The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Thy Kingdom come.
Qu. 1. WHy is this made the Second Petition?
A. To tell us, that it must be the Second thing in our Desires. We are to begin at that which is highest, most excellent, and ultimate in our Intentions, and that is, Gods Glory shining in all his Works, and seen, admired, honoured and praised by Man, which is the hallowing of his Name, and the Holy Exalting him in our Thoughts, Affections, Words and Actions above all Creatures. And we are next to desire that in which God's glory most eminently shineth: And that is his Kingdom of Grace and Glory.
Q. 2. What is here meant by the Kingdom of God?
A. It is not that Kingdom which he hath over Angels, and the innumerable glorious Spirits of the Heavenly Regions. For these are much unknown to us, and we know not that there is any Rebellion among them which needeth a Restoration. But Man by Sin is fallen into Rebellion, and under the Condemnation due to RebelsaCol. 1. 13. Mat. 12. 28. & 21. 31, 43. Mark 1. 45. & 4. 26, 30. & 12. 34. & 10. 14, 15, 23. & 15. 43.: And by Christ the reconciling Mediator, they are to be restored to their subjection to God, and so to his Protection, Blessing and Reward: And because they are Sinners, corrupt and guilty, they cannot be Subjects as under the Primitive Law of Innocency: And therefore God hath delivered them to the Mediator, as his Vicegerent, to be governed under a Law of healing Grace, and so brought on to Perfect Glory. So that the Kingdom of God now is his Reign over fallen Man by Christ the Mediator, begun on Earth by Recovering Grace, and perfected in heavenly Glory.bLuke 7. 28. & 8. 1. 10. & 10. 9. & 11. 20. & 13. 18, 20, 28, 29. & 16. 16. & 17. 21. & 18. 3, 17, 29.
Q. 3. But the Scriptures sometimes speaks of the Kingdom of God as come already when Christ came, or when he rose and ascended to his Glory: and sometime as if it were yet to come at the great Resurrection Day.
A. In the first case the meaning is, that the King of the Church is come, and hath established his Law of Grace, and Commissioned his Officers, and sent forth his Spirit, and so the Kingdom of healing Grace is come; But in the second case, the meaning is, that all that Glorious Perfection which this Grace doth tend to, which will be the Glory of the Church, the Glory of Christ therein, and the Glorification of Gods Love, is yet to come.
Q. 4. What is it then which we here desire?
A. That God will enlarge and carry on the Kingdom of Grace in the World, and bear down all that Rebells, and hindereth it, and particularly in our selves: And that he would hasten the Kingdom of Glory.
Q. 5. Who is it then that is the King of this Kingdom?
A. GOD as the absolute Supream, and Iesus Christ the Son of God and Man, as the Supream Vicegerent and Administrator.cRev. 1. 9. Luke 9. 27. & 14, 15. & 22. 16, 18. & 23. 51.
Q. 6. Who are the Subjects of this Kingdom?
A. There are three sorts of Subjects: 1. Subjects only as to Obligation:†Act. 14. 22. Gal. 5. 21. Eph. 5. 5▪ 2 Thes. 5. Rev. 12. 10. Mat. 16. 28. 2 Tim. 4. 1▪ 1 Thes. 2. 12. And so those without the Church are Rebellious obliged Subjects: 2. Subjects by meer Profession: And so all Baptized professing Christians though Hypocrites, are the Church-visible, and his professed Subjects. 3. Subjects by sincere Heart-consent: And so all such are his Subjects as make up the Church-mystical, and shall be saved. So that the Kingdom of God is a word which is sometime of a larger signification than the Church: and sometime in a narrower sence is the same. Eph. 1. 23. Christ is Head over all things to the Church.
Q. 7. What are the Acts of Christs Kingly Government?
A. Law-making, Judging according to that Law, and executing that Judgment.dHeb. 7. 12. Isa. 2. 3. & 8. 16, 20. & 42. …. 21. & 51. 4. Mic. 4. 2. Rom. 3. 27. & 8. 2. …. Gal. 6. 2. Isa. 51. 7. Ier. 31. 33. Heb. 8. …, 16.
