[1.] Duties. As in a kingdom subjects are bound to obey their proper and rightful lord, so here ; God being our lawgiver and king, as he hath right to command, so we are bound to obey. As in the Lord's prayer, when we say, ' Thy kingdom come,' we presently say, ' Thy will be done,' Mat. vi. 10. All that own his kingdom are bound to obey his will. So Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek ye the kingdom of God and his righteousness ; ' that is, approve yourselves to be the faithful servants and subjects of God. Well, then, this is required of us, that Ave be willingly subject to God, All creatures are subject to him by constraint, the devils themselves not excepted, though rebels and grievous revolters; but those are properly said to be his subjects that willingly consent to his government.
[2.] Privileges. There are many privileges belong to God's subjects, both for the present and in the world to come. For the present, that they are under the special care and protection of God, both as to their bodies and souls. For the souls, he sanctifieth them, writeth his laws upon their hearts and minds, as he did upon Adam's heart in innocency, and promiseth to do it in the new covenant made in Christ to those that serve and obey him, Heb. viii. 10 ; and so the kingdom of God is within us, Luke xvii. 21. And besides, givetli us peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, Kom. xiv, 17. And then for our outward man, protection and maintenance. The necessaries of this life shall not be wanting to those that enter into his kingdom : Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' But in the world to come we enjoy our chief privileges, and therefore our estate there is called ' his ever- lasting kingdom,' 2 Peter i. 11 ; and Luke xii. 32, ' It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom,' That is our blessed state, where we are absolutely free from all evil ; therefore called the * day of
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redemption/ Bph. iv. 30, because all the effects of sin then cease, and therefore we enjoy all good. Every subject weareth a crown, which is sometimes called *a crown of life,' James i. 12, ' a crown of righteous- ness,' 2 Tim. V. 8. A crown of life to show the happiness of that estate, and a crown of righteousness to show tiie sureness of it. This is chiefly considered here.
2. There is no entrance into this kingdom but by coming into the kingdom of Christ. Besides the kingdom which belongeth to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one true a-nd only God, there is the kingdom of Christ considered as mediator ; a new right of empire and sovereignty over the creature, not destructive of the former, but accumulative, as superadded to it, that the government of God might be the more com- fortable and beneficial to us in our lapsed estate. This is called ' the kingdom of Christ,' because Christ, as mediator, hath purchased it : Eom. xiv. 9, ' For to this end Christ both died, and rose again, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living ;' Rev. ii. 12, ' Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.' And upon the account of his merit and redemption of captive souls, God hath bestowed it upon him : Ps. ii. 8, * Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ; ' and Acts ii. 36, ' God hath made this Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Made, that is, appointed, ordained. It is God's kingdom by original right, but Christ's by dona- tion and purchase. Besides, it is Christ's kingdom because he is the administrator of it, both as to legislation and execution. Legislation : Mat. xxviii. 18, ' All power is given to me both in heaven and in earth ; ' and John xvii. 2, ' Tliou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.' The mediator, God-man, is the supreme prince and head of the church, that he might dispense salvation upon his own terms, and his doctrine and faith might be embraced by all nations in the world. Here is a new power, new government, new laws, which shall be the rule of man's duty and God's judgment. Now this is comfortable and bene- ficial to us, because this new kingdom was set afoot to save and recover fallen man, who was disabled for his duty, and incapable of the happi- ness which God offered, and obnoxious to his displeasure. Therefore the kingdom and lordship of Christ is spoken of as medicinal and restorative, tending to reduce man to God, that after the breach we might again enjoy his favour, and live in his obedience : Acts xvi. 46, 'Preaching peace by Jesus Clirist ; he is Lord of all.' He is set up to be king and lord, to make peace between God and man, who were at odds before. His right to govern obliged him to chastise us for our rebellions : Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God exalted to be a prince and saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.' This new Lord and king hath made a new law of grace, which is lex remedians, a remedying law, propounded as a remedy for the recovering and restor- ing of the lapsed world of mankind to the grace and favour of God, granting thereby free pardon and right to blessedness to all that sin- cerely repent and believe in him, but sentencing them to death that will not believe in Christ. Now without entering: into this kingdom of