Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	king_n	kingdom_n	pope_n	2,577	5	6.6882	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86197	A sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords, in the Abbey-Church at Westminster, Wednesday the 28. of May 1645. Being the day appointed for solemne and publick humiliation. / By Alexander Henderson, minister at Edenburgh.	Henderson, Alexander, 1583?-1646.	1645 (1645)	Wing H1443; Thomason E286_3; ESTC R200073	26,557	39

A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HOUSE OF LORDS IN THE ABBEY-CHURCH AT Westminster Wednesday the 28. of May 1645. Being the day appointed for solemne and publick humiliation BY ALEXANDER HENDERSON Minister at Edenburgh MAT. 6.10 Thy Kingdome Come LONDON Printed by F. N. for Robert Bostock dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Kings-head 1645. To the Christian Reader NOt any desire or confidence of mine owne but submission and obedience made me first preach and now print this Sermon Not any opinion or esteeme I have of it but example and custome have moved mee to set some words before it These have I directed generally to the Christian Reader that I may not onely include the Noble Lords of Parliament if any amongst them shall be pleased to looke this way but may also invite all other Christian Readers and such I wish all Readers to be to bestow some of their most serious thoughts upon so precious and excellent a subject as is the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which is here but generally hinted and briefly touched but is represented to the life in Scripture and to the full treated and debated by Divines Jesus Christ by vertue of the three Offices of his Prophesie Priesthood and Kingdome is made unto us of God Wisdome and Righteousnes and Sanctification and Redemption His sufficiency and sutablenesse to be unto us a Saviour consisteth in the dignitie of his Person and in his willing undertaking and faithfull administration of these his Offices The Summe of the Grace given us through communion with him is comprised in these inestimable benefits Without the one he could not be a perfect Saviour without the other our salvation cannot be perfect It hath been of old and is at this day a just complaint that of the Offices of Christ his Kingdome is least considered of and most mistaken Which as it is dishonour to his Name so is it a mightie hinderance to the comfort of some to the sanctification of others and to the salvation of many and is a maine cause of the many disorders and scandals in the Church of Christ The Papists will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdome of Christ to be the head and which is the same the King of the Church and at least in ordine ad spiritualia to be the head and King of the Kings of the Earth A seect of Politicks which subject Religion to Policie and Christ to the world will have the supreame civill power at least in ordine ad temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church And both the one and the other doe turne the Kingdome of Christ into a worldly Kingdome Ignorant and carnall Professors are content to be served with Christ as a Prophet to teach them and a Priest to satisfie and make intercession for them but are not willing to serve Christ as their King that he may rule over them And many modest and peaceable Christians suffer themselves to be robbed or cousened if not of the one halfe yet of a necessary and large part of the Kingdome of Christ while they either satisfie themselves with the internall influence of Christ their Head upon their own spirits or give way to such as for their owne ends would have them beleeve that the whole administration of the Kingdome of Christ is internall not distinguishing betwixt that which is spirituall and that which is internall nor considering the externall administration of the Kingdome of Christ although it be in this world yet to be spirituall and heavenly and not of this world Judicious Martin Bucer in the beginning of the Reformation wrote to pious Prince Edward the sixt two books of Church-policie to which he prefixeth the title De Regno Christi of the Kingdome of Christ The complaints powred forth by him at that time against the wise-men of this world and the common sort of people as enemies to Christs Kingdome may be now renewed and with new aggravations so rare a thing is it in any age to finde a people disposed to receive the whole Kingdome of the Sonne of God It should not seeme strange that formerly such as desired to decline the one extreame of Prelaticall tyranny having nothing to stay them in their way nothing in the middle to rest upon and to associate themselves unto did run to the other extreame of popular Anarchy But now when from the mercy of God by advice of the Assembly and Authoritie of Parliament the case shall be changed and a remedy provided the people of God will know where to fix their judgement and choice Can any wise-man imagine that such a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinisme and popular confusion as now covereth the face of this Kingdome and wherein all errors and sects cover their Heads under the Catholick Buckler of Independency that such a Tohu Vavohu can be the face of the Kingdome of Christ or the work of the new Creation of which it may be said And God saw that it was good Can any of the godly think that the Kingdome of Christ draweth the minds of men from the humble exercise of faith to the ambition of new and vaine opinions that it transformeth Religion into fancy vertue into speculation zeale into contention truth into policy and charitie into faction Doth not the present posture of Religion and the constitution of the Church which yet is not so Independent as it is by some desired to be call as loud for a Reformation and for setling of Religion as the former did before a Reformation was begun And may wee not say that wee have spent our strength in vaine and purchased our misery at a great price if wee shall rest where wee are that is in Independency I should not exceed if I should say Were wee all agreed in all things except in the point of Independency wee would quickly run againe into divisions And that nothing in a Family in a Citie in a Kingdome in a State or in a Church hath more need of Reformation then that Independency which all men in all Societies naturally love and seek after The Government of the Church by subordination of Assemblies hath endured much opposition and many tryals and is at this day set upon at all hands yet is the Proverbiall speech of the Hebrewes verified concerning it Myrtus stans inter urticas Myrtus tamen est vocatur Myrtus The myrtle standing amongst nettles is for all that the myrtle and is so called And necessitie will drive all that love the preservation of Religion and peace of the Church unto this shelter and sanctuary at last although in faire weather some kicke against it and would not onely pull at the branches but pluck it up by the roots When after all these tempests and troubles the Kingdome of Christ is uniformly setled in the Land Christ Jesus will be seene in his beautie and strength his people will be filled with truth and peace and the

