DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 f 
 
 Treasure "Room 
 
A N 
 
 E S S ^ Y 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 K I N G D O M 
 
 O F 
 
 CHRIST. 
 
 B Y 
 
 ABRAHAM BOOTH. 
 
 They shall speak of the Glory of thT 
 Kingdom. P/jlm ex V. 1 1 . 
 
 iV E PF- Y O R K: 
 
 Printed and Soldhj W. Durell, at his 
 Book- Store and Printing-Office^ 
 No. 19, Queen- vStreet. 
 M,DCC.XCI. 
 

Cui. 1 8 7^.^ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 'T^HE Kingdom ofChriftis a fubjcft 
 of great importance : for, accor-d- 
 ing to the views we have of that king- 
 dom will our coneliifionsbe, rGrpe6ling 
 various branches of religious condu6l. 
 Ifthofe views be imaginary, thefe ccn- 
 clufions mufl: be fallc. By the former, 
 the glory of Mefliah's regal charadicr 
 will be obfcurcd : by the litter, his 
 vorfhip will be corrupted : whereas 
 the true doSrine concerning this holy 
 empire, may not only be the mean of 
 preferving froro thofe evih, but of pre- 
 fentingus with 6^^/^ for the deciilon of 
 many difputes among the profefTors of 
 Chriflianity. A competent acquaint- 
 ance, therefore, with its nature and 
 laws, its emoluments and honors, is 
 clofely conncded with our duty and ot]r 
 happincfs: which acquaintance mufl be 
 <Ierived from divine I^evelation, 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 Important, however, as the fubject 
 nianifciUy is, it lias been but rddom pro- 
 felTcdly dilciiflcci. This confideration 
 was a leading motive to the prefent at* 
 tempt. To illiidrate the nature of our 
 Lord's Kingdom, and to infer the con- 
 clufions flowing from it, conftiture the 
 defign of this EHay. 
 
 The author has exprefTed his thoughts 
 with great freedom > yet without in- 
 tending the leall offence to any party of 
 ChrillianSjorto any perfon, from whofe 
 notions and pra6lices he confcientioufly 
 differs. In the courfe of difcuflion he 
 animadverts, indeed, on feme particu- 
 lars, with a degree of fevcrity : but 
 then they appear to him in the light of 
 f)oliticaJ artifices^ which either impeach 
 the dominion of Chriil in his own kino;- 
 dom ', or degrade and corrupt that 
 worfliip v/hicli he rcauires. Now, in 
 cafes oi this kind, the writer is of opini- 
 on, i': r "^'?;Tirjiceto the King Meiliah, 
 
PREFACE. r 
 
 and true benevolence to man, demand 
 t'lie language oFmaiiced opp.Gfi.rion. 
 
 Such is the nature of our Lord's em- 
 pire, that few of his lovai fubjeas can 
 ferioufly reflccb upon i-c, without feel-r 
 iug themfelves bo.th delighted and re- 
 proved. Delighted; becaufe it is for 
 the honor of their Mediator, to be the 
 Sovereign of a fpiritual monarchy. 4 
 charadber of this kind apparently fuits 
 the digniiy of his Perfon, the dellgn of 
 his mediation, and ihe riches of his 
 gvacQ. '- Reproved i becaufe they daily 
 f.nd a want of that fpirituality in their 
 aifeclions, and of chat heavenly mind- 
 cdnef?, which become the profcfTeiJ 
 fubjefibs of fuch a kingdom. When 
 ^leditatingon the charafitcriilics of this 
 holy empire, they (land convicbcd be? 
 fore its divide Sovereign of mucli car- 
 nality and worldly -minded ncfs, over 
 ■!?;hich they iincerely mourn: vb>k 
 
 A % 
 
vi P R E F A C E. 
 
 merely nominal fubjcccs of the King 
 Mefliah, or fuperfieial profefTors ofthe 
 gracious gofpel, are but little concern- 
 ed about the (late of their hearts, in re- 
 ference to heaven j or with regard to 
 the fpiricaality of their worlliip. 
 
