of glory the soul in whom Christ dwels who lives in the continuall enjoyment of God must needs enjoy much consolation In his presence is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore 4 He brings over those in whom he rules to submit to the outward regiment of his Kingdome The second particular propounded is the Kingdome of Christ over the Saints as Christ reigns in so he reigns over the Saints It is this Kingdom in them that brings them in submission to his Kingdom without them and this is a spirituall Kingdom likewise note I pray you this kingdom of Christ is all spirituall likewise 1 There is spirituall matter 2 Spirituall Laws and Institutions 3 Spirituall executions 4 Spirituall ends 1 Christ he is a King he is the King of his people and God will exalt him and manifest him to be King one day Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon the holy hill of Sion Christ is King and he shall reign notwithstanding the opposition of men of great men Why do the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vain things they consult they take counsell together against the Lord and against his Christ Kings and great men and wise learned men they rage they consult they take counsell together against Christ to destroy his Kingdome The most great and learned men in the world at this day rage against the Kingdom of Christ they would set up a Kingdom of their own and then compell men unto it who ever it is that establishes a worship with Laws and Edicts to compell all unto it and to inflict bodily punishments upon all that refuse it or cannot joyn with it doth what in him lyeth absolutely to destroy the Kingdome of Christ over the soule and if men be erroneous and worship contrary to the rule of truth it is Christ himselfe that must judge him and not man he to wit God hath committed all judgment to the Son therefore saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.5 Judge nothing before the time and Jam. 4.11 12. if thou judge another sayth the Apostle thou art not a doer of the law but a judge There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy What art thou that judgest another Note for men to passe a finall sentence is not to doe the minde of Christ but to get into the room of Christ for man to set up a law in matter of worship and compell unto it and judge and condemne body and soule for not submitting is to exalt themselves above Christ and so indeed is Antichristian not but that the Churches of Christ have power to judge and determine of things amongst themselves about the spirituall affairs of Christ and to excommunicate a wilfull offender it is according to the rule to cut him off from every fellowship with the Saints as you shall heare anon but not to destroy his body but the Church of Christ hath nothing to doe to judge or meddle with those that are without 1 Cor. 5.12 13. Therefore if any Church or Magistrate would exercise that power they conceive Christ hath entrusted them in about spirituall Church affaires I humbly conceive that they have nothing to do with those that are not of the same body with them or the same society as many Churches may be in society but those that are without be they Saints be they what they will good or bad they are without to them and what hast thou to doe with them that are without God judgeth them Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own master he standeth or falloth If it be objected that the Church of England is a true Church and all these that absent themselves were members and therefore they are to be dealt with as offending members in the Church This is all can be objected I am sure against them for I think their faithfulnes to the State speaks in the eares of every man almost of reason and therefore the State cannot meddle where there is no Civill law transgressed Therefore for answer to that objection suppose Englands Church were a true Church which will never be proved but I passe it in this place yet can they but proceed according to the rule Christ hath given in Scripture if in this perticular there might be a proceeding according to rule that is to admonish those that are contrary minded if that will not do to excommunicate passe the Church censure upon them this is the furthest that I know can be done by any Church of CHRIST and they are then not to cut them off out of the Land out of the World but to admonish them as brethren 2 Thess 3.15 If such as do not or cannot cōform to the worship prescribed by man should be cut off our of the land out of the world what meanes could then be used for their conversion Is there not still hope while the creature is yet alive and above ground Therefore I conceive it to be unchristian cruelty to judge men in this case never any wee read of but heathens that did the like under the Gospel and Christ hath said Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged Mat. 17.1 2. Jam. 2.13 For hee shall have judgment without mercy that sheweth no mercy Mercilesse men are the miserablest men under Heaven there is no mercy for them God wil deal with them as they deal with others it is both the Law and Prophets to do as we would be done unto Now consider a little I pray thee thou that canst be content in thy heart to persecute those that differ from thee in judgement wouldest thou be content to be so dealt with thy self Doth the Lord Jesus the King of Saints require or accept of any service but that is free and voluntary but I professe Christ you see is King and he shall be exalted King and manifested to be King on day Psal 45.6 with Heb. 1.8 