Lo here or lo there Luk. 17.20 Now that it is aboue euery Nation and Kingdom where it is according to that blessing to the obedient He shall be aboue onely Deut. 28.13 Is 49.23 and not beneath Deut. 18.13 This is playne by the excellent and glorious scituation thereof as it is written Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reigne in Mount Sion and in Ierusalem and before his ancients gloriously Is 24.23 Is 24.23 And againe Sauiours shall come vpon Mount Sion to iudge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdome shall be the Lords Obad. 21. Obad. Ver. 21. Also It shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountaines of the Lords House shall be established in the top of the Mountaines and shall be exalted aboue the hills and all Nations shall flow vnto it And many people shall go and say Come yee let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob he will teach vs of his wayes and we will walke in his paths For out of Sion stall goe foorth the Lawe Is 2.2.3 and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem Is 2.2 3. This Mountaine was prefigured by that into which Moses ascended Exo. 19. and 24. Exod. 19. and 24. And that that Mountaine was a figure of this wee now enioy is manifest by that where it is written The Hill of God is an high Hill why leape ye ye high Hills this is the Hill which God desireth to dwell in yea the Lord will dwell in it for euer The Chariots of God are twentie thousand thousands of Angels the Lord among them as in Sinai in the holy place Ps 68.15 16 17 18 Ps 68.15 16 17 18. Also Who shall dwell with the deuouring fire Who shall dwell with euerlasting burnings The answer is He that walketh righteously hee shall dwell on high his place of defence shall bee the munition of Rocks Euen on high on that Mountaine Is 33.14.15 16. Exo. 24.16 17. where the sight of the Lord is like deuouring fire Is 33.14 15 16. Exod. 24.16 17. Adde to this We are not come to the Mount that might bee touched But wee are come to Mount Sion to the Citie of the liuing God and we receiuing a Kingdome which cannot be mooued let vs hold fast For our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12.18 22 28 29. Heb. 12.18 22 28 29. This was yet further made manifest by that Mountaine where Christs most glorious Transfiguration was seene by Peter Iames and Iohn where hee talked with Moses and Elias at what Time his Face did shine as the Sunne and his Rayment was as white as the light yea exceeding white and shining so as no Fuller on earth could white them at what time also a bright Cloude ouer-shadowed and a voyce out of the Cloude was heard which said Mat. 17.1 Mar. 9.2 Luk. 9.28 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare ye him Mat. 17.1 Mar. 9.2 Luk. 9.28 This is againe remembred where it is thus written We haue not followed cungingly deuised fables when we made knowne vnto you the power and comming of the Lord Iesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Maiestie For he receiued from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voyce vnto him from that excellent Glory This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased And this voyce which came from heauen we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. This Scripture doth notably prooue this poynt and cleere the Transfiguration to bee a representation of the glorious estate of the Church heere not hereafter And that by this especiall circumstance That he receiued from GOD the Father honour and glory from that excellent Glorie Now what hee receiued hee must at the last redeliuer as hath beene before prooued for hee is sayde to receiue it onely for the finishing of the great worke of Mans Redemption which when it is accomplished Then commeth the Ende when hee shall deliuer vp the Kingdome which hee hath receiued to God euen the Father that God may be all in all And obserue further that Peter had before preached of this glorious Kingdom of Christ and he vseth this but for the confirmation of the Faith of those to whome hee had preached in that hee was with others an eye and eare-witnesse as we speake of the excellent estate prefigured in that notable and glorious Transfiguration for he both saw his glory which hee receiued from that excellent glory and also hee heard the voice that pronounced him that blessed One or that King Priest and Prophet which was Prophecied of long before that such a Prophet should bee raysed vp and such a King should be set vpon Mount 〈◊〉 yea such a Priest should Offer a Sacrifice that should Iustifie many Is 53.10.11 Is 53.10 11. euen as many as were ordayned to eternall life as it is written The Lord thy God will rayse vp vnto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee of thy brethren like vnto me vnto him shall yee hearken According to all that thou desireast of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the Day of the Assembly saying Let me not heare againe the voyce of the Lord my God neyther let me see this great fire any more that I dye not Deut. 18.15 Deut. 18.15 Here