demanding of him When the Kingdom of God should come He answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with outward pomp and shew Itâ—â—ut observari possit so as the glory of it may be discerned by every vulgar Eye as it is with secular Kingdoms But it is inward and spiritual set up in the hearts of men So it followeth in the next verse Neither shall they say â—oe herâ— or â—oe there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not only among you as it is where the Gospel is preached which is the Scepter of Christ's Kingdom but within you in the hearts of the Faithful There doth Christ set up his Scepter â—uling and governing by his Word and Spirit Now upon this account again are all his Subjects to make prayers for him that his Kingdom may thus come and that both to themselves and others 1. To themselves that Christ may enter and take a full possession of their hearts These are the Gates those everlasting Doors which the Psalmist calleth upon to lift up their heads that the King of Glory may enter in Psal. 24.7 9. which however it may be understood literally of the Gates of the Temple and metaphorically of the Gates of Heavâ—n which were set open to receive Christ at his Ascension thither yet may it mystically be applyed to the hearts of men who being the Temple of God as Believers are called 1 Cor. 3.16 their hearts are as Gates and Doors to let Christ in to their Souls And these Gates are they to lift up and set open earnestly desiring that Christ may enter and take up his dwelling there ruling and reigning there till â—he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet that so they may have a more sweet and full Communion with this their Lord and Saviour 2. And as they are to do this for themselves so for others For this cause Paul tells his Ephesâ—â—ns that he bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ on their behalf That he would grant unto you saith he according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And this are Christians to beg for their Brethren as the choâ—sest mercy that the Kingdom of Christ may thus come unto them that his Scâ—pter may be set up in their hearts that so they may become his true Loyal and Obedient Subjects The number whereof being increased and multiplyed it will tend much to the honour of this their King So Solomon tells us it dâ—th to a Temporal Prince In the â—â—ltitude of the People iâ— the Kings honour Prov. 14.28 And so it doth to this our Spiritual Soveraign And upon that account it is to be prayed for on his behalf Thus are the Subjects of Christ to pray for him that hiâ— Kingdom of Gracâ— may come 2. And as his Kingdom of Grace so of Glory that he may come in his Glory Thus he shall come The Son of man shall come in thâ— Glory of his Father with his Angels so he himself tells his Disciples Matth. 16.27 Come like a glorious King So he shall do at the lasâ— and great day Then shall he come in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory as we have it Matth. 24.30 And this coming of his as it shall be glorious to himself the glorious appearing of the greâ—t God and of our Saviour Iesus Christ as the Apostle calleth it Tit. 2.13 a ful manifestation of his transcendent Glory so shall it be joyous to his Subjects who are bid then to look up and lift up their heads viz those who shall be alive at thaâ— his coming Luke 21.28 When thesâ— things begin to come to pass viz. when they should see the signs of his coming there spoken of then look up and lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigâ— Your full and perfect Redemption when you shall be for ever freed and delivered out of the hands of all your Enemies and have a full enjoyâ—ent of all those blessings which I have purchased and prepared for you Then Christ being glorious in himself he shall be glorified in his Saints So the Apostle sets it forth 2 Thess. 1.7 10. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels c. He shall then come to be glorified in his Sainâ—s and to be admired in all them that believe So he shall be when manifesting the fulness of his Glory unto them he shall make them partakers of the same glory with himself Such shall that his Coming be And for this all his Subjects do or ought to wait So Paul saith his believing Corinthians did 1 Cor. 1.7 Ye come behind in no Gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith thâ— Original the Revelation meaning his second coming when his Glory should be fully manifested to them and to the World And the like he saith of his Thessalonians 1 Thess. 1.10 Being turned from Idols to serve the true and living God they waited for his Son from Heaven Which he prays for them that they might still do and that with Patience 2 Thess. 3.5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the Love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ. And whilst they thus waite for it they are also to wish it to pray for it So the Spirit and the Bride are said to do Rev. 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come The Church which is Christ's Bride by the motion of the Spirit working such a desire in the hearts of true Believers earnestly wisheth and prayeth for the coming of Christ. And this are all that hear of it to do And let him that heareth say Come So did Iohn himself who having received from Christ an intimation and assurance of his Coming that he would come and that quickly he saith Amen to it closing up this Book of his with this affectionate Apprecation He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Iesus Thus are the Subjects of Christ's Kindom to make prayers for him 2. And this they are to do Continually There is the second particular of which but a word time not giving way for inlargements my purpose being to finish the Text at present And great Reason there is why they should do so why theâ— should pray for him Continually 1. This doth He for them being a continual Intercessor on their behalf He ever liveth to make Intercession for them Hebr. 7.25 2. They have need thus to pray for him upon their own account that he who hath begun to take up his lodging in their Souls may continue to dwell there That as he hath begun the good work in them so he may go on to perform and perfect it till his appearing 3. Again they have need so to do