But unto the Son hee sayth thy throne ô God is for ever a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy kingdome Here is a King a Kingdome a Scepter Christ the King the Saints the Kingdome the Word the Scepter Esay 9.6 7. He is a King and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end that is till there be no more time till time shall cease in this World after he shall give up the Kingdome to the Father and God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Thus you see Christ is King I come in the second place to the Kingdome which is wholy spirituall My kingdom sayth Christ is not of this world 1 The matter of Christs Kingdome is spirituall Saints called out of the world this is the Church the Kingdome of Christ the Saints gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel into the order and fellowship of the Gospel they are Saints although some thinke strange to hear of Saints in
THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST In the dayes of the Gospel As the alone High-Priest Prophet and King Of Saints By THOMAS COLLIER somtimes Teacher to the Church in Yorke 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him crucified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by R. L. for Giles Calvert at the black Spred-Eagle at the West end of Pauls MDCXLVI The Epistle to the Reader PIous Reader such is the transcendent Excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ that we may say of it as the a Arist Anima Phylosopher somtimes spake concerning the Soule of Man Praestat paucula exmeliora scientia degust âsse quà m de ignobiliore multa that is A small dim understanding of it is to be valued farre above any other science And the Apostle esteemed all things losse and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus Phil. 3.8 Now that thou mayst grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ here is offered to thy diligent perusal a little Treatise wherein Christ Is exalted in all his Offices It contains three parts the first treats of his High-Priests Office the second contains his Propheticall Office and the third handles his Kingly Office Thou must not expect Excellencie of speech and the enticing words of mans wisdom but thou maist by Gods blessing learn somthing more of the excellencie of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus and mayest finde the tongue of the Learned speaking a word in season to thy weary soule in the plain and powerfull evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and such is the excellencie of Scripture learning which contains in it florem delibatum the flower quintescence of soul-saving-knowledge that it will abundantly satisfie the hungry soule A man may have excellent knowledge in other things and yet perish but this is life eternall to know God and Jesus Christ John 17.3 There are some shinings forth of the eternall Power godhead in the creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that the invisible things of him from the creation of the World are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made we know the diffused brightnesse of the Sun-beams is not so pleasant in large windows nor can the bright shinings of him who is invisible be so cleerly sweetly pleasantly discerned in the creatures as in the face of Jesus Christ in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Col. 3.9 And in whose face the light of the knowledge of the glory of God hath shined in the hearts of his Justified-sanctified ones 2 Cor. 4.6 and therefore by way of eminencie Jesus Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brightnesse of his glory and the expresse Image of his substance Heb. 1.3 O how excellent then is the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and how acceptable will this little Treatise be unto those who with a spirituall appetite are enquiring after the true knowledge of Christ in all his Offices The Author being far distant from the City could not see to the correcting of his Book and it is an usuall thing for some faults to escape the Presse un-corrected in such a case which thou maist amend with thy pen as thou readest and for any materiall thing which thou apprehendest not sound carry it to the Touch-stone of the Word Try all things and hold fast that which is good And as we would have others moderate in censuring us Hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim go and do thou likewise if but a mite of knowledge shall be through Gods blessing by this his labour added to thy understanding let God have the glory and the Author hath his end Thy friend and the Truths servant Hanserd Knollys The Table A ADmire We are to admire the Wisdome of God page 42. The love of God 45. The iustice of God 48. And the power of God page 50 Agreement betweene Christ and the Iewish High-priests page 16 B BAptism and Circumcision are not one 96. proved ibid. Baptisme is not come in the place of Circumcision page 100 Believers the iustice of God as well as his mercy pleads for them page 50 Bloud of Christ makes peace page 19 C CHrist to be lifted up how 2 3. When he is exalted 10 12 13. He is the Saints righteousnesse 11. He is meat and drink to them 14. He is their cloathing 15. Sin laid upon him 35. He bare the sins of his people ibid. Hee is the wisdom of the Father 43. His offering what 16. He excels the Iewish High-priest 27 Wherein he doth it 18 19. How he bears the names of the Saints upon his heart 21 22 23. How hee taught his people before hee came in the flesh 84. Hee is the Teacher of his people now he is in