Saints that were then in Heaven, when John heard them fay thefe Words; and have given fome Rea, ons for it Yet if they will carry it to the Time of Chrift's Second Coming, and the Saints Coming with him, that then they fhall fing in their songs, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain &c. for thou haft made us unto God Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the Earth. This is fo far from being against what I have been proving, to wit, The Saints Reigning on the Earth, as that it is but a further, Confirmation of this Truth: For I do believe that tho' this Song was fung by thofe that we e then inHeaven, yet it fhall be fung again, by all the Saints in that great Day of Chrift's Appearance, when his whole Myftical Body the Church will be compleated and gathered altogether: Yea let it be taken in either or in all these Confiderations, the Reign of the Saints upon Earth will abide as an immoveable Rock, against all the Batteries that can be brought to overthrow it. If we take this Song to be fung by those that were already poffefs'd with Glory in John's time, then it will appear that as they were made Kings and Priefts to God, and had a Kingdom; promifed unto them; fo they fhall reign as Kings and Priefts in it: But where did they expect this to be? It is in the Text, Upon the Earth. Secondly, If we take the Words to be fpoke, or this Song to be fung by the Saints as living on the Earth, it will appear as a ftrong Argument alfo, that they did not look upon themselves then to reign as Kings and Priefts on the Earth, but were in expectation that the Time would come when they should reign as fach. If they had looked upon themselves then to have reigned as Kings and Priefs whilft they lived

in a Mortal State, they would never have faid, Thu haft made us Kings and Priefts, and we fall reign on the Earth; yea their faying, And we shall reign on the Earth, is a plain Evidence that they did not then reign. Thirdly, If we take this Song prophetically, that the Time of their finging it will not be until that great Day of Chrift's perfonal Coming with all the Saints; then the Argu→ ment will ftill be of great weight, that they have not yet reigned as Kings and Priests on the Earth But that now the Time is come wherein they fhall reign, and therefore they warble forth this Song, ye they fhall fing, all the Saints then, in fuch high and elevated Strains, as will make the Hea vens and the Earth to ring; faying, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, and hath redeemed us to God by bis Blood, out of every Kindred, Tongue, and People and Nation; and bath made us unto our God Kings and Priests: And we shall reign on the Earth. From the whole of what hath been faid it doth evidently appear that tho' the Saints now are by pure and foveraign Grace, made Kings and Priests unto God, they have not, nor yet do reign as Kings; but the Time will certainly come, when they hall reign as Kings and Priests on the Earth; which will not be until Chrift's glorious and perfonal Coming from Heaven, when the Dead Saints fhall be raised and the Living changed into a State of Immortality. Then they fhall reign during all the Time of the Thousand Years, and Continuation of the laft Fudgment; until the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall have delivered up that Kingdom of his Mediatorship, and himself, fubject as Man, unto his Father, and fo be fwallowed up in the Kingdom of the Eternal Hea

vens, where the Saints fhall reign with God and Chrift, in the ultimate unchangeable state of Glory, for ever and ever; God then being in the highest way of Enjoyment and Fruition, all in all. 1 Cor. 15.

28.

4thly and lastly, I fhall fhew in a few Particulars what aDignity will then be conferr'd upontheSaints, when they hall reign as Kings and Priefts on the Earth. The Honour, Glory, and Dignity that by the Lord Fefus Chrift will be conferr'd upon them a that time, will be great every manner of way, They fhall then not only be Kings and Priefis unto God, but they fhall openly, vifibly, and gloriously appear to be fo; they shall then actually inherit, poffefs, and enjoy that glorious Kingdom that has been fo long promifed unto them, and from the Foundation of the World provided for them. The Lord Jefus Chrift will openly, in the Face of Heaven and Earth, own them, embrace them as his peculiar People, yea as his Wife, Bride, and Spoufe, faying, Come ye Bleffed of my Father, take poffeffion of the Kingdom which the Father bath given to you, and was laid up and fecured in the Covenant of Grace unto this time. They fhall then have the Scepter in their Hands, and Crowns on their Heads; a Throne of Glory they fhall fit upon; Angels (thofe glorious Spirits) fhall ftand ready at their Service to do all Offices of Love and Honour unto them: The Father will bonour them, the Son will honour them, the Spirit will bonour them, Angels will honour them; all Creatures will be at their command: Then they will appear indeed in an unspeakable way to be Children, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Jefus Chrift. If the Apostle John was in fuch an extafy when he cry'd

out,

in a Mortal State, they would never have faid, Thu haft made us Kings and Priefts, and we fall reign on the Earth; yea their faying, And we fall reign on the Earth, is a plain Evidence that they did not then reign. Thirdly, If we take this Song prophetically, that the Time of their finging it will not be until that great Day of Chrift's perfonal Coming with all the Saints; then the Argu ment will ftill be of great weight, that they have not yet reigned as Kings and Priests on the Earth : But that now the Time is come wherein they fhall reign, and therefore they warble forth this Song, ye they fhall fing, all the Saints then, in fuch high and elevated Strains, as will make the Hea vens and the Earth to ring; faying, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, and hath redeemed us to God by. bis Blood, out of every Kindred, Tongue, and People and Nation; and bath made us unto our God Kings and Priefts: And we shall reign on the Earth. From the whole of what hath been faid it doth evidently appear that tho' the Saints now are by pure and foveraign Grace, made Kings and Priefts unto God, they have not, nor yet do reign as Kings; but the Time will certainly come, when they hall reign as Kings and Priests on the Earth; which will not be until Chrift's glorious and perfonal Coming from Heaven, when the Dead Saints fhall be raised and the Living changed into a State of Immortality. Then they fhall reign during all the Time of the Thousand Years, and Continuation of the laft Fudgment; until the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall have delivered up that Kingdom of his Mediatorfhip, and himfelf, fubject as Man, unto his Father, and fo be fwallowed up in the Kingdom of the Eternal Hea

The

7. T

AV.

This World (upon the Seventh Angel) ly become the KingORD and his CHRIST.

n is often fet forth as a HolyMy. The Seven Trumpets, Sals, at is expreffed in them, are not yet hich came upon Egypt udgments contained ts. 4. The King· Kingdoms of our Kingdoms of this el will not begin to r Time fhall have an

ne Text more (at pre

y that might

God being

is in Rev. xi