hands agreed And so shall I look upon this passage in it which I have now in hand Which acquaints us with a two-fold Tribute due as unto Solomon so unto Christ Prayer and Praise Prayer Prayer also shall be mâ—de for him continually Praise And daily shall he be praised Beâ—in we with the former Prayer also shall be made for him continually Wherein again as before I did I shall take notice of those two particulars The Tribute it self Prayer And the Time when and how oft it is to be payed Continually Touch upon them severally 1. The Tribute it self Prayer Prayer also shall be made for him But what Prayer made for him for Christ How can this be What doth he stand in nâ—ed of our Prayers that men upon Earth should make prayers for him being in Heaven Here tâ—e Iewâ— fall foul upon us Christians and jear us thaâ— we should expound this Psalm concerning our Mâ—ssia who if he be what we believe him God how then can this passage agreâ— unto him that prayers should be made for him What pray for our God Prayers are to be put â—p to him not foâ— him For answer to this True it is as it is with Saints and Angels so much more with Iesus Christ he being ascended into Heaven and sitting at the right hand of his Father Crowned with Honour and Glory having all Power given to him in Heaven and Earth He is far from needing the assistance of men or any other Creatureâ— He needeth not our prayers we have need and that continuall need of his of his Intercession which he maketh for us as the Apostle tells us Rom. 8.34 But he hath no need of ours no more then the greatest Monarch upon Earth hath to receive an Alms from the poorest Peasant But though he hath no need of them as to his own person yet his Kingdom hath his Church which is as it were a part of himself his Body whereof he is the Head He is the Head of the Body the Church Col. 1.18 his Mystical Body Which in reâ—ard of the near relation it hath to him is called sometimes by his Nâ—â—e as 1 Cor. 12.12 As the Body is one and hath many members c. So is Christ. And again Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and to his Seed were the promises made c. which Seed is Christ meaning the Mystical Body of the Church whereof Christ is the Head and his Elect People the Members Now though he being the Head is out of the reach of our prayers so as that they should be made for him yet so are not his Members here upon Earth And upâ—n that account prayers may fitly be said to be made for him being made for his Kingdom For which all hiâ— Subjects are to pray So they are taught by Him himself in that Patern and Form of prayer which he hath left them After this manner pray ye Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come Matth. 6.10 The Kingdom of God the Government whereof is committed to Jesus Christ as Mediatour this are his Subjects to pray for His Kingdom his Kingdom of Grace his Kingdom of Glory which are not properly two Kingdoms but two different states of the same Kingdom And for both these are prayers to be made 1. For his Kingdom of Grace his Church upon Earth which is visible invisible Visible in the Nations of the World Invisible in the hearts of his Elect People Both these are Christians to pray for 1. For his visible Kingdom for which they are chiefly to â—eg two things Preservation Augmentation both which are to be effected by the Power of Christ. 1. Preservation that it may be continued here upon Earth which it shall be to the end of the Woâ—ld being defended and maintained by the power of Jesus Chrisâ— against all the Enemies of it whether Men or Devils So he tellâ— Peâ—er in that known Text Matth. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and thâ— Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Upon this Rock not the rock Confessing but Confessed not upon Peter but upon that Confession which he had then made ver 16. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God upon this Rock â—aith he I will build my Church as I have already laid the foundation of it so will I â—arry on the building upholding and preserving it so as the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against iâ— that is all the powâ—r and policy of Satan and his Instruments alluding to the custom of antient times wâ—â—rein the Gates of Cities were the chief places of strength and the â—â—sual meeting places for the holding of Councels let them plot and contrive and attempt what they will yet shall they not so far prevail against the Church as to destroy it to extirpate and root it out from off the Earth still Christ will have a visible Kingdom here upon Earth And for this are all his Subjects â—o pray that this his Kingdom may be thus continued Which whilst they do they may be said to make prayers for him 2. And aâ— they are to pray for