instruments of so good a work especially such as remove impediments out of the way shall against all envy and aemulation have their own testimony and honour according to the Hebrew Sentence Nisi ipse elevasset lapidem non fuisset inventa sub eo haec margarita if the stone had not been lifted the pearle had not been found under it Die Mercurii 28. Maii. 1645. IT is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament that Mr. HENDERSON who preached this day before the LORDS in Parliament is hereby thanked for the great paines he tooke in his Sermon And is desired by their Lordships to print and publish the same which his not to be printed or reprinted by any but by Authority under his own hand Jo Browne Cler Parliament ERRATA PAge 5. line 10. read forth p. 10. l. 9. for indure r. obdure p. 22. l. 26. r. naturall l. 28. r. him p. 25. l. 11. r. clownishnes A SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honorable House of LORDS JOHN 18. 36 Jesus answered My Kingdome is not of this world if my Kingdome were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Iewes But now is my Kingdome not from hence 37 Pilate therefore said unto him Art thou a King then Iesus answered thou sayest that I am a King To this end was I borne and for this cause came I unto the world that I should beare witnesse of the truth every one that is of the truth heareth my voice IT is acknowledged and universally confessed that Justice or Righteousnesse is a noble and most excellent vertue When the di●pute was betwixt Justice and Fortitude Righteousnesse and Courage whether of the two should have the first place both of them being most noble Vertues Justice was preferred because Courage without Justice is of nouse but if all men were just there should be no need of Courage or Fortitude This Justice is a constant and perpetuall will of giving unto every one his due it rendreth to the inferiour what is due to him to the equall what he ought to have and to the superiour but most of all to God and to his Sonne Jesus Christ who are supream what belongeth to them There be in these dayes many complaints of the want of military skill and courage for the truth and cause of God but the complaint of the want of Justice is more just For if all men were just the former complaint would be silenced And there be many complaints of inferiors of equals and of superiors that they receive not that which belongeth unto them but the Sonne of God who is supream and soveraigne above all may more justly complaine that he getteth not his right which is the greatest injustice in the world and the cause of so great injustice amongst men And therefore the cause of the great wrath of God which to deprecate and to turn away we are humbled before God and doe afflict our souls this day Oh that the conclusion might be a resolution in all according to their places and callings to render unto Christ his own right This parcell of Scripture containing the answer of Jesus Christ unto Pilate before whom hee witnessed a good confession holdeth forth his right for being accused by Pilate of the highest degree of ambition sedition and rebellion and indeed of no lesse then laese-Majestie he desendeth himselfe by discovering the causes of these Tragedies and by revealing the mysteries of his Kingdome confessing that he was indeed a King but withall shewing that his Kingdome needed not to be formidable either to Pilate to his master Tiberius or to any in authority because his Kingdome was not of this world This he maketh manifest from the common condition and manner of earthly Kingdomes and Kings which have their Souldiers and Guards that fight for them and defend them from violence but he maketh not use of any this being the end of his Kingdome that the truth of the Gospel may prevail and reigne in the hearts and lives of men against the tyranny of darknesse and lies Nor should it seeme any thing strange that hee hath so many adversaries and his Kingdom findeth so great opposition in the world there being so few whether of the Church or State that submit themselves to be captived and ruled by the truth none are subjects of his Kingdome to obey his voyce but such as by regeneration are the children of the truth which is parallell to what he saith Matth. 11.19 But wisdome is justified of her children There be four principall points aimed at in the Text First the dominion and soveraignty of Christ My Kingdome Secondly the condition and quality of the Kingdome of Christ negatively expressed as best serving his present intention My Kingdome is not of this world Thirdly the end and use of his Kingdome that the truth may have place among the children of men for their salvation and eternall happinesse To this end was Iborn and for this cause came I unto the world that I should be are witnesse unto the truth Fourthly the subjects of the Kingdome of Christ such as heare the voyce of Christ and obey his will Every one that is of the truth heareth my voyce The knowledge of the first is necessary that the Son of God may have his due and we may be humbled for not rendring it unto him The knowledge of the second is necessary that Kings Princes and great ones in the world may have what is due unto them lest from their unjust suspitions and evill grounded jealousies they become enemies to the Kingdome of Christ and that they may be humbled for lodging any such thoughts or fears in their hearts The third is necessary to be knowne that we may have the benefit intended for us in the Gospel and be humbled that we have not endeavoured as we ought to find the comfort and power of the truth in our hearts and lives And the fourth is necessary that wee may henceforth shew ourselves to be the children of truth and willing subjects of the Kingdome of the Sonne of God That Jesus Christ is not onely our Prophet revealing unto us the whole will of God by the Law discovering unto us our sinne and wretchednesse and by the Gospel righteousnesse and life and our Priest by himselfe offered in a sacrifice purging us from sin and arraying us with long garments clean and white which is the righteousnesse of the Saints but that as our supream Lord and King by his mighty power and soveraignty he ruleth in us and over us conserveth and maintaineth our blessed estate thus revealed and purchased against all enemies is a truth as necessary for us to know but never enough acknowledged so very much insisted on in Scripture as may appeare First by the Titles of honour and dignity put upon him A Commander a Captain a Ruler of Governour a Prince Michael the great Prince a King the Prince of the Kings of the earth the

