The glorious kingdom of Christ, described and clearly vindicated against the bold asserters of a future calling and reign of the Jews, and 1000 years before the conflagration and the asserters of the 1000 years kingdom after the conflagration : opening the promise of the new heaven and earth and the everlastingness of Christ's kingdom against their debasing it, who confine it to 1000 years ... : answering Mr. Tho. Beverley ... in his twelve principles and catechisms, &c. / by Richard Baxter ...

To Mr. Increase Mather, the Learned and Pious Rector of the New-England Colledge (now in London.)

Worthy Sir,

WHen it befalleth me to differ from men more judicious, it is not because I have a greater esteem of my Intellect than of theirs, but because that which to me seemeth Evidence constraineth me. And when I publish that seeming Evidence, it is not in expectation that any receive it, save those that by impartial deliberate thoughts, discerning it, are con∣vinced by it. I therefore craved your censure of these Papers, because I found that you had long and laboriously studied the Controversie, and were confident of much of that which I write against: I have read no man that hath handled it with so much Learning and Mo∣deration as you have done: And therefore I knew no man fitter, if I err, to detect my Errours. And as your Candour is rather for my publishing, than suppressing these Papers; so truly I am so far from disliking a true Confutation of this (or any Errour that I shall pub∣lish) that I therefore direct these lines to you, to intreat you, to write (whether I be alive or dead) your Reasons against any mo∣mentous or dangerous Errour which you shall here find: That as we thus friendly consent to such a Collision, or rather Communication, as may kindle some further sparks of light, the Readers may be helpt by comparing all, the better to find out the truth.

Seeing the chief Writers for the Millennium are Conformists, (and men of greatest Learning and Piety among them) as Jos. Mede, Dr. More, Dr. Twisse, (then conformable) Dr. Cressoner, Mr. Beverley, Mr. J. M. &c. I hope they will not take it for scan∣dalous in you and me herein to differ.

You have partly relieved me against some Accusations of Singu∣larity, when you tell your Readers (in the Preface to your English Mystery) that so many think the Thousand years past already, viz.

That Aretius, Bilney, Wickleffe, Walter Brute, Benno Cardin, &c. thought that the time began at the Birth of Christ.

That Viegas, Pererius, Augustine, Primasius, Beda, An∣dreas, thought it began at the Passion of Christ: That Junius, Pareus, Dent, Broughton, Bibliander, Usher, thought it be∣gan at the Destruction of the Jewish State: And that even Brightman, Majer, Forbes, Willet, Gerhard, Guild, Cart∣wright, as well as Alcaser Castiglius, begin it at Constantines

Inthronization;

which is as the same with John Fox (Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 111.) Grotius, Hamond, and many others that begin it at the Fall of Maxentius, or Licinius, or at Constan∣tines Edict for Christians, from whence to the Ottoman Empire say they was just a Thousand years:

And that the Conversion of the Jews will not be till the present state of this World be near its end, you hold with Beda, Estius, Acosta, Stella, Zanchy, Per∣kins, Vossius, Finnus.

And page 20. you believe that the 1290 years in Dan. are past long ago, as you say, Arnold. de Villa nova, The Author of the Problem Mr. Stevens, Mede, Alsted, Lud. Capellus, Dr. Twisse

(to whom I may add many more.)

Though you are plain, that the Thousand years are not before the Conflagration, and that Antichrist shall not be finally destroy∣ed till then (though Rome shall) and that a Thousand years will be but a part, a morning of the last great day, in which the Just only shall rise, and that the evening will be the time of the rising of the unjust to destruction, and the space that is till Christ give up the Kingdom, &c.]

Yet because oft-times you joyn the Jews earthly Monarchy so obscurely with the Resurrection, without mentioning the intervening Conflagration, I intreat you in your next to make your self therein more intelligible: And give some proof that the wicked shall not be raised nor judged till after the Thousand years, (neither those dead before, nor those found alive at the Conflagra∣tion: seeing many words of Christ and Paul seem plainly to assert a common Judgment, of Sheep and Goats, just and unjust, at the same time of Christs coming.

As to my Opinion, that Pagan Rome was Babylon, I have so much to say for it, as must not here be repeated: If that cast away my reputation with any or many, let it go: He is unworthy of reputa∣tion that cannot give it up for Truth. The Revelation hath much plain and easie to them that read it without prejudice (who I doubt are few.) I only fix on so much, and leave the rest to wiser men, with∣out dishonouring of their Judgments, so be it they give not up our Cause to the Papists, by laying it upon things doubtful or untrue, while we have sure and plain proof enough against them.

Your unworthy Fellow-servant, RICH. BAXTER.

London, Decemb. 19. 1690.