The Doctrine of Practical Praying, Analyses · Analysis of a petition 2
V. 10. foreign , Thy kingdome come. What Gods kingdome is.
THe first petition conteined the main scope of all our desires: This and the next contein the way and means whereby that end is to be atchieved: for then is God glorified when his kingdome is advanced and his will is performed.
The meaning of the words, Thy kingdome come.
We must know that there are two kingdomesTwo kingdomes in this world: the first the kingdome of darknesse. in the world ruling in the minds and hearts of men; the one of darknesse, the other of light; the one of Satan, the other of God, Col. 1. 13. unto the one of which every man in the world is subject. The kingdome of Satan and darknesse is, whereby the children of disobedience being blindfolded and bewitched of the devil go on and continue in ignorance and sinne to their own perdition. The prince of this kingdome is Satan, the prince of the air, Ephes. 2. 2. and God of this world, 2. Cor. 4. 4. John 12. 31. The subjects are all men by nature, untill they be brought out of this kingdome of Satan into the kingdome of God: and then is the kingdome of God said to come to them. But in this subjection do none finally remain but the reprobate, who are the children of disobedience, in whom Satan worketh effectually▪ Ephes. 2. 2. and blindeth their minds, that the light of the glorious gospel of the kingdome of God shine not unto them, 2. Cor. 4. 4. and carrieth them away captive to the obedience of his will, 2. Tim. 2. 26. The law of this kingdome whereby he ruleth is sinne: Hujus regni foreign, The law of this kingdome is to be without law. This sin reigneth in the mortall bodies of men, m…king them give up their members to be instruments of sinne unto iniquity, Rom. 6. 12, 13. untill it please God to let his kingdome come upon them, ruling them by his word and spirit. The end of this kingdome is endlesse perdition, 2. Thess. 1. 9. and against this kingdome are we taught to pray in this place, &c.
The other is the kingdome of God: And this isThe second is the kingdome of God, 1. uni…ll over …ll. either universall or speciall. The universall is that whereby the Lord ruleth over all things, even over his enemies; whereunto all things are subject, and from which subjection nothing can exempt it self. This of Divines is called regnum potentiae, the kingdome of power: whereof the holy Ghost speaketh Psal. 99. 1, 2. and 145. 13. and in the clause of this prayer; For thine is the kingdome. But most plainly Psal. 103. 19. The Lord hath established his throne in heaven, and his kingdome is over all. This kingdome nothing can resist, nothing can hinder, no not although all creatures should band themselves together against it.
The speciall kingdome of God is that whereby2. Speciall, over the Church. he ruleth not over all men in generall, but onelyonly over the Church, that is, the company of the elect. And as there be two parts of the Church, the one militant upon the earth, the other triumphant in heaven; so are there two parts of Gods kingdome: the first of grace, the Church militant; the second of glory, the Church triumphant. The former is the blessed estate of Christians in whom he reigneth in this life: for it doth not consist in meat and drink, or in any temporall or worldly thing, but it is righteousnes, that is, assurance o… justification, and peace of conscience arising from thence, Rom. 5. 1. and joy in the holy Ghost, a consequent of both the other, Rom. 14. 17. The latter is the glorious and blessed estate of theOf the kingdome of glory. faithfull after this life, where they shall have the fruition of God in whose presence there is fulnesse of joy, Psal. 16. 11.&c. Of these two the former is the way to the latter: therefore whosoever would be an inheritour of the kingdome of glory in heaven, must first be a subject of God in the kingdome of grace in this life, Luke 22. 30. and therefore out of the Church there is no salvation. And on the other side, whosoever is a true subject of God in the kingdome of grace, shall be an heir of glory in heaven: and therefore to them that be true members of the Church there is no condemnation. And this David teacheth us, Psal. 15. 1. Who shall sojourn, &c. both parts of that question concerning one and the same man.Of the kingdome of grace.
The kingdome of grace is that government whereby the Lord doth effectually rule in our hearts by his word and Spirit, working in us his own good work of grace, and making us fellow-citizens, and meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints, and of the houshold of God, Ephes. 2. 19. Saints in light, Col. 1. 12. In this kingdome the Prince is the Lord, who exerciseth this kingdome by his Sonne, Psal. 96. 10. and 97. 1. and 110. 1. The people are the Church; which is therefore called the kingdome of heaven, Matth. 5. 19. and the particular subjects are all true Christians. The sceptre of this kingdome is the word of God, Psal. 110. which is also the law whereby he reigneth; and is therefore called the word of the kingdome, Matth. 13. 19. the gospel of the kingdome of God, Mark 1. 14. The preaching of which word and gospel is also called the kingdome of heaven, Matth. 13. 11. and 22. 2, &c. Where by the way we may note, that where the word of God and gospel of the kingdome is truly preached, there is the kingdome & consequently the Church of God: and therefore that may be also verified of us which our Saviour Christ speaketh of the Jews, that the kingdome of God is amongst us, Luke 17. 21. This preaching of the word is also called the arm of God, Isa. 53. 1. whereby he pulleth men out of darknesse into light, and out of the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26. 18. But especially the Lord ruleth in our hearts by his Spirit, drawing us unto his Sonne, bending and bowing us to the obedience of his word, inlightening our minds, and sanctifying our hearts, and leading us into all truth, &c. mortifying sinne and corruption in us, and renewing us unto holinesse of life. The end of this kingdome is the kingdome of glory. And therefore Christ saith to his Church, Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock, &c. For therefore doth he pull us out of the kingdome of darknesse, and bring us into the kingdome of grace, that by faith we may have remission of sinnes and inheritance among them that are sanctified, Acts 26. 18. By reason of the certainty hereof it is said that those that believe have everlasting life, John 5. 24. and are translated from death unto life: that those whom God hath justified he hath also glorified, Rom. 8. 30.
