the New Testament but the Principalities of the World rose up against him Acts 4â—25 26. what began in his Person would be continued in his Saints Luke 21.12 what first befel the Apostles was continued to the Churches for three hundred years under the Principalities of the Roman Heathenish Empire when the Church after many pangs and hard Travel had brought forth the Man-Child Christ mystical in the Romans Empire No sooner were the Principalities of the Empire turned Christian but they turned Arrian and raised a new and more fierce persecution against the Saints that kept the Testimony of Jesus Here Christ sent in the barbarous Nations to ruine the persecuting Christian Empire and they brake the Western part of it in the European World into ten Kingdoms which helped the Church against the flood of Arrian persecution Rev. 12.16 But then they set up Antichrist and with one minde these ten Kings give their Power Rev. 17.12 13 14. and how much ever since the Saints of God have suffered under the Principalities of these ten Kingdoms is notoriously manifest What will be the fate of the Saints of the Church and Kingdom of Christ under all or any one of the Principalities of those Kingdoms while devoted to Antichrist is clear Let us consider what are the grounds of this great opposition the Princes Principalities and Lords of the Kingdoms of this world make against Jesus Christ and his Saints Reas 1. Christ and his Church Christ and his Saints which are his subjects are a Kingdom a great Principality set up by the God of Heaven in the days and â—n the midst of the Kingdoms of the â—orld Dan. 2.44 Therefore no wonâ—er â—t finds such opposition If one Kingdom be set up in the midst of another there will be continual Conflicts between the Princes and Principalities of both beâ—ween the Principalities of the world on the one side and Christ and his Saints on the other for every Kingdom Parem â—nec patitur nec superiorem can brook no Competitor in it self much less a Superior Secondly the Kingdom of Christ is of a growing increasing property Isa â— 7 It enters upon the World by Conquest and where it conquers it goes forth conquering Rev. 6.2 and never leaves till the seventh Angel sounds Rev. 11.15 God the Father hath given Christ a Kingdom Psal 2.6 a Kingdom that is extended over all the Kingdoms of the world verse 8. by the irreversible decree of God he shall rule them by a Scepter of grace as subjects or with an iron Rod â—s Rebels v. 9. no wonder it s so much â—ated and opposed Thirdly it is Regnum Crucis the Kingder of his Patience Rev. 1.9 It began in â—re form of a servant the first Throne on which it was set up was a Cross the first Crown that was bestowed on it was a crown of thornes and no way into this Kingdom but by many afflictions Acts 14.22 The Prince of this Kingdom was the Lord of Glory whom the World knew not and therefore crucified in the ignominy of a servant 1 Cor. 2.8 for they knew him not The Nobles and subjects of this Kingdom are none of the wise mighty and noble of the world but 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 1.26 27. The great Royalties and present Rewards of this Kingdom are two afflictions and persecutions Luke 22.28 29. Oâ— how contrary is this to the lusts pleasures sensual delights the Principalities of the Kingdoms of this world their only value No wonder therefore if the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints be vilified slighted opposed derided persecuted by the great the mighty the Principalities of the Kingdoms of this world Fourthly it is Regnum Nihilitudinis A Kingdom of Self-denial To which the Principalities of the World are most absolutely averse God hath sworn every knee shall bow to him Rom. 14.11 not only of the meanest but of the highest Potentates in the World He hath commanded Kings to Kiss Psal 2.11 He will have Kings to bring Presents to him Kings must throw down their Crowns at his feet Kings must have their Wills in subjection to his Will all their lusts to be his Vassals to be subdued spoiled condemned and crucified by him No wonder they say We will not have this Man Reign overus Fifthly it is an invisible Kingdom unconspicuons not attended with outward pomp and visible glory as the Kingdoms of the world which glory is yet but a Magical Inchantment which Satan the old Magician and god of this World hath put upon it Mat. 4.8 Christs Kingdom is not attended with worldly Pomp or Glory Luke 17.20 21. it is within you The Church the Kingdom of Christ is all glorious within The Principalities of Christs Kingdom are Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 all internal things The subjects of this Kingdom are put to walk by saith not by sight to believe things they have not seen to hope for things they know not the Kingdom of Christ in appearance is an ignoble thing Sixthly it is a heavenly and spiritual Kingdom it is not of a worldly Constitution John 18.36 it s frequently called The Kingdom of Heaven It s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 All its Laws from Heaven all