on in the Gospel What is it Let me labor to serve it whatsoever in me lieth Now if you reade in the Gospel you shall find that the Design that God hath it is To purchase to Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works to promote holiness and godliness that we being redeemed from the hands of our enemies might serve him in holiness and righteousness all the daies of our lives This is the Design that God hath I see that Mankind is fallen from me and the people in the world are generally fallen into wickedness the whole world lieth in wickedness over head and ears in sin but I would have holiness advanced I would have my Image renewed I would have a peculiar people that might live for ever to serve and worship me Here 's the Design of God Oh let me now serve this design of God and labor to do all that I can to serve and honor and blesse and magnifie that God that hath wrought such glorious things for us as He hath wrought in the Gospel And as Christ saith in Mat. 3. when He came to be paptized of John It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness Now shall the Lord Jesus Christ Himself say thus It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness surely then it becomes you to fulfil al righteousness Would you walk as becomes the Gospel Give up your hearts strength and endeavors what possibly you can to fulfill all righteousness do not say Why should I do thus and why need we be so forward and strict Oh remember the text If any talk of too much strictness and too much forwardness then answer thus I heard in such a place such a Text opened and applied to me that my Conversation must be as it becomes the Gospel and certainly let me do what I can I cannot do so much but that the Gospel will require ten thousand times more than I can do and therfore I do endeavor to walk as becoms the Gospel And I hear that Christ Himself saith that it became Him to fulfil all righteousness And why should not I walk as Christ Himself walked O my life hath bin too vain heretofore my heart hath been dead and I have not been quickned up so as to walk worthy of the Gospel but for the time to come my care and endeavor above all things in the world shall be That I may honor this glorious GOSPEL of Jesus Christ from whom I do expect to have such glorious things hereafter Consider now what hath been said and the Lord give you understanding in these things that you may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord JESUS CHRIST SERMON I. IF you please to reflect back upon the last daies Exercise when we finished that Scripture in the Philippians that teaches us to walk as becomes the Gospel in the prosecution of which we shewed what it was the Gospel principally did hold forh unto us and what Conversations ought to be in the Professors of it sutable unto those things the Gospel holds forth and among those this was one particular of great moment that we did then but hint out unto you in a word or two That the Kingdom of Christ was not of this world They are Christs own words Now because it is a consideration of very great use I would be loth the benefit of it should be lost therefore I have now pickt out that to speak to more largely and to open the meaning of it unto you from this Scripture JOHN 18. 36. Jesus answered and said My Kingdom is not of this world THE words are a part of the story of Christs arraignment before Pilat Behold here the King of Heaven and Earth stands arraigned at the Barr of a wicked man In this Arraignment we find a special Charge which his Adversaries bring against Him which was this THAT HE MADE HIMSELF THE KING OF THE JEWS He was an enemy to Government The usual charge that the world hath had against the Saints that they are enemies to Government They fare no worse here than Christ did Pilat requires of him to answer to the Charge whether it were so or no that He hath made Himself a King Now you shall find in the answer of Christ He doth not deny the thing but implicitly grants it neither doth he answer him fully to his mind but saith My Kingdom is not of this world My Kingdom As if he should say I acknowledg that I have a Kingdom as mean and low as I am brought now though I stand here before you as a despised man a Carpenters son yet I confess I have a Kingdom but it is not of this world Not of this world He doth not say not IN this world but saith it is not OF this world it is not a worldly Kingdom We have in the words these two things First That Christ hath a Kingdom Secondly What kind of Kingdom Christs is Not of this world I shall not here speak much unto the former and so to handle the common place of Christs Kingly Office but only hint it to you as it makes way to the latter there we shall stay a while Christ he hath a Kingdom He is anointed by the Father to be King as well as Priest and Prophet of His Church Psal 45. 6. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter that Psalm is a Prophesie of Christ And in the 19. of Revel 16. Christ is there called The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ God-man is the King of Heaven and Earth Christ God-man is the King of Angels and over all the World and we must know Christ as a King and act our faith upon him as a King or else we know Him not aright we have not the true work of faith except I say our faith act upon Him as a King as well as a Savior In Acts 2. 36. God hath made Him saith the text both Lord and Christ Mark He it not only Christ but Lord and Christ though it is true that in the word Christ all His Offices are implyed which signifies anointed to them all but yet this is expressed by its self Lord and Christ for indeed properly He is Christ unto His Church but He is also Lord over all the World in some sense But then you will say How doth He say that His Kingdom is not of this world if He he Lord over all the world Now that I might come to that point that I have chosen the text for we are to know that Christ hath a double Kingdom First Together with the Father He hath a Providential Kingdom as I may so say for distinction sake Secondly He hath a Mediatory Kingdom as Divines call it First A Providential Kingdom together with the Father whereby He mannages all the affairs of the world I say God-man the second Person in Trinity doth mannage all the affairs of the world His Scepter ruleth over all as
God did make all things by Christ so He doth govern all things by Him if God had not deputed the second Person in Trinity God man the Mediator to have been the Governor of all things the holiness and justice of God according to the Covenant of works by which he had to deal with man would have destroyed the world upon mans sin had not the ordering and governing of the world been put into the hand of the second Person in Trinity God-man the Mediator for though he was not manifested in the flesh He had not actually taken our humane Nature upon Him yet He was look'd upon as God-man with the Father even before the foundation of the world was laid and so all things were committed to Him And hence the world notwithstanding the sin that hath been in it hath been preserved so as it hath been to this day Christ therefore hath a Providential Kingdom together with the Father and so he is King not over the Churches only the King of the Saints but He is over all the Heathen over all the world from the rising of the Sun to the setting thereof And the Civil Magistrate as I may so say is the Deputy of Christ in this his Providential Kingdom Gods Vicegerent upon Earth all Magistrates whatsoever are Officers subordinate under Him But now there 's another Kingdom of Christ that this Scripture speaks of My Kingdom is not of this world That is the Kingdom of the Mediator as Divines calls it that more properly concerns His Church in the execution of His Mediatory Office Now this Kingdom of Christ it was ever since there was a Church but it was very dark under clouds and curtains the glory of it was little till the second Person came to be manifested in the flesh then indeed this Mediatory Kingdom of Christ came to be revealed abundantly more cleerly than before and Christ exercised it more fully this is that which the Scripture so often in the Gospel cals the Kingdom of Heaven Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand 't is not of this world but it 's cal'd the Kingdom of Heaven the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ is not of this world there 's a great deal of difference between a worldly kingdom and this Kingdom of Christ And that 's the subject that I am now to open to you How Christs Kingdom is not of this world the vast difference between worldly kingdoms and Christs Kingdom which you will find to be a point of very great use First Christs Kingdom hath not that pomp and glory that bravery and galantry that the Kingdoms of the world have you know in the Kingdoms of the world there 's a great deal of outward pomp and glory Bernice and Agrippa they came in great pomp the text saith the Kings of the earth have glorious attendance Christ hath no such thing His attendance was a few poor Fisher-men Kings have great Courts and crouded with Courtiers His Court was but small only a few of such kind of men mean and contemptible taken from the hedges and out of the high waies They have sumptuous Pallaces Christ had not a place to hide His head here in this world He saith himself that the Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man hath not wherewithal to hide His head and yet a great King for all that Surely it was not of this world The Kings of the earth have all kind of delicates that this world can afford they carry things in great state It was not so with Christ Zech. 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly Oh Daughter of Zion shout Oh Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee He is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the foal of an Ass He comes lowly and mean the way of Christ in this His kindom is a way of humility and outward meanness and lowliness it is a way of outward contempt scorn and dirision this is the way of the kingdom of Christ by poverty and lowliness He would overcome the world not by bravery and magnificence nor by great pomp and glory He doth not dazle the eyes of men by such means but His glory consists in self-denial in emptying of Himself in becoming poor therfore His Kingdom is not of this world Luke 17. 20. The Kingdom of God saith the text there comes not with observation that 's the word the meaning of it is this It is not a thing that by any outward pompous Ceremonies can be observed Now Kings when they go from one place to another by their attendance and by a great many ceremonies that are used for the setting out of their pomp and glory they are taken notice of and observed you may know the King comes here say the people when they see such things But saith the text there The Kingdom of God comes not by observation there 's no such outward pomp and glory there 's nothing but outward meaness and baseness to the eye of the flesh in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ He that is in Himself the most glorious King and from whom all other Kings have their power yet He hath a Kingdom that is not of this world that hath nothing but meaness poverty and lowliness that doth appear in it to the eyes of men Secondly The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world in regard of His Subjects Look what subjects Christ hath they are such as are not of this world So Christ tels His Disciples as you may find in the 17. of John I am not of the world and you are not of the world Kings they have for their subjects Nobles Peers and great Personages especially those that are near about them but now the subjects that Christ hath for His Kingdom for the generality of them they are of the poor mean base contemptible men of the world such as are look'd upon as the off-scouring of all things these are His subjects as in the second of James 5. verse Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom The poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom they are the great hears even the poor of this world You know what an offence it was unto the Jews say they Do any of the Rulers beleeve in him but this multitude which is accursed A company of poor women illiterat people they flock after Jesus Christ The subjects of Christ are men chosen out of this world he himself appeared not with the glory of the world And secondly His subjects are men chosen out of the world Thirdly The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world that is the rule that Christ hath in His subjects and over these His subjects in this His Kingdom it is not of this world the rule it is spiritual It is principally upon the hearts the wills the consciences of those that are
His subjects every subject of Christ hath his will and heart subdued to Jesus Christ It is not so in this world men may be subject to the Kings of this world meerly by constraint because they dare not do otherwise many Kings in this world have subjects whose hearts are not with them who love them not the Kings of this world they rule only the outward man But Christs Kingdom is another kind of Kingdom He rules in the hearts of men there is His Throne in the wills in the affections of men in the consciences of men Christ swaies His Scepter in mens souls men by conquest they subdue subjects to themselves Christ he subdues too in a way of conquest but he doth not subdue the outward man so much as the inward man the will is subdued to Christ He swaies His Scepter in their hearts this is a great mystery of godliness the swaying of the Scepter of Jesus Christ in the hearts of the Saints and therefore the Scripture tels us That the Kingdom of God is within us it is an inward Kingdom That 's the third thing wherein the difference between Christs Kingdom and the Kingdoms of the world consists Fourthly The Laws of Christ are Spiritual Observe the difference between the Laws of Christ in the government of His Church and the Laws that are for the government of the world it will be of very great use for you to know The Lord in His Providential Kingdom appointing Magistrates to govern here in the world in His room He leaves them to make Laws according to the general rules of prudence and justice such Laws are sufficient for the governing of the outward man and for the attaining to a Civil end for which their government is appointed But now Jesus Christ in His Mediatory Kingdom in His Church He makes all the Laws Himself He doth not leave it unto the Church to make new Laws according to the rules of their own prudence what they conceive to be fit in way of prudence no but they must fetch the Laws out of His Word and impose none but the same Laws that are in His Word they must have a Scriptum est it is written here are these and these texts of Scripture for what is enjoyned nothing must be added unto what He hath in His Word revealed only there are Divine Laws for the government of His Church now 't is true that the Church because they are a society of men they have some things natural and some things civil among them so far as they have need of natural and civil helps so far there may be Laws made according to rules of prudence and justice and Magistrates may come in to be helpful to the Church so far as they have need here of natural and civil helps as a society of men But now to speak properly to that which belongs to them meerly as they are the Church of Christ besides that that they have need of as they are men and natural and civil societies I say what belongs to them meerly considered as a Church of Christ they are to be governed only by the Laws of Jesus Christ who is the only Law-giver only by the Laws of the Word and there is not that liberty of making new Laws in the Church as there is of making new Laws in the Common-wealth and State and that 's a great difference between the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdoms of this world That 's a fourth The Laws are different The Laws are different not only that they are by Divine revelation in the one and left to humane prudence in the other But 2 ly in the one the Laws bind conscience in the other they do not they do not bind conscience any further than the nature of the thing that is required binds except it be in case of scandal and contempt so our Divines that have been the most orthodox have gone that the Laws of men in the State they bind not conscience that is if a man should not do the thing that is required he should in conscience be bound over to eternal death for not doing it this is a very hard bondage a cruel yoke but thus if the thing that is required be right and just then the nature of the thing may bind conscience for then there comes in a Law of God if the thing be just and right that is required or however if I know nothing to the contrary but it may be just and right I must not break the Laws of man so as to give scandal or in a way of contempt but if it be privatly so as it be no scandal nor no contempt and the nature of the thing bind me not then my conscience is not bound over as guilty of eternal death if so be I do not every thing that man requires But now the Laws of Christ they are such as bind conscience as they come from him he is such a King that I say because they come from him and from his Will though we see no reason in the matter of the thing though they have nothing in the nature of the thing but meerly the Will of Christ it 's enough to tye conscience and to bind us even upon pain of eternal death to obedience Fiftly Christs Kingdom is not of this world That homage that the Saints do unto Christ it is not worldly but spiritual the Worship of Christ and the Ordinances of Christ they are not worldly but spiritual Now the Kings of this world they may appoint what kind of worship they please that is what Ceremonies they will whereby their subject should tender up their homage to them and now men have ventured to be so bold with Christ the King because men may tender up their homage unto their earthly Kings by any waies invented of their own therefore they have thought that they might presume to tender up their homage to Christ their spiritual King by any waies of invented worship and therein was a great error they lookt upon the Kingdom of Christ only in a carnal way whereas the Kingdom of Christ is such as all our homage that we tender up to Him must be Spiritual it must be Heavenly it must be from Heaven it must be from Christ Himself it must be from some Institution and Appointment of Jesus Christ and the more the kingdom of Christ doth prevail the more Spiritual shall that homage be that the subjects tender up to Him therefore you shall find that when the holy Ghost speaks of the Kingdom of Christ in the new Testament with reference unto that which was then in the old Testament He calls even those waies of worship in the old Testament worldly in comparison of the worship and homage that the Saints tender to Christ in the new Testament as in Gal. 4. 3. Even so we when we were children were in bondage under the elements of the world The ceremonies of the Law are call'd here the elements of
