and the yeare of his redeemed ones comes then if there be none to help his own arme will bring salvation Do you what you can in a right way for Gods causes Christs Kingdom and when you can do no more stand still and look on with griefe that you can do no more and if you can contribute nothing else yet date lachrymulam shed a teare God puts the teares of his people into his bottle and in his time teares shall be like the water that turnes and drives the wheele Gods work shall go on and your teares shall help to drive it on as well as your noblest works It was Gods word in a work that met with greater opposition then yours now can Exod. 14.13 stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It may be your strengths of the arme of flesh may yet be too great for God to work by the Lord saveth not by sword 1 Sam. 17.47 nor by speare for the battell is the Lords Gideon had too many while he had above three hundred Iud. 7.4 greatnesse of outward strength ecclipses and darkens the glory of Christs power in saving when God seeth that his peoples power is gone Deut. 32.36 then he strikes into the work and more shewes himself Let us not limit the holy One of Israel neither to meanes nor to times whether there be many or few that stand up in Gods causes wee are sure of this Christ shal reign till he hath put al his enemies under his feet We look too much on the instruments 1 Cor. 15.25 are ready to cry out if the foundations of the earth be shaken what shall the righteous do you are they that are our foundations Ps 11.3 you the preservers of the fundamental laws of the state and the preservers of the fundamentall laws of the Church if you be shaken it will indeed be a sad time to Gods righteous people yet let not that affright us neither we have a stronger foundation fundamentum fundamenti the foundation of the foundations the head stone of the corner the rock upon which the Church is built which shall never be shaken Goe you on therefore and let every one faithfully do his duty to Christ and leave the issue to God To conclude all this day is a day of humiliation and therfore a day of covenanting with God O that I might now engage you all here present this day in this covenant to take Christ for your King into your own hearts and then to set faithfully to this work of undertaking his causes against all those great oppositions which every day shew themselves when Iehojada made the covenant with the Lord 2 King 11.17 that the people should be the Lords people 't was to this end that they should undertake the Lords causes against the Lords enemies for presently they brake downe the house of Baal and his altar and his images and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the altar Let us make such a covenant to be the Lords people and so to undertake the Lords causes as Scipio once held the poynt of his sword to the brests of many gallants that were flying out of Italy and made them sweare upon that sword that they would not desert the cause God has great causes now Christ was never more engaged in great affaires then at this time O that I might perswade all that professe themselves Gods people to engage themselves to Christ to make vowes betwixt God and their own soules upon these sacred truths this book never to desert Christs causes but as faithfull subjects of his Kingdom doe all they can notwithstanding all oppositions to make Christs Kingdom flourish through the world Iudg. 5.23 and remember Meroz curse upon those that come not to the help of Christ against the mighty Christ can carry on his work without us but if we doe not our part deliverance shall come some other way as Mordâ—cai told Queen Hester Est 4.14 but wee shall be destroyed the curse will be upon every of us that set not in every one in his way and as God calls him to it to set up Christ in the midst of his enemies FINIS
Die Mercurii 26. Octobris IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons That Sir Francis Knollis doe returne thanks from this House to Doctor Temple for the great paines he took in the Sermon he preached at the entreaty of the said House at St. Margarets in the City of Westminster this present day of publick humiliation and that he be desired to print his Sermon And it is Ordered that no man shall presume to print it but he who shall be authorized under the said Doctor Temple 's hand writing H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint SAMUEL GELLIBRAND to print my Sermon THO. TEMPLE CHRIST'S GOVERNMENT In and over his PEOPLE Delivered in A SERMON Before the Honourable House of COMMONS At their late publick and solemne Fast Octob. 26. 1642. BY Thomas Temple D. D. and Minister of the Church of Battersea in Surrey Published by Order of that House PSAL. 