Chap. II. The Restoration of Israel.

THat the Restoration of Israel will be at th• time, when the Nations round about, a•… judged in the Valley of Jehosaphat; and where∣as the Lord saith, Assemble your selves, and com• up all ye heathen round about, Joel 3.11,12. This i• spoken to those that have Israel's Land in the• possession, and unto them that are their Oppre•∣sors: And the reason why they are termed Hea•∣then, was because there was no other then, bu• Jews and Heathen; and that then not only th• back-sliding Christians, which were afore pro∣phesied of, were so term'd, but also the best o• Saints, that came in by Christ of the Gentil• race, are likewise termed Heathen, as in 2 Es• 2.34. I say unto you, O ye Heathen, that he• and understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall gi• you everlasting rest. And what the Law and Go•∣pel saith, it saith to those that are under th• Law and Gospel, Rom. 3.19. Rom. 2.13,14, 〈◊〉 as Christians and Turks: For the backslidi• Christians, are those that are under the condem•∣ing power of the Law and Gospel; and also th• Turks acknowledge the true God, but in Wor• deny him, and therefore fall under the co• demning power of the Moral Law. And where the Lord saith, Come up all ye Heathen, Joel 3. 〈◊〉 Page  5now the word all, in Scripture, doth not include the whole, and the Conversion of Israel will also be, When Saviours come upon Mount Sion, then the Kingdom will be the Lord's, Obad. v. 21. Then it is Israel shall see him whom they have pierced, and mourn over him, Zech. 12.10. Rev. 1.7. And after the Lord descends upon Mount Olivet, Je∣rusalem will be built, never more to be destroyed, Zech. 14.10,11. and the Wicked never more to have a prevailing power against Israel; And the Lord Christ saith, That Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gen∣tiles be fulfilled, Luke 21.24. Which shews the Gentile Power will be wholly taken away be∣fore Jerusalem will be restored.

Accordingly St. Paul, where he speaks of the Conversion of the Jews, turns them to Isaiah, where the Lord is there declared to come to judge the World, Rom. 11.26. Isa. 59.17,18,19,20. and God by the same Prophet, ordered Procla∣mation to the end of this world▪ Say ye to the daughter of Sion, behold thy Salvation cometh, be∣hold his reward is with him, Isa. 62.11. Which shews, their Salvation is not to be, till the time of the power of this wicked world is ended; and therefore it is said, when the Lord comes, that the Beast, and false Prophet will be taken alive, and cast into a lake of fire burning with brim∣stone, so as time for them, and the wicked of this World, shall be no longer, Rev. 19.20. There∣fore St. Paul bids the Church, 1 Tim. 6.18,19. Do good, that they be rich in good works, ready toPage  6distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves, a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Thereby shewing there is another time after this time before Eternity, in which the Saints will be blessed, and then it is that Israel will be saved with an everlasting salvation, Is. 45.17. the which will be at the time of the restoration of all things, Acts 3.20,21,22. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the Heaven must receive, until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of a•… his Prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the Fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your Brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And now is this Scripture ready to be fulfilled.