THE COMING AND KINGDOM OF CHRIST.
The following confession of faith, signed by John Bunyan and forty other elders, deacons, and brethren, and approved by more than twenty thousand others, was presented to King Charles II., in London, 1660. They declared, “We are not only resolved to suffer persecution to the loss of our goods, but also life itself, rather than decline from the same.” Where are the Baptists of 1660? “Art. 22. We believe that the same Lord Jesus who showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3), which was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:51), shall so come in like manner as he was seen go into heaven. Acts 1:9, 11. And when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory (Col. 3:4); for the kingdom is his, and he is the governor among the nations (Ps. 22:28), and king over all the earth. Rev. 5:10. The kingdoms of this world (which men so mightily strive after here to enjoy) shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. Rev. 11:15. For all is yours (ye that overcome this world), for ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 1 Cor. 3:22, 23. For unto the saints shall be given the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven. Dan. 7:27. Though, alas! how many men be scarce content that the saints should have so much as a being among them; but when Christ shall appear, then shall be their day, then shall be given unto them power over the nations, to rule them with a rod of iron. Rev. 2:26, 27. Then shall they receive a crown of life, which no man shall take from them, nor they by any means be turned or overturned from; for the oppressors shall be broken in pieces (Ps. 72:4), and their vain rejoicings be turned into mourning and lamentations, as it is written Job. 20:5, 7. “We believe that there will be an order in the resurrection; Christ is the first fruits, and then next, or after, they that are Christ’s, at his coming; then, or afterward, cometh the end. Concerning the kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we do believe that he is now in Heaven at his Father’s right hand, so we do believe, that at the time appointed of the Father, he shall come again in power and great glory; and that at or after his coming the second time, he will not only raise the dead, and judge and restore the world, but will also take to himself his kingdom, and will, according to the Scriptures, reign on the throne of his father David, on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem; forever. “We believe that the kingdom of our Lord will be a universal kingdom, and that in this kingdom the Lord Jesus Christ himself will be alone visible, supreme king of the whole earth. “We believe that as this kingdom will be universal, so it will be also an everlasting kingdom that shall have no end, nor cannot be shaken; in which kingdom the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus shall receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls; where the Lord is they shall be also. “We believe that the New Jerusalem that shall come down from God out of Heaven, when the tabernacle of God shall be with them, and he will dwell among them, will be the metropolitan city of this kingdom, and will be the glorious place of residence of both Christ and his saints forever, and will be so situated as that the kingly palace will be on Mount Zion, the holy hill of David, where his throne was.”— Crosby’s Hist. of Baptists.