Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

Shall we hear that Sermon that John Preached in his own words? Matthew in brief gives it in thus; Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand: ¹these are the words when he first began to Preach the Gospel of Christ; and indeed we find Christ himself doth preach the same Doctrine in the same words: Jesus began to Preach, and to say, ²Repent; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. In this Sermon we must observe these two parts: here's, 1. A Duty; and, 2. A Motive to this Duty. 1. The Duty is Repent.] It is not a Legal, but an Evangelical Repentance that is here meant; indeed the Law strictly takes no notice of Repentance, but the Gospel; true, and through, and consummate repentance is a Gospel-Grace. 2. The Motive is this; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. This Phrase, The Kingdom of Heaven, hath several acceptations, and accordingly it hath occasioned some differences. 1. Sometimes it is taken for that glorious condition of the other World; this may be implied; but this I suppose few understand to be the sense of this place. 2. Sometimes it is taken for the Church of Christ, q. d. Repent, for now the Pedagogy of the Jews is expiring, or breathing its last; and the Church of Christ is at hand, a People that shall bear the very stile of Christians; that shall profess Christ, and close with Christ as their Saviour and Messiah; of which Church, that you may be a part, prepare for it; Repent. 3. Sometimes it is taken for the spiritual Kingdom of Christ, in opposition to those earthly temporal Kingdoms which bear the sway, and domineered over all the World with Cruelty and Tyranny before Christs coming; of this Daniel ³prophesied; And in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Now what was this Kingdom, but the Kingdom of Grace? It is by an Hebraism called the Kingdom of Heaven, that is an Heavenly Kingdom; the Jews expected the Messiah, and dreamed of an outward, glorious and pompous Kingdom: now, saith John, the Messiah is come, and his Kingdom is come; but 'tis not an Earthly, but an Heavenly Kingdom; and therefore Repent. 4. Sometimes it is taken for the Preaching of the Gospel, or for the preaching of the Kingdom of Grace and Mercy of God in Christ unto men; q. d. O Sirs! look about you, there's now a discovery made of the Glory and Grace of God in another way than ever formerly;