the young Lion with the Calfe c. 6. Take heed of imprudency in choosing and imploying of instruments for the establishing the Kingdome of Christ the greatest shew and profession of zeale is not alwayes the programe of the greatest zeale As a man of a calm constitution may seeme to have more patience then another which yet is not patience but mildnesse of temper So a cholerick disposition may appear to be zeale but it is only a natural and earthly not a spirituall and heavenly fire Again he that hath most true zeal and holinesse to make him a spirituall Souldier hath not alwayes the best abilities for a temporall warre It is a great mistake and the mother of much confusion to take grace for gifts or gifts for grace A man may have great gifts and abilities which the Lord will blesse for the benefit of his people and yet have a small measure of grace for his own comfort and salvation And a man may be a very gracious man and yet no more skill to be a good Souldier then to bee a good Shooe-maker It was said of old that then it is well with Kingdomes and Common-wealths when either Philosophers reigne or they that reigne are Philosophers We may say that it is a happy thing when such men are imployed as have best gifts and grace whether it be in the time of peace or war 7. Take heed of fainting and wearying in setting up of the Kingdome of Christ the Lord hath made you instrumentall in laying the foundation ye must persevere till the head stone be brought forth with shoutings otherwise it will be said that these Kingdomes did begin to build but were not able to finish the work Sometimes weaknesse may appeare in one Army and sometimes in another out the cause is the same and with God Almighty there is no shadow of change his power is not greater one day then another for the infinitnesse of Omnipotencie admitteth of no degrees Pilate protested three times that he found no fault in Christ and endeavoured for satisfying his own naturall conscience to set him free but in end lest he should be reputed an enemy to Caesar he delivered him to be crucified Darius laboured all the day long till the setting of the Sun to deliver Daniel but overcome with opportunity he condemned him at last to the den of Lions We may change the Kingdomes of the world may change but the Cause and Truth of Christ abide the same without change throughout all generations My exhortation therefore is that you beware of selfe Respects of Indifferency of Division of Delayes of Discouragements of Imprudency and of Inconstancy and that you give your selves to Sincerity Zeal Unity Diligence Magnanimity Prudence and Perseverance that yee may be the choyce and blessed Instruments of God for the establishing of the Kingdome of his Son our Saviour in the Land The last use is for Consolation which is not repugnant to true humiliation I will not trouble you with the generall Doctrine of such benefits and comforts as we are made partakers of by the Princely office of Christ for it were long to shew how by the vertue of this his office hee applieth unto us all that he hath done and suffered that the Kingdomes of the world may be our Lords and his Christs and he reigne over them for evermore and communicates with all true beleevers this grace to be Kings with him to reigne over their own lusts which is greater then any earthly conquest He that ruleth his own spirit is better then he that winneth a Citie to reigne over the world which still lieth in wickednesse and to reign over Satan the Prince of this world and worker of all mischiefe if we find nothing of this we beleeve nothing of the Kingdome of Christ if we endeavour not the sense and experience of this communion our faith is but imagination But leaving these generals I would upon this ground give you some comfort for the Cause and work in hand and it is this First If it be the cause of Christ which we maintain Next if we be the servants and people of God seeking his honour and endevouring that his Kingdome may come why may we not be comforted in this That Christ is our King and will one way or other vanquish and subdue all our enemies I will use but two reasons for it one is from the great and glorious victories that he hath in former times obtained over so mighty-enemies for the comfort of his people if we do but remember what great things he hath done since the beginning of this warre we should deny our own experience if we doubt for afterward The other is when we consider what is said in the end of the prayer which he taught his Disciples Thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory If we pray and endeavour that his Kingdome may come if we desire the Crown to be put on his head and the Scepter in his hand we may be confident of successe Because his is the Kingdome he is bound by right to fight for to defend and to deliver his own subjects that are fighting for his Kingdome His is the power in heaven and in earth over Angels over Devils over Armies of men and over all Creatures And his is the Glory the honour of his own actions will return upon himselfe The first that he is our King teacheth us that by office he ought to save us The second that he is able to do it because power is his And the third that he will do it because it will be dishonour to this Name to suffer his Cause and People to perish and it will be his glory to save them And that not onely in this world but when we go hence The penitent Malefactor on the Crosse cried out Lord remember me when thou commest into the Kingdom we may rather with greater confidence say Lord remember us when now after victory over Satan the World and Death thou dost possesse thy Kingdome The time permitteth not to proceed to the other two branches of the Text and therefore here I cease * ⁎ * FINIS