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1. In respect of the kingdome of power, That we acknowledge the Lord to be our absolut•…•… King: That we submit our selves to his providence: That we rest contented and well pleased with whatsoever he doth towards us, who doth all things according to the counsel of his will.
2. In respect of the kingdome of grace, we ought to have an earnest desire of the advancement of Gods kingdome, and zeal of the Churches good; and more particularly, that the Lord would reigne
in us by his word and Spirit. And unto this desire must be joyned an holy end•…•…avour, first in order and first in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to seek the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, that is, that the Lord would rule in us by his word and Spirit, and that we may shew our subjection by bringing forth the fruits of righteousnesse.
3. A carefull using of the means which God hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…o advance his kingdome, & to work our salvation; to heare the word with submission, reve∣rence, attention, good conscience, and des•…•…e to pra∣ctice it, to nourish the good motions of the Spirit, yielding our •…•…elves to be drawn thereby.
4. Thankfulnesse to God that he hath made us subjects of his kingdome, Col. 1. 12. Mark 11. 10. and ca•…•…e to behave our •…•…elves as •…•…bjects of this ki•…•…gdome.
5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 endeavour in o•…•…r 〈◊〉〈◊〉 places and callings to advance and further the kingdome of Christ. Pri•…•…ces a•…•…d Magistrates must be nur•…•…ng-fa∣thers and nursing-mothers of the Church, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by all good means to advance the kingdome of Christ, and to remove the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof, and to s•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against the kingdome of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Satan, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; to root o•…•… all su∣p•…•…ition and idola•…•…ry, and the relio•…•…s thereof; to 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 where it is corrupt; to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the faith; to take order tha•…•… there may be preach∣•…•…s in all places provided for, a•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them discharge their 〈◊〉〈◊〉; to p•…•…sh 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and rewa•…•…d the ver∣tuous. If we be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we •…•…re by preaching of the word in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to do our •…•…n∣deavour
to win men unto the Lord, &c. If private men, we must liv•…•… in obedience to superiours in Church and Commonwealth, as to the ordinance of the Lord, our King ruling us by them. What∣soever we are, our duti•…•… is to labour by all means, 1. that we our selves may become subjects of the kingdome of grace, and 2. that by all good means we may win others unto the Lord.
6. To oppose our selves against the enemies of the Church both spirituall and temporall; to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Satan and his temptations, to be wained from the world, and to mind heavenly things; to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit; to come out of Babylon into the Church of God, to keep us there∣in; to oppose our selves against Antichrist and his adherents, as being enemies of the kingdome of Christ.
But here the hypocrisi•…•… of very many is detected,* 1.1 who ask this petition with their mouthes but de•…•…ire it not with their hearts: As first in respect of the uni∣versall kingdome, those that will not submit them∣selves to the providence of God, but desire rather that they were freed from all subjection unto God, they abuse God in making their prayer and pray against themselves, that God would advance his kingdome, and make his enemies his footstool, or break them with his iron sceptre like a potters ves∣sel.
Secondly, in regard of the kingdome of grace; first, those that will not have Christ to reigne over them by his word and spirit, but cast off his yoke of sub∣jection, Luke 19. 14. Psal. 2. 3. sonnes of Belial;
such mock God when they say this prayer.
2. Those who living in ignorance and sinne, and consequently in spirituall bondage, please them∣selves as if they were free, John 8. 33. and there∣fore do not truly desire that Gods kingdome may come, because they have no sense of their own mi∣sery, &c.
3. Those that seek not the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, but set themselves to seek their own carnall and worldly desires.
4. Those magistrates, ministers, people, that seek not the advancement of Christs kingdome in themselves, contemning the word, quenching the spirit, nor yet in others. As for those Magistrates who in stead of cherishing the Church do persecute it, in stead of advancing Gods kingdome do deface it, erecting superstition and idolatry, suppressing vertue, advancing vice; or those Ministers that de∣prive the people of the food of their souls, and like dry nurses hunger-starve them; or those men whosoever that labour to withdraw men from alle∣geance unto God: all those oppose themselves to the kingdome of grace; and therefore being ene∣mies, in making this prayer do ask their own con∣fusion. For our Saviour Christ sheweth himself to be a King as well in subduing his enemies as in preserving his subjects, Psal. 110. 1. Psal. 2. 6.
5. Those that follow the temptations of the devil, the desires of the world, and lusts of the flesh, and please themselves in so doing, they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ, but are enemies to his crosse, Phil. 3. 19. and souldiers in Satans camp.
As therefore we desire the kingdome of grace so let us seek it, &c.
The hypo∣crisie of ma∣ny detected.