A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 93 (Question 26)
SERMON XCIII.
QUESTION XXVI.
… OW doth CHRIST execute the Office of a King?
ANSWER.
…HRIST executeth the Office of a … in Subduing us to Himſelf, in …g and Defending us, and in Re…ing and Conquering all His and our …ies.
…E before obſerved, that Chriſt in the execut…on of His Mediatorſhip hath with God and man. In his tranſacting God for us, he diſchargeth the Office Prieſt. In his treating with us, to bring … the enjoyment of God, he hears the …es of a Prophet and a King. Of his Pro…ical wherein he deals with our Under…ings, we have formerly conſidered. That King now follows to be look'd into, in … he applies himſelf to our Wills by giving …acy to the things of our Peace and Salvation. …all follow the ſame Method in opening … Office which I did in the former, by … Nature. 2. The Neceſſity. The … of it above all in the World. … TOUCH … the Nature of the Kingly … of Chriſt, we have it expereſs'd in the …er by the Effects of it. But before we … to a particular view of that, way may made to it by a brief glance at the Quality his Kingdom, His Inveſtiture in it, and the …cial End or Deſign of it.
1. AS to the Quality of his Kingdom it is …itual. It is indeed reſembled by the …ingdoms of this World, as having ſome …logy with them; but it …s quite of ano…er nature. When Pilate heard of Chriſt's …ing a King, he was diſturbed, ſuſpecting are might be ſome detriment in it to the …man Empire; but Chriſt would not have … take any thought about that; His King…m was of another nature, and could be …aged although that remained. Joh. 18.36. …ſus anſwered, My Kingdom is not of this …id: if my kingdom were of this world, then … my ſervants ſight, that I ſhould not be deli… to … fews: but now is my kingdom not whence. His Kingdom is not attended … external pomp a…d ſtate; He doth not upon a worldly Throne: but His is a di… Kingdom; its Adminiſtrations are Spi…l. The not underſtanding of this was that …hich led the Jews into ſo ſoul a miſtake, as, … they had all the convictions neceſſary, …t be was the Meſſiah; they might ſee him glorious One, and the Prophecies of Him … was to come, convincingly fulfilled in …, yet becauſe he came not with outward Splendor, and ſat not on a Te…ſtial Throne, they could not believe him to be the King they looked for. However, as there is now a mighty efficacy of his Kingly Power in the World, there is alſo a time coming wherein He ſhall appeas in His glorious Majeſty, and all the World ſhall ſee it, and know Him to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 1.7. And mean while his People know it, and the efficacy of it in their Souls.
2. WITH reſpect to his Inveſtiture, or the way how he came to be King, we may obſerve, There is a natural Kingdom of Chriſt which belongs to him as God. For, being one in eſſence with his Father, He hath thereupon an everlaſting Kingdom, and abſolute Sovereignty belonging to Him. But this is not that we are now conſidering of. There is therefore beſides this, a Mediat…rial Kingdom which Chriſt received from his Father: And when the Affairs of it are finiſhed, He will reſign it up again to Him that gave it him. 1 Cor. 15.24. And this is that which he holds by Office Obſerve the…, That Jeſus Chr…ſt God-Man-Mediator, received Power and Anthority from his Father, to adminiſter all the Affairs of the Kingdom of his Church, and of the whole World for the good of his Church. Here conſider two things.
(1.) THAT God hath the right of Dominion over his Creatures. And there needs no more to evince this, but the relation that they bear to him of his Creatures. Pſal. 100.2, 3. Serve the Lord with gladneſs; come before his preſence with ſinging. Knew ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we our ſelves; we are his people, and the ſheep of his paſture. Hence they muſt needs owe to Him ſuch homage as is due from the thing made, to him who is the maker of it. That we have our being from him, and for that reaſon we ought to acknowledge our ſelves to be entirely under him; not can He who gave the Creature its being, relinquiſh his dominions; that were to give away his Glory, which he hath ſaid he will not. Iſai. 42.8.
(2.) THAT God hath by a free & voluntary donation, made over the diſpenſation of this Dominion to Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator; to Chriſt God-Man. And there are ſeveral expreſſions in the Word of God, which ſet forth his Donation, and Chriſt's Inauguration. He made choice of him to this Office He did it upon mature deliberation; and on that account he is called his choſen, Pſal. 89.3, 19. Iſai. 43. 10. He anointed him to this Office; giving him both fulneſs of Authority and of Grace to diſcharge it. Hence he is called his An…nted. Pſal. 2.6. Iſai. 11.2, 3, 4. He hath put all Power and Authority into his hands, with a full …erty of Adminiſtration of this Kingdom, J…h. 5.22, 27. Mat. 28.18. And he hath proclaimed him his King, and requires all the World to pay homage to him as ſo. The decree is publiſhed, Pſal. 2.7. and that by a Voice from Heaven, Mat. 3.17. And warning is given to all ranks of men, Pſal. 2.10, 11, 12. His d…mi…ion deſcribed, Pſal. 70. …, &c. Angels are required to worſhip him, Heb. 1.6. and every …ner to bite, Phil 2.9, 10.
