The Principles of Christian Practice, Tract · Point of doctrine 7
Vers. 28. Verily I say unto you, there bee some of you that stand here, that shall not taste of death, untill they have seene the sonne of man come in his Kingdome.
IN these words our Saviour, The drift of the words.partly to mitigate the former doctrine concerning self-deniall, bearing the crosse, and suffering for Christ, partly to confirme what he had said concerning his glorious comming to judgment, and partly to support and comfort his Disciples, who by reason of his base and low estate could see nothing lesse than the great glory that hee speaketh of: doth now make a gratious promise, Vult ut consolationis aliquid habeant tempore crucis & afflictionis, &c. Bucer.that although hee was now in an abject condition, and after a while was to bee more humble and abased, even to the death, the shamefull death of the crosse, and to be laid up a while in the house of death, yet ere long hee should manifest his glory; and though his greatest glory should bee deferred till the last judgement, yet would he before that time shine out in brightnesse and glory to the whole world.
And whereas they, as his nearest In desiderio celeritas quoque mora est.and most faithfull servants, might earnestly desire to see him their loving Master thus exalted, and grieve that it should bee so long deferred, as that they might be worne out of the earth before that time; hee meetes them in their desire, and tels them it is not so farre off, but some of them should behold it before their death.
For the meaning. Amen, or verily: a forme of speech or asseveration Exposition. foreign.which Christ the true and faithfull witnesse often used to avouch the truth: and he that saith here, Amen, is called Amen, Rev. 3. 14. these things saith the Amen: to shew, that whatsoever hee saith, is yea and amen, 2 Cor. 1. 20. that is, most firme, certaine and constant.
I say unto you.] Our Lord propoundeth his doctrine in his owne name, that hee may bee knowne the chiefe Doctor of his Church, even that Doctor of the Chaire, whose voyce alone must be heard of Pastors and people. Thus did none of the Prophets, but onelyonly verbum Domini, the word of the Lord: none of the Apostles, but delivered what they had heard and seen, 1 Joh. 1. 1. and what they had received of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11. 23. Nor none of the Pastors of the Church, but as good Stewards they dispensed their Masters allowance.1 Cor. 4. 1.
And further, this being a prophecie uttered in this forme, hee showes himselfe the chiefe Prophet of the Church, prophecied of by Moses, Deut. 18. 18. like unto Moses, Act. 3. 21. and like Christ like Moses in five things.him in 5. things. 1. As the truth hath a likenesse with the shadow, 1.the mediation of Moses betweene God and his people being a shadow of Christs mediation. 2.2. Like him in respect of 3. Heb. 3. 5. 6.divine calling to his office. 3. In respect of his faithfulnesse in his calling, being faithfull in all the house of God as the Sonne, Moses 4.as a servant. 4. Like him in his authoritie, he being appointed to teach us all things, & we to heare him in all things. 5. In the event 5.or sanction: whosoever will not heare him, must dye the death.
But superior to Moses, as being the Lord of the holy prophets, as being God, the seer of things properly and à priori, as being faithfull in the house as the Sonne, as onelyonly able to say, I say unto you, preaching in his own name, which none but the head of the Church can doe, and none but hee that hath power in the heart and conscience.
Some that stand here, shall not taste of death. [This is an Hebrew phrase: not to taste of death, is, not to die; but alluding to the cause of death, which was tasting of the forbidden fruit; this was the first tasting of death. So in Joh. 8. 51. He that keepeth my word, shall not see death: and Heb. 2. 9. Christ tasted death for all the Elect.
Till they see the sonne of man come in his Kingdome.] Here is some difference and difficultie in the interpretation.
1. Some referre it to the last Opinions. 1.judgement, of which Christ had spoken immediately before, and erroneously conceive that Christ meant of John, who they thought should not die till Christ came againe to the last judgement. And no marvell though sundry have beene over-carried in this error, seeing the Disciples themselves, till the sending of the Spirit to lead them into all truth, were wrapped in it. But this is sufficiently confuted in the Text, Joh. 21. 23.