heaven 85. How be teacheth his people 114. His Kingdome in this world is twofold 203. Why be rules in it page 237 Circumcision and Baptisme not the same 96. Proved page 97 Church of the Iews under the Law and of Christ under the Gospell how they differ 94. The Iewish Church Typicall page 94 Commands of the Gospell what page 60 Covenant the misunderstanding of it what evill it brings page 109 D DEny why men should Deny themselves 147. Why Christ teacheth men so to do page 151 154 155 Difference betweene the Iewish High-priest and Christ 16 17 27. Between the Iewish Church and the Christian Churches 94 Between the Iews priviledges and the priviledges of Christians under the Gospel page 101 E EFfects of receiving Christ page 75 Effects of the Kingdom of Christ in the sule page 220 Eternity God loved his from Eternity how page 39 Evill the misunderstanding of the Covenant what Evill page 109 Exalted When Christ is Exalted 12 13. How be is to be Exalted 15. Why he is to be Exalted page 247 Excellency of the grace of love among the Saints page 176 F FAith Why God gives it to his people 66. What it is to live by Faith 165. How it overcomes the Devill 188. When we live by Faith page 190 Fiery Serpent what page 248 Foolish Why the Virgins Math. 25. called foolish page 57 G GOd laid sin upon Christ 35. Hee hath nothing against the Saints 57. His glory and the Saints good ioynd together page 146 Gospel faith what page 122 Grace man cannot fall away from Grace page 25 H HIghpriest Christ is the Highpriest of his people 15. The Iewish Highpriest and Christ the High priest their agreement 16. Their difference page 17. I INtercession of Christ 40. How hee Intercedes for the Saints 41. Whether it be part of his satisfaction page 41 Ioy peace with God the ground of it page 77 Iustice of God to be admired 48 49. It pleads for Believers page 50 K KIngdome of Christ in this World twofold 203 The effects of it page 220 Kingly Office of Christ 202. Kingly power in Israel after the flesh a Type of Christs Kingly power in
any thing know it But when Christ commeth he teacheth men to deny it to cast off all their own righteousnesse as filthinesse see Paul who was indeed full of selfe righteousnesse before his conversion as himselfe confesseth Phil. 3.5 6. He was circumeised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the Tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews and touching the Law a Pharisie concerning zeale persecuting the Church touching the righteousnesse which is in the Law blamelesse here was a righteous soule who would think now this man should have any need of a Christ but follow him a little and see the change all this must bee denyed cast off and rejected as a thing of naught as filthy polluted things see ver 7 8 9. But what things were gain to mee those I counted losse for Christ that is those things that I once esteemed gain all that confidence that I had in the flesh I see they were all nothing I was content to lose them all for Christ Yea doubtlesse and I account all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things that is all that was mine own and doe count them dung that I may win Christ Beloved here is selfe-denyall in a wonderfull measure to account all your own righteousnesse but as dung or filthinesse that you may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law the Apostle exclaims that casts it away but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith here is a denying of righteous selfe a rejecting of all his own righteousnesse as nothing nay as very filthinesse and believe it where Christ comes in some measure he teacheth this lesson I confesse this is a very hard lesson flesh and bloud cannot attain it herein lies the great mystery of the Gospel which appears to flesh and bloud to be the greatest folly for a man to deny himselfe his dutles prayers best actions cast them down at the feet of Christ as dung and drosse O it is a hard lesson yet such a lesson as the Saints must learn yea and doe learn it in some measure from Christ See Mat. 25.37 The righteous shall say Lord when saw we thee hungry and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink Note it the Saints dis-own all that ever they have done they take no notice of it they doe not remember it It was not that whereon they built their consolation they looked to the righteousnesse of Christ and there they lay their salvation And note again Christ remembers the good works of the Saints when they doe not remember it themselves O it is a sweet thing to be above these things then Christ will remember them but when men live upon these things and come to remember duties as a ground of comfort then Christ will not remember them see Mat. 22.23 Christ will professe I never knew you Now the want of this grace in this particular it occasions two evils the first and best of them is and that even to the Saints it deprives them of much comfort and spirituall peace the poore soule looking upon its duties seeing the weaknesse the imperfection of them hee is troubled and complains and doubts and questions its condition and all for want of selfe denyall that is not looking for any thing in those duties I dare say that the Saints duties kils them in their own apprehensions more then any other of their sins but if the Lord help you to deny your selves that is not to expect any thing in duty but lay it down at the feet of Christ and to live upon Christ your All in all you shall finde abundance of influence of grace and new manifestations of love and in your duties you shall