The Power of Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of the Second Petition, what the word Kingdom doth signifie, and in what sense it is to be taken in this Petition, concerning the King, the Subjects, the Lawes, and the Degrees of this Kingdom; Why we are to pray for the coming of Gods Kingdom; The ground of this Petition, with the particular things that we therein desire.
Question. WHat is the second Petition?
A. Thy Kingdom come.
Q. What doth this word Kingdom signifie?
A. Kingdom in the largest sense signifieth the government and rule of a people under one Head or Governour.Ʋrfin. Catech. q. 123. explic. Regnum est talis politiae forma, in quasunma potestas. Psal. 29.10. Isa. 6.5. Psal 95.3. Omne sub regno graviore regnum est. Sen. Thyest. act. 3. But in this Petition it is limited by particular reference to God, saying, Thy Kingdom, which importeth that administration of government, which God doth exercise in ordering all things, so as may set forth his sovereignty.
Q. How many waies is the Kingdom of God taken in Scripture?
A. Two waies. First, For that administration whereby he governeth all creatures, even the Devils themselves; which is called his universall Kingdom, or the Kingdom of power and providence. Secondly, For such an order or estate, wherein God hath all supremacy, and men acknowledg themselves liege-men to his Majesty, to their great benefit temporall and eternall. God governeth his Kingdom by his Vice-roy Christ Jesus,Psal. 110.1, 2. Psal. 103.…9. & 45.13. & 97.1. Apoc. 11.15. 1 Cor. 15.25. Psal. 110.2. Rom. 14.17. 1 Cor. 6.9. 1 Cor. 4.20. Phil. 2.9, 10. Heb. 2.8. Eph. 1.21. Heb. 1.6. Col. 1.18. Eph. 1.23. Psal. 2.6. Hos. 3.5. whom he hath ordained Lord of all things in Heaven and earth, and peculiarly King and Head of his Church and chosen people.
Q In what sense is the word Kingdom taken in this Petition?
A. The Kingdom of power is not here meant under which the Devils themselves live, for that goeth through all things most powerfully, nor can any creature exempt himself from it:Mat. 4.23. & 9.35. Dan. 2.44. Psal. 22.28. Exo. 19.6. Job 1….30. Col. 4.11. Rom. 14.17. 1 Thes. 2.12. Luk. 17.21. Col. 1.13. Mat. 3.2. & 11.11. Heb. 2.5. Mat. 18.20. 1 Tim. 2.8. But that Government in which God most gratiously ruleth, and we willingly obey, to our everlasting happiness: which is called the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of his dear Sonne, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the world to come; and by Divines, the speciall Kingdom. This Kingdom is confined to no certain place: out of this Kingdom we cannot go, if we abide in Christ. The Kingdom of Heaven, is the Kingdom of Christ, Dan. 2.44: Or, the state of the Christian Church opposed to the Jewish; Called heavenly in respect of the 1. King. 2. The Seate. 3. The Subjects. 4. Government. And 5. Conversation.
Q. How many things are to be considered in this Kingdom?
Luk. 19.12, 15.A. Four things. 1. The King. 2. The Subjects. 3. The Laws whereby the Kingdom is governed. 4. The Degrees of it.
Q. Who is the King?
Zach. 2.9. Joh. 17.2. Mat. 28.19, 20. Joh. 18.36. Psal. 2.6. Hos. 3.5.A. In this Kingdom Christ is the King: it is he to whom the Father hath given all authority in Heaven and earth.
Q. Who are the Subjects?
Psal. 22.23. 1 Pet. 2.9. Eph. 5.23. Eph. 1.10. & 3.15. Col. 1 20. Rev. 15 3. Rom. 8.30. Act. 4.12. Job 22 22. Psal. 4….10. Mar. 1.14. Rom 3 27. Isa. 53.1. Mat. 13.24. Mat. 13.19. Mar. 1.13. Isa. 11.4. Isa. 53.1. Urfin. Catechis. q 123. expl.A. In this Kingdom all are not Subjects, but such as are willing to give free and frank obedience to Gods Word. Every particular man is not a member of this Government: but only that company of mankinde in Heaven or earth, which is called from the world to the participation of eternall life through Christ.