3. AS to the ſpecial deſign of this Kingly Office, it is to beſtow ſpiritual Peace and eternal Salvation upon his Redeemed. Having by his Prieſthood wrought out their Redemption, and reconciled God to them. he applies this benefit to them by his Prophetical and Kingly Offices, and by this latter he brings them into, and keeps them in perfect peace, and leaves not till he hath inveſted them with compleat Salvation. And all that he doth in purſuance of this Office, hath a reſpect hereunto. Man, by his Apoſtaſy was fallen u…der the curſe of the firſt Covenant, & there was no peace for him by that Covenant. The new Covenant which is made in Chriſt, and the diſpenſation whereof is committed to him, is properly a C…venant of Peace. And he was made King, that he might lead men to the enjoyment of this Peace; and this includes both the way and the end. He muſt guide them in the one, and ſo bring them to partake in, and poſſeſs the other. Which Peace includes all good in it, and ſo the perfect felicity of them that enj…y it. This therefore is one of the titles that are put on him. The France of Peace, Iſai. 9.6. Hence therefore the Subjects of this peace, or thoſe to whom it is applied by him, are they for whom he had before procured it, for whoſe ſake he engaged in the affair of Mediatorſhip. Joh. 17.19. And for their ſakes I ſanctifie my ſelf, that they alſo might be ſanctified through the truth. And he doth all that in it, which is requiſite to the inſtating ad ſettling of them in it.
AND now we may come to the buſineſs it ſelf, wherein this Office is diſcharged, accordi…g to the Anſwer before us. And here the …cution of this Office is diſtributed into two parts, where we are told, 1. What he doth in the Applicati…n of it to and in his Elect and Redeemed. 2. What he doth for them in reſpect to his and their Enemi…s.
1. CHRIST executes his Kingly Office upon his Elect of R…deemed in that which he doth to and in them. And this is expreſt in two reſpects: both of which do properly refer to this life. And tho' there be the affair of the Great Day of Judgment, which alſo belongs to this Office; yet becauſe it is pointed at under the Exaltation of Chriſt, I ſhall adi… the diſcourſe of it, till we come thither. Here then,
1. There is ſomething he doth for the bringing them under this Kingdom of his.
2. Something that he doth for them when they are made the Subjects of it.
1. THERE is ſomething he doth for the bringing them under this Kingdom: He ſubducth us to himſelf. Though his Father hath appointed him a Kingdom, yet he muſt gain to himſelf Subjects of it. Here then let us obſerve,
(1.) THAT God the Father in the … comped, gave to him a number, who were is … redeemed by him, and …a…e the Subject: of … ſpiritual kingdom. Our Saviour Chriſt himſelf commemorates this gift, Job. 17.6, … Theſe he was to purchaſe to himſelf, and upon that purchaſe they were to be his Soul, Iſai. 53.10. And they were deputed to ſerve him, Pſal. 20.30. And therefore, from the conſideration of this purchaſe, we have the Apoſtle urging this duty of glorifying him, 1 Cor. 6.20. For ye are bought with a p…: therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirits which are God's.
(2.) THAT theſe, thus given him by his Father, are in their natural eſtate Rebels and E…e…. All mankind are, by the Apoſtaſy in ſuch … eſtate. There is not one of the children of men, but who are fallen away from God, … have taken up arms againſt him; ſuch they were all, when Chriſt came to dye & ſuffer for them, Rom. 5.10. The very nature of man is revolted, filed with enmity, and ave… to all ſubjection. Rom. 8.7. Paul tells is what he, and all of us ſometimes were, … 3.3. For the our ſelves alſo were ſometime f…l…ſh, d…ſ…edient, deceived, ſer…ng … luſts end pleaſures, living in maliet & …, hateful, and hating one another.
(3.) THAT the Subjects of his Kingdom … be free and voluntary Subjects. Pſal. 110.3. Th… people ſhall be willing in the day of thy p…. He will not acknowledge any for true members of his ſpiritual Kingdom, who do … ſpontaneouſly acknowledge him for their Lord and Sovereign. They muſt come to that free profeſſion, Iſai. 35.22. For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law giver, the Lord is our King, he will ſave us. He requites then to give him their hearts. There is a Covenant which he calls them to enter into with him, and there muſt be their deliberate con…e… is it. He receives none that will ſay, they … not have this man to reign over them.
