and every Name that is named both in this World and also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all Things to the Church This is he of whom St. John makes mention that he was clothed in a Garment dipt in Bloud Rev. 19.13 16. com Isa 63.2 3. the Ensign of his Victory and Triumph over all his and the Church's Enemies and his Name was called the Word of God and he has on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS Many other Arguments and Authorities might be added from Scripture if 't were necessary to confirm and illustrate this Point Ioh. 1â— 37 But Pilate tho' a Heathen believ'd it upon his own single Testimony and may serve instead of many others as appeareth by the Inscription set over him on the Cross Ioh. 19.19 with the Sanction added what I have written I have written 2dly His Kingly Authority is asserted and confirm'd by the many strange and wonderful Miracles which he wrought For he manifested his Power on Earth in curing the Blind and the Lame and all manner of Diseases and in raising the dead Bodies of Lazarus and many others at his Resurrection He exerted it in the Sea when he asswaged its Storms and Tempests and walked on the Water without a Ship He gave a Testimony of it in the Air when he led Captivity captive drew Principalities after him and trampled upon them And lastly he exercis'd his Kingly Power in Hell in his Conquest over the Devil and all the infernal Furies Who in despight of all their Policy Power and Malice were forc't to confess that he was omnipotent Act. 19.15 and therefore they must submit to his Jurisdiction 3 We have the unanimous Consent of all pious and prudent Christians in all Ages who have cheerfully submitted themselves to the Sceptre of his Kingdom For they had their whole Dependance on his Power for their Safety on his Wisdom for their Guidance and Direction and on his infinite Merits and Mercy for their comfortable Living here and eternal Salvation hereafter But as Christ our King is invested with an absolute and unlimited Power and Authority so he has an unquestionable Right and Title to govern the whole World and all the Creatures in it And he holds this absolute Tenor of Empire and Soveraignty 1 By Inheritance Christ has an undoubted Right to this Office Mat. 2.2 1. By Inheritance This is clear from the Concessions of the Eastern Sages who came so far to see him and do him Homage And besides his Hereditary Power as the eternal Son of God he was of the Royal Race as Man St. Matthew derives his Pedigree from fourteen Kings successively and therefore his hereditary Title as Man to the Kingdom of Israel must needs be indisputable 2 He has an absolute and unquestionable Right to his Kingdom by Donation 2. By donation Mat. 28.18 Psal 8.7 Matth. 9.6 Ioh. 5.22 Ioh. 5.27 Mat. 16.27 and hence he derives his Power and Authority to rule and govern all things to forgive us all our Sins and to indemnifie us from the Punishment of them to pass Judgement upon Angels and Men not only in what concerns his Kingdom of Grace here but in determining their final Doom and Condition hereafter and in the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments to the faithful and disobedient 3 He has obtain'd an absolute Right to govern all the Creatures by Conquest For he has spoil'd all Principalities and Powers 3. By Conquest taken the Prey out of their Teeth and in despight of the Power and Policy of Devils and wicked Men the greatest Part of the known World have been reduc'd from their Heathenish and Idolatrous Superstitions in worshipping false Gods and have cheerfully and voluntarily submitted themselves to be govern'd by the just Laws and Constitutions of his Kingdom 4 He has a just claim to his Kingly Government by Purchase 4. By Purchase Rom. 2.23 c. For when by our Sin and Rebellion against God we had justly forfeited our Lives lost our Freedom contracted an universal Guilt and Stain and had not only depriv'd our selves of all the Hope and Possibility of any future Comfort and Happiness but were sentenc'd to Death and as condemn'd Slaves and Villains bound over to everlasting Torments When I say we were by our Sins plung'd into this desperate and damnable Condition 1 Tim. 2.6 Act. 20.28 2 Pet. 1.18 without the least prospect of Reprieve or Rescue Then it was that the eternal Son of God and our blessed Saviour purchased our Peace and Pardon by the Sacrifice of his dearest Life and has hereby restor'd all his faithful Votaries to the comfortable Enjoyment of God's Grace and Favour Hence 't is evident in all these several Respects that our Lord Jesus Christ is the most absolute King of Kings and Lord of Lords A King at whose feet all Prices and Emperors must cast down their Crowns and a Lord whose Authority supersedes the Power and Jurisdiction of all Earthly Princes and Monarchs They must all stoop to him all Nations shall do him service And thus much of the Original and Extent of our Saviour's Kingly Office We pass forward 2dly The Administration of