The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 14 – Subpart 16
WHAT IS CHRISTES KINGDOME.
A King is a perſon ordained by God, A King in generall.to gouerne in a people and beare rule alone according to honeſt Lawes, and to hauehave power to reward the good, and puniſh the bad, & to defend his ſubie…tes againſt their enimies, hauing no ſuperiour gouernuor aboue him. The King of Kings, CHRIST, Chriſt a King.is a perſon immediatelie ordeined of GOD, to gather and rule by his woorde and ſpirite his church, purchaſed by his blood; and to defend her beeing ſubiect vntounto him and ſeruing him, againſt all her enimies both corporall and ſpirituall, and to rewarde her with eternall rewards, but to caſt her enimies into euerlaſting paines and torments.
Wherefore CHRISTES royall office is, Firſt,Chriſts Kingdome. to rule by his woorde and ſpirite his Church gathered out of all nations from the beginning of the woorlde. For that it may go …ell with vsus vnderunder this King, it is not enough, if hee outwardly teach vsus, what hee w…uld hauehave vsus, his ſubiectes, to perfourme, vnleſſe alſo by his ſpirit he moue our heartes, and cauſe vsus to bee obedient to his commaundements.
Secondly, To defend and preſerue this his Church in this life against al both inward and outward, domeſticall and forraine foes, which alſo he dooth perfourme, while not onlie by his power-ful hand hee is euer preſent with vsus, but furniſheth vsus alſo with thoſe weapons, wherewith our ſelues alſo may conſtantlie and happilie enter the combat againſt our moſt mighty foes, and vtterly vanquiſh and diſcomfit them. This ſacred ha…neſſe and war-like furniture is deſcribed, Epheſe. 6.13. Thirdly, To make his church partaker of the bleſſings of his kingdome, and to adorne her raiſed vp from dead with euerlaſting glorie, & bliſſe. Fourthly, To ouercome & rule his enimies by his might & power, and at length to thruſt them downe beeing falſelie ouercome and conquered into eternall torments.
We are in this place to obſerue the difference of the Prophetical, Prieſtlie, and roiall office, both of them who were in the olde Testament, and of Chriſt, and of our ſelues. In the olde Teſtament, they were types, or typicall Prophetes, Prieſtes, and Kings. Christ is indeede the true Prophet, King, and Prieſt which they prefigured: we are Prophetes, Kinges, and Prieſtes, by participation, as hauing Chriſts dignities communicated with vsus. Now then, let vsus ſee what is our propheticall, Prieſtly, and roial office.
OF THE COMMVNION OF THE FAITHFVL, OR CHRISTIANS, WITH CHRIST.
IN the 32. Queſtion wee are inſtructed, concerning the inunction or annointing of the faithfull, namely, when they are called Christians or annointed: and, what is the dutie of Christians, and what their comfort; whereof this name doth aduertiſe thē. Heere then is diſcourſed the common place, concerning the communion of Chriſt the head with the faithfull, his members: and of the functions of theſe his members. Hereof fowre things come to be conſidered.
