The Last Judgment, Tract · Doctrine 12
Verſe 34. Inherit the Kingdome &c.
Doct. XII. is this, That the eſtate that the Saints are to injoy in Heaven, is a Kingdome. Luke 12.32. Iam 2.5. Luke 22.28, 29. 2 Tim 4.18.
For opening of which, let me ſhew, 1. In what reſpects it may be called a Kingdome. 2. Whence it is that they are to be poſſeſſed of this Kingdome. 3. What manner of Kingdome it is. 4. Why they ſhall have ſuch a Kingdom. 5. The Uſes.
For the firſt, it may be called a Kingdome, 1. In regard of the height of honour that they ſhall there be exalted to: for a Kingdome is the higheſt honour upon earth; and hence it is called honour, Rom. 2.7. 2. In regard of the height of happineſs that there they are advanced to, for a Kingdome is the higheſt happineſs in the world, and that Kingdome much more; they enjoy higheſt happineſs there. If they be happy that dwell in Gods houſe on earth, Pſal. …4.4. much more they that dwell there. 3. In regard of the pleaſures that there they partake of, Pſal. 16.11. A Kingdome yields ſtore of delights and pleaſures: ſo this Kingdome. 4. In regard of the Riches of it. A Kingdome yields great wealth, the treaſures of a Kingdome are unknown: ſo here, Luke 12.33. 5. In regard of the Dominion they ſhall have over the wicked, Pſal. 49.14. They that enjoy a Kingdome have dominion over all: ſo here. 6. In regard of the Peace they have there; that's a Kingdome indeed where there is peace, otherwiſe it is brought to deſolation, Mat. 12.25. Now in Heaven they are all at peace. Job 25.2. hence Iſa. 57.2. 7. In regard of the ſatiety and fulneſs of ſatisfaction that it yields: What is there that may not be had in a Kingdome? much more may it be had there, Pſal. 17.15. If that be true in Pſal. 36.8. Oh what abundant ſatisfaction is there in Heaven! 8. In regard of the ſtability of their eſtates there: A Kingdome is a ſtable thing, much more this, Heb. 12.28. 9. In regard of the ſpaciouſneſs of the place: A Kingdome is a ſpacious place, John 14.2. 10. In regard of the juſt Laws and Rules that are obſerved there: the will of God is there done, Mat. 6.10.
Q. 2. Whence is it that they are to be poſſeſſed of this Kingdome?
Anſ. 1. By the Purchaſe of Chriſt, Eph. 1.14. 2. By the Appointment of Chriſt, Luke 22.29. 3. By the Promiſe of Chriſt, Jam. 2.5. 4. By the Prayer of Chriſt, John 17.24. Heb 9.24. 5. By the Poſſeſſion of Chriſt for us, Heb 6.20. 6. By the Preparation of Chriſt, Joh. 14.2, 3, 7. By the ſweet Invitement of Chriſt: ſo the Text.
Q. 3. What manner of Kingdome is it?
Anſ. 1. It is an Eternal Kingdome, 2 Pet. 1.11. 1 Pet. 5.10. 2. It is an Incorruptible Kingdome, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. 2 Cor. 9.25. Mat. 6.20. 3. It is an Undefiled Kingdome, 2. Pet. 1.4. Rev. 21. ult. 4. It is a Safe Kingdome, Mat. 6.20. we ſhall never loſe our treaſure there. 5. It is a Joyfull Kingdome, Mat. 25.21, 23. 6. It is a Glorious Kingdome, Pſal. 145.11. 7. It is a Kingdome that cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28.
Q. 4. Why ſhall they have ſuch a Kingdome?
Anſ 1. It is prepared of old for them: ſee the Text. 2. It is the Fathers good pleaſure to give it, Luke 12.32. 3. They are Sons and Heirs, Rom. 8.17. 4. They are preſerved to it, 2 Tim. 4.18. 5. They are called to it, 1 Pet. 5.10. 6. They have the earneſt of it, Eph 1.14. 7. They are Conquerours, Rev. 3.21.
