A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 112. Of Christs Kingdom.

CHrists Kingdom is expresly mentioned in this phrase, The Scepter of thy King∣dom; The relative particle THY hath reference to Christ, as was before shewed on this phrase, Thy Throne▪ §. 106.

Frequent mention is made of Christs Kingdom, and that before he was exhibited in the flesh and since.

Before, it was typified, as by the Kingdom of other Kings of Iudah, so in par∣ticular by the Kingdom of David, 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13, 16. Isa. 9. 7. & 16. 5. Jer. 23. 5, 6. & 33. 17.

This Kingdom of Christ was also prophesied of before his Incarnation, Gen. 49. 11, 12, 13. Numb. 24. 17. Dan. 2. 44. Mic. 4. 8. After his exhibition in the flesh this Kingdom of Christ was published by his forerunner, Mat. 3. 2. By Christ himself, Luk. 4. 43. & 8. 1. And by his Apostles, Luke 9. 2. This Kingdom did the Apostles most set forth after Christs ascention, Act. 8. 12. & 20. 23. & 28. 31. Christs Kingdom is that estate where Christ ruleth.

As God, by his absolute power he reigneth over all creatures every where,* 1.1 Psa. 103. 19.

As Christ is God-man, God manifested in the flesh, All power is given unto him in heaven and earth, Mat. 28. 18. yet hath Christ a peculiar Kingdom wherein he reigneth over a select people, called out of the world, who are a willing people, Psa. 110. 5.

This Kingdom is sometimes called the Kingdom of God, Mar. 1. 14, 15. And that in five especiall respects.

• 1. By a kinde of excellency; For excellent and eminent things are said to be of God, as Gen. 23. 6. Psa. 87. 3. 1 Chr. 12. 22. Psa. 80. 10. & 36. 6. Gen 30. 8.
• 2. In relation to the King thereof Christ Jesus, who is true God, Iohn 1. 49. Rom. 9. 5.
• 3. In opposition to Kingdoms of men, Dan. 5. 21. Ioh. 18. 36.
• 4. In regard of the Laws, priviledges and immunities thereof, which are all divine and of God, Deut. 4. 8. Rom. 14. 17.
• 5. In reference to the end thereof, which is Gods glory, Phil. 2. 9, 10, 11.

It is also called the Kingdom of heaven, Mat. 3. 2. & 4. 17. and that in five other respects.

• 1. To distinguish it from the Kingdomes of the world, which the devils shewed to Christ, Mat. 48.
• 2. To shew the kinde of the Laws, Ordinances, and appurtenances thereof, which are all heavenly, Heb. 9. 23.
• 3. To demonstrate the qualification of the subjects thereof, whose inward dis∣position and outward conversation is heavenly, Heb. 3. 1. Phil. 3. 20.
• 4. To set out the extent thereof. It doth not only reach from Euphrates to Sihor, as Solomons Kingdom did, 1 King. 4. 21. or from India to Ethiopia over 127. Pro∣vinces, as Ahasuerus his Kingdom did, Esth. 1. 1. but to heaven it self, yea, and that throughout the whole earth and the whole heaven, Psae. 135. 6. Mat. 28. 18.
• 5. To manifest the end of calling men into the Church, which is Christs King∣dom of grace on earth, that they might be fitted for heaven which is the Kingdom of glory, Col. 1. 12. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4.

Well may the estate where Christ ruleth be accounted and called a Kingdom, because all things which constitute a Kingdom appertain thereunto; Such as these:

• 1. An high supream Soveraign, who is a true, proper King, an absolute Mo∣narch,

• which Christ is, Isa. 9. 6. Psalm 2. 6. 1 Timothy 6. 15.
• 2. There be Subjects that take him for their King and willingly subject them∣selves to him, Psa. 18. 44. & 110. 3.
• 3. There is a distinct particular dominion or state, in which that King reigneth and ruleth, Psa. 2. 6.
• 4. There be Laws and Statutes whereby this Kingdom is governed, the most righteous, equall, and prudent Laws that ever were. These are registred in Gods Word the holy Bible; Reade what is said of them, Deut. 4. 8. Psal. 19. 7. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17.
• 5. There priviledges and immunities appertaining to this Kingdom, such as never any Kingdom had the like: Some of the priviledges are these.

• 1. A right to the things of this world, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23.
• 2. A free accesse to the Throne of grace at all times, Eph. 2. 18. & 3. 12. Heb. 4. 16. This priviledge will appear to be a great one, if we well weigh the readinesse of him that sits on the Throne to accept us; the abundance of blessings that are there treasured up, and the assurance that the subjects of this kingdom have to at∣tain their desires.
• 3. A right to Christ himself, and in him to all things that are his: And what is not his? Rom. 8. 32.
• 4. A right to heaven it self, 1 Pet. 1. 4. Luk. 12. 32. Mat. 25. 34.

The Immunities of Christs Kingdom are such as these,

• 1. Freedom from all inconvenient and burdensome laws, whether Ceremoniall, Judiciall, or Morall, Rom. 7. 4. Gal. 4. 5.
• 2. From Sin, Rom. 6. 18, 22. We are freed from sinne,
  • 1. In regard of the guilt of it, Rom. 8. 33.
  • 2. In regard of the dominion and power of it, Rom. 6. 14.
  • 3. In regard of the punishment of it, Rom. 8. 1.
• 3. From the sting of death, 1 Cor. 15. 53.
• 4. From the power of Satan, Heb. 2. 14.

Who would not be of this kingdom? What care should they have that are of it to abide in it, and to say, The Lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage, Psa. 16. 6. How sedulous should they be to bring others thereinto, Cant. 8. 8. How conscionable ought the subjects of this Kingdom to be, in walking worthy thereof; Eph. 4. 1. Col. 1. 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Christs Kingdom, See my Guide to go to God, or, Explan. of the Lords Prayer, 2 Petit. §. 35.