The Beatitudes, Discourse · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Shewing that the poor in ſpirit are enriched with a Kingdom.
Matth. 5.3. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
A foreign. Here is high preferment for the Saints, they ſhall be advanced to a Kingdom; there are ſome who aſpiring after earthly greatneſſe talk of a temporal reign here, but then Gods Church on earth ſhould not be Militant, but Triumphant; but ſure it is, the Saints ſhall reign in a glorious manner, Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven; a Kingdom is held the foreign, and top of all worldly felicity; and this honour have all the Saints; ſo ſaith our Saviour, Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. All Chriſts ſubjects are Kings; By the Kingdom of heaven, is meant that ſtate of glory which the Saints ſhall enjoy when they ſhall reign with God, and the Angels for ever; ſin, hell, and death, being fully ſubdued. For the illuſtration of this I ſhall ſhow firſt, wherein the Saints in heaven are like Kings.
SECT. 1,
Wherein the Saints glorified may be compared to Kings.
KIngs have their inſignia or regalia, their enſignes of Royalty and Majeſty.
1. Kings have their Crowns; ſo the Saints after death have their Crown-royal, Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Believers are not only pardoned, but crowned; *Corona inſignem habet praeceteris ornamentis dignitatem. Bern.the Crown is an enſigne of honour. A Crown is not for every one, it will not fit every head; it is only for Kings and perſons of renown to wear, Pſal. 21.3. The Crown which the poor in ſpirit ſhall wear in heaven, is an honourable Crown; God himſelf inſtalls them into their honour, and ſets the Crown-royal upon their head. And this Crown the Saints ſhall wear, which is divinely orient and illuſtrious, exceeds all other.
1. 'Tis more pure. Other Crowns, though they may be made of pure gold, yet they are mixed mettal, they have their troubles. A Crown of gold cannot be made without thornes*Non ita corona circundat caput, ſicut animam ſollicitudo.; it hath ſo many vexations belonging to it, that it is apt to make the head-ache. Which made Cyrus ſay, did men but know what cares he ſuſtained under the Imperial Crown, ne humi diadema tollerent, he thought they would not ſtoop to take it up. But the Saints Crown is made without croſſes; it is not mingled with care of keeping, or fear of loſing. What Solomon ſpeaks in another ſence, I may ſay of the Crown of glory, it addes no ſorrow with it Prov. 10.22.. This Crown like Davids Harp, drives away the evil ſpirit of ſorrow and diſquiet; there can be no more grief in heaven, than there is joy in hell.
2. This Crown of glory doth not draw envy to it. Davids own ſon envied him, and ſought to take his Crown from his head. A Princely Crown is oftentimes the mark for envy and ambition to ſhoot at; but the Crown the Saints ſhall wear, is free from envy; one Saint ſhall not envy another, becauſe all are crowned; and though one Crown may be larger than another, yet foreign, every one ſhall have as big a Crown as he is able to carry.
3. This is a never-fading Crown. Corona haec non fit ex roſis aut gemmis *Tertul., &c. Other Crowns quickly wear away, and tumble into the duſt, Prov. 27.4. Doth the Crown endure to all generations? Henry the ſixth was honoured with the Crowns of two Kingdoms, France and England; the firſt was loſt through the faction of his Nobles; the other was twice plucked from his head. The Crown hath many heirs and ſucceſſors. The Crown is a withering thing; death is a worm that feeds in it; but the Crown of glory is immarceſſible, it fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.4. 'Tis not like the Roſe that loſeth its gloſſe and vernancy; this Crown cannot be made to wither, but like the flower we call Semper vivens, it keeps alwayes freſh and ſplendent. Eternity is a Jewel of the Saints Crown.
2. Kings have their Robes. The Robe is a garment wherewith Kings are arayed. The King of Iſrael and the King of Judah ſate cloathed in their robes, 2 Chron. 18.19. The Robe was of ſcarlet, or velvet lind with Ermyn, ſometimes of a purple colour, whence it was called Purpura; ſometimes of an azure brightneſſe. Thus the Saints ſhall have their Robes. Rev. 7.9. I beheld a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and kindreds, clothed in white Robes. The Saints Robes ſignifie their glory and ſplendor; and white Robes, that is to denote their ſanctity; they have no ſin to taint or defile their Robes; in theſe Robes they ſhall ſhine as the Angels.
