difference there is between serving God and serving others If you refuse God's Government you are under a worse under Sin and the Power of Darkness you are under your own Lusts nay and by a just Judgment God may give you over to live in Bondage to unmerciful Men. How many Kings and Lords doth he serve that will not serve one Lord O therefore renounce those other Lords that have Dominion over you and come under this Kingdom which God hath set up Vse 2. To press the Children of God 1. To walk worthy of the Gospel it is a Kingdom The Apostle hath an Exhortation and Charge to this purpose 1 Thess. 2. 11 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory Walk in obedience to Christ that 's one thing Christ is a King by a natural Right God hath chosen him God hath set him upon his holy Hill The Lord hath made him to be Head over all Things Ephes. 1. 22. Nay the Church chuseth Christ They shall appoint to themselves one Head Hos. 1. 11. And therefore for you that are called to his Kingdom and Glory that have entred into Covenant with Christ that have subscribed to him as Head and King for you to be disobedient give way to Sin it is worse in you Will ye go away also saith Christ to his Disciples Christ hath a Right to reign over wicked Men but you have actually chosen him Treason is less culpable in those which have not submitted to a Power and Prince and owned him for their King than in those that have sworn Faith and Allegiance You have passed under the Bond of the holy Oath God hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory therefore you should be more obedient than to allow a disloyal Thought or rebellious Lust against Christ. 2. As you should be more holy wary watchful that you do not break the Laws of Christ for you have consented to him so live as Kings exercising all Acts of Regality within your own Souls ruling your own Spirits exercising Judgment over your own Hearts and over every Affection that will not be bridled It is a Disgrace to the Regal Estate of the Gospel for you to be over-mastered by a Lust to lie under the Power of any Sin yet thus it is God's Children are conflicting with one Sin or other more than the rest So far you have not experience of that Truth Iohn 8. 32. And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free A Man that liveth in Bondage to his Lusts how can he chuse but doubt of those glorious Privileges Have you found the State of the Gospel to be a Kingdom do you walk worthy of the Gospel 3. It teacheth us Contempt of the World and earthly Things Phil. 3. 14. I press toward the Mark for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Iesus Christ. It is not for Princes to embrace a Dunghil nor for Eagles to catch Flies Remember thou wilt one day be a King with God in Glory and therefore shouldst not be as low and base as the Men of the World are but walk worthy of God who hath called you to a Royal State 4. A generous Confidence in the midst of the Troubles and Abasements of the World What tho you be accounted as the Scurf and Off-scouring of all Things tho your outward Condition be low and mean know the Worth of your high Calling in Christ. How poor and despicable soever you are in this World yet you are Heirs of a Crown and Kingdom Therefore remember you are Princes that walk up and down in disguise in a foreign Country If you are kept in a mean Condition it is but a Disguise God hath put upon you We are the Sons of God tho for the present it doth not appear what we shall be God's Heirs make little shew in the World But there is a high Dignity a mighty Privilege put upon you you are called to be Heirs of this Kingdom and this blessed and Royal Estate which God hath provided for them that love him Vse 3. Are we translated into this Kingdom Col. 1. 13. He hath delivered us out of the Power of Darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Every Man naturally is under other Lords the Devil hath Dominion over him and he is under the Government of his own Lusts but now are we translated into the Kingdom of Christ The Second Point is Doct. 2. All those that are affected with God's Glory should desire the coming of this Kingdom and seriously deal with God about it None else can rescue and pluck them out of the Power of Darkness and deliver them from the Thraldom of those other Lords that hold them and none else can defend and preserve them I shall handle the Point 1. In a private 2. In a publick Respect First In a private respect Every Man should desire that the Kingdom of God should come down and be set up in his own Heart Here I must repeat and apply the Distinctions of Christ's Kingdom He is to desire the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory may come to himself and others I. The Kingdom of Grace that it may be begun continued and encreased First That this Kingdom may be begun and a Throne erected for Christ in our Hearts The great Necessity of this Request will be evidenced in these Considerations 1. That every Man by Nature is under another King under the Kingdom of Sin and Satan Satan is the Monarch and Sin is the Scepter Christ and the Devil divide the World either we belong to the one or the other Now the Devil by reason of the Fall of Adam he hath the Start of Christ and the Lord Jesus coming to possess the Heart doth not seize upon it as a Waste which belongeth to the next Occupier but he seizeth upon it as already possessed by Satan The Devil quietly ruleth in the Hearts of the Unregenerate he keeps House and all the Goods are in Peace Luke 11. 21. And therefore wicked Spirits are called The Rulers of the Darkness of this World Eph. 6. 12. All the ignorant and carnal part of the World falls to his share and he doth not easily quit possession Christ indeed employeth Men to wrestle with Principalities and Powers The Work of the Ministry is to shake and batter the Empire of the Devil You must be turned you must be rescued You must be turned Acts 26. 18. To turn them from the Power of Satan unto God You must be rescued and plucked out of this Captivity by strong hand Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the Power of Satan who hath taken us out of Darkness by a powerful Rescue Even as the Israelites were brought out of Egypt by a strong Hand and stretched-out Arm so are we brought out of the Power of Darkness By such an irresistible Power of Grace must God recover you otherwise Men yield themselves
