484 An Expofztion upon Chap. ii. faith, and be Paved. This appeareth fiat by the te(limony which Yaul cites in the two next vents, which plainly fore -tell it. Secondly, by Revelation 7. 4, 5. ere. Which prophetic is li- terally to be underflood of the Jewifh converfion, after C ryfofomrs minde, bccaufe they are diltinguifhed from the other Nations mentioned verfe 9. And this prophefie is of things not al- ready done, but to be fulfilled after- ward, as yee finde it written, Chap. 4. vere t. Thirdly, hereunto wee may joyne that other prophefie in Re- velation 21. which would be expoun- ded of that moll pure Church that to- wards the end (hall be gathered of Jews and Gentiles, joyned in a moll (ìncere profeffon ofdo&rine, and excelling in fuch piety and vertue, as if the world were to be created anew : and not of the celeftiall bleffedneffe of the Sainte in the world to come, as may appeare by thefe reafons drawne from the cir- cumftances of the Text. Firf , he fpeakes of Jerufalem, (not glorified in heaven ) bat coming drwne from God, and by his grace mightily purified in earth. Secondly, the islikened not to a wife whole marriage is already ac- complifhed,as it muff be in heaven,butto a Bride preparing and addreffing her felf to meet her husband, as it efceh to be in earth. Thirdly, tabernacles belong not to blefltd Saints, which have ended their warfare, but is Pilgrimes, which as ftrangers, are to abide a certaine time the combate with fuch lulls as fight a- gainR the foul. Thcfe reafons are taken from verfe 2. and 3. now the verfet 6.7. and 24. afford us more demonfrations, for in verfe 6. there is a promife to the members ofthis New Jerufalom, which are athiri. Now the Jewes indeed being ' converted fhall have a very fer- vent delire after the fweetnefle of Chriff, in whom they shall beleeve: but in heaven where all fulneffe and reff thall be enjoyed, How can there be any thiriing, or yet any fighting, where all (hall be crowned with vieto ry and triumph ? And how (hall Kings bring their riches unto heaven ? as verfe 24. Thefe with Mildly other the like arguments out of the Text, doe Put- ticiently convince (in my opinion) that this Chapter is not ttbe confirued of the glorious condition of the godly in heaven, but of a Church which for do- &rine and manners (hall be illedtrious in earth ; not infe&ed with fuch errors and corruptions in life, as was under Antichrifis rcigne,nor fomolcfted with perfecutions and torments which cau- lèd furrow, and cryings, and teares, and death, as in ye)* 4.. of which there (hail be a ceffation!in the dayes of this re- newed Church, being bleffed with great purity and happy peace.The con - fideration and beleefe of this do&rine, thould move all Chrilians to help for- ward this glorious worke,efpecially by Barnet} prayer to God for it,and fpeedy repentance for thole their finnes, which hitherto have been barres and obRa- cles to hinder it. For as the execrable and molt palpable idolatry of the fu- perflitious Romaniffs; crouching and bowing moil bafely before the workes of their owne hands, adoring dead Rockes, Images, bread in the Sacra - ment,have caufed the Jews to abhorre our religion and faith; the rather for that the Papifs being neereft to them, and the greater number, they meal-wing thewhole by that large part, thinke us all to be as great idoll- fervers as they be: So the mot lewd, and look man- ners of Pretefants abounding in fchifines,fa &ions, heretics in religion, being miferably rent one from another in matter of faith, and in matter of faf, being full ofmurthers, thefts, rapines, rapes, adulteries, perjuries, uluries, op- prellions, inhumanity, tyrannies to- wards them, and among themfelves; prove great Rumbling blocks to keep them backe. For which fcandals ve- ry many have an heavy account to make. DIA-
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