the world that we were in bondage to while we were children for though we were subject to Christ then yet we were but in our non-age and indeed in comparison of what we are in the times of the Gospel we were slaves rather than subjects we were then in bondage and then in Col. 2. 8. Beware lest any man spoil you through Phylosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ after the rudiments of the world These rudiments of the world they had some reference as it appears in reading this Chapter unto the ceremonies of the Law and together with them there was mixture of mens own inventions they were the rudiments of the world not after Christ you do not acknowledge Christ to be a King when you worship him in a worldly way after the rudiments of the world As now for instance because men were wont to honor the Presence Chamber where the King sits when you go into it you are to be uncovered Now like unto that according to the way of the world men think that because they meet here for Religious ends to worship God that when they come as any time in the week into such a place as this is they must come uncovered now this is after the rudiments of the world you think to worship this King after the same way but his way of worship is no such low institution And as they bowed to the Chair of State and so they would bow with cap and knee to the Communion Table that they cal'd the Altar now these are according to the rudiments of the world but Christs Kingdom is not of this world His worship must be spiritual in Heb. 9. 1. Then verily the first Covenant had also Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly Sanctuary Mark in the time of the Law it was but a worldly Sanctuary in comparison of what is now in the times of the Gospel those waies of worship though they were once appointed by God Christ the King of His Church in the new Testament would not have His homage tendered up by these waies of worship they were too worldly for Him then surely to have the inventions of men in the worship of Christ in the new Testament especially it is too worldly for Christ No it must be Divine and Spiritual he that worships must worship in spirit and in truth al that worship and homage we tender up to Jesus Christ we must look to have it spiritual and not worldly and so the Ordinances though they have something external as the Sacraments yet if we stick to the outward part we do not worship Christ as our King in a right way but we must be spiritual in all look upon the spiritual part in al Ordinances or else I say we do not tender up that homage to Christ that is due to Him as the King of His Church Sixthly Christs Kingdom is not of this world that is The Officers that Christ hath appointed for the government of His Church are not of this world are not to be of this world but they are all to be by Divine Institution Observe the difference in the Administration of Christs Kingdom and the worldly Kingdoms In the kingdoms of this world men may invent as many new Officers as they please they may errect new Officers in a State and Common-wealth But al the men in the world cannot errect any one new Office in the Church cannot make one new Officer otherwise than is in the Word we do not reade of any such name as Tryers there Now though we do not find Officers of States in the Word yet a Human Creation is enough as the Apostle cals it Be subject to every Ordinance of men You have it in Peter the word that is there translated Ordinance of men it is a Humane Creation In the Church there can be no new Officers created Christ hath made Pastors and Teachers Elders and Decons and Widdows in the Church and not any new sort can be added by all the men in the world And therfore it was heretofore as in Popery so in Prelacy they would errect a new kind of Religion as they cal'd it more spiritual and so made the Kingdom of Christ like unto the kingdoms of the world and thought that they had power to make as many new Officers in the Church as they pleased Certainly this was a derogation from the kingdom of Christ they made it too worldly A second difference in the Church-Officers from the Officers in the kingdoms of the world is this If once they be put into such a place in the Church they have the ful power of the place As supose now a Pastor or a Teacher hath as much power as any one Pastor or Teacher upon the face of the earth there cannot be a difference between one Officer and another of the same kind in the Church as in the State Now the State may limit their Officers as they please in some Countries they may make Justices of the Peace for one use and in another Country for another use they may limit them according as they please how they shall execute their places and when they must leave their Offices to others But in the Church one Pastor whatsoever he be hath as much power of Christ in him as any that live for as there can be no new Offices in this kingdom of Christ but by Divine Institution so there can be no limitation of their Office but according to the Institution of Jesus Christ So His Kingdom is not of this world It 's true if so be that the Magistrate shall come in by Law to help the Church so far as they shall come in to give Civil help to the Church they may appoint Officers to see that their power be not abused but not any that are properly Church Officers to administer any spiritual Ordinances in the Church but such as are by Divine Institution Seventhly The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world the weapons by which Christ doth fight with His adversaries to maintain His Kingdom are not the weapons of the world in that notable Scripture 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong bolds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Mark here 's the weapons of the Kingdom of Christ Christ brings into captivity every thought easts down strong holds whatsoever strong hold or high thing is lifted up against the Kingdom of Christ Christ hath weapons in His Kingdom to cast it down but saith he the weapons of our warfare there is a warfare they are not carnal but spiritual Christ in His kingdom He doth not appoint carnal weapons He gives not unto His Church weapons of the flesh to make men beleeve whether
they will or no. You will say If there be not such weapons that are outward to force men then all will be to no purpose it will be nothing Yes saith the Apostle Our weapons are not carnal but Spiritual and he answers that objection That men will not care for them if they do not come in an outward compulsary way by imprisonments and fyning and such kind of waies We speak not what power the Civil State hath but Christ hath committed no such thing to the Church as the Church and these weapons the Apostle speaks of though they be not carnal but spiritual yet they are mighty through God and the more spiritual they are the more mighty they are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth its self against the knowledg of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ The weapons What are they They are the two edged sword of the Spirit the Word of God in the Name of Christ and with the authority of Christ preached to the people in the Word of God binding men in a dogmatical way these are our Spiritual weapons Christ hath never appointed his Church to defend its self by carnal weapons the Church goes no further than Spiritual weapons it 's in the very text that I have read to you My Kingdom is not of this world Mark what follows What were the weapons Christ had to defend His Kingdom surely no worldly weapons My Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were saith he of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my kingdom not from hence if my Kingdom were from hence I should have the like weapons to defend me as the Kings of the world have to defend themselves Q. You will say What 's the fighting and Wars for now May there not be Wars and fighting for the maintainance of Religion and the Kingdom of Christ A. Now to that I answer thus That the Church hath not these weapons as a Church they have only spiritual yea and were it that any Church of God were in any place where they had not a Civil Right to the exercise of their Religion then I confess meerly for their Religion when the Civil right of the State is against it if they should take up arms and fight for it I think they should go beyond the Commission of Jesus Christ they should trust Christ for His Kingdom and we find no Warrant in all the Book of God for to take up weapons meerly for the defence of Religion And therefore in the primitive times never took up weapons all their armor were prayers and tears Obj. But we do you 'l say now Are not our Wars for the defence of Religion Ans Now to that it 's cleerly answered thus Our Wars are for the defence of the Civil Right we have to the outward practice of our Religion and so by weapons we may defend our Civil Right that is if we live in such a State where we have Civil Right by the Laws of the Sate to the peacable enjoyment of our Religion if any shall come to disturb us then by the vertue of our Civil Right we may take up weapons to sight and defend our selves with I but this is not as a Church nor meerly for Religion for if now the Civil State should be so changed that the Supream Power should be against the waies of Religion yet for Civil things they would defend us but for the waies of Religion they were against us in it I confess in such a case for men that have no Civil authority at all to take up weapons to force any practice or way of Religion this would not be warrantable by Christ and by this we should fight for the kingdom of Christ by other weapons than ever Christ hath appointed but now when we have the Civil Power the Civil Magistrate may grant Civil Liberty and Civil Liberty for the outward practice of Religion and so we may defend such a Right as this for the peaceable practice of our Religion that none should come to force any other false Religion upon us But now the kingdom of Christ is not of this world the weapons of Christs kingdom are spiritual weapons and in those times when there were no outward weapons to defend the kingdom of Christ as in the Primitive times when all Civil States were against the kingdom of Jesus Christ Did it not thrive We are ready to say Al Religion will be taken away except there be such compulsary waies I do not say but there may be compulsion to keep men from mischieving of others in things that are against the foundation But now for the raising up of the Kingdom of Christ we know that when there was no compulsary waies yet the kingdom of Jesus Christ went on and flourished as much as ever it hath done since so that the kingdom of Christ is not of this world He hath not committed to His Church those weapons that are carnal all their weapons are weapons that are spiritual to prevail with the hearts and consciences of men and no further And if we did understand this aright it would mightily quiet our spirits and the more we did rest upon the weapons Christ hath appointed in his Word the more we did look into the Armory of the Gospel to find what weapons there are there against errors and abuses in his Church the more we should have the Kingdom of Christ prevail amongst us Eightly The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world that is the Priviledges of Christs kingdom are not worldly priviledges but Spiritual and Divine and Heavenly Priviledges Men that live in several kingdoms have several priviledges some in one way and some in another so every society of men and every kingdom have priviledges men that are subjects of such a Kingdom they have the priviledges that belong to such a kingdom We plead for many priviledges as we are the free born Subjects of England that the people have a right to by their freedoms being born free Subjects as those that are above them have a right to that power that they have So now in the kingdom of Christ there are some priviledges that those that are in the kingdom of Christ have that others have not As now When any man comes into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Oh he comes to partake of a great many excellent priviledges being once made a free Denizon in this Kingdom of Christ he comes to have a great many priviledges that others have not But of these I shall treat more particularly afterwards Ninthly The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world the penalties and punishments that Christ hath in his Church are not worldly I do not mean only external ones for they may be refer'd to that head of the weapons of Christ but we take them under another notion Those that are truly the Subjects of
the world and as Christ saith Wo to the world because of offences so wo to the world because of this great offence Christs Kingdom being so spiritual hence it is that the world receives Him not in 1. John 10. And so in John 14. 17. Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive Mark the world cannot receive the spirit of Truth the world receives not Christ and it cannot receive the spirit of Truth If you speak of the world to men then they savor of those things come to a man and tell him of a good bargain on the Exchange he will listen to you and remember what you say but come and speak to him of the great things of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of the glorious priviledges of that kingdom only there 's a sound in the air and it passeth away and takes no impression at all on the heart of one that is carnal 1 John 4. 5. there you have this exprest fully the very guize and way of a carnal heart They saith the text are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them those that are of the world they speak of the world and discourse of the world and savor the things of the world and the world heareth them but now let a man come and tell them of things that are heavenly of a goodly Pearl of Jesus Christ they savor not those things and they hear them not Oh! 't is from hence that men come not into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ because it is not of this world What 's the reason that there are more comes into the Kingdom of Antichrist than into the Kingdom of Christ Revel 13. 3. The whol world wandered after the beast saith the text because they are of the world and Antichrist doth set up a worldly kingdom instead of Christs kingdom and men that are of the world they flock after Antichrist and hence it was that your great rich men in places where the Gospel hath not been they were Papists or Popishly affected so that therefore the Papists make outward prosperity to be one badge or sign of the true Church hence it is that Popery is so sutable to worldly hearts and the holy Ghost prophesied before hand that the whol world should follow Antichrist only here and there a few poor ones Jesus Christ chuses out of this world to follow him for His Kingdom is not of this world One Particular more in a word seeing the Kingdom of Christ is not of the world then a worldly heart is the most unbeseeming thing in one that professeth himself to be a Christian of any thing that can be in the world If Christs Kingdom be not there certainly thy heart should not be there Thou that professest thy self to be of the Kingdom of Christ which is spiritual and heavenly and yet thou a worldly earthly heart I say it is the most unbeseeming thing that possibly can be what for a Professor of Religion to have an earthly covetous worldly heart By that that I have already spoken in shewing the vanity and the evil of the world and the great evil of loving the world were enough to strengthen this use but now that that I intended should have been to speakesp ecially to those that are Christians that have hopes that God hath made them partakers of Jesus Christ and would be loth to lose their hopes in the good things of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ for 10000. worlds yet there doth remain much worldliness in their hearts to this day surely this not beseeming one of the profession that thou makest it is no honor unto thy King the Lord Jesus Christ worldly Professors they are great dishonors to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ when there shall appear no difference between those that we account to be men of the world and such as we hope are chosen out of the world Oh! how is Christ dishonored by this Look but upon the lives of Christians that profess Religion and one would think that the Kingdom of Christ were a Kingdom of this world rather than any thing else for I say to outward appearance though it may be Christ may see some integrity within the heart yet to outward appearance there is even almost no difference between them and the men of the world It doth become Christians to live so in their whol course as to make it appear that they are men and women above the world whose Conversations are in Heaven that they do beleeve the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that is not of this world SERMON III. JOHN 18. 36. Jesus answered and said My Kingdom is not of this world WHAT this Kingdom of Christ was and how different from the kingdoms of this world we have already opened unto you The fourth Use which we are to proceed in is If the kingdom of Christ be not of this world then of all dispositions a worldly spirit is most unsutable to those who profess themselves to be of the Kingdom of Christ Certainly then such as are Beleevers that are come under the Kingdom of Christ they must not be of earthly hearts We find the Apostle in the Epistle of the Ephesians doth rank Covetousness and Uncleanness together and saith of them both in the 5. Chapter 3. Verse Let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints So that a covetous heart after the things of the world it is such a disposition as it should scarce be named among Saints no more than whoredom they should abstain from it as from whordom as it becometh Saints It is the most uncomly thing for a Saint of God one of the Kingdom of Christ to have a covetous heart for the things of the world that possibly can be As it becomes them it doth not become you And Luther that was a great man for the promoting of the Kingdom of Christ he is bold to profess it That of all sins he was scarce ever tempted to that sin he found nothing tending almost that way though it 's true there 's no sin but we have the seeds of it in our hearts but yet he found his spirit most above that worldly sin because he was so much taken up with Jesus Christ And indeed the more any soul is taken up with the excellency of Christ and with the glorious things of His Kingdom the more vile will the things of the world be to them We look not at the things that are seen saith the Apostle they are not things to be looked at But at the things that are not seen And in the 6. of the Gal. 14. ver The Apostle Paul that was the great man for the promoting of Christ in the world and the setting up of His Throne he professes That he was crucified to the world and the world was crucified to him That is he look't upon the world but as a crucified thing What esteem would you have of a man that is hanging upon a
all that they are like ever to have But now for the people of God they must not look to prosper outwardly in this world John 16. 33. In the world you shall have trouble saith Christ Christ does tell His Disciples plainly beforehand That in the world they shall have trouble never make account to have ease and prosperity here below in the world Certainly you shall have trouble this is not your kingdom and therefore John in the 1. of Rev. 9. ver There he stiles himself in writing to the Churches Your Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ Observe it John that was such an Eminent Member of the Kingdom of Christ when he speaks unto others that are brought into the kingdom of Christ saith he â— John who also am your Brother and Companion in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ These two may well stand together to be of the Kingdom of Christ and companions of men in the Kingdom of Christ and in Tribulation yea mark how the Kingdom of Christ is set in the middle Companion in Tribulation and then Kingdom and then patience So that trouble and afflictions are on both sides as it were of the Kingdom of Christ And it 's very observable here John he doth not to get himself credit say I John that was the Apostle of Jesus Christ I John that was the beloved Disciple of Jesus Christ I John that was a Kins-man of Jesus Christ no but I John your Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ If you would be the Companion of the Saints in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ you must be willing to be their Companion in Tribulation and in the patience of Jesus Christ So things are ordered by Christ that the Saints should be in Tribulation live in trouble in this world When any of you that are godly shall meet with crosses and afflictions the briers and thornes which spring out of the world ever since it was cursed by God the very thought of this Text may be a means to quiet your hearts and not to have any risings in your bosomes against the dispensations of God towards you Do not I desire to fear the Lord and follow Him in all His waies and yet how doth the Lord cross me in this world These murmuring and repining thoughts will be yea it may be since the time that God wrought upon me by His Word I am more afflicted than before Is not God displeased with me it may be I am not in the right way because of these afflictions Oh take heed of these temptations let my text come into your minds and answer all these temptations Christ saith His Kingdom is not of this world since the time I was called out of darkness by the Ministry of the Word no mervail though I meet with afflictions more than before for I am translated into another Kingdom which is not of this world it pleases the Father to make Christ who is my Captain to be perfect through sufferings Heb. 2. 10. For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings It 's an excellent Scripture to quiet the hearts of the Saints in the midst of their sufferings It became Him saith the Text for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings The Captain of your salvation yea your King that is the King of glory yet He was made perfect through sufferings Now you must go the same way that He did Now if you must enter into a full possession of this glorious Kingdom through sufferings why should you murmur Luke 24. 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His Glory It 's a speech of Christ Himself So I say concerning you Ought not you to suffer first and then to enter into your glory Why should not you come to the fulness of the glory of that Kingdom that is prepared for you as Jesus Christ your Head came to the fulness of the glory of His Kingdom It was by suffering Remember His Kingdom is not of this world 6. Vse Here 's the reason why the wicked hates the Saints Why they love their own John 15. 19. If you were of the world the world would love you but you are not of the world therefore the world hates you you are translated into another Kingdom and therefore their spirits are bitter against you and their tongues as sharp as two edged sword you come to live by other Laws than they do they know no other Law but the Law of the Land where they live but you have other Laws that they do not understand the authority of you have other rules for your consciences than they have their consciences can yeeld to this or that according as may serve for their worldly ends but now your consciences are subjected to another authority you cannot have your consciences yeeld up and down as they can and thereupon they think it to be â—â—outness in you but God knows it to be otherwise And they wonder at this they understand not the reason of this and therefore it is that they malign you they hate you with a perfect hatred you are Rebels against their kingdom they are under the kingdom of Satan but you are brought under the kingdom of Christ and so do Rebel against that kingdom We hate Rebels It 's true in some sense all the Saints are Rebels that is they do rebel against the kingdom of Satan and the powers of darkness and if any thing should be enjoyed by men yet if it be against the Kingdom of Christ they cannot but rebel in a sense that is their spirits must needs be against it and whatever they suffer they cannot submit to it they do not rebel against lawful authority but against the kingdom of darkness and the power of darkness and therefore it is that the world doth so much hate them When you come into the kingdom of Christ you live upon other principles and have other ends you are a kind of separated people from the world and we know there is nothing more odious to the world than that we should be a certain kind of separated people from them the world would have all to be like themselves and for any kind of people to make a profession as if they were call'd out of the world and live after another kind and fashion and have other sort of hopes and comforts and ends and rules by which they live Oh this the world cannot endure so long as Paul was in the world and liv'd as the men of the world they loved him and he was a man of authority among them but when he was called out of the world then a pestilent fellow then
