Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 6 · Verse 33
Vers. 33.
But first seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, and all these things shall be ministred vntounto you.
Our Sauiour Christ hauing by sixe seuerall arguments disswaded hisThe Christian m… care. Disciples from distrustfull care, doth here shew vntounto them, what care that is, which ought alwaies to possesse their hearts; to wit, Care after the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse. And this care he imposeth vponupon them by expresse command, saying, First seeke ye the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse; and then vrgeth the entertaining of it, by an effectuall reason, and all these things shall bee ministred vntounto you.
The Exposition. There bee two things here inioyned vsus to seeke▪ Gods kingdome, and righteousnesse: and of both these Christ saith, First seeke, that is, before all, and aboue all worldly things, let your principallWhat Gods kingdome here is. care and indeauour be, to procure these vntounto your selues. By kingdome of God is here meant, a state and condition of man in this life, whereby in Christ he enioyes the fauour of God, and hath right to euerlasting life. This very estate of man is in Scripture called the kingdome of God, and the kingdome of heauen, because whosoeuer is in this estate, hath sure right and interest to Gods glorie in heauen, and God here rules in him, as a king ruleth in his kingdome. The kingdome of God is onelyonly one, andGods kingdom in two degrees. yet it hath two degrees; the first in grace, and the second in glorie. The kingdome of grace, is that spirituall regiment which God exerciseth in man, or in his Church, by his word and spirit in this life; and it is the first step or entrance into Gods heauenly kingdome. The kingdome of glorie, is the full fruition of immediate fellowship with the blessed Trinitie, by meanes of Iesus Christ in the highest heauens, after this life. Now both these degrees are here vnderstood by the kingdom of God. The second thing to be thus sought for, is his righteousnesse, that is, the righteousnesse of God, and not as some translate it, the righteousnesse thereof, that is, of Gods kingdome; for the wordes will not beare that translation. And the seeking of Gods righteousnesse is here added for speciall cause; to let vsus see by way of explication, when we hauehave obtained for our selues the kingdome of God: for Gods kingdome standes in righteousnesse, and then doth God rule in man, when hee makes himGods righteousnesse is Christs obedience. partaker of his righteousnesse. Now by righteousnesse of God▪ wee must here vnderstand, the obedience which Christ our mediatour performed for vsus, in fulfilling the law, and in his sufferings. This is the very ground-worke and foundation of Gods kingdome among men: hereof Paul speaketh oft, Rom. 1. 17. For by it, that is, the Gospel, the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from faith to faith▪ and Rom. 3. 21, 22. Now is the righteousnesse of God made manifest, &c. and 2. Cor. 5. 21. God made him to be sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne, that wee might be made Why it is so called.the righteousnesse of God in him. And it is so called for diuers respects; First, because it is freely giuen vsus of God to be our righteousnesse in his1 sight: and man cannot attaine vntounto it of himselfe, by any worke of nature, or of grace, without the gift of God. Secondly, because God will2 accept this obedience of Christ at the day of iudgement, for his elect, as satisfying his iustice, and the rigour of the law, which no righteousnes of man can doe. Thirdly, because it is the righteousnesse of that person3 who is God; for Christ is both God and man, and though he obeyed the law, and suffered death, as he was man, yet that obedience was performed by that person who was also God. Adams righteousnesse by creation, was in himselfe, but he lost it by his fall: but our righteousnes is in Christ out of vsus, and therefore he is said,b1. Cor. 1. 30 to be made righteousnesse vntounto vsus of God. But how should we get this righteousnesse, seeing it is in Christ? Answ. It is made ours by imputation, for when wee truely repent of our sinnes, and beleeue in Christ, God accepts the obedience of Christ for vsus, as if wee had perfectly satisfied his iustice, and done his will in our own persons. Now with this imputed righteousnesse, wee must vnderstand and ioyne the fruite hereof in vsus, which is sanctification, or renued holinesse, whereby we are enabled to walke before God in new obedience, bringing forth the fruits of righteousnesse: for these two are neuer seuered; whom God iustifies by the righteousnesse of Christ, them he sanctifies by his spirit. The full meaning then of ChristsThe meaning. commandement here is this▪ First seeke▪ &c. that is, aboue all things in this world, let your principall care bee to procure vntounto your selues the kingdome of God; that is, that state of grace, whereby you may enioy Gods fauour in Christ, being iustified by his obedience, and sanctified by his spirit, whereby you walke in good workes.