the Preservation so for the Augmentation as for the continuance so for the increase and inlargment of this Kingdom of Christ that his Kingdom may come that his Sâ—â—pter may be lifted up his Government advanced his Church inlarged that it may be made a glorious Church So it shall be in the latter dayes For which we have many promises and those very clear and full As among other that of the Prophet Esay Chap. 2. ver 2 3. repeated by the Prophet Micah in the same terms Mâ—e 4.1 It shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountain of the Lords House shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and â—ll Nations shall flow unto it In the last Dayes in the Gospel-times the dayes of the Messiah the last Age of the World The Mountain of the Lords House the Church whereof Mounâ— Sion upon which the Temple was built was a Type Shall be established in tâ—e top of thâ— Mountains and exalted above the Hills it shall be settled and exalted being in the spiritual glory of it advanced far above all secular States and Kingdoms in the World And all Nations shall flow unto it â—â—ws and Gentiles out of all parts of the World shall by whole Flocks and Shoâ—ls come in and joyn themselves to the Church embraciâ—g of the Gospel and submitting theâ—selves to the Government of Christ. And as it there followeth ver 3. Mâ—â—y People shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord to the House of the God of Iacâ—b and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his pathâ— This shall the People of the Iews do as among many other that Text of the Prophet Hosea clearly fore-telleth it Hos 3.4 The Children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King
and without a Prince and without a Sacrifice c. having neither any form of a Common-wealth amongst them nor yet the exeâ—cise of their Religion in that way and manner that formerly they had Afterwardâ— they shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their King the true Messiah the son of David according to the Flâ—sh and of whom David was a Type They shall seek after him and shall submit to his Government taking and â—â—knowledging him for their King Thâ—y shall seâ—ve the Lord theâ—r God and David their King as the Prophet Ieremy hath iâ— Iâ—r 30. vâ—r 9. And as the Iews so the Gentiles they shall also come in like manner So the Prophet Esay most plainly fore-telleth it Esay 60. where setting forth the glory of the Church under the Gosspel in the abundanâ— access of the Gentiles he biddâ—th her arise vâ—r 1. Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord iâ— risen upon thâ—â— And ver 3 4. he tells her And the Gentiles shall come to thy Light and Kings to the brightness of thy coming â— Lift up thine Eâ—es round about and sâ—e all they gather themselves together they come to thee And so he goeth on ver 9. Then thou shalâ— seâ— and flâ—w togâ—thâ—â— â—nd thine heart shall fear and be inlarged becâ—â—se the 〈…〉 of the Sea shall be converted unto thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee Such and so great should the confluence of People from all parâ—s of the World be that should joyn themselves to the Church that it should be a matter of great admiration and wonder to them that should behold it So he sets it forth ver 8. where â—e bring in the Church speaking after that manner Who are these thaâ— fly as a Cloud 〈◊〉 as the Doâ—eâ— to their Windows Like as Clouds which come oft-times from â—emote quarters â—eing driven swiftly by the Wind or as Dâ—vâ—s or Pigeons that flye in great Flocks and with much speed to their Dove-coaâ—â— such incomes should there be to the Church which should be wonderfully augmented and increased A prophecy which as yet hath not had the full accomplishment so as it shall have in the time appointed There is a day a coming when the Scepter of Christ shall be advanced In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious so saith the Prophet Esay Chap. 4. ver 2. speaking of the Messiah whom we find sometimes called a Branch the Branch as Zach. 3.8 I will bring forth my Servant the Branch And again Chap. 6. ver 12. Behold the man whose Name is the Branch meaning the promised Messiah springing from the root of Iesse and from whom all spiritual Graces and Blessings do spring as leaves and blossoms and fruits do from the Branch Of this Branch it is there said it shall be beautiful and glorious And so it shall be in that day viz. when the Church shall be increased and inlarged as it shall be all Nations being brought under the Government of Jesus Christ. Hereof God the Father maketh a Promise to his Son Psal. 