Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 29 – Part 31
Saints compared to Kings.
Rev. 5.10. And haſt made us unto God Kings and Prieſts, &c.
THe Saints are in this Place and ſome others called Kings, which is one of the higheſt Titles among Men.
Parallels.
I. KIngs are uſually highly deſcended, or are Sons of Nobles: So the Saints are all highly deſcended, they are born from above, born of God, and ſo may be ſaid to be the Off-ſpring of Heaven: Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God! Behold, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2.now are we Sons of God, &c.
II. Kings have great Attendants belonging to them: So the Saints have moſt great and glorious Attendants belonging to them, viz. the holy Angels. No Kings or Monarchs on Earth are honoured like the Saints and Children of God, in reſpect of the Excellency of their Retinue. See Angels under the Sixth Head.
III. Kings have their Crowns, and do reign, or elſe expect to reign: So the Saints have a Crown laid up for them:2 Tim. 4.18. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which God the Righteous Judg ſhall give unto me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them alſo that love his Appearance. Be thou faithful unto Death, Rev. 2.10. Rev. 5.10.and I will give thee a Crown of Life. And as they ſhall have a Crown, ſo they ſhall reign upon the Earth as Kings.
IV. Kings are the principal Men on Earth, far exceeding in Honour and Excellency all common People: So the Saints are the chief and principal Ones, or the moſt excellent in all the Earth; it may be ſaid of them, as of Jabeſh, 1 Chron. 4.9, 10.they are more honourable than their Brethren. What baſe and ignoble Perſons are the Wicked, to thoſe noble Souls! The Ungodly, be they never ſo high and great in Power and Sovereignty, are compared to Things very baſe, vile, and contemptible, as will hereafter be ſhewn. The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour.Prov. 12.26.
V. Kings ſometimes meet with great Trouble and Sorrow after they are anointed, before they come to the quiet Enjoyment of their Crowns; they have been ſeverely perſecuted, and chaſed from one Place to another, as King David particularly was: So the Saints of God, tho they are anointed with the Oil of Gladneſs, and have an Aſſurance given them of the Crown of Glory, meet with very great Trouble in this World, being perſecuted, tormented, afflicted, and ſometimes having no certain Dwelling-Place, as is ſaid of ſome of the ancient Worthies, Heb. 11.Heb. 11.37
VI. Some Kings have poſſeſſed and reigned over many Kingdoms, their Dominions have been very great: The Saints are the Heirs of a Kingdom, nay… all the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens ſhall be given to them.Rev. 11.15 Dan. 9.27. The Kingdoms of this World ſhall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, &c. And the Kingdoms, and Dominions, and the Greatneſs of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven, ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the Moſt High, &c.
VII. Kings have great and noble Minds, they buſy not themſelves about mean Matters: So the Saints have great and noble Spirits; they converſe about Things above; being riſen with Chriſt, their Affections are not ſet upon Things below,Col. 3 1, 2 Phil 3.20. but ſeek thoſe Things that are above, where Chriſt is at the right-hand of God. Our Converſation is in Heaven, &c.
VIII. Kings have many great and glorious Privileges and Prerogatives appertaining to them; how are they honoured and congratulated by the People! So have the Saints. They ſhall ſit down with Chriſt on his Throne; they ſhall judg the World; they ſhall be honoured by all; the Wicked ſhall bend their Knees before them in the Day to come, &c.
There are many great Diſparities, which we leave to the Reader's Obſervation.
Inferences.
LEt not the Saints be diſcouraged, nor faint under their Afflictions. What tho David was hunted like a Partridg on the Mountains? He was the Lord's Anointed for all that, and his Exaltation followed: So 'tis but a little while, if you faint not, before God will exalt you.
2. O what manner of Love and Grace is this! What! hath God made us his Sons, Heirs, Joint-Heirs with Chriſt! Hath he made us Kings! and ſhall we reign! &c. What ſhall we render to the Lord! &c.
3. This may quicken and ſtir up all the Saints to live as becomes their honourable Calling and Dignity. Hath God made us Kings, and ſhall we live like Beggars? Far be it from noble-ſpirited Saints ſo to do.
Saints compared to Prieſts.
Rev. 5.10. And hath made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, &c.
1 Pet. 2.9. But ye are a choſen Generation, a holy Prieſthood, &c.
GOD's People are called Priests, and an holy Prieſthood, as appears by theſe Scriptures. That of Kings ſhews forth the Dignity of the Saints, and this of Prieſts reſpects their Office and Work.
Parallels.
I. THe Prieſts under the Law were ſet apart, or conſecrated to God, to attend him in his Service: So every true Chriſtian God hath ſet apart for himſ…lf; he is ſeparated from the World, and worldly Worſhips, and ſinful …uſtoms, to the holy Service of God. The Lord hath ſet apart him that is godly for himſelf.Pſal. 4.3.
II. The Prieſts under the Law were admitted to approach near unto God; they had more perfect Knowledg of him, and holy Intimacy with him, than others: So the Saints are a People near to God: Ye who ſometimes were afar of, Eph. 2.13.are now made nigh by the Blood of Chr…ſt. They haye more perfect and clear Knowledg of God than others, and more precious Fellowſhip and …ommunion with him.
III. The Prieſts offered Sacrifices to God: So the Saints offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices, a…ceptable to God through Jeſus Chriſt. 1. They offer up th…ir Bodies and their Spirits, a broken and a contrite Heart. 2. They offer up their Prayers upon that Golden Altar, which is as ſweet Inc…nſe in the Noſtrils of Go…. 3. They offer their Subſtance as God calls for it, which is a Sacrifice well pleaſing in his Sight. 4. They offer up Praiſes: Whoſo offereth Praiſe, glorifieth me; Pſal. 50. ult.and to him that ordereth his Converſation aright, will I ſhew the Salvation of God.
Inferences.
SAints are Prieſts, not typical Prieſts, but a Royal Prieſthood, better than the Prieſts under the Law; they are ſpiritual Prieſts, they offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices, &c.
2. Their Perſons, as well as their Sacrifices, are accepted of God, through Jeſus Chriſt; if the Perſon be not ſanctified▪ the Offering is not accepted:Joh. 17.19. For their ſakes ſanctify I my ſelf, that they alſo might be ſanctified through the Truth.
3. Let all take heed they offer not the Lame and the Blind, when they have a Kid in the Flock. My Son, give me thy Heart.Prov. 23.26.