1 What is the annointing of Chriſtians, or whence beleeuers hauehave the name of Chriſtians or Annointed.
2 What is the Propheticall function of Chriſtians.
3 What their Prieſthood.
4 What their kingdome.
1 WHAT IS THE ANNOINTING OF CHRISTIANS.
LVKE Act. 11.26. teſtifieth, that the name of Chriſtians firſt began to bee vſed in Antioche, in the Apoſtles time, whenas before time they had bin termed by the names of breethren & Diſciples. Who is called a chriſtian.The name Chriſtian is deriued from Chriſt: & in general he is called a Chriſtian, who is a Diſciple of Chriſt, & followeth his doctrine or life: &, who being inſerted into Chriſt, hath communion and fellowſhippe with him, whether he be ſuch indeed, or onelie carrieth a face or ſhewe before him of beeing ſuch. For there are two ſortes of Chriſtians: ſome ſeeming or counterfeit, Seeming & falſe harted chriſtiās.and outward, but not true, that is, hypocrits: others ſeeming and true. For not eueryevery ſeeming chriſtian, that is, who is in outward conuerſation, a Chriſtian, is an hypocrit: though eueryevery hypocrit is a ſeeming Chriſtian. They are called ſeeming, but not true Chriſtians, who beeing baptized profeſſe in woord & life or outward conuerſation the Doctrin and faith of chriſt, and are in the company of thoſe which are called, but are not partakers of Christes benefites, beeing deſtitute of true faith and conuerſion. Therefore they are not the true & liuely members of the Church. Mat. 20.16. Many are called, but few choſen. Seeming & true harted chriſtiās.They are both ſeeming and true chriſtians, who being receiued by baptiſme into the Church, acknoweledge and profeſſe Chriſts doctrine; and being engraffed into Chriſt by a true faith, are made partakers of all his benefites; and beeing regenerated by the holie ghoſt, led a life woorthie of true Chriſtians.
Furthermore, of hypocrites we are not here to ſpeake, but of thoſe, who are both without and within, that is, are truelie Chriſtians, and annointed of Chriſt by the holie ghoſt. The annointing of theſe therefore,The anointing of chriſtians 1 Is an ordaining of them to an office. 2 A beſtowing of giftes on them. whereof they take the appellation of Chriſtians and Annointed, is, that being through a true faith engraffed by Baptiſme into chriſt as members into their head, they are made true partakers of his annointing. For firſt he communicateth with them his Prophetical, Prieſtly, & roial function; that is, he ordaineth & maketh them Prophetes, Prieſtes, and Kinges. Secondly he annointeth them with the true oile, that is, hee powreth into them the giftes of the holie ghoſt, wherewith they beeing furniſhed maie eaſilie and rightlie diſcharge that their function. For the holie Ghoſt is not idle in vsus, but woorketh the ſame in vsus, which hee doth in Chriſt: albeit thoſe graces and giftes in Chriſt are farre more excellent both in number and degree. Theſe thinges are expreſſelie ſhewed by theſe places of Scripture. 1. Corin. 6 15. Knowe yee not, that your bodies are the members of chriſt? 1. Iohn 2.20. Yee hauehave an ointment from him that is Holie, and yee hauehave knowen all thinges. Actes 2.33. This Ieſus by the right hande of God hath beene exalted, and hath receiued of his Father the promiſe of the holie ghoſt, and hath ſhed foorth this which yee nowe ſee and heare. 1 Pet 2.9. Ye are a choſen generation, a roiall Prieſthoode. Reuel. 1.6. and 5.9. Thou waſt killed, and haſt redeemed vsus to God by thy blood out of euerie kinred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And haſt made vsus vntounto our God Kings, and Prieſtes, and we ſhal raign on the earth. By theſe places are theſe two thinges manifeſt:What is to bee Chriſts member. one is, that our annointing is beſtowed of Chriſt: the other, that it is beſtowed onlie vponupon thoſe, who are the members of Chriſt. And to be the member of Chriſt is nothing elſe, than to bee conioyned and vnited to Chriſt by the ſame ſpirite dwelling both in him and vsus: and by this ſpirite to be enriched with ſuch righteouſneſſe and life, as is in CHRIST; to bee conformed vntounto CHRIST: and ſeeing this righteouſneſſe, ſo long as wee remaine in this mortall bodie, is vnperfect, to bee acceptable vntounto GOD for the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt which is imputed vntounto vsus. Rom. 8 11. 1. Corinth. 6.7 Eph. 4.15.16. 1. Corint. 12.13. Rom 8.1. &c.