The vse. First, by this commandement of Christ, to seeke Gods kingdome, we may gather, that by nature we are all out of Gods kingdome, destitute of the grace and fauour of God, and indeed vnderunder the powerAll are naturally out of Gods kingdome. of Satan, and in his kingdome of darkenesse. This the holy Ghost shews in calling Satan, the god of this world, 2. Cor. 4. 4. and the prince of this world, Ioh. 12. 31. because all the world naturally are vassals vntounto him, yeelding him homage in the workes of sinne: and therefore is he called the cEph. …. 2.prince that ruleth in the aire, that workes in the children of disobedience. And this naturall miserie is iustly come vponupon vsus, for seeing we refuse to yeeld subiection vntounto God in his kingdome, are we not worthily left to the power of Satan, to bee made his slaues and drudges? Now that men liue naturally out of Christs kingdome, may appeare by the course of their liues; for howsoeuer most men can bee contented to beare the badge of Christ in outward profession, hearing the word, and receiuing the sacraments; yet in heart and life they doe homage to the deuill, for they pull their neckes from the yoake of Christ, and runne with greedinesse to the workes of sinne; they account a strict endeauour after morall obedience to be curiositie and precisenesse, and when they be dehorted from vnlawfull gaine and vaine pleasures, they wil not heare, not consent; whereby in effect they say to God with wicked men in Iob, dIob. …. 14.Depart from vsus, we desire not the knowledge of thy waies: and with the wicked citizens, eLuk. 19. 14wee will not hauehave this man to raigne ouer vsus.
Secondly, here Christ would teach vsus, that our principall care aboue To get Gods kingdom must be our chiefe care.all other things must be, to win for our selues the kingdome of God: I shall not need to prooue this to be our dutie, seeing it is the onelyonly thing which Christ here intends to commend vntounto vsus, and that by expresse command. But some will aske, how we shall win and get for our seluesThe meanes the kingdome of God? Answ. We must doe three thinges for the obtaining of it: First, we must come to the place where this kingdome is to be found. Secondly, we must then enter into it. Thirdly, we must waite for the full possession of it.
For the first: This kingdome is not to be found in all places, but there1. Come where it is. onelyonly where God doth manifest and reueale the same to the sonnes of men; and that is in the assemblies of the Saints, where the publike ministerie of reconciliation is dispensed; for there God holds out his scepter, and offers himselfe to bee a Lord and king vntounto men: and therefore Dauid calls this ministerie of the word, the rod or scepter of Gods power, Psal. 110. 2. and in the parable of the sower, Matth. 13. 19. the Gospel preached is called the word of the kingdome, because hereby God reueales this kingdome vntounto men, and translates them into it, Colos. 1. 13. And for the same cause, in the parable of the field, Mat. 13. 24. is the same ministerie of the Gospel called expressely the kingdome of God. And therefore when the Church demaunds of Christ, where shee shall finde him; he bids her follow the steps of the flockes to the tents of the Shepheards: Cant. 1. 7. that is, the assemblies of the Saints, to the preaching of Gods ministers▪ and therefore, if euer wee looke to get this kingdom, we must diligently frequent the ministerie of the word, & labour to profit by it, because hereby God doth not only reueale, but cō uaie his kingdome vntounto men.
