CHRISTS KINGDOME DISCOVERED OR That the true Church of God is in England cleerly made manifest against all Sectaries whatsoeuer By Iohn Traske DAN 12.10 None of the wicked shall vnderstand but the Wise shall vnderstand MAT. 11.19 Wisedom is iustified of her Children The second Edition LONDON Printed by Tho Creede and Bern Alsop for Iosias Harrison and are to be sold in Pater noster-row at the signe of the Golden Anker 1616. To all the blessed People of England euen all such as desire the peace of the Land together with the flourishing of the Church grace and peace be multiplied HEere is offered to your view some helpe to the reading of the holy Scriptures the vnderstanding of the Prophecies but especially of the Estate of the Church that so you may no longer bee carryed vp and downe with euery winde of Doctrine But as you haue begun to attend vpon the word preached in England and to practise those other Duties publique and priuate our Church requireth so it will be comfortable to your soules and profitable to the Common-wealth if you proceede not turning to the right hand or to the left Wherefore it is desired that you would read it once ouer without taking notice of the quotations of Scripture and hauing read once ouer then try at the next reading whether the Scriptures bee rightly vsed for that they seeme to be heere placed and know that the last Translation is followed as that by the which the Writer hath often confessed that he hath receiued more benefite then by all the Expositors that euer hee read And thou art desired withall to esteeme that translation highly and make it one cause of heartie thanksgiuing to GOD who hath giuen continued to vs a King that hath beene a principall mouer in such a great businesse as also gifts vnto Men that so much light is sprung out by their meanes Albeit thou shalt happily meete with some priuate Spirits that will bee ready to censure sharply that by the which the Church of GOD will certainely at length reape great benefite And so desiring thy feruent prayers for the aduancement of Christs Kingdome I rest yet a while Mar. 2. 1615. CHRISTS Kingdome discouered by three things 1. The Enquirie this in three 1. What it is in two 1. The titles these foure 1. Kingdom of God this onely referred to both estates 1. To this Life 2. To that to come 2. Kingdome of Heauen 3. Sonne of mans Kingdom 4. Kingdome of CHRIST 2. the things these seauen 1. A KING 2. A SCEPTER 3. LAWES 4. AMBASSADORS 5. SVBIECTS 6. OFFICERS 7. ARMOR 2 Where it is in two 1. on Earth n t in heaueÌ„ In this life not that to come 2 In what place this by three 1. It is not tyed to any one Kingdome or People 2. It is aboue that Kingdome where it is 3. Wheresoeuer the Saints are there it is When it began in two 〈…〉 1. It hath bene euer open to Belieuers 〈…〉 full not aâ—â— CHRISTS KINGdome Discouered THere are two principall Endes at which the whole Scripture aymes The first is Rom. 11.36 Deut. 29.29 Gods Glory Rom. 11.36 The second our Good Deuteronom 29.29 Concerning this latter Two things are obserueable First our estate in this life Secondly when this life is ended About our estate here There is one thing necessarie Luc 10.42 Luk. 10.42 And about this necessary thing three necessary Circumstances First that it is to bee sought or enquired after Secondly being found to be seized on or entred into Thirdly beeing enioyed as our own we must be carefull of the vse thereof that wee be not againe depriued of it This one necessarie thing is Christs Kingdome This is that which must bee Enquired for or sought out being Found must bee seized on or entred into and hauing found and entred Diligence must bee daylie vsed to make a greater Entrance and continuallie to walke worthie of such a glorious estate That it must be sought is plaine where it is written Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God Math. 6.33 Lu. 12.13 Matth. 