1. The State of the Gospel, or Evangelical State, 'tis God's Kingdom, in regard of the Monarch whom God hath set up, (that is) Jesus Christ, the great Lord of all Things. There is no King like him: God hath made him higher than the Kings of the Earth. Psal. 89. 27. How doth he exceed all other Monarchs and Potentates in the World? Partly, for Largeness of Command and Territory. All Kings and Monarchs have certain Bounds and Limits, by which their Empire is terminated; but Christ is the true Catholic King, his Government runs throughout the whole Circuit of Nature and Providence; he hath Power over all Flesh, John 17. 2. yea, Devils themselves are to stoop to him. Phil. 2. 10. Every Thing under the Earth is to bow the Knee to Christ. Partly, for the Excellency of his Throne. This King hath a double Throne, one in Heaven, the other in the Heart of an humble Sinner, which is his ⟨p. 187⟩second Heaven. Isa. 57. 15. And in both these respects there is no Monarch like Christ. He hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens, and his Kingdom ruleth over all. Psal. 103. 19. Earthly Kings, that their Majesty may appear to their Subjects, have their Thrones usually exalted; there were six Steps to Solomon's Throne, a Description of it you have in 1 Kings 10. 18, 19. But what's this to the Throne of Christ, which God hath fixed above in the Heavens? The whole Globe of Sea and Earth is but as one Point, and there are ten thousand times ten thousands of Angels about his Throne: The Supporters of this Throne are Justice and Mercy. And in regard of his other Throne also in the Hearts of Men: The Power of outward Potentates reacheth but to the Bodies of Men; they can take cognizance of nothing, but of external Conformity to their Laws: But Christ gives Laws to the Thoughts, 2 Cor. 10. 5. So for his Royal Furniture: Other Princes, they have their Chariots, and Coaches, and Horses, &c. but He makes the Clouds his Chariot, and walketh upon the Wings of the Wind, Psal. 104. 3. Riding up and down in the World, dispensing Mercies and Judgments. So for Troops and Armies to support his Dignity, all the Hosts of Heaven are obedient to him; one Angel in one Night destroyed in Sennacherib's Army, an Hundred Fourscore and Five Thousand. Hostility against him must needs be deadly. He is above in Heaven, and can rain down Fire and Brimstone upon us, and cannot be resisted.
1. The State of the Gospel, or Evangelical State, 'tis God's Kingdom, in regard of the Monarch whom God hath set up, (that is) Jesus Christ, the great Lord of all Things. There is no King like him: God hath made him higher than the Kings of the Earth. Psal. 89. 27. How doth he exceed all other Monarchs and Potentates in the World? Partly, for Largeness of Command and Territory. All Kings and Monarchs have certain Bounds and Limits, by which their Empire is terminated; but Christ is the true Catholick King, his Government runs throughout the whole Circuit of Nature and Providence; he hath Power over all Flesh, Iohn 17. 2. yea, Devils themselves are to stoop to him. Phil. 2. 10. Every Thing under the Earth is to bow the Knee to Christ. Partly, for the Excellency of his Throne. This King hath a double Throne, one in Heaven, the other in the Heart of an humble Sinner, which is his ⟨p. 187⟩second Heaven. Isa. 57. 15. And in both these respects there is no Monarch like Christ. He hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens, and his Kingdom ruleth over all. Psal. 103. 19. Earthly Kings, that their Majesty may appear to their Subjects, have their Thrones usually exalted; there were six Steps to Solomon's Throne, a Description of it you have in 1 Kings 10. 18, 19. But what's this to the Throne of Christ, which God hath fix'd above in the Heavens? The whole Globe of Sea and Earth is but as one Point, and there are ten thousand times ten thousands of Angels about his Throne: The Supporters of this Throne are Iustice and Mercy. And in regard of his other Throne also in the Hearts of Men: The Power of outward Potentates reacheth but to the Bodies of Men; they can take cognizance of nothing, but of external Conformity to their Laws: But Christ gives Laws to the Thoughts, 2 Cor. 10. 5. So for his Royal Furniture: Other Princes, they have their Chariots, and Coaches, and Horses, &c. but He makes the Clouds his Chariot, and walketh upon the Wings of the Wind, Psal. 104. 3. Riding up and down in the World, dispensing Mercies and Judgments. So for Troops and Armies to support his Dignity, all the Hosts of Heaven are obedient to him; one Angel in one Night destroyed in Sennacherib's Army, an Hundred Fourscore and Five Thousand. Hostility against him must needs be deadly. He is above in Heaven, and can rain down Fire and Brimstone upon us, and cannot be resisted.