Christ's Kingly Government To the Administration of his Government But for the better understanding of this Point we must consider the Government of Christ's Kingdom under a double Acceptation And 't is 1 Vniversal over all the Creatures which the School-men call the Kingdom of his Power Whereby he orders and disposes all things and rules all the Creatures visible and invisible within this vast frame of the Vniverse For he governeth the highest Heavens and appoints the holy Angels his ministring Spirits their several Offices and Imployments He rules the lower Orbs causing Day and Night Heat and Cold Summer and Winter He governs the Air the Winds and Seas Storms and Tempests raising and calming them again how and when and where he pleases He rules the Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof so that those things which seem casual and contingent to us are order'd and brought to pass by his determinate Councel and Providence He exerciseth his Power and Authority in Hell over-ruling those unruly Powers of Darkness keeping that disorderly Rout under a certain kind of Government well known to himself but inconceivable to us or to them who are rul'd by it So that from the glorious Angels to the crawling Worms from the highest Heavens to the lowest Hell all the Creatures are within the Sphere and Compass of his absolute and indeed unlimited Jurisdiction But 2 And more Particularly He exerciseth his Dominion over the Church his Body and every particular Member thereof His Kingdom is founded in the Souls and Consciences of all true Believers where he reigns by his Word and Spirit directing them in the Ways of Godliness by his Grace that
Good In which holy Confidence we shall rest secure and safe and nothing shall be able to disturb or interrupt our Quiet And whatever our Condition be in this Life we shall enjoy a Heaven upon Earth in the Peace of a good Conscience which to an upright man is more precious than Rubies and much more valuable than all the Treasures of the East 5 Our pious Reflexions upon those infinite Expressions of Gods Love and Bounty 4. By our filial Fear of offending him c. should possess us with all awsul Regard to and Fear of offending Him And we have many powerful Inforcements to perswade us to a strict Performance of this Duty For the infinitely wise God observes all our Actions Psal 139.1 to 12. hears and considers all our Words and sees our very Thoughts and Inclinations they are all registred in his Book and will infallibly be brought to Account either to our Consolation or Condemnation at the day of Judgement But where the Fear of God is truly fixt 't is the Spring of all other Duties the Watch-port and Centinel of the Soul to keep out Temptations and in Scripture Language comprehends the whole Duty of Man Ecc. 12.13 This Duty is of that absolute Importance that the Christian who truly Fears God has no cause to be afraid of any thing besides For God can restrain the Power and Malice of Devils and wicked Men when and how he pleases and make our greatest Enemies to be at Peace with us Prov. 16 7 Those temporal Afflictions which the righteous suffer are but fatherly Chastisements for the tryal and improvement of their Graces or the Punishment of their Sins for a time that they may not perish for ever Hence it is that our blessed Saviour exhorts us not to Fear those that can kill the Body only for that 's the worst they can do since our Souls are out of their reach Mar. 10.28 But rather fear him that can kill both Soul and Body in Hell 'T is no matter then whether the World smile or frown on us For if we fear God as Sons out of a true Principle of Love and Obedience Rom. 8.1 Psal 25.23 it will exempt us from all other Fears our Souls shall dwell at ease and if God be with us who can be against us From all which it may be reasonably infer'd Heb. 10.31 on the contrary That 't is a dread ful thing to fall into the hands of the living God For who shall stand before the Lord when he is angry Psal 76. 7â— or be able to conflict with everlasting burnings What cause then have the Atheists and all impenitent Persons to be afraid especially if they consider that Vengeance does every where await them nor can they be secure one Moment from Destruction Those that will not repent of their Sins and reverence their heavenly Father as Sons shall be cast out of his Presence as Slaves and have their eternal Portion assign'd 'em with the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 Wherefore let the best of Men tremble at God's Judgements and flie from all Occasions and Temptations of Sinning For since to live and die in the least Sin unrepented of is damnable and if the righteous Man depart from his Righteousness Ezek. 3.20 all his former Piety and Vertue shall stand him in no stead but the heavy Wrath of God must fall on him for his wilful Apostacy and Disobedience What cause have we then to be watchful over our selves and serve the Lord with fear all the dayes of our Life that we may not