7.13 and his Righteousnes Math 6.33 Luk. 12.31 That it must be entred into is plaine where it is written Enter in at the straight gate Matth 7.13 And Except your Righteousnes exceede the Righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees yee can in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Ma. 5.20 Mat. 5.20 That wee are to Walke worthie of this estate and daylie to make a greater entrance into this Kingdom is plaine also in that charge which the Apostle had giuen to the Thessalonians That they would walke worthie of GOD 1. Thess 2.12 who had called them to his Kingdome and Glorie 1. Thessal 2.12 And where it is also written Giue all diligence adde to your Faith Vertue and to your Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godlineso to godlines brotherly kindenesse to brotherly kindnes loue For if yee doe these things ye shall neuer fall For an Entrance shal be ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting Kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ. 2. Pet. 1.5.6 2. Pet. 1. 5 6.7.10.11 7.10.11 Now that seeking we may finde it shal be shewed First what this kingdome is Secondly where it is Thirdly when it might properly be said to beginne And first what it is It is that Spirituall Gouernement which God the Father is saide to giue vnto the Sonne and which the Sonne is saide to desire of the Father which also both the Father and the Sonne doe order by the Spirite Not that one of them is before or after other That one is greater or lesse then other in this Administration but that all three are Equall and as one doe order this great businesse Euen that Kingdome which the Sonne shall againe at the ende deliuer vp vnto his Father As it is written Yet haue I set my King vpon my holy hill of Syon I will declare the Decree the Lorde hath saide vnto me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of mee and I shall giue thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance the vttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psalm 2.6.7.8 And Peter wryteth thus We haue not followed cunningly deuised fables Psal 2.6.7.8 when we made knowne vnto you the power and comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Maiestie For hee receyued from God the Father honour and Glorie when there came such a voyce to him from the excellent glorie 2. Pet. 1.16.17 2. Pet. 1.16.17 Also Paule writeth thus Christ the first fruites afterward they that are Christs at his comming Then the Ende when he shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God euen the Father 1. Cor. 15.23.24 1. Cor. 15 23.24 Thus you see it is manifest That the Sonne desireth God the Father giueth according to his desire and at the end shall againe deliuer vp this which he
hath receiued to God the Father and then GOD shall be all in all This Kingdome is sometimes termed the Church of the Liuing GOD 1. Cor. 14.28 1. Tim. 3.15 Heb. 12.23 Psal 15.1 Ezek 37.27 Reu. 21.3 ◠Cor 14.28 Sometimes the House of God 1. Tim. 3.15 Sometimes the Citie of the Liuing God the New Ierusalem Hebr 12.23 Sometimes the Tabernacle of God Psalme 15.1 Eze 37.27 Reuel 21.3 Albeit neyther of these doe so fully and cleerely discouer this great Mysterie as this Title Kingdome Yet heerein God is to bee praised in that he vouchsafeth so to descend to our Capacitie as to vse all these that they which cannot conceyue it by one may vnderstand it by an other As those that knowe but a Tabernacle or Tent may thereby be holpen to the apprehension of it Those that are not acquainted with a Tent knowing a House may yet conceiue it Such as knowe Tents and Houses yea Cities may more fully see it And such as knowe a Kingdome may bee ledde as it were by the hand to the viewe of euery part thereof Thus God hath profered the viewe thereof to all To Kings discouering it by a Kingdome Dan. 2.44 To Citizens by the viewe of a Citie Psal 48.1.2 To Householders by comparing it to a House 1. Pet. 2.5 To Souldiers by vsing a borrowed word of a Tabernacle or Tent. Heb. 8.3 What shall I say He offereth the view thereof to Merchants Matth 13.44.46 To Husband-men Math. 13.24 Fishers Math 13.47 Women Matth. 13.33 Virgins Matth. 25.1 Seruants Matt. 25.14 To All Matth. 