Q. 8. What Laws hath Christ made, and what doth …e rule by?
A. First, He taketh the Law of Nature now as his own, as far as it belongeth to sinful Mankind: And, 2. He expoundeth the darker passages of that Law: And, 3. He maketh new Laws, proper to the Church …ince his Incarnation.
Q. 9. Are there any new Laws of Nature since the Fall?
A. There are new Obligations and Duties arising from our changed State: It was no duty to the Innocent to repent of Sin, and seek out for Recovery, and …eg Forgiveness: But Nature bindeth Sinners not yet …nder the final Sentence to all this.
Q. 10. What new Laws hath Christ made?
A. Some proper to Church Officers, and some …ommon to all.
Q. 11. What are his Laws about Church-Officers?
A. First, He chose himself the first chief Officers, …nd he gave them their Commission,†Mat. 28. 19. Eph. 4. 6, 7, 8, 9. 16. Act. 14. 23. …ct. 15. describing their Work and Office; and he Authorized them to gather …nd form particular Churches, and their fixed Officers …t Pastors, and necessary Orders, and gave them the …xtraordinary Conduct and Seal of his Spirit, that their determinations might be the infallible significations of his Will, and his recorded Law to his Universal Church to the end of the World: His Spirit being the Perfecter of his Laws and Government.
Q. 12. How shall we be sure that his Apostles by the Spirit were Authorized to give Laws to all future Generations?
A. Because he gave them such Commission, to teach Men all that he Commanded. eAct. 10. 42. & 13. 47. Mat. 28. 19, 2… Ioh. 14. 16, 17, 26. & 15. 26, 27. & 16. 7. 13, 14 15. Rev. 2. 7, 11, 16, 17, 29. & 3. 6, 13, 2… 1 Pet. 1. 11.2. And promised them his Spirit to lead them into all Truth, and bring all things to their Remembrance, and to tell them what to say and do: And 3. Because he performed this Promise, in sending them that extraordinary measure of the Spirit: And 4. They spake as from Christ, and in his Name, and as by his Spirit: And, 5. They sealed all by the manifestation of that Spirit, in its Holy and Miraculous manifold Operation.fAct. 2. 4. Gal. 1. & 2. Mark 13. 1… Luke 12. 12. Isa. 33. 22.
Q. 13. Have not Bishops and Councils the same Power now?
A. No: To be the Instruments of Divine Legislation, and make Laws which God will call His Laws, is a special Prophetical Power and Office, such a… Moses had in making the Iewish Laws; which no… had that came after him. But when Prophetical Revelation hath made the Law, the following Office… have nothing to do; But, 1. To preserve that Law 2. And to expound it and apply it, and guide th… People by it, and themselves obey it. 3. And to determine undetermined mutable Circumstances. As the Iewish Priests and Levites were not to make another Law, but to preserve, expound and Rule by Moses Law; so the ordinary Ministers, Bishops or Councils are to do as to the Laws of God, sufficiently made by Christ, and the Spirit in his Apostles.gIam. 4. 12. Act. 1. 5, 8, & 2. 4, 33. & 15. 28. 1 Cor. 2. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Cor. 7. 25. Act. 1. 2. 1 Cor. 14. 37. Col. 2. 22. Mat. …5. 9.
