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religion-第9部分

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Kingdome; and crucified; was the true CHRIST; and King promised
by God; and sent from his father to renew the new Covenant
between them and God; both the Evangelists doe shew (describing
his Genealogie; nativity; life; doctrine; death; and
resurrection) and by comparing the things which he did; with
those which were foretold of him; all Christians doe consent to。
    IV。 Now from this; That CHRIST was sent from God his Father
to make a Covenant between him and the people; it is manifest;
that though Christ were equall to his Father according to his
nature; yet was he inferior according to the Right of the
Kingdom; for this office to speak properly; was not that of a
King; but of a Vice…roy; such as Moyses his Government was。 For
the Kingdom was not his; but his Fathers; which CHRIST himselfe
signified when he was baptized as a subject; and openly profest;
when he taught his Disciples to pray; Our Father; Thy Kingdome
come; &c。 And when he said; I will not drink of the blood of the
grape; untill that day when I shall drink it new with you in the
Kingdome of my Father; Mat。 26。 vers。 29。 And Saint Paul。 As in
Adam all die; so in Christ shall all be made alive; but every man
in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterward they that
are Christs; who beleeved in his coming; Then cometh the end when
he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even his Father;
&c。 1。 Cor。 15。 vers。 22; 23; 24。 The same notwithstanding is
also called the Kingdome of Christ: for both the Mother of the
sonnes of Zebedie petitioned Christ; saying; Grant that these my
two sonnes may sit; the one on thy right hand; the other on thy
left; in thy Kingdome; Mat。 20。 vers。 21。 And the Theef on the
Cross; Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom; Luke
23。 vers。 42。 And Saint Paul; For this know yee; that no
whormonger; &c。 shall enter into the Kingdome of God; and of
Christ; Ephes。 5。 ver。 5。 And elsewhere; I charge thee before
God; and the Lord Iesus Christ; who shall judge the quick and
dead at his appearing; and his Kingdome; & c。 2 Tim。 4。 ver。 1。
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evill worke; and will
Preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdome; ver。 18。 Nor is it to be
marvelled at; that the same Kingdome is attributed to them both;
since both the Father; and the Son; are the same God; and the new
Covenant concerning Gods Kingdome; is not propounded in the Name
of the FATHER; but in the name of the FATHER; of the SON; and of
the HOLY…GHOST; as of one God。
    V。 But the Kingdome of God; for restitution whereof CHRIST
was sent from God his Father; takes not its beginning before his
second comming; to wit; from the day of Judgement; when he shall
come in Majesty accompanied with his Angels: For it is promis'd
the Apostles; that in the Kingdome of God; they shall judge the
twelve tribes of Israel。 Ye which have followed me in the
regeneration; when the Sonne of man shall sit in the Throne of
his glory; ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel; Mat。 19。 ver。 28。 which is not to be
done till the day of judgement; CHRIST therefore is not yet in
the throne of his Majesty; nor is that time when CHRIST was
conversant here in the world call'd a Kingdome; but a
regeneration; that is to say a renovation; or restitution of the
Kingdome of God; and a calling of them who were hereafter to be
receiv'd into his Kingdome; And where it is said; When the Son of
man shall come in his glory; and all the holy Angels with him;
then shall he sit uPon the throne of his glory; and before him
shall be gathered all Nations; and he shall seParate them one
from another; as a Shepheard divideth his Sheep from the Goates;
Mat。 25。 ver。 31。 we may manifestly gather; that there will be no
Locall separation of Gods Subjects from his Enemies; but that
they shall live mixt together untill CHRISTS second comming。
Which is also confirm'd by the comparison of the Kingdome of
heaven; with wheat mingled with Darnell; and with a net
containing all sorts of fish。 But a multitude of men; Enemies and
Subjects; living promiscuously together; cannot properly be
term'd a Kingdome。 Besides; the Apostles; when they askt our
Saviour; Whether he would at that time when he ascended into
heaven; restore the Kingdome unto Israel? did openly testifie;
that they then; when CHRIST ascended; thought the Kingdome of God
not to be yet come。 Farthermore; the words of CHRIST; My Kingdome
is not of this world; And; I will not drinke; &c。 till the
Kingdome of God come: And; God hath not sent his Son into the
World; to judge the World; but that the World through him might
be sav'd。 And; If any man heare not my words; and keepe them; I
judge him not; for I came not to judge the World; but to save the
World。 And; Man; who made me a judge or divider betweene you? And
the very Appellation of the Kingdome of Heaven testifies as much。
The same thing is gathered out of the words of the Prophet
Jeremiah; speaking of the Kingdome of God by the new Covenant;
They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour; saying; Know