up to his Scepter Look as the Spirit of God works holy Motions and gracious Desires in the Hearts of God's Children So the Devil is at work in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2. 2. framing wicked Devices carnal Desires evil Thoughts against God Man is such a perfect Slave to the Devil that he can do nothing but sin 2. This Kingdom which Satan exerciseth is an invisible Kingdom The Devil doth not sensibly appear to his Vassals and Slaves When Christ's Kingdom and Regiment was more external so was the Devil's also As when God was served by Sacrifices and delivered his Mind by Oracles so Men did then more professedly own the Devil by observing his prescribed Rites of Worship and by being deluded by lying Oracles and Answers to their Prayers and Quesâ—ions But now since the Kingdom of Christ is more spiritual and managed by the Holy-Ghost in the Hearts of his Saints so is Satan's Kingdom invisible So that Men may be Christ's Subjects by external Profession and the Devil 's by internal Obedience and Constitution of Mind tho they worship not by Pagan Rites as he ruleth in their Hearts and takes them off from obeying the Gospel they profess The God of this World hath blinded their Eyes 2 Cor. 4. 4. All carnal Men however they defy Satan and abominate the thoughts of serving him yet while they remain in their Sin and Ignorance they still hold the Crown upon the Devil's Head Look as God's Subjects may own him in verbal pretence yet their Hearts may be far from him Mat. 15. 8. So that wicked Men may defy the Devil in pretence and words and cannot endure to hear of him but they are under the God of this World he hath blinded their Hearts So that this Kingdom is to be sought for in the Heart Christ made a great Inroad upon the Devil beat him out of his Quarters Yet as the Sea gets in one place what it loseth in another so tho the Devil hath lost Ground in the Christian World as to external Profession whilst People renounce the Superstitions of the Gentiles yet still he gets Ground in the Hearts of wicked Men by their carnal Dispositions his Empire is upheld still tho professedly they are Subjects of Christ. 3. Until Satan be cast out of the Throne Christ can have no Entertainment in the Heart The Ark and Dagon cannot sink and stand together either the Ark must be removed or Dagon will down upon his Face So 2 Cor. 6. 14. What Communion hath Christ with Belial and Light with Darkness It is impossible both Kingdoms can stand together or both Kings be set up in the same Heart The Marriage-Bed will admit no Partner nor Rival A Man must be under Christ or Satan Until he be cast out Christ hath no room to be entertained Mat. 6. 24. No Man can serve two Masters Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Look upon the Devil under that Notion as he is Mammon as he doth entice to Worldliness it is impossible to serve him and Christ. Both Masters have Work enough for their Servants and their Commands are contrary If two Masters consent to employ one Man in the self-same Business tho they are two Men yet they are but one Master But now to execute the Wills of Men which differ in their Design and which have a several and full Interest in our Labours and Actions it is as impossible as to move two contrary ways at once Well then Mammon and Christ Belial and Christ divide the World It is impossible to be under Belial and Christ both have full Work for us to do and their Designs are contrary So that either it must appear we have changed Masters or we are under the Power of the Devil still We must come out of the Power of Darkness else we cannot be brought into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus that we may obtain Remission of Sins 4. Satan may be cast out in part and yet still retain a supreme Interest in the Heart I prove it out of that Parable Mat. 12. 43 44 45. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man he walketh through dry Places seeking Rest but findeth none Then he saith I will return into my House from whence I came out c. Out of that Parable we may plainly conclude there may be a shaking of Satan's Empire Satan may be cast out of a Man in some sort yet the Man not plainly renewed Well how may he be cast out and yet his Empire remain unbroken He may be cast out partly by Conviction and Illumination yet as long as any Lust remaineth there unmortified and unsubdued he still keeps his Sovereignty in the Heart Many begin to be troubled and to be thoughtful about Eternity that see better yet they do that which is worse in the Issue When there 's a Conflict between Corruption and Conviction Corruption carrieth it away As Iron oft heated and oft quenched is so much the harder So when they had some Wamblings of Conscience and the Heart begins to boggle and after this Sin breaks out the more This is the Scope of that place They were convinced of a better Estate and had some thoughts of the Messiah but did not give him entertainment Again the Devil may be cast out in regard of some external Reformation A Man may a little wash his polluted Life and abstain from gross Sins yet Satanâ— have full possession of the inner Man A Man may abjure his former ill Life and for a while carry it fair but afterwards retain his former Filthiness and keep a secret League with his Lusts and so he is entangled again and then his latter End is worse than his Beginning and as it is in 2 Pet. 2. 22. The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire A Prisoner which hath made some Escape if ever the Goaler get him into his Clutches is sure to be loaden with Irons So one that hath had some partial Reformation O when the Devil gets such a Man into his power again he is ten times worse than he was before 5. The Difficulty of casting off the Sovereignty of Satan lieth partly in our selves and partly in the Devil Partly in our selves As in the Israelites going out of Egypt the difficulty lay not only in gaining the Consent of Pharaoh for he pursues after them when they were gone but also in persuading the People to give their Consent it was long ere Israel desired to be gone So in our natural Condition the Mind of Man is so depraved that he thinks his Bondage to be his Freedom and that there is no such merry Life as to wallow in carnal Satisfactions and our Affections are so far engaged to this sinful Estate that we dote upon our Shackles and are unwilling to hear of a Change The first Step of coming out of this Kingdom of Darkness is when we find it to be a heavy Burthen
culpae but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never but Evil of Fault And we need not anxiously dispute whether the one or the other for one cannot be understood without respect to the other Therefore I shall take it in a general sence That Evil which results from Temptations whether they arise from Satan the World or our own Hearts From the words thus opened the Points will be two First That while we are in this Valley of Tears and Snares we should with earnestness and confidence pray to be delivered from Evil. Secondly To be kept from the Evil of Sin is a greater Mercy than to be kept from the trouble of Temptation I observe the first Point because Christ thus directed us to pray to God The second Because the Evil of Sin is intended For the First We should pray with earnestness because of our Danger and with Confidence because of God's undertaking The Lord Jesus knows what Requests are most acceptable to his Father Now when he would give a perfect Pattern and Platform of Prayer he bids you pray thus Deliver us from Evil. Nay we have not only Christ's Direction but Christ's Example John 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but that thou shouldst keep them from the Evil. He did not absolutely pray for an exemption from Temptation though he knew the World would be a tempestuous Place that his People must expect strong Assaults Lord take them not out of the World but keep them from the Evil so here Deliver us from Evil. First We should pray with Earnestness because of our Danger from the Enemies of our Salvation which are the Devil the World and the Flesh In respect of all which we pray to be delivered from Evil. 1. From the Evil which the Devil designs against us Both bad and good Men have need to make this Prayer Bad Men have need Good Men will have a Heart certainly to pray thus to God if they consider their Danger 1. Natural and unconverted Men they are under the Power of the Devil if they were sensible of it for the Devils are said to be Rulers of the Darkness of this World Ephes. 