Q. 14. What are the New Laws which he hath made for all?
A. The Covenant of Grace in the last Edition is his Law, hIoh. 1. 9, 10, 11. Ioh. 3. 16. Mat. 28. 19, 20. 1 Cor. 15. 3, 4, 5. & 11, 28. Act. 13. 47. & 10. 42. Ioh. 14. 21.by which he obligeth Men to Repent and Believe in him as Incarnate, Crucified, and Ascended, and Interceding and Reigning in Heaven, and as one that will Judge the World at the Resurrection: As one that pardoneth Sin by his Sacrifice and Merit, and Sanctifieth Believers by his Spirit: And to believe in God as thus reconciled by Him, and in the Holy Ghost as thus given by him: And he promiseth Pardon, Grace and Glory to all true Believers, and threatneth Damnation to impenitent Unbelievers: And he commandeth all Believers to devote themselves thus to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, by a solemn Vow in Baptism, and live in the Communion of Saints, in his Church, and Holy Worship, and the frequent Celebration of the Memorial of his Death in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, especially on the first Day of the Week which he hath separated to that Holy Comemoration and Communion by his Resurrection, and the sending of his Spirit, and by his Apostles. And he hath commanded all his Disciples to live in Unity, Love and Beneficence, taking up the Cross, and following him in Holiness and Patience, in hope of Everlasting Life.iIoh. 13. 34. Rev. 1. Mat. 28. 18. Ioh. 13. 2. … ▪ 17. 3. & 5. 22. Isa. 9. 6. Rom. 14. 9. Col. 1. Heb. … ▪ & 7.
Q. 15. But some say that Christ was only a Teacher, and not a Law-giver.
A. His Name is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given him, and all things put into his Hands; the Government is laid on his Shoulders, and the Father (without him) judgeth no Man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son. For this end he died, rose and revived, that he might be Lord of the Dead and of the Living; He is at God's right Hand above a… Principalities and Powers, and every Name, being Head over all things to the Church.kEph. 1. 23. Luke 17. 9, 10. & 19, 15, & … Rev. 22. 14. 1 Ioh. 2. 4. & 3. 24. & 5. 3.
Q. 16. May not this signifie only his Kingdom as … is God, or that which he shall have hereafter only at the Resurrection?
A. 1. It expresly speaketh of his Power as God and Man the Redeemer: 2. And he made his Law i… this Life, though the Chief and Glorious part of h… Judgment and Execution, be hereafter. How els… should Men here keep his Law, and hereafter … judged according to it?
He that denieth Christ to be the Lawgiver, denied him to be King, and he that denieth him to be King denieth him to be Christ, and is no Christian.
Q. 17. Hath Christ any Vicegerent or Universal Governour under him on Earth?
A. No: It is his Prerogative to be the Universal Governour: for no mortal Man is capable of it: As no one Monarch is capable of the Civil Government of all the Earth, nor was ever so mad as to pretend to it; much less is any one capable of being an Universal Church-Teacher, Priest, and Governour over all the Earth; when he cannot so much as know it, or send to all, or have access into the contending Kingdoms of the World: To pretend to this is mad Usurpation.l1 Cor. 12. 5, 18. 20, 27, 28, 29. 1 Cor. 3. 4, 5, 6, 11, 21, 22, 23. Mat. 23. 7, 8, 10, 11. Eph. 4. 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. & 5. 23, 24. Mat. 18. 1, 4. Mar. 9. 34. Luke 9. 46. & 22. 24, 25, 26. 1 Pet. 5. 2, 3, 4.
Q. 18. But had not Peter the Monarchical Government of all the Church on Earth in his Time?
A. No: He was Governour of none of the Eleven Apostles, nor of Paul; nor ever exercised any such Government: no nor it seems, so much as presided at their meeting, Act. 15.
Q. 19. But is not a General Council the Universal Governour?
A. No: 1. Else the Church would be no Church, when there is no General Council, for want of its Unifying Government: And 2. There indeed never was a general Council of all the Christian World: But they were called by the Roman Emperours, and were called General as to that Empire (as the Subscriptions yet shew). 3. And there never can be an Universal Council: It were madness and wickedness to attempt it: To send for the Aged Bishops from all Nations of the Christian World, (when none is Empowered to determine Whither or When) even from the Countreys of Turks, and other Infidels, or Princes in War with one another that will not permit them: And what room shall hold them, and what one Language can they all speak? And how few will live to return home with the Decrees? And will not the Countrey were they meet, by nearness, have more Voices than all the rest? And what is all this to do? To condemn Christ as not having made Laws sufficient for the Universal part of Government, but leave such a burden on uncapable Men: And to tell the Church that Christian Religion is a mutable growing thing, and can never be known to attain its ripeness, but by new Laws must be made still bigger, and another thing.