 Thisbeing the cafe with muhitudes, 
 the author would not be much furpri- 
 fed, were various particulars in the fol- 
 lowing pages to prove difguiiing to the 
 cade of numbers profefiin£r godlinefs. 
 But facls are flubborn thin.os 3 and the 
 fayings of Jefus Chriil mud not be ex- 
 plained away, that confcience may red 
 in a falfc peace, or that the public tadc 
 may be gratified*. For, when thinking 
 of our Sublime Sovereign, Tky king- 
 dom cOiME, is the language of every up- 
 right heart, let carnal profefTors and the 
 profligate v/orld fay what thcv pleaf^-. 
 
 A. B30TH. 
 
 GooJ man's Fields, July 50; l ySS. 
 
 * Luther fays, Potlus qmm ah'quid Regno 
 Ch'iftl et Glotlae ejus decedat, ruat non folum pax 
 {rd cccl-im et terra. Loci Commun, CbiT iv. p ^j. 
 
r 7 1. , . 
 
 A N 
 
 E S S A Y 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 
 
 T having been repealed by ancient 
 Prophets, thac the Lord Mcfliah 
 fhould be a King, and have iiniverfal 
 empire, the cholen tribes in every age 
 expected his appearance under the regal 
 charader. While, however, the ge- 
 neral idea ofthatexpe6tation was fully 
 warranted by the Spirit of prophecy, 
 the bulk of Abraham's natural polierity 
 v^ere under agrofs miftake, rcipedling 
 the true defign of their Melliah's ap- 
 pearance, and the real nature of his 
 kingdom: which miftake had the moft 
 pernicious influence upon their temper 
 and condu<5]:, v^hen the gracious pro- 
 mifcofhis comincf was fulfilled. 
 
 o 
 
 Thefenfe which they affixed to pro-» 
 phecies refpe^tingthcgrcat Redeemer.^ 
 was manifedly fuch as flattered their 
 pride and foftered their carnality. This, 
 gave it a decided advantage, in their 
 
ESSAY ON THE 
 
 A^Iatnation, over that for which e-ur 
 ;Lord and his Apoftles contended > and 
 led them to overlook whntcver in the 
 ancient Oracles oppofed their feciilar 
 views. Ignorant of their fpiritual 
 wants, and fi.ufhed with a falfe perCiia- 
 ilon of interefl in Jehovah's peculiar fa- 
 vor,onthegroiindo[canialdefcentfrom 
 Abraham, and oHhe Covenant made at 
 Horeb -, the doctrine, example, and 
 claims of Chriil:^ were extrecncly of- 
 ienfive. Not appearing as a tempoi al 
 prince, dilcovering no difpofition to 
 free them from the Roman yoke, and 
 frequently addrejiling their coiifciences 
 with keen reproof^ on account of their 
 pride and hypocrify, fuperftition and 
 covetoufnefs y tliey reje<ied with de- 
 termined oppofitionalltheevidences of 
 his divine miflion, treated him as an ini- 
 podor, and procured his crucifixion.- - 
 After he was rifen from the dead, and 
 afcended to heaven, multitudes of thera 
 indeed believed, and profefTed the 
 Chriilian faith : but a great majority of 
 the nation continued in hardened im- 
 penitence, and perfecutcd iheApoflles 
 y/ith unrelenting malevolenxre. Thus 
 they proceeded till, divine forbearance 
 being exhaufled, ivr^//^ came upon them 
 ipthc uttcrmoft^ in the total fubverHoi^'i 
 .^ftheir civil and eccleliadicalpoUtyc 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 9 
 
 This miflake of the Jews, rerpe6i:ing 
 the kingdom of their Meiiiah, lying at 
 the foundation of all tne oppolition 
 with which they treated him, and of 
 their own ruin j it behoves us to guard 
 with diligence againil every thing 
 which tends to fecularize the dominion 
 of Chriil : lell, by corrupting the Gof- 
 pel Oeconomv, we dillionor the Lord 
 Redeemer, and be finally puniflied as 
 the enemies of his government. Our 
 danger of contracting^ guilt, and ot in- 
 curring divine l^mrnent in this way, 
 is far ^rom fmall. l^or we are fo con- 
 vcrfant with fenhble objc6t«^, and fo de- 
 lighted with exterior fhow, that weare 
 naturally inclined to wifhforfomething 
 in the religion of Jefus, to gratify our 
 carnality. Under the influence of that 
 mailer prejudice, t/ie expe6lation of a 
 temporal kingdom^ Jewifh depravity re- 
 jected Chriil J and our corruption, if 
 we be not watchful, may fo mifrepre- 
 fent his empire, and oppofe his royal 
 prerogative^, as implicitlv to fay, IVe 
 will ndt have him to 'rule over us. 
 
