The Holy Arbor, Chapter 3 · Section 6
§. 6. Thy Kingdom come.
GOds Kingdom is the Rule that he doth exerciſe over his Creatures; generally over all, the whole world, ſpecially over his Elect, over his Church, howſoever now diſperſed into many places, yet making but one Kingdom, which is partly in Heaven Triumphant, partly upon Earth Militant, till the laſt great Day, when in Heaven onelyonly it ſhall be everlaſtingly glorious. Now beſides this, there is a Spiritual Kingdom, an inward Spiritual Kingdom of God, which is over all thoſe in whoſe hearts his Laws are written to do them, and the holy Spirit ruleth and beareth ſway; and happy is that man who is thus of his Kingdom. Let thy Kingdom come; that is, Let it by continual encreaſe be augmented, and always by a new enlargement and acceſſion be extended and multiplied, which thou, O Lord, in thy Church doſt hold and poſſeſs: wherein we deſire, That the number of true Believers may be daily encreaſed, that Gods Kingdom of Grace may be enlarged, and his Kingdom of Glory haſtned. Thus let thy Kingdom come, outwardly thy Power and Providence being exerciſed, and inwardly Grace being encreaſed, and Glory haſtned. Let nothing hinder the coming of thy Kingdom, neither the Devil nor wicked men, neither in the Magiſtracy, Miniſtery nor People, neither infidelity, impenitency, any raigning ſin, or negligence; but let thy Kingdom come to us that be pilgrims and ſtrangers here on earth, prepare us for it, and enter us into it that be yet without; renew us by thy Spirit, that we may be ſubject to thy Will; confirm us alſo in this eſtate, that our ſouls after this life, and both ſouls and bodies at the Day of Judgement may be fully glorified; yea, Lord, haſten this glory to us, and to all thine Elect. And here alſo implicitely we acknowledge our oppoſite diſpoſition to Gods Kingdom, and bewail it: For this imports, That there is another Kingdom, even the Kingdom of Satan, which is a Kingdom of darkneſs, full of diſorder and confuſion through ſins, which greatly hindreth and annoyeth Gods Kingdom of Grace eſpecially: This is that Tyrannical Regency, by which as the Prince of Darkneſs, he (by Gods juſt permiſſion) ruleth in the children of darkneſs, and rageth againſt the children of light, 2 Cor. 4.4. Rev. 12.3. erecting up two other Kingdoms, the one of Sin, Rom. 6.12.5.21. the other of Death, Rom. 5.14. all which are Enemies to this Kingdom we pray for.
This Petition doth in order next follow, Hallowed be thy Name, becauſe it is the firſt means by which Gods Name is hallowed; and next to the hallowing of his Name, we ought chieſly to pray, That Gods Kingdom may come, Mat. 6.31. And it is alſo placed before Thy will be done, to teach us, That no man can rightly do the will of God and pleaſe him, unleſs he be of his Kingdom, and delivered out of the Kingdom of Darkneſs by faith in Chriſt, and the Spirit of Sanctification; he ſhall do his will indeed as a veſſel of wrath, being over-ruled by his Almighty power, but not as a veſſel of mercy, out of a good heart to be accepted. Thus no man can ever do Gods will in any thing, till ſuch time as Gods Kingdom be erected in his heart, becauſe no man can do Gods will that is not Gods Subject, Joh. 1.24. neither can any man keep Gods Law, but by Gods grace, Pſal. 119.32. Conclude we therefore, That Gods Kingdom is that Spiritual Rule, which God through Chriſt doth by grace begin in us in this life, and by glory will accompliſh in the life to come, Dan. 2.37. Mat. 25.37.6.31. Rom. 14.17.
The kingdom of God is threefold; viz.
1. The Kingdom of Power, Pſal. 99.1. By this he ruleth Satan and all his enemies, Pſa. 2.9.145.13. commands all creatures, and preſerveth his own people. This Kingdom is external, and is a government of all.
2. The Kingdom of Grace, Mat. 3.2. By this he ruleth the godly, and raigns in their hearts by his Word and Spirit, Luke 17.20. This Kingdom is internal, and a government of the Elect.
3. The Kingdom of Glory, Luke 23.42. By this he crowneth the godly with Celeſtial happineſs. This Kingdom is eternal, and a government of the departed out of this life into heaven.
The kingdom of God ſignifies theſe particulars; viz.