Q. What are the Laws of this Kingdom?
A. The Gospel is both the meanes whereby men are gathered to this Kingdom through the powerfull operation of the Spirit, and the Law by which it is governed. As a King by his Laws brings his people into order, and keeps them in subjection: so Christ by his Word, and the preaching of it, as it were by a mighty arm, draws his elect into his Kingdom, and fashions them to all holy obedience. Therefore it is called the Kingdom of Heaven, the Gospel of the Kingdom, the rod of his mouth, the arm of God.
Q. What are the Degrees of this Kingdom?
A. This Kingdom is but one in substance but divers in Degrees. For Christ the King now reigneth, but not without enemies, without warre: but at the day of judgment, having abolished sinne and death, and trampled all his enemies under feet, he shall reign peaceably for evermore. In this life he governs his Church by his Spirit and Word, Officers and Ordinances: but in the life to come,1 Cor. 15.28. God shall be all in all. And as for the Subjects of this Kingdom, some are militant here on earth, others are glorified in Heaven with Christ their Head, though in soul only; and at the day of Judgment both the one and other shall be glorified in soul and body.
Of this Kingdom then there be three Degrees. 1. The Kingdom of grace, in which Christ doth govern his Church militant in this life by his Spirit,Rom. 14.17. Col. 4.11. Mat. 4.23. & 9.35. Luk. 19.12, 15. Rom. 8.30. Rom. 14.17. Joh. 14.27. Psal. 45.11, 12, 13, 14. Psal. 65.4. Word and Ordinances, daily warring against his and their enemies, This is an entrance and preparation to the Kingdom of Glory. Great are the Priviledges of the Saints under this Government of Jesus Christ; they are qualified with eternall graces; they are comforted with the daily refreshings that flow from the sense of Gods favour; they are confirmed in the assured peace with Angels and good men; they are estated into an everlasting Inheritance; they daily reape the benefits of Christs Intercession; they often sup with Christ, and are feasted by the great King; they live alwaies in the Kings Court, in as much as they are alwaies in Gods special presence; they partake of the Priviledges, Prayers, and Blessings of all the righteous; and they have the Spirit of God in them, to unite them to God and Christ, to lead them in the pathes of holy life, to comfort them in all distresses, to warn them if they go out either on the right hand or on the left, and to help them in their Prayers, making request for them. The second is the Kingdom of Glory begun or inchoate,Joh. 12.2. & …4.3. & 17.26. in which Christ reigneth in the world to come with the spirits of just men in glory, being perfectly freed from sinne, and admitted to the clear, immediate Vision and fruition of God their bodies abiding as yet in the grave, expecting full redemption and deliverance. The third, The Kingdom of glory consummate,1 Cor. 13.10 Eph. 5.5. Mat. 26.29. Mar. 9 47. … & 10.14. Cor. 13.10. 1 Cor. 15.28. Mat. 25.34. Luk. 12.32. Jam. 2.5. Luk. 1.33. Heb. 12.28. when sinne and death being utterly abolished, the Elect being perfectly separated from the reprobate, and all the enemies of God and his Saints being wholly subdued, the Lord only doth rule with his Saints in most perfect glory. This is the consummation and perfection of the former Degrees of this Kingdom, and shall never have end. In the Kingdom of grace we slip and fall often: but when the light of the Kingdom of glory, which is perfect, shall shine upon us, we shall stand firm and stable, all infirmity shall be done away.