The ſimilitude of mans bodie, to declare our vnion with Chriſt.Now the ſimilitude of the head and members of the ſame bodie, is moſt fitte and appliable to declare that moſt ſtreit and indiſſoluble coniunction of vsus with Chriſt. For firſt, As all the members of the bodie are knit to one and the ſame head, and conſequentlie to one another, by ſinews and fleſhlie ligamentes, and drawe their life, ſenſe, and all their motion, by the miniſterie of the ſpirites from that one heade, ſo long as they remaine vnited to their head, and among themſelues: ſo Chriſt is that one and quickening head, to whome al the elect who are the liuing members the church, beeing vnited by the holie Ghoſt, receiued thorough faith, are quickened and are knit alſo among themſelues by the meanes of mutuall charitie. Which charitie and dilection muſt needs be there; if we be ioined vntounto the head. For the connexion of the members with the heade is the originall and cauſe of the coniunction of the members among themſelues. For the quickning ſpirit of chriſt doth not flowe out of one member into another, but out of one Chriſt as the head into all the members of the Church. Ioh. 15.26. J wil ſend vntounto you, from the father, the comforter, the ſpirit of truth.
Secondly, As in mans bodie are diuerſe giftes and functions of the members, and yet but one life and ſoule quickening and mouing all the members: So in the bodie of the church are diuerſe giftes and functions, and yet but one ſpirite, by the benefit whereof each member maie doe this function. Thirdly, as the head is placed in the higheſt place, and therefore is of more worthineſſe, and the fountaine of all life: So Chriſt hath the higheſt roome and degree in the church, as in whome the ſpirite is without meaſure, and of whoſe fulneſſe all receiue: but in the members, that is, in chriſtians are certaine meaſures of giftes, which are deriued into them from the onelie head and fountaine chriſt.
Chriſt is our heade in three reſpectes. Firſt,Chriſt is our Head in three reſpectes. In reſpect of his perfection: becauſe hee is both God and man; and in gifts, as touching his humane nature, excelleth all creatures. Coloſſ. 2.9. In him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the God-head bodilie, &c. Hee alone giueth the holie Ghoſt. Matth. 3. This is he who baptizeth with the holie Ghoſt. Secondly. In dignitie, or order, glorie, maieſtie, power, authoritie, which in his humane nature glorified, he nowe openlie ſheweth foorth and declareth. For as GOD created all thinges by him, ſo hath hee made him heire of all thinges. Hebr. 1.2. and the ruler of his houſe, Heb. 3.6. Thirdly, In reſpect of his office. For hee is ouer euerie member of the Church, hee ruleth, gouerneth, quickeneth, nouriſheth, and confirmeth them, ſo as they continue ioined in him with the reſt of the members.
We are alſo in three reſpectes the members of chriſt. Firſt,Wee are in three reſpects Chriſt members becauſe by faith and the holie Ghoſt wee are ioined vntounto him, and alſo are knit together amongeſt our ſelues, as the members to the head, and one with another. And this coiunction of the members of this bodie, amongeſt themſelues, is no leſſe requiſite and behoouefull for the ſafetie of the Church, than the coniunction of the whole bodie with Chriſt the head. For if thou ſeparate the arme from the hand, thou ſhalt ſeparate it alſo from the head, and ſo it ſhall no more hauehave life. Secondly, Becauſe wee are quickened & guided of him, & from him as the fountaine wee drawe all good thinges: ſo that, except we continue in him, we hauehave not eternall life in vsus: as neither the members ſundered from the bodie retaine life anie longer. Thirdlie, Becauſe as in mans bodie are diuerſe faculties and functions of the members: ſo are the giftes and functions diuerſe of the members of CHRIST in the church: And as all the actions of the partes of the bodie are emploied and referred to the preſeruation thereof; ſo all the members of Chriſt, whatſoeuer they purpoſe or doe, that ought they to imploy and refer to the profit and vtilitie of the Church.