2. Others, both ancient and 2.new writers, as Hilary, Bullinger, Chytreus, and Piscator, understand it of Christs Transfiguration which immediately followed, as if hee had said, Some of you, as Peter, James, and John, shall shortly see mee (so farre as you can comprehend) in that forme and habit wherein I will thus come to judgement; as sixe daies after they saw him on mount Tabor in great glory. But first, the speech (yee shall see it before your death) seemes to carrie it to something beyond the compasse of so few dayes. Secondly, wee doe no where reade that the transfiguration is called the comming of Christ in his Kingdome. Thirdly, in so short a time none of the disciples were to taste of death. Therefore,
3. We shall best finde out the sense by enquiring,3. Emphasis hujus loci non est, in verbo veniendi, sed videndi. Bucer. Kingdome of God generall and speciall.
What is meant here by the Kingdome:
What is meant by the comming of this Kingdome: and
Seeing the best interpretation of a prediction is the accomplishment, we shall enquire how some of the Disciples did see the comming of this Kingdome before they tasted of death.1. I.
For the first: the Kingdome of
God is twofold,
Generall, and
Speciall.
The former is called the Kingdome of power, whereby the Lord powerfully governeth the whole world and every particular, to the very sparrows, and the haires of our head: unto which kingdome of power all creatures, men and Angels, yea devils themselves are subject.
The speciall Kingdome of God 2.is his gracious rule and governement over his Elect: called the Kingdome of Christ, because he is the head of it: and the Kingdome of heaven, because it tends directly thither: and the Kingdome of the Sonne of man. Of this Kingdome are two degrees: of grace: of glory. The difference of these two, is, 1. In time: the former is begun on earth, the latter is consummate in heaven. 2. In manner of government: the former is governed mediatly, by his servants and ministers, the latter immediatly, by himselfe, when he is all in all. 3. In the manner of subjection: the former in the militant estate is environed by enemies and assailants: the latter is triumphant, in perfect rest and peace, without all assault.
Quest. Of whether of these doth our text meane?Which here meant, and what it is.
Answ. Our Saviour here speaketh of the former Kingdome, of grace, here in this world, which is an estate wherein men are brought to be subjects to Christ in this life, being enlightned, guided, and effectually moved to beleeve the promises of salvation, and obey the will and lawes qf God. For it is a comming into the kingdome, before the disciples decease.
For the second: what is meant II.by the comming of this Kingdome?
Answ. The comming of the Kingdome is nothing else but the How the Kingdome of Christ comes.erecting of it, by the powerfull means of it, in the hearts of men where it is not begun, and a continuance of it with much successe and increase where it is begun: being all one with that petition, Thy Kingdome come.Mat. 6. 10.
And thus many Interpreters, Calvin, Beza, Bucer, Tossanus, fitly applie it to the power and efficacie of the Gospel, by which the Kingdome of Christ was farre and wide, with great power propagated after the time of Christs Ascension: but yet in the dayes of some of the Apostles. And to this interpretation the change of the phrase (Mark. 9. 1.) giveth light: some that are here, shall not taste of death, till they have seene the Kingdome of God come with power: Now what else is it, to see the Kingdome of God come with power, than to see the enlargement and increase of the Kingdome of God, by the prevailing of the Gospell, bringing in men to the obedience of faith? whence, Rom. 1. 16. the Gospell is called the power of God to salvation.
But thirdly, let us looke into III. Of the ac complishment hereof.the accomplishment of this prophecie, which will notably enlighten the true meaning; because wee shall here see Christ now ascended, mightily declaring himselfe the King of his Church, and that hee was not only exalted unto the right hand of God, but that, even in the dayes of some of the Apostles, he came Evidences of Christs Kingdome enlarged. 1.in the mighty power of his kingdome of grace: As appeared,
1. In the emission of his Apostles: Christ immediatly before his Ascension did call and send out his Apostles, with speciall promise of his presence in their Ministerie to the end of the world, Mat. 28. 18. Goe and reach all nations: their commission was, to make Disciples every where. This great worke the Apostle magnifieth, Eph. 4. 11. When hee ascended, hee gave gifts to men, some to be Apostles, &c. for the gathering foreign.of the Saints, for the worke of the Ministerie, and the edification of the body of Christ. This was one most powerfull means for propagating his kingdom, which was herein seene gloriously to come out through the world.
2. In the descending of the 2.holy Ghost, fiftie dayes after his Ascension, upon the Apostles; when the Spirit promised came rushing upon them as a mighty winde, and filled all the house: whereupon forthwith they preached the Word of the Gospell to every nation under heaven, at Jerusalem, in their owne tongue, Act. 2. 2. which was a fruit of his Ascension and Exaltation, v. 33. and a comming in his kingdome with power.
