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.

Reply.

Surely they that deny the generall conversion of the Jewes, as you doe, cannot pray at all for this conversion. But they that beleeve it, may confidently beseech God for it; and be confi∣dent too, that they are delightfully heard of him in it. For as we ought alwayes to pray for that which may be done we know not how soone; so though our prayers cannot hasten the accomplish∣ment of any future blessings to our selves or others, yet we are daily heard in them; seeing by such a manifestation of our obedi∣ence towards God, who taught us to pray for them; and of our faith and hope in his promises, which reveale them; and of our charity towards all that are to be partakers of them; we daily improve Gods mercy towards us here, and our owne weight of glory with him hereafter. And whereas you seeme to lay claime to heaven for your selfe and others of your minde onely; and to shut us out of it, because according to the tenour of Gods plaine revelations, we affirme, That the raised Saints are to beginne the eternity of their immortall and glorified estate, in a regall condition here on earth with Christ; where He and They have been formerly so much reviled, and so vilely handled: whereas I say, you would for this exclude us from having any portion of the joyes of heaven with you, till the 1000 yeares reigne be finisht; Be it knowne unto you, That we hope through Gods free mercy towards us in Christ Jesus, to be received into the society of the Saints in heaven, even as others; if God hath ap∣pointed that our earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dis∣solved, before the appearing of our Lord Jesus; if not, we hope together with the whole number of the elect, to be made Inhabi∣tants of the new Jerusalem, in that time in which God hath pur∣posed to bring us thither, and not before. And we cannot con∣ceive, that we doe set our affections on things on earth, (in the

Apostles sense, Colos. 3.2.) when we doe with patience expect the accomplishment of the promises made to us in Christ, albeit they are in part to be fulfilled on this earth. And by the way, it is worth the Readers observation, That to confirme [your seeing e∣verlasting glory presently at hand,] you cite Heb. 11.13. where it is said, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seene them afarre off, &c. What! is to see the promises a farre off, all one, with the seeing of glory presently at hand? But you goe on, and tell us, that our Tenet [gives encouragement to the wicked, that they shall not be judged, nor their bodies tormented these thousand yeares to come yet.] Which is a confused and cor∣rupt report of our words: For though we say, That the last judgement of the wicked, the judgement of their bodies and soules together shall not be till the end of the thousand yeares reigne on earth; yet surely we beleeve even as others, That their soules are cast into hell, immediately after their departure out of their bodies. And doubtlesse, if they will not forsake their evill courses for feare of the imminent damnation of their soules; for feare of this partiall and particular judgement at their death, (which doth infallibly binde them over to the eter∣nall damnation of their bodies and soules together, at their ge∣nerall and contemporating judgement,) they will neither forsake their wickednesse the sooner for their ignorance, nor continue it the longer for their knowledge of the large space of time that is yet to precede their generall judgement. For what comfort can it be to them, that it shall be yet so long before their bodies be tortured in hell, when as their soules may suddenly be adjud∣ged to such torments as are agreeable to the number and nature of their sinnes: which the more and grea•• they are, the more and greater will the punishment of their bodies be too at the last? And therefore if you had said the truth, you would have acknowledged, that our Tenet doth warne all those that shall live in the time of the Jewes conversion and deliverance, not to oppose them, lest to the augmentation of their endlesse woe, they therby perish from the earth by a fearefull death. And i•• doth perswade men likewise, to take off their affections from things on earth, seeing it puts them in minde, that if they now walke

not after the flesh, but after the spirit; if they fashion not them∣selves to this present world, they shall together with their Savi∣our, be heires, and inheritours of the earth, when the whole creation shall be delivered from its bondage of corruption; and when by the meanes of Christs and their government on it, judge∣ment shall runne downe as waters, and righteousnesse as a mighty streame. And thus the impartiall reader may plainely see, what little al∣liance there is betwixt the title of your answer, and the contents of it; For you pretend to fetch him out of darkenesse into the light; but doe indeed lead him out of the light into darkenesse. And as the Syrians eyes were held by God, that they should not know the Prophet, though they heard, and followed him; so it hath been your utmost endeavour all along, to corrupt and dazle the readers judgement, that he might not know the truth of the Prophecie, that is set before his eyes, and publisht in his eares. Now the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded the light to shine out of darkenesse, shine in our hearts, that as of sincerity, as of God, we may give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That, Isay, without handling of the word of God deceitfully, we may by manifestation of the truth commend our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and domini∣on for ever and ever, Amen.

Glorificetur Deus, praedicetur veritas, exerceatur pietas, restituatur integritas.

Let God be glorified, truth taught, piety practised, righteousnesse restored.

Redeat Pax, regnet Rex, regat Lex.

Let peace returne, the King reigne, the Law rule.