1. The state of the gospel, or evangelical state, it is God's kingdom, in regard of the monarch whom God hath set up, that is, Jesus Christ, the great Lord of all things. There is no king like him : God hath made him ' higher than the kings of the earth,' Ps. Ixxxix. 27. How doth he exceed all other monarchs and potentates in the woi'ld ? Partly for largeness of command and territory. All kings and mon- archs have certain bounds and limits by wliich their em})ire is ter- minated ; but Christ is the true catholic king, his government runs throughout the whole circuit of nature and providence ; he hath power over all flesh, John xvii. 2, yea, devils themselves are to stoop to him : Phil. ii. 10, every thing under the earth is to bow the knee to Christ. Partly for the excellency of his throne. This king hath a double throne, one in heaven, the other in the heart of a humble
94 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. YI. 10.
sinner, whicli is his second heaven : Isa. Ivii. 15. And in both these respects there is no monarch like Christ. ' He hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kindom ruleth over all,' Ps. ciii. 19. Earthly kings, that their majesty may appear to their subjects, have their thrones usually exalted ; there were six steps to Solomon's throne ; a description of it you have in 1 Kings x. 18, 19. But what is this to the throne of Christ, which God hath fixed above in the heavens ? The whole globe of sea and earth is but as one point, and there are ten thousand times ten thousands of angels about his throne. The supporters of this throne are justice and mercy. And in regard of his other throne also in the hearts of men : the power of outward potentates reacheth but to the bodies of men, they can take cogni- sance of nothing but of external conformity to their laws : but Christ gives laws to the thoughts : 2 Cor. x. 5. So for his royal furniture : other princes, they have their chariots, and coaches, and horses, &c. ; but ' he makes the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind,' Ps. civ. 3. Riding up and down in the world, dispensing mercies and judgments. So for troops and armies to support his dignity, all the hosts of heaven are obedient to him ; one angel in one night destroyed in Sennacherib's army an hundred fourscore and five thousand. Hostility against him must needs be deadly. He is above in heaven, and can rain down fire and brimstone upon us, and cannot be resisted. He is higher than the kings of the earth too, because none hath so good a right and title to rule as this king hath, whom God hath set upon his holy hill of Sion. God's dominion over the creatures is founded in creation. Other kings find their subjects ; he makes them. He hath the first and chief right, there is nothing we have but he made. We depend upon him every moment for his providential assistance, therefore he hath the highest right and title. No creature can be sui juris, at his own dispose. And he hath a right by conquest and by purchase ; he hath bought us, and ' given his life a ransom for many,' Mat. xx. 28. Christ is opposed there to worldly potentates ; they must be served, but he came to minister. Subjects, their blood and lives must go to I)reserve the rights of the prince ; but he gave his life. And he hath a right too by contract and covenant. All that are subjects of his kingdom have sworn allegiance. He hath such an absolute right that thou canst call nothing thy own. We think, indeed, our lips are our own, Ps. xii. 4 : and our estates our own ; as Nabal, 1 Sam. xxv. 11, 'Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh?' <fec. AH you have it belongeth to this king by right of creation and provi- dence. Therefore in all these respects he is higher than the kings of the earth.
2. The gospel state is set forth as a kingdom, in regard of the .subjects and their privileges. The gospel doth not only reveal a king, but maketh all kings : ' He hath made us to be kings and priests,' &c., Eev. i. 5. All those that submit to him. So that, indeed, Christ may properly be styled Rex rerjum, King of kings. As the king ot Assyria made his boast, Isa. x. 8, ' Are not my princes altogether kings?' A vaunting speech of his, that his princes and favourites were, for power and authority, as good as kings. But Christ may
Mat. VI. 10.] the lord's prayer. 95
say so. Are not my subjects altog^ether kings ? Not only kings in regard of their spiritual power and command they have over them- selves, ruling their own spirits in the fear of God, while others are slaves to their base affections ; but in point of their privileges. They have kingly privileges, they are made kings ; they are royally attended by angels, they are sent forth to be as guardians to the heirs of promise : Heb. i. 14. They have royal immunities, from the curse of the law, from the damnable influence of sin ; they may as well pluck Christ from the throne, as pluck the elect out of that state wherein they are. As David said, * Is it a small thing to be the king's son-in-law?' so, is it a small thing to be the sons of God, co-heirs with Christ? This honour and glory doth God put upon his saints. And there is the greatest pleasure and contentment in this state ; for this kingdom, which all the saints are interested in, it consisteth in 'righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost:' Rom. xiv. 17. And surely these consolations of God should not be small to us. It is a state of most absolute freedom and sovereignty : John viii. 36, ' If the Son shall make you free, then shall ye be free indeed.' Many a monarch which ruletli over men may be a captive to his own lusts ; but these are free. There are the richest revenues and increase which belong to Christ's subjects. ' All things are yours ; whether Paul, or Apollos,' &c. : 1 Cor. iii. 21. They are ours by cove- nant, and when they come into our possession, by the fair allowance of God's providence, we have them with a blessing, and may use them with a great deal of comfort.