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof LONDON Printed for SAMUEL GELLIBRAND at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1642. To the Honourable House of COMMONS assembled in PARLIAMENT BEing called to this service by your command I could not think of a fitter subject more seasonable to the times and your places then this touching the Kingdom of Christ first to set before you the chiefe employment God cals you to and the duty lies upon you in it that is to study all the waies by which Iesus Christ may be best setled in his throne and his government most spread throughout these parts of the world where your work lies Secondly to hold out unto you the great encouragement to so great a work in which you are sure to meet with so great oppositions to let you know God himself will carry it on and Christs government shall be established notwithstanding the rage of people and the plots of Princes against the Lord and his Annointed If you go on in this cause with upright hearts there is no reason your spirits should faint or your hands slacken in fear of the issue you are on a rising side and in a work that will improve it self And indeed you have need of encouragement even from heaven to go on in the work of reformation of the Chuch and of establishing Christs government amongst us where the endeavours of many are so mighty to oppose it and their tongues so malignant to disgrace it But while your hearts are faithfull with God resolve to goe on with Gods work knowing you must passe through evill report as well as good report 2. Cor. 6.8 They who are called to great works must be willing to sacrifice all estate credit life in the cause of God so we keep faith and peace with God and doe not shipwrack a good conscience it matters not much what else we lose If Christ carry you through the work here he is all-sufficient to reward you hereafter The Lord make all great mountaines that lie in your way Iac. 4.7 to the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ as plaines before you Rev. 2.2 and in the end reward your works and your labour and your patience So praies From my Study in Battersea Nov. 6. 1642. The unworthiest of the servants of Christ in the work of the Lord THOMAS TEMPLE A SERMON Preached before The Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT At the publick Fast Octob. 26. 1642. PSAL. 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion THis second psalme is an exact description of the Kingdome of Christ as it was prophesied of by David who was himselfe a type and figure of Christ in his Kingdome and the Father of him according to the flesh which as it appeares out of the frame of the whole psalme so we finde this Psalme clearly expounded of Christ and his Kingdome by the Apostles in the new Testament First where mention is made of the Heathens rage and the Kings of the earth bandying against the Lord and his Annoynted v. 1.2 this is by the whole Colledge of Apostles and Disciples expounded of Christ Act. 4.25.27 Secondly where it is said thou art my son this day have I begotten thee v. 7. this is also plainly expounded of Christ not of his birth as it seemes to be meant upon the first view but of his resurrection from the grave which is as it were a new begetting Act. 13.33 A fit subject of our meditations as in all other so especially in these times Christ as he stands to us in this relation of a King we are all willing to looke upon Christ as he stands in the relation of a Priest offering himselfe in sacrifice for our sins so desiring him as a Saviour to save our soules wee lesse delight to eye him as a Prophet revealing Gods will to us little careing to know him but wee commonly hate to thinke upon him as a King as not easilie subjecting our selves to be governed by him I shall therfore crave your attention while I unfold to you this peice of Scripture The Psalm consists of three main parts First it sets forth the mad and furious councells and attempts of wicked people against Christ Act 5.39 affectasse ferunt regnum celeste gigantes who feare not to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the old Giants fighters against God himselfe their rage and malice is bent even against the God that made and redeemed them why doe the Heathen rage Ver. 1.2 and the people imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the earth set themselves the Rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Aancynted Secondly it sets forth Gods establishment of Christ in his Kingdom notwithstanding all the attempts of wicked men against him yet nothing shall overthrow his Kingdome but on the other side be shall breake his enimies in peices yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion 3. ver 6. It conteynes an exhortation because wee cannot overthrow Christs Kingdom therfore to entertaine it in our hearts to serve him and feare him as wee seare to be destroyed and desire to be blest Be wise now therfore ver 10. O yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling The words of my text you see are the second part of this Psalme and have their dependance upon the former that notwithstanding all the machinations of wicked people God will have a King to rule in his Church which no power of man shall ever overthrow I shall observe to you three particulars out of this Scripture the King his Throne his Settlement in his Throne 1 The King as ver 7. Jesus Christ God the Son the second person in Trinitie God over all blessed for ever 2. his Throne where hee sitts or his Kingdome where hee reignes with the qualification of it his holy hill of Sion Mount Sion was a high mountaine in Jerusalem
