as the world endureth in that outward polity and forme of gouernment established by the word 1. Corinth 15. It lasteth for euer euen so long as God is God in the most gracious and glorious regiment thereof in heauen these outward meanes ceasing What is the place of this Kingdome There are two places the one is this world where the Church is militant fighting against her enemies the other is heauen where the Church is triumphant raigning for euer What are the offices and officers of this Kingdome The offices and officers besides these that were temporarie and extraordinarie as Prophets Apostles Euangelists are these following The first office is teaching and that officer is called a Doctor The second is exhorting and that officer is called a Pastor The third office is ruling and that officer is called an Elder in the Church of England he is called a Bishop The fourth office is distributing and that officer is called a Deacon The fifth office is shewing mercie which officer is called a widow These are all set downe Rom. 12.7.8 The questions that are betweene the reformed Churches concerning these offices and officers I of purpose spare to handle being both vnfit to debate them and loth to offend onely I wish that such controuersies might be ended by Councels and that the peace of the Church might be kept Who is the Deputie or Vicar of this King There is no one person Christs Lieutenant for wee renounce the Pope who is Antichrist but we acknowledge euery King in his Kingdome the supreme Gouernor in all causes and ouer all persons aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill next and immediatly vnder Christ which Prince hath authoritie to substitute ecclesiastical Magistrates according to the word for the polity of the Church in the exercising of iurisdiction visitation of Churches and ordination of Ministers which persons in England are called Bishops What are the properties or qualities of this Kingdome It is spirituall not worldly and exercised vpon the conscience wherein it differeth from the ciuill state Thus we see what Gods kingdome is How Gods Kingdome commeth now we are further to enquire how Gods Kingdome is said to come namely 1. When it is erected or established where before it was not 2. When it is enlarged and increased where before it was 3. When it is repaired or restored from some former decayes 4. When it is perfected and accomplished fully of each something First How Gods Kingdome is erected Gods Kingdome is erected and set vp generally and specially generally when it is entertained by publike consent in a countrie or Kingdome and that is when the Magistrate by law doth establish the worship of God according to the word and execution is done accordingly and when the Ministers in their ministerie teach and minister the word and worship of God established Specially the Kingdome of God is established or erected when men by the word of God are conuerted to the faith and outwardly make profession thereof Thus Gods Kingdome is set vp Hovv Gods Kingdome is enlarged Secondly Gods Kingdome is enlarged both when there are new subiects made when as before they were enemies that is to say when there are added to the Church such as shall be saued or when they that are ordained to life euerlasting beleeue as also when the former subiects are confirmed and bettered that is when such as are within the Church and doe beleeue grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ Hovv Gods Kingdome is repaired Thirdly Gods Kingdome is repaired from two great ruines and downefals especially the one of doctrine the other of manners and they are both of them vniuersall and particular for there are some which depart totally from the whole doctrine of the saith of Christ as when a Christian becommeth a Turke and some depart onely from some particular doctrines as they in the kingdome of Antichrist Againe there are some which being baptized and professing Christ powre out themselues afterward to all manner of licentious wickednes others fall into some particular sinnes as adultery with Dauid Now if a man recouer againe from false doctrine as from Turcisme or Papisme that repayre is dogmaticall but if a man recouer by repentance from lapse into sinne that repaire may be called morall all which kindes both of Apostacie and backsliding and of repairing and restauration may sometime befall a whole kingdome or common-wealth aswell as particular families or persons Hovv Gods Lastly Gods Kingdome is perfected and fully accomplished at two times Kingdome is perfected The first time is the day of a mans death the second time is the last and general day of iudgment The day of death is the speciall perfection of this kingdome in the subiect that dieth for then grace is perfected and consummated The day of iudgement is the generall perfection of this kingdome in all the subiects thereof which shall either die or be changed suruiuing at that day The speciall perfection of this kingdome is the glorie of the soule only in sanctification and saluation the generall perfection of this kingdom is the glorie both of bodie and soule of the