3. Kings have their Scepters in token of Rule and Greatneſs: King Ahaſhuerus held out to Eſther the golden Scepter, Eſth. 5.2. and the Saints in glory have their Scepter, and Palms in their hand, Rev. 7. It was a cuſtome of great Conquerors to have Palm-branches in their hand in token of victory: So the Saints, thoſe Kings have Palms, an Emblem of victory and triumph; they are Victors over ſin and hell. Rev. 12.11. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb.
4. Kings have their Thrones: When Caeſar returned from conquering his enemies, there were granted to him four Triumphs in token of honour, and there was ſet for him a Chair of Ivory in the Senate, and a Throne in the Theatre: Thus the Saints in heaven returning from their victories over ſin, ſhall have a Chair of State ſet them more rich than Ivory or Pearl, and a Throne of glory: Revel. 3.21. This ſhall be, 1. An high Throne; 'tis ſeated above all the Kings and Princes of the earth; nay, 'tis far above all heavens, Epheſ. 4. There is, 1. the Aery heaven, which is that ſpace from the earth, uſque ad ſpheram lunae, to the ſphere of the Moon. 2. The Starry heaven; the place where are the Stars, and thoſe ſuperiores Planetae, (as the Philoſophers call them) Planets of the higher elevation, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, &c. 3. The Empyraean heaven, which is called the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12.2. In this glorious ſublime place ſhall the Throne of the Saints be erected. 2. It is a ſafe Throne: Other Thrones are unſafe, they ſtand tottering; Pſal. 73.18. Thou haſt ſet them in ſlippery places; but the Saints Throne is ſure: Rev. 3.21. He that overcomes, ſhall ſit with me upon my Throne: The Saints ſhall fit with Chriſt; he keeps them ſafe, that no hand of violence can pull them from their Throne. O ye people of God think of this; though now you may be called to the Bar, yet ſhortly you ſhall ſit upon the Throne.
SECT. 2.
Shewing wherein the Kingdome of heaven excels other Kingdomes.
2. HAving ſhewn wherein the Saints in glory are like Kings, let us next ſee wherein the Kingdom of heaven exceeds other Kingdoms.
It exceeds, 1. In the Founder and Maker; other Kingdoms have men for their builders, but this Kingdom hath God for its builder: Hebr. 11.10. Heaven is ſaid to be made without hands, 2 Cor. 5.1. to ſhew the excellency of it; neither Man or Angel could ever lay ſtone in this building; God doth erect this Kingdom; its Builder and Maker is God.
2. This Kingdom excels in the Riches of it; gold doth no ſo much ſurpaſs iron, as this Kingdom doth all other riches; the gates are of pearl, Rev. 21.21. And the foundations of it are garniſhed with all precious ſtones, Ver. 19. 'Tis enough for Cabinets to have pearl; but were gates of pearl ever heard of before? 'tis ſaid Kings ſhall throw down thei… Crowns and Scepters before it, Rev. 4.10. as counting all their glory and riches but duſt in compariſon of it; this Kingdom hath Deity it ſelf to enrich it, and theſe riches are ſuch as cannot be weighed in the ballance; neither the heart of man can conceive, nor the tongue of Angel expreſs.
3. This Kingdom exceeds in the Perfection of it; other Kingdoms are defective; they have not all proviſions within themſelves, nor have they all commodities of their own growth; but are forced to traffick abroad, to ſupply their wants at home. King Solomon did ſend for gold to Ophir, 2 Chron. 8.18. but there is no defect in the Kingdom of heaven, here are all delights and rarities to be had. Rev. 21.7. He that overcometh ſhall inherit all things. Here is beauty, wiſdom, glory and magnificence; here is the Tree of life in the midſt of this Paradiſe; all things are to be found here but ſin and ſorrow, the abſence whereof addes to the fulneſs of this Kingdom.
