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
CHRISTS KINGDOME DISCOVERED OR That the true Church of God is in England cleerly made manifest against all Sectaries whatsoeuer By Iohn Traske DAN 12.10 None of the wicked shall vnderstand but the Wise shall vnderstand MAT. 11.19 Wisedom is iustified of her Children The second Edition LONDON Printed by Tho Creede and Bern Alsop for Iosias Harrison and are to be sold in Pater noster-row at the signe of the Golden Anker 1616. To all the blessed People of England euen all such as desire the peace of the Land together with the flourishing of the Church grace and peace be multiplied HEere is offered to your view some helpe to the reading of the holy Scriptures the vnderstanding of the Prophecies but especially of the Estate of the Church that so you may no longer bee carryed vp and downe with euery winde of Doctrine But as you haue begun to attend vpon the word preached in England and to practise those other Duties publique and priuate our Church requireth so it will be comfortable to your soules and profitable to the Common-wealth if you proceede not turning to the right hand or to the left Wherefore it is desired that you would read it once ouer without taking notice of the quotations of Scripture and hauing read once ouer then try at the next reading whether the Scriptures bee rightly vsed for that they seeme to be heere placed and know that the last Translation is followed as that by the which the Writer hath often confessed that he hath receiued more benefite then by all the Expositors that euer hee read And thou art desired withall to esteeme that translation highly and make it one cause of heartie thanksgiuing to GOD who hath giuen continued to vs a King that hath beene a principall mouer in such a great businesse as also gifts vnto Men that so much light is sprung out by their meanes Albeit thou shalt happily meete with some priuate Spirits that will bee ready to censure sharply that by the which the Church of GOD will certainely at length reape great benefite And so desiring thy feruent prayers for the aduancement of Christs Kingdome I rest yet a while Mar. 2. 1615. CHRISTS Kingdome discouered by three things 1. The Enquirie this in three 1. What it is in two 1. The titles these foure 1. Kingdom of God this onely referred to both estates 1. To this Life 2. To that to come 2. Kingdome of Heauen 3. Sonne of mans Kingdom 4. Kingdome of CHRIST 2. the things these seauen 1. A KING 2. A SCEPTER 3. LAWES 4. AMBASSADORS 5. SVBIECTS 6. OFFICERS 7. ARMOR 2 Where it is in two 1. on Earth n t in heaueÌ„ In this life not that to come 2 In what place this by three 1. It is not tyed to any one Kingdome or People 2. It is aboue that Kingdome where it is 3. Wheresoeuer the Saints are there it is When it began in two 〈…〉 1. It hath bene euer open to Belieuers 〈…〉 full not aâ—â— CHRISTS KINGdome Discouered THere are two principall Endes at which the whole Scripture aymes The first is Rom. 11.36 Deut. 29.29 Gods Glory Rom. 11.36 The second our Good Deuteronom 29.29 Concerning this latter Two things are obserueable First our estate in this life Secondly when this life is ended About our estate here There is one thing necessarie Luc 10.42 Luk. 10.42 And about this necessary thing three necessary Circumstances First that it is to bee sought or enquired after Secondly being found to be seized on or entred into Thirdly beeing enioyed as our own we must be carefull of the vse thereof that wee be not againe depriued of it This one necessarie thing is Christs Kingdome This is that which must bee Enquired for or sought out being Found must bee seized on or entred into and hauing found and entred Diligence must bee daylie vsed to make a greater Entrance and continuallie to walke worthie of such a glorious estate That it must be sought is plaine where it is written Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God Math. 6.33 Lu. 12.13 Matth. 7.13 and his Righteousnes Math 6.33 Luk. 12.31 That it must be entred into is plaine where it is written Enter in at the straight gate Matth 7.13 And Except your Righteousnes exceede the Righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees yee can in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Ma. 5.20 Mat. 5.20 That wee are to Walke worthie of this estate and daylie to make a greater entrance into this Kingdom is plaine also in that charge which the Apostle had giuen to the Thessalonians That they would walke worthie of GOD 1. Thess 2.12 who had called them to his Kingdome and Glorie 1. Thessal 2.12 And where it is also written Giue all diligence adde to your Faith Vertue and to your Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godlineso to godlines brotherly kindenesse to brotherly kindnes loue For if yee doe these things ye shall neuer fall For an Entrance shal be ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting Kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ. 2. Pet. 1.5.6 2. Pet. 1. 5 6.7.10.11 7.10.11 Now that seeking we may finde it shal be shewed First what this kingdome is Secondly where it is Thirdly when it might properly be said to beginne And first what it is It is that Spirituall Gouernement which God the Father is saide to giue vnto the Sonne and which the Sonne is saide to desire of the Father which also both the Father and the Sonne doe order by the Spirite Not that one of them is before or after other That one is greater or lesse then other in this Administration but that all three are Equall and as one doe order this great businesse Euen that Kingdome which the Sonne shall againe at the ende deliuer vp vnto his Father As it is written Yet haue I set my King vpon my holy hill of Syon I will declare the Decree the Lorde hath saide vnto me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of mee and I shall giue thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance the vttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psalm 2.6.7.8 And Peter wryteth thus We haue not followed cunningly deuised fables Psal 2.6.7.8 when we made knowne vnto you the power and comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Maiestie For hee receyued from God the Father honour and Glorie when there came such a voyce to him from the excellent glorie 2. Pet. 1.16.17 2. Pet. 1.16.17 Also Paule writeth thus Christ the first fruites afterward they that are Christs at his comming Then the Ende when he shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God euen the Father 1. Cor. 15.23.24 1. Cor. 15 23.24 Thus you see it is manifest That the Sonne desireth God the Father giueth according to his desire and at the end shall againe deliuer vp this which he