whole man which then shall perfectly according to the measure be sanctified and glorified Thus we see how the kingdome of God commeth Hauing now deliuered the meaning of this second petition it followeth according to the order propounded to speake of the contents thereof in the supplication deprecation and thanksgiuing and first of the supplication which is the third generall The things which wee aske at Gods hands in this petition 3 The supplication of the second petition 1 Tim. 2.3 1. Godly Magiâ—tâ—ates further Gods kingdom are these following the first concerneth the Common-wealth viz. 1. Godly Magistrates for whom the Apostle willeth to pray teaching that it is a thing good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour so to doe and the Wiseman forbidding to curse the King and the rich on the contrary signifieth that wee should pray for them and blesse them for the negatiue includeth the affirmatiue and contrarily for Magistracie is an excellent meanes to further the kingdome of Christ Esay 49.23 and therefore they are compared to nursing fathers and nursing mothers by the Prophet for as parents doe both beget and bring vp their children so godly Magistrates doe erect and maintaine the faith and true religion by the sword hence it is that the Kings and Queenes of England are intituled Defenders of the Faith which is the most royall part of the title royall 2 Godly lawes 〈…〉 fâ—ther Gods kingdome 2 Wee pray in this petition that the godly Magistrates may makâ— godly lawes and establish the whole truth of the word and see that both the tables of the Commadements be obs rued for the Apostle in the former place to Timothie expressâ—th the substance of the Magistrates dutie which is to procure that the subiects may leade a peaceable and quiet life in
the next place to be considered and they are opposite to the things wee pray for and they may be referred to fiue heads also which are these following First ignorance and errors Secondly vanitie of minde Thirdly a prophane heart Fourthly prophane speeches Lastly prophane actions all which are so many meanes to obscure or deface or abolish the glorious name of God out of the world Of these in order Ignorance dishonoreth God First ignorance either of Gods workes or word is the cause of prophaning Gods name for as pearles cast before swine or dogs so are the works and word of God amoÌ„g ignorant persons swine or dogs will trample pearles vnder their feete in the durt but skilfull Lapidaries will vse them carefully and set them in gold and costly garments so the ignorant people that know not the works or word of God wil contemne reiect or at least neglect the excellent instructions and documents of Gods glorie therein exhibited and so prophane the name of God but they that know them may vse them aright and glorifie God in them The dunghill Cocke as the fable moralizeth regardeth a barly corne more than a pretious pearle knowing the profit of the one but not the price of the other so the blind dunghill people of the world Atheistlike through light estimation because of their ignorance preferre the dirtie commodities of this life before the glorious footsteps of Gods Maiestie imprinted in his workes and word thereby marueilously disparaging the Lord himselfe and dishonouring his name Againe Error dishonoreth God Matth. 22. Ioh. 4. ignorance being the cause of superstition and errors as Christ teacheth saying Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures and ye worship ye know not what therefore it must needes bee a maine cause of blemishing Gods glorious names and memorials for errors and heresies are so many lies against the truth of God charging false and slanderous imputations vpon God making him the author of that which he abhorreth and condemneth and as it is blasphemous to make God the cause of sinne so is it of error for it is to call God by a false name and to belie God which is a great dishonour to God For as it is a disgrace to a Prince to bee belied or blasphemed or backbited so is it much more inglorious and dishonourable to God to make him the master and teacher of lies for it is customable with false teachers and their followers to father their doctrines vpon Gods word which God himselfe inspired to his Church and so by necessarie consequent in that they are found liers against the truth of God they shamefully dishonour God In the second place also we are to marke how vanitie of minde prophaneth the name of God Vanitie of minde prophaneth Gods name Rom. 1. The Apostle defineth this sinne to be the withholding of the truth of God in a lie that is to make a false consequent or vse from a true doctrine to know God and not to glorifie him as God for example to know God to bee inuisible and yet to make an image of him to know God to bee incorruptible and yet to resemble him to corruptible creatures as beasts birds creeping things c. and thus the Gentiles thinking themselues to bee wise hauing some truths of God became starke fooles in deducing foolish consequents from that truth so through their vanity of mind defaced that truth with a lie and this is a great