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SERMON IX.

"WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF

PROPHECY," &c.

IN this fermon is contained, a defcription of the kingdom of Chrift on the earth, one thousand years, after he has overthrown all the kingdoms of this world and taken them for himfelf and the faints.

N the foregoing fermons it has been plainly proved from the prophecies, that Jefus Chrift will in the latter days ftand on the earth, and that he will raife all the dead faints, and change the living ones, and that they will reign with him on the earth, without any interruption one thousand years, before the day of judgment. This is what I am now to describe.

In the prophecies where thefe things are mentioned, there is an order obferved, which if attended too,will fhew us the propriety of that which the Lord fays fhall certainly come to pafs. When Chrift defcribed his kingdom, he compared it to the grain, which grows first the blade, next the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 26, 27, 28, “And he said, so is the kingdom of God, as if a man fhould cat feed into the ground; and should fleep, and rife night and day; and the feed fhould fpring and grow up, he knoweth not how, for the earth bringeth forth fruit of herfelf; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."

Here are three states of the corn-the blade-the ear, and the full corn in the ear-From the time that Christ begun to preach, to this day, his kingdom on earth has

been in the blade; there are none who attain to more than the apoftles and primitive faints attained too; but few if any attain to what they did in degree; though many have the fame in nature; none expect, or can expect more than they had. After all that has been faid

or done we are no more than in the blade.

At the refurrection of the just, there will be more than we can have in this ftate; at that time the kingdom will be in the ear, all the faints who are raised, or changed, will have more than can poffibly be enjoyed in this world and will have it for a longer time than any ever had it here but the kingdom will not appear as the full corn in the ear, untill the new heaven and earth is created, which will not be till after the day of judgment; when - all the wicked will be punifhed with the fecond death; then the new Jerufalem will come down from God out of heaven, with walls of Jasper, gates of Pearl, and Streets of Gold; where the nations of them that are faved, shall dwell, where there fhall in no wife enter any thing that worketh abomination or maketh a lye. In this world the faints, (who are children of this kingdom,) fhine like candles, or lamps,and need to be often trimed, in the thoufand years, or ear state of the kingdom; they who turn many to righteousness will fhine like the ftars in the firmament; but in the new heavens, and earth beyond the thousand years, and day of judgment, the righteous will fhine brighter than stars,even as bright as the fun forever; this will be the brightest they can be brought to by him who faves by his blood. Chrift fays of fuch, Matth. xiii. 41, 43, "The fon of man fhall fend forth his angels, and they fhall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and fhall caft them into a furnace of fire; there fhall be wailing and gnafhing of teeth. Then shall the righteous fhine forth as the fun in the kingdom of their father. Who hath ears to

hear let him hear."

One great difficulty which has rifen in my mind, and in the minds of others, concerning the thousand years of - Chrift's reign upon earth,is not diftinguishing between the

power which Chrift now has and the power which he will take to himself when he appears the fecond time.

We also mistake by not confidering the difference there is between the kingdom in the blade and in the ear. I have formerly thought Chrift would do that before the first refurrection, which he will not do till all the faints in their graves are raised to meet him in the air to reign with him on the earth.

Jefus and his apoftles have told us that we are not to look for the glory of his kingdom in this world. Chrift told Pilate his kingdom was not of this world; he meant, that though he fhould hereafter reign on the earth, it would not be until he had gone to heaven and returned. Luke xviii. 36, "Jefus answered, my kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my fervants fight, that I fhould not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence." Here he speaks of a kingdom which he shall have in an other ftate beyond this. When the high priest adjured him to tell them whether he were the Chrift, (or Meffiah,) or not, it is faid, Matth. xxvi. 64, "Jefus faith unto him; thou haft faid, nevertheless I fay unto you, hereafter fhall ye fee the fon of man fetting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." At this time, when he comes in the clouds of heaven, he will take the kingdom, and have the whole command all over the world. Paul fpeaks of Chrift's kingdom at his coming, 2 Timothy iv. I, "I charge thee therefore, before God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." Here his kingdom is mentioned with his appearing.

When Paul speaks of a general fubjection to Jefus Christ all over the world, he mentions it as fomething to be done in the world to come, and not in this; Heb. ii, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, "For unto the angels hath he not put in fubjection the world to come, whereof we now speak; but one in a certain place teftified, faying, what is man that thou art mindful of him; or the fon of man that thou vifiteft him? thou madeft him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedft him with glory and honor,

and didft fet him over the works of thine hands: Thou haft put all things in fubjection under his feet: for in that he put all things in fubjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him: but now we fee not yet all things put under him: but we fee Jefus, who was made a little lower then the angels for the fufferings of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God fhould tafte death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many fons unto glory, to make the captain of their falvation perfect through fufferings."

In this place Paul fays, he speaks of the world to come. Now we do not fee all things in fubjection to Adam, an*gels,nor Chrift; though Chrift has all power in heaven and earth,yet we feemillions who are not in fubjection to him, but are at this day fighting against him and his children. There will be a time when the birds, beafts, fishes, and men, will all be in as complete fubjection to Chrift, as they were to Adam, when God gave him the dominion over the fowls, beafts, fishes, and every living creature. This was Paul's comfort, that he faw Jefus who would have the world to come all in fubjection. This world to come will commence at the refurrection of the juft. This Christ has declared, Luke xx. 34, 35, 36, "And Jefus, anfwering, faid unto them, the children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they which fhall be accounted worthy to obtain that WORLD,and the refurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the refurrection."

I think these things must appear plain to every one who reads the fcriptures, and compares these things with what is plainly revealed concerning thofe great and important things.

My defign in this fermon is to defcribe the Kingdom of Christ on earth a thousand years, this is the Kingdom he taught his difciples to pray for, faying, "thy king-. dom come, thy will be done on earth,as it is in heaven." This is what is meant by the Millennium. I do not

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choofe to use this word, as it is not in the bible; it means a thousand years. This is the expreffion ufed, and I choose to make use of it as it is recorded in Revelation "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thou fand years."

XX. 4,

This will be the happiest time any of the fons of Adam ever faw; and the longest time of glory and joy that has ever been fince the world was; yet with all its glory it will only be introductory to a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

In order to defcribe this glorious kingdom of Christ that it may be understood, I shall speak of several things, which will then take place.

1. Jefus Chrift will be the king over all the earth; and be acknowledged and fubmitted too as fuch.

This is mentioned in Zechariah xiv. 9, "And the Lord fhall be king over all the earth; in that day fhall there be one Lord, and his name one.” There are fev. eral things peculiar to a king which are found in Chrift,. who will give a law which will be received in all the earth.

There are four ways in which men become kings; 1. By birth-2. By gift-3. By conqueft-4. By choice. In all these ways Chrift is king-he was born king of the Jews; his father gave him all power in heaven and earth; he overcome the world, and God, angels, and faints have made choice of him, to be the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Jefus Chrift poffeffes all the qualifications neceffary to make his fubjects fafe and happy in the thousand years.

1. Age is neceffary in a king: he is now the ancient of days.

2. The certainty of his life is another great thing. He fays, I am he that was dead and I am alive, and behold I live forever more.

3. Wifdom and knowledge are neceffary for a king, thefe Chrift has; in him are hid all the treasures of wifdom and knowledge.

4. Power is neceflary for a king, this Christ has now; All power is given to him in heaven and earth, and at

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