Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	father_n	hand_n	king_n	2,664	5	3.5501	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55302	Christus in corde, or, The mystical union between Christ and believers considered in its resemblances, bonds, seals, priviledges and marks by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.	Polhill, Edward, 1622-1694?	1680 (1680)	Wing P2751; ESTC R3312	145,980	330

constitution according to which a King is made if he be in by election or succession he stands upon some positive Law or consent which amounts to a Law if he be in by conquest in a just War he stands upon the Law of Nature which saith that the captive must be subject to the victor There are also Laws of Administration according to which a King is to Govern his Subjects without the first Laws there can be no King rightly constituted to have Subjects united to him a people may be under a Tyrant but it is not united to him Without the second Laws there will be no rule of government no right administration of things in a Kingdom According to this distinction I shall lay down two things touching the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ The one is this The Law of constitution must needs be very righteous as being no less than the Decree and Ordinance of God himself he was made a King immediately by God his Kingdom was not as ordinary ones in part are an human creature but a pure Theocracy altogether of Divine Ordination I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion saith God of Christ Psal 2.6 I have done it not man The Decree of Heaven was for it as the next verse tells us The Lord said unto my Lord that is the Father said to Christ sit thou at my right hand Psal 110.1 Dicere hîc est discernere To say here is to decree That Christ should sit in Royal state and Majesty he is a King meerly of Divine Ordination yet he enters upon his Kingdom by Conquest in the Belial heart of fallen man nothing is in a fit posture to receive this holy King The carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be strong holds must be cast down thoughts must be captivated and wills must be overcome or else Christ cannot have a Kingdom Therefore he takes up his spiritual arms goes forth in the power of his spirit and word and subdues the minds and hearts of men to himself so he enters by conquest and that in a very just nay merciful war it being to rescue poor captive creatures and reduce them back again to their Creator but though he come in by conquest yet there is consensus populi his people are willing they own him as their King subject to his Scepter and give up themselves to his government Thus he hath a Title to his kingdom as good as a Divine ordination a just conquest and a free consent can make it The other is this the Law of Administration is righteous and gracious righteous in that which he commands his subjects to do gracious in that which he promises to do for them His Commands which call for faith humility holiness rightiousness meekness mercy temperance patience are as right as any thing can be they are the counterpanes of Gods heart the copies of that Divine Will which is Rectitude it self they perfect the humane nature and being practically embraced they set man in a true posture towards God himself and his fellow creatures His Promises in which he engages himself that the Believer shall be justified that the poor in spirit shall have the kingdom that the pure in heart shall see God that the righteous shall be compassed with Divine favour that the meek shall be beautified with salvation that the merciful shall obtain mercy that all his obedient subjects shall enter into Heaven and enjoy the blessed God there are exceeding gracious and true not one of them shall fail he hath will and power enough to make them all good this is the Administration The sum of all is Christ being a King by Divine Ordination entring by just conquest obtaining a free consent and administring his kingdom so admirably that nothing is in his government but meer rectitude and grace the union between him and his subjects bound together by such right and good Laws must needs be very excellent Here can be no reason to complain no colour of occasion to break off from such a King or to say What portion have we in David Here are no scruples about the Governors Title no unjust Laws to be repealed no grievous burdens to be removed no heavy yokes to be taken off not the least shadow of a male-administration to be found nothing is here to be seen but rectitude and goodness which must needs make the union very firm and stable 3dly The more intimate the union is and the more internal the bonds of it are the more excellent is the union Between an earthly King and his Subjects the bonds are external there are outward thrones and scepters outward pieces of state and majesty outward laws and proclamations the King looking on his Subjects may see the outward man but no further He may exact an outward conformity but cannot touch or move their hearts there is not one spirit between him and them but several which may easily run apart and in different ways But between Christ and his Subjects the bonds are internal his kingdom comes not with observation or outward splendor but in inward power and efficacy his Kingdom is within his Throne is in the heart his Laws are not only without in the Letter but inwardly ingraven in the hearts of his Subjects they are the very Epistles of Christ written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart 2 Cor. 3.3 Besides the outward literal Edition of the Law there is an inward spiritual one which answers thereunto this spiritual King can not only look into the hearts of his Subjects but touch and move them unto obedience he can so draw as to make them run after him it is his Royal Prerogative to rule wills and hearts his Subjects have the mind of their Lord nay the same holy Spirit which is in him is in them also to inspire a measure of holiness and obedience into them O! what a union is here and how full of mystery No King can rule after this sort neither could he himself unless he were God do so In a word his Kingdom and Laws being within his Subjects having the same mind and spirit with himself the union must needs be very intimate and excellent 4thly The greater the benefits of government are the more secure is the union a King resembling God in the doing of good acting like one given to the kingdom for a common blessing his vigilancy securing the repose of his Subjects his care procuring their quiet his study being for their good as his own his Subjects resting under his shadow and enjoying the sweet ends of a well-ordered Government the union in such a case must needs be very much confirmed I shall instance but in two benefits of Government Protection and Rewards As for Protection it is incomparable in the Kingdom of Christ no earthly Kings have such a foresight and care to protect as