6. 12. By which is meant the Wicked Ignorant and carnal part of the World whether they live in Gentilism or within the Pale and Line of Christ's Communion over all those that live in their unrenewed state of Sin and Ignorance over all these Satan hath an Empire and Dominion And mark when God carried on his Kingdom in in a way of sensible Manifestation by Visions Oracles and Miracles So did Satan visibly govern the Pagan World by Apparitions Oracles lying Wonders and sensible manifestations of himself But now when God's Kingdom is Spiritual The Kingdom of God is within you Luke 17. 21. So by proportion Satan's Kingdom is Spiritual too he rules in the Hearts of Men though they little think of it All natural Men whether they be Pagans or Christians though outwardly and apparently they may renounce the Devil's Kingdom and do not seem to have such open communion with him as the Gentiles that consult with his Oraclâ—s and were instructed by his Apparitions acted by his Power and offered Sacrifice to him But Spiritually all natural Men are under the Devil for 1 Io. 3. 8. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil that is he belongeth to him How is he of the Devil They are his Children Acts 13. 10. O thou Child of the Devil And they are his Subjects he ruleth in them he hath a Kingdom among Men which by all means he goeth about to maintain Mat. 12. 26. If Satan be divided against himself how then can his Kingdom stand And they are his Work-houses he worketh in them Ephes. 2. 2. The Spirit that worketh in the Children of Disobedience The Devil is hard at work in a wicked Man's Heart framing Evil Thoughts Carnal Motions urging them to break God's Laws drawing them on to more Sin and Villany fills their Hearts with lying and all manner of Sins Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie to the Holy Ghost He binds them with Prejudices and will not suffer them to hearken to the Glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them He blinds and holds them captive at his Will and Pleasure their Souls are fettered 2 Tim. 2. 26. And sometimes he oppresses their Bodies for Satan carrieth on his Kingdom by Force Tyranny Fears and Bondage and therefore it is said Acts 10. 38. That Christ went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil Yet further as God's Executioner he hath the Power over Death for their torment Heb. 2. 14. That through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death that is the Devil And unless the Lord be merciful he never ceaseth carrying on wicked Men until both they and he are for ever in Hell Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels All this is spoken to shew Carnal Men their Condition O that they would seriously think of it When they do Evil when they slight the Motions of God's Grace they are under Satan and not only by force as a Child of God may be sometimes but they are willingly ignorant 2 Pet. 3. 5. The more willingly we commit Sin still the more we are under the Power of the Devil Well then if any have need to say Deliver us from Evil certainly unrenewed Carnal Men have need to go to God and say Lord pluck us out of Evil as the same Expression is used Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath delivered us with a strong hand O go to God in the Name of Christ there is no way of escape until God pluck you out by main force And mark this Power by which we are delivered God conveyeth by the preaching of the Word which was appointed to turn us from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto God Act. 26. 18. and therefore hearken to God's Counsels before your Condition grow incurable and wait upon the Ordinances for the more you neglect and contemn the means of your Recovery your misery increaseth upon you for every day you are still more given up to Satan by the just Judgment of God and to be captivated and taken by him at his will and pleasure by the Snares he sets for you 2. Good Men or God's own Children though they are delivered from the Power of Satan and brought into the Kingdom of Christ yet they are not wholly free in this World but are sometimes caught by Satan's Wiles Ephes. 6. 11. sometimes wounded by his fiery Darts ver 16. Their Lusts and their Consciences are sometimes set a raging though he hath no allowed
he was in Paradise and there was the good Thief with him The Scriptures do not establish any such drousy conceit as the Sleep of Souls or such an Estate wherein they do not enjoy God We read of the Spirits of just Men made perfect which make up the Congregation which is above of which Christ is Head Heb. 12. 23. As the Spirits of the Wicked are in Prison 1 Pet. 3. 19. that is in Hell This is the Kingdom of Glory begun 2. There 's a Kingdom of Glory consummate when Sin and Death is utterly abolished and the Elect perfectly separated from the Reprobate and conducted into Heaven and there remain with the Lord for ever This is a Kingdom Mat. 25. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you The full and final Estate we enjoy after the general Judgment and Resurrection that 's called a Kingdom Well now you see what 's meant by the Kingdom we pray for Secondly Here 's a note of Distinction Thy Kingdom by which the Kingdom here spoken of is limited by particular reference to God not only to difference it from the Kingdoms of Men which are subordinate to it but those adverse Kingdoms which are set up against God as the Kingdom of Sin Satan Anti-christ the destruction of which we intend when we pray for the advancement of God's Kingdom As I shall shew you Thirdly Here 's the Supplication or the Request which we make to God about this Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let it Come What do we mean by that This Word must be applied to the several acceptations of Christ's Kingdom 1. If you apply it to the External Kingdom of Grace then when we say Thy Kingdom come the meaning is Let the Gospel be published let Churches be set up every where let them be continued and maintained against all the malignity of the World and Opposition of the Devil And in the publication of the Gospel where the sound of it hath not been heard that God would come there in the Power of his Spirit and draw People into Communion with himself Mat. 12. 