The kingdome of glory in respect of us is the blessed estate of the godly in heaven, when as God shall be all in all, 1. Cor. 15. 28. where God hath prepared such things for them that love him as neither the eye of man hath seen, nor eare heard, nor &c. 1. Cor. 2. 9.
What this word come signifieth.
foreign, Adveniat. This word Come, is diversly to be expounded according to the divers significations of the kingdome of God. The universall kingdome, or kingdome of power, is said to come when it is manifested and made apparent that all things are guided by the power and providence of God.
Here therefore we are taught to pray, That theHow Gods universall kingdome is said to come. Lord would vouchsafe to advance his kingdome, & bring all things into subjection under his feet; and also that all men may acknowledge this universall kingdome of God, ruling all things according to the counsel of his will, and may willingly submit themselves to the government of this absolute Lord, who hath placed his seat in heaven, and his kingdome ruleth over all; That he would subdue his enemie…, Psal. 110. 2. governing them with an iron rod, Revel. 12. 5. and 19. 15. and bruising them like a potters vessel, Psal. 2. 9. That he would execute his holy and eternall decrees, both in the generall government of the world, and also in the saving of the elect, and destroying the reprobate, to his own glory, working all things according to the counsel of his will. And albeit this kingdome cannot be resisted or hindred maugre all the enemies thereof, yet we are to pray that it may come; and that he would exalt his kingdome, as before glorifie his name: not meaning thereby to move God, but to shew the concurrence of our will with Gods will, and our affection towards the advancement of Gods kingdome, and zeal towards his glory.
Secondly, the kingdome of grace is said to come How the kingdom… of grace cometh.unto us, whenas it is either begun & erected in us, or continued and increased amongst us. And in this behalf we are taught to pray not onelyonly for the coming of this kingdome, but also for the granting of the means whereby it cometh, & also removing the impediments of the coming. I As touching the coming it self, we are to note out of this word, That we come not to this kingdome of grace of our selves, but this kingdome cometh unto us, and in coming preventeth us, as our Saviour speaketh, Luke 11. 20. foreign, is come upon you: for we naturally are the bondslaves of Satan, and subjects of the kingdome of darknesse; out of which bondage we are not able to come except the Lord do pull us: and as our Saviour saith, John 6. 44. No man cometh to the Sonne but whom the Father draweth. Wherein appeareth the undeserved mercy of God in preventing us, in seeking that which was lost, in being found of them that sought him not, in coming to them that neither could nor would (through their own default) come unto him. And secondly, because there must be alwayes a daily progresse in this kingdome, and work of grace in this life, therefore we are taught to pray daily that this kingdome may come.
Now let us see how this kingdome cometh, andThree degrees of the coming of Christskingdome. what it is which here we ask. Of the coming of this kingdome there be three degrees: The first is the pulling and drawing us out of the kingdome of Satan and power of darknesse unto God; which is our effectuall calling, whereby we are brought from the spirituall bondage of sinne and Satan into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God, and are made fellowcitizens of the Saints, & domestici Dei, of the houshold of God, Ephes. 2. 19. And this calling is wrought by this means. First, to us sleeping in our sinnes the word of God is sent to rouse us, the law shewing us our sinnes and the punishments due for them, the Gospel promising salvation upon the condition of faith and repentance. Secondly, the spirit of God concurring with the word inlighteneth our minds to understand the word of God, inclineth our minds to attend thereunto, mollifieth our hard and stony hearts in the sight and sense of sinnes; and then travelling under the burden of them with wearinesse, he stirreth up in us a hunger and thirst after the righteousnesse of Christ and reconciliation with God, and teacheth us to pray with sighs which cannot be expressed.
Secondly, when the Spirit of God applieth the merits and efficacy of Christs death and r…surrection to the justification of the sinner, and by degrees worketh in him faith and assurance of the pa…don of his sinnes; whereupon followeth peace of conscience, and joy in the holy Ghost: In which three t…e Apostle saith that the kingdome of God doth consist, Rom. 14. 17.
Thirdly, when Christ our King ruleth and reigneth in our hearts by his word and Spirit, teaching us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, justly and holily in this pr…sent world, expecting the happy hope and glorious appearance of the great God our Saviour Jesus Christ, Tit. 2. 12, 13. that is, when by his Spirit he applieth the merits of his death to the mortifying of sinne in us, and of his resurrection to raise us up to newnesse of life.