(4.) TO this …d be muſt ſubdue them. Then is no other way to the ſetting up his Kingdom in them, but by conquering of them. Their natural corruption will not yield, but muſt be broken. The ſetting up the Kingdom of Chriſt in the World is compared to a conqueſt, Rev 6.2. His Father hath on this account promiſed him this conqueſt, Pſal. 2.6…. And hence that in, Pſal. 45.3, 4, 5. Now this is done in the work of Converſion, whe… in Chriſt by his Spirit doth effectually p… ſwade men to cloſe in with the terms of Peace. He, in order to the eſtabliſhing of this Kingdom in the Souls of men, doth by vertue of his Prophetical Office, propo…, and reveal to them the terms of peace. … this is not all that he doth, nor is it … ſufficient: but he withal, takes away that rebellion which is naturally in the Will and makes the ſinner freely and fully to yield … himſelf. And this is not done by meet p… ſwaſion, but by Almighty power. And ſo, he is ſaid to bring all the natural powers into ſubjection. 2 Cor. 10.5. Ciſting dreen im…ginoti… and evers high thing that exaltath it ſelf … the acknowledge of God, and bringing into …iry every thought to the obedience of Chriſt. This indeed is not done by compulſion, or doing violence to men , forcing them againſt their wills to yield obedience to the laws of his Kingdom; but he puts forth an infinite power; in bringing them to a voluntary obedience; in taking away their rooted obſtinacy and reb…tion, and putting into them a free and …dy compliance with him: taking may that bears of ſtone, &c. He doth not only tell the terms of the Covenant, and declare the manner of the Kingdom, and then uſe ſtrong and rational arguments to win them to conſent; no, but he takes the obſtiancy out of their hearts, and cures the contry that is in their will: And as he makes them to apprehend the excellency and deſ…e…blea…ſs of the new Covenant, ſo he inh… them, and gives then ſuch a draming, …kes them run after him, Cor. 1.4. C…iving Grace is not only inviting Grace, let it is contracting Grace, it draws ſtrongly, …bly, eff…ct…ally. If Chriſt did not, as … man hearts to himſelf, he would be …ing without Subjects. Men would never … if he did not turn them. Jer. 21.10. God ſends his Goſpel by …is Em…aſſadors, with authority. He bids them declare his l…el Edicts; Commend men to believe, 1 Joh, 3.23. Tell them, it is his will that they forſite …en, and Satan, and World, and Self, and come over to Him, and that under pain of ſ…ation. See Mar. 16.15, 16. and, Mar. … 14, 25. But this is not all, but he alſo ſe…ds t…th his Spirit into the hearts of his …ed…i, when the time deſigned for their Con…e… is come, who ſubdues all oppoſition before him; caſts out the ſirong …n; makes the ſinner to caſt off the yoke of hell, to renounce all other lords, and reſign himſelf is fively to Chriſt, to be led and ruled by him. Iſal. …6.13. And in the act of Faith, the Soul takes him to be Lord and Chriſt.
2. THERE is ſomething that be doth for his after they are made the Subjects of his l…i…. And that conſiſts of two things, i…. … Ruling, and Defending us.
(1.) HAVING ſubdued a People to himſelf, in …s …oem. One and the principle end of a King is to Govern a People. And of Chriſt it is ſaid, that the Government is on his S…ier, Iſai. 9.7. And He hath according thoſe titles given him, Iſai. 55.4. Be… I have given him for a witneſs to the people …eder and commander to the people. His Kingdom is called the Kingdom of Heaven; is diſtinguiſh it from all earthly Kingdoms; and because he brings all the true Subjects of … an Heavenly Kingdom. And the Subjects of this are his Church: therefore he is elled King of Iſrael. Joh. 1.49. And ſaid is be againſted on his holy hill Zion, Pſal. ….… Now this Church is partly Milliant, partly Triumphant. And it is that part of it which is M…tira…t, that is the proper Suſpect of this Rule, be order to the making of it Triumphant. And this Rule or Government that Chriſt exerciſeth in his Church is twofold; External and im…eat
[1] THERE is an External Goverment in the Goſpel Church, … Chriſt requires all that preſ…ſs themſelves his Subjects to ſub… were. And this he admie…ers ad ministers …ely. And …ther belong all thoſe Offices which be bath appointed in it. Eph. 4.11, 12. He therefore deriver their Commiſſion from this Authority of his. Mar. 28.18, 19. Job. 20.21. And he requires ſubmiſſion to them, Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule … you, and ſubmit was ſelves. Hitherto alſo belong the Goſpel Ordinances or Inſtitutions, Preaching, Sacraments, &c. Preaching and Bap…ſm, Mar. 2…. 20. Rem. 10.15. The Lord's Sopper, Lord. 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11.23. Diſcipline, ſ… 20 23 And all the Goſpel Precep's of Faith. Repentance, and new Obedience. Hence called the Law of Chriſt, Gal 6.2. And there are Sanctions pee to them, Mar 16.16. Rom. 8.13.