28. If I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come unto you meaning in the publick tenders thereof Saith he if this Miracle doth clearly as it doth in your Consciences evidence my Mission then you may know the Kingdom of God is come that is that there is a Publication of the Gospel of Grace Then we pray for the continuance of this Privilege notwithstanding opposition that Christ may stand his Ground This is that we seek of God that he may maintain his Interest among the Nations of the World that the Gates of Hell may not prevail against his Kingdom 2. If you refer it to the Internal Part of this Kingdom then we beg the Beginning the Progress and the final Consummation of it First the Beginning or the Erection of a Throne for Christ in our own Hearts and the Hearts of others that he may fully exercise Regal Power Secondly The Increase of this Kingdom by Holiness and Obedience and sincere Subjection to him for the Kingdom of Grace is so come already that it will still be coming yet more and more So long as we need to pray so long shall we have cause to say Thy Kingdom come Thirdly The Consummation of it when the Fulness of Glory in the second Coming of Christ shall be revealed when our Head shall be glorious and his Day shall come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the present it is Man's Day so the Scripture seems to call it but then it is the Day of the Lord when all the Devils shall stoop and Enemies receive their final Doom and the Saints shall have the Crown of Glory put upon their Heads in the Sight of all the World Well the Sum of all is this That tho this Petition do mainly concern the special Kingdom which God administreth by Christ yet God's universal Kingdom the Kingdom of his Power and Providence is a mighty Support and Prop to our Faith in making this Request to God When we consider what an unlimited Power God hath over all Creatures even Devils themselves to dispose of them for his own Glory and his Churches Good we need not to be discouraged though Christ's Kingdom be opposed in the World but should with the more confidence deal with God about it That which I shall handle upon this Petition will fall under these two Points 1. That God hath a Kingdom which he will administer and manage for his own glory 2. All those which are well affected to God's glory should desire the coming of this Kingdom and seriously deal with God about it For the first namely Doct. 1. That God hath a Kingdom which he will administer and manage for his own Glory I speak not of the Kingdom of his Power and Providence but of the Dispensation of Grace by Christ. The Evangelical Gospel-State is compared to a Kingdom as Mat. 3. 2. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand So to the Disciples Mat. 10. 7. And as ye go preach saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand And so Christ himself It may be called so with very good reason For in this Kingdom there is a Monarch Jesus Christ to whom all Power and Authority is given God the Father calls him my King Psal. 2. 6. I have set my King upon my holy Hill And this King hath his Throne in the Consciences of Men where Thoughts are brought into Captivity to him 2 Cor. 10. 5. And he hath his Royal Scepter Psal. 110. 3. which is called the Rod of his Strength And he hath his Subjects and they are the Saints Rev. 15. 3. King of Saints And he hath his Laws and Constitutions we read of the Law of Faith and the Law of Liberty And in this Kingdom there are Privileges and Royal Immunities there 's Freedom from the Curse of the Law and from the Power of Sin and from the destructive Influence of Satan and the World And here are Punishments and Rewards both for Body and Soul there is Hell and Heaven Now because all these things do so fitly suit therefore is the Gospel called a Kingdom It will not be amiss to insist upon some of these 1. The State of the Gospel or Evangelical State 't is God's Kingdom in regard of the Monarch whom God hath set up that is Jesus Christ the great Lord of all Things There is no King like him God hath made him higher than the Kings of the Earth Psal. 89. 27. How doth he exceed all other Monarchs and Potentates in the World Partly for Largeness of Command and Territory All Kings and Monarchs have certain Bounds and Limits by which their Empire is terminated but Christ is the true Catholick King his Government runs throughout the whole Circuit of Nature and Providence he hath Power over all Flesh Iohn 17. 2. yea Devils themselves are to stoop to him Phil. 2.
Lord to whom I have entirely given up my self in a way of Subjection This is a Sign you are brought under his Government 8. None can obey his Laws but by the virtue and power of his Spirit The new Covenant it is not only a Law but the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ so it is called by the Apostle Rom. 8. 2. It is not a bare literal Command that shall urge us to Duty but it giveth strength and efficacy to the Heart Other Kings they give Laws that Men may keep them by their own Strength But now Christ he would be owned as a King not only in a way of Subjection but establish a constant Dependance He is a King not only to require but to give Repentance Acts 5. 31. not only to make a Law but to write and work a sense of this new Govenant-Gift upon the Heart Heb. 8. 10. He doth not only set up his Ordinances Laws Constitutions but there is Power goeth along with the Dispensation of this Kingdom and thereby we are fitted and enabled to love serve and please God and then are we under the Kingdom of God when we are under the spiritual Power of it It is not only necessary to obey his Laws but that we do it by virtue of his Power and Spirit The Kingdom of God stands not in Word but in Power 1 Cor. 4. 20. That we may both acknowledg his Authority and wait for his Strength This is a true Submission when we look for all from him and serve him in the strength of his own Grace 9. All those that act through the virtue and power of his Spirit they do unfeignedly seek his Glory and make Christ to be not only their Principle but their End for having a new Principle they have a new Tendency acting in the Power of the Spirit their Hearts are carried out to seek Christ's Interest and Christ's Glory when they can say with the Apostle Phil. 1. 21. To me to live is Christ when their whole Business is to set up Christ. We set up our selves in the room of Christ if he be not at the end of all 2 Thess. 1. 11 12. That God might fulfill all the good Pleasure of his Goodness and the Work of Faith with Power and that Christ may be glorified in you If you have the Power of Christ's Kingdom this will be the immediate Result and Issue of it that Christ may be honoured and set up not only as a Law-giver and Fountain of Grace but as the last End If to us to live is Christ then is the Kingdom of God come into our Heart For this we pray that the Lord would so break the Yoke and Government of Satan that we may receive the Lord Iesus into our Heart that we may come under the Awe of his Laws and in the Power of his Grace may seek his Kingdom and Glory To conclude All this Grace is offered to you if you refuse the Offer your Condition is worse than if it had never been tendred to you The Lord hath sent his Son to help you out of the Power of the Devil and bring you in Heart and Life again to himself if you refuse this then This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light John 3. 19. The Lord Jesus when he comes in flaming Fire to render Vengeance it shall be upon them that do not obey his Government 2 Thess. 1. 