 Among the numerous admirable fav- 
 ings of JefusChrifl, and of his Apoftles, 
 that (land recorded in the New Tefla- 
 ment, and are adapted to inilrufi us in 
 this important fubjc6l"3 there is one 
 
lO ESSAYONTHE 
 
 whicli defervcs peculiar notice. The 
 fiiying to which I advert, is part of that 
 f^ood confeffion which our Lord witnefled 
 .before Pontius Pilate j Aly kingdom is 
 Tiot of this world. A concife, but coni- 
 prehenfive declaration, and worthy of 
 himthat made it .'--This capital faying 
 maybe coniidered as the grand maxim 
 on which he formed his condud: when 
 among men 5 and it is pregnant with 
 needful inllrudli on to all his difciples, 
 refpe6i:ing the NewOeconomv and th-e 
 Chrilcian Church Relative to matters 
 of that kind, there is nor, perhaps, a 
 more interelling pafTage in all the New 
 Teftament .j nor one v/hich is better 
 adapted to rebuke the pride ^ndcarna- 
 iity of millions who bear the Chrilliaji 
 chara6ter. To approve of Chrifl as a 
 fpiritual monarch, agreeab/v to the 
 meaning and tendency of this cmphati- 
 cal text, requires a degree of heavenly 
 mindednefs which comparatively few 
 polTcfs. 
 
 My kingdom is not of this world ^ fays 
 Melliah the Prince, when Handing be- 
 fore the Roman governor, and quef- 
 tioned about his claim of dignity. He 
 boldly avows himfelf a King > yet, 
 "jyyhileadviuicing his title to the honors. 
 
lilNGDOMOF CHRIST 1% 
 
 ^f royiilty, he tacitly informs Pilate 
 that the civil rights of Cefar had no- 
 thing to fear from him j and that his 
 own difciples had no advantages to ex- 
 pert, of a fecular kind, as the relult 
 
 of embarking in his caiile. Our 
 
 Lord, a little while before, had im- 
 plicitly conveyed the general idea of 
 this declaration, by receiving from a 
 furroundmg multitude the acclamati- 
 ons due to his royal chara6ler, when 
 riding upon an afs : for while he accept- 
 ed the honours of royalty, the poverty 
 and meannei's of his appearance plainly 
 implied, that his kingdom was not of 
 a temporal kind. Zechariah had fore- 
 told that the children of Zion iliould 
 loudly rejoice in this humble manifes- 
 tation of the King Mefliah, and than 
 their joy fhouid kindle into rapture. 
 An incontrovertible evidence that he 
 predided the public inauguration of a 
 Sovereign, whofe kingdom is not of this 
 world. For the loyal and affe61:ionate 
 fubje6ls of a political monarch never 
 thought it matter oF exultation, thac 
 he appeared among them, when pro- 
 claimed king, with all the marks of 
 meannefs and of poverty. Yet fo ic 
 was in refped of the King Meffiah. 
 
la E S S A Y O N T H E 
 
 It is generally allowed, if I midake 
 not, that the kingdom ot Chnlt is no 
 other thin the Goipei Church* > which 
 15 both dillinguiflied from the work, 
 and oppoled to it. Relative to this 
 kingdom, and its divine Sovereign, Je^ 
 hovah iays j / have fet my King upon my 
 holy hill of Zion. This prophetic Oracle 
 was tulfiUed when our Lord, leading 
 captivity captive^ afcended on high and 
 fat down on the right of the eternal Fa- 
 ther. Then was he moft folemnly in- 
 augurated and proclaimed King of the 
 NewTeilament Church, amidtl ador- 
 ing myraids of attendant angels, and 
 fpirits of j lift men made ptrfeci. I n pu r - 
 fuance ofv/hich molt grand invelliiure 
 with his re^al office, he diilributed 
 royal donative^, at the Tealt ofPcntccoll, 
 among his devoted iiibjefts-- fuch do- 
 natives, as perfe<5tiy fuited the i-riajcflv 
 of his Pcrlon, and the nature o\ his 
 kingdom. Yes,. that wonderful aflera- 
 bla-^e of fpiritual gifts and ;hcavcn]y 
 graces, which he bL'ilowed upon Iiis 
 difciples at the Jewifli feftival, was a 
 
 * 'iecnum Dei In evang^eUa, fnys Wrrsius. vfx 
 ah'a fij/ni'!calione venit qua „ ur notet (fjitum exi • 
 mium et vere ibe'ur» }' cc-rficE 'IVflamenti Novi 
 fuH Rcge MtfTia Excrciut, in Oral. Domin-c. 
 Exercit, ix. J 1 1. 
 