is his Propheticall Kingly and Priestly Office prophecied of cleerely as it is applyed by Peter in that excellent Sermon of his where wee finde it thus written Hauing spoken before expressely of Iesus Christ hee addeth these words For Moses truely sayde vnto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your GOD rayse vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall yee heare in all things whatsoeuer hee shal say vnto you And it shall come to passe that euery soule which will not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people Yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as haue spoken haue likewise fore-tolde of these dayes Act. 3.22 23 24. Also Act. 3.22 23 24. to conclude this poynt the very words of the voyce doe playnely note vnto vs these three where it is written This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare yee him This is my beloued Sonne There is his right of being King in whome I am well pleased That notes his Priesthood Heare ye him This doth manifest him to bee that Prophet which God hath raised vp This Argument is fully handled and notably discouered in that most excellent Epistle to the Hebrewes And thus it is manifest that it is not tyed too or bounded within any Nation or Kingdom of this World but it is in diuers of them at one and the same time in one and the same manner And wheresoeuer it is it hath the
of Saluation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit Eph. 6.11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. This is the Armour of righteousnes which the Saints haue on the right hand and on the left 2 Cor. 6.7 2 Cor. 6.7 Onely the sober children of the day doe put on the Brestplate of Faith and Loue and for an helmet the hope of saluation 1 Thes 5.8 1 The. 5.8 Thus you haue as the titles so also the principall things of which this Kingdome consisteth As of a King a Scepter Lawes Ambassadors Subiects Officers Weapons And hauing this briefely seene what it is it followeth to bee shewed where it is According to that question of the Disciples Where Lord Luk. 17.37 Luk. 17.37 Here shall be obserued first Whether on earth or in heauen that is in this life or that to come Secondly seeing it is on Earth where it is to bee found For the first it is affirmed before and shall be confirmed by testimonies now that this Kingdome is on Earth for so it is written In the daies of these Kings shall the God of heauen set vp a Kingdom which shall neuer be destroyed Dan. 2.44 Dan. 2.44 And in another place Aske of me and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Ps 2.8 Ps 2.8 Also it is written We are come to mount Sion and we receiuing a Kingdome Heb. 12.22.28 Also it is termed Dan. 7.27 The Kingdome vnder heauen Dan. 7.27 And in the Psalmes Great is the Lord and greatly to be praysed in the City of our God in the mountaine of his Holinesse beautifull for scituation the ioy of the whole earth is Mount Sion Ps 48.1.2 Ps 48.1.2 Yea it is said in the same Psalme That Kings shall see the glory of this Church or Kingdome and that with feare amazement Ver 4.5 ver 4.5 Out of all this we may gather many forcible Arguments to proue this truth that this Kingdome City House or Tabernacle is in this life as you haue before in the Scriptures scited to that purpose in these words It shal be in the daies of Kings of this world also It shall stretch to the vttermost parts of the earth also We are come to it not we shall but we are and we receiuing a Kingdome not Seeing we shall receiue a Kingdome but Seeing wee doe receiue also in the same Scripture wee are willed to hold it fast now there is no need of such an exhortation if it were of the life to come as al wil easily grant Further It is the ioy of the whole earth And Kings shall behold it passe by with feare amazement What shall I say Arguments of this sort are very many in holy Scriptures yea Is 6.5.17 the 66. Reu. 21. the 22. Ps 16.11 Mat. 22.30 Mat. 13.43 euen those places which they most abuse to the contrary do yeeld many plaine arguments to euery impartiall Reader as Isai 65.17 the 66. Reu. 21. and 22. and such like And let this be obserued that where the holy Ghost speaketh any where of the life to come it is alwaies in very short speeches or briefe sentences as for example Fulnes of ioy pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore Ps 16.11 We shal be as the Angels in heauē Mat. 22 30. We shall shine as the sun for euer in the Kingdome of our Father Mat. 13.43 We shal haue euerlasting life (a) Mat. 19.29 Mar. 10.30 Where Christ is we shal also be (b) Io. 14.3 We shal behold his glorie (c) Io. 17.24 2 Cor. 4.17 We shal haue a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 We shall appeare with Christ in glory Col. 3.4 1 Thes 4.17 Col. 3.4 Wee shall bee euer with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 It is an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 reserued in heauen for vs 1 Pet. 1.4 When he shall appeare we shall be like him for wee shall see him as hee is 1 Io. 3.2 2 Tim. 4.8 Reuel 2.10 Mat. 5.12 