft monarchy, and fettled in quiet- nefs ; now all things are ready for the birth of Chrift. This remarkable univerfal peace, after fo manv ages of tumult and war, was a fit prelude for the ufliering of the glorious prince of peace into the world. Thus I have gone through the firft grand period of the whole fpace between the fall of man and the end of the world, viz, that from the fall to tl:e time of the in- carnation i82 , A HISTORY OF PeriodL carnation of Chrift ; and have fhown the truth of the lirft proportion, viz. That frpm the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrifly God was doing thofe things that .were preparatory to Chrift's coming, ar^d were forerun- ners of it. IMPROVEMENT. BEFORE I proceed to the next propofition, I would make fome few remarks, by way of improvement, upon what has been faid under this. I. From what has been faid, we may ftrongly argue, that Jefus of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world ; and fo that the Chriftian re- ligion is the tnae religion, feeing that Chrift is the very perfon fo evidently pointed at, in all the great difpen- fations of divine providence from the very fall of man, and was fo undoubtedly in fo many inftances foretold from age to age, and {hadowed forth in a vaft variety of types and figures. If we ferioufly confider the courfe of things from the beginning, and obferve the motions of all the great Vv^heels of providence from one age to another, we fliall difcern that they all tend hither. They are all as fo many lines, whofe courfe, if it be obferved and accurately followed, it will be found that every one centres here. It is fo very plain in many things, that it would argue fmpidity to deny it. Thi? tliercfore is undeniable, that this perfon is a divine perfon fcnt from God, that came into the world with iiis commiflion and authority, to do his work, and to declare his mind. The great governor of the world, in all his great works before and fmce the flood, to jews and Gentiles, down to the time of Chrift's birth, has "declared it. It cannot be any vain imagination, but a plain and evident truth, that that perfon that was born at Bethlehem, and dwelt at Nazareth, and at Ca- pernaum, and was crucified without the gates of Jeru- ialem, mud be the great Mefllah, or anointed of God. And blcffed are all they that believe la, and confefs him,, iind miferable are all that deny him. This fliows the imreafonablcncfs of the DeiUs, who deny revealed re^ Ijgion, Impr. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 183 ligioii, and of the Jews, who deny that this Jefus is the Mefliah foretold and promifed to their fathers. Here it may be fome perfons may be ready to objeft, and fay, That it may be, fome fubtle, cunning men con- trived this hiftory, and thefe prophecies, fo that they fliould all point to Jefus Chrill on purpofe to confirm it, that he is the MefTiah. To fuch it may be replied, How could fuch a thing be contrived by cunning men to point to Jefus Chrift, long before he ever was born ? How could they know that ever any fuch perfon would be born ? And how could their craft and fubtilty help them to forefee and point at an event that was to come to pafs many ages afterwards ? for no faft can be more evident than that the Jews had thofe writings long be- fore Chrift was born ; as they have them ftill in great veneration^ wherever they are, in all their difperfions through the v/orld ; and they would never have receiv- ed fuch a contrivance from Chiiflian's, to point to and confirm Jefus to be the Mefhah, whom they always denied to be the Mefhah ; and much lefs would thev have been made to believe that they always had had thofe books in their hands, when they were firft made and impofed upon them. II. What has been faid, affords a ftrong argument for the divine authority of the books of the Old Tef- tament, from that admirable harmony there is in them, whereby they all point to the fame thuig. For we may fee by what has been faid, how all the parts of the Old Teftament, though written by fo many different penmen, and in ages diftant one from another, do all harmonize one with another ; all agree in one, and all centre in the fame thing, and that a future thing; an event which it was impofTible any one of them fhould know- but by divine revelation, even the future coming of Chrift. This is moft evident and manifeft in them, zs appears by what has been faid. Now, if the Old Teftament wasnotinfpircd by God, xvhat account can be given of fuch an agreement ? for if thefe books were only human writings, written with- out any divine direction, then none of thefe penmen knew that there would come fuch a perfon as Jefus Chrift into the world ; his coming was only a mere fig- ment of their own brain : and if io. bow happened 4t, that: i84 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L that this figment of tl.eirs came to pafs ? How came a vain imaginalion of theirs, which they foretold without any manner of ground for their prediOiori, to be exaftly lulfilled ? and efpecially how did they come all to agree in it ; all pointing exaftly to the fame thing, though many of them lived lo many hundred years dif- tant one from another ? This admirable confent and agreeiPiCnt in a future event, is therefore a clear and certain evidence of the divine authority of thofe writings. III. Hence we may learn what a weak and ignorant objection it is thai fome make againft fonie parts of the Old Tellament's being the word of God, that they con- lift fo much of hifloiies of the wars and civil tranfac- tions of (he kings and people of the nation of the Jews. Some fay, we find here among the books of a particular nation, hiilories which they kept of the flate of their nation, from one age to another, hiflories of their kings and rulers, hiftories of their wars with the neighbouring nations, and hiflories of the changes that happened from time to time in their If ate and govern- ment : and fo w^e find that other nations ufed to keep hiilories of their public affairs, as well as they ; and why then fliould we think that thefe hiflories which the Jews kept, are the word of God, more than thofe of other people ? But what has been faid, fhows the folly and vanity of fuch an objeftion. For hereby it appears that the cafe of thefe hiflories is very different from that of all other hiflories. This hiflory alone gives us an account of the firfl original of all things ; and this hif- tory alone deduces things down in a wonderful feries from that original, giving an idea of the grand fcheme of divine providence, as tending to its great end. And together with the doftrines and prophecies contained in it, the farrie book gives a view of the whole feries of the great events of divine providence, from the firfl ori- ginal to the lafl end and confumimation of all things, giving an excellent and glorious account of the wife and holy defigns of the governor of the world in all. No com.mon hiflory has fuch penmen as this hiflory, M'hich was all written by men who came with evident fni/is and teilimonies of their being prophets of the moft high God, immediately infpircd. And Impr. The Work OF REDEMPTION. iS o And the hiftories that were written, as we have feen from what has been laid under this propofition, do all contain thofe great events of providence, by which it appears how God has been carrying on the glorious divine work of redemption from age to age. Though they are hillories, yet they are no lefs full of divine in- ftriiftion, and thofe things that fhow forth Chrift, and his glorious gofpel, than other parts of the holy fcrip- turcs which are not hiftorical. To ob']ei\ againft a book's being divine, merely be- caufe it is hifiorical, is a poor objeclion ; juft as if that could not be the word of God which gives an account of \v^hat is part ; or as though it were not reafonable to fuppofe, that God, in a revelation he fhould give man- kind, would give us any relation of the difpenfations of his own providence. If it be fo, it muft be becaufe his works are not worthy to be related ; it muft bebe- caut'e the fcheme of his governmcn% and feries of his difoenfations towards his church, and towards the world that he has made, whereby he has ordered and difpofed it from age to age, is not worthy that any record fliould be kept of it. The obje6Hon that is made, That it is a commion thing for nations and kingdoms to write hiftories and keep records of their wars, and the revolutions that come to pafs in their territories, is fo far from being a weighty objeftion againft the hiftorical part of fcrip- ture, as though it were not the word of God, that it is a ftrong argument in favour of it. For if reafon and the light of nature teaches all civilized nations to keep records of the events of their human government, and the feries of their adminiftrations, and to publilh hifto- ries for the information of others ; how much more may we expeft that God would give the world a record of the difpenfations of his divine government, which doubtlefs is infinitely more worthy of an hiftory for our information ? If wife kings have taken care that there (hould be good hiftories written of the nations over which thev ha\'e reigned, (liall we think it incredible, that Jefus Chrift ftiould take care that his church, which is his nation, his peculiar people, (hould have in their hands a certain infallible hiftoiy of their nation, and o£ his governm.ent of them ? X If i86 A H I S T O R Y OF Period L If it had not been for the hiftory of the Old Tefla- ment, how wofulJy fhould we have been left in the dark about many things which the church of God needs to know ! How ignorant fhould we have been of God's dealings towards mankind, and towards his church, from the beginning ! And we would have been .wholly in the- dark about the creation of the world, the fall of man, the firft rife and continued progrefs of the difpenfations of grace towards fallen mankind! And we fhould have known nothing how God at firft fet up a church in the world, and how it was preferved ; after what manner he governed it from the beginning ; how the light of the gofpel firft began to dawn in the world ; how it increafed, and how things were preparing for the coming of Chrift. If we are Chriftians, we belong to that building of God that has been the fubjeft of our difcourfe from this text : but if it had not been for the hiftoiy of the Old Teftament, we Ihould never have known what was the firft occafion of God's going about this building, and how the foundation of it was laid at firft, and how it has gone on from the beginning. The times of the hiftory of the Old Teftament are moftly times that no other hiftory reaches up to ; and therefore, if God had nat taken care to give and preferve an account of thefe things for us, we ftiould have been wholly without them. Thofe that obje^l againft the authority of the Old Teftament hiftory of the nation of the Jews, m.ay as well make it an objection againft Mofcs's account of the creation that it is hiftorical ; for, in the other, we have an hiftory of a work no lefs important, viz. the work of redemption. Yea, this is a far greater and more glorious v.'Ork, as we obferved before ; that if it be in- quired which of the two works, the work of creation, or the work of providence, is greateft ? It muft be an- fwered, the work of providence ; but the work of re- demption is the greateft of the works of providence. And let thofe who make this objeftion confider what part of the Old Teftament hiftory can be fpared, with- out making a great breach in that thread or feries of events by which this glorious work has been carried oil, — This leads me to obferve, IV. That, Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 187 IV. That, from what has been faid, we may fee much of the wnfdom of God in the compofition of the fcriptures of the Oid Teftament, i. e. in the parts of which it confifls. By what has been faid, we may fee that God hath wifely given us fuch revelations in the Old Teftament as we needed. Let us briefly take a view of the feveral parts of it, and of the need there was of them. Thus it was neceffary that we fliould have fome ac- count of the creation of the world, and of our firfl pa- rents, and their primitive ftate, and of the fall, and a brief account of the old world, and of the degenera- cy of it, and of the univerfal deluge, and fome account of the origin of nations after this deftruotion of man- kind. It feems neceffary that there fhculd be fome account of the fuccefTion of the church af God from the begin- ning : an;i feeing God fuffered all the world to dege- nerate, and only took one nation to be his people, to preferve the true worfhip and religion till the Saviour of the world Ihould come, that in them the world: might gradually be prepared for that great light, and. thofe Vv^onderful things that he was to be the author of, and that they might be a typical nation, and that in them God might fhadow forth and teach, as under a veil, all future glorious things of the gofpel ; it was therefore neceJOTary that we Ihould have fome account of this thing, how it was firft done by the calling of Abraham, and by their being I ond-flaves in Egypt, and. how they were brought to Canaan, It \v'as neceffary that we fliould have fome account of the revelation which God made of himfelf to that people, in giving their law, and in the appointment of their typical wor- fhip, and thofe things wherein the gofpel is veiled, and of the forming of that people, both as to their civil and ecclefiaflical itate. It feems exceeding neceffary that we fhould have, fome account of their being a6lually brought to Ca- naan, the country that was their promifed land^ and where they always dwelt. It feems very neceffary that we fhould have an hiflory of the fiiccc*' ons of the. church of Ifrael, and of thofe providences of God to^. \yards them, which w^ere mofl confiderable and fullefii; X 2 Q^ i88 A HISTORY OF Period I. of gofpel-myflery. It feems necefTary that we fliould have (orre account of the higheft promifed external glory of that nation under David and Solomon, and that we fhould have a very particular account of Da- vid, whofe hiftory is fo full of the gofpel and fo ne- cefTary in order to introduce the gofpel into the world, and in whom began the race of their kings ; and that we fhould have fome account of the building of the temple, which was alfo fo full of gofpel-myflery. And it is a matter of great confequence, that we fhould have fome account of Ifrael's dividing from Ju- dah, and of the ten tribes captivity and utter rejeftion, and a brief account why, and therefore a brief hiflory of them till that time. It is necefTary that we fhould have an account of the fuccefTion of the kings of jiidah, and of the church, till their captivity into Babylon ; and that we fiiould have fome account of their return from their captivity, and re-fettlement in their own land, and of the origin of the laft Hate that the church was in before Chrili cam.e. A little CGnfideraiiori will convince every one, that all thefe things were necelTary, and that none of them could be fpared ; and in the general, that it was necef- Tary that we fhould have an hiilory of God's church tilj Tuch times as are within the reach of human liiflories ; and- it was of vad importance that we fhould have an infpired hiflory of thofe times of the Jewifh church, wherein there wt.s kept up a more extraordinary inter- courfe between God and them, and while he ufed to dwell among them as it were vifibly, revealing himifelf by the Shcchina, by Urira and Thummim, and bv pro- phecy, and fo more immediately to crcier their affairs. And it was neceiTary that we fhould have fome account of the great difyenfations of God in prophecy, which Avere to be ai[er the finifliing of infpired hiflory ; and {o it was exceeding fuitable and needful that there fhould be a number of prophets railed v>^ho fhould fortcll the coming of the Son of God, and the nature and glory of his kingdom, to be as fo many harbingers to make way for him, and that their prophecies fliould remain iivjie church. It Was alfo a matter of great confequence that the church lliould have a book of divine fongs given by ia- fiaralion IiHpF. The Work of REDEMPTION. 189 fpiratlon from God, wherein there fhould be a Hvely reprefentation of the true fpirit of devotion, ot faith, hope, and divine love, joy, refignation, humiUty, obe- dience, repentance, &.c. and alfo that we fhould have fi-om God fuch books of moral inftrufclions as we have in Proverbs and Ecclefiaftes, relating to the affairs and fiate of mankind, and tlie concerns of human life, con- taining rules of tniewifdom and prudence for our con- du6t in allcircumflanccs ; and that we fhould have par- ticularly a fong reprefenting the great love between Chrift and his fpouf'e the church, particularly adapted to the difpofition and holy affefiionsof a true Chriftian foul towards Chrill, and reprefenting his grace and marvellous love to, and delight in his people; as we have in Solomon's Song ; and efpecially that we fhould have a book to teach us how to conduft ourfelves un- der afFiifiion, feeing the church of God here, is in a militant flate, and God's people do, through much tri- bulation, enter into the kingdom of heaven ; and the church is for fo long a time under trouble, and meets with fuch exceedingly fiery trials, and extreme fufPer- ings, before her time of peace and refl in the latter ages of the world fhall come : therefore God has given us a book mofl proper in thefe circumflances, even the book of Job, written upon occafion of the affli8ions of a particular faint, and was probably at firft given to the church in Egypt under her afFii6tions there ; and is made uk of by the apoflle to comfort Chriffians under perlecutions, James v. it. "Ye have heard of the pa- *• tience of Job, and have feen the end of the Lord : " that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy," God was aifo pleafed, in this book of Job, to give fome view of the ancient divinity before the giving of the law. Thus, from this brief review, I think it appears, that every part of the fcriptures of the Old Teflament is very ufeful and neceffary, and no part of it can be fpa- red, without lofs to the church. And therefore, as I faid, the wifdom of God is confpicuous in ordering that the fcriptures of the Old Teflament fhould confill of thofevery hooks of which they do confifl. Before I difmifs this particular, I w^ould add that it is very obfervabie, that the hiftory cf the Old Tefla- meut ipo A HISTORY o? Period I. ment is large and particulzir where the great affair of redemption required it ; as where there was mofl done towards this work, and mofl to typify Chrift, and to prepare the way for him. Thus it is very large and particular in the hiftory of Abraham and the other pa- triarchs ; but very fhort in. the account we have of the time v»^hich the children of Ifrael fpent in Egypt. So, again it is large in the account of the redemption out of Egypt, and the firft fettling of the affairs of the Jew- i(h church and nation in Mofes and Jofhua's time ; but inuch Ihorter in the account of the times of the Judges^ So again it is large and particular in the account of David's and Solomon's times, and then very fhort in the hiflory of the enfuing reigns. Thus the accounts are large or fliort, jufl as there is more oi; lefs of the affair of redemption to be feen in them. V. From what has been faid, we may fee that Chrift and his. redemption are the great fubjeft of the v/hole Bible. Concerning the New Teflament, the matter is plain ; and by what has been faid on this fubjeft hi- thert03 it appears to be fo alfo v/ith refpecf to the Old Teflament. Chrifl and his redemption is the great fub- jecl of the prophecies of the Old Teflament, as has been fhown. It has alfo been fhowm, that he is the great fubjccl of the fongs of the Old Teflament ; and the moral rules and precepts are all given in. fubordin^- tion to him. And Chrifl and his redemption are alfo the great fubjeft of the hiftory of the Old Teflament from the beginning all along ; and even the hiftory of the creation is brought in as an introduftion to the hif- tory at redemption that immediately follows it. The whole book, both Old. Teftament and New, is filled up with the Gofpel ; only with this difference, that the Old Teftament contains the gofpel under a veil, but the New contains it unveiled, fo that we may fee the glory of the Lord with open face. VI. By vvhat has been faid, we may fee the ufeful- nefs and excellency of the Old Teflament. Some are ready to look on the Old Teftament as being as it were out of date, and as if we in thefe days of the gofpel have but little to do with it ; which is a very great mif- take, arifing from want of obferving the nature and de- figa of the Old Teflament, which, if it were obfen'ed, would Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. igt would appear full of the gofpel of Chrlft, and would in an excellent manner illuftrate and confirm the glo- rious doftrincs and promifes of the New Tellament. Thofe parts of the Old Tedament which are commonly- looked upon as containing the leaft divine inftruftion, are as it were mines and treafures of gofpel knowledge ; and the rcafon why they are thought to contain fo little is, becaufe perfons do but fuperficially read them. The treafures which are hid undcineaih are not obferved. They only look on the top of the ground, and fo fud- denly pafs a judgment that there is nothing there. But they never dig into the mine ; if they did, they would find it richly ftored with filver and gold, and would be abundantly requited for their pains. What has been faid, may fliow us what a precious treafure God has committed into our hands, in that he has given us the Bible. How little do moft perfons con- fider how much they enjoy, in that thev have the pof- feffion of that holy book the Bible, Avhich they have in their hands, and may converfe with it as they pleafe. What an excellent book is this, and how far exceeding all human writings, that reveals God tons, and gives us a view of the grand defign and glorious fchem.e of pro- vidence from the beginning of the world, either in hif- tory or prophecy ; that reveals the great Redeemer and his glorious redemption, and the various fleps by which God accomplifhes it from the fird foundation to the top-ftone ! Shall we prize an hiflor)' which gives us a clear account of fomxC great earthly prince or mighty warrior, as of Alexander the Great, or Julius Caefar, or the Duke of Marlborough ? and fhall we not prize the hiftory that God gives us of tlie glorious kingdom of his Son Jefus Chrift, the Prince and Saviour, and of the wars and other crreat tranfaclions of that Kincc of kings, and Lord of armies, the Lord mighty in bat- tle ? the hillory of the things which he has wrought for the redemption of his chofen people ? VIL What has been faid, may make us fenfiblehow much moft perfons are to blame for their inattentive, unobfervant way of reading the fcriptures. Ho^v much. do the fcriptures contain, if it were but obferved ? The Bible is the moft com])rehenrive book in the world. 3ut what will all this fignify to us, if wc read it with- out 192 A H I S T O R Y OF Period I. out obferving wliat is the arift of the Holy Ghofl in it? The Pfdlmilt, Plal. cxix. 18. begs of God, " That he *' would enlighten his eyes that he might behold won- " dious things out of his law." The fcriptures are full of wondrous things. Thofe hiftories which are com- monly read as if they were only hiftories of the pri- vate concerns oi luch and fueli particular perfons, fuch as the hiftories of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and Jo- feph, and the hiltory of Ruih, and the hillories of par- ticular lawgivers and princes, as the hiflory of Jolhua and the Judges, and David, and the Ifraelitifn princes^ are accounts ot vaftly greater things, things of greater importance, and more extenfive concernment than they that read them are commonly aware of. The hillories of fcripture are commonly read as if they were llories only written to entertain mens fan- cies, and to while away their leifure hours, when the infinitely greater things contained or pointed at in them are palfed over and never taken notice of. Whatever trealures the fcriptures contain, we firall be never the better for them if we do not obferve them. He that has a Bible, and does not obferve what is contained in jt, is like a man who has a box full of filver and gold, and does not know it, does not obferve that it is any thing more than a vefTel filled with common flones. As long as it is thus with him, he will be never the better for his treafure : for he that knows not that he has a treafure, will never make ufe of what he has, and fo might as well be without it. He who has a plenty of the choiceft food ftored up in his houfe, and does not know it, will never tafte what he has, and will be as likely to ftarve as if his houfe were empty. VIII. What has been faid, may Ihow us how great a perfon Jefus Chrift is, and how great an errand he came into the world upon, feeing there was fo much done to prepare the way for his coming. God had been doing nothing elfe but prepare the way for his coming, and doing the work which he had to do in the world, through all ages of the world from the very beginning. If we had notice of a certain ftranger's being about to come into a country, and Ihotild obferve that a great, preparation was made for his coming, that many months ■were taken up in it, and great things were done, many great Impr. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 193 great alterations were made in the ftate of the whole country, and that many hands were emplo) ed, and per- fons of great note were engaged in making preparation for the coming of this perion, and the whole country was overturned, and all the affairs and concerns of the country were ordered fo as to be fubfervient to the de- fign of entertaining that perfon when he fhould come ; it would be natural for us to think with ourfelves, why, furely, this perfon is fome extraordinary perfon indeed, and it is fome ver)' great bufmefs that he is coming upon. How great a perfon then muft he be, for whofe com- ing into the world the great God of heaven and earth, and governor of all things, fpent four thoufand years in preparing the way, going about it foon after the world was created, and from age to age doing great things, bringing mighty events to pafs, accompliihing wonders without number, often overturning the world in order to it, and caufmg every thing in the ftate o£ mankind, and all revolutions and changes in the habit- able world from generation to generation to be fubfer- vient to this great defign ? Surely this mufl be fome great and extraordinary perfon indeed, and a great work indeed it mufl needs be that he is coming about. We read, Matth. xxi. 8. 9. 10. that when Chriff was coming into Jerufalem, and the multitudes ran before: him, and cut down branches of palm-trees, and flrew- cd them in the way, and others fpread their garments in the way, and cried, '' Hofanna to the fon of Da-. ** vid," that the whole city was moved, faying. Who is this ? They wondered who that extraordinary perfon fhould be, that there fhould be fuch an ado made on occafion of his coming into the city, and to prepare the way before him. But if we confider what has been faid on this fubjeft, what great things were done in all ages to prepare the way for Chriff 's coming into the world, and how the world was often overturned to make way for it, much more may we cry out, Who is this ? What great perfon is this ? And fay, as in Pfal, xxiv. 8. 10. *' Who is this King of glor)'," that God fliould fhow fuch refpeft, and put fuch vafl honour up- on him ? Surely this perfon is honourable indeed in God's eyes, and greatly beloved of him ; and furely i^ is a great errand upon which he is fent into the world. Y PERIOD i94 P E R I O fi it. HAVING fhown how the work of redemptiOi^ was carried on through the firfl: period, from the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrift, I come r.ow to the fecond period, viz. the time of Chrifl's humiliation, or the fpace from the incarnation of Chrift to his refurreftion. And this is the moil remaark-- able article of tim^e that ever was or ever will be.— Though it was but between thirty and forty years, yet more was done irt it than had been done from the beginning of the world to that time. We have obfer- ved, that all that had been done from the fall to the in- carnation of Chrift, v/as only preparatory for what was done now. And it may alfo be obferved, that all that was done before the beginning of time, in the eternal counfels of God, and that eternal tranfaftion there was betwen the perfons of the Trinity, chiefly refpeft- td this period. We therefore now proceed to confidcr ihejecond prapo/ition, viz. That during the time of Chrijl's humiliation, from ^Jiis incarnatio'n to his reJ'urreBioni the purcha/e of re* demptian was made. Though there were many things done in the affair of redemption from the fall of man to this time, though millions of facrifices had been offered up ; vet nothiug was done to purchafe redemption before Cbiift's incar- llation : no part of the purchafe was made, no part of the price was offered till now. But as foon as Chrift was incarnate, then the purchafe began imi'nediately without any delay. And the whole time of Cbiift's humiliation, from the morning that Chrift began to be incarnate, till the morning that he rofe from the dead, was taken up in this purchafe. And then the purchafe was entirely a/id completely finilhed. As nothing was done before Chrlft's incarnation, fo nothing was done after his refurreftion, to purchafe redemption for men. Nor will there ever be any thing more done to all eter- nity. But that very moment that the human nature of Chnlb Fart L A H I S T O R Y OF, &c. $95 Chrift ceafed to remain under the power of death, the utmofl farthing was paid of the price of the falvatioii of eveiy one of the ele8. But for the more orderly and regular conficleratlon of the great things done by our Redeemer, to purchafe redemption for us, 1. I would fpcak of Chrlfl's becoming incarnate to .capacitate himfelf for this purchafe ;— and, 2. I would fpeak of the purchafe itfelf.' PART I. THIRST, I would confider of Chrift's coming into JL the world, or his taking upon him our nature "to put himlelf HI a capacity to purchafe redemption for us.— Chrill became incarnate, or, which is the fame thinff, became man, to put himfelf in a capacity for worklnJ otit our redemption : for though Chrift, as God, wal infinitely fufficient for the work, yet to his beino- in an immediate capacity for it, it was needful that heldiould not only be God but man. If Chrift had remained on- ly in the divme nature, he would not have been in a ca- pacity to have purchafed our falvation ; not f]om any imperfeaion of the divine nature, but by reafon of its abfokite and infinite perfeaion: for Chrift, merely as God, was not capable either of that obedience or buf- fering that was needful. The divine nature is not ca- pable of fullering ; for it is infinitely above all fuffer- mg. Neither is it capable of obedience to that law that was given to man. It is as impoffible that one v/ho is oniy God, fhould obey the law that was o-iven to man as it is that he_ fhould fulFer man's punifhment. ' And it was neceffar)- not only that Chrift fhould take upon him a created nature, bat that he fhould take up- on him our nature. It would not have fufEced for us for Uirift to have become an angel, and to have obeyed and iufFered in an angelic nature. But it was necelTaiy' tiiat he fhould become a man, and that upon three ac- counts. 1. pzuas needful to anfzver the law, that that nature JhcuUl obey the law, to which the law was ^ivau Man's Y 2 la\y 196 A HISTORY OF Period II. law could not be anfwered, but by being obeyed by man. God infifted upon it, that the law which he had given toman fliouldbe honoured and fubmitted to, and fulfilled by the nature of man, otherwife the law could not be anfwered for men. The M^ords that were fpo- ken. Thou fhalt not eat thereof, Thou fhalt, or Thou fhalt not do thus or thus, were fpoken to the race of jnankind, to the human nature ; and therefore the hu- man nature muft fulfil them. 2. It was nteAlJid to nnfwer the law that the nature that finned Jliould die. Thefe words, " Thou flialt fure- *' ly die," refpeft the human nature. The fame nature to which the command was given, was the nature to which the threatening was direfted. 3. God I aw mtei^ that the fame ivorld which was the fagc of mans fall and ruin,fiould alfp he the f age of his redemption. We read often of his coming into the world to fave finners, and of God's fending him into the world for this purpofe. It was needful that he fhould come into this fmful, miferable, undone world, to rcftore and fave it. In order to man's recoveiy, it v.-as needful that he fhould come down to man, to the world that was man's proper habitation, and that he fliould tabernacle with us : John i. 14. " The word was ** made fielh, and dwelt among us." CoxCERMiNG the incarnation of ChriH, I would obferve thefe following things : I. The incarnation itfelf ; in which efpecially two tilings are to be confidered, viz. 1. His conception, which was in the womb of one -of the race of mankind, whereby he became truly the Son of man, as he was often called. He was one of tiie poflerity of Adam, and a child of Abraham, and a f.jn of David according to God's promife. But his conception was not in the way of ordinary generation, but by the power of the Holy Gholt. Chrift was form- ed in tlic womb of the Virgin, of the fubflance of her body, by the power of the Spirit of God. So that he was the immediate fon of the woman, but not the im- r.jediate fon of any male whatfoever ; and fo was the feed of the vvoman, and the fon of a virgin, one that had never known man. 2. His Parti. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 19; 2. His birth. Though the conception of ChnH: was fupernatural, yet after he was conceived, and fo tlec incarnation of Ciind begun, his human nature was oradually perfected in the womb of the virgin, in a way of natural progrefs ; and fo his birth was in the way ol" nature. But his conception being fupernatural, by the power of the Holy Gholl, He was both conceived and born without fin. II. The fecond thing I would obferve, concerningthe incarnation of Chriil, is the fullnefs of the time in which it was accompliihed. It was after things had been preparing for it from the very firfl fall of man- kind, and when all things were ready. It came to pafs at a time, which in infinite wifdom was the moll fit and proper : Gal, iv. 4. *' But when the fullnefs of time *' was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a wo- ** man, made under the law." It was now the moft proper time on every account. Any time before the flood would not have been fo fit a time. For then the mifchief and ruin that the fall brought on mankind, was not fully fcen. The curfe did not fo fully come on the earth before the flood, as it did afterwards : for though the groimd was curfed in a great meafure before, yet it pleafed God that the curfe fhould once, before the reftoration by Chrift, be executed in a univerfal deflruftion, as it were, of the very form of the earth, tliat the dire efFefts of the fall might once in fuch a way be feen before the recovery by Chrift. Though mankind were irxortal before the flood, yet their lives were the greater part of a thoufand years in length, a kind of immortality in comparifon with v.'hat the life of man is now. It pleafed God, that that curfe, " Duft tliou art, and unto duft thou fhalt re- *' turn," fliould have its full accompli flnr.ent, and be executed in its greateft degree on mankind, before tlie Redeemer came to purchafe a never ending life for man. It would not have been To fit a time for Chrifl. to come, after the flood, before Mofes's time: for till then man- kind were not fo univerfally apofliatized from the true God ; they were not falfen univerfally into Heathenifii darknefs ; and fo the need of Chrifi, the light of the V'orld, was not fo evident: and the woful confe- quence 198 A H I S T O R Y OF Period II. quence of the fall with refpeft toman's mortality, was Slot fo fully manifeft till then ; for man's life was not fo iliortened as to be reduced to the prefent ftandard till about Mofes's time. It was moft fit that the time of the Mefliah's coming fhould not be till many ages afer Mofes's time ; till all nations, but the children of Ifrael, had lain long in Heathenifh darknefs ; that the remedileffnefs of their difeafe might by long experience be feen, and fo the ab- folute neceflity of the heavenly phyfician, before he came. Another reafon why Chrift did not come foon after the flood probably was, that the earth might be full of people, that Chrift might have the more extenfive king- dom, and that the effects of his light, and power, and grace, m.ight be glorified, and that his viftory over Sa- tan might be attended with the more glory in the mul- titude of his conquefls. It was alfo needful that the coming of Chrift fhould be many ages after Mofes, that the church might be prepared which was formed by Mofes for his coming, by the Meffiah's being long pre- figured, and by his being many ways foretold, and by his being long expefied. It was not proper that Chiift should come before the Babylonilh captivity, becaufe Satan's kingdom was not then come to the height. The Heathen M'-orld before that confifted of lefTer kingdom.s. But God faw meet that the MefTiah fiiould come in the time of one of the four great monarchies of the vrorld. Nor was it proper that he Ihould come in the time of thef Babylonilh monarchy ; for it was God's will that feve- ral general monarchies fhould follow one another, and that the coming of the MefTiah fliould be in the time of thelaft, which appeared above ihem all. The Perfian mo- narchy, by overcoming the Babylonian, appeared above' it : and fo the Grecian, by overcoming the Perfian, ap- peared above that ; and for the fame reafon, the Ro- man above the Grecian. Now it was the will of God, that his Son fliould make his appearance in the world, in the time of this greateft and ftrongeft monarcliy, which was Satan's vifible kingdom in the world ; that, by overcoming this, he might vifibly overcome Satan's kingdom in its greateft ftrength and glory, and fo ob- tain the more compleat triumph over Satan himfelf. Part I. The Work of REDEMPTION. igg It was not proper that Chrift fnoiild come before the Babylonilh captivity. For, before that, we have nothif- lories of the Hate of tlie Heathen world, to give us an idea of the need of a Saviour. And befides, before that, learning did not much flourifh, and fo there had not been opportunity to fllo^v the infufficiency of hu- man learning and wifdom to reform and fave mankind. Again before that, the Jews were not difperfed over the world, as they were afterwards ; and fo things were not prepared in this refpecl for the coming of Chrift. The neceffity of abolifhing the Jewilh difp^nfation was not then fo apparent as it was afterwards, by reafon of the difperfion of the Jews; neither was the way prepa- red for the propagation of the gofpel, as it was after- wards, by the fame difperfion. 'Many other things might be mentioned, by which it would appear, that no other time before that very time in which Chrift did come, would have been proper for his appearing in tlie world to purchafe the redemption of men. III. The next thing that I v/ould obferve coneerninn- the incarnation of Chrift, is the greatncfs of this even? Chrifl's incarnation was a greater and more v/onderful thing than ever had come to pafs ; and there has been but one that has ever come to pafs, which was greater and that was the death of Chrift, which was afterwards! But Chrill's incarnation was a greater thing than had ever come to pafs before. The creation of the world was a very great thing, but not fo great a thing as the incarnation of Chrift. It was a great thing for God to make the creature, but not fo great as for God, as for the creator himfelf, to become a creature. We have fpoken of many great tilings that were accompliftied irom one age to another, in the ages between tlie fall of man and the incarnation of Chrift : but God's be- coming man was a greater thing than they all. When Chrift was born, thcgreateft perfon was born that ever was, or ever will be born. IV. What I would next obferve concernin(T the m^ carnation of Chrift, are the remarkable circumftaaccs ot It; luchas his bemgbornofa poor virgin, that was a pious holy perfon, but poor, as appeared by her of- fering at her purification : Luke ii. 24. « And to offer ^ a l^cndce according to that which is faid in the law of ^oo A HISTORY OF Period IT. *' the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pi- *' gecns. Which refers to Lev. v. 7. " And if fliC be *' not able to bring a lamb, then fhe ihall bring two tur- *• ties, or two young pigeons." And this poor virgin was efpoufed to an hufband who was a poor man. Though they were both of the royal family of David, the moll honourable family, and Jofeph was the right- ful heir to the crown ; yet the family was reduced to a very low flate ; which is reprefenied by the tabernacle of David's being fallen or broken down, Amos ix. 11,. ** In that day will I raife up the tabernacle of David " that is fallen, and clofe up the breaches thereof, and •' I will raife up his ruins, and I will build it as in the " days of old." He was born in the tow^n of Bethlehem, as was fore- told : and there was a very remarkable providence of God to bring about the fulfilment of this prophecy, the taxing of all the world byAuguftus Caefar, as in Lukeii. He was born in a very low condition, even in a flabic, and laid in a manger. V. I would obferve the concomitants of this great event, or the remarkable events with which it was at- tended: And, 1. The firft thing I would take notice of that attend- ed the incarnation of Chrift, was the return of the Spi- rit ; M'hich indeed began a little before the incarnation of Chrifl ; but yet was given on occafion of that, as it was to reveal cither his birth, or the birih of his fore- runner John the Baptift. I have before obferved how the fpirit of prophecy ceafed not long after the book of Malachi was written. From about the fame time vifions and immediate revelations ceafed alfo. But now, on this occafion, they are granted anew, and the Spirit in thefe operations returns again. The firft inllance of its reftoration that we have any account of is in the \i~ fion of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptift, which we read of in the ift chapter of Luke. The next is m the vifion which the Virgin Mary had, of which we read alfo in the fame chapter. The third is in the vi- fion which Jofeph had, of which we read in the ift chapter of Matthew. In the next place the Spirit was given to Elifabeth, Luke i. 41. Next, it was given to Mar)', as appears by her fong, Luke i. 46. &c. Then, tQ part I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 201 to Zachariah again, ibid. ver. 64. Thtn it was fent to the Ihepherds, of which we have an account in Luke ii. 9. Then it was given to Simeon, Luke ii. 25. Then to Anna, ver. 36. Then to the wife men in the ealt. .Then to Jofeph again, direding him to flee into Egy23t, and after that dire6iing his return. 2. The next concomitant of Chrift's incarnation that I would obferve is, the great notice that was taken of it in heaven, and on earth. How it was noticed by the glorious inhabitants of the heavenly world, appears by their joyful fongs on this occafion, heard by the Ihep- herds in the night. This was the greateft event of Pro- vidence that ever the angels had beheld. We read of their Tmging praifes when they faw the formation of this lower world : Job xxxviii. 7. " When the morn- *' ing-ftars fang together, and all the fons of God *' fhouted for joy." And as they fang praifes then, fo they do now, on this much greater occafion, of the birth of the Son of God, who is the creator of the world. The glorious angels had all along expefted this event. They had taken great notice of the prophecies and pro- mifes of thefe things all along : for we are told, that the angels defire to look into the affan's of redem.ption, 1 Pet. i. 12. They had all along been the minifters of Chrift in this affair of redemption, in all the feveral fleps of it down from the very fall of man. So we read, that they were employed in God's dealings with Abra- ham, and in his dealings with Jacob, and in his deal- ings with the Ifraelites from tnne to time. And doubt- lefs they had long joyfully expelled the coming of Chrift ; but now they fee it accomplifhed, and there- fore greatly rejoice, and fmg praifes on this occafion. Notice was taken of it by Ibme among the Jews ; as particularly by Elifabeth and the Virgin Mary before the birth of Chrift ; not to fay by John the Baptift be- fore he was born, when he leaped in his mother's womb as it were for joy, at the voice of the falutation of Mary. But Elifabeth and Mary do moft joyfully praife God together, when they meet with Chrift and his forerunner in their wombs, and the Holy Spirit in their fouls. And afterwards what joyful notice is taken of this event by the fhepherds, and by thofe holy perfons Z Zacharias 202 A H I S T R Y OF Period IL Zacharias, and Simeon, and Anna ! How do they praife God on this occafion ! Thus the church of God in heaven, and the church on earth, do as it were uniiC in their joy and praile on this occafion. Notice was taken of it by the Gentiles, which ap- pears in the wife men of the ealf. Great part of tb« univerfe does as it were take a joyful notice of the in- carnation of Chrift. Heaven takes nodce of it, and the inhabitants fmg for joy. This lov/er world, the world of m.ankind, does alfo take notice of it in both parts of it, Jews and Gentiles. It pleafed God to put honour on his Son, by wonderfully ftirring up fome of the wifeft of the Gentiles to come a long journey to fee and worfliip the Son of God at his birth, being led by a miraculous flar, fignifying the birth of that glorious perfon, who is the bright and morning liar, going be- fore, and leading them to the very place where the young child was. Some think they wereinflrufted by the prophecy of Balaam, who dwelt in the eaileru parts, and foretold Chrill's coming as a ftar that Ihould rife out of Jacob. Or they might be inftrufted by that general expeftation there was of the Meffiah's coming about that time, before fpoken of, from the notice they had of it by the prophecies the Jews had of him in their difperfions in all parts of the world at that time. 3. The next concomitant of the birth of Chrift was his circumcifion. But this may more properly be fpo- ktn of under another head, and [o I will not inrift up- on it now. 4. The next concomitant was his firft coming into the fecond temple, which was his being brought thither when an infant, on occafion of the purification of the blelTed Virgin. We read, Hag. ii. 7. " The defire of *' all nations fliall come, and I will fill this houfe (or *' temple) with glory." And in Mai. iii. 1. "The *' Lord, whom ye feek, fhall fuddenly comiC to his *' temple^ even the mefTcnger of the covenant." And now was the firll inftance of the fulfilment of thefe pro- phecies. ,5. The lail concomitant I fhall mention is the fcep- fres departing from Judah, in the death of Herod the Great. Tiie fceptrc had never totally departed from Judah till now, JiKiah's fceptrc was greatly diminifhcd iu Part L The Work of REDEMPTION. 20^ jfi the revolt of the ten tribes in Jeroboam's time ; and th.e fceptre departed from Krael or Ephraim at the time of the captivity of the ten tribes by Shalmanefer. But yet the fceptre remained in the tribe of Judah, under the kings of the houfe of David. And when the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were carried captive by Nebu- chadnezzar, the fceptre of Judah ceafcd for a htile while, till the return fiom the captivity under Cvrus : and then, though they were not an independent go- vernment, as they had been before, but owed fealty to the kings of Perfia ; yet their governor was of them- felves, who had the power of life arid death, and they were governed by their own laws ; and fo Judah had a lawgiver from between his feet during the Perfian and Grecian monarchies. Towards the latter part of tlie Grecian monarchy, the people were governed by kings of their own, of the race of the Maccabees, for the greater part of an hundred )'ears ; and after that they were fubdued by the Romans. But yet the Ron-ans fuffered them to be governed by their own laws, and to have a king of their own. Herod the Great, wlioreign- ed about forty years, and governed with proper kingly authority, only paying homage to the Ramans.. But pre- fently c,fter Chrili was born he died, as we hav^e an ac- count, Matth. ii. 19. and Archelaus fuccecded him ; hut was foon put down by the Roman. Emperor ; and then the fceptre departed from Judah. There were no, more temporal kings of Judah after that, neither had that people their governors from the midft of them- lelves after that, but were ruled by a Roman governor fent among them ; and they ceafed any more to have the- power of life and death among themfelves. Hence the- Jews fay to Pilate, " It is not lawful for us to put any *- man to death," John xviii. 31. Thus the fceptre- departed from Judah when Shiloh cam.e,. PART II. HAVING thus confidered Clirift's coming into the- world, and his taking upon him our natrre, to put. l^imlelf in a capacity for the purchafe of redemption, li Z 2 comQ 204 A HISTORY OF Period 11. come now, Sfxondly, to fpeak of the purchafe it- felf. — And in fpeaking of this, I would, 1. Show what is intended by the purchafe of re- demption. 