This then being the occasion of those promises, and their accomplishment being as before, in a peculiar manner pointed at, upon the shaking, calling, and new moulding of the kingdoms and nations of the world, which had given their power to the beast, and thereupon framed anew into a due subserviency to the interest of Christ, here is not the least shadow or colour left, for the turning off, and reject- ing the sweetness of all these promises, upon an account of their being merely metaphorical, and shadowing out spiri- tual glories : neither their beginning nor ending, neither their rise, or fall, will bear any such gloss or corrupting in- terpretation.
3dly. As to the matter of these promises, I shall only assert this in general : that the Lord engageth, that judges, rulers, magistrates, and such like, shall put forth their power, and act clearly for the good, welfare, and prosperity of the church. This is plainly held out in every one of them: hence kingdoms are said to serve the church; that is, all kingdoms ; they must do so, or be broken in pieces and cease to be kingdoms : and how can a kingdom as a king- dom (for it is taken formally, and not materially, merely for the individuals for it, as appears by the threatening of its being broken in pieces) serve the church, but by putting forth its power and strength in her behalf; Isa. Ix. 12. and therefore, upon the accomplishment of that promise, they are said to become the kingdoms of the Lord Christ; Rev. xi. 15. because, as kingdoms, they serve him with their power and authority ; having before, as such, and by their power, opposed him to the utmost. They must nurse the church not with dry breasts, nor feed it with stones and scorpions, but with the good things committed to them. Their power and substance in protection and supportment, are to be engaged in the behalf thereof: hence God is said to give these judges, rulers, princes, kings, queens to the church, not setting them in the church, as officers thereof.
504 Christ's kingdom and
but ordering their state in the world. Rev. xi. 15. to its be- hoof. In sum, there is not any one of the promises recited, but holds forth the utmost of what I intend to assert from them all ; viz. that the Lord hath promised, that the magis- trates whom he will give, own and bless, shall put forth their power, and act in that capacity, wherein he hath placed them in the world, for the good, furtherance, and prosperity of the truth and church of Christ. They shall protect them with their power, feed them with their substance, adorn them with their favour, and the privileges wherewith they are intrusted : they shall break their forcibly oppress- ing adversaries, and take care, that those who walk in the truth of the Lord, may lead a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. If then you are such magistrates as God hath promised (as, woe be unto you if you are not), know that he hath undertaken for you, that you shall perform this part of your duty, and I pray that you.may rule with him therein, and be found faithful.
[2.] The second ground that I would point unto, as a bottom of 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 preached and propagated in every nation, and to every crea- ture under heaven. Jesus Christ is ' the Lord of lords, and King of kings ;' Rev. xvii. 14. The nations are given to be his inheritance, ' and the utmost parts of the earth to be his possession ;' Psal. 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;' Psal. viii. 7. 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. 17. 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 ;' Psal, ii. 9. ' He may fill the places of the earth with their dead bodies, and strike in pieces the heads of the countries;' Psal. 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. 19. Now the
THE magistrate's POWER, 505
gospel being the rod of his power, and the sceptre of his kingdom, the grand instrument whereby 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 pos- session, 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 purchase; 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 other of their most undoubted concernments amongst men, of them may they claim protection in respect of their quiet enjoyment, and possession of the gospel.