KINGDOM OP CHRIST. t ^ 
 
 glorious firlt-fruit of his afcenfion, and 
 of his being a p'icft upon lih t/irons. 
 The Gofpel Church, which is the fub- 
 jed of his laws, the feat ot his govern-: 
 ment, and the objcd of his care, being 
 furrounded with powerful oppofers j 
 he is reprefentcd as ruling in the micljv of 
 Ms enemies. Nor fliall his mediatorial 
 kingdom and adminiilration ceafe, till 
 all thole enemies become his f/otilool. 
 
 The empire of Chri{l,indeed,c?^tends 
 to every creature : for all authority in 
 heaven and on earth is in his hands, and 
 he is head over all things to the Church, 
 But the kingdom of which we treaty 
 (lands dillinguifhed from that ofgene- 
 i-ai Providence, as well as from every 
 political (late. It muft be conlidered, 
 therefore, as confiding ofthofe perfon? 
 whom he bought with his blood, whom 
 he calls by his grace, and over whom 
 he reigns as a fpiritual monarch. Thefe 
 conftitute v/hat is frequently called, the 
 Catholic Church, wherever the favor- 
 ed individuals may refide. Of fuch al- 
 fo, or of thofe who make a credible pro- 
 fcilion of being fUch, allthofc particu- 
 hir churches confiil:, which conflitute 
 cur Lord's vi{]blekingdom--that kinsr- 
 dam of which we fpeak. Into thQ 
 B 
 
14 E S S A y O K T HE 
 
 principal chara(5t:er idles of this holy 
 empire, and into the genuine confe- 
 quences of thoie criteria, welhall now 
 enquire. 
 
 The Go/pel Church is a kingdom not of 
 this world^ in regard to its origin. From 
 thetime of Nimrod to the prefent age, 
 fccular empires have generally origi- 
 nated ill the vile paflions of their firft 
 founders : for, in almoft every inftance, 
 avarice and pride, ambition and a lufl 
 of dominion, have been confpicuous.-- 
 Not fo, in the kingdom of Chrift. The 
 remote foundation of his dominion was 
 laid in the counfels of Heaven before 
 time comimenced, by allcomprehend- 
 ing wifdom and infinite goodncfs, for 
 the glory of God and the benefit of 
 man : and the immediate bafis on which 
 it ftands, is his own vicarious obedience 
 to divine law 5 both as to its precepts, 
 and as to its penalty. Jufticeand good- 
 nefs, therefore, are the foundation of 
 his throne. Mercy and truth attend 
 the whole of his adminiflration. 
 
 The kingdom of Chrifi is not of this 
 ivorld^ refpe cling the fiibje^s of his righte- 
 ous government The generality of peo- 
 ple in all countries, were born fubjeets 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. T ^ 
 
 of thofe governments under which they 
 lived. No fooner, for inllance, were 
 we capable of rellecling upon our ci- 
 vil connedbions, than we found our- 
 felvcs freeborn fubjeds of the Britifh 
 crown : and thus it commonly is in the 
 fovereignties of fecular princes. Their 
 dominion being confined to the exteri- 
 or of human condii6t, and not reaching 
 the heart j natural birth and local cir- 
 cumllances conllitue fubjedls of the 
 llate, put them under the protection of 
 law, and invert: them with civil rights., 
 Such fubje<5ts areperfe6bly well luited 
 to the kingdoms of this world, and to 
 the charadter of their fovereigns. For^ 
 confidered as menjkingsand fubje<5ls are 
 on a level : and, as diftinguiihed by po- 
 litical chara6ters, their obligations are 
 mutual ; allegiance on the one part, and 
 pr0te6bion on the other. — -Be{ide<, 
 temporal kingdoms refpe6t the prefenc 
 world. The mutual duties of fovc- 
 reigns and of fubjecls, as fuch, regard 
 the happinefs of civil fociety, and of 
 that only. As an inveftiture with poli- 
 tical fovereignty does not conllitute a 
 lordof confcience, it gives no claim to 
 authority in fpiritual things, but is en- 
 tirely confined to the concerns of this^ 
 world. It is, indeed, the indirpcnfabls 
 