2. Obferve fome things in general concerning thofe things by which this purchafe was made. 3. I would orderly confider thofe things which Chrift did and fuffered, by which that purchafe was made. S E C T. I I WOULD {how what is here intended by Chrift's purchafmg redemption. And there are two things that are intended by it, viz. his fatisfaftion, and his merit. All is done by the price that Chrift lays down. But the price that Chrift laid down does two things : it pays our debt, and fo it fatisfies : by its intrinfic value, and by the agreement between the Father and the Son, it procures a title to us for happinefs, and fo it merits. The fatisfa6Lion of Chrill is to free us from mifery, and the merit of Chrift is to purchafe happinefs for us. The word purchafe, as it is ufed with refpeft to the purchafe of Chrift, is taken either more ftridly or more largely. It is oftentimiCs ufed more ftriftly, to fignify only the merit of Chrift ; and fometimes more largely, to (ignify both his fatisfa6)ion and merit. Indeed moft of the words which are ufed in this affair have various fignifications. Thus fometimes divines u(e?nenl in this affair for the whole price that Chrift offered, both fa- tisfaclory, and alfo pofitively meritorious. And fo the wora fatisfo&ion is fometimes ufed, not only for his propitiation, but alfo for his meritorious obedience. For in fome fenfe, not only fufiering the penalty, but pofitively obeying, is needful to fatisfy the law. The reafon of this various ufe of thefe terms feems to be, that fatisfaftion and merit do no^ differ fo much really as re- latively. They both confift in paying a valuable price, a price of infinite value ; but only that price, as it re- fpects a debt to be paid, is cdWcA fatisfnBion ; and as it refpe6}5 a pofitive good to be obtained, is called jnerit, 'I he difference between paying a debrand makings po- fitivc purchafe is more relative than it is effential. He who lays cbwn a price to pay a debt, docs in fome fenfe, make Part. II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 205 make a purchafe : he purchafes liberty from the obHga- tion. And he who lays down a price to purchafe a good, does as it were make fatisfaftion : ^e fatisfies the conditional demands of him to whom he pays it. This may fuffice concerning what is meant by the purchafe of Cliiift. SECT. II. I NOW proceed to fome general obfervations con- cerning thofe things by which this purchafe was made. And here, 1. I would obferve, that whatever in Chri ft had the nature of fatisfaftion, it was by virtue of the fuffering or humiliation that was in it. But whatever had the nature of merit, it was by virtue of the obedience or tighteoufnefs there was in it. The fatisfaftion of Chriil confifts in his anfwering the demands of the law on iman, which were confequent on the breach of the law. Thefe were anfwered by fuffering the penalty of the law. The merit of Chrift confifts in what he did to ^nfwer the demands of the law, which were prior to Jnan's breach of the law, or to fulfil what the law de- manded before man finned, which was obedience. The fatisfaftion or propitiation of Chrift confifts ci» therinhis fuffering evil, or his being fubjecl to abafe- ment. For Chrift did not only make fatisfaftion by proper fuffering, but by whatever had the nature of humiliation, and abafement of circumftances. Thus Chrift made fatisfaftion for fin, by continuing under the power of death, while he lay buried in the grave, though neither his body nor foul properly endured any fuffering after he was dead. Whatever Chrift was fub- jeft to that was the judicial fruit of fin, had the nature of fatisfaftion for fin. But net only proper fuffering, but all abafement and depreffion of the ftate and cir- cumftances of mankind below its primitive honor and dignity, fuch as his body's remaining under death, and body and foul remaining feparate, and other things that might be mentioned, are the judicial fruits of fin. And all that Chrift did in his ftate of humiliation, that had the nature of obedience or moral virtue or goodnefs in it, in one refpe61; or another had the nature of merit ' in t2c6 A H I S TO R Y OF Period II, iVf. it, and was part of the price ^vith which he piir- jfhafed happinefs for the elect. 2. I would obferve, that both Chrift's fatisfaftion for lin, and alfo his meritmg happinefs by his righicoufnefs, were c< rried on through the whole time of his humiU- ation. Chiilt's fatistadion for fm was not only byhis laft fuf erings, though it was principally by them ; but all his fufFenng3, and ^U the humiliation that he was fubjecl to irom the firft moment of his incarnation to his rcfunettion, were propitiatoiy or fatistaftory. Ch rill's fatisfa6iion was chiefly by his death, becaufe his fufferings and humiliation in that vy^as greatefl. But all his other fufferings, and all his other humiliation, all along had tlie nature of fatisfatf ion. So had the mean circumllances in which he M^as born. His being born in fuch a low condition, was to make fatisfaftion for iin. His being born of a poor virgin, in a flable, and his being laid m a manger ; his taking the human na- ture upon him in its low flate, and under thofe in- firmities brought upon it by the fall ; his being born in the form of frnfid flefli, had the nature of fafisfacfion. And fo all his fufferings in his infancy and childhood, and all that labour, and contempt, and reproach, and temptation, and difficulty of any kind, or that he fufg fered through the whole courfe of his life, was of a propitiatory and fatisfaftory nature. And fo his purchafe of happinefs by his rigbteouf- nefs wzis aifo carried on through the whole time of his humiliation till his refurredion not only in that obe- dience he performed through the courfe of his life, but alfo in the obedience he performed in laying down his 3. It was by the fame things that Chrift hath fatisfied God's juflice, and alfo purchafed eternal happinefs. This fatisfaftion and purchafe of Chriff were not only hotli carried on through the whole tim^e of Chrifl's hu- miliation, hut they were both carried on by the fame things. He did not make fatisfaftion by fome things that he did, and then work out a righteoufnefs by other different things ; but in the fame afts by which he. wrought out righteoufnefs, he alfo made fatisfaftion, hut only taken in a different relation. One and the fame a6i of Christ, confidered with refpeft to. the ob^^ dienc^ part II. 2. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 207 dience there was in it, was part of his righteorifnefs, and purchafed Heaven : but confidered with refped to the felf-denial, and difficuky, and humihation, with which he performed it, had the nature of fatisfaftioa for fin, and procured our pardon. Thus his going about doing good, preaching the gofpe!, and teaching his difciples, was a part of his righteoufnefs, and pur- chafe of Heaven, as it was done in obedience to the Father ; and the fame was a part of his fatisfaftion, as he did it with great labour, trouble and wearinefs, and under great temptations, expofing himfelf hereby, to re- proach and contempt. So his laying down his life had the nature of fatisfatlion to God s offended jufiice, confidered as his bearing our punifhment in our flead : but confidered as an aft of obedience to God, w^ho had given him this command, that he fliOuld lay down his life for finners, it M'as a part of his righteoufnefs, and purchafe of Heaven, and as much the principal part o£ his righteoufnefs as it was the principal part of his fatif- faftion. And fo to inflance in his circumcifion, what he fuffered in that, had the nature of fatisfaftion : the blood that was Ihed in his circumcifion was propitiaf- tory blood; but as it was a conformity to the law of Mofes, it was part of his meritorious righteoufnefs. Though it was not properly the aft of his human na- ture, he being an infant ; yet it being what the human nature was the fubjeft of, and being the aft of that perfon, it was accepted as an aft of his obedience, as our Mediator. And fo even his being born in fuch a low condition, had the nature of fatisfaftion, by reafon of the humi- liation that was in it, and alfo of righteoufnefs, as it was the aft of his perfon in obedience to the Father, and what the human nature was the fubjeft of, and what the will of the human nature did acquiefce in, though there was no aft of the will of the human na- ture prior to it. These things mav fuffice to have obferved in the general concerning the pr.rchafe Chrill made of men that followed him, and miniflered to him of their fubllance. He was fo poor, that he was not able to pay the tribute that was demanded of him, without the miraculous coming of a fiih to bring him the money out of the fea in his mouth. See Matth. xvii. 27. And when he ate his laft paffover it was not at his own charge, but at the charge of another, as appears by Luke xxii. y. &c. And from his poverty he had no grave of his own to be buried in. It was the manner of the Jews, unlefs they were very poor, and were not able, to pre- pare themfelves a fepulchre while they lived. But Chrift had no land of his own, though he was pofleflbr of heaven and earth ; and therefore was buried by Jo- feph of Arimathea's charity, and in his tomb, which he had prepared for himfelf. 2. He fuffered great hatred and reproach. He was. defpifed and rejefted of men. He was by moft efteem- ed a poor infignificant perfon ; one of little account, flighted for his low parentage, and his mean city Na- zareth. He was reproached as a glutton and drunkard, a friend of publicans andfinners; was called a deceiver of the people ; fometimes was called a madman, and a Samaritan, and one ppirefTed with a Devil, John vii. 20. and viii. 48. and x.' 20. He was called a blafphemer, and was accounted by many a wizzard, or one that wrought miracles by the black art, and by communica- tion with Beelzebub. They excommunicated him, and agreed to excommunicate any man that fliould own him, as, John ix. 22. They wilhed him dead, and were continually feeking to murder him; fometimes by force and fometimes by craft. They often took up ftones to ftone him, and once led him to the brow of a hill, intending to throw him down the precipice, to dalh him in pieces againll the rocks. He was thus hated and reproached by his own vifible people: John i. 11. " He came to his own, and his *' own received him not." And he was principally def- pifed and hated by thofe who were in chief repute, and were their grcatelt men. And the hatred wherewith* he Partll. 3- TiieWorkof redemption. 225 he was hated was general. Into whatever part of the land he went, he met with hatred and contempt. He met with thefe in Capernaum, and when he went to Je- richo, when he went to Jerufalem, wliicli was tlie lioly city, when he went to the temple to wor(hip, and alfo in Nazareth, his own city, and among his own relations, and his old neiorhbours. o 3. He fufFcred the buffetings of Satan in an uncom- mon manner. We read of one time in particular, when he had a long conflift with the devil, when he was in the wildernefs forty days, with nothing but wild beads and devils ; and was fo expofed to the devil's power, that. he was bodily carried about by him from pi ace to place, while he was otherwife in a very fufTering flate. And fo much for the humiHation and fuffering of Chrift's public life from his baptifm to the night where- in he was betrayed. IV. I come now to his lafi humiliation and fuflferings, from the evening of the night wherein he was betra)'ed to his refurreftion. And here was his greateft humi- liation and fufTering, by which principally he made fa- tisfa6lion to the juftice of God for the fms of mcn. Firft, his life was fold by one of his ov/n difeiples for thirty pieces of fdver, which was the price of the life of a fervant, as you may fee in Exod. xxi. 32. Then he was in that dreadful agony in the garden. There came fuch a difmal gloom upon his foul, that be began to be forrowful and very heavy, and faid, his " Soul *' was exceeding forrowful, even unto death, and was *' fore amazed." So violent \vas the agony of his foul, as to force the blood through the pores of his fkin ; fo that while his foul was overwhelmed with amazing forrow, his body was all clotted with blood. The difeiples, who ufed to be as his friends and fa- mily, at this time above all appeared cold towards him, and unconcerned for him, at the fame time that his Father's face was hid from him. Judas, to whom Chrift had been fo very merciful, and treated as one o£ his family or familiar friends, comes and betrays him in the moft deceitful, treacherous manner. The offi- cers and foldiers apprehend and bind him ; his difeiples forfake him, and flee; his own heft friends do not ftand by him to comfort him in this time of his diftrefs, C c He 226 A HISTORY of Period IL He is led away as a malefactor to appear before the priefis and fcribes, his venemov.s,. mortal enemies, thatr they might fit as his judges, who fat up all night, to have the pleafure of inluhing him, now they had got him into their hands. But becaufe they aimed at no- thing Ihort of his life, they fet therafelves to find feme colour to put him to death, and feek for witneffes againft him. When none appeared, they fet fom.e to bear faife witnefs ; and when their witnefs did not agree toge- ther, then they go to examining him, to catch fome- thing out of his own mouth. They hoped he would fa)% that he was the Son of God, and then they thought they fhould have enough. But becaufe they fee they are not like to obtain it without it, they then go to force him to fay it, by adjuring him, in the name of Ood, to fay whether he was or not : and when he con- feffed that he was, then they fuppofed they had enough; and then it was a time of rejoicing \vith them, which tliey {how, by fallii^g upon Chrilt, and fpitting in his face, and blindfolding him, and ffriking him in the face with tlie palms of their hands, and then bidding hira prophecy who it was that ftruck him ; thus ridiculing him for pretending to be a prophet. And the very fer- vants have a hand ui the fport : Mark xiv. 65, *' And the *' fervants did llrike him with the palms of their hands.'* During the fiifferings of that night, Peter, one of the chief of his o\/n difciples, inftead of flanding by him to com.fort him, appears alhamed to own him, and denies and renounces him with oaths and curfes. And after the chief priefts and elders had finifhed the niglrt in fo (hamefully abufmg him, when the morning was come, which was the morning of the moft wonderful day that ever v/as, they led him away to Pilate, to be condemned to death by him, becaufe they had not the power of life and death in their own hands. He is brought before Pilate's judgment-feat, and there the prielts and elders accufe him as a traitor. And when Pilate, upon examining into the matter, declared he found no fault in him, the Jews were but the more fierce and violent to have liim condemned. Upon which Pilate, after clearing him, very unjuftly brings him upon a fccond trial ) and then not finding any thing againlt him, accjuits him again» Pilate treats him as a poor, P^rt II. 3. The Work of REDEMPTION. 227 poor, wortlilefs fellow ; but is afhamcdon fo iitilc pre- tence to concleiiiii him i)« a traitor. And then he was fent to Herod to be tried by him, and was brought betore Herod's judgment-feat ; and his enemies followed, and virulently aceuled him before Herod. Herod does not condemn him as a traitor, or one that would fet up for a king, but looks upon him as Pilate did, as a poor, wortlilefs creature, not worthy to be taken notice of, and does but make a mere laugh of the Jews accufing him as a dangerous perfon to Ca.*- far, as one that was ni danger of fetting up to be a king againft Inm ; and therefore, in derifion, dreiles him up in a mock robe, and makes fport of him, and lends liim back through the Itrects of Jerufalem to Pilate with the mock robe on. Then the Jews prefer Barabfcas before him, and are inftant and violent with loud voices to Pilate, to cruci- fy him. So Pilate, after he had cleared him twice, and Herod once, very unrighteoufly brings him on trial the third time, to try if he could not find fome- thing againO: him fufficient to crucify him. Chrill wa^ flopped and fcourged : thus he gave his back to the fmiter. After that, though Pilate flill declared that he found no fault in him ; yet fo unjuft was he, that for fear of the Jews he delivered Chrift to be crucified. But before they execute the fentence, his fpiteful and cruel eneniies take the pleafure of another fpell of mocking him ; they get round him, and make a let bu- fmefs of it. They Itripped him, and put on him a fcarlet robe, and a reed in his hand, and a crown of thorns on his head. Both Jews and Roman foldiers were united in the tranfaftion ; they bow the knee be- fore him, and in derifion cry, " Hail, king of the Jews.'* They fpit upon him alfo, and take the reed out of his liand, and fmite him on the head. After this they led Jiim away to crucify bin, and made him carry his own crofs, till he funk under it, his ftrength being fpent; and then they laid it on />"ie Simon a Cyrenian. At length, being cone to Mount Calvary, they exe- cute the fentence whicli Pilate had fo umiglueoufly pro- nounced. They nail him to his crof^by his hands and feet, then r.iife it cre6}, and fix one end in the ground,, he being ftill fufpended on it by the nails \vhich pierced C c 2 hia 228 A H I S T O R Y OF Period II. his iiands and feet. And now Chrift's fufFerings are come to the extremity : now the cup, Vvhich he lo ear- neftly prayed that it might pafs from him, is come, and he mull, he does drink it. In thofe days crucifixion was the moil tormenting kind of death by which any were wont to be executed. There was no death where- in the perfon expired fo much of mere torment : and hence the Roman word, which fignifies tormerd^ is ta- ken from this kind of death. And befides what our Liord endured in this excruciating death in his body, he endured vaftly more in his fouh Now was that travail of his foul, of which we read in the prophet ; now it pleafed God to bruife him, and to put him to grief ; iiov/ he poured out his foul unto death, as in If. hii. And if the mere forethought of this cup made him I'weat blood, how much more dreadful and excruciating muft the drinking of it have been ! Many martyrs have endured much in their bodies, while their fouls have been joyful, and have fung for joy, whereby they have been fupported under the fuffering of their outward man, and have triumphed over them. But this was not the cafe with Chrift ; he had no fuch fupport ; but his fufFerings were chiefly thofe of the mind, though the other were extremely great. In his crucifixion' Chrift did not fweat blood, as he had before, becaufe his blood had vent otherwife, and not becaufe his agony was now not fo great. But though he did not fw'eat blood, yet fuch was the fuffering of his foul, that probably it rent his vitals ; as feems probable by this, that when liis fide was pierced, there came forth blood and water. And fo here was a kind of literal fulfil- ment of that in Pfal. xxii. 14. "I am poured out like *' water : — -my heart is like wax, it is melted into the *' midft of my bowels." Now under all thefe fufFerings the Jews ftill mock ])im ; and wagging their heads fay, " Thou that de- *' firoyeft the temple, and buildeft it in three days, fave *' thyielf : if thou be the Son of God, come down *' from the crofs." And even the chief priells, fcribes, and elders, joined in the cry, faying, " He faved *' othei s, himfelf he cannot fave." And probably the devil at the fame time tormented him to the utmoft of his Part II. 3, The Work of REDEMPTION, -sc, his power ; and hence it is faid, Luke xxii. 53. "This " ir> your hour and the power of" darknef's." Under thefe fuflerings, Chrifl having cried out once and again with a loud voice, at lafl he faid, "It is finilh- " ed," (John xix. 30.) "and bowed tlie head and gave " up the ghoft." And thus was finilhcd the greatefl; and mofl wonderful thing that ever was done. Now the Angels beheld the mofl wonderful fight that ever they faw. Now was accomplifhed the mani thing that had been pointed at by the various inftitutions of the ceremonial law, and by all the typical difpenlations, and by all the facrifices from the beginning of the v/orld. Chrift being thus brought under the power of death, continued und^r it till the morning of next day but one ; and then was finifhed that great work, the pur- chafe of our redemption, for which fuch great prepa- ration had been made from the beginning of die world. Then was finifhed all that was required in order to fa- tisfy die threatnings of the law, and all that was necef- fary in order to fatisfy divine juflice ; then the utmoil that vindictive juflice demanded, even the whole debt was paid. Then was finifhed the whole of the pur- chafe of eternal life. And now there is no need of any thing more to be done towards a purchafe of falva- tion for finncrs ; nor has ever any thing been done lince, nor will any thing more be done for ever and ^ver. I U P R O V E M E N T. IN furveying the hiflory of redemption, from the fall of man to the cnd,of the world, we have now fhown how this work was carried on through the two former of the three main periods into which this whole fpace of time was divided, viz. from the fall to the incarnation of Chrill, and from thence to the end orlhe time of Chrill's humiliation ; and have particu- larly explained how in die firfl of thcfe periods God prepared the way for Chrifls appearing and purchafmg redemption ; and how, in the fecond period, that pur- chafe was made and finifhed. I would iiow make fome . improvement 230 A HISTORY of Period il. improvement of what has i^een faid on both thefe fub;^ je6is confidered conjunftly. And this I would do, 1. In an life of reproof. 2. In an ufe of encouragement. SECT. I. I BEGIN with an ufe of reproof ; a reproof of three things : 1. Of unbelief. 2. Of fclf-rightcoufnefs. 3. Of a carelefs negled of the falvation of Chrift. 1. If it be as we have heard, how greatly do thefe things reprove thofe who do not believe in, but rejeft tlie Lord Jefus Chrift ! i. e. all thofe who do not hear- tily receive him. Perfons may receive him in profef- fion, and carry well outwai^dly towards him, and may wiih that they had fome of ihofe benefits that Chrift lias purchafed, and yet their hearts not receive Chrift ; they may be hearty in nothing that they do towards Chrift ; they may have no high efteem of Chrift, nor any fmcere honor or refpeft to Chrift ; they may ne- ver have opened the door of their heart to Chrift, but have kept him fhut out all their days, ever fmce they firft heard of Chrift, and his falvation has been offered to them. Though their hearts have been opened to others, their doors have been flung wide open to them and they have had free admittance at all limes, and have been embraced and made much of, and the heft room in their hearts has been given them, and the throne of their liearts has been allowed them ; yet Ch;-ift has al- ways been fhut out, and they have been deaf to all his knocks and calls. They never could find an inchnation of heart to receive him nor would they ever truft in him. Let me now call upon you with ^vhom it is thus, to confider how great your fin, in thus reje61ing J(€us Clirift, appears to be from thofe things that have been faid. You flight the glorious perfon, for whofe tee- ming God made fuch great preparation in fuch a feries of wonderful providences from the beginning of the world, and whom, after all things were made ready, God fent into the world, bringing to pafs a thing befor^. unknown Impr. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 231 unknown, viz. the union of the divine nature with il-e human in oneperfon. You have been gnihyof flight- ing that great Saviour, who, after fuch preparation, ac- tually accomphfhed the purchal'e of redemption ; and who, after he had fpent three or four and thirty years in poverty, labour, and contempt, in purchahng re- demption, at lalt finiflied the purchafe by clo.'nig his life under fuch extreme fufferings as you have heard ; and fo by his death, and continuing for a time under the po\;'er of death, compleated the whole. This is the pcrfon you reje61: and defpife. You make light of all the glory of his perfon, and of all the glorious love of God tlie Fatlier, in fending him into the world, and all his wonderful love appearing in the whole of this affair. That precious Hone that God hath laid in Zion for a foundation in fuch a manner, and by fuch wonderful works as you have heard, is a ftone fct at nought by you. Sinners fometimes are ready to wonder why the fm o£ unbelief (hould be looked upon as fuch a great fm : but if you confider what you have heard, how can you wonder ? If it be fo, that this Saviour is fo great a Sa- viour, and this work fo great a work, and fuch great things have been done in order to it, truly there is no caufe of wonder that the fm of unbelief, or the rejec- tion of this Saviour, is fpoken of in fcripture as fuch a dreadful fm, fo provoking to God, and what brings greater guilt than the fins of the worft of the Heathen, who never heard of thufe things, nor have had this Saviour offered to them. II. What has been faid, affords matter of reproof to thofe who, inflead of believing in ChriR, trufl in them- felves for falvation. It is a common thing with men to take it upon themfelves topurchafe falvation for them- felves, and I'd to do that great work which Chrifl came into the world to do. Are there none fuch here who trufl in their prayers, and their good converfations, and ,the pains they take in religion, and the reforma- tion of their lives, and in their felf-denial, to recom- mend them to God, to make fome atonement for their paft fins, and to draw the heart of God to them ? Confider three things : 1. How great a thing that is which you take upon AOU. 232 A HISTORY of Peiiod IL yoiT. You take upon you to do the work of the great Saviour of the world. You truft in your own doings to appeafe God for your fins, and to inchne the heart of God to you. Though you are poor, worthlefs, vile, polluted worms of the duft ; yet fo arrogant ^e you, that you take upon you that very work, that the only begotten Son of God did when upon earth, and that he became man to capacitate himfelf for, and in order to which God fpent four thoufand years in all the great difpenfations of his providence in the government of the world, aiming chiefly at this, to make way for Chrill's coming to do this woi k. This is the vork that you take upon yourfelf, and foolifhly think yourfelf fufficient for it ; as though your prayers, and other performances, v/ere excellent enough for this purpofe. Confider how vain is the thought which you entertain of yourfelf. How muft fuch arrogance appear in the fight of Chrift, whom it coft fo much to make a pur- chafe of falvation, when it was not to be obtained even by him, fo great and glorious a perfon, at a cheaper rate than his wading through a fea of blood, and pafling through the midft of the furnace of God's wrath. And how vain mull your arrogance appear in the fight of God, when he fees you imagining yourfelf fufficient, and your worthlefs, polluted performances excellent enough for the accomplifhing of that work of his own Son, to prepare the way for which he w^as employed in ordering all the great affairs of the world for fo many ages ! 2. If there be ground for you to truft, as you do, in your own righteoufnefs, then all that Chrift did to pur- chafe falvation when on earth, and all that God did from the firft fall of man to that time to prepare the v/ay for it, is in vain. Your felf-righteoufnefs charges God with the greateft folly, as though he has done all things in vain, t ven fo much in vain, that he has done all this to bring about an accompliihment of thatwliicli you alone, a little worm, with your poor polluted prayers, and the little pains you take in religion, min- gled with all that hypocrify and .filthinefs, are fufficient to accompliih for yourfelf without Chrift's help. For if you can appeafe God's anger, and can commend ^o'.uf^lf to God by thefe means, then you have no need Impr. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 233 need of Chrift ; but he is dead in vain: Gal. ii. 21. " If righteoufnefs come by the law, then Chi ill is dead *' in vain." If you can do this by your prayers and good works, Chrilt might have fpared his pams ; he might have ipa- red his blood ; he might have kept within the hofum of his Eather, without coining dow n into this evil world to be dcfpifed, reproached, and perfecuted to death : and God needed not have bufied himfclf, as he did for four thoufand years together, caufing lb many changes in the flate of the world all that while, in order to the bring- ing about that which you, as little as you are, can ac- complifli in a few days, only with the tiouble of a few fighs, and groans, and prayers, and fomc other re- ligious performances. Confider with yourfelf what greater folly could you have devifed to charge upon God than this, to do all thofe things before and after Chrift came into the world fo needlefsly ; when,inftead of all this, he might only have called you forth, and committed the bufinefs to you, \vhich you think yoti can do fo eafily. Alas! how blind are natural men ! how fottifli are the thoughts they have of things ! And efpecially how vain are the thoughts which they have of themfelves ! How ignorant of their own littlenefs and pollution ! HovvT do they exalt themfelves up to heaven ! What great things do they affume to theip.fehes. 3. You that truft to your own righteoufnefs, arro- gate to yourfelves the honour of the greateft thing that ever God himfelf did ; not only as if you were fuHici- ent to perform divine works, and to accom]»li[h fomc of the great works of God ; but fuch is )'our pride and vanity, that you are not content without -taking upon you to do the very greateft work that ever God himfelf wrought, even the work of redemption. You fee by what has been faid, how God has fubordinated all his other works to this worli of retlemption. You fee how Gods works of providence are greater than his works of creation, and that all God's works of proviclcnce, from the beginning of the generations of men, were in order to this, to make way for the purchafiiig of re- tlemption. But this is what you take upon yourfelf. To take on yourfelf to work out redemption, is a D d greater 234 A H I S T O R Y OF Period IL greater thing than if you had taken it upon you to create a world. Confider with yourfelf what a figure you a poor worm would make, if you fliould ferioufly go about to create fuch a world as God did, fhould f w 11 in your own conceit of yourfelf, fhould deck yourfelf with majefty, pretend to fpeak the word of power, and call an univerfe out of nothing, intending to go on in order, and fay, *' Let there be light , let *' there be a firmament," &c. But then confider, that in attempting to work out redemption yourfelf, you at- tempt a greater thing than this, and are ferious in it, and will not be beat off from it ; but flrive in it, and are full of the thought of yourfelf that you are fuffi- cient for it, and always big with hopes of accomplifh- ing it. You take upon y-ou to do the very greatefl; and mofl difficult part of this work, viz. to purchafe redemp- tion. Chrifl can accomplifh other parts of this work without coft, without any trouble and difficulty : but this part cofl him his life, as well as innumerable pains and labours, with very great ignominy and contempt befides. Yet this is that part which felf-righteous per- fons go about to accomphfh for themfelves. If all the angels in heaven had been fufhcient for this work, would God have fet himfelf to effeft fuch things as he did in order to it, before he fent his Son into the world ? And would he ever have, fent his own Son, the great Creator and God of the angels into the world, to have done and fuffered fuch things ? What feif-righteous perfons take to themfelves, is the fame work that Chrifl was engaged in when he was in his agony and bloody fweat, and when he died on the crofs, which was the greatefl thing that ever the eyes of angels beheld. This, as great as it is, they imagine thev can do the fame that Chrifl accomplilhed by it. Their felf-righteoufnefs does in effeft charge Chrifl's off^Ting up himfelf in thcfe fufferings, as the greatefl inflance of folly that ev^er m.en or angels faw, inflead of being the m.ofl glorious difplay of the divine wifdom and grace that ever was feen. Yea, felf-righteoufuefs makes all that Chrifl did through the whole courfe of his life, and all that he faid and fuffered through that whole time^ and his incarnation itfelf, and not onlv fo, but Impr. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. o r) - but all that God had been doing in the great difpcnfa- tions of his providence from the beginning of the world to that time, as all nothing, but a fcene of the ;iioll wild, and extreme, and tranfcendant foil)-. Is it any Wonder, then, that a felf-righteous fpirit is fo reprefented in fcripture, and fpoken of, as that which is moll fatal to the fouls of men ? And is it any won- der, that Chriil is reprefented in fcripture as being fo provoked with the Pharifees and others, who truRed in. themfelves that they were righteous, and were proud of their goodnefs, and thought that their own perform- ances were a valuable price of God's favour and love ? Let perfons hence be warned againft; a felf-righteous fpirit. You that are feeking your falvation and taking pains in religion, take heed to yourfelves that you do not truft in what you do ; that you do not harbour any fucli thoughts ; that God now, feeing how much you are re- formed, how you take pains in religion, and how you are fometimes affeftcj, will be pacified towards you with relpeft to your fms, and on account of it will not be fo angry for yoiir former fms ; and that you (hall gain on hini by fuch things, and draw his heart to (how you mercy ; or at leaf! that God ought to accept of what you do, fo as to be inclined by it in Tome meafure to for- give you, and have mercy on you. If you entertain this thought, that God is obliged to do it, and does not a6l jullly ii he refufe to regard your pra}ers and pains, and fo quarrel with God, and complain of him for not doing, this fhows what your opinion is of your own. righteoufnefs, viz. that it is a valuable price of falvation, and ought to be accepted of God as fuch. Such com-. plaining of God, and quarielling with him, for not ta- king more notice of your righteoufnefs, plainly Ihows that you are guilty of all that arrogance that has been fpoken of, thinking yourfelf fulHcient to offer the priccr of your ov»'n falvation. III. What has been faid on this fubjeft affords mat- ter of reproof to thofe who carelefsly neglecf the falva- tion of Chriil; fuch as live a fenfeiefs kind of life, neg- lecting the bufmcfs of religion and their own fouls for the prcfent, nor taking any courfe fo get an intcreff in Chrift. or what he has done and fuffered, or any part D d 1$ HI 236 A HISTORY OF Period 11. in that glorious falvation he has purchafed by that price, but ra'.hcr have their minds taken up about the gains of the world, or about the vanities and pleafures of youth, and fo make Hght of what thev hear from lime to time of Ciirill's falvation, that they do not at prefent lo much as feek after it. Let mh here apply jiiyfelf to you in fome expoflulatory interrogations. 1. Shall fo many pro|)hets, and kings, and righteous men, have their minds fo much taken up with the pio- fpctl, that the purchafe of falvation was to be wrought out in ages long after tlieir death ; and will you neg- lect it when a61;ually accomplifl-.ed ? You have heard what fi^reat account the church in all ai^es made of the futuie redemption of Chritt ; how joyfully they ex- peried it, how they fpoke of it, how they ftudied and fearched into tliefe things, how they fung joyful fongs, and had their hearts greatly engaged about it, and yet never expe6ted to fee it done, and did not expeft that it would be accompliihed till many ages after their death, 1 Pet. i. 10. 11. 12. How much did Ifaiah and Daniel, and other prophets, fpeak concerning this re- demption! And how much wcyq their hearts engaged, and their attenrion and fmdy fixed upon it! How was David's mind taken up in this fubjeci ! He declared that it was all his falvation, and all his defire ; 2 Sam. xxiii.5. How did he employ his voice and harp in ce- lebrating if, and the glorious difplay of divijie grace therein exhibited! And all this althdugh they beheld it not as yet accomiplilhed, but faw that it was to be brought to pafs fo long a time after their day. — And before this, how did Abraham and the other patriarchs rejoice in the profpe61: of Chrifl's day, and the redemp- tion which he was to purchafe ! And even the faints before the flood >vere affecfed and elated in the expeft- ation of this glorious event, though it was then fo long fiitur^e, and it v/as fo very faintly and cbfcurely reveal- ed to them. Now thcfe things are declared to you as afiually ful- ' filled. The cliurch now has feen accomplifiied all thpfe great things which they fo joyfully prophefied of; and you are abundantly fhown how thol^ things were ac- compliihed : Matth. xiii. 17. " Verily I fay unto you, *' that many prophets and righteous men have defired '* to Impr. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 207 ^* to fee thofe things which ye fee, aiul have not fecn ; *> and to hear tho.e things which ye hear, and have *' not heard them." And yet, when ihclc things aic thus abundantly Jet hefore \ou as already acconiplillied, how do you Ihght them ! How Hght do )ou make of them! How httle are they taken notice of by )'<)u! How unconcerned are you about them, following other things, and not fo much as feeling any intiier.ell in them ! Indeed your fin is extremely aggravated in the fight of God. God has put )ou under gi eat advantages for your eternal falvation, far greater than thofe faints of old enjoved. He has put vou under a more glorious difpcnf'ation ; has given) on a moie clccir revelation of Chrifl and his falvation ; and yet yon Xiegletl all thefe advantages, and go on in a carelefs courfe ot lite, as though nothing had been done, no fuch propofals and offers had been made you. 2. Have the Angels been fo engaged about tliis fal- vation, which is by Chriif ever fince the fall of man, ' though they are not immediately concerned in it, and will you who need it, and have it offered to ^ou, befo carelefs about it ? You have heard how the Angels at firH: were fubje:-led to Chrifl as Mediator, and how they have all along been minilfering fpirits to liim in this affair. In all the great difpenfations which you have heard of from the bcginr|ing of the world, they have becri a6tive and as a flame of fire in this affair, being moll diligenily emplo)ed as miniflering fpiriis to niiui- fler to Chrifl in diis great affair of man's redcjnpti'jii. And when Chrifl came, how engaged were their minds ! . They came to Zacharias, to inform him of the coming ^• of Cin-ifl'sforerunner : They came to the Virgin Nhiry, to inform her of the approaching birth of Chrifl : 'I'hey came to Jofeph, to warn him of .the danger wuicli threa'ened the new-born Saviour, and to point out 10 him the means of fafety. And how were i];eir minds engaged at the time of the birtli of Chrifl ! The whole mil itude of the heavenly hofis fang prait'cs upon the occafion, faying, " Glory to God in the highefl, ?n.d " on earth, peace and good will towards men.'" And afterwards, fiom tinje to time, they miniflered to Chrifl when on earrh ; they did fo at tb.e time of his temptati- on, at thetime of his agonv in the garden, at his refarrec- tion, and at his afcciifion. All thefe things fliow, that they S3B A HISTORY OF Period IL they were greatly engaged in this affair ; and the fcrip*. ture informs us, that they pry into thefe things : i Pet, i. 12. "Which things the Angels defire to look into." And how are they reprefenied in the Revelation as be- ing employed in fieaven in fmging praifes to him that fitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb ! Now, fhall thefe take fo much notice of this redemption, and of the purchafer, who need it not for themfelves, and Lave no immediate concern or intereft in it, or offer wf it ; and will you, to whom it is offered, and who are in fuch extreme neceffity of it, negle6l and take no no- tice of it? 3. Was it worth the while for Chrift to labour fo bard, and do and fuffer fo much to procure this falva- tjon, and is it not worth the while for you to be at fome labour in feeking it ? Was it a thing of fo great im- portance, that falvation ihould be procured for finners, as that it was worthy to lie with fuch weight on the mind of Chrilf, as to induce him to become man, and to fuffer fuch contempt and labour, and even death it- ieif, in order to procure it, though he flood in need of nothing, though he was like to gain no addition to his eternal happinefs, though he could get nothing by thofe that he faved, though he did not need them ; was it of fuch importance that finners fhould be faved, that lie might properly be induced to fubmit to fuch humi- liation and fuifering ; and yet is it not worth the while for you, who are one of thofe miferable finners that need this falvation, and muft perifh eternally without it, to take earneft pains to obtain a|i jntcreft in it after it is procured, and all things are ready? ^ 4. Shall the great God be fo concerned about this falvation, as fo ofien to overturn the world to make ■way for it ; and when all is done, is it not worth your feeking after ? How has the Lord of Heaven and earth been as it were engaged about this affair ! What great, what wonderful things has he done from one age to an- other, removing kings, and fetting up kings, raifmg up a great number of prophets, feparating a diitinft nation from therell of the world, overturning one nation and kingdom, and another, and often overturning the flate of the world ; andfo has continued bringing about one change and revolution after anodier for fort)- centuries in Impr. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 239 in fucceflion, to make way for the procuring of this falvation ! And when he has clone all ; and when, at the clofe of thefe ages, the great Saviour comes, and, becoming incarnate, and pafhng through a long ferics of reproach and fufferirig, and then Iidfcring all the waves and billows of God's wrath for men's fins, in- fomuch that they overwhelmed his foul ; after all thefe things done to procure falvation for fumers ; is it not worthy of your taking fo much notice of, or being fa much concerned about, diough you are thofe perlon^ who need this falvation, but that it flioold be throu'n by, and made nothing of, in comparifon of worldly gain, or gay cloathing, or youthful diverfions, and other fuch trifling things ? O ! that you who live negligent of tliis falvation, would confider what you do ! What )'ou have heard from this fubjeft may fhow you what reafon there is in that exclamation of the Apoftle, Heb. ii. 3. ** How *' fhall we efcape if wt negleft fo great falvation ?"' and in that, Afts xiii. 41, "Behold, ye defpifers, ^nd *' wonder, and perifb : for I work a work in your *' days, a work which you fhall in no wife believe, *' though a man declare it unto you." God looks on fuch as you as great enemies of the crofs of Chrift, and adverfaries and defpifers of all the glory of this great work. And if God has made fuch account of the glo- ry of falvation as to deflroy many nations, and fo often overturn all nations, to prepare the way for the gloiy of his Son in this affair ; how little account will he make of the lives and fouls of ten thoufand fuch oppofers and defpifers as you that continue impenitent, in com- parifon of that glory, when hefliall hereafter come and find that your welfare flands in the way of that glory? Why furely you fhall be daflicd to pieces as a potter's veffel, and trodden down as the mire of the flrccts. God may, through wonderful patience, bear with hardened carelefs finncrs for a while; but he will not long bear with fuch defpifers of his dear Son, and his great falvation, the glory of which he has had fo much at heart, before he will utterly confume without rcme- dy or mercy. SECT. 240 A H 1 S T O R Y OF Pericd IL SECT. II. I WILL conclude wiih a fccond ufe, of encouragement to buidened fouls to put tlieir trull in Chriii for fal- vaiion. To all fuch as are not carclefs and negligent, but do make fceking an intereil in Chriii their main bufincfs, being fenfible in fome meafure of their necef- fity ot an intereil in Chrift, being afraid of the wrath to come ; to fuch what has been faid on this fubjecl holds forth great matter of encouragement, to come and venture their fouls on the Loid jelus Chriii : and as moiives proper to excite you fo to do, let me lead you to coniider two things in particular. 1. The completenefs of the purchafe which has been made. As you have heard, this work of purchaiing falvationwas wholly finiihed during the time of Chriil's humiliation. When Chriii rofe from the dead, and -was exalted from that abafement to Mdiich he fubmitted for our faivation, the purchafe of eternal life was com- pletely made, [o that there w^as no need of any thing more to be done in order to it. But now the fervants were fent forth with the meifage which we have an ac- count of in Matth. xxii. 4. " Behold, I have prepared my *' dinner : my oxen and my fattlings are killed, and ail *' things are ready*, come unto the. marriage." There- fore all things being ready, are your fins many and great ? Here is enough done by Chriit to procure their paid('n. There is no need of any rigliteoufnefs of yours to obtain your pardon and jufiilication : no, you m^ay come freely without money and without price. Since therefore there is fuch a free and gracious invitation given you, come ; come naked as you are ; come as a poor condemned criminal ; come and cail yourfelf down at Chriil's feet, as one juilly condemned, and utterly }]el[)lefs in yourfelf. Here is a complete faivation •wToughtoutby Chrift, and through him offered to you. Come, therefore, accept of it, and be faved. 2. For Chriit to rejeft one that thus comes to him, would be to fruilrate all thofe great things which you h:ive heard that God brought to pafs from the fall of iv.ari to the incarnation of Chrii!. It would alfo fru- f.r^-.i: all lliat Cliriil did and fuiTcred while on earth ; yea, Impr. 2. TheWork OF REDEMPTION. 241 yea, it would fruflrate the incarnation of Chrift itfclf, and all the great things done in preparation for his in- carnation ; for all thefc things were for that end, that thofe might be faved who Ihould come to Chrllh — Therefore you may be fure Chrill will not be backward in faving thofe who come to him, and trufl; in him : for he has no defire to frulf rate himfelf in his own work ; it coft him too dear for that. Neither will God the Father rcfufe you ; for he has no defire to fruftrate liimfelf in all that he did for fo m.any hundreds and thoufands of years, to prepare the way for the falvati- on of finners by Chrilh Come, therefore, hearken to the fweet and earnell calls of Chrill to your foul. — Do as he invites, and as he commands you, Matth. xi. 28. 29. 30. " Come unto me, all ye that labour, and " are heavy laden, and I will give you reft. Take my *' yoke upon you, and learn of me ; and ye fhall find " reft unto your fouls. For my yoke is eaf}', and my. " burden is light." E c PERIOD 24s P E R I O t) liL IN dlfcourfing on this fubjeft, we have already (howrf how the \vork of redemption was carried on througk the two firft of the three periods into which we divi- ded the whole fpace of time from the fall to the end of the world ; and we are now come to The third and laft period, beginning with Chrift's refurreclion, and reaching to the end of the world ; and would now fliow how this work was alfa carried on through this period, from this Proposition, That the fpace of time from the end ofChrifl's humiliation to the end of the world is all taken up in bringing about the great effetl or fuccefs of Chrfl's parchaf. Not but that there were great effects ancf glorious fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe of redemption before, even from the beginning of the generations of men. But all that fuccefs of Chrift's redemption which ifas before, was only preparatory, and was by way of anticipation, as fome few fruits are gathered before the harveft. — ' There was no more fuccefs before Chrift came than God faw needful to prepare the way for his coming. The proper time of the fuccefs or effe6l of Chrift's pur- chafe of redemption is after the purchafe has been made, as the proper time for the world to enjoy the lighc of the fun is the day-time, after the fun is rifen, though we may have fome fmall matter of it reflefted from the moon and planets before. And even the fuc- cefs of Chrift's redemption while he himfelf was on earth, was very fmall in comparifon of what it was after the conclufion of his humiliation. But Chrift having finiihed that greateft and moft dif- ficult of all works, the work of the purchafe of re- demption, now is come the time for obtaining the end of it, the glorious effcft of it. This is the next work he goes about. Having gone through the whole courfe of iiis fuIFcrings and humiliation, there is an end to all thing^s A HISTORY OF, &c. 0^3 j^lngs of that nature : he is never to fuflfcr any morcp But now is the time for him to obtain the joy that was fet before him. Having made his foul an oficring for fm, riow is the time for him to fee his feed, and to have a portion divided to him with the great, and to divide the fpoil with the flrong. One defign of Chrift in what he did in his humiHa- tion, was to lay a foundation for the overthrow of Sa- tan's kingdom ; and now is come the time to cfic. t it, as Chrill, a little before his crucifixion, faid, John xii. 31. " Now is the judgment of this world ; now fiiall *^ the prince of this world be caft out." Another de- fign was, to gather together in one all things in Chrift. Now is come the time for this alfo : John xii. 32. ** And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me;'* which is agreeable to Jacob's prophecy of Chrift, that " When Shiloh fhould come, to him Ihould the gather- ^ ing of the people be," Gen. xlix. 10. Another de- fign is the falvation of the eleft. Now when his luf- ferings are finilhed, and his humiliation is perfefied, the time is come for that alfo : Heb. v. 8. 