III. CHAP. order by the Word, and the difference lay in the nature and quality of the second causes, through which they were brought forth. The natural heavens and the earth existed before the first man, and out of the heavens and the earth he was created, a body and soul united, which constituted the heavens and the earth in the highest, and most refined sense then existing. 8. And although Man, by his fall, became earthly, sensual, and devilish, and was said to be flesh, because the flesh, which was his earthly part, reigned over his living soul, which was the only created heaven, in and by which he could hold any degree of communion with God; yet the heavens and the earth, that is, Man, the most noble and refined part of the creation, continued as they were, through all generations, until the new creation began. 9. And as Man in his first natural creation, was superior to the first heavens and earth; so it could not be out of the first, but out of that which was more perfect and noble, that the new creation could, in the true order of things, come forth. 10. And therefore, all that is said by the prophets, concerning the heavens and the earth, and the great confusion in both, at the coming of Christ, is not to be understood of the first heavens and earth, which existed before man was created; but as relating to the soul and body of man, which is heaven and earth, in the highest sense, pertaining to the natural creation. 11. And as the second Man, Christ Jesus, was to be created in and through man, as the medium of his coming forth into the world, and was to be reckoned from man, in the order of the natural creation, and as he was to ascend in glory and dignity above the natural man; so in human nature, or in the souls and bodies of mankind, all those things were to be accomplished at the coming of Christ, which were spoken of concerning the heavens and the earth. Such as, "I will shake the heavens and the earth-The heav ens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." 12. Then as the coming of both the first and se III. cond man was by the Word, it will be proper to no- CHAP. tice more particularly what that Word is. A Word translated from one language to another, is liable to be corrupted; but God is of one mind and who can turn him? and the Word of God is simply his purpose or will, revealed and made known in the co-operations of certain causes, the effect of which is properly his work. 13. Then however the Word of God may be expressed in different languages, the sense is unchangeably the same in all. And however different it may be expressed in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, or any other language, in plain English, from first to last, it is, LET, not to hinder, but, LET it be, in the mind or purpose of God, and it was, or it came to pass accordingly. This will appear evident to be the Word, from the beginning of Genesis, to the end of Revelations. A few examples may suffice. 14. God said, LET there be light, and there was Gen. light. Let there be a firmament-and it was so. Let the waters be gathered together, and Let the dry land appear and it was so.-Let the earth bring forth grass and it was so. Let the waters bring forthLet the earth bring forth the living creatures-and it was so. Let us make man-So God created man. 15. Here we see the Word, according to its operation on things natural. Thus the worlds were framed by the Word of God; and man constituted the world in its highest sense. Hence Peter, speaking of the heavens and the earth, that were in the time of Noah, saith, "The world that then was, being over- 2 Pet. iii, flowed with water, perished: But the heavens and 6,7,12. the earth which are now, by the same Word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.-When the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved." 16. Observe, it was not the first heavens and earth, or first natural world, that perished by water; for this was all very good, and had never committed any offence against the Creator; while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. 17. But it was the world of the ungodly who per. III. CHAP. ished, the heavens and the earth that then were; and by the same Word, the heavens and the earth were kept in store, or stored up with a constant supply, reserved unto the day of judgment. So said Christ: For judgment am I come into the world. John i. 2 Cor.ii. 17. 24. 18. And how did he come into the world for judgment? It was by the energy of the same Word, operating in and upon the heavens and the earth, or world that then was unfinished, pertaining to the new creation; that is, in the human soul and body. When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, properly, brought to pass by means of a woman. Mary said unto the angel, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, Be it, or Let it be unto me according to thy Word: and it was so. 19. And the Word of God grew and multiplied: which is the word of Faith. And as many as received the Word, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God; who became such, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And hence the Word became flesh, or rather the Word was manifested in the flesh; and the Word was, Let it be, and God divided the flesh from the Spirit, and the flesh he called flesh, and the spirit he called Spirit: and it was so. 20. Now the Lord is that Spirit :-Because ye are Valiv. 6. sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into John, your hearts. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. Hence it is truly and properly expressed; The Spirit dwelt in us, and we beheld his glory, (not the glory of the flesh, but of the Spirit,) the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 21. And as the sons of God did not come forth of the flesh, but of God; therefore the Word was, to take up a cross against the flesh, by which the flesh. Matt.xvi. was divided from the Spirit. Hence said Jesus, Let 24.xix. 12 him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. He that is able to receive it, Let him receive it : and it was so. 22. This was the Word of liberty, under which every thing might act out its own disposition, without being obstructed by any arbitrary or opposite power. III. And thus, while the Word opened the prison doors CHAP. for souls that were bound by the flesh, it afforded equal liberty to those who loved those fetters of death, to continue in darkness under the bondage of sin. 23. And so it continues, equal liberty on both sides, even until the last vision of the second appearing of Christ. And here the Word is the same that it was in the beginning: "He that is unjust, (or chuses to be unjust) Let him be unjust still; he which is filthy, Let him be filthy; he that is righteous, Let him be righteous; and he that is holy, Let him be holy. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And Let Rev.xii him that heareth, say, Come. And Let him that is 11, 17. athirst, come. And whosoever will, Let him take the water of life freely." 24. From all which it is evident that the coming of Christ, was, and is, in man, and no other heaven and earth is disturbed with his coming. And all that is to be wrought or accomplished by his coming, is simply to be effected through such a divine agency of the Word as affords the soul liberty and power to act according to the light and revelation of God, therein manifested. 25. And hence the kingdom of God cometh not by Luke observation. Neither shall they say Lo here! or lo xvii. 21. there for the kingdom of heaven is within you, or among you. For as the shining light, [Gr. asgarn,] or brightness [alluding to the dawning of the day and the rising of the sun] cometh out of the east, and shi- Mat.xxiv neth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 27. 26. Thus the prophet Malachi : Unto you that fear Mal. iv.2 my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise, with healing in his wings. And St. Paul: At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints; he shall come to be glorified in his saints. And Jude: Behold the Lord cometh in ten thousand of his saints. 27. Hence the saints are compared to clouds. Luke x Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud: They shall see the son of man coming in the 30. clouds of heaven-We shall be caught up together iv. 17. in the clouds; which is the same as our gathering together unto him-Behold he cometh with clouds Rei. 7. Ссс 27. Mat.xxiv 1 Thess. 2 Thess. 1 CHAP. Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a III. cloud of witnesses-For ye are the temple of the Heb. xii. living God. 1. 2 Cor. vi. 20. Joel ji. ed with Psalmis 18 6: 77. 1si. 2. Jer. 49, 30 & 51. 28. Hence it is evident, that Christ's coming was to be in, and with his people; both the nature and manner of which, was predicted by the prophet Joel, agreeable to the predictions of the other prophets, of Christ Jesus himself, and the apostles. 29. The day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh come at hand. A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a stronga fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame Mataxiv burneth-Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness-They shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining-for he is strong that executeth his Word: for the day of the Lord is very terrible, and who can abide it." 30. Thus, while the day of the Lord is a day of darkness and terror to the wicked, Christ is glorified in his saints; and to them his coming is the rising of the Sun of righteousness. Hence the apostle speaks of his coming, in the following words: "Then Thess. shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall de stroy with the brightness of his coming: whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." $5.8,9,10. 31. Observe, it is not the coming of the man of sin that is here spoken of; for he had been in the world ever since the fall; but it is the coming of Christ to reveal and destroy him. It is in them that perish, that the coming of Christ, the second time, should be after the working of Satan. 32. And to such as perished and rejected the counsel of God against themselves, it was after the working of Satan, that Christ made his first appear. Mat. xxvi ing. Thus said they, Behold, now ye have heard his G5, Jun blasphemy-Now we know that thou hast a Devil vni, 52. |