5. The elect must have this blessed king- dom, in regard of the previous work of the Spirit in their hearts. They have the be- ginning of the kingdom of heaven in them here ; grace is heaven begun in the soul : besides, God given them pn'mitus spiritns, — " the first-fruits of the Spirit," Rom. viii. 23. The first-fruits are the comforts of the Spirit. These first-fruits under the law were a certain sign to the Jews of the full crop or vintage which they should after re- ceive : the first-fruits of the Spirit, consist- ing of joy and peace, do assure the saints of the full vintage of glory they shall be ever reaping in the kingdom of God : and the saints in this life are said to have the ear- nest of the Spirit in their hearts, 2 Cor. v. 5. As an earnest is part of payment, and an assurance of payment in full to be made in due time, so God's Spirit in the hearts of believers, giving them his comforts, bestows on them an earnest, or taste of glory, which doth further assure them of that full reward, which they shall have in the kingdom of heaven, 1 Pet. i. 8., " Believing ye rejoice," there is the earnest of heaven ; v. 9., " Re- ceiving the end of your faith," salvation, there is the full payment.
G. The elect must have this blessed king- dom by virtue of their coalition and unitm with Jesus Christ. They arc members of Christ, therefore they must be where their head is. Indeed the Arminians hold, that a jtistified })erson may fall fr(un grace, aiid so his unioji with Christ may be dissolved, and the kingdom lost; but! will demaii I of them, can Christ lose a member of his body ? Then he is not perfect ; and if Christ may lose one member of his body, why not as well all, by the same reason ? And so he shall be an head without a body : but be as- sured a believer's union u ith Christ cannot be broken, and so long he cannot be hin- dered of the kingdom, John xvii. 12. What was said of Christ's natural body is as true
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of his mystical, John xix. 36., " A bone of him shall not be broken." Look how every bone and limb of Christ's natural body was raised up out of the grave, and carried into heaven : so shall every member of his mys- tical body be carried up into glory.
7. We read of some who have been trans- lated into this kingdom. Paul had a sight of it, for he was caught up into the third heaven, 2 Cor. xii. And the converted thief on the cross was translated into glory, Luke xxiii. 43., " To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." By all that hath been said, it is most evident that believers have a glorious kingdom laid up for them in re- version, and that they shall go to this king- dom when they die. There are none that doubt of the certainty of the heavenly king- dom, but such as doubt of the verity of scripture.
Quest. 6. Why should we so earnestly pray Jor this heavenly kingdom, thy kingdom come ?
Ans. \. Because it is a kingdom worth the praying for ; it exceeds the glory of all the earthly kingdoms, it hath " gates of j)ear]," Rev. xxi. 21. We have heard of a cabinet of pearl, but when did we hear of gates of pearl ? In that kingdom is the bed of love, the mountains of spices ; there are the cherubims, not to keep us out, but to welcome us into the kingdom. Heaven is a kingdom worth the praying for; there's nothing wanting in that kingdom, which may comi)lete the saints' happiness, for, wherein does happiness consist ? Is it in knowledge ? We " shall know as we are known." Is it in dainty fare ? We shall be at the " marriisge su])per of the Lamb." Is it in rich apparel ? We shall be "cloth- ed in long white robes." Is it in delicious music ? We shall hoar the choir of angels singing. Is it in dominion? We shall reign as kings and judge angels. Is it in pleasure ? " We shall enter into the joy of our Lord." Sure then this kingdom is worth praying for ! " Thy kingdom come !" Would God give us a vision of heaven a while, as he did Stephen, who saw heaven opened. Acts vii. 56., we should fall into a trance ; and being a little recovered out of it, how importunately would we put up this petition, " Thy kingdom come."
A. 2. We must pray for this kingdom of glory, because God will not bestow this kingdom on any without prayer, Rom. ii, 7., " They who seek for glory and immor- tality." And how do we seek but by pray- er ? God hath promised a kingdom, and we must by prayer put the bond in suit. God is not so lavish as to throw av/ay a kingdom on them who do not ask it. And certainly, if Christ himself, who had merit- ed glory, did yet pray for it, Jolm xvii. 5., " Now, O Father, glorify me with thy own self;" how much more ought we to pray for the excellent glory, who have this king- dom granted as a charter of God's mere grace and favour.