Sect. 3. is, that the Secret of the Vocation of the Gentiles is in the Gospel made known,manifefted and declar'd; and therefore remains no longer a Mystery. The next thing under the Defignation of a MyStery in the above-mention'd Senfe is one Circumftance of the Resurrection. The Apoftle having no lefs clearly and folidly than largely reafon'd upon this Subject, (1 Cor. 15.) obviates an Objection or Scruple that might be rais'd. about the State of fuch as fhould be found alive on the Earth at the laft day. Behold, fays he, ver. 51,52. I flew you a MYSTERY, I impart a Secret to you; we shall not all fleep, or die, but we shall all be chang'd in a Moment, in the twinkling of an Eye; -the Dead fball rife, and we shall be chang'd. It is not the Doctrine of the Refurrection then, you fee, that is here call'd a My. ftery, but only this particular Circumftance of it, viz. that the Living fhall at the Sound of the laft Trumpet put off their Flesh and Blood, or their Mortality, without Dying, and be in an Instant render'd incorruptible and immortal, as well as thofe that fhall revive. In the fifth Chapter to the

Ephe

Ephefians, ver. 31, 32. we learn that Ch. 3. the mutual Love and Conjunction of Man and Wife is a Type of that indiffoluble Union which is between Chrift and his Church. This was queftionless a great Mystery before we were told it, but now there is nothing more intelligible than the Foundation of that Refemblance or Figure. The Kingdom of Antichrift in oppofition to the Gospel or Kingdom of Chrift is alfo call'd a Mystery, because it was a fecret Defign carry'd on infenfibly and by degrees but at length, all Obftacles being remov'd or furmounted, it appears bare-fac'd to the Light, and (as it was divinely fore-told) ceafes to continue a Mystery. Let no Man deceive you by any means, fays Paul to the Theffalonians, (2 Theff.2.3,4,5,6,7,8.) for that Day fhall not come except there be a falling away or Apoftacy first; and that Man of Sin be reveal'd, the Son of ·Perdition, &c. And now you know what with-holdeth, that he might not be reveal'd in his time; for the MYSTERY of Iniquity doth already work, only he who now hindreth, will hinder till he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked H 4

one

Sect.

one be revealed.

3.

These are all the Paffages relating to the fecond Head.

32. Myftery is, Thirdly, put for any thing vail'd under Parables or Enigmatical Expreffions in these parallel Places following. The first is in Mat.13.10; 11. The Difciples came and faid unto him, Why Speakest thou unto them in Pa rables? He answer'd and faid unto them, Because it is given to you to know the MYSTERIES of the Kingdom of Hea ven, but to them it is not given. The fecond Paffage is in Mark 4. 11. And Jefus faid to his Difciples, Unto you is given to know the MYSTERY of the Kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in Parables. The fame Words are repeated in Luk.8.10. And it is most evident from all of 'em, that those things which Chrift fpoke in Parables were not in themselves incomprehenfible, but myfterious to them only to whom they were not unfolded, that (as it is there faid) hearing they might not understand. It is now the moft ordinary Practice in the World for fuch as would not be understood by every one, to agree upona way of fpeaking peculiar to them

felves.

felves. Nor is there any thing more Ch. 3. eafy than the Explication which Chrift gave of these Parables at the Request of his Difciples.

33. There are but two Paffages on ly left, and Mystery in them has no reference to any thing in particular, buț it is put for all fecret things in its utmoft Latitude or Acceptation. The first Place is in 1 Cor. 13. 2. And tho I have the Gift of Prophecy, and underftand all MYSTERIES and all Knowledg; and tho I have all Faith fo that I could remove Mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing. The fecond, parallel to this, is in 1 Cor. 14. 2. He that speaketh in an unknown Tongue, Speaketh not unto Men but unto God; for no Man understandeth him, however. in the Spirit he fpeaketh MYSTERIES; that is, what is intelligible enough to him, are Secrets to fuch as understand not his Language.

34. Having fo particularly alledg'd all the Paffages where there is mention made of Mysteries in the New Teftament, if any fhould wonder why I have omitted those in the Revelation, to fuch I reply, that the Revelation

cannot

Far

Sect.3. cannot be properly look'd upon as a Part of the Gospel; for there are no new Doctrines deliver'd in it. from being a Rule of Faith or Manners, it is not as much as an Explanation of any Point in our Religion. The true Subject of that Book or Vifon is a Prophetical Hiftory of the External State of the Church in its various and interchangeable Periods of Profperity or Adverfity. But that I may not fall under the leaft Sufpicion of dealing unfairly, I fhall fubjoin the few Texts of the Revelation wherein the word Mystery is contain'd. The firft is in Rev. 1. 20. The MYSTERY of the Seven Stars which thou faweft in my right Hand, and the feven Golden Candlesticks: Well, what is the Myftery or Secret of these Stars and Candlefticks? The feven Stars are the Angels of the feven Churches; and the Seven Candlesticks, which thou faweft, are the feven Churches, namely, of Afia. Another Paffage is in chap. 17. 5,7. And upon her Forehead was a Name wtitten, MYSTERT, BABYLON THE GREAT, &c. And the Angel faid I will tell thee the MYSTERY of the Woman.