people can not abide this doctrine that the deuill should rule in their hearts: they spit at the naming of him, and say that they defie him with all their hearts: but whereas they liue in sinne, and practise it as occasion is offered, though they cannot discerne of themselues, yet they make plaine proofe, that they liue in the kingdome of sinne and darknesse, and are flatte vassels of Sa∣tan, and shall so continue till Christ the strong man come and binde him, and cast him out. And this is the estate of all the children of Adam in themselues. Wherefore our Sauiour in this petition teacheth vs to consider our naturall e∣state, and to pray that he would giue vs his spirit to set vs at libertie in the kingdome of his owne sonne.
Kingdome] Gods kingdome in Scripture is taken two waies. First gene∣rally, and so it signifieth that administration by which the Lord gouerneth all things, yea, euen the deuils themselues. Of which kingdome mention is made in the ende of this prayer. And in the Psalme 97. vers. 1. The Lord raigneth, let the earth reioyce. Againe, it is taken more specially, and then it signifieth the administration of Christ the head of the church, in which he frameth men by his word and spirit to the subiection of the same word. And so it is taken in this petition.
In a kingdome there are foure things to be noted. 1. There must be a king. 2. There must be subiects. 3. There are lawes. 4. Authoritie.
In this kingdome Christ is the king: it is he to whom the father hath giuen all authoritie, in heauen and earth.
In this kingdome all are not subiects, but such as are willing to giue free and franke obedience to Gods word; or at the least though their hearts be not sound, make an outward profession of it.
The lawes of this kingdome is the word of God in the bookes of the olde and new Testament. Therefore it is called the kingdome of heauen, Matth. 13. The Gospell of the kingdome, Mark. 1.13. The rodde of his mouth, Esay 11.4. The arme of God, Esay 53.1. As a king by his lawes brings his people in order, and keepes them in subiection; so Christ by his word, and the preaching of it, as it were by a mightie arme, drawes his elect into his kingdome, and fashions thē to all holy obedience.
The power and authoritie is that whereby Christ conuerts effectually those which are to be conuerted by the inward operation of his spirit, and glorifies himselfe in the confusion of the rest.
Kingdome being taken thus specially, is also twofold. The first is the king∣dome of grace, of which mention is made, Rom. 14. 17. The kingdome of God standes not in meate and drinke, but in righteousnesse: that is, the assurance of our iustification before God in the righteousnesse of Christ; Peace of conscience, which proceedes from this assurance; and ioy in the holy Ghost, which comes from them both. In this kingdome all men liue not, but onely those that are subiect to Christ, obedient to the lawes of his kingdome, and ruled by his authoritie, and are continually taught in his word by his spirit. But those that refuse to liue according to the lawes of this king, and choose to liue at their owne libertie, are in the kingdome of darkenesse, that is sinne and Satan.
The second is the kingdome of glorie in heauen, which is the blessed estate