8. that did not acknowledg God to be their Sovereign There will be a sore Vengeance on them which had the Gospel tendred and this wonderful Provision brought home to them and left to their Choice and yet have turned their Backs upon it Secondly We beg the Continuance of it that he would maintain this Kingdom in our Heart and preserve us in this State for those which can call God Father are still to say Thy Kingdom come It is not enough to go to Christ to begin it but to carry it on and to keep and preserve us unto his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 18. That we may not revolt to the Devil's Side after we have chosen God for our God and so our latter End be worse than our Beginning Thirdly We pray for the Increase of it that it may get ground more and more There are some Reliques of the Kingdom of Darkness yet left and there is something wanting to the Kingdom of Grace we are troubled and molested still Tho Sin doth not get the Throne tho the Regency of it is cast down yet it is not cast out in regard of Inherence Sin shall not have Dominion over you that is all we can hope for Rom. 6. 14. We cannot hope for an Extinction of Sin but only that it shall not have Dominion As the Beasts in Dan. 7. 12 tho their Dominion was taken away yet their Lives were prolonged for a season and time The Reign Power and Dominion of Sin is taken down yet it continues for our Exercise and Molestation Now we desire he might rule in us by his Grace and that of the Increase of his Government there may be no End II. For the Kingdom of Glory which in this private Consideration as it concerns each Person is to begin at Death And when we desire the coming of the Kingdom of Glory we do two things we express our Readiness for it or our Desire after it 1. Our Readiness for it at least the Kingdom of God is ready for us if we were ready for it as the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 4. 5. God is ready to judg but we are not ready to be judged And therefore we read of the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for us and of Men prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven It is prepared for the Saints Mat. 25. 34. A Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World And the Saints prepared for it Rom. 9. 23. Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory And this is that which the Apostle gives thanks for unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Before we come to Heaven there is a Right to Heaven we are made meet more mortified and weaned from present Things often in Communion with God here and so for ever with the Lord hereafter We are still to have our Eyes to our Rest and happy State that we may be made ready for it We express our Readiness or we beg it 2. That we may express our Desires after the Enjoyment of it A Christian is to desire the Company of Christ. Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And he is to hasten the coming of the Day of God 2 Pet. 3. 12. Now because this cannot be but by our Death therefore here we may examine a Case or two Case 1. First about longing for Death Is it lawful to desire Death The Law doth not
their trust in him 3. Submit to his Providence without Murmuring When we can speak well of him tho he seem to deal most hardly as the Bethshemites when there was such a Slaughter made among them fifty thousand slain They do not say murmuringly who can stand before this severe cruel God but before this Holy God They own his Holiness in the Dispensation tho it were so dreadful 1 Sam. 7. 20. It is a great Glory to God when you own him as just in all his ways when he deals most hardly Whatsoever be our Lot and Portion yet he is a Holy God But to cavil and murmur it is to tax and blemish God before the World 4. Live to publick Ends that is to draw God into Request with others Let this be the aim of your Conversation not only to get Holiness enough to bring you to Heaven but to allure others and recommend God to them that by the Purity and Strictness of your Conversation you might gain upon others and bring them to be in love with God and acquainted with him And Lastly be sensible when God's Name is dishonoured by your selves and others not enduring the least prophanation of it Thy Kingdom come THE first Petition concerneth the End the rest the means Now among all the Means none hath such a near and immediate respect to the Glory of God as Christ's Kingdom for here there is more of God discovered more of his infinite Grace Justice Wisdom and Power than possibly can be elsewhere All other things are for the Church and the Church for Christ as Head and King and Christ for God 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. So that Christ's Kingdom is the primary Means of advancing God's Glory and therefore among all the Means it must be sought in the first place Mat. 6. 33. Seek first the Kingdom of God First not above the Glory of God it doth not come in competition with that but above all other things whatsoever before Pardon and Grace In the Words observe three things 1. We grant a Kingdom 2. By way of Distinction and Appropriation we say Thy Kingdom 3. By way of Supplication we beg of God that it may Come The Concession the Distinction the Supplication are the three things to be opened First The Concession of a Kingdom which our heavenly Father hath A Kingdom in the general signifieth the Government of a People under one Head or Governour and therefore the Term may be fitly applied to God who alone is Supream and we are all under his Dominion Now God's Kingdom is twofold 1. Universal 2. More Particular and Special First There 's a Universal Kingdom over all Things over Angels and Devils over Men Elect and Reprobate over Beasts and Living Creatures and over inanimate Things Sun Moon and Stars This is spoken of 1 Chron. 29. 11. Thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as Head above all And again Psal. 103. 19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all There is no such Monarch as God is for largeness of Empire for absoluteness of Power and Sublimity of his Throne This is not principally understood here but is implied as a Foundation and Ground of Faith whereupon we may deal with God about that Kingdom which is specially intended in this Request Secondly More Particularly and Especially God hath a Kingdom over a certain Order and Estate of Men. Of this especial Kingdom there are two notable Branches and Considerations One is that Administration which belongeth to the present Life and is called the Kingdom of Grace and the other belongeth to the Life to come and is called the Kingdom of Glory 1. The Kingdom of Grace is spoken of in many places specially that Luk. 17. 20 21. When he was demanded of the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you or among you He speaks of a Kingdom of God that was already come among them in the dispensation of his Grace by Christ. And then the other belongeth to the Life to come called the Kingdom of Glory Mat. 25. 34. Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World 1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Now the Kingdom of Grace may be considered two ways as Externally administred and as internally received 1. As Externally administred in the Ordinances and Means of Grace as the Word and Seals and Censures and the like In this Sence it is said Mat. 21. 