A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God

§. 35. Of Gods kingdom: what it is, and what be the kinds of it.

§. 35. Of Gods kingdome: what it is, and what be the kinds of it.

Q. Which is the second Petition?

Q. VVHich is the second Petition?

Q. What is the kingdom of God?

Q. What is the kingdome of God?

A. That estate where as a King he ruleth. For that is a kingdom where a King reigneth and ruleth. Where God therefore reigneth, there is his kingdom.

A. That estate where as a King he ruleth. For that is a kingdome where a King raigneth and ruleth. Where God therefore raigneth, there is his kingdome.

Q. How doth God reign as a King?

Q. How doth God raigne as a King?

A. 1. By his absolute power he reigneth over the whole world.

A. 1. By his absolute power he raigneth ouer the whole world.

2. By his special grace he reigneth over his Church.

2. By his speciall grace he raigneth ouer his Church.

According to this different manner of Gods reigning is his kingdom distinguished. For

According to this different manner of Gods raigning is his kingdome distinguished. For

1. He hath an universal kingdom,¹ called his kingdom of power: because by his absolute and supreme power he over-ruleth all creatures whatsoever, or wheresoever they be In regard of this universal sovereignty of God, the Scripture saith, His kingdom ruleth over all. For who hath resisted his will? And thereupon he saith unto God,² How terrible art thou in thy works? Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves to thee.³

1. He hath an vniuersall kingdome,¹ called his kingdome of power: because by his absolute and supreme power he ouer-ruleth all creatures whatsoeuer, or wheresoeuer they be In regard of this vniuersall soueraignty of God, the Scripture saith, His kingdome ruleth ouer all. For who hath resisted his will? And thereupon he saith vnto God,² How terrible art thou in thy workes? Through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies submit themsel•es to thee.³

1. 1Gods universal kingdom. Ubique, regnat, ubique, imperat, ubique, maiestas eius. Bern. de verb. Isay. Serm. 5.Gods vniuersall kingdome. Vbique, regnat, vbique, imperat, vbique, maiestas eius. Bern. de verb. Isay. Serm. 5.
2. 2Psal. 103 19.
3. 3Rom. 9. 19.

2. He hath a peculiar kingdom,¹ called his kingdom of Grace, ²whereby he reigneth over a select people culled out of the world, which voluntarily yield obedience unto him. The company of this people, is in one word the Church: and it is a society chosen of God,³ redeemed by Christ, called and sanctified by the holy Ghost, which hath been in all ages of the world, some in heaven, others on earth spread over the face thereof far and near: in which respects it is styled the holy Catholic Church. This is properly the kingdom of Christ, in, and by whom the Father reigneth. For it is said, that a kingdom was given to the Son of man: ⁴Of whom saith the Father, I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion: ⁵whose people shall be willing in the day of his power.⁶

2. He hath a peculiar kingdome,¹ called his kingdome of Grace, ²whereby he raigneth ouer a select people culled out of the world, which voluntarily yeeld obedience vnto him. The companie of this people, is in one word the Church: and it is a societie chosen of God,³ redeemed by Christ, called and sanctified by the holy Ghost, which hath bene in all ages of the world, some in heauen, others on earth spread ouer the face thereof farre and neare: in which respects it is stiled the holy Catholicke Church. This is properly the kingdome of Christ, in, and by whom the Father raigneth. For it is said, that a kingdome was giuen to the Sonne of man: ⁴Of whom saith the Father, I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion: ⁵whose people shall be willing in the day of his power.⁶

1. 1Psal. 66. 3.
2. 2Gods peculiar kingdom, his Church.Gods peculiar kingdome, his Church.
3. 3Sanè secundum praedestinationem nunquam Ecclesia electoric penes deum non suit. Bern. super Cant. Serm. 78.
4. 4Dan. 7. 14.
5. 5Psal. 2. 6.
6. 6Psal. 110. 3.

Herein lieth a main difference betwixt Gods manner of government in his universal, and in his peculiar kingdom, that the worlds subjection is forced, ¹but the Churches subjection is free.

Herein lyeth a maine difference betwixt Gods manner of gouernment in his vniuersall, and in his peculiar kingdome, that the worlds subiection is forced, ¹but the Churches subiection is free.

1. 1Psal. 66. 3.—110 3.

§. 36. Of Gods reigning over rebels.

§. 36. Of Gods raigning ouer rebels.

Touching that universal kingdom of God over all creatures in all places, seeing there are many which rebel ⟨p. 49⟩against God and say,¹ Let us break his bonds asunder, and cast his cords from us: ²We will not have him to reign over us: and thereupon walk according to the Prince of the •re, ³the spirit which worketh in the children of disobedience: and seeing the devil is the god of this world, a doubt may be made, how God can be said to be their King, and Gods kingdom thus universally extended over the whole world.

TOuching that vniuersall kingdome of God ouer all creatures in all places, seeing there are many which rebell ⟨p. 49⟩against God and say,¹ Let vs breake his bonds asinder, and cast his cords from vs: ²We will not haue him to reigne ouer vs: and therupon walke according to the Prince of the •re, ³the spirit which worketh in the children of disobedience: and seeing the diuell is the god of this world, a doubt may be made, how God can be said to be their King, and Gods kingdome thus vniuersally extended ouer the whole world.

1. 1Psal. 2. 3.
2. 2Luke 19. 14.
3. 3Eph. 2. […]Eph. 2. 〈…〉

Answ. 1. Rebellion of subjects taketh not away the right of a Sovereign.¹ Christ therefore notwithstanding the tumult of people is said to be a King.

Answ. 1. Rebelion of subiects taketh not away the right of a Soueraigne.¹ Christ therefore notwithstanding the tumult of people is said to be a King.

1. 1Psal. 2. 1, 6.