Q. What is it to come?
A. Come, properly is an action of such creatures which have the power of moving, whereby they being absent or farre off, do approach near, and become present: whence the metaphor here is taken, but with much enlargement of the sense. Here it signifieth five things: First, The coming and being of that which yet is not come. Secondly,Luk. 13.35. & 19.38. Apoc. 12.10. Christs Kingdom is said to come. First, In regard of means, Mat. 12.26. & 13.19. Mar. 1.15. Secondly, In regard of efficacy, Rom. 6 …7 Thirdly, In regard of perfection, and by increase of grace, Mat. 13.8. translation into Heaven, Luk. 23.42. and full redemption, Mat 25.34. Apoc. 22.20. Mar. 9.1.2. The continuance of so much of the Kingdom as is already come. Thirdly, Growth towards perfection of those things which are come in truth, but not in perfection of Degrees. Fourthly, The consummation and perfect coming of all things that belong to the glory of Gods Kingdom. The last is, When things concerning this Kingdom are come in their being, that they be revealed and come to our knowledg, for without this coming also we cannot glorifie God, in hallowing his Name. Therefore it is, that every speciall manifestation of Christs glory when it appeares to men, may be called a coming of his Kingdom. Thus Christs revealing some glimpse of his glory, is called the coming of the Kingdom of God with power.
Q. What great need is there that we should pray for the coming of Gods Kingdom?
A. We had need to pray that the Kingdom of God may come,2 Cor. 4.4. Luk. 11.18. Mat. 12.24, 25 Eph. 2.2, 3. Eph 4.18. Col. 1.13. 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 19. Psal. 2.9. because Satan hath his Kingdom upon earth, all men by nature being his bond-slaves, living in ignorance, errour, impiety, and disobedience: which opposeth strongly against the Kingdom of Christ. All men in words and shew detest the very Name of the Devil, but when they do his will, live under his Laws, delight in his works of darkness, subject themselves to the Pope and other his instruments, they are found indeed to love him as their Father, and honour him as their Prince, whom in words they would seem to abhorre. As men may approach unto God with their lips,Mat. 15.8. when their hearts are farre from him: so may they in their lips be farre from Satan, when in their hearts they are near him.
Q. What desire we of God in this Petition?
A. We pray that God would that the honour of his Name may be amplified, make his Government spread in the hearts of men, that the number of his Subjects may be increased, and subjection augmented in all who are brought under him, till they be perfected in the Kingdom of glory. In a word, we pray, That Christ would convert and bring home his chosen as yet living under the tyranny of Satan, rule in the hearts of them that are already called, and perfect the salvation of his people, and the glory of his Kingdom in Heaven hereafter.
Q. What is the ground of this Petition?
Psal. 68.34. Psal. 2.6. Mat. 28.19. Psal. 110.2. Eph. 1.10. Psal. 66.3. & 67.4.A. That Christ is the universall, most powerfull sovereign Lord of all things in Heaven and earth, the King, Head, and Saviour of his people that he hath redeemed, and will bring home unto his Kingdom, whose government is opposed by Satan, the flesh, the world, not yet perfected by the absolute peace and glory of his Subjects.
Q. What do we herein acknowledge?
A. We acknowledge, that by our first creation we were under the Kingdom of Gods bounty and kindness,2 Tim. 2.26. Col. 1.13. 1 Tim. 1.13. and grieve that by sinne we fell from it, and so came under the tyranny of Satan, and the revenging justice of God.
