Scripture-prophecies opened which are to be accomplished in these last times, which do attend the second coming of Christ : in several letters written to Christian friends / by E. Avery.

The first Question:

How it can be said that when the Saints depart out of the land of their nativity, they go unto their own Country, if it be to be understood of a local separation.

Unto this I answer, The Land of our nativity is not their own Country to the Saints, if in such a place they are in bondage: for how was the land of Egypt the own Coun∣try to the children of Israel, though it was the land of their nativity, and so was Babylon to many of the people of God; but the land of Canaan was the place of their rest: and so

God hath prepared a wildernesse for the Saints to depart into, when he shall gather them from the land of their Captivity: not a wildernesse where there is want of all things, but where there shall be abundance both of spiritual and temporal en∣joyments, as can be proved by the Scriptures before quoted; which is an undoubted truth, as well in a literal sense as spi∣ritual. I say, it may appear to be a wildernesse for the present to the carnal sense, but it shall not be so long; for the Scri∣pture doth prefix a time, Rev. 12. a time, and half a time; that is, three yeers and a half: and then, when that time is accom∣plished, as in Isai. 31. the solitary places and the wildernesse shall rejoyce for them, and the desarts shall blossome like a rose.