because they are now his 2 Cor. 6.20 and no more our own It were unequall we should expect redemption from him and yet not yeeld obedience to him that is the very end of our redemption Luke 1.72 that wee being delivered out of the hands of our enemies should serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our lives Here we should take St. Peters rule to Ananias touching the possession he had sold Why hast thou kept back part of the price while it remained unsold was it not thine owne it was thine owne Acts 5.3 thou mightest have done with it as thou pleasedst but having sold it to God why dost thou now keep back that which is Gods while we were our own we might dispose our selves according to our own wils but now Christ having bought us what right have we to keep back from Christ that which is Christs if we belong to God by the right of purchase why should we defraud God of his due while we were Satans we might give unto Satan the things of Satan serve him whose we were but now being Gods purchase we ought to give unto God the things of God serve him whose we are Vse 1 If Christ bee King of his Church let Gods people comfort themselves in this that Christ reignes that Christ sits as King among us The use David makes of this doctrine Psal 97.1 The Lord reignes what then let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof We that live here in the Isles have not we a portion in this joy and comfort that we know Christ is King and reignes among us let the earth rejoyce and the multitude of the Isles be glad Indeed if Gods people consider they are but a little flock of kids among many lions 1 Kings 20 27. Mat. 10.16 Cant. 2.2 a few sheep among many wolves a single lilly among many thornes if they consider what machinations what pernicious plots are daily contrived against them if we had not this to support us to know Christ is King that he orders all for the best for us subdues our enemies protects us from plots of malignant persons preserves us in the midst of greatest dangers it might well cast us into despaire of ever holding up our heads with comfort But when we remember that Christ sits as King among us he is above in heaven and laughs at the plots of wicked men Psal 2.4 the Lord has them in derision men may be busie in contriving but Christ is as busie in defeating here is a glorious beame of comfort breaks in upon us under this notion of Christs being King his reigning in the midst of his people Comfortably may we apply that of the Prophet look upon Sion the City of our solemnities Isa 33.20 thine eyes shall see Ierusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the stakes thereof shall ever bee removed neither shall any of the cords thereof bee broken but there the glorious Lord will be to us a place of broad rivers for the Lord is our judge the Lord is our law giver the Lord is our King he will save us When we look up to Christ and meditate with our selves is not Christ our judge is not he our law-giver is not he our King he will save us we may with comfort look upon Sion the City of our solemnities and shall see our Jerusalem againe a quiet habitation I shewed you before it is one of the prime acts of Christs Kingly office to preserve his subjects if we break not covenant with him he will help us and why should we not then boldly say if the Lord be our helper Heb. 13.6 we will not feare what man can doe unto us then we feare when we know we have many enemies and few helpers but if Christ be our King who can help us why should we feare what man or devill or powers of darknesse can do unto us Vse 2 It informs us in this how we should live one towards another as subjects of the same King the mysticall body of the Church beares analogy with the politick body of the State subjects as they are knit under one head so they should be of one minde and have one heart and that chiefly in three particulars First in love and keeping communion one with another union with Christ the head will produce communion with the members we have fellowship one with another 1 Iohn 1.7 There be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 certaine things which are common among Christian friends Arist Pol. l. 2. c. 3. a community in goods all that beleeved were together Acts 2.44 Ex substantia familiari fratres sumus Tert ap adv gent. c. 39. and had all things common a community in counsels contributing helps of advice upon occasions offered a community in intelligences the Churches in the Acts held intelligence together and the Ecclesiasticall stories tell us at Lions in France the Saints were wont to send to the Saints in Phrygia Omnia apud nos indiscreta sunt praeter uxores Tert. ap adv gent. c. 34. Occultisse notis insignibus noscunt amant mutuò penè antequâ—m noverint Man Ejusmodi vel maximè dilectionis operatio notam nobis inurit penes quosdam vide inquiunt ut invicem se diligant Christiani Tert ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Al. paed l. 3. c. