Christian Classics
‹ System of Doctrines, contained in Divine Relation, Explained and Defended. Shewing Their Consistence and Connexion with Each Other. Vol. I.
Contents
Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 1Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 2Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 3Section VI. Concerning Saving Faith. · Part 4Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 1Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 2Section VII. On the Sinner's Justification by Faith in Christ. · Part 3Section VIII. On the Covenant of Grace.Section IX. The Manner of the Dispensation of the Covenant of Grace, and the Preaching of the Gospel.Section X. That all true Believers, do persevere in Faith and Holiness, to the End of Life, and cannot fail of eternal Salvation.Section XI. Concerning Believers’ Assurance of Salvation.Section XII. On the Doctrine of Election.Section XIII. Whether any of the Redeemed arrive to Perfect Holiness in this Life.Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · Part 1Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · THE GENERAL JUDGMENT.Section XIV. Concerning Death; a Separate State; the General Resurrection and Judgment; and the eternal State of Happiness or Misery. · IMPROVEMENT.Section I. General Observations concerning the Church of Christ.Section II. Concerning the Officers of a Church.Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 1Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 2Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 3Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 4Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 5Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 6Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 7Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 8Section III. On the Public Institutions y Ordinances and Worship oj the Church. · Part 9Section IV. Concerning the Discipline of the Church.Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · Part 1Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · REFLECTIONS.Chap. VI. On Christian Practice. · CONCLUSION.A Treatise on the Millennium.Dedication.Introduction.Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 1Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 2Section I. In which it is proved from Scripture, that the church of Christ in to come to a state of prosperity in this world, which it has never yet enjoyed; in which it will continue at least a thousand years. · Part 3Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 1Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 2Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 3Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 4Section III. In which is considered which thousand years of the world will be the Millennium, and when it will begin.Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 1Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 2Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 3Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 4Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 5Section IV. In which is considered, what events are to take place, according to Scripture Prophecy, before the beginning of the Millennium, and to prepare the way for it. · Part 6

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Section II. In which it is considered, in what the Millennium will consist, and what will be the peculiar happiness and glory of that day, according to Scripture. · Part 4

4. The church of Christ will then be formed and regulated, according to his laws and institutions, in the most beautiful and pleasing order.

This is implied in what has been said; but is worthy of a more particular attention. There will then be but one universal, catholic church, comprehending all the inhabitants of the world, formed into numerous particular societies and congregations, as shall be most convenient, to attend on public worship, and the institutions of Christ. There will be no schisms in the church then: Christians will not be divided into various sects and denominations; but there will be a beautiful and happy union in sentiment, respecting the doctrines, worship and institutions of Christ; and all will be of one heart, and one way, and serve Christ with one consent. The of baptism and the , and all the institutions of Christ will be attended in due order, with solemnity and decency; and, being accompanied with divine efficacy, will have their proper and saving effect. All the children will be members of the church, having the initiating seal applied to them, and being solemnly devoted to Christ in baptism; and they will be faithfully brought up for him, and early discover their love to Christ, not only in words, but by obeying him, and attending upon all his institutions. The discipline which Christ has instituted will be faithfully practised, so far as there shall be any occasion; and christians, by watching over each other in love, and exhorting and admonishing one another, will prevent, or immediately heal all offences. In those respects, and in others not here mentioned, and perhaps not thought of, the church of Christ will then be the best regulated, most beautiful and happy society that ever existed, or can be formed on earth. “When the Lord shall build up Zion, the church, he shall appear in his glory.” Then, what is predicted in the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah, and many other prophecies of the same event, shall be fulfilled. God says to his church, “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee: Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, the joy of many generations. I will make the place of my feet glorious. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in tae hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.”

5. Then christianity will appear in its true beauty and excellence, and the nature and genuine effects of it will be more manifest than ever before, and the truth and amiableness of it be exhibited in a clear and striking light.

Christianity has been generally abused and perverted by those who have enjoyed the gospel; and but little of the genuine spirit and power of it has appeared among those who have been called christians. They have, the most of them, disobeyed the laws of Christ, and misrepresented and perverted the doctrines and institutions of the gospel, to accommodate it to the gratification of their selfishness pride and spirit; and have hated and persecuted one another unto death. They have divided into innumerable sects and parties, and have not been agreed in the doctrines and institutions of the gospel; but have embraced various and contrary opinions concerning them; and contended about them with wrath and bitterness. And the greatest part of the christian world have been as openly vicious, as the nations, if not more so. And as the name of God was blasphemed among the by the wicked lives of the Jews, so the name of Christ has been blasphemed by and others, through the various kinds of wickedness of those who have been called christians: “By reason of whom, the way of truth has been evil spoken of.” But few in the christian world, in comparison with the rest, have honoured Christ, by entering into the true meaning and spirit of the gospel, loving it and living agreeable to it: And those few have been generally hidden and overlooked by the multitude of merely nominal christians. And genuine christianity is not to be found in the faith and lives of those in general who assume the name of christians; but in the Bible only, since the most who profess to know Christ, by their doctrines and works do deny him.

