pone naturally do, nor can fee the Mifery which they are in, nor have any Defires to be faved by Jefus Chrift, until a Power of divine Grace comes to defroy this Face of Covering, and remove that Veil of Ignorance which is upon their Hearts: But this in part is deftroyed, and the Veil removed, when God comes in a way of Mercy, to work a faving Change upon the Heart of a poor Sinner. Thirdly, That notwithstanding this Change there ftill remains a Face of Covering and a Veil of Darknefe upon the Children of God, whilft in this frail and mortal State, fo as that they cannot fee clearly in to many precious Truths of the Gofpel, nor into the Glory of Chrift's Kingdom to be in this World: Which is the Caufe of thofe Divifions that unto this day are amongst the Saints, concerning_many glorious Truths contained in God's Word. Fourthly. That the Lord, in this Mountain, or the Glory of bis Vifible Kingdom, both in the firft, but efpecial ly in the latter Branch of it, will remove the Veil of Darkness, and deftroy the Face of Covering from off the Eyes of all his People, fo as that they fhall fee into all the Mysteries of God, of the Father, and of Chrift. No Darknefs, Ignorance, nor Blindness, fhall remain upon the Hearts of the Saints any more for ever. Then it is that they being of one Mind fhall ferve the Lord with one Confent.

Verfe 8. He will swallow up Death in Victory, and the Lord God will wipe away Tears from all Faces, and the Rebuke of his People fhall be take away from off all the Earth: For the Lord hath Spoken it Now I would appeal unto all Perfons (who will confider thefe Words) both for the Pro as the Explanation of this comfortab

Pain. Wherefore nothing can appear more evident for the Proof of the perfonal Reign and Kingdom of Chrift, with the Saints, in this World, than this Prophecy doth. The greateft thing that is objected by those who oppofe fuch a glorious Time to be upon the Earth, is their referring these and fuch like Texts of Scripture unto the State of the Saints in the eternal Heavens. But in answer to that, as I have often exprefs'd before, though it is granted, that the eternal Heavens are, and will be fuch a perfect finless State more eminently; yet this is fo far from denying fuch a Time to be in this World, as that it does pofitively affert it in this, as well as in many other Places And therefore it followeth, And the Rebuke of his People fall be take away from off all the Earth. Now can any Words be fpoke with greater Plainnefs than thefe are? That the Lord will take away the Rebuke of his People from off all the Earth? Pray mind that Word; Not from fome part, but from off all the Earth. Then fnch a State and Time muft be in this World: For you read in the Text, that at the fame time when Death fhall be swallowed in Victory, and the Lord God fhall wipe away Tears from off all Faces; then will the Lord take away the Rebuke of his People from off all the Earth. The Children of God have fuffered Reproaches, Rebukes, and bitter Reflections in all Ages (tho' wrongfully) from wicked Men and Devils too. But in the Kingdom of Chrift all this Rebuke, Sufferings, and Afflictions, fhall be taken away from off all the Saints; and that not only when they come to Heaven, but in this World, as is promised in thefe Words: And the Rebuke of his People fhall be take away from off all the Earth.

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The laft thing in the Text is, (and that which carrieth great Affurances in it, as to the Glory here promised) for the Lord hath Spoken it. This is not Man, it is not I, nor any meer Creature that hath spoken this, but the Lord Jehovah; he that is not Man that he fhould Lie, nor the Son of Man that he shouldRepent: Hath he faid it, and will be not do it? Hath be fpoken it,ard fhall be not make it good? Yes he will. Num. xxiii. 19. Sure then nothing can appear more certain for the Confirmation of these Divine Truths than this doth, for the Lord bath Spoken it. And if fo, then no Oppofition, which may be made against this precious Doctrine, either from Devils or wicked Men, fhall overthrow it: No, nor the Quarrelings that do arife in fome of the dear Saints (who have no Light into this bleffed Kingdom) fhall not hinder it neither; becaufe the Mouth of the Lord hath Spoken this Word. Ifa. xxiv, 3.

This is the time, when it fhall be faid (by all those who have been looking for him) Lo, this is our God; (Our God through Chrift in an Everlasting Covenant) and we have waited for him, being fully affured, that he will come and fave us; this is the Lord, our God in the Mediator, we have waited for him. (They repeat the Words over again) The time which we have long waited, and earnestly prayed for, is now come; and therefore we will be glad, and exceedingly r joice, upon the Account of the Intereft which we have in his Salvation. v. 9. Well then! Seeing here are fuch plain Scriptures, and evident Demonftrations given us, in the Word of God, both to prove the Certainty and Manner of the Reign and Kingdom of Chrift upon the Earth,

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as has been fhewn, I do defire all Perfons, under what Denomination foever, (who profefs Chriftianity) seriously to confider of it, and have a care that in oppofing this Truth, thou art not found a Fighter against God; or at least one, who is not willing to believe, nor give Credit unto the Truth of all that the Lord by his Word hath fpoken. If no part of Scripture be vain, or fuperfluous, then here must be a Certainty, in fuch a Cloud of Teftimonies, which the Spirit of God hath given unto us, in both the Teftaments. What though good Men have different Thoughts and Apprehenfions, as to the manner of that promised Glory upon the Church; yet that fhould be no Difcouragement to us, fo as to hinder us from believing, that the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall have a Kingdom in this. World, and will visibly reign with the Saints upon the Earth.

Again, neither have we feen the full Extent of that Scripture yet fulfilled in Ezek. xxi. 26, 27: Thus faith the Lord God, remove the Diadem, and take off the Crown: this shall not be the fame, exalt bim that is low, and abafe him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overtarn it, and it fhall be no more until he come whofe Right it is, and I will give it him. Part of thefe Words have had its Fulfilment, with refpect unto the Jews, for thefe many Ages paft. How did the Lord remove the Diadem, and take off the Crown from that People? When the Scepter departed from them, and the Lawgiver from between their Feet. How many Turnings and Overturnings have they paffed under, fince Chrift's time? It fhall not be fo now as heretofore, becaufe the Lord will exalt him that is low,

low, (in his own and has been fo in the Eyes of others) And he will abafe, to lay him low, who now is high and lifted up. But to bring the matter nearer, with refpect unto us, under the Dif-. penfation of the Gofpel. What Changings, Turnings, and Overturnings, has there been, both in Church and State? Yet is not this Text wholly accomplished; upon the Account that thefe Overturnings will continue, and be more vifible in the World, before he comes whofe Right it is. Here will yet be fuch a Turning and Overturning, as will make the Hearts of Men to ake, and the. Ears of thofe that bear it to tingle. The Lord will overturn all thofe fuperftitious Forms, and invented Traditions of Men, now intruded in the Worship of God; and whatsoever was not according to his Will, or bis own Divine Inflitution. Yea,all thofe Diftinctions of Names, (which are Scriptureless) whereby the People of God are diftinguished from each other, fhall be overturned in that Day, when he that is Fefus Chrift) fhall come to take Poffeffion of his Kingdom, or the Power of Government put into his own Hands; because these Things are to continue (as before) in their overturning Condition, until be comes whofe Right it is, and the Lord will give it him; whofe coming we have ground to be lieve is near at hand, even at the very Door. And therefore this Text does hold forth the Coming, Reign, and Kingdom of Chrift, which by the Fa-. ther is to be given unto him, (and the Saints) at the time appointed; becaufe he it is, that bath right to it.

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