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.

Mr. Petrie's answer.

The words Heb. 2.8. are, Thou hast put all things under his feet. For in that he hath pu•• all things in subjection under him, be left nothing that is not put under him, but we see not yet all things put under him. Here is a twofold Ʋniversality, all things are put under him, and, nothing is not put under him. What more would you have? The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 words say, all things are not put under him. If the last words says••, they must be contrary to the former words: but the words are, we see not all things put under him: neither is the word, Receive, there which is the point in hand. Now these two are farre different, we see not all things put under him, and he hath not received all things to be un∣der him. So this Text in stead of proefe convin••eth the foolish Ten••••. It may be this is more cleare in c. 10.12, 13. where it is said, He set downe on the right hand of God (There the height of glory) expecting from benceforth till his enemies be made his foote stoole. What is here for an earthly Throne, or another Throne? his enemies are made sub∣ject unto him, even bis greatest enemies, as it is granted before: but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 long as this world continues, new enemies shall be arising, and can be not subdue them as he hath done others, unlesse he erect and sit on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earthly Throne?

Reply.

You have here strived all you could to obscure two texts, which I have quoted in the margine of my booke out of the 2 and 10 chap. of the Epist. to the Heb. that Heb. 2. ver. 8. is this, Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feete. For in that he put

all in subjection under him, he left nothing (faith the Apostle) that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. Out of which words you frame your objection thus [Here is a two-fold Ʋniuersality, all things are put under him, and, nothing is not put under him. What more would yee have? The last words say, [All things are not put under him] This is your formall argument, and your wise answer is this, [If the last words say so, they must be con∣trary to the former words: but the words are, we see not all things put under him.] No, the words are, But now we see not yet all things put under him. And if they were as you here alledge them, why did you object before, that the last words say, [All things are not put under him] seeing you deny that they say so in your answer? Is not this, first to speak otherwise then the text speakes, and then to reprehend your self for mis-alledging of it? yet, this I hope, is neither false Logique, nor false Divinity in you. And what, I pray, is the meaning of these words? But now we see not yet all things put under him, if this be not the meaning of them, that all things are not put under him? And yet (by your leave) they are not contrary to the former words: for the Apostles former words, have relation to the Propheticall expression of the Psalmist, who speakes of that which was to come, as if it had been then done. Who foreshews onely what great power was designed unto our Swiour by the Father; and not when the manifestation and ex∣ercise thereof should be. So that the whole meaning of Saint Pauls words is this, For in that God (hath fore-appointed to) put all in subjection under Christ, he (hath) left nothing, (he hath ex∣empted no creature,) that is not (to be) put under him. But now we see not yet (this fulfilled, we see not yet) all things (actually) put under him. But we see (already) Jesus—for the sufferings of death erowned with glory and honour. And thus the Apostle shews what of that Prophecy of David was then fulfilled in Christ after his ascenfion, to wit, this; that he was then crowned with glory and ho∣nour. And what was not then fulfilled, to wit, this; the actuall subjection of all creatures unto him: which is not to be fulfilled till the manifestation of [the world to come,] to which time it is that the Apostle referres the accomplishment and exercise of Christs dominion over the creatures, which the Psalmist reveales; as the comparing of the 5. verse of this chapter, with that which

follows, dothevidently declare. For having said in the 5. ver. For unto the Angels hath be not put in subjection the world to come, whereof he speakes, he presently assumes, But one in a certaine place testifi••d, saying, What is man that thou art mindfull of him, or the Sonne of man that thou visitest-him? &c. And thus this text shews not our Tenet to be foolish, but you to be as fallacions in see∣king to obscure it, as your owne mouth doth pronounce you pro∣phane, in calling that truth foolishnesse, which Christ, the Pro∣phets, and Apostles have so plainely, and plentifully set forth. In the other Text, Heb. 10. ver. 12, 13. it is said, But this man af∣ter he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for ever, sate downe at the right hand of God, from benceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foot∣stoole; that is, looking for the time in whith his enemies shall be subdued unto him, as then. ver. of the 110. Psal. doth ma∣nifest, where the words are these. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand (donec ponam) untill I shall make, (not, un∣till I have made) thy enemies thy foot stoole. So that he fits not there while it is doing, bu••••untill it must be done, untill the time or∣dained for the accomplishment of it. All then that the Apostle affirmes in this text likewise to be already done is this, That Christ is sate downe at the right hand of God, as was foretold; but as for the other part of this prophecy, he saith plainely, That Christ now expects onely when it shall be fulfilled; and if this be not sufficient to make you confesse, that the enemies which David here prophecied of, are not yet made subject unto Christ; that which follows in the Psalme will put it beyond exception, for he nominates what enemies are here meant, the time when, and the manner how they are to be made Christ's footstoole. The enemies he speakes of, are men, the Kings and Heads of the earth, as we finde ver. 5, 6. The time when, is [the day of his pow∣er.] The day in which the Jewes shall be as willing to receive him, as in the day of his poverty they were to be rid of him; as we learne ver. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the dry of thy power. The manner how, is by an eminent destruction brought on these Kings, and their forces, as the 5 and 6. verses doe informe us also: which being compared with the latter part of the 19. chap. of the Revel. doe plainely shew that this destruction which David foretels, is the very same with that which Saint John

