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
of Saluation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit Eph. 6.11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. This is the Armour of righteousnes which the Saints haue on the right hand and on the left 2 Cor. 6.7 2 Cor. 6.7 Onely the sober children of the day doe put on the Brestplate of Faith and Loue and for an helmet the hope of saluation 1 Thes 5.8 1 The. 5.8 Thus you haue as the titles so also the principall things of which this Kingdome consisteth As of a King a Scepter Lawes Ambassadors Subiects Officers Weapons And hauing this briefely seene what it is it followeth to bee shewed where it is According to that question of the Disciples Where Lord Luk. 17.37 Luk. 17.37 Here shall be obserued first Whether on earth or in heauen that is in this life or that to come Secondly seeing it is on Earth where it is to bee found For the first it is affirmed before and shall be confirmed by testimonies now that this Kingdome is on Earth for so it is written In the daies of these Kings shall the God of heauen set vp a Kingdom which shall neuer be destroyed Dan. 2.44 Dan. 2.44 And in another place Aske of me and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Ps 2.8 Ps 2.8 Also it is written We are come to mount Sion and we receiuing a Kingdome Heb. 12.22.28 Also it is termed Dan. 7.27 The Kingdome vnder heauen Dan. 7.27 And in the Psalmes Great is the Lord and greatly to be praysed in the City of our God in the mountaine of his Holinesse beautifull for scituation the ioy of the whole earth is Mount Sion Ps 48.1.2 Ps 48.1.2 Yea it is said in the same Psalme That Kings shall see the glory of this Church or Kingdome and that with feare amazement Ver 4.5 ver 4.5 Out of all this we may gather many forcible Arguments to proue this truth that this Kingdome City House or Tabernacle is in this life as you haue before in the Scriptures scited to that purpose in these words It shal be in the daies of Kings of this world also It shall stretch to the vttermost parts of the earth also We are come to it not we shall but we are and we receiuing a Kingdome not Seeing we shall receiue a Kingdome but Seeing wee doe receiue also in the same Scripture wee are willed to hold it fast now there is no need of such an exhortation if it were of the life to come as al wil easily grant Further It is the ioy of the whole earth And Kings shall behold it passe by with feare amazement What shall I say Arguments of this sort are very many in holy Scriptures yea Is 6.5.17 the 66. Reu. 21. the 22. Ps 16.11 Mat. 22.30 Mat. 13.43 euen those places which they most abuse to the contrary do yeeld many plaine arguments to euery impartiall Reader as Isai 65.17 the 66. Reu. 21. and 22. and such like And let this be obserued that where the holy Ghost speaketh any where of the life to come it is alwaies in very short speeches or briefe sentences as for example Fulnes of ioy pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore Ps 16.11 We shal be as the Angels in heauē Mat. 22 30. We shall shine as the sun for euer in the Kingdome of our Father Mat. 13.43 We shal haue euerlasting life (a) Mat. 19.29 Mar. 10.30 Where Christ is we shal also be (b) Io. 14.3 We shal behold his glorie (c) Io. 17.24 2 Cor. 4.17 We shal haue a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 We shall appeare with Christ in glory Col. 3.4 1 Thes 4.17 Col. 3.4 Wee shall bee euer with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 It is an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 reserued in heauen for vs 1 Pet. 1.4 When he shall appeare we shall be like him for wee shall see him as hee is 1 Io. 3.2 2 Tim. 4.8 Reuel 2.10 Mat. 5.12 1. Io. 3.2 We shall haue a Crowne of righteousnes 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crowne of life Reuel 2.10 A great reward in heauen Mat. 5.12 These or such like are all those phrases which are vsed in the Scriptures to set foorth the life to come vnto vs and that blessed condition there reserued for vs. The Reason hereof might be eyther the impossibilitie in regard of the straightnes of our bowels 2 Cor. 6.12 13. to conceiue of that blessednesse 2. Cor. 6.12 13. Or as we speak our shallow capacitie in the comprehension of such an excellent mysterie but it is indeed the eternall purpose of God in hiding these things as secrets from vs till the Last day as these Scriptures following may witnes That of Paul where it is written That being caught vp into the third heauen hee heard vnspeakable words which is not lawfull for a man to vtter 2 Cor. 12.2.4 2 Cor. 12.2.4 Also Now wee are the sonnes of God and it doeth not yet appeare what wee shall be 1 Io. 3.2 And it is also written 1 Io. 3.2 That this incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance is reserued for vs in heauen and ready to be reuealed in the last time 1 Pet. 1.4.5 1 Pet. 1.4 5. So that this may bee a manifest note eyther short or more large speeches to helpe vs to conceiue of the difference betweene things of this life and that which is to come Things of this life are alwaies spoken in expresse phrases that we may conceiue because we are to speake of them againe to others As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neyther haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him but God hath reuealed them to vs by his Spirit Which things we also speake 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. And yet further wee may obserue by certaine phrases vsuall speeches that the holy Ghost hath put a difference betweene our estate heere and hereafter for speaking of our estate here hee speakes of comming to vs and sending to vs and such like But speaking any where of the life to come hee speaketh of fetching vs to him and the like This is not to bee slightly regarded in reading the holy Scriptures as to instance in the places before mentioned which are by some abused to the life to come It is written The glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee and The Lord shall arise vpon thee Is 60.1.2 Is 60.1.2 Yea that whole Chapter is full of strong reasons to enforce it to be vnderstood of the estate here Also where it is written For behold I create new heauens and a new earth and the former shall not bee remembred nor come into
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