A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 32
CHAP. 32.
Of the Kingly office of Chriſt.
In the Kingly office of Chriſt is to be conſidered, the
Excellencie of his kingdome, in
General, by the
Properties expreſſed,
1. Generally.
2. Specially.
Effects of theſe properties.
Speciall. Chap. 33.
Parts. Chap. 34.
ESAY, chap. 9. verſ. 6. 7.
6. For vntounto vsus a child is borne, vntounto vsus a Sonne is giuen, and the gouernment ſhall be vponupon his ſhoulder; and his name ſhall be called, Wonderfull, Counſeller, The mighty God, The euerlaſting Father, The Prince of peace.
7. Of the encreaſe of his gouernment and peace there ſhall be no end, vponupon the throne of Dauid and vponupon his kingdome, to order it, and to ſtabliſh it with iudgement and with iustice, from hence forth euen for euer: the zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this.
Q. SO much of the Prieſthood of our Sauiour Christ. What is his Kingly Office?
A. That part of his Mediation whereby his Prieſthood is made effectuall vntounto vsus, and without which it is to vsus void and fruitleſſe.
Q. VVhat is to bee conſidered in the Kingdome of Chriſt?
A. The excellencie, and the parts.
Q. How doth this Scripture ſet forth the excellencie of his Kingdome?
A. Firſt, by the properties, ſecondly, by the effects of thoſe properties; and the cauſe of thoſe effects.
Q. How are his properties here expreſſed?
A. Firſt, generally by compariſon, ſhewing the diſſimilitude betweene his Kingdome, and the regiment of worldly Potentates: that where other Kings execute matters by their Lieuetenants and deputies, armed with their authority: in our Sauiours Kingdome, although there bee vſed inſtruments; yet doe they accompliſh his will and purpoſe, not only by his authoritie, but alſo by his ſtrength and vertue.
Q. What doe you learne from hence?
A. That there is no miniſteriall head of the Church, which is Chriſt his Kingdome; ſith he is himſelfe continually preſent in the ſame, and that moſt notably by his ſpirit; and more to the aduantage of his Church, then when he was bodily preſent: and therefore the Iob. 16. 7.Pope of Rome, who maketh claime to be head of the vniuerſal Church of Chriſt, doth therin ſhew himſelfe to be that man of ſinne. 2. Theſſ. 2.
Q. How are his properties ſet forth more particularly?
A. Firſt, that hee ſhould bee called Wonderfull; not that it ſhould be his proper name, which was only Ieſus; but that hee ſhould bee as renounedly knowne to be wonderfull, as men are knowne by their names.
Q. How is he Wonderfull?
A. Partly in his perſon, in regard of the wonderful vnion of God and man in one perſon, (as hath been ſaid); partly in his workes.
Q. How is he wonderfull in his workes?
A. Not onelyonly in the Creation of the world, and the preſeruation therof, but eſpecially in the Redemption of his Church; & through thoſe wonders which he worketh, either in the gathering or preſeruing therof: whereby he makes himſelfe knowne to be the Sauiour and redeemer thereof.
Q. What is the next that followeth?
A. It is ſhewed more particularly wherein hee is wonderfull: and firſt, that he is wonderfull in counſel, and therefore called the Counſellor.
Q. What is here generally to be obſerued?
A. That whereas in the gouernment of a Kingdome, Eſay 9. 15. 2. Sam. 20. 16. Eccleſ. 9. 16.counſell and wiſedome are chiefe, and preferred euen to ſtrength: we may aſſure our ſelues that in the Kingdome of Chriſt, all things are done wiſely, nothing raſhly. Hence in the Reuelation of Iohn, he is deſcribed thus; To be in the middeſt of the golden Candleſticks, clothed with agarment downe to the foot: ſuch as Counſellors vſe to weare; and that his head and haires are white as white wooll, and as ſnow: whereby is noted, ſuch a perſon, as for grauity, and great experience is fit to giuegive counſell.
Q. What is further to be gathered hence?
A. Matter of great comfort for vsus that are the children of God, in that our Sauiour Chriſt is our Counſellor, who is able and willing to giuegive vsus all ſound aduice, in whatſoeuer concerneth our good.
Q. What are we here further to learne?
A. That when we are in any perplexitie, and know not which way to turne vsus, we ſeeke vntounto our Sauiour Chriſt for aduice and direction, who is giuen vsus for a Counſellor.
Q. By what meanes may we come to him for aduice?
A. By humble Supplications, and prayers made vntounto him.
Q. How may we receiue aduice from him?
A. By the doctrine of God, drawne out of his holy word; and teſtimonies, which therefore Dauid calleth Pſal. 119. 24.his Counſellors, or the men of his Counſell.
Q. What followeth?
A. That hee is wonderfull in might, and the ſtrong God?
Q. What hauehave we here to learne?
A. Firſt, that as hee is wiſe, to aduiſe and foreſee things pertaining to the good of his Church: ſo hee is of power to execute and effect all that hee aduiſeth, wiſely.
Secondly, that as there is in vsus no aduice of our ſelues; ſo there is in vsus no found ſtrength to keepe vsus from any euill; but that as hee giueth good aduice to his, ſo doth he (by his owne power) performe and effect Phil. 2. 13.it. And therefore although we be as the vine, of all other trees the weakeſt; or as the ſheepe, of all other beaſts the ſimpleſt: yet wee hauehave for our gardiner, and for our ſheepheard, Chriſt Ieſus the mightie ſtrong God.
Thirdly, that we ſhould take heed how we depart from his obedience; for he both can, and will do what pleaſeth him.
Q. What other property followeth?
A. Two other, which are (as it were) the branches and effects of the former: firſt, that hee is the father of Eternities: ſecondly, the Prince of peace.
Q. Doth not this title, The father of eternities; argue a confuſion of the Diuine perſons?
A. In no caſe: for it is a borrowed ſpeech, ſignifying, that he is the author of eternitie.
Q. What doe you learne from hence?
A. That where other Kingdomes alter and come Dan. 2.to an end, his is euerlaſting.
Q. What doctrine is to be gathered from thence:
A. Firſt, that the Kingdome of our Sauiour Chriſt being perpetuall, hee daſheth and cruſheth in pieces, all other Monarchies, and Regiments (how mighty ſoeuer) that riſe vp againſt him and his Kingdome; and therefore that his Church and ſubiects generally, and eueryevery particular member, need not feare any power whatſoeuer.
Secondly, that whatſoeuer wee hauehave by nature or Eſay 40. 6. 1. Pet. 1. 24. 25.induſtrie, it is momentanie, like vntounto the graſſe that fadeth away; and whatſoeuer durable thing wee hauehave, we hauehave it from Chriſt.
Q. VVhat is the ſecond property ariſing out of the former?
A. That he is the Prince of peace; that is, the procurer, cauſe, and ground of peace, that procureth peace for his ſubiects, and cauſeth them to continue in quietneſſe.
Q. Of what nature is this peace?
A. It is ſpirituall: for firſt, wee hauehave peace with Rom. 5. Epheſ. 2. 14.God: ſecondly, wee hauehave peace in our conſciences: thirdly, there is peace betweene men, which ariſeth out of both the former.
Q. Where is this peace eſtabliſhed?
A. VponUpon the throne of Dauid, that is, in the Church of God.
Q. Are not we alſo in ſome meaſure partakers of this honour of his Kingly office?
A. Yes verily, as well as of his Prieſts office. For we Rom. 6. 12. Rom. 16. 20. Reuel. 1. 6.are Kings, to rule and ſubdue our ſtirring and rebellious affections, and to tread Satan vnderunder our feet.
Q. What is the cauſe of all this?
A. The louelove and zeale of God breaking through all lets; either inward from our ſelues and our owne ſinnes, or outward from the enmitie of the diuell, and world.