Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A20185
|
A learned and fruitful exposition vpon the Lords prayer. By Arthur Dent, sometime minister of the Word of God at South-Suberry, in Essex
|
Dent, Arthur, d. 1607.
|
1613
(1613)
|
STC 6618; ESTC S113579
|
21,778
|
82
|
glorifie God as Heb. 12.1 And that especially in performing the duties of our seuerall callings as Magistrate Minister Gentleman and Tradesman for it is a thing acceptable to God and man to be a good man in our place A good Magistrate that ruleth well a good Minister that teacheth well and diligently a good Gentleman that distributeth liberally a good Tradesman by whom a man may liue quietly peaceably ioyfully and comfortably Abusers of this Petition All those which are proud and séeke glory to themselues being so iealous of their owne honour that to magnifie and lift vp themselues they will tread downe the name of God All those which professe the Gospell and staine it with their wicked liues All such as delight to raise vp and spread slanders against the profession of Religion All swearers and blasphemers of Gods most holy name For all these say and babble with their mouth Hallowed be thy name but their hearts neuer careth for any such matter Thy kingdome come THese Petitions haue a very good coherence in them for then is Gods name indéede honored when his Kingdome is erected in the hearts of men Here therefore wée pray for the meanes of the aduancement of Gods name This word thy doth note a difference betwixt the kingdome of Christ which is spirituall as hée himselfe saith My kingdome is not of this World and all earthly kingdomes Secondly it putteth vs in minde that there are two Kingdomes one Gods and hat is the Kingdome of Heauen another the Diuels which is called the kingdome of darknesse The pillers of the Diuels kingdome are Ignorance Errour Idolatry superstition Sinne and disobedience to God The Subiects of this kingdome are all prophane Atheists carnall worldings and all vnregenerate men whatsoeuer for hée raigneth and ruleth ouer them at his pleasure hée is their God and King and they doe very hadtely and willingly submit themselues vnto his scepter and gouernment fight vnder his Standard against God and their owne saluation Ephes 2.2 2 Cor. 4.3.4 2 Tim. 2.26 Yet these vngodly men spit at the naming of the Diuell and say they defie him This word kingdome is taken thrée manner of wayes in the scripture First for that absolute soueraigne power of God whereby hée ruleth all things yea euen the diuels themselues as Psal 103. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heauen his kingdome is ouer all Againe The Lord raigneth let the earth reioyce Psal 97. Secondly for the kingdome of Grace as Rom. 14.17 The kingdome of GOD is not meate and drinke but Righteousnesse Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost Where by Righteousnesse he meaneth the assurance of our Iustification before God in the righteousnes of Christ Peace of Conscience which procéedes from this assurance and Ioy in the holy Ghost which commeth from them both So Marke 2.15 The kingdome of God is at hand repent and belieue the Gospel In a kingdome there are fiue things to be considered 1 A King 2 Subiects 3 Lawes 4 Authoritie 5 Officers 1 In this kingdome Christ is king It is hee to whom the Father hath giuen all authoritie both in heauen and earth Math. 28.20 2 Subiects are all the elect which doe willingly submit themselues vnto his gouernment as Psalme 110.3 and serue the Lord in feare and trembling or at least make an outward profession of it though their harts be not sound 3 Lawes are the old and new Testament wherin is set downe his whole will This is his Statute booke 4 Authoritie is the compelling power of his Word Spirit whereby hée forceth the Rebels of the world to come in as it is written Compell them to come in Such a conquest wée read of Acts 2.17.18 And in very déede the Word and the Spirit are the very meanes whereby Christ ruleth and raigneth ouer his and therefore the Word is called the Scepter of his power Rom. 1.16 Mark 1.14 The arme of God Psal 110.2 Esay 53.1 The rodde of his mouth Esay 11.4 Reasons Because by it hée doth set vp his Throne in the harts of men By it he doth draw men into heauen as with a most mighty arme By it he doth ouerthrow and destroy the power of darknesse 5 Officers of this Kingdome are the Pastors and Ministers of the Church vpon whom this charge is layde that they preach the Word gouerne the Church and sée the execution of the Kings lawes Thirdly the kingdome of Glory is that happinesse which Gods chosen shall for euer inioy as it is written Come yee blessed of my Father receiue the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world And againe It is well done thou good seruant and faithfull enter into thy Masters ioy Math. 25. Come GOds Kingdome commeth when it takes place and is established and confirmed in mens hearts made manifest to all people the impediments being remoued The Summe of this Petition That Christ would raigne ouer vs by his Word and Spirit That wée may be subiect to his kingdome in word and déede in holines and righteousnesse That hée would preserue and increase his Church That hée would destroy the power of the Diuell and the workes of darknesse That hée would frustrate and bring to nought all the Counsels of the wicked against his Truth Kingdome and people Things prayed for in this Petition That Christ may guide vs and gouerne vs by his holy Spirit in all our particular actions that hée may haue a kingdome within vs. Psalme 51. Create in mee a cleane hart O God and renue a right Spirit within mee c. Stablish me with thy free Spirit Héere also wée doe pray for the prosperous estate of the Church Psalme 122.6 Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee Esay 62.7 Yee that are the Lords remembrancers giue him no rest vntill hee set vp Ierusalem the praise of the world Wée doe pray for Christian Kings and Princes that God would prosper their gouernment for they are nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Church Esay 49. 1 Timothie 2.2 Let Prayers and Supplications with giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authorritie We are also to pray the Lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into his haruest that is faithfull and zealous Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell which are the principall Studs and pillers to vphold the Kingdome of Christ and most notable instruments both for the beating downe of the kingdome of Sathan and Sinne and for the sauing of the soules of his people 2 Thes 3.1 Brethren pray for vs that the Word of the Lord may haue a free passage and be glorified c. Prou. 29.18 Where vision fayleth the people are left naked Furthermore wée are to pray for all Christian Scholes of learning because they are as it were Seminaries and nurseries of Gods Church Last of all wée are to desire that the Lord would hasten the second comming of Christ as