its subjects gathered out of the Kingdoms of this world and translated into the Kingdom of Gods deaâ— Son Col. 1.13 no wonder the Powers of Hell and the Principalities of this World oppose it Now I shall shew that no Principalities of the world shall be able to separate the Church from Christ or the Saints in the Church First the Church hath Emanuel God with us Isa 8.10 and in him more for her then are against her 1 John 4.4 The world hath Power therefore her Principalities are called Hornes Zach. 1.18 Rev. 17.12 Jesus Christ is furnished with all Power â—niversal Power Power and not weakness no Power without him and what can any Power do against him The World and its Principalities are furnisht with Wisdom and Policy much is spoken of the Wisdom of the World Psal 83.2 5. Christ hath all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2.3 Wisdom by foolishness to bring to nought the understanding of the Prudent The World hath malice Jâ— 17.14 Christ hath more love love that amounts to a jealousie if Christs love â—â— angred displeased woe to them thâ— stand in opposition against him Zach. 1.14 Secondly because Christ ruleth still though in the midst of his enemies Psal 110.2 The Church of Christ which â—â— his Kingdom is like a Garrison besieged round about with enemies but is invincible by all oppositions for Christ râ—leth in the midst of her and her enemies He will rule in the spight of all his enemies and will rule securely in the midst of them none can separate believers believers from Christ who cannot first lead Christ captive or separate Christ from them Thirdly because Christ is both King of Saints and King of Nations Jer. 10.7 Rev. 15.3 This renders him and
of our Iustification look upon the Righteousness of Christ or know the glory God intends us Many things that concern our salvation have yet no other subsisting in us but what saith giveth them which yet are actually accomplisht in Christ they are in us yet imperfect which are compleated in Christ Fifthly it informs first of the infinite loveliness 1. Of Christ who had all the pourings out of divine love on him all the love of God that was due to himself and to all the Saints besides Secondly the infinite capacity of Christs Person who can contain in himself all the love and all the Priviledges of the love of God to all his Elect both in grace and glory Thirdly the infinite love of Christ to us in being willing to impart to us a share of that love of God that grace and glory of God that was only due to him in the right of the first and only begotten 2. Use For instruction 1. When we go to God for any manifestation of his love or any dispensation of love in any spiritual or heavenly blessings go out of your selves get into Christ in him alone we can know his love and receive the blessings of iâ— Eph 1.3 Nothing comes to us immediately from God but mediately in and through Christ who is Mediatour between God and us in all things divine have hath decreed for us Secondly how much doth it concern us a mong the highest and chiefell concernments of salvation to have our union with Christ our interest in Christ cleared up There only we can know what divine love purposed for us from everlasting what it hath done for us what it hath further to bestow upon us how it is forming and fashioning us by degrees into a blessed Conformity with the Son of God in grace and glory Thirdly let this teach us how to manifest our love to God how to return our love to God in faith and all the duties of our worship and obedience after the manner of all the dispensations of Gods love to us that is do all to God in and through Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Col. 3.17 3. Use In point of Consolation 1. Admirable comfort to be loved of God with any kind of love is sweet but to be loved of God in Christ to be loved as Christ this excelleth To have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings afflictions reproaches is great honour but to have fellowship with Christ in the love of God and all the wonderful effects of it This is to Admiration Secondly therefore the love of God hust needs abide and the state of Saints â—ternal immurable unchangeable in Gods love because â—t is in Christ Iesus â—nd they maâ—e of God to be not in â—hemselves but in Christ ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded WE are come to the fourth ground of this great Persuasion of the Apostle â—rist Jesus our Lord. Mark the order First here is a marvellous and mysteâ—ns yet real Communion between God â—â—d believers Secondly the Bond of this Commuâ—â—on is the love of God in himself Thirdly the great manifestation and â—ensation of this love of God to us â—n Christ Iesus Now follows the â—â—th This Christ Iesus is our Lord. Doct. We are to consider that Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 great Lord Christ is to be considered in a twofold capacity as the eternal Son of God and as God-Man or Mediator In both respects he is a Lord. 1. As he is the only begotten Son of God by eternal generation So he is Lord of the whole Creation of God all things have their being and sustentation of him Col. 16.17 Heb. 1.3 He is called the Image the first-born Col. 1.15 The first-born in Scripture notes Principality Lordship and Dominion the first-born is Heir of all and the Heir is called Lord of all Gal. 4.1 From this his Primogeniture the Apostle inferreth his Lordship or Dominion over the Angels Heb. 1.6 Secondly as he is Mediatour God-man so he is Lord. 1. By Ordination or Constitution Heb. 1. 