Q. What are the particular things that we desire?
A. The things that we ask, are, First, That God would cast down the Kingdom of Satan,Rom. 5.17, 21. Col. 1.13. Act. 26.18. 2 Tim. 2.26. Psal. 21.13, 14. Luk. 10.18. Psal. 110 2. Rom. 16.20. Psal. 67.2. Cant. 8.8. Luk. 17.21. Isa. 54.2, 3. & 60.3, 4. Gen 9.27. Joh. 10.16. Mat. 8.11. Isa. 60.1, 2, &c. Rom. 11.25, 26. Psal. 2 8. Col. 4.3. Eph. 6.19, 20. Mat 9.37, 38. Eph. 4.11. Mar. 1.14. Mat 4.…3. Isa. 11.4, 10. 1 Thes. 2 13. Psal. 110.2. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. 1 Thes. 1.5. Eph. 1.17, 18. Act. 26.…8. Jer. 3 15. & 23.…. 1 Cor. 11.23. 1 Cor. 5.3, 4.5. Heb. 3.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Act. 2.44, 46. & 4.32. Psal 51.1…, …9. & 53 6. Isa. 62.7. …sal. 3.8. & 67.1, 2. & 26.8. 1 Cor. 2.4, 5. Gal. 2.5. 2 Cor. 2.17. & 11.3. Deut. 33.11. Col. 4.3, 4. 1 Thes. 3.1, 2. 1 Thes. 2.4. Col. 2.5. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. 2 Cor. 2.10, 11. Act 13. Mat. 1….…9. and all the props and pillars of it, where yet it is unshaken. In this God is glorious as a lawfull King in subjugating usurping Tyrants. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Rule thou in the middest of thine enemies. The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly. Secondly, That God would plant both outwardly and inwardly the externall face, and inward substance of his Kingdom where yet it is not. Other sheepe I have which are not of this Fold, them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance. And to this end we pray, that God would send forth his word into those people that as yet sit in darkness and the shadow of death; that he would powerfully accompany it by his Spirit, to bring his chosen from the power of Satan unto God; that he would give them Pastors according to his own heart, to feed them with knowledg and understanding; that he would erect his own Ordinances, and establish an holy order amongst them, and link them together in mutuall love and holy profession of the faith. Thirdly, For the Churches already planted we pray, that God would supply unto them what is wanting, and mercifully continue and encrease what good they enjoy; that he would preserve purity of Doctrine, that the Word may be preached purely, freely, with power and authority; that the Sacraments may be administred purely according to the institution of Christ, that the House of God may be governed according to the heavenly policy of that Kingdom, that comely order may be observed amongst the Saints, each man with all diligence, patience, meekness and zeal, doing the duties of his place; that the censures of the Church may be rightly executed; that the good may be encouraged, the evil may be shamed, and so brought to amendment, or else cut off from the communion, and that to the working of true awefull credit to the Church,Joh. 14.23. Rom. 14.17. 1 …et. 5.10. Eph. 1.17, 18. 1 Cor. 1.10. Joh. 17.11. Act. 2.46, 47. Eph. 4.3. Psal. 122.6. Act 4.32. Phil. 2.1, 2, 3. & 1.27. Act. 9.30, 31. Gal 2.9. Deut. 6.7. Rom. 16.3, 9. Philem. 24. Col. 4.11. Isa. 49.23. Eccl. 10.16, 17. 1 Tim. 2.2. Dan. 6.26. 2 Chro. 19, 5▪ Isa. 60.3. Tit. 1.6, 7. 1 Tim. 3.2, 3. 2 King. 6.1. 2 King. 2 3, 15. Psal. 122.6. Isa. 59 21. Isa. 62.7. and advancement of the Kingdom of Christ Jesus. We pray also, that the graces of the Spirit, with the fruite thereof, may plentifully grow and encrease, and that God would bless his people with inward and outward peace and prosperity, that being freed from jarres, contentions, and externall persecutions, that they may walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and mutually edifie each other in their most holy faith. And to this end we pray, that God would bless his Church with Christian religious Magistrates, which may be as nursing-Fathers, and nursing-Mothers to his Israel, which may so govern, that their Subjects may live in all godliness and honesty, which may rule for the praise of them that do well, and for the terrour of them that do evil: which may advance and defend the only one true Religion among their Subjects. Again, we ask that God would furnish his Church with Ecclesiasticall Officers, who might both govern and assist according to his will; men furnished with wisedom and grace to discharge their duties, such as be of unblameable conversation, ensamples to their Flocks in good works, whose hearts are set for the building of Gods Kingdom. We pray also for Schooles of Learning and Piety: for they are the ordinary means to maintain the Ministry, and so the Church of God. A man that hath divers