have more fellowship and communion with God then ever it is your expectation of comfort in your own righteousnesse that deprives you of it and just it is that it should be so nay it is a mercie that it is so for if God should give thee thy desire in duties thou wouldest then live upon them and undoe thy selfe for ever The second evill that flows from hence is that men doe indeed destroy themselves by this means that is it is an instrumentall means by which they destroy themselves as all men are destroyed by some means and that is sin and by this sinne selfe righteous men destroy themselves men living and dying trusting upon their duties destroy themselves and this is that which makes men spiritually proud lifts up men when they have least cause when they live upon their own righteousnesse But Christ teacheth his to deny themselves 3 There is selfe wisdom in every man and woman naturally and this Christ teacheth his to deny all men are naturally too wise for Christ so were the Grecians 1 Cor. 1.22 The Greeks seeke after wisdome There is a great deale of carnall earthly wisdome that naturally dwels in men and this wisdome is enmity against God and Gods wisdome appears foolishnesse unto it see what the Apostle sayth 1 Cor. 3.18 If any man among you seemeth to be wise let him become a fool that he may be wise for the wisdome of the world is faolishnesse with God Here is an exhortation for a Church to take heed of selfe-wisdome you and I have need to learn this wisdome the Lord help us in it to see our selves fools see who is the right foole Prov. 28.26 Who so trusteth in his own heart is a fool The readiest way to attain wisdome is to lay all our own wisdom down at the feet of Christ the Apostle Paul had boundance of humane wisdome and learning yet he abases himselfe he accounts all not onely his righteousnesse but wisdome also but dung and drosse all losse in comparison of the excellencie af the knowledge of Christ Jesus This is true wisdom indeed truly to know God in Christ this is that wisdome which is from above that brings life eternall with it John 17.3 I beseech you consider of it hath Christ taught your souls this lesson is your wisdome heaven-borne wisdome or is it earthly is it your own wisdome I am 3.13 14 15. Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meeknesse of wisdom but if yee have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glorie not ly not against the truth this wisdome descendeth from above but see ver 19. The wisdome that is from above it is first pure peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of-mercie and good fruits it is all heavenly like him whose it is but mans wisdome is all earthly sinfull and devilish which Chist teacheth his in some measure to deny 4 There is naturally in every man selfe boasting and selfe glorying in the creatures own wisdome and apprehended selfe excellencie but where Christ teaches he
Christ constr ains them 2 Cor. 5.14 3 Christ sets up in his Kingdome the Law of meeknesse and humility and that in opposition to the Law of pride and vaineglory Learn of me sayth Christ for I am meeke and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 and this Christ sets up in the hearts of his people for he makes them partakers of his own graces Joh. 1.16 it is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.23 and of the Law of Christ set up in the soules of the Saints against which there is no law can prevail It is true there will be a rising somtimes in the spirits of the Saints pride will thrust it selfe in and be ready to life up the creature in the apprehension of some selfe excellencie although there is no cause yet this is a truth I believe it those that have any experience of the Kingdome of Christ or of the working of corruption know it right well pride will be pirking in ready to lift up the creature above measure either somtimes Externally to make a difference betwixt himselfe and others as nobility of birth parents or kinted honour in the world Externall carnall excellencies O how will it worke somtimes upon the heart of a poore creature as if he were sombody above others O is not thy soule sensible of this somtimes dear Christian I cannot but think it is But then comes in Christ with his law of meeknesse of humility and puls down this pride of heart and lays it low and brings the soule again to lay all in the dust what is honour sayth the believing soule what is nobility of birth this is my honour that I am a sonne a daughter of Iesus Christ and so the soule comes down ready to doe any service of love to the meanest Saint and now the Saints come to serve one another in love and now they come again to see that they are all one in Christ Iesus Somtimes Internally or with relation to Internall gifts received although we have nothing but what we receive yet this is the basenesse of mans nature it wil grow proude be ready to be lifted up even with those graces received is it not so with thy heart art thou not naturally proude doth it not presse in upon thee somtimes I know it doth and I dare say it troubles thee that art a Christian But now Christ comes with his law and casts all down to the ground lays low those mountains those strong lusts that exalt themselves thus against the Kingdome of Christ for this pride is absolutely against the Kingdome of Christ he will not have such things in his Kingdom it will thrust it selfe in but the Law of Christ discovers it and vanquisheth it and keeps the soule in an humble lowly meeke condition O consider of it where pride domineers and rules Christ hath no Kingdome in that soule there Christ dwels there he reigns where he hath made the soule humble faith in Christ doth not make men proud and high no no it is the greatest enemy to it in the world a proud heart did never can never believe before brought low in the sense of its own nothingnesse and emptynesse 4 Christ sets up in the hearts of his Saints in his Kingdom the law of patience and contentednesse in opposition to anger impatiencie and discontentednesse Rash anger impatiencic peevishnesse of spirit how will they arise and be striving somtimes in the hearts of Christians for a small matter how will the heart be out of order and distemper what words will be ready to flow forth the heart being in this temper but now in the heart of a Christian Christ puts in execution his law of patience and quietnesse of spirit O sayth Christ to the soule thou must be patient and meeke thou must learn of me didst thou ever read that I was moved to anger and impatiencie to fret and fume no not against mine enemies and then sayth the soule ô what a fool am I thus to fret and then to be angry how unlike to Christ am I and then down coms that proud peevish spirit into the dust and so foolish was I and ignorant I was even a beast before thee and then the soule is turned again into a sweet disposition of love a compound of patience not easily provoked not easily again stirred to wrath Somtimes in the soule of a Christian is apt to arise perhaps some impatiencie and discontentednesse under afflictions and persecutions hardly can it bear with patience some heart rising this way may arise but then in comes Christ purting in execution the Law of patience and contentednesse and puls downe all those impatient discontented thoughts and then let patience have her perfect worke and the soule is quieted and contented and willingly submits unto the minde of Jesus and then it can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 4.11 I have learn'd in what estate soever I am therewith to bee content and now the soule is quieted and waits patiently upon the Lord and now the soule sayth ô how unlike am I to Christ 3 he suffered meekly as a lamb dumb before the shearer and opened not his mouth for me a sinner he suffered for me the just for the unjust that hee might bring me to God and shall not I be contented to suffer reproach and shame for him and then come what will come patience possesseth the soule 5 Christ sets up the Law of heavenly mindednesse in the heart of a Christian and indeed it is no wonder for his Kingdom is there heaven is there The Kingdome of heaven is within you Luke 17.21 and therefore needs must Christ set up this Law in his Kingdome and that in opposition to earthly mindednesse sinfulnesse or any thing that is opposite to holynesse and heavenlynesse and you know how the spirits of men nay of Christians are apt to be below the Lord Jesus somtimes on earthly object somtimes vaine proud unprofitable things run in the mind but Christ he comes and scatters those low things and raiseth the heart to himselfe and keeps the heart in such a temper that nothing can satisfie it but himself and when it loseth its heavenly temper its heavenly glory it is presently troubled and it cannot possibly take comfort in any thing beneath the Lord Jesus and here is a continuall combat and conflict between the flesh and the spirit the corrupt nature and the divine nature and certainly here corruption and Satan manytimes brings sadnesse upon the spirits of the Saints in darkning in overshadowing their heavenly enjoyment I meane in way of sense although they can never shake the faith of the soule in whom Christ dwels Mat. 16. The gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Consider now doe you finde Christs Kingdom Christs laws these set up in your hearts do you find Christ opposing lust and corruption within you or do you not If Christ be there you will finde it in some measure I confesse it that Christ according
for their good the end wherefore he hath saved them That he might have a people to serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse Luke 1.74.75 So that the Saints are not their own They are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirits which are Gods They are Gods own by purchase and he purchased them That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 10.11 Thus you see there is good reason that Christ should be King of Saints He was borne to it He is thereunto appointed He hath purchased them for that end and purpose Use A word of information if it be so that Christ be the King of his people and he alone ought to rule in all spirituall things then 1 Those that get in to the throne of Christ beare rule where Christ should are no friends to him He who ever he be That exalts himselfe above all that is called God and sits in the seat of God is the Antichrist 2 Thess 2.4 8. Whom Christ will take as his enemy and destroy him with the breath of his mouth and the brightnesse of his comming 2 Those are enemies who will not have Christ to reign over them who resolve to submit to the power of man in the things of God they are no friends to Christ but enemies and so he will take them and so he will deal with them Luke 19 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before mee c. Acts 3.23 And he that will not he are this Prophet shall be cut off from amongst his people 3 If the kingdom of Christ be spirituall not of this World then those are no friends to Christ that turn the World into Church I mean by a humane Law and Ordinance Let men turn