Now of Christ's regal office, Rev. xix. 16., " And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name WTitten, ' King of kings, and Lord of lords.' " — Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; 1. He hath a kingly title, ' High and Mighty,' Isa. Ivii. 15. — 2. He hath his insignia regalia, — his ensigns of royalty ; corona est insigne regiot pote.^tatis, — his crown, Rev. vi. 2. ; his 6word, Ps. xlv. 3., " Gird thy sword upon
thy thigh ;" his sceptre, Heb. i. 8., " A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." — 3. His escutcheon, or coat armour; he gi^es the lion in his arms, Rev. V. 5., " The lion of the tribe of Ju- dah." And he is, the text saith, " King of kings." He hath a pre-eminence of all all other kings ; he is called, " the Prince of the kings of the earth," Rev. i. 5. He must needs be so, for " by him kings reign," Prov. viii. 15. They hold their crowns by immediate tenure from this great King. Christ infinitely outvies all other princes; he hath the liighest throne, the largest do minions, and the longest possession, Heb
OF CHRISrS KINGLY OFFICE.
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1. 8., " Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Christ liath many lieirs, hut no suc- cessors. Well may lie he called " KInjr of kings," for he hath an unlimited jwwer; the power of other kings is limited, but Christ's power is unlimited, Ps. cxxxv. 6., " Whatsoever he pleased, that did he, in heaven and earth, and in the sea." Christ's power is as large as his 'will. The angels take the oath of allegiance to him, Heb. i. 6., " Let all the angels of God worship
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Quest. How doth Christ come to he king ? Ans. Not by usurpation, but legally. Christ holds his crown by immediate tenure from heaven. God the Father hath decreed him to be king, Ps. ii. 6, 7., " I have set my king upon my holy hill : I will declare the decree." God hath anointed and sealed him to his regal office, John vi. 27., " Him bath God the Father sealed." God hath set the crown upon his head.
Quest. In what sense is Christ king ? Ans. Two ways : 1;?^ In reference to his people. And, 2d. In reference to his enemies.
\st. In reference to his people : 1. To go- vern them. It was prophesied of Christ be- fore he was born, ^lat. ii. 6., " And thou, Bethelehem, art not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people .Israel." It is a vain thing for a king to have a crown on his head, unless he have a scep- tre in his hand to rule.
Quest. JlTiere doth Christ rule ? Ans. His kingdom is spiritual. He rules in the hearts of men. He sets up his throne where no other king doth, he rules the will and affections, his power binds the con- science, he subdues men's lusts, Mic. vii. 19., " He will subdue our iniquities." Quest. What doth Christ ride by ? Ans. By law, and by love : 1. He rules by law. It is one of the jura regalia, the flowers of the cro\^Ti, to enact laws. Christ as king makes laws, and by his laws he rules : the law of faith, " believe in the Lord Jesus," — the law of sanctity, 1 Pet. i. 15., " Be ye holy in all manner of conver- sation." Many would admit Christ to be their advocate to plead for them, but not their king to rule them. — 2. He rules by
love. He is a king full of mercy and cle- mency ; as he hath a sceptre in his hand, so an olive branch of peace in his mouth. Though he be the Lion of the tribe of Ju- dah for majesty, yet the Lamb of God for meekness. His regal rod hath honey at the end of it. He sheds abroad his love into the hearts of his subjects; he rules them with promises as well as precepts. Til is makes all his subjects become volun- teers: they are willing to pay their alle- giance to him, Ps. ex. 3., his people are a willing people.