this Believers are united to him who is God-man In some of them there is union without vital influence in this there is union with it in others of them there is an influence but it is only of a natural life and that only while a local conjunction between the things united is maintained But in this there is an influence of a spiritual and Divine life and this notwithstanding that the local distance between Christ and Believers be as vast as it is between Heaven and Earth In them there is nothing but plain Law or Love or Art or Nature but in this there is a secret a mystery of grace an admirable conjunction of Believers to Christ and by him to the Father I conclude with the excellent words of Zanchy De tribus Elok lib. 4. fol. 180. Hoc est mirabile hujusce unitatis mysterium quae constat Deo Patre Christo Mediatore Ecclesiâ vinculo Spiritûs Sancti cum Christo cum Patre conjuncta This is the admirable mystery of this Union which is made up of God the Father Christ the Mediator and the Church by the bond of the holy Spirit with Christ and with the Father conjoined These two things being laid down which are to be observed in all the after discourse touching these resemblances I proceed to consider the resemblances in particular in which much profitable matter will offer it self to us First The Union between Christ and Believers is set forth by that which is between a King and his Subject In government the humane instinct is gratified in society and a multitude is reduced to unity a King and his Subjects become politically one he protects them they are under his shadow he governs them they are in subjection to him protection as the Lawyers speak draws subjection and subjection draws protection His royal care over them is returned in their reverence towards him and their reverence towards him falls down upon themselves in the benefits of government Ar. Eth. lib. 5. c. 6. he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the keeper of right for them and they render him the honour due to his greatness Thus they are knit together for that common good which is the great center of Government In like manner Christ is King and Believers are his Subjects His Kingdom as it imports power is over all creatures but as it imports union it is only over Believers Tyrants saith the Philosopher rule over men against their wills but Kings rule over the willing The Emperor Justinus plainly told the great oppressors Spondan Ann. Anno. 568. Ego contumacibus imperare nolo I will not rule over the disobedient Our Lord Christ doth not own rebellious sinners while such as Subjects but look upon them as enemies Believers only are his Subjects he is their great Protector they are under the wings of his grace and power he rules and governs them they are obedient to him his care is over them their obedience is towards him he maintains their right they render him the honour of his government Thus they are knit together to promote the glory of Christ and the salvation of Believers It 's true in this resemblance the meer Analogy proves no more than a political Union but the excellency of that union which is between the spiritual King and Believers shews forth a mystery For the explaining of this I shall lay down several particulars 1st The more worthy and near in blood the persons united in government are the more excellent is the union David was an excellent one worth Ten thousand others those over whom he reigned were Gods own peculiar people the nearness was such that the people told him Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh 2 Sam. 5.1 In these circumstances the union between David and his people could not but be a very excellent one much more excellent is that between Christ and his Subjects what an one is He how admirably accomplished for government he is higher than the Kings of the earth it was not a little material oyl but the Holy Ghost which anointed him to his office His wisdom is incomparable no secret is hid from his eyes Solomon's large heart was but a little thing to the vast treasures of wisdom and knowledg in him His Wisdom is as much above a meer mans as the Fathers bosom from whence he came is above mans heart His power is exceeding great he can do every thing earthly Princes set upon their thrones here below he sits above at the right hand of Power Ahasuerus had power over an Hundred and seven and twenty Provinces but he hath all the power in Heaven and Earth None is so able to save to the uttermost as he his goodness and mercy are beyond parallel His Divine bowels were up very early in a design of grace towards fallen man his humane compassions far transcend all those in the creature Nay further he himself would suffer being tempted that he might have an experimental fitness to succour the tempted His clemency is such that he is very tender over those infirm ones who are as the bruised reed and have grace in desire only His justice is very illustrious he reigns in righteousness he doth nothing but what is right truth may as soon lie and rectitude it self decline as there can be any blot or jeofail in his goverment Such a King is Christ And what are his Subjects They are no common people but excellent ones their pure heart hath a kind of Oracle in it the secret of the Lord is with them they are wise in the greatest concernments strong in the hardest duties their hearts are melted in acts of love towards God and man their hands are ever doing that which is just and right and the reason of all is because some of the holy unction which anointed their Lord falls down upon them and puts a glory on them Such are the Subjects And what is the nearness between the King and them On the one hand he though the Son of God came down from Heaven and became partaker of flesh and blood with them on the the other they though naturally but the sons of fallen Adam became through grace the seed of Christ himself his blood runs in their consciences his Divine Spirit breathes in them his holy image appears in their hearts and lives the Subjects are all Sons and resemble their Governor Here is not a single relation but one relation upon another this is the nearness The result is this he being so incomparable a King they being such excellent Subjects the nearness between them being so great the union must needs be a very choice one Who would now live under the power of sin and not much rather join himself to the blessed kingdom A better Ruler or Society then there cannot be found 2dly The more right the Laws and Administrations of a Kingdom are the better is the Union There are two sorts of Laws there are Laws of