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. de Nonna Orat. 11. concerning the affaires of the Church all things they had common but especially a communion of conversation a delight in the society one of another 'T was a saying of a Heathen in the primitive times what strange people these Christians are they are as well acquainted in half an houre as others are in half a yeare We want this communion among us we keep communion with any kind of people rather then with the Saints of God We every day say we beleeve a communion of Saints but we make it in our practice rather a chymera then a thing reall we delight not in it O this strangenesse and loathnesse to society with good men it is not agreeable with that heavenly conversation Christians should have This should be the ligament of Christians society their relation to Christ as they are fellow Citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem and the houshold of God and knit together under one King Wee should desire to keep the same company here we shall doe hereafter in heaven there our company shall bee God and the Saints so it should be here 'T is true civill commerce may be kept with all but we ought to distinguish in chusing our companions that when we die we may only change our place not our company if here we enjoy the presence of God and society of the Saints our change will be but easie when we go hence we go
Sam. 11.8 the Disciples every man according to his ability sent reliefe unto their Brethren which dwelt in Iudaea Act. 11.29 Nay the Macedonians went in this beyond their ability 2 Cor. 8.3 more then their estates would beare and they that were of the same faith all that beleeved sold their possessions for the supply of the needs of the rest of the Faithfull Act. 2.44 and such contributions they used to make in those dayes that every man had sufficient neither was any among them that lacked for as many as were in possession of Lands and houses sold them and brought the prices and laid them downe at the Apostles feet Act. 4.34 and distribution was made to every man according as he had need 'T is not enough to say wee are all subjects of Christs Kingdome in words but we must shew it in deeds otherwise it is but as Saint Iames speakes a vaine expression to say to one that is naked and destitute of food Depart in peace bee warmed and be filled Iam. 2.16 and yet not give them those things that are needfull for them If we serve Christ wee must love him if we love Christ then as he laid downe his life for us so must wee be content upon a necessity to lay downe our lives for the Brethren But much more then whoso hath this worlds goods and sees his brother hath need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 1. Ioh. 3.16 'T will be a sad evidence against us in the day of Judgement if we neither feed the hungry nor cloath the naked Mat. 25.43 and t is a terrible threatning Iam. 2 1◠hee shall have judgement without mercy who shewes no mercy Doe not delude thy soule Divitias dispergendo pauperibus abjecerunt talimodo in coelestibus thesauros tutius condiderunt Aug. prob ep 121. in accounting thy selfe a member of Christs body a Subject of Christs Kingdome and yet see another member another Subject perish before thine eyes and not relieve him but shutst up thy bowels of compassion against him Clemens tells us of the Elephants if one fall into a Ditch and cryes out the next that heares him presently gathers all the Heard and help him out If any poore brother be in distresse and cannot relieve himselfe Strom. l. 1. Cyprianus Christianus factus omnem substantiam suam pauperibus erogavit Hier. the whole Society must doe it Great are the exigences of our poor Brethren at this time in Ireland there is Christ naked and Christ hungry and Christ in prison and Christ ficke Christ in his poor Subjects Let us cloath Christ and feed Christ Reponam hunc thesaurū universum apud creatorem liberis autem meis relinquā thesaurum ipsum creatorem quod cùm dixisset erogavit omnia paupetibus Drus Haeb. Apo. Mat. 21.3 and redeeme Christ out of the hands of his enemies Let us not now looke upon our Cold with a covetous eye nor keep it with a griping hand nor be nice of our persons when Christ hath need of us and our wealth as Christ said when he sent for the Asse say The Lord hath need of him and they will let him goe When the Lord hath need of our persons and need of our purses let us let them goe be free in the causes of Christ we are not his Subjects if we helpe not him nor our fellow-subjects I know I shall easily have a pardon from you Honourable and Beloved if I be an earnest Advocate in these causes of Christ for which you have shewed your selves already so faithfull and zealous the Lord reward you for your care but give me leave onely to put you in remembrance of this as the Vision appeared to Saint Paul There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him Act. 16.9 come over into Macedonia and helpe us Christ hath long appeared to you and called for your help for Ireland the Lord I say will reward you for what helpe you have already afforded them but I beseech you let every Fast day wee keepe for them put you in mind of their pressing miseries and their bleeding condition which now begins againe to be desperate Let mee say to you in the words of the men of Gibeon to Ioshuah Iosh 10.6 Slacke not thy hand from thy servants come up to us quickly and savt us and helpe us As Salomon speakes of a word fitly spoken or spoken in season Prov. 25.11 it is a word upon its wheeles as the Originall inforces so it is with a worke a worke done in season it is a worke upon its wheeles an excellent worke that goes on to purpose Vse 3 If Christ be our King let me then stirre you up in a word of exhortation to performe the duty of good subjects unto Christ to helpe Christ into his Throne and maintaine