1. The ſending of the Son our Mediator.
2. The ordaining and maintaining of the Miniſtery of Chriſt.
3. The gathering of the Church by Chriſt out of mankinde by the voyce of the Goſpel, and the efficacy of the holy Ghoſt, beginning in us true Faith and Repentance.
4. The perpetual Government of the Church.
5. The preſervation thereof in this life, and protection againſt her enemies.
6. The caſting away of her enemies into eternal pains.
7. The raiſing of the Church unto eternal life.
8. The glorifying of the Church in eternal life, when God ſhall be all in all.
We therefore, when we pray, Thy Kingdom come, deſire that God will by his Son our Mediator
1. Preſerve the Miniſtery which he hath ordained.
2. Gather his Church by the Miniſtery of his Word, and the working of the Holy Ghoſt.
3. Rule his Church gathered, and us the members thereof, with his Holy Spirit.
4. Defend us and his whole Church againſt our Enemies and Tyrants.
5. Caſt away his and our enemies into eternal pains.
6. At length deliver his Church, and glorifie us in the world to come.
Again, The Kingdom of God is twofold; viz.
1. General, which is his abſolute Power and Soveraignty, whereby he ruleth all things, in Heaven, in Earth, and in Hell, even the Devils themſelves, Pſa. 103.19. This we acknowledge in the concluſion of the Lords Prayer, but pray not for it in this Petition, becauſe nothing can hinder it.
2. Special, wch is that whereby he Ruleth his Elect and choſen people working his will in them by his Holy Spirit: And called ſpecial, becauſe it is not exerciſed over all the World, but only over all the elect, whō he hath ordained unto eternal life: This ſpecial Kingdom of God is twofold; viz.
1. Of Grace, which is a Spiritual eſtate, becauſe
1. It is principally exerciſed in the Conſcience.
2. This Regiment in the Conſcience is by the Spirit of God.
Wherein God makes men willingly ſubject to the written word of his Spirit, which is a voluntary ſubjection of the whole man in ſoul & body and Spirit, to the Will of God reveal'd in his Word. This ſubjection (which indeed is perfect freedom) ſtands in theſe 3 things eſpecially, Rom. 14.17, 18.
1. In Righteouſneſs; that is,
1. In Chriſts Righteouſneſs imputed.
2. In the Righteouſneſs of a good Conſcience, the ground whereof is Sanctification by the Spirit, which Chriſt gives to whom he juſtifies.
2. In Peace; that is, Peace of Conſcience towards God, and peace with Gods Church, yea with all Creatures, ſo far forth as is needful for them: Under which is comprehended love; for as Righteouſneſs concerns the perſon in ſoul and body, ſo Peace reſpects all duties and actions of the life: Righteouſneſs is the Root whence ſpringeth this Peace; for when the heart is ſanctified, the life is reformed.
3. In Joy in the Holy Ghoſt; which is a fruit of both the former, reſpecting eſpecially the ſtate of affliction: for when a man is juſtified and ſanctified, and hath peace towards God, then ariſeth in his heart a Spiritual delight in God in all eſtates. Now whoſoever hath theſe three branches of this Spiritual ſubjection, is a good Subject in the Kingdom of Grace.
2. Of Glory; which is the bleſſed eſtate of Gods Elect in Heaven, whereby God in Chriſt becomes all things unto them immediately, all things needful to the perfection of felicity: The ſtate of grace in this life, is the beginning and entrance to the ſtate of glory; the ſtate of glory in the life to come, is the perfection of the ſtate of grace: And this ſpecial Kingdom of God in both theſe eſtates, do we in this Petition pray for.
Underſtand therefore this Petition of the ſpecial Kingdom; the coming whereof is in four degrees; viz.
1. Let it be erected where it is not.
2. Let it be confirmed and continued where it is; Let it not be aboliſhed by Perſecution, corrupted by Hereſie, vaniſh by Hypocriſie, or degenerate and grow into the contrary by Prophaneneſs.
3. Let it be reſtored where it is decayed or corrupted in doctrine or maners; Reſtore ſuch as are faln by weakneſs, and purge the Errors of ſuch as are ſeduced.
4. Let it be perfected and made compleat, by haſtning the Marriage-day, the eternal Jubile of Joy, unconceiveable, much more unutterable, ſuch as neither eye hath ſeen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived; and by finally deſtroying Sin, Death, the Devil, and every enemy.
Thy Kingdom come] that is, to us men in the world: & then it cometh, when God doth erect and eſtabliſh the ſame in their hearts. Now unto perfection it comes by five degrees; viz.