43. The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof The Gospel or Means of Grace administred in the visible Face of the Church they are called God's Kingdom upon Earth and a very great Priviledg they are when they are bestowed upon any People Surely when Christ saith The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you he doth not mean it of the inward Kingdom that they had not that cannot be lost but of the outward and external Means 2. As internally received and then by it is meant the Grace of God which rules in the Hearts of the Elect and causeth their Souls to submit and subject themselves unto the Obedience of Christ and unto his Scepter and to his Word and Spirit and this is that Kingdom properly which is within us This is the Kingdom of God which consisteth in Righteousness Peace and Ioy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And this differeth from the Kingdom of Glory not so much in Nature as in Degree Well then That by the Kingdom of God is here meant not his general Empire over all the World and all the things of the World tho that be not wholly excluded but his special Kingdom which he doth administer by Christ And that either as externally managed by Ordinances and visible means of Grace or as internally received and administred in the Hearts of the Elect This is that Kingdom we beg that it may flourish and get ground more and more 2. Then for the Kingdom of Glory it is either begun and inchoate or else consummate and perfect 1. 'T is begun and inchoate upon our Translation to Heaven in the very moment of Death In which Christ reigns in the other World in the Spirits of just Men made perfect that is being perfectly freed from Sin and admitted into the clear and immediate Vision and Fruition of God tho our Bodies abide in the Grave expecting full Redemption and Deliverance That there is such a Kingdom carried on many Scriptures intimate Phil. 1. 23. I desire to depart and to be with Christ. As soon as the Saints are loosed from the Body they are with Christ under his Government Luk. 23. 43. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise As soon as Christ died
for that time when Christ shall be seen in all his Glory that he may be dishonoured no more that Sin and Opposition may have an end Here God haâ—h not his perfect Glory neither from us nor from the Wicked neither from Angels nor Devils Not his perfect Glory from us and therefore the Saints long for that time when Christ may be more admired in them it is the Comfort of their Souls that God is glorified in their Glory that there will a Time come when he shall be admired and glorified in their Glory and when they they shall praise him for evermore without weakness and distraction And then the Wicked that they may oppose and dishonour him no more that the whole Course of Justice may be seen in the History of the World which shall be produced at the Day of Judgment that his Power may be seen when Devils and all ungodly Men are trodden under foot and all Offences taken away and all opposite Powers are abolished First Christ would zealously affect us to the Glory of God Hallowed be thy Name then he would have us pray Thy Kingdom come That our Zeal for God's Glory might make us earnest and instant for his Kingdom Then 3. There are certain Experiences that we have here which set us a longing and groaning for this time Rom. 8. 23. We which have the First-fruits of the Spirit groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our Body When they have tasted of the Clusters of Canaan O they long to see the Land they long that Jesus the Captain of their Salvation the spiritual Ioshua may lead them into the good Land The Church hath here enjoyed Christ in her House I brought him into my Mother's House Cant. 3. 4. Now they would enjoy him in his own House have a more plentiful enjoyment of him Wherefore have we a taste but to long for a fuller Banquet Why doth God give out such a Pittance but to awaken our Desires to look for more Indeed these Beginnings are sweet and are a wonderful Mercy to hear Christ say in a Promise Come to me that you may have Life But when once they have embraced this they will be longing for another Call for the great Voice to say Come ye blessed of my Father c. When Christ biddeth them welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven to the Crown of Glory When we can get any Joy in the Holy-Ghost a little Peace of Conscience any sweet Experience of our being cleansed from Sin this is reviving and comfortable But why is this given but to set us a longing for the whole Harvest for this is but the First-fruits It is sweet now to find Pardon of Sin and any comfortable feeling of God's Love in the Conscience to have any Doubt resolved any Fear silenced and supprest to have a glimpse of the Light of God's Countenance a little Elevation of the Heart in Duty Now this draws on the Soul to long for more for we begin then to think what a sweet reviving will it be when we enjoy the Full of all these things If there be but one Promise now set home upon our Hearts tho here we haâ—e only the Right not Enjoiment if we have but our Right cleared up to a Promise it is very reviving God gives us this Experience that we may long to enjoy the thing promised the full Possession of it When you have gone away feasted with Loves at the Lord's Table thou hast said One Hours Communion with God is better than all the World If thy Heart was melted a little in Duty if it was affected with godly Sorrow for Sin it hath yielded thee more Comfort than all the Mirth and Musick which fond Worldlings chear themselves withal than all their Jollity Now this is but given as a Foretaste as a Prelibation and to awaken our Desires after more In the Lord's Supper many times we come and drink of that Cup which God hath tempered for us this is but a dark Presignification of the new Wine we shall drink in our Father's Kingdom Mat. 26. 29. and of those eternal Comforts we shall have there and those unmixed Joys in the presence of Christ. Therefore because of the Tastes they have had and those Beginnings of Glory their Hearts will be more enlarged and drawn out to look for more and long for that happy time when all this shall be accomplished III. There may be Arguments taken and drawn from the Coming it self that they long for his Coming Wherefore doth Christ come what are the Ends of it It is to manifest his Love to the Saints mainly as to punish his Enemies and glorify his Justice 1. I 'll mention the first to gather the Saints together to draw all his scattered People into one holy Body and Communion Psal. 50. 5. Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice Now they are scattered up and down as God hath Service for them to do one here another there they are spread in several Places where they are like two or three Berries in the uppermost top of the Bough That Psalm is generally acknowledged to be spoken of the Day of Judgment then they are gathered to meet in one great Assembly the Psalmist speaks of the great Congregation of the Righteous where the Sinners shall not stand Psal. 1. 