22.1 That so some of all sorts might receiue it And all bee they what they will that refuse might be voyd of all Excuse That now we may be yet more acquainted with it let vs consider of the Titles and the Partes thereof The Titles are most vsually foure The first is the Kingdome of GOD the second the Kingdome of Heauen the thirde the Sonne of Mans Kingdome the fourth the Kingdome of CHRIST The first doeth indifferently concerne the estate we do here enioy with that hereafter The estate heereafter where it is written Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption 1. Corinth 15.50 1. Cor 15.50 The other three concerne the Church heere in this life and eyther of them may be vsed indifferently as may bee made manifest by comparing them together As where it is written That a Ritch-man can hardly enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Mat 19.23 Matt. 19.23 And in the next verse speaking of the same thing wee finde it thus It is easier for a Cammell to goe through the eye of a needle then for a Ritch-man to enter into the Kingdome of God Math. 19.24 Matt. 19.24 Where we find the Kingdom of Heauen or of God vsed indifferently So wee may also see of the rest As where it is thus written There be some standing heere which shall not taste of Death till they see the Sonne of Man comming in his Kingdom Matth. 16.28 Matt. 16.28 There it is termed the Sonne of mans Kingdome or more plainely the Kingdome of Christ. And speaking againe of the same thing in another place it is thus written There bee some standing heere which shall not taste of Death till they see the Kingdome of God Mar 9.1 Lu. 9.27 Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27 Thus these three may bee vsed indifferently one for another yea all the foure Titles Yea and the first doeth concerne moste the estate of the Church in this life and is so alwayes to be vnderstood where there is no manifest difference in the same Scripture Nowe the Title which doth most fully and cleerely set foorth this great mistery Ephe. 5.5 Re. 11.15 1. Pet. 1.11 and includeth all the rest in it is the last which is The Kingdom of Christ Ephes 5.5 Reuel 11.15 2. Pet. 1.11 Termed the Kingdome of God because CHRIST is GOD And the Kingdome of the Sonne of man because he also is MAN And the Kingdome of Heauen to shewe that hee receiued his gouernment frō Heauen But not so much desirous to shew the reasons of Titles as the truth of things I haue onely thus briefly touched these as some helpe to the vnderstanding of the Scriptures wherein these termes or Titles are often found Now of the things of which principally this Kingdome consisteth and these are seuen which shall bee touched also briefly And first 1. King As in other Kingdomes or Kingdomes of this World there are Kings from which they properly are termed Kingdomes So here is a glorious King and blessed Prince euen that Rod out of the stemme of Iesse and that Branch out of his rootes That man whose name is The Branch The Lord our Righteousnesse Christ Iesus As it is written Yet haue I set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion And in another place Reioyce greatly ô Daughter Sion shout ô Daughter Hierusalem behold thy King commeth vnto thee he is iust and hauing saluation lowly and riding vpon an Asse and vpon a Colt the Foale of an Asse Is 62.11 Zach. 9.9 Is 62.11 Zach. 9.9 Thus did Christ as wee read in the Gospell Mat. 21.7.8 Mar. 11.2 Io. 12.15 Mat. 21.7.8 Mar. 11.2 Io. 12.15 where they are saide to cry Hosanna to the Sonne of Dauid blessed is hee that commeth in the Name of the Lord. And Paul speaking expresly of Christ applieth that of the Prophet Isaiah to him thus There shall be a roote of Iesse and him that shall rise to raigne ouer the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust Rom. 15.12 2. Scepter And thus you haue the King Secondly as in other Kingdomes there are Scepters to which Subiects must stoupe and to which such as stoupe not are yet Rebels So heere is a Scepter in the hand of Christ by which men are knowne that yeelde true Subiection And this Scepter is the righteousnes of Faith By this hee rules his Subiects as Paul confesseth where it is thus written I count all things but losse for the Excellencie of the Knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord for whom I haue suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I might winne Christ and bee found in him not hauing mine owne Righteousnes which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousnes which is of God by Faith That I might know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowshippe of his sufferings being made conformable to his death Phil. 3.8 9 10. Phil. 3.8 9.10 So it is written in the Psalme Thy Throne ô God is for euer the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a right Scepter Applyed by the same Spirit to Christ But vnto the Sonne he sayd Thy Throne ô God is for euer and euer the Scepter of Righteousnes is the Scepter of thy Kingdome And so you haue the Scepter Thirdly 3. Lawes in Kingdomes of this World there are