3. In the Apostolicall gifts, 3.we may see how powerfully the Sonne of man came in his Kingdome, in their dayes: as the gift of knowledge in deepe mysteries of the Kingdome, without studie: the gift of prophecie: the gift of miracles, of healing by imposition of hands, of casting out devils, of raising the dead, and the like, for confirmation of their doctrine: the gift of tongues, and of immunitie from errour in teaching or writing: the gift of the Apostolicall rod, in smiting offendors, as Paul did Elymas with blindenesse, and Peter Ananias & Sapphira with suddaine death. Which peculiar gifts were promised and given them, that by the admirable use and power of them the Sonne of man should come gloriously in his Kingdome, and the Church more and more confirmed in the faith, and more allured in the beginning and cradle of it, to the love of Christ and his truth, who a little before was so hated and despised.
4. In the Apostolicall diligence, which was wonderfull, 4.and all to this end, that the Sonne of man might come gloriously in this his Kingdome. The travells of Paul alone were such, as hee carried the word of the Kingdome, and set up Christ as a King, unto a third part of the knowne world, Rom. 15. 19. 20. Yea in his time hee sheweth, that the Gospell was preached not at Colossus onelyonly (as Col. 1. 16.) but by the diligence of the Apostles it was fruitfull in all the world, v. 23. How instant were they in preaching, writing, disputing, and suffering, and all to set up the Son of man glorious in his kingdome?
5. In the successe of the Apostles 5.in their Ministerie: which if we consider, wee shall see the truth of Christs speech, that they did more in the means of conversion of men, than himselfe did. Joh. 14. 12.Act. 2. at one Sermon of Peters, three thousand were converted: this was the first famous draught of this fisher of men, by which three thousand subjects were added to Christs Kingdome in one day: here came the Sonne of man gloriously in his Kingdome. And what wonderfull increase it took in all quarters, all the Epistles of the Apostles do witnesse: especially twenty yeares after Christs Ascension, in which times howsoever some of the Apostles were extinct, as James slaine with the sword by Herod, Ast. 12. yet some other of the Apostles, and of others who heard Christ speake these words, were living: witnesse that Synod of the Apostles, which was fifteene yeares after Christs Ascension, at Jerusalem, wherein James sonne of Alphens was President; which sheweth both the flourishing estate of the Church at that time, and that many of the Apostles were then living: and so this prophecie of Christ was accomplished. But,
6. Fortie yeares after Christs 6.Ascension, when all the Jewish …orship and ceremonies, together with the Temple, were so …olished and destroyed, as one …one was not left upon another; …e whole house and all the uten…ls and shadowes were burnt with fire, so as none of them …ould longer stand up against Christ, the truth and substance of them: Then was the sonne of man let into his kingdome most …erspicuously, all va…les were …ow rent, all shadowes vanished, …ll partitions broken downe, and Christ with open face trium…hantly conquering and prevai…ing in the world. And this, John …he Evangelist saw, who dyed in the 101. yeare after Christ, about …0. yeares after the destruction of the Temple, as Chronologers have collected.
Object. Christ was come in his Mat. 3. 2.Kingdome before: so John Baptist preached, Repent, for the kingdome of God is at hand: and Christ himselfe said in Matt. 12. If I by the Spirit of God cast out divels, then is the kingdome of God come unto you.
Answ. True it is, the sonne of man was come in his kingdome before: 1. in the beginnings of it: 2. to Judea: 3. in a dim & obscure light in comparison. But now it is come in the power of it, and to all the world, even in the Apostles time, whereof our Saviour here speaketh.
Wee might adde hereto the writing of the Evangelists: Matthew, Of the times when the Gospels were written.who wrote his Gospell eight yeares after Christ, Marke ten, Luke fifteene, and John forty two; wherein Christ came in his Kingdome apparently to all the world, in all the Churches of the New Testament. Yea this last of the Apostles, John, saw Christs comming in his Kingdome most gloriously, in the undaunted confession of his Name by many thousand Christians, that gave their lives for the testimonie of his truth. For hee lived to see three of those bloodie persecutions of Roman Emperours, as of Nero, under whom Peter & Paul suffered, of Domitian, under whom himselfe was banished into the Isle Pathmos, where hee wrote his Revelation, and of Trajan, under whom were many thousand Christians drawne to death daily, as Plinie the second Euseb. hist. Eccles. lib. 3. cap. 33.testifieth, writing in their behalfe to Trajan the Emperour; in whose dayes John wrote his Gospell, and dyed the 10…. yeare of his owne age. All which hath notably cleared the sense of our Saviours prediction. Now followes the observation.
Where the Word of God is most Doct. By preaching and obeying the Wordpowerfully preached, and most cheerefully obeyed, there Christ commeth most gloriously in his kingdome. The whole 110. Psalme Christs kingdome is advanced.is a prophecie of Christs Kingdome, who is appointed to rule in the middest of his enemies. 1.1. The place or countrie, over which he is King, is Sion, v. 2. that is, the Church of God, figured by Sion at that time. 2. 2.His government over his Church is called a Kingdome, for the similitude it hath with earthly Kingdomes: and in all wee shall see the comming of Christs kingdome to bee by the powerfull preaching and obeying of the Gospell.
1. Earthly Kings have royall Shewed by similitude of earthly Kings and kingdomes 1.titles, and stiles of honour: So for the name and title of this King, hee is called the Word of God, Rev. 19. 13. Even that eternall Word (Joh. 1. 1.) which was before all beginning, but now incarnate. And he is called faithfull and true, vers. 11. not onelyonly faithfull, in defence of his subjects, but true in his promises and retributions of reward to those that valiantly fight his battels.
2. Other Kings have subjects: 2.and here must be subjects, which heare his voice and follow him, Joh. 10. 28. called a willing people, Ps. 110. 3. Elect, and drawne of the Father: all gathered by the word and voice of Christ, and of unwilling made a willing people, because his redeemed ones, both by price and power.
3. Other Kings have their 3.lawes and statutes for the government of their subjects. The lawes of this King are the lawes of heaven, the Charter of heaven, the Word of God in the two Testaments, the law of entire nature renewed in the former, and the law of faith revealed in the latter. It is hence called the word of the Kingdome, Matth. 13. 19. because his Kingdome is erected and preserved by it. And these lawes are bounded with rewards to the Observers, and penalties to the transgressours; all these being comprehended in the promises and threats of the word.
4. Other Kings ride in great state and glory, both to make and 4.execute lawes, as also in their just warres for the defence of their right and subjects, and just revenge of wrong-doers. So this King rideth upon a white horse, and every where triumpheth by his truth, being faithfull and true, fighting and judging righteously, Rev. 19. 11. and Psal. 45. 4. Prosper with thy glory, ride upon the word of truth and meekenes. And how gloriously he rode on upon his word, through all the world, after his Ascension, wee have shewed.5. Eminencie of Christ above other Kings. 1. Rev. 19 12.
5. Other Kings have their crownes, sword, and scepter, but with much difference from this King: 1. He hath many crownes upon his head, whereas other Princes seldome have above one; to note the many victories, which according to the word, and by the word hee hath obtained against Satan, sin, death, hell, for himselfe and his subjects. 2. His 2. Eph. 6. 17.sword is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which he holds not in his hand as other Princes, but in his mouth, Rev. 1. 16. Out of his mouth went a two edged sword: Esa. 11. 4. Hee shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips slay the wicked: where the rod of his mouth, and breath of his lips are all one, namely, his word; by which sword hee subdued three Act. 2. 41.thousand at one Sermon. 3. His scepter is that rod of his power 3.which he sends out of Sion, that is, his word as is expounded, Esa. 2. 3. The law shall goe out of Sion, and the Word of God out of Jerusalem. Psal. 110. 3.But, other Princes hold their scepter in their hand, hee in his mouth.
6. Other Kings have their 6.guard and armie to attend them: So hath he those, who know the time and place of their attendance, Psal. 110. 3. Thy people shall come willingly at the time of assembling thine army in holy beautie: whereby wee know who they be, that waite on Christ as his servants, namely, those that waite at the time and place of holy assemblies, called his holy beautie: these have free accesse unto him in his presence-chamber, and follow him into their owne hearts, where hee is present by his Spirit to guide and comfort them.