5. At that great Day when Christ comes all the Saints shall make but one Assembly and one Congregation As the Wicked shall be bundled together and the Tares cast into unquenchable Fire so all the Saints shall be gathered together into one great Assembly and this glads their Hearts Therefore we are not feasted to the full because we have not all our Company all the Guests do not meet together until the Day the Son of God comes to bless the Elect. 2. He comes to proclaim our Pardon and to pronounce the Sentence of our Acquittance juridically in Court as Judg upon the Throne Our Pardon is past and seal'd as to Conscience then he will blot out all our Sins therefore it is said Acts 3. 19. That your Iniquities may be blotted out when the Times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord. He comes then to comfort and refresh the Souls of the Saints by proclaiming their Pardon in the Ears of all the World To whomsoever the Throne of Christ is terrible it should not be terrible to the Saints If he comes as a Judg to them he comes to acquit them upon the Throne he means no trouble to them 3. He comes to crown us Certainly there is a longing for this Day and Coming for what is his Work He comes to crown the Saints 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Iudg shall give me at that Day Then he comes to put the Crown of Righteousness upon our Heads and invest us with all the Fruits of
hath a great deal of care of them under their Trials As a Gold-Smith when he casts his Metal into the Furnace he doth not lose it there and look after it no more but sits and prys and looks to see if it be not too hot that nothing be split nothing lost So it is said Mal. 3. 3. And he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver and he shall purify the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness The Lord will observe his People when they are under Trial how to moderate Affliction how to refresh them with seasonable Comfort that all this might better them and bring them to good 7. Tho in our Trials we manifest Weakness as well as Grace yet that weakness is to be done away You must remember Weakness is manifested that it may be removed and Grace manifested that it may be strengthned When Gold and Silver is try'd in the Furnace there is not only pure Metal discovered but also the drossy part mingled with it but it is so discovered that it may be severed from the Gold Such is our Trial it may discover a great deal of Dross and Sin in us But this is our Comfort that as it doth discover Sin so it conduceth to mortify Sin Therefore saith Iob Chap. 23. 10. When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold that is purified and refined and having the drossy part eaten out 8. God permits us to be tempted of Satan and his Instruments for his Glory and our Good For his Glory that his Power may be discovered in our Preservation in upholding that Grace he hath put into us 2 Cor. 12. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in Infirmities in Reproaches in Necessities in Persecutions in Distresses for Christ's sake for when I am weak then am I strong We should be glad that God be glorified tho with our great Inconvenience And it is for our Good to correct our Pride and Vain-Glory When Peter presumed of his Strength then God left him to be tempted of the Damsel Mat. 26. 33 34 35 70. 9. When God permitteth Satan to exercise us tho he suspends the Victory yet if he give us Grace to fight and to maintain the Combate it is a great Mercy For so he dealt with Paul when he had to do with the Messenger of Satan Satan was in that trouble be it what it will he had only this Answer 2 Cor. 12. 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee for my Strength is made perfect in Weakness Three times he had been with God and then he gets his answer and it was only this My Grace c. Jesus Christ in his Conflict and Combate was answered as to Support and so was heard in the Things he feared So if God give Strength to the Soul it is an answer tho he do not take off the Trial. Secondly There are Temptations from Satan as well as from God who is called the Tempter Mat. 4. 3. Now the Devil's Temptations they are Evil and for Evil. How doth the Devil tempt 1. By propounding Objects As Luke 4. 5. He shewed unto him all the Kingdoms of the World in a moment of time He had nothing to work upon within therefore he propounds outward Objects So still the Devil tempts us with a curious Eye to take in the Object that it may be a Bait and Snare to the Soul Achan takes notice of it himself Josh. 7. 21. When I saw among the Spoils a goodly Babylonish Garment and a Wedg of Gold then I coveted them and took them I saw I coveted and I took The Eye awakens Desire and Desire that inclines to Practise So Prov. 23. 31. Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the Cup when it moveth it self aright Unless we shut the Windows of the Soul this pestilent Plague gets in by the Senses The Heart is corrupted by Objects that we take in by the Senses as it corrupted Eve dealt with her first by the Sense the forbidden Fruit was full in her way then the Devil sets upon her 2. He tempts by the persuasion of Instruments who are the Devil's Spokes-men Thus was Ioseph tempted by the Inticements and Blandishments of his Mistress Gen. 39. 7. And many times the Devil sets nearest Friends and Relations to weaken their Zeal and withdraw their Hearts from God Mat. 16. 23. Saith Christ to Peter Get thee behind me Satan It was Peter said it yet Christ rebuked Satan for the Devil had a hand in it he makes one of Christ's Disciples his Instrument 3. He doth it by internal suggestion 1 Chron. 21. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel that is by internal suggestion John 13. 2. The Devil put it into the Heart of Judas to betray him He haunts and pesters the Hearts of Men by vain Thoughts and carnal Imaginations So the God of this World is said to blind their Minds 2 Cor. 4. 4. 4. By stirring up the Humors of our Body When he seeth Men inclined to Wrath and angry Motions or Lust the Devil joins and makes the Tempest the more violent He knows what use to make of an angry Look a wanton Glance he knows how to tempt by awakening the Humors of our own Body against us Take some Observations here 1. In all Sins Satan joineth he is not idle but makes use of every Inclination of ours as he sees the Tree leaning he joins issue But some Sins are purely of his suggestion horrid Sins and such as are so very Evil that they could come from no other but from the Devil such Sins as could not be acted by Man in an ordinary course of sinning As Iudas his Treason though he were Devil enough to plot such a thing yet it is said Satan put it into his Heart And such singular Diabolical Suggestions may be darted into the Bosom of Believers sometimes Thoughts of Atheism Blasphemy unnatural Sins Self-murder suspicion of the Gospel these things the Devil throws in Therefore Ephes. 6. 16. Believers are warned to quench these fiery Darts that the Devil hurls into the Souls of Men. 2. Every Man is haunted with special Temptations from Temper Sex Age Custom Calling Company Course of Aflairs these things are often spoken of in Scripture From Temper God makes use of Temper For though he plants all Grace in the Hearts of the Regenerate yet there are certain Graces wherein they are eminent as Timothy for Temperance Moses for Meekness c. Thus Paul speaks of the Law in his Members Rom. 7. 23. The Devil may find Forces from the Temper of the Body to destroy the Soul So also from Sex as he beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11. 3. And from Age we read of youthful Lusts 2 Tim. 2. 22. And how strong the Devil is about young Ones 1 Iohn 2. 13. I have written unto you young Men because ye have