9. "Though *' he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things *> which he fuftered : and being made perfect, he became *' the author of eternal falvation unto all them that obey *•' him." Another defign was, to accomplifli by thefe things great glory to the perfons of the Trinity. Now alfo is come the time for that: John xvii. 1. " Father " the hour is come ; glorify thy Son, that thy Son alfo " may glorify thee." Another defign was the giorv of the faints. Now is the time alfo for this : John xvii. e. " As thou haft given him power over all flelh, that " he (hould give eternal life to as many as thou haft *' given him." And all the difpenfations of God's pro- vidence henceforward, even to the 6nal confummation of all things, are to give Chrift his reward, and fulfil his end in what he did and fuffercd upon earth, and to. fulfil tlie joy that was fet before him. E e a IN'^ 244 AHISTORYoF Period III. INTRODUCTION. BEFORE I enter on the confideration of any parti- cular things accompHfhed in this period I would briefly obfer\^e I'ome things in general concerning it ; and particularly how the times of this period are repre- fented in fcripture. I. The times of this period, for the moft part, are thofe which in the Old I'ellament are called tht latter days. We often, in the prophets of the Old Tefta- ment, read of fuch and fuch things that fhould come to pafs in the latter days, and fometimes in the lajl days. Now thefe expreflions of the prophets are moll com- inonly to be underftood of the times of the period that we are now upon. They are called the latter days^ and the laji days ; becaufe this is the laft period of the feries of God's providences on earth, the laft period of that great work of providence, the work of redemption ; which is as it were the fum of God's works of provi- dence, the time wherein the church is under the laft difpenfation of the covenant of grace that ever it will be under on earth. II. The whole time of this period is fometimes in fcrip- ture called the end of the world, as, i Cor. x. 1 1. " Now " all thefe things happened unto them for enfamples : " and they are written for our admonition, upon whom *' the ends of the world are come." And the apoftle, Heb. ix. 26. in this expreflion oi the, end of the worlds means the whole of the gofpel-day, from the birth of Chrift to the finifhing of the day of judgment: " But •' now once in the end of the world hath he appear- *' ed, to put away fin by the facrifice of himfelf." — ■ This fpace of time may well be called the end of the xvorid ; for this whole time is taken up in bringing things to their great end and iftlie, to that great iffue that God had been preparing the way for, in all the great difpcnfations of providence, from the firft fall of inan to this time. Before, things were in a kind of preparatory ftate ; but now they are in a finiftiing ftate. It is tlie winding up of things which is all this while accomplilhing. An end is now brought to the former carnal Intr. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 243 carnal ftate of things, which by degrees vaniflics, and a fpi ritual flaie begins t(3 be eftabhfhed, and to be cfta- hlilhed more and more. Firft, an end is brought to the former ftate of the church, which may be called its worldly ft:ate, the ftate wherein it was fubjcrt to carnal ordinances, and the rudiments of the world : and then avi end is brought to the Jewilh ftate, in the deftrudion of their city and country : and then, after that, an end is brought to the old Heathen empire in Conftan- tine's time ; which is another and further degree of the winding up and finifhing of the world : and the next Hep is the finifhing of Satan's vifible kingdom in the .world, upon the fall of Aiitichrift, and the calling of the Jews : and laft will come the deftru6Hon of the outward frame of the world itfelf, at the conclufion of the day of judgment. But the world is all this while as it w^erc a-finifjiing, though it comes to an end by fe- ycral fteps and degrees. Heaven and earth began to fhake, in order to a diffolution, according to tlie pro- phecy of Haggai, before Chrift carne, that fo only thofe things that cannot be fiiaken may remain, i. e. that thofe things that are to come to an end may come to an end, and that only thofe things may remain which are to remain to all eternity. So, in the firft place, the carnal ordinances of the Jewifh worfhip came to an end, to make way for the eftablifliment of that fpiritual worfhip, the worfhip of the heart, which is to endure to all eternity : John iv. 21. " Jefus l^iith unto the woman, Believe me, the *' hour cometli, when ye fhall neither in this m.oun- " tain, nor yet at Jerufalem, worfliip the Father." Verf. 23. " But the hour cometh, and now is, when " the true worfhippers fhall worfliip the Father in fpi- *' rit and in truth : for the Father fcekcth fuch to wor- *' fillip him."' This is one inftancc of the temporary world's coming to an end, and the eternal world's he- ginning. And then, after that, the outward temple, and the outward city of Jerufalem, came to an end, to give place to the fetting up of the fpiritual temple and the fpiritual city, which are to laft to eternity ; which is another inftance of removing thofe things which are ready to vanifh away, that thofe things which cannot fcc fhaken may remain. And then, after that, the old Heathen 246 A H I S T O R Y OF Period IIL Heathen empire comes to an end, to make way for the empire of Chrift, which fhall laft to all eternity; which is another ftep of bringing the temporal world to an end, and of the beginning of the wodd to come, which is an eternal world. A;id after that, upon the fall of Antichrift, an end is put to Satan's vifible kingdom on earth, to eftablifh Chrift 's kingdom, which is an eter- ual kingdom as the prophet Daniel fays, chap. vii. 27. *' And the kingdom and dommion, and the greatnefs of *' the kingdom under the whole Heaven fhall be given *^ to the people of the faints of the moft High, whofe *^ kingdom is an everlafting kingdom, and all domi- " nions fhall ferve and obey hira ;" which is another inftance of the ending of the temporary world, and the beginning of the eternal one. And then, laftly, the very frame of this corruptible world fhall come to an end, to make way for the church to dwell in another dwelling-place, which fhall laft to eternity; which is the laft inftance of the fame thing. B.ecauie the world is thus coming to an end by va- rious fteps and degrees, the Apoftle perhaps ufes this exprefTion, that the ends of the world are come on us ; not the end^ but the ends, of the plural number, as though the world has fev^ral endings one after anor $her. The gofpel-difpenfation is the laft ftate of things in the world ; and this ftate is a finifhing ftate ; it is all (pent in finiftiing things off, which before had been preparing, or abolifliing things which before had ftood. It is all fpent as it were in famming things up, and bringing them to their iffues, and their proper ful- fihnent. Now all the old types are fulfilled, and all the prophecies of all the prophets from the beginning of the world fhall be accomplifhed in this period. III. That ftate of things which is attained in the events of this period, is called a new Heaven and a new tarth: If. Ixv. 17. 18. For, behold, I create new ** Heavens, and a new earth : and the former ftiall not *' be remembered, nor come into mind. But be you *' glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create : for " behold, I create Jerufalem a rejoicing, and her pco- " pie a joy." And ch. Ixvi. 22. " For as the new '' Heavens and the new earth which I make, fhall remaji) ^' before Intf. The Work of REDEMPTION. 247 •' before me ; fo (liall your feed and your name re- " main." See alfo ch. li. 16. As the former ftate of things, or the old world, by one flcp afier another, is through this period coming to an end : fo the new ftate of things, or the new world, which is a fpiritual world is beginning and fetting up. The Heaven and earth which are corruptible, arc fhaking, that the new Heavens and new earth, which cannot be fliakcn, may be eflablilhed and remain. In confequence of each of thcfe finiflilngs of the old flate of things, there is a new beginning of a new and eternal ftate of things. So was that ^vhich accompa- nied the deftru6Hon of Jerufalem, which was an efta- blifliing of the fpiritual Jerufalem, inftcad of the literal. So with refpeft to the deftruftion of the old Heathen empire, and all the other endings of the old ftate of things, till at length the very outward frame of the old world itfelf fhall come to an end ; and the church fhal! dwell in a world new to it, or to a great part of it^ even Heaven, which will be a new habitation ; and then fhall the utmoft be accomplifhed that is meant by the new heavens and the new earth. See Rev^ xxi. 1. The end of God's creating the world was to prepare a kingdom for his Son (for he is appointed heir of the world) and that he might have the poffefTion of it, and a kingdom in it, which fhould remain to all eternity. So that, fo far forth as the kingdom of Chrift is fet up in the w^orld, fo far is the world brought to its end, and the eternal ftate of things fet up. So far are all the great changes and revolutions of the ages of the world brought to their everlafting ifTuc, and all things come to their ultimate period. So far are the waters of the long channel of divine providence, which has fa many branches, and fo many windings and turnings, emptied out into their proper ocean, which they have been feeking from the beginning and head of their courfe, and fo are come to their reft. So far as Chrift "5; kingdom is eftablifhed in the world, fo far are things wound up and fettled in their eveHafting flate, and a period put to the courfe of tilings in this changeable world; fo far are the firft Heavens and the fiift earth come to an end, and the new Heavens and the ne\v' caj'tb, 248 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. earth, the everlalling heavens and earth, eflablifhed in their room. This leads me to obferve, IV. That the ftate of things which is attained by the events of this period, is what is fo often called the king- (lorn of heaven, or the kingdom of God, We very often read ni the New Teftament of the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptift preached, that the kingdom of hea- ven was at hand ; and fo did Chrifl and his difciples af- ter him ; referring to fomething that the Jews in thofe davs expelled, and very much talked of, which they called by that namxC. Thev feem to have taken their expectation and the name chiefly from that prophecy of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Dan. ii. 44. " And *' in the days of thefe kings fliall the God of heaven fet " upakIngdom;"togetherwiththatinchap. vii. 13. 14. Now this kingdom of heaven is that evangelical ftate of things In his church, and in the world, wherein con- fifts the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption in this period. There had been often great kingdoms fet up before, which were earthly kingdoms ; as the Babylonilh, the Perfian, the Grecian, and the Roman monarchies. But Chrift came to fet up the laft kingdom, which is not an earthly kingdom, but an heavenly, and fo is the king- dom of heaven : John xviii. 36. " My kingdom is not " of this world." This is the kingdom of which Chrift fpeaks, Luke xxii. 29. " My father hath appointed to " me a kingdom." This kingdom began foon after Chrift's refurreftion, and was accompliihed in various fteps from that time to the end of the world. Some- times by the kingdom of heaven, is meant that fpiritual ftate of the church which began foon after Chrift's re- furreftion ; fometimes that more perfeft ftate of the church which ftiall obtain after the downfal of Anti- clirlft ; and fometimes that glorious and blefled ftate to which the church fhall be received at the day of judg- ment : 1 Cor. XV. 50., the apoftle, fpcaking of the rc- furreaion, fays, *' This I fay, that flefli and blood can- " not Inherit the kingdom of God." Under this head I would obferve feveral things parti- cularly, for the clearer underftanding of what the fcrip- ture favs concerning this period. i. The fetting uj) of the kingdom of Chrift is chief- ly Intr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 249 ly accompliflied by four fuccefFive great events eacli oF which is in fcripture called Chrijl's coming in his kingdom. The whole fuccef's of Chrilt's redcmpiion is compre- hended in one word, viz. his fetiing up his kingdom. This is chiefly done by four great fucceffive difncnfir. tions of providence ; and every one of them is repre- fented in fcripture as Chrill's coming in his kingdom. The firll; is Chrifl's appearing in thofe wonderful difpen- fations of providence in the apoillcs days, in fetting up his kingdom, and deflroying the enemies of his kmg- dom, which ended in the dellruftion of Jerufalem. — ■ This is called Chrift's coming in his kingdom, Matth. xvi. 28. " Verily I fay unto you, there be fome fland- *' ing here, which fhall not tafte of death till they *' fee the Son of man coming in his kingdom." And fo it is reprefented in Matth. xxiv. The fecond is that which was accompliihed in Conftantinc's time, in the dellruftion of the Heathen Roman empire. This is re- prefented as Chrill's coming, and is compared to his coming to judgment, in the 6th chapter of Revclatioa at the latter end. The diird is that which is to be ac- complifhed at the dellruftion of Antichrill. This alfo is reprefented as Chrifl's coming in his kingdom in the 7th chapter of Daniel, and in other places, as I may poffibly fhow hereafter, when I come to fpeak of it. The fourth and lall is his coming to the laft judgment, which is the event principally fignified in fcripture by Chiiji's coming in his kingdom. 2. I would obferve that each of the tliree former of diefe is a lively image or type of the fourth and lafl, viz. Chrill's coming to the final judgment, as the princi- pal difpenfations of providence before Chrill's firft coming were types of that firll coming. As Chrill's laft coming to judgment is accompanied with a refur- reftion of the dead, fo is each of the three foregoing with a fpiritual refurreftion. That coming of Chrift which ended in the dellruftion of Jerufalem, was pre- ceded by a glorious fpiritual refurre6lion of fouls in the calling of the Gentiles, and bringing home fuch multi- tudes of fouls to Chrift by the preaching of the gofpel. So Chrift's coming in Conftantine's time, was accom- panied with a glorious fpiritual refurreftion of the great- er part of the known world, in a reftoration of it to a Y f vifible 2^0 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. vifible church ftate, from a ftate of Heathenifm. So Chriil's coming at the deflruftion of Antichrift, will be attended with a fpiritual refurreftron of the church af- ter it had been long as it were dead, in the times of Antichrift. This is called the^r/? reJurreBion in the 20th chapter of Revelation. Again, as Chrift in the lafl judgment will glorioufly man! fell himfelf coming in the glory of his Father, fo in each of the three foregoing events Chrift glorioufly nianifefted himfelf in fending judgm.enls upon his ene- mies, and in fhowing grace and favour to his church ; and as the laft coming of Chrift will be attended w^ith a literal gathering together of the eleft from the four winds of heaven, fo were each of the preceding attended with a fpiritual gathering in of the eleft. As this ga- thering together of the eleft will be effefted by God's angels with a great found of a trumpet, as in Matth. xxiv. 31. fo were each of the preceding fpiritual inga- therings efFefted by the trumpet of the gofpel, founded by the minifters of Chrift. As there fhall precede the laft appearance of Chrift, a time of great degeneracy and wickednefs, fo this has been, or will be, the cafe with each of the other appearances. Before each of them is a time of great oppofition to the church : be- fore the firft, by the Jews, in their perfecutrons that we read of in the New Teftament ; befo-re the fecond, viz. in Conftantine's time, by the Heathen, in feveral fuccef- five perfecutions raifed by the Roman emperors againft the Chriftians ; before the third by Antichrift ; and be- fore the laft, by Gog and Magog, as defcribed in the Revelation. By each of thefe comings of Chrift God works a: glorious deliverance for his church. Each of them is accompanied with a glorious advancement of the ftate of the church. The firft, which ended in the deftruc- tion of Jerufalem, was attended with bringing the ehurch into the glorious ftate of the gofpel, a glorious Hate of the church very much prophefied of old, where- by the church was advanced into far more glorious cir-- cumftances than it M^as in before under the Jewifli dif- penfation. The fecond, which was in Conftantine's time, was accompanied with an advancement of the church into a ftaie of liberty from perfecution, and the countenance Jntr. i. The Wo r k o f REDEMPTION. 2 r, t countenance of civil authority, and triumph over their Heathen perfecutors. The third, which Ihall he at the downfal of Antichrift, will he accompanied witli an advancement of the church into that Itate of the glo- rious prevalence of truth, liberty, peace, and joy, that we fo often read of in the prophetical parts of fcripture. The lafl; will be atter^ded with the advancement of the .church to confummate glory in both foul and body in heaven. Each of thefe comings of Chrifl is accompanied with a terrible deflruftion of the wicked, and the enemies of the church : the firft, with the deftru6Uon of the perfe- cuting Jews, w^hich was amazingly terrible ; the fecond, with dreadful judgments on the Heathen perfecutors of the church, of which more hereafter; the third, with the awful deftruftion of Antichrift, the mofl cruel and bitter enemy that ever the church had ; the fourth, with divine wrath and vengeance on all the ungodly. Further, there is in each of thefe cominp's of Chrilt and ending of the old Heavens and the old earth, and a beginning ot new Heavens and a new earth ; or an end of a temporal flate of things, and a beginning of an jeternal ftate. 3. I w^ould obferve, that each of tliofe four great dif- penfations which are reprefented as Chrift's coming in his kingdom, are but fo many fteps and degrees of the accomplifhment of one event. They are not the fetting up of fo many diftinft kingdoms of Chrid ; they are all of them only feveral degrees of the accomplifh- ment of that one event prophefied of, Dan. vii. 13. 14, *' And I faw in the night-vifions, and behold, one like *' the Son of man, camiC with the clouds of Heaven, and " came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him " near before him. And there was given him doniinion, *' and glory, and a kingdom, that ail people, nations, *' and languages, fliould ferve him : his dominion is aii *' everlafting dominion, and his kingdom that which *' fhall not be dellroyed." This is what the Jews ex- pelled, and called " the coming of the kingdom of Hea- " ven ;" and what John the Baptift and Chrlft had ref- pe6f to, when they faid, " The kingdom of Heaven is at *' hand.'' This great event is gradually accomplifiicd, jpx is accompliihing by feveral Heps. Thofe four gre^t; F f 3 e\-^ni.5 . :^ A H I S T O R Y OF ' Periodlll. 'cents ^\-hich have been mentioned, were feveral fteps towards the accomplilliment of this grand event. When Chrift tame with the preaching of the apofiles, to fet up his kingdom in the world, which dif|3enfation ended with the definition of Jerufalem, then it was accomphPned in a glorious degree ; when the Heathen empire was deflroyed in Conlbntine's time, it was ful- filled in a further degree ; when Antichrift fliall be deftroyed, it will be accomplifhed in a yet higher de- gree : but when the end of the w-orld is come, then will it be accomplifhed in its mofl perfeft degree of all; then it will be finally and comipletely accomxplifhed. And becaufe thefe four great events are but images one of another, and the three former but types of the laff, and fince they are all only feveral fleps of the accom- plifhment of the fame thing ; hence w^e find them all from timie to time prophefied of under one, as they are in the prophecies of Daniel, and as they are in the 24th chapter of Matthew, where fome things feemmore ap- plicable to one of them, and others to another. 4. I would obferve, that as there are feveral fleps of the accomplifhment of the kingdom of Chrifl, fo in each one of them the event is accomplifhed in a further degree than in the foregoing. That in the time of Con- llantine was a greater and further accomplifliment of the kingdom of Chrifl, than that which ended in the defiruftion of Jerufalem ; that which fhall be at the fall of Antichrill, will be a further accomplifhment of the farriC thing, than that which took place in the time of Con flam ine ; and fo on with regard to each : fo that the kingdom of Chrifl is gradually prev^ailing and grow- ing by thefe feveral great fleps of its fulfilment, from the time of Chrifl's refurre6Hon, to the end of the world. 5. and laflly, It mav be obfer\^ed, that the great pro- vidences of God between thefe four great events, are to make way for the kingdom and glory of Chrifl in the great event following. Thofe difpenfations of pro- vidence which were to^vards the church of God and the world, before the deflruclion of the Heathen empire in the time of Conflantine, feem all to have been to make w?y for the glory of Chrifl, and the happinefs of the church in that event. And fo the great provide-n- ces Ihtr. The Work o? REDEMPTION. 0^3 ces of God, which are after that, till the dcfl ruction of Antichrift, and the beginning of the glorious times of the church which follow, feem all to be to prepare the way for the greater glory of Cluill and his church in that event; and the providences of God which Ihall be after that to the end of the world, feem to he for tlie -greater maniieilation of Chrlli's glory at the end of the world, and in the confummation of all things. Thus 1 thought it needful to obferve thofe tilings in general, concerning this lall period of the ferics of God's providence, before I take notice of the particu- lar providences by which the work of redemption is carried on through this period, in their order: and be- fore I do that, I will alfo briefly anfwer to an inquiry, viz. Why the fetting up of Chrift's kingdom after his humiliation, fliould be fo gradual, by fo many Heps that are fo long in accomplilhing, fince God could eafil/ have finifhed it at once ? • Though it would be prefumption in us to pretend to (declare all the ends of God in this, yet doubtlefs much of the wifdom of God may be feen in it by us ; and particularly in thefe two things. 1. In this way the glory of God's wifdom, in ihe manncr'of doinir this, is more vifible to the obfervation of creatures. If it had been done at once, m an m- ftant, or in a very fliort time, there would not have been fuch opportunities for creatures to perceive and obferve the pavticularfleps of divine wifdom, as when the work is gradually accompliflied, and one eiretf of his wif- dom is held forth to obfervation after another. It is wifely determined of God, to accomplifli his great dc^ fignby a wonderful and long feriesof events, that die glory of his wifdom may be dif])layed in the whole fe- ries, and that the glory of his perfe6fions may be feen, sippearinff, as it were by parts, and in particular fuccef- five manifeftations : for if all that glory which appears in all thefe events had been manifefled at once, it would -have been too much for us, and more than we at once xould take notice of; it would have dazzled our e\es and overpowered our fight. 2. Satan is more glorioufiy triumphed over. ■ -God could eafily, by an aft of' almighty power, at once ?have cruflred Satan. But by giving him time to ufe his ^ • • ' utmoft :-31 A HISTORY OF Period IIL utmoft fubtilty to hinder the fuccefs of what Chrift had clone and fufFered, he is not defeated merely by fur- prize, but has large opportunity to ply his utmoft power and fubtilty again and again, to ftrengthen his own in- tcreft all that he can by the work of many ages. Thus God dellroys and confounds hira, and fets up Chrift s kingdom time after time, in fpite of all his fubtle machi- nations and great works, and by every ftep advances it ftiil higher and higher, till at length it is fully fet up, and Satan perfeftly and eternally vanquifhed in the end of all things. I now proceed to take notice of the particular events, whereby, from the end of Chrift's humiliation to the end of the world, the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe has been, orlhall be accompliihed. 1. I would take notice of thofe things whereby Chrift was put into an immediate capacity for accomplilhing the end of his purchafe. 2. I would Ihow how he obtained or accomplifhed that liiccefs. PART I. I WOULD take notice, firft, of thofe things by which Chrift was put into a capacity for accomplifhing the end of his purchafe. And they are two things, viz. his rcfurreftion, and his afcenfion. As we obferved before the incarnation of Chrift was necelfary in order to Chrift's being in a near capacity for the purchafe of re- demption ; fo the refurre6tion and afcenfion of Chrift were requifue in order to his accomplifhing the fuccefs of his purchafe. I, His refurreftion. It was neceffary in order to Chrift's obtaining the end and effeft of his purchafe of redemption, that he fliould rife from the dead. For God the Father had committed the whole affair of re- demption, not only the purchafmg of it, but the be- ftowing of the bleflings purchafed to his Son, that he fhould not only purchafe it as prieft, but aftually bring it about as king ; and that he fhould do this as God- HMn. For God the Father would have nothing to dQ with Part I. ^HE Work of REDEMPTION. 255 with fallen man in a way of mercy but by a mediator. But in order that Chrill might carry on the work of re- demption, and accompiifh the fuccefs of his own pur- chafe as God-man, it was necellary that he Oiouid be alive, and fo that he Ihould rife from the dead. There- fore Chrift, after he had finifhed this purchafe by death, and by continuing for a time under the power of death, rifes from the dead, to fulfil the end of his purchafe, and himfelf to bring about that for which he died : for this matter God the Father had committed unto him, that he might, as Lord of all, manage all to hi* own purpofes : Rom. xiv. 9. " For to this end Chrift •' both died, and rofe, and revived, that he might •* be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Indeed Chrill's refurre6Hon, and fo his afccnfion, ■was part of the fuccefs of what Chrift did and fuffercd in his humilia-tion. For though Chrift did not pro- perly purchafe redemption for himfelf, yet he purcha- fed eternal hfe and glory for himfelf by what he did and fuffered ; and this eternal life and glory was given him as a reward of what he did and fuffered : Phil. ii. 8. 9. " He humbled himfelf, and became obedient un- ** to death, even the death of the crofs. Wherefore *' God alfo hath highly exalted him." And it may be looked upon as part of the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe, if it be confidered, that Chrift did not rife as a private perfon, but as the head of the elecf church ; fo that they did, as it were, all rife with him. Chrift was juf- tified in his refurre£lion, i. e. God acquitted and dif- charged him hereby, as having done and fuffered e- nough for the fins of all the eleft : Rom. iv. 2.5. " Who " was delivered for our offences, and raifed again for " our juftification." And God put him in pofteffion €>f eternal life, as the head of the church, as a hu-eear- neft that they fhould follow. For when Chrift rofcr from the dead, that was the beginning of eternal life in him. His life before his death was a mortal life, a temporal life; but his life after his refurrehion was an eternal life: Rom. vi. g. "Knowing that Clnift being ** raifed from the dead, dieth no more ; death hath no *' more dominion over him," Rev. i. 18. "I am he ** that liveth, and was dead ; and behold, I am aUve for ** evermore, a:iicn."~-But he v/as put in poffc'Iiou of A H I S T O R Y OF Perirjd IIL ci this eternal life, as the head of the body ; and took poilellion of it, not only to enjoy himfelf, but to be- flow on all who believe in him : fo that the whole church as jt were rifes in him. And now he who lately lliffered fo much, after this is to fuffer no more for ever, but to enter into eternal glory. God the Father neither expefts nor defiics any more fuffering. This refurreftion of Chrill is tlie moft joyful event that ever came to pafs ; becaufe hereby Chrift reded f.rom the great and difiicult work of purchahng re- demption, and received God's teftimony, that it was finifhed. The death of Ghrill was the greatefl and molt wonderful event that ever came to pafs ; but that has a great deal in it that is forrowful. But by the refur- re6lion of Chrift, that forrow is turned into joy. The head of the whole church, in that great event, en- ters on the poITeffion of eternal life ; and the whole church i^, as it were, " begotten again to a lively hope," t Pet. i. 3. Weeping had continued for a night, but now joy Cometh in the morning, the moft joyful morning that ever -was. This is the day of the reign- ing of the head of the church, and all the church rei'^ns with him. This is fpoken of as a day which was* worthy to be commemorated with thegreateft joy of all davs : Pfal. cxviii. 24. " This is the day which the Lord " hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." And therefore, this above all other days, is appointed for the day of the church's fpiritual rejoicing to the end of the world, to be weekly fanftified, as their day of holy reft: and joy, that the church therein may reft and rejoice with her head. And as the 3d chapter of Genefis is the moft forrowful chapter in the Bible ; fo thofe chap- ters in the Evangelifts that give an accoimt of the refur^ reclion of Chrift, may be looked upon as the moft, joyful chapters in all the Bible ; for thofe chapters give an account of the finifning of the purchafe of redemp- tion, and the beginning of the glory of the head of the church, as the greateft feal and earneft of the eternal gloFv'- of all the reft. It is'furlher to be obfervcd, that the day of the gofpcl moft proDcrly begins with the refurreftion of Chrift. —Till Chrift rofe from the dead, the Old Teftaraent difpcnfaiion remained : but now it ceafes, all being ful^ filled Part I. The Work of REDEMPTION, ott filled that was fhadowcd forth in the. t\plca] ordiiinnrcs of that difpcnfation : fo that here moii properly is the end of the Old Teilament night, and Cinifl rihiig from the grave with joy and glory, was as the joyful "bride- groom of the church, as a glorious conqueror to fub- due their enemies under their feet; br was like the fun rifing as it were from under the earth, after a long night of darknefs, and coming forth as a brideo-room, prepared as a ftrong man to run his race, appearino- in joyful light to enlighten the world. Now that joyful and excellent difpcnfation begins, that glorious difpcn- fation, of which the prophets prophefied fo much ; now the gofpel-fun is rifen in glory, " and with healing ** in his wings,"' that thofe who fear God's name, may *' go forth, and grow up as calves of the flail." II. Chrill's afccnfion into heaven. In this I would include his fitting at the right hand of God. For Chrift's afcenfion, and fittmg at the right hand of God, can fcarcely be looked upon as two diiiinti things: for Chrift's afcenfion was nothing elfe, but afcending to God's right hand ; it was his coming to fit down at his Father's right hand in glor)\ This was anodier thing whereby Chrift was put into a capacity for the accom- plifhing the eife6l of his purchafe ; as one that comes to be a deliverer of a people as their king, in order to it. and that he may be under the heft capacity for it, is firft inftalled in his throne. We are told, that Chriih was exalted for this end, that he might accomplifh the fuccefs of his redemption : Acls v. 31. " Him hath " God exalted with his right hand, for to give repent- " ance unto Ifrael, and the remifTion of f ns." Chrift's afcenfion into Heaven was as it were, his fo- lemn enthronization, whereby the Father did fet him upon the throne, and inveft him with the glory of his kingdom which he had purchafed for himfelf, that he might therebv obtain the fuccefs of his redemption in conquering all his enemies : Plal. ex. 1. " Sit thou *' at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy " footftool." Chrift entered into Heaven, in order to obtain the fuccefs of his purchafe, as the high prieft of old, after he had offered lacrifice, entered into the holy of holies with the blood of the lacrifice, in or- der to obtain the fuccefs of the facrifice which he had G "• offered. 8 AHISTORYoF Period IIL "ered. See Heb. ix. 12. He entered into Heaven, :ie to make iriLerceflion for his people, to plead the rifice which he had made in order to the fucceis of Heb. vii. 25. And as he afcended into Heaven, God the Father did in a vifible manner fet him on the throne as king of the vmiverfe. He then put the angels all under him, and fubjefted Heaven and earth under him, that he might govern them for the good of the people for whom he had died, Eph. i. 20. 21. 22. And as Chrift rofe from the dead, fo he afcended into Heaven as the head of the body and forerunner of all the church ; and fo they, as it were, afcend with him, as well as rife with him : fo that we are both rai- fed up together, and made to fit together in heavenly places in Chrift, Eph. ii, 6. The day of Chrift's afcenfion into Heaven was doubt- lefs a joyful, glorious day in Heaven. And as Heaven received Chrilf, God-man, as its king, fo doubtlefs it jeceived a great acceffion of glory and happinefs, far beyond what it had before. So that the times in both parts of the church, both that part which is in Heaven, and alfo that which is on earth, are become more glo- rious fince Chrift's humiliation than before. So much for thcfe things w^hereby Chrift: was put into the beft capacity for obtaining the fuccefs of re- demptioHr PART II. I NOW proceed to (how how he accomplifhed this fuccefs. And here I would obferve, that this fuccefs confifts in two things, viz. either in grace, or in glory. That fuccefs which confifts in the former, is to be i^een in thofe works of God which are wrought during thofc ages of the church wherein the church is continued luider the outward means of grace. That fuccefs which confifts in the latter of thefe, viz. glory, has its chief accompliihment at the day of judgment. SECT. I. I WOULD firft confider the former kind of fuccefs, confining in God's grace here j which mainly appears in Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 2^59 in the works of God during the time that the Chrillian churcli continues nnder the means of grace ; which is from Chrifl's refiirredion to his appearing in the clouds of Heaven to judgment ; which inchides the three for- mer of thofe great events of providence before-men- tioned, which are called Cliri/l's coming in las kingdom. In fpeaking of this fucccfs, I would, 1. Mention thofe things by which the means of this fuccefs were eilablifhed after Chrill's refurrehion ; and, 2. Confider the fuccefs itfelf. § I. I would confider thofe difpenfations of provi- dence, by which the means of this fuccefs were eila- blilhed after Chrift's refurreftion. I. The abolifhing of the Jewifli difpenfation. This indeed was gradually done, but it began from the time of Chrift's refurreftion, in which the abolition of it is founded. This was the firft thing done towards bring-; ing the former ftate of the world to an end. This is to be looked upon as the great means of the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption. For the Jewifli difpenfation was not fitted for more than one nation : it was not fitted for the pra61ice of the world in general, or for a church of God dwelling in all parts of the world : nor would it have been in any wife prafticable by them; it would have been impofTible for men living in all parts of the world to go to Jerufalem three times a-year, as was pre- fcribed in that conftitution. When therefore God had a defign of enlarging his church, as he did after Chrifl's refurreftion, it was neceffary that this difpenfation fhould be abolifhed. If it had been continued, it w^ould have been a great block and hindrance to the , enlargeinent of the church. And befides, tlieir cere- monial law, bv reafon of its burdenfomenels, and great peculiarity of fome of i's rites, was as it were a wall of partition, and was the grgund of enmitv between the Jews and Gentiles, and would have kept the Gentiles from complying with the true religion. This wall tlierefore was broken down to make way for the more extenfive fuccefs of the gofpel ; as Eph. ii. 14. 15. MI. The next thing in order of time feems to be the appointment of the Chriftian fabbath. For though this, v/as gradually eftabliihed in the Chriftian church, ;>-ct O ^ ^ tl^iofe L So AHISTORYoF Period III. things by which the revelation of God's mind v.ill was made, began on the day of Chrift's refur- retiK n, by his appearing then to his difciples, John XX. 19. and was afterwards confirmed by his appear- ing from time to time on that day rather than any other, John xx. 26. and by his fending down the Ho- ly Spirit fo remarkably on that day, Afts ii. 1. and afterwards in directing that public alfemblies arid the public worfhip of Chrillians (liould be on that day, which may be concluded from A8.$ xx. 7. 1 Cor. xyi. 1. 2. and Rev. i. 10. And fo the day of the week on which Chrilt rofe from the dead, that joyful day, is ap- pointed to be the day of the church's holy rejoicing to the end of the world, and the day of their ftated public worfliip. And this is a very great and principal means of the luccefs which the gofpei has had in the world. III. The next thing was Chrift's appointmicnt of the gofpel-miniftry, and commiffionating and fending forth his apollles to teach and baptize all nations. — Of thefe things we have an account in Matth. xxviii. 19. 20. " Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, ** baptizing them in the name of the Father, and *' of the Son, and of the Holy Ghofl ; teaching *' them to obferve all things whatfoever I have com- *' manded you : and lo, I ami ^vith you alway, even *' unto the end of the world." There v/ere three things done by this one inllru^Hon and commifTion of Chriii: to hir, apollles,' viz. 1. The appointment of the office of the gofpel-miini- llry. For this commiffion which Chrift gives to his apollles, in the moft eflential parts of it, belongs to all mini Hers ; and the apollles, by virtue of it, were mini- iters or eiders of the church. 2. Here is fomething peculiar in this commiffion of the apoliles, viz. to go forth from one nation to an- other, preaching the golpef in all the world. The apo- fllcs had fomething above what belonged to their or- dinary chara6^ers as minifters; they had an extraordi- nary power of teaching and ruling, which extended to all the churches ; and not only all the churches which then were, but all that fhould be to the end of the world by their miniftry. And fo the apollles were, as it were, in fubordination to Chrifl, made foundations of the Chriilian church. See Eph. ii. 20. and Rev. xxi. 14. "■ - . ' ' • ' 2' Here Partll. 1. The V/ork of REDEMPTION. 261 3. Herds an appointment of Chriftlan baptlfm. 'Jlii"? ordinance indeed had a beginning before ; John the Baptill and Chrift both baptifed. But now el'peciiiUy by this inllitution is it eilabhfhed as an ordinance to be upheld in the Chriifian church to the end of the world: The ordinance of the Lord's fupper had been cfta- blifhed before, jufl: before Chrift's crucifixion. IV. The next thing to be obferved, is the enduing the ApoOlcs, and others, with extraordinary and mira- culous gifts of the Holy Ghoft ; fuch as the gift of tongues, the gift of healing, of prophecy, 3:c. The Spirit of God was poured out in great abundance in this refpe61; ; fo that not only miniiters, but a very great part of the Chriftians through the world, were endued with them, both old and vouncr • not only officers, and inore honorable perfons, but the meaner fort of peo- ple, lervants and handmaids, were commonly endued with them, agreeable to Joel's prophecy, Joel ii. 28. 29. of which prophecy the Apollle Peter takes notice, that it is aceomplilhed in this difpenfation, Acts ii. 11. How wonderful a difpenfation was this ! Under the Old-Teftament, but few had fuch honors put upon them by God. Mofes wifhed that all the Lord's people were prophets, Num. xi. 29. whereas Jofhua thought it much that Eldad and Medad prophefied. But now we find the wifli of Mofes fulfilled. And this conti- nued in a very confiderable degree to the end of the a- poftolic age, or the firft hundred years after the birth of Chrift, which is therefore called the age of miracles. This was a great means of the fuccefs of the gofpel in that age, and of eftabUfhing the Chriftian church in all parts of the world ; and not only in that age, but in ail ages to the end of the world : for Chriilianity being by this means ellabliflied through fo great a part of the known world by miracles, it was after that more eafily continued by tradition ; and then, by means of thefe ex- iraordinaiy gifts of the Holy Ghoft, the apoftles, and Others, were enabled to write the New-Tedament, to bean infallible rule of faith and manners to the church to the end of the world. And furthcnnore tliefe mi- racles ftand recorded in thofe writings as a ftanding proof and evidence of the truth of the Chriftian reli- e ion to all a?es. ^ ■ "" V. The 1 A HISTORY OF Period III. V. The next thing I would obferve is the revealing ok; glorious doftrines of the gofpel fully and plainly, which had under the Old-Teftament been obfcurely re- vealed. The doftriiie of Chrift's fatisfaftion and righ- teoufnefs, his afcenfion and glory, and the way of lal- vation, under the Old-Teftament, were in a great mea- fure hid under the veil of types and {hadow3, and more obfcure rev^elations, as Mofes put a veil on his face to hide the fliiningof it : but now the veil of the temple is rent from .the top to the bottom ; and Chrift the an- tetype of Mofes, fhines : the fhiningof his face is with- out a veil ; 2. Cor. iii. 12. 13. 8c 18. Now thefe glo- rious myfteries are plainly revealed, which were m a great meafure kepi fecret from the foundation of the world, Eph. iii. 3. 4, ^. Rom. xvi. 25. '.' According *' to tlie revelation of the myilery which was kept fe- " cret fince the %'orld began, but now is made mani- *' fell ;" and pol. i, 26. " Even the myftery which " hath been hid from ages, and generations, but now is " made nianifell to his faints. Thus the Sun of righteoufnefs, after it is rifen from under the earth, begins to fhine forth clearly, and not only by a dim refleftion as it did before. Chrift, be- fore his death, revealed many things more clearly than ever they had been revealed in the Old-Teftament ; but the great myfteries of Chrift's redemption, and reconci- liation by his death, and juftification by his righteouf- nefs, were not fo plainly revealed before Chrift's refur- reftion. Chrift gav-e this reafon for it, that he would not put new wine into old bottles ; and it was gradually done after Chrift's refurreftion. In all likelihood Chrift much more clearly inftrutled them perfonally after his refurreftion, and before his afcenfion ; as we read that he continued with them forty days, fpeaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom, Afts i. 3. and that " he opened their underftandings, that they might *' underftand the fcriptures," Luke xxiv, 45. But the clear revelation of thefe things, was principally after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecoft, a- greeable to Chrift's promifc,, John xvi. 12. 13. "I *' have yet many things to fay unto you, but ye cannot ** bear them now. Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is; ^* come, he fhall guide you into all truth." This clear revelation Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. oC^. revelation of the myfterles of the gofpcl, as they are delivered, we have chiefly through the hands of the ApoRle Paul, by whofe writings a child may come to know more of the dohrincs of the gofp^l, in many re- fpefls, than the grcatcll; prophets knew under the dark- nefs of die Old-'rellamcnt. Thus we fee how the light of the gofpcl, which be- gan to dawn immediately after the fall, and gradually grew and increafcd through all the ages of the Old Tef- tament, as we obferved as we went along, is now come to the light of perfeft day, and the brightnefs of the fun Ihining fordi in its unveiled glory. VI. The next thing that I would obferve, is the ap- pointment of the office of deacons in the ChrilHan church, which we have an account of in the 6th chap- ter of the Afts, to take care for the outward fupply of the members of Chrift's church, and the cxcrcife of that great Chriftian virtue of charily. VII. The calling, and qualifying, and fending the Apofde Paul. This was begun in his converfion as he was going to Damafcus, and was one of the greatel! means ot the fuccefs of Chrifl's redemption that fol- lowed : for this fuccefs was more by the labours, preaching, and writings of this Apoftle, than all the o- ther apoftles put together. For, as he fays, i Cor. xv. .10. he " laboured more abundantly than they all ;" fa his fuccefs was more abundant than that of them all. As he was the apoftle of the Gentiles, fo it was mainly by his miniHry that the Gentiles were called, and the gofpel fpread through the world ; and our nation and the o- ther nations of Europe, have the gofpel among them chiefly through his means ; and he was more employed by the Holy Ghoft in revealing the glorious do61rincs of the gofpel, by his writings for the ufe of the church in all ages, than all the other apofiles taken together. VIII. The next thing I would obferve, is tlie infli- tution of ecclefiaftical councils, for decidinfj; contro- verfies, and ordering the affairs of the church of Chrill, of which we have an account in the i^th chapter of Aas. IX. The laft thing I fliall mention under this head, is the committing the New-Teftament to >vTiting. Tliis .was all written after the rcfurre6i:oji of Chrifl ; and ail written, 2bs A HISTORY cT Period IIL N'.jiucn, either by the apoftles, or by the evangelifls, \v ho were companions of the apollles. All the New Teilament was written by the apoPdes themfelves, ex- cepting what j^-as written by Mark and Luke, viz. the gofpels of Mark and Luke, and the book of the A8s of the Apoftles. He that wrote the gofpel of Mark, is fuppofed to be he whofe mother was Mary, in whole houfe they w^re praying for Pe^er,' when he, brought out of p-rifon by the angel, came and knocked at the door; of which we read, Afcts xii. 12. "And when *' he had confidered the thing, he came to the houfe *' of Mary the mother of John, whofe firnarr.e was " Mark, where many were gathered together, pray- ** ing." He was the companion of the apoftles Bar- nabas and Saul : Afts xv. J7. " And Barnabas deter- " mined to take with them John, whofe firname was " Mark." He was Barnabas's filler's fon, and feems fometimes to have been a companion to the Apoftle Paul : Col. iv. 10, " Ariftarchus, my feliow-priloner, " faluteth you, and Marcus, fifter's fon to Barnabas ; *' touching whom ye received commandment : if he *' come unto you, receive him." The apoflles feem to have made great account of him, as appears by thofe places, and alfo by Afts xii. 25. " And Barnabas and *' Saul returned from Jerufalem, and took with them *' John, whofe firname was Mark ;" and A6ls xiii. 5. " And when they were at Salamis, they preached ths *• word of God in the fynagogues of the Jews ; and " they had alfo John to their minifter ;" and, 2 Tim. iv. 11. " Only Luke is with me: take Mark and bring " him with thee ; for he is profitable to me for the *' miniftry." This Luke, who wrote the gofpel of Luke and the book of Afls, was a great companion of the Apoflle Paul. He is fpoken of as being with him in the laft mentioned place, and fpeaks of himfelf as accompany- ing him in his travels in the hiflory of the A61s ; and therefore he fpeaks in the firft perfon plural, when fpeaking of Paul's travels, faying. We went to fuch and fuch a place ; We fet fail ; We launched from fuch a place, and landed at fuch a place. He was greatly beloved by the Apoftle Paul : he is that beloved phyfici- an fpoken of, Col. iv. The ApoRIe ranks Mark and Luke Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 265 Luke among his fellow-labourers, Philemon, 24. '• Mar- " cus, Ariltarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fcilow-labour- " ers." The reft of the books were all writtci> by the apoftlcs themfclves. The books of the NewTcIlament are ei- ther hiftorical, or doftrinal, or prophetical. The hi- ftorical books are the writings of the four evangelilks, giving us the hiliory of Chi ill, and his purchafe of re- demption, and his relurrettion and afccnfion ; and the Afts ol the Apoftles, giving an account of the great filings by which the Cbriftian church was firfteflabhlh- ed and propagated. The dotirinal books are the epi- ftles. Thele, moft of them, we have from the great Apoftle Paul. And we have one prophetical book, which takes place after the end of the hiflory of the whole Bible, and gives an account of the great events which were to come to pais, by which the work of re- demption was to be carried on to the end of the world. All thefe books are fuppofed to have been written before the deftru6Hon of Jerufalem, excepting thofe- which were written by the Apoftle John, who lived the longeft of all the apoftles, and wrote what he wrote after the deftru^lion of Jerufalem, as is fuppofed. And to this beloved difciple it was that Chrift revealed thofe wonderful things which were to come to pafs in his church to the end of time ; and he was the perfon that put the finifhing hand to the canon of the fcriptures, and fealed the whole of it. So that now the canon of fcripture, that great and ftanding written rule, which was begun about Mofes's time, is completed and fettled, and a curfe denounced againft him that adds any thing to it, or diminifhes any thing from it. And (o all things are eftabliftied and completed which relate to the appointed means of grace. All the ftated means of grace were finiilied in the apoftolical age, or before the death of the apoftle John, and are to remain unaltered to the day of judgment. Thus far we have confidered thofe things by which the means of grace were given and eftabliftied in Uie Chriftian church. § II. Th e other thing propofed relating to the fuccefs 'of Chrift's redemption during the church's continuance H h under A HISTORY OF Period IIL tindcf means of grace, was to fhow how this fiiccefs was carried on j which is what I would now proceed to do. And here it is worthy to be remembered, that the Chriflian church, during its continuance under the tneans of grace, is in two very different ftates. 