the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least of them; to
the greatest of them; saith the Lord; Jer。 31。 v。 34。 which
cannot be understood of a Kingdome in this World。 The Kingdome of
God therefore; for the restoring whereof CHRIST came into the
world; of which the Prophets did Prophesie; and of which praying
wee say; Thy Kingdome come; (if it must have Subjects locally
separated from Enemies; if judicature; if Majesty; according as
hath beene foretold;) shall begin from that time; wherein God
shall separate the Sheep from the Goats; wherein the Apostles
shall judge the twelve Tribes of Israel; wherein CHRIST shall
come in Majesty; and glory; wherein Lastly; all men shall so know
God; that they shall not need to be taught; that is to say; at
CHRIST his second comming; or the day of Judgement。 But if the
Kingdome of God were now already restor'd; no reason could be
rendered why CHRIST having compleated the work for which he was
sent; should come againe; or why we should pray; Thy Kingdome
come。
    VI。 Now; although the Kingdome of God by CHRIST to be
establisht with a new Covenant; were Heavenly; we must not
therefore thinke; that they; who beleeving in CHRIST would make
that Covenant; were not so to be govern'd here on the Earth too;
as that they should persevere in their faith; and obedience
promis'd by that Covenant。 For in vaine had the Kingdome of
heaven beene promis'd; if we were not to have been led into it。
But none can be led; but those who are directed in the way。
Moyses; when he had instituted the Priestly Kingdome; himselfe
though he were no Priest; yet rul'd; and conducted the People all
the time of their Peregrination untill their entrance into the
promis'd Land。 In the same manner is it our Saviours office (whom
God in this thing would have like unto Moyses) as he was sent
from his Father; so to governe the future Subjects of his
heavenly Kingdome in this life; that they might attaine to; and
enter into that; although the Kingdome were not properly his; but
his Fathers。 But the government whereby CHRIST rules the
faithfull ones in this life; is not properly a Kingdome; or
Dominion; but a Pastorall charge; or the Right of teaching; that
is to say; God the father gave him not a power to judge of Meum
and Tuum as he doth to the Kings of the Earth; nor a Coercive
power; nor legislative; but of shewing to the world; and teaching
them the way; and knowledge of Salvation; that is to say; of
Preaching; and declaring what they were to doe; who would enter
into the Kingdome of Heaven。 That CHRIST had receiv'd no power
from his father to judge in questions of Meum and Tuum; that is
to say; in all questions of Right among those who beleev'd not;
those words above cited doe sufficiently declare: Man; who made
me a judge; or divider betweene you? And it is confirm'd by
reason; for seeing CHRIST was sent to make a Covenant between God
and men; and no man is oblig'd to performe obedience before the
Contract be made; if he should have judg'd of questions of Right;
no man had been tyed to obey his sentence。 But that the
discerning of Right was not committed to CHRIST in this world;
neither among the faithfull; nor among infidels; is apparent in
this; that that Right without all controversie belongs to Princes
as long as it is not by; But it is not derogated God himselfe
derogated from their authority; before the day of Judgement; as
appeares by the words of Saint Paul; speaking of the day of
Judgement; Then commeth the end when He shall have delivered up
the Kingdome to God even the Father; when He shall have put downe
all rule; and all authority; and Power; 1 Cor。 15。 ver。 24。
Secondly; the words of our Saviour reproving James; and Iohn;
when they had said; Wilt thou that we call for Fyer from Heaven;
that it may consume them (namely the Samaritans; who had denyed
to receive him going up to Jerusalem) and replying; The Son of
Man is not come to destroy soules; but to save them; And those
words; Behold I send you as Sheep among Wolves; Shake off the
dust of your Feet; and the like; And those words; God sent not
his Son into the world; to judge the world; but that the world
through him might be sav'd; and those; If any man heare my words;
and keep them not; I judge him not; for I came not to judge the
world; & c。 doe all shew; that he had no power given him; to
condemne or punish any man。 We reade indeed that the Father
judgeth no Man; but hath committed all judgement to the Son; but
since that both may; and must be understood of the day of future
judgement; it doth not at all repugne what hath beene sayed
before。 Lastly; that he was not sent to make new Lawes; and that
therefore by his Office; and mission; he was no Legislatour
properly so called; nor Moyses neither; but a bringer and
Publisher of his Fathers Lawes; (for God only; and neither
Moyses; nor CHRIST; was a King by Covenant) is collected hence;
that he sayed; I came not to destroy (to wit the Lawes before
given from God by Moyses; which he presently interprets) but to
fulfill; And; He that shall break one of the least of these
Commandements; and shall teach
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