- 2. The Church Political, particular Churches gathered with their Officers, as the seven Churches in Asia. Christ is the head of both.
The original and fountain of all Government is God the Father, Sonne and holy Ghost, he hath a primitive and absolute Soveraignty over all men.
- 1. As he gives them what being he will.
- 2. As he appoints them what end he will.
- 3. As he gives them what Law he will, this is Regnum essentiale, Thine is the Kingdom.
Secondly, All the Persons of the Trinity have committed or delegated this po∣wer into the hands of Christ as he is Mediator, both God and Man, Mat. 12. 18, 19. Dan. 7. 13, 14.
Four things qualified Christ for this: He hath
- 1. A Spirit of wisdom and counsel, Isa. 11. 2.
- 2. Of courage there to, and Isa. 31. 4.
- 3. Of meeknesse and moderation.
- 4. Is faithful, Isa. 9. 6.
Thirdly, Christ delegates this power (as he hath the government of the Church) three wayes:
- 1. To the Angels, they are principalities and powers.
- 2. To the Magistrates, By him Kings reign.
- 3. To Church-officers, Ephes. 4. 11, 12. These are to continue so long as his Me∣diatory Kingdom shall last.
It is fit that Christ and he alone should govern the Church.
First, Because the Church is his own, his own body and house, Rom. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Ephes. 4. 16. Heb. 3. 6.
It is his,
- 1. By purchase, He hath purchased to himself a peculiar people.
- 2. By Covenant, I entred into Covenant with thee, and thou becamest mine.
- 3. By Regeneration, They are one Spirit.
Secondly, The Church is his great Depositum, and Praemium.
- 1. The great pledge God hath committed to his trust, Iohn 17. 2.
- 2. The great reward of all his services, Eph. 1. 21, 22.
- 3. There is none qualified for the Churches government but he.
This Soveraignty of Christ as Mediator is two-fold:
First, In the spiritual Kingdom, by which he rules in the hearts of all, especially his Saints, Luk. 17. 21. Rom. 14. 17.
This consists in six things:
- 1. He sets up a throne in the souls of his people, that they look on him as a King, Rev. 4. 3.
- 2. As a spiritual King he gives Laws to the soul, Rom. 13. 5.
- 3. He will punish their enemies, 1 Ioh. 3. 18.
- 4. He bestows both gifts and graces, Rev. 4. 5.
- 5. He rules in their hearts and wayes, Ioh. 16. 14.
- 6. He hath the key of heaven and hell, Rev. 11. 17.
Secondly, He hath a Soveraignty committed to him as Mediator God-man, i•• the providential Kingdom, Psal. 8. 4, 5. compared with Heb. 2. 5. Ephes. 1. 21. Pro. 8. 15. 21, 22.
2. All the great things in providence are ascribed to Christ Mediatour; he brought the floud, Gen. 6. 3. compared with 1 Pet. 3. 18, 19. he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he gave the Law, Heb. 26, 27.
3. He shall accomplish all the Prophecies, Rev. 19. 13. He shall judge the world, Act. 17. 30, 31. therefore he rules it, else he could not proportion to men rewards and punishments, if he did not imploy them.
4. He shall give up his Kingdom to his Father, 1 Cor. 15. 34. the Lord Jesus hath all this Soveraignty for the Saints sake, that they might have interest in it, Ioh. 17. 2. & 3. 35.
We should take heed of doating on an earthly Christ, Kingdom, Inheritance, or Preferment by Christ; the Apostles expected earthly preferment; the Millena∣ries say, Christ shall destroy all Monarchies, and be Monarch alone, and his Saints shall be great persons here.