Q. 20. But the Bishops of the World may meet by their Delegates?
A. Those Delegates must come from the same Countreys and distance: And how shall the whole World know that they are truly chosen? And that all the Choosers have trusted them with their Judgments, Consciences and Salvation, and will stand to what they do?
Q. 21. But if the Universal Church be divided into Patriarchates, and chief Seats, those can Govern the whole Church when there is no General Council; even by their Communicatory Letters?
A. 1. And who shall divide the World into those chief Seats, and determine which shall be chief in all the Kingdoms of Infidels, and Christian Kings in the World? And which shall be Chief when they differ among themselves? How many Patriarchs shall there be, and where? There were never Twelve Pretenders to succeed the Twelve Apostles: The Roman Empire had three First, and Five after within it self: But that was by Humane institution; and over one Empire; and that's now down; and those Five Seats have many Hundred Years been separated, and condemning one another; so far are they from being One Unifying Aristocracy to Govern all the World: And if they were so, then Europe is Schismatical, that now differs from the Major Vote of those Patriarchs.
Q. 22. But did not the Apostles as one Colledge Govern the whole Church?
A. 1. I proved to you before, that the Holy Ghost was given the Apostles to perfect Universal Ligislation, as Christs Agent and Advocate, and that in this they have no Successors. 2. And it was easie for them to exercise Acts of Judicial Determination over such as were among them, and near them, when the Church was small. 3. And yet we read not that ever they did this in a General Council, or by the Authority of a Major Vote. For that meeting in Act. 15. was no General Council, and the Elders and Brethren joyned with them that belonged to Ierusalem: and they were all by the same Spirit of the same mind, and none Dissenters. Every single Apostle had the Spirit of Infallibility for his proper work: And they had an Indefinite charge of the whole Church, and in their several circuits exercised it: Paul could by the Spirit deliver a Law of Christ to the World, without taking it from the other Apostles, Gal. 2. The Apostles were foundation Stones, but Christ only was the Head Corner-stone. They never set up a Judicial Government of all the Churches under themselves as a constitutive Unifying Aristocracy, by whose major Vote all must be Governed: When they had finished the work of Universal Legislation, and settled Doctrine and Order, for which they stayed together at Ierusalem, they dispersed themselves over the World, and we never find that they Judicially governed the Churches either in Synods or by Letters, by a major Vote, but settled Guides in ever Church as God by Moses did Priests and Levites, that had no Legislative Power.mEph. 2. 20. 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 11, 12. & 3. 21, 22. Gal. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 11. 5. & 12. 11.
Q. 23. But hath not Christ his Subordinate Official Governours?
A. Yes: Magistrates by the Sword, and Pastors by the Word and Keyes: These are Rulers in their several Circuits, as all the Judges and Justices, and Shoolmasters of England are under the King: But he that should say, that all these Judges and Justices are one Sovereign Aristocracy, to make Laws and Judge by them by Vote (as one Person political, though many Natural) would give them part of the Supream power, and not only the Official: All the Pastors in the World, Guide all the Churches in the World, by parts, and in their several Provinces, and not as One Politick Person.
Q. 24. But how is the Universal Church visible, if it have no Visible Unifying Head and Government under Christ?
A. It is Visible, 1. In that the Members and their Profession are visible. 2. And Christ's Laws are visible, by which he ruleth them. 3. And their particular Pastors are visible in their places. 4. And Christ was visible on Earth, and is now visible in his Court in Heaven, and will visibly Judge the World e're long: And God hath made the Church no further Visible; nor can Man do it.
Q. 25. But should not the whole Church be One?
A. It is one: It is one Body of Christ, having one God, and one Head, or Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one Spirit, one Hope of Glory.nEph. 4. 1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16. 1 Cor. 12.
