This special kingdom of God is two-fold; either of Grace, or of1 Glory: The kingdom of grace, is a spiritual estate, wherein God makes men willingly subject to his written word, by his spirit. I call the kingdom ⟨p. 268⟩of grace, a spiritual estate, both because it is principally exercised in the conscience, and also because this regiment in the conscience, is by the spirit of God. Secondly, I show wherein it consists; namely, in a voluntary subjection of the whole man in soul, and body, and spirit, to the will of God, revealed in the word: Psalm. 110. 3. Thy people shall come willingly in the day of assembling thine army, in holy beauty. And this subjection stands in three things; in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17, 18. In Righteousness, that is, First, in Christs righteousness imputed; and secondly, in the righteousness of a good conscience, the ground whereof, is sanctification by the spirit, which Christ gives to them, whom he doth justify. In Peace, that is, peace of conscience towards God, and peace with Gods Church; yea, with all creatures, so far forth as is needful for them. Now under peace, we must comprehend love, and all duties of love; for as righteousness concerns the person in soul and body, so peace respects all duties and actions of the life: Righteousness is the root, from whence springeth this peace, with every action thereof; for when the heart is sanctified, the life is reformed. Lastly, in joy in the holy Ghost: this is a fruit of both the former, respecting especially the state of affliction; for when a man is justified and sanctified, and hath peace towards God, then ariseth in his heart a spiritual delight in God, in all estates: yea, though great afflictions light upon him for Gods cause, yet he beareth them with inward joy and delight, knowing that the spirit of glory, & of God, resteth upon him, and that he shall be glorified with Christ, if he suffer with Christ: which things, while he compareth together, he little esteemeth the afflictions of this life, in respect of the glory that shall be revealed; lfor the light affliction that is but for a moment, causeth unto us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory. These are the branches of this spiritual subjection, which whosoever hath, is a good subject in the kingdom of grace;
This speciall kingdome of God is two-folde; either of Grace, or of1 Glorie: The kingdome of grace, is a spiritual estate, wherein God makes men willingly subiect to his written word, by his spirit. I call the kingdome ⟨p. 268⟩of grace, a spirituall estate, both because it is principally exercised in the conscience, and also because this regiment in the conscience, is by the spirit of God. Secondly, I shew wherein it consists; namely, in a voluntarie subiection of the whole man in soule, and bodie, and spirit, to the will of God, reuealed in the word: Psalm. 110. 3. Thy people shall come willingly in the day of assembling thine armie, in holy beautie. And this subiection stands in three things; in Righteousnesse, Peace, and Ioy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17, 18. In Righteousnes, that is, First, in Christs righteousnesse imputed; and secondly, in the righteousnesse of a good conscience, the ground whereof, is sanctification by the spirit, which Christ giues to them, whom he doth iustifie. In Peace, that is, peace of conscience towards God, and peace with Gods Church; yea, with all creatures, so farre forth as is needfull for them. Now vnder peace, we must comprehend loue, and all duties of loue; for as righteousnesse concernes the person in soule and bodie, so peace respects all duties and actions of the life: Righteousnesse is the root, from whence springeth this peace, with euery action thereof; for when the heart is sanctified, the life is reformed. Lastly, in ioy in the holy Ghost: this is a fruite of both the former, respecting especially the state of affliction; for when a man is iustified and sanctified, and hath peace towards God, then ariseth in his heart a spirituall delight in God, in all estates: yea, though great afflictions light vpon him for Gods cause, yet he beareth them with inward ioy and delight, knowing that the spirit of glorie, & of God, resteth vpon him, and that he shall be glorified with Christ, if he suffer with Christ: which things, while he compareth together, hee little esteemeth the afflictions of this life, in respect of the glorie that shall be reuealed; lfor the light affliction that is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and eternall waight of glorie. These are the branches of this spirituall subiection, which whosoeuer hath, is a good subiect in the kingdome of grace;
- 1Gods kingdom of grace.Gods kingdome of grace.
- l2. Cor. 4. 17