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.

Israel's Redemption.

Another reason which makes for our Apostles, [ 8] is the answer our Saviour gave the sonnes of Zebedee, when they besought him, that one might sit on his right hand, * 1.1 and the other on his left in his Kingdom (or as Saint Marke paraphraseth it, in his glory) ye know not, said he what ye aske: this reproofe you will grant, goes neerer to the quicke then that before used to the Apostles; and yet if you marke what follows, you shal find, that the matter of their peti∣tion is allow'd of, and onely the motives thereof condemned, to wit, their ambition in seeking the highest roome; and their unad∣visednesse in supposing, that Christ could then give that to any, which none could have but they for whom it was from all eternity prepared of his Father. And therfore seeing this is, all, * 1.2 that these two were rebuk't for by such a sharpe reply, how can wee mistrust that more then this should be included in a milder answer?

Mr. Petrie's Answer.

1. These two spake of Christ's Kingdom in his glory: and therefore we may justly thinke, that they meaned of his greatest glory, or of his Kingdom of Heaven; and not of an earthly Kingdom. 2. If Christ in his answer had spoken of an earthly Kingdom, how was it not in his power to choose his Princes in that Kingdom? and seeing they were only taxed for their ambition and unadvisednesse concerning the glorioas Kingdom of Christ, and the Apostles were taxed for their curiosity con∣cerning the particular time of that Kingdom, how shall we mistrust that they understood any other Kinngdom?

Reply.

1. Not this reason, nor any other was brought to shew what Kingdom the Apostles meant, which interpreters grant to be an earthly Kingdom: but to shew they did not thinke amisse in looking for such a Kingdom, which is that that interpreters doe accuse them of; and that because our Saviour gave them such an answer: from which answer, my foregoing reason doth shew, that no such harsh conclusion doth arise; seeing the Apostles are not excepted against by our Saviour, for not rightly understand∣ing that about which they askt: but onely for seeking to know more in it then is fitting they should know. And this reason is al∣ledg'd for the same purpose. For whereas our Saviour gave a shar∣per answer here to the sonnes of Zebedee, then he did to the Apostles, and yet granted withall, that the thing they spake for should be given to some, it is altogether unlikely that where he used a milder reproofe, he did therby deny, that the thing which was askt should at any time be done: especially seeing in both answers, it was for the motives of their asking onely, and not for the matter, that they were reprehended. And therefore you having not answered ought to the force of this reason, but onely caught at that which was not intended; I might well passe by all that you have thus impertinently spoken; but yet I will say somewhat to it, though not much. First, then I grant that these sonnes of Zebedee [spake of Christ's glorious Kingdom, and that the Apostles un∣derstood the same Kivgdom:] but I conclude not from hence (as you doe) that this Kingdom shall not be on earth (which expositours say, as well these, as the Apostles did meane) and that because Christ shall come in glory, and reigne in glory, as you may see Mat, 16. verse 27, 28. 2 Thess. 1. verse 7, 8, 9, 10. Heb. 1. verse 6. Jude, 14, 15. ver. Rev. 11. verse 15. chap. 15. verse 4. Psal. 72. Psal. 102. verse 13. &c. Isa. 2. verse 2, 3, 4. Zech. 14. verse 4, 5. &c. But I thus conclude from hence against your answer to my former reason: that seeing the Apostles meant the same Kingdom, that these two did; therefore they meant a Kingdom which should be, and not a Kingdom which should not be.

2. But, if Christ in his answer had spoken of an earthly King∣dom, how, say you, was it not in his power to choose his princes in that Kingdom? And how doth it appeare that he spake

rather of an earthly Kingdom, then of one in Heaven, if we say he had this power? for why he should have this power on earth, rather then in Heaven, you cannot conceive. And seeing you would have the reader take this for a currant argument from you to shew that Christ in his answer to these Zebedites did not speake of an earthly Kingdom: to wit, because he seemed to deny that he had power to choose his princes therein; will you your selfe take it for a currant argument from us, to shew that Christ did speake of an earthly Kingdom, if he had power to choose his princes therein? if you will not, then you would have the reader to esteem better of your argument then you your selfe doe. And if you will, you must needs grant, that you have herein argued a∣gainst your selfe. For whereas our Saviour said, it is not mine to give, he meant not that he had nothing to doe in the giving of it But this he meant, that it was not his to give indifferently to any that should aske it, (as the words, which you have omitted in this reason, doe shew) for he could give it to none but those to whom the Father had eternally appointed it to be given; and to them he could, and should give it. For the Father giveth it by the sonne in the temporal accomplishment of it: and the Sonne giveth it from the Father according to the eternall appointment of it; as the text it selfe in the original clearly shews. For it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; It is not mine to give, but to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 20.21 22. ch. 10.37.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 20.23.