2. Him hath God appointed See that John 3.35 The Man Christ is made Lord of all Acts 2.26 He hath this Lordship by Patent from the Father he hath it by Commission John 5.22 He hath committed all Judgment to him by Judgement here we are to understand an absolute dominion and sovereignty over all things and all persons in heaven earth and hell Phil. 2.9 10 11. Hence we have the four beasts with twenty four Elders with the Angels Rev. 5 11 12 13. Thus the Man Christ is said to be made higher then the Kings of the earth Psa 89.27 Rev. 19.16 Secondly by Unction he is anointed with the power of a Lord Acts 10.38 and this power is universal Mat. 28.18 And he is anointed with the spirit of Wisdom and that Wisdom is proportionable to his Power that all Power and this all Wisdom Col. 2.3 By both these he is throughly furnisht for the administration of that dominion which belongs to him as Lord Power to protect Wisdom to govern all his subjects and servants Power to crush Wisdom to defeat all the counsels of his enemies Power able by weakness to confound things that are mighty and Wisdome able by foolishness to bring to nought the understanding of the Prudent and both these anointed with Righteousness the stability of every Kingdom and the Perpetuity of Christs Heb. 1.8 Thirdly by Conquest and Victory he hath overcome all his enemies he hath overcome the strong man Satan taken away his Armour divided the spoils of that Kingdom of darkness Luke 11.21 he hath overcome the wrath of God the severity of his Justice the Malediction of the Law Gal. 3 13. He hath blâ—tted out spoiled Principalities Col. 2.14.15 Jer. 12.31 He hath overcom sin Dan. 9. 24. He hath overcome the world Iohn 16.24 He hath abolisht death 2 Tim. 1.10 Rev. 1.18 Secondly we are to consider Jesus Christ as the Lord of his Church Lord of all believers Col. 1.18 that he might have the Preeminence or Lordship All believers acknowledge him to be their Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 when they first receive him by saith they receive him as a Lord Col. 2.6 Thus the Angels preach'd him to the faith of men when he was first-born into the world Luke 2.11 Thus the Apostles preach'd him when they exhibited him to the saith of the world by the Gospel Acts 10. 30. Every particular believer may say of Christ as David My Lord Psal 110. 1. and as Thomas John 10.28 Let us consider what the nature and quality of Christs Dominion or Lordship over believers is and then how it is exercised 1. The quality of Christs dominion of Lordship over believers and his whole Church is a dominion of grace Rom. 6.14 a Kingdom of righteousness and grace Rom. 5.21 Grace hath reigned through Righteousness by Iesus Christ our Lord. Secondly it is exercised in a way of grace he is called a gracious Lord 1 Pot. 2.3 First by converting their souls by pulling down the
strong holds of sin and Satan in their Consciences by casting down the imaginations and bringing them into subjection 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This he doth Ministerially by the Word of Reconciliation effectually by his Spirit Thus being delivered from the power of darkness they are translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son and Christ is become their Lord. Secondly he is the only Lord of their saith as he is Authour of it Heb. 12.2 To him only we can say as that poor man Lord I believe help my unbelief as the disciples Lord increase our saith And he only is the object or matter of our faith the Apostle preach'd him the only Lord our faith 2 Cor. 4. 5. It is highest sacriledge horrible usurpation to impose any thing to be believed for salvation which Christ hath not commanded Thirdly he is Lord by justifying their persons and forgiving their sins he is called the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 He is to us a Melchizedech a King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 To forgive sin is Royalty the Prerogative of such a Person who hath dominion over us as a Prince and Lord Acts 5.31 Fourthly by ruling leading governing them whom he hath justified and pardoned Isa 55.6 This he doth by writing his Laws in their hearts by giving a spiritual understanding in the knowledge of his Will by forming and fashioning their affections and conversations into holy obedience to the heavenly and spiritual nature of his Kingdom Fifthly by affording all needful supplies to all their wants by affording mercy and grace to help Joseph was made Lord of Egypt and he had all the Granaries and Store-houses at his Command to dispence So Christ is Lord of all his Fathers Treasures and he giveth all things 2 Pet. 1.3 Sixthly in protecting upholding succouring them in all their dangers amidst all their temptations infirmities discouragements 2 Cor. 12.9 by his compassions pltying them Heb. 4.15 by his power and grace helping them by his care and wisdom proportioning their strength to their trials to him every believer may say Lord save me or I perish Seventhly in overcoming all the enemies of their salvation the two Heads or Generals whereof are Satan Rom. 16.20 and Antichrist Rev. 17.14 Eighthly he hath manifested himself to be our Lord when he died for us and rose for us and sate down at the right hand of God for us and hath quickned us together and raised us together and set us together with himself in heavenly places Eph. 25 6. Thirdly consider how much this consideration that Christ lesus is our Lord doth afford to this triumph or ful persuasion of faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God He is our Lord and Lord over all creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell Lord over Angels Men Devils Lord over Life and Death Lord over all Prineipalities and Powers Lord in the heighths and Lord in the depths Lord over things present and Lord over things to come such as have a Lord so full of Love Power Wisdom Compassions Grace can never fall from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1. Use Is Christ Iesus a Lord over all creatures here is encouragement for any poor creature that lies under the sense of sin and wrath to come to Christ and say Lord save me or I must perish Doth the wrath of God threaten thee run to Christ and say be mâ—rciful to me O Lord under the shadow of thy wings I come for shelter Dost thou feel a dominion of sin a tyranny of prevalling lusts leading the captive come and say Lord many lores have dominion over me O let me be under the Dominion and Government of thy grace Doth Satan pursue Conscieâ—ce accuse Law condemn Death threaten Hell open upon thee Come to Christ who hath spoiled Satan pacified Conscience satisfied Law abolisht death triumph'd over Hell he is Lord over all hath swallowed up all in victory Dost thou want a Righteousness to lustifie thee Christ is Lord of Righteousness Dost thou want Pardon of sin Christ is Lord and hath power to forgive sin Dost thou want any grace within the whole compass of the Promises Ordinances Treasures of God Christ is Lord of all Dost thou want a good title to Heaven Christ is Prince of life and Lord of Glory 2. Use Is Christ Iesus in a special manner the Lord of his Church the Lord of believers I. Let us own Iesus Christ to be our Lord for this end two things are necessary First Faith when the Apostle represents this Lord absent to us he saith We walk by faith 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Other lords are present with us to command encourage oversee over rule and to reward us Christ is absent therefore to stand in awe of him to be diligent in his Work to do to suffer for him to fear to offend him to endeavor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him this requires much faith Secondly the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord Many that live under the Education and external Profession of the Gospel in words call Christ Lord yet they will never yield up themselves in obedience to him as their Lord without the over-ruling grace and power of the Holy Ghost II. As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Col. 6.2 Give up your selves consciences thoughts desires the secrets of your souls and the conversations of your lives to be guided ordered governed by his Word and Will Thirdly honour Christ Iesus your Lord both in life and death Rom. 14 7.8 9. Fourthly let us be faithful sincere constant and abundant in his service we have a Lord that can and will reward us 1 Cor. 15. ult Fifthly if Christ Iesus be our Lord let us trust him and live in dependance upon him for our present subsistence and future expectations the Lord never failed them that waited on him ROM 8 38 39. I am Perswaded THE Apostle having taken himself and all believers to their strong holds which is Communion with God and having strengthned this Communion with God by love and fortified this love of God in Christ Iesus and having engaged Christ Iesus his Lord his Leader the Captain of our salvation Now he prepares for the encounter 1. He takes a view of all his adversaries and then encourageth his faith against them all I am Perswaded Expects an assault from all kind of enemies Satan mustering his Aemies from the four quarters of Heaven Earth and Hell compassing the Camp of the Saints endeavoring to overthrew the beloved City the strong hold of Gods beloved ones he musters death and life Doct. Such as are beloved of God in Christ Iesus may yea must expect to encounter all kinds of enemies or evils possible or imaginable in this world I. In these enemies the Apostle reckons up in the Text which befal Saints on the Account of Gods love to them First consider the reality of them they are