[2.] THERE is alſo an Internal Government in the hearts of all that are Converted and made his Subjects. And this is by the influence of his Spirit; whereby he excites, and aſſiſts thoſe Graces of Sancfitication that be hath per into them, and makes them to exert the …lves in faithful ſerving of him. He ſo influenceth them as to make them follow him in their whole courſe. They make his Word their rule, his Will their warrant; and his Glory their deſign. He ſo governs them, as they ſhall never totally ſwerve from the way of peace; but he keeps them in the right way, and if at any time, they ſtep out of it, fetcheth them in again: He mortifies all their corruptions, and ſtrengthens all their Graces: He pats his fear into their hearts, and thereby keeps them in ſubjection. According to, Jer. …2.40.
(2.) HE alſo Defends them. This is another thing belonging to the Office of a Prince, to Protect his Subjects. The happineſs of a Kingdom mainly conſiſts in its Peace. This Peace is either within its ſelt, which is maintained by keeping Government in a due exerciſe, or from foreign lavaſion; and that is done by providing for the ſecud…y of the Subject againſt any ſuch thing. It is his Churches Peace which Chriſt is concerned for, and that of every true member in it. Peace is his very Legacy that he bequeaths to them Job 14.27 This Peace is External, Internal, Eternal; and Chriſt ſecures all unto them Iſai. 26.3 Time …lt keep him in perſell peace, whoſe mine is ſtayed on thee: becauſe be trai…eth on thee.
[1.] HE gives his Church outward Defence and Peace, ſo for as be ſeas beſt for them. It is by his p…ction, that there is a Church in the World. It he had not take its pare, &c. … go This is one thing aſcribed …o…n …. Pſal. …9. For the … is … the …ly One of Iſ…al… …. Me… … wall of ſere round about them. The Pillar that followed and conducted Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, was and emblem of this.
[2.] He maintains the in…rd Peace of his People, by Defending of them againſt that which would modeſt them. I be it own Conſciences, and Satan, would moleſt them with accuſations, and terrify them; but he makes all …vicr within, be ſpeaks peace to the Soul; and that word effects it, Pſal. 57.19. I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is of or off, and to him that is near, ſaith the Lord, and I will be at him. And therefore it is the priviledge of his Subjects, Pſal. 119.165. Gr…as peace have they which love the law. And if there be any diſquiet here, He comes and compoſeth it again.
[3.] He c…d…cts them to eternal Peace. And accordingly defends them from all that would prevent them of it. The perfection of Peace is not here; there will be trouble in this world, outward and inward; but there is an everlaſting Peace remains for his Subjects when they ſhall be put out of the reach of all that can offer to diſturb them. Now he here ſo defends them, as that they are without ſail brought to this, againſt whatever attempts there are to keep them from it. Hence that refers to this defence, 1 Por. 1.5. is to are kept by the power of God the ought ſaith unto ſalvatio, ready to be revealed in the last time. Pſal, 73. 24. Then ſhall guide me with thy counſel, and afterward receive me to glory;
II. CHRIST Executes his Kingly Offer in behalf of his Elect and Redeemed, in wants be doth for them with reſpect to His and their Execries. Which is here expreſſ in two words, the reſtrains and conquers them. This might have been reſected to his Defence, as being uſed in it; but there is ſomething more than meet Defence in it. And here let theſe few things be obſerved.
1. THAT Chriſts Mediatorial Power extends to the whole Creation in behalf of his Church. So Exph. 1.22. Not only as God, but as Chriſt, he hath the diſpoſe of every thing, Math. 28.18. And Jeſus came, and ſpake unto them, ſaying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Angels, Devils, and wicked Mee. Phil. 2.9. It is true, none but his Redeemed are the free Subjects of his Kingdom; but yet all the reſt are at his beck, and under his Providental diſpoſe, ſo as to make them and all their concerns, ſubſervient to his Glory, and the good of his People. Hence we have the extent of his dominion ſet forth, Pſal. 2.8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmoſt ends of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. Pſal. 72.8. He ſhall have dominion from ſea to ſea, & from the river unto the ends of the earth. And he keeps a powerful hand over them, nor can they poſſibly withdraw themſelves from the might influence of this Government of his.