1. In a fuffering, afflifted, perfeeuted ftate, as, for the moft part it is, from the refurreftion of Chrift till the fall of Antichrifl:. 2. In a ftate of peace and profperity ; which is the ilate that the church, for the moft part, is to be in af- ter the fall of Antichrift. First, I would fhow how the fuccefs of Chrift's re-^ demption is carried on during the continuance of the church's fuffering ftate, from the refurreftion of Ghrift to the fall of Antichrift. This fpace of time, for the moft part, is a ftate of the church's fufferings, and is fo reprefented in fcripture. Indeed God is pleafed, out of love and pity to his elecf, to grant many intermif-* iions of the church's fufferings during this time, where=» by tlie days of tribulation are as it were ftiprtened. But from Chrift's refurreftion to the fall of Antichrift, is' the appointed day of Zion's troubles. During this fpace lof tiir.e, for the moft part, fome part or other of the church is under perfecution; and great part of the time, the whole church, or at leaft the generality of God's people, have been perfeeuted. For the firft three hundred years after Chrift, th* church was for the moft part in a ftate of great aftlic- tion, the objeft of reproach and perfecution ; firft by the Jews, and then by the Heathen. After thi$, fron? the beginning of Conftantine's time, the church had reft and profperity for a little while ; which is repre- fented in Rev. vii. at the beginning, by the angel's hold- ing the four winds for a little while. But prefently af- ter, the church again fuffered perfecution from the Ari- ans ; and after that, Antichrift rofe, and the. church was dnyen away into the wildernefs, and was kept down in obfcurity, and contempt, and fuffering, for a Jong time, under Antichrift, before the reformation by Luther and others. And ftnce the reformation, the church'sperfecutionshave been beyond all that ever were before. Partll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 26^ before. And though fome parts of God's church fome- times have had relt, yet to this day, for the moit part, the true church is very much kept under by its enemies^ and fome parts oi it under grievious p^rfecution ; and fo' tvemay expert itwillcontume till the fall of Antichrift ; and then will come the appointed day of the church's profperity on earth, the fet time in which God will fa- vour Zion, the time when the faints fhall not be kept under by wicked men, as it has been hitherto ; but wherein they fhall be uppermoft, and ihall reign on earth, as it is faid, Rev. v. 10. "And the kingdom *' fhall be given to the people of the faints of the moil *' High," Dan. yii. 27. This fuffering flate of the church is in fcripture re- prefented as a flate of the church's travail, John xvi- 20. 21. and Rev. xii. 1. 2. What the church is in tra- vail flriving to bring forth during this time, is that glory and profperity of the church which (hall b^ afier the fall of Antichrifl, and . then ihall flie bring forth her child. This is a longr time of the church's trouble and affli61ion, and is fo fpoken of in fcripture, though it be fpoken of as being but for a little feafon, in com- parifon of the eternal profperity of the church. Hence the church, under the long continuance of this afRic- tion, cries out, as in Rev. vi. 10. " How long, O Lord, ** holy and true, dofl thou not judge and avenge our " blood on them that dwell on the earth ?"' And we are told, that ''white robes w'ere given unto every one ** of them ; and it was faid unto them, that they fhould* *' refl yet for a little feafon, until their fellow-fervants *' alfo, and their brethren, that fhould be killed as they *' were, fhould be fulfilled." So Dan. xii. 6. " How *' long fhall it be to the end of thefe wonders ?" It is to be obferved, that during the time of thefe fufferings of the church, the main inflrument of their fiifferings has been the Roman government : her afflic- tions have almoll all along been from Rome. That is therefore in the New Teftament called Babylon ; be- caufe, as of old die troubles of the cit)' Jerufalem were mainly from that adverfe city B;ibylon, fo the troubles of the Chriflian church, the fpiritual Jerufa- lem, during the long time of its tribulation, is mainly lih s frvui. 268 A K I S T O R Y Of Period III. from Rome. Before the time of Conftantine,.the trou- bles of the Chriftian church were from Heathen Rome : fince that time, its troubles have been mainly from Aniichrillian Rome. And as of old, the captivity of the Jews cealed on the dellru£Hon of Babylon, fo the time of the trouble of the Chrillian church will ceafe with the deftru6tion of the church pf Rome, that fpi- ^itual Babvlon. In {ho\ving how the fuccefs of ChriR's redemption is (Carried on daring this iiir.Q of the church's tribulation, I would, ' 1. Sho\v how it wa.s carried on till the deftruftion of Jerufalem, with which ended the firft great difpenfa* lion of Providence', which ?s called Chris's coming in his kinp^dom. ' 2. How it was carried on from thence to the de- flruction of the Heathen empire in the time of Con- itantine, which is the fecond difpenfation called Chrijfs coming. ■ • . . •• 3. How it is carried on from thence to the deftruc- tion of Antichriil, when will be accompliihed the third great event called Chnjl's coming, and with which 'the days of the church's tiibuladon and travail end. I. I would fhow hovy thp fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe of redemption was carried on from Chrift's refurreftion to the deftrucHon of jerufalem. In fpeaking of this, I would, 1. take notice of the fuccefs itfelf ; and, 2. the oppoiition made againft it by the enemies of It ; and, 3. the terrible judgment^ of God on thofe enemies. " ■ " 1. I would obferve the fuccefs itfelf. Soon after Chnft had finillied the purchaie of redemption, and was c;one into Heaven and entered into the holy of hoHcs with his own blood, there began a glorious fuc- cefs f >f wliat he had done and fuffered. Having under- iiUiied the foundation of Satan's kingdom, it began to idll apace. Swiftly did it haften to ruin, m the world, which might well be compared to Satan's falling like lightning, from Heaven. Satan before had exalted his tiironc very liigh in this world, even to the very flars of Heaven, reigning with great glory, in his Heathen J:loman empire; but never before had hefiich a down- fai Part II. 1. . The Work of REDEMPTION. 269 i^\ as he had foon after Chrifl's afcenfion. He had, wc jnay fuppofe; been very lately triumphing in a hippolcd yiciory, having brought about the death of Chrill, nvhich he doubllefs gloried ii) as the greaielt feat that ever he did ; and probably im^igined he had totally de- feated God's defign by him. But he was (piickly made fenfible, that he had only been luining his own king- dom, when he faw it tumbling fo fall fo loon after, as a corifequence of the death of Chrilh For Chrift, by his death, having purchaied the holy fpirit, and ha- ying afcendcd, and received the Spirit, he poured it forth abundantly for the converfion of thoufarids and inillions of fouls. Never had Chrifl's kingdom been fo fet up in the world. There probably were more fouls converted in the age of the apoflles than had been before from the beginning of the world till that time. Thus God fo foon begins glorioufly to accomplilh his promife to his Son, wherein he had promifed, that he flioiild fee his feed, and that the pleafure of the Lord fliould profper in his hand, if he would make his foul an offering for fm. And, (1) Here iis to be obferved the fuccefs which thegof- pej had among the Jews : for God firfl began with thern. He being about to rcjeft the main body of that people, firfl calls in his eleft from among them, before lie foifook them, to turn to the Gentiles. It was fo in former great and dreadful judgments of God on jthat nation : the bulk of them were deflroyed, and only a remnant faved, or reformiCd. So it was in the rejec- tion of the ten tribes, long before this reje6lion : the bulk of the ten tribes were rejected, when they left the true worfnip of God in Jeroboam's time, and after- wards more fully in Ahab's time. But yet there was a remnant of theni that God referved. A number left their polfeClons in thefe tribes, and went and fettled in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. And afterwards t;iere were feven thoufand in Ahab's time, who had not bowed the knee to Baal. And fo, in the captivity xnio Babylon, only a reninant of them e\ er returned to il;.eir own land. And fo now again, by far the grcate^^ part of the people were rejected entirely, but fome few )vere faved. And therefore the Holv Ghofl compare^ *7o A HISTORY OF Period liL this reservation of a nun^iber that were converted by the* preaching of the apoftles, to thofe former remnants : Rom. ix. 27. •' Efaias alfo crieth concerning Ifrael, " Though tli^ number of the children be as the fand ** of the fea, a remnant ihall be faved." See If. x. 22, The glorious fuccefs of the gofpel among the Jews after Chrift's afceijfion, began by the pouring out of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecoft, of which we read in Ads ii. So wonderful was this pouring out of the Spi- rit, and fo remarkable and fwift the effeft of it, that we read of three thoufand who v.'ere converted to the Chriftian faith in one daV; Afts ii. 41. And probably the greater part of thefe were favingly converted. Anct after this, we read of God's adding to the church, daily fiich as Ihould be faved, verf. 47. And foon after, wc read, that the number of them were about five thou- fand. Thus were not only a multitude converted, but the church was then eminent in piety, as appears by Acls ii. 46. 47. iv. 32. Thus the Chriftian church was firft of all of the na- tion of Ifraey; and- therefore, when the Gentiles were called, they were but as it were added to Ifrael, to the feed of Abraham. They were added to the Chriftian church of Ifrael, as the profelytes of old were to the Mofaic church of Ifrael ; and fo were as it were only grafted on the ftock of Abraham, and were not a dif- tinft tree; for they are all ftill the feed of Abraham and Ifrael ; as Ruth the Moabitefs, and Uriah the Hittite, and other profelytes of old; were the fame people, and ranked as the feed of Ifrael. So the Chriftian church at firft began at Jerufaleni, and from thence was propagated to all nations : fo that this church of jerufalem was the church that was as it were the mother of all other churches in the world ; agreeable to the prophecy, If. ii. 3. 4. " Out of Zion *' Ihall go forth the law, aijd the word of the Lord *' from JerufalejTi : and he Ihall judge among the na- ** tions, and rebuke many people." So that the whole church of God is ftill God's Jerufalem : they are his fpi ritual Jerufalem, and are as it were only added to the church, which was begun in the literal Jerufalem. After this, we xead of many thoufands of Jews that believed in Jerufalem, Acts xxi. 20. And io we read Bart II. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 271 read of multitudes of Jews who were converted in o- ther cities of Judea ; and not only fo, but even in other parts of the world. For wherever the apoftles went, if there were any Jews there, their manner was, firik to go into the fynagogucs of the Jews, and preach the gofpel to them, and many in one place arnl another be- lieved ; as in Damafcus and Aniioch, and many other places that we read of in the Atts of the Apoltles. In this pouring out of the Spirit, which began at the P^tttecoil following Chrift's afccnfion, began that firft great difpenfation which is called ChriJVs coming in his kingdom* Chrift's coming thus in a fpiiitual manner for the glorious fetting up of his kingdom in the world, is reprefented by Chrill himfelf as his coming down from Heaven, whither he had afcended, John xiv. iB. There Chrili having been I'peaking of his afcenfion, fays, " I will iK)t leave you comfortlefs ; I will come *' unto you," fpeaking of his coming by the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. And, verf. 28. •^ Ye have heard how I faid unto you, I go awa)-, and ** come again unto you." And thus t]ie apoftles began to fee the kingdom of Heaven come with power, as he promifed they ftiould, Mark ix. 1. (2) What is next to be obferved is the fuccefs of the gofpel among the Samaritans. After the fuccefs of the goipel had been fo glorioufly begun among the pro- per Jews, the Spirit of God was next wonderfully poured out on the Samaritans, who were not Jews by nation, but the pofterity of thofe wiiom the king o£ AlTyria removed from different parts of his dominicms, and fettled in the land that was inhabited by the ten tribes, whom he carried captive. But yet they had re- ceived the five books of Mofes, and praftifed moft of the rites of the law of Mofes, and fo were a fort of mongrel Jews. We do not find them reckoned as Gentiles in the New Teftament : for the calling of the Gentiles is fpoken of as a new thing after this, bcgin- ping with the converfion of Cornelius. But yet it was an inftance of making that a people that were no j^o- ple i for they had corrupted the religion which Mofes commanded, and did not go up to Jerufalem to wor- fhip, but had another temple of their own in Mount Cerizzim ; which is the mauntain of which the womaa 272 A HISTORY OF Period III. of Sai; ! fpeaks, when fhe fays "Our fathers wor- ** fiiippcd 111 this mountain." Chrift there does not approve of their feparation from the Jews ; but tells the woman of Samaria, that they worlhipped they knew not what, and that falvation is of the Jews. But now falvation is brought from the Jews to them by the preaching of Philip (excepting that before Chrift had ibme fuccefs among them) with whofe preaching there was a glorious pouring out of the Spirit of God in the city of Samaria ; where we are told, that *•' the people " believed Philip preaching the things concerning the ** kingdom of Chrift, and were baptized, both men " and women ; and that there was gieat joy in that V city," Afts viii. 8. — 12. Thus Chrift had a glorious harv^eft in Samaria ; which is what Chrift feems to have had refpeft to, in what he faid to his difciples at Jacob's well three or four years before, on occafion of the people of Samaria's appear- ing at a diftance in the fields coming to the place where Chrift was, at the inftigation of the woman of Samaria. On that occafion, he bids his difciples lift up their eyes to the field, for that they were white to the harveft, John iv. 35. 36. The difpofition which the people of Sama- ria ihowed towards Chrift and his gofpel, fhowed that they were ripe for the harveft. But now the hai-veft is come by Philip's preaching. There ufed to be a moft bitter enmity between the Jews and Samaritans ; but now, by their converfion, the Chriftian Jews and Sa- maritans are all happily united : for in Chrift Jefus is neither Jew nor Samaritan, but Chrift is all in all. This was a glorious inftance of the wolf's dwelling with the lamb, and the leopard's lying down with the kid. (3) The next thing to be obferved is the fuccefs there was of the gofpel in caUing the Gentiles. This^was a great and glorious difpenfation of divine providence, much fpoken of in the prophecies of the Old Tefta- ment, and fpoken of by the apoftles time after time, as a moft glorious event of Chrift's redemption. This wa^ begun in the converfion of Cornelius and his family, greatly to the admiration of Peter, who was ufed as the inftrument of it, and of thofe who were with him, and of thofe who were informed of it; as you may fee, Acls X. & xi. And the next inftance of it that we have any account Part II. I. The Work of REDEMP'HON. 273 account of, was in the convcrfion of great numbers of Gentiles in Cyprus, and Cyrene, and Antiocli, bv the difciples tliat were fcattered abroad by the perfecutioii which arofe about Stephen, as we have an account in ASis xi. 19. 20. 21. And prefently upon this the chf- ciples began to be called Chriilians firlt at Antioch, verf. 26. And after this, vafl multitudes of Gentiles were con- verted in many different parts of the world, chiefly by the miniflry of the Apollle Paul, a glorious pouring out of the Spirit accompanying his preaching in one place and another. Multitudes flocked into the church of Chrilf in a great number of cities where the Apollle came. So the number of members of the Chriiliau church that were Gentiles, foon far exceeded the num- ber of its Jewilh members ; )'ea fo, that in lefs than ten years time after Paul was fent forth from AntiocU to preach to the Gentiles, it. was faid of him and his companions, that they had turned the world upfidc down : Afts xvii. 6. "Thefethat have turned the world *' upfide down are come hither alfo." But the moft remarkable pouring out of the Spirit in a particular city that we have any account of in the New Tefla- ment, feems to be that in the city of Ephefus, whicli was a very great city. Of this we have an account in A6ls xix. There was alfo a ver\^ extraordinary ingather- ing of fouls at Corinth, one of the greateft cities in all Greece. And after this many were converted in Rome, the chief city of all the world ; and the gofpel was propagated into all parts of the Roman empire. Thus the gofpel-fun, which had lately rifen on the Jews, now rofe upon, and began to enlighten the Heathen world, after they had continued in grofs Heathenifh darknefs for fo many ages. This was a great thing, and a new thing, fuch as ne- ver had been before. All nations but the Jews, and a few who had at one time and another joined with tliem, had been rejefted from about Moies's time. The Gen- tile world had been covered over with the thick dark- nefs of idolatry ; but now, at the joyful glorious founJ of the gofpel, they began in all parts to forfake their old idols, and to abhor them, and to call them to the moles and to the bats, and to learn to >vor(hip the true 1 i Qod, 274 A H I S T O R Y OF Peiiod III. God, and to truft in his Son Jefus Cbrill ; and God own- ed them for his people ; thofe who had fo long been afar off, were made nigh by the blood of ChriiK Men were changed from being Heathenifh and brutifh, to be tlie children of God ; were called out of Satan's kingdom of darknefs, and brought into God's marvellous light ; and in almoft all countries throughout the known world were alTemblies of the people of God; joyful praifes were fung to the true God, and Jefus Chrift the glo- lious Redeemer. Now that great building which God began foon after the" fall of man, rifes glorioufly, not m the fame manner that it had done in former ages, but in quite a new manner ; now Daniel's prophecies eoncerning the laft kingdom, which fhould fucceed the four Heathenifh monarchies, begins to be fulfilled ; flow the ftone cut out of the mountains v/ithout hands, began to fmite the image on its feet, and to break it in prieces, and to grow great, and to make great advances towards filling the earth ; and now God gathers toge- ther the eleft from the' four winds of Heaven, by the preaching of the apoilles and other minifters, the an- gels of the Chriftian church fent forth wdth the great found of the gofpel-trumpet, before the deftruftion of Jerufalem, agreeable to what Chrift foretold, Matth.- Xxiv. 31. This was thefuccefs of Chrift's purchafe during tliis iirft period ©f the Chriftian church, which terminated ill the deftru6}ion of Jerufalem. 2. I would proceed now, in the fecond place^ to take notice of the oppofition which was made to thisfuccefs B^ Chrift's purchafe by the enemies of it. Sa- tan, who lately was fo ready to triumph and exult, as though he had gained the viftory in putting Chrift to death, now finding himfelf fallen into the pit which he had digged, and finding his kingdom falling fo faft, and feeing Chrift's kingdom make fuch amazing progrefs; fuch as never had been before, ^ve may conclude he was filled with the greateft confufion and aftonilhment, and hell fecmed to be efiPeftually alarmed by it to make the moft violent oppofition againft it. And, firft, the de- ^il ftirred up the Jews, who had before crucified Chrift, to perfccute the church : for it is obfcrvable, that the perieeution which the church fuffisred during this peri- . . od. Part II. 1, The Work ot REDEMPTION. 27,5 od, was tnoftJy from the Jews- Thus we rea'i in ths Ads, when, at Jerufalem, the Holy Ghe world for now above 1600 years. Thus there was a final end to the Old Teftament world : All was finiihed with a kind of day of judg- ment, in which the people of God were faved, and his enemies terribly deftroyed. Thus does he who was fo lately mocked, defpifed,- and fpit upon by thefe Jews, and ^vhofe followers they fo malignantly perfecuted, appear glorioufly exalted over his enemies. H A V I N G thus fhown how the fuccefs of Chrift's pur- chafe was carried on till tlie deftru£tion of Jerufalern^ I tome now, II. To lis. Part II. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION, p/j II. To fhow how it was carried on from that time till the delkuftion of the Heathen empire in the titr;^ of Conftantine the Great, which is ihe fecond gre.it event which is in fcripture, compared to Chrift's ca-- luing to judgment. jerufalem was deilroycd about the year of our Lord 68, and fo before that generation palfcd a^vay whicar was contemporary with Chrill ; and it was about thirty^, five years after Chrift's death. I'he deftruftion of the? Heathen empire imder Conftantine, was about 260 years after this. In fhowing how the fuccefs of the gof-* pel was carried on through this time, I would, j , I'aku notice of the oppofition made againft it by the Roman empire. 2. How the work of the gofpcl went on jiot- witliftanding all that oppofition. 3. The peculiar cir- eumftances of tribulation and diftrefs that the churcli was in juft before their deliverance by Conftantine. 4. The great revolution in Conftantinc's time. 1. I would briefly fhow what oppofition was made againft the gofpel, and the kingdom of Chrift, by the Roman empire. The oppofition that was made to the gofpel by the Heathen Roman empire, was mainly after the deftruftion of Jerufalem, though their oppofition began before ; but the oppofition that was before the dellruftion of Jerufalem, was mainly by the Jews. But when Jerufalem was deftroyed, the Jevv^s were put out of a capacity of much troubling the church. Now, therefore, the Devil turns his hand elfewhere, and uk^ other inftriiments. The oppofition which was made in the Roman empire againft the kingdom of Chrift, was chiefly of two kinds. (1) They employed all their learning, and philofo- phy, and wit, in oppofing it. Chrift came into tlie world in an age wherein learning and philofophy weie at their height in the Roman empire. This was em- ployed to the utmoft againft the kingdom of Chrift, The gofpel, which held forth a crucified Saviour, was not at all agreeable to the notions of die philofophers* The Chriftian fcheme of trufting in fuch a crucified Re- deemer, appeared foohfh and ridiculous to thenr. Greece was a country the moft famous for learning of any in^he Roman empire; but the apoille obierve% tiiat the do^irine o^ Chrift crucified, appeared foolilh- nefs 28o A HISTORY o? Period III. iiefs to the Greeks, i Cor. i. 23. and therefore the wife men and philofophers oppofed the gofpel with all the wit they had. We have a fpecimen of their man- ner 01 oppofing, in the Itory we have of their treat- ment of the Apoftle Paul at Athens, which was a city that had been for many ages the chief feat of philofo- phers of any in the whole world. We read in A61s xvii. 18. that the philofophers of the Epicureans and Stoicks encountered him, faying, " What will this bab- *' ler fay ? He feemeth to be a fetter forth of ilrange *' gods." So they were wont to deride and ridicule Chrillianity. And after the deftruftion of Jerufalem, feveral of thefe philofophers publifhed books againft it ; the chief of whom were Celfus and Porphyry. Thefe wrote books againft the Chriftian religion with a great deal of virulence and contempt, much after the man- ner that the Deifls of the prefent age oppofe and ridi- cule Chrillianity. Something of their writings yet re- mains. As great enemies and defpifers as they were of the Chriftian religion, yet they never denied the fa61s recorded of Chrift and his apoftles in the New Teftament, particularly the miracles which they wrought but allowed them. They lived too near the times wherein thefe miracles were wrought to deny them; for they were fo publicly done, and fo lately, that nei- ther Jews nor Heathens in thofe days, appeared to deny them ; but they afcribed them to the power of magic. (2) The authority of the Roman empire employed all their ftrength, time after time, to perfecute, and if pofTible, to root out Chriftianity. This they did in ten general fucceffive perfecutions. We have hereto- fore obferved, that Chrift came into the world when the ftrength of Heathen dominion and authority was the greateft that ever it was under the Roman monar- chy, the greateft and ftrongeft human monarchy that ever was on earth. All the ftrength of this monar- chy was employed for a long time to oppofe and per- fecute the Chriftian church, and if poftible to de- ftroy it, in ten fucceffive attempts, which are called the ten Heathen perjecutions, which were before Con- ftantine. The firft of thefe, which was the perfccution under Nero, Partll. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 281 Nero, was a little before the deftrutlioii of Jcrufalein, in which the Apoltle Peter was crucified, and the Apo- ille Paul beheaded, Toon after he wrote liis iecund epi- file to llmothy. When he wrote that epiflle, he was a prifoner at Rome under Nero, and was loon after ho wrote it beheaded, agreeable to what he fays, chap. iv. 6. 7. " I am now ready to be offered, and the tune of, *' my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, *' I have finifhed my courfe, I have kept the faith." — And there were many thoufands of other Chrillians flain in that perfecution. The other nine perfecutions were all after the deftru6fion of Jerufalem. Some of thefe were very terrible indeed, and far exceeded the firft perfecution under Nero. One emperor after an- other fet himfelf with the utmoft rage to root out the Chriftian church from the earth, that there fhould not be fo much as the name of Chriftian left in the world. And thoufands and millions were put to cruel deaths in thefe perfecutions ; for they fpared neither fex nor age. but killed them as faft as they could. Under the fecond general perfecution, that which was next after the defl;ruftion of Jerufalem, the Apoftle John was banifhed to the ifle of Patmos, where he had thofe vifions of which he has given an account in the Revelation. Under that perfecution it was reckoned, that about 40,000 fuffered martyrdom ; which yet was nothing to what were put to death under fome fucceed- ing perfecutions. Ten thoufand fuffered that one kind of cruel death, crucifixion, in the third perfecution under the emperor Adrian. Under the fourth perfc" cution, which began about the year of Chrill 162, ma- ny fuffered martyrdom in England, the land of our forefathers, where Chriftianity had been planted very early, and, as is fuppofed, in the days of the Apoftles, And in the later perfecutions, the Roman emperors being vexed at the fruftration of their predecelfors, who were not able to extirpate Chriftianity, or hinder its progrefs, were enraged to be the more violent in their attempts. Thus a great part of the firft 300 years after Chrift: was fpent in violent and cruel perfecutions of the church by the Roman powers. Satan was very unwilling to let go his hold of fo great a part of the world, and every K k way 282 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. way the chief part of it, as the countyes contained in the Roman empire were, of which he had had the quiet pofTefiion for fo many ages : and therefore, when he faw it going fo fall out of his hands, he beltirred him- felf to his utmoft : all hell was, as it were, raifed againft it to oppofeitwith its ntmoft power. Satan thus exerting himfelf by the power of the Hea- then Roman empire, is called the great red dragon in fcripture, having feven heads and ten horns, fighting againft the woman cloathed with the fun, as in the 12th of Revelation. And the terrible conflift there was be- tween the church of Chrift, and the powers of the Heathen em.pire before Conftantine's time, is there, in verf. 7. reprefented by the war between Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his angels : " And there *' was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought, ♦' and the dragon fought and his angels." 2. I would take notice what fuccefs the gofpel had in the world before the time of Conftantine, notwithftand- ing all this oppofuion. Though the learning and power of the Roman empire were fo great, and both were employed to the utmoft againft Chriftianity to put a ftop to it, and to root it out for fo long a time, and in fo many repeated attempts; yet all was in vain; they could neither root it out, nor put a ftop to it. But ftill, in fpite of all that they could do, the kingdom of Chrift wonderfully prevailed, and Satan's Heathen kingdom mouldered and confumed away before it, a- greeable to the words of the text, "The moth fliall *' eat them up like a garment, and the worm fliall eat *' them like wool." And it was very obfervable, that for the moft part the more they perfecuted the church, the more it increafed, infomuch that it became a com- mon faying, The blood of the martyrs is the feed of the church. Herein the church of Chrift proved io be like a palm-tree; of which tree it is remarked, that the greater weight is laid upon it, or hung to its branches, the more it grows and ftourifties ; on which account probably the church is compared toapalm-tree in Cant. vii. 7. " This thy ftature is like to a palm-tree." Juftin Martyr, an eminent father in the chriftian church, who lived in the age next after the apoftles, in ibme writings of his, which are yet extant, fays, that in part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. -.83 in his days there was 110 part of mankind, whether Greeks or barbarians, or by what name loever they were called, even the moil: rude and unpolifhed nations, where prayers and thankfgivings were not made to tlie great creator of the world, through the name of the crucified Jefus, Tertulhan, another eminent father in the Chriftian church, w4io lived in the bcn^inning of tb<' following age, in fome of his writings which are ycL extant, fets forth how that in his day the chriftian reli* gion had extended itfelf to the utmoft bounds of the then known world, in which he reckons Britain, the country of our forefathers ; and thence demonllrates, that the kingdom of Chrift was then more extenfi\ e than any of the four great monarchies ; and moreover fays, that though the Chriftians wereas ftrangers of no long {landing, yet they had filled all places of the Ro- man dominions, their cities, illands, caftles, corpora- tions, councils, armies, tribes, the palace, fenate, and courts of judicature ; only they had left to the Heathen their temples ; and that if they fliould all agree to re- tire out of the Roman empire, the world would be amazed at the folitude and defolation that would enfue upon it, there would be fo few left ; and that the Chri-i llians were enough to be able eafily to defend them- felves, if they were difpofed to rife up in arms againft the Heathen magiftrates. And Pliny, a Pleathen who lived in thofc days, fays, multitudes of each fex, every age and quality, were become Chriftians. This fuper- ftition, fays he, having infefted and over-run not the city only, but towns and countries, the temples and fa-^ crifices are generally defolate and forfaken. And it was remarked by both Heathen and Chri- ftian writers in thofe days, that the famous Heathen oracles in their temples, where princes and others for inany paft ages had been wont to inquire and receive anfwers with an audible voice from their gods, which were indeed anfwers from the devil ; 1 fay, thofe ora- cles were now filenced and ftruck dumb, and gave no more anfwers : and particularly the oracle at Delphos, which was the moft famous Heathen oracle in the whole world, which both Greeks and Romans ufed to confult, began to ceafe to give any anfwers, even from the birth of Chrift: and the falfe deity who was II k 3 woi ft lipped. 284 AHISTORYoF Period III. worfliipped, and ufed to give anfwers from his oracl^ in that temple, being once inquired of, why he did not now give anfwers as he was wont to do ? made this reply, as feveral Heathen hiftorians who lived about thofe times relate, There is an Hebrew boy, fays he, who is king of the gods, who has commanded me to leave this houfe, and be gone to hell, and therefore you are to expeft no more anfwers. And many of the Heathen writers who lived about that time, fpealc much of the oracles being lilenced, as a thing at which they wondered, not knowing what the caufe fhould be. Plutarch, a Heathen writer of thofe times, wrote a particular treatife about it, which is ftill extant. — And Porphyry, one of the Heathen writers before men- tioned, who oppofed the Chriftian religion, in his wri- tings has thefe words : " It is no wonder if the city lor thefe fo many years has been over-iun with fick- nefs; Efculapius, and the reft of the gods having with- drawn their converfe with men : for fince Jefus began to be worfhipped, no man has received any public help or benefit by the gods." Thus did the kingdom of Chrift prevail againfl the "kingdom of Satan. - 3. I now proceed to take notice of the peculiar cir- cumftances of tribulation and diftrefs juft before Con- Ilantine the Great came to the throne. This diftrefs they fuffcred under the tenth Heathen perfecution, which, as it was the laft, fo it was by far the heavieft, and rnoft fevere. The church before this, after the ceafmg of the ninth perfecution, had enjoyed a time of cjuietnefs for about forty years together ; but, abufmg their liberty, began to grow cold and lifelefs in religion, and carnal, and contentions prevailed among them ; by which they offended God to fuffer this dreadful trial to come upon them. And Satan having loft ground fo much, notwithftanding all his attempts, now feemed to beftir himfelf with more than ordinary rage. Thofe who were then in authority fet themfelves with the ut- moft violence to root out Chriftianity, by burning all Bibles, and deftroying all Chriftians; and therefore they did not ftand to try or convi6l them in a formal procefs, but fell upon them where-ever they could ; fometimes fetting fire to houfes where multitudes of them Partll. 1. The Woiik oi REDEMPTION. 2ii5 them were afTembled, and burning them all together: and at other times ilaughtering multitudes together : fo that fometimes their perfccutors were quite fpeni with the labour of killing and tormenting them ; and in fome populous places, fo many were llain together, that the blood ran like torrents. It is related, th-it: feventeen thoufand martyrs were flain in one niontlr^j time ; and that during the continuance of this perfecu- tion in the province of Egy-pt alone, no lefs than J 44,000 Chriflians died by the violence of their per- fccutors, behdes 700,000 that died through the fa- tigues of banilhment, or the public works to which they were condemned. This perfecution lafted for ten years together ; and as it exceeded all foregoing perfecutions in the number of martyrs, fo it exceeded them in the variety and mul- titude of inventions of torture and cruelty. Some au- thors who lived at that time, fay, they were innumer- able, and exceed all account and exprefhon. This perfecution in particular was veryfevere in Eng- land ; and this is that perfecution which was foretold in Rev. vi. 9. 10. " And when he had opened the fifth *' feal, I faw under the altar the fouls of them that *' were flain for the word of God, and for the telli- *' mony which they held. And they cried with a loud " voice, faying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, ♦' dofl thou not judge and avenge our blood on them '* that dwell on the earth ?" And at the end of the ten years during which this perfecution continued, the Heathen perfccutors thought they had finifhed their work, and boafted that they had utterly deftroyed the name and fuperftition of the Chriftians, and had reilored and propagated the wor- fhip of the gods. Thus it was the darkeft time with the Chriftian church juft before the break of day. They were brought to the greateft extremity juft before God ap- peared for their glorious deliverance, as the bondage ot the Ifraelites in Egypt was the moft fevere and cruel juft before their deliverance by the hand of Mofes. — Their enemies thought they had fwallowed them up juft before their deftrudion, as it was with Pharaoh and hi§ £86 A HISTORY OF Period III, his lioft when they had hemmed in the children of If* rael at the Red Sea. 4. I come now, in the fourth place, to the great re-» volution which was in the world in the days of Con- ftantine, which was in many refpefts like Chrift's ap' pearing in the clouds of Heaven to fave his people, and judge the world. The people of Rome being weary of the government of thole tyrants to v/hom they had lately been fubjetl, fent to Conftantine, who was then in the city of York in England, to come and take the throne. A^d he being encouraged, as is faid, by a vi- fion of a pillar of light in the Heavens, in the form of a crofs, in the fight of his whole army, with this in- fcription, In this overcome ; and the night follow- ing, by Chrift's appearing to him in a dream with the fame crofs in his hand, who dire61ed him to make a crofs like that, to be his royal ftandard, that his army micrht fight under that banner, and aifured him that he ihould overcome. Accordingly he did, and overcame his enemies, and took polTeffion of the imperial throne, and embraced the Chriflian religion, and was the firft Chriilian emperor that ever reigned, He came to the throne about 320 years after Chrift. There are feveral things which I would take notice of which attended or immediately followed Conflantine's coming to the throne. (1) The Chriftian church was thereby wholly deli- vered from perfecution. Now the day of her deliver- ance came, after fuch a dark night of affliftion : weep- ing had continued for a night, but now deliverance and joy cam.ein the morning. Now God appeared to judge his people, and repented himfelf for his fervants, when he faw their power was gone, and that there was none Ihut up or left. Chriftians had no perfecutions now to fear. Their perfecutors now were all put down, and their rulers were fome of them Chriftians hke them- felves. (2) God now appeared to execute terrible judgments. on their enemies. Remarkable are the accounts which hiftory gives us of the fearful ends to which, the Hea- then emperors, and princes, and generals, and captains, and other great men came, who had exerted themfelves in perfeciuing the Chrillians ; d)ing miferably, one and another, Part II. 1. The Wof k of REDEMPTION. 2^ another, under exqiiifitc torments of bo«iy, ?.nd hor- rors of confcicncc, with a nioil vidhk hand of God upon them. So that what now came to paf^ might very fitly be compared lo their hiding themfcivcsin the dcn.s and rocks of the mountains. (3) Heathenifm now was in a great nicafitre abolifl"!- ed throughout the Roman empire. Ir.uipcs were now deftroyed, and Heathen temples pAilled down. Imager of gold and fiher were melted down, and coined into money. Some of the chief of their idols, which were curioully wrought, were brought to Confiantinople, and there drawn with ropes up and down the flreets for the people to behold and laugh at. The Heathen priefis were difperled and banifhed. (4) The Chriflian church was brought into a flate of great peace and profperity. Now all Heathen n)agif- trates were put down, and only Chriilians were advan- ced to places of authority all over the empire. They had now Chriflian prefidents, Chriflian governors, ChriOian judges and officers, inflead of their old Hea- thenifh ones. Conilantine fet him.felf upto put honor npon Chriflian bifhops or m.inifters, and to build and adorn churches ; and now large and beautiful Chriftian churches were erefted in all parts of the world, inflead of the old Heathen temples. This revolution w^as the greatefl revolution and change in the face of things that ever came to pafs in the world fmce the flood. Satan, the prince of dark- nefs, that king and god of the Heathen world, wascafl out. The roaring lion was conquered by the Lamb of God, in the flrongefi dominion that ever be had, even tlic •Roman empire. This was a remarkable accomplifhmcnt -of Jer. X. 11. "The Gods that have not made tlic *' Heavens and the earth, even they fliall perifh from *' the earth, and from under thefe Heavens." The chief part of the world was now brought utterly to cafl off their old gods and their old religion, to which they had been accuflomed much longer than any of their hiftories give an account of. They liad been ac- cuflomed to worfhip the gods fo long, that they knew -not any begimiing of it. It was formerly fpoken of as a thing unknown for a nation to change their godx*;, Jer. ii. 10. 11. but now the greater part of the nation^ i • ^ of 288 A HISTORY OF Period IIL of the known world were brought to caft ofF all their former gods. That multitude of gods that they wor- ihipped were all forfaken. Tlioufands of them were cait away for theworlhip of the true God, and Chrift the only Saviour : and there was a moft remarkable fulfilment of that in If. ii. 17. 18. " And the loftinefs " of man fhall be bowed down, and the haughtinefs of *' men Ihall be made low : and the Lord alone fhall be -*' exalted in that day. And the idols he fhall utterly *' abohfli." And fmce that, it has come to pafs, thaS thofe gods that were once fo famous in the world, as Jupiter, and Saturn, and Minerva, and Juno, &c. are only heard of as things which were of old. They have no temples, no altars, no worfliippers, and have not had for many hundred years. Now is come the end of the old Heathen world ia the principal part of it, the Roman empire. And this great revolution and change of the ftate of the world, with that terrible deftruftion of the great men who had been perfecutors, is compared in Rev. vi. to the end of the world, and Chrift coming to judgment; and is what is moft immediately fignified under the fixth feal, which followed upon the fouls under the altar, crying, *' How long, O Lord, holy and true, doft thou not *' avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ?'* This vifion of the fixth feal, by the general confent of divines and expofitors, has refpeft to this downfal of the Heathen Roman empire ; though it has a more re- mote refpeftto the day of judgment, or this was a type of it. The day of judgment cannot be what is imme- diately intended : becaufewe have an account of many events which were to come to pafs under the feventh feal, and fo were to follow after thofe of the fixth feaL What came to pafs now is alfo reprefented by the Devil's being caft out of Heaven to the earth. In his great ftrength and glory, in that mighty Roman em- pire, he had as it were exalted his throne up to Heaven. But now he fell like lightning from Heaven, and was confined to the earth. His kingdom w^as confined to meaner and more barbarous nations, or to the lower parts of the world of mankind. This is the event foretold. Rev. xii. 9. &c. " And the great dragon was *' caft out. that old ferpent called the Devil and Satan, " which PartIL 1. The Woriv of REDEMPTION, .^9 " which deceiveih the whole world : he was call out " into the earth, and his angels ^ve^c call: out with " him," &c. Satan tempted Chiifl:, and proniifcd io give him the glory of the kingdoms of the world ; but now he is obliged to give it to him even agaiall his will. This was a glorious fulfilment of diat promile which God made to his Son, that we have an account of in If. liii. 12. " Therefore will I divide him a portion with *' the great, and he Ihall divide the fpoil with the* " ilrong ; becaufe he hath poured out his foul unnj *' death : and he was numbered with thi3 tranfgreifors, *' and he bare the fin of many, and made intercellu^n " for the tranfgrelTors." This was a great fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Teftament concerning the glorious time of the gofpel, and particularly of the pro- phecies of Daniel. Now the kingdom of Heaven is come in a glorious degree. It pleafed the Lord God of Heaven to fet up a kingdom on the ruins of Satan'^; kingdom. And fuch fuccefs is there of the purchase of ChrilVs redemption, and fuch honour does the Fa- ther put upon Chrift for the difgrace he fufFercd when on earth. And now fee to what a height that glorious building is ere61ed, which had been building ever fmce the fall. Inference. From w^hat has been fald of the fuc- . cefs of the gofpel from Chriit's afcenfion to the time of Conftantine, we may deduce a flrong argument of the truth of the Chriftian religion, and that the gofpel of Jefus Chrift is really from God. This wonderful fuc- cefs of it which has often been fpoken of, and the cir- cumftances of it which have been mentioned, are a flrong argument of it feveral ways. 1. We may gather from what has been faid, that it is the gofpel, and that only, which has a6fually been the means of bringing the world to the knowledge of the true God. That thofe are no Gods whom the Hea- then worfhipped, and that there is but one only God, is what, now fince the gofpel has fo taught us, we can fee to be truth by our own rcafon: it is plainly agreeable to the light of nature : it can be eafily lliown by reafon. to be demonftrably true. The very Deifts themfelves acknowledge, that it can be demonflrw^tcd. that there is T . ! one 29a A HISTORY o? Period HI. one God, and but one, who has made and governs the world. But now it is evident that it is the gofpel, and that only, which has aftually been die means of bring- ing men to the knowledge of this truth : it was not the inlhuftions of philofophers. They tried in vain : — ** The world by wifdom knew not God." Till the gof- pel and the holy fcriptures came abroad in the worlds all the world lay in ignorance of the true God, and in the greateft darknefs with refpeft to the things of reli- gion, embracing the abfurdeft opinions und praftices, which all civilized nations now acknowledge to be child- ifli fooleries. And fo they lay one age after another^ and nothing proved effeftual to enlighten them. The light of nature, and their own reafon, and all the wif- dom of learned men, fignified nothing till the fcriptures came. But when thefe came abroad, they were fuc- cefsful to bring the world to an acknowledgment of the one only true God, and to worfhip and ferve him. And hence it is that all that part of the world which, now does own one only true God, Chriftians, Jews> Mahometans, and even Deifts too, originally came by the knowledge of him. It is owing to this that they are not in general at this day left in Heathenilh dark- nefs. They have it all, firft of all, either immediately from the fcriptures, or by tradition from their fathers, who had it firft from the fcriptures. And doubtlefs thofe who now defpife the fcriptures, and boaft of the Itrength of their own reafon, as being fufficient to lead into the knowledge of the one true God, if the gofpel had never come abroad in the world to enlighten their forefathers, would have been as fottifh and brutilh idolators as the world in general was before the gofpel eame abroad. The Mahometans, who own but one true God, at firft borrowed the notion from the fcrip- tures : for the firft Mahometans had been educated in the Chriftlan religion, and apoftatized from it. And this is evidential, that the fcriptures ^vere defigned of God to be the proper means to bring the world to the knowledge of himfelf, rather than human reafon, or any thing elfe. For it is unreafonable to fuppofe, that the gofpel, and that only, which God never defigned as the proper mean for obtaining this effcfl, fhould aftually PartlL 1- The Work of REDEMPTION. 29* aftually obtain it, and that after human rcafon, which he defigned as the proper mean, had been tried lor a great many ages without any effeft. If the (criptures be not the word of God, tlien they are nothing but darknefs and delufion, yea, the greateft delufion that ever was. Now, is it reafonable to fuppofe, that God in his providence would make ufe of fallhood and de- lufion, and that only, to bring the world to the know- ledge of himfelf, and that no part of it fhould be brought to the knowledge of him any other way ? 