Secondly, when we hauehave found this kingdome, we must seeke to enter 2. Enter i….into it; for it is not enough to be where it is, or to hauehave it among vsus, for so the Pharisies had in the time of Christ, Luk. 11. 20. Now we cannot enter in of our selues, without the speciall worke of Gods holy spirit; so saith our Sauiour Christ, Matth. 18. 3. Except ye be conuerted and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God: where two things are required in him that would enter into this kingdome: To become as little children; and to be conuerted. Wee become as little children in humilitie, meekenesse, and freedome from pride & disdaine; for we know the child of a Prince will without disdaine associate himselfe in play with a poore mans childe: and so we in conscience of our owne sinnes, must be humbled in our selues, and made base in our own eyes, laying aside our naturall pride and selfe-louelove, and disdaine of others; for a heart swelling with pride and selfe-louelove, cannot enter into the straite gate of this kingdome. Againe, wee must be conuerted and regenerate by the spirit of God: for fIoh. 3. 3. What conuersion is.except a man be borne againe of water, and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdome of God. This conuersion is not a change of the substance of the soule, or of the bodie, or of the faculties or parts thereof, but onelyonly of their euill qualities and actions; whereby the Image of Satan in sinne and corruption is abolished, & the image of God renued, for knowledge, righteousnesse, and true holinesse both in heart and life. When this worke of regeneration is truely begun in vsus, then doe we enter into Gods kingdome, euen in this life; for herein the ignorant deceiue themselues, that think we enter not before the time of death.
Thirdly, wee must waite for the fruition and full possession of it: this3. Waite for full possessiō we cannot get before the day of death, and therefore wee must endeauour all our life long after our conuersion, to keepe faith and a good conscience, walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse, before God, & in the practise of louelove, vprightnesse, and merciemercy towards our brethren. When the question is, who shall dwell in Gods tabernacle, and rest in his holy mountaine; that is, remaine a true member of Gods Church for euer? Psal. 51. 1; the answer is, vers. 2. He that walketh vprightly, & worketh righteousnesse. Hereby we testifie our selues to be alreadie entred, for Gods kingdom stands in righteousnesse, Rom. 14. 17. And thus hauehave Gods children done, that hauehave waited for this kingdome, Matth. 25. 4. The wise virgins tooke o…le in their vessels to light their lamps when the bridegroome came. And Ioseph of Arimathea, that noble counseller, who waited for the kingdome of God, was a good man and a iust, Luk. 23. 50, 51.
Thus we see the way to get this kingdome for our selues: now the necessitie of our endeauour in these duties with all care and diligence appears by this, that out of this estate, for true interest to this kingdom, is nothing indeed but woefull miserie, vnderunder the curse of God, and the power of Satan in the kingdome of darkenesse: but in the fruition of this kingdome is true happinesse: here is gR…. 14. 17.righteousnesse, peace, and ioy in the …oly Ghost; yea, h1. P…t. 18.ioy vnspeakeable and glorious: for: the things that eie hath not seene, eare hath not heard, neither euer entred into the 1 1. Cor. 29heart of man to thinke, hath God prepared for them that louelove him: and they are all to be had in this his kingdome. Wherefore as we desire to escape the woe and miseri… of the deuils kingdome, and to bee partakers of the ioyes of heauen, so let vsus looke vntounto the performance of the former duties, shewing herein the resolution of the wise marchant; that parted with all hee had, to get that pearle of price, Matth. 13. 46. ThisGods kingdome like a citi… with suburbs and two gates. kingdome of God, is here set out vntounto vsus, like a citie with suburbs, and two gates; the suburbs of this citie, are those assemblies where the word of God is truely preached and dispensed; and hereinto come not onelyonly the elect and godly, but hypocrites and reprobates. The first gate, is the1. Gate. true state of grace, whereinto the elect of God alone doe enter by regeneration; in which estate they continue in this life, going on from one degree of grace vntounto a greater, with endeauour in all things to keepe faith and good conscience both towards God and men, and so waite to enter the gate of glorie, which is set open vntounto them, and they enter in2. Gate. at the howre of death. And therfore let vsus not deceiue our own soules, as the foolish virgins did with their burning lamps, and content our selues, that we come to Church, and liue ciuilly; though these be good things, yet an hypocrite may goe thus farre, all this while wee are but in the suburbs of this kingdome: but if euer we looke for the glorie of heauen, we must in this life enter the gate of grace by regeneration, and become new creatures.