2. THAT his Church in this world hath many Enimies. The Church Militant dwells in the midſt of thoſe that hate it. Out Saviour warned his Diſciples of this, and the them the reaſon of it, Job. 15.19. Theſe dom of Chriſt is in the midſt of adre… they dwell by the hill of Lions and … of Leopards. Wicked men malign … children of the bond momen perſon … children of the free, Gal 5.29. The … alſo is peculiarly their adverſary. and … all his indiſtry to do them miſchief … 5.8. he ſober, be vigilant: becauſe … ſary the devil, is as a raring lion walk … ſeeking whom be may devour. Yea, and the fleſh in them, which is the remain of … kingdom of darkneſs, ſets its ſelf againſt ſpiritual kingdom that is ſet up in them … … inſteth. Gal. 5.17. It wars, Rom. 7.23. … luſt is thus engaged, 1 Pet. 2.11. D… loved, I beſeech you as ſtrangers and p… obſtain from ſleſbly inſts, which war again the ſoul
3. THAT the Enemics of his People, apple his Enemies. And that is good news for the… It is for his ſake they are ſo. Hence that … 44.22. Tea, for thy ſake are the killed all the days lang: we are counted as ſheep for we … ter. And Chriſt ſo accoſts Soul, whee he … engaged in perſecuting of his Church, … I am Jeſus whom this perſecutest. Their … ultimately deſigns againſt Chriſt Yu… They ſeek to ſubvers that in the World … to overthrow it in the hearts of his Puple It is becauſe they firſt hated him, that thy are ſo ſet againſt his people. Joh. 15. … the world hate you, ye know that it bated … fore it bited you. Hence that, Mat. 10.22. … ye ſhad be bated of all men for my ſake. … therefore the people of God pray for … they uſe ſuch an Argument, Pſal. 74.22. … O God, plead thine …ton cauſe, reaches is the ſouliſh man reproacheth thee daily.
4. CHRIST therefore exerts his Royal … in Reſtraining and Conquering theſe …
(1) IN Reſtraining them. He doth … ways preſently ruine them; but ſuffers them to be; and to combine againſt his Cho…. And indeed there is nothing more … than to ſee how Jeſus Chriſt keeps a Ch… in the World, in deſpite of all the a … of earth and hell againſt it. Though is … afflicted and toſſed with tempeſt, yet is it not ſwallowed up. Herein verifying th… … 16.18. Upon this rock I will build my … and the gates of hell ſhall not prevail …. He lets out their malice as far as he … meet, and there he bounds it; accordings Pſal. 76.10. Hence that, Pſel. 129. …, this is as wonderful, in reſpect of the … in his People, which be preſerves, by … the temprations which are offered … 1 Cor. 10.13.
(2.) IN Conquering them. This he doth … preſently, becauſe he will have … of his Kingdom proved, and their Gra… …rciſed firſt. But he will do it as length, … will not leave till he hath done it. For … perfect Peace which he, as a King hath … taken to conduct them to; which they … enjoy till and their enemies are brought on, and made to lie at their feet. He hath miſed to bruiſe Satan under their feet ſhort. Rom. 16.2…. He hath ſaid that …c w…ll …roy all theſe that hate them. He hath …d that under the Kingdom of this our S…lo…, his Subjects ſhall be filled with Peace, … 72.7. And he will not ceaſe to manage; Scepter for them, till he have given them …; He will tread down all adverſe powers. … will break the force of the Kingdom of darkneſs; deſtroy the Devils Kingdom. He will not leave his People any one enemy to be them moleſtation. There ſhall not be …e Luff left within them to perplex; one …evil without to tempt them; nor one wick… man to perſecute them. He himſelf ever… upon his Croſs, when he led …ptivity …tive, and made a triumph in his Reſurrection; and he will e…e long give to all His triumphant Chariot, in which they ſhall … in ſtate to the Palace of Eternal Glory. … all this belongs to the Kingly Office of Chriſt.
USE. AND what re…tins then, but that … Children of Zi…n ſt…a…d be joyful in their …. According to, Pſal. 149.2. Have we … a King? Let us then v…th greateſt conſidence and che…ful … place our truſt in …, and make … b…aſt i…llim all the day. … though we find our enemies within and without, to be more and mightier then we …e, yet let us not be ſunk in our Spirit, …, reſolving our hopes into Him, let us bid de…ance to them all, and committing of the whole management into His Hands, and leaving it with Him, now ſtand ſtill, and ſee His Salvation.
[FEBRUARY 18. 1695.]