's the meaning of the Original Like as a man that scorns and derides another snivles in the nose that 's the propriety of the word that is here translated derided Oh! a worldly heart is hardest brought unto the Kingdom of Christ therefore bless God so much the more that hath brought thy soul to understand the mysteries of Christs Scepter that hath translated thee into another Kingdom 11. Vse If the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world then they are rebuked that do seek to make the Kingdom of Christ a worldly Kingdom I might name very many sorts of men that do this I will speak but of Three or Four The first is the Papists those that are Popishly affected all their way is under the name of honoring of Christ to raise up a worldly Kingdom and therefore they make the Pope to be as an Emperor of all the world as the King of Kings and their Cardinals and many of their Bishops to be Princes and all in a worldly pomp and they carry it on and maintain it by a worldly policy and by worldly means and worldly weapons and therfore stir up the Kings of the earth to root out all those that are against them these understand not the Kingdom of Christ Secondly Such as would conform the Government of the Church meerly to worldly Government that because worldly men may by their prudence order things as they please in Common-wealths so as shall be most sutable to them therefore they falsly think that the Kingdom of Christ must be so too that it must be suted to every Country whereas the truth is there is but one way of the Government of Christ in all the world The great Argument of the Prelates was Indeed say they in some places there may be another Government where there is an Aristocracy in the Civil Government but where there is Monarchy there must be a Bishop Now certainly that's not the way of Christ to sute himself in his Government to the Government of the world But the Government that was in the primitive times must be still Thirdly Such kind of men as think that the success of the Gospel and the Ordinances do depend upon worldly things as now upon outward pomp except there be some outward pomp go along with the Gospel As now Great preferments of those that are the Preachers of the Gospel they think the Gospel will be contemn'd else and except the Ordinances be carried on in an outward pomp They conceive that all will be despised except there be Magnificent Temples built and beautified and except brave Gold and Silver Chalises the Sacrament would be despised and except they have their Altars and Rails about them with all their heathenish vanities Christ is not worshiped But this is to look upon the Kingdom of Christ as the Kingdoms of the world but Oh no! the kingdom of Christ prevails where there is but little of the world with it I remember I have read of one Boniface a Martyr that being asked whether it were lawful to give the Wine in the Sacrament in a wooden Challis saith he There was a time indeed when the Church had wooden Challises and golden Priests but now the Church hath golden Challises and wooden Priests No question in the primitive times they had very mean things in the Lords Supper and all things were carried in a very low way to a worldly eye but saith he though their Challises were wooden the Priests were golden and so the Gospel did prevail Oh! it 's the spiritualness of things that makes the kingdom of Christ to prevail many think that the Gospel cannot prevail except it hath abundance of gingles of mens wit and tongues and such kind of school-boy-vanities as these are but the Gospel never prevails by such things but that which the world calls foolishness that is made the power of God and the wisdom of God to Salvation They have carnal hearts that think that the outward pomp and glory of the world should be such a furtherance to the Gospel as if it should not thrive without it Lastly Those that think that the Gospel and the promoting of Christs kingdom depends wholly upon humane policy and strength these do make the kingdom of Christ to be but as a worldly kingdom The last Vse is this If Christs Kingdom be not of this world then it teaches us all for to labor to further a kingdom of Christ as distinct from the world it is a great Point that I am speaking of about furthering the Kingdom of Christ as distinct from the kingdoms of the world Christ himself professes that he came into the world to witness to this truth and therefore certainly we should do so likewise It is in the very next words to my text when Christ had said his Kingdom was not of this world Pilate said to Him Art thou a King then Jesus answered Thou saiest I am a King To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the Truth Truth Pilate asked Him what the Truth was but he said not for an answer but certainly the Truth that Christ means here is the Truth of His Kingdom Oh my brethren it is a matter of so great consequence that it is a special end why Christ came into the world why He was born that he should witness to this Truth Then certainly we should account it a great end of our lives to set to our seal to this Truth of the Kingdom of Christ as distinct from the world let this be a great engagement on our spirits to further the preaching of the kingdom further it as many waies as you can improve your Estates improve your Credits your Esteem your Places for the kingdom of Christ and then Oh how comfortable will your death be though you should not live here to enjoy all the priviledges that the Saints in other ages shall have in the kingdom of Christ yet when you die your death shall be but a passage of you into the glorious Kingdom of Jesus Christ for there 's a Kingdom of Christ beyond this world though Christ will rule Spiritually while this world lasts but when men are taken off from this world yet they do but go into the Kingdom of Christ In 2 Peter 1. 5 6. c. with which I will conclude and besides this giving all diligence Ad to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg ad to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ And so he goes on further in his exhortation and in the 10. verse Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things you shall never fall for so an
did enlighten us in the things of the Gospel that we have been brought to beleeve it 's a Scripture that would mightily work upon our hearts to live godlily and holily The grace of God that bringeth Salvation what doth it teach us Not to be licentious and vain and slight and bold in our sinful courses but teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Mark it is not enough to live soberly not to be a drunkard to live righteously that is not to wrong any body many think that 's enough But mark indeed the light of nature as I told you would teach us that but now the grace of God that bringeth Salvation teacheth us more To deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly and that in this present world though we live in the midst of a wicked tempting world yet to live godly And what 's the great argument in the Gospel to cause us to live godly in this present world Looking for the blessed hope Oh we look for a blessed hope that the Gospel reveals Oh we did not understand this hope this blessed hope till the Gospel was preached to us but since we apprehend a blessed hope the holy Ghost hath raised in our hearts a blessed hope of glorious things What glorious things Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ We have some little glimps of the great God when we set forth to Sea and launce into the deeps we see the glory of the great God who rideth upon the wings of the wind and whom both the Winds and the Seas obey Oh but we look for another manner of the glorious appearing of the great God than ever yet hath appeared I beseech you consider of this text God did never appear great and glorious in comparison of what he will appear and blessed are those whose Conversations shall be such that can look upon the face of this great God with joy when He shall appear in glory we look for this blessed hope and then when this great God shall appear in His glory then we shall have our blessed hope and this teaches us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts the knowledge of this Oh do you look to be saved have you a blessed hope and do you expect the appearing of the great God in glory hath the Gospel revealed these things unto you O let this that the Gospel reveals teach us to deny all ungodliness and all worldy lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world But there are yet some other things that the Gospel holds forth that are very remarkable for the furtherance of our godly Conversation in this world and if we would live as becomes the Gospel we must have a right understanding of these things or else we shall never sute our selves to the Gospel except we do therby apprehend these great points that are published to us in and by the Gospel As now this is a great point That the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not of this world The Gospel holds forth this to us that Jesus Christ the Son of God having taken our nature upon him he is a great King He hath a Kingdom but He hath a Kingdom that is not of this world neither is Christ of this world nor His Kingdom of this world nor the Saints those that are the Subjects of His Kingdom are not of this world the right understanding of this would much help us in our Conversations and a Conversation beseeming this would much honor the Gospel First We shall shew how the Gospel holds forth this That the Kingdom of Christ is not in this world mark those Scriptures in John 18. 36. Jesus answered My Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence Therefore as if he should say you must not wonder or think much that I am thus apprehended and delivered up to men that they do with me what they please though I be the great King of my Church appointed by my Father yet my Kingdom is not of this world and I came not hither for pomp and glory The glory of Christ in His Kingdom here is Spiritual Indeed when this world shall be at an end then Christ will appear gloriously though the Scripture speaks of a world hereafter wherein Christ shall appear gloriously but whether personally or otherwise that we speak not of But that Christ shall appear a glorious King even in the world not this world but upon the earth and yet the Scripture speaks of that as another world a new Heaven and a new Earth but for the present for that that the Scripture cals this world we must not expect a pompous and glorious Kingdom till ther ebe a new world till there be new heavens and a new earth this the Gospel holds forth Whereas the people of the Jews they thought as soon as the Messias came He presently should be an outward Monarch in outward pomp and glory no saith Christ this world must pass away first I must come first and reign spiritually in another way and for my Kingdom there is a time for the glory of it to appear when another world shall come but while this world lasts never expect any such outward pomp and glory in the way of my Kingdom I have a Kingdom indeed here in this world but it is not of this world I have a Kingdom wherein I reign spiritually in the hearts of my people there I have set up my Throne and therein I have writ my Laws by which I guide and order all things for their eternal salvation but my Kingdom is not of this world yea and he saith likewise in John 8. 23. I am not of this world neither And John 15. 19. for John that beloved Disciple who lay in the bosom of Christ he knew much of the mind and heart of Christ and was much instructed in this mystery and indeed none of those that did converse with Christ knew more of the bosom of Christ than John did If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world So that as Christ is not of the world so the Saints are not of the world in the 17. of John 14. I have given them thy Word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world Mark as I am not of the world so they are not of the world thus Scripture is cleer that neither Christ nor his Kingdom is of this world and therefore beleevers are not of this world And hence then what Conversation becomes this Gospel of Christ even a Conversation sequestred
Christ they may be under penalties You think that those that are beleevers cannot be chastised for their sin as if there were no penalties in Christs kingdom I confess they are delivered from the penalties of the Law But Christs inflicts penalties as he is King there may be penalties in Christs kingdom And the right understanding of this would much help us in that point Whether Beleevers may be chastised for sin or no though they be Beleevers Oh they will say No. Why Because Christ hath satisfied the Lawfully and how can God require it in them I confess the Law cannot I but Jesus Christ in His administration as He is King not as He is the Judge of the Law but as He is the King over them He may inflict chastisements upon them they may in Christs kingdom have some chastisements they cannot be carried out of that kingdom to have the chastisements of the Law but in Christs kingdom Jesus Christ many times inflicts spiritual chastisements upon them by hiding his face from them for sin and by many spiritual discertions and such men as are but by outward profession under the kingdom of Christ and do seem to be His Subjects and are not so indeed the Lord inflicts spiritual judgments upon them as hardness of heart blindness of mind reprobate sences and I beseech you observe it The Lord Christ doth not so much observe the way of outward judgements upon wicked men that are in the bosom of the Church as He doth observe to inflict outward judgments upon the Heathens and others that are out of the bosom of the Church no Christ hath other manner of punishments for those that are in the Church though now and then Christ doth inflict outward judgments upon them but the main thing that Christ looks at in His Church is To reward with spiritual rewards as righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost and the like so He doth inflict spiritual punishments Those that are professors in the Church naught and vile it may be God may prosper them for a while as well as others outwardly Oh but the punishments of Christ in His kingdom they are spiritual your souls are bound over to eternal death your hearts are hardned your consciences are benum'd and that 's more dreadful wrath a great deal than if the Lord Christ should punish your bodies or take away your estates those are punishments in Christs providential Kingdom but the penalties as Christ is the King of the Church they are ever spiritual punishments which we should more fear and tremble at a great deal Thus the kingdom of Christ is not of this world Now I should have shewed you how this kingdom of Jesus Christ will certainly prevail in the world let the world do what they can In the 2 d Psal Yet have I set My King upon My holy Hill It will at length prevail over all the world and bring under all the kingdoms of the world to it but when it hath done so then there shall be a new world Certainly there is a time that Christ shall have the kingdoms of this world to reign over them in another manner than now He hath and that is at the end of the world I will give you a Scripture or two about that Revel 11. 15. The seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever That is He shall subdue the kingdoms that were of this world and then He shall reign He shall reign for ever and ever Now they are the kingdoms of this world but when He reigns it is in this manner that is here spoken of it is in another world as appears in Heb. 2. 5. For unto the Angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak Here the Apostle shews that Christ is above the Angels for he hath not put in subjection the world to come unto the Angels therefore there is a world to come wherein Christ shall have a further dominion than yet he hath and Adam was a type of Jesus Christ in this Adam he had the command of this present world Now in this world Christ doth rule but in the midest of his Adversaries but there is a time coming that Christ shall have all under him as Adam in his innocency had the whol world under his feet And Christ doth promise unto his people in the 3. of Revel 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Mark it seems there is a Throne of Christ yet that hath not been for here 's a promise that he will set them upon his Throne as he sits upon his Fathers Throne Now Christ rules together with his Father but saith he You that are my Saints and my Subjects now you shall sit upon my Throne I but you will say That is in Heaven in Heaven indeed the Saints shall reign Nay It connot be meant of a kingdom wherein the Saints shall sit eternally with Christ in Heaven I might give you many Scriptures for that but I will only give you one Scripture 1 Cor 15. 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him that God may be All in All. Here he tells us that there is a time that God shall be All in All both unto Christ and unto His Saints yea and you shall find in this chapter that Jesus Christ shall give up the kingdom unto the Father speaking of the time of the resurrection When all shall rise again and when that shall come the kingdom shall be delivered up unto the Father so that this is a time before the general resurrection that Christ shall sit upon the Throne there is yet a time between this and the Saints being in Heaven when the Saints shall sit upon Christs Throne as he upon his Fathers in another manner than now they do Therefore surely Christ shall have the kingdoms of this world subdued unto him in another manner than yet he hath and for the proof of it do but reade the 7 th chapter of the book of Daniel and you shall find abundant of proof there shall be abundant deal of glory in that kingdom of his there he shall have attendants to purpose thousand thousands administred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Christ and though there was a Judgment and the Books were brought yet its apparant afterwards that the Scripture speaks of a time that should be before the Saints should come to Heaven for he saith this That as concerning the rest of the Beasts they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season Therefore it is not meant at that time when the
