no End. v. 32. Here are two Texts, which ftand as an unmoveable Rock, one in the old, the other in the new Teftament; both fpeaking and confirm ing one and the fame Truth, to wit, the Reign of Chrift upon the Throne of David his Father; undeniably fhewing, that the Lord Jefus Chrift is to fit upon David's Throne, who is faid to be his Father, according to his Fleth or Human Nature: But when was it that Chrift did fit upon this Throne? Ithink none will fay that he fat upon it at the time of his firft coming, which was in a State of Humiliation; nor yet to this Day hath he fat upon this Throne; and therefore this time is yet to come.

Oh, how wonderful then is this Scripture for the Proof of Chrift's Reign with the Saints upon. the Earth! As we fee, pofitively afferted in thefe Words, because the Lord Jefus is to fit upon David his Father's Throne; which Throne cannot with the leaft fhew of Reafon be understood of a Throne in Heaven, but upon the Earth, otherwife called the Throne of Ifrael, where David reign'd. Sure none will fay, that this Throne. of David is to be understood of a Throne in Heaven; for if any should fay fo, then they must affert, that that Throne where Chrift now fits, and hath done ever fince his Afcenfion, is not God the Father's, but Lavid's Throne; quite contrary unto thofe Words in Rev. iii. 21. and to him that overcometh, will I grant to fit with me in my Throne even as I alfo overcame, and am fat down with my Fa ther in his Throne. Here we fee in plain Words, that the Throne where Chrift now fits in Heaven, is not David's, but God the Father's Throne. Therefore the Throne of David, where Chrift

is yet to fit upon, cannot be meant of a Throne in Heaven: No, that Throne where Chrift fits as God Man in his Mediator sPerfan, is too great for David or any meer Creature to fit upon. Befides, I cannot fee how it fhould be faid, that David hath any Throne in Heaven, any more than the leaft Believer in Chrift hath, it being upon the Foot of free and abfolute Grace, that David, and every true Believer, doth and fhall ftand, or fit there. Then this Throne of David muft be a Throne on the Earth, as his Throne was where he reigned over the whole Houfe of Ifrael, and where it is, that the Lord Jefus Chrift will fit and reign in his human Nature, in the Glory of his vifible Kingdom, when he fhall perfonally come from Heaven with all the Saints: But before. I leave this, I would make fome further Remarks upon that Text in Rev. 3 To him that overcometh will Igrant to fit with me in my Tbrore, even as I alfo overcame, and am fet down with my Father in bis Throne. Here are two diftinct Thrones, made mention of in thefe Words: Firft, that Throne. where Chrift now fits as Mediator, is called his Father's Throne; that is God the Father.

Secondly, The Throne or Thrones, which is promifed unto all them that overcome, (and where it is that Chrift will fit with them) is alfo diftinguifh'd from the Throne of the Father, it being called Chrift's Throne; as is very full in that Expreffion, to him that overcometh will I grant to fit. with me on my Throne, &c.

Again, thirdly, we may further obferve, that Chrift doth not, neither hath yet, fince he fpake thefe Words, fat upon his own, but ftill fits bis Father's Throne

upon

There

Therefore fourthly, the time when he will fit upon his own, is not, until the Saints fhall fit upon their Thrones; because they are to live and reign with Chrift in theGlory of his vifibleKingdom; when he fhall fit with them, upon his Father David's Throne. Now what Reafon is there that can be given, that his own Throne, where Chrift is yet to fit upon, fhould be called the Throne of his Father David; but to fhew, that his Throne will be as teal and visible in this World, or upon this Earth, as David's Throne was, and also that in this David was a Tipe of Chrift.

From the whole then, it does undeniably ap pear, that all thofe who through Chrift do overcome, fhall fit and feign with him upon his Throne, when he himfelf fhall fit upon it: Which will not be, until all Dominions fhall ferve and obey Jefus Chrift. And when Saviours fhall come upon mount Zion, to judge or punish the Mount of Efau, and the Kingdom vifibly does appear to be the Lord's. Obad, V. 21. Then fhall the Man, whofe Name is the Branch, build the Temple of the Lord, even be (that is Chrift) fhall build the Temple of the Lord, (the Houfe or Church of God) and fhall bear the Glory; and be fhall rule, and be a Priest upon his Throne, and the Councel of Peace fhall be between them both. Zach. vi. 12, 13.

In this glorious perfect Kingdom State it is, that the Heavens fhall be opened, as our Lord told Nathaniel, Fobni. 51. And he faid unto him, verily, verily, (to fhew the Certainty of it) Ifdy unto you, kereaf ter you shall fee Heaven opened, and the Angels of God afcending and defcending upon the Son of Man. By the Son of Man, in thefe Words, can be no o

ther

ther than himself, it is the Lord Jefus Chrift that the Angels of God are to defcend upon. By the Heaven in this Place, I understand the Imperial or third Heaven to be meant, because the Angels are to defcend from thence: By the Heaven being opened at this time, it is to fignify, that all thofe Impediments which have and ftill do let, or hinder our beholding of that ultimate Glory, fhall then be wholly removed, and taken out of the way; when Sin and Death, with all other imperfections fhall be deftroyed in the Saints, that fo they may be led, or fee into all the glorious Myfteries of that Eternal Bleffednefs. Again by the Angels defcending and our beholding of them, it is to inform us, that thofe bleffed and invifible Spirits, hall then be vifible and familiar unto all the Children of God, when their Nature, Work, and Offices of Love, fhall in a wonderful Manner be made known unto the Saints. Laftly the time when thefe things are to be done, is, as we read in the Text, hereafter; and therefore not until Chrift comes again from Heaven. This appears very ful in the Words alfo, because the Angels of God are to afcend from, and defcend upon the Son of Man. It is moft certain that these things here fpoke of cannot be referr❜d unto his firft, but unto the time of his fecond coming, upon the Account, that this is not to be, (as before noted) until hereafter; which muft refpect the time when Chrift fhall reign the Earth. But if any fhould refer this unto his being now in Heaven; I fhould be glad to know of fuch, how it can in a proper Senfe be faid, that the Angels do afcend from and defcend upon theSon of Man. Can they afcend from, and defcend upon

upon

Chrift,

Chrift, when he is in Heaven? Sure this cannot be fo, for that would be as much as to fay, that Earth is above, and Heaven is beneath; which would be no less than a downright Contradiction and therefore the Lord Jefus muft be upon the Earth, when this Scripture is to be fulfilled; that fo the Angels of God may afcend from, and defcend unto or upon the Son of Man; as they fhall do upon all Occafions, during the time of that glorious Reign, and Kingdom of Chrift, in the Glory of the thousand Years; when not only Nathaniel, but all the Saints, fhall fee the Angels afcend from, and defcend upon the Lord Jefus Chrift.

O! then, for ever happy and bleffed fhall they appear to be, who have kept his Commandments, and have a Right (through the Lord Jesus) to partake of the Tree of Life, that they may Eat and Live for ever. And alfo may enter in through thefe Gates, or those everlasting Doors, which fhall then be lifted up, and opened unto them, into this bleffed City, or into that new Jerufalem Glory. Rev. xxii. 14.

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