Thus much of the commaundement: The reason to enforce it, is a gracious and bountifull promise: And all these things shall bee ministred vntounto you. The words are very significant in the originall, for the phraso which Christ vseth, is borrowed from bargainers, to this effect;foreign. as those who sell come, or other things by measure, or waight, vse to giuegive some ouer-plus to better the bargaine on the buyers part; euen so the Lord promiseth to those that seeke his kingdome and righteousnesse, beside the fruition thereof, to giuegive, or cast vntounto them, as the word imports, food; and raiment, and all things needfull to this life. Qu…st. How is this true, seeing we read that Gods children hauehave beene many times destitute of things necessary; as Paul was oft in hunger and thirst, in fastings, in colde and nakednesse, 2. Cor. 11. 27. and many whom the world was not worthy of, were destitute, afflicted, & tormēted, wandring vp and downe in sheepe skinnes and goate skinnes, Heb. 11. 37. Answer. Christs promise in this place, and all other made of temporall blessings, must be vnderstood with the exception of the crosse; that is, they shall hauehave such and such blessings, vnlesse it please God by the want thereof, to correct them for some sinnes, or to exercise their faith in the triall of their patience.
The vse. First, by this promise of Christ we hauehave the most excellentHow to seek for t…mporal blessings. direction of him that is wisedome it selfe, how to order our selues in seeking for all temporall blessings needfull to this life; namely, we must first seeke Gods kingdome and his righteousnesse, in the performance of those duties that may bring vsus thereunto; and then all these needefull things for this life, as food and raiment, shall be cast vntounto vsus, in the sober vse of ordinarie meanes. The reason hereof is plaine, for Gods kingdom is mans chiefe good and happinesse, and all temporall blessings depend thereupon as appurtenances to the principall, as it were intailed thereon; and therefore he that would hauehave these dependants, must get vntounto himselfe the kingdome of God, which is the principall. While the arke of the couenant was in Obed Edoms house, God blessed him and all that he had, 2. Sam. 6. 11. How much more then shall God blesse them, that receiue his holy spirit to rule in their heart by grace? for as Dauid s…ith, the godly man shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of water: and whatsoeuer he doth shall prosper. By the blessing of God we hauehave had his kingdome among vsus for many yeares in this nation, and God hath giuē vsus with it, peace, & protection, with great abundance of temporall blessings: Indeede God hath sundry waies corrected vsus, and laid his heauie hand vponupon vsus in sundrie iudgements, as plague, famine, &c. and often shaken his rodde at vsus in the hand of our enemies, and all because we hauehave not receiued the word of his kingdome, nor yeelded obedience to it as we ought; yea, and we may feare the fulnesse of his wrath, vnlesse we repent and amend of this sinne especially. But if wee would set our selues to seeke this kingdome, wee needed not to feare the want of any needfull blessing; for so God promised to his people, to giuegive them aboundance of all things, if they would obey his commaundements, which are the lawes and statutes of his kingdome: Deut. 21. 1, 2. &c.
This point then is to be obserued for our direction in particular. ArtHow poore men may hauehave sufficient. thou a poore man, and wouldest hauehave sufficient foode and raiment for thy temporall life? then first, set thy heart to seeke Gods kingdome, follow the word, and labour therein for regeneration, and new obedience; and doubt not, but if thou be vpright and diligent in thy lawfull calling, thou shalt finde sufficient for this life. Quest. If this bee the way to get sufficient, how comes it that we hauehave so many beggars that wander vp and downe from doore to doore? Answ. They are (for the most part) a cursed generation, which hauehave no regard to Gods ordinances, either for their soules or bodies; they ioyne not themselues to any setled congregation for the obtaining of Gods kingdome, and so this promise belongs not to them: but God suffers them to wander in an idle course all their life long, destitute of this blessing, to eate their own bread. Againe, art thou a rich man, and wouldest continue in that estate,How the rich man may continue so. to thine owne confort, and for the good of those that depend vponupon thee? then set thine heart to seeke Gods kingdome with a speciall care seeke to plant religion in thy familie, and thou and thine house shall flourish. Art thou a student, and desirest the blessing of God vponupon thy labours, with all things sufficient to thy state and calling? then first seeke Gods kingdome and righteousnesse, labour for righteousnes and true holinesse, and God will lade thee with his blessings. In a word, whatsoeuer thou art, magistrate, minister, merchant, trades-man, &c. man or woman, young or olde, and desirest Gods blessing for thy selfe, or any that belong vntounto thee, remember the practise of this dutie, and vse the lawfull meanes which God laies before thee in thy calling; and nothing doubt, but (though all meanes faile) yet God will send sufficient.