Saints shall ascend up into Heaven with Jesus Christ for the Beasts had their lives prolonged for a season and time after that But saith he in the 18. ver The Saints of the most High shall take your Kingdom and possess it for ever even for ever and ever And in the 21. ver I beheld and the same born made war with the Saints and prevailed against them until the Ancient of daies came and Judgment was given unto the Saints of the most High and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom And then in the 27. ver And the Kingdom and dominion and the greatest of the kingdom under the whol Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him What Dominions shall there be when the Saints are in the highest Heavens to serve and obey Christ He means the Dominions that are here upon the earth shall serve and obey Christ Therefore the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not of this world nor be said hereafter to be such a world as this is but when there shall be another world then Christ shall have a kingdom that shall have such glory as shall be apparent to all and such a Kingdom as the Kings of the earth shall come and bring their glory to it as in 21. of Revelations you shal find that it 's said of the Kings of the earth Reade but that description of the glorious condition of the Church of God there and you shall see this true And the Nations of them which are saved shal walk in the light of it and the Kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor to it But that is in another world not that world that Christ speaks of here in this place of John Only now do but consider a little of the excellency of this point by way of preparation to you for the next time It would be a notable Scripture to take off our hearts from all the things of this world The right understanding of this would spiritualize the hearts of the Saints would take away the offence of the Crosse of Jesus Christ would help them to carry themselves through this world with a great deal of joy and triumph and not much to regard how things go here below I through the mercy of God am brought into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ And I find the whole tenor of Scripture carries it so that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not of this world but in a spiritual way Oh then let me have spiritual mercies let me enjoy Jesus Christ in way of His spiritual Kingdom and farewell the world and all things under Christ Truly Christians are not acquainted with this point of the spiritual Government of Jesus Christ in His Church and how God the Father hath so ordered things that In this world Christ should have a Kingdom but not Of this world And blessed are they that have by the holy Ghost an enlightning to understand this Mystery to see the reality of it indeed That the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world SERMON II. JOHN 18. 36. Jesus answered and said My Kingdom is not of this world MAny particulars I past over the last day briefly which I told you would need some further explication I 'le give you some few things about that then proceed to Aplication of al The Priviledges of this Kingdom of Christ they are not of this world I 'le name a principal one and this is the priviledg of al that are under the Kingdom of Christ That all businesses transactions between God and them are in the Court of Christ the Mediator They are not in the Court of exact severe justice but they are to be tried for their eternal estates for all they do in the Court of Christ in his Kingdom which is a mighty priviledg the Saints have As kingdoms have several priviledges 't is a greater priviledg to be tried in one kingdom than in another All men and women in their natural estate not under the kingdom of Christ they are to be tried in the Court of Justice i. e. the Court of Gods providential kingdom and there they are either to be acquitted or condemn'd by the Law that 's the way of Gods proceedings towards those that are under His providential kingdom only to be dealt withal according to the Law But al those that are under the kingdom of Christ have all their businesses in reference to God tried in another Court tried in the Court as I may so call it of the Gospel in the Judicature of Jesus Christ for Christ He is as Mediator to them He is the Judge to pass all sentences concerning them and the right understanding of this would much help in the point of Beleevers being chastised for sin it 's true they are not chastised by judgement out of the court of Law as other men are but they are chastised by Christ that hath the Judicature committed to Him and the Administration of all things especially concerning His Church and People and by a sentence from Him chastised not by a sentence from the Father as He is the Judge of all flesh proceeding according to the Law This is the main thing which we spake to before But yet there are divers other things 2 ly That all that are in Christs Kingdom are Free-men they are delivered from bondage all that are out of this Kingdom are bondslaves they are under the prince of this world that is the Devil and in slavery unto him they are all as vassals under the Law in bondage and have no other spirit but a spirit of bondage in them they are slaves to sin they are under the curse of the Law But now being brought to the Kingdom of Christ they are made free they are free Denizons of Heaven 3 ly And then from hence follows in the third place All that are in Christ's Kingdom have the priviledg of a free-trade to Heaven they have free traffick to Heaven there is now a blessed intercourse between Heaven and them that they have by being subjects of this Kingdom As we know the subjects of this Kingdom have many freedoms that forreigners have not that those that belong to another Kingdom have nothing to do with So the subjects of Christs Kingdom have a freedom of coming into Gods presence of trading to the promised Land that others have not others are cast out of Gods sight and cannot trade to Heaven so as beleevers do that are brought under the Kingdom of Christ 4 ly By vertue of this Kingdom they come to have right unto all the Ordinances of Christ And only by this we come I say to have right unto them so as to be our own Indeed Christ for the sake of such as are His Elect Ones that He intends to bring into His Kingdom He sends forth His Word the preaching of the Word unto them
in opposing the Kingdom of Christ when as it is not of this world it is not that that doth intrench upon their worldly priviledges 8. Vse Hence this Kingdom if it be not of this world then it doth not depend upon 〈◊〉 world become of the world what will the Kingdâ—â— of Christ will go on Men are afraid Oh! if the Enemies should prevail and overcome and take away our Civil Rights Oh then the Kingdom of Christ what will become of that Let us not be too solicitous about that for the Kingdom of Christ is of another world there is no such dependance of the Kingdom of Christ upon the Kingdoms of this world but though they were broken the kingdom of Christ would subsist We indeed should labor to preserve our Civil Liberties as much as we can yea and our Civil Liberty in exercise of Religion in a War-like way and I should wonder that any should mistake in that when as this hath been so declared from the beginning of the War to this time that we may fight for the Civil Liberty we have to the peacable practice and profession of our Religion so far we may and that hath been the ground of our War had we indeed liv'd in such a Country as the Christians in 〈◊〉 primitive times where the Governors and the generâ—â—â—ty of the Country had been against it then indeed the taking up of Arms might have been very questionable but now when we live in such a place where our Civil Laws are for the protection of us in the practice of our Religion if any will come and disturb us we may take up Arms because we have a right to the profession of it by the Laws of the kingdom 〈◊〉 have to our Houses Lands and Estates but that by the way But that 's the thing I aim at in this use that though our Civil Right should be lost yet the kingdom of Christ would go on for all that Heb. 12. 28. this is a kingdom that cannot be shaken At those times when the Magistrates were the greatest enemies unto the kingdom of Christ yet even then the kingdom of Christ went on as fully as ever it hath done since that time but the Magistrates may be helps and there is a promise that Kings shall be nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers to the Church but yet so it fell out that at the first when the Church was in its infancy that it did thrive as much when Magistrates and Civil Power was against it as ever it hath done since and thereby Christ would shew us that His Kingdom doth not depend upon this world but the Kingdom of Christ doth stand and will stand and it doth and will prevail to the end of the world The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it it shall be more than conqueror and this is a great comfort to the Saints 9. Vse If the kingdom of Christ be not of this world but of another then hence we collect the absolute necessity of living by faith Christians had need then have a principle of faith to live by for their greatest good is in things that are beyond this world their very King that they obey is a King that cannot be seen by the eye of sence nor by the eye of reason they had need have an eye of faith to behold their King in his glory The Throne of this King of Saints is not a visible Throne to be seen by the eye of sence and reason but by the eye of faith The Priviledges that we speak of are â—ot to be seen and enjoyed by sence and reason but by faith And so the Ordinances of this Kingdom and the Laws and Statutes of it they are Spiritual and must have faith to close with them and all the comforts of this Kingdom must be drawn in by faith therefore it is of absolute necessity that the Saints should exercise much faith in their lives that they should live continually by faith As the Apostle saith in 2 Cor. 5. 7. For we walk by faith and not by sight It is not by Sight we walk indeed all the good things that there are in the kingdoms of the world they are seen by sence and reason reason and sence is enough to order us in the matters of the kingdoms of this world but now the kingdom of the Son of God that we are translated into it 's a Spiritual an Heavenly kingdom so that the Saints must walk by faith and not by sight therefore my brethren labor to strengthen faith and act your faith and live upon faith exercise faith in all your waies make much of grace and faith or you will never have much good in the Kingdom of Christ but that grace will help you comfortably to enjoy and spiritually to improve all the good things in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to an everlasting advantage 10. Vse If the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world then the greater mercy to thy soul that ever thou wast brought under this Kingdom of Christ Oh! thou maiest look back unto thy former time and know that thou hadst a worldly heart worldly apprehensions thy spirit was worldly altogether for things of the world taken with the pomp and glory and the pleasures of this world How comes it to pass that thou shouldest have a Heavenly Kingdom reveal'd to thee Whence was it that ever Jesus Christ should be known to thy soul that was so worldly so drossie so earthy a soul thou wast as deep rooted in the world it may be as any and yet that the Lord should cull thee out of the world and reveal such a Kingdom to thee that is such a mystery as the Princes of the world have not known that thou that art a poor creature shouldest come to understand the â—â—alities of Christ that the wise and learned men of the world have not known Oh! the Free Grace of God to thee and not unto the world As Judas not Iscariot said How is it that thou revealest thy self to us and not unto the world how comes it to pass that such wise men that bear sway in the world they have very poor and low and mean and contemptible thoughts of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ they look upon it but as a meer notion and a conceit of men and the rather because they see but a few poor people that are but of mean parts that do imbrace such a way upon that they contemn it and through the worldly wisdom that they have they come to undervalue it Oh! then bless God that ever he should chuse such a poor weak wretch as thou art for to make known the things of the Kingdom of Christ unto and therfore of al men you rich covetous men they are hardest to be wrought upon by the Ministry of the Word When Christ Himself was preaching it is said in Luke 16. 14. That the Pharisees who were covetous they derided Him they blew their noses at Him for that
entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the evelasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Christ is here a King He rules in his Church in a spiritual way but when this world is done He shall be a King and if you be now godly you shall have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Mark when a Beleever dies he goes into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ he goes but from one administration of it to another but still he is in the same Kingdom of Christ here 's the difference between the death of the men of the world and the death of the Saints the men of the world they are of the world and they are under the kingdom of darkness and when they die they go to the kingdom of darkness and the Saints they are now under the kingdom of Christ spiritually and when they die they go to another administration of the kingdom of Christ and the more godly men are the more abundant entrance shall they have into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Now suppose his Excellency that hath done so much service for the kingdom when he shall come What an entrance will be made for him into the City Every man that is a free subject may come freely into the City no body may wrong him and he shall enjoy the Liberty of the City but he hath not that Abundance Entrance into it as a man that hath done much for the kingdom we live in So now every godly man or woman if they have but the least degree of grace they shall come into the Kingdom of Christ I but those that are powerfully godly burning and shining lamps and have been very active and faithful to the death when they die the Gates of Heaven shall be set wide open and they shall have an Abundant Entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ FINIS THE MISERY OF THOSE MEN THAT HAVE THEIR PORTION IN THIS LIFE PSAL. 17. 14. From men of the world who have their Portion in this Life THis Psalm is Davids moan unto God under Sauls persecution without doubt the Psalmist aims at Saul in it In it we have these four things 1. He appeals unto God to judg the righteousness of his heart towards Saul verse 2. Let my sentence come from thy presence from Saul and his Courtiers there comes a hard sentence they call me Traitor they call me Rebel but Lord leave me not unto their sentence let my sentence come from thy presence that I know will be another sentence than what cometh from them for thou hast proved me and tried me and findest nothing in me That is the first thing 2. His prayer to God to keep him in his way his going and his footsteps from sliding verse 5. Lord whatsoever the wrath of Saul be against me yet let neither that nor any other thing put me out of thy way but keep my heart close unto thee and keep my paths in thy way let not my footsteps so much as slide from thee for Lord they watch for my halting if they can find but the least slip from me they take advantage of it to the utmost and I am a poor and a weak creature therefore Lord help me that my footsteps may not slide 3. He prayes for deliverance verse 7. Show thy marveilous loving kindness to me Lord my straights they are marveilous I know not what to do whither to turn me but my eyes are towards thee as straights are marveilous so let the loving kindness of God be marveilous towards me and keep me as the apple of thy eye O Lord unto them I am but as a dog a vile creature in the eyes of Saul and those about him but blessed be thy Name I can look up to thee and know that I am deer unto thee as the apple of thy eye All the Saints of God are dear to God at all times but the persecuted Saints they are the apple of Gods eye If at any time they are dear to God then especially when they are most persecuted now they are the apple of his eye and the apple of an eye is weak and little able to resist any hurt but so much the more is the man tender of the apple of his eye The Saints are weak and shiftless for themselves but the Lord is so much the more tender over them and one Argument that the Psalmist uses in praying against his enemies in this and a special one because they prospered so much in this world they are inclosed in fat and have their hearts desire and thou fillest their bellies with thy hid treasure they leave to their babes they have their portion in this life Lord keep me from them 4. He doth professes is resolution yet notwithstanding all the dangers he was in to go on in the waies of God and expects a gracious issue But I saith he will behold thy face in righteousness indeed I cannot behold the face of the King without danger to me there are a great many that run to kill me and they desire his face but though I cannot see his face yet Lord I shall behold thy face I will behold thy face and it shall be in righteousness I will still keep on in the waies of righteousness and when I awake for I beleeve that these troubles will not hold long I shall not sleep in perpetual sleep but I shall awake and be delivered and then shall I be satisfied with thy likeness There shall be the manifestation of thy glory to me that shall satisfie me for all the trouble that I have endured for thy Names sake that my soul shall say I have enough and this is the sum of this 17. Psalm Now the words are â—â—ad unto you they are a description of Davids adversaries implying an argument why he would be delivered from them they are described to be men of this world they are only those that were adversaries to him And a comfort it must needs be to the Saints of God to see that none are their enemies but the men of this world men of this world who have their portion in this life they have somewhat here and here is all they are like to have 1. It implieth the Argument why he would be delivered Lord deliver me from them because they are men of this world who have their portion in this life Wherein doth consist the force of this Argument where lies the force of this Argument that he would be delivered from them because they were men of this world that have their portions in this life It consists first in this Lord They care not what injustice they do they have no regard to any thing but in this world therefore be it right or wrong may they have but their lusts in this world that is all they care for Lord deliver me from such men 2. Here is
great dishonor He hatb from the world ibid 2. In respect of wicked men 10 1 That you may convince them ibid 2 To stop their mouthes 11 3 To convert them ibid 4 To condemn them 12 3 In respect of the Saints ibid 1 They rejoyce in it ibid 2 They bless God for it ibid 3 They have boldness before men ibid 4. They are established by it 13 5 They are edified by it ib. 4 In respect of your selves ibid 1 It evidenceth the truth to your souls ibid 2 It continueth and encreaseth what is in you 14 3 It gets honor in the consciences of men ibid 4 It is an instrument of publick good ibid 5 it furthers a joyful account at the great day ibid 6 It keeps up the honor of Religion from one generation to another ibid Application 1 To reprove careless professors 16 2 To exhort to be careful of your Conversations 19 Arg. 1 It is a mercy you have conversation among men 20 2 Wicked men are able to passe judgment on your lives but not on your principles 21 3 Sometimes you must displease wicked men ibid 4 Your lives are but short 22 5 The eyes of all are upon you 23 6 God promiseth salvation to them that order their Conversation aright 24 SERMON II. Rule 1 Have a special regard to the duties of your relation 25 2 Take heed of the sins you are most inclined to 26 3 Take heed of the temptations of your callings 27 4 Take heed of the sins of the times 28 5 Take heed of secret sins ibid 6 Look not upon those that are below but upon those that are above you in profession 29 7 Be constant to the end 30 Doct. 2 The Conversation of Profesfessors must be sutable to the Gospel of Christ 1. It must be higher than the light of Nature will raise it 32 Viz. 1 That we are to knew God 33 2. That we must do as we would be done to ibid 3 We must make conscience of secret sins ibid What Conversation becomes the Gospel that is above the light of Nature 1 To worship God as a father 35 2 To love our enemies 36 3 To do to others as God hath don to us 37 4 To labor for the mortification of the body of sin within us 39 5 To love the Commandement you obey 40 Secondly It must go beyond such as lived under the Law SERMON III Consider first as a Covenant of works for life as it was at first made to Adam 42 1 Obedience to God meerly as Creator 43 2 Had only promise of natural things ibid 3 He must work by his own strength ibid 4 He was in hazard of miscarrying in his eternal estate ib. 1 The Saints are in a better condition 1 They serve God as a father 44 2 Vpon better promises ibid 3 Our strength is not put into own hands to keep 54 4 Are delivered from the hazzard of eternal miscarrying ibid 2. As the Law was in the ministration of it by Moses 47 1 Given under low promises ibid 2 Their Ordinances mean 48 3 Their burden great ibid 4 The administration terrible ibid 5 Their spirits servile ibid But under the Gospel 1 Our Covenant is better 48 2 Our Worship more spiritual 49 3 Our yoke more easie 50 4 We have access with boldnes to the throne of grace ibid 5 We have the spirit of Adoption ibid 3. It must be sutable to what the Gospel holds forth 53 Herein consider 1 What the Gospel holds forth 2 How to sute our Conversations according 1 The Gospel holds forth 1. The infinite love of God to mankind 53 2 Love in us becomes this love of God 54 SERMON IV. 2. The willingness of God to to be at peace with man 63 1 When we were enemies to Him 64 2 We were under his power ibid 3 He had no need of us ibid 4 He begins the work of reconciliation ibid 5 It costs Him very dear ibid 6 He will never be at enmity with us again 65 This cals us to love peace ib. 3 The infinite mercy of God to miserable creatures 69 It should work mercy in us 70 4 He is merciful in such a way that justice is not wronged 74 It should warn us first not to turn the grace of God into wantonness 75 To be just in our Conversations 77 5 What a high price he sets upon the Law 78 SERMON V 6 Gods infinit hatred of sin 80 It should move us to hate it 82 7 The great price of souls 85 It should teach us 1 To set a high price upon our souls 86 2 Not to pollute them with sin 88 8 The great honor God hath put upon human Nature above Angels 89 1. In the personal union of mans Nature with the God-head ibid 2 The body is the temple of the holy Ghost 90 3 The Personal Vnion of our Natures with the second Person in Trinity 91 4 The great example of Self-denial 93 SERMON VI. 9 Our Conversations should be sutable to spiritual worship 96 10 Our spiritual union with God 100 1 God is a Father Beleevers are Children ibid 2 We are one Spirit with God and Christ 102 3 The union of the Saints one with another 104 4 Their hapines in heaven 110 SERMON VII What Conversation becomes the Gospel 114 1 Denying ungodliness ibid 2 Sequestred from this world 118 3 A change of estate 120 1 From what there was before the Gospel came ibid 2 Between one man and another 122 4 Becoming the Ordinances of the Gospel 123 5 Sutable to the power of the Gospel ibid 6 Seeing the glory of the Gospel have a glory in our Conversations 125 Application 1 To reprove those whose Conversations becomes not the Gospel 126 2 Exhortation to walk worthy of the Gospel 129 Five Motives to it JOHN 18. 36 SERMON I. TEXT Opened 139 Doct. 1. Christ hath a Kingdom ibid 1 Providential 136 2 Mediatory ibid Doct. 2 Christs Kingdom is not of this world 137 Difference between worldly Kingdoms Christs Kingdom ib. 1 In regard of pomp and glory ibid 2 In regard of his subjects 138 3 In regard of his rule 139 4 His Laws are spiritual ibid 5 His homage spiritual 141 6 The Officers by Divine institution 143 7 His weapons spiritual 144 8 In regard of priviledges 147 9 In regard of penalties 147 SERMON II. Priviledges of the Saints 1 All their businesses are in the Court if Christ 152 2 They are all free men 153 3 They have free trade to heaven ib. 4 They have right to all the Ordinances of Christ ib. 5 They have his protection 154 6 They shall have certain victory over their enemies ib. 7 They are all Kings ib. 8 They have peace and joy in the holy Ghost 155 9 They have right to the gifts and graces of all the Saints 156 10 They are coheirs with Christ 157 Why Christs Kingdom is not of this world 1 Because he would confound the wisdom of
