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that seed of the woman that was to bruise the head of the serpent, and deliver the people of his kingdom, that all Israel might be saved. Now it is not more clearly revealed in the Old Testament, that the Messiah would come in person, the King of Israel, to deliver his people, than it is in the New Testament, that he shall come in power, to reign with his people on earth a thousand years. Hence it is said, Rev. xx. 6, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. But as it was at the personal coming of the Messiah, the earth was corrupted, and the law or word of God made of non-effect, by the Rabbies and their traditions; so that nothing of God's word that was not current with them could pass in those times. By reason of this, we find the people were grossly ignorant, and prepossessed against Christ when he appeared, though his works, and words, were such, as were never before seen or heard in Israel; yet all could not restrain their ignorant opposition to him. In the same manner, at this day, so generally considered as the dawn of that glorious day of Christ's reign with his people on earth, the increase of corruption and Doctors, have so manifestly filled up the footsteps of those who withstood the personal reign of Christ, that they act over again the very same part that did the Rabbies by their traditions; and the law or word of God is so evidently made of non-effect by them, that neither the word of God, nor those walking in its light, can this day be known, if not current with the Doctors. Hence was it, that as Christ and his Prophets were thereby hid to the Old Testament professors, so in the very same manner are they in this day of the New Testament. The blessed and holy of Christ's first resurrection cannot be known, by reason of Doctors and their traditions: nothing that is not current