indignitie offered to Gods truth For as a subiect knowing his Prince yet making as though he knew him not and so vsing himselfe vnreuerently before him doth disgrace the prince so they that know God and his workes and word yet notwithstanding doe not glorifie God but become vaine in their imaginations and discourses and conclusions from Gods word and workes thereby occasioning and encouraging themselues in licentious liuing and by their liues denying the power of their knowledge which otherwise might haue been auailable to their saluation do shamefully abuse their knowledge iniuriously dishonor the truth reuealed vnto them which they should haue glorified A prophane heart d shonoreth God As blindnes and vanitie of minde so prophanenes of heart also which in the third place commeth to be considered doth greatly dishonor God which is when mens affections are not stirred according to the qualitie of Gods workes or word his titles or attributes and that is especially of three sorts Atheisme dishonoreth God The first is an Atheists heart which is the extinguishing of al affections in respect of God for as an Atheist laboreth for a perswasion that there is no God so also he desireth that the feare of God may be cleane taken away also that the loue of God the hatred of sinne the loue of vertue and of the word of God may be put out and that he may liue as he list without any conscience or difference of good and euill which is to bury the memorie of God and to banish his name out of the world which is the greatest indignitie that may be VVorldlines dishonoreth God The second is a worldly heart when a man is so estranged from heauenly matters and so wholy possessed with the loue and liking of worldly things as that he careth not for God nor any goodnes further than he may gaine thereby which men doe greatly dishonor God and his truth making it a meanes of compassing the world whereas indeede we should make the world a meanes of religion for to this purpose hath God created and bestowed the world vpon man that thereby they might be the better prouoked and furthered to the worship and glory of God hither are to be referred all couetous persons that minde nothing but their goods all proud persons that minde nothing but the trimming of themselues gay apparrell and the credit of the world all wanton persons that minde nothing but the pleasures of the flesh generally all such as dishonor God by presuming any thing in their estimation and affection before God for seeing God is the chiefest good and the most high he therefore ought to bee the chiefest and mosâ— highly esteemed of vs otherwise we honor the creature more than the Creator Rom. 1.25 and dishonor God by communicating his glory to another The third is a secure heart Securitie dishonoreth God when men that haue the grace of God in them notwithstanding doe not so carefully and diligently â—â—irre vp the grace of God in the meditation and application of Go is workes and word as the condition thereof doth require for sometime it falleth out that euen Gods children slumber and sleepe Cant. 5.23 2. Sam. 12. so we reade that the Church in the Canticles complaineth or excuseth her sluggish disposition so we reade that Dauid slept in securitie almost a whole yeere in which time no doubt hee vsed the word of God and the rest of Gods worship though with dulnes and great flatnes of spirit whereby it came to
forth as that they shall not hurt vs but become seruiceable to vs. After peace followeth ioy in the holie Ghost 3 Ioy spirituall a part of Gods kingdome arising from righteousnes and peace for being once through faith made partakers of the righteousnes of Christ and qualified with the manifolde graces of Gods spirit and being at peace with the Creator and the creatures 1. Pet. 1. Rom. 5. then we reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious receiuing the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules whereby also wee reioyce in the afflictions which befall vs for Christs sake These are the principall things we pray for in this petition appertaining to this life The last iudgemâ—nt â—thereâ— Gods kingdome some thing also appertaining to the life to come is here desired namely the speedy comming of Iesus Christ to iudgement and so the perfecting of the number of the elect the resurrection of the bodie and the euerlasting ioyes of heauen so in the Apocalyâ—s the Spirit and the Bride say Come come Lord Iesus Apoc. 21. come quickly And this may suffice for the supplication The thâ—ngs which wee pray against follow in the next place to bee handled 4 The deprâ—cation the 〈◊〉 of this petition which may bee gathered out of the supplication and are to be handled according to the order there vsed and in the first place things concerning Magistracie Anarchie hindereth Gods kingdâ—me Iudg. 19. 