therereveales: for that is to be effected at our Saviours descen∣ding from heaven, and so is this; for it is to be at his comming againe from the right hand of the Father. And therefore here is a good ground too for another Throne, and that a Throne on earth. And your answer to this text is a meere contradicting of it; for where as the Apostle saith, That Christ being sate downe at the right hand of God, expects till his enemies be made his footstoole. You say plainely, [that his enemies are made subject unto him, even his greatest enemies.] And for want of scripture to justifie this an∣swer, you subjoyne, [as it is granted before,] and so father it on me. But you shew not where it is granted, neither can I imagine what you meane by it, unlesse you meane that it is granted by my alledging of the same Apostles words, Phil. 2. ver. 15. to wit, That Christ having (by his passion) spoiled principalities and pow∣ers, made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in himselfe. But surely though it may be true, That Christ after the accom∣plishment of the worke of our Redemption on the crosse, trium∣phed over the evill spirits in his owne person, making a shew of them openly, that is, leading them captives in the time of his tri∣umph; (as some expositours understand it) yet it is not true, that these principalities are the enemies recorded in the 110. Psalme, whence Saint Paul tooke the foresaid text. Neither is it true, that the evill Angels were then held in a continued subje∣ction by Christ, for the space of a 1000. yeares, (as they shall be in the time of his reigne on earth, when be casts them into the bottomlesse pit, when he shuts them up from deceiving the Nati∣ons, as it is foretold Revel. 20.2, 3.) For as before Christs pas∣sion, Satan could no more deceive the elect, then he can since; so hee hath been no more strairened of his liberty in walking up and downe in the earth, nor of his power in tempting men un∣to sinne, since Christs triumphing over him in his owne person; then he was before, (if he hath so much) for it is of the time un∣der the Gospell that it is said, Revel. 12.12. Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea, for the devill is come downe unto you, ha∣ving great wrath, because he knoweth that be hath but a short time. 'Tis of this time, hat Saint Peter saith, Our Adversary the Devill, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom be may devoure, 1. Ep. chap. 5. ver. 8. And 'tis that we may be able to stand against

the wiles of this enemy, that Saint Paul adviseth us, to put on the whole armour of God, Ephes. 6.11. &c. Yea it is in the Christian Church, that some were to give h••ed to seducing spirits, and doct••ines of devils, as Saint P••ul writes, 1 Tim. 4.1. and that there should be false teaobers who privily should bring in damnab••e be••esies, even denying the Lord that bought them. As Saint Peter writes, 2. Ep. 2. chap. 1 ver, &c. And they are the Christians 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the last dayes, of whom S. Paul foretells, 2 Tim. 3.1. That they shall be lovers of their owne selves, covetous, boasters, prond, blasphe∣mers, disobedient to Parents, unthankefull, unboly, without naturall affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitou••s, beady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God; having a forme of godlinesse, but denying the power thereof. And if these be the fruites of Satan's subjection and imprisonment, what then are the fruites of his power and free∣dome? Doubtlesse Satan cannot be held in subjection, to be bound up, (as he must be in the time of Christs reigne) as long as now enemies doe arise against Christ in his poore members, seeing it is onely through the liberty and power that this Arch-makebate hath in the world, that good men suffer for the truth, and evill men oppose it; that I say, men are kept from a generall peace and unity over the whole earth. And therefore in confessing, [that new enemies still arise against Christ] you doe statly gaine∣say, what you before falsly affirmed, to wit, that the evill An∣gels Christs greatest enemies are now held in subjection by him, that they are now deprived both of their power and liberty to doe hurt, to rebell against Christ, and to raise persecution against those that are Christs; as they shall be, I say not in this time of the world, but in that in which Christ shall reigne personally on earth. Yea if Christs enemies mentioned in the foresaid Psalme, be now made his footstoole, if they be now wholly subdued unto him, (for this is the meaning of their being made his footstoole) how can new ones still arise?