4. It excels in ſecurity; other Kingdoms fear either Forraign Invaſions, or Inteſtine Diviſions. Solomons Kingdom was peaceable awhile, but at laſt he had an Alarum given him by the enemy, 1 Kings 11.4. But the Kingdom of heaven is ſo impregnable, that it fears no hoſtile aſſaults or inrodes*Nullus ibi hoſtium m…tus, nullae infidiae daemonum. Bern.. The Divels are ſaid to be locked up in chains, Jude 6. The Saints in heaven ſhall no more need fear them, than a man fears that Thiefs robbing, who is hanged up in chains. The gates of this ce…l Kingdom are not ſhut at all by day, Rev. 21.25. We ſhut the gates of the City in a time of danger; but the gates of that Kingdom alwayes ſtand open, to ſhew that there is no fear of the approach of an enemy; the Kingdom hath gates for the magnificence of it; but the gates are not ſhut, becauſe of the ſecureneſs of it.
5. This Kingdom excels in its ſtability; other Kingdoms have vanity written upon them, they ceaſe, and are changed; though they may have an head of gold, yet feet of clay. Hoſea 1.4. I will cauſe the Kingdom to ceaſe. Kingdoms have their climacterical year: Where is the glory of Athens? the pomp of Troy *Jam ſeges eſt ubi Troja fuit?? What is become of the Aſsyrian, Graecian, Perſian Monarchy? thoſe Kingdoms are demoliſhed, and laid in the duſt; but the Kingdom of heaven hath Eternity written upon it, it is an everlaſting Kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. other Kingdoms may be laſting, but not everlaſting; the Apoſtle calls it foreign, a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, Hebr. 12.28. It is faſtned upon a ſtrong Baſis, the Omnipotency of God, it runs parallel with Eternity: Revel. 22.5. They ſhall reign for ever and ever.
SECT. 3.
Shewing, that this Kingdom ſhall be certainly and infallibly entailed upon the Saints.
3. I ſhall next clear the truth of this Propoſition, that the Saints ſhall be poſſeſſed of this Kingdom.
1. In regard of Gods foreign, or free-grace. Luke 12.32. It is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you a Kingdom. 'Tis not any deſert in us, but free-gra… in God: The Papiſts ſay we …e…t the Kingdom ex condigno; but we diſclaim the title of merit; heaven is a donative.
2. There is a price paid; Jeſus Chriſt hath ſhed his blood for it; all the Saints come to the Kingdom through blood; Chriſts hanging upon the Croſs, was to bring us to the Crown; as the Kingdom of heaven is a gift in regard of the Father, ſo it is a Purchaſe in regard of the Son.
SECT. 4.
The ſeveral Corollaries and Inferences drawn from the Point.
VSE 1. Information. 1. Branch. It ſhews us that Infer. 1 Religion is no unreaſonable thing; God doth not cut us out work, and give no reward; godlineſs inthrones us in a Kingdom*Non tantum exemplis ſed proemiis ad Chriſtum allicimur. Bern.. When we hear of the Doctrine of Repentance, ſteeping our ſouls in briniſh tears for ſin; the Doctrine of Mortification pulling out the right eye, beheading the King-ſin; we are ready to think 'tis hard to take down this bitter pill; but here is that in the Text may ſweeten it; there is a Kingdom behind, and that will make amends for all; this glorious recompence doth as far exceed our thoughts, as it doth ſurpaſs our deſerts; no man can ſay without wrong to God that he is a hard Maſter. God gives double pay, he beſtows a Kingdom upon thoſe that fear him; Satan may diſparage the ways of God, like thoſe ſpies that raiſed an ill report of the good Land; Num. 13.32. But will Satan mend your wages if you ſerve him? he gives damnable pay; inſtead of a Kingdom, chains of darkneſs, Jude 6.