l6 ESS A V O N T H E 
 
 duty of fecular princes, and of their 
 people, to love and adore God . yet 
 that obligation does, not arife from any 
 political relation fubfiiling among them, 
 but from their being reafonable crea- 
 tures. It is alfo their happinefs to be 
 the fubjcdls of Jefus Chrid: but that 
 felicity does not refult from any thing 
 ihort of divine mtrcy exercifed upon 
 ihem, as aepravcd and guilty crea- 
 tures. 
 
 The kingdom and claims ofC>hri(lbe- 
 jng very different from thofe oiCeafar, 
 the qualifications and obedience of his 
 real fubjeds mufi be fo too. For pcr- 
 fons may be good lubjedts of a temporal 
 fcv'ereign, and enjoy the rights offuch 
 acharaAer, while they are lo far from 
 bearing true allegiance to Jt'fus Chrill, 
 as to be quite inimical to his dominion, 
 and entire Grangers to the privileges of 
 his kingdom. The empire ofChriii isnot 
 vf this world : it is not a temporal, but a 
 Spiritual kingdom. Our Lord, there- 
 fore, is a fpiritual fovereign > whofe 
 dominion extends to the mind, confci- 
 ftwc^^ and heart, no lefs than to the ex- 
 ternal behaviour. Conlequcntly, all 
 fhe fubic61:sofhis government mud have 
 fpiritual difpofitionSjanJ yield fpirituai 
 
K I NG1>0 M O P GHR r ST. i^ 
 
 obedience obedience, proceeding 
 
 from an enlightened underftanding, an 
 awakened confcience, and a renewed 
 heart. For, as is the fovereign, fuch 
 are the fubjedts, and fuch the allegiance 
 required. A ipiritual Sovereign^ 
 and lubje6ts yielding an obedience 
 merely external, are manifeftiy rncon-. 
 filtent. 
 
 As all mankind are born in a flate of 
 apoftafy from God : as the natural turn 
 of the heart, or t^e carnal mind^ is not- 
 fubjeUto the law of God ^ neither indeed, 
 can he y we muft be born again- --^cr/z^ 
 not of bloody nor of the will of theflefro^ nor 
 efthe will of man^ but o/" Gc*^, before we 
 are permitted to confider ourielves. or 
 tobeconfilered by others, as the iub- 
 je6bs of Him whofe kingdom is of a 
 fpiritual kind. Remarkable are the 
 words of our Lord, when fpeaking of 
 his loyal fubje61:s : 7 hey are not of the 
 world^ even as 1 am not of the world. No : 
 thev are delcribed by the Apcflles, as 
 bein ^, of the truth ^ of faith; and of 
 God^ Of the truth : enlightened^ 
 converted, and fan(5i:ified by the gofpeL 
 Of faith : living by it 5 deriving peacS' 
 
 ♦ joba xviu, 17, GaL sii, 7^ 9, i, Joh> 5Ts ^4*< 
 
iB ESSAY ONTHE 
 
 and holinefs from Jefus ChriH through 
 believing in him. Of God: born of 
 him 5 or begotten again to a lively hope^ 
 by the refurreBion of ] ejus Ckrift from 
 
 the dead, Such are the fubjeds of 
 
 our Lord's kingdom : in oppoiitionto 
 whom, the New Teuament reprefencs 
 the rell of our apoflate race^ as being ^/ 
 the works of the law; of the world; of 
 aarknefs , and of the devil* . Of the 
 works of the law ; feeking acceptance 
 with God by their own iniperfeA obe- 
 •dience, which leaves them under a 
 curie. Of the world', carnally minded, 
 and in a ftate of enmity to God. Of 
 darknefs : ignorant of their periibing 
 ilate, and unacquainted with Jefus 
 Chrifl. Of the devil: partakers of his 
 image, fubjec^s of his dominion, and 
 performers of kis willf. So great is 
 the contrail: formed by Scripture, be- 
 tween thofe who are under our Lord's 
 •government, and the rcfl of mankind \ 
 Agreeably to which, real Chriflians are 
 further defcribed, as delivered from the 
 power of darknefs.^ or the tyranny of 
 Satan, and tranllated into thekiugdom 
 