1. When God gives unto men the outward means of Salvation, wherein he doth reveal his grace and favor in Chriſt. Thus the Goſpel preached, is called, The word of the Kingdom, Mat. 13.19. and The Kingdom of God, Luke 11.20. & 17.21.
2. When the word preached enlightens the minde, ſo as a man knows and underſtands the myſtery of the Goſpel, which is the Law of this Kingdom.
3. When a man is thereby regenerate, and ſo brought into this Kingdom, for by Regeneration we have effectual entrance into the ſtate of grace, whereby Chriſt rules in us by his word and Spirit, and we yield ſubjection unto him.
4. At the end of this life, when the body goeth to the earth, but the ſoul to God that gave it, being tranſlated to the joys of heaven, in the glory of this Kingdom.
5. At the laſt Judgement, when body and ſoul being reunited, are both made partakers of this Kingdoms glory: And this is the full and perfect coming of it.
In this kingdom are obſervable theſe things eſpecially:
1. That Chriſt is King, Mat. 2.2.
2. That the Subjects are true Chriſtians, Pſal. 2.8. Angels and Saints.
3. That the Laws are the Word, Pſal. 119.105. and the efficacy of the Holy Ghoſt.
4. The enemies are Satan, Sin, Death, Hell, Damnation, the Fleſh, the World, and the Wicked, Eph. 6.12. Rom. 6.12. & 8.1. 1 Cor. 15.51. Gal. 5.17. Gen. 3.15.
5. The Rewards are the good things of this life, and eternal happineſs in that to come, Mark 10.30.
6. The Chaſtiſements are afflictions, Heb. 12.6.
7. The Weapons are Faith, Hope, Love, the Word and Prayer, Eph. 6.16.
8. The Time of it is to the worlds end, Mat. 28.20.
9. The place is this world and the world to come, Rev. 5.10. Mat. 25.34.
10. The Officers are Preachers, 2 Cor. 5.20.
11. The Vice-gerents are Governors, Iſa. 49.25.
12. It is exerciſed upon the Conſcience of man, Rom. 14.17.
Again, the Head or King of this Kingdom, is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt: There is but one King, becauſe there is but one God.
1. The Father is King, and Ruleth by the Son and the Holy Ghoſt.
2. The Son is King, becauſe
1. He ſitteth God at the right hand of God, and Ruleth with equal power with the Father.
2. He is Mediator, by whom God worketh immediately, and giveth the Holy Ghoſt.
The enemies of this Kingdom are
1. Partly in the Church; as Hypocrites, who challenge to themſelves the Name and Title of the Kingdom, when as they are nothing leſs.
2. Partly without the Church; as Turks, Jews, and all ſuch as defend Errors againſt the ground and foundation of the true Religion.
It appears from what hath been ſaid, That the Kingdom of God cometh to us four ways; viz.
1. By the Preaching of the Goſpel, whereby is revealed the light of the true and heavenly Doctrine.
2. By Converſion; when ſome are converted, and are endued with Faith and Repentance.
3. By making progreſs or encreaſe; when the godly receive encreaſe, or when the proper gifts or bleſſings of the faithful are augmented, with perpetual encreaſe in the godly or converted, Rev. 22.11.
4. By Conſummation, or full accompliſhment, when the godly ſhall be glorified at the ſecond coming of our Lord.
We ought to deſire that the Kingdom of God may come, for theſe Reaſons ſpecially:
1. For the glory of God, or in reſpect of the firſt Petion; becauſe that we may ſanctifie and hallow his Name, it is required that he Rule us by his Word and Spirit.
2. Becauſe God will give his Kingdom onelyonly to thoſe that ask it.
The wants we are to bewail, taught us in this Petition, concern either our ſelves or others:
1. We muſt lament and mourn for our own miſerable eſtate by Nature, whereby we are the ſervants of Sin, and ſo in bondage and thraldom thereto, Joh. 8.34. And the beſt of us do but weakly yield to Chriſts Scepter, and where Sin raigneth, there the Devil hath dominion.
2. We muſt bewail the ſins of all the world, in the tranſgreſſion of Gods Law, whereby God is diſhonored, his Kingdom hindred, and the Kingdom of Darkneſs furthered: We muſt therefore bewail that there be ſo many hinderers of Gods Kingdom, as namely, the Fleſh to infect, the World to allure, the Devil to ſeduce, Antichriſt to withdraw, the Turk to withſtand, and the Wicked to trouble men that ſhould be Subjects of this Kingdom. Pray therefore, Thy Kingdom come.