from the things of this world a Conversation that shall manifest the hearts being taken off and disingaged from sublunary comforts and accommodations a Conversation which proves that the soul seeks not great things for its-self here below but is fully content with a morsel of bread and a cup of cold water though others fare deliciously every day so beleevers should manifest in their Conversations that they do not much pass or care how things go in this world because Christ is not of this world and the Kingdom of Christ in which they make account their happiness to be involved that is not of the world yea they are men redeemed from this present world Gal. 1. 4. it is said That by Christ we came to be redeemed from this present evil world it 's a very remarkable Scripture who gave himself for our sins to what end That he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father I beseech you observe this text Christ gave Himself to deliver us from our sins that we might not perish eternally And was that all No That He might deliver us from this present evil world I do not know a more forcible text in all the Book of God to take off the hearts of those that profess the Gospel from the world so as they should not whine and murmur at the loss of every little thing in the world nor be solicitously careful for the things of this life nor be offended though the men of the world prevail in the world and have the upper hand and carry things in a worldly way let them go on in all their pagentry and greatness but if thou beest one that belongst to Christ know that Christ hath laid down his life to purchase this for thee to deliver thee from this world Now is Christ blood laid down to purchase this and yet wilt thou have thy heart glewed to the ground and wholly place thy contentment in the earth and seek for thy happiness here in the dust Oh get up thy heart then from all these things and make it appear by thy Conversation that thou art one that by the vertue of the death of Jesus Christ art delivered from this world and therefore though thou hast not such a portion in worldly goods as other men have never envy them for Christ hath ransomed you from the world there 's another kingdom that thou hast thy portion and interest in Christ hath made us Kings and Priests to his Father and hath made us heirs and co-heirs of that Kingdom that His Father hath given Him yea and that He Himself hath purchased and so you must in your Conversations make it appear that you do see another kingdom beyond this kingdom of the world that you are made partakers of wherein you shall reign with Christ for ever now this Conversation doth beseem the Gospel And therefore you shal find it in the 10 th of Matth. about the 37. vers Christ shews what kind of Conversation He would have in those that once come to beleeve in Him saith He He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me And he that taketh not up his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it Here he shews what it is that would make the soul worthy of Christ in a Gospel sense If our hearts be taken off from father and mother and those comforts relations that are the dearest in the world brother or sister or son or daughter not to take off our natural affection but to take off our hearts so as they should not be hinderances of us in spiritual things that our main affections should flow forth after spiritual things then we come to be worthy of Christ then the other conversation is unworthy of Christ Didst thou ever know the Lord Jesus Christ and the way of His Kingdom Then why is thy heart set upon the world as the hearts of other men that are strangers to Jesus Christ In Eph. 5. 3. when the Apostle speaks of those things that most men in the world are greedy after But fornication and all uncleaness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints As if he should say Saints those that know Jesus Christ and the way of His Kingdom for them to have their hearts either set upon bodily lusts or covetousness the things of this world it doth not becom them it is not a Gospel Conversation becoming Saints a heart greedy of the things of this world and wallowing in the lusts of this world Oh 't is unbeseeming Saints those that do profess the Gospel of Christ that shews unto us that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world Again Another great point that the Gospel holds forth to us is this The great difference or the change that it makes in the estate of a man or woman when once it prevails with him then the great difference is made in him from what he was before and from other men this is held forth in the Gospel and no where else I say the wonderful change that the Gospel makes in men when once it comes to work upon their hearts in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and the great difference between their estates before and what now is and between them and other men I put these two together First The great change that the Gospel makes in the hearts of men from what there was before the Gospel came You know the Scripture in prophesying of the times of the Gospel saith That the Wolf shall eat with the Lamb and the Lyon with the Kid and the child shall play upon the very hole of the Asp the meaning is generally carried thus that when the Gospel comes it shall change the hearts of men so mightily that though they were wolvish before and cruel as if you should see a Wolf changed into a Lamb or as if you should see a Lyon changed into a Kid you would say this were a mighty change the Gospel makes such a change as this is they that are in Christ are new creatures it 's a new Creation suppose God should make a new world what a mighty thing were this or a new Sun should be created in the Firmament that never was before how would we stand and wonder Those that are in Christ are new creatures God puts forth a creating power upon them 2 Cor. 5. Old things are pass'd away all things are become new you know the Apostle saith and the change that is made it is called a new birth Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3. If there were a new soul put into one or if God should infuse a rational soul into a beast
God 1 Cor. 1. 24. it brings a great deal of power with it to help men against strong corruptions to overcome violent temptations to carry them through in any difficulties Powerful corruptions powerful temptations powerful difficulties are overcome by the power of the Gospel and therefore it is said by faith that is by faith in the Gospel we overcome the world the Gospel certainly doth not only stir in some men and women some wishings and wouldings and faint desires but it brings a power to transforme their hearts to make a metamorphosis there when there comes the light of the Gospel there comes the light of life together with it as that Scripture in Heb. 10. 32. After ye were illuminated that is by the Gospel then he speaks of their great sufferings they were willing to endure any thing for Christ therefore a Conversation that becomes the Gospel is such an one as exemplarily demonstrates the very power of godliness that men and women should not be alwaies learning and never come to the knowledg of the truth not alwaies wishing and desiring and never come to any powerful resolutions and determinations for certainly where the Gospel hath the upper hand in a soul it doth bring power but I do not say it brings power so as to overcome all our lusts so as there should be no sin remaining for so long as we live we must be hungering after a further degree of righteousness and sanctification but certainly when the Gospel prevails there comes a great strength there 's the strength of Christ put forth the Spirit of power as the Apostle saith We have not received the spirit of fear but the Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. As if Paul had said to Timothy it 's true you meet with many difficulties but hath not the Gospel given you a Spirit of power There 's spirit of power and resolution when the Gospel comes in Timothy was a poor weakly sickly man in his body and Paul himself had no bodily presence with him a poor contemptible man in regard of his bodily presence but he had a Spirit of power given him by the Gospel so we should manifest a Spirit of power that is as becomes the Gospel of Christ Lastly The Gospel of Christ is a glorious Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 11. it is call'd there by the title of a glorious Gospel According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God Mark what a title is here the Gospel is the glorious Gospel of the blessed God that is the glory of all the Attributes of God doth appear in the Gospel more brightly than they do appear in all the works that God hath made There doth appear indeed a great deal of the glory of God in the Heavens Earth and Seas and you have seen much of the glory of God there but I appeal to you in this Have you seen more of the glory of God in the Gospel than ever you did in all the works that God hath made that were a good argument that you have had a true understanding of the Gospel and that the Spirit of God hath shined into your hearts if you can say Lord I have seen much of thy glory in thy Works when I have been abroad in the mighty waters where Gods paths and foot-steps are Oh the Seas they are thy glorious creatures but thy Gospel that 's glorious beyond all there do I see thine infinite wisdom and infinite power and infinite justice and infinite mercy and infinite faithfulness and the Lord knows that all the glory of the creatures hath been darkned in my eyes since the Lord hath shewed me the glory of His Gospel Can you say so This is a good evidence that the Gospel is a saving Gospel to your souls if you stand and admire at the glory of God in the Gospel Certainly there 's none though never so weak in parts yet if so be that God hath revealed Himself in the Gospel to them they see that which makes them stand and admire at God and darkens all the world in their eyes have you seen the Gospel thus then it is to you the glorious Gospel of the blessed God and in the 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which beleeve not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them Oh reade over this Scripture again and again The God of this world hath blinded their minds Mark compare this Scriptrue with that I said before of Christ that His Kingdom is not of this world but the Devil is called the God of this world note this he hath blinded the minds of them which beleeve not if any which live under the Gospel beleeve not it is because the Devil as he prevails in the world and by worldly things by the pomp and vanity of the world he hoodwinks the eyes of those which beleeve not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the express Image of God should shine into them Oh the Devil is loth that the gloriou Gospel should shine into the hearts of men he is content that they should come and hear the Gospel but he labors to keep off the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ that it shine not into them for he know when once it hath shined into mens hearts then all the glory of the world will be darkned in their eyes and they will admire then at nothing but Christ Oh none but Christ none but Christ Whom have I in Heaven but Christ and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of my dearest Saviour who is the fairest of ten thousand I never knew God before I saw him in the face of Jesus Christ and now I see God in the face of His Son I see him in another way than ever I did O the Gospel is a glorious Gospel there is more of the glory of God in one sentence of the Gospel than in all the Heavens and Earth beside this we may boldly aver Now our Conversations must be as becomes the Gospel then there must be a glory in our Conversations we must hold forth the Gospel in our Conversations therefor Professors of the Gospel they should shine as lights in the world I beseech you mark this one Note I remember in the close of all the last day I shewed you that the Saints and godly people are call'd the glory of Jesus Christ Himself surely you that are Professors of the Gospel should live so as to be the glory of the glorious Gospel and what manner of persons ought we to be then it's not enough that our Conversations be not defiled with the most filthy and abominable pollutions of the world but our Conversations should be such as should be a glory to the glorious Gospel Look in the Gospel there shine the Attributes of God in glory so in our
but when they are brought into his Kingdom then they are under the Ministry of the Word in another way Christ then is their great Pastor and Shepherd and so His Ministers are in a more peculiar manner Pastors Shepherds unto them And besides there are other Ordinances that they have nothing to do withal till they be brought into the Kingdom of Christ namely the seals of the Covenant with some others that might be named That 's the great privledge of those that are under the Kingdom of Christ to have right to all Ordinances Certainly all Saints and Beleevers have right unto all but they are to come in an orderly way to them 5 ly By being under the Kingdom of Christ there is this Priviledge Protection As Kings should be the protectors of their subjects Jesus Christ hath taken upon Him the protectors of their subjects Jesus Christs hath taken upon Him the protection of all such as come under Him all power in Heaven and Earth is given unto Christ and it is al exercised for their protection to deliver them from dangers bodily and spiritual to protect their souls they are under Christs Kingly power for protection when any temptation to sin comes they should fly unto Christ as King to shield them from their enemies when their spiritual enemies come in like a floud then the Spirit of Christ sets up a standard against them 6 ly They shall certainly have victory over all their enemies This Kingdom shall never be shaken let all the world conspire what they will against it the gates of Hel shall not prevail against it no cunning devises no subtil waies shall ever overcome this Kingdom no nor any one subject of this Kingdom This is a priviledge beyond what is in the world A Kingdom may preserve its self so as to continue a kingdom but many subjects may be destroyed in the preservation of it but this is such a kingdom as there shall never one subject be destroied in it that is Al the enemies shal never take off one subject from this kingdom indeed they may take away their bodily lives but that is but a transferring of them to the more glorious part of the kingdom that they shall attain to Then may a subject of this kingdom be said to be destroyed when he shall be cut off from Christ and lose the grace that he hath received but none shall be thus destroyed but shall be preserved by Christ and shall certainly overcome all enemies both inward and outward And that 's a sixt priviledge 7 ly By being in this Kingdom Beleevers are made every one of them Kings though they be subjects in some sense unto Christ yet Christ hath made them Kings and Priests unto God so they are called in Scripture There 's no kingdom where all the subjects are Kings it is so here Christ makes all that come under His kingdom to be Kings and they have too according to their Princely state the Angels to be their guard as Kings have their guard where ever they go so the poorest and meanest Beleever that is under this kingdom of Christ hath his guard of Angels wheresoever he goes though it be a poor smokey hole or Cottage that he lives in yet it is guarded by Angels every night they keep the Door and watch about the Bed Thus the Scripture tells us that the Angels are Ministring Spirits for Gods Elect 8 ly The benefit of this kingdom of Christ It is Spiritual peace and joy in the holy Ghost So in Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God consists not in meat and drink but in righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost There 's another manner of peace than the world gives So Christ in John 14. 17. Peace I leave with you My peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you It 's the note of a learned Interpreter speaking of this place I give not peace as the world gives the world gives peace saith he by taking away afflictions from a troubled person but Christ gives peace by taking away a troubled person from affliction His meaning is this the worlds way to give peace is to take away trouble from us but the way that Christ hath is to take the trouble of our hearts from our affliction the world cannot give so long as the affliction continues but Christ gives peace though the affliction doth continue that 's thus Christ He takes off the troublesomness of mens hearts from the affliction the world takes off the affliction from the trouble of mens hearts now this is a great deal better peace when the trouble of our hearts is taken away though the affliction continues rather than when the affliction is taken away and trouble of heart continues I give peace not as the world gives peace 't is inward peace the worlds is outward the world takes away some trouble but I take away the very root of all trouble the branches are taken away by the peace of the world that is whereas you had not trading before nor the freedom of your estates before you shall have that now but the root of all your trouble the world cannot take away that is sin but I take away sin that is the root of all trouble We may through the blessing of God upon Armles Parliament we may come to have outward peace that is freedom from outward troubles Oh but there may be vexation and trouble in our spirits in the mean time But Christs peace is especially in the conscience and heart within doors we may have peace here mixed with abundance of sin and wickedness it may be procured in a sinful way or it may be the cause of much sin but my peace is a holy peace it doth further holiness wheresoever I give it my peace is a lasting and a stable peace peace here may be but for a few months but my peace shall be eternally I give peace not as the world that is the fruit of the kingdom of Christ So the truth is though there be many outward afflictions attend the Kingdom of Christ yet the Kingdom of Christ is alwaies in peace and in joy of the holy Ghost That is a priviledge which we can never be crowned with but in the kingdom of Christ as we can never enjoy peace but here all the peace that mens consciences have till they come under the kingdom of Christ it will turn to greater trouble that peace they have and live loosly not being subdued to the kingdom of Christ will turn to horror and misery and so the joy that there is in the world it will turn to sorrow and vexation 't is proper to the kingdom of Christ to have joy in the holy Ghost thou mayest have joy in thy cups joy in thy dishes joy in thy mirth and wicked company but 't is proper to the kingdom of Christ to bring joy unspeakable and glorious unto the soul the soul never knows experimentally what