the World into Church by preaching as fast as they can or as Christ will but to compell all to bring in earthly ignorant carnall men into the Church of Christ is not as according to the mind of Christ Ezek. 44.7 to the 14. and this is none of Christs Church but the Synagogue of Satan the World and not the Church And truly I am apt to conceive from that fore-mentioned Scripture that those that have been chiefe in this businesse who are godly amongst them shall never be honoured with doing much in the work of God but they shal come in last they shall be the meanest and the lowest I mean with relation to gifts in the house of God This may seeme strange to some but a truth for God will have none to glory in their own present gifts or excellency but that hee that gloryeth may glory in the Lord. Use 2. If the Kingdome of Christ be spirituall then here is a word of exhortation to stirre up spirituall people spirituall men and women to submit to Christ to come under the government of Christ to walk with to have fellowship with the spirituall people of Christ Beloved it is a sad thing to see spirituall people to walk with the World to joyn in the Worlds fellowship in the Worlds worship What communion hath light with darknesse What fellowship hath Christ with Beliall What part hath the believer with the unbeliever ô that the exhortation might take place in your souls Come out from amongst them and be yee separate and I will receive you 2 Cor. 6.17 The Lords people are a holy people and the Lords ways are holy ways Holinesse becomes thy house ô Lord for ever Use 3. A word of consolation and joy for the Saints the Church the kingdome of Christ you have cause of joy and cause of rejoycing First that you have such a king a great king above all gods hee that is the Lord of Lords and the king of kings hee is our king he is the king of Saints the Saints have such a king who is able to defend them able to save them from all their enemies and he will save them he is able to dash all his and his Saints enemies in peeces like a potters vessell and he will he shall do it Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron and dash them in peeces like a potters vessel Be wise now therefore ô ye Kings and be instructed yee judges of the earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling kisse the Son least he be angry c. But let the Saints rejoyce in the Lord let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the children of Sion be joyfull in their King Psal 149.2 2 The Saints have cause to rejoyce and to be comforted they are all made Kings to the Lord. They are Kings and they shall reign they reign already over sin and lust over Satan Rom. 6.12 Sin shall not have dominion over you others are slaves to sin and Satan sin reigns in and over them but the Saints reign over sin they have a Kingdom already within them without them the Church which is both Christs and the Saints Kingdom where Christ and the Christian solace themselves together and they shall have a Kingdom although they are now rejected and reproached of men Servants ride on horseback and Princes walke as servants on the ground Ecles 10.7 but they shall rule and have dominion they shall reign for they are made Kings Rev. 1.6 chap. 5.10 They shall rule their enemies those that perhaps formerly have ruled them Rev. 2.26 27. To him that overcommeth and keepeth my words to the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I received of my Father Thus Christ shall judge thus the Saints shall judge Psal 149.5 6. A wonderfull comfort for the Saints but a sad word for the enemies both of Christ and Christians Let the Saints be joyfull in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds let the high praises of God be in their mouthes and a two edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishment upon the people to binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles in fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written this honour have all the Saints praise the Lord Thus the Saints are made Kings you see and shall have dominion and rule and a Kingdom although they are rejected and slighted and counted the off-scouring of all things here by the men of the world yet they are Kings and shall have a kingdom A great joy for Christians Dan. 7.27 Luke 12.32 Lastly this should stir up the Saints to walk humbly to walk holily as becommeth the subjects of the spirituall kingdome of Iesus Christ that as Christ hath called them out of this world so they should no longer fashion themselves like unto this world but walk as becomes Christians professing godlines
it is the preaching of the Gospel that discovers it I give you these grounds 1 A man never savingly sees his evill condition without a Christ but it is the spirit of God that discovers it unto him this all that are sound in the faith agree unto then the preaching of the Law brings not this spirit see Gal. 3.2 This onely would I learn of you sayth the Apostle speak out of your experience received yee the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Beloved God hath appointed his spirit to be the means in the preaching of the Gospel to convince the world of sin Iohn 16.9 It is the spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin and that in the preaching of faith the Apostle was once alive without the Law that is without the spirituall understanding of the Law but when the commandement came sin reigned and I dyed that is when Christ had opened his eyes to see into the spirit of the Law for you may see Act. 9.4 5 c. the