The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 3 · Petition 2
THE SECOND PETITION.
THY kingdome come.
Thy kingdome come, that is, let it by continual encreaſes be augmented, and alwaies by a new enlargement, and acceſsion let thy kingdome bee extended and multiplied, which thou O god in thy Church doſt hold and poſſeſſe.
The ſpecial Queſtions concerning the kingdom of god.
1 What the kingdome of god is.
A Kingdome, in general, is a certaine forme of ciuil gouernement, wherein the ſoueraigntie of rule belongeth to ſome one perſon, who is furniſhed with giftes and vertues aboue the reſt, and ruleth ouer al, according to iuſt, honeſt, and certaine Lawes, in requiring obedience, making Laws, defending the good, & puniſhing the bad. The kingdome of God, is the ſending of the Son from the father, euen from the beginning of the world, who ſhould ordain and maintaine a miniſterie, and ſhould by the ſame be effectual & forcible in working, ſhould gather a Church by the woorde and the holy ghoſt, out of all mankinde, rule and preſerue the ſame, raiſe it from death, adorne it with heauenly glorie, that ſo God may be all in all, and maie be magnified by the Church of Angels and men for euer. Out of this definition wee may gather and make theſe partes the kingdome of God. 1. The ſending of the Sonne our Mediatour. 2. The ordaining and maintaining of the miniſterie by Chriſt. 3. The gathering of the church by Chriſt out of mankinde by the voice of the goſpell, and the efficacie of the holy Ghoſt, beginning in vsus true faith and repentaunce. 4. The perpetual gouernement of the church. 5. The preſeruation thereof in this life, and protection againſt her enemies. 6. The caſting awaie of her enemies, into eternal paines. 7. The raiſing of the church vntounto eternal life. 8. The glorifieng of the church in eternall life, when god ſhal be al in al.
Now then, ſeeing we vnderſtand what the kingdome of God is, it is knowen alſo vntounto vsus, what is conteined in this petition. Here therefore we deſire, that God wil by his Son our Mediatour ſent from the very beginning into the woorlde, 1. Preſerue the miniſterie which he hath ordained. 2. Gather his church by the miniſterie of his word, and the woorking of the holie Ghoſt. 3. Rule his church gathered, and vsus the members thereof with his holy ſpirite, who may conforme vsus vntounto him, ſoften our hearts, regenerate our wils. 4. Defend vsus and his whole church againſt our enemies & tyrants. 5. Caſt away his & our enemies into eternal pains, wherewith he maie puniſh them for euer. 6. And at length deliuer his church, and glorifie it in the world to come.
By al this it appeareth, That this kingdome, which we deſire maie come, is a ſpiritual kingdom: which alſo the lord himſelfe ſheweth by diuerſe parables in the Euangeliſt; and vntounto Pilate he aunſwereth; My Kingdome is not of this woorlde. Of the kingdome of Chriſt is it ſaid, Pſalm. 110.2. Be thou ruler in the mids of thine enemies. And furthermore, ſeeing we muſt deſire, that this kingdome may come, and therefore muſt withal deſire our ful deliuery; hereby it is euident, how impious a thing it is to bee afraid of the iudgement of God, & the laſt day of doome: becauſe ſuch as doe this, ſhew themſelues not to bee godly, neither to deſire their full deliueraunce, and glorifieng. Obiection. But terrible wil the daie of iudgement be: Therfore we are not to deſire it. Anſwer. It wilbe terrible, but to the wicked onelyonly. For vntounto the godly it is ſaid, Lift vp your heads. Therefore Chriſt wil hauehave them to reioice, and to wiſh for the approching of that day. For what thou reioiceſt in, that alſo thou wiſheſt. Come Lord Jeſus. Obiection. That which commeth neither ſooner nor later for our praiers, is in vaine deſired of vsus, and therefore we are not to deſire it. But the kingdome of god, that is, the deliuerie of the church from all euils and miſeries ſhall come neither ſooner nor later, for our praiers, than god hath decreed it. Therefore wee are not to deſire the deliuerie of the church. Aunſwere. The Maior is falſe. For ſo then may we conclude or reaſon of al thoſe benefits which remaine in the counſel and purpoſe of God. Reply. But god hath promiſed other benefites with this condition, that we muſt aske and deſire them. Aunſwere. So alſo doth ful deliuery from al euils befal to them onelyonly in that daie, who in their affliction and croſſe wiſh for and deſire that deliuery, and pray that this deliuery may come