the joy of the holy Ghost means till it comes under the kingdom of Jesus Christ it 's the priviledge of the kingdom of Christ to bring spiritual peace which passeth all understanding and joy in the holy Ghost Ninthly This is a priviledg in the kingdom of Christ That all that are in His Kingdom have right to all the gifts and graces of all the Saints in the world Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephus or Life or Death all is yours for you are Christs and Christ is Gods They have I say right to all all the gifts of all the Ministers of the world and the graces of all the Saints they work for good unto them Tenthly and lastly They are all Heirs of Christ with an immortal Crown of glory that is laid upon Heaven for them Thus Christs Kingdom is not of this world the priviledges of it are beyond the worlds which can only be seen by the eye of faith for they are spiritual and glorious priviledges Quest If you ask me why it is that God the Father would not have His Son to have his kingdom in this world Certainly God might have given to Christ all the Government of this world might have made Him the great Emperor to have rul'd in an external way and all His Subjects to have been in pomp and glory here below but God would not have the kingdom of His Son here in this world for these reasons Ans First Because that hereby He would confound the wisdom of the world and shew the vanity of all the things of this present world and the folly of the hearts of men that are set upon the things of this world we look upon these things as great things but God hath shewed that he doth not look upon them as great matters but as things that have little value and excellency in them and therfore He would not have His Son to have His kingdom here of this world surely if there were such excellent things here as men dream of then undoubtedly Christ should have had His Kingdom of this world but that God might confound all the glory and non-plus the wisdom of this world therefore he would go another way to work God would so order things that He would fetch about the glory of his Name and those great things that he did intend from all eternity He would fetch them about in a way that should be hidden from the eyes of the world in a way that should appear contemptible in the eyes of the world and he would by this rebuke and shame all the pride folly and vanity of the world there is no greater rebuke of the pride folly and vanity of the world than in my Text here that saith The Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not of this world Secondly Because the Lord delights so much in the exercise of the graces of His Spirit the spiritual workings of the hearts of His Saints there 's nothing that is ab extra from God that is more delightful to Him than the exercises of the graces of His Spirit in the hearts of His Saints excepting what is in the Person of Christ himself nothing more pleasing in all the works that ever God made in which He takes more pleasure than in the exercise of faith and of humility and of patience and the like and the holiness of His Saints Now the less the Kingdom of Christ is of the world the more bright and glorious do the graces of the Saints appear the more do they come to be exercised had the Saints a worldly glory and pomp here their graces would not shine forth so eminent there would not be such a spiritual lustre and shine upon them but now that God may exercise especially the grace of faith and humility and patience and self-denial and brotherly love which are so precious to Him therefore God hath so ordered things that the Kingdom of His Son should not be of this world but it should be spiritual it may be you think it a sad affliction that you have not those comforts that you see others have in the world you have not such estates and bravery as others have brave dwellings costly furnitures and fine cloaths as others have and you cannot provide for your children as they do I but is there the exercise of faith in God in the want of these things the exercise of humility self-denial of patience know that these are more glorious things than if thou didst sit upon a Throne with a Crown of gold upon thy head and a Scepter in thy hand and al the people prostrating themselves before thee this were all but a childish vanity in comparison of the exercise of the graces of Gods Spirit thou hast that that is more excellent in the eyes of God and of His Son and in the eyes of the blessed Angels far more excel lent than these outward pompous glorious glittering vanities that are here when thou findest by experience that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world Oh then think that surely God delights much in the exercise of the graces of His Spirit in His Saints And this is the reason why he would not have the kingdom of Christ to be of this world Thirdly and lastly Therefore He would not have it to be of this world that hereafter when the Lord shall come to fetch out all his glory from those things that seem to be the most contrary that his power and wisdom may be more glorious and appear more evidently that his glory may be more conspicuous as certainly it will hereafter at the great Day when the issue of all the great designs that God had in sending of Christ into the world when the issue of all shall come and be accomplisht then the Name of God will be so much the more honorable to all eternity because He hath wrought out such glorious things from that which did seem to the eye of flesh to be so mean and contemptible APPLICATION But by way of Application and that shall be built upon the consideration of the point more generally and upon the Reasons that are named why the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world From hence follow thus much in the first place That if the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world then there is a happiness beyond the things of this world to be had that we must certainly conclude and determin If we beleeve this point That Christ Kingdom is not of this world we must lay down this for a certain and infalible ground that we may build upon That there is a happiness to be attained unto that is beyond this world for surely there is a good in the of Christ there is somewhat beyond this world for the souls of the children of men to look after as their cheef good as their happiness that 's a confectory that follows from it The Kingdom of Christ whatsoever it be it 's a glorious Kingdom it is the Kingdom of
His dear Son as the Scripture speaks and therefore very glorious And all the glory of the kingdom of Solomon it was but to typifie out the glory of the Kingdom of Christ now that is not of this world therefore there is some glory beyond that of this world and it is a good sign of a spiritual eye and a spiritual heart to be able to see an excellency and glory that is beyond this world to be able to look higher and further than this world can We think that all the good things that God hath to communicate to the children of men should be here on earth but I beseech you consider of it Can we think in our consciences that all the good things that God hath to cōmunicate to such as He loves should be here in this world Certainly no. Consider therefore that all the good things that God intends for his people are not of this world First It 's called An evil world Truly it 's no great matter and we should not account much that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world if we consider these things First That this world it is an evil world Gal. 4. We are delivered from this evil world Secondly It 's a world that the Devil in Scripture is called the god of and the prince of this world 2 Cor. 4. 4. Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded Surely all the good things that God hath to communicate to His Saints are not of this world that is an evil world that is a world that the very Devil is god of it in scripture phrase Thirdly A world all whose bravery and pomp and glory it is not of the Father 1 John 2. 16. you have an epitomy there of what the excellency of the world is for saith he All that is in the world the lusts of the flesh lusts of the eyes and the pride of life Under these three heads are all things that the men of the world look upon as desirable either they are the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes or the pride of life But saith he All that is in the world is not of the Father but is of the world Surely the chief things that God hath to communicate to His Saints are not of the things of this world for all that is in the world is not of the Father And wouldest not thou have the riches of the Father 'T is true God is the Creator of all things and hath the dispose of all things but that that the men of the world look upon as the excellent things that are here they are not of the Father they are none of the good things that God the Father hath to bestow upon His children and therefore surely there is a happiness beyond the things of this world Oh my Brethren that I could but so take off the hearts of people by this point from the things of this world as to make them look after the Kingdom of Christ that is not of this world for you see that all that is here in the world the Scripture saith it is not of the Father Fourthly As all the excellent things are not of the Father so the truth is all the glory that is in the world it is but darkness it is a dungeon of darkness to a spiritual eye As the Bats can see in the night so the men of the world they think they see some glittering here in the world but in the language of Scripture and to spiritual hearts it is but darkness Hence the Apostle Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world Rulers of the darkness of this world are the unclean spirits spiritual wickednesses the Devils are the Rulers of the darkness of this world this world it hath a darkness in it and therefore surely the chief good things that God hath to bestow upon the Saints they are things that are beyond this world Fifthly The world knows not God John 17 25. The world is that that Christ saith doth not know the Father Oh righteous Father the world hath not known thee Take men that are the wisest of the world and have all the wisdom that this world can afford it will not help them to the knowledge of the Father the world knows not those excellent and glorious things that are of the Father Sixthly The world it lies in wickedness 1 John 5. 19. as sometimes I have opened that Scripture to you Just as you see in a common shore a carion a dead dog that lies over head and ears in the mire or mud in a common shore and in its own filthiness so the whole world lies in wickedness the wickedness of the world is like the common shore in w ch there is nothing but filth and dirt and the world as a dead carion lies in its own pollutions surely then there are other things that God hath to communicate to his Saints than the things of this world and we should not be offended though the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world Seventhly The world it passeth away with the lusts of it 1 John 2. 17. it is a notable Scripture for that And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever speaking before of what was the glory of the world and it passeth away with the lusts thereof Mark Not only the things of the world passeaway but the very lusts to those things passeth away As now men and women who have their healths and live bravely for a while Oh! how greedy are they for the contents of this world how do they long and desire that they might have such a merry meeting with such friends and such cheer and such commings in They make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof But now mark within a little while not only these comforts shall be taken from them but the very lusts of them shall passe away that is they shal have no mind in the world to them Take a poor man that was wont to long for these things when he lieth upon his sick bed at the point of death now he looks upon these things as those things that are dry leaves he hath no mind to them not so much as a phansie after these things all the varnish of the things of the world are gone in his eyes he tasts them no more than the white of an eg yea the desire of his heart is dead to them as now a man that lusted after drink when his desire is satisfied the very desire after it is gon and one that liv'd in gluttony when his body is a little distempered the very lusts therof passeth away surely there are other things that God hath for his people than the things of this world Eightly There must be somwhat else besides the things of this world for Christ Himself is not
of this world John 8. 23. Are all the good things that the Father hath to cōmunicate of this world and not Christ Himself of this world Let me tell you Christ is the greatest gift that ever was given or possibly could be received and yet Christ is not of this world therefore there is somwhat else besides the things of this world that God hath for some of the children of men that He intends good unto Ninthly The Saints are said not to be of this world Joh. 15. 19. 17. 14. If they be not of this world then their happiness is not here God hath other happiness for them than that which is here Tenthly The Scripture makes it to be a sign of a child of wrath that he walks according to the course of this world in 2 Joh. 2. this is enough to describe a child of wrath Eleventhly It 's made a sign of one that is an enemy to God and that 's hateful before God that is a lover of this world Jam. 4. 4. And 1 Joh. 2. 15. He that loves the world the love of the Father is not in him and the friendship of the world is enmity to God saith the Holy Ghost in those two Scriptures If so be that in the world there were the special things that God hath to communicate to the Children of men certainly then God would have his people to love the world He would say Love these things for these are the fruits of my favor and love these are part of the riches that I have to communicate to those that I intend good to and therefore delight in these expatiate your heart in these Oh me saith the holy Ghost whosoever loves the world is an enemy to God And if the love of the world be in you the love of the Father is not in you surely then here are not the things that God intends for the children of men Twelfthly The world is that that shall be condemned 1 Cor. 11. 32. That ye may not be condemned with the world that notes that God intends to condemn this whol world all these things are under the sentence of death and all the men of the world are condemned before God and therefore these are not the things that men should so much look after to make them happy Thirteenthly Take all the world together the Scripture speaks by way of supposition That a man may gain the whol world and yet his soul be lost for ever If one man could get all the world in to his possession and thereby lose his soul it would be an ill bargain the world then hath no such excellency in it as we should place our happiness in it God hath something else for His people than these things that are at the best under Moon-vanities Fourteenthly If Christs Kingdom is not of this world then certainly those that are of the world are not of His Kingdom for these two cannot stand together that Christs Kingdom should not be of this world and yet that these that are of the world should be of his Kingdom if such as are of the world are none of his kingdom then certainly a worldly man or woman is not of the kingdom of Christ Christ owns them not as under His kingdom they are Vagabonds and Runnagates not under the protection of Jesus Christ not partakers of any priviledg of Jesus Christ Quest You will say to me How should one know when a man is a man of this world The Scripture makes a plain distinction of some that are of this world and some not the best of all you will say they have hearts worldly enough and they desire to have the comforts of this world as well as others well though there are some yet we had need look to our selves to examine whether we be of the world yea or no for there lies thus much upon it that if we be of the world we are not of the kingdom of Christ now I would give you but these three notes of a man of the world Answ The first is this One that is a man of the world is such an one as could be content if God would let him live here in this world and enjoy what he doth he would be content for to live here for ever and could be satisfied though he never enjoyed any thing from God but what he hath received here if he might alwaies bold it Here 's an evident Argument of a man of the world I mean such a man as hath health of body in this world he hath for outwards as much as the world can afford any man that for the properness of his body his comliness his health he hath as much as the world can give he hath convenient dwelling with all accommodations belonging thereunto and he hath the comings in of the world as much as his heart can desire he hath his wife and children about him in which he hath a great deal of delight and content now I would but put it to this man What sayest thou would not this satisfie thy heart if thou mightest alwaies be here alwaies have thy house and gardens and walks and these comings in that thou hast now that thou mightest fare deliciously every day and have the sweet and fat of the world would it not satisfie thy soul though God should never give thee any thing else but this I beseech you in your own thoughts answer even to God this question and seriously look into your hearts for you may know very much of your hearts upon the answer to this question you may come to know what is like to become of you for ever even from the answer that your consciences would give to this question That man or woman whose conscience tels them that this would satisfie then we may conclude that surely that man or woman is of this world because the things of this world would be enough for his portion But now take a man or woman that is chosen out of this world that is of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ unto whom the Lord hath made known the things of another world and the excellencies of Jesus Christ and such a one though it had ten thousand times more than it hath though it had what possibly can be imagined it would say Lord it 's true I am unworthy of the least crum of bread that I eat or of the least drop of water but yet it is not all the world nor ten thousand worlds can satisfie my soul for the portion of it It is nothing but thy self the unsearchable riches in Jesus Christ those blessed things that thou hast revealed in that glorious kingdom of thy Son it 's only that that can satisfie my soul for the portion of it and if thou shouldest say well thou shalt have all the things in this world for thy portion and enjoy them for ever I should account my self in a miserable condition for thou hast revealed better and higher things to my