2. The gofpel's prevailing as it did againft fuchpow- ierful oppofitioi^, plainly ftiows the hand of God, The Roman government, that did fo violently fet itfelf to hinder the fuccefs of the gofpel, and to fubdue the church of Chrift, was the moll powerful human go- vernment that ever was in the world ; and not only fo, but they feemed as it were to have the church in their hands. The Chriftians were moftly their fubjefts, un- der their command, and never took up arms to defend themfelves : they did not gather together, and Hand in their own defence ; they armed themfelves wuth no- thing but patience, and fuch like fpiritual weapons: and yet this mighty power could not conquer them ; but, on the contrary, Chrillianity conquered them. The Roman empire had fubdued the world ; they had fub- dued many mighty and potent kingdoms ; they fubdued the Grecian monarchy, when they were not their fub- jefts, and made the utmoft refiftance : and yet they could not conquer the church which was in their hands; but, on the contrary, were fubdued, and finally tri- umphed over by the church. 3. No other fufficient caufe can pofTibly be affigned of this propagation of the gofpel, but only God's own power. Nothing elfe can be devifed as the reafon of it but diis. There was certainly fome reafon. Here was. a great and wonderful efifcft, the moft remarkable change that ever was in the face of the world of man- kind fince the flood ; and this effeft was not without fome caufe. Now, what other caufe can be devifed but only die divine power ? It was not the outward ftrength of the inftruments which were employed in it. At firft, the gofpel was preached only by a few fifher-. men, who were without power and worldly intereft to, h\z fuppdrt, 292 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. fupport them. It was not their craft and poHcy that produced this wonderful eff'eft ; for they were poor il- literate men. It was not the agreeablenefs of the ftory they had to tell to the notions and principles of man- kind. This was no pleaiant fable : A crucified God and Saviour was to the Jews a llumbling-block, and to the Greeks fooliflmefs. It was not the agreeablenefs of their doftiines to the dlfpofitions of men : for nothing is more contrary to the corruptions of men than the pure doftrines of the gofpel. This effeft therefore can have proceeded from no other caufe than the power and agency of God : and if the power of God was what was exercifed to caufe the gofpel to prevail, then the gofpel is his word; for furely^ God does notufehis almighty power to promote a mere impofture and delu- fion. , -■ - • 4. This fuccefs is agreeable to what Chrift and his apollles foretold. Matth. xvi. 18. "Upon this rock *' will I build my church : and the gates of hell fliall not *' prevail agaiult it." John xii. 24. " Verily verily I *' fay unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the *' ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it " bringeth forth much fruit." And verf. 31.32. " Now " is the judgment of this world: now fhall the prince *' of this world be caft out. ' And I, if I be lifted up ** from the earth, will draw ail men unto m.e." John xvi. 8. " When he (the comforter) is come, he will ^' reprove the world of fin, of righteoulhefs, and of *' judgment,— becaufe the prince of this world is judg- - ed." - ■ ' So the Apoftle Paul, in 1 Cor. chap. i. 21. — 28. de- clares, how that after the world by wifdom knew not God, it pleafed God, by the fooliihnefs of preaching, to fave them that believe ; and that God chofe the fool- ifh things of the world, to confound the wife; and weak things of the World, to confound the things which are mighty; and bafe things of the world, and things which are defpifed, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. If any man fore- tells a thing, very likely in itfelf to come to pafs, frona caufes which can be forefeen, it is no great argument of a revelation from God : but when a thing is foretold which is very unlikely ever to come to pafs, is entirely contrary Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 29^ contrary to the common courfe of things, and yet it dot:s come to pafs juft agreeable to the pretUtHon, ahis is a flrong argument that the prediction was from Cod. Thus the confiileration of the manner of the propa- gation and fnccefs of the gofpel during the time which has been fpoken of, affords great evidence that the vlcriptures are the word of God. III. I am now to fhow how the fuccefs of Chriil's re- demption is carried on from the time of die overthro^\r of the Heathen Roman empire in the time of Conftan- • tine the Great, till the fall of Antichrift, and the de- ilrutlion of Satan's vifible kingdom on earth, which is the third great difpenfation which is in fcriplure com- • pared to Chriil's coming to judgment. This^s a pe- riod wherein many great and wonderful things are brought to pafs. Herein is contained a long feries of wonders of divine providence towards the Chriitian church. The greater part of the book of Revelation is taken up in foretelling the events of this period. The fuccefs of Chriil's purchafe of redemption iji this period, appears mainly at the clofe ot it, when Anti- chrift comes to fall, when there will be a far more glori- ous fuccefs of the gofpel than ever was before : and that -long feries of events which are before, feem to be only to prepare the way for it. And in order to a more clear view of the great works of God in accomplilhing the fuc- cefs of Chriil's redemption, and our feeing the glory of them, it will be neceilary, as we have done in the fore- going periods, to confider not only the fuccefs itfelf, -but the oppohtion made to it, and the great works of Satan in this period againll the church and kingdom of Chriil : and therefore, in taking a view of this pe- -iiod, I would take notice of events which may be re- ferred to either of thefe heads, viz. either to the head of Satan's oppohtion to the fuccefs of Chriil's redemp- tion, or to the head of the fuccefs of ChiiU's redemp- lion : and for the more orderly confideration of the events of this period, I would divide it into thefe four parts : the firil reaching from tb.e dcd ruction of the Heathen empire to the rile of Antichriil; thefecond fron? the rife of Antichriil to the reformation in Luther's time J 291 A HISTORY OF Period III, fime; the third, frpm thence to the prefent time; the fourth, from the prefent time till Antichrift is fallen, and Satan's vifible kingdom on earth is deftroyed. ift. I would confider the events of the firft part pf this period, reaching from the deltruftion of the Hea- then empire to the rife of Anticlirift. And here, firjlf I would take potice of the oppofition Satan made in this fpacc of time to the church : and, fccondlyy the fuccefs that the gofpel had in it, 1. The oppofftion. Satan being caft out of his old Heathen empire, the great red dragon, after fo fore a conflicl with Michael and his angels for the greater part of three hundred years, beiiig at laft entirely routed and vanquiilied, fo that no place was found any more in Heaven for him, but he was caft down, as it were, from Heaven to the earth ; yet does not give over his op- pofition to the woman, the church of Chrift, concerning tvhich all this confli6l had been. But he is ftill in a rage, and renews his attempts, and has recourfe to new devices againft the church. The ferpent, after he is caft out of Heaven to the earth, cafls out of his mouth wa- ter as a flood, to caufe the woman to be carried away of the flocd. The oppofition that he made to the church of Chrift before the rife of Antichrift, was principally of two forts. It was either by corrupting the cliurch of Chrift with herefies, pr by new endea- vours to rercore Pagan ifm. {i\ I would obferve, that after the deftru6lion of the Heathen Roman empire, Satan infefted the church with heresies. Though there had been fo glorious ^ work of God in delivering the church from her Hea- then perfecutors, and overthrowing the Heathen em- pire ; yet tlie days of the church's travail not being ended, and thefet time of herprofperity not being yet come, as being v.'hat was to fucceed the fall of Anti- chrift, therefore the peace and profperity which the church enjoyed in Conftantine's time, was but very Ihort : it Vvas a refpite, which gave the church a time of peace and hlence, as it wtv&Jpr half an hour, wherein the four angels held the four winds from blowing, till the fci-vanfs of God Ihould be fealed in their foreheads. But. the church foon began to be greatly infefted with herefies ; the two principal, and thofc which did moft. irifeft Part II. t. The Work of REDEMPTION. •95 infeft the church, were the Arlan and Pelao'ian herc- fies. The Arians began foon afler Conftantine came to tl^e throne. They denied the doctrnie of the Trinity, and the divinity of Chrill and the Holy Ghoft, and main- tained, that they were but mere creatures. This here- fy increafed more and more in the church, and pievail- ed hke a flood, which threatened to overflow all, and entirely to carry away the church, irifomuch that before that age was out, that is, before the fourth century af- ter Chrill was finiihed, the greater part of the Chrifliaii church were become Arians. There were fome em- perors the fuccelTors of Conflantine, who were A- rians ; fo that the Arians being the prevailing party, and having the civil authority on their fide, did raiie a great persecution againit the true church of Chrill ; fo that this herefy might w^ell be compared to a flood out of the mouth of the ferpent, which threatened to overthrow all, and quite carry away the woman. The Pelagian herefy arofe in tiie beginning of the next century. It began by one Pelagms^ who was born in Britain : his Britifhname ^vzs Morgan. He denied original fin, and the influence of the Spirit of God in converfion, and held the power of free will, and many other things of like tendency ; and this herefy did for a while greatly infeft the church. Pelagius's principal antagonift, who wrote in defence of the orthodox faith, was St. Aguftin. {2) The other kind of oppofition which Satan made againft the church, was in his endeavours to reflore Paganifm. And his firft attempt to reftore it in the Rom^an empire, was by Julian the apoftate. Julian was nephew to Conftantine the Great. When Con- flantine died, he left his empire to his three foiis ; and when they were dead, Julian the apoftate reign- ed in their ftead. He had been a profelfcd Chril- tian ; but he fell from Chriftianit}-, and turned Pagan; and therefore is called ik<^ apo/late. When he came to the throne, he ufcd his utmoft endeavours to overthrow- the Chriftian church, and fet up Paganifm again in the empire. He put down the Chriftian magiih-ates, and fet up Heathens in their room : he re -built the lieaihcn temples, and fet up the Heathen worlhipin the empire, and 296 A HISTORY OF Period IIL and became a nioit notorions perfecutor of the Chrif- tians, and, as is thought, againft his own hght : he ufed to call Chrift, by way of reproach, the Galilean. He was killed with a lance in his wars w^th the Perfians. When he faw that he was mortally wounded, he took a handful of his blood, and threw it up towards Hea- ven, crying our, 1-hou haft overcome, O Galilean. And he is commonly thought by divines, to have com- mit-ted the unpardonable fm. Another way that Satan attempted to reftore Pagan- ifm in the Roman empire, was by the invajions andcon- quejls of Heathen nations. For in this Ipace of lime that we are upon, the Goths and Vandals, and other Heathen barbarous nations that dwelt in the north of the Roman empire, invaded the empire, and obtained great conquefls, and even over-ran the empire, and in the fifth century, took the city of Rome, and finally fiibdued and conquered, and took pofTeflion of the weii- ern empire, as it was called, or the weftern h.alf of the empire, and divided it amongft them ; divided it into ten kingdoms, with which began the ten horns of the beaft; for w^e are told, that the ten horns are ten kings, who fhould rife in the latter part of the Roman eranire : Thefe are alfo reprefented by the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image. The invafion and conqucfts of thefe Heathen nations are fuppofed to be foretold iu the 8th chr^pter of Revelation, in v/hat cam.e to pals imder the founding of the four firft trumpets. Now thefe nations; who now took pofi'effion of the w-eftern en}pire, were Heathens ; fo that by their means Hea- thcnifm was again for a while reftored after it had been looted out. So much for the oppofition of Satan againft the fuc- cefs of the gofpel during this fpace before the rife of Antichrift. I proceed, 2. To ihow what fuccefs there was of the gofpel in tliis fpace notwithftanding this oppofition. (1) I would obferve, that the oppofition of Satan in thofe things was baffled. Though the dragon caft out of his mouth fuch a flood after th.e woman to carry her away, yet lie could not obtain hisdefign ; but theeaith helped the woman, and opened her mouth, and fwal- lowcd up the flood which the dragon caft out of hi& mouth. Partll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 2^7 mouth. Thefe herefics, which for a ^\'hi!e fo irrnch prevailed, yet after a while dwiiulled away, and oulio- doxy was again reltored : and his attempt by Julian was baffled at his death. (2) The gofpel, during this fpace of time, was fur- ther propagated amonglt many barbarous Heathen na- tions in the confines of the Roman empire. In the time of Conflantine tliere was a confiderable propaga- tion of the gofpel in the Eaft-Indies, chiefly by the mi- ni flry of one Frumentius. Great numbers of the Ibe- rians, an Heathen people, were converted to Chriftian- ity by a Chriflian woman of eminent piety, whom they liad taken captive. And fome account is given of fe- veral other barbarous nations who were not within the Roman empire, that great numbers of them were brought to receive the gofpel by the teaching and ex- ample of captives whom they had taken in war. And after this, about the year of Chrift 372, the gofpel was propagated among the barbarous people that dwelt in Arabia ; as it was alfb among fome of the northern na- tions ; particularly a prince of the country of the Goths about this time became Chriflian, and a great number of his people with him. Towards the latter end of this century, the gofpel was alfo further propagated among the Perfians, and alfo the Scythians, a barbarous people, that the apoflle mentions in Col. iii. 11. " Baibarian, *' Scythian, bond nor free." And after this, about the year 430, there \vas a re- markable converfion of a Heathen peoplfe called the Bargiindians^ to the Chriflian faith. About the fame time, in this age, the gofpel began to be propagated in Ireland ; and the Irifli, -who till now had been Heathen, began to receive the Chriflian faith. About the fame time it was further propagated among fome barbarous people in Scotland, and alfo in fome other places. In the next century to this, one Zathus, 2i Heathen king, who ruled over a people called the Colchiatis, was brought to renounce his Heathenifm, and to embrace tlie Chriflian religion. Several other barbarous nations are recorded to have renounced Heathenifm and cm- braced Chriflianity about this time, that I cannot fland to mention. Thus I Jiave bricflv confidered the principal events of M m prox'idciice igB A H I S T O R Y OF Period IIL providence which concern the fuccefs of the gofpel of Chrift from Conlhntine to the rife of Antichriif. 2 My, I come now to the feccnd part of the time from Conftantine to the deilru6tion of Antichrilt, viz. that which reaches from the rife of Antichrift to the refor- ination by Luther and others. And this is- the darkeft and moft difmal day that ever the Chriflian Church faw, and probably the darkell that ever it will lee. The time of the church's aifliftion and perfecution, as was 6bferved before, is frC>m Chrilt's refurreftion till the deftrudion of Antichrift, excepting what the day is, as it were, fhortened by fome intermilfions and times of re- fpite, which God gives for the eleti's fake. But this time, from the rife of Antichrift till the reformation,- was a fpace wherein the Chriftian church was in its greateft depth of depreffion, and its darkeft tim6 of alL The true church in this fpace was for many hundred years in a ftate of great obfcurity, like the woman in the wildernefs : indeed fhe was almoft; hid from fight and obfervation. In fpeaking of the events of this fpace bf time, I would, i . Take notice of the great machi- nations and works of the Devil againft the kingdom of Chrift during this time : 2. How the church of Chrift was upheld during this time. 1. I would take notice of the great works of the De^ vil againft the kingdom of Chrift during this time. Sa- tan had done great things againft the Chriftian church tcfore, but had been baffled once and again. Michael and his angels had obtained a glorious vi6iory. How terrible was his oppofition during the continuance of the Heathen empire ; and how glorious w^as Ch rift's vicfory and triumph over him in the time of Conftan- tine ! It pleafed God now to prepare the way for a yet more glorious viftory over him, to fuffer him to rene^v his ftrength, and to do the utmoft that his power and fubtilty can help him to; and therefore he fuffers him to have a long time to lay his fchemes, and toellablilh his intereft, and make his matters ftrong ; and fufiers him to carry his defigns a great length indeed, almoft to the fwallowing up of his church ; and to exercife a high, and proiid, and almoft uncontrouled dominion in the world, a long time before Chrift finally conquers, and fubdues, and utterly ruins his vifible kingdom on earth. Part II. I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 299 earth, as he will do in the time of the deftruflion of Antichiilt: thus gloiioufly triumphing over iiim, af.. ter he has done the utmolt that his j)o\vcr and fubtilty can extend to, and Ihowing that he is above him, after he has dealt moll proudly, and lifted himlelf highell of all. The two great works of the Devil which he in this fpace of time wrought againll the kingdom of Chnlt, are his ere6ting his Antichrillian and Mahometan kingr doms, which have been, and IHll are, two kingdoms of great extent and llrength, both together fwallowing up the ancient Roman empire ; the kingdom of Antichiilt fwallowing up the Weitern empire, and Satan's Maho- metan kingdom theEaltern empire. As the fcripture^ in the book of Revelation reprefent it, it is in the de- flrutHon of thcfe that the glorious victory of Chrift, at the introdudion of the glorious times of the church, will mainly confift. And here let us briefly obferve how Satan erefts and maintains thefe two great king- doms of his in oppofition to the kingdom of ChrilL (1) With refpeft to the kingdom of Anticlirifl. — This feems to be the mailer-piece of all the contrivances of the Devil againft the kingdom of Chrilt, and is evi- dently fo fpoken of in fcripture, and therefore Anti- clirifl: is the man of fin, or that man of fin, 2 Thcf. ii. 3. He is fo called emphatically, as though he were fo eminently. So he is called Antichnji, -which fignifics the opponent pr adverfaiy of Chrilt. Not that he is the only opponent of Chrilt ; there were many others befider, him. The Apoftle John obferves, that in his days there were many Antichrifls. But yet this is call- ed the Antichriji, as though there were none but he, becaufe he was fo eminently, and above all others. So this contrivance of the Devil, is called the myflery of imqmty, 2 Tlief. ii.7. And we find no enemy of Chrill one half fo much fpoken of in the prophecies of Reve- lation as this ; and the dellruftion of no enemy is fpo- ken of as fo glorious and happy for the church. The craft and fubtilty of the Devil, above all appears in this work of his ; as might be ihown, were it not that it would con fume too m.uch time. This is a contrivance of the Devil to turn the miniflry of the Chrillian church into a miniflry of the Devilj M m 2 ' and 300 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. and to turn thefe angels of the churches into fallen angels, and fo into devils. And in the tyranny, and fuperflition, and idolatry, and perfeciuion, which he fets up, he con- triv^es to make an image of ancient Paganifm, and more than to rellore what was loft in the empire by the ovcr- thro\'/ of Paganifm in the time of Conftantine : fo that by thefe means the head of the beaft, which was wound- ed unto death in Conftanline, has his deadly wound healed in Antichrift ; Rev. xiii. 3. And the dragon that formerly reigned in the Heathen Roman empire, being caft out thence, after the beaft with feven heads and ten horns rifes up out of the fea, gives him his power, and feat, and great authority ; and all the world wonders after the beaft. 1 am far from pretending to determine the time when the reign of Antichrift began, which is a point that has been fo much controverted among divines and expofi- tors. It is certain that the 1260 days, or years, ^vhich are fo offen in fcripture mentioned as the time of the continuance of Antichrift's reign, did not commence before the year of Chrift 479 ; becaufe if they did, they would have ended, and Antichrift would have fallen before now. But I fliall not pretend to determine pre- rifely how long it was after this that that period began. The rife of Antichrift was gradual.- The Chriftian church corrupted itfelf in many things prefently after Conftan line's time, growing n:ore and more fuperfti- tious in its worfliip, bv degrees bringing in many cere- jnonies into the worfhip of God, till at length they brought in the worftiip of faints, and fet up images in their churches, and the clergy in general, and efpecial- ly the bifl^op of Rome, afllimed more and more autho- rity to bimfelf. In the primitive times he was only a minifter of a congregation ; then a ftanding moderator of a preft^ytery ; then a diocefan bifhop; then a metro- j^olitan, which is equivalent to an archbifliop ; then he was a patriarch ; then afterwards he claimed the power of univerfal bifhop over the whole Chriftian church through the world ; wherein he was oppofcd for a while, 1 ut afterwards was confirmed in it by the civil power of t'te Emperor in the year 606. After that he claimed i!ie power of a temporal prince ; and fo was wont to rjrry two fwords, to fignify that both the temporal and fuiritual Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 301 fpiritual fword was bis ; and claimed mere and more authority, till at kngth he, as Chrill's vicegerent on earth, claimed the very fame power that Chrili would have, if he was prefent on earth, and reigned on his throne, or the fame power that belongs to God, and iifed to be called God on earth ; and ufed to be fubmitied to by all the princes of Chriflendom. He claimed power to crown princes, and to degrade them at hisplea- fure ; and this power was owned: and it came to that, that kings and emperors ufed to kifs his feet. The em- perors wei^ wont to receive their crowns at his hands, and princes were wont to dread the difpleafure of the Pope as they would dread a thunderbolt from Heaven; for if the Pope was pleafedto excommunicate a prince, all his fubjefis were at once freed from their allegiance to him ; yea, and obliged not to own him any more, on pain of excommunication ; and not only fo, but any man might kill him wherever he found him. And further, the Pope was believed to have power to damn men at pleaiure ; for whoever died under his excom- munication, was looked upon as certainly damned. And feveral emperors were aftually depofed, and cje6}- ed, and died mifcrably by his means ; and if the people of any flate or kingdom did not pleafe him, he had power to lay that ftate or kingdom under an interdic>, which was a fentence pronounced b)' the Pope againit that flate or kingdon), whereby all facred adminiftra- tions among them could have no validity. There could be no valid baptifms, or facraments, or prayers or preaching, or pardons, till that interdi6i: was taken off; fo that that people remained, in their apprehenfion, in a miferable, damnable ftate, and therefore dreaded it as they would a ftorm of fire andbrimftone from Heaven. And in order to execute his wrath on a prince or peo- ple with whom the Pope was difpleafed, other princes muft alio be put to a gj eat deal of trouble and expence. And as the Pope and his clergy robbed the people of tlieir ecclefiaflical and civil liberties and privileges, fo they alfo robbed tlicm of their eilates, and drained all Cliriftenuom of their m.oney, and engrolled the mod of their riches into their own coffers, by their vail re- venues, befides pay for pardons and indulgences, bap- tifms and extreme un6tions, deliverance out of purga- toiv. 302 A HISTORY OF Period III. toiy, and an hundred other diings. See how well this agrees with the prophecies, 2 Thef. ii. 3. 4. Dan. VI!. 20. 21. Rev. xiii. b. 7. and chap. xvii. 3. 4. During this time aifo luperltition and ignorance more and more prevailed. The holy fcriptures by degrees were taken out of the hands of the laity, the better to promote the unfcriptural and wicked defigns of the Pope and the clergy ; and inllead of promoiing know- ledge among the people, they induftrioully promoted ignorance. It was a received maxim among them, That ignorance is the mother of devotion : and fo great was the darknefs of tiroie . times, that learning was almoft extin6); in the world. The very prieits themfelves, moft of them were barbaroufly ignorant as to any com- mendable learning, or any other knowledge than their helliih craft in opprefTing and tyrannizing over the fouls of the people. The fupe fiition and wickednefs of the church of Rome, kept growing worfe and worfe till the very time of the reformation ; and the whole Chri- ftian world were lead away into this great defeftion, ex- cepting the remains of the Chriftian church in the eaft- ern empire that had not been utterly overthrown by the Turks, as the Greek church, and fome others, which were alfo funk into great darknefs and grofs fu- perftition, excepting alfo thofe few that were the peo- ple of God, Vvdio are reprefented by the woman in the wildernefs, and God's two witnelfes, of which more hereaf-er. This is one of thofe tw^o great kingdoms which the Devil in this period erefted in oppofition to the king- dom of Chrill and was the greateft and chief. I come now, (2) To fpeak of the other, the fecond, which is in many refpehs like unart II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTIOxM. 311 the Reformed religion, and all the reformed church was excommunlcaicd and anathematized by them ; and fo, according to the projjhecy, *' they bla(j)liemcd God." Thus God hardened tlicir hearts, intending 10 deftroy them. (2) The Papifts have often endeavoured to overthrow the Reformation by fecret plots and confpiracies. So there were many plots againft the life of Luther. The Papifts were engaged in contriving to difpatchhim, and to put him out of their way ; and he as he was a very bold man, often very much expofcd himfelf in thecaufe of Chrift : but yet they were wonderfully prevented from hurting him, and he at laft died in his bed in peace. And fo there have been from time to time in- numerable fchemes fecretly laid for the overthrow of the Proteftant religion ; among which, that which feems to be moft confiderable, and which feemed to be the moft likely to have taken efieft, was that which was m the time of King James II. of England, which is within the memory of many of us. There was at that time a ftrong con {'piracy between the King of England and Lewis XIV* of France, who were both Papifts, to extirpate the Nordiern herefy, as they called the Protef- tant religion, not only out of England, but out of all Europe; and had laid their fchemes fo, that they feem- ed, to be almoft fure of their purpofe. They looked upon it, that if the Reformed religion were fupprelTed in the Britifli realms, and in the Netherlands, which were the ftrongeft part, and chief defence of the Pro- teftant intereft, they fhould have eafy work with the reft. And juft as their matters feemed to be come to a head, and their enterprife ripe for execution, God, in his providence, fuddenly daftied all their fchemes in pieces by the Revolution, at the coming in of King William and Queen Mary; by v;hich all their defignS were at an end ; and the Proteftant intereft was more ilrongly eftabliihed, by the crown of England's bemg eilablilhed in the Proteftant houfe of Hanover, and a Papift being, by the conftitution of the nation, for ever rendered incapable of wearing the crown of England. Thus they groped in darknefs at noon-day as in the night, aiid their hands ccuJd not perform their cnter- priie,. 312 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. prlfe, and their kmgdom was fuH oidarkftefs, and they gnawed their torigues for pain. Aiter this, there was a deep defign laid to bring the fame thing to pal's in the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, by the bringing in of the Popifh pretender ; which was no lefs fuddenly and totally baffled by divine providence ; as the plots againft the Reformation, by bringing in the Pretender, have been from time ta time. (3) The Reformation has often been oppofed by o- pen wars and invafions. So in the beginning of the Reformation, the Emperor of Gennany, to fupprefs the Reformation, de-^lared war with the Duke of Sax- ony, and the principal men who favoured and receiv- ed Luther's doctrine. FfUt they could not obtain their end ; they could not fupprefs the Reform.ation. For the fame end, the king of Spain maintained a long war with Holland and the Low Countries in the century be- fore laft. But thofe cruel wars iflbed greatly to the difadvantage of the Romifh church, as they occafioncd the fetting up of one of the mofl powerful Proteflant ftates in Europe, which, next to Great-Britain, is the chief barrier of the Proteftant religion. And the de- fign of the Spanifh invafion of England in Queen Eli-f zabeth's time, was to fupprefs and root out the Reform- ed religion ; and therefore they brought in their fleet all manner of inftruments of cruelty w^herewith to'tor^ ture die Proteftants who would not renounce the Pro-* teftant religion. But their defign w^as totally bafFied, and their mighty fleet in a great micafure ruined. (4) Satan has oppofed the Reformation with cruel perfecutions. The perfecutions with which the Protef- tants in one kingdom and another have been pcrfccut- ed by the church of Rome, have in manyrefpefls hc.<:n idtr beyond any of the Heathen perfecutions which ■were before Conffantine the Great, and beyond ail th.it ever were before. So that Antichrift has proved the greatelt and crueleft enemy to the church of Chrilltliat ever was in the world, in thif, as well as in all other le- fpeRs ; agreeable to the defcription given of the church of Rome, Rev. xvii. 6. " And I faw the woman drunk* •* en with the blood of the fctints, and with the blood ** of the martyrs of Jcfus." And, chap, xviii. 24* *' And ?artll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 313 •' And on her was found the blood of prophets, and " of faints, and of all them that were llain upon the " earth." The Heathen perfecutlons had been very dreadftd : hut now perfecution by tlie church of Rome was im- proved, and fludie*!, and cultivated, as an art or fcience. Such ways of afflicting and tormenting were found out, as are beyond the thought and invention of ordinary men, or men who are unftudied in thofe things and beyond the invention of all former ages. And that perfecution might be managed the more ef- feftually, there were certain focieties of meneflablifhed in various parts of the Popifh dominions, whofc bufi- nefs it fliould be to ftudy, and improve, and pra^Hfe perfecution in its highelt perfeftion, which are thofe focieties called the courts of inquifition. A reading of the particular hiflories of the Romifh perfecution, and their courts of inquifition, will give that idea which a. few words cannot exprefs. When the Reformation began, the beafi: with feven heads and ten horns began to rage in a dreadful man- ner. After the Reformation, the church of Rome re- newed its perfecution of the poor Waldenfes, and great multitudes of them were cruelly tortured and put to death. Soon after the Reformation, there were terrible perfections in various parts of Germany ; and efpeci- ally in Bohemia, which lafted for thirty years together ; in w^hich fo much blood was fhed for the fake of reli- gion, that a certain writer compares it to the plenty of waters of the great rivers of Germany. The countries of Poland, Lithuani, and Hungary, were in like man-, ner deluged with Proteftant blood. By means of thefe and other cruel pcrfecutions, the Proteftant religion was in a great meafuie fuppreffed ii> Bohemia, and the Palatinate, and Hungary, which be- fore were as it were Proteftant countries. Thus was fulfilled what was foretold of the little horn, Dan, vii. 20. 21. *' — and of the ten horns that were in his *' head, and of the other which came up, and before ** whom three fell, even of that horn that had eyes, ** and a» mouth that fpake very great things, whofe •* look was more ftout than his fellows. I beheld, and ** the fame hoFn made war with the faints, and prevail- O *• ed 814 A HISTORY of Period IlL *' cd againft them." And what was foretold of i\\6 beafl having feven heads and ten horns^ Rev. xiii. 7. *' And it was given i.nto him to make war with th6 *' faints, and to overcome them ; and power was given *' him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Alio Holland and the other Low Countries were for many years a fcene of nothing but the moft afPefting and amazing cruelties, being deluged with the blood of Protcftants, under the mercilefs hands of the Spani-^ ards, to vrhom they were then in fubje6lion. But in this perfecution the Devil in a great m.eafure failed of his purpofe; as it iffued in a great part of the Nether- lands calling off the Spanilh yoke, and fetting up a wealthy and powerful Proteftant ftate, to the great de- fence of the Proteftant caufe ever fmce. France alfo is another country, which, fmce the Re- formation, in fome refpecrs, perhaps more than any o- ther, has been a fcene of dreadful CRielties fuffered by the Proteflants there. After many cruelties had been exercifed towards the Proteflants in that kingdom, there was begun a perfecution of them in the year 1571, in the reign of Charles IX. King of France. It began "vvith a cruel maffacre, wherein 70,000 Proteflants w^ere flain in a few days time, as the King boafled : and in all this perfecution, he flew, as is fuppofed 300,000 martyrs. And it is reckoned, that about this time, within thirty years, there were mart)Ted in this king- dom, for the Proteflant religion, 39 princes, 148 counts, 234 barons, 147,^18 gentlemen, and 760,000 of the common people.-h But all thefe perlecutions were, for cxquifite cruel- ty, far exceeded by thofe which followed in the reign of Lewis XIV. which indeed are fuppofed to exceed all others that evej had been ; and being long continued, by reafon of the long reign of that king, almoft wholly extirpated the Proteflant religion out of that kingdom, •where had been before a multitude of famous Proteflant churches all over the kingdom. Thus it was given to the bcafl to make war with the faints, and to overcome them. There was alfo a terrible perfecution in England in Queen Mary's time, wherein great numbers in all parts of the kingdom were burnt alive. And after this, though f'/'/^/ P^rtll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 215 though the Proteftant religion has been for tlie niofl: part eflabhfhed by law in England, yet there have been very fevere perfecutions by the Ingh-church men, who fymbolize in many things with the Papiils. SilcIi aper- fecution was that which occalioned our forefadiers to flee from their native country, and to come and fettle in this Jand, which was then a hideous howling wildernefs. And thefe perfecutions were continued with little intcr- mifhon till King William came to the throne. Scotland has alfo been the fcene for many years to- gether, of cruelties and blood by the hands of high- church men, fuch as came very little fhprt of the Po- pilh perfecution in Queen Mary's days, and in many things much exceeded it, which continued till they were delivered by King William. Ireland alfo has been as it were overwhelmed with Protellant blood. In the days of King Charles I. of England, above 200,000 Proteftants were cruelly mur- dered in that kingdom in a few days ; the Papiiis, by a fecret agreement, rifingall aver the kingdom at an ap- pointed time, intending to kill every Protellant in the kingdom at once. Befides thefe, there have been very cniel perfecutions, in Italy and Spain, and other places, which. I fliall not Itand to relate. Thus did the Devil, and his great miniller Antichrift^ rage with fuch violence and cruelty againft the church of Chrill ! and thus did the whore of Babylon make- herfelf drunk with the blood of the faints and martyrs of Jefus ! and thus, by thefe perfecutions, the Protef- tant church has been much diminifhed! Yet with all have they not been able to prevail ; but flill theProtef- tant church is upheld, and Chrill fulfils his promife, that " the gates of hell fhall not prevail againll his " church." (5) The laft kind of oppofitioa that Sa'ian has made to the Reformation is by corrupt opinions. Satan hati oppofed the light of the gofpel which {hone forth in, the Reformation, with many corrupt opinions, which he has brought in and propagated in the world. And here, in the firll place, the firll oppolition o^ this kind was by raifing up the fe6t of the Anai);:ptffrs> :\vhich began about four or five years ai^er the Kefornt- O o 2 atioii 3i6 A HISTORY OF Perlodlll. ation itfelf began. This feft, as it firft appeared in Germany, were vaftly more extravagant than the pre- fent Anabaptifts are in England. They held a great many exceeding corrupt opinions. One tenet of theirs was, That there ought to be no civil authority, and fo that it was lawful to rebel againft civil authority. And on this principle, they refufed to fubmit to magifi rates, or any human laws ; and gathered together in vaft ar- mies, to defend themfelves againft their civil rulers, and put all Germany into an uproar, and fo kept it for forne time. The next oppofition of this kind to the Reformation was that which was made by enthufiafts. 7 hofe are called enthufiafts who falfely pretend to be infpired by the Holy Ghoft as the prophets were. Thefe began in Germany about ten years after Luther began the Refor- mation ; and there arofe various fefls of them who were exceeding wild and extravagant. The followers of thefe are the Quakers in England, and other parts of the Britifh dominions. The next to thefe were the Spcinians, who had their beginning chiefly in Poland, by the teaching of two men ; the name of the one was Lctlius Soanus, of the other Faujlus Socinus. They held, that Chrifl: was a mere man, and denied Chrift's fatisfa6"tion, and mofl; of the fundamental doftriness of the Chriftian religion. Their herefy has fince been greatly propagated among Proteftants in Poland, Germany, Hplland, England, and other places. After thefe arofe the Arminians. Thefe firft appear- ed in Holland about 130 years ago. They take their iiajne from a Dutchman, whofe name was Jacobus Van Harmin, which, turned into Latin, is called Jaco- bus Arminius; and fiom his name the whole feft are called Armimaiis. This Jacobus Arminius was firft a mi- nifter at Amfterdam, and then a pofeffor of divinity in the univerfity of Leyden. He had many followers in Holland. There was upon this a fynod of all the Re- formed churches called together, who met at Dort in Holland. The fynod of Dort condemned them ; but yet thev fpread and prevailed. They began to prevail jn«Enr;land in the reign of Charles L efpecially in the church of England. The church of England divines before Part 11. i. The Work of REDEMPTION. 017 before that were almofl univerrally Calvinifls ; but fmoe that, Arminianifm has gradually more and more pre- vailed, till they are become almoft univerfallv Arnii- nians. And not only fo, but Arminianifm has greatly prevailed among the Dilfentcrs, and has fpread greatly in New-Encjland, as well as Old. Since this, Arianifm has been revived. As I told you before, Arianifm., a little after Conflantine'stime, almoft fwallowed up the Chritlian world, like a flood out of the mouth of the ferpent which tjireatencd to fwallow up the woman. And of late years, this herefy has been revived in Enprland, and greatly prevails there, both in the church of England, and among Dilfentcrs, Thefe hold, that Chriftis but a mere creature, though thev grant that he is the greateft of all creatures. Again, another thing which has of late exceedingly prevailed among Proteftants, and efpecially in England, is Deifra. The Deills wholly calt off the Chriftian re- ligion, and are profelfed infidels. They are not hke the Heretics, Arians, Socinians, and others who own the fcriptures to be the word of God, and hold tli^ Chriftian religion to be the true religion, but only deny thefe and thefe fundamental doftrines of the Chriftian rehgion: They deny the whole Chriffian religion. In- deed they own the being of God ; but deny that Chrill was the Son of God, and fay he was a mere cheat; and fo they fay all (he prophets and apoftles were : and they deny the whole fcripture. They deny that any of it is the word of God. They deny any revealed religion, or any word of God at all ; and fay, that God has gi- ven mankind no other light to walk by but their own reafon. Thefe fcntiments and opinions our nation, which is the principal nation of the Reformation, is very much over-run with, and they prevail more aud more. Thus much concerning the oppofition that Satan has made c,gainft the Reformation. (3) I proceed now to fhow what fucccfs the gofjx?! has more lately had, or what fuccefs it has had in thefe hier times of the Reformed church. This fuccefs may be reduced to thefe three heads : 1. Reformation in ^ofirine and worlhip in countries called Chriftian; 2, ^ Fiopiigatiofi 3i8 A HISTORY OF Period III, Propagation of the gofpel among the Heathen ; 3. Re- yival of religion in the power and practice of it. (1) As to ihefirll, viz. Reformation in dottrine, the moft confiderable fuccefs of the gofpel that has been of late of this kind, has been in the empire of Muf- covy, which is a country of vaft extent. The people of this country, fo many of them as called themTelves Chriftians, profeffed to be of the Greek church ; but were barbaroufly ignorant, and very fuperllitious, till of late years. Their late Emperpr Peter the Great who reigned till within thefe twenty year$, fet himfclf to reform the people of his dominions, and took great pains to bring them out of their darknefs, and to have ihem in(lru6ted in religion. And to that end, he fet lip fchools of learning, and ordered the Bible to be printed m the language of the country, and made a law that every family fhoidd keep the holy fcriptures in their houfes, and that every perfon fliould be able to read the fame, and that no perfon fhould be allowed to marry till they were able to read the fcriptures. He alfo reformed the churche{> of his country of many of their fuperftitions, whereby the rehgion profeffed and praclifed in Mufcovy is much nearer to that of the Pro- tefiants tiian formerly it ufed to be. This emperor gave great encouragement to the exercife of the Protef^ tant religion in his dominions. And fmce that Muf- covy is become a land of light, in comparifon of what it was before. Wonderful alterations have beeii brought about in the face of religion for the better with- in thefe fifty years palh (2) As to the fecond kind of fuccefs which the gof- pel has lately had, viz. its propagation among the Hea- then, I would take notice of three things, . [ij The propagation there has been of the gofpel among the Heathen here in America. This American continent on ^vhich we live, which is a very great part of the world, and, together with its neighbouring feas adjoining, takes up one fide of the globe, was wholly unknown to all Chriftian nations till thefe latter times. It was not known that. there was any fuch part of the world, though it was very full of people : and there- fore here the Devil had the people that inhabited this part of the world as it were fccure to himfclf, out cj / " the Part II. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 319 the reach of the light of the gofpel, and fo out of tlic way of molellation in his doiiiinioii over thcni. And here the many nations of Indians worfhipped him as God from age to age, while the goi'pel was confined to the oppofite fide of the globe. It is a thing which, if I remember right, I have fome where lit of, as pro- bably fuppofed from fome remaining acconnts of things, that the occafion of the firll peopling America was this, that the Devil being alarmed and furprifed by the wonderful fuccefs of the gofpel which there was the firft three hundred years after Chrift, and by the downfal of the Heathen empire in the time of Cou- ftantine ; and feeing the gofpel fpread fo faft, and fear- ing that his Heathenifh kingdom would be wholly over- thrown through the world, led away a people from the other continent into America, that they might be quite out of the reach of the gofpel, that here he might qui- etly pofTefs them, and reign over them as their god. It is what many writers give an account of, that fome of the nations of Indians, when the Eurojjeans firit came into America, had a tradition among them, that their god firft led them into this continent, and went before them in an ark. Whether this wasfo or not, yet it is certain thjtthe Devil did here quietly enjoy his dominion over the poor nahons of Indians for many ages. But in later times God has fent the gofpel into thefe parts of the world, and now the Chriftian church is fet up here in New- England, and in other parts of America, where before had been nothing but the grofieft Heathenilh darknefs. Great part of America is now full of Bibles, and full of at leaft the form of the worfliip of the true God and Jefus Chrill:, where the name of Chrift before had not been heard of for many ages, if at ail. And though there has been but a fmall propagation of the gofpel among the Heathen here, in comparifon of what were to be wifhed for ; yet there has been lomething worthy to be taken notice of. There was fomething remark- able in the firft times of New-England, and fomething remarkable has appeared of late here, and in other parts of America among many Indians, of an inclin>i- tion to be inftru6fed in the Cliriftian religion. And hov/ever fmall the propaj^ation of the gofpel among 320 AHISTORYoF Period III. ati^ong the Heathen here in America has been hithcrio, yet 1 think, we may well look upon the difcoverv of fo great a part of the world as America, and bringing the gofpel into it, si* oiie thing by which divine providence is preparing the way for the future glorious times of the church; when Satan's kingdom h»ali be overthrown, KOt only throughout the Roman empire, but through- out the whole habitable globe, on every fide, and on all its continents. When thofe times come, then doubtlefs the gofpeU whi<:h is already brought over into Ameri- ca, ihall have glorious fuccefs, and all the inhabitants ©.f this nevv-difcovered world fhall become fubjeBs of the kingdom of Chrifl, as well as all the other ends of the earth : and in ail probability providence has fo ordered it, that the mariner's compafs, which is an invention of later times, wdiereby men are enabled to fail over tlie wideft ocean, when before they diu-ft not venture far from land ; fhould prove a preparation for what God intends to bring to pafs in the glorious times of the church, viz. the fending forth the gofpel wherever any of the children of men dwell, how far foever off, and however feparated by wide oceans from thofe parts o£ the world which are already Chriilianized. [2] There has of late years been a veiy confiderable propagation of the gofpel among the Heathen in the do- minions of Mufcovy. I have already obferved the refor- luation which there has lately been among thofe who are called ChriJHans there : but I no\v fpeak of the Heathen. Great part of the vaft dominions of the Emperor of Mufcovy are grofs Heathens. T he greater part of Great Tartary, a Heathen country, has in la- ter times been brought under the Mufcovite govern- ment ; and there have been of late great numbers of tlioi'e Heathen who have renounced their Heathenifm and have embraced the Chriftian religion. [3] There has been lately a very confiderable propa- gation of the Chrillian rehgion among the Heathen in the Eall-Indies ; particularly, many in a countr)^ in the Eaft-Indies called Malabar, have been brought over to die Chriitian Proteftant religion, chieHy by the labours «jf certain mifiionaries fent diither to inllrucf them by the^ King of Denmark, who have brought over many Heathens Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 321 Heathens to the Chriflian faith, and have fetnp fcliools among them, and a printing-prcfs to print Bibles and other books lor their inlhudion, in their own lanr-uaeTc, with fneat fuccefs. o (3) The lall kind of fiiccefs which there has lately been of the gofpel, which I Ihall take notice of, is the revivals of the power and pratHce of religion which have lately been. And here I Ihall take notice of but two inftanccs. [1] There has not long fmce been a remarkable re- vival of the power and practice of religion in Saxony in Germany, through the endeavours of an einincnt divine there, whofe name was /lugiijl Herman ¥ranh, profelfor of divinity at Hall in Saxony, who being a perlon of eminent charity, the great work that God wrought by him, began with his fetting on foot a chari- table dcfign. It began only with his placing an alms- box at his ftudy-door, into which fome poor mites were thrown, whereby books were bought for the infl ruc- tion of the poor. And God w^as pleafed fo wonderful- ly to fmilc on his defign, and fo to pour out a fpirit of charity on people thereon that occafion, that with their charity he was enabled in a little time to ere61 public fchools fortheinftruftion of poor children, and an or- phan-houfe for the fupply and inflru^tion of the poor; fo that at laft it came to that, that near five hundred children were maintained andinHrutled in learnuigand piety by the chanty of others ; and the number conti- nued to increafe more and more for many years, nud till the laft account I have {^zn. This was accompanii d with a wonderful reformation and revival of religion, Tcci^ a fpirit of piety, in the city andunivcrfity of Hal!; and thus it continued. Which alfo had threat influence in many other places in Germany. Their example ieemed remarkably to ftir up inultitudes to their imi- tation. [2] Another thing, which it would be uu^jp-atcfiil in vis not to take notice of, is that rcmarkahle pouring out^ of the Spirit of God^vhich has been of late in this part ot New-England, of which \v'e, in this town/have had fuch a fljare. But it is needlefs for mepariiculavly to defcribe it, it being what vou have fo lately been eye- P i> witnelfcs- 322 A HISTORY of Period IIL witnefles to, and I hope multitudes of you fenfible of the benefit of. Thus I have mentioned the more remarkable in- ftances of the fuccefs which the gofpel has lately had in the world. 