Christian religion: substantially, methodicalli[e,] [pla]inlie, and profitablie treatised

PSAL. 99. vers. 1, 2, 3, 4.

1 The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble: he sitteth be∣tweene the Cherubims, let the earth be moued.

2 The Lord is great in Zion, & he is high aboue all the people.

3 They shall praise thy great and fearefull Name (for it is holie)

4 And the Kings power that loueth iudgement: for thou hast prepared equitie: thou hast executed iudgement and iustice in Iaakob.

HAuing spoken of the first part of diuinitie, which is of the nature of God; it followeth that wee speake of his kingdome, which is the second.

VVhat learne you from these words, the Lord reig∣neth?

That God alone hath and exerciseth soueraigne and absolute empire ouer all, and that he admitteth no fellow gouernour with him.

VVhat is the kingdome of God?

It is an eternall kingdome appointed and ruled by the counsell of his owne will.

Wherewith doth he raigne and rule?

Principally by his owne powerfull spirit, which none can resist.

What end doth hee propound vnto himselfe in his kingdome?

His owne glorie.

VVhat is that, about which his kingdome is occu∣pied?

All things visible and inuisible.

VVhen shall it end?

Neuer: either in this world or in the world to come.

VVhat manner of kingdome is it?

A righteous kingdome.

VVhat instruction gather you of this that God reigneth?

First, that all nations and sorts of men tremble, for that hee alone is able to saue and to destroy. For if men tremble vnder the regiment and kingly rule of men, how much more ought wee to tremble vnder the powerfull kingdome of God, which hath more power ouer them, then they haue ouer their sub∣iects?

This trembling doth it stand only in feare?

No: but in reuerence also, that that which wee comprehend not in this kingdome with our reason, we reuerence and adore.

VVhat learne you thereby?

That we subiect our selues to his kingdom erected amongst vs, that wee presume to know nothing, but that he teacheth vs, to will nothing but what he bid∣deth

vs; to loue, hate, feare, and affect nothing but as he requireth.

VVhat other fruis are there of his kingdome?

That hee ought to bee magnified, because hee is great, and fearefull, and yet holie and holinesse it selfe: vers. 3.

VVhat comfort learne you from that God reig∣neth?

First, that when wee are wronged and oppressed by tyrannie of men, wee may haue our recourse to the iust and righteous iudgement of God, which is the righteous Iudge of the world.

Secondly, that although all the world rore and fret, yet wee should not feare, because the Lord is greater.

VVhat learne you of that the Prophet saith, he is high, and higher then they?

That which himselfe teacheth, vers. 5. that we ex∣toll him with praises.

VVhat are the parts of his kingdome?

Two:

• 1. His decree.—
• 2. The execution of his decree.

vers. 4.

VVhat is Gods Decree?

It is an action of his most perfect will, which ma∣keth the thing he decreeth perfectly good.

Seeing his Decree is defined by his will, what must we consider therein?

Wee must not subiect it to our shallow and base capacitie, to measure it by our reason, considering that the will of God, from whence the decree com∣meth, is vnsearchable.

VVhat gather you from that fourth verse?

That hee hath not only decreed the things them∣selues, but also their circumstances of place or time: so that they shall not come in any other place or time then he hath ordained: and then and there they shal come to passe necessarily.

VVhat is the principall decree of God in the things he hath ordained for his glorie?

That which is of the good or euill of men or An∣gels, which is called predestination.

VVhat is predestination?

It is the decree of God touching the euerlasting state of men and Angels.

VVhat are the parts of predestination?

Two:

• Election, and
• Reprobation.

VVhat is Gods election of them?

It is his predestination of certaine men and An∣gels to euerlasting life, to the praise of his glorious grace.

VVhat is Reprobation?

It is his predestination of certaine men and An∣gels to destruction, to the praise of his glorious iu∣stice: Rom. 9.22.

VVhat is the cause why these are chosen and refused, and not these?

The meere will and pleasure of God.

Notes

• Esay 9.7. Dan. 3.33. Esay 40.13. Rom. 11.34.35.36. Eph. 1.11 Esay 44.24. & 45.7.48.11. Eph. 1.12.14. Psal. 97.5.
• Psal. 45.7. & 97.2.
• Psal. 2.
• Ecclesiast. 5.7.
• Psal. 93.10.11. & 97.1.
• Psal. 145.12.
• Acts 27.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.17.31.32.34.44.