And this we desire not onelyonly for our selves, but also for the whole company of the elect, That the Lord would from all sorts gather his Church, electing them from the world, engraffing them into his Son, justifying them by faith, and sanctifying them by his Spirit; Th…t he would confirm them by his grace, that they may increase more and more, and be inriched with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things, and finally by the power of God through faith may be preserved unto everlasting life, 1. Pet. 1. 5.
And because the Church of God is, as we have said, the kingdome of God, we desire not onelyonly that God would gath…r his Church, but also that he would inlarge it more and more, by the visible adding unto it those that are to be saved; that h… would prosper and preserve it, Psal. 122. 6. protect and defend it from all enemies both corporall and spirituall; that he would give all graces needfull and expedient unto them. And thus we are to pray that the kingdome of Gods grace may come uponus and upon all his chosen servants.
The means are to be prayed for of the coming of Christs kingdome.
II. Now because this kingdome cometh by means, we are also to pray for them. The means are either outward or inward. The outward are1. Outward means. the preaching of the word, and Christs government by his min…ters. The preaching of the word▪ which is the Gospel of the kingdome of God, is such a notable means of the coming of the kingdome that it is called the kingdome of God. For whereas there be three degrees of this coming, our Vocation, Justification, and Sanctification; every one of them ordinarily is wrought by the preaching of the word. We are called outwardly by the Gospel; We are justified by faith: faith cometh by hearing of the word, Rom. 10. 17. We are sanctified by the word of truth; by the preaching of the word we are begotten unto God. Therefore we are to pray that the word of God may have a free passage and be glorified, 2. Thess. 3. 1. and also that the preaching of the word and Gospel be not taken from us, or, as Matth. 21. 43. that the kingdome of God be not taken from us, but continued to us and our posterity. And because there cannot be preaching of the word except there be preachers, Rom. 10. 14. we are taught to pray, Matth. 9. 38. that God would send forth labourers into his harvest; that he would furnish them with Vrim and Thummim, gifts sufficient, Ephes. 6. 19. that he would clothe them with righteousnes, Psal. 132. 9. that he would open unto thē a doore of the word, that they may speak the mysterie of Christ, Col. 4. 3. And because there cannot be ordinarily learned guides and scribes taught unto the kingdome of God, except they be first trained up in good literature, we are to pray also for the Universities and schools of the prophets, which are the seminaries and seed-plots of the Church.
The second outward means is the government ofThe second outward means. Christ by his servants both in the Church and Commonwealth. In the Church, by the Ministers and governours exercising in the name of Christ admonition, suspension, excommunication. For whom we are to pray, That they may execute their offices according to the will of God, as shall most serve for the advancement of the spirituall kingdome of Christ, and defacing of the kingdome of sin and Satan; That the people submit themselves to the censures of the Church, and be reclaimed thereby. In the Commonwealth, by Magistrates, who are Gods ministers also, &c. Rom. 13. whom God hath advanced that they might be nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers to the Church, Isai. 49. 13. For whom also we are to pray, 1. Tim. 2. 2. That after the example of David, Josias, Ezechias, they may reform religion, defend the truth & profession of it, suppresse idolatry and superstition, punish sinne, &c. That the subjects may live in all obedience unto them as unto the ordinance of the Lord.
The inward means is the operation of Gods Spirit2. The inward means of the coming of Gods kingdome. in the souls of men. For it is the Spirit of God which maketh the outward means effectuall, and without which neither the preaching of the word nor the other means of government will any whit prevail, 1. Cor. 3. 7. Deut. 29. 4. It is the Spirit of God who in the ministery of the word knocketh at the doore of our hearts, and inlighteneth our minds to understand it: John 16. 13. he leadeth us into all truth; 1. John 2. 20, 27. he teacheth us; he openeth our hearts to listen unto it, as he did the heart of Lydia, Acts 16. 14. he maketh the word the savour of life unto life. For without the Spirit the word is a dead letter, the Scripture a seale… book: without him we cannot say that Jesus is Christ: without him we cannot pray, &c. He mollifieth our hearts, and worketh in us that godly sorrow working repentance never to be repented of: which stirreth up in us earnest desires, and maketh us to call upon God with sighs unspeakable; and is therefore called the Spirit of supplication. He worketh in us the assurance of our reconciliation with God, which we call faith; and is therefore called the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, &c. He sanctifieth us throughout, mortifying sinne, and raising us up into newnesse of life, Ezech. 36. 26, 27. working in us all sanctifying and saving graces; and is therefore called the Spirit of grace: and so every grace is called by the name of the Spirit, because it is a gift of the Spirit; as the Spirit of wisdome and revelation, Ephes. 1. 17. Isai. 11. 2.
In this petition therefore we desire that the Lord would grant us his Spirit (which he hath promised, Luke 11. 13.) and that by this Spirit he would rule and reigne in us, and quicken us, that being animated thereby we may behave our selves as members of Christ, &c. ruled and guided by his sanctifying Spirit.
The impediments of Gods kingdome to be prayed against.
III. Lastly, because the word foreign, let it come, seemeth to import and presuppose some obstacles and impediments whereby this kingdome is hindered we do also pray that these may be removed.