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
upon the Churches account which being beset with so many and great Enemies who are continually at work being unwearied in their endeavours for the damage and prejudice of it and of all the true members thereof your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 and so do his Instrâ—ments it hath need of a continuall Guard to proâ—ect and defend it But leaving the Doctrinal part I shall passe to Application which I shall direct as before onely two wayes by way of Reprehension Exhortation I shall be brief in both Is this a Tribute which is due unto this King how is it then that it is with-held from him Which it is not only 1. By hâ—s open and professed Enemies who will not own and acknowledg his Soveraignty Such were the Iews We have no King but Caesar say the chief Priests unto Pilate Ioh. 19.15 And the rest of the People being of the same mind in stead of praying for him they pray against him They cryed out Away with him away with him Crucify him as the former paâ—t of that verse hath it And as it was with the Iews so was it then and at this day is with many the greatest part of the Gentiles with whom we find the Psalmist contesting about this their Rebellion Psal. 2.1 2 3. Why do the Heathen rage and the People imagine a vain thing The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asâ—nder and cast away their Cords from us Thus was David opposed by his Enemies both before his coming to the Crown and after And thus iâ— the Lord Jesus of whom David was a Type opposed the grâ—atest part of the World being Enemies to him and to his Kingdom the destruction whereof they desire and endeavour But leaving them 2. Are there not some and too many who go for his Subjects guilty of the like disloyalty Such as have taken the Name of Christ upon them professing themselves to be Christians yet are they far from praying for this their Soveraign as they ought to do It may be they say and that as oft as any other Thy Kingdom come but they mean it not they do not unfeignedly desire it which if they did they would not oppose his Government as they do His outâ—ard Government in his Church and his inward Government in themselves They sâ—ut the Doors of their Souls that this King of Glory may not enter in They will not endure that Christ should set up his Scepter in their hearts they will not have him to rule over them in them They will not be governed by his Laws Let not such call themselves his Subjects 3. And others there are who though they do not utterly refuse to pay this Tributâ— to this their Soveraign yet they are remiss and careless in it not praying for him Continually as they ought to do They are noâ— so affected with the state and condition of his Kingdom as they ought to be so as to be earnest in seeking the peâ—ce welfare and prosperity of the Church So long as it goeth well with the State wherein they live as for the Church they little â—egard it So was it not with the People of God in Babylon whose affection to Hiâ—rusalem we have seâ—t forth Psal. 137. ver 5 6. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let my tongue â—leavâ— to the roof of my mouth If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy Thus were they affected with the sad staâ—e of the Church and the decay of God's true Religion more then with all their own private Concernments This it was that lay nearest their hearts sate upon their spirits so as they had it in continual remembrance How is it then that so many who professe themselves Christians should be so little affected as they are with the sad state and condition of the Church at this Day They do not remember it and the interest of Christ in it if at all yet not so affectionately and constantly as thâ—y ought to do 4. To these I may add such as do not pray for the second coming of Christ No they are far from joyning with the Spiriâ— and the Bride in saying Come Lord Iesus This is a thing which they do not firmly believe that he will come However they hope that he will not come quickly saying in their hearts wiâ—h that evil Servant Matth. 24.48 My Master â—â—layeth his coming In the mean time giving themselves to sensuality and luxury Nay their defire is that he may never come And so in stead of praying for him they pray against him And surely it can be no otherwise with some with many even with all obstinaâ—e and rebellious Sinners such as will not have Christ to Reign in them and over them here To all such will this seâ—ond coming of Christ be a dreadfull coming When the Lord Iâ—sus shall be revâ—aled from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fiâ—e taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power as the Apostle sets it forth 2 Thess. 1.7 8 9. Oh! this will be to them a dreadfull coming Aâ— the beholding of which they shall do what St. Iohn saith of the â—ings of the Earth and the greâ—t men and the rich men and the â—hief Captains c. viz. all such as have been Enâ—mâ—es to Châ—â—st and to his Kingdom Rev. 6.15 They shall hide themselves in the the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains saying to the Mountains and to the Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the fâ—ce of him that â—iâ—teth upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Laâ—â— And as they shall then deprecate and pray against his coming so it cannot be that they should now apprecate and pray for it But turn it into a word of Exhortation Which let it be directed to all and every of us who professe our selves to be Subjects unto this Soveraign let not us be wanting in this our Duty in paying this Tribute unto him in praying for him and that contâ—nually that his Kingdom may come and that power that he may reign and prosper So it is fore-told that he shall do Jer. 23.5 Behold the Dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and proâ—â—er and shall execute Iudgment and Iustice iâ— the Earth In his Dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely And this is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord ouâ— Righteousnesse Which that it is meant of Jesus Christ iâ— not to be questioned that being â—oo high â— Titlâ— to be given to any but him to be called
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.