[?.] The second ground that I would point unto, as a bottom of
S90 Christ's kingdom and
your actings in this thing, ariseth from sundry undoubted principles, which I shall briefly mention. And the first is, —
1st. That the gospel of Jesus Christ hath a right to be j^^^dched and propagated in every nation, and to every creature under heaven. Jesus Christ is the " Lord of lords, and King of kings," Rev. xvii. 1 4. The nations are given to be his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth to be his possession, Ps. ii. 8, 9. He is appointed the " heir of all things," Heb. i. 2. God hath set him over the works of his hands, and put all things in subjection under his feet, Ps. viii 6. And upon this account he gives commission to his messengers to preach the gospel to all nations, Matt, xxviii. 19, or, to every creature under heaven, Mark xvi. 15. The nations of the world being of the Father given to him, he may deal with them as he pleaseth, and either bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces as a potter's vessel, Ps. ii. 9, — he may fill the places of the earth with their dead bodies, and strike in pieces the heads of the countries, Ps. ex. 6,- — or, he may make them his own, and bring them into subjection unto himself; — which towards some of them he will effect, Rev. xi. 15. Now, the gospel being the rod of his power, and the sceptre of his kingdom, — the gi^and instrument Avhereby he accomplisheth all his designs in the world, whether they be for life or for death, 2 Cor. ii. 16, — he hath given that a right to take possession, in his name and authority, of all that he will own in any nation under heaven. And, indeed, he hath in all of them some that are his peculiar pur- chase. Rev. V. 9 ; whom, in despite of all the world, he will bring in unto himself To have free passage into all nations is the undoubted right of the gospel ; and the persons of Christ's good-will have such a right to it and interest in it, that, look, from whomsoever they may claim protection in reference unto any otner of their most un- doubted concernments amongst men, of them may they claim pro- tection in respect of their quiet enjoyment and possession of the gospel.
2dly. That wherever the gospel is by any nation oivned, received, embraced, it is the blessing, benefit, prosperity, and advantage of that nation. They that love Zion shall prosper, Ps. cxxii. 6. Godliness hath the promise of this life, and is profitable unto all things, 1 Tim. iv. 8. The reception of the word of truth, and subjection to Christ therein, causing a people to become Avilling in the day of his power, entitle that people to all the promises that ever God made to his church. They shall be established in righteousness; they shall be far from o})pression; and for fear and terror, they shall not draw nigh unto them: whosoever contends against such a people, shall fall there- by. No weapon that is fonned against them shall prosper; every tongue that shall rise against them in judgment, they shall condemn.
THE magistrate's POWER. 30 1
For this is the inheritauce of the sei-vants of the Lord, Isa. hv. 14 15, 17.
To the prosperity of a nation two things are required: — (1st.) That they be freed from oppression, injustice, cruelty, disorder, confusion, in themselves, from then rulers, or others ; (2dly.) That they be pro- tected from the sword and violence of them that seek their rum from without. And both these do a people receive by receiving the gospel. {1st.) For the first, they have the promise of God that they shall have "judges as at the first," Isa. i. 26, — such injustice and judgment shall bear rule over them and among them, as the first judges whom he stirred up and gave to his ancient people ; their officers shall be peace, and their exactors righteousness, Isa. Ix. 1 7. Even the very ' gospel which they do receive is only able to instruct them to be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord ; for that only effectually teacheth the sons of men to live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world. Tit. ii. 12.
{idly) And for the second, innumerable are the promises that are given to such a people; Avhence the psalmist concludes, upon the con- sideration of the mercies they do and shall enjoy, " Happy is the people whose God is the Lord," Ps. cxhv. 15. The glorious Lord will be to them a place of broad rivers and waters, in which no galley with oars, nor gallant ship shall pass by; the Lord will be their re- deemer, lawgiver, king, and saviour, Isa. xxxiii. 21, It will interest any people in all the promises that are made for the using of the church to thrash, break, destroy, burden, fire, consume, and slay the enemies thereof; — so far shall a people be from suffering under the hands of oppressors, that the Lord will use them for the breakino- and destruction of the Nimrods of the earth : and this blessing of the nations do they receive by the faith of Abraham.