began to make the same Proclamation Mat. 4.17 23. Mat. 4.17.23 And that the obstinate Iewes might be left without all excuse he sendeth out his Apostles and Disciples into all their Cities and Villages to proclayme the same things And to confirme the truth of the Proclamation Mat. 10.1 7. Mar. 6.13 Luk. 9.2.60 they had power giuen them to cast out Diuels and cure Diseases Mat. 10.1 7. Mar. 6.13 Luk 9.2.60 Yea our Sauiour tels the Pharisees that it is amongst them euen at his being on earth as it is written The Kingdome of God behold it is among you Lu. 17.21 Luk. 17.21 As also his speech to the Woman of Samaria is notable for this The houre commeth and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth Io. 4.22 Io. 4 22. It is now saith he and shall come more cleerely and manifestly hereafter For at that time it was so darke a Mistery as that albeit the Disciples nay the Apostles themselus heard it daily taught yea and priuately were instructed in it yet they did not vnderstand nor apprehend the truth thereof as it is euident by their qunstion which they mooued euen after Christs forty dayes abode with them speaking of things appertayning to this Kingdome yet after that they asked this question Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel Supposing that it had beene some outward glorious restauration of their Nation to their former estate Act. 1.3 4 5 6. that our Sauiour had so often taught Act. 1.3 4 5 6. And we may further adde that this Kingdome beganne not cleerely to appeare vntill the Apostles receiued power from aboue as it was promised them where it is written Behold I send the promise of my Father vpon you but tarry you in the City of Ierusalem vntill you bee indued with power from on High Luk. 24.49 Luk. 24.49 But especially it began at Ierusalems destruction For those things which were abrogated long before euen when the vaile of the Temple rent from the top to the bottome Matt. 27.50 51. Mat. 27.50 51 yet then they might bee sayd to vanish as it is written In that he saith A new he hath made the first olde Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish For then verily the first had Ordinances of Diuine Seruice Heb. 8.13 the 9.1 and a worldly Sanctuary Heb. 8.13 chap. 9.1 But this was fully made manifest in that glorious comming of Christ to Iohn in that wonderfull Reuelation Reuel 1.1 Reuel 1.1 Accor-to his owne prophecyes where it is written Verily I say vnto you or I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shall in no wise tast of Death till they see or til they haue seene the Sonne of Man comming in his Kingdome or the Kingdom of God come with power Mat. 16.28 Mar. 9.1 Lu. 9.27 Mat. 16.28 Mar. 9.1 Luk. 9.27 Also of Iohn in particular as of the especiall man that should see the Fulnesse of it it is written that his Master said to Peter If I will that hee tarry till I come what is that to thee Ioh. 21.21 22. Ioh. 21.21 22. So that then was the truth of that seene which our Sauiour prophecied to that Woman Woman beleeue me the houre commeth when yee shall neyther in this Mountaine nor yet at Ierusalem worship the Father Io. 4.21 Io. 4.21 At that Time Ordinances of Diuine Seruice and worldly Sanctuaries vanished away which serued but as shadowes of heauenly or good things to come and were not the very Image of the things thēselues Heb. 10.1 Heb. 10.1 Then and not till then things made with hands were shaken Heb. 12.26 27. Is 65.17.18 Reuel 21.1.5 that things not made might remaine Heb. 12.26 27. Is 62.17 18. Reu. 21.1 The first point thus being pointed at with the three branches thereof The second followes which is That it is to be entred into For the first were little worth as To know what it is Where to finde it And when it began If hauing found it wee make it not our owne by taking possession of it Therefore concerning our entrance wee will consider three things First What the Gate is by which wee enter Secondly Who and when men may be said to knocke therat Thirdly By what means we enter The Gate or Doore is Christ as it is written I am the Doore of the