Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 183.

8. The son of God always the Lord, and King: by whom (before his Incarnation) God the Father created,* 1.1 and after∣ward sustained, and governed, the whole world, (and more especially the Church,) from the beginning. But man be∣ing also partly at his first Creation possessed of a dominion; and partly upon his obedience through many temptations being promised yet a higher advancement; and losing by his sudden dis-obedience, both what he had, and what he had hopes of: This eternal King in pity to man, and zeal to the reparing of his Fathers Glory descended from his throne divested of all his Glory and Majesty, and be∣came man of the meanest fashion; and by his obedience, and sufferings (the way prescribed to attain it) regained this Kingdome in his humane nature: and so by him shall as many of Adam's Posterity, as truly follow the Example he hath shewed them. In which Enterprize, for a reward of his great humiliation, the man Christ Jesus is now advanced above all principality, and power; hath absolute dominion given him over all Angels, good, evil; Men, good, evil; over souls, and bodies; the living, and the dead; over all the Crea∣tures; and is to be the last Judge of all men, brought back

again into life, to stand before his dreadful Tribunal: Of Angels, the bad; and also the good, for the increasing at that time of their glory; for their good service to man, cor∣respondent to the increasing, at that time, of the torments of the evil for their mischievous endeavours against God's Creatures: the great Arbitour of bliss, and torments, and at that time the maker of a new world. Meanwhile exer∣cising this his absolute dominion, and power; by certain degrees (not all at once) according to his infinite wisdome. 1. Both in subduing his enemies; where he first de∣stroys the first Beast. 2. Then the second Beast, (or image of the first Beast revived) together with the false Prophet (or Anti-Christ) that is joyned with him (Rev. 19.20.) 3. Then Satan (Rev. 20.10.) 4. Last of all, Death it self (Rev. 20.14.—1. Cor. 15.26.) 2. And in the enlarging of his dominions; which he extendeth: 1. To the Jew, and to them in part only: 2. Then to the Gentile. 3. Then upon their fulness come in (Rom. 11.25.) to the Jews in their whole Body: and so at last perfectly reigning in his members here on earth, (i. e. for the outward profession of the Gospel) in the full harvest both of Jew, and Gentile; all Kingdomes, or States, opposing the Gospel being quite subdued. After which the number of God's Elect being accomplished, and just punishments, and rewards, at the general resurrection distributed, he shall resign his King∣dome to the Father; when both himself (as Man) and all the rest of the Sons of God shall be fully perfected, by God becoming all in all (1. Cor. 15.23.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  8, King.