In the time of David God made the coming of the Messiah to be more manifestly declared, that it might be certainly known of what stock he should come: namely, of the stock of David, as when God said unto David:1 When thy days be fulfilled, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, and I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy body, and will stablish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I vvill stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And yet more plainly in the Psalm: The Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, 2and he shall not shrink from it: Of the fruit of thy body shall I set upon thy seat. Here Christ is described, that he shall be a king, and an eternal king,3 as it is mentioned of him in an other Psalm: Thy throne, O Lord endureth for ever, the sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 4Howbeit he is a spiritual king, which ruleth the world by his word: and whosoever receiveth his word, pertaineth to his kingdom. But he that is not under this sceptre, neither heareth his word, is not of God, neither pertaineth to his kingdom, but is subject to the kingdom of Satan, ⟨p. 39⟩under whose tyranny we all are, until the Lord doth deliver us from it, & defend us with his sceptre, which is then done when we believe in him. Forasmuch therefore as our salvation doth come merely by the promise of God, let every one assuredly persuade him self, that he shall never obtain salvation without this promise: although he should do the works of all Saints, yet they should profit him nothing hereunto. Contrariwise, if we lay hold on the sceptre of this king, that is, of the promise of God, we shall not perish, although the sins of the whole world should lye upon us, they shall be all swallowed up in him, albeit no good work be done of us. As we see in the thief, which hung by the Lord on the cross, who laid hold on the word of God, & believed in Christ, and therefore he obtained the promised Paradise. Here is no doubt left, let us only believe that it is so, and it is so in deed, all things which men teach, or which we have done or can do, being set aside. Here all things must give place, at the coming of this new king, that he alone may rule & reign in us.
In the time of Dauid God made the comming of the Messias to be more manifestly declared, that it might be certainly knowne of what stocke he should come: namely, of the stocke of Dauid, as when God sayd vnto Dauid:1 VVhen thy dayes be fulfilled, thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and I will set vp thy seede after thee, which shall proceede out of thy body, and wil stablish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I vvill stablish the throne of his kingdom for euer. I will be his father, and he shall be my sonne. And yet more plainely in the Psalme: The Lord hath made a faithfull othe vnto Dauid, 2and he shall not shrinke from it: Of the frute of thy bodye shall I set vppon thy seat. Here Christ is described, that he shall be a king, and an eternall king,3 as it is mentioned of him in an other Psalme: Thy throne, O Lord endureth for euer, the scepter of righteousnes is the scepter of thy kingdome. 4Howebeit he is a spirituall king, which ruleth the worlde by his worde: and whosoeuer receiueth his word, pertaineth to his kingdom. But he that is not vnder this scepter, neither heareth his worde, is not of God, neither pertaineth to his kingdom, but is subiect to the kingdom of Satan, ⟨p. 39⟩vnder whose tyrannie we all are, vntill the Lord doth deliuer vs from it, & defend vs with his scepter, which is then done when we beleeue in him. Forasmuch therefore as our saluation doth come meerly by the promise of God, let euery one assuredly perswade him selfe, yt he shal neuer obtaine saluation wtout this promise: although he should do the workes of all Sainctes, yet they should profit him nothing hereunto. Contrariwise, if we lay hold on the scepter of this king, that is, of the promise of God, we shal not perish, although the sinnes of the whole world should lye vpon vs, they shal be all swallowed vp in him, albeit no good worke be done of vs. As we see in the theefe, which hong by the Lord on the crosse, who layd hold on the word of God, & beleued in Christ, and therefore he obtayned the promised Paradise. Here is no dout left, let vs onely beleue that it is so, and it is so in deede, all thinges which men teach, or which we haue done or can doe, being set aside. Here all thinges must giue place, at the comming of this new king, that he alone may rule & reigne in vs.
- 12. Sam. 7.12.
- 2Psal. 132.11.
- 3Psal. 45.6.
- 4Who pertaineth to the kingdom of Christ, and who to the kingdom of Satan.