But in the Millennium the scene will be changed, and christianity will be understood and acted out, in the true spirit and power of it, and have its genuine effect, in the lives and conduct of all. And when it comes to be thus reduced to practice by all, it will appear from fact and experience to have a divine stamp; and that the gospel is indeed the wisdom of God, and the power of God, forming all who cordially embrace it to a truly amiable and excellent character, and is suited to make men happy in this world, and that which is to come. Then all the disgrace and reproach, which has come upon Christ, his true followers, and upon christianity, by the wickedness and enmity of men, and the abuse of the gospel, shall be wiped off. This is foretold in the following words: “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee, and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land, where they have been put to shame. I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.” After the various schemes of false religion and have been tried by men, and the evil nature and bad effects of them discovered, real christianity, as it is stated in divine revelation, when it shall be understood by all, and appear in universal practice, will shine with peculiar lustre and glory; and the beauty and excellence of it, and the happiness it produces, will be more apparent and affecting, and be more admired, by the contrast, than if no such delusion and false religion had taken place. This is represented in the fast words of David the Prophet. “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”—When the sun rises in a clear morning, after a dark, stormy night, and the tender grass springs up fresh and lively, it is much more pleasant and refreshing, than if it had not been preceded by such a night.

6. The time of the Millennium will be in a peculiar and eminent sense and degree, The day of salvation, in which the Bible, and all the doctrines, commands and institutions contained in it, will have their proper and designed issue and effect; and that which precedes that day is preparatory to it, and suited in the best manner to introduce it, and render it eminently the gospel day.

The Spirit of God will then be poured out in his glorious fulness, and fill the world with and salvation, as floods upon the dry ground. All the preceding influences of the Holy Spirit, in converting and saving men, are but the first fruits, which precede the harvest, which will take place in that latter day. This was typified in the Mosaic institutions. The most remarkable festivals were the Passover, the feast of the first fruits, and the feast of Tabernacles, upon which all the males in Israel were commanded to attend at Jerusalem. The Passover typified the death of Christ, and he was crucified at the time of that feast. The feast of the first fruits, or Penticost, as it is called in the New Testament, typified the first fruits of the death of Christ, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the of men, when the gospel was first preached, which took place at the time of this feast.” The feast of tabernacles, which was “the feast of ingathering, which was in the end of the year,” was a type of the Millennium, which will be in the latter end of the world, when the great and chief ingathering of souls to Christ and his church shall take place. This is the time when Christ will see the fruit of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. To this day most of the prophecies of Christ, and salvation, and of the good things which were coming to the church, have their principal reference, and they will have their chief fulfilment then. This is the day which our Lord said Abraham saw with gladness and joy. “Your father Abraham rejoiced (or leaped forward) to see my day: And he saw it, and was glad.” He saw the day of Christ in the promise made to him. That in his seed all nations should be blessed; which will be accomplished in the Millennium, and not before. This is the day of Christ, the day of his great success and glory. This is the gospel day, in comparison with which all that precedes it, is night and darkness.

Then the chief end of divine revelation will be answered. It has been given with a chief reference to that time, and it will then be the mean of producing unspeakably greater good, than in all ages before. It will then be no longer misunderstood, and perverted and abused, to support error and wickedness; but be universally prized more than all riches, and improved to the best purposes, as the fountain of knowledge and wisdom. And all the institutions and appointed by Christ, will then have their chief effect. They will then be understood and take place in due order, and be attended in a proper manner; and the wisdom and goodness of Christ in ordaining them will be seen and experienced by all. Then the gospel will be preached, as it never was before, since the days of inspiration; in which the ministers of the gospel will be eminently burning and shining lights, exhibiting the important, affecting, glorious truths of the gospel, in a clear and striking light, and in a manner most agreeable and entertaining; which will fall into honest and good hearts, and be received with the highest relish and pleasure, and bring forth fruit abundantly. The will be a most pleasant and profitable day, and improved to the best and most noble purposes. And the administration of baptism and the , according to divine institution, will greatly conduce to the edification of the church, and appear in their true importance and usefulness, as they never did before j these and all other institutions of Christ, being appointed with special reference to that day, when they will have their chief use, and answer the end of their appointment.

As the winter in the natural world is preparatory to the spring and summer, and the rain and snow, the shining of the sun, the wind and frost, issue in the order, beauty and fruitfulness of the vegetable world; and have their proper effect in these; and the end of winter is answered chiefly in what takes place in the spring and summer, and the former is necessary to introduce the latter, and in the best manner to prepare for it: so in the moral worlds or the church of Christ, what precedes the Millennium is as the winter, while the way is preparing for the summer, and all that takes place has reference to that happy season, and is suited to introduce it in the best manner and most proper time, when the gospel, so far as it respects the church in this world, and all the institutions and of it, will have their genuine and chief effect, in the order, beauty, felicity and fruitfulness of the church.