Secondly, this promise of temporall blessings vponupon the faithfull seekingTemporall blessings are dependants …n Gods kingdome. of the kingdome of God, lets vsus see, that foode, raiment, and all things needefull for this life, are appurtenances and dependants on Gods kingdome; that is, such things as ouer and besides his kingdome God will giuegive to them that principally seeke his louelove and fauour by the righteousnesse of Christ, and labour for grace and sanctification by his spirit: for if hee hauehave giuen vsus Christ, how shall hee not with him giuegive vsus all things also, Roman. 8. 32.
The consideration hereof serues for speciall vse: I. To discouer vntountoVse 1. The preposterous course of worldli…g…. vsus the preposterous course that men take in seeking for temporall blessings; for most mē generally neglect the maine good, which is Gods kingdome, & wholly addict themselues to seeke the things of this life: they take little or no thought for the eternall state of their soules, but spend their wit and strength in prouiding for their bodies; which is nothing else, but to gripe at the shadow, and to let the substance goe. Wherein we shew our selues foolish and simple, like to little children, who are better pleased with the gift of a nut or an apple, then with the promise of rich reuenues, or great inheritance. II. This teacheth vsus with what minde we must seeke the temporall blessings of this life; namely, with the same honest minde, wherewith wee seeke the kingdome of God, for they are appurtenances therevnto, and depend vponupon it: and therefore with an vpright heart, we must onelyonly vse lawfull meanes moderately for the getting of them. And when we hauehave them, this may direct vsus in the right ende whereto we must vse our temporall blessings; namely, to the furtherance of our selues and others towards the kingdome of God; so wee honour God with our riches, as Salomon biddes vsus, Prou. 3. 9. III. This teacheth vsus, that they which hauehaveThe wicked are vsurpers in Gods blessings. no right to Gods kingdome, nor part in Christs righteousnesse, hauehave no good interest into any temporall blessings; as food, raiment, and such like, for they are dependants vponupon Gods kingdome and righteousnes. As for the heathen before Christs comming, & Turks, and Pagans, and all profane persons that liue in the Church at this day, who both heretofore, & now also, doe enioy temporall blessings in great abundance: this we must know, that they hauehave thereto a ciuil right by Gods permission, so as it is sin, without good cause to depriue them thereof; but yet of themselues they are but vsurpers, in regard of true title & sanctified vse before God: for by Adās fall we lost our right & soueraigntie in the creatures, & it is only restored & renued i… Christ, so as they which hauehave not part in Christ, cānot hauehave this true title. This we must obserue, first,A branch of ma… natural miserie. to instruct our selues the better in the knowledge of our own miserable state by nature; for what wretched creatures are wee, that cannot make good claime nor title before God, to the apparel vponupon our backs, nor to the meate we put into our bellies? nay, of our selues we hauehave not right to the breath we drawe in at our nosthrils. And out of question this is the state of eueryevery naturall man, though he be neuer so great a monarke in the world, while hee is out of Gods kingdom, wanting righteousnes and regeneration by Iesus Christ. Secondly, this also must perswade eueryevery one of vsus, to put in practise the former instruction, endeauouring aboue all things to get Gods kingdome for our selues; for till we hauehave part herein, wee can hauehave no sound comfort in the vse of Gods creatures, which necessarily serue to our temporall life. This reason alone, if there were no more, should spurre vsus on to all diligence in this dutie: what shame and griefe is it to eate our bread in the sight of God, as theeues and vsurpers doe in the sight of men? and therefore let vsus giuegive no rest vntounto our soules till wee attaine to some good assurance in this blessed estate. The way wee must remember, is by true conuersion and regeneration; and wee shall discerne our selues to bee regenerate, by these fruits of the spirit in vsus; to wit, I. A true touch of conscienceS…g…e, of regeneration. for our sinnes, both originall and actuall. II. A godly sorrowe and griefe of heart for offending and displeasing God by our transgressions. III. An earnest desire, or true spirituall hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousnes, testified by our constant and diligent vse of those meanes, the word, prayer, and sacraments, wherein God giues grace and assurance of merciemercy. IV. An vnfained turning vntounto God from all sinne by newe obedience, hauing a constant purpose of heart not to sin, and a godly endeauour in life to please God in all things. These are the markes of the newe creature, who hath true title to Gods kingdome; which we must labour to find in our selues, for our comfort in the vse of Gods creatures: and if we finde them in vsus, our title is good, not only to his creatures, but to his kingdome, notwithstanding our owne vnworthinesse by our former iniquities.