sheepe and in the same Chapter I am the Doore Io. 10.7 9 by me if any man enter in hee shall be saued Io. 10.7 9. Here hee proclaymeth himselfe to bee the Doore or Gate by which we enter And a little before his departure he tels his Disciples That they do know whither he goeth and the way also But Thomas making a doubt both of the place whither hee should goe and also of the way thither Christ answereth thus I am the Way Io. 14.4 5 6. the Truth and the Life no man commeth to the Father but by me Io. 14.4 5 6. This is then that new and liuing way which is consecrated to vs by the flesh of Christ Heb. 10.20 Heb. 10.20 And thus much for the Gate or Doore by which we enter Mat. 7.13 Lu. 13.24 Psa 1.8.20 which is termed A Straight Gate and wee are willed to striue to enter in thereat Matth. 7.13 Luk. 13.24 Euen this Gate of the Lord Psa 118.20 The Gate being knowne the next thing is who they are and when men may bee said to knocke at this Gate For answere heereunto know that true penitent sinners such whose hearts are pricked whose consciences are laded whose faces are couered with shame and confusion these are they who knocke thereat As wee see at that Sermon of Peters where it is written Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and sayd vnto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37 what shall wee doe Act. 2.27 Heere you see these knocking aloude at this Gate So the Publicane being couered with shame and confusion and full of indignation against himselfe for sinne as wee see by that hee stood a farre off woulde not so much as lift vp his eyes to heauen but smote his brest saying nay rather crying out with much vehemency Lu. 18.13 God be mercifull to me a sinner Luk. 18.13 He also knocks aloude at this Gate The Theefe vpon the Crosse knocked also efectually at this Gate when hee was come to himselfe His Eyes beeing opened to see his fearefull estate and his mouth also to reprooue sinne in his fellow and to cleere our blessed Redeemer and no doubt with vehemencie he cryed out Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdome Luk. 23.40 41 42 Luk. 23.40 41 42. Also the Keeper of the Prison when hee was recouered of that desperate purpose at his sudden amazement calling for a light sprang in came trembling and fell
downe before Paul and Silas and brought them out of the Inner Prison into which hee had cruelly thrust them knocking also powerfully at this gate Act. 16.27 28 29 30. when he sayde Syrs what must I doe to bee saued Act. 16.27 28 29 30. So that we may very wel conclude that penitent ones onely knocke yea then men doe knocke when their eyes are opened to see their misery and the necessitie of getting in as it is written Paul was sent to open the eyes Act. 26.18 to turne men from darknesse to light from the power of Sathan to God Act. 26.18 So that the eyes must first be opened according to that where it is written I will powre vpon the house of Dauid and vpon the Inhabitants of Ierusalem the Spirit of Grace and of supplications and they shall looke vpon him whom they haue pierced Zach. 12.10 Zach. 12.10 Heere also the eyes are said to be opened So it is written That the Prodigall Sonne came to himselfe Luk. 15.17 Luk. 15.17 That is as it is playne he saw his miserable condition and wretched estate Thus men doe then knocke when they see themselues shut out for there is a necessitie of the sight of misery before euer men will in truth call for mercy So that this knocking containes in it not onely the sight of sinne but also a godly sorrow for it a confession proceeding from both and a vehement desire of mercy crauing it as for life and death So that the eyes being opened to see Eze. 11.19 Eze. 36.25 26. I ter 8.6 he 31.19 Is 1.16 Mar. 9.43 45 4â— the heart is also changed to bewaile and lament The stony heart is changed into a heart of flesh Ez. 11.19 Now this godly sorrow if it bee indeed that true sorrow it worketh carefulnesse which is a smiting on the thigh by saying What haue I done Ier. 8.6 the 31.19 Also a cleering of themselues by an earnest endeauour to be freed of sinne Mar. 9.43 36 47. Is 1.16 and auoyding the occasions and meanes by which they may bee made more guilty Also an indignation which is an horror euen with gnashing of teeth at the very naming or memory of sinne Lu. 18.13 Luk 18.13 yea