the Saints pray Come LORD Iesus come quickly Romanes 22.20 Therefore the godly are said to loue the comming of Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 True Petitioners First they that mourne and lament to sée the dominion and power of the Diuell to be to great as it is Secondly they that deale earnestly with God euery day that it may be diminished Thirdly they that pray earnestly day and night that God would multiply the number of his Children Fourthly they that long for the day of Christ wherein hée shall put downe all rule and all authoritie and power c. Counterfait Petitioners Such as scorne at the Ministerie of the Church Such as hinder the frée course of the Gospell Such as oppose themselues against godly Preachers and good men Such as take part with the wicked and defend bad causes Such as labour to quench and smoother all good matters in their harts Such as put farre from them the day of euill and waite not nor prepare themselues for his comming Thy will be done c. Sense GRaunt that wée and all men renouncing our owne will may readily and without murmuring obay thy will and so may chearfully execute whatsoeuer the Angels doe in heauen Coherence In the former petition wée prayed that hée onely might be our King and raigne ouer vs now wée desire that being his Subiects wée may obay him and doe his will Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is my honor If I be a Master where is my feare Will. HEere it signifieth Gods word for in his word his will is reuealed Of the whole will of God there be thrée speciall points which are in this place meant 1 Faith in the promises 2 Sanctification 3 Patient bearing of the Crosse Proofe of the first This is then his commaundement that we belieue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ 1 Iohn 3.23 This is the will of him that sent mee that euery one which seeth the Sonne and belieueth on him should haue euerlasting life Iohn 6.40 Proofe of the second This is the will of GOD euen your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 Proofe of the third Whosoeuer will be my Disciple must forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me Mat. 16.24 The Apostle prayeth Phillip 3.10 that hée might know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions and be made conformable to his death Thy will not mine for since the fall of Adam mans will is wicked and corrupt yea it is flat enmitie to GOD Rom. 8.7 But Gods will is most holy right and pure and therefore all our loue ought to be vpon it Done that is obeyed and accomplished of men Then the effect of the praier is this O Lord séeing thou art our King giue vs grace to shew our selues good Subiects in obaying thy will For obedience is better then sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 Not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen Mat. 7.22 Whosoeuer doth the will of GOD is my Brother my Sister and my Mother Mark 3.35 Hee that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for euer 1 Ioh. 2.17 In Earth as it is in Heauen THis clause sheweth the manner of dooing Gods will By heauen here is meant the soules of faithfull men departed and the elect Angels Praise the Lord yee his Angels that excell in strength that doe his commaundements in obaying the voyce of his word Psal 103.20 By earth is vnderstoode nothing but men on earth because all other creatures in their kindes obay God onely man is rebellious and disobedient The word as doth imply a similitude not an equalitie Sense Let thy will be done by vs men on earth as the Angels and Saints departed doe thy will in heauen that is 1 Willingly 2 Spéedely 3 Faithfully and continually Therefore they are said in the Scriptures to be winged Things prayed for Deniall of our selues our owne wils and affections Knowledge of Gods will for otherwise how should we doe it A feruent desire of obedience to doe his will in all our particular actions Patience and a willing submitting of our selues to the will of God in all things So did Elie the Priest It is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3.18 So did Dauid 2 Sam. 15.26 But if hee thus say behold I haue no delight in thee behold here I am let him doe to me as seemeth good in his eyes So Christ himselfe Father take this cup from me yet not as I will but as thou wilt Mark 14.36 So the Disciples and holy Christians Acts 12.14 The will of the Lord be done Therefore Saint Iames calleth Patience by the name of Wisedome because mans chiefe wisedome standeth therein that in his aduersities and troubles he patiently submits himselfe to the will of God But on the contrary it is extreame foolishnesse and madnesse if any dare resist set himselfe against it For what good doth hée by it Can hée change the will of God No verely Nay rather he maketh his owne case worse as well with inward griefe that tormenteth him as also because hée pulleth the wrath of God vpon himselfe for by our stubbernesse hée is compelled to lay more grieuous punishments vpon vs. On the other side by our patience hée is moued vnto pittie euen as good Parents are wont when they perceiue that their Children are brought into good order by their correction Who prayeth this Petition aright They which bewayle the sinnes of the world as Ignorance Error Schismes Pride Couetuousnes Contempt of the word Oppression Swearing Lying c. They which are gréeued for their Impatience and disquietnesse of minde For their coldnesse in Gods seruice For their vnperfect obedience and wants euen in their best actions Giue vs this day our daily bread THe thrée former Petitions doe immediatly concerne God these thrée last our selues which teacheth that we must prefer God and his glory before all things Coherence In the first we were taught to pray that GODS name may be hallowed which is done when God reigneth in our hearts and his will is done Now further his will is obeyed in thrée things First by depending on his prouidence for the things of this life Secondly for depending on his mercy for the pardon of sinnes Thirdly by depending on his power and might in resisting temptations and thus is the will of God obeyed Bread BRead signifieth all things whereby this life is preserued as Meate Drinke Clothing Health Peace Libertie yea Goates milke Pro. 27.27 and the fruit of Trées Ierem. 11.19 Genes 1.29 And all things that passe too and fro in trafficke Pro. 31.14 In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy bread Gen. 3.19 Man liueth not by bread onely c. Math. 4. Iesus entred into the house of a certaine Pharisie to eate bread Luk. 14. Christ vseth this word Bread