1. Anarchie which is want of Mâ—gistrates whence issueth disorder and confusion that euery man may do what him listeth a fault taxed in the Common-wealth of Israel whereby it commeth to passe not onely that the second table of the Commandements concerning iustice and equitie is transgressed example whereof is brought of the Leuite whose wife was abused vnto death but that the first table also is violated which respecteth the kingdome of God Iudg. 18. as the example of Micah and his idolatrie teacheth For it is a thing that the diuell would wish principally that Magistracie were abolished and therefore hee hath inspired that diuellish doctrine into the confused heads of the Anabaptists who take away all rule and authoritie and all superioritie among men for if hee could compasse that then the feare of punishment being abandoned and the hope of rewards taken away which are the two sinewes of the Common-wealth he might easily prostitute men women and children to all impious and dishonest behauiour whereby the kingdome of God should be banished out of the world Hence it is that the light of nature teacheth that it is better to haue a Tyrant than no King for nature is not so extinct in any man no though he were an Atheist but he would if not of loue to order and ciuilitie yet in policy prescribe lawes to his subiects wherby peace may be maintained and some forme of moderation least the bruite beast should controll man to whom nature hath prescribed and limited a compasse as wee see labour in the Pismire chastitie in the Turtle curtesie in the Elephant and the like in other creatures and although a Tyrant might doe and suffer much impietie and iniquitie yet some good must needes proceed from him though he were neuer so great a monstâ—â— of men in regard whereof Tyrannie is better than Anarchie there being some order in the one and none in the other 2. Next vnto Anarchie is Tyrannie Euill Magistrates hinder Gods kingdome when euill Magistrates are in place which seeke by all meanes to erect and set vp the kingdom of Satan in Gentilisme Mahometisme Papisme or Atheisme or any other superstition and heresie whereby persecution is â—aised against the true worshippers of God and true religion Toleration of strange religion and worship hindreth Gods kingdome or else when there is a Toleration of many Religions whereby the kingdom of God is shouldered out a doores by the diuels kingdome for without question the diuell is so subtill that hee will procure through the aduantage of mans naturall inclination to false doctrine and worship more by thousands to follow strange Religions than the truth of Gods word wherfore the Magistrates should cause all men to worship the true God or else punish them with imprisonment confiscation of goods or death as the qualitie of the cause requireth Here notwithstanding a doubt ariseth how it is lawfull to pray against the euill Magistrates 1. Tim. 2.2 when as the Apostle doth wish prayers to bee made for Heathen Princes and Magistrates which then were persecutors The answere is very easie that we may pray for their saluation and conuersion but against their tyrannie and persecution for it is not vnlawfull to pray for the Turke Pope and Spaniard that they may be conuerted and saued but it is lawfull also to pray against their proceedings against the truth that God would discomfit them in battel bridle their corruption abate their pride asswage their malice Psal 68.1.2 and confound their deuices Thus wee see the Prophet prayeth against the enemies of the Church Iudg. 5.31 Psal 83.9.10 Thus also did Deborah and Barak pray that all the enemies of God might perish as Sisera perished and so in another Psalme prayeth the Prophet 3. Lastly Euill lavves hinder Gods kingdome Dan. 6. wee pray against all wicked and irreligious lawes and statutes that God would hinder the making of them or at the least the execution of them such as was the law made against Daniel that contained a mouths Atheisme that no man for thirtie daies should worship any God but the proud King such as was that which Haman procured to be made and ratified against the Iewes Hester 3. that all the true worshippers of God should be destroyed slaine such as were enacted in the time of the bloodie persecutions by Heathen Emperours that whosoeuer said he was a Christian should bee put to death for by such lawes the very foundation of Gods kingdome is shaken and greatly endangered Againe in the second place wee pray against certaine sinnes and enormities incident to the Ministerie which are these Ignorant Ministers hinder Christs kingdome Malach. 3.7 Hosea 4.6 1. Ignorance for ignorant and vnlearned Ministers pine the soules of men being not able to teach and instruct the people committed to their charge the Priests lips should preserue knowledge and the law should bee required at their mouthes and the Lord he refuseth such Priests as refuse knowledge for they are the lights of the world and therefore they must haue light in them whereby they may giue light they are the salt of the earth and therfore must haue fauour in them to season withall wherefore by law established in this land none ought to bee admitted into the Ministerie but such as can render a reason of their faith in Latine and can teach the Catechisme allowed by law containing the summe of Christian religion so as the people may vnderstand and at their ordination haue authoritie