Authority over their Hearts yet he exerciseth a tyrannical Power though he cannot rule them yet he ceaseth not to assault them if it were but to vex and trouble them Briefly the Children of God have cause to pray Deliver us from Evil in regard of Satan because Satan hath a hand in their Persecutions and likewise a hand in their Temptations to Sin It is he that instigateth their Enemies to persecute them and it is he that inflameth their Lusts. 1. In stirring up their Enemies to persecute them All the Troubles of the Children of God they come originally from the Devil Luk. 22. 53. This is your Hour and the Power of Darkness We do not read that Satan did immediatly vex Christ and how was that Hour then said to be the Power of Darkness Why by setting his Instruments a-work to crucify him And as he dealt with the Head so with the Members Rev. 12. 12. The Devil hath great Wrath for he knoweth he hath but a short time When his Kingdom begins to totter and shake then he stirs up all his Wrath and inflames his Instruments as dying Beasts bite hardest So Rev. 16. 14. we read of the Spirits of Devils that go forth unto the Kings of the Earth to stir them up against the Saints If you could behold with you bodily Eyes this Evil Spirit hanging upon the Ears of great Men and buzzing into them and stirring them up and the common People and animating them against the Children of God you would more admire at the Wonders of God's Providence that you do subsist O how they are acted by this wrathful Spirit 2. By inflaming our Lusts and Corruptions So 1 Cor. 7. 5. lest Satan tempt you by your Incontinency sets Lusts a boiling either to vex the Saints or to insnare them It is possible he may sometimes prevail with God's own Children to draw them to some particular Act of gross Sin as 2 Sam. 11. 4. as when David defiled himself with Lust that thereby he may dishonour God for by this means the Name of God was blasphemed 2 Sam. 12. 14. Or that thereby he may disturb their Peace for this made David lie roaring Psal. 32. 3 4. his radical Moisture was even wasted and exhausted Or else to Spiritual Sins as Murmuring Repining against God distrust of Providence when under Crosses Or when they are in their Comforts to drive them to Carnal Complacency and neglect of Holy Things disuse of Communion with God Or to inordinate Passions or Spiritual Wickedness such as is not conversant about Carnal Passions or Fleshly Lusts but Spiritual Pride Error and Unbelief Certainly those that have any thing of experience of the Spiritual Life cannot be ignorant of Satan's Enterprizes Well then we had need go to God to deliver us from Evil For outward Evils for the Protection of his Providence for these God hath undertaken Psal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the Day of Trouble I will deliver thee Satan is in God's Chains he could not enter into the Herd of Swine without leave therefore certainly he cannot get among the Sheep of Christ's Fold It 's the saying of Tertullian If the Bristles of Swine be numbred the Hairs of our Head are numbred therefore you had need go to God Deliver us from Evil that Persecution may not rage over you that he may hedg you in by his Providence Iob. 1. 10. and that he would be as a Wall of Fire round about you As to inward Evils so we go to God for Wisdom and Strength for Satan assaults us both ways by Wiles and Darts when he comes in a way of Violence he comes with fiery Darts but when he doth lie in Ambush there he hath his Wiles to intice us with a seeming Good We 1. Beg Wisdom that you may espy the Wiles of Satan and may not be caught unawares for he is transformed into an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Mark the Devil doth not care so much to ride his own Horses to act and draw wicked Men to Evil he hath them sure enough but he laboureth to imploy the Saints in his Work if he can to get one which belongs to God to do his Business therefore he changeth himself into an Angel of Light The Temptation is disguised with very plausible Pretences then a Child of God may be a Factor for Satan and an Instrument of the Devil For instance Would Peter have ever made a Motion for Satan if he had seen his Hand O no the Temptation was disguised to him when he perswaded his Master from suffering He covereth his foul Designs with plausible Pretences Carnal Counsel shall be pity and natural Affection Mat. 16. 22 23. Let not these things be Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee He said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan Thou art an Offence unto me At another time the Disciples when their Master was slighted and contemned they thought certainly they should do as Elias did call for Fire from Heaven to consume them Luke 9. 54. Revenge will often go for Zeal for God Revenge or storming at Personal Affronts or Injuries done to our selves is looked upon as Zeal then the Disciples may not know what Spirit they are of Many times we are acted by the Devil when we think we are acted by the Spirit of God and that which seems to be Zeal is nothing but Revenge Therefore we had need go to God Lord deliver us from Evil we are poor unwary Creatures that we may not be insnared by fair Pretences and surprised by his Enterprises And thus we beg Wisdom 2. We pray for Strength to withstand his Darts that we may take the Armour of God and withstand the Evil One Ephes. 6. 13. Alas of our selves we cannot deliver our selves from the least Evil or stand out against the least Assault therefore it is God alone that must keep the Feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2. 9. Therefore we go to him that we may get his Covenant-strength that we may be strong in the power of his Might to conflict with Satan Well then in regard of the first Enemy of our Salvation the Devil we had need pray earnestly That we may not be prevailed over by his Arts 'T is God alone that can keep us 2 dly The World that 's another Evil which is as it were the Devil's Chess-Board we can hardly move backward or forward but he is ready to attach us and surprize us by one Creature or another and draw us into the Snare therefore it is said Gal. 1. 4. That Christ gave himself for us that he might deliver us from this present Evil World That 's one way of being delivered from Evil when we are delivered from an Evil World It concerns us and it is a great point of Religion to be kept unspotted from the World Jam. 1. 27. The whole World is full of Evils and Temptations and we cannot walk any where but we are likely to be defiled