Q. 26. But should they not do all that they do in Unity and Concord?
A. Yes, as far as they are capable: Not by feigning a new Universal Legislative Power in Man, or making an Universal Head under Christ, but by agreeing all in the Faith and Laws that Christ hath left us: And Synods may well be used to maintain such Union as far as capacity reacheth, and the case requireth: But an Universal Synod, and a partial or National, a Governing Synod, and a Synod for Concord of Governours, differ as much as doth a Monarch or Governing Senate over all the World, and a Dyet, or an Assembly of Christian Princes met for mutual help and concord in the conjunction of their strength and Councils.
Q. 27. What is the Pastoral Power of the Church Keyes?
A. It is the Power of making Christians by the oMat. 28. 19, 20. 1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. Heb. 13. 17, 24. Tit. 3. 10, 11, & 1. 13. 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1 Tim. 3. 5. Isa. 22. 22. Luke 11. 52. Rev. 3. 7. & 1. 18. Mat. 16. 19.Preaching of the Gospel, and Receiving them so made into Communion of Christ and his Church by Baptism, and feeding and guiding them by the same Word, and communicating the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood in his Name, declaring Pardon and Life to the Penitent, and the contrary to the Impenitent, and applying this to the particular Persons of their own charge on just occasion, and so being the stated Judges who shall by them be received to Church Communion, or be rejected, and this as a presage of Christ's future Judgment.
Q. 28. But have not Pastors or Bishops, a power of constraint by the Sword, that is, by Corporal punishments or mulcts?
A. No: That is proper to Magistrates, Parents and Masters, in their several places: Christ hath forbidden it to Pastors, Luke 22. and appointed them another kind of work.pLuke 22. 24, 25, 26. 1 Pet. 5. 3, 4. 2 Tim. 2. 24. Tit. 1. 7.
Q. 29. But if Bishops judge that Civil Magistrates are bound to destroy or punish Hereticks, Schismaticks or Sinners, are not such Magistrates thereby bound to do it?
A. They are bound to do their duty whoever is their Monitor: But if Prelates bid them sin, they sin by obeying them: Nor may a Magistrate punish a Man meerly because Bishops judge him punishable, without trying the Cause themselves.
Q. 30. But if it be not of Divine Institution that all the Church on Earth should have one Governing Unifying Head (Monarchical or Aristocratical) is it not meet as suited to humane Prudence?
A. Christ is the builder of his own Church or House, and hath not left it to the Wit or Will of Man,qHeb. 3. 2, 5, 6. to make him a Vicegerent, or an Unifying Head or Ruler of his whole Church, that is, to set up an Usurper against him under his own Name, which is Naturally uncapable of the Office.
Q. 31. But sure Unity is so excellent that we may conceive God delighteth in all that promoteth it?
A. Yes: And therefore he would not leave the Terms of Unity to the Device of Men, in which they will never be of a mind, nor would he have Usurpers divide his Church by imposing impossible Terms of Unity. Must God needs make one Civil Monarch or Senate to be the Unifying Governour of all the Earth as one Kingdom, because he is a lover of Unity? The World is politically Unified by one God and Soveraign Redeemer, as this Kingdom is by one King, and not by one Civil humane Supream Ruler, Personal or Collective: Men so mad as to dream of one Unifying Church Governing Monarch or Aristocracy, are the unfittest of all Men to pretend to such Government.rIoh. 17. 22, 23, 24. Eph. 4. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 16.
Q. 32. At least should we not extend this Unifying Government as far as we can, even to Europe, if not to all the World?
A. Try first one Unifying Civil Government (Monarchical or Aristocracitical) for Europe, and call Princes Schismaticks (as these Men do us) for refusing to obey it, and try the success. 2. And who shall make this European Church-Soveraign? And by what Authority, and limit his Kingdom? 3. And what is all this to do? To make better Laws than Christs! When were any so mad as to say that all Europe must have one Soveraign Person, or Colledge of Physicians, School-masters, Philosophers or Lawyers, to avoid Schism among them. 4. Is not Agreement by Voluntary consent a better way to keep Civil and Ecclesiastical Unity in Europe, than to have one Ruling King, Senate, or Synod over all. Councils are for voluntary concord, and not the Soveraign Rectors of thei… Brethren.