The impediments are these: First, the three main enemies of our salvation are also the chief oppugners of the kingdome of grace, the Devil, World, and Flesh. The devil seeketh by all means the ruine1. The D… vil. of the Church in generall, Revel. 12. and also of the particular members. Whilest this strong man possesseth his hold (that is, every naturall man) all things are at quiet: but when the Lord by his word and Spirit draweth any out of the kingdome and power of darknesse, then he bestirreth him, and by all tentations both by himself and his instruments he seeketh to entangle him in sinne. When the seed of the word is sown in the hearts of men, he carrieth it away, as the birds do the corn which fall on the wayes, Matth. 13. 19. or he blindfoldeth them that they shall not see the light of the gospel, Ephes. 4. 4. or if they understand it, he carrieth them away captive to the obedience of his will. If they be called to repentance, he perswadeth them to deferre it; They may repent hereafter as well, &c. If to amendment of life; he telleth them that if they be elected, they may live as they list; if rejected, they cannot be saved: If to humiliation; that it is a doctrine that belongeth to notorious sinners, &c. Moreover, he opposeth himself to the Ministers and their ministery, Zech. 3. 1. he suborneth false teachers, and is a lying spirit in their mouthes. Therefore we pray that the Lord would bind Satan, dissolve his works, and tread him under our feet, Rom. 16. 20.
The second is the world and the lusts thereof,2. The World. which choke the seed of Gods word, Matth. 13. 22. (the glorious shew of this world, 1. Cor. 7. 31.) By these Satan as by nails naileth men to the earth that they cannot mind heavenly things: By them as baits he allureth to sinne, as snares entangleth to perdition. Which make men citizens of the earth, and misse of their freedome in heaven; which cause men place their paradise upon the earth, and not to care for the kingdome of heaven; (For a man cannot Matth. 6. 24.serve God and Mammon, or be a worldling and yet a subject of this kingdome) which make worldly men sell their birthright with Esau, &c. therefore we pray that the Lord would deliver us from the evil world, Gal. 1. 4. wain us from it; that we may renounce all worldly lusts; that we may use the world so as we abuse it not, 1. Cor. 7. 31. that the world may be crucified unto us and we to the world, Gal. 6. that by faith we may overcome the world, 1. John 5. 4. and that we may behave our selves not as worldlings minding earthly things, but as pilgrimes on the earth and …itizens of heaven, and fellow-citizens of the saints, Ephes. 2. 19. whose foreign, oonversation, is in heaven, Phil. 3. 19, 20.
The third is our Flesh, that is, our own corrupt3. The Flesh nature, the wisdome whereof is e…mity against God; which lusteth against the spirit; which sendeth out continuall lusts, as it were sparkles out of a furnace, which fight against our souls; which the devil abuseth as his bawd to pollute us and to beget in us all manner of sinnes, which bring forth death. Therefore we pray that the Lord would reigne in us by his Spirit; that we may not be carnall but spirituall; that we may not walk after the flesh but after the spirit; that, as being pilgrimes on earth but citizens of heaven, we may abstein from fleshly lusts, &c. 1. Pet. 2. 11. that we may crucifie the flesh and the lusts thereof, Gal. 5. 24. In a word, we desire that the Lord would confound the kingdome of darknesse, whereby the devil ruleth in the hearts of men, using for his instruments or souldiers the lusts of the world and of the flesh.
The outward enemies of Gods kingdome.
But these were spirituall enemies. And we are not onelyonly to pray against them, but also against the outward enemies of the Church, which is the kingdome of God: And these are either open and professed enemies, as the Turks and Infidels (the great Turk being that foreign, or Abaddon, that maketh havock of the Church, Revel. 9. 11.) or else close and covert enemies which under the name and profession of Christ oppugne the kingdome of Christ, as Antichrist & his Synagogue, that is the Pope and the Church of Rome. For notwithstanding all their glorious profession, that they and they alone are the Church of God, yet these are they that say, We will not have this man to reigne over us, but having received the mark of the beast are in subjection to the Pope under penalty of damnation: And he sitteth in, or rather sets himself against the Church, usurping sovereigne authority; and sitting as God in the throne of Christ, he deteineth the people in ignorance, making them believe that their implicite faith will save them: and so they lead them blindfolded after them as it were in a string, to perdition. For whose law reigneth amongst them? Gods, or their own? The breach of whose law more severely punished? To whose government are they subject? Gods, or their own? What doctrine do they teach? the word of God, or the inventions of men? The word of God, which is his sceptre; do they not suppresse this light of mens souls? do they not hide it from the people under a strange language, as it were under a bushel? do they follow the Lambe that have received the mark of the beast, and persecute with fire and sword all true professours? &c. Well, against these enemies, both secret and open, covert and discovered, that is, Gog and Magog, Revel. 20. we are taught to pray, that being subdued, (that is, either converted or subverted) the Church and kingdome of God may be advanced.
Besides these enemies there are also other impediments of the kingdome of God opposite to the outward means. As to the preaching of the word, 1. The insufficiency of Ministers not able to teach; 2. Their negligence and idlenesse; 3. Their causelesse non-residencie, and covetous multiplying benefices with cure; 4. The want of maintenance by impropriations and corruption of Patrones. All these we are to pray that they may be removed, and a free passage to his word granted.
Impediments opposite to government, are either no government but confusion in the Church and Commonweal; or else corrupt government, the rulers hindring rather then promoting the kingdome of Christ.
We see then what we desire when we pray that the kingdome of grace may come: viz. That where it is not it may be erected, and where it is it may be continued and enlarged; That he would blesse, preserve, and protect his Church: That the Lord would rule and reigne in us by his word and Spirit: That he would effectually call those which belonging to his election are not called: That he would justifie us by faith, sanctifie us by the holy Ghost, and make us and all his meet to be partakers with the Saints in light: That we may more and more feel in our selves the fruits of this kingdome, righteousnesse, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost: and to this end, That he would give a free passage to his word, and send faithfull labourers into his harvest, blessing them and their ministery, and also the seedplots thereof: That he would establish an holy government in the Church and Commonwealth, and blesse the governours, &c. That he would grant unto it the effectuall operation of the holy Spirit, making the outward means profitable: That he would confound the kingdome of darknesse, sinne, Satan and Antichrist: That the devil may be trod under our feet, the world crucified unto us and we to the world, the flesh with the lusts thereof mortified: That we may renounce and forsake (according to our vow in baptisme) the flesh, the world, and the devil: That all other impediments of his kingdome of grace and our salvation being removed, we may be preserved blamelesse to the coming of Christ, and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Vses. Wants to be bewailed.
Now let us come to the uses. First, our need which we have to make this prayer, by reason of our defection from God in our first parents, and our originall sinne derived from them. For before man fell from God by sinne, he was wholly subject to the kingdome of God, and conformable to his will in all righteousnesse and holinesse; his mind inlightened with knowledge, endued with wisdome, his conscience pure, his will holy and just, his affections orderly, the inferiour powers of his soul subordinate to the superiour, and all to God, the members of the body instruments of holinesse unto righteousnesse. But when as man fell from God by sinne, he became the subject of Satan, his mind darkened with ignorance & folly in spirituall things, his conscience impure, his will not onelyonly unjust but also unable to will that which is good, his affections inordinate, the inferiour faculties rebelling against the superiour, the members of the body instruments of sinne unto iniquity. We therefore that are bred and born in this state of disobedience, have great need to pray that the Lord would rule in us, that we may be renewed according to the image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse.
2. Our spirituall servitude and bondage under sinne and Satan: by reason whereof we are not able to come unto God, but must desire that his kingdome may come unto us. When we ceased to subject our selves to God, we became the subjects of Satan; when we left to be the servants of righteousnesse, we became the servants of sinne; when we left the image of God, we got the image of the devil. Naturally we are wholly carried away by the devil as captives to the obedience of his will, doing nothing but sinne, and pleasing our selves therein; thinking our selves free, as John 8. being most bond: and therefore if we did feel the power of sinne and Satan reigning in us, we would with great fervency and vehemency of affection desire that the Lord would pull us out of this power of darknesse, and translate us into the kingdome of his Sonne.
3. Our unthankfulnesse unto God that hath brought us out of this bondage into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God; especially considering he gave himself for us to this end, Luke 1. 74. Tit. 2. 14. 1. Pet. 2. 24. We had need therefore to pray that he would rule in us by his word and Spirit: For professing our selves to be redeemed by Christ, we behave our selves (many of us) as if we still were in the bondage of sinne: For, whom we obey, his servants we are.
4. Our neglect and contempt of the word.
5. Our resisting the good motions of his Spirit, and striving against the same: our contristation or making heavy the Spirit of God.
6. The remnants of the kingdome of darknesse or rather our heaps of sinnes and corruptions; our continuall lusts and concupiscences.
7. Our yielding to the temptations of Satan; our worldly minds following after pleasure, profit, or preferment; our not crucifying of the flesh, but rather walking therein.
And as we are to ask good things for others, so must we also bewail their wants. As when we see men plunged in sinne, and carried away headlong to their perdition, as the swine were into the sea, we ought to lament their desperate estate, Psal. 119. 136, 158. Ezech. 9. 4. We are to bewail all the impediments of the kingdome of Christ, disorder in the Church, confusion in the Commonweal, the want of the word, and causes thereof. Our hearts ought to yern within us, as our Saviours did, Matth. 9. 36. when we see a people living in ignorance and sinne, without means & without God in this world: and therefore for the supply of all these wants, we are in sense thereof to pray fervently, Let thy kingdome come.
Our duties in our lives.
1. In respect of the kingdome of power, That we acknowledge the Lord to be our absolute King: That we submit our selves to his providence: That we rest contented and well pleased with whatsoever he doth towards us, who doth all things according to the counsel of his will.
2. In respect of the kingdome of grace, we ought to have an earnest desire of the advancement of Gods kingdome, and zeal of the Churches good; and more particularly, that the Lord would reigne in us by his word and Spirit. And unto this desire must be joyned an holy endeavour, first in order and first in degree to seek the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, that is, that the Lord would rule in us by his word and Spirit, and that we may shew our subjection by bringing forth the fruits of righteousnesse.