Orchards, will also have a Seminary full of young Plants to maintain it. Schooles, they are as Seminaries to Gods Church, without which the Church falls to decay: because they serve to make supply of Ministers. And because Paul may plant and Apollos water, and all in vain, unless God give the increase; therefore we pray, that the holy Spirit would work effectually by his outward Ordinances, for the building forward of them that be already called, and the effectually calling of them that be members of the Church by outward profession only. As in the time of the Law, not the Ark alone, nor the Mercy Seate covered with Cherubims, but the answers from the Ark given immediately by God, were the undoubted evidences of his most glorious presence amongst them: So not the externall sound of the Gospel, nor the bare ministry of the Word, but the powerfull work of the Spirit in every man soul and conscience, is the most evident demonstration of the same glorious presence in the daies of the Gospel. The mighty and wonderfull works of the Holy Ghost, pricking some at the heart,Act. 2 37. & 9.4, 5. Joh. 1.12, 13. Act. 16.14. & 2 16, 17. 1 Cor. 14.24.25. Isa. 11.6. Psal. 122.3. Phil. 2.2. Jer. 32.39, 40. Rom. 15.31. 1 Thes. 4.9, 12. Act. 4.29. Eph. 6.19. Rev. 2.10. 2 Thes. 1.4. 2 Thes. 3.2. Rom. 15.31. Phil. 1 12, 13.14. Rev. 6.10. 2 Thes. 2.17. Luk. 22.31, 32. 1 Cor. 12.8, 9. Psal. 51.12. Cant. 1.2. Psal. 119.17. Psal. 38.21. Joh. 17.15. Jam. 5.15, 16. Isa. 61.1, 2. 2 Thes. 2.77. Psal. 5.8. Gal. 5.24. casting down others at the sight of their vileness, converting, quickning, comforting, discovering the thoughts, inflaming with burning zeal, assuring the heart of the truth received: this is an infallable witness of the most gracious presence of Christ amongst us. And for the members of the Church we pray, that they may live together in love, being of one mind and one judgment, yeelding free and willing subjection to the sovereignty of Christ Jesus, accepting the service and labour of his faithfull Messengers, and walking in holiness without offence. Fourthly, For the Church in persecution we ask, that the Ministers of the Gospel may be inabled to preach, and others to profess the truth with all courage and boldness, as they ought to do; that they may be faithfull unto death, not fearing what the adversary can do unto them, that they may be delivered from unreasonable men, or protected against them; that the rage of the enemies and constancy of the Saints may turn to the encrease of the Church: and that in due time, he would put an end to the misery and tribulations of his Saints. Fifthly, For the Elect of God already converted we pray, that God would strengthen the weak, comfort the afflicted, recall the wandering, uphold them that stand, and lead them forward by his blessed Spirit into all truth and holiness. Sixthly, For our selves converted and all others, we ask, that God would root out the relicks of darkness in us, which are as yet not subdued to grace; that he would preserve us to abide in his Kingdom,Cant. 1.2, 3. Eph. 3.16, 17. Isa. 44.3, 4. 2 Thes. 2.17. Isa. 11.14, 15, 16. Psal. 42.1, 2. Mat. 8.11. Eph. 2.19. Psal. 63.1, 2. & 84.1, 2. Col. 1.12. 2 Thes. 1.5. 2 Tim. 4.18. 2 Pet. 3.12. Luk. 12.39, 40. 2 Pet. 1.11. Rev. 22.20. Col. 3.4. 1 Joh. 3.2. Dan. 2.44. Psal. 2.9. Apoc. 2.27. & 12.5. & 19.15. Psal. 69.24. and continually increase and quicken in us all those heavenly vertues that he hath begun of his mercy; That he would subdue all the enmities and impediments, which Satan raiseth to hinder us in this way; That he would give all meanes serving to this end; as that we may live under his Ordinances in his Church, enjoying the fellowship and society of the Saints. Seventhly, Concerning the Kingdom of Glory we pray, that we may be made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light, be accounted worthy the Kingdom of God, and be preserved unto his heavenly Kingdom; that we may love, desire, and hast unto the coming of that Kingdom of Glory; that we may be prepared for the coming of that Kingdom; that Christ would bring us to his Kingdom of Glory: and that he would come to judgment, to magnifie himself in his just vengeance upon the wicked, and to glorifie his Name in the perfect salvation of his people, when death and sinne shall utterly be abolished, and all the enemies of Christ and his Saints be put under feet and subdued wholly. Lastly, For such as are uncalled, not belonging to Gods mercy, we pray, That in this life Gods power may bring them on their knees, and that they may be crushed with a rod of iron.