1. Io. 3.2 We shall haue a Crowne of righteousnes 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crowne of life Reuel 2.10 A great reward in heauen Mat. 5.12 These or such like are all those phrases which are vsed in the Scriptures to set foorth the life to come vnto vs and that blessed condition there reserued for vs. The Reason hereof might be eyther the impossibilitie in regard of the straightnes of our bowels 2 Cor. 6.12 13. to conceiue of that blessednesse 2. Cor. 6.12 13. Or as we speak our shallow capacitie in the comprehension of such an excellent mysterie but it is indeed the eternall purpose of God in hiding these things as secrets from vs till the Last day as these Scriptures following may witnes That of Paul where it is written That being caught vp into the third heauen hee heard vnspeakable words which is not lawfull for a man to vtter 2 Cor. 12.2.4 2 Cor. 12.2.4 Also Now wee are the sonnes of God and it doeth not yet appeare what wee shall be 1 Io. 3.2 And it is also written 1 Io. 3.2 That this incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance is reserued for vs in heauen and ready to be reuealed in the last time 1 Pet. 1.4.5 1 Pet. 1.4 5. So that this may bee a manifest note eyther short or more large speeches to helpe vs to conceiue of the difference betweene things of this life and that which is to come Things of this life are alwaies spoken in expresse phrases that we may conceiue because we are to speake of them againe to others As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neyther haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him but God hath reuealed them to vs by his Spirit Which things we also speake 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. And yet further wee may obserue by certaine phrases vsuall speeches that the holy Ghost hath put a difference betweene our estate heere and hereafter for speaking of our estate here hee speakes of comming to vs and sending to vs and such like But speaking any where of the life to come hee speaketh of fetching vs to him and the like This is not to bee slightly regarded in reading the holy Scriptures as to instance in the places before mentioned which are by some abused to the life to come It is written The glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee and The Lord shall arise vpon thee Is 60.1.2 Is 60.1.2 Yea that whole Chapter is full of strong reasons to enforce it to be vnderstood of the estate here Also where it is written For behold I create new heauens and a new earth and the former shall not bee remembred nor come into
minde But be you glad and reioyce for euer which I recreate for behold I recreate Ierusalem a Reioycing and her people a Ioy. Here the holy Ghost expoundeth the New Heauens and the New Earth to bee meant of the New Ierusalem and the people thereof Euen that new worshippe which is now amongst the Saints and the new worshippers which haue beene are and shall bee on the earth as is plaine in the verse next before to the which these are added as a further Illustration In that verse it is written That he who blesseth himselfe in the earth shall blesse himselfe in the God of Truth and hee that sweareth in the Earth shall sweare by the God of Truth and then is added For behold as before Is 65.16 17 18. Is 65.16 17 18. So in that of the Reuelation to omit other places it is written That Iohn sawe a new Heauen and a newe Earth And hee saw the holy Citie new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And heard a voice out of Heauen saying Beholde the Tabernacle of GOD is with Men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and GOD himselfe shall bee with them and bee their GOD Reu. 21.1 2 3. Reuel 21.1 2 3. But cleane contrary to these are the Speeches which are vsed for the state after this life as where it is written Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25.34 Mat. 25.34 And againe And these shall go away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into eternall life Mat. 25.46 Mat. 25.46 Also the request of the Thiefe vpon the Crosse Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdome And our Sauiours louing answere To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luk. 23.42,43 Luk. 23.42.43 Also I goe to prepare a Place for you and if I goe to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you to my selfe that where I am there may yee bee also Io. 14.2.3 Io. 14.2.3 And againe in Christs most comfortable Prayer wee finde it thus written Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me be with mee where I am that they may behold my glorie which thou hast giuen me Io. 17.24 Io. 17.24 Also our Sauiours speech to Mary Magdalen Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father But goe to my Brethren and say vnto them I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God Io. 20.17 and your God Io. 20.17 To this we adde that which the Apostle mentioneth That wee which are aliue and remaine at the last day shall bee caught vp together with those that were dead in Christ The words ate these The Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shout with the voice of the Archangell with the Trumpe of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then wee which are aliue and remaine shall be caught vp together with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.16.17 and so wee shall bee euer with the Lord 1 Thes 4.16 17. Out of all this may be easily gathered that our blessednes is not to be enioyed heere on earth as some would haue it the Creature being purged by fire but it is aboue euen there where Enoch is of whom it is saide That God tooke him Gen. 5.24 Gen. 5.24 And the Apostle saith That hee was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him Heb. 11.5 Also wee read of Eliah Heb. 11.5 That the Lord tooke him vp into heauen by a Whirle-winde 2 King 1.11.16.17 Mar. 6. last Luk. 24.51 Act. 1.9 10 11. and hee was diligently searched for by fiftie strong men but not found 2 King 2.1.11.16.17 Adde to this our blessed Redeemers Ascention into Heauen in the presence of many Mark 16. vlt. Luk. 24.51 Act. 1.9 10 11. Besides Stephens glorious vision where it is recorded That being full of the holy Ghost hee looked vp stedfastly into heauen and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.55 56. Act. 7.55.56 Thus by the apposition of these Scriptures the exposition is cleere without further labour They being alwaies as different as light and darknesse to all that are not obstinate and wilfully Ignorant The first speaking alwaies of earthly the latter of heauenly things The first of comming to vs and being with vs the latter of fetching vs to him as you see by expresse Scriptures plaine examples which it is not possible to ouerthrow no not Satan himself with all his wiles and deepnesse is neuer able to deny or turne vpside downe Is 29.16 Is 29.16 This then being cleere and manifest that this Kingdome Citie House Tabernacle or Church that hath such glorious things ascribed and so many pretious promises made vnto it is here euen in this life In the next place it must be shewed in what place of the Earth it is to be found Here shall be obserued three things First that it is tyed too or bounded within no one Nation or Kingdome in the World Secondly that wheresoeuer it is found in any Kingdome it is aboue that Kingdome or Nation Thirdly where the Saints are there it is For the first That it is tyed too or bounded within no Nation or Kingdome it is plaine by that it is written And the Kingdome shall not be left to other people but it shall breake in peeces and consume all these Kingdomes Dan. 2.44 And againe Dan. 2.44 His Dominion shall be from Sea euen to Sea and from the Riuer euen to the ends of the earth Zac. 9.10 And it is also written that as the lightning that lightneth out of the one part vnder heauen Matt. 24.27 Luk. 17.24 shineth to the other part vnder heauen So shall also the Sonne of Man be in his Day That is as it is most plaine if ye consider the former words and vpon what occasion this similitude is vsed Christs Kingdome is not heere and no where else nor there no where else as false Prophets would haue it but it shall bee in diuers parts of the earth at one and the same time in one and the same manner Euen as lightning doth disprerse it selfe and shew it selfe alike in diuers places at one and the same instant And thus this point is plaine that it is not bounded within any Nation or limitted vnto any one People or Kingdom So that no man can say it is in this Company and no where else as diuers false Prophets haue assumed and dared to maintaine and yet at this day doe not sticke constantly to affirme contrary to that where it is written The Kingdome of God commeth not with obseruation or outward shew neither shall men say Luk. 17.20
began to make the same Proclamation Mat. 4.17 23. Mat. 4.17.23 And that the obstinate Iewes might be left without all excuse he sendeth out his Apostles and Disciples into all their Cities and Villages to proclayme the same things And to confirme the truth of the Proclamation Mat. 10.1 7. Mar. 6.13 Luk. 9.2.60 they had power giuen them to cast out Diuels and cure Diseases Mat. 10.1 7. Mar. 6.13 Luk 9.2.60 Yea our Sauiour tels the Pharisees that it is amongst them euen at his being on earth as it is written The Kingdome of God behold it is among you Lu. 17.21 Luk. 17.21 As also his speech to the Woman of Samaria is notable for this The houre commeth and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth Io. 4.22 Io. 4 22. It is now saith he and shall come more cleerely and manifestly hereafter For at that time it was so darke a Mistery as that albeit the Disciples nay the Apostles themselus heard it daily taught yea and priuately were instructed in it yet they did not vnderstand nor apprehend the truth thereof as it is euident by their qunstion which they mooued euen after Christs forty dayes abode with them speaking of things appertayning to this Kingdome yet after that they asked this question Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel Supposing that it