2. See here the mercy and bounty of God, that hath Infer. 2 prepared a Kingdom for his people; it is a favour that we poor vermiculi, worms, and no men *Pſal. 22.6., ſhould be ſuffered to live; but that worms ſhould be made Kings, this is Divine bounty; 'tis mercy to pardon us, but it is rich mercy to crown us: Behold, what manner of love is this! Earthly Princes may beſtow great gifts and donatives on their Subjects, but they keep the Kingdom to themſelves; though Pharaoh advanced Joſeph to honour, and gave him a Ring from his finger, yet he kept the Kingdom to himſelf. Gen. 41.40. Only in the Throne I will be greater than thou; but God gives a Kingdom to his people, he ſets them upon the Throne. How doth David admire the goodneſs of God in beſtowing upon him a temporal Kingdom! 2 Sam. 7.18. Then went King David in, and ſate before the Lord, and ſaid, Who am I O Lord God! and what is my houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto! he wondred that God ſhould take him from the ſheep-fold, and ſet him on the Throne! that God ſhould turn his ſhepheards ſtaffe into a Scepter! O then how may the Saints admire the riches of grace, that God ſhould give them a Kingdom, above all the Princes of the earth; nay, far above all heavens! God thinks nothing too good for his children. We many times think much of a tear, a prayer, or to ſacrifice a ſin for him; but he doth not think much to beſtow a Kingdom upon us: How will the Saints read over the Lectures of free-grace in heaven, and Trumpet forth the prayſes of that God who hath crowned them with loving kindneſs!
Infer. 3 3. It ſhews us that Chriſtianity is no diſgraceful thing. Wiſe men meaſure things by the end; what is the end of godlineſs? it brings a Kingdom; a mans ſin brings him to ſhame. Prov. 13.5. Rom. 6.21. What fruit had ye in thoſe things whereof you are now aſhamed? but Religion brings to honour: Prov. 4.8. it brings a man to a Throne, a Crown, it ends in glory; it is the ſinners folly to reproach a Saint; 'tis juſt as if Shimei had reproached David, when he was going to be made King; it is a Saints wiſdom to contemn a reproach; ſay as David, when he danced before the Ark, I will yet be more vile, 2 Sam. 6.22. If to pray and hear, and ſerve my God be to be vile, I will yet be more vile: This is my excellency, my glory; I am doing now that which will bring me to a Kingdom: O think it no diſgrace to be a Chriſtian. I ſpeak it chiefly to you who are entring upon the wayes of God; perhaps you may meet with ſuch as will reproach and cenſure you; binde their reproaches as a Crown about your head, deſpiſe their cenſure as much as their praiſe; remember, there is a Kingdom entailed upon godlineſſe. Sin draws hell after it, grace draws a Crown after it.
4. See here that which may make the people of God Infer. 4 long for death; then they ſhall enter upon their Kingdom. Indeed the wicked may fear death; it will not lead them to a Kingdom, but a Priſon; hell is the iayle where they muſt lie rotting for ever with the Divel and his Angels. To every Chriſtleſſe perſon death is the King of terror; but the godly may long for death, it will prefer them to a Kingdom. When Scipio's father had told him of that glory the ſoul ſhould be inveſted with in a ſtate of immortality; why then ſaith Scipio, do I tarry thus long upon the earth? why do I not haſten to die*Tully in Somn. Scip.? Believers are not perfectly happy till death. When Croeſus asked Solon who he thought happy? he told him one Tellus, a man that was dead; a Chriſtian at death ſhall be compleatly inſtalled into his honour; the anointing oyle ſhall be poured on him, and the Crown-royal ſet upon his head. The Thracians in their funerals uſed muſick. The Heathens (as Theocritus obſerves) had their foreign, or Funeral banquet, becauſe of that felicity which they ſuppoſed the parties deceaſed were entred into; The Saints are now heirs of the Kingdom, James 2.5. Doth not the heir deſire to be crowned?
Truly, there is enough to weane us, and make us willing to be gone from hence. The Saints eate aſhes like bread, they are here in a ſuffering condition. Pſalm 141.7. Our bones are ſcattered at the graves mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. When a man hewes, and cuts a tree, the chips flie up and down, here and there a chip: ſo here a Saint wounded, there a Saint maſſacred; our bones flie like chips up and down; for thy ſake are we killed all the day long, Rom. 8.36. But there is a Kingdom a coming, when the body is buried, the ſoul is crowned. Who would not be willing to ſaile in a ſtorm if he were ſure to be crowned as ſoone as he came at ſhore? How is it that the godly look ſo gaſtly at the thoughts of death, as if they were rather going to their execution, than their Coronation? though we ſhould be willing to ſtay here awhile to do ſervice; yet we ſhould with Saint Paul, deſire to be diſſolved and be with Chriſt. The day of a believers diſſolution is the day of his inauguration.