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thiâ—e Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Not only the Iews but the Gentiles also And this promise as already in part it is so it shall be fully made good to him in the latter dayes viz. after the destruction of Anti-christ So we find it foretold Rev. 11.15 where we read of a gratulatory Acclamation made by the People of God at that great alteration and change that should be made in the Church And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great Voyces in Heaven saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever The Roman Anti-christ being destroyed now the Kingdom of Christ shall be inlarged his visible Church shall be like an Empire spreading through the World and lasting to the end of it Thus it shall be the Kingdom of Christ upon Earth shall be a glorious Kingdom his Church shall be setled and established and it shall prosper and flourish it shall be made a praise in the Earth And for this are all that profess themselves the Subjects of Christ to pray So they are called upon by the Prophet Esay Chap. 62. ver 67. Ye that makâ— mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the Eartâ— And this whilst they do they may truly be said to make prayers for Iesus Christ whose Body this is and whose Glory is so much concerned in it The Churche's Exaltation is his Exaltation Behold my Servant saith the Lord speaking of the Messiah his Son Christ whom he calleth his Servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in regard of that great Service which he was to do in working of the Redemption and Salvation of his Elect People shall deal prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very High Esay 52.13 So he is already in his Person being set at the right hand of God his Father in the heavenly places Far abovâ— all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion Eph. 1.20 21. And so he shall be in his Kingdom his Church which he governing with so much prudence and wisdom as he doth and shall do it shall be exalted and He exalted in its Exaltation Thus is God said to be exalted and lifted up by doing great things for his Church and People against his and their Enemies So the Prophet Esay hath it Esay 33. The Lord is exalted for He dwelleth on High He hath filled Zion with Iudgment and Righteousness And again ver 10. Now will I arise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self So he is said to be when he manifesteth his Power and Goodness in shewing any special favour to his Church and People and executing any signal Judgments upon his and their Enemies Now his Name is exalted as the same Prophet hath it Esay 12.4 where exciting the People to bless God for his great mercies to his Church In that day saith he shall ye say Praise the Lord caâ—â— upon his Name declare his doings among the People make mention that his Name is exalted And thus is the Name of Christ exalted in the great things which he doth for his Church this being a manifestation of his Soveraignty he is thereby honoured and glorified And upon this account are his Subjects to pray for him which we find the Psalmist doing Psal. 18.46 The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and let the God of my Salvation be exalted 2. And as they are thus to pray for his visible Kingdom â—o for his Invisible his Spiritual Kingdom which is not outwardly visible to the Eye but is set up in the hearts of men So our Saviour tells the Pharisees Luke 17.20 where they
Iehovah Tâ—idkenu The Lord our Rightâ—ousnesse He is this King the King of his Church under whose Government it being a righâ—eous Government this his Kingdom shall proâ—per And for him for us pray as David doth for his Son Solomon in that Tâ—â—â— fore-ciâ—ed 1 Chron. â—2 â—â— that he may proâ—â—â—â— and build the House of the Lord that the work of the Lord may prospeâ— in hiâ— hand that his Church through his powerfull and gracious Government of it may not onely be continued but inlarged that it may be established and made a praise in the Earth That what is here in this Psalm said of Solomon and his Government in a literall sensâ— may be made good in a mysticall â—nd spirituâ—ll sense in the Government of Christ That he judging the People with Righteousnesse and thâ— Poor with Iudgmenâ— The Mountains may bring Peace and the liâ—tlâ— Hills by â—ighteousnessâ— ver 2 3. That in his Dayes the Righteous may flourish and that there may bâ— abundance of Pâ—ace so long 〈◊〉 the Moon â—ndurâ—th ver 7. That he may have Dominion fâ—oâ— Sâ—a to Sea and from the Rivers to the ends of the Earth ver 8. That they which dwell in the Wildernesse may bow before him and that his Enemies may lick the Dust ver 9. Thus was it donâ— to King Solomon and so shall it be done to King Iesus for which let us daily pray 2. And whilst we pray that he may thus come to his Church in generall beg we the like for our selves in particular that he