Q. 33. But are not National Churches necessary?
A. No doubt but Christ would have Nations discipled, baptized and obey him: And Kings to govern them as Christian Nations, and all men should endeavour that whole Nations may be Christians, and the Kingdoms of the World be voluntarily the Kingdoms of Christ. But no man can be a Christian against his will: Nor hath Christ ordained that each Kingdom shall have one Sacerdotal Head, Monarchical or Aristocratical. But Princes, Pastors and People, must promote Love, Unity and Concord in their several places.
Q. 34. So much for Gods publick Kingdom on Earth: But is there not also a Kingdom of God in every Christians Soul?
A. One mans Soul is not fitly called A Kingdom: But Christ as King doth govern every faithful Soul.
Q. 35. What is the Government of each Believer?
A. It is Christs Ruling us by the Laws which he hath made for all his Church, proclaimed and explained and applyed by his Ministers, and imprinted on the Heart by his holy Spirit, and judging accordingly.
Q. 36. What is the Kingdom of Glory?
A. It hath two degrees: The first is the Glorious reign of our Glorified Redeemer over this World, and over the Heavenly City of God before its Perfection; which began at the time of Christs Ascension (his Resurrection being the Proeme) and endeth at the Resurrection. 2. The perfect Kingdom of Glory, when all the Elect shall be perfected with Christ, and his work of Redemption finished, which begins at the Resurrection and shall never end.
Q. 37. What will be the state of that Glorious Kingdom?
A. It containeth the full Collection of all Gods Elect, who shall be perfected in Soul and Body, and employed in the perfect Obedience, Love and Praise of God, in perfect Love and Communion with each other, and all the blessed Angels and their Glorified Redeemer, and this is in the sight of his Glory and the Glory of God, and in the continual joyful sence of his Love, and essential Infinite Perfection: All imperfection, sin, temptation and suffering being for ever ceased.
Q. 38. But some think this Kingdom will be begun on Earth a Thousand Years before the General Resurrection; and some think that after the Resurrection it will be on Earth.sRev. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 12, 13.
A. This very Prayer puts us in hope that there are yet better things on Earth to be expected than the Church hath yet enjoyed. For when Christ bids us pray that [His Name may be hallowed, his Kingdom come, and his Will done on Earth as it is done in Heaven,] we may well hope that some such thing will be granted; for he hath promised to give us whatever we ask according to his Will in the Name of Christ: And he hath not bid us pray in vain.
But whether there shall be a Resurrection of th… Martyrs a thousand years before the general Resurrection; or whether there shall be only a Reformation by a holy Magistracy and Ministry; and how far Christ will manifest▪ himself on Earth; … confess are Questions too hard for for me to determine: He that is truly devoted to Christ, shall have his part in his Kingdom, though much be now unknown to him, of the Time, Place and Manner.tMat. 6. 20, 21. Mat. 5. 12. Mat. 19. 21▪ Eph. 1. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 18. Heb. 11. 16. & 12. 2… ▪ 23. 1 Cor. 15. 49. Phil. 3. 20. Col. 1. 5. 1 P… ▪ 1. 4. Heb. 10. 34.
And as to the Glory after the General Resurrection, certainly it will be Heavenly, for we shal… be with Christ, and like to the Angels. And th… N…w Ierusalem being the Universality of the Bless… how with Christ, may well be said to come do… from Heaven, in that he will bring all the Bless… with him, and in the Air with them will judge t… World: But whether only a New Generation sh… inhabit the New Earth, and the Glorified rule the… as Angels now do; or whether Heaven and Eart… shall be laid common together, or Earth made … Glorious as Heaven, I know not.
But the perfect knowledge of Gods Kingdom, … proper to them that enjoy it: Therefore even w… who know it but imperfectly, must daily pray tha… it may come, that we may perfectly know it whe… we are perfected therein.