him there and that partly in respect of our selves partly in respect of others 1. In respect of our selves to Crowne Christ in our owne hearts to set up his Kingdome within our selves the Kingdome of God is within you to set it up in our hearts we easily desire Christ a Saviour to save us but not a King to governe us Wee are ready to cry out with the Disciples Mat. 14.30 Lord save us we perish but as ready againe to say with the wicked Citizens Luk. 19.14 We will not have this man to reigne over us Alas wee must not expect Christ should be a Saviour unlesse he be received as a King as Iephtah answered the Elders of Gilead Why come you to me now when you are in distresse Iudg. 21.7.9 if the Lord deliver your enemies before me shall I be your head Wee must not fly to Christ onely in the time of our distresse when our sinnes presse us and we see the mouth of Hell open to swallow us up unlesse withall when Christ hath delivered us from our spirituall enemies wee be contented to take him for our head for our Lord to rule and governe us as well as for our Saviour to save us O let us crowue Christ in our hearts not doe as the Jewes did set a crowne of thornes upon his head but set a Crowne of Gold upon his head a Crown of Soveraigntie acknowledge him our Lord and King feare and obey him Crowne him as Iehoiada and the people crowned King Ioash 2 King 11.11 12. they crowned him and compast him about with their swords in their hands ready to fight against all his enemies Set up Christ in the throne of thy heart and hold thy sword in thy hand to fight against all Christs enemies all thy own lusts thy rebelling affections that fight against Christ the King of thy soule 2. To help to advance Christs Kingdome in others to helpe to lift up Christ and to set up his Scepter over all the World God has promised to give Christ the Nations for his
give it footing more and more every day though the Revelation be obscure in many things yet this we may gather out of it clearly that when the vialls begin to be powred out the truth shall grow up to the confusion of its enemies as on the other side wee see severall effects of Gods providence against the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist that where we see the false Religion hath received some blowes we may assure our selves a further ruine will certainely follow as they said of Haman If Mordecai be of the seed of the Iewes Hest 6.13 before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but shalt surely fall before him If Religion be of the seed of Christ the daughter of God false Religions that once begin to fall shall not prevaile but shall surely fall before it Vse 1 It discovers the folly of those that set themselves against Gods people and Gods causes let them take heed what they doe such set themselves against Christ and his Kingdome and their attempts shall not prosper Iob 9.4 Hath any man hardned himselfe against God and prospered I must say to such as Abijah did to Ieroboam Ye think to withstand the Kingdome of the Lord 2 Chr. 13.8 Let us not thinke we shall be able to withstand the Kingdome of Christ hee is able to breake through all oppositions hee can crush his enemies thou shalt breake them with an iron rod thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessell Ps 2.9 the Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath Ps 110.5 Kings that be his enemies It was part of Moses Song touching the enemies of Israel the people shall heare and bee afraid Exod. 15.14 sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina the Dukes of Edom shall be amazed trembling shall take hold of the mighty men of Moab the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away feare and dread shall fall upon them for the Lord reignes for ever and ever Because Christ reignes such shall be the end of all his enemies however they may flourish for a time Oh! feare to oppose Christ in his Gospel in his people in his causes Isa 45.9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker let the potsheards strive with the potsheards of the earth Let man strive with man and Prince fight with Prince that 's but dashing one earthen pitcher against another but let us take heed of ingaging Christ against us woe to him that strives with Christ 't is dangerous setting our selves against his Kingdome or his people or his causes lest as in this mountaine in Gods Church the hand of the Lord shall rest so Moab all the enemies of Christ be troden downe under him as straw is trodden downe for the dunghill Isa 2â— 10 Vse 2 Here 's matter of great encouragement to those that with upright hearts side with Christ and set in to advance his Kingdome they shall prosper in the worke We must not be troubled though we finde great enemies and great oppositions let us not value religion and the cause of Christ any whit the cheaper because so much set against The Romanes held their land about the City of Rome at as deare a rate when Hanniball besieg'd it as they did before Prize Religion as high in times of trouble as in times of peace Wee must not look only at the present proceedings our spirits must not rise or fall onely as wee see a floud or an ebbe in the handling of Gods causes but consider the end as David speakes of the upright man Psal 31.37 mark his end the end of that