4.1 proceed now to the laft thing that was propofed to be confidered relating to the fuccefs of Chrift's re- demption during this fpace, viz. what the ftate of things is now in the world with regard to the church of Chrili:, and the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe. And this I would do, by fhowing how things are now compared with the firft times of the reformation. And, 1. I would fhow wherein the ftate of things is altered for the worfe ; and, 2. How it is altered for the better. (1) I would fhow wherein the ftate of thi-ngs is al- tered from what it was in the beginning of the Reforma- tion, for the worfe ; and it is fo efpecially in thefe three Tefpecls. [1] The reformed church is much diminiftied. The Reformation in the former times of it, as was obferved before, was fuppofed to take place through one half o£ Chriftendom, excepting the Greek church ; or that there were as many Proteftants as Papifts. But now it is not fo ; the Proteftant church is much diminiftied. Heretofore there have been multitudes of Proteftants in France ; many famous Proteftant churches were all over that country, who ufed to meet together in fynods, and maintain a very regular difcipline ; and great part of that kingdom were Proteftants. The Proteftant church of France was a great part of the glory of the Reformation. But now it is far otherwife : this church is all broken to pieces and fcattered. The Proteftant religion is almoft wholly rooted out of that kingdom by the cruel perfecutions which have been there, and there are now but very few Proteftant aflemblies in all that kingdom. The Proteftant intereft is alfo great- ly diminilhed in Germany. There were feveral fove- reign princes there formerly who were Proteftants, whofe fucceffors are now Papifts; as, particularly, the Eleftor Palatine, and the Ele6f or of Saxony. The king- dom of Bohemia was formerly a Protejflant kingdom, but is now in the hands of the Papifts : and fo Hun- gary was formerly a Proteftant country ; but the Pro- teftants fart II. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 323 teftants there have been greatly reduced, and in a great meafure fubdued, by the peifecutions that have been there. And the Protellant iniercft has no way re- markably gained ground of late of the church of ^ome. [2J Another thing wherein the ftate of things is al- tered for the worfe from what was in the former times of the Reformation, is the prevailing of licentioufnefs in principles and opinions. There is not now that fpi- rit of orthodoxy which there was then : there is very Jittle appearance of zeal for themyfterious and fpiritual of Chrift which were given to Adam, and Abel, ami Enoch, of which we have an accoimt in the former chapters of Genefis, and others of the like import. The church after the flood was built on the foundation of the revelations made to Noah aud Abraliam, to Mel- chifcdek, Ifaac, and Jacob, to Jofeph, Job, and other holy men of whom we have an account m the fcrip- tures or other revelations that were to the fame pur- pofe. And after this the church depended on the fcriptures 328 A H I S T O R Y OF Period IIL fcrlptures themfelves as they gradually increafed ; (o that the church of God has always been built on the foundation of divine revelation, and always on thofe revelations that were elfentially the fame, and which are fummarily comprehended in the holy fcriptures, and ever fmce about Mofes's time have i3een built on the fcriptures themfelves. So that the oppofition which has been made to the church of God in all ages, has always been againft the fame religion, and the fame revelation. Now therefore the violent and perpetual oppofition that has ever been made by the corruption and wickedncfs of mankind again ft this church, is a ftrong argument of the truth of this religion, and this revelation, upon which this church has always been built. Contraries are well argued one from another. We may well and fafely argue, that a thing is good, according to the degree of oppofition in which it ftands to evil, or the degree in which evil op- pofes it, and is an enemy to it. We may well argue, that a thing is light, by the great enmity which darknefs has to it. Now it is evident by the things which you have heard concerning the church of Chrift, and that holy religion of Jefus Chrift which it has profeffed, that the wickednefs of the world has had a perpetual ha- tred to it, and has made moft violent oppofition againft it. That the church of God has always met with great oppofition in the world, none can deny. This is plain by profane hiftory as far as that reaches ; and before that, divine hiftory gives us the fame account. The church of God, and its religion and worftiip, began to be oppofcd in Cain's and Abel's time, and was fo when the earth was filled with violence in Noah's time. And after this, how was the church oppofed in Eg}^pt ? and liow was the church of Ifrael always hated by the na- tions round about, agreeable to that in Jer. xii. 9. — *' Mine heritage is unto me as a fpeckled bird, the *' birds round about are againft heri" And after the Babylonifli captivity, how was this church perfecuted by Antiochus Epiphancs and others ! and how was Chrift pcrfecuted when he was on earth ! and how were- the apo files and other Chriftians perfecuted by the Jews^ before the dcftrii£tion of Jcrufalcm by the Ro- mans I Partll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 32^ mans ! how violent were that people agalnft the church I and how dreadful was the oppofitiou of the Hcatlicii world againll the Chrillian church after this, before Conftantine! how great was their fpiteagainlt the true religion ! and fince that, how yet more violent, and fpiteful, and cruel, has been the oppofition of Anti- chrift againfl the church ! There is no other fuch inffance of oppofition. Hi- llory gives no account of any other body of men that have been fo hated, and fo malicioufly and infatiably purfued and perfecuted, nor any thing like it. No other religion ever was fo maligned age after age. The nations of other profelBons have enjoyed their religions in peace and quietnefs, however they have differed from their neighbours. One nation has worfhipped one fort of gods, and others another, without moleitingor dilhirb- ing one another about it. All the fpite and oppofition has been againft this religion, which the church of Chrift has profefled. All other religions have feemed to ihow an implacable enmity to this ; and men have feemed to have, from one age to another, fuch a fpite againll it, that they have feemed as though they could never fatisfy their cruelty. They put their inventions upon the rack to find out torments that fhould be cruel enough ; and yet, after all, never feemed to be fatisfied. Their thirll has never been fatisfied with blood. So that this is out of doubt, that this religion, and thefe fcriptores, have always been malignantly oppofcd in the world. The only quefiion that remains is, What it is that has made this oppofition ? Whether or not it has been good or bad ? Whether it be the wickednefs and corruption of the world, or not, that has done this ? But of this there can be no greater doubt than of the other, if we confider how caufelefs this cru- eltv has always been, who the oppofers hdve been, and the manner in which they have oppofed. The Oj)pofi- tion has chiefly been from Heathenifm and Popery ; which things certainly are evil. They are both of them very evil, and the fruits of the blindnefs, corruption, and wickednefs of men, as the very Deifis thcmfelves con- fefs. The light of nature fiiows, that the religion o£ Heathens, confiifing in the woiihip of idols, and facri- ficing their children to them, and in obfcene and abo- Q q minable 330 A H I $ T O R Y OF Period IIL niinable rites and ceremonies, is wickednefs. And the fuperftitions, and idolatries, and ufurpations, of the church of Rome, are no Icfs contrary to the light of nature. By this it appears, that this oppofition which has been made againft the church of God, has been made by wicked men. And with regard to tlie oppofition of the Jews in Chrift's and the apoftles times, it was in a moft corrupt time of that nation, when the people were generally become exceeding wicked, as fome of the Jewifh writers themfelves, as Jofephus and others, who lived about that time, do exprefsly fay. And that it has been mere wickednefs that has made this oppofi- tion, is manifeft from the manner of oppofition, the extreme violence, injuftice, and cruelty, with which the church of God has been treated. It feems to fliow the hand of malignant infernal fpirits in it. Now what reafon can be affigned, why the corrup- tion and wickednefs of the world fliould fo implacably fet itfelf againft this religion of Jefus Chrift, and againll the fcriptures, but only that they are contrary to wick- ednefs, and canfequently are good and holy ? Why fhoiild the enemies of Chrift, for fo many thoufand years together, manifeft fueh a mortal hatred of this religion, but only that it is the caufe of God ? If the fcriptures be not the word of God, and the religion of the church of Chrift be not the true religion, then it muft follow, that it is a moft wicked religion ; nothing but a pack of lies and abominable delufions, invented by the enem.ies of God themfelves. And if this were fo, it is not likely that the enemies of God, and the wickednefs of the world, would have maintained fuch a perpetual and implacable enmity againft it. (2) It is a great argument that the Chriftian church and its religion is from God, that it has been upheld hitherto through all the oppofition and dangers it has* pa fled through. That the church of God and the true religion, which has been fo continually and violently cppofed, with fo many endeavours to overthrow it, and wdiich has fo often been brought to the brink of ruin, and almoft fwallowed up, through the greateft part of fix tL'Oufand years, has yet been upheld, does inoft. remarkably fhow the hand of God in favour of the church. If we confider it, it will appear one of tlie greatcli Part II. 1, The Work of REDEMPTION. 331 greateft wonders and miracles that evci came to pafs. There is nothing elfe hke it upon the face of the earth. There is no other fociety of men that has Hood as the church has. As to the old world, which was hcfore the flood, that was overthrown by a deluge of waters ; but yet the church of God was preferved, Satan's, vifible kingdom on earth was then once entirely over- thrown ; but the vifible kingdom of Chrift never haa been overthrown. All thofe ancient human king- doms and monarchies of which we read, and which have been in former ages, they are long fmcc come to. an end. Thofe kingdoms of which we read in the Old Teftament, of the Moabites, the Ammonites, the il- domites, &c. they are all long ago come to an end. — Thofe four great monarchies of the world have been, overthrown one after another. The great empire of proud Babylon was overthrown by the Perfians ; and then the Perfian empire was overthrown by the Greeks; after this the Grecian empire was overthrown by the Romans ; and, finally, the Roman empire fell a facri- fice to various barbarous nations. Here is a remark- able fulfilment of the words of the text with refpe6^ to other things, even the greateft and moft glorious of them : they have all grown old and vaniihed away ; ** The moth has eaten them up like a garment, and " the worm has eaten ihem like wool :" but yet God's, church remains. Never were there fo many and fo potent endea- vours to deftroy any thing elfe, as there has been to. deftroy the church. Other kingdoms and focieties of men, which have appeared to be ten times as ftrong as the church of God, have been dellroyed with an hundredth part of the oppofition which the church of God has met with : which ftiows, that it is God who has been the proteftor of the church. For it is moft plain, that it has. not upheld iifelf by its own ftrength. For the moft part, it has been a very weak fociety. — They have been a little flock : fo they were of old. — The children of Ifrael were but a fmall handful of people, in comparifon of the many who often fought their overthrow. And fo in Chrift's time, and in the beginning of the Chriftian church after Chrift's refur- reftion, they were but a remnant : whereas the whole multitude of the Jcwifh nation were a^ainft thein. And Q q 2 f^ 332 AHISTORYoF Period III. fo in tVie beginning of the Gentile church, they were but a fmall number in comparifon with the Heathen, who fought their overthrow. And fo in the dark times of Antichrift, before the Reformation, they were but a handful ; and yet their enemies could not over- throw them. And it has commonly been fo, that the enemies of the church have not only had the greateft number of their fide, but they have had the ftrength of their fide in other refpefts. They have commonly had all the civil authority of their fide. So it was in Egypt : the civil authority was of the fide of the Egyptians, and the church were only their flaves, and were in their hands ; and yet they could not overthrow them. And fo it was in the time of the perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes : the authority was all on the fide of the per- fecutors, and the church was under their domiinion ;' and yet all their cruelty could not extirpate it. And fo it was afterwards in the time of the Heathen Roman government. And fo it was in the time of Julian the apollate, who did his utmoft to overthrow the Chrifiian church, and to reftore Heathenifm. And fo it has been for the moft part fince the rife of Antichrift : for a great many ages, the ci\al authority was all on the fide of Antichrift, and the church feemed to be in their hands. ■ : • '...;■ And not only has the ftrength of the enemies of the church been greater than the ftrength of the church, but ordinarily the church has not ufed what ftrength they have had in their own defence, but have commit- ted themfelves wholly to God. So it was in the time of the Jewifli perfecutions before the deftruftion of Je- rufalem by the Romans ; and fo it was in the time of the Heathen perfecutions before Conftantine ; the Chri- ftians did not only not rife up in arms to defend them- felves, but they did not pretend to make any forcible refiftance to their Heathen perfecutors. So it has for the moft part been under the Popifli perfecutions ; and yet they have never been able to overthrow the church of God ; but it ftands to this very day. And this is ftill the more exceeding wonderful, if we confidcr how often the church has been brought to the brink of ruin, and the cafe feemed to be defperate, and ail hope gone, and they feemed to be fwal lowed up. In the time of the old world, when wickednefs fo prevail- Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 333 td, as that but one family was left, vet God wondcr- fully appeared and ovcitlirew the wicked world with a flood, and preferved his church. And fo at the Red lea when Pharaoh and his hoft thought they were (juite lure of their prey ; yet God appeared, and deflro) ed them, and delivered his church. And fo was it from time to time in the church of Ifrael, as has been fhown. So under the tenth and lafl: heathen perfecution, their perfecutors boalled that now they had done the bufi- nefs for the Chrillians, and had overthrown the Chri- ifian church ; yet in the midft of their triumph, the ChrifHan church rifes out of the dull and prevails, and the Heathen empire totally falls before it. So when the Chriflian church feemed ready to be fwal lowed up by the Arian herefy ; fo when Antichrift rofe and pre- vailed, and all the world wondered after the bead, and the church for many hundred years was reduced to fuch a fmall number, and feemed to be hidden, and the power of the world was engaged to dellroy thofe little remainders of the church ; yet they could never fully accomplifli their defign, and at lall: God wonderfully revived his church in the time of the Reformation, and made it to ftand as it were on its feet in the fight of its enemies, and raifed it out of their reach. And fo fince, when the Popifh powers have plotted the overthrow of the Reformed church, and have feemed juft about to bring their matters to a conclufion, and to finifli their defign, then God has wonderfully appeared for the de- liverance of his church, as it was in the time of the revolution by King William. And fo it has been from time to time ; prefently after the darkcft times of the church, God has made his Church moft glorioufly to ilourilh. If fuch a prefervation of the church of God, from die beginning of the ^vorld hitherto, attended with fnch circum.ftances, is not fulHcient to fhcw a divine hand in favour of it, what can be devifed that would be fulli- cient ? But if this be from the divine hand, then God owns the church and owns her religion, and owns that revelation and thofe fcriptures on which Ihc is built ; and fo it will follow, that their religion is the true reli- gion, or Gods religion, and that the fciiptures, which they make their rule, are his word. (3j We. 534 A HISTORY OF Period III, (3) We may draw this further argument for the di- vine authority of the fcriptures from what has been {aid, viz. that God has fo fulfilled thofe things which are foretold in the fcriptures. 1 have already ob- ferved, as I went along, how the prophecies of fcripr ture were fulfilled: 1 fhall now therefore fingle out but two inftances of the fulfilment of fcripture pro- phecy. [1 j One is in preferving his church from being ruin- ed. I have jull now fhown what an evidence this is of the divine authority of the fcriptures in itfelf confider- ed : I now fpeak of it as a fulfilment of fcripture-pro- phecy. This is abundantly foretold and promifed in the fcriptures, as particularly in the text : there it is foretold, that other things (hall fail, other kingdoms and monarchies, which fet themfelves in oppofitipn, fhould come to nothing : " The moth fhould eat them up like *' a garment, and the worm fhould eat them like wool." And fo it has in fact come to pafs. But it is here fore- told that God's covenant mercy to his church fhould continue forever ; and fo it hath hitherto proved, tho* now it be fo many ages fince, and though the church has parted through fo many dangers. The fame is promi^ fed, If. liv. 17. "No weapon that is formed againfl thee, *•' fhall profper ; and every tongue that fliall rife againfl *' thee in judgment, thou fhalt condemm." And again, If. xlix. 14. 15. 16. *'But Zion faid, the Lord hath *' forfaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can *' a woman forget her fucking child, that fhe fhould *' not have compaffion on the fon of her womb ? yea^ " they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, *' I have' graven thee upon the palms of my hands, *' thy walls are continually before me." The fame is promifed again in If. lix. 21. and If. xliii. 1. 2. and Zech. xii. 2.3. So Chrlfl promifes the fame, when he fays, *' On tliis rock will I build my church, and the *' gates of hell fliall not prevail againfl it." Now if this be not from God, and the fcriptures be not the word of God, and the church of Chrifl built on the foundation of this word be not of God, how could the ])erfons who foretold this, know it ? for if the church were not of God, it was a very unlikely thing ever to come to pafs. For they foretold the great oppofition, t^nd Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 335 and the great dangers, and alfo foretold that other kingdoms (hould coine to nought, and that the cliurcli fhould often be ahnoft fwal lowed up, as It were cafy to fhow, and yet foretold that the church fhould re- mahi. Now how could they forel'ee fo unlikely a thing but by divine infpiration ? [2 J The other remarkable inflance which I fliall men- tion of the fulfilment of fcripture-prophecy, is in ful- filling what is foretold concerning Antichrill, a certain great oppofer of Chrill and his kingdom. And the way that this Antichrift Ihould arife, is foretold, viz. not among the Heathen, or thofe nations that never profefTed Chriftianity ; but that he Hiould arife by the apoftafy and falling away of the Chriftian church into a corrupt ftate : 2 Thef. ii. 3. " For that day fhall not *' come, except there come a falling away firll, and " that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition." And it is prophefied, that this Antichrift, or man of fin, fliould be one that fiiould fet himfelf up in the temple or vifible church of God, pretending to be veft- ed with the power of God himfelf, as head of the church, as in the fame chapter verf. 4. And all this is exaftly cometopafs in the church of Rome. Again, it is intimated, that the rife of Antichrift fiiould be gradual, as there, verf. 7. " For the myftery of iniqui- " ty doth already work : only he who now letteth, will " let, until he be taken outof the way." This alfo came to pafs. Again, it is prophefied of fuch a great and mighty enemy of the Chriftian church, that he (hould be a great prince or monarch of the Roman empire : fo he is reprefented as an horn of the fourth beaft in Daniel, or fourth kingdom or monarchy upon earth, as the angel himfelf explains it, as you may fee of the little horn in the 7th chapter of Daniel. This alfo came to pafs. Yea it is prophefied, that the feat of this great prince, or pretended vicar of God, and head of his church, fhould be in the citv of Romeitfeif. In the 17th chapter of Revelation, it isfaid exprefsly, that the fpiritual whore, or falfe church, ihould have her feat on feven mountains or hills : Rev. xvii. 9. "Tl;c *' kven heads are feven mountains, on which the wo- ** man fitteth :"' and in the laft verfe of the chapter it is fuid exprefsly, " The woman which thou faweit, is that '* great 33^ A H I S T O R Y of Period III. *' great city, which reigneth over the kings of the *' earth ;" which it is certain was at that time the city of Rome. This prophecy alfo has come to pafs in the church of Rome. Further, it was prophefied that this Antichrifl fhould reign over peoples, and mukitudes, and nations, and tonguesi Rev. xvii. 15. and that all the world ihould wonder after the beait, Rev. xiii. 3. This alfo came to pafs in the church of Rome. It was foretold tiiat this Antichrifl fnould be eminent and remarkable for the fm of pride, pretending to great things, and af- iiiming very much to himfelf; fo in the forementioned place in ThefTalonians, " That he fhould exalt himfelf '* above all that is called God," or that is worlhipped. So Rev. xiii. 5. " And there was given unto him a mouth " fpeaking great things, and blafphemies." Dan. vii. 20. the little horn is faid to have a mouth fpeaking very great things, and his look to be more ftout than his fellows. This alfo came to pafs in the Pope, and tjie church of Rome. It was alfo prophefied, that Antichrifl fliould be an exceeding cruel perfecutor, Dan. vii. 2 1 . The fame horn made war with the faints, and prevailed againfl them : Rev. xiii. 7. *' And it was " given unto him to make war with the faints, and to " overcome them." Rev. xvii. 6. " And I faw the wo- " man drunken with the blood of the faints, and with " the blood of the martyrs of Jefus." This alfo came to pafs in the church of Rome. It was foretold, that Antichrifl fhould excel in craft and policy : Dan. vii* 8. "In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man." And verf. 20. " Even of that horn that had eyes." This al- fo came to pafs in the church of Rome. It was fore- told, that the kings of Chriflendom fhould be fubje6l to Antichrifl: Rev. xvii. 12. 13. *'And the ten horns " which thou fawefl, are ten kings, which have recei- •' ved no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings *' one hour witli the beafl. Thefe have one mind, and " fliall give their power and flrength unto the beafl.'* This alfo came to pafs with refpeft to the Romifh church It was foretold that he fliould perform pretended miracles and lying wonders : 2 Thef. ii. 9. " Whole co- *' ming is after the working of Satan, with all power *' and fjgns, and lying wonders." Rev. xiii. 13. 14. ♦' And Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 337 *' And he doth great wonders, fo (hat he maketh fire ** come down from Heaven on the earth, in the fight of " men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by " the means of thofe miracles which he had power to *' do in the fight of the beaft." This alfo came to pafs in the church of Rome. Fire's coming down from Heaven, feems to have reference to their excommuni- cations, which were dreaded like fire from Heaven. — It was foretold, that he fhould forbid to marry, and to ab- ftain from meats: 1 Tim. 4. 3. " Forbidding to mar- ** ry, and commanding to abftain from meats, which •* God hath created to be received with thankfgiving.'* This alfo is exaclly fulfilled in the church of Rome. — It w^as foretold, that he fhould be veiy rich, and ar- rive at a great degree of earthly fplendor and glory : Rev. xvii. 4. "And the woman was arrayed in purple, " and fcarlet colour, and decked with gold and pre- *' cious Hones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her " hand." And fo chap, xviii. 7. 12. 13. 16. This al- fo is come to pafs with refpe61; to the church of Rome. It was foretold, that he fliould forbid any to buy or fell, but thofe that had his mark : Rev. xiii. 17. *' And that no man might buy or fell, fave he that had " the mark, or the name of the beall:, or the number " of his name." This alfo is fulfilled in the church of Rome. It was foretold, that he fhould fell the fouls of men. Rev. xviii. 13. where, in enumerating the ar- ticles of his merchandife, the fouls of men are mention- ed as one. This alfo is exaftly fulfilled in the fame church. It was foretold, that Antichrift would not fuffer the bodies of God's people to be put into graves : Rev. xi. 8. 9. " And their dead bodies Ihall lie in the " flreet of the great city, — and they — Ihall not fuffer " their dead bodies to be put in graves." This alfo has literally come to pafs with refpe6f to the church of Rome. 1 might mention many other things which were foretold of Antichrilt, or that great enemy of the church fo often fpoken of in fcripture, and fhow that they were fulfilled moft exa611y in the Pope and the church of Rome. How ftrong an argument is this, that the fcnptures arc the word of God ? 2. But I come now toafecond inference; which is diis: R r From ^^8 A HISTORY of PeiiodllL From what has been faid, we may learn what the fpirk of true Chriftians is, viz. a fpii it of fuffering. See- ing God has fo ordered it in his providence, that his church fhould for fo long a time, for the greater part of fo many ages, be in a fuffering ftate, yea, and often in a ftate of fuch extreme fuffering, we may conckide, that the fpirit of the true church is a fuffering fpirit, otherwife God never would have ordered fo much fuf- fering for the church ; for doubtlcfs God accommo- dates the ftate and circumftances of the church to the fjjirit that he has given them. We fee by what has beea faid, how many and great fufferings the Chriftian church for the m^oft part has been under for thefe 1700 years : no wonder therefore that Chrift fo much incul- cated upon his difciples, that it was neceffary, that if any would be his difciples, " they muft deny themfelves, *' and take up their crofs and follow him." And we may argue, that the fpirit of the true churck of Chrift is a fuffering fpirit, by the fpirit the church has fhown and exercifed under her fufferings. She has aftually, under thofe terrible perfecutions through which flie has paffed, rather chofen to undergo thofe dreadful torments, and to fell all for the pearl of great price, to fuffer all that her bittereft enemies could in- 11161, than to renounce Chrift and his religion. Hiftory furnifties us with a great number of remarkable in- ftances, fets in view a great cloud of witneffes. This abundantly confirms the neceffuy of being of a fpirit to fell all for Chrift, to renounce our own eafe, our own worldly profit, and honour, and our all, for him, and for the gofpel. Let us inquire, whether we are of fuch a fpirit. — How does it prove upon trial ? Does it prove in faft that we are willing to deny curfelves, and renounce ou?r own worldly intereft, and to pafs through the trials to which we are called in providence ? Alas, how fmall are our trials, compared with thofe of many of our fel- low Chriftians in former ages ! and I would on this occafion apply that in Jer. xii. ^. "If thou haft run " with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then *' how canft thou contend with horfes ?" If you have not been able to endure the light trials to which you have been called in tliis age, and in this land, ho\\r would Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 339 would you be able to endure the far greater trials to which the church has been called in former ages ? Eve- ry true Chriftian has the fpirit of a martyr, and would fuffer as a martyr, if he were called to it in provi- dence. 3. Hence we learn what great reafon we have, af-- furedly to expe6l the fulfilment of what yet remains to be fulfilled of things foretold in fcripture. The fcrip- tures fortel many great things yet to be fulfilled before the end of the world. But there feem to be great dif- ficulties in the way. We feem at prefent to be vei y far from fuch a flate as is foretold in the fcriptures ; but we have abundant reafon to expeft, that thefe things, however feemingly difficult, will yet be accomplifhed in their feafon. We fee the faithfulnefs of God to his promifes hitherto. How true has God been to his church, and remembered his mercy from generation to generation! We may fay concerning what God has done hitherto for his church, as Jofhua faid to the chil- dren of Ifrael, Jofh. xxiii. 14. " That not one thing " haih failed of all that the Lord our God hath fpo- ^' ken concerning his church ;" but all things are hi- therto come to pafs agreeable to the divine prediftion. This fhould ftrengthen our faith in thofe promifes, and encourage us, and ftir us up to earneft prayer to God for the accomplifhment of the great and glorious things, which yet remain to be fulfilled. It has already been fhown how the fiiccefs of Chrift'a redemption was carried on through various periods down to the prefent time. IV. I come now to Ihow how the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption will be carried on from the prefent time^ till Antichrifl is fallen, and Satan's vifible kingdom on earth is deftroyed. And with rel'peft to this fpace of time, we have nothing to guide us but the prophe- cies of fcripture. Through moft of the time from the- fall of man to the dcilru6lion of Jerufalem by the Ro- mans, we had fcripture hiilory to guide us ; and from thence to the prefent time we had prophecy, togellier with the accomplilhment of it in providence, as related; in human hiflories. But henceforward we have only prophecy to guide us. And here I would pafs by thofct R r % ihingi 340 A HISTORY OP Period III. things that are only conje6lural, or that are furmifed by fome from thofe prophecies which are doubtful in their interpretation, and fhall infill only on thofe things which are more clear and evident. We know not what particular events are to come to pafs before that glorious work of God's Spirit begins, by w^hich Satan's kingdom is to be overthrown. By the confent of moft divines, there are but few things, if any at all, that are foretold to be accomplifhed before the beginning of that glorious work of God. Some think the flaying of the witnelTes, Rev. xi. 7. 8. is not yet accomplifhed. So divines differ with refpeft to the pouring out of the feven vials, of which we have an account, Rev. xvi. how many are already poured out, or how many remain to be poured out ; though a late expofitor, whom I have before mentioned to you, feems to make it very plain and evident, that all are already poured out but two, viz. the fixth on the river Euphra- tes, and the feventh into the air. But I will not now fraud to inquire what is intended by the pouring out of the fixth vial on the river Euphrates, that the way of the kings of the eafl may be prepared ; but only would fay, that it feems to be foraething immediately prepa- ring the way for the deflruftion of the fpiritual Babylon, as the drying up of the river Euphrates, which ran through the. midfl of old Babylon, was what prepared the way of the kings of the Medes and Perfians, the kings of the eaft, to come in under the walls, and de- flroy that city. But whatever this be, it does not appear that it is any thing which fhall be accomplifhed before that w^ork of God's Spirit is begun, by which, as it goes on, Satan's vifible kingdom on earth fhall be utterly overthrown. And therefore I would proceed dire6ily to confider what the fcripture reveals concerning the work of God iifelf, by which he will bring about this great event, as being the next thing which is to be accomplifhed, that wc are certain of from the prophecies of fcripture. And, firfl, I vvould obferve two things in general <:oncerning it. 1. We have all reafon to conclude from the fcrip- tures, that jufl before this work of God begins, it will be a very dark time with refpecl to the intereils of reli- gion, Partll. 1, The Work of REDEMPTION. 341 gioii in the world. It has been fo before thofe glorious revivals of religion that have been hitherto. It was fo when Chrift came ; it was an exceeding degenerate time among the Jews : and fo it was a very dark time before the Reformation. And not only fo, but it fecms to be foretold in fcripture, that it fhall be a time of but little religion, when Chrifl fhall come to fet up his kingdom in the world. Thus when Chrili fpake of his coming, to encourage his cleft, who cry to him day and night, in Luke xviii. 8. he adds this " Neverthelels *' when the Son of man cometh, ihall he find faith on ** the earth?" Which feems to denote a great preva- lency of infidelity jufl before Chriil's coming to avenge his buffering church. Though Chrift's coming at the laft judgment is not here to be excluded, yet there feems to be a fpecial refpeft to his coming to deliver his church from their long continued fuflering perfecuted flate, which is accomplilhed only at his coming at the dellruftion of Antichrilt. That time that the eleft cry to God, as in Rev. vi. 10.^ " How long, O Lord, holy ^' and true, doft thou not judge and avenge our blcod ^' on them that dwell on the earth ?" and the time fpo- ken of in Rev. xviii. 20. " Rejoice over her, thou " heaven, and ye holy apoftles, and prophets, for God ^* hatl:^ avenged you on her," will then be acomplilh- ed. It is now a very dark time with refpeft to the inter- efts of religion, and fuch a time as this prophefied of in this place ; wherein there is but a little faith, and a great prevailing of infidelity on the earth. There is now a remarkable fulfilment of that in 2 Pet. iii. 3. *' Know- " ing this, that there fhall come in the la ft days fcof- *' fers, walking after their own lufts." And fo Jude, 17. 18. *' But beloved, remember ye the words which *' were fpoken before of the apoftles of our Lord Jefus •' Chrift ; how that they told you there fhould be mock- " ers in the laft time, who fliould walk after their own " ungodly lufts." Whether the times fhall be any dark- er ftill, or how much darker, before the beginning of this glorious work of God, we cannot tell. 2. There is no reafon, from the word of God, to think any other than that this great work of God will be wrought, though very fwifily, )et gradually. As the 34^ A HISTORY OF Period III, the children of Ifrael were gradually brought out of the Babylonifh captivity, firft one company, and then ano- iher, and gradually re-built their city and temple ; and as the Heathen Roman empire was deftroyed by a gra-- dual, though a very fwift prevalency of the gofpel ; fo though there are many things which feem to hold forth as though the work of God would be exceeding fwift, and many great and wonderful events fhould very fud- denly be brought to pafs, and fome great parts of Satan's vifible kingdom fhould have a very fudden fall, yet all will not be accomplilhed at once, as by fome great mi- racle, as the refurreftion of the dead at the end of the world will be all at once ; but this is a work which will be accomplifhed by means, by the preaching of the gofr pel, and the ufe of tlie ordinary means of grace, and fo (hall be gradually brought to pafs. Some fhall be converted, and be the means of others converfion. -God's fpirit fhall be poured out firft to raife up inftru- raents, and theji thofe mftruments ihall be ufed and fucceeded. And doubtlefs one nation fliall be enlight- ened and converted after another, one falfe religion iind falfe way of worfhip exploded after another. By the reprefentation in Dan. ii. 3. ^. the fk)ne cut out of the mountains without hands gradually grows. So Chrift teaches us, that the kingdorn of Heaven is like a grain of muilard-feed, Mauh. xiii. 31. 32. and like leaven hidin three meafures of meal, verf. 33. The fame reprefen- tation we have in Mark, iv. 26. 27. 28. and in the vilion of the ^v•at.ers of the fanftuary, Ezek. xlvii. The fcriptures hold forth as though there fhould be feveral fucceffive great and glorious events by which this glo- rious work fhould be accomplifhed. The Angel, fpeak- ing to the prophet Daniel of thofe glorious times, men- tions two glorious periods, at the end of which, glorious things Ihould be accompliflied : Dan. xii. 11. " And *' from the time that the daily facriiice fhall be taken *' away, and the abomination that maketh defolate fet *' up, there Ihall be a thoufand two hundred and nine- ■" ty days." But then he adds in the next verfe, " BlefTed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thou* *' fand three himdrcd and five and thirty days;" inti*.. mating that fomcthing very glorious fhould be accom- pUihed rartll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 343 plifhed at the end of the former period, but fomcthing much more glorious at the end of the latter. But I now proceed to fliow how this glorious work fhall be accomplidied* 1. The fpirit of God fhall be glorioufly poured out for the wonderful revival and propagation of religion. This great work Ihall be accomplilhed, not by the au- thority of princes, nor by the wifdom of learned men, but by God's Holy fpirit: Zech. iv. 6. 7. *' Not by might, •' nor by power, but by my Spirit, faith the Lord of ** hofts. Who art thou, O great mountain ? before *' Zerubbabel thou fhalt become a plain, and he fhall " bring forth the head-ftone thereof with flioutings, " crying, grace, grace unto it." So the prophet E- zekiel, Ipeaking of this great work of God, fays, chap. xxxix. 29. *' Neither will I hide my face any more fron> " them; for I have poured out my Spirit on the houfe *' of Ifrael, faith the Lord God." We know not where this pouring out of the Spirit fhall begin, or whether in many places at once, or whether what hath already been, be not fome forerunner and beginning of it. This pouring out of the Spirit of God, when it rs begun, fhall foon bring great multitudes to forfake that vice and wickednefs which now fo generally prevails, and fhall caufe that vital religion, which is now fo dei- pifed and laughed at in the world, to revive. The work of converfion Ihall break forth, and go on in fuch a manner as never has been hitherto ; agreeable to that in If. xliv. 3. 4. 5. God, by pouring out his Holy Spirit, will furailh men to be glorious inflruments of carrying on this work ; will fill them with knowledge and wifdom, and fervent zeal for the promoting the kingdom of Chrilf, and the falvation of fouls, and pro- pagating the gofpel in the world. So that the gofpcl ihall begin to be preached with abtindantly greater clear- nefs and power than liad heretofore been : for thii* great work of God fhall be brought to pafs by the preaching of the gofpcl, as is rcprefcnted in Rev, yiv. 6. 7. 8. that before Babylon falls, the Gofpel Ihall be powerfully preached and propagated in the world. This was typyfied of old by the founding of the filver trumpets in Ifrael in the beginning of their jubilee : Lev. xxv. 9. " Then flialt thou caufc the trumpet of ''- the 344 'A HISTORY OF Period III. " the jubilee to found on the tenth day of the fe« ** venth month ; on the day of atonement fhall ye •* make the trumpet found throughout all your land.'* The glorious times which are approaching, are as it were the church's jubilee, which fhall be introduced by the founding of the filver trumpet of the gofpel, as is foretold in If xxvii. 13. " And it fhall comie to pafs in *' that day, that the great trumpet fhall be blown, and " they fhall come which were ready to perifh in the •' land of Affyria, and the outcafls of the land of E- ** gyP^» ^"^ ^^^^ worfhip the Lord in the holy mount •* at Jerufalem." And there fhall be a glorious pour- ing out of the Spirit with this clear and powerful preaching of the gofpel, to make it fuccefsful for re- viving thofe holy doftrines of religion which are now chiefly ridiculed in the world, and turning many from herefy, and from popery, and from other falfe reli- gion ; and alfo for turning many from their vice and profanenefs, and for bringing vafl multitudes favingly home to Chrift. That work of converficn fhall go on in a wonderful manner, and fpread more and more. Many fhall flow together to the goodnefs of the Lord, and fhall come as it were in flocks, one flock and multitude after ano- ther continually flowing in, as in If. Ix. 4. 5. " Lift ** up thine eye round about, and fee ; all they gather *' themfelves together, they come to thee; thy fons *' fhall come from far, and thy daughters fhall be nur- «' fed at thy fide. Then thou fhalt fee and flow toge- " ther." And fo verf. 8. " Who are thefe that fly as " a cloud, and as the doves to their windows ?" And it being reprefented in the forementioned place in the Revelation, that the gofpel fhall be preached to every tongue, and kindred, and nation, and people, before the fall of Antichrift; fo we may fuppofe, that it will foon be glorioufly fuccefsful to bring in multitudes from every nation ; and it fliall fpread more and more with wonderful fwifinefs, and vafl numbers fliall fuddenly he brought in as it were at once, as you may fee, If. Ixvi. 7.'8. 9. 2. This pouring out of the Spirit of God will not effed the overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom, till tliere has firflbeen a violent and mighty oppofition made. Ill Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 3^5 In this the fcriptiire is plain, tliat wlicn Chrift is tlins glorioufly coming forth, and the deflruclion of Anli- chrilt is ready at hand, and Satan's kingdom begins to totter, and to appear to be immediately threatened, tlic powers of the kingdom of darknefs will rife up, and mightily exert themfelves to prevent their kingdom being overthrown. Thus after the pouring out the fixth vial, which was to dry up the river Euphrates, to pi-epare the way for the deftru^tion of fpiritLial Babylon, it is reprefented in Rev. xvi. as though the powers of liell will be mightily alarmed, and Ihould flir up them- felves to oppofe the kingdom of Chrift, before the feventh and laft vial fhall be poured out, which (hall give them a final and complete overthrow. We have an account of the pouring out of the fixth in verf. 12. And then upon this, the beloved difciple informs us in the following verfcs, that " three unclean fpirits like *' frogs fhall go forth unto the kings of the earth, to ** gather them together to the battle of the great dav *' of God Almighty." This feems to be the lafl: and greateft effort of Satan to fave his kingdom from being overthrown ; though perhaps he may make as great to- wards the end of the world to regain ir. . When the Spirit begins to be fo glorioufly poured forth, and the devil fees fuch multitudes flocking to Chrift in one nation and another, and the foundations of his kingdom daily undermining, and the pillars of it breaking, and the whole ready to come to fwift and fudden deftru6Uon, it will greatly alarm all hell. Sa- tan has ever had a dread of having his kingdom over- thrown, and he has been oppofing of it ever fince Chrill's afcenfion, and has been doing great works to fortify his kingdom, and to prevent it, ever fince the day of Conftantine the Great. To this end he has let up thofe two mighty kingdoms of Antichrift and Ma- homet, and brought in all the herefies, and fuperfliti- ons, and corrupt opinions, which there are in the world. But when he fees all begins to fail, it will roufe him up exceedingly. If Satan dreaded being caft out of the Roman empire, how much more docs he dread be- ing caft out of the whole world. It fcems as though in this lait great oppofition which ihall be made a^aiuft the church to defend the king- S f dom 346 A M I S T O R Y o? Period II!. ^om of Satan, all the forces of Antichrift, and Maho*- metanifm, and Heathenifm, will be united ; all thefor^ ces of Satan's vifible kingdom through the whole world of mankind. And therefore it is faid, that *' fpirits of *' devils {hall go forth unto the kings of the earth, and " of the whole world, to gather them together to the ** battle of the great day of God Almighty." And thefe fpirits are faid to come out of the mouth of the dra- gon, and out of the mouth of the beaft, and out of the mouth of the falfe prophet ; i. e. there {hall be the fpi- tit of Popery, and the fpirit of Mahomelanifm, and the fpirit of Heathenifm, all united. By the beaft is meant Antichrift ; by the dragon, in this book, is com- monly meant the devil, as he reigns over his Heathen kingdoms ; by the falfe prophet, in this book, is fome- times meant the Pope and his clergy : but here an eye feems to be had to Mahomet, whom his followers call the great prophet of God. This will be as it were the dying ftruggles of the old ferpent ; a battle wherein he' will fight a^ one that is almoft defperate. We know not particularly in what manner this op-" pofition {hall be made. It is reprefented as a battle; it is called the battk of the great day of God Almighty. There will be fom.e way or other a mighty ftruggle be^ tween Satan's kingdom and the church, and probably in all ways of opp0{ition that can be ; and doubtlefs great oppofition by external force ; wherein the princes of the world who are on the devil's fide, fhall join hand in hand: for it is faid, " The kings of the earth are *' gathered together to battle," Rev. xix. 19. And probably withal thefe w"ill be great oppofition of fubtle difputeis and carnal reafoning, and greatperfecution in many places, and great oppofition by virulent reproach- es, and alt'o great oppofition by craft and fubtilty.-— The devil now doubtlefs will ply hrs fkill, as well as ftrength, to the utmoft. The devils, and thofe who belong to their kingdom, \w'\\\ every where be ftirrcd up, and engaged to make an united a-rrd violent oppo{i- tion againfl this holy religion, which they fee prevail- ing fo mightily in the world. But, 3. Chrift and his church fhall in this! battle obtain a complete and entire viftory over their enemies. They iliall be totally routed and overthrown in this their lafl effort. Partll. I. The Work of REDEMPTION. 347 pfFort. When the powers of hell and earth are ihus gathered together, againft Chrifi, and his arniics Ihall come forth againil them by his word and Spirit to fight with them, in how augull, and pompous, and glorious a manner is this coming forth of Chrilt and his church to this battle defciibed, Rev. xix. ix. &:c. And to rc- prefent to us how great the viftor)' ihould be which they fliould obtain, and how mighty the ovcrihrow of their enemies, it is faid, verf. 17. & 18. that " all the ** fowls of Heaven are called together to cat the great *' fupper given them, of the flelh of kings, and cap- ^' tains, and mighty men," Sec. and then, in the fol- lowing verfes, we have an account of the victory and overthrow. In this viftory, the feventh vial fhall be poured out. Jt is faid, Rev. xvi, 16. of the great army that fhould be gathered together againft Chrift : " And he gather- " ed them together into a place called in the Hebrevv ■' tongue, Armageddon ;" and then it is faid, *' And the *' feventh angel poured out his vial into the air ; and *' there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven, *' from the throne, faying, It is done." Now the bu- finefs is done for Satan and his adherents. When this viftory is obtained, all is in effetf done. Satan's laft and greateft oppolition is conquered ; all his meafurea are defeated ; the pillars of his kingdom broken afun- der, and will fall of courfe. The devil is utterly baf- fled and confounded, and knows not what elfe to do. — He now fees his Antichriftian, and Mahometan, and Heatheuifh kingdoms through the world, all tumbling about his ears. He and his moft powerful inftruments are taken captive. Now that is in effetl done w^hich the church of God had been fo long waiting and hoping for, and fo earneftly crying to God for, faying, " How ^' long, O Lord, holy and true ?" now the time is come. The angel who fet his right foot on the fea, and his left foot on the earth, lift up his hand to Heaven, and fwore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who crea- ted Heaven, and all things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that tlierein are, and the fe9, and the things which are therein, that when the feventh angel fhould come to found, the time fliould be na longer. And now the time is come ; now tlie feventlii S f 3 irumpeti 348 AHISTORYoF Period III. trumpet founc^s, and the feventh vial is poured out, both together ; inArhating, that now all is finifhed aS to the overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom on earth. 