A. 4. The kingdom of heaven excels all other kingdoms in holiness. Kingdoms on earth are for the most part unholy ; there is a common shore of luxury and undean- ness running in them; kingdoms are stages for sin to be acted on, Isa. xxviii. 8., " AH tables are full of vomit." But the kinjrdora of heaven is so holy that it will not mix with any corruption. Rev. xxi. 27., Tliere shall enter into it nothing that defileth. 'Tis so pure a soil, that no serpent of sin will breed there ; there is beauty which is not stained with lust, and honour which is not swelled with pride. Holiness is the brightest jewel of the crown of heaven.
A. 5. The kingdom of heaven excels all other kingdoms in its pacific nature ; 'tis regnum pacts, a kingdom of peace. Peace is the glory of a kingdom ; pax una trium- phis innumeris melior. A king's crown is more adorned with the white lily of j)eace, than when it is beset with the red roses of a bloody war. But where shall we find an uninterru])ted peace upon earth ? Either home-bred divisions, or foreign invasions, 2 Chron. xv. 5., " There was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in." But the kingdom of heaven is a king- dom of peace ; there are no enemies to con- flict with ; all Christ's enemies shall be ini- der his feet, Ps. ex. 1. The gates of that kingdom always stands open. Rev. xxi. 25., " The gates shall not be shut at all :" to shew, that there is no fear of an assault of an enemy. The saints, when they die, are sjiid to enter into peace, Isa. Ivii. 2. There's no beating of drums or roaring of cannons ; but the voice of harpers harjniig, in token of peace. Rev. xiv. 2. In heaven, " righ- teousness and peace kiss each other." Ps. lx.\xv. 10.
OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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A. 6. Tlie kiii{i^(loin of heaven excels in magnitude ; it is of vast dimensions, riiough the gate of tlie kingdonv be strait, we must pass into it tlirough the strait gate of mortiiication ; yet, when once we are in it, it is very hirge : though there be an innumerable company of saints and an- gels, yet there is room enough for them. The kingdom of heaven may be called by the name of that well, (Jen. xxvi. 22, "Ja- cob called the nan)e of it llehoboth ; for he said, now the Lord hath nuule room for us." Thou, who art now confined to a small cot- tage, when thou comest into the celestial kingdom, thou shall not be straitened for room. As every star hath a large orb to move in, so it shall be with the saints, when they shall shine as stars in the kingdom of heaA'en.
A. 7. The kingdom of heaven excels in unity ; all the inhabitants agree together in love ; love will be the perfume and mu- sic of heaven ; as love to God will be in- tense, so to the saints. Perfect love, as it casts out fear, so it casts out envy and dis- cord. Those Christians who could not live quietly together on earth — which was the blemi.>hof their profession — yet, in the king- dom of heaven, tlie fire of strife shall cease; there shall be no vilifying, or censuring one another, or raking into one another's sores, but all shall be tied together with the heart- strings of love ; there Luther and Zuingli- us are agreed ; Satan cannot put in his clo- ven foot there to make divisions ; there shall be perfect harmony and concord, and not one jarring string in the saints' music. It were worth dying to be in that kingdom !
A. 8. This kingdom exceeds all earthly kingdoms in joy and pleasure ; therefore it is called paradise, 2 Cor. xii. 4. For delight, there are all things to cause pleasure ; there is the water of life pure as crystal ; there is the honey-comb of God's love drojtping ; 'tis called entering into the joy of our Lord, Mat. XXV. 23. There are two things which cause joy,
(L) !Sej)aration from sin shall be shaken off, then j(»y follows. There can be no more s«»rrow in heaven, than there is joy in hell.
(2.) Perfect union with Christ. Joy, as Aiistotle saith, flows from union with the
object. When our union with Christ shall be' perfect, then our joy shall be full. If the joy of faith be so great, 1 Pet. i. 8 , then what will the joy of sight be? Josej)h gave his brethren provision for the way, but the full sacks of corn were kept till they came to their father's house : Clod gives the saints a taste of joy here, but the full sacks are kept till they come to heaven. Not only the organical parts, — the outward senses, the eye, ear, taste, shall be Jilled with j<iy, — but the heart of a glorified saint shall be filled with joy. The understanding, will, and affections, are such a triangle, as none can fill but the Trinity ; there must needs be infinite joy, where nothing is seen but beauty, nothing is tasted but love.