man is peace Whatever the present condition should prove to bee of Christs Kingdome yet the end of it will be peace and happinesse to Gods people At Cannae the Romanes went to congratulate the Consul that fled from the battaile because hee signified thereby that the state of things was not yet so desperate but he durst live We should not despaire of the state of Gods Church and Religion though we should see them brought to great straits It may be we shall not see the prosperity of Gods Church in our dayes yet here 's comfort enough to know the work shall go on It is a worke in Christs hand and a worke God takes pleasure in Isa 53 10 and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Rev. 1.16 Christ who holds the stars in his Right hand the Angels of his Church to preserve them does certainly hold the Church it selfe for whose good his Ministers are in his right hand to preserve her whatever oppositions be made against her At Antioch if I mistake not the Ecclesiasticall story sayes there being an Earth quake wherby many houses fell and the people terrified with it being ready to forsake the city one had a vision that he faw a man comming to him who commanded him to write upon every house Christus nobiscum Christ is with us stay here and so it ceased thus we should do when we consider the tottering estate of religion remember Christ is with us be not affrighted forsake it not if God be for us who can be against us if Christ be in the ship with us it cannot sink But especially it may be high encouragement to you Honourable and beloved you are they that must help up Christ into his Kingdom in the midst of these great oppositions that are now made against it we the Ministers of God can but encourage strengthen you as the Prophet Haggai and Zachary Gods Prophets were with the Princes helping them Ezr. 5.2 helping them with their prayers and helping them with their instructions touching Gods will and helping them with their exhortations to stirre them up but the work is chiefly yours you are to encounter Christs enemies the sword of justice is put into your hands to cut down all oppositions If your hearts be upright with God that your consciences assure you you seek Gods glory and the advancement of Christs Kingdom not your selves nor your own ends you have as much encouragement as can be you go on in a work that shall be carried up against all oppositions Heb. 11.27 Should visible means faile yet as there is an invisible God who may be seen by the eye of faith so there are also invisible means the power of Christ shall rest upon those that work his works and stand up faithfully in his causes Should you be left fewer then you are yet if you can but resolve when others forsake Christ to say truly Lord we will never forsake thee and do it not only say it some have said it and yet with Peter gone away and deserted the cause there is then no reason why you should fear Christ can work by few as well as by many Christ when men faile will tread the wine-presse alone when the day of vengeance comes Isa 63.3 4.
peace is that crownes all other blessings so Christ knowing the excellency of this and that none could give it but himselfe did therfore when he was to leave the earth promise this as a fruit of his Kingly office to leave his disciples this legacy of peace Iob. 14.27 peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you it is Christs peace not the worlds in mee ye shall have peace Ioh. 16.33 if Christ speak a word of peace to our harts if he give us an answer of peace as Ioseph said to Pharoah God shall give Pharoah an answer of peace then though wee have tribulations in the world wee shal be of good cheere wee shall have comfort enough Christ as King hath overcome the world and will settle peace in us that 's the expedience of Christs goingfrom us that he may send us the comforter it is expedient that I goe away for if I goe not away the comforter will not come Iohn 15.7 but if I depart I will send him unto you being in the administration of his kingdom he sends comfort There is no having peace nor joy nor comfort but from Christ who as King is only able to allay all stormes and troubles which the divell and our owne consciences for sin raise within us It is with inward peace as it is with the outward if he give quietnesse who can make trouble Iob 34.29 if Christ work quietnesse if he make a calme in the spirit if he rebuke the winds and the sea Mat. 14.32 nothing from the world can raise a tempest Christs reigne over us Mic. 4.7 Luke 1.33 2 Christ reignes over us the Lord shall reigne over them in mount Sion he shall reigne over the house of Iacob not only in us but over us not only in us for his glory but over us also for our good This is termed by the Psalmist a sitting on the right hand of the Father Psal 110.1 the Lord said to my Lord sit thou on my right hand a phrase to note the actuall administration of his kingdom that as a king he sits in great power judging among his enimies and governing his people And there are also severall acts wherein the exercise of this part of his kingdom over us consists First in suppressing the enemies of the Church that is the power that God gives to Christ as King of his Church to rule in the midst of his enimies Psal 110.2 and the promise God made