By all this plainely appeareth, that where the Word is preached and obeyed, the Lord Jesus commeth in glory, and in his Kingdome. His name is the Word of God, his subjects gathered by the word, his lawes the word of the kingdome, his white horse on which hee rideth in triumph, is the word of truth, his crownes are put and held on his head by the word, his scepter the rod of his mouth, his sword the two edged sword going out of his mouth, his attendants and guard waiting on him in the place of holy beautie.
Which serves to convince all Use 1. Enemies of the word, enemies of Christ.the enemies of the truth, as rebels to the Kingdome of Christ: the greatest enemies and rebels hee hath, are the hinderers of his word and ordinances, let their pretences be what they will: and manifestly are they discovered to be hypocrites, who will say every day, Thy Kingdome come, and yet by all their power hinder the passage and power of the Gospel: nothing is such a …ion to them, nothing is such burden to the place where they live, as Christs comming powerfully in his Kingdome: themselves will not enter, nor yet suffer such as Mat. 23. 13.would enter into the Kingdome. And the like of our wilfull Recusants, and such as refuse to heare the word preached, which is the Proclamation of this great king, investing him into his kingdome: Were not he a disloyall subject, that would wilfully denie his presence at the Proclamation whereby the king is proclaimed the lawfull heire and successour into his kingdome? And will not the Lord Jesus reckon him an enemie, that refuseth to be present while he is by publike preaching and proclamation set into his Kingdome, as the Lord of his Church? hath Christ any place in his heart, that cannot abide to heare he should be set in his lawfull inheritance?
Oh that all these, either secret A…onitions to them.or professed enemies of Christ, would seasonably consider what a fearefull thing it is, to enter into combination against Christs Kingdome and government!
1. Hath his Father established 1. Psal. 2. 6.him on his Throne, and set his King on Sion, and will the rebels displace him? will they wrong and resist him, whom the Lord hath set up? will they pull his crowne from his head, dethrone him from his government, wrest the sword out of his hand, breake his scepter in pieces, violate his lawes, and thinke to prosper in their high treasons, and in taking up armes against the Lord?
2. Looke on the dangerous 2. foreign. Hom.issue and estate of enemies, Luk. 19. 27. Those mine enemies that will not I should raigne over them, bring them hither that I may destroy them. Wilt thou not stoupe to the rod of his mouth? his rod of iron is readie in his hand to breake thee to pieces as … potters vessel, Psalme 2. 9.
On the other side, it must bee Use 2. Rejoyce in the thriving of the Gospell.the greatest comfort of a godly man, when Christ comes most powerfully in his Kingdome: so our Lord here comforteth his Disciples in their sorrow, that they shall see their Lord after a great deale of contempt and passion, lifted up againe in the glory of his Kingdome. A child will rejoyce in the advancement of the Father: a servant in the honour of his Master: especially a loving spouse in the advancement of her husband: And how should we cheere up our selves and others, to see the Lord Jesus honoured in a powerfull Ministerie, his enemies throwne downe before him, our brethren drawne by multitudes under his allegeance? &c. Contrarily, it should be the griefe of our hearts, when any thing crosseth his kingdome, when any designe prevaileth against his word, when any holy Ministerie is cast downe, when the Lord loseth an ensigne, &c.
Wee must also every one doe Use 3. In helping the word, helpe up Christ into his throne.our best to set up Christ in his Kingdome, and that hee may lift up and hold up his scepter every where: thou prayest his kingdome may come, use meanes for that thou prayest, in what place soever.
If a Magistrate, thou must punish 1.offenders against his lawes, as well as against the Kings: thou must order thy government as well by his Iawes, as the Kings: By thy example thou must grace the word, as well as by thy presence thou wilt grace the execution of the Kings lawes.
If a Minister, thou art the Lords 2.Scepter-bearer: thou must hold up this Scepter and mace of Christ, preaching the word plainly, purely, sincerely, instantly: as Johns, goe next before him, and make way for him: as friends of the bridegrome, be sure hee increase Joh. 3. 30.though wee decrease. How doe they this, that preach not at all, or now and then, or preach against preaching, and declaime against those that most zealously advance the Scepter and glory of Christ? that were not Christ too strong for them, and truth stronger than all, Christ should never come in his Kingdome: if hee were a King, he should be such an one as Ishbosheth, a King without a Kingdome, without subjects or lawes.
If thou bee a private person, shew thy selfe a good subject to 3.this King, and set up his Kingdome both within and without thee.
