out, Behold what manner of Love is this that the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God; and that we now are fo, tho' it doth not yet appear,neither will,until that day when we hall be like Jesus Christ, when we fall fee him as be is, and appear with him in Glory; Oh what an Extafy and Ravishment of Spirit will the Saints all of them be filled with, when they shall actually bein the full and perfect fruition of that inexpreffible Bleffednefs! How will their Hearts be filled with eternal Joys of inconceivable Wonders! Is it not an Honour then to be a Child of God? Oh fure a greater Honour than to be in the poffeffion of all the Crowns, Thrones, and Kingdoms of this World (without Chrift !) Is it not an Honour to be invefted with all the Privileges and Dignities of Sons? Is it not anHonour to be made Kings andPriefs unto God? For to reign with God and Chrift, both in Earth and Heaven? To be as Kings to reign, and as Priefts to offer up continual Sacrifices of Praise and eternal Thanksgiving? Will it not be an Honour and Dignity to fit with Chrift upon his Throne, in bis Kingdom, to judge the World, and alfo to judge the Angels? Will it not be an Honour to be in the prefence of the King of Glory? To be for ever with the Lord? To fee his Face, and to have his Name (the Lord our Righteousness) engraven upon our Foreheads? Will not this be an Honour for the Saints to be made Poffeffors of the eternal Fountain of the Deity, and to be in the enjoyment of this unto Eternal Ages? Sure it will: The greateft Honour that can by the Lord Jehovah be bestowed upon Creatures: Which Honour have all the Saints, praise ye the Lord.

CHAP.

CHAP. XV.

The Kingdoms of this World (upon the Sounding of the Seventh Angel) openly and visibly become the Kingdoms of our LORD and his CHRIST.

1. This Number Seven is often set forth as a HolyMyAtical Number. 2. The Seven Trumpets, Sals, and Vials, or what is expreffed in them, are not yet poured out. 3. The Plagues which came upon Egypt were Types of the Plagues or Judgments contained in the Vials, Seals, and Trumpets. 4. The Kingdoms that are yet to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Chrift, are the Kingdoms of this World. 5. The Seventh Angel will not begin to found until this prefent Date or Time fhall have an

end.

Shall take notice but of one Text more (at prefent) amongst the many that might yet be mentioned, the Word of God being full of this Divine Truth: And that is in Rev. xi. 15. And the

Seventh

Seventh Angel founded, and there were great Voices in Heaven, Jaying, The Kingdoms of this orld are be come the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of bis Chrift, and be fhall reign for ever and ever. This Number Seven, as has already been obferved, does often fignifie a Number of Perfection; which Number is frequently made ufe of in this Book of the Revela tions. We read of Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets Seven Thunders, Seven Vials, Seven Angels, &c. Now I do not fay but it may fometimes be taken properly for Seven, as the Seven Churches, the Seven golden Candlesticks: But as for the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, and Seven Vials, I do a little query about. The Vials, or Seven laft Plagues, to me do fignifie that Perfection or full Measure of the Wrath of God, which will not only be poured out on the Papal Kingdom, but upon all Chriftless and Graceless Souls, in that great and terrible Day of the Lord: And therefore in thefe Seven Trumpets we read, upon the Sounding of each, what dreadful Judgments there are immediately poured forth on the Wicked and Ungodly. However whether we take them properly or figuratively, for a precife Number of Seven, or more, they will be terrible enough on all those upon whom thefe Judgments fhall fall.

I am not infenfible of the different Apprehenfions there has been in those who have writ about these things, as to the Time of the Seals being opened, the Trumpets founding, and the Vials pouring out: Neither fhall I trouble my felf much with what they have faid, in allowing fo long a Time as fome have done, for the opening of each Seal, the founding of each Trumpet, &c. tho' they were men of great Wisdom and Learning: Yet I am

perfuaded

perfuaded that all of them will be found miftaken in this, who have gone about to limit the Time for fuch a Trumpet to found, or fuch a Vial to be poured out, in fuch or fuch an Age. My Thoughts are that the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Vials, or the principal Matter that is contained in them, will begin and end together: And when once the First Seal, Trumpet or Vial, begins to be fulfilled, the reft of the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, will not be long after: A fhort work will the Lord make upon the Earth, in that Day when he fall cut his Work fhort in Righteoufnefs, Rom. ix. 28 Therefore I look upon thefe Trumpets and Vials, with the wonderful Effects that will follow upon their pouring out, yet to have its accomplishment: And when once they begin to be poured out, the whole World will foon be made fenfible of it. I cannot easily believe (whatfoever the Thoughts of others may be) that the great and wonderful Effects which thefe Seals, Trumpets, &c. will have upon the Earth, when on e they begin to take place in their Fulfilment, can fairly be apply'd to fome particular Nation or Kingdom, in fuch an Age wherein fome Judgments have fallen, Changes, and Alterations in Governments have been made: I fay I cannot look upon this to be what is intended, in the Trumpets or Vials; but that there will be a greater and more extraordinary Appearance of the Judgments of God, when thefe Vials come to be poured out, than ever yet have been in the World: Yea I look upon the Plagues of Egypt, which the Lord brought upon Pharaoh and his People, when he was about to bring Ifrael out of Egypt's Tyranny, to be a Type of the Vi

Cc..

als

als or Seven laft Plagues (in which is filled up the Wrath of God) that will be poured down upon Myfical Pharaoh and Egypt, Spiritually called Sedom for Wickedness, and Egypt for Cruelty; where our Lord in his Members was crucified, Rev. xi. 8. As for that dreadful Plague of Hail which came upon Egypt, we may fee fomething of it in the First Trumpet. The Waters becoming Blood; there is fomething of this in the Second Trumpet. The many that died in Egypt; there is fomething of it exprefs'd in the 3d Trumpet. The Plague of Darkness; there is fomething of it in the Fourth Trumpet: And fo on : Which does fhew that thefe Plagues and Judgments held forth in the Seals, Vials, and Trumpets, will not be poured down until God comes to deliver his People, and bring them out of their long Captivity. Tea the pouring out of the 6th Vial upon the great River Euphrates, and the drying up of the Waters, was to make way for the Kings of the Eaft to return again to their own Land: By which the Jews are generally understood; Rev, xv. 12. So that the Appearance of God at this time, when the Plagues contained in the Seven Trumpets, Vials, &c. come to be poured out, will be wonderful in the Deftrution of his Enemies, and the Deliverance of the Saints. The Spirit of God had an eye to this, as we may fee in Micah vii. 15. According to theDays of thy coming out of the Land of Egypt, will I fhew bim marvellous things. The manner of God's bringing his People out of Egypt, was by Marvellous Plagues and Judgments on their Enemies. The manner of God's appearing again to deliver Zion out of her Trouble, and give her poffeffion of that glorious Kingdom promifed, will be marvellous and wonderful.

Now