to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should possesse the gate of his enemies While Gods people keep covenant with God they shall be secure the lilly shall grow up among the thornes Cant. 2.2 and there shal be no enchantment against Iacob Numb 23.23 no divination against Israel Christ settles his Church so strong that the gates of hell shall never prevaile against her Mat. 16.18 shee may be assaulted and shaken but never conquered as the Romans lost some battells but they never lost a war Gods Church may have some foyles but shee shall be alwayes the conquerer in the end God commands deliverances for his people thou art my King Psal 44.4 O God command deliverances for Iacob 't is the comfort of Gods people to know so long as Christ stands 1 Sam. 8.20 his Church shall not fall the people thought themselves safe when they had a King to fight their battells so long as we have Christ to fight our battells we need not feare if Christ be for us none can be against us Secondly in bestowing all blessings upon us in him shall all the nations of the earth be blest Gen. 22.18 all who are blest are blest in Christ who is the King commanding blessings upon his people blessings spirituall blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Eph 1 3. who hath blest us with all spirituall blessings in Christ hee the head and fountaine of all spirituall blessings blessings temporall as Ioseph was a type of Gods Church all those blessings which Iacob prophesied should come upon the head of Ioseph shall through Christ come upon the head of the Church the blessings of heaven above the blessings of the deep that lye under the blessings of the breast and the blessings of the womb Gen 49.25 unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills they shall be upon the head of Ioseph upon the head of the Church and at last the blessing of eternall glory in heaven Rev. 1.6 when Christ shall with himselfe make all his people who serve him here Kings to reigne with him there for ever Thirdly In sanctifying all conditions and ordering and turning all to the best for his own people there is no condition prosperity adversity health sicknes life death but it would be hurtfull to us if Christ did not sit as King to moderate and sanctifie it to us Wee know Rom. 8.28 sayes the Apostle all things work together for the good of them that love God who are called according to his purpose how comes it that all things work together for their good who love God and are the called of God more then for theirs who love him not and are not called of him that affliction is sanctified to the one and not to the other as S. Aug. saies you may observe in the same fire the gold sparkles and gathers lustre abunoigne aurum rutilat palea sumat when the stubble consumes and vanishes to smoake because Christ sits as King to order every thing for the best of his own subjects and to turne every thing for the worst to his enemies Christ does for us heere as he does for us in heaven Irgoe to prepare a place for you Ioh. 14.2 so here 't is Christs work to prepare places and conditions for his people to sanctifie every thing to them As on the one side he curses all to his enemies I will curse your blessings Mal. 2.2 there is a secret curse goes along with all those things they count their greatest blessings so on the other side he blesses all those things to his children which they might conceive to be curses to them and to make most against them Iacob when he saw Ioseph lost and Simeon left bound in Aegypt and Benjamin to be carried from him he strait concluded all these things are against mee Gen. 42.36 when yet all made for him and preservation of himselfe and the life of his family in Aegypt Gen. 45.5 Ioseph thought his own casting into prison would have proved his ruine for ever Gen. 39.20 when yet God made it the means of his greatest advancement The Iewes thought the plot of Haman would have bin their confusion when yet God so ordered it as the day intended for their destruction was turned to them from sorrow to joy Hest 9.22 from mourning into a good day Moses notes it touching Balaams curse with which Balak King
of Moab would have had him curse Israel Deut 23.5 the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing to thee because the Lord thy God loved thee if wee be such as God loves Christ will turne all cursings into blessings all things shall be blest to us nothing curst to us Fourthly In settling an externall ecclesiasticall policy as Christ is King of his Church he will have his Church governed in his own way not according to the fancies and inventions of man Wee must not deny that to Christ in government of his Kingdom which wee yeild to all earthly Monarchs in the government of theirs when Christ after his resurrection continued forty dayes upon earth among his disciples speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God 〈◊〉 1.3 wee cannot think he would omit the giving of rules for the framing of the regiment of his Church And when S. Paul tels the Elders of Ephesus he had not shunned to declare to them the whole councell of God Act. 20.27 wee must take it in pursuance of those directions himself and the rest of the disciples had received from Christ for the government of his Church What this frame of Church policy is which hath bin so