ſpeedily, according to the decree of God, and that no one elect may be excluded. Reply. But we muſt not deſire that god would haſten the deliuerie of his church: becauſe that would be done with loſſe of manie of the Elect, who are not as yet borne. Aunſwere. When we deſire that God would haſten the deliuery of his church, we d…ſire alſo, that whoſoeuer of the Elect are as yet remaining, may be al ſpeedily gathered, not one of them beeing excluded. This deliuery of vsus and the whole church we muſt craue of the Lord with daily prayers: if ſo we wil bee our ſelues alſo at length deliuered together with the Church. And moreouer, for this cauſe alſo muſt we deſire this deliuerie, that then that iudgement may bee of a ſauing force vntounto vsus, wherein the Lord will fullie deliuer his Elect and choſen. God will alſo therefore hauehave vsus deſire an haſtning & ſpeeding of this day, that there may be an end of wickednes & impieties: & that all the godlie may reſt from their labors. But ſo notwithſtanding muſt we deſire and craue all theſe things, that we ſubiect and ſubmit our wil to the commandement of the Lord, or his diuine will. It is our part, to obſerue, what God commaundeth, not what ſhall fall out or come to paſſe: but the euent wee muſt leaue and commit to God himſelfe.
2 Howe manifold the kingdome of God is.
THIS kingdome is but one indeede, but it differeth in the manner of gouerning and adminiſtration. For it is diuerſlie adminiſtred here, and in heauen. Hereby is that Queſtion aſſoiled out of the place of Paul, 1. Cor. 15.24. He ſhall deliuer vp the kingdome to God, euen the Father. Wherefore as concerning the forme and manner of adminiſtration, hee ſhall deliuer the kingdome after our glorification, that is, he ſhal ceaſe to diſcharge the office of a mediatour. There ſhall be then no neede of conuerſion, of purging out of ſinne, of protecting of vsus againſt our enimies; he ſhall not gather, he ſhal not raiſe the dead, hee ſhall not glorifie, nor perfect them, becauſe then they ſhall bee perfect: Hee ſhall not 'teach them: tongues ſhal ceaſe. There ſhall be no neede of theſe inſtrumentes any longer. The kingdome of god then is of two ſorts: one begun in this life, another conſummated after this life. Wee deſire both in this petition, to wit, both the conſtitution of this kingdome of God, and the conſummation thereof. In the conſummated and perfect kingdome of god there ſhall be no neede of any meanes or inſtruments: becauſe in that the glorification of the Church ſhall be more perfect, as being without euil both of crime and paine. God ſhall be all in al, that is, ſhall manifeſt himſelfe immediately vntounto the bleſſed Saints. Reuel. 21.22. Jn that Citie (which is that kingdome) J ſawe no temple: for the Lord god almightie and the Lambe are the temple of it. And the Citie hath no neede of the Sunne, neither of the Moone to ſhine in it: for the glorie of god did light it: and the Lambe is the light of it.
3 Who is king in gods kingdome.
THE head or King of this kingdome, is god the father, the ſonne, and the holie ghoſt. There is but one King, becauſe there is but one god. Nowe the father is King, and ruleth by the ſonne, and the holy ghoſt. The ſonne is King, 1. Becauſe he ſitteth god at the right hand of god; and ruleth with equall power with the father. 2. Becauſe he is Mediatour, that is, becauſe he is that perſon, by which god worketh immediatly, and giueth the holy Ghoſt. Iohn. 15.26. J will ſend him vntounto you from the father. And after a ſpecial and peculiar manner is Chriſt ſaid to be the king of that kingdome, as he is Mediatour.
4 Who are the Citizens or Subiects of gods kingdome.
THE citizens of this kingdome are, 1. The Angels in heauen confirmed and eſtabliſhed in grace. 2. The bleſſed Saints in Heauen, who are called the Church triumphant. 3. The Godly, or conuerted in this life, who hauehave as yet certaine remaines of ſinne, and are called the Church militant. 4. Hypocrites, namelie the Called of the viſible Church onelie, but not Elected. Theſe are counterfeit and apparaunt citizens to the outwarde ſhewe, who indeede are not the citizens of Chriſts kingdome, but onelie in name, but are in truth the bondſlaues of the Diuel. Hypocrites notwithſtanding are called the citizens of this kingdome, as the Iewes are termed by Chriſt the ſonnes and children of the kingdome. Of theſe is it ſaide, The Firſt ſhall be laſt: that is, they who will be accounted firſt, and yet are not, ſhalbe laſt.
