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
England to thy great comfort as it is written Since yee seeke a proofe of Christ speaking in me Examine your selues whether yee bee in the Faith prooue your owne selues Know yee not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except yee be reprobates But I trust yee shall know that we are not reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 2 Cor. 13.3 5 6. 3 5 6. As if hee should haue said The onely way to know that Wee that is the true Ministers of Christ are in Christ is by the knowledge of your selues to be in Christ Mat. 7.2 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 2. â—5 16. Giuing vs to vnderstand thereby that none can truely know a Childe of God but he that is in truth the Childe of God himselfe Mat. 7.2 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 2.15 16. But some may say further I heare one cry out for want of Discipline others for Order some for Christs Officers one saith Here is Christ another There is Christ Let such an one againe satisfie himself that Christ hath made it a marke of a Seducing spirit to drawe Disciples after him Now wee haue learned to haue respect to all Gods commandements Ps 119.6 Ps 119.6 and amongst the rest this is one To beware of false Prophets Mat. 7.15 Mat. 7.15 16. This our most blessed Redeemer was carefull to presse vpon vs his Redeemed ones where he saith If any man shall say vnto you Lo heere is Christ or there beleeue it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes wonders insomuch that if it were possible they will deceiue the very Elect Mat. 24.24 Mat. 24.24 This is againe repeated to note the certaine and necessary vse of such aduise Behold I haue tolde you before wherefore if any shall say vnto you Behold he is in the Desart goe not foorth Behold hee is in the secret chambers beleeue it not Ver. 25.26 Ver. 25.26 And the holy Ghost warneth vs of times wherin some shall giue heede to seducing spirits 1 Tim. 4.1 1 Tim. 4.1 As also That there shall be false Teachers euen among the Saints That shall priuily bring in damnable Heresies And many shall follow their Pernitious waies by reason of whome the way of truth shal be euill spoken of And through Couetousnes they shal with feighned words make marchandise of the Saints 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. And we are willed nay commanded not to beletue euery Spirit but to try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the World 1 Io. 4.1 1 Io. 4.1 Therefore if thou be a Saint or true beleeuer abide in thy Place and bee not drawne to any such Places Companies or Constitutions but attend vpon the Word and drawe others thereunto that as others haue beene examples to thee so thou mayst also be to others Labour for the Peace of the Land Citie or Place where thou dwellest Ier. 29.7 and dost liue Ier. 29.7 Get thine owne soule within the compasse of Christs Discipline and thine owne Family into order And know that if thou must needes graunt that the Church of God is in England thou must also of necessitie graunt that Christs Gouernment is here also vnlesse thou wilt seperate him from that his Gouernment Mat. 19.6 Mat. 19.6 For hee himselfe hath sayd That his Gouernment is vpon his shoulder Is 9.6 Is 9.6 But some may further obiect This Gouernment is not visible or I cannot see this that you affirme Let such get Eye-salue and desire God to open the Mistery of it For indeed the Church is glorious but to whome To those onely that are within it as it is written Ps 45.13 The Kings daughter is all glorious within Psa 45.13 None can see the Light of this Candle Mat. 5.15 Lu. 11.33 Io. 3.3 but such as are within the House Mat. 5.15 Lu 11.33 And Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of God Io. 3.3 So that it is no wonder seeing thou seest not the Church it selfe that thou seest not the beautie and comelinesse thereof As it is no wonder that a man cannot iustly finde fault with the Building that sees not the House or vvith the Order that sees not the Army it selfe And I must needes say that if thou graunt that there is a Church any where thou must of necessitie grant that Christs owne glorious Order is euen there also though thou see it not Blame then thy blindnes complayne of thine owne Ignorance For it is fearefull to call in question Gods wisedome who being the Author of our blessed Church in England hath also set a beautifull and glorious Order in the same For hee is not the Author of Confusion but of Order Rom. 9.20 Rom. 9.20 1 Cor. 14.33 40. 1 Cor. 14.33.40 Lastly let this bee well obserued As thou louest the life of thy soule beware how thou call in Question peremptorily things thou vnderstandest not or affirme things thou knowest not lest thou deserue iustly to bee rancked amongst those presumptuous and selfe-willed ones that are not afrayd to speake of Dignities whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not rayling Accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2.10 11 12 2 Pet. 2.10 11 12. This being then dispatched Namely What it is and Where it is A third was proposed namely When it began For satisfaction in this obserue that this Kingdome hath beene open to all beleeuers Yea Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets are sayde to sit downe here by faith As it is written We which haue beleeued do enter into rest Heb. 4.3 Also Heb. 4.3 where vpon occasion of the Centurions faith our blessed Redeemer sayd I haue not found so great Faith no not in Israel And I say vnto you that many shall come from the East and West and shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob Mat. 8.10.11 in the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 8.10 11. And in an other Scripture speaking as here expressely of the Calling of the Gentiles and reiecting of the Iewes it is thus written That there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth when yee shall see Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdome of God and you your selues thrust out And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South Luk. 13.28 29. and shall sit downe in the Kingdome of God Luk. 13.28 29. And howsoeuer it may truly be sayd to be open to all beleeuers yet it may be as truely sayd that Iohn Baptist was the first proclaymer of it in playne termes as we speake as it is written In those dayes came Iohn the Baptist preaching in the Wildernesse of Iudea and saying Mat. 3.1 2. Repent yee for the Kingdome of heauen is at hand Mat. 3.1 2. After him the King himselfe or that great Prophet
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