THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN EXPLAIN'D And the way to Glory Manifested By Christ Jesus the Lord and King of that Kingdom Held forth in a Parable in Mat. 22. from verse 1. to ver 13. With some Brief Meditations upon the said Parable By James Pope If I have told you Earthly things and ye believe not How shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly things And he spake many things to them in Parables Mat. 13. 3. London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Samuel Sprint at the Bell in Little-Brittain 1675. Academiae Cantabrigiensis Liber THE PREFACE I Have been Young and now am Old having lived to the account almost that Moses gives of the Age of a Man Psal 90. 10. Vnto which but few attain and being therefore now in expectation that I may quickly be called hence it was with great desire upon my heart that I might leave something with my Friends and Family and my loving Neighbours That if the will of the Lord be so it might be of some advantage to them when they shall see me no more The Subject of the insuing discourse is weighty though the Instrument is weak for which cause some perhaps may say Could not this man have found something else to do then to Write a Book seâ—ing this Nation doth abound with good Books that have been Written by Learned and able persons both Ancient and Modern It is true and blessed be God for plenty Yet nevertheless this may be of some advantage at least to some who have neither Money to buy nor time to Read the Books the Objection mentioned and for such this may be of use And besides though the Nation doth abound with good Books yet the houses of at least many People do not abound with them nor their minds with the knowledge of them Who perhaps will have a mind to hear what this Babler will say and it is possible some one or other may gain something thereby Which if it might be so it would make amends for all my trouble in Writing I know my end is to Alarum some poor souls and to perswade them to hearken to the invitation of the Gospel that so they may come and be welcome to the Marriage for they and they onely are Blessed Revel 19. 9. There will be but Come ye Blessed receive the Kingdome and Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire Which will certainly be the Portion of all those that neglect to hear and make ready to come upon the bidding to the Wedding by the Servants that are sent out to that end and purpose I shall subject the following Discourse to the perusal and censure of the Reader for whose sake I have Written it and especially my Neighbours of the Town of Hempsted whom I could be glad to serve in any thing within my power in thankful remembrancâ— of their Kindness shewed to me and my Friends which I do not forget I would also commend it to my Friends and dear Relations committing you all to the Grace of God with my poor Mite now cast into the Treasury remaining Your suppliant at the Throne of Grace J. P. THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN EXPLAINED Matth. 22. 2. The Kingdome of Heaven is like a certain King that made a Marriage for his Son THe Lord Jesus spake much to the Jews in Parables and in a foregoing Parable he shews them what would be the event of their dealing with himself and his Servants which he sent unto them and they themselves passes Sentence Chap. 21. 41. He will miserably destroy those wicked men and let out the Vinyard to other Husband-men that will render the Fruit in their Season Which hath been fully accomplished both to them and to us they are destroyed and we Gentiles saved they are broken off and we if we believe shall be Grafted in They are deprived of the Gospel and we injoy it which is the sume of the Parable now under consideration And I shall take notes of three things First What the Kingdome of Heaven is Secondly How it may be compared to a Marriage Thirdly Wherein the Parable doth not hold for in all things Parables do not hold And then I shall desire to consider wherein the whole may be profitable to us As to the first a Kingdom doth impose a King and Subjects and so do the Kingdome of Heaven supposeth a Heavenly King and Heavenly Subjects and then Christ and his Church are to be taken for the Kingdome of Heaven But then the Question is what is the Church The answer is it is to be considered First In its Militant or else Secondly In its Triumphant state and in both these it will fall under a two fold consideration The First viz. The Militant or warring state we must consider it as it's Catholick consisting of the universal Body Among whom there is no Prophane nor Hypocritical Person And in this sense they are called The General Assembly and Church of the first born that are written in Heaven Heb. 12. 23. My Dove my undefiled is but one Song of Songs 6. 8. They are that whole Family in Heaven and Earth Eph. 3. 15. So all the Saints make up but one Church in this sence But in a second sense the Church is devided into particular Churches as 7 in Asia Rev. 1. 4. In Galacia divers Gal. 1. 22. As also at Corinth at Rome at Antioch and more that might be mentioned Now in the Church in this sence there were in the primitive days and have been since and will be so to the last some Hypocrites John 2. 19 Jude 4. Esay 33. 14. Sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulness surpriseth the Hypocrits Which seems to be at the last day There were foolish Virgins among the Wise when the Mid-night cry is made Mat. 25. For the Net of the Gospel doth bring to shore bad Fish as well as good Mat. 13. 47 48. But it greatly concerns the Churches to take care that such be not there by their allowance if they are made manifest to be such But the Church Triumphant is also the Kingdome of Heaven and falls under a twofold consideration also and First We may consider it as with respect to the first state of Glory in which state Christ and his Saints shall Reign Gloriously together according to Dan. 7. 9 10. I beheld till the Thrones were cast down and the Ancient of days did sit whose Garment was as White as Snow and the Hair of his Head as the pure Wool his Throne was like the burning flame and his Wheels as burning fire A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him thousand thousands Ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the Judgment was set and the Books were opened This must needs be a day of great Glory when this glorious King shall come with his Glorious attendants to sit upon his Glorious Throne when all other Thrones must be cast down But what is this to the Saints I
answer When Christ shall possess the Kingdome his Saints shall possess it with him as appears by comparing Dan. 7. 14. with the 22 and 27 verses together in ver 14. There was given him viz. the Son of Man that came with the Clouds of Heaven Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve and obey him And in ver 21. 22. It is said The Horns made War with the Saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdome And ver 27. And the Kingdome and Domion and the greatness of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most high Quest When shall this be accomplished Answ I think I may safely say Of that day and hour knoweth no Man But this we know that it is to be after the Seventh Angel sounds his Trumpet and the Mystery of the Kingdome of God is finished Rev. 10. 7. and 11 15. compared but let it suffice that we know it shall be a state of very great Glory And whether it shall be a thousand years Glory before Christs visible comming as some say or that it shall begin when he shall come from Heaven to judge the World as others say is a Mistery too great for me to hold forth but it will be the first state of the Church Triumphant a state of Transcendent Glory And blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Rev. 19 9. Again The final state of the Church Triumphant is When the Lord Jesus shall deliver up the Kingdome to God his Father that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 24. Which will be when the Lord Christ hath finished the Judgment and the final Sentence is past of Come ye Blessed of my Father and receive the Kingdom And go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Now both these states are so Glorious as can no way be conceived of by Mortal man 1 Cor. 2. 9. And thus briefly I have passed through the first thing propounded viz. what the Kingdom is The second thing is Wherein it resembleth a Princely Marriage First In the Marriage of Great Persons the Father doth determine to provide a Match for his Son Even so God the Father did determine to take a Wife for his Son Christ Ephes 1. 4 5. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World Rom. 8. 29 30. Secondly As the Father intends so the Son accepts Ephes 5. 25 26 27. Christ the Son gave himself for his Church to wash it to cleanse it and to present it to himself a glorious Church c. Thirdly There is a time appointed for the Marriage Solemnity Revel 19. 7. The Marriage of the Lamb is come c. Fourthly Some are sent out to invite and hear we may take notice who were the first intended Guests and that was the Jews To whom Christ sent First The Apostles Mat. 10. 1 5 6 7. Secondly He sent the Seventy Luke 10. 1. They were they that first were called to come of whom some slited the invitation preferring their Worldly occasions before Gospel priviledges Luke 14. 18 19 20. And others of them abused yea slew the Messengers that were sent yea even the Son himself Mat. 21. 35 36 37 38. And when the Jews Blasphem'a and spoke against the things which Paul Preached Acts 13. 45 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said it is meet the word of God should first be spoken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of eternal life Loe we turn to the Gentiles These were the Church to whom the lively Oracles were given These were the Muraâ—rers whom GOD destroyed whose City was burnt Mat. 22. 7. Which was fulfill'd by Vespatian and Titus the Roman Emperors about 40 years after Christ When they and their City were in a most dreadful manner destroy'd by Fire Famine Sword and Pestilence fulfilling the Words of Christ Matth. 24. 21. But to whom did the King send when the Jews were rejected Answer To the Gentiles Who were as the Blind the Halt and the Maimed like poor Vagrant Beggers in the High-ways and under the Hedges Eph. 2. 12. Being without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of Promise without Hope and without God in the World Poor Sinners of the Gentiles were called of whom was Constituted the first Gentile Church to wit at Antioch Acts 11. 26. the Churches in Galatia Gal. 1. 2. From these came the 7 Churches in Asia with many more Against a great Wedding there is great preparation beforehand against the time appointed First Of suitable Apparel so in this also the Bride must have her Glorious Apparel The Kings Daughter is all Glorious within Psal 45. 13 14. Rev. 19. 8 9. To her was granted she should be arrayed with fine Linnen clean and White and the fine Linnen is the Righteousness of Saints Secondly There must be preparation by the Guests they must have Wedding Garments Mat. 22. 11 12. Thirdly There must be preparation of provision for entertainment so it must be in the Spiritual Marriage as it resembles the Kingdom of Heaven Prov. 1 2 3 4 5 Esaâ— 25 6 And it is the custom to have somthing for the Guests to refresh themselves with before the Dinner be ready and before the Bridegroom comes to sit down at Table So is it here the blessed Bridegroom doth prepare good things for his Guests before the great Dinner be served in he hath appointed for them his Laws and blessed Ordinances to comfort and cheer them before-hand Wherein they have Communion not onely one with another but with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 17. The Cup of Blessing which we Bless is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ for we being many are one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread Little do the poor World think what the people of the Lord do enjoy in Corners They can say at sometimes They have meat to eat that the World knows not of They can get into a Corner and poure out their souls to God when their Enemies persecute them 142. Psal 2. 5 6 7. Compare Psal 102. 17. He will regard the Prayer of the Destitute and will not despise their Prayer The Lord makes the hearts of his Guests to rejoyce before they come to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of their Fathers Sixthly There must be a set time for to Solemnize the Marriage so it is in this Spiritual as it resembles the Kingdom of Heaven Rev. 19. 7. The Marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife
hath made her self ready Psal 45. 9. Kings Daughters were among thy Honourable Women upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir ver 14. She shall be brought unto the King in Raiment of Needle Work It will be very Glorious Raiment That shall cause her to shine as the Sun in the Kingdom Mat. 13. 43. Seventhly There is great joy in the Marriage Chamber so will it be in this Spiritual Marriage as it resembles the Kingdom of Heaven Revel 19. 7. Let us rejoyce and be glad and give Honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come No Tongue can express the Glorious rejoycing of that day the Heavenly Musick will then strike up Rev. 5. 8 9 10. Chap. 15. 3. 4. Now shall the Bride and Bridegroom solace themselves in each others love unspeakably beyond the Joy of any other Bride-Groom and Bride in all the World The third thing propounded is to note some things wherein this and other Marriages do not resemble each other As first All the appointing inviting preparing rejoycing compleating and finishing is all upon a natural account and the other all upon a Spiritual account as hath been already shown And as it is natural and not spiritual so also it is temporal and not perpetual First All other Wedding days have an end but this shall never end For those that dye before Christs comming shall be both caught up to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall be ever with the Lord These are words to comfort one another withal 1 Thes 4. 17 18. Secondly In other Weddings they put off their VVedding Apparel again but it is not so here Daniel 13. 3. They that be Wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and those turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Thirdly In all other wedding feasts those that partake thereof will hunger again and thirst again but not so in this Spiritual Marriage Isa 49. read from ver 8. to ver 13. Rev. 7. 16 17. Fourthly In other Marriages the joy and the sound of the Musick ceases but in this Spiritual Marriage they shall sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb eternally Rev. 4. 8 9 10 11. Fifthly In other Marriages the beauty and comliness of the Bride decays in a little time but not so here in the Kingdom there shall be no withered faces nor eyes sunk in their holes no aking Backs nor feeble Limbs Zach. 12. 8 Sixthly All other Bridegrooms and their Brides must part again in a little time Oh how soon is their days of Feasting and joy turned into sorrow and mourning and those that did follow them to the VVedding in a little time follow them to the Grave This daily experience proves But this Heavenly Bridegroom never shall never will part with his lovely Bride No Death is now Conquer'd and were it not it could not seperate between the Bride-groom Christ and his Bride the Church no nor with any one Member of it Rom 8. 35. 36 37 38 39. Seventhly In other Marriages the Guests and the Bride are distinct but not so in this for every one that cometh to the Marriage upon the call or invitation shall be a Member of the Bride and shall enjoy full Communion with the Bridegroom 1 John 1. 3 4. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ These things Write we unto you that your joy may be full Psal 16. 11. In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Fourthly The fourth thing and the last is to consider how we may improve this Parable to our own Advantage 1. Vse And first It shows us how we ought to admire the goodness of God in sending to invite us poor blind lame high-way Vagrants to come to the Glorious Marriage That we who were Children of Wrath by nature Eph. 2. 3. And had been long treasuring up Wrath against the day of Wrath and Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God should be invited in Rom. 2. 5. Oh infinite mercy that we Who were dead in trespasses and sins should be quickned and that together with Christ and saved by Grace Oh that the Lord should pass by the wide VVorld and send his Gospel into this poor Island and plant it here and continue i◠here so long a time as he hath done notwithstanding all the opposition to the contrary nay notwithstanding the slight esteem of it and the little improvement that hath been made by this poor Nation of this so Rich a mercy Oh! how hath the Lord been sending his Servants among us raising them up and furnishing them with the Choice Gifts of his Spirit who have spent their time and strength to serve the Lord in the Ministry of the Gospel but Oh! How few have hearkened to the Call Do not most say with the Jew◠we cannot come we have other work to do and have not many evil 〈…〉 them that have been sent unto them to say no worse of it but let those that fear the Lord and have been moderate to come in at the Call say let the Lord be praised seeing he hath left a great part of the world to worship the Devil a great part to worship Mahomet and a great part of the world to worship the Beast Rev. 13 8. All these are without the Gospel without any means to come to the right knowledge of God and Christ Nay they have that which is a great deal worse then nothing being deceived by those Impostures whose work it is to bewitch poor souls and to prevent them of good any good and make them seven fold more the Children of Wrath by their means But blessed be your Eyes that you see and your Ears that you hear Oh let it be the care of every one that hath tasted that the Lord is gracious to be by all means endeavouring to shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9 Secondly A second use to be made of this Parable is to examine whether we have hearkened to the invitation or no and to help herein the Scripture doth afford us many rules to try by I shall name some First Note As first If we have indeed hearkned to the Lords Call then your understanding is enlightned which before was dark Compare Eph. 1. 18. with the 4. 18. By this we come to know what is the riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward that beleive which we understood not before by this new Light we come to see how miserable our estate was by nature and what necessity of being brought out of that state or else that eternal VVrath must have been our Portion By this we come to see an