5 What are the Lawes of this kingdome.
THE Lawes whereby this kingdome is adminiſtred, and gouerned, are, 1. The woorde of god, or the doctrine of the Lawe and Goſpel. 2. The efficacie of the holie ghoſt in our hearts.
6 What benefites are beſtowed on the ſubiectes of this kingdome.
THERE is no kingdome which hath not regard vntounto the commodities of the ſubiectes. And Ariſtotle writeth to Alexander, A kingdome is not Jniurie, but bountifulnes. Wherefore this kingdome hath alſo his proper goods and commodities. Thoſe are the ſpiritual and eternal benefites of Chriſt, as tru faith, conuerſion, remiſſion of ſins, righteouſnes, preſeruation therein, and the continuaunce of the holy ghoſt, glorification, & life euerlaſting. Ioh. 8.36. Jf the Sonne ſhall make ye free, ye ſhal be free indeed.
7 Who are the enemies and foes of this kingdome.
THE enemies of this kingdome are the Diuels and wicked men. Now of wicked men, ſome are in the church, as hypocrits, who challenge to thēſelues the name & title of the kindgdome, when as they are nothing leſſe: others are without the church and profeſſed enemies, as Turkes, Iewes, Samoſatenians, Arrians, & whoſoeuer defend errors againſt the grounds and foundations of religion.
8 Jn what place this kingdome is adminiſtred.
THIS kingdome, as concerning the beginning or gathering thereof, is adminiſtred here on earth: yet ſo, that it is not in any one certain place, Iland, Prouince, but is ſpred through the whole world. 1. Timo. 2.8. J wil that the men praie euerie where. Matth. 18.20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am J in the midſt of them. Wee neuer go out of this kingdome, if we abide in true faith. This kingdome, as touching the conſummation or perfection thereof, is adminiſtred in heauen. Ioh. 14.3. And although I go to prepare a place for you, J wil come againe, and receiue you vntounto my ſelfe, that where I am, there maie yee bee alſo. Ioh. 12.26. Where I am, there ſhal alſo my ſeruant be. Ioh. 17.24. Father, I wil that they which thou haſt giuen me, be with me, euen where I am. 1. Theſ. 4.17. We ſhal be caught vp to meete the Lord.
9 What is the time of the durance and continuaunce of this kingdome.
THE beginning and gathering of this kingdom dureth from the worlds beginning vntounto the end thereof, becauſe there are alwaies in this world ſome members of the Church, whether few, or many. The conſummation, or perfection of this kingdome ſhall endure from the glorifieng of the godly vntounto al eternity. 1. Corint. 15.24. Then ſhall be the end, when hee hath deliuered vp the kingdome to god, euen the father, which is to be vnderſtoode (as was before obſerued) as touching this forme of adminiſtration of that kingdome.
10 How this kingdome commeth.
THIS kingdom commeth to vsus foure wais. 1. By the preaching of the goſpel, whereby is reueiled the light of the true & heauenly doctrine. 2. By conuerſion, when ſome are conuerted, and are endued with faith and repentaunce. 3. By making progreſſe, or encreaſe, when the godlie receiue encreaſe, or vvhen the proper giftes and bleſſings of the faithful are augmented vvith perpetuall encreaſe in the godly or conuerted. Reuelat. 22.11. He that is righteous, let him be righteous ſtil: and hee that is holy, let him bee holy ſtill. 4. By conſummation, and ful accompliſhment, vvhen the godly ſhal be glorified in the ſecond comming of our Lorde. Reuel. 22.20. Euen ſo come Lord Jeſus.
11 Why we are to deſire that the kingdome of god come.
WE ought to deſire, that the kingdome of god come, 1. For the glorie of god, or in reſpect of the firſt petition; becauſe that wee may ſanctifie & hallow his name it is required that he rule vsus by his word & ſpirit. For except god erect in vsus this his kingdome, & deliuer vsus out of the kingdome of the diuell, we ſhall neuer hallowe & ſanctify his name, but rather ſhall defile & pollute it. 2 Becauſe god will giuegive this kingdome onlie to thoſe that aske it, like as he giueth the holie ghoſt vntounto them onlie, that aske him.