may come unto us come into our hearts taking a full possession of them dwelling and ruling there that so we may be happy and blessed under his Government being blessed with all spirituall Blessings in heavenly places or things in him and have a more sweet and full Communion with him in his Kingdome of Grace here and in his Kingdome of Glory hereafter 3. For which also let us pray that that may come that our eyes may see this our King coming in his Glory Which whilst we continually wait for as we ought to do let us in like manner pray for it that he may hasten his coming come quickly Surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Iesus Thus pray we for â—im 2. And whilst we pray for him let us also praise him of which but a word This is the other Tribute which is due unto this our Soveraign and let it be given to him So it was in his state of Humiliation here upon Earth when he went in that mean Garbe riding into Ierusalem upon an Asse as we have the story Matth. 21. the People many of them received and entertained him with the like solemnity as Princes in their Coronations usually are and as our dread Soveraign lately was in passing thorow his Royal City some spreading their Garments in the way other 's cutting down Branches from the Trees and strowing them in the waye â— And the multitude that went before and thaâ— followed cryed saying Hosannah to the Son of David Blessed is he that cometh in the Name â—f the Lord Hosannah in the highest And so it is and ever shall be in his state of Exaltation where Angels and Saints beholding him sitting upon his Throne are said to fall down before him wâ—rshipping and praising of him So St. Iohn saith he saw it and heard it Revel 5.11 12 13. And I beheld and heard the voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and Elders c. saying with a loud Voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing And evâ—ry Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth c. heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Here is the Churche's Acclamation wheâ—ein the rest of the Creatures joyn with them and to which the four Beasts or living Wights 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say Amen ver 14. And herein let us joyn in consort with them thus blessing and praising this our Soveraign giving unto him all possible Honour and Glory This is he worthy to receive So it is there by that Quire declared Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Honour and Glory and Blessing ver 12. And so he must be acknowledged to be by us both in respect of what he is in himself and what he is to us In himself he is a King a great King King of Kings and Lord of Lords that is the Name which is said to be written on his Vesture and on his Thigh Revel 19.16 The blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto so the Apostle describeth him 1 Tim. 6.15 16. Such is his Greatnesse And such is his Goodnesse his goodness to us which he hath already many wayes expressed as in leaving the bosome of his Father coming down from Heaven abasing himself to take our Náture upon him in that Nature doing and suffering what Justice required at our hands Redeâ—ming us to God by his Blood Revel 5.9 All which call for this Tribute to be payed unto him by all those who have an interest in him As also doth his Continuall Intercession which he maketh for us sitting at the right hand of his Father And the preparations which he hath made for us being gone before to prepare a place for us that we may not only be with him beholding his Glory but also be made partakers of it To which I might add The righteousnesse and graciousnesse of his Government The Righteousnesse of it The Sâ—epter of thy Kingdom is a Scepter of Righteousnesse Hebr. 1.8 The graciousnesse of it in admitting all that will to come unto him Him that cometh 〈…〉 I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6.37 And inviting all that feel the need they have of him to come unto him promising them what they can desire Come unto me ye that are weary and heâ—vy laden and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 Upon these and many other accounts is this our King to be blessed and praised And that Daily And daily shall he be praised Inasmuâ—h as he daily loadeth us with his Benefits giving us every day new experiences of his goodnesse in bestowing upon us so many Blessings both Temporal and Spiritual all which call for a grateful acknowledgment But here I am fallen into a large Field wherein I have no time to expatiate And therefore shall commend what hath beeâ— spoken to the blessing of God FINIS Tertull. Apolog. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas. 1. Reas. 2. Use 1. Use 2. Arg. 1. Arg. 2. Arg. 3. Quest. Answ. Object Answ. Reas. Use 1. Use 2.