be afraid of his Judgements at the hour of Death or in the great day of Account 6 And Lastly 8. By our sted fast Hope in him If God's Spirit witness with our Spirits that we have thus Repented of our former Sins and do sincerely resolve to abandon 'em for the future if we stedfastly believe all those necessary and saving Truths which God has been pleas'd to reveal to us by the Spirit of his Son and testifie the sincerity of our Faith by the genuine Fruits and Effects of it if our Love towards God be attended with those necessary and excellent Properties which I have mention'd if we Pray devoutly and humbly and patiently submit to God's wise and gracious Disposals if we be afraid to offend him and be willing to quit all our Interests in this World and die a thousand Deaths rather than wilfully transgress the least of his Commands we may undoubtedly upon these Conditions cheerfully and comfortably expect and hope for the happy Accomplishment of all the Promises of the Gospel to our endless Joy and unspeakable Felicity Yet here I must note to you that we must by no means depend upon the Efficacy of the Duties themselves tho' they should never be neglected but on the infinite Mercy of God in Christ for the comfortable success of all our pious Endeavours These are the Principal Duties of Piety we owe unto God which he indispensibly requires of all Christians and must be carefully and conscientiously perform'd by all those who expect and hope for the admirable Blessings and Priviledges of the Gospel And as these excellent Duties must by no Means be neglected So On the contrary The Opposite Sins most dangerous and damnable we are oblig'd under the severst Penalties of Hell and Damnation to avoid and abandon the Sins of Atheism Polytheism Blasphemy Idolatry prophane Swearing Lying Sacriledge Covetousness the neglect or contempt of God's Worship Word Sacraments Services Days groundless Presumption Distrust Dispair c. All which searlet Sins are highly dishonourable to God reflect a Scandal upon our excellent Religion will deprive those Miscreants of all the rational Pleasures of the Soul and without a sincere Repentance and Reformation of Life they 'l forfeit their Tittle to eternal Happiness And those Penalties which I mention'd before shall be their just Portion and Punishment in another World We pass forward to the 2d The Dities relating to our Selves Duty which our blessed Saviour has enjoyn'd and recommended for the Attainment of his Grace and Glory Namely that which has a peculiar reference to our Selves Which Duty consists in the prudent and virtuous Conduct of our Lives especially in the Affairs and Business of Religion And since this must needs highly concern us 't will admit of a serious and impartial Consideration Now Christian Prudence of which I shall give you an account in the first Place will be of necessary use and advantage to direct and further us in this Duty Prudence of general and necessary use for the Government of the whole Man This Virrue will teach us to govern our selves according to God's Word and the Dictates of sober Reason and prevail with us by degrees to conform all the Actions and Affections both of the outward and inward man to the Pattern of Christ that we may not only be morally virtuous John 1.16 but receive
get the upper hand and lead us Captives to Condemnation 't is not imputable to any impotency in the Administration of Christ's Government but to our own Obstinacy and Cowardice We are not because we will not be happy We proceed 3dly The Benefits resulting from Christ's Kingly Government To the Benefits which flow from the Powerful Administration of Christ's Kingly Office Of which take this following Account Now it must be extremely happy for us Christians that we have such a King and live under the gracious Influences of that excellent Government which I have describ'd to you in several Particulars As 1 In respect of his Abilities For 't is said prophetically of our King I have laid help on one that is mighty Ps 89.18 and I will make him my first born higher then the Kings of the Earth Some indeed have a fit Capacity to dispose but want Power and Ability to put their just Laws in Execution for the Peace and Benefit of their Subjects Others have Power more then enough but want Wisdom and Discretion to contrive and manage the Affairs of Government But 't is said of our King Colos â— 19 that it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Fulness in the abstract both of Wisdom and Power that he might dispose and order the Concernments of his Government for the Peace and Benefit of his People Earthly Princes may make their Subjects great but they cannot make 'em good But such is the Power of our absolute and supreme Monarch that he makes his Dependents first good and then great he makes them gracious here and eternally glorious hereafter For when he ascended on high he led Captivity captive Eph. 4.8 and gave Gifts unto men and the Doors of those heavenly Treasuries are