2 WHAT IS THE PROPHETICALL FVNCTION OF CHRISTIANS, that is, in what ſenſe they are, and are called Prophetes.
Chriſtians are prophetes in knowledge. In confeſſion.CHRIST maketh vsus partakers of his Prophetical honour or office, not only in this, that himſelfe Prophecieth vntounto vsus, that is, effectually inſtructeth vsus by his word and ſpirit, but alſo, becauſe hee will and bringeth to paſſe, that we may alſo prophecy, by profeſſing and celebrating God: According as it is ſaid, Act. 2.17. I will poure out of my ſpirite vponupon all fleſh, and your Sonnes and your Daughters ſhall prophecie. Mat. 10.32. whoſoeuer ſhal confeſſe me before men, him will I confeſſe alſo before my father, which is in heauen. Our Prophetical office therefore is, 1. rightlie to vnderſtand and embrace the doctrine, perfect and neceſſarie to ſaluation, concerning god and his wil. 2. That eueryevery one in his place and degree profeſſe the ſame being vnderſtoode faithfullie, boldlie, conſtantlie, in woorde and life, thereby both to celebrate god, and to bring manie ſcholers and diſciples vntounto Chriſt.
The difference between Chriſts Propheticall function and our is, 1. That Chriſt hath the ſpirite without meaſure, wee by meaſure. For it is the proper ſpirite of Chriſt, which floweth from him, and is powred into the heartes of men; wee hauehave him by gift. He being but one hath all the giftes of the holy Ghoſt, and thoſe in the moſt excellent degree: all wee hauehave but onelyonly ſome, and thoſe farre inferiour. 2. That Chriſt effectuallie teacheth, by moouing the heartes of men to accord and aſſent: the ſound and voice of others without the inward ſound and voice of the holie ghoſt, doth only ſtrike the ears, neither pearceth it vntounto the hart.
3 WHAT IS THE PRIESTHOODE OF CHRISTIANS.
Chriſtians are pric…es.CHRIST maketh vsus partakers of his Prieſthood, not onelyonly, becauſe hee ſanctifieth himſelfe for vsus. Iohn 17.19. & imputeth, & giueth his ſacrifice vntounto vsus, … …y the imputation of Chriſts merit.that for it we may be receiued of him, & God the Father into fauour, and maie be endowed with the holie Ghoſt and eternall life, euen as if in our ſelues that Sacrifice were accompliſhed: and ſatisfaction made for our ſinnes: but furthermore, becauſe hee maketh vsus alſo Priestes vntounto GOD. Which hee dooth after a double manner. 1. When by the efficacie of his ſpirit he worketh in vsus thoſe things, which we maie offer vntounto god for a Sacrifice. 2.2 By offering the ſacrifice of thankes giuing. When by his merite and interceſſion vntounto his father, hee cauſeth our Sacrifices, albeit vnperfect & ſtained with our ſins, to be notwithſtanding pleaſing and acceptable vntounto him.
Wherefore the Prieſthoode of Chriſtians is to inuocate on GOD knowen aright, to offer vntounto GOD all our life certaine Sacrifices, namelie Euchariſticall, euen Sacrifices of thankeſgiuing, ſanctified by the Sacrifice of CHRISTT. Theſe Sacrifices of praiſe, or thankesgiuing are, 1. That wee offer vp our ſelues wholie vntounto GOD to obeie him, that is, that wee mortifie the oulde man in vsus, and beginne newe obedience, both inwarde and outwarde, according to all the commaundementes of the Lawe. 2. Euerie one to doe the duties of his owne vocation. 3. To inſtruct others. 4. To praie for themſelues and others. 5. To giuegive almes to others. 6. To vndergoe and ſuffer cheerefullie, manfullie, and conſtantlie the croſſe, that is, calamities, perſequution, contempt, baniſhmentes, and euen death it ſelfe, for the confeſſion of the truth, and the glorie of god. In ſumme: The Prieſthoode and Sacrifices of Chriſtians are, the worſhippe of God, commaunded in his Lawe, or all good workes, doone of thoſe who are reconciled to God, to this end, as thereby to obey God, and doe him honor.