 * Gal. :i'i 10 Joh. viil. 2^; T Joh iv 5. i TheiT. 
 y. c. Joh viii, 38, 41 . 44 i Joh. h'i. 8 i ? f Rom, 
 *ili; C. 7j ii. Eph. V. 8, Joh. vlii. 44. Eph. ii. t* 
 
K I NrG DOM OF CHRIST. ip 
 
 of God's dear Son : and as being of 
 God^ while all the reft of the world hes 
 in wickednefs. None, therefore, but 
 thofe who are born from above, are the 
 fubjedsofJefusChrift: for if the heart 
 be not under his dominion, he reigns 
 not at all as a fpiritual monarch. 
 
 Thatnone but real Chriilians are fub- 
 
 je6ls of our Lord's kingdom, is yet 
 
 further apparent from the defcriptive 
 
 xharaders ol: thofo that were members 
 
 ot the apoftolic ciiurches. We find 
 
 them defcribed in theNewTeifament^ 
 
 :ls glad/j/ receiving t/ie word oi grace, a^ 
 
 j/ie called of Jelus Chr'ifi^ and as called to 
 
 Jbe faints. The Apodles denominate 
 
 them brethren^ faithful brethren., holy 
 
 brethren.^ faints^ and lively ft ones in the 
 
 fpiritual temple*. Thefe and fimilar 
 
 chara6ters are frequently applied to 
 
 members of the primitive churches in 
 
 general -, and of thofe churches the vi^ 
 
 iible kingdom of Chrifi: then ccnfifted. 
 
 We may therefore fay, with Vitringa^ 
 
 ^' The kingdom of grace, in which 
 
 ^^ Chrid is king upon mount Zion, is 
 
 ^' properly and emphatically the king-^ 
 
 • Ads I'l. 41. Rom. i 6. I Cor. i. a. Eph i. 
 ?. Philip, i. I. Col, i, 2. 2TheA:i 3. Hcb. 
 ill, |« I Pet. I. 2, 3, and ii, 5, 2 Pet. i, s* 
 
a© ESSAYONTHE 
 
 *^ dom of Chrift : of which none are 
 '* fubje^ts, except thofe who are cho- 
 ^* fen, called, faithful, peaceable, and 
 *' humble > inwhomjcfus Chrift lives 
 '' by his Spirit, as in the members of 
 ^' a myftical and fpiritual body, of 
 '^ which he is the head*." 
 
 This view of our Lord's fubjedbs is 
 perfe6tly agreeable to the nature and 
 genius of the New Covenant, with 
 which the Mefliah's kingdom is clofely 
 conne6bed : becaufe it appears, thac 
 /fubjeds of any other defcri prion, have 
 no reafon to confider themfelvcs as 
 covenantees > and it is plain that a di- 
 vine Covenant muft fuit the Kingdom 
 to which it belongs, whether Jewifh; 
 or Chriftjan.---When, in the fulnejs of 
 time^ God performed his gracious and 
 comprehenfive promife of blefling all 
 nations, it was by the intervention of 
 a New and better Covenant than that, 
 which was made at Sinai. For thus 
 it is written : Behold^ the days come^ 
 faith the Lord^ that I will make a New 
 Covenant with the houfe of Ifrael^ and 
 with the houfe of Judah : not accord- 
 ing TO THE Covenant that I made 
 
 * Ohfer'vaU Sat, L V. C. (v. f 8. See Dr. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. %l 
 
 WITH THEIR FATHERS, IN THE DAY 
 THAT I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO 
 BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF 
 
 Egypt -, which my Covenant they brake 
 although I was an hufband unto thcm^ 
 faith the Lord. But this fhall he the 
 Covenant that I will make with the houfe 
 of Ifrael^ j^fter thoje days^ Jaith the 
 Lord^ 1 will put my law in thetr inward 
 parts^ and write it in their hearts^ and^ 
 will he their God^ and they fijall he my 
 people. And they foall teach no more 
 every man his neighbour^ and every man 
 his brother^ f^yi^g-i Know the Lord: for 
 they foall all know me^ from the leaf of 
 them unto the great eft of ihem^ faith 
 the Lord : for I will forgive their ini- 
 quity^ and I ^vlll remejnber their fin ?io 
 more^. 
 
