overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my Throne; even as I alfo overcome, and am fit down with my Fa ther in his Throne. But as I have faid, there will be a difference; thefe Thrones, fome of them, will appear brighter, and more glorious than fome; according as the Faithfulness of thofe Perfons was to Chrift, that fall fit upon them. Take one Text more and that is in Malachi iii. 16. Then ; they that feared the Lord, Spake often one to another and the Lord bearken'd, and heard it; and a Book Remembrance was written before him, for him that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. Thefe Words do fhew, that those who were most conscientious in waiting upon God, at fuch a time when others turned their Backs upon the Lord, are in a particular way taken notice of. They did not only meet, but they often met together: And what did they meet together for? It wasto speak to one another, and (without doubt) to declare what God had done for their Souls: That they might encourage and ftrengthen the Hands of each other, in the Work of the Lord. Now how well pleafing and acceptable this was unto God, is very full in that Expreffion, The Lord bearken'd and heard, as fomething that he lov'd, and delighted to hear.. But this is not all, A Book of Remembrance was written before him; that is, before the Lord, who takes notice, and writes down all the good Works, Words, and Actions of the Saints, in the Book of his Remembrance. What elfe can the Meaning of a Book of Remembrance be, but to fhew that he takes fuch notice, as not to forget the leaft good Work or Labour of Love, done for Chrift, or the Good of the Church, and if so, what are thefe

things fet down for? But that a glorious Reward may by the Lord Jefus Chrift be given unto the Saints in the Time of this bleffed Kingdom; which will be the Time of the Judgment: When this, 4mongst the rest of thofe Books we read of, fhall be opened. I need not infift upon the laft Thing in that Text of Daniel, and the Books were opened; becaufe.that hath been expreffed already in the different Rewards and Diftributions of Glory which are there to be given; for thefe Books being opened, doth hold forth to us, that particular Perfons Works, and particular Actions, will be difcovered and made manifeft in the Day of Judgments and fo particular Rewards beftowed, according to what fhall be found written in the Books.

bufhall now come to the 11th, 12th, and 13th Verfes, I bebeld then, because of the Voice of the great Words which the Horn Jpake. This fhews the Continuation of the fame Vifion and how Daniel could not keep this thing out of his Mind, but fill wondred at the great Word, and blafphemous Ex preffions of this Horn. I beheld (faith he) even until the Beast was flain, and bis Body deftroyed, and given to the burning Flame. This makes ont what I faid before concerning this Beaft, to be the Anticbrifli an Beaff, or Papal Power; as we may fee in com paring thefe Words with that in Rev. xix. 20. And the Beaft was taken, (this is the fame Beast expreffed by Daniel) and with him the falle Prophets, that wrought Miracles before bim, (by which he deceived the Nations) as it followeth with which he der ceived them that bad received the Mark of the Beaft, (fome open or fecret Badge of Antichrift, which

all.

all his Followers have) and them that worshipped his Image, thefe both were caft alive into a Lake of Fire burning with Brimftone. Here is certainly an Agreement then betwixt Daniel and John in the Revelation, concerning the Rife, Reign, and Deftruction of this Beaft, Verfe 12. as concerning the reft of the Beafts, they had their Dominion taken away (which refpects their Power of Reigning); yet their Lives were prolonged for a Seafon and Time. All other Powers then fhall cease, but what shall refide in the Hands of Chrift and the Saints. As for the Lives of those that are prolonged, I understand fome of the wicked may have their Lives fpared in that great and terrible Day of the Lord, which will come upon the ungodly at the Beginning of Chrift's Kingdom, out of which the Gog and Magog Army, it may be fuppofed, will arife at the End of the thoufand Years; but more of that when I come to fpeak of it in its proper Place.

Now, for further Satisfaction of what hath been faid out of Daniel, for the Proof of Chrift's Kingdom, Ifhall beg the Readers Patience, and defire they would look into the 13th and 14th Verfes, I fan in the Night Visions, and behold one like the Son of Man, came with the Clouds of Heaven, and came to the ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him and there was given him Dominion and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages fhou'd ferve him: His Dominion is an everlafting Dominion, which fhall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. This Text of Scripture ftands (for Proof of Chrift's Kingdom vifible in this World) as the Sun in the Firma

N

ment

ment of the Old Teftament. What a clear Sight had Daniel of this? I faw (faith he) in the Night Vifions, and behold (fomething that is wonderful, and requires particular Notice to be took of it,) one like the Son of Man, coming with the Clouds of Heaven. Now who is this Son of Man? Surely. this can be no other than the Lord Jefus Chrift, who in refpect of his human Nature is frequently called fo: Befides, his Coming in the Clouds of Hea ven is a clear Proof, as agreeing with Chrift's own Words in Luke xxi. 27. Then fall they fee the Son of Man coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory; and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. God the Father is reprefented as the Ancient of Days, fitting upon a Throne: The Son of Man, or the Lord Jefus Chrift is reprefented unto Daniel as Coming in the Clouds of Heaven; and where, as it is faid, that he came to the Ancient of Days, it is to be understood in Refpect of, or to fhew the Oneness that there is between the Father and the Son. Now his being brought near before him, is for the fetting forth the glorious Magnificency of Chrift, being attended with an innumerable Company of Saints and Angels at this Time: And alfo to fhew from whofe Authority it is that the Lord Jefus receives his Kingdom, to wit, God the Father; and there was given him Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, &c.

But for the better understanding of thefe Words, I fhall take Notice of a few Things: Firft, That the Kingdom here expreffed, and that by the Father is to be given unto Fefus Chrift; will be a bleffed, glorious, vifible, and perfonal Reign, or.

Kingdom;

Kingdom; as does fufficiently appear by all the Circumftances of the Text.

Secondly, The Perfon unto whom this Kingdom is to be given, by the Father, and that is the Lord Jefus Chrift (as before) under the Denomination of the Son of Man.

Thirdly, The Extent of this Kingdom, and that is all the World over, fignified by thofe Words, and there was given him Dominion, and Glory, and

Kingdom: Which holds forth the Rule, Power, and Authority that Chrift will have over all the Earth. Pfalm ii. 8. And he fall give him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the utmoft Parts of the Earth for his Poffefion. Again, in Zech. ix. 10. And be fhall cut off the Chariot from Ephraim, and the Horje from Jerufalem, and the Battel-Bow fhall be cut off: No warlike Inftrument fhall be found at this Time because there will be no need of them, when Chrift fhall perfonally reign, and he fall Speak Race unto the Heathen: Which doubtlefs means their. Converfion; but this hath a Refpect unto the fpiritual Glory, in the first Part of the Kingdom of Chrift, and his Dominion fhall be from Sea to Sea, and from the Rivers to the End of the Earth.

Fourthly, The Time when this Kin dom is given to Chrift, and that is not at his firft, nor yet to this Day, but at his fecond Coming; when he fhall come in the Clouds of Heaven, as it is in the Text, then it is, and not 'till then, that there was given him Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom And therefore it is faid in Luke xix. 12. A certain Nobleman went into a far Country to receive for himSelf a Kingdom, and to return. This Nobleman is himself, the far Country is Heaven, the Time