Wherefore the Prieſtes of the newe Teſtament are all Chriſtians, both teachers and hearers, as they beginne newe obedience in the knowledge, and faith of the ſonne of GOD. Roman. 6.13. GiueGive your members as inſtruments of righteouſneſſe vntounto god. Againe, 12.1. I beſeech you, that yee giuegive vp your bodies a liuing Sacrifice, holie, acceptable vntounto god, which is your reaſonable ſeruing of GOD. Againe, 15.16. Grace is giuen me of god, that I ſhoulde bee the Miniſter of Ieſus chriſt towardes the Gentiles, miniſtering the goſpell of god, that the offering vp of the Gentiles might bee acceptable. Luke. 22.32. When thou art conuerted ſtrengthen thy bretheren. Phil. 2.17. Though I bee offered vp vponupon the Sacrifice and ſeruice of your faith, I am glad. 2. Timot. 4.6. I am nowe readie to bee offered Coloſſ. 1.24. Now reioice I in my ſufferinges for you, and fulfil the reſt of the afflictions of chriſt in my fleſh, for his bodies ſake, which is the church.
Our ſacrifices different from Chriſts ſacrifice.Nowe our Sacrifices differ, as well as the Sacrifices of the olde Prieſtes from Chriſtes Sacrifice. Firſt, Chriſt offered vp together a Sacrifice both of thankeſ-giuing and propitiatorie: Wee offer vppe onelie Sacrifices of thankeſ-giuing. The oulde Prieſtes alſo offered vp Sacrifices of thankesgiuing: becauſe theſe belong to the whole Church, euen from the beginning to the ende of the woorlde. But thoſe Sacrifices which they offered beſides, were onelie typicall. But no Sacrifices of the newe Teſtament are typicall, but either euchariſticall and of thankfulneſſe, as are ours; or propitiatotie, as if the obedience of CHRIST onelie, perfourmed for vsus in ſuffering our puniſhment. For hee offered not a typicall or figuratiue, but the reall or figured and ſignified Sacrifice; as beeing not a typicall, but the ſignified Prieſt. Secondlie, The Sacrifices of Chriſt are both perfect: ours vnperfect and defiled with many ſinnes. Thirdly, The Sacrifice of chriſt pleaſeth God for it ſelfe, and for the worthineſſe that is proper in it ſelfe, and meriteth remiſſion of ſinnes and eternall life of God for vsus: becauſe it is the death of the very ſonne of GOD. Our Sacrifices merite nothing of GOD, and pleaſe him, not for themſelues, but for Chriſts Sacrifice, wherewith they are ſanctified.
4 WHAT IS THE KINGDOME OF CHRISTIANS.
Chriſtians are Kings. 1 By partaking of his victorie and roialtie. 2 By hauing in themſelues through him a power to ouercome and ouerrule both their enimies and all creatures.WEE are made partakers of Chriſtes of kingdome, Firſt, Becauſe hee is our King and dooth communicate his victorie and glorie againſt his enemies and ours, with vsus, and maketh vsus by faith citizens of his kingdome, the Sonnes of God, his bretheren and coheirs. Secondly, Becauſe by the vertue and operation of his ſpirit hee alſo maketh vsus Kinges; that is, the Lordes ouer all creatures, conquerers of our enemies, and partakers of euerlaſting bliffe and glorie. Iohn. 16 33. Be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world. Reuel. 3.21. To him that ouercommeth will I graunt to ſit with mee in my throne. Luc. 22.30. That yee may ſit on ſeates and iudge the twelue tribes of Iſraell. 1. Corinthians, 3.21. All are yours. Our royall office therefore is, 1. That we are Lordes ouer all creatures: 2. That by the vertue of chriſts ſpirite (who hath reſtored vntounto vsus our loſt …oyal and heauenly dignity, ouer all our enimies) we fight continuallie againſt ſinne, the woorlde, the Diuel, and the fleſhe, and ouercome. Which wee doe, when as by a true faith wee are reſolued, that wee hauehave remiſſion of all our ſinnes: and when by the ſame faith wee receiue the holie Ghoſt to repreſſe ſinne euen in this life, as touching the beginning of our conqueſt. 3. That at length all our enimies beeing by the grace of CHRIST fullie brought vnderunder, wee enioy eternall bliſſe and glorie, that is, the heauenly kingdome, which by the woorking of the holy GHOST is begun in vsus in this life, and which wee nowe poſſeſſe in hope, but then ſhall in full poſſeſſion inherite. 1. Timothie, 1.18. Fight a good fight, hauing faith and a good conſcience. 2. Timothie. 2.12. If wee ſuffer, wee ſhall alſo raigne with him. Mathew, 25.34. Inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world.
