The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

4 He commends him for the successfulness of his Ministry, and that is set forth in the Text: From the days of John the Baptist the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. A little for the explication of the Text.¹

4 He commends him for the successefulnesse of his Ministery, and that is set forth in the Text: From the dayes of John the Baptist the Kingdome of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. A little for the explication of the Text.¹

1. 1The Text opened. Coelum Empyreum.

By the kingdom of heaven] is not meant the glorious seat of the blessed Angels, but the Evangelical state of the Christian Church. ^aIt signifies the preaching of the Gospel, and propagation of the Church. ^bIt notes that state and condition of the Church which is properly called Christian. The Kingdom of heaven is in Scripture interpreted a breaking off from the observation of the Ceremonial law, and a publishing of the Gospel by John the Baptist, and so it begun when John did first preach the Gospel. And whereas Matthew tells us, Matth. 3. 1. John preached, saying, Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mark calls this, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Mark 1. 1. And therefore it is that John is called an Evangelical Preacher.

By the kingdome of heaven] is not meant the glorious seat of the blessed Angels, but the Evangelicall state of the Christian Church.