Ʋſe 1. for Information: 1. We ſee what reaſon we have to prize the Lord Jeſus, by whom we are inveſted into this high, and honourable, and happy condition, Mat. 13.45, 46. 1 Pet. 2.7. 2. We ſee what little reaſon we have to deſpiſe the poor of this world, for Jam. 2.5. they are heirs of the Kingdome. 3. We ſee the truth of that in 1 Pet. 2.9. Rev. 1.6. & 5.10. 4. We ſee what thanks we ſhould render to Chriſt Jeſus for this great dignity, Rev. 1.6. & 5.9, 10. 5 We ſee what great mindes we ſhould have, and what great looks, for we are to have a Kingdome, 2 Cor. 4.18. Col. 3.1, 2. we ſhould not be taken up with theſe low matters here. 6. We ſee what great cauſe we have not to fear the want of outward things, for he hath given us that that is better, Luke 12.32. 7. We ſee what cauſe we have to exerciſe Faith, for our preſervation to this happy eſtate, 2 Tim. 4 18. 8. We ſee what reaſon we have to pray for the Coming of the Lords Kingdome, Mat. 6.10. that we and all the faithful may ſhare in it, and be partakers of it. 9. We ſee with what rejoycing we ſhould think of the day of Judgement, for it is the day of our receiving a Kingdome, our Coronation-day: Princes rejoyce to think of the day of their Inſtalment into their Kingdomes, how much more ſhould we? 10. We ſee what preparations we ſhould make for this day: great preparations are made for the dayes wherein Kings are Crowned; Oh what prepations ſhould we then make? Mat. 21.44. Luke 12.40.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour: 1. To thoſe that by their ſins deprive themſelves of this eſtate, their loſs is great, for they deprive them ſelves of a glorious Kingdome: they are fooliſh Kings that provoke God to rend the Kingdomes on earth from them, as Saul, and Rehoboam, and others have done; but no folly like theirs, that loſe for trifles ſuch a Kingdome as we ſpeak of, 1 Cor 6.9, 10. 2. To thoſe that deſpiſe the tenders of grace in the Goſpel, and the wayes of God held out to them therein, they deſpiſe a Kingdome. 3. To thoſe that walk like Peaſants rather then Princes, Philip. 3.19.
Ʋſe 3. for Exhortation: 1. To be of a Kingly ſpirit, having the great things of a Kingdome in our eye and heart, Mat 6.33. 2. To be willing to ſuffer with Chriſt, Luke 22.28, 29. 2 Tim. 2.12. 3. To make our Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. 4. To let all go, rather the… loſe this Kingdome: Luſts, Honours, Pleaſures, Wealth, Life, Heb. 11.35. 5 To enjoy all here weanedly, Pſal. 131.1, 2. 1 Cor. 7.-9, 30 6. To bleſs God for this great dignity, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4 7. To ſtrive for it, 1 Cor. 9.25. what ſtrife is there for earthly Kingdomes? many battels are fought for them. 8 To have Gr…ce, whereby we may ſerve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, Heb. 12.28. 9. To be Conquerours. Rev. 3.21. 10. To beware we go not with the multitude, for it is the little Flock that have the Kingdome, Luke 12.3…. 11. To continue patiently in well doing, Rom. 2.7. 12. To be rich in Faith, Jam. 2.5.
Ʋſe 4. for conſolation: 1. Againſt Poverty in the world, Jam. 2.5. … Againſt Perſecutions from the world, 2 Tim. 2.12. 3. Againſt Satans wiles and ſnares; he may diſturb them in their peace, but cannot take their Kingdome from them. 4. Againſt mens low eſteem of them, and unworthy dealings with them; they are eſteemed and uſed as Peaſants, but they ſhall be Princes.
Poſitive Comforts 1. That all their enemies ſhall fall. 2. That they ſhall ever enjoy peace 3. That they ſhall be made truly great. 4. That they ſhall never be moved out of their eſtate.