3. A carefull using of the means which God hath appointed to advance his kingdome, & to work our salvation; to heare the word with submission, reverence, attention, good conscience, and desire to practiceit; to nourish the good motions of the Spirit, yielding our selves to be drawn thereby.
4. Thankfulnesse to God that he hath made us subjects of his kingdome, Col. 1. 12. Mark 11. 10. and care to behave our selves as subjects of this kingdome.
5. Diligent endeavour in our severall places and callings to advance and further the kingdome of Christ. Princes and Magistrates must be nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers of the Church, zealous by all good means to advance the kingdome of Christ, and to remove the impediments thereof, and to set themselves against the kingdome of darknesse, of sinne, Satan, and Antichrist; to root out all superstition and idolatry, and the relicks thereof; to reform religion where it is corrupt; to be defenders of the faith; to take order that there may be preachers in all places provided for, and see them discharge their duties; to punish sinners, and reward the vertuous. If we be Ministers, we are by preaching of the word in season and out of season, to do our endeavour to win men unto the Lord, &c. If private men, we must live in obedience to superiours in Church and Commonwealth, as to the ordinance of the Lord, our King ruling us by them. Whatsoever we are, our dutie is to labour by all means, 1. that we our selves may become subjects of the kingdome of grace, and 2. that by all good means we may win others unto the Lord.
6. To oppose our selves against the enemies of the Church both spirituall and temporall; to resist Satan and his temptations; to be wained from the world, and to mind heavenly things; to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit; to come out of Babylon into the Church of God, to keep us therein; to oppose our selves against Antichrist and his adherents, as being enemies of the kingdome of Christ.
But here the hypocrisie of very many is detected,The hypocrisie of many detected. who ask this petition with their mouthes but desire it not with their hearts: As first in respect of the universall kingdome, those that will not submit themselves to the providence of God, but desire rather that they were freed from all subjection unto God, they abuse God in making their prayer and pray against themselves, that God would advance his kingdome, and make his enemies his footstool, or break them with his iron sceptre like a potters vessel.
Secondly, in regard of the kingdome of grace; first, those that will not have Christ to reigne over them by his word and spirit, but cast off his yoke of subjection, Luke 19. 14. Psal. 2. 3. sonnes of Belial: such mock God when they say this prayer.
2. Those who living in ignorance and sinne, and consequently in spirituall bondage, please themselves as if they were free, John 8. 33. and therefore do not truly desire that Gods kingdome may come, because they have no sense of their own misery, &c.
3. Those that seek not the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, but set themselves to seek their own carnall and worldly desires.
4. Those magistrates, ministers, people, that seek not the advancement of Christs kingdome in themselves, contemning the word, quenching the spirit, nor yet in others. As for those Magistrates who in stead of cherishing the Church do persecute it, in stead of advancing Gods kingdome do deface it, erecting superstition and idolatry, suppressing vertue, advancing vice; or those Ministers that deprive the people of the food of their souls, and like dry nurses hunger-starve them; or those men whosoever that labour to withdraw men from allegeance unto God: all those oppose themselves to the kingdome of grace; and therefore being enemies, in making this prayer do ask their own confusion. For our Saviour Christ sheweth himself to be a King as well in subduing his enemies as in preserving his subjects, Psal. 110. 1. Psal. 2. 6.
5. Those that follow the temptations of the devil, the desires of the world, and lusts of the flesh, and please themselves in so doing, they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ, but are enemies to his crosse, Phil. 3. 19. and souldiers in Satans camp.
As therefore we desire the kingdome of grace so let us seek it, &c.
Of the coming of the kingdome of glory which we here desire.
Thirdly, we desire that the kingdome of glory may come, that is, that the number of the elect being accomplished, and all Gods enemies subdued, Christ would hasten his coming to judgement to our full redemption and glorification, that God may be all in all. Here therefore we pray, 1. That God would hasten the coming of Christ unto judgement; and to that end would accomplish the number of the elect, and subdue all his enemies under his feet: 2. That this kingdome may come unto us, and that it may be possessed of us; and to that end would make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, and would free and keep us from all evil unto his own everlasting kingdome, 2. Tim. 4. 18. and would by his power through faith preserve us unto everlasting life, 1. Pet. 1. 5.
Vses.
1. Dutie in our lives.
We must earnestly desire the coming of Christ, and believe that it shall come, and that to our salvation.
2. Wants to be bewailed.
First, the want of faith, by reason of the conscience of our manifold sinnes which make a separation between God and us, and make the remembrance of the judgement terrible unto us: so that we cannot desire the coming of Christ to judgement as we ought.
Secondly, the worldlinesse of our minds, in that we are all more or lesse overtaken of the desires thereof, and not so wained from the world as becometh pilgrimes on earth; so that many of us are so farre from desiring another life that they could be content to live here for ever.
Thirdly, our sinnes must be as an heavie burden unto us; that being weary we may earnestly desire to be dissolved, and so disburdened of them, Rom. 7. 23, 24. Phil. 1. 23.