 This admirably gracious Covenant 
 is completely iutted to a fpiritual king- 
 dom, and to the fubjccbs we have been 
 defcribing : for it announces no de- 
 (igns, makes no providons, confers no 
 bieflings, but thofe that are fpiritual, 
 internal, and evcrlafting. The true 
 knowledge of Jehovah, writing his 
 lavv'' in the heart, forgivenefs of all 
 iin, and perpetual relation to God, are 
 
 * Jcr. xxxi. 31 — 34, Heb. viii, 8, 9. 
 
aa ESSAYONTHE 
 
 the bleflings for which it engages j 
 but there is not a word rerpe6]:ing 
 Temporal hlefCings^ nor concerning any 
 merely external relation to the Great 
 Supreme, though thele were the grand 
 articles in theCovenant made atHoreb. 
 Covenantees, therefore, under the 
 Chrlftian Oeconomy, can be no other 
 than the ipiritual feed of Abraham : 
 and fuch are the rubje(9:s of this king- 
 dom. H^nce the Gofpel Covenant is 
 called new^ and is exprefsly oppofed 
 to the Sinai Confederation, from which 
 it is extremely different. It is alfo 
 pronounced a better Covenant than 
 that which Jehovah made with the 
 ancient Ifrael : and fo it is, whether 
 we confider its obje6Vs, its bkilings, 
 its confirmation, or its continuance. 
 Its objecls : for they are the fpiritual 
 feed of xVoraham, gathered out of all 
 nations. Its blejjings : for they are all 
 fpiritual and internal. \\.s confirmation: 
 for it was ratified by the death of Chrift. 
 Its continuance : for it is an everlafling 
 Covenant^ ordered in all things and Jure. 
 Yes, it is as much better than the 
 Covenant made at Sinai, as being the 
 children of God by regeneration, is 
 preferable to carnal deicent from A- 
 braham---as the number of God's ele6t 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST ag 
 
 in all nations, exceeds that of the cho- 
 fen tribes-'-as bleffings entneiy Ipi- 
 ritual and immortal, are more excel- 
 lent than thole of an earthly kind and 
 of fhort duration--- as redemption irom 
 fpiritual bondage and eternal ruin, is 
 greater and nobler than deliverance 
 from temporal flavery — as the ratifi- 
 cation of this Covenant, by the blood 
 of Immanuel, is more facred than that 
 which the Old Covenant received by 
 the flaughter of brute animals — as the 
 Son o£ God, the mediator of it, is 
 greater than Mofes, who appeared 
 under that character at Horcb---and 
 as a Covenant of everlafting efficacy, 
 that fecures the final happinefs of all 
 to whom it relates, is better than one 
 of a temporary nature, which was vi- 
 olated by the covenantee*, and is be- 
 come for ever obfolete. Hence we 
 read, not only of a better teftament^ 
 but alfo of better promifes^ on which 
 the New Covenant is eflabliihed J of a 
 better kope^ introduced by it 5 of bet- 
 ter /^m/^^<?j, by which guilt is expiated^ 
 of better things provided for the Chrill- 
 ian, than were enjoyed by the Jewifh 
 church ; and of a better country for 
 an inheritance*, than the earthly Ca« 
 
 * Keb. viii. 6, vii, 19. tx. 2 J. xit 17. 40. 
 
^4 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 naan. Nay, we are afTiired by an iil- 
 fpired writer, that the Sinai Covenant 
 and the Mofaic Difpenfation had no 
 glory attending them, compared with 
 that of the New Covenant and of the 
 Mciliah's Oeconomy*. Now, to thiij 
 more glorious Covenant, the kingdom 
 of Chrift, and the fubjeds of it, mufta- 
 grec. As, therefore, none but fpiritual 
 bleflings are contained in that Cove- 
 nant y To none but real faints are the 
 fubje6ts of our Lord's dominion. 
 
 Very different, then, is the kingdom 
 of Chrid from the ailcient Ijraelitijh 
 Theocracy. For, of that Theocracy,, 
 all Abraham's natural defcend cuts were 
 true fubje61:s, and properly qualified 
 members of the Jewiih church > fuch 
 only excepted, as had not been circum- 
 cifed according to the order of God, 
 or were guilty of fome capital crime. 
 To be an obedient fubjed: of their ci- 
 vil government, and a complete mem- 
 ber in their eccleliaflical ftate, were 
 manifedly the fame thing •, becaure,by 
 treating Jehovah as their political 
 fovereign, they avowed him as the true 
 God, and were entitled to all the emo- 
 luments of their N-itionai Covenant. 
 