feet out of the net when the flesh hangs back and cumbers them in holy Duties he helps them on by the sweet supplies of his Spirit when they totter and are ready to fall he upholds them with his Almighty hand that their persons may not be hurt he will keep them night and day that their graces may not decay he will water them every moment in their wants his treasures are at hand to supply them in their afflictions he himself is afflicted as taking them to his heart in fainting fits he hath rich cordials for them in the midst of encompassing infirmities he spares them as a man spares his own Son that serves him goodness and mercy follow them all their days a stream of graces and comforts perpetually accompany them to supply and refresh them in the way to Heaven Believers as Sons shall have the heavenly Inheritance If children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 All the children are heirs of God as their Father and joint-heirs with Christ as their elder Brother the Father would not have his natural Son only inherit the blessed Kingdom but his adopted ones too Christ the elder brother would not reign alone there but have all his brethren come and partake of his Glory with him Here 's Honour in the highest pitch Happiness in the utmost perfection admirable is that Grace which gives it precious is that Merit that procures it for us Another priviledg is this They that are in union with Christ have the Holy Spirit in them it is the Dignity of man that he hath an immortal Spirit in him touching which the Philosophers speak at a very high rate it is say they a Particle of the divine Breath a bud or blossom of the Deity a kind of Daemon or God in us but which is a much greater thing it is the Dignity of a man in Christ that he hath an higher Spirit than his own no less than the Holy Spirit of God in him If the Spirit of wisdom and understanding be upon Christ Isa 11.2 then it follows That the earth is full of the knowledg of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea vers 9. The Holy Spirit which is upon him is diffused unto his members The Oyl of gladness Psal 45.7 doth not only glad him but his fellows too though not in equal excellency with him yet in a fit proportion for them as members of him this is a wonderful priviledg The Holy Spirit works the great work in them it inspires a divine life into them it doth as in the first Creation command the light to shine out of darkness it calls the holy Graces which before were not into being it raises up the new creature out of nothing nay as it were in mighty waters in the midst of that torrent of corruption which is in the heart putting back the stream of nature it sets up a noble structure of grace in them it accommodates graces to every faculty as the dew is white in the Lilly and red in the Rose so the Holy Spirit in its Graces is light in the mind liberty in the will order in the affections also it accommodates sutable influences to every grace it gives such sweet touches upon their holy love fear meekness patience as makes them go forth into act in a free spontaneous manner it acts so powerfully as if there were no room left for humane liberty and yet so connaturally as if there were no power at all in it Further It accommodates it self to them at every turn it is a Spirit of Grace in their penitential meltings a Spirit of supplication in their ardent Devotions a Spirit of Revelation in their Evangelical Studies a Spirit of Love in their Charities a Spirit of Power in their Infirmities a Spirit of Fear in their holy Walkings a Spirit of Meekness in their carriage towards others a Spirit of Comfort in their Afflictions a Spirit of Glory in their Reproaches a Spirit of Holiness in all their Converses it lives breathes moves aptly operates in them Hence in all their good actions they are lifted up above themselves and carried beyond the line of a meer humane Spirit they walk in a divine circle from God as the first cause to God as the last end they center on nothing less than God himself and take an aim no lower than his Glory whether they eat or drink or pray or hear or whatever good thing they do they are still carrying on the great design that God in all things may be glorified the great Alpha is their Omega the supreme good is their ultimate end they dare not center in a creature or make God a Medium this is practical blasphemy and in effect it saith That God is not God or that there is something better than he it is their study how to serve the blessed God how to shew forth his praise in an holy humble righteous heavenly conversation still there is oculus in metam a pure intention at his glory as the great end of all by that intention they are so joyned unto him that all their works are spiritualized and attain a kind of Immortality This is an excellent priviledg indeed they are acted by the Holy Spirit and walk as Christ walked he as became the great Samplar of Sanctity sought his Fathers glory they as mystical parts of him tread in his divine steps no flesh on earth but that which is spiritually joyned to him doth so all others are off from the great Center their best works putrifie one inferior end or other like a worm at the root makes them moulder into nothing not being terminated in God they are not accepted as done to him Another priviledg is this They that are in Christ have not meerly Ordinances but communion with God in them They see his goings in the Sanctuary they have the golden Oyl of the Spirit communicating it self through the golden Pipes this communion is a divine entercourse and correspondence between God and them There are two things somewhat on their part answering to somewhat of Gods and somewhat on Gods part answering to somewhat of theirs On their part there is a service answering to the call of God God saith Seek ye my face they answer Thy face Lord will we seek God appoints Ordinances they perform Services in correspondence thereunto There are two things in Ordinances Matter and Manner there is that in their Services which complies with both As to Matter an Ordinance is a thing appointed by God accordingly they go to it as such A worship of humane invention is to them as nothing nay worse than nothing it is as strange fire or as a graven Image a kind of Teraphim expressing though not as they did an humane shape yet an humane device or invention But where there is an Ordinance of Gods institution where he hath set his own seal and stamp there they fly as Doves to the windows thither they repair to meet the