Fourthly, we must bewail and be weary of the sinnes of the world, whereby Gods name is dishonoured, his kingdome hindred, his will neglected, that so we may truly desire that an end may be put to these evil dayes, and may say, How long, Lord, holy and true? Revel. 6. 10.
We must believe 1. That Christ will come toThings …o be believed. judgement, and that there will be a kingdome of glory after this life: for these two articles of our faith are here presupposed: For if we be in the number of those mockers of whom Peter foretold, 2. Epistle 3. 4. that believe not this second coming of Christ, &c. we shall but mock God if we make this petition. 2. That Christ will come to our salvation, and that we shall be inheritours of that kingdome: for we cannot else truly desire his coming, &c.
Duties in our lives.
I. We must give all diligence to make our calling and election sure: For by this means an entring shall be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of the Lord, &c. 2. Pet. 1. 10, 11.
II. If we pray in faith that our request may beWe must expect I. with faith: granted, we must expect Christs second coming. And we must expect it with faith, fervency, patience, and vigilancie. With faith, that is, with perswasion & assurance that Christ will come to our full redemption. For whē a man can truly say by faith, that our foreign, conversation, is in heaven, he will also adde with the Apostle, from whence we look for a S…viour, Phil. 3. 20. and consequently expect it with chearfulnesse, and not with unhappy Felix tremble at the mention of judgement. For howsoever it shall be a day of unspeakable terrour to the wicked, yet to the godly it shall be a day of singular comfort: For then the Lord shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Revel. 7. 17. For which cause it is called the time of refreshing, Acts 3. 19. And therefore our Saviour Christ, Luke 21. 28. biddeth the faithfull to lift up their heads, &c. because the day of their full redemption both body and soul draweth near.II. with earnest desire 1. of eternall life;
Secondly, we must expect with earnest desire, 1. eternall life, 2. the coming of Christ, Tit. 2. 13. For how can a man faithfully expect and certainly look for happinesse who doth not also earnestly desire it? therefore the Apostle saith, that we who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, do sigh within our selves, expecting the adoption (that is, the heavenly inheritance whereunto we are adopted) and the redemption of our body at the second coming of Christ, Rom. 8. 23.
Secondly, we are with desire to expect the second2. of Christs coming. coming of Christ, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, 2. Pet. 3. 12. But there are many who with Balaam desire salvation, but how few that desire the second coming of Christ? Yet this is made a note of a true Christian, to love and desire it, 2. Tim. 4. 8. For, as Th. Aquinas saith, Qui diligit amicum cum desiderio exspectat eum, He that loveth his friend expecteth him with longing desire. And also they who believe that Christ is their Saviour, they will also desire his coming. And as the creature earnestly waiteth for that time which Acts 3. 21. is called the time of the restitution of all things, which now are subject to vanity, Rom. 8. 20. for then the heaven & earth shall be renewed, 2. Pet. 3. 13. so we also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, sigh within our selves, waiting for the adoption, even the redemption of our bodies, Rom. 8. 23. Then is the time of Christs marriage with his Church, and of our conformation with him in glory, 1. John 3. 2. For when he shall appear, we shall be like unto him. If then the second coming of Christ shall be a day of refreshing, of full redemption, of Christs marriage with his Church; then those who hope to be partakers of these benefits, & are espoused unto Christ by faith, will with as earnest desire expect his second coming as the loving bride doth the marriage-day. Wherefore, as it is Revel. 22. 17. the Spirit and the bride say, Come: and let him that heareth say, Come. and v. 20. Come, Lord Jesu, come quickly. And so the Lord hath taught us here to pray. And therefore if we will pray unto the Lord in truth, we must labour to attein unto this assurance of faith; that being assured of Gods everlasting love towards us in Christ, we may earnestly desire the Lord, that an end being put to these evil dayes, he would hasten the coming of Christ. Neither let us think that we have well profited in the school of Christ untill we do with desire expect his coming.
Thirdly, we must expect with patience. For heIII. With patience. that is saved in hope (as all the faithfull are in this life) expecteth with patience that which he hopeth for: For hope is not of that which is seen. If therefore, saith the Apostle, Rom. 8. 25. we hope for that which we see not, we do by patience expect it. And surely in respect of this coming of Christ to our salvation, we had need of patience, Heb. 10. 36. For, as Peter hath prophesied of these last dayes, there are come mockers, walking after their lusts, who say, Where is the promise of his coming? 2. Pet. 3. 4. but the holy Ghost answereth, Heb. 10. 37. Yet a very little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Dearly beloved, saith the Apostle Peter, 2. Epist. 3. 8, 9. be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares, and a thousand yeares as one day. The Lord is not slack as concerning his promise, as some men account slacknesse, but is patient towards us, and would have none to perish, but would have all men come to repentance, viz. that the whole company of the elect may be fulfilled. Therefore, as Isaiah saith, Qui crediderit nè festinet, Let not him that believeth make haste. For seeing the Lord in patience towards us deferreth his coming and the fulfilling of his promise, we ought with patience to expect it. Sustine ipsum, saith Augustine, qui In ….sustinuit te; If he waited patiently untill thou shouldest amend thy bad life, then do thou also patiently wait untill he crowneth thy good life.IV. With vig…lancy.