 * 2 Cor. rii. 7—1 1, 
 
k I N G t) M OF C H R1 S T. 25 
 
 Under that Oeconomy, Jehovah ac- 
 knowledged all thofe for his people^ 
 and himielf as their God^ who per- 
 formed an external obedience to his 
 commands, even though in their hearts 
 difaffe^led to him*. Thefe prerogatives 
 were enjoyed, independent of fan61i Ty- 
 ing grace, and of any pretention to it, 
 either inthemfelves,or iniheir parents. 
 
 The ftate of things, however, under 
 the New Oeconomy, is extremely dif- 
 ferent. For the great Proprietor and 
 Lord of the Chriilian church, having 
 abfolutely difclaimed a kingdom that is' 
 of this warJd^ cannot acknowledge any 
 as the fiibjedrs ofhis government, who 
 do not know and revere him--whado 
 not confide in hrm, and (Incerely love 
 him. Having entirely laid afidethofs 
 enfigns of political fovereignty, and 
 thoie marks ofextcrnal^randeur, which 
 made fiich a fplendid appearance in the 
 Jewifh Theocracy 5 he difdains to be 
 called the Kinr^^ or the Gud^ of any 
 perfon who does not obey and worfhip 
 him in fpirit and in truth. Appearino; as 
 I'^ehead of his church, merely undeinhe 
 G 
 
 * Jndges vi'j';, 23. i Sam. viii 6, 7.sndxiL \i> 
 2 Chron. xxviii, 5. ss'k. 23. 2 Chron. ix. b'. 
 
l6 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 chnrr.der ofa fpiritiial monarch, over 
 whomfoever he reigns, it is in the iin- 
 derdanding, by the light of his truth > 
 in the coniciencc, by the force of his 
 authority -, and in the heart, by the in- 
 fluence of his love : for as to all others, 
 his dominion is that of Providence, net 
 that of Grace. --The New Telhment 
 affords no moreground for concluding, 
 thatourbeing defccnded froniparentsof 
 a certain defcnption, conftitutes us the 
 fubjedsof our Lord's kingdom^ than 
 it does to fuppofe, that carnal defccor, 
 in a particular line of anceflry, confers 
 a claim to the chara<5ler and work of 
 miniilers in the fame kingdom. 
 
 It is of great importance to the right 
 interpretation of many pafTages in the 
 Old Teftament, that this particular be 
 well underftood and kept in view. Je- 
 hovah is very frequently reprcfented as 
 the Lord and God of ail the ancient 
 Ifraelites -, even where it is manifeft 
 that multitudes of them v/ereconfider- 
 ed as deftitute of internal piety, and 
 many of them as enormoufiy wicked. 
 How, then, could he be called f/ieir 
 Lord, and t/ieir God, in diflindiion from 
 his relation to Gentiles, (whofe crea- 
 tor, benefa61:or, and fovereignhe was) 
 except on the ground of the Sinai Cove- 
 
K I N G D O M O F CHRIST. ay 
 
 nant F He was their Lord^ as being the 
 fovereign whom, by a federal traniaiSti- 
 on, they were bound to obey, in oppo- 
 fition to every political monarch, who 
 fliould at any time preiume to govern 
 them by laws of his own. He was their 
 God^ as the only obje6l of holy wor- 
 fhip3 and whom, by the fame National 
 Covenant, they had folemnly engaged 
 to ferve according to his own rule, in 
 oppoilcion to every Pagan idol. Hut 
 that National relation between Jehovah 
 and Ifrael being long iince diflolved, 
 and the Jew having no prerogative 
 above the Gentile > the nature of the 
 Gofpel Oeconomy, and the Meffiah's 
 kingdom, abfolutely forbids our fup- 
 pofing, that either Jews or Gentiles are 
 warranted to call the Great Supreme 
 TUEiR Z.ord^ OY THEIR Gor/, if they do 
 not yield willing obedience to him, and 
 perform fpiritual worfliip. It is, there- 
 fore, either