had beene some outward glorious restauration of their Nation to their former estate Act. 1.3 4 5 6. that our Sauiour had so often taught Act. 1.3 4 5 6. And we may further adde that this Kingdome beganne not cleerely to appeare vntill the Apostles receiued power from aboue as it was promised them where it is written Behold I send the promise of my Father vpon you but tarry you in the City of Ierusalem vntill you bee indued with power from on High Luk. 24.49 Luk. 24.49 But especially it began at Ierusalems destruction For those things which were abrogated long before euen when the vaile of the Temple rent from the top to the bottome Matt. 27.50 51. Mat. 27.50 51 yet then they might bee sayd to vanish as it is written In that he saith A new he hath made the first olde Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish For then verily the first had Ordinances of Diuine Seruice Heb. 8.13 the 9.1 and a worldly Sanctuary Heb. 8.13 chap. 9.1 But this was fully made manifest in that glorious comming of Christ to Iohn in that wonderfull Reuelation Reuel 1.1 Reuel 1.1 Accor-to his owne prophecyes where it is written Verily I say vnto you or I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shall in no wise tast of Death till they see or til they haue seene the Sonne of Man comming in his Kingdome or the Kingdom of God come with power Mat. 16.28 Mar. 9.1 Lu. 9.27 Mat. 16.28 Mar. 9.1 Luk. 9.27 Also of Iohn in particular as of the especiall man that should see the Fulnesse of it it is written that his Master said to Peter If I will that hee tarry till I come what is that to thee Ioh. 21.21 22. Ioh. 21.21 22. So that then was the truth of that seene which our Sauiour prophecied to that Woman Woman beleeue me the houre commeth when yee shall neyther in this Mountaine nor yet at Ierusalem worship the Father Io. 4.21 Io. 4.21 At that Time Ordinances of Diuine Seruice and worldly Sanctuaries vanished away which serued but as shadowes of heauenly or good things to come and were not the very Image of the things thēselues Heb. 10.1 Heb. 10.1 Then and not till then things made with hands were shaken Heb. 12.26 27. Is 65.17.18 Reuel 21.1.5 that things not made might remaine Heb. 12.26 27. Is 62.17 18. Reu. 21.1 The first point thus being pointed at with the three branches thereof The second followes which is That it is to be entred into For the first were little worth as To know what it is Where to finde it And when it began If hauing found it wee make it not our owne by taking possession of it Therefore concerning our entrance wee will consider three things First What the Gate is by which wee enter Secondly Who and when men may be said to knocke therat Thirdly By what means we enter The Gate or Doore is Christ as it is written I am the Doore of the sheepe and in the same Chapter I am the Doore Io. 10.7 9 by me if any man enter in hee shall be saued Io. 10.7 9. Here hee proclaymeth himselfe to bee the Doore or Gate by which we enter And a little before his departure he tels his Disciples That they do know whither he goeth and the way also But Thomas making a doubt both of the place whither hee should goe and also of the way thither Christ answereth thus I am the Way Io. 14.4 5 6. the Truth and the Life no man commeth to the Father but by me Io. 14.4 5 6. This is then that new and liuing way which is consecrated to vs by the flesh of Christ Heb. 10.20 Heb. 10.20 And thus much for the Gate or Doore by which we enter Mat. 7.13 Lu. 13.24 Psa 1.8.20 which is termed A Straight Gate and wee are willed to striue to enter in thereat Matth. 7.13 Luk. 13.24 Euen this Gate of the Lord Psa 118.20 The Gate being knowne the next thing is who they are and when men may bee said to knocke at this Gate For answere heereunto know that true penitent sinners such whose hearts are pricked whose consciences are laded whose faces are couered with shame and confusion these are they who knocke thereat As wee see at that Sermon of Peters where it is written Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and sayd vnto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37 what shall wee doe Act. 2.27 Heere you see these knocking aloude at this Gate So the Publicane being couered with shame and confusion and full of indignation against himselfe for sinne as wee see by that hee stood a farre off woulde not so much as lift vp his eyes to heauen but smote his brest saying nay rather crying out with much vehemency Lu. 18.13 God be mercifull to me a sinner Luk. 18.13 He also knocks aloude at this Gate The Theefe vpon the Crosse knocked also efectually at this Gate when hee was come to himselfe His Eyes beeing opened to see his fearefull estate and his mouth also to reprooue sinne in his fellow and to cleere our blessed Redeemer and no doubt with vehemencie he cryed out Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdome Luk. 23.40 41 42 Luk. 23.40 41 42. Also the Keeper of the Prison when hee was recouered of that desperate purpose at his sudden amazement calling for a light sprang in came trembling and fell