soul this would be the answer of one that is chosen out of the world that hath a gracious heart and is brought under the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 2. A second note that I would give to know whether a man be a man of this world or no is this A man of this world is one that accounts the possessions of worldly comforts to be greater rices than any riches conteined in the promises that looks upon the comforts of this world as real things they have them in possession But looks upon the promise as that that hath but a notion in it as if there were no such reality and excellency in the things of the promise a man that dares not trust God upon his word upon his promise without seeing in a way of reason or sence how things may come in unto him for supply from the things of this world this is a man of the world he hath a promise but things go very ill with him in respect of his outward estate in respect of whatsoever by sence or reason he is able to discern he looks upon himself as miserable if indeed God would give him in the things of the world in real possession that would satisfie him but not the promise This is an evidence of a worldly heart that regards more the possession of the things of the world than the promise of God for provision for him as for promises he thinks that that man is but in a sad condition that hath nothing but bare promises to live upon here 's a worldly heart that hath low and mean thoughts of the promises But now one who is taken out of this world and translated into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ regards more to have a promise to live upon than to have possessions to live upon Promises in the word are greater and more real things to that soul than any Bills or Bonds from men can be he can live better upon a Promise than upon Bils or Bonds or Leases or any such things in the world Hast thou found such a principle within thee that canst close with the promise and canst bless thy self in the promises I have title to and an interest in many promises in the Book of God for life and godliness are more to me than all the treasures of Egypt and though I do not enjoy so much in the hand as others yet my heart hath enough because it is possest by Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen that is sure and infallible God is faithful who hath promised this is an argument that thou art taken out of the world and taken into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ but otherwise thou that canst not trust God for thy outward estate body and soul upon a promise this is an evidence of one that hath his heart set on the world 3 A third sign of a man of this world is this A man of the world blesses those that are like himself looks upon and measures the happiness or misery of other men according to what they do enjoy or according to what they do enjoy in this world They call the proud happy I mean by this they measure the happiness of other men according to what they have of the world and think that the meer enjoying of worldly accommodations is enough to make men happy notwithstanding they see them to be very wicked and sinful yet so long as they flourish as a green bay tree yet rejoyce in them and with them yea get themselves in the midst of the guilt that is upon them when conscience as a woolf in their bosom flyes in their faces yet they can blesse themselves in the enjoyment of outward comforts and set that against any trouble of mind whatsoever as if so be it were enough to make up their comforts I have been at such a place and contracted such guiltiness upon my soul committed such sins Oh! what shall comfort me now well he comes home and sees all wel about him his house furnished his table spread means coming in as a floud and this quiets him here 's a worldly heart whereas were the heart taken off from the world the possession of al under Christ would never calm a conscience that hath any guilt upon it when I have contracted any guilt upon my soul although I see all well about me Oh! till I have an assurance from the Holy Ghost the Witness of the Spirit that the guilt of my sin is washt away in the blood of Jesus Christ what wil all these do me good I have these and these comforts Oh! but I have an unclean conscience a leprous soul Doest thou set the good things here to countervail the evil of sin Certainly thou art a man of the world thy name is written in the earth thou art but living dust and ashes at the best And the world is like to be the only portion of thy soul thou art a stranger to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ That 's a second Use Vse 3. The third Use should have been this Here we see the main thing that doth hinder people from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ What is that which keeps off men from coming under the Scepter of this King of Saints from subjecting themselves to His Kingdom Certainly this point shews it cleerly His Kingdom is not of this world were the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of this world then people would flock into it Who would not joyn in such a Kingdom and be a member therof where he could have worldly glory and pomp and riches and bravery but now because it is not of this world therefore they slight it As I remember we reade in the Gospel of Herod that when he heard of the great Miracles that Christ wrought Herod sent for Christ and he longed a great while to see Jesus Christ but when Christ came and he saw Him a poor mean contemptible man to the outward eye he thought to have seen him to have done such and such great things and to have been such a man as not the like upon the earth But Christ contemn'd Herod as much as Herod contemn'd Him and Christ would not shew his glory before Herod but appeared in his outward meaness and the text saith Herod set Him at naught he set Him at naught when he saw him so outward contemptible And so it is reported of the Roman Emperors that hearing that Christ should be the King of the Jews and that out of Davids stock there should come a King of the Jews they sought to destroy all of that family that they could find out and all the Tribe of Judah But afterward when they found out some that were of the Kindred of Jesus Christ and saw that they were poor laboring men that labored with their hands to eat their bread by the sweat of their brows they set them at naught and contemn'd them certainly this is the great offence to the world that the Kingdom of Christ is not of
gallows All the world was to him no otherwise was a thing crucified to him and he was crucified to the world the world cares not for me and I care not for the world I am quit with it that way and do as much slight and contemn the world and trample it under foot as the world slights and contemns me and tramples me under foot This should be the disposition of a Christian that is under the kingdom of Christ for now it is to converse with things of another nature And therefore you find that Christ He saith of those that are given to Him by the Father They are given unto Him out of the world John 17. 6. I have manifested thy Name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world No men have Christ manifested unto them but those whom the Father doth give Him out of the world Saith the Father Here 's so many of the world And there are a select company that I wil take out of this rude heap and mass of man-kind and I 'le give them to thee Take them and manifest thy self unto them If this be so that those that come under Christ's Kingdom are given unto Him out of the world then though they live in the world they should not live as of the world Secondly They are chosen out of the world John 15. 19. And they are delivered from the world by Christ Gal. 1. 4. And they are opposed to the children of the world Luke 16. 8 speaking of divers sorts of people and makes the distinction between one and another The Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light These two are opposed one to another the children of this world and the children of light are quite contrary one to another for indeed one is in the kingdom of darkness and the other in the Kingdom of light in the Kingdom of the dear Son of God you must be children of light others are children of the world it becomes a child of the world to follow after the things of the world but not the children of light You are chosen out of the world that you may be the light of the world So the Scripture speaks of the Saints That they should be the light of the world Philippians 2. 15. Now if they have as worldly hearts as others how can they be the lights of the world Oh! many that are Professors of Religion they are indeed but dark lanthorns they have a candle in them have some kind of knowledg but by their worldly Conversations they are made but as dark lanthorns that the light of knowledg and profession that they have is so darkned by it as none can see the beauty and excellency of Jesus Christ shining through them Thirdly Surely it is a very unbeseeming disposition in one that is under the Kingdom of Christ to be worldly for he is appointed to be one that shall judge the world another day In 1 Cor. 6. 2. The Saints shall judge the world Now there should be a great deal of difference between Judges and those that are judged by them if they be of the same disposition that the world is why should any be chosen out of the world to judge them Now all the Saints if they do beleeve themselves to be brought into the Kingdom of Christ they should look upon themselves as those that are appointed by God hereafter to judge the whol world and therefore they should not live so as the men of the world do but as Judges very precisely and strictly according to rule 4 ly It is required of them that they should hate their own lives in this world John 12. 15. Now if the Saints should be such as should see so much excellency in the Kingdom of Christ as to hate their very lives in this world then surely to look upon all things in this world as contemptible as hateful in comparison it is not meant Hate their lives that is Absolutely but in Comparison when any comfort or preservation of their lives in this world comes in the least competition with the furtherance of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ They should look upon the comforts of their lives as a hateful thing and look upon the very preservation of their lives as a hateful thing shall I make my life comfortable with any hindrance unto the Kingdom of Christ Oh 't is that that my soul should abhor and so should I preserve my life with doing any thing that may be any prejudice to the Kingdom of Christ I should look upon the very suggestion to such a thing as that that my very soul doth abhor And we find in Scripture that it 's made an argument of apostasie of one that 's falling off from the profession of Christ to imbrace the world as it is said of Demas in the 2 of Tim. 4. 10. Demas saith Paul hath forsaken me but what is it that hath made Demas to forsake me he hath imbraced this present world So look upon many of your Professors of Religion such vs have been very forward in former times and Oh nothing but Christ in their mouthes they afterward begin to decline and wax worser and worser but observe them they imbrace this present world it is because of some honors and esteem some comforts riches estates that they would have or live at ease in this present world they cannot endure the hatred of the world So it was with Demas when he began to hear Paul he perceived that it was a great excellency to be one of Pauls followers Paul he wrought miracles and Demas I say thought it an excellent thing to follow Paul but after he had followed Paul a while he found that he was persecuted and he saw there was no preferment came in by Pauls preaching nothing but blows and imprisonments and scorns and contempt then Demas begins to bethink himself better and thinks he was mistaken I had thought that this Paul would have been a great man in the world one day and that by my following of him I should get great matters to my self but when he saw that all men were set against Paul and nothing but persecution was like to betide him and his Disciples Demas begins to bethink himself And is it not better for me to keep my credit and esteem in this world so Demas leaves him to shift for himself and therefore saith the Apostle Demas hath forsaken me and imbraced this present world This may be written upon every Apostates grave Here lies an Apostate that hath forsaken Jesus Christ and hath imbraced this present world But observe it and look upon those that were forward in Religion and now are not and see whether they have not more worldly hearts than before and give themselves up to honors and pleasures and profits Therefore it 's exceeding unbeseeming the Saints to have worldly hearts they will
certainly Apostatize if their hearts take deep root in the earth If you find your spirits so glewed to the things of the world that you know not how to part with them that you know not how to live in a place and not to have your neighbors love and respect and to honor you and to have the countenance of the times in which you live Do you find your hearts thus cleaving to the things of the world like the Serpent that dust you eat and upon your belly you go Know that thou hast a worldly heart thou art like to be an Apostate from the Truth of God ere long In the 2. of Titus 12. the Apostle saith That the grace of God that hath appeared to all men teaches them to deny all worldly lusts Oh my brethren let 's labor to walk worthy of our Calling into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 1 Thess 2. 12. There the Apostle with a great deal of earnestness speaks to the Thessalonians exhorting them that they would Walk worthy of God who hath called them into his Kingdom and Glory Are you converted to Christ you are called into this Kingdom walk worthy of Him And mark his earnestness in the verse before As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children We comforted you in shewing you the excellency of the Kingdom of God and the Priviledges of this Kingdom we exhorted you and we charged every one of you as a father doth his children And what did he exhort and charge them to it was this That they would walk worthy of God who had called them into his Kingdom and his glory Oh! 't is a great mercy that God hath revealed any thing of the Kingdom of his Son unto you walk worthy of it as it becomes those that are called to be the Subjects of such a glorious Kingdom as this is and above all things have a care and let me warn you of this worldliness in the hearts of the Saints Namely of a crafty cunning subtilness in the things of this life there is nothing more unbeseeming a Christian than a crafty cunning subtilness for the world many men bless themselves in this and they take abundance of content to think that by their craft and cunning sophistry they can fetch about things circumvent others so provide for themselves in this world I say there is nothing more unbeseeming a Christian than to be crafty and cunning in circumventing others and providing for themselves in the matters of this world In 1. Cor. 2. 12. saith the Apostle We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God it is that we have received There is many men you may plainly see that they have the spirit of the world that 's thus I have many times wondered at it some men come and speak to them about any matters of the Kingdom of Christ they speak so foolishly and childishly either they must hold their peace and say nothing or else if they do speak they discover so much ignorance and childishness that a man would wonder where the understandings of such men are that have liv'd so long a time in the world as they have done and heard so much of Religion and when one hears them speak so one would wonder how these men should have understanding to live in the world but now these in the businesses of the world they are as worldly politick no man can out go them there they can foresee all kind of dangers in any miscarriage and can judge of twenty things together in their thoughts and compare one thing with another see further into the world than other men so that a man would wonder sometimes I say when one hears them speaking of Religion whether these men have any wit or understanding but when one follows them in the things of the world you shall see them as witty as understanding as judicious and as cunning as any men almost can be they have received the spirit of the world and they are led by the spirit of the world the god of this world hath taken possession of them and it 's that that makes them so but they have not received the Spirit of Jesus Christ they may say quite contrary to the Apostle saith the Apostle we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of Jesus Christ they may say we have not received the Spirit of Christ but of the world it 's true Christ would have us so long as we live in the world to be as wise as serpents yet innocent as doves the wisdom that is for the promotion of the Kingdom of Christ it is a wisdom that hath an upright plainess in it and is according to the simplicity of the Gospel indeed when they have to deal with wicked men they may exercise a natural wisdom to avoid the dangers of persecution or to avoid the circumventing of wicked men but when they have to deal with spiritual things there the wisdom is that that holds forth a simplicity of the Gospel that is carried on with plainess and simpleness of heart The Hebrews have the same word that signifies a naked man and a cunning subtil man You shall find where it 's said of Adam and Eve they were naked nakedness of spirit and subtilty may stand together they signifie the same thing to shew what kind of subtilty should be in those that are the People of God it should be that that may stand with a naked spirit so as if God would discover the secrets of all their hearts to all the children of men that they should not be ashamed to have all their secrets to be opened to them But now the cunningness that is the cunningness of the serpent is such a cunningness as men if they were but laid open would quickly be ashamed of And so much of the fourth use that it is unbeseeming those that are of the kingdom of Christ to have the spirit of the world because Christs kingdom is not of this world 5. Vse Hence we see the reason of the meanness of the outward condition of the people of God in this world why is it that Christ hath so ordered things that the people of God should be so outwardly poor in this world My Kingdom is not of this world saith Christ Therefore why should any that come under my kingdom look for great things in this world they must look to have their comfort and glory in things that concern my Kingdom and not in the things of this world in Psal 73. 12. Behold those that are ungodly prosper in this world saith the Scripture As for men that are godly and come under the Kingdom of Christ they must look for a prosperity that is beyond this world God gives the earth to the children of men and to the men of the world Let them prosper saith God here 's their portion here 's
seditious this separation from the world it cannot be born there is nothing more provokes the world than separation from the world and therefore no mervail though the people of God be hated in the world and looked upon as the ringleadees of sedition they are separated from the world and translated into another kingdom into a kingdom that is not of this world 7. Vse From hence may appear the wickedness of the world that they should reject Christ and His Kingdom That they should not 〈…〉 it that 's not so much wonder but that they shouâ—◠〈◊〉 it and persecute it and reject it there appears their wickedness You will say How doth it appear From my Doctrine it appears thus If Christs kingdom be not a kingdom of this world it would do men no hurt at al it no way would hinder any lawful comforts or honors here in this world it is not opposite unto the kingdoms of the world that is so as to hinder any thing that is good in the world the kingdom of Christ may be set up and the world need be never the worse for it Indeed it doth oppose the wickedness of the world but it doth not oppose any thing that they dare say themselves to be good Herod persecuted Christ because he heard a King of the Jews was born But it was without cause Jesus Christ He did not come to take the Kingdom of Herod away from him The Kings of the Earth the text saith they conspire together and are engaged against Christ it is their wickedness Christ He doth not envy them or their Kingdoms they may live and be the Kings of the earth still and yet the kingdom of Jesus Christ may go on the truth is that the kingdom of Jesus Christ doth not intrench upon any Civil Liberty of men and it 's their hatred to it that makes them think it cannot stand with Civil Peace the kingdom of Christ may be set up and Civil Liberty maintained You may have your estates still and yet have the kingdom of Christ and you may be in place of Rule and Government and have outward honors still and yet be of the kingdom of Christ It 's true if you be brought into the kingdom of Christ perhaps God may call you sometimes to suffering but then it is so as you will be willing to it you shall never be call'd to suffering but you shall see cause to be willing to it you shall have as much good by what you suffer as you hav◠〈◊〉 of outward comforts but this I speak that the kingdom of Christ intrenches not upon any Civil Liberties of men they may enjoy all their lawful comforts their Estates their Rule their Government and yet the Kingdom of Christ may flouriâ—â—â— Now what a wickedness is this When as Chriâ—â—â— would come and set up His Kingdome without any prejudice at all unto the worldly Kingdoms and yet they cannot endure it You would account that an ill neighbour if you should come and live by him and no way prejudice him and yet for all that he would malign you because you do but live by him thus it is with the world they do malign Jesus Christ for living but by them indeed if a neighbor comes and will intrench upon your ground and liberties you cannot bear it Jesus Christ doth not do it One would wonder sometimes why wicked men should be so opposite against men when they come under the Kingdom of Christ more than before I appeal to you when God converts a wife to be under the Kingdom of Christ Doth that take her off from subjection to her husband let me assure you it makes her to acknowledge her husband to be Lord more than before indeed if when the wife were converted it did take the wife from subjection to the husband then there were some reason why the husband should storm at it but when the more the wife is under the Kingdom of Christ the more doth she acknowledg the authority of of her husband over her and so for servants I confess if the bringing of them by the Word under the kingdom of Christ did take them off from their obedience to their Masters and Mistrisses then there were some ground to oppose them from going to hear the Word but when your conscinece tell you that the more they go to hear the Word and are wrought upon by the Word they are the more obedient to you why should you hate them then why should you so malign Christs Kingdom when as Christs Kingdom would help you I appeal to the consciences of divers Masters You have one servant that is prophane another cannot lie in his bed in the morning but he must come to â—â—ar the Word now if you had Trust to commit to one of them so that your whol Estate lay upon it Which of these two would you trust your consciences would tell you that that servant that is come under the Kingdom of Christ were rather to be trusted so that you would trust him in a case of great trust and 〈◊〉 your conscieaces tell you that you hate that servant more than the other Now here 's the wickedness of men that they do hate the Kingdom of Christ though the Kingdom of Christ doth not intrench upon them Oh let Christ alone with his Kingdom and do not oppose Him He will not oppose you in any thing that you can desire as a rational man And for the outward Government Christ would have no man to be compel'd to it but those that are convinced that it is the best way He gives no such rules to force any man if you think the Government is to strickt for you that you cannot live under it indeed there may be something used as a natural help some outward means used to take men off from their wantonness and wilfulnes but now if it appear that you desiring to know which is the best way and endeavoring to know and after your desires and endeavors you cannot be convinced that this is the way that you should walk in Christ gives no rules to compel you but if you belong to God He is content to stay till the Word and Spirit â—â—all convince you to come under His Government Oh! why should you be against it then when it forces you not to come into it Oh! be not such an enemy to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ but let those that beleeve another way is the way wherein they come most under the Kingdom of Christ and enjoy 〈◊〉 â—ommunion with Christ let them alone in that way especially when they live peacable with you and are every way useful as much as your hearts can desire in all civil things living neighborly lovingly and faithfully with you in all things why should you malign them because you know there is some other way wherein they may enjoy more sweet communion with Jesus Christ than your selves do That 's the seventh Use which shews the wickedness of the world