There is notwithſtanding a difference beetweene the kingdome of CHRIST, and ours. For, 1. The difference betweene Chriſts kingdome and ours.The kingdome is hereditarie vntounto Chriſt. For hee is the naturall ſonne, and therefore by nature King: but ours is by right of adoption. Chriſt as the naturall ſonne, is ruler ouer his houſe. Hebrewes, 3.6. Wee are by and for him, the adopted ſonnes of God. 2 He alone by full right is King ouer all the creatures ſimplie, but eſpeciallie ouer the whole Church of the holie Angels and men. But wee neither are, nor euer ſhall bee the Kings and heade of this Church; but onelie ouer other creatures, which are comp…led to ſerue vsus, wee are LORDS. adorned with glorie, maieſtie, and no common excellencie of giftes: and ouer all wicked men and Diuels, whom wee ſhall iudge, ſubſcribing, and yeelding our conſentes to the iudgement of CHRIST in condemning, and deſtroying them. Matthew, 19 28. Yee ſhall ſitte vponupon twelue ſcates, iudging the twelue tribes of Iſraell. Wherefore the Pope of Rome lieth, when hee auoucheth himſelfe to be the head of the Church. 3. He conquereth his enimies by his owne power: we in him, and by him. Ioh. 16.33. Be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world. 4. He alone ruleth the Church, with the ſcepter of his ſpirite and woorde, moouing our heartes, and reſtoring in vsus the loſt image of God: wee are miniſters and adminiſtratours of the outward word and rites: wee cannot giuegive the holie Ghoſt, as it is ſaid, Mat. 3.11. I baptize you with water, but he that commeth after mee, hee will baptize you with the holie Ghoſt and with fire.
The ſumme of all is: In the olde Teſtament were Prophets, Prieſts, and Kings, typicall: Chriſt is thoſe three in ſignification, and in truth; To beleeue in Chriſt.wee by participation from him. Wherefore to beleeue in Chriſt, is not onelie to knowe, that Ieſus is the annointed, that is the chiefe Prophet, Prieſt, and king; but to bee perſwaded, that he is ſuch alſo vntounto me, and maketh me alſo partaker of his vnction or annointing, that by the woorking of the holie Ghoſt I may alſo be a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King, that is, confeſſe and celebrate God knowen vntounto me; offer vp vntounto him all my life long the ſacrifice of praiſe and thankefulnes; fight and warre manfully againſt ſinne, the world, and the Diuel, and at length beare rule ouer all mine enimies and the creatures, beeing adorned with euerlaſting bliſſe and glorie.
I BELEEVE IN HIS ONELYONLY SONNE.
TO beleeue in the onelie, or onelie begotten ſonne of God, is to beleeue, 1. That this Ieſus is the naturall and onelie ſonne of the eternall Father, begotten of his ſubſtaunce from euerlaſting, and therefore God by nature, neither hauing as touching his godhead any bretheren. 2. To beleeue that by and for this his naturall ſonne I hauehave alſo obtained the grace, right, and name of the ſonne of GOD, or am adopted by GOD to be his ſonne. Iohn. 1.12. As manie as receiued him, to them he gaue power to be the ſonnes of God. And Epheſ. 1.6. God with the glorie of his grace hath made vsus accepted in his beloued. Becauſe Chriſt is the naturall ſonne of God, therefore he is able to make vsus the adopted ſonnes of God: yet ſo, that the aſſumption and taking of our nature was to come betweene. Hither appertaineth the common place concerning the ſonne of GOD: wherein theſe foure queſtions are to be conſidered.
1 How manie waies men are called ſonnes.
2 How Chriſt is, and is called the ſonne of God.
3 Why his onelie begotten, and firſt begotten.
4 Whether the ſonne be coeternal with god the father.