IV. In this, that temporall blessings are dependants on Gods kingdome,4 we must learne contentation and patience in all temporal lossesA ground of contentatiō in losses. whatsoeuer, though we loose friends, goods, lands, libertie, reputatiō, or life it selfe, yet we must not be ouerwhelmed with sorrow or griefe; for if we be Gods children, and retaine his fauour, the kingdom of heauen remaines sure vntounto vsus: while a mans stocke remaines, though some appurtenances bee taken from him, he counts himselfe well enough; and so must we in all worldly losses, while our title is good to Gods kingdome. Herewith our Sauiour Christ comforts his Disciples, Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke, for it is your fathers pleasure to giuegive you the kingdome. Now if God giuegive vsus that with his fauour in Christ, wee may be sure he would giuegive vsus all temporall blessings, if hee saw▪ them to bee good for vsus; for if he hauehave giuen vsus Christ, how shall he not with him giuegive vsus all things also?
Thirdly, this promise of Christ, to giuegive his kingdome to them that seeke it, and beside, to cast all temporall blessings vntounto them, if they seeke his kingdome principally, doth notably commend vntounto vsus the bountiful goodnes of God; for here we see he giues to his children more thē theyGod▪ bountie. aske or seeke. And this bountie of God Paul expresseth as a ground of our praising God, Eph. 3. 20. To him therefore that is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that we can aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in vsus, be praise in the Church, by Iesus Christ: where we must obserue, that hee speakes of Gods abilitie to be bountifull, as brought into actiō in his children, so as he is not only able, but willing hereunto: and hereof we hauehave daily experience in the blessings of God which we doe enioy, for when we pray for spirituall graces, God giues them vntounto vsus, and many temporal blessings also. This Dauid confesseth, Psal. 21. 3. Thou diddest preuent me with liberall blessings: and Salomon found it to be true, who asking only a wise & vnderstading heart, receiued therupō riches & honour besides his wisedom, 1. Ki. 3. 13. And so did Iacob, aGen. 28. 2…who asking only Gods protectiō with meat to eat, & clothes to put on; though bGen. 32. 10he went out but with a staffe yet returned with two bands.
Now the consideration of this bountie of God must teach vsus these1. Duties frō Gods boun ti…. duties; First, to beware of all sinne, whereby we doe offend and displease our God, who is so gratious and bountifull vntounto vsus▪ if our outward estate did depend vponupon others, we would then be careful so to carrie our selues towards them, as that we would not willingly giuegive them any offence, or cause of dislike; how much more ought we then to seeke the continuance of Gods fauour towards vsus by all good behauiour, seeing on him depends our whole estate both temporall and eternall? Secondly, to trust God with our liues, health, bodies, and all wee hauehave, 2for foode, raiment, and protection, in the sober vse of lawfull meanes, for he is a bountifull God. Thirdly, to seeke for helpe and succour3 from God in all distresse and want, for hee is bountifull; hee giueth to all men liberally, and reproacheth no man, Iam. 1. 5. and therefore wee must be readie and forward to call vponupon him, and to make our moane vntounto him. Fourthly, to louelove so bountifull a God, yea to enforce our4 hearts to all duties of louelove towards him: Salomon saith, EueryEvery man is a friend to him that giueth gifts, Pro. 19. 6. but none is to bee compared to God for the riches of bountie; & therefore our louelove to him should abound. Fiftly, to be thankefull vntounto God for all the good things we enioy;5 for whatsoeuer we hauehave, comes from his bountie: and therefore we must say with Dauid, What shall I giuegive vntounto the Lord, for all his blessings are vponupon me, Psal. 116. 12, 13. In a word, we must labour continually in6 heart & life, to walke worthy of the Lord, & to please him in al things, beeing fruitfull in all good works (as the Apostle saith) Colos. 1. 10.