7'his vifloiy lliall be by far the greateft that ever was obtained over Satan and his adherents. By this blow, with whic^i t\\e i^one cut out of the mountain without bands (haW l\riV>e the image of gold, and filver, and hrafs, and iron, and clay, it fhall all be broken to pie- ces. This will be a finifhing blow to the image, fo that it fhall become as the chaff of the fumm.er threlh- ing- floor. In this vi.^ory will be a moH glorious difplay of di- Tine power. Chrift fhall therein appear in the charac- ter of King oi kings, and Lord of lords, as in Rev. xlx. 16. Now Chrift fhall dalli his enemies, even the flrongeft and proudeft of them, in pieces; as a potter's veffel fhall they be broken :o Olivers. Then fliall llrength "be fhovvn oui of weaknefs, and Chrift fhall caufe his church as it were to threfh the mountains, as in If. xli. 1^5. *' Behold, 1 will make thee a new fharp threfli- " irig-inflrumenr having teeih : thou fbalt threfh the *' m'ountains, and beat them fmall, and flialt make the *' hills as chaff." And then fhall be fulfilled that in If. xlii. 13. 14. 1^. - 4. Gonfcqueut on this vi^lory, Satan's vifible king- dom on earth Ihall be deflroyed. When Satan is con- 4uered in this lafl battle, the church of Chrift will have eafy work of it ; as wdien Jofhua and the children of Ifrael had obtained that great victory over the five kings of the Amorites, when the fun flood flill, and God fent great hail-flones on their enemies, they after that ■went from one city to another, and burnt them with fire: they had eafy work of fubduing the cities and country to which they belonged. So it was alfo after that other great battle that Jofhua had with that great multitude at the waters of Meram. So after this glo- rious viftory of Chrift and his church over their ene- mies, over the chief powers of Satan's kingdom, they fhall de(lro)«t that kingdom in all thofe cities and coun- tries to which they belonged. After this the word of God Ihall have a fpeedy and fwift progrefs through the earth ; as it is faid, that on the pouring out of the fe- venth vial, "the cities of the nations fell, andeverv ifland - , . ^ "Med Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 3.19 *' fled away, and the mountains were not found," Rev. xvi. 19.20. When once the flonc cut out ot the moun- tain without hands liad broken the image in pieces, it was eafy to abolilh all remains of it. The very wind will carry it away as the chaff of the fummer threOnng floor. Becaufe Satan's vifible kingdom on cartii fhail how be dcItro)ed, therefore it is faid, that the fcventh vial, by which this fhall be done, (hall be poured out into the air ; which is reprefented in fcri[)ture as the fpecial feat of his kingdom ; for he is called (he piime of the power of the air, Eph. ii. 2. Now is come the time for punching Leviatlian, that piercing ferpent, of which we read in If. xxvii. i. "In that day the Lord *' with his fore and great and fliong fword, fjiall pu- " nifli Leviathan the piercing ferpent, even Le\iathan, " that crooked ferpent, and he fhall flay the Dragon " that is in the fea." Concerning this overthrow of Satans vifible kingdom on earth, I would, 1. Show wherein this overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom will chiefly confifl; 2. The extent and univerfality of this overthrow. 1. I would fliow wherein this overthrow of Satan's kingdom will chiefly confiff. I fhall mention the par- ticular things in which it will confifl, without pretend- ing to determine in what order they fhall come to pafs, or which fliall be accompliflied firff, or whether they (hall be accomplifhed together. (1) Herefies, and infidelity, and fuperflition, among tho^fe who have been brought up under the light of' the gofpel, will then be abolilhed. Then there will be an end to Socinianifm, and Arianifm, and Quakcrifm, and Arminianifm ; and Deifm, which is now fo bold and confident in infidelity, fhall then be crufhed, and driven away, and vanilh to nothing ; and all Ihall agree in the fame great and important doctrines of the gofpel; agreeable to that in Zech. xiv. 9. '* And the Lord (hall «' be king over all the earth : in that day fhall there *' be one Lord, and his name one," Then Ihall be aboliOied all fuperflitious wa)s of worfliip, and all fliall agree in worfhipping God in his o\vn w3) s : Jer. xxxii. 39. " A.nd I will give them one heart, and one way, " that they may fear me forever, for the good of *' them, and of their children after them. ^ • (2) The- 3oQ A HISTORY or Period III. (2) The kingdom of Antipbrifl: ftall be utterly over* thrown. His kingdoni and dominion has been much brought do;v'n already by the vial poured out on hi$ throne in the Reformation ; but then it ihall be utterly deftroyed. Then Ihall be proclaimed, *' Babylon is fal- " len, IS fallen." When the feventh angel founds, " the " time, times and half, fhall be out, and the time ihall *^ be no longer." Then fhall be accoraplifhed concern* ing Antichrift the things which are written m the 1 8th chapter of Revelation, of the fpiritual Babylon, that great city Rome, or the idolatrous Roman government, that has for fo many ages been the great enemy of the Chrillian church, firll under Heathenifm, then under Popery : that proud city which lifted herfelf up to Hea- ven, and above God himfelf in her pride and haughti- nefs ; that cruel, bloody city, fhall come down to the ground. Then Ihall that be fulfilled, If. xxvi. 5. "For *' he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty ^V city he layeth it low, he layeth it low, even to the *:' groLuid, he bringeth it even to the duff. She fhall be ** thrown down with violence, hke a great millflone caft ** into the fea, and fhall be found no more at all, 3n4 *' fhall become an habitation of devils, and the hold of «« every foul fpirit, and a cage of every unclean and *' hateful bird." Now fhall fhe be flripped of all her glory, and riches, and ornaments, and Ojall be cafl out as an abominable branch, and fhall be trodden do^^'n as the mire of the ftreets. All her policy and craft, in which fhe fo abounded, fhall not fave her. And God {hall make his people, who have been fo perfecuted by lier, to come and put their foot on the neck of Anti- chrift, and he fliall be their foot flool. All the flrength and wifdom of this great whore fhall fail her, and there ihall be none to help her. The kings of the earth,^ who before gave their power and flrength to the beafl:, fhall now hate the whore, and fhall make her defolate and naked, and fhall eat her flefh, and burn her with hre, Rev. xvii. 16. (3) That other great kingdom which Satan has fet up in oppofition to the Chriflian church, viz. his Ma- hometan kingdom, fhall be utterly overthrown. The ]|ocufls and horfemen in the 9th of Revelation, have their appointed and limited time fet them there, and t\i^ falfe Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 3^4 falfe prophet fhall be taken and deftroyed. And dicn though Mahometaiiifm has been io valfly propagated in the world, an^l is uj)held by luch a great empire, this fmoke, which has afcended out of the bottomlefa pit, {hall be utterly fcattered before the light of that glo- rious day, and the Mahometan empire Ihall fall at the found of the great trumpet which (hall then be blown^ (4) Jc^'i^^ infidelity iliall then be overthrown. How everobllinate they have been now for above 1700 years in their reje^Hon of Chrift, and inftances of the con- verfion of any of that nation have been fo very rare ever {ince the deftruftion of Jerufalem, but they have againft the plain teachings of their own prophets, con- tinued to approve of the cruelty of their forefathers in crucifying Chrift ; yet when this day comes, the thick veil that blinds their eyes fhall be removed, 2 Cor. iii. 16. and divine grace Ihall melt and renew their hard hearts, '* and they fhall look on him whom they have ** pierced, and they (hall mourn for him, as one mourn- " eth for his only fon, and fhall be in bitternefs as one ** that is in bitternefs for his firfl born," Zech. xii. 10. &c. And then fhall the houfe of Ifrael be faved : tha Jews in all their difperfions fhall caff away their old in- fidelity, and fhall wonderfully have their hearts chang- ed, and abhor themfelves for their pafl unbelief and obflinacy ; and fliall flow together to the bleffed Jefus, penitently, humbly, and joyfully, owning him as their glorious King and only Saviour, and fhall with all their hearts, as with one heart and voice, declare his praifes unto other nations. Nothing is more certainly foretold than this national converfion of the Jews is in the nth chapter of Ro- mans. And there are alfo many paflages of the Old Teffament \\rhich cannot be interpreted in any other fenfe, which I cannot now ffand to mention. Befides the prophecies of the calling of the Jews, we have a re- markable feal of the fulfilment of this great event in providence, by a thing which is a kind of continual miracle, viz. their being preferved a dilfinft nation in fuch a difperfed condition for above 1600 years. The world affords nothing elfe like it. There is undoubted- ly a remarkable hand of providence in it. When thc%' Ml ht called, then fluijl that ancient people, that were ^lonc 2>5' A HISTO R Y Of PeiiodllL alvine God's people for fo long a time, be God's people again, never to be lejected more : they Ihall then be ga- thered into one told together with the Gentiles ; and lo alfo fnall the remains of the ten tribes, where-ever they be, and though they have been rejected much longer than the Jews, be brought in with their brethren the Jews. The prophecies of Hofea efpecially feem to hold this forth, that ni the future glorious times of the church, both Judah and Ephraim, or Judah and the ten tribes, fiiall be brought in together, and fiiall be united as one people, as they formerly were under Da- vid and Solomon ; as Hof. i. 11. and fo in the 1 aft chapter of Hofca, and other parts of his prophecy. Though we do not know the time in which diis con- verfion of the nation of Ifrael will come to pafs ; yet thus much we may determine by fcripture, that it will be before the glory of the Gentile part of the church {hall be fully accomplifhed ; becaufe it is faid, that their coming in fhail be life from the dead to the Gen- tiles, Rom. xi. 12. 15. (5) Then fhall alfo Satan's Heathenilli kingdom be overthrown. Grofs Heathenifm now pofleffes a great part of the earth, and there are fuppofed to be more Heathens now in the world, than of all other profef- fions taken together, Jews, Mahometans, or Chriftians. But then the Heathen nations fhall be enlightened with the glorious gofpel. There will be a wonderful fpirit of pity towards them, and zeal for their inftru6tion and converfion put into multitudes, and many fhall go forth and carry the gofpel unto them ; and then fhall the joyful found be heard among them, and the Sun of righteoufnefs fiiall then arife with his glorious light Ihining on thofe many vaft regions of the earth that have been covered with Heathenifli darknefs for many thoufand years, many of them doubtlefs ever fmce the times of Mofes and Abraham, and have lain thus long in a miferable condition, under the cruel tyranny of the devil, who has all this while blinded and befooled them and domineered over them, and made a prey of them from generation to generation. Now the fflad tidings of the {Tof})el fhall found there, and they fhall be brought out of darknefs into marvellous light. li is promifcd, that Heathenifm fhall thus be deflroy- cd Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 353 ed in many places. God has faid, That the gods that have not made thefe Heavens and this earth, fhall peiilh from the earth, and from under thefe Heavens, Jer. x. 11. and that he will utterly abohlh idols, If. ii. i8. — Then Ihall the many nations of Africa, the nations of negroes, and other Heathens who chiefly fill that quar- ter of the world, who now feem to be in a ilate but little above the beafts, and in many refpefts much be- low them, be enlightened with glorious light, and deli- vered from all their darknefs, and Ihall become a civil, Chriflian, underftanding, and holy people. Then Ihall the vail continent of America, which now in fo great a part of it is covered with barbarous ignorance and cru- elty, be every-where covered with glorious gofpel-light and Chriftian love ; and inflead of worlhipping the de- vil, as now they do, they fhall ferve God, and prailes fliall be fung every where to the Lord Jefus Chrift, the bleffed Saviour of the world. So may we expett it will be in the great and populous part of the world, the Eaft-Indies, which are now m.ollly inhabited by the worlhippers of the devil ; and fo throughout that valt country Great Tartary : and then the kingdom of Chrili; will be eftablifhed In thofe continents which have been more lately difcovered towards the north and fouth poles, where men now differ very little from the wild beafts, excepting that they worfhip the devil, and the beafts do not. The fame will be the cafe with refpeft to thofe countries which have never yet been difcovered. Thus will be glorioufly fulfilled that in If. xxxv. i. — •' The wildernefs and the fohtary place fhall be glad *' for them : and the defart fhall rejoice, and bloffom "as the role." See alfo verf. ^. "^^ 2. Having thus fho\v-n wherein this overthrow of Sa- tan's kingdom will confift, I come now to the thing to be obferved concerning it, viz. its univeriai extent. — The vifible kingdom of Satan Ihall be overthrown, and the kingdom of Chrift fet up on the ruins of it, every where throughout the whole habitable globe. Now fhall thepromife made to Abraham be fullilled, that*' In him *' and in his feed all the families of the earth fhall bq *' bleffed ;" and Chrift now fliall become the defire o£ all nations, agreeable to Haggai, ii. 7. Now the king- dom of Chrift fhall in the moft ftrift and literal fcnfe be T t extended 354 A H i S T O R Y OF Period III. extended to all nations, and the whole earth. There are many pallages of fcripture that can be underllood in no other fenfe. What can be more univerfal than that in If. xi. 9. " For the earth (hall be full of the *' knowledge of the Loid, as the waters cover the fea." As much as to fay, As there is no part of the channel or cavity of the fea any where, but what is covered with water ; fo there fhall be no part of the world of mankind but what (hall be covered with the knowledge of God. So it is foretold in If. xlv. 22. that all the ends of the earth fhall look to Chriil, and be faved. And to fhow that the words are to be undei flood in the mofl univer- fal fenfe, it is faid in the next verfe, " I have fwornby *' myfelf, the word is gone out of my mouth in righ- *' teoufnefs, and fhall not return, that unto me every " knee fhall bow, every tongue fhall fwear." So tl;>e moft univerfal exprefTion is ufed, Dan. vii. 27, *' And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatnefs '* of the kingdom under the whole Heaven, fliall be *' given to the people of the faints of the Mofl High " God." You fee the exprefnon includes all under the 7vJiole Heaven. When the devil was caff out of the Roman empire,- becaufe that was the highefl and principal part of the world, and the other nations that were left were low and mean in comparifon of thofe of that em.pire, it was reprefented as Satan's being caff out of Heaven to the earth. Rev. xii. 9. but it is reprefented that he fhall be caff out of the earth too, and fliut up in hell. Rev. XX. 1. 2. 3, This is the greateft revolution by far that ever came to pafs : therefore it is faid in R.ev. xvi. 17. 18. That on the pouring out of the feventh vial, there was a great earthquake, fuch as was not fines men \verc upon earth, fo mighty an earthquake and fo great. And this is the third great difpenfation of pro- vidence which is in fcripture compared to Chrifl's com- ing to judgment. So it is in Rev. xvi. 15. There, after the fixth vial, and after the devil's armies were ga- thered together to their great battle, and jufl before Chrifl's glorious viftory over them, it is faid, " Behold *' I come quickly ; bleffed is he that watclieth, and " keepeth his garments." So it is called Chrijl's coining in 2 Thef, ii. 8. Speaking of Antichrifl, it is faid, " And Part II. 1. The Wo'rk OF REDEMPTION. 3,55 " And then fliall that wicked be revealed, whom the *' Lord fhall conhime with the fpirit of his mouth, and ^' fhall dcftroy with the brightnefs of his coming." Scii alfo Dan. vii. 13. 14. where Ciirifl's coming to fet up his kingdom on earth, and to defhoy An;ichrif^, is c-il!- ed coming 7uitk clouds of Heaven. And this is more like Chrift's lafl coming to judgment, than any of the pre- ceding difpenfations which are fo called, on thefe ac- counts. (1) That the difpenfation is fo much greater and more univerfal, and fo more like the day of judgment, which refpecfs the whole world. (2) On account of the great fpiritual rcfurrefliou there will be of the churcli of God accompanying it, more refembling the general refurrecfiou at the end of the world than any other. This fpiritual refurre^tion, is the refurreftion fpoken of as attended with judg- ment, Rev. XX. 4. (3) Becaufe of the terrible judgments and fearful deitruftion which fhall now be executed on God's ene- mies. There will doubtlefs at the introducing of this difpenfation be a vifible and awful hand of God againft blafphemers, Deifts, and obflinate heretics, and other enemies of Chrift, terribly deftroying them, with re- markable tokens of wrath and vengeance ; and efpe- cially will this difpenfation be attended with terrible judgments on Antichrifl ; and the cruel perfecutcrs who belong to the church of Rome, fhall in a moll aw- ful m.anner be deftroycd ; which is compared to a call- ing of Antichrill into ihe burning flame, Dan. vii. 11. and to calling him alive into the lake that burns with iire and brim.llone, Rev. xix. 20. Then fhall this cruel perfecuting church fuffer thofe judgments from God, which Chall be far more dread- ful than her crueleft perfecution of the faints, agreea- ble to Rev. xviii. 6. 7. The judgments which God fhall execute on the enemies of tlie church, are fo great^ that tbev are compared to God's fending great hail- ffones from Heaven upon them, every one ot the weight of a talent, as it is faid on the pouring out of the fe- venth vial," Rev. xvi. 21. " And there fell upon men a " great hail out of Heaven, every ffone ahfnit the '' weight of a talent : and men blaf]>hemed God, bc^ T t 2 " caufc 5^6 A HISTORY OF Period III. •* caiife of the plague of the hail ; for the plague thercr *' of was exceeding great," And now fhall be that treading of the wine-prefs fpoken of, Rev. xiv. ig. 20. (4) This fhall put an end to the church's fuffering flate, and fhall be attended with their glorious and joy- ful praifes. The church's afFiifted flate is long, being continued, excepting force fhort intermiflions, from the refurreftion of Chrill to this time. But now fhall a fi- nal end be put to her fuffering Hate. Indeed after this near the end of the world, the church fhall be greatly threatened ; but it is faid, it fhall be but for a little fear fon. Rev. xx. 3. for as the times of the church's refl are but fhort, before the long day of her afflictions are at an end ; fo whatever affliftion fhe may fuffer after this, it will be very Ihort ; but otherwife the day of the church's affliction and perfecution fhall now come to a final end. The fcriptures, in many places, fpeak of this time as the end of the fuffering flate of the church. So If. li. 22. God fays to his church w^ith refpeft to this time, " Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the •' cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my •' fury, thou fhalt no more drink it again." Then fhall that be proclaimed to the church, If. xl. 1. 2. *' Comibrt ye, comifort ye ^ly people, faith your God. •' Speak ye comfortably to Jerufalem, and cry unto *' her, that her warfare is accomplifhed, that her iniqui- *' ty is pardoned : for fhe hath received of the Lord's *' hand double for all her fins." Alfo that in If. liv. 8. o. belongs to this time. And fo that in If. Ix. 20. *' The Lord fhall be thine everlafting light, and the *' days of thy mourning fhall be ended." And fo Zeph. iii. 15. " The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, " he hath caff out thine enemy : the King of Ifrael, ** even the Lord, is in the midft of thee : thou fhalt *' not fee evil any more." The time which had been before this, had been the church's fowing-time, wherein fhe fowed in tears and in blood ; but now is her harveff, wherein fhe will come again rejoicing, bringing her fheaves with her. Now the time of the travail of the woman cloathed with the fun is at an end : now fhe hath brought forth her fon; f'jr this glorious fetting up of the kingdom of Chrift •li.'ougl] the world, is what the church had been in tra- vail Part II. J. The Work of REDEMPTION. 357 vail for, with fuch terrible pangs, for fo many ages: Jf. xxvi. 17. " Like as a woman with cliild tliat draw- " eth near the time of her dehvc.y, is in pain, and *' crieth out in her pangs ; fo have we been in thy fighr, *' O Lord." See If. Ix. 20. and Ixi. 10. 11. — ^^— And now the church fhall forget her foirow, fmce a man- child is born intq the world : now fuccecd her jo) fiil praife and triumph. Her prailes fhall then go up to God from all parts of the earth ; as If. xlii. 10. 11. 12. And praife fliall not only fill the earth, but alfo Kca- yen. The church on earth, aqd the church in Heaven, fhall both glorioufly rejoice and praife God, as with one heart, on that occafioii. Without doubt it will be a time of very diflinguiflied joy and praife among the ho- ly prophets and apoflles, and the other faints in Hea- ven: Rev. xviii. 20. " Rejoice over her, thou Heaven, *' and ye holy apoRles and prophets, for God liatli a- " vengcd you on her." See how univerfal thefepraifcs will be in If. xliv. 23. *' Sing, O ye Heavens, for the *' Lord hath done it : fhout, ye lower parts of the earth : *' break forth into fmging, ye mounialns, Oforcfl, and " every tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Ja- " cob, and glorified himfelf in Ifrael." See what jo)'ful praifes are fung to God on this occafion by the univer- fal church in Heaven and earth, in the beginning of the 19th chapter of Revelation. (5) This difpenfation is above all preceding ones like Chrifl's coming to judgment, in that it fo puts an end to the former if ate of the world, and introduces the everlafting kingdom of Chriff. Now Satan's vifible kingdom ihall be overthrown, after it had flood ever fmce the building of Babel ; and the old Heavens and the old earth fliall in a greater meafure be paffed away then than before, and the new Heavens and new earth fet up in a far m.ore glorious manner than ever be- fore. Thus I have fhown how the fuccefs of Chrifl's pur- chafe has been carried on through the times of the af- fii6led ftate of the Chrillian church, from Chrifl's rc- furre^tion, till Antichrifl is fallen, and Satan's vifible kingdom on earth is overthrown. — Therefore I come ^ow, Second L\\ 3^8 A HISTORY OF Period IIL Secondly, to fhow how the fuccefs of redemption will be carried on through that fpace wherein the Chri- ftian church fhall for the moll part be in a ftateof peace and profperity. And in order to this, I would, 1. Speak of the profperous ftate of the church through the greater part of this period. 2. Of the great apoflafy there fhall be towards the clofe of it : how greatly then the church fliall be threat- ened by her enemies for a Ihort time. I. I would fpeak of the profperous Itate of the church through the greater part of this period. And in doing this, I would, i. Defcribe this profperous ftate of the church ; 2. Say fomething of its duration. ly/?, I would defcribe the profperous Hate the church fhall be in. And, in the general, I v»^ould obferve two things. 1. That this is mofl properly the time of the king- clom of Heaven upon earth. Though the kingdom of Heaven was in a degree fet up foon after Chrift's re- furreclion, and in a further degree in the time of Con- ftantine ; and though the Chrifaan church in all ages of it, is called the kingdom of Heaven ; yet this time that we are upon, is the principal time of the kingdom of Heaven upon earth, the time principally intended by the prophecies of Daniel, which fpeak of the king- dom of Heaven, whence the Jews took the name of the kingdom of Heaven. 2. Now is the principal fulfilment of all the prophe- cies, of the Old Teflament which fpeak of the glorious times of the gofpel which fhall be in the latter days. Though there has been a glorious fulfilment of thofe prophecies already, in the times of the apofilcs, and of Conflantine ; yet the exprefTions are two high to fuit any other time entirely, but that which is to fucceed the fall of Antichrift. This is mofl properly the glo- rious day of the gofpel. Other times are only forerun- ners and preparatories to this : other times were the feed-time, but this is the harvefl. But more parti- cularly, (i) It will be a time of great light and knowledge. The prefent days are days of darkncfs, in comparifou of thofe days. The light of that glorious time fhall be fo great, that it is rcprefented as though there fliould then be no night, but only day ; no evening nor dark- ncfs. Pan II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 359 nefs. So Zech. xiv. 6. 7. " And it (liall come to pafs *' in that day, that the hght fliali not he clear, nor dark. •' But it fhail be one day, which (liali be known to the *' Lord, not day, nor night: but it lliall come to pafs, " that at evening time it fhall be light." It is fur- ther reprefented, as though God would then give fucU light to his church, that it fhould fo much exceed the glory of the light of the fun and moon, that they ihould be aflidmed : If. xxiv. 23. " Then the moon fhall be *' confounded, and the fun afhamcd, wlien the Lord ** of hofls lliall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jcrufa- " lem, and before his ancients glorioufly."' There is a kind of veil now calt over the greater part of the world, which keeps them in darknefs : but then this veil fhall be deftroyed : If. xxv. 7. " And he will *' deftroy in this mountain the face of the covering cafl " over all people, and the veil that is fpread over all *' nations." And then all countries and nations, even thofe which are now moll ignorant, Jhall be full of light and knowledge. Great knowledge fhall prevail every where. It may be hoped, that then many of the Negroes and Indians will be divines, and that excellent books will be publifhed in Africa, in Ethiopia, inTar- tary, and other now the mofl barbarous countries ; and not only learned men, but others of more ordinary edu- cation, fhall then be very knowing in religion : If. xxxii. 3. 4. " The eyes of them that fee, fhall not be *' dim; and the ears of them that hear, fliall hearken. " The heart alfo of the rafh fliall underfland know- *' ledge." Knowledge then fhall be very univerfal a- mong all forts of perfons ; agreeable to Jer. xxxi. 34. " And they lliall teach no more every man his neigh- *' hour, and every man his brother, faying, Know the " Lord : for they fhall all know me, from the leafl of *' them unto the greateft of them." There fliall then be a v/onderful unravelling of the difhcultics in the doftrines of religion, and clearing up of feeming inconfiflencies : " So crooked things fhail *' be made flraight, and rough places fliall be made plain, *' and darknefs fhall become light before God's pco- *' pie." DifHculties in fcripturc fliall then be cleared up, and wonderful tilings fliall be difcovercd in tlic word of God, wiiich \vcrc never difcovcred before. The 300 A HISTORY of Period lli. The great difcoveiy of tbofe things in rehgion which had been before kept hid, feems to be compared to re- moving the veil, and difcovering the ark of the telli- jnony to the people, wliich before ufed to be kept in the fecret part of the temple, and was never feen by them. Thus at the founding of the feventh angeJ, when it is proclaimed, " that the kingdoms of this " world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of " his Chriil;" it is added, that "the temple of God " was opened in Heaven, and there was feen in his tem- " pie the ark of his teftament." So great fhall be the increafe of knowledge in this time, that Heaven fhall be as it were opened to the church of God on earth. (^2) It Ihaii be a time of great holinefs. Now vital religion fhall every where prevail and reign. Religion fhall not be an empty profefhon, as it now moftly is, but holinefs of heart and life fhall abundantly prevail. Thofe times fhall be an exception from what Chrifl fays of the ordinary {fate of the church, viz. that there fnall be but few faved ; for now holinefs fhall become general : If. Ix. 21. " Thy people alfo fhall be all righ- ** teous." Not that there will be none remaining in a Chriftlefs condition ; but that vifible wickednefs fhall be fuppreffed every where, and true holinefs fhall become general, though not univerfal. And it fhall be a won- derful time, not only for the multitude of godly men, but foreminency of grace : If. Ixv. 20. " There flialf *' be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old " man that hath not filled his days : for the child fhall " die an hundred years old, but the fmner being an " hundred years old, fhall be accurfed." And Zech. xii. 8. *' He that is feeble among them at that day fhall " be as David ; and the houfe of David fhall be as God, " as the angel of the Lord before them." And holi- nefs fhall then be as it were infcribed on every thing on all mens common bufmefs and emiployments, and the common utenfils of life : all fhall be as it were dedica- ted to God, and applied to holy purpofes : every thing fhall then be done to the glory of God : If. xxiii. 18. *' And her merchandife and her hire fhall be holinefs *' to the Lord." And fo Zech. xiv. 20. 21. And as God's people then fliall be eminent in holinefs of heart, Part II. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 361 heart, fo they fhall be alfo in holinefs of life and prac- tice. (3) It fliall be a time wherein religion fhall in every refpecl: be uppermoft in the world. It Ihall be had in great elleem and honour. The faints have hitherto for the moft part been kept under, and wicked men have governed. But now they will be uppermoft. The king- dom (liall be given into the hands of the faints of the «' Moft High God," Dan. vii. 27. " And they ihall *' reign on earth," Rev. v. 10. "They Ihall live and *' reign with Chrift a thoufand years," Rev. xx. 4. la that day, fuch perfons as are eminent for true piety and religion, fhall be chiefly promoted to places of trult and authority. Vital religion fhall then take poffeftion of kings palaces and thrones; and thofe who are in high- eft advancement fliall be holy men : If. xlix. 23. *' And kings fhall be thy nurfing-fathers, and their " queens thy nurfmg mothers." Kings fhall employ all their power, and glory, and riches, for the advance- ment of the honour and glory of Chrift, and the good of his church: If. Ix. 16. "Thou (halt alfo fuck the " milk of the Gentiles, and fhall fuck the breafts of *' kings." And the great men of the world, and the rich merchants, and others who have great wealth aiid influenccj fhall devote all to Chrift and his church : Pfal. xlv. 12. " The daughter of Tyre fhall be there " with a gift, even the rich among the people fhall *' intreat thy favour." (4) Thofe will betimes of great peace and love. There fhall then be univerfal peace and a good under- flanding among the nations of the world, inftead of fuch confufion, wars, and blood-fhed, as has hitherto been from one age to another : If. ii. 4. "And he fhall " judge among the nations, and fhall rebuke many peo- " pie : and they fhall beat their fwords into plow-lharcs, *' and their fpears into pruning-hooks : nation fhall not *' lift up fword againft nation, neither fhall they learn " war any more." So it is rcpreftnted as it all inltru- mcnts of war fhould be dcllroyed, as being become ufe- lefs: Pfal. xlvi/9. " He maketh wars toceafe unto the end " of the earth : he breaketh the bow and cutteth the " fpear in funder, he burneth the chariot in the fire." See alfo Zech. i.x. 10, Then fimli i»ll nawons dwell U n quietly 362 A HISTORY OF Period IIL quietly and fafely, without fear of any enemy. IL xxxii. 18. *' And my people fhall dwell in a peaceable •' habitation, and in fure dwellings, and in quiet rell- *' ing places." Alfo Zech. viii. 10. 11. And then fhall malice, and envy, and wrath, and re- venge, be fupprelTed every where, and peace and love fhall prevail between one man and another ; which is mod elegantly fet forth in If. xi, 6. — 10. Then fhall there be peace and love between rulers and ruled. Ru- lers fliall love their people, and with all their might feek their beft good ; and the people (liall love their rulers,, and fhall joyfully fubmit to them, and give them that honour which is their due. And fo fhall there be ant happy love between miniflers and their people : Mai. iv. 6. " And he fhall turn the heart of the fathers to the *' children, and the heart of the children to their fa- *' thers." Then fhall flourifh in an eminent manner thofe Chriflian virtues of meeknefs, forgivenefs,. long- fufferlng, gentlenefs, goodnefs, brotherly-kindnefs, thofe- excellent fruits of the Spirit. Men, in their tem- per and difpofition, fliall then be like the Lamb of God, the lovely Jefus. The body fliall be conformed to the head. Then fhall all the world be united in one amiable fch- ciety. All nations, in all parts of the world, on every lidc of the globe, fhall then be knit together in fweet harmony. All parts of God's church fhall afTiIl and promote the fpiritual good of one another. A com- munication fliall then be upheld between all parts of the world to that end ; and the art of navigation, which is now applied fo much to favour mens covetoufnefs and pride, and is ufed fo much by wicked debauched men, fhall then be confecrated to God, and applied to holy ufes, as we read in If. Ix. 5. — 9. And it will then be a time wherein men will be abundant in expref- Jing their love one to another, not only in words, but in deeds of charity, as we learn, If. xxxii. 5. " The *' vile pcrfon fliall be no more called liberal, nor the *' churl faid to be bountiful ;" and, verf 8. But the '* liberal devifeth liberal things, and by liberal things " fhall he ftand." (,5) It will be a time of excellent order in the church ©f Ciirifl. The true government and difcipline of the- church part II. u The Work of REDEMPTION. 363 church will then be fettled and put into praflice. All the world fhall then be as one church, one ordeily, re- gular, beautiful fociety. And as the body fhall be one, fo the members Ihall be in beautiful proportion to each other. Then fliall that be verified in Pfal. cxxii. 3. *' Jerufalem is builded as a city, that is compact toro- ♦' ther." (6) The church of God fhall then be beautiful and glorious on thcfe accounts ; yea, it will appear in per- feftion of beauty : If. Ix. 1. *' Arife, fliine, for thy " light is come, and the glory of the Lord is rifen up- ♦' on thee." If. Ixi, 10. " He hath covered me with the ♦* robe of righteoufnefs, as a bridegroom decketh him- <* felf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herfelf ♦* with her jewels." On thefe foremcntioned accounts, the church will then be the greateft image of Heaven itfelf. (7) That will be a time of the greateft temporal pro- fperity. Such a fpiritual ftate as we have juft de- fcribed, has a natural tendency to temporal profpe- rity : it has a tendency to health and long life ; and that this v/ill aftually be the cafe, is evident by Zcch. viii. 4. " Thus faith the Lord of hofls. There ihall yet *' old men and old women dwell in the llreets of Jeru- *' falem, and every man with his ftaff in his hand for *' very age." It has alfo a natural tendency to procure eafe, quietnefs, pleafantnefs, and chearfulnefs of mind, and alfo wealth, and great increafe of children ; as is intimated in Zech. viii. ^, "And the flreets of the city •' fhall be full of boys and girls, playing in the ftreets " thereof." But further, the temporal profperity of the people of God will alfo be promoted by a remark- able blefhng from Heaven, If. Ixv. 21. " They fhall *' build houfes, and inhabit them ; and they fliall plant ^' vineyards, and eat the fruit of them." And in Mic. iv. 4. '* But they fhall fit every man under his vine, " and under his fia-tree, and none Ihall make them a- " fraid." Zech. viii. 12. " For the feed Ihall be pro- " fperous, the vine fhall give her fruit, and the ground •' Ihall give her increafe, and the Heavens fliall give " their dew, and I will caufe the remnant of this peo- *' pie to poffefs all thefe things." See alfo Jer. xxxi. 12. 13. and Amos ix. i-^. Yea then they ihall receive U' u 3 all 364 A HISTORY QF Period IIL all manner of tokens of God's prefence, and accept- ance, and favour : Jer. xxxiii. 9. ** And it fliall be to ^' me a name of joy, a praife and an honour before all " the nations of the earth, which fliall hear all the *' good that I do unto them : and they fhall fear and '• tremble for all the goodnefs and for all the profpe- " rity that I procure unto it." Even the days of Solo- mon were but an image of thofe days, as to the tempo- ral pfofperity \yhich Ihall obtain in them. (8) It will alfo be a time of great rejoicing: If. xxxv. 10. " And the ranfomed of the Lord fhall return and *' come to Zion with fongs, and everlafling joy upon *' their heads : they fliall obtain joy and gladnefs, and " forrow and fighing Ihall flee away." Chap. Iv. 12. ** For ye fhall go out Mnth joy, and be led forth with *' peace : the mountains and the hills fhall break forth *' before you." Chap. Ixvi. n. " That ye may fuck, and " be fatisfied with the breafjs of her confolations : that *' ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance *' of her glory." Chap. xii. 3. " With joy fhall ye *' draw water out of the wells of falvation." Then will be a time of feafting. That v/ill be the church's glorious wedding-day, fo far as her wedding with Chrift ihall ever be upon earth : Rev. xix. 7. " Let us be glad *' and rejoice, and give honour to him ; for the mar- *' riage of the Lanib is come, and his wife hath made *' herfelf ready." Verf. 9. *' BlefTed are they which " are called to the marriage-fupper of the Lamb." — : But I come now, <2.dly. To fay fomething of the duration of this flate of the church's profperity. On this I fhall be very brief. The fcriptures every where reprefent it to be of long continuance. The former intervals of reft and profpe- rity, as we before obferved, are reprefented to be but fliort ; but the reprefentations of this ftate are quite dif^ ferent : Rev. xx. 4. " And I faw the fouls of them that *' were beheaded for the witnefs of Jefus, — and they " lived and reigned \^\\)[\ Q\\x\^ a tJiovfand years'' If. Ix. 15. " Whereas thou haft been forfaken and hated, " {o that no man went through thee, I will make thee an /' eternal excellency, a joy oi many generations T This may fuffice as to the profperous ftate of the f hurch through the greater p.art of the period from th^ deftruftion Part II. 1. The Work OF REDEMPTION. o,6r. o definition of Satan's vifiblc kingdom in the woild to Chrilt's appearing in the clouds of Heaven to judgment. II. I now come to fpeak of the great apofiafy there fhould be towards the clofe of this peiiod, and how eminently the church Ihould be for a fhort time thrcat- f the church which are to fucceed the fall of Anti- chrill. As great as it is, it is all but a Ihadow of what will be bellowed at the day ef judgment : and therefore, as I have already often obferved, all thofe preceding glorious events, by which God wrought glorious- things for his church, are fjjokcn of in fcripture as images of Chrift 's lall coming to judgment. But I haften more particularly to fho^v how this kind of fuccefs of ChriiFs purchale is accomplilhed. 1. Chrift will appear in the glory of his Father, with all his holy angels, coming in the clouds of Heaven. — - When the world is thus revelling in their wickednefs, mid corripalTing the holy city about, jull ready to de- ikoy it, and when the church is reduced to fuch a great jlrait, then (hall the glorious Redeemer appear. He through \vhom this redemption has all along been car- ried oti, he fhaU appear in the fight of the world ; the light of his glory {hall break forth ; the whole world Ihall immediately have notice of it, and they fhall lift up their eyes and behold this wonderful fight. It is" iaid, " Every eye fhail fee him," Rev. i. 7. Chrill (liall aj)pear coming in his hinnan nature, in that fame body which was brought forth in a ftable, and laid in a manger, and which afterwards was fo cruelly ufed, and Jidilcd to the crcfs, ^ / . Men Pmll. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 371 Men (hall now lift up their eyes, nnd fee him coming in I'uch majefly and glory ds now is to ns utterly incon- ceivable. The glory of the km in a clear firmament, will be but darknefs in comparifon of" it ; and all the glorious angels and archangels ihall attend upon him, thonfand thoufands minillering to him, and ten thou- fand times ten thonfand round about him. How dif- ferent a perfon will he then appear from what he did at liis firfl coming, vyhen he was as a root out of a dry ground, a poor, defpifed, aifljHcd man ! How different now is his appearance, in the midft of ihofe glorious angels, principalities, and powers, in heavenly places, attending him as his ordinary fervants, from what it was when in the midfl of a ring of foldiers, with hi^ mock robe and his crown of thorns, to bcbiuTeted and fpit upon, or hanging on the crofs between two thieves, with a multitude of his enemies about him triumphing over him ! This figlit will be a moft unexpeflcd figlit to the wick-, ed world : it will come as a cry at midnight: they fhall be taken in the midfl of their wickedncfs, and it will give them a dreadful alarm. It will at once break up their revels, their eating, and drinking, and caroufmg. It will put a quick end to the defign of the great army that will then be compafling tlie camp of the faints : it will make them let drop their weapons out of their iiands. The world, which, will, tlien be very full of people, mofl of whom will be wicked men, will then 02 filled with dolorous flirieking and cr\ing ; for all the kindreds of the earth fhall wail becaufe of him, Rev. i. 7. And where fhall tl:cy hide themfelves ? How will the fight of that awful ijiajcffy terrify them when taken in the midfl of their wickednefs ? Then they fliall fee who he is, what kind of a perfon he is, whom they haye mocked and fcoffed at, and whofe church they have been endeavouring to ovcrthrov*'. This fight will change their voice. The voice of their laughter and Tinging, while they are m^rryi:ig and giving in mar- riage, and the voice of their fcofhng fhall be changed, into hideous, yea hellifh yelling. T^eir coimtenanccs ihafl be changed from a fhow of carnal mirth, h.anghty pride, ^nd contempt of God's people ; it (hail pu^ 372 A HISTORY OF PeriodllL on a fhew of ghaftly terror and amazement; and trem- bling and chattering of teeth fhall feize upon them. But with refpe61; to the faints, the church of Chrift, it (hall be a joyful and moft glorious fight to them : for this fight will at once deliver them from all fear of their enemies, who were before compaflTmg them about, jufi ready to fwallow them up. Deliverance fhall come in their extremity : the glorious captain of their falvation ihall appear for them, at a time when no other help ap« peared. Then fhall they lift up their heads, and their redemption fhall be drawing nigh, Luke xxi. 28.- And thus Chrifl will appear with infinite majefty, and yet at the fame time they fhall fee infinite love in his countenance to ihem. And thus to fee their Redeemer coming in the clouds of Heaven, will fill their hearts full of gladnefs. Their countenances alfo fhall be changed, but not as the countenances of the wicked, but Ihall be changed from being forrowful, to be ex- ceeding joyful and triumphant. And now the work of redemption will be finifhed in another fenfe, viz. that the whole church fhall be completely and eternally freed from all perfecution and moleflation from wicked men and devils. 2. The laft trumpet fhall found, and the dead fhall be raifed, and the living changed. God fent forth his angels with a great found of a trumpet, to gather toge- ther his eleft from the four corners of the earth in a rnyftical fenfe, before the deflruftion of Jerufalem ; i. e. he fent forth the apoftles, and others, to preach the gofpel all over the world. And fo in a myftical fenfe the great trumpet was blown at the beginning of the glorious times of the church. But now the great trum- pet is blown in a more literal fenfe, with a mighty, found, which fhakes the earth. There will be a great fignal given by a mighty found made, which is called the voice of the archangel, as being the angel of greatefl ftrength, 1 Thef. iv. 16. " For the Lord himfelf fhall *' defcend from Heaven with a fhout, with the voice of *' the archangel, and with the trump of God." On the found of the great trumpet, the dead fhall be raifed every where. Now the number of the dead is very great. How manv has death cut down for fo long a time as fince the ivorld has flood. But then the num- ber part 11. J. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 373 ber will be much greater after the world fliall liave flood fo much longer, and through moll of the remaining time will doubtlefs be much fuller of inhahilants thart jever it has been. All thefe fliall now rife from the dead. The grave Ihall be opened every vvhere in all parts of the world, and the fea ih^Il give up the innu- merable dead that are in it. Rev. xx. 13. And now all the inhabitants that ever fliall have bceti upon the face of the earth, from the beginning of the world to that time, fhall all appear upon earth at once ; all that ever have been of the church of God in all ages, Adam and Eve, the firfl parents of mankind, and Abel, and Seth, and Methufelah, and all (he faints who were their contemporaries, and Noah ?nd Abra- ham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and the prophets of IIrael,and the faints in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and all that were of the church in their times ; and all the ho- ly apoftles of Jefus Chrift, and all the faints of their times ; and all the holy martyrs under the ten Heathen perfecutipns ; and all who belonged to the church in its wildernefs-ftate, during the dark times of Antichrift, and all the holy martyrs who have fuffeied under the cruelty of the Popifli perfecutions ; and all the faints of theprefent time, and all the faints who are here in this aflembly among the reft ; and all that fhall be from hence to the end of the world. — Now alfo all the ene- mies of the church that have or fliall be in all the ages of the world, fhall appear upon the face of the earth again ; all the wicked killed in the flood, and the mul- titudes that died all over thfe world among Gods pro- fefhng people, or others ; all that died in all (he Hea- then nations before Chrift, and all wicked Hcadiens, and Jews, and Mahometans, and Papifls that have died fince ; ail Ihall come together. Sinners of all forts ; flemnre hypocrites, thofe who have the faircfl and bell putfide, and open profane drunkards, whorerriafters, heretics, deifls, and all cruel perfecuto*-s, and all that have died or fhall die in fln amongfl us. And at the fame time that the dead are raifcd, the living fhall be changed. The bodies of the wicked wht> fhall then be living, fliall befo changed as to fit them for eternal torment without corruption ; and the bodies ot all the living faints fhall be changed ^o be like Chrifl's glorious 374 A HISTORY OF Period III, glorious body, i Cor. xv. 51. 52. 53. — The bodies of the fdinis fhall be fo changed as to render them for ever incapable of pain, or atfliftion, or uneafinefs ; and all that duUnefs and heavinefs, and all that deformity, which their bodies had before, (hall be put off; and they fhall put on ftrength, and beauty, and aftivity, and incorruptible unfading glory. And in fuch glory (hall the bodies of the rifen faints appear. And now the work of redemption fliall be finiflied in another refpeft, viz. that all the eleft fhall nov/ be actually redeemed in botli foul and body. Before this, the work of redemption, as to its actual fuccefs, was but incompleat and imperfeft ; for only thp fouls of the redeemed were aftually faved and glorified, exceptmgin fome few inftances : but now all the bqdies of the faints fhall be faved and glorified together : all the elect fhall be glorified in the whole man, and the foul and body in union one with the other. 3. Nov/ fliall the whole church of faints be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and all wicked men and Devils fhall be arraigned before the judgment-feat. When the dead faints are raifed, then the whole church, confifling of ^all the eieft through all ages, will be Handing together on the face of the eartli, atleaft all excepting thpf*^ few whofe bodies were glorified before ; and then they Ihall all mount up as with wings in the air to meet Chrift : for it feems that Chrifl, when he comes to judgment, will not com.e quite down to the ground, but his throne will be fixed in the air, in the region of the clouds, whence he m.ay be feen by all that vafl multitude that fhall be gathered before him. The church of faints therefore fhall be taken up from the earth to afcend up to their Saviour, Thus the apoflle tells us, that when the dead in Chrift are raifed, and the living changed, then thofe who are alive and remain, fhall be caught up together with thera to meet the Lord in the air, and fo fhall we be ever with the Lord, 1 Thef. iv. 16. 