ministry by which Paul comes to see himselfe is the voyce of Christ I am Iesus of Nazereth then Paul comes trembling c. so that it is Christ in the preaching of the Gospel which is glad tydings for sinners remission of sins for believers and this Gospel this glad tydings cannot be rightly held forth to the world but with all men must be shewed that they are sinners and the emptinesse of duties all other foundations must be discovered the danger of not accepting Christ c. this preaching of Christ and faith in opposition to all legall works and duties is the means Christ hath appointed to bring men to the knowledge both of himselfe and themselves it is true every man and woman without faith is bitten with the fiery serpent the fiery Law but are not sensible of it till Jesus come in the preaching of the Gospel to discover it unto them So that this is the reason why Christ is to be lifted up in the dayes of the Gospel that sinners who behold him may live This is the reason following my Text That whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting life this is the main reason of the exaltation of Christ that men believing may have life this is ever annexed to the preaching of the Gospel Mar. 16.16 Goe preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized that is whose faith produceth obedience shall be saved This is the reason of the Gospel preaching you see and this is the reason why Christ came into the world that men might have life through him John 10.10 for this end God gave him Ioh. 3.16 God had never sent his Son into the world had it not been that men by believing in him might have life and therefore hath Christ left this Ordinance of preaching in the world that men might be brought to believe and therefore those men are me thinks much beside the truth and the Gospel who pretend to hold forth Christ dying for all alike and yet deny the preaching of the Gospel the means by which God brings over the soules of men and women to believe Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Those who deny the preaching of the Gospel deny the meanes of working faith Quest But may every one that will believe Answ Every one to whom God gives faith to believe may and shall believe for faith is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 and God works faith by the preaching of the Gospel and this is the maine end of the exalting and lifting up of Christ in the Gospel that men by believing in him may have life and therefore is he to be lifted up as the serpent upon a pole above all things all duties creatures legall performances any thing that the creature may rest upon beneath him Thus you see beloved the truth cleered that Christ is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel Use Generally three 1 A word of Examination 2 Of Exhortation 3 Of Consolation 1 A word of Examination and that is double 1 For our selves in particular what say you to this Hath Christ been lifted up in your soules above all things hath he had the preheminence above all he who is indeed above all and in all and through all Have your souls seen Christ the chiefe among ten thousand and is it still so with you are you satisfied with him as the wife with her husband lying down in the bosom of love content with him and him alone seeing and enjoying all comfort and consolation in him Is Christ exalted in your soules as your alone Priest and atonement your peace-maker with God or else doe you look upon any thing beneath Christ as the ground of your peace I feare me the Saints live too much below Christ and that is the cause of so much sadnesse of spirit resting upon duties and legall performances they deprive themselves of much comfort they might otherwise enjoy 2 Is Christ exalted as your alone Prophet to teach you are your eyes upon the Lord Jesus in all his dispensations expecting teaching from him Is Christ exalted as King in thy soule submitting to him in all things yielding uniuersall obedience to him and that out of love submitting to all his laws and statutes 2 Examination Whether Christ have been thus exalted in the Kingdom in the Nation as they desire to stand to him under the relation of a Church as their Priest Prophet and King and in all these it would easily appear that he hath not been thus exalted he hath not been exalted the alone Priest and atonement indeed and in truth but in word and shew but duties preparations and qualifications have been held forth with him and that none but those thus fitted and qualified might in any case believe First bringing men to the Law and then to Christ which is a legall way and not evangelicall it is true the Jews were first brought to the Law and then to Christ but under the Gospel men are first to bee brought to the Gospel to Christ and then to duties of the Gospel for all preparations and qualifications whatsoever which is not of faith is sin and I am sure faith comes by preaching of the Gospel not of the Law Mar. 16.16 17. Therefore the preaching of qualifications and preparations before faith is sin for all things before or without faith is sinne 2 Hath Christ been received as the alone Prophet to teach hath his Word been made the rule of all actions submitting to him in all things Act. 3.22 23. any way Judge of the truth of it 3 Hath Christ been exalted as King to submit to him as the alone law giver of his Church of his people hath not man been submitted unto hath not man sate in the feare of God making laws and constitutions of their own compelling all thereunto as once Darius made a Decree Dan. 6. That all that should