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Which saying, as it doth shew that our Saviour had before acquainted the Apostles of his Kingdome: so it intimates, that his Kingdome is to be held on earth, where onely this may be ful∣filled: for in heaven it cannot be done, unlesse we will grant,
that other men shall be as highly exalted there, as our Saviour is, to wit, to the right hand of God.
1. Albeit never one shall sit on his right hand nor his left, yet no∣thing in these words is for this purpose, seeing he saith not there, that a∣ny shall sit, but onely, To sit on my right hand—is not mine to give. 2. Matth. 19.28. he speakes of sitting on the Throne of his glo∣ry, (which must be in heaven, seeing he speakes absolutely, his glory, and his glory is greater in heaven, then can be on an earthly Throne.) And he saith unto his Disciples, When he shall sit on that Throne, ye who have followed me in the regeneration, shall sit upon twelve thrones. And may not some of these thrones be on his right hand, and some on his left hand? I enquire not now, what these thrones may be, but there ye see multitude of thrones in glory, as Kings in their State may have thrones for their greatest Peeres.
1. Doubtlesse if never one shall sit on Christs right hand, nor his left: there can be nothing in our Saviours answer to prove this; for no scripture doth teach, that that shall be done, which is ne∣ver to be done. But how shall we know whether any shall sit at his right hand, and his left, but from scripture? And if the scrip∣ture is to be sole Iudge in this case, (as indeed it is,) our Saviours answer is an unquestionable evidence to prove this. For he saith, not onely (as you answer for him) It is not mine to give; but he saith, It is not mine to give but to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. What! were the places on his right hand and on his left, then prepared of his Father, to be given by him to some; and yet can you say, that never one shall sit on his right hand, nor his left; and, that nothing in these words is for this purpose? Alas, that of all Gentiles, a Christian: of all Christians, a scholar: of all scho∣lars, a Divine should so wilfully and presumptuously beare false witnesse against Christ himselfe.
2. 'Tis true, that Matth. 19.28. our Saviour speakes of sit∣ting on the Throne of his glory: and that he said unto his Disci∣ples, when he should sit on that Throne, they also should sit (not on multitude of Thrones, but) on twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel. And therefore that Throne of his glo∣ry is not to be in heaven, (as you say,) but on earth, (as we say,)
seeing neither our Saviour, nor the Disciples shall judge any in heaven And we willingly grant that some of these Thrones are to be on his right hand, and some on his left. And therefore we say also, that they cannot be in heaven, because then some of the di∣sciples, (if not all) should be as highly exalted there, as our Sa∣viour, to wit, to the right hand of God. Which is a dignity that no creature but the Sonne of man shall have.