Fourthly, we must expect the coming of Christ with vigilancie, having our loyns girt and our lights burning, like the vigilant servants, Luke 12. 35, 36, 37, 40. and the wise virgins, Matth. 25: not like the ungodly servant, who saith in his heart, My master deferreth his coming, &c. Luke 12. 45. nor the foolish virgins, who sleeping in securitie, and contenting themselves with the shining lamp of an outward profession, at the coming of the bridegroom were shut out.
III. The third duty. So to live in this expectation3. We must remain constant in Gods love. as that neither prosperity nor adversity shall be able to remove us from the love of God, being stayed with the anchor of hope, Heb. 6. 19. apprehending and expecting the heavenly joyes set before us, in respect whereof all the prosperity and pleasures of this life are to be contemned, and all adversities patiently to be indured. For those that have this assured expectation, contemne all the prosperity of the world as mere vanity in respect of the glory that shall be revealed, and therefore are crucified to the world, and mind heavenly things, &c. Again, this expectation swalloweth up the sense of all temporall afflictions, as experience hath taught us in the martyrs: For the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall be revealed in us, Rom. 8. 18. Therefore, as the Apostle exhorteth Heb. 12. 1, 2. let us, having such a cloud of martyrs, with patience runne the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, &c. Jacob for the promised reward, viz. the marriage of Rachel, thought his seven yeares troublesome service to be but easie and short: how much more ought we chearfully to bear all the afflictions of this life as light and momentany, in respect of that super excellent weight of glory? And for this cause also we are to comfort our selves in all distresses in the expectation of a better life.
IV. We must walk worthy of God who hath called 4. We must walk worthy of God.us to his kingdome and glory, 1. Thess. 2. 12. and live as it becometh those that have this hope, 1. John 3. 3. For every one that indeed hath this hope, (namely, that he shall be like the Sonne of God) purifieth himself as he is pure, that he may be in some measure like to him in grace in this present world, as he hopeth to be like him in glory in the life to come. And let us remember that if we have hope for the end, we must be carefull of the means, as being the necessary forerunners of glorification, faith, repentance, sanctification. And in this expectation must the duties of piety, justice and sobriety be performed, Tit. 2. 13.
V. We must so live as if we were alwayes ready5. We must so live as ready to meet Christ. to meet Christ Jesus in the clouds; and to this end set before us continually Christ sitting in judgement, that we may alwayes labour to be such as then we desire to appear, that we depart not from Christ ashamed, 1. John 2. 28. And surely what can be more forcible to draw men to repentance and to stirre them up to vigilancie then the meditation of the judgement to come, & a continuall expectation of Christ coming in the clouds? Recordare novissima, Remember thy end, saith he, Ecclus 7. 36. and thou shalt not sinne. For where this cogitation is once settled, that we shall appear before the judgement-seat of Christ, it will not suffer a man to be in quiet untill he be settled in such a state as that he may with boldnesse appear before the Judge. Therefore the coming of Christ to judgement is used as a forcible argument to draw us to repentance, Acts 17. 30. 2. Pet. 3. 10, 11, 12, &c. These things if we do, we shall with chearfulnesse expect the coming of Christ, and when he cometh we shall appear with boldnesse, 1. John 2. 28. but otherwise with unhappy Felix we shall tremble at the very mentioning of judgement, so farre shall we be from truly desiring; and at the sight thereof we shall depart from Christ ashamed, desiring the mountains to fall upon us, Revel. 6. 16. Wherefore to conclude; If we will truly make this petition in our daily prayers, we must every day so behave our selves as if Christ were presently to come to judgement. And in this behalf let us imitate S. Hierome. So oft, In Matth.saith he, as I consider that day, my whole body trembleth: for whether I eat, or drink, or do any thing else, that terrible trumpet soundeth in mine eares, Surgite mortui & venite ad judicium, Arise ye dead and come unto judgement.
VI. We must live as having our foreign, conversation, in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour, minding heavenly things, and not being addicted to the world or the desires thereof, but living as pilgrimes on the earth, &c.
The hypocrisie of men is here detected, who eitherHypocrisie detected. 1. make this prayer having not this desire; or 2. live as if they were out of hope; as all those do that go on in their sinnes without remorse: for how can he truly hope for the end, that …areth not for the means? Doth not the holy Ghost say, That without holinesse we shall never see God, Heb. 12. 14. That without regeneration we shall never enter into the kingdome of heaven, John 3. 3, 5.? Therefore we cannot hope that Christ his coming will be to our everlasting salvation, if we continue in our sinnes; neither can we truly and earnestly desire his coming, except we have that hope; neither can we truly make this prayer, except we have this unfeigned desire. 3. Those that are wedded to the world, and are so farre from desiring the hastening of Christs coming that they do not onelyonly desire to live here alwayes but also so behave themselves as if they meant alwayes to abide here, placing their paradise upon the earth, and not caring for the kingdome of heaven.