THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. IN presenting again this Treatise of Dr. Nathaniel Homes to the Public, the Editor considers himself called upon to state the alterations which he has taken the liberty of making. The first part of the Work was anciently published without any view to the second. It consists of a mass of proofs from the Scriptures and Fathers, together with argumentation, in behalf of those doctrines usually denominated millennarian-including the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus, the destruction of Antichrist, the resurrection of the saints, and their rule upon a renewed earth, &c. There is evidence in this work, from the author's own admissions, that it contains some things, which he would not and needed not to have published, especially in the way of replying to objections: but this is still more apparent from his avowal in his supplementary work; which consists of "Ten Exercitations" or essays, containing nearly as much matter as the former Treatise. These are intended to supply additional proof; to cancel some things which he considered unnecessary or injudicious; to treat on collateral topics; and to reply to such further objections as had presented themselves, since the publication of the first part. In this second Work, besides the accession of much valuable matter, there is also a great repetition of that previously adduced; and the first object therefore of the Editor has been to incorporate the two treatises, and to endeavour to effect that more lucid arrangement of the whole, and those retrenchments, which the author, were he now alive to perform the work himself, would doubtless aim at. Besides this, it is well known, that most writers of the age in which Dr. Homes lived, indulged in a prolixity of style, which often renders their works tedious, and in some instances obscure. Our author is perhaps as little chargeable with this fault as any writer of his time; but there are nevertheless numerous instances, in which his style may be condensed without the smallest detriment, but rather to the advantage of his argument; and which will enable the Editor, as he trusts, to reduce the two original volumes, forming together a bulk of nearly one thousand folio pages, into two moderate octavo volumes. There are some sections of the second treatise, as also one or two in the first, which, as they are either irrelevant to the matter in hand, or break the thread of the argument, will be thrown into an appendix. The Editor has likewise taken the liberty of modernising the phraseology by equivalent modes of expression, whenever he has deemed it conducive to greater perspicuity: but he can nevertheless conscientiously present it as a work, which in its opinions, arguments, and general style is faithfully conformed to the original. THE RESURRECTION REVEALED. INTRODUCTION. THE most sacred Scriptures do frequently affirm, that all the Saints shall reign with Christ a long time—namely a thousand years at the Restitution of all things and their new creation, before the time of ultimate and general resurrection. By saints I mean all the elect, called and to be called; whose characters (that we may know them in relation to our position) are in the Revelation drawn to the life :-" And I saw thrones, "and they sat upon them, and judgement was given to them ; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of "Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped "the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon "their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years." xx. 4. In which words, I mind at this time chiefly the three characteristics of them that shall reign with Christ: viz. first, beheading; signifying, by a synechdoche, all persecution, either more particularly "for the witness of Jesus," or more generally "for the word of God." Secondly, "not worshiping the beast, nor his image;” i.e. they reverence not, either apparent gross idolatry, nor specious and refined idolatry, in a divine worship, under the notion of prudentials. Thirdly, "they receive not the mark of the beast in their hands, or foreheads;" that is, they yield not subjection to Antichrist, secretly or openly, neither profess him or contest for him, or for any thing against the truth. These three characters are here given to comprehend all saints for haply some have in a measure subjected outwardly to Antichrist, but did not worship; some perhaps have not subjected, but had not the opportunity or magnanimity to suffer; and others may have subjected or worshiped, and afterwards repented and suffered. In other places of the Revelation, instead of this negative—“ have not the mark of the beast ;" they are said "to have the mark of the Lamb's Father in their forehead." Rev. xiv, 1, &c. They profess the truth of God, with faith in Christ Jesus; they are truly “saints, and fear the name of God;" which is the description given in Rev. xi, 15-18 of those that shall reign with Christ. All such saints shall reign with Christ, (the kingdoms of the earth then being actually and absolutely become his kingdoms,) and visibly possess the power and dominion over the earth, for a thousand years, literally and properly taken; and Christ shall most gloriously appear, at least at the beginning and ending of that thousand years though we cannot yet so demonstratively and infallibly hold forth, that he shall continue all that time personally present upon the earth. The devil, in the meanwhile, shall all that time be wholly and absolutely restrained (in effects, acts, and person,) from the precincts of the Church. : |