The helps which further Gods kingdom and are to be deſired of us; viz.
1. The Preaching of the Goſpel, and all other divine Ordinances, whereby Gods Kingdom is erected and maintained; that they may be where they are not, and may be bleſſed where they are vouchſafed: and herein for godly Magiſtrates and faithful Miniſters.
2. That God would enlighten the eyes of our mindes, that we may ſee the wonders of his Law, that ſo the Lords ordinances may be bleſſed unto us.
3. That we may be wholly ſubject unto Chriſt, and that of Conſcience, not onelyonly in our outward behavior, but in minde, heart, will, and in all our affections, that we may grow in grace, and in the ſaving knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus.
4. We muſt deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt in the Kingdom of glory; for this end, that we may make an end of ſinning, and become more obedient Subjects unto Chriſt, yea wholly ruled by him; though for the good of others we muſt be content to live.
5. That both by the hour of death, and by the coming of Chriſt to Judgement, this Kingdom in us and all Gods choſen, may be accompliſhed; that Satan being trodden under our feet, and the power of death deſtroyed, God may be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.28.
6. That Chriſt would come in Judgement, when all things ſhall be ſubdued unto God, and all his obedient Subjects ſhall be fully glorified: This we may deſire in heart, though we muſt leave the time to Gods good will and pleaſure, ſtill waiting for it by faith in his Promiſe.
7. That God would enlarge his Sanctuary here on earth, gather his elect more and more, and ſtill defend and maintain his Church in every place in the world: when theſe deſires affect our ſouls, then do we truly ſay, Thy Kingdom come.
The duties to be practiſed by us, that Gods Kingdom may come; viz.
1. We muſt labor for true humiliation and converſion, elſe we cannot enter into the Kingdom, Matth. 8.3. Joh. 3.5. nay otherwiſe we do but mock God, by ſaying well and doing nothing.
2. We muſt be careful to bring forth the fruits of Gods Kingdom, which are Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17.
3. We muſt hence learn to be contented in all eſtates of this life whatſoever; the hope of this Kingdom which we here pray for, muſt ſwallow up all the ſorrows that earthly calamities can bring upon us, Luke 12.32.
4. We muſt all labor in our places and callings to bring one another into this kingdom; one neighbor another, and one friend another, Ezc. 18.30.
5. Hence we muſt learn every day to prepare our ſelves to dye, for by death our ſouls enter into the glory of this Kingdom which we pray may come unto us: whence appears the monſtrous hypocriſie of the world, whoſe practice flatly contradicts their prayer.
Of this Petition,
1. The Supplication is for the continuance of Gods gracious Providence over his general kingdom, and of all good means and furtherances of his ſpecial kingdom, his Church.
2. The Deprecation is againſt all impediments and lets of Gods general kingdom, as Anarchy, Tyranny, wicked Laws, &c. and againſt all hinderances of his ſpecial kingdom, as Toleration of Idolatry, Hereſie, Ignorance, Idleneſs, Infidelity, Impenitency, Hardneſs of heart, &c.
3. The Thankſgiving is for the Lords exerciſing his kingdom, in the right ordering of the world, puniſhing the wicked, rewarding the godly, ſpreading the glorious beams of his Word, enlarging his kingdom; for worthy Magiſtrates, and faithful Miniſters; for Faith, and all Spiritual graces.
In this glaſs we read the ſuperſtitious vanity of ignorant ſouls, The rotten hypocriſie of formal Profeſſors, The curſed Rebellion of prophane worldlings, The Antichriſtian Tyranny of Idolatrous Papiſts: All which, as we tender the Soveraign Power of Chriſts Scepter, the Prerogative of his Royalty, and the eternal happineſs of our own Souls, let us carefully avoid, as by making it the language of our hearts, ſo the loyalty of our whole lives, to practice Thy Kingdom come.
A new-hatch'd old-laid Hereſie appears,
That here on Earth yet full One thouſand years
Chriſts Kingdom is to come, and triumph ſhall
With all his Saints in Pomp Majeſtical.
Fond Dreamers! Call ye this Terreſtrial?
Which figures that which is Spiritual.
Raign in our hearts, O Lord; Protect, augment
Thy Church; This is thy proper Regiment:
Caſt down thine Enemies; Compleat the ſum
Of thine Elect: So let Thy Kingdom come.