2. My next argument is, this suiteth with the other privilege of kings. We are made kings as well as priests. Now, as our kingly office is not perfect till we come to heaven, so neither our priestly ; and there- fore it mainly respecteth our ministration in the heavenly temple. How is a poor christian a king here, unless in a riddle, eV amy/ji'arc, as he vanquisheth the devil, the world, and the flesh? as it is a princely thing to be above inferior things, and to trample them under our feet. The heathen could say, Bex est qui metuit nihil, rex est qui cupit nihil — He is a king that is above the hopes and fears of the world, that feareth nothing and desireth nothing. This is indeed, in a metaphor, a kingly spirit, to have our hearts in heaven, and to look upon all sublunary things as beneath our care and affections. Christ's kingdom is not of this world, neither is a believer's. Here upon earth we reign only in a spiritual way ; but the privilege cometh fully to be verified when we tread Satan under our feet, and triumph over enemies, and reign visibly and gloriously, sitting upon thrones with Christ at his coming, judging the world and angels themselves : Mat. xix. 28, ' Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel ; ' Luke xxii. 29, 30, ' I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel ; ' Ps. xlix. 14, ' The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;' and 1 Cor. vi. 2, 'Know ye not that we shall judge the world ? ' and ver. 3, * Know ye not that we shall judge angels ? ' neither will this kingdom be terminated and ended at the day of judgment, but they shall be kings eternal in heaven : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock ; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ; ' 2 Tim. ii. 12, ' If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him ; ' that is, in heaven. With respect to this title, right, and interest, we are said ' to be made kings.' Now proportionably, the other privilege, of ' being made priests,' must be expounded also. We are spiritual priests upon earth ; we have our sacrifices of prayers, praises and alms, and devoting ourselves to God ; but this office is not completed till we come to heaven, and do immediately minister before the Lord. Then we have entrance into the holiest : Heb. x. 19, ' Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.' Not in spirit, but in person ; for if the chief part of our kingly office be yet behind, why not the chief part of our priestly office also ?
3. Then we are qualified and prepared. Sanctification must go before consecration ; and the more sanctified, the more consecrated ; and when our sanctification is finished, then our consecration is consummated, and not till then. Now in this world our justification and sanctification is imperfect ; we are not got above our legal fears,
95 SERMONS UPON REVELATION I. 5, 6.
and grace is very weak in ns. You know before we can serve the living God ' our consciences must be purged from dead works,' Heb. ix. 14, as the high priest was not to approach God without his washings lest he die; and we are bidden to 'draw nigh to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,' Heb. x. 22. If we have the privilege of priests, we must perform the duties of priests. Now we are not perfect as appertaining to the conscience, nor are we fully cleansed and sanctified, till the veil of the flesh be removed, and we be presented to God without spot and wrinkle. Somewhat is begun indeed, that will tend to, and end in, perfect sanctification, enough to qualify us for our ministration at this distance from God. There is enough done on Christ's part, by way of impetration and merit: Heb. X. 14, ' For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,' or consecrated ; he hath paid the price ; but as to the application, that is by degrees. The priest under the law was seven days in consecrating ; this figured all the time that interveneth before we enter upon the everlasting sabbath. Our whole life is the time of consecration, which goeth on by degrees, and will be made complete, both for body and soul, at the resurrection ; for then shall we be made fit to approach the throne of glory, and serve our God in a perfect manner in the eternal temple of heaven. In this life our consecration is not yet finished, we cannot come so near God. We are qualified indeed to come to the throne of grace, but not qualified to come to the throne of glory ; but the work is a-doing, and in time it will be accom- plished.