and a Thess. â— 1 Aâ—d again if that Epistle be his Hebâ— 13.18 Pray for uâ— Where this Tribute is duly payed other Tribâ—â—â— wilt noâ— bâ— with holdeâ— The praying Christian is consciencioâ—â— and so will not with hâ—ld from any man that which is his dâ—e which if he should he cannot expect that his prayers should be heard And this is a Tribute that all may pay They who have no other Presents to bring to their Prince no Gold of Ophir or Sâ—eba to present him with which is here said to be given to King Solomon yet they may have this Frankincense and Mirrh the sweet Odors of their prayers to put up unto God on his behalf Now such as they have let them give as Peter said to that poor Cripple lying at the beautiful Gate of the Temple begging an Alms of him Acts 3.6 Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have I give thee a better gift then that which thou desirest viz. that which Christ hath given me power freely to distribute the restoring of thy Limbs And the like let all God's People do to their Soveraign such as have not the opportunity or ability of doing service to him in other ways such as they have let them give Having a praying spirit given them of God let them make use of it in his behalf But what is it that we are to pray for on his behalf For resolution I might send you to that antient Father Tertullian who in that place fore-mentioned giveth us an account of what things they were that the Christians in his time were wont in their prayers to beg for their Soveraigns Oramus pro omnibus Imperatoribus We pray for all Emperours that God would give them Vitam prolixam a long life Imperium securum a secure Empire Domum tutam a safe Habitation Exercitus fortes valiant Armies Senatum fidelem a faithfull Counsell Populum probum a good People Orbem quietum a quiet World quaecunque Hominis Caesaris vota sunt and what ever good things Caesar himself or any other can wish And all these let us beg for this our dread Soveraign that God would blesse him with all kinds of Blessings blessings of his right hand and left blessings Spiritual and Temporal Spiritual that God would write all his Laws in his heart giving him his Judgments which is David's prayer for his son Solomon verse first of this Psalm Give the King thy Iudgments O God and thy Righteousnesse to the Kings Son That so he may be such a King as the Lord maketh promise of unto his People Esay 32.1 Behold a King shall Râ—ign in Righteousnesse and Princes shall Rule in Iudgment That God would give him an upright a perfect heart such a heart as King Hezekiah had that so he may walk before him as he did and be able at the finishing his course to appeal unto him as he doth Esay 38.3 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And as an upright so a wise and a large heart Such a heart God gave unto this King Solomon as you heard 1 King 4.29 And this was the chief blessing that his Father David begged for him 1 Chron. 22. 12. Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding and give thee Charge concerning Israel that thou mayest keep the Law of the Lord thy God And that he in whose hand the hearts of Kings are The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the Rivers of Water â—e turneth it whithersoever he will as Solomon tells us Prov. 21.1 would hold the heart of this his anointed Servant in his own hand making use of him as an happy Instrument as in other Services so in building his House This David there beggeth for and of his son Solomon in the verse foregoing 1 Chron. 22.11 Now my Son the Lord be with thee and prosper thou and build the House of the Lord thy God Oh that the Lord 's Anointed amongst us may do the like Thus beg we for him these right-hand blessings spiritual blessings And this do we in the first place Then do we the like for left-hand Temporal blessings That God would blesse him in his Person and Government In his Person multiplying his Dayes Pray for the life of the King as that Text fore-cited hath it Ezra 6.10 Let the King live forever saith Nehemiah to Artaxerxes Neh. 2.3 And Daniel to Darius Dan. 6.21 Thou wilt prolong the Kings life and his years as many Generations Psal. 61.6 In his Government that that may be peaceable and happy that God would perform unto him what he promised to David Psal. 132.18 His Enemies will I clothe with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish As also that in the verse fore-going I will make the Horn of David to bud I have ordained a Lamp for mine anointed a Successor that should come out of his Loyns And that his Government may be prosperous to himself and others beyond what the best of his Predecessors have been This was the prayer of Bâ—naiah which he made in the behalf of King Solomon at his Coronation 1 King 1.37 As the Lord hath been with my Lord the King even so be he with Solomon and make his Throne greatâ—â— then the Throne of my Lord King David Wherein he was secondâ—d by Solomon's Servants ver 47. who coming to David after his Son Solomon was anointed King they said unto him God make the Name of Solomon better then thy Name and make his Throne greater then thy Throne To which David was ready to say Amen declaring his assent by bowing himself upon the Bed These and all other blessings which may be any wayes requisite or expedient let us beg in the behalf of our dread Soveraign that he being thus blessed and we blessed in him may have cause to bless him 2. That is the other Tribute which David here in the Text saith should be payed unto his Son Solomon His Subjects thus praying for him they should also praise him and so praise him as they prayed for him Continually And daily shall he praised â—olhaâ—om jebarâ—kenehâ— Totâ or omni die benedicet ei All the day long or every day his own People and others should speak well of him bless him All Nations shall call him blessed ver 17. So did diverse â—orraign Nations whose Kings having heâ—rd of his Fame â—ame to see him bringing Presents unto him So it is here foretold of some of them ver 10. of this Psalm The Kings of Tâ—rshish and all the Iles shall bring Presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer Gifts Yea all Kings shall fall down before him And accordingly we find it verified in that illustrious Princesse the Queen of Sheba who hearing of his Wisdom came from her own Country to see him and have some conference with him Which having had