dishonor upon him yet this Saul had mighty power over his Spirit he was very meek and a quiet man in the first of Samuel 10. 27. the text saith He held his peace when the Children of Belial said What have we to do with him 4. Though he were quiet in his own cause yet he shewed himself to have an excellent spirit of Government in him in a publick cause he was full of anger when it was for the good of the people that he was a Governor over though quiet in his own in the first of Samuel 11. 6. When he heard of a dishonor done to the people of Israel the Text saith that his anger did rise within him an excellent pattern for all Governors for all in publique places to be very silent and quiet self denying putting up wrongs in their own cause but to be full of zeal for the publick cause to reserve their spirits for a publick good Many there are in publick places that when they are anger'd in their private cause how full of Spirit they are and they spend their Spirit there so much that they have no spirit at all when it comes to a publick cause Saul went beyond them in this 5. Saul was one who was much troubled at the sin of the people against God not only had a spirit to vindicate a publick wrong but when he saw the people sin against God his heart was much troubled at their very sin and seemed to be grieved for it and mighty solicitous and careful about it to prevent sin in the people this you shall have in 1 Sam. 14. 33. they told Saul there That the people had sinned in eating with blood upon that Saul shews himself displeased Come saith he and do not sin against the Lord roul a stone to me hither and so he would see with his own eyes that they did slay the Cattel and they did powr forth the blood that they might not sin against God in eating blood this was his care 6. Saul he was very careful to enquire of God what he should do in businesses of great consequence in the 37. ver of that 14. chap. of the 1 of Samuel there he would not go out till he had first enquired of God Yea more than all this 7. He was a man that had a very reverend esteem of the Prophets of God when Samuel came to him in the 1 of Samuel 15. 13. O thou blessed of the Lord saith Saul to Samuel Yea yet further than this 8. When Samuel shewed unto him what his sin was in the 30. ver of that 15. chap. he comes and confesses it before the people and saith I have sinned I have sinned against the Lord meerly at the conviction of one Prophet Yea yet more than this 9. God seemed to be with Saul very much and to shew great respect unto him to make him an Instrument of much good to Israel He granted unto him as glorious a victory as ever man had in this world for so we may cal it and if there be any outward thing in the world might be gathered as an argument of Gods love then such a remarkable victory as he had over his enemies the victory you shall find in the 1 of Samuel 13. 5. and so reade on afterwards in that Chapter and the next you shall find there that the Philistims were risen up against him and Israel and there were thirty thousand Chariots of his Adversaries of the Philistims and six thousand horsmen and people as the sand of the Sea for multitude besides all this Wel here was a mighty Enemy What had Saul to oppose these You shall find in the 2. verse of that 14. chapter that there were but six hundred men with Saul here was of one side thirty thousand Chariots here was six thousand horsmen here was people as the sand of the Sea without number and Saul had but six hundred with him at this time yea and of those six hundred there was not any one of them that had a sword but only Saul and Jonathan for the Philistims were wise enough to disarm all the Malignants that they accounted so and would not let so much as a Smith be amongst them they would not only take away their Arms but they would look to them to see that they had no arms supplied unto them that was the wisdom of the Philistims yet we find if you reade afterwards in the Scripture that God was so far with Saul that he blessed him and gave him victory over all these Besides all this 10. God blessed Saul with a very gracious Child a godly son of a sweet nature Jonathan which indeed if any outward argument in the world might be an argument of Gods love that might be But now put all these things together and yet here is the man that hath his Portion in this world I now challenge the man especially one I challenge him that hath certain evidence of a mighty work of God upon him in Christ let him shew me greater arguments of Gods love to him than Saul might have done and yet it proved to be Sauls Portion that he should have only his portion in this world God herein shews that His mercy is His own and that He will let out His mercy as He pleaseth It is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom The Father doles out the Portion as He pleaseth unto His Children God will let the Line of His mercy to go thus far to one and there stop and so far to another and there stop and then come in a cross line again unto them God so disposes of his mercy that there are some that shall have Heaven and Earth to be their portion and their portion is blessed indeed There are some that shall have Earth but not Heaven and their portion is poor and mean and sad there are others that shall have Heaven but not earth and their portion is good And there are others that shall neither have Heaven nor Earth and their portion you 'l say is miserable indeed Gods mercy is His own to dispose of as He will We reade that Abraham in Gen. 21. 14. He cals for Ishmael and Hagar and he gives them a piece of bread a bottle of water and sends them away there 's an end of them So Jehoshaphat in the 2 of Chron. 21. 3. He gave his other son saith the text gifts but the Kingdom he gave to Jehoram So God hath people to whom he gives pieces of bread bottles of water yea some to whom he gives great gifts in this world but he keeps his inheritance for his Isaac He keeps the Kingdom for Jehoram Esau he had his portion in this world and such a portion as he thought to be a very good portion in Gen. 33. 9. Brother saith he I have enough Most rich men are complaining they go not so far as Esau they have their portion and yet complain of it Esau hath his portion and
2. may prove to be your portion it is spoken of Doeg This is the man saith the Psalmist that did not make God his trust but trusted in his great riches this is the man So you may be pointed out one day This is the man Doeg was a great Courtier and because he was an Officer of King Sauls and because he had his favour he trusted in the favour of the King and in his riches and what did he care for David Yea by the Text it appears he was one that made some shew of Religion too in the 1 of Sam. 21. 7. He was detained before the Lord Tremelius thinks either out of some Religious vow or to keep the Sabbath or somewhat concerning the Law he was detained before the Lord and yet he was a vile Malignant against David and all because he trusted in the great countenance he had at Court Now this is the man that made not God his trust but that trusted in his great riches the Lord forbid this Scripture should be made true of any of you I leave this Text with you that are rich men take heed you trust not in your great riches I leave this Text with you that are in places of dignity and honor take heed you have not your portion in this world I leave this Text to Voluptuous men given up to pleasures take heed you hear not one day this Son remember in thy life-time thou hadst thy pleasure I leave this with those that dare not trust God for a portion to come And above all I leave this with all Hypocrites let them take heed it be not said to them Here is your reward Consider what hath been said and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS THE ALPHABETICAL TABLE A ABuse see Body Adam First Adam what he was and what he should have been had he stood Page 43 The state of Adam compared with the state of the Saints 44 Admiration Admiration of Saints and Angels 90 Adrian Adrian the Pope his wofull death 339 Alexanders rebuke 349 Angels Angels are the Saints keepers 155 Angels see Love Honor Anger Anger must be avoided 38 Arbitrary Arbitrary Government and the differences of it 324 Antichrist Antichrists great design 49 Argument see Gospel B Beginning Beginings of sin to be feared 83 Beleevers Beleevers draw strength from Christ 45 Beleevers should manifest Christ in their actions Ibid Beleevers cannot fall away 46 Beleevers are not without mixture of evil ib. Beleevers under the Law were as children under age 100 Beleevers under the Gospel are children of full age ib Beleevers must not be of earthly hearts and why 270 Beleeve The manner how to beleeve 76 Bishops see Prelats Blood The Blood of Christ takes us off from vain conversations 98 Body The body of sin must be mortified 39 The body of sin is unknown to Nature 40 Abuse not your bodies and why 92 Boldness see Saints Boniface Boniface his answer 288 Bowels Bowels of mercy beseem the Gospel 71 Branch see Christ C Canaan The Land of Canaan a type of Heaven 47 Carelesness see Profession Christians Carnal Carnal worship opposeth the soul of godliness 49 Carnal see Weapons Heart Ceremonies Ceremonies condemned and why 97 Chastisement Chastisements for sin what they are 148 Children see Beleevers Christ Christs love known in the Gospel 69 Christ is the mercy of all mercies 70 Christs kept the Law and why 78 Christs self denial 93 Christ is the Root and we are the Branches 103 Christs is a great King 116 Christ God-man governs all things and why 136 Christs Rule 139 Christs Law ibid See Dependance Subjects and Peace Christians Christians must be carefull of their families 19 Christians should eye those whose Conversations are above them 29 Christians subject to grow careless by degrees 31 Church Church of God as a City 3 Circumvent We must not circumvent one another 275 Citizen A Citizen's wretch'd speech 320 Civil Civil mens worship of God 35 Companions see Tribulation Compulsion see Persecution Conscience Liberty of Conscience the way to procure it 22 Contentment Motives to contentment 349 Conversation The meaning of this word CONVERSATION 3 What Conversation becomes the Gospel 5 Our Conversation must be looked to after conversion 7 Conversation becoming the Gospel 57 How our Conversation should be manifested 350 What Conversation becomes the Gospel 115 See Image Wanton Cook Cook his opinion of the Martyrs 308 Covetousness Covetousness unbeseeming a Saint 270 Customs Old Customs an hindrance to spiritual worship 100 D Daies Difference between daies of fasting and thanksgiving and holy daies 99 See Observing Danger see Help Deceivers Self Deceivers how 13 Dependance No dependance between the Kingdom of Christ and this world 284 Design see Gospel Despair The reason of despair 75 Despise Despise not the meanest of men 92 Difference Difference which the Gospel makes 122 Difference betwen Saints and worldly men 312 Divisions Divisions whence they come 105 Duty see Time Dying Dying one for another becomes the Gospel 58 E Elevation Elevation of spirit upon what ground 91 Enmity How enmity against God is kept up 15 Epistle The Saints should be the Epistles of Christ 113 Eternal life Little mention of Eternal life in the Old Testament 110 Excellency The Excellency of a Saints portion wherein it consists 354 Eyes The eyes of all are upon Professors 23 What the eyes of a Christian should be set upon 354 F Faith Faith acts upon Christ as a King aswell as a Savior 135 Necessity of living by faith 285 Fleshly-lusts Fleshly lusts unsutable to the Gospel 102 G Gentils see Partition German The speech of a German Divine 137 God Gods willingnesse to be at peace with man 63 See Hatred Love Glory People Mercy God is full of goodness 64 How the utmost of Gods glory is manifested 90 Godly Why godly men are willing to live 2 Gospel What the Gospel is 3 Gospel-Conversation what it is 38 Gospel Obedience proceeds from love 40 Difference between the Law of Adam and the Gospel 41 Those that live under the Gospel must live in an higher way of holiness than those that lived under the Law 42 The great Design of the Gospel 54 The Gospel cals for love 58 Gospel-arguments are the strongest arguments 69 Difference between the Gospel the light of Nature 73 See Law Mallice Christ Conversation Dying Bowels Wanton Worship Beleevers Power Government see Arbitrary Great ones see Religion H Hard-hearted see Monster Hatred Gods hatred of sin how to know it 81 Heart Carnal hearts will not trust God 351 Help Helps against the danger of the times 24 Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost dwells in our bodies 90 Honor How the honor of Religion is kept up 15 More honor put upon Men than upon Angels 89 I Jewes The error of the Jews about Christs Kingdom 117 See Partition Image How man holds out the Image of God Injustice A remedy against Injustice 77 Institution Whereon institution of Worship depends
21 Institution is the rule of Worship 141 Justice Gods Justice is no loser by His Mercy 74 K King Wherein the Kings of the earth ar not like Christ 137 See Christ Subjects Kingdom Christs Kingdom is not of this world 116 Why Christs Kingdom is not of this world 157 When the Kingdoms of this world shall be submitted to Christ 150 See Dependance L Latimer Latimers story 339 Law The Law of God goes higher than the light of Nature and how 41 The Law considered under two Considerations 42 The Law given to Adam what it was 43 Difference between the Law of Adam and the Law given by Moses 47 Difference between the Law given by Moses and the Gospel ibid They under the Law had somthing of the Gospel ibid See Gospel Christ Worship and Beleevers Leturgie True Leturgie what it is 355 Liberty see Conscience Light of Nature see Nature Life see Spirit Looseness see profession Love The love of God is more to men than to Angels 53 The love of God should work an answerable love in us 54 See Testimony Christ Lusts see Flesh Luther Luthers opinion of the Turkish Empire 306 Luthers's Protestation 334 M Magistrates How Magistrates are helpful to the Church 140 Malice Malice is unbeseeming the Gospel 58 Man see World Mercy Mercy must be real not verbal 71 Gods infinit mercy 286 Gods Mercy undervalued by worldly men ibid See Transcendant Christ Bowels Ministers Ministers of the Gospel what they are 4 Ministers ought to rule over none but those they teach 30 Ministers should be eminent in their Conversations every way ibid Ministers Charge over soules 88 Mixture What mixture is in worldly portions 336 Monsters Hard-hearted Christians are monsters 71 Moses see Law N Nature Light of Nature its extent 33 Difference between the light of Nature before the fall and since 41 Light of Nature shews something of the mercie of God 69 Necessity see Faith O Obedience The Obedience of a Beleever is of an higher nature than Adams in his innocency 44 Observing Observing daies forbidden 98 Old see Customs Opinions What Opinions are not to be tollerated 327 Opposed World opposed to Saints 272 Overseeing see Visitation P Papists Papists reproved 287 Parliament The PARLIAMENT defended 324 Partition The partition wall between Jew and Gentile taken down 66 Peace We should love peace 65 Peace with our Brethren what it should be 68 Difference between the worlds peace and Christs 155 Why men should have peace upon any terms 323 See God and Seek People Why Gods People are mean in this world 277 Perfection Perfection comes by suffering 279 Persecution Persecution unlawful 283 Persecution opposed 326 Pope A mortal choice of Popes 328 Portion Why wicked men have a portion 304 The worlds portion described 329 Rules to know who hath his portion only in this life 341 See Excellency Power What the power of the Gospel is 123 Prelates Prelates reproved 287 Priviledges Priviledges of the Saints 152 Profession The reason why some mens profession vanisheth 14 Loosness of profession what mischief it doth 16 The miseries attending a loose profession 18 Why forward professors turn persecutors 19 See Eyes Promises Difference between the promises of the Gospel and Adams promises 45 R Reason We are not to live altogether according to reason 67 Reason discovers some sin 80 Reconciliation Reconciliation to God 65 Rebels How the Saints are Rebells 280 Redemption What the Redemption of a soul is 86 Religion Religion comes to nothing without consideration of the duties of relation 25 Why Religion is so little regarded by great ones 319 See Honor Weapons Repentance Repentance is a mighty work 87 Repentance is out of our power 85 Root see Christ S Saints The Saints shall condemn the world 12 The Saints may come to the Throne of grace with boldness 50 The Saints shall judge the world 272 See Rebels Difference Seek Seek for peace 66 Self-denial see Christ Selvishness Selvishness unbeseeming a Saint 94 Schism What Schism is 108 Services Gods services are choice services 356 Sin Sin harboured in thought produceth sinful actions 29 No sin is little 82 The wages of sin is death ib. See Hatred Beginings Socrates Socrates his rebuke 331 Soul Souls Immortallity proved 1 Souls pawn'd to the Devil 86 See Worth Redemption Strength Strength drawn from Christ 45 Strive We must strive together not asunder 105 Spirit The life of the Spirit what it is 102 Subjects Difference between Christs subjects and the subjects of other Kings 138 Suffering see Perfection T Temptations Particular temptations must be looked to 27 Tenure The tenure men hold the world by 335 Testimonies Testimonies of Gods love to us 55 Testimonies of our love to God 56 Time The time sanctifies the duty 99 Transcendent The mercies of God are transcendent 69 Tribulation We have Companions in Tribulation 278 Turkish Empire see Luther U Unity Unity of the Saints 105 Visitation Visitation of the wicked what it is 10 W Wanton Wanton Conversation becomes not the Gospel 71 Well-doing Well-doing stops the mouthes of wicked men 11 Well-doing converts men ibid Weapons Carnal weapons not to be used in defence of Religion 145 Wicked Wicked men do something for God 305 See Portion Wickedness Wickedness is unbeseeming Professors 128 The wickednesse of the world 281 Works Our good works should shine before men 8 Difference between doing of good works that may be seen and doing good works that they may be seen ibid Women Women-Preachers in what sense lawful 9 Worship We must set up the Worship of God in our families 56 The worship of the world is carnal 96 God will have as much worship under the Gospel as under the Law ibid What worship becomes the Gospel 100 See Institution Worth The worth of the soul 85 World How to know a man of this world 263 See Peace Opposed Saints People Portion Worldly Why worldly men are cunning 118 Worldly men see Difference Worldly portion see Mixture Wronged We must seek peace of those that have wronged us 67 FINIS March 2. 1645. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 March 15. 1645 March â—2 1645 April 12 1646. 1. Pet. 2. 13. Humanae creationae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preached on Easter Munday April 3. 1643. before Isaac Penington then Lord Major of London Mol. in Psal Doct. 1. Doct. 2.