long in dispute and is yet sub judice will be more proper for a Synod then a Sermon to consider of I only hint this but leave it to that grave consultation you have already designed not doubting your honourable care in hastning that work which must undoubtedly conduce much to the advancing and setling Christs Government more exactly among us 2. Reasons of the point Let us consider the reasons why God would have such a solemne administration of a kingdom by Christ First In respect of Glory that might accrew both to Christ the Son and to God the father In respect of Christ that he might receive the honour due to his deity which the work of humiliation might take from him though he were the true God Phil. 2.6 equall with the Father yet taking upon him the forme of a servant that he might be fitted to humble himselfe to the death of the Crosse this humiliation made the world that knew him not strip him of his glory they accounted him a divell a glutton a malefactor crucified him between two theeves Objiciunt nos honorem deferre homini crucifixo mysterium hujus rei ignorantes Iust Mart. put a crowne of thornes upon his head in derision and ever after derided the Christians that they beleived in a crucified God Christ must now be repayred in his honour therfore God appoynts him to be King of his Church that he may be advanced in their eyes who had so much vilified him the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment that is the dispensation of all government to the Son Iohn 5.22 that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father as the world vilified him as a malefactor they might now acknowledg him God equall with the Father and honour him with the same honour wherewith they honour the Father greatly exalted because greatly humbled the stone which the builders refused 1 Pet. 2.7 is made the head of the corner In respect of the Father that he might have the more glory from such a solemn administration of a kingdom by Christ as God was more glorified by giving Christ to be a Redeemer by finding out such a way of saving sinners where God became man and two natures the divine and humane united together Christ taking flesh and suffering then if he had saved his people any other way without Christ so now it would bring more glory to God by exalting Christ as King and giving him the solemn administration of a Kingdom then if God should have governed his people in the generall way as he governs the world God has highly exalted him Phil. 2 9 11. and given him a name above every name that every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father That 's a main end why Christ who was first humbled was after exalted the glory of the Father that solemn administration of the Kingdom by Christ brings more glory to the Father Secondly in respect of Gods people none so fit to be King to any people as such a one who is allyed to them and may be the more tender of them As God gave the precept touching a King for the Israelites they must choose one from among their brethren Deut. 17.15 so Christ therefore fittest because our brother he took our nature upon him and became Immanuel God with us God one of us of the same flesh and blood with us t is the same in this which the Apostle speaks touching the fitnesse of Christ's being made high Priest for us because having taken our nature Heb. 5.2 and being compast with infirmities he is likely to be the more compassionate to us 't is fittest Christ should be our King that having the same nature with us and compast about with our infirmities he might exercise the more tendernesse towards us as knowing best our frailties and the weaknesses of our natures a King of our brethren is fittest for us Thirdly In respect of Gods enemies and ours the more to awe them when they shall see him reigning over them whom they derided see him glorious in the administration of a kingdom and all power over them who once crucified and yet doe daily crucifie him see Christ King of such whom they persecute and fight for them and judge their cause whom they afflict 't is said of the wicked of the world when they see the son of man comming in the cloudes in the day of judgment they shall mourne feare him as a terrible judge Mat. 24.30 ready to take vengeance on them who have used him so despitefully it must needs be the same here Ipse erit judex qui sub judice stetit ut videant impii ejus gloriam in cujus mansuetudinem saevierunt Prosp Sent. 337. though in a lesse degree what can more awe and terrifie wicked people then to know Christ reignes he sits heere as King to observe them to judge them to plague them whose person they have so much vilified whose honour they have so much laid in the dust whose servants they have so persecuted whose cause they have so much opposed Fourthly in respect of a suitablenesse betwixt the works of redemption and government it were unequall Christ should redeem us and not govern us unjust that we should serve any other then him who hath laid down the ransome for us There is jus redemptionis in this he who ransoms a slave ought to have his service if Christ while we were slaves of the devill hath ransomed us and bought us with a price the price of his own blood 1 Pet. 1 18. it is equall we should serve him give him the service both of our bodies and spirits