any good Office which â—hey have done to them Though they be wicked and ungodly Kings Enemies both to God and them Such a one was King Iâ—râ—bâ—am one of the worst of Kings whom we find stigmatized with this brand Who did sin and made Israel to Sin 1 King 14.16 He did Sin himself this he did as in otheâ— wayeâ— so speciâ—lly by setting up an Idolatrous Worship making those two golden Calves the one of which he set up in Bethel and the other in Dan as we find it 1 King 12.28 29. And he made Israel to Sin by causing the People of God within his Dominioâ—s to leave the Temple of the Lord and to worship those Calves whom he had set up which thing became a Sin as to him so to them as it there followeth ver 30. And in this Sin of his he was obstinate insomuch that when the Man of God by a speciall Command from God himself came and prophesied agâ—inst his Altar at Bethel he was inraged against him putting forth his hand either to lay hold of him himself or to stir up those who were the standers by to apprehend him which he calleth out to them to do as the Story tells us 1. King 13.4 Yet notwithstanding this when God had executed that Judgment upon him causing his hand to whither and dry up at his intreaty the Man of God refused not to pray for him He besought the Lord and the King's hand â—as restored again and became as it was before so it there followeth ver 6. And the like Officeâ— are Christians both Ministers and People to be ready to do to the worst of Kings though Enemies to God and Them doing unto them all the evil Officeâ—â—hat lyeth in their power yet are they not to forbear praying for them Pray for them that despitefully use you Luke 6. 28. Such were the Rulers and Governours in the Apostle's time the Roman Emperours being then Heathen they were Enemies to the Church cruel and bloody persecutors of the Saints Lyons as Paul is conceived to call Nero â— Tim. 4.17 Insomuch that some haply might make it a Question whether they ought to pray for such as they were or rather pray against them but the Apostle here resolveth that doubt by instancing particularly in them Pray for all men c. For Kings and all that are in Authority Be they what they will so long as their Authority is just though they be Tyranni exercitio Tyrants as to the exercise of their Power so long as they are not so Titulo their Title being just and right they are to be prayed for by those that are under their Government Such is the Apostles Precept And such was the practise of the Primitive Saints They were very conscienâ—ious in the paying of this Tribute constantly solemnly and seriously putting up prayers in the behalf of those Roman Emperours under whose Government they lived notwithstanding they were such as I spake of cruel and bloody persecutors of the Church So much we may take notice of from that known and remarkable passage of that antient Faâ—her Tertullian who setteth forth what their manner then was in their publick meetings Illuc suspicientes saith he lifting up our Eyes to Heaven Nos Christiani manibus expansis quia innocui We Christians with hands spread abroad being conscious of our own Innocency Capite nudo quia non erubescimus With heads uncoverd as not having any cause to blush denique sine monitore quia de pectore oramus pro omnibus Imperaâ—oribus Without any other Monitor to prompt or help us save only our own hearts and spirits we pray for all Kings and Emperours begging for them Vitam prolixam Imperium securum c. A long Life a secure Governments c. Thus did they readily pay this Tribute to those Emperours â—ough Heathen and bloody persecutors of them and their Religion And if this be to be payed â—nto such how much more to Graciouâ— Soveraigns to good Kings and Prince such as are vertuouâ— and pious wise and just merciful and â—ender hearted towards their Subjects Friends both to Church and State Nursing Fâ—â—her to both such aâ— God promiseth to give unto his Church in the 〈◊〉 dayes Esay 49 23. Being such Rulers such Governours now those who are under theiâ— Government receiving so many and great benefits by it as they do they stand engaged after a special manner to be earnest with God on their behalf to pray for them And this being true Christians they will readily do Prayer shall be made for him saith David here speaking of his son Solomon He being a wise and a good Prince he made no question but that his People his Loyal and Obedient Subjects would be ready to powre out their prayers on his behalf 2. Yea and that Continually There is the second particular which here we take notice of the Time when and how often this Tribute is to be payed Tamith Iugiter Alwaies Continually So it is Prayer is an exercise wherein God's People should be frequent and constant Praying alwaies So they are directed by our Saviour to do Luke 18.1 who is there said to speak a Parable to his Disciples viz. that of the importunate widow to this end that men ought alwayes to pray And again Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes And so Paul calleth upon his Ephesians to do Eph. 6.18 Praying alwayes And so upon his Colossians Col. 4.2 Continue in prayer And wâ—iting to his Thessalonians he requireth them to pray without ceasing 1 Thess. 5.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is incessantly constantly not that Christians are to spend all their time in prayer and do nothing else as the Euchites and some other Hereticks of old have thought and taught but that they should be ready to pray upon all occasions Thus are they to pray for themselves inasmuch as they stand in continual need of God's assistance and help either to bestow upon them some good things which they want or to free and deliver them from such evils as they feel or fear they are to pray Continually And thus are they to pray for others especially such as in a special manner stand charged upon their prayers Thus did Paul pray for the Churches Praying alwayes for you so he tells his Colossians Col. 1.3 And the like his Thessalonians We give thanks to God alwayes for you all making mention of you in my prayers 1 Thess. 1.2 And the like are Ministers to do For their Peoplâ— and People for their Ministers Parents for their Children and Children for their Parents And so are Subjects to do for their Soveraignes they being their Political Fathers Paâ—res patriae Fathers of their Country they are upon all occasions to be mindful of them praying for them and that continually And truly great Reason there is why this Tribute should be thus payed unto them considering First The great need that they have of it What the Apostle saith to his
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
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