whom have occurred in this series of prophecies, as reigning with Christ long before them. This avas TAGIS N BEWIN first resurrection of the martyrs, might seem to contradict 1 Thess, IV, 16, and 1 Cor. xv, 23; but when closely examined, these passages will be found to refer to the general resurrection, immediately before the day of judgment, which is here considered the second, as this of the martyrs is termed the first. Compare also the original of Isa. XXVI, 14. 19. Blessed and holy, &c. They are blessed, because the second death hath no power on them, and they are accounted holy, because they are priests of God and Christ. They were the blessed of the Father before they laid down their lives for Christ and his Gospel; and all their employments now are reward and happiness to them. The second death according to verse 14. is the lake of fire; of which terrible and dreadful judgment, it would appear from these words, the disobedient citizens of Christ's kingdom are still in danger, as they had no part in the first resurrection. They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Here perhaps is the most proper place to illustrate this subject by a few remarks of importance. And first, tbat the Church of Christ has a right to expect a glorious Millennium, or the personal kingdom of Christ on earth, and that this idea is not the offspring of enthusiasm, but founded in the word of God, must appear evident from the following reasons. 1. We are assured by Daniel, that after the four universal empires, the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman, which are there symbolized by the parts of a human image, and by four Bp. of Hieradolis, Justinus Martyr, Irenæus, Tertullianus, Victorinus, Lactantius, all understood this passage of a corporeal resurrection. See Starkes Synopsis. This also was the case with Piscator, Brigt. mann, Joseph Mede, Gill, Bengelius, Yung and Dr. Clarke beasts chap. II. chap. vII. the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, the dominion whereof shall be gi ven to the Son of man, and all people, nations and languages shall serve and obey him. Now as the preceding four are temporal monarchies, homogeneity compels us, to consider the fifth empire one of the same nature; or otherwise these prophecies would appear an impenetrable riddle, and the words without a certain signification, of no use to the Church. 2. There are numerous passages in the writings of the other prophets, particularly in the prophecies of Isaiah, referring to this kingdom of the Lord, some of which I shall quote in their proper places. However, I must remark here, they do not seem to have possessed distinct ideas of the Millennian reign of Christ, and therefore do not sufficiently distinguish it from the following New heaven and new earth. 3. Christ and his apostles added little to what the ancient prophets had predicted, especially before the day of Pentecost. The Jews had mistaken the first Advent of their Messiah for the second, and expected he would then establish his temporal kingdom on earth, which was a chief cause of all their prejudices against Christ. This opinion was contrary to our Lord's mission at that time, the object of which was to establish the Christian dispensation, and to found his Church in the world. Sermons concerning his future kingdom, only would have raised enthusiasm, pride, and a passion for dominion in the Jews; and his followers themselves, would, probably, not have been the pious and patient sufferers which they actually were, had they been filled with this idea. He has, however, not neglected the subject totally, though he often gave evasive answers, when it was approached. That sentence in the Lord's prayer, Thy kingdom come, the passage Matt. v, 35. of Jeru salems great king; to sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to drink new wine in his Fathers kingdom, Matt. vin, 11. xxvi, 29; all these allude to that glorious time. The Lord informed his disciples, when they asked him concerning his future kingdom, Acts 1, 6. 7, that this subject did not belong to their mission; they therefore speak of it but sparingly, and much more of the times of trial and temptation preceding it. Yet in the following passages their prophetic vista is certainly directed to the Millennium, Acts in, 20. 21. Rom. viii, 20. 21. x1, 25. 26. &c. &c z though their views do not seem to be perfectly clear, and distinct. It was however necessary, that the archives of the Church should contain a clear testimony of this glorious epoch, in order that the Christians of the latter days might have intimation to prepare for this blessed change, and comfort themselves with these bright prospects of the Church. This divine testimony was given to St. John in the Revelation, and is here upon record for the benefit of our days. 4. These thousand years cannot be understood as referring to eternity, or the future world, because they are a fixed period, the expiration of which is mentioned in ver. 7. 8. and also what is to happen after that limited term of time. On the contrary, we have important reasons to maintain the literal sense of these words: * 1. Because it contains nothing incorrect, incongruous, or incompatible with the analogy of faith; 2. Because these ra xλia ET, thousand years are repeated six times in this place, and four times with the article ver. 3. 4. 5. 7, as a limited term of which nothing should be taken away; 3. Because the literal sense best harmonizes with the prophetic *President Nott's opinion, that these 1000 years are a prophetic number, and signify 060,000 years, is a mere promtus in rebus gerenulis at the moment, which should have remained in petto. chronology, the adopted periods of time, and the dif ferent prophetic parallel sidelines of this prophecy, which all terminate at the commencement of this glorious period; 4. Because it best corresponds with what is represented to be the final aim and purpose of the Lord, in other places of this prophecy: chap. XI, 15, That the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; That then the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets, chap. x, 7. Those who yet consider these thousand years as past, or at this time of prophetic illumination, can not sufficiently distinguish between the Millennium, the conflagration of the world, and the new heaven and earth, had best left this subject untouched, and acknowledged their inability. But secondly, as to the nature of the Millennium, and its various object of happiness in which its glory consists, we are authorized to expect the following particulars, well founded in Scripture. 1. Satan will be imprisoned with his angels, and all his influence in Church and state will totally cease. There will be no temptation, except what may arise from the human heart. 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ will manifest himself in some visible pavilion, establish a Theocracy among his people, and direct its administration in some such a manner, as the angel of Jehovah manifested himself in the camp of Israel, during their sojourning in the wilderness, and afterward in the tabernacle and temple. 3. The fulness of the Gentiles will gradually come into the Church of Christ, and the nations subject themselves to the Millennian government of the Lord; of which the conversion of all Israel shall be, as life from the dead, Rom. xI. 15. But the Pagan nations will not all be converted; for Gog and Magogs number at the expiration of the thousand years, is as the sand of the sea, aud they appear to have remained Pagans. 4. The people of God will have all civil and ecclesiastical power and authority in their hands, for they will be a great majority at that time; and the unbelievers and hypocrites will be few in number, as are now the faithful followers of the Lamb. Isa. x1, 9. Habak. 11, 5. The citizens of Christ's kingdom will enjoy many superior prerogatives to the christians of former ages, among which are, a greater measure of grace and divine knowledge; more faithful and able ministers of the gospel, and a more effective administration of Church government and discipline, Acts 11, 42-47. Zech. xiv, 16-19. Acts iv, 31-33. Public worship will be performed with more devotion, piety and zeal; and faith will ripen to the exercise of universal love and activity, for the happiness and salvation of all. Superstition, idolatry, tyranny over conscience, errour, corruptions of Christianity, and public scandal will be rare, and in a great measure disappear even in the Pagan world. However the saints will still live by faith, and not by sight, they will still carry on a spiritual warfare, & be liable to temptation. They will have more knowledge and evidence, concerning the invisible world, and future state of existence; numerous answers to their prayers, and many perhaps the power of working miracles. See Isa. LX. the whole chapter. Thus the ancient prophets inform us, that their temporal felicity will also be great. Though we readily disavow the idle dreams of Cerinthus, of the Jews and Turks who expect a paradise of sensual pleasures; yet it is reasonable to suppose, that in such a government as |