Without thee: thou must set up his lawes and authoritie in thy familie, by instruction, catechizing, prayer, and holy orders, by which faith and the feare of God may bee planted and cherished; that there may bee a draught of a Church in thine house: and by Christian conference admonishing and exhorting one another, to containe every one in his alleageance and subjection to Jesus Christ.
Above all, wee must bee carefull to set up this Kingdome within our selves, and maintaine the rule and soveraigntie of Christ by his word in our owne consciences.
Quest. How may wee doe this?
Ans. 1. If as good subjects we How Christs Kingdome is erected and maintained within us.frame and compose our selves to this Kingdome: Both to the lawes of it, for Christians are a people under lawes, and hee that acknowledgeth not the fundamentall lawes of this Kingdome, 1.and will not bee ruled by the word of Christ, is none of Christs subjects: As also to the holinesse of it, by daily putting on a divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. The subjects of Christ are people of a pure language: and though sanctitie bee Zeph. 3. 9.scorned, and hunted with disgrace out of the world, this is the Rev. 15. 3.King onelyonly of Saints.
2. If as good subjects we serve 2.with chearfulnesse and joyfulnesse this King of glory. With chearfulnesse: for his people are a willing people, and bring free-will offerings, Psal. 110. and besides, to serve him is to raigne, all his subjects are Kings, the estate of the meanest Christian is a Kingdome. With joyfulnesse also: Psal. 149. 2. Let the children of Sion rejoyce in their King: blesse GOD that hath shewed us the way to this Kingdome, who else had beene still in the Kingdome of darknesse: and that hee hath made an entrance for us into this Kingdome, Col. 1. 12, 13. and the rather, because hee hath passed by the Angels that fell, and made no entrance for them, yea passed by many nations and millions of men, and out of all the world brought us under the subjection of this King.
3. If as good subjects wee maintaine the honour and authoritie 3.of our King, and our owne liberties and priviledges obtained by him for us.
First, wee maintaine his right, Christs right defended, how.when wee set up his word every where, and suffer it to command and rule our owne thoughts, words, actions, and …tions, 1.and bring all into the …dience of Christ. If we cannot prevaile, that his word may command and rule others, yet see it rule and command our selves. Againe, 2.when wee maintaine warre, and take up armes against all his and our enemies, that rise up against his honour and our salvation. We must be stout and invincible against all that would incroach and raign over us in stead of Jesus Christ, as namely, wee must levie forces, and serve in his warres against the temptations of Satan, the corruptions of the world, and our owne lusts, and the evils of our owne hearts and lives: all which wee must resist instantly, for the Adversary is restlesse in assaulting: wisely, standing on our watch, and in the complete armour of God: stoutly, for the warre is difficult, but the victory certain and glorious.
Secondly, as good subjects we And likewise our own right.must maintaine our owne liberties: Gal. 5. 1. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage. Resolve never to come under the bondage of sinne and Satan any more: it was basenesse and madnesse in Israel, that being free from Pharaohs oppressions, they would run back into Egypt in all haste. Nor under the yoke & bondage of humane traditions, or yokes of Antichrist, Christs greatest enemie. Of all slaves and vassals let us esteeme the slave of sin the greatest: and seeing the Son hath Joh. 8. 36.made us free, let us highly prize & stoutly maintaine this freedome.
To perswade all this,
1. Consider what an absolute Monarch Christ is, of what power Motives to be loyall to Christ.to constraine obedience, and restraine rebels: he can get himselfe a name, and lift up his Scepter 1.without thee, and against thee, being God and man, and Lord of all things: but for thy good hee would take thee in as anassistant in his government, and if thy service bee his, his honour is thine.
2. Consider what a good and 2.gracious Lord thou servest, one that no way burdens his servants and subjects, but every way enricheth them, by bestowing large gifts upon them, even his whole Kingdome to every of them; yea whose love is experienced by his death for his enemies.
3. Consider his presence with his subjects in all places and occasions: 3.Hee seeth who makes his heart a presence-chanber for Christ, who sets up his chaire of estate there, who they be that take care nothing be done or defended against his lawes in his owne presence, and who they are that suffer his word to sway against lusts. The very sight of the Kings sword should adaunt offenders: that is, the presence of his word in the heart: How Ps. 119. 11.much more should his owne presence provoke us to all dutie and subjection?
FINIS.