such an vnfeined detestation thereof as is not to be expressed Also such a feare as that such an one will tremble at the least motion of sinne Iob. 31.23 Iob. 31.23 Luk. 23.40 Lu. 18.13 Psal 51. Luke 23.40 and euery temptation thereunto makes the very heart to quake With these there is also a vehement desire Luk. 18.13 Ps 51. of pardon which doth enforce such an one to aske instantly to seeke constantly and to knocke incessantly at this Gate Mat. 7.7 Mat. 7.7 Yea to craue mercy with much vehemency and loude crying with teares Heb. 5.7 Hebr. 5.7 To this is added Zeale by which the Penitent doe now detest sinne euen in others as well as themselues Lu. 23.40 â— Pet. 2.7 Luk. 23 40. 2 Pet 2.7 And lastly Reuenge whereby the penitent do abstaine euen from lawfull things hauing formally aduentured on vnlawful as for example hauing sinned by Gluttony they now doe tame their bodies by fasting Psalm 109.24 Ps 109.24 being before filthie now they brydle euen mariage desires hauing abused pretious Time they now redeeme it Eph. 5.16 Eph. 5.16 from sleepe and such other things that steale it from them All these are set downe in that of the Apostle where it is thus written Behold this selfe same thing that yee sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse wrought it in you yea cleereing your selues yea indignation yea feare yea vehement desire yea Zeale yea Reuenge 2 Cor. 7.11 2 Cor. 7.11 Now these are as so many infallible tokens of one in the estate of Penitency Such an one doth indeed knocke aloude for mercy that hath such a deep sense of misery and he that hath not all of these hath neuer a one of them These were easily to be shewed in the fore-mentioned examples of the Publicane the Theefe vpon the Crosse the Men in the Acts and the Keeper of the Prison Thus you now see who doe knocke and when men may be sayd truely to knocke at this Gate Euen when being sicke Mat. 9.12 Hos 6.1 they desire the Phisition Mat. 9.12 Being wounded they desire to be healed Hos 6.1 Being imprisoned Is 61.1 2. they craue libertie as for life and death Is 61.1 2. Being touched with a deepe sense of their miserie they cry aloude with much vehemency to God for mercy Such and none but such doe knocke at this Gate they and none but they thrust at this Doore The Doore or Gate now knowne and who doe knocke thereat being cleerely discouered it resteth to bee shewed Whereby men doe enter That this may appeare plainely vnto vs let vs consider of that where it is written Heb. 4.3 We which haue beleeued doe enter into rest Heb. 4.3 And againe Except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5.20 Mat. 5.20 Also that where it is written We being iustified by faith haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ By whom also we haue accesse by Faith into this Grace wherein wee stand Rom. 5.1.2 Rom. 5.1 2. Out of these and very many moe which might bee alledged we may truely conclude That by faith men enter into Christs Kingdome as it is written That such whose eyes are first opened and withall are turned from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan to God such by faith in Christ do receiue forgiuenesse of their sinnes Act. 26.18 Col. 1.12.13 and inheritance amongst the Saints in light Act. 26.18 Col. 1.12 13. So our blessed Redeemer speaketh expressely to him that demaunded What hee must doe to enter into life Mat. 19.17 Mar. 10.17 His answer to him was Keepe the commandements Mat. 19.17 Mar. 10.17 Now wee keepe them by no other meanes then by faith in Christ as it is written What shall wee doe that wee might worke the works of God Iesus answered and sayd vnto them Io. 6.28.29 This is the worke of God That yee beleeue on him whom he hath sent Io. 6.28 29. And in another place it is written This is his commaundement That yee should beleeue on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ and loue one another 1 Io. 3.23 as he gaue commandement 1 Io. 3.23 And in another place it is written Not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 7.21 Reuel 22.14 but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen Mat. 7.21 Reuel 22.14 And you haue seene before that they onely doe the will of God that beleeue on him whom he hath sent So then we may conclude That Repentance doth aske Faith doth receiue Repenatnce doth seeke Faith doth