still open to his Votaries and Servants He distributes Grace in proportion to their modest Desires and Necessities his holy Spirit leads them into all Truth inspiring them with Love Peace Patience Perseverance Joy in the Holy Ghost and all other needful Graces which may qualifie 'em for Heaven and make them glorious and happy for ever 2 The Government of Christ's Kingdom is Monarchical the very best of all Constitutions in which there 's an absolute Concurrence of all Power Wisdom and Righteousness without any Corruption or Diminution For as Christ is the Power of God Psa 45.6.7 and the Wisdom of God so the Sceptre of his Kingdom is a right Sceptre a Sceptre of Equity and a Rod of Direction say some Translations And as he lays his Commands on his Subjects so which is peculiar to the Subjects of his Kingdom only he gives them Directions and furnishes them with Abilities to comply with and obey all his Commands and Institutions Besides this Monarchical Government of Christ has these special Priviledges to distinguish it from all others 1 'T is Vniversal For he is the Head of the whole Body he rules the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant us who are here and those who are gone to Heaven before us 2 'T is Spiritual he sets up his Throne in the Souls and Consciences of Believers and does there effectually conquer and subdue all his and their Enemies 3 'T is Perpetual which is the greatest Priviledge and best Property that a well constituted Government can be capable of For he ruleth by his Power for ever All earthly Governments have been and are subject to many Alterations and Revolutions Not only from one Person to another but from one kind of Government to another and 't is very uncertain how long we may continue either under this Person or Form of Government under which we live But the Politie of Christ's Kingdom as well as his Person are unchangable For 't is constituted and establish'd by such an unerring Wisdom that a better cannot be devis'd nor desir'd and 't is supported by such an invincible Power that all the Grandees on Earth and in Hell shall never be able to destroy nor dissolve it Luk. 1.32 Vpon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom shall he sit for ever to order and establish it with Judgement and Justice even for ever and ever 3 Christ our King has made an eminent Provision for the Weal and Safety of his Subjects For he gives them the Assistances of the holy Angels in Heaven and of his Ministers and Pastors on Earth By whose Ministeries and the concurrences of his Grace we are supplied with a sufficiency of Wisdom to make us Wise of Holiness to make us Good and Righteousness to make us Just He affords us a sure Protection liberal Maintenance and unspeakable Rewards for those little Tributes and Fealties of Service which we pay him In a word his loyal Subjects can want nothing which may be requisite for their Support and Convenience in this Life But if they should be at any time straitned by the want of these he will enrich them more abundantly with spiritual and eternal Blessings Let them but hold out a while with Patience and Perseverance in well doing and they shall have Kingdoms and Sceptres put into their Hands and Crowns set upon their Heads as Ensigns of their everlasting Triumph 5 and Lastly It may be added as a considerable Benefit and Priviledge of Christ's Kingdom that Satan's Power as before is dasht in pieces and we are safe under the defence and Protection of this mighty Monarch The other Enemies who oppose his Authority and do disease and trouble us are Atheists and Infidels without and Hereticks and Apostates within the Church and all these Adversaries have no small Advantage against us from that innate Corruption and Concupiscence in our own Bowels but all the hurt that Christ our King will suffer them to do us is only by some faint Encounters now and then to try and advance our Graces and prove our Integrity And tho' that last Enemy Death may be a present torture yet cannot deprive us of that Bliss which shall certainly be the Reward of all his Subjects in another World For these Oppositions will rather further than hinder us in our Journey and bring us perhaps sooner however with greater safety to the Haven and Happiness where we would be We go on to the 4th The Application of this Point and Last Particular Which is to make some practical Improvement of this Point by way of Application And 1 Seeing that Christ our King is advanc't to this high and honourable Office We are oblig'd both in Duty and Interest to pay that just tribute of Fear and Homage of Love and Obedience which is most deservedly due to so great and so good a Monarch And we are under the greatest Obligations to be most exact and uniform in our Services to him since the very Angels in Heaven and all other Creatures do not only acknowledge his Sovereignty over 'em but do in their several Capacities send up Acclamations of Blessing Praise unto him Therefore since we live under