Christs personall reigne on earth, one thousand yeares with his saints the manner, beginning, and continuation of his reigne clearly proved by many plain texts of Scripture, and the chiefe objections against it fully answered, explaining the 20 Revelations and all other Scripture-prophecies that treat of it : containing a full reply to Mr. Alexander Petrie ... who wrote against ... Israels redemption / by Robert Maton.

The second objection.

It is said, the envie of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off, &c.

Mr. Petrie's Answer.

1. The meaning is, whereas there had been contentions twixt the Tribes one against another, and both against the Gentiles, and Gen∣tiles against them both: under Christ shall be an end of that malice.

2. In the citation of this Prophecie the 14. ver. is omitted, because they cannot see, how it can be verified of the peaceable Kingdome, which they imagine: but seeing the words preceding and the words following containe one and the same Prophecy, and these words in the middle part cannot be exponed of that Monarchy, it is evident, that no part of this Prophecie can be understood of that Monarchy, but the meaning is plaine, if they be exponed of the Christian Church, thus, The Apostles flee, that is, quickly preach unto other Nations, and brought them in a short space unto the obedience of Christ: not going in troopes from Pro∣vince to Province, but at the same time they went one by one into severall Nations.

3. This ver. being omitted, the 15. ver. is quoted, and out of it they doe imagine, that a way shall be made for the Jewes through the Sea, and all floods shall be dried up before them. But if these words shall be exponed properly, what kind of Miracle shall that be? shall the Jewes who are scattered into all the corners of the Earth, have a dry passage through every river? and the Egyptian, or Red-sea be destroy'd? Or is it not rather in a spirituall sense, that the Lord will remove all im∣pediments, which may hinder the course of the Gospel: and he hath open∣ed a way into that Kingdome of Heaven, from which we were exiled in

Adam, and spirituall Pharaoh is drowned, or destroyed in the Red-sea or bloudy death of Christ; and by a mighty wind of preaching, the Lord hath made his power knowne every where, even as sensibly, as when be brought Israel out of Egypt.

Reply.

1. In this first part of your answer, you say, [that whereas there had been contentions, twixt the Tribes one against another, and both against the Gentiles, and the Gentiles against them both, under Christ shall be an end of that malice.] All which is very true, and here the Reader may see you at once confesse, all that we affirme: for you take Ephraim and Judah properly, and affirme, that they are againe to be united under Christ; and not onely one with another, but with the Gentiles too, all malice being laid aside. And is not this to say with us, that it is not yet fulfill'd? for can you prove that the twelve Tribes are already converted, and uni∣ted? or that all malice is at an end twixt Jewes and Gentiles? certainly you cannot, and what need we then any further wit∣nesse? for (habemus confitentem reum) your owne mouth hath con∣demned you, and quitted us.

2. This part of your answer hath no relation to the objection, but is a quarrell against us for omitting the 14. ver. in the citation of this Prophecie, which we did you say [because we saw that it could not be verified of the peaceable Kingdome which wee imagine.] But this Kingdome is plainly held out unto all in the word of God, and is not the fruit of our imagination, which is nothing worth but as it is enlightned from hence. And though the 14. ver. will not consist with the peace of this Kingdome, yet it will very well consist with the returne of the Iewes before this Kingdome, who in their passage to their Land may have many particular victories over their Enemies, as well in this returne, as in that out of Egypt onely; and this is all that the 14. ver. doth shew, with which the verses preceding and following speaking onely of their re∣turne (and alledgd to shew their returne) doe better agree then with the Apostles preaching of the Gospel to severall Nations, whereof there is not a word spoken in this verse, nor in any other that I have alledg'd: and seeing you have interpreted Judah and Ephraim in the 13. ver. of the Iewes in opposition to the Gentiles, h•••• could you expound the 14. verse where the same persons are

meant of the Apostles? or understand by their spoyling them of the East, the preaching of the Gospel?

3. That the tongue of the Egyptian sea shall be utterly de∣stroyed, and the river give a passage to the Iewes (as Iordan did in time past) is the expresse word of God in this chapter, and is the hand of the Lord shortned, thinke you, that he cannot doe such Miracles now, as he did heretofore? or is his mind changed, that he will not doe what he hath said? or hath he forgotten what he spake by the Prophets so long agoe? I know you dare not affirme ought of this, and yet surely some such impious thought doth seeme to be the best ground that you have, for the strange metamorphosis that you make of this Prophecie, by your mysticall application of it: For [what kind of Miracle say you, shall that be? shall the Jewes who are scattered into all corners of the Earth, have a dry passage through every river? and the Egyptian or Red-sea be dryed up?] But you forget your selfe, for the text saith [River] not [Rivers] and the [the River] is in the Scripture by way of excellency put for Euphrates, and yet admit it were in the Text, as you say; it were but the reiteration of the same Miracle, and cannot God as well make all rivers yield them a drie passage as any one river? hath he power to doe it once, and hath he not power to doe it againe? yea as oft as he pleaseth? or can he not doe greater Miracles then any here foretold? or then any that he hath hitherto done? Why then should your Faith straine thus at a gnat, at the drying up of a river, or the destroying of the tongue of the Egyptian Sea; when as it can so easily swallow a Camel, in destroying the plaine history of Gods word, by incredible alle∣gories, and incongruous interpretations?