17, What a wonderful fight will that be, when all the many millions of faints are feen thus mounting up from all parts of the world ! Then fhall the work of redemption be finiflied in an.- other rcfpcft : then fliall the whole church be perfe6tly and for ever delivered from thi^ prcfent evil Vvorkl^ for PartU. 1. The Work of REDEMPTION. 375 for ever forfake this curfed ground : thcv (hall take their everlafling leave of this earth, wliere they have been flrangers, and which has been for the moA part fucha fcene of their trouble and forrow ; where the De- vil for the molt part has reigned as god, and has great- ly molelled ihem, and which has been fuch a fcene of wickednefs and abomination; where Chiill their Lord has been cruelly ufed ; and where they have been fo hated, and reproached, and perfecuted, from age to age, through moft of the ages of the world. They Ihall leave it under foot to go to Chrift, and never (hall fet foot on it again. And there Ihall be an everlafling fe- paration made between them and wicked men. Before, they were mixed together, and it was impoflible, in many inftances, to determine which were which ; but now all fhall become vifible ; both faints and finiicrs fliall appear in their true charafters. Then fhall all the church be ken flowing together in the air to the place where Chrift Ihall have fixed his throne, coming from the eaft and well, and north and fouth, to the right liand of Chrift. What a mighty cloud of them will there be, when all that ever have been of the church of God, all that were before Chrift, all that multitude of faints that were in the apoftles time and all that were in the days of Conftantine the Great, and all that were before and fince the Reforma- tion, and alfo all that great multitude of faints that fliall be in all the glorious times of the church, when the whole earth fhall for fo manv generations be full ot faints, and alfo all that fhall be then living when Chrifl fhall come ; I fay, what a cloud of them will there be*, when all thefe are i'een flocking together in the region of the clouds at the right hand of Chrifl ! And then alfo the work of redemption will bcfinifh- cd in another rclpecl, viz. that then the church fhall all be gathered together. They all belonged to one focicty before, but yet were greatly feparatcd with re- fyedi to the place of their habitation ; fomc being in Heaven, and fome on earth; and thole who were on earth together were feparated one from another, many of them by wide oceans, and vafl continents. But now they fhall all be gathered together, never to be fej^ara- ted any more. And not only fhall all the mcnibeis of the 3/6 A HISTORY OF Period III. the church now be gathered together, but all fhall be gathered unto their hetid, into his immediate glorious prefence, never to be feparated from him any niore. — This never can^e to pafs till now. At the' fame time, all wicked men and devils fhall be brought before the judgment-feat of Chrift. Thefe fhall be gathered to the left hand of Chrilt, and, as it feems, will Ptill remain upon the earth, and Ihall not be caught up into the air, as the faints fliall be.— — Ths devil, that old ferpent, fhall now be dragged up out of hell. He, that firll procured the fall and mifery of mankind, and has fo fet himfelf againft their redempr tion, and has all along fhown himfelf fuch an invete* rate enemy to the Redeem.er ; now he {hall never more have any thing to do with the church of God, or be fufFered in the leaft to afflift or moleft any member of it any more for ever. Inftead of that, now he mufl be judged, and receive the due reward of his deeds. — Now^ has come the time which he has always dreaded, and trembled at the thought of; the time wherein he muft be judged, and receive his full punifhment. He who by his temptation malicioufly procured Chrift 's crucinxion, and triumphed upon it, as though he had obtained the viftory, even he fhall fee the confequences of the death of Chrifl which he procured: for Chrift's coming to judge him in his human nature is the con- fequence of it ; for Chrifl obtained and purchafed this glory to himfelf by that death. Now he muft ftand before that fame Jefus whofe death he procured, to be judged, condemned, and eternally dellroyed by him. If Satan, the prince of hell, trembles at the thought of it thoufands of years beforehand, how much more will he tremble, as proud and as flubborn as he is, when he corj.es TO ftand at Chrift's bar. Tlicn ihall he alfo ftand at the bar of the faints, whom lie has fo hated, and affliflcd, and molefted : for the fdirus ftall jucige him with Chrili : i Cor vi. 3. •' Know ye not that we fliall judge angels ?" Now fliall he be as it were fubdued under the church's feet, agreeable to Rom. xvi. 20. Satan, when he firft tempted our firft parents to fall, deceitfully and lyingly toll them, that they fhould be as gods : but little did he think that the coiifequeiicc Ihouid be, that they Ihould Part II. 2. The Work of REDEMPTION. 37; fliould indeed be fo much as gods, as to be afTelFors with God to judge him. Much lels did he think, that that confequence would follow, that one ot that nature which he then tempted, one of the pollerity of thole perfons whom he tempted, fhould actually be united to God, and that as God he fhould judge the world, and that he himfelf muft ftand trembling and altonilhed before his judgnient-feat. But thus all the devils in hell, who have fo oppofcd Chrill and his kingdom fhall now at lait Itand in utmofl amazement and horror before Chrift and his church, who fhall appear to con- demn them. Now alfo fhall all Chrifl's other enemies be brought to appear before him. Now fhall wicked proud fcribes and Pharifees, who had fnch a malignant hatred of Chrifl while in his flate of humiliation, and who per- fecuted Chrifl to death, thofe before whofe judginent- feat Chrift was once called and flood, as a malefattor at their bar, and thofe who mocked him, and bufTcted him, and fpit in his face ; now fhall they fee Chrifl in his glory, as Chrifl forewarned them in the time of it, Matth. xxvi. 64. 65. Then Chrifl was before their judg- ment-feat : but now it is their turn. They fhall ftand before his judgment-feat with inconceivable horror and amazement, with ghaflly countenances, and quaking hmbs, and chattering teeth, and knees fmiting one againfl another. Now alfo all the cruel enemies and perfecutors of the church that have been in all ages, fliall come in fight together. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Antiochus Epiphanes, the perfecuting fcribes and Pharifees, the perfecuting Heathen emperors, Julian the apuflate, the cruel perfecuting Popes and Papifls, Gog and iMagog, fhall all appear at once before the judgment -feat of Chrift. They and the faints who have in every age been perfecuted by them, Ihall come in fight one of an- other, and muft confront one another now before the great Judge. And now fhall the faints on iheir glo- rious thrones be made the judges of thofe unjuft kings and nilers who have before judged and condemned them, and cruelly put them to death. Now fhall thofe perfecutors behold the glorv to which they are arrived ^hom they before io cruelly aefpifcd, and fo cruelly y y ufcd ; 378" A HISTORY or Period III^. nfed ; and Chriil will make thofe holy martyrs as it were to come and fet their feet on the necks ot their perfe- cutors ; they fhall be made their footftool. Thus wonderfully will the face of things be altered from what nfed to be in the former times of the world; now will all things be coming to rights. 4. Tlie righteoufnefs of the church fhall be mani- fefted, and all the wickednefs of their enemies fhall be brought to light. Thofe faints who had been the ob- jects of hatred, reproach, and contempt in the worlds and were reviled and condemned by their perfecutors without a caufe, fliall now be fully vindicated. They fliall now appear cloathed with the glorious robe of Chrift's righteoufnefs. It fhall be moft manifelf before the world, that Ghrifl's righteoufnefs is theirs, and they fiiall as it were glorioully Ihine forth in it. And then alfo ihall their inherent holinefs be made manifeft, and all their good works lliall be brought to light. The good things which they did in fecret ihall now be ma- iiifefied openly. Thofe holy ones of God, who had been treated as though they were the filth and offscour- ing of the earth, as though they were not fit to live up- on earth, as worfe than beads or devils, Ihall now, when things fhall appear as they are, appear to have been the excellent of the earth. Now God will bring forth their righteoufnefs as the light, and their judg- ment as the noon -day. And now it fiiall appear who vrere thofe wicked perfons that were not fit to live, when allthe wickednefs of the enemies of Ghrift and his church, their pride, their malice, their cruelty, their hatred of true religion, fl:iall be fet forth in all the horrid afis of it, and with all its aggravations in its proper colours. And now the righteous may be heard before this great Judge, who could not be heard before thofe un- jml judges. Now they (hall declare their caufe,. and ihall rife up in judgment againfl their perfecutors, and fhdH declare how they have been treated by them. And now all the wickednefs of the wicked of the whole world fliall be brought to light. All their fecret wickednels, and their very hearts, lliall be opened to view, and as it were turned iiifide out before the bright light of that grea't day: and things tliat have been fjooken in the car, in the ciufct, and done iii the dark, fliall be ma- nifefled Part II. 2. The Work of REDEMPTION. 37,^ nifefted in the light, and proclaimed before all angels and men that are, ever were, or fhall be. 5. The fentence fhall be pronounced on the righteous and the wicked. Chrif}, the glorious judge, fhiil pafs that blelTed fentence on the church at his right hand, " Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom *' prepared for you from the foundation of the v.orld." This fentence Ihall be pronounced with infinite love, and the voice will be mofl fweet, caufmg every heartto flow with joy. Thus Chrill fliall pronounce a fentence of juflification on thoufands and millions, who have before had a fentence of condemnation paifed upon them by their perfecuting rulers. He will thus put ho- nour upon thofe who have been before defpifed : he will own them for his, and will as it weve put a crown ef glory upon their heads before the world ; and then fhall they fhine forth as the fun with Jefus Chrifl in glory and joy, in the fight of all their enemies. And then ihall the fentence of condemnation be pafT- ed on the wicked, " Depart, ye curfed, into everlaliing *' fire, prepared fbr the devil and his angels." Thus fhall the church's enemies be condemned ; in which fentence of condemnation, the holy martyrs, who have fuffered from, them, fhall concur. When the words of this fentence are pronounced, they will flrike every heart of thofe at the left hand with inconceivable hor- ror and amazement. Every fyllable of it will be more terrible than a ffream of lightning through their hearts. We can conceive but very little of thofe figns and ex- prefTions of horror which there will be upon it, of fhrieking, quaking, gnafhing of teeth, diltortions of countenance, hideous looks, hideous anions, and hide- ous voices, through all that vafl throng. 6. Upon this Chrill and all his church of faints, and all the holy angels miniffering to them, fhall leave this lower world, and afcend up towards the highef) Heavens, Chrill fhall afcend in as great glory as he defcen.:!ecl, and in fome refpecls greater : for now he fliull afcend with his elecl church wiih him, glorified in both bodv and foul. Chriff's firfl arcenfion to Hc-aven foon afui his own refurreftion was very glorious. But tliis hi«; fecond afcenfion, theafcenfion of his myHical bo;ly, his whole church, fhall be far m.ore glorious. The re- . deemed church fliall all afcend with him in a moll joy- Y y 2 iul 38o A HISTORY OF Period III, fuj and triumphant manner ; and all their enemies and perfecutors, who fhall be left behind on the accurfed ground to be confumed, fhall fee the fight, and hear their fongs. And th'js Chrift's church (hall for ever leave this accur ed world, to go into that more glorious world, the higheft Heavens, into the paradife of God, the king- dom that was prepared fpr them from the foundation oi the world. 7. When they are gone, this world fhall be fet on fire, and be turned into a great furnace, wherein all the enemies of Chrill and his church Ihall be tormented for ever and ever. 1 his is manifeft by 2 Pet. iii. 7. "But ^' the Heavens and the earth which are now, by the *' fanie word are kept in ftore, refer ved unto fire a- *' gainft the day of judgment, and perditi. n of un- *' godly men." When Chiift and his church are af- cended to a diflance from this world, that miferable company of wicked being left behind, to have their fentence executed upon them here, then, fpme way or other, this whole lower world fliall be fet on fire, eiiher by fire from Heaven, or by fire breaking out of the bowels of the earth, or both, as it was with the water in the time of the deluge. However, this lower world Ihall be fet all on fire. How will it ftrike the wicked with horror, when the fire begins to lay hold upon them, and they find no way to eicape it, or flee or hide from it I What fhrieking and crying will there be among thofe many thoufands and millions, when they begin to enter into this great furnace, when the whole world fhall be a furnace of the fierceft and moft raging heat ! Infomuch that the Apoftle Peter fays, (2 Pet. iii. 10. 12.) "that the Heavens fhall pafs *' away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt *' with fervent heat, the earih alfp and the works that *' are therein fhsll be burnt up ;" and that the " Hea- *' vens being on fire (hall be dilTolved, and the elements " fliali melt with fer\ent heat.", And fo fierce fhall be its heat, t'lat it fhall burn the earth in its very cen- tre ; which feems to be what is meant, Deut. xxxii^ Z2. " For a fire is kindled in my anger, and fhall " burn unto the lowcft hell, and fhall confume the *' earth with her increafe, and fet on fire the foundati- *• ons of the mount^ius." An4 Fartll. 2. The Work of REDEMPTION. 381 And here fhall all ihe perfecutors of the church of God burn in everlailing fire, who have before burnt the faints at the Hake, and fhall fufier torments far beyond all that their utniofl wit and malice could infli£l on the faints. And here the bodies of all the wicked fhall burn, and be tormented to all eternity, and never be confumed ; and the wrath of God Ihall be poured out on their fouls. Though the fouls of the wicked ia bell do now fuffer dreadful punifliment, yet their pun- jfhment will be fo increafed at the day of judgment, that what they fuffer before, is, in comparifon of it, as an imprifonment to the execution which follows it. And now the Devil, that old ferpent, fliall receive his full punilhment; now fliall that which he befoie trem- bled for fear of, fully come upon him. This world, which formerly ufed to be the place of his kingdom, where he fet up himfelf as God, fliall now be the place of his compleat punifhraent, and full and everlailing torment. And in this, one defign of the work of redemption which has been mentioned, viz. putting Chriil's enc- jnies under his feet, fliall be perfectly accompliflied. His enemies fliall now be made his foot flool, in the fullefl: degree. Now fliall be the mofl; perfe6f fulfil- ment of that in Gen. iii. 15. " It fliall bruife thy head.'* 8. At the fame time, all the church fliall enter with Chrift, their glorious Lord, imo the higheft Heaven, and there fliall enter on the ftate of their highefl and eternal bleffednefs and glory. While the lower world, which they have left under their feet, is feized with the £re of God's vengeance, and flames are kindling upon it, and the wicked are entering into e\erlailing fire, the \\'hole church Ihall enter, with their glorious head, and all the holy angels attending, in a joyful manner, into the eternal paradife of God, the palace of the great Jehovah, their Heavenly Father. The gates Ihall open wide for them to enter, and there Chrift will bring them into his chambers in the highefl fenfe. He will bring them into his Father's houfe, into a world not hke that which they have left. Here Chrift will bring them, a»d prefcnt them in glory to his Father, faying, ** Here am I, and the children which thou half given *» me;" as much as to fay. Here am I: with evciyone pf thofe whom thou gavell me from eternity to take the care 382 A HIS TORY OF Venodllt care of, that they might be redeemed and glorified, and to redeem whom I have done and fiifFered fo much, .and to make way for the -redemption of whom I have for fo -many ages been accompli fhing fuch great chan- ges. Here they are now perfeclly redeemed in body and foul ; I have perfeftly delivered them from all the ill fruits of the fall, and perfe8rly fr-eed them from all 4heir enemies : I have brought them all together into one glorious fociety, and united them all in myfelf : I Jiave openly juftified them before all angels and men, and here I have brought them all away from that ac- curfed world where they hav^ foffer-ed fo miK:h, and have brought them before thy throne : I have done all that for them which thou haft appointed me : I have .perfectly cleanfed them from all filthinefs in my blood, ^nd here they are in perfeft holinefs, fhining with thy perfcti image. And then the father will accept of tiiem, and own them all for his children, and will welcome them to the -eternal and perfe6l inheritance and glory of his houfe, and will on this occafion give more glorious manifeft- ations of his love, than ever before, and will admit them to a more full and perfect enjoyment of himfelf. And now fhall be the marriage of the Lamb in the moft perfeft fenfe. The commencement of the glorious iimes of the church on earth, after the fall of Anti- chrift, is reprefented as the marriage of the Lamb; and this iliall be the marriage of the Lamb in the high- .eft fenfe that ever (hall be on earth : but after this we read of another iparriage of the Lamb, at the clofe of the day of judgment. After the beloved difciple had given an account of the day of judgment, in the clofe of the 2oth chapter of Revelation, then he proceeds to give an account of what follows, in the 21ft and 2 2d chapters; and in the 2d vcrfe of the 21ft chapter, he gives an account, that he faw the holy city, the New Jerufalem, prepared as a bride adorned for her hufband. And when Chrift fhall bring his church into his Fa- ther's houfe in Heaven, after the judgment, he fliall bring her thither as his bride, having there prefentcd her, whom he loved, and gave himfelf for, to him- felf without fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing. The bridegroom and th? bride fhall then enter into Heaven I>ar-t II. 2. The Work OF REDEMPTION. 3^3 Heaven, both having on their wedding robes, attended with all the glorious angels. And there they enter on the feaft and joys of their marriage before the Father ; they fhall then begin an everlafling wedding-day. This fliall be the day of the gladnefs of Clirill's heart where- in he will greatly rejoice, and all the faints Ihall rejoice with them. Chrill fhall rejoice over his bride, and the bride fliall rejoice in her huiband, in the flate of her confummate and evcrlalling blefFedncfs, of which we have a particular defcription in the 2 ill and 22d chap- ters of Revelation. And now the whole work of redemption is finifhcd. We have feen how it has been carrying on from the fall of man to this time. But now it is compleat with refpeft to all that belongs to it. Now the top (lone of the building is laid. In the progrefs of the difcourfe on this fubjeft, we have followed the church of God in all the great changes, all her toflings to and fro that fhe has been fubjed to, in all the florms and tempers through the many ?ges of the world, till at length we have feen an end to all thefe florms. We have Cecn her enter the harbour, and landed in the highcft Heavens, in compleat and eternal glory, in all her members, foul and body. We have gone through time, and the fe- veral ages of it, as the providence of God, and the word of God, have led us ; and now we have iffued into eternity after time fiiall be no more. We have feen all the church's enemies fixed in endlefs mifer)-, and have feen the church prefented in her perfeff re- demption before the Father in Heaven, there to enjov this moft unfpeakable and inconceivable glory and blef- fednefs ; and there we leave her to enjoy this glory throughout the never-ending ages of eternity. Now all Chrifl's enemies will be pcrfeftly put under his feet, and he fliall have his moft perfcft triumph over fm and Satan, and ail his inflruments, and death, and hell. Now fhall all the promifes made toChiiflby God the Father before the foundation of th.e world, the promifes of the covenant of rcdem.ption, be lully accompli (bed. And Chrift fhall now perfectl\- have ob- tained the joy that was fct before him for which he un- dertook thofe great fufTcrings which he underwent in Jais ilatc of humiliation. Now fhall all the hopes and expcHations ^§4 A H I S T O R Y OF Period III. expe6lations of the faints be fuIfJIed. The ftate of things that the church was in before, was a progreflive and preparatory ftate ; but now fhe is arrived to her moft perfeft ftate of glory. All the glory of the glo- rious times of the church on earth is but a faint (hadow of this her confummate glory in Heaven. And now Chrift the great Redeemer fhall be mofl perfeftly glorified, and God the father fhall be glorified in him, and the Holy Ghoft fhall be moft fully glorified in the perfeftion of his work on the hearts of all the church. And now fhall that new Heaven and new earth, or that renewed ftate of things, which had been building up ever fmce Chrift's refurreftion, be com- pieatly finiflied, after the very material frame of the old Heavens and old earth are deftroyed : Rev. xxi. i, *' And I faw a new Heaven and a new earth : for the *' firft Heaven and the firft earth were pafTed away."— And now will the great Redeemer have peifefted every thing that appertains to the work of redemption, which he began fo foon after the fall of man. And who can conceive of the triumph of thofe praifes which fhall be fung in Heaven on this great occafion, fo much greater than that of the fall of Antichrift, which occafions fuch praifes as we have defcribed in the 19th chapter of Re- velation ! The beloved difciple John feems to want ex- preffions to defcribe thofe praifes, and fays, " It was as *' the voice of many waters, and as the voice of migh- ** ty thunderings, faying, Alleluia : for the Lord God " omnipotent reigneth." But much more inexprelTible will thofe praifes be, which will be fung in Heaven af- ter the final confummation of all things. How fhall the praifes of that vaft and glorious multitude be as mighty thunderings indeed ! And now how are all the former things palled away, and what a glorious ftate are things fixed in to remain to all eternity ! — And as Chrift, when he firft entered upon the work of redemption after the fall of men, had the kingdom committed to him of the Father and took on himfelf the adminiftration of the affairs of the uni- verfe, to manage all fo as to fubferve the purpofes of this affair ; fo now, the work being finifhed, he will de- liver up the kingdom to God even the Father, 1 Cor. XV. 24. "Then conieth the end, when he fliall have *' delivered Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 385 " delivered up tlie kingdom to God, even ihe Father; " when he fhall have put down all rule, and all auiho- " rity and power." Not that Chrift Ihall ccafe to reign or have a kingdom after this ; for it is fdid, Luke i. 33. " He Ihall reign over the horde of J icoh lor *' ever, and of his kingdom there Ihail he no end." So in Dan. vii. 14. " I'hat his dominion^is an cverlafling *' dominion, which fhall not pafs away, and his king- *' dom that which Ihall not be dellroyed." lV.it the meaning is, that Chrift ihall deliver up that kingdom or dominion which he has o\er the world, as the Fa- ther's delegate or vicegerent, which the Father commit- ted to him, to be managed in fublerviency to this great defign of redemption. The end of this commillion, or delegation, which he had from the Father, feems to be to fubferve this particular defign of redemption ; and therefore, when that defign is fully accompliihed, the commiffion will ceale, and Chrift will deliver it up to the Father, from whom he received it. IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHOLE. I PROCEED now to enter upon (orm improvement of the whole that has been faid from this doMrme. 1. Hence we may learn how great a work this work of redemption is. We have now had it in a very im- perfeft manner fet forth before us, in the whole i)ro- grel's of it, from its firft beginning after the fall, to the end of the world, when it is finilhed. We have feeii how God has carried on this building from the firft: foundation of it, by a long fucccftion of wonderful works, advancing it higher and higher from one age to another, till the top-ftone is laid at the end of the world. And now let us confider how great a work this is. Do men, when thc)- behold fome great palaces or churches, fometinies admire their magnificence, and are almoft aftonilhed to confider how great a piece of work it was to build fuch an houfe ? Then how well may we admire the grcatnefs of this building of God, whicli he huilds up age after age, by a feries of fuch great things which he^brings to pafs ? There arc three things that' have been exhibited to us in what has been faid, Z z which. g§6 A History of impr, which do efpecially fliow the greatnefs of the work of fedemption. 1. The greatnefs of thofe particular events, and dif- penfations of providence, by which it is accompHflied. How great are thofe things which God has done, which are but fo many parts of this great work ! What great things were done in the world to prepare the way for Chrift's coming to purchafe, and what great things were done in the purchafe of redemption ! What a wonder- ful thing was that which wasaccomplifiiedtoput Chrifl in an immediate capacity for this purchafe, viz. his in- carnation, that God fhould become man ! And what great tliings were done in that purchafe, that a perforr \\-ho is the eternal Jehovah, fhould live upon earth for four or five and thirty years together, in a mean, defpi- fed condition, and that he fliould fpend his life in fucli labours and fufferings, and that at lafl he fliould die up- on the crofs ! And what great things have been done to accoraplifli the fuccefs of Chrifl's redemption ! What great things to put him into a capacity to accomplifh this fuccefs I For this purpofe he rofe from the dead, and afcended up into Heaven, and all things were made fubjeft to hira. How many miracles have been wrought, what mighty revolutions have been brought to pafs in the world already, aivd how much greater fhall be brought to pafs, in order to it ! 2. The number of thofe great events by which God earries on this work, fhows the greatnefs of the workw; Tliofe mighty revolutions are lo many as to fill up ma- ny ages. The particular wonderful events by which the Tvork of creation was carried on filled up fix days : but tbe great difpenfations by which the work of redemp- tion is carried on, are fo many that they fill up fix or levcn thoufand years at leafl, as we have reafon to crmclude from the word of God.-^ There v/ere g'-eat things wrought in this affair before the flood, and in the flood the world was once deflroyed by water, and God's church was fo wonderfully preferved from the flood in order to carry on this work. And after the flood, what great things did God work relating to the re-fettling of the world, to the building of Babel, the difperfing of the nations, the fhortcningof the day^ pf man's hfe, the calling of Abraham, the deftruftion fmpr, The Work of REDEMPTION. 38; pf Sodom and Gomorrah, and that long fciics of won- (dertul providences relating to Abraham, H'aac, i;nd Ja- cob, and Jofcph, and thole wonders in Kgyj)t, anrl at die Red fea, and in the wildernefs, and in Canaan in Jofhua's time, and by a long fuccellion of vvondeif'ul providences from age to age towards the nation of t}\q Jews ! What great things were wronght by God, in fo often overturning the world before Chrifl came, to make way for his coming! What great things were done alfo in Chrifl's time, and then after that in overturning Satan's kingdom in the Heathen empire, and in fo prefers ing his church in the dark times of Popery, and in bringing about the Reformation ! How many great and won-, derful things will beefl'cfted in accomplilhing the glori- ous times of the church, and at Chrih's lall; coming on the day of judgment, in the deftruRion of the world, and in carrying the whale church into Heaven. 3. The glorious ifTue of this whole affair, in the per- feft and eternal deflru6tion of the wicl.ed, and in the confummate glory of the righteous. Arid now let us once more take a. view of this building, now all is fi- jiiil-ied and the top-ftone laid. It appeared in a glorious height in the apoftles time, and much more gloiious in the time of Conftantine, and will appear much more glorious ftill after the fall of Anti chrifl ; but at the confummation of all things, it appears in an immenfely more glorious height than ever before. No\^' it appears in its greateft magnificence, as a complete lofty ilruc- ture, whofe top reaches to the Heaven of Heavens; a building worthy of the great God, the King of kings. And from what has been faid, one may argue, that the work of redemption is the greateft of all God's, v/orks of which we have any notice, and it is the end of all his other works. It appears plainly from what has been faid, that this work is the principal of all God's w^orks of providence, and that all other works of providence are reducible hither; tlicy are all fiibor- dinate to the great affair of redemption. We fee that a]l the revolutions in the world are to fubferve this, grand defign; fo that the work of rx-dcmpiion is, as it were, t'le Yum of God's v/orks of providence. This jQiows us how much greater the work of re-v Z z a. ' 4cmptipii, 388 A HISTORY OF Impr. demption is, than the work of creation : for I have fe- veral times obferved, that the work of providence is greater than the work of creation, becaufe it is the end of it ; as the ufe of an houfe is the end of the building of the houfe. But the work of redemption, as I have juft faid, is the fum of all God's works of providence; all are fubordinateto it ; fo the work of the new crea- tion is more excellent than the old. So it ever is, that when one thing is removed by God to make way for another, the new one excels the old. Thus the temple: excelled the tabernacle ; the new covenant the old; the new difpenfation of the gofpcl the difpenfation of Mofes ; the throne of David ; the throne of Saul ; the priefthood of Chrilf ; the prieflhood of Aaron ; the new Jerufalem the old ; and fo the new creation far excels the old. God has ufed the creation which he has made, for ro other purpofe but to fubferve the defigns of this affair. To anfwer this end, he hath created and difpo- •ied of mankind, to this the angels, to this the earth, to this the higheft Heavens. God created the world to provide a fpoufe and a kingdom for his Son : and the fetting up of the kingdom of Chrift, and the fpiritual marriage of the fpoufe to him, is what the whole crea- tion labours and travails in pain to bring to pafs. This v/ork of redemption is fo much the greateft of all the works of God, that all other \vorks are to be looked upon either as parts of it, or appendages to it, or are fome way reducible to it; and fo all the decrees of God do fome way or other belong to that eternal covenant of redemption which was between the Father and the Son before the foundation of the world. Every de- cree of God is fome way or other reducible to that co- venant. And feeing this work of redemption is fo great a work, hence we need not wonder that the angels defire to look into it. And we need not wonder that fo much is made of it in fcripture, and that it is fo much infill- ed on in the hiltorics, and prophecies, and fongs of the Bible ; for the work of redemption is the great fubjeft of the whole, of its doctrines, its promifes, its types, iiA fftiigs, its hiOories, and its prophecies. TL Hence we may learn how Crod is the Alpha and Omega, Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 389 Omega, the beginning and ending of all iliings. Such are the characters and titles we find often alcril)cd to God in fcripturc, in thofe places where the fcripturc fpeaks of the courfc of things and fcii^s of events in providence: If. xli. 4. " Who hath wrought and done *' it, calhng the generations fiom the beginning? I " the Lord the firlf, and with the lafl I am he." And particularly does the fcripturc afcribe fuch titles to God, where it fpeaks of the providence of God, as it relates to, and is fummcd up in the great work of redemption; as If. xliv. 6. 7. and xlviii. 12. with the context, begin- ning with the 9th verfe.' So God eminently ap})earsas the firfl and the lait, by confidering the whole fcheme of divine providence as we have confidcred it, viz. as all reducible to that one great work of redemption. And therefore, when Chrift reveals the future great evenis of providence relating to his church and people, and this affair of redemption, to the end of the world, to his difciple John, he often reveals himfelf under this charaffer. So Rev. i. 8. " I am Alpha and Omega, " the beginning and the ending, faith the Lord, which ^* is, and which was, and which is to come, the AI- *' mighty." So again, verf. 10. 11. " I heard behind *' me a great voice as of a trumpet, faying, I am *' Alpha and Omega, the firff and the lalh" Alpha and Omega are the names of the firft and lafl letters of the Greek alphabet, as A and Z are of ours : and therefore it hgnifies the fame as his being the firfl and the laif , and the beginning and the ending. Thus God is called in the beginning of this book oi Revelation, before the courfeof the prophecy begins; and fo again he is called at the end of it, after the courfe of events is gone through, and the final iffue of things is feen : as Rev. xxi. 6. " And he faid unto *' me. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, thebcgin- *' ning and the end." And fo chapxxii. 12. 13. "And " behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, *' to give every man according as his work (liall be. I " am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, *• the firft and the lafl." We have feen how this is true in the courfc of what 1 have laid before you upon this fuhjeH. We have feen how thines were from God in the beginning ; Q|i what pff A HISTORY OF Impy, what defign Gcd began the couiTe of his providence ir^ the beginning of the generations of men upon the parth ; and we have feen how it is God that has all along carried things on agreeable to the fame defigns withont ever failing ; and how at laft the conclufion and final iflue of things are to God ; and fo we have feen how all things are of him, and through him, and to him; and therefore may well now cry out with the apoflle, Rom. xi. 33. *' O the depth of the riches both *' of the wifdom and knowledge of God ! how un« *' fearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft find, ^' ingout!" and verf. 36. " For of him, and through •* him, and to him, are aU things : to whom be glory ** for ever. Amen." We have feen how other things came to an end one after another ; how ftates, and kingdoms, and empires, one after anothei-, fell and came to nothing, even the greateft and firongeft of them ; we have feen how the world has been often overturned, and will be more re- markably overturned than ever it has been yet ; we have feen how the world comes to an end, how it was. iirft dellroyed by water, and how at laft it fliall be ut- terly deilroyed by fire : but yet God remains the fame through all ages. He was before the beginning of this courfe of things, and he will be after the end of them ; agreeable to Pfal. cii. 25. 26. Thus God is he that is, and that was, and that is to come. We have feen, in a varietv of inftances, how all other gods perifli ; we have feen how the ancient gods of the Heatiien in the nations about Canaan, and throughout the Roman empire, are all deftroyed, and their worfriLp long fince overthrown ; we have heard hqw Antichrifl, who has called himfelf a god on earth, and how Mahomet, who claims religious honors, and how all the gods of the Heathen through the world, will come to an end ; and how Satan, the great dragon, that old ferpent, who has fet up himfelf as god of this world, will be calf into the lake of fire, there to fuffer his complcat puniflnnent : but Jehovah remains, and his kingdom is an evcrlafting kingdom, and of his do- }ninion there is no end. We have feen ^vhat mighty changes there have been in the^vorld; but God is un- changeable, Tmpr. til E Wo r K o f REDEMPTIONS 39 i cliangca'ole, " the fame yeflcrtlay, to day, and for c- " ever." We began at the head of the (Ircamof divine provi- dence, and have followed and traced it through its va- rious windings and turnings, till we are come to the end of it, and we fee where it iilues. As it began in God, foit ends in God. God is the infinite ocean into which it empties ilfelf. Providence is like a mighty wheel, whofe circumference is fo high that it is dread- ful, with the glory of the God of llrael above upon it; as it is reprefcnted in Ezekicl's vifion. We have feen the revolution of this wheel, and how as it was from God, fo its return has been to God again. All the e- vents of divine providence are like the links of a chain; the firft link is from God, and the laft is to him. III. We may fee by what has been faid, how Chriil in all things has the pre-eminence. For this great work, of redemption is all his work : he is the great Redeem- er, and therefore the work of redemption being as it were the fum of God's works of providence, this fhows the glory of our Lord Jefus Chrift, as being above all and through all, and in all. That God intemled the ■world for his Son's ufe in the affair of redemption, is one reafon that is to be given why he created the world by him, which feems to be intimated by the apolHe in Eph. iii. 9 — 12. What has been faid, fhows how all the purpofes of God are purpofed in Chrift, and ho\Nr he is before all, and above all, and all things confill by him and are governed by him, and are for liim, Colof. i. 15. 16. 17. 18. We fee by what has been faid, how God makes him his firft-born, higher than the kings of the earth, and fets his throne above their thrones ; how- God has always upheld his kingdom, when the king- dom of others have come to an end ; how that appear* at laft above all, however greatly oppoled for fo many ages ; how finally all other kingdoms fell, and his king- dom is the laft kingdom, and is a kingdom that nr/er gives place to any other. We fee, that whatever changes there are, and liow- ever highly Chrift's enemies exalt themlrlvcs, that yet fmallv all his enemies become his footllool, and he reigns in uncontrouled power and inimcnre g'ory : in the end his people arc allpcrfccUy favcd^nd madehap- 392 A H I S T O R Y OF Impr. py, and his enemies all become his footftool. And thus God gives the world to his Son for his inheri- tance. IV. Hence we may fee what a confiflent thing divine providence is. The conlidcration of what has been faid, may greatly ferve to Ihow us the confiHency, or- der, and beauty, of God's works of providence. If we behold the events of providence in any other view than that in which it has been fet before us, it will all look like confufion, like a number ofjumbled events coming topafs without any order or meihod, like the tolling of the waves of the fea ; things will look as though one confufed revolution came to pafs after another, merely by blind chance, without any regular or certain end. But if we confider the events oi providence in the light in which they have been fet before us under this doftrine, in which the fcriptures fet them before us, they appear far from being jumbled and confufed, an orderly feries of events, all wifely oide.ed and direfted irl excellent harmony and confluence, tending all to one end. The wheels of providence are not turned round by blind chance, but they are full of eyes round about, as Ezekiel reprefents, and they are guided by the Spirit of God : where the Spirit goes, they go : and all God's works of providence through all ages meet in one at laft, asfo many lines meeting in one centre. It is with God's work of providence, as it is with his work of creation ; it is but one work. The events of providence are not fo many diftinct, independent works of providence, but they are rather fo many different parts of one work of providence : it is all one work, one regular fcheme. God's works of providence are not difunited and jumbled without connexion or de- pendence, but are all united, juft as the feveral parts of one building : there are many ftones, many pieces of timber, but all are fo joined, and fitly formed together, that they make but one building : they have all but one foundation, and are united at laft in one top- ftone, God's providence may not unfitly be compared to a large and long river, having innuiTiCrable branches, be- ginning in dlfterent regions, and a great diftance one ftom anoiher, and all conipirincr to one dommon iffuc* After Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 393 After their very diverfe and contrary courfcs which they held for a while, yet they all gather more and more to- gether, the nearer they come to their common end, and all at length difchargc themfelves at one mouth in- to the fame ocean. The different ftreams of this river are apt to appear like mere jumble and confufion to us, becaufe of the limitednefs of our fight, whereby we cannot fee from one branch to another, and cannot fee the whole at once, fo as to fee how all are united in one. A man who fees but one or two flrcams at a time, cannot tell what their courfe tends to. Their courfe feems very crooked, and different flreams fcem to run for a while different and contrary ways : and i£ we view things at a diflance, there feem to be innume- rable obftacles and impediments in the way to hinder their ever uniting, and coming to the ocean, as rocks and mountains, and the like ; but yet if we trace them, they all unite at laft, and all come to the fame ilTue, difgorging themfelves in one into the fame great ocean. Not one of all the ftreams fail of coming hither at laft. V. From the whole that has been faid, we may ftrongly argue, that the fcriptures are the word ot God, becaufe they alone inform us what God is about, or what he aims at, in thefe works which he is doing in the world. God doubtlefs is purfuing fome defign, and carrying on fome fcheme, in the various changes and revolutions which from age to age came to pafs in the world. It is moft reafonable to fuppofe, that there is fome certain great defignto which providence fubor- dinates all the great fuccelfive changes in the affairs of the world which God has made. It is reafonable to fuppofe, that all revolutions, from the beginning of the world to the end of it, are but the various parts of the fame fcheme, all confpiring to bring to paf;i that great event which the great creator and governor of the world has ultimately in view ; and that the fcheme will not be finifhed, nor the defign fully accompliflied, and the great and ultimate event fully brought to pafs, till the end of the world, and the lall: revolution is brought about. Now there is nothing clfe that informs us what thifi fcheme and dcfi " Ifrael : who is like tuuo thee, O u' onle Oved l)y the 400 A H I S T O R Y OF Impr. " Lord, the fliield of thy help, and who is the fword •' of thy excellency ! and thine enemies fhallbe found " liars unto thee, and thou flialt tread upon their high " places." Let who will prevail now, let the enemies of the church exalt themfelves as much as they will, thefe are the people that fliall finally prevail. The lail kingdom {hall finally be theirs ; the kingdom fliall finally be gi- ven into their hands, and fhall not be left to other peo^ pie. Wc have feen what a blefl'ed iffue things fhall fie nally be brought to as to them, and what glory they fhall arrive at, and remain in pofTefTion of, for ever and ever, after all the kingdoms of the world are come to an end, and the earth is removed, and mountains are carried into the depth of the fea, or where the fea was, and this lower earth fhall all be dilTolved. O happy people, and blefTed fociety ! Well may they fpend an eternity in praifes and hallelujahs to him who hath lov- ed them from eternity, and will love them to eterni- X. And, laflly, hence all wicked men, all that are in a Chrifllefs condition may fee their exceeding mi- fery. You that are fuch, whoever you are, you are thofe who fhall have no part or lot in this matter. You are never the better for any of thofe things of which you have heard : yea, your guilt is but fb much the greater, and the mifery you are expofed to fo much the more dreadful. You are fome of that fort, againfl whom God, in the progrefs of the work, exercifes fo much manifefl wrath ; fome of thofe enemies who are liable to be made Chrifl's footflool, and to be ruled with a rod of iron, and to be dafhed in pieces. You are fome of the feed of the ferpent, to bruife the head of which is one great defign of all this work. What- ever glorious things God accompliflies for his church, if you continue in the flatc you are now in, they will not be glorious to )'ou. The moft glorious times of the church are always the mofl difmal times to the •wicked and impenitent. This we are taught in If. Ixvi. 14. And fo we find, where-ever glorious things are foretold concerning the church, there terrible things are foretold concerning the wicked, its enemies. And fo Impr. The Work of REDEMPTION. 401 fo it ever has been in faft ; in all remarkable deliver- ances wrought for the church, there has been alfo re- markable execution of wrath on its enemies. So it was when God delivered the children of Ifracl out of K- gypt ; at the fame time he remarkably poured out his wrath on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. So when he brought them into Canaan by Jolhua, and gave them ibat good land, he remarkably executed wrath upon the Ca- naanites. So when they were delivered out of their Ba- bylonilh captivity, fignal vengeance was inflifted on the Babylonians. So when the Gentiles were called, and the eletl of God were faved by the preaching of the apoftles, Jerufalem and the perfecuting Jews were de- ftroyed in a moft awful maimer. I might obfervc the fame concerning the glory accompliflied to the church in the days of Conftantine, at the overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom in the downfall of Antichrifl, and at the day of judgment. In all thefc inllances, and efpe- cially in the lalt, there have been, or will be exhibited moft awful tokens of the divine wrath againft the wick- ed. And to this clafs of men you belong. You are indeed fome of that fort that God will make ufe of in this affair; but it will be for the glory of his juftice and not of his mercy. You are fome of thofe enemies of God who are referved for the triumph of Chrift's glorious power in overcoming and punilhing them. You are fome of that fort that Ihall be confum- ed with this accurfed world after the day of judgment, when Chrift and his church fhall triumphantly and glo- lioufly afcend to Heaven. Therefore let all that are in a Chriftlefs condition amongft us ferioufly confider thefe things, and not be like the foolifti people of the old world, who would not take warning, when Noah told them, that the Lord was about to bring a flood of waters upon the earth ; or like the people of Sodom, who would not regard, when Lot told them. That God would deftroy that city, and would not flee from the wrath to come, and fo were confumed ni that terrible deftruttion. And now I nould conclude my whole difcourfc on this fubjeft, in words like thole in the laftof the Reve- lation : "Thefe favinos arc faithful and triie, and blclf- ' '3 B b ed 409 A H I S T O R Y or, &c. Impr. ed Is he that kcepeth thefe fayings. Behold, Chrift co- met h quickly, and his reward is with him, to render to every man according as his work fhall he. And he ihat js nnjiift, fhall be unjuft fiill ; and he that is filthy Puall be filrhy flilj ; and he that is holy, fhall be holy Hill. Blefled are ! hey that do his commandments, that they m.ay have right to the tree of life, and may enter in throiJgh the gates into the city : for without are dogs, and forcerers, and whorem>ongers, and mur- derers, and idolaters, and whofoever loveth and maketh a-lie. He that teflifieth thefe things, faith. Surely I com.e quickly. Amen; even fo come Lord Jefus.,'' N I S, Ncu)-Ydrk, Augujl 29, i78{;. THE Publlfhcr reiums his moft unfeigned thanks to the pubhc, for the generous encouragement they have given towards the priming of the late Mr. Edwards s Hijlory of the Work of Redemption. At the requeft of fome gentlemen who wifh to pro^ mote RELIGION, he has iffued the following PROPOSALS For printing by fuhfaiptioii, in one volume, jartc 06k vo, a neat A M E r i c A N Ed i r i o N of that vaw luable book, entitled, A TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS, In three PARTS. Part I. Concerning the nature of the AfTeciions'^ and their importance in Religion. Part II. Shewing what are no certain fjgns that Religious Affections are gracious, or that they are not. Part III. Shewing what are diflinguiflilng flgns of truly gracious and holy Affections. By the late Rev. Jonathan' Edwtzrdss Prejideat of the Colicky, of Nezu-Jerfey, CONDITIONS. I. 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