SECT. 5.
Containing a ſcrutiny, and tryal whether we belong to this Kingdom.
Uſe 2 BUT how ſhall we know that this glorions Kingdom ſhall be ſetled upon us at death?Trial. 1. If God have ſet up his Kingdom within us. Luke 17.21. The Kingdom of God is within you; by the Kingdom of God there is meant the Kingdom of Grace in the heart. Grace may be compared to a Kingdom, it ſwayes the Scepter, it gives out Lawes, there is the Law of love; Grace beats down the Divels garriſons, it brings the heart into a ſweet ſubjection to Chriſt; Now is this Kingdom of Grace ſet up in thy heart? Do'ſt thou rule over thy ſins? Canſt thou binde thoſe Kings in chaines *Pſal. 149.8.? Art thou a King over thy pride; paſſion, unbelief? Is the Kingdom of God within you? While others aſpire after earthly greatneſſe, and labour for a Kingdom without them, do'ſt thou labour for a Kingdom within thee? Certainly if the Kingdom of Grace be in thy heart, thou ſhalt have the Kingdom of glory. If Gods Kingdom enter into thee, thou ſhalt enter into his Kingdom. But let not that man ever think to reign in glory, who lives a ſlave to his luſts.
2. If thou art a believer, thou ſhalt go to this bleſſed Kingdom. James 2.5. Rich in faith, heirs of the Kingdom. Faith is an heroical act of the ſoul; it makes an holy adventure on God, by a promiſe; this is the crowning grace; Faith puts us into Chriſt, and our title to the Crown comes in by Chriſt. By Faith we are borne of God, and ſo we become children of the blood-royal. By Faith our hearts are purified, Acts 15.9. and ſo we are made fit for a Kingdom; rich in faith, heirs of the Kingdom. Faith paves a Cauſey to heaven, believers die heirs to the Crown.
3. He that hath a noble, Kingly ſpirit, ſhall go to the heavenly Kingdom; ſet your affection on things above, Col. 3.2. Doſt thou live in mundo ſupra mundum, in the world, above the world? The Eagle doth not catch flies, ſhe ſoars aloft in the aire; doſt thou ſuperna anhelare, pant after glory and immortality? Haſt thou a brave majeſtick ſpirit, an heavenly ambition? doſt thou mind the favour of God, the peace of Sion, the ſalvation of thy ſoul? Doſt thou abhor that which is ſordid and below thee? Alexander would not exerciſe at the Olympick-games. Canſt thou trample upon all ſublunary things? Is heaven in thy eye, and Chriſt in thy heart, and the world under thy feet? He who hath ſuch a Kingly ſpirit, that looks no lower than a Crown, he ſhall dwell on high, and have his throne mounted far above all heavens.
SECT. 6.
A ſerious exhortation to Chriſtians.
Uſe 3 USE 3. Exhortation. And it hath a double aſpect; it looks,Exhort. 1. towards the wicked. Is there a Kingdom to be had, a Kingdom ſo enamell'd and beſpangled with glory? Oh then do not by your folly make your ſelves uncapable of this preferment; do not for the ſatisfying a baſe luſt forfeit a Kingdom; do not drink away a Kingdom, do not for the lap of pleaſure loſe the Crown of life; if men before they did commit a ſin, would but ſit down and rationally conſider whether the preſent gain and ſweetneſs in ſin would countervail the loſſe of a Kingdom, I beleeve it would put them into a cold ſweat, and give ſome check to their unbridled affections. Jacob took Eſau by the heele. Look not upon the ſmiling face of ſin, but take it by the heele, look at the end of it; it will deprive you of a Kingdom; and can any thing make amends for that loſſe*foreign. Epheſ. 5.11.? O is it not madneſſe for the unfruitful works of darkneſſe†, to loſe a Kingdom? How will the Divel at the laſt day reproach and laugh at men that they ſhould be ſo ſtupidly ſottiſh, as for a rattle to forgo a Crown! Like thoſe Indians, who for pictures and glaſſe-beads will part with their gold. Surely it will much contribute to the vexation of the damned to think how fooliſhly they miſſed of a Kingdom.
2. The Exhortation looks towards the godly; and it exhorts to two things. 1. Is there a Kingdom in reverſion? then let this be a motive to duty; do all the ſervice you can for God while you live; ſpend and be ſpent. The reward is honourable; the thoughts of a Kingdom ſhould adde wings to prayer, and fire to zeale; what honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai? ſaith King Ahaſhuerus, Eſther 6.3. Inquire what hath been done for God? What love haſt thou ſhew'd to his Name? what zeal for his glory? where is the head of that Goliah luſt thou haſt ſlain for his ſake? Methinks we ſhould ſometimes go aſide into our Cloſets and weep, to conſider how little work we have done for God: What a vaſt diſproportion is there between our ſervice, and our reward? what is all our weeping and faſting compared to a Kingdom? oh improve all your intereſt for God; make ſeaſons of grace, opportunities for ſervice.
And that you may act more vigorouſly for God, know, and be aſſured, the more work you do, the more glory you ſhall have: Every Saint ſhall have a Kingdom; but the more ſervice any man doth for God, the greater will be his Kingdom; there are degrees of glory*Sicut varie Deus ſua dona ſanctis in hoc mundo diſtribuens, eos inaequaliter irradiat; ita in caelis patet non fore aequalem gloriae modum. Calv. l. 3. Inſtit.; which I prove thus:
1. Becauſe there are degrees of torments in hell; Luk. 20. ult. They ſhall receive greater damnation: foreign. They who do make Religion a cloak for their ſin, ſhall have an hotter place in hell: Now if there be degrees of torment in hell, then by the rule of contraries there are degrees of glory in the Kingdom of heaven.
2. Seeing God in his free-grace rewards men according to their works, therefore the more ſervice they do, the greater ſhall their reward be. Rev. 22.12. Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works ſhall be. He that hath done more, ſhall receive more; he whoſe pound gained ten, was made Ruler over ten Cities, Luk. 19.16. This may very much excite to eminency in Religion; the more the lamp of your grace ſhines, the more you ſhall ſhine in the heavenly orb; Would you have your Crown brighter, your Kingdom larger, your Palm-branches more flouriſhing? be Chriſtians of degrees; do much work in a little time; while you are laying out, God is laying up; the more glory you bring to God, the more glory you ſhall have from God.
2. Walk worthy of this Kingdom. 1 Theſ. 2.12. That ye would walk foreign, worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom. Live as Kings, let the Majeſty of holineſs appear in your faces; thoſe who looked on Stephen, ſaw his face as it had been the face of an Angel, Acts 6.15. A kind of Angelical brightneſs was ſeen in his Viſage; when we ſhine in zeal, humility, gravity, this doth beautifie and honour us in the eyes of others, and make us look as thoſe who are heirs apparent to a Crown.
SECT. 7.
Uſe 4 HEre is comfort to the people of God in caſe of poverty;Conſol. God hath provided them a Kingdom. Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven: A child of God is oft ſo low in the world, that he hath not a foot of land to inherit; he is poor in purſe, as well as poor in ſpirit; but here is a fountain of conſolation opened; the pooreſt Saint who hath loſt all his golden Fleece, is heir to a Kingdom; a Kingdom which excels all the Kingdoms and Principalities of the world, more than Pearl or Diamond doth excel braſs; 'tis pearleſs and endleſs. The hope of a Kingdom, ſaith Baſil, ſhould carry a Chriſtian with courage and chearfulneſs through all his afflictions; and it is a ſaying of Luther, The ſea of Gods mercy overflowing in ſpiritual bleſſings, ſhould drown all the ſufferings of this life. What though thou goeſt now in rags? thou ſhalt have thy white robes; What though thou art fed as Daniel with pulſe, and haſt courſer fare? thou ſhalt feaſt it when thou comeſt into the Kingdom; here thou drinkeſt the water of tears, but ſhortly thou ſhalt drink the wine of Paradiſe; be comforted with the thoughts of a Kingdom.