Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 21
ESAY 9. verſ. 6.7.
6 For vntounto vsus a Child is borne, and vntounto vsus a Sonne is giuen: and the gouernement is vponupon his ſhoulder, and he ſhal cal his name, Wonderfull, Counſellour, the mightie God, the euerlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
7 The increaſe of his gouernment & peace ſhal hauehave none end he ſhall ſit vponupon the throne of Dauid, and vponupon his kingdome, to order it, and to ſtabliſh it with iudgement and with iuſtice, from henceforth, euen for euer: the zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this.
SO much of the Prieſthood of our Sauiour Chriſt. What hauehave we to conſider in his Kingdome?
The benefits that wee receiue by it, and the cauſe of it.
How are the benefits ſet foorth?
By the properties, and effects of thoſe properties: and by the cauſe of thoſe effects.
How are his properties here expreſſed?
They are firſt generally ſet foorth, by compariſon of the vnlikelihood of his Kingdome with the Regiment of worldly Potentates.
What difference or inequalitie is there?
Firſt, that where other Kings execute matters by their Lieuetenants and deputies, armed with their authoritie in our Sauiours Kingdome, although there be vſed inſtruments; yet doe they accompliſh his will and purpoſe, not onelyonly by his authoritie, but alſo by his ſtrength and vertue.
What further doctrine doe you note?
That the man of ſinne, or Pope of Rome, is not the miniſteriall head of the Church, which is Chriſt his Kingdome; ſith he is himſelfe preſent, yea, and that moſt notably by his ſpirit; and more to the aduantage of his Church,Joh. 16.7. then when he was bodily preſent.
How are his properties ſet foorth more particularly?
Firſt, that hee ſhould be called Wonderfull, not that it ſhould be his proper name, which was only Ieſus; but that he ſhould be as renownedly knowne to be wonderfull, as men are knowne by their names.
How is he wonderfull?
Partly in his perſon, as is before ſaid, partly in his workes.
How is he wonderfull in his workes?
Firſt, in the creation of the world. Secondly, in the preſeruation, eſpecially in the redemption of it.
VVhat is the next that followeth?
It is ſhewed more particularly wherein he is wonderfull; and firſt, that he is wonderfull in counſell, and the Counſellor.
VVhat is here generally to be obſerued?
Eſa. 9.15. 2. Sam. 20.16. Eccl. 9.16.In the gouernment of a kingdome, counſell and wiſedome are chiefe, as that which is preferred to ſtrength; and therfore that we may aſſure our ſelues that in the kingdome of Chriſt all things are done wiſely, nothing raſhly, in which reſpect he is ſaid to hauehave a long ſtoale and a white head.Reuel. 1.13.14.
VVhat is further to be noted?
A great comfort for the children of God, that our Sauiour Chriſt is our counſeller, who giueth all ſound aduice.
VVhat are we here further to learne?
That when wee are in any perplexitie, and know not which way to turne; yet we may come to our Sauiour Chriſt, who is giuen vsus for a Counſellor.
By what meanes may we come to him for aduice?
By our humble ſupplication, and prayer vntounto him.
How may we receiue aduice from him?
By the doctrine of God, drawne out of his holy word,Pſal. 119.24. which is therefore tearmed the men of our counſell.
VVhat followeth?
That hee is wonderfull in might, and the ſtrong God.
VVhat hauehave we heere to learne?
Firſt, that as hee is wiſe, and doth things pertaining to the good of his Church: ſo he is of power to execute all that he aduiſeth wiſely.
Secondly, yt as there is in vsus no aduice of our ſelues, ſo there is in vsus no ſound ſtrength to keepe vsus from any euill; but that as he giueth good aduice to his, ſo doth he with his owne power performe and effect it. And therefore although we be as the vine,Phil. 2.23. of all other trees the weakeſt, or as the ſheepe, of all other beaſts the ſimpleſt; yet wee hauehave for our vine a gardiner, and for our ſheepheard, Chriſt Ieſus the mightie ſtrong God.
Thirdly, that wee ſhould take heed how wee depart from his obedience: for he will doe what hee liſteth. For if to obey be a good meanes to helpe vsus into the fauour of our earthly Princes; it will much more helpe vsus in the fauour of the King of Kings.
What other propertie followeth?
Two other, which are (as it were) the branches and effects of the former: firſt, that he is the father of eternities: ſecondly, the Prince of peace.
Sith he is called the father of eternities; is there not a confuſion of perſons?
In no caſe: for it is a borrowed ſpeech, namely, he is the author of eternitie.
What doe you here gather?
Dan. 2.That where other Kingdomes alter, his is euerlaſting.
What doctrine thereof is to be gathered?
Firſt, that the Kingdome of our Sauiour Chriſt being perpetuall, he daſheth and cruſheth in pieces, all other mightie Monarchies and Regiments that ſhal riſe vp againſt him: and therfore that his Church and ſubiects generally, and eueryevery particular member need not feare any power whatſoeuer.
Eſa. 40.6. 1. Pet. 1.24.25.Secondly, that whatſoeuer we hauehave by nature or induſtrie, it is momentany, like vntounto the graſſe that fadeth away; and whatſoeuer durable thing wee hauehave, we hauehave it from Chriſt.
What is the ſecond propertie ariſing out of the former?
That he is the Prince of peace, that is, the procurer, cauſe and ground of peace, that cauſeth his ſubiects to continue in peace and quietneſſe.
Of what nature is this peace?
Rom. 5. Epheſ. 2.It is ſpirituall: Firſt, when wee hauehave peace with God: Secondly, when wee hauehave peace in our conſciences: Thirdly, when there is peace betweene men, which ariſeth out of both the former.
Where ſhould this peace be establiſhed?
VponUpon the throne of Dauid, that is, in the Church of God.
Are we not partakers of this honour of Kingdom?
Yes verelie, as of his Prieſts office.Rom. 6.12. Rom. 16.20. Reuel. 1.6. For wee are Kings to rule and ſubdue our ſtirring and rebellious affections, and to tread Satan vnderunder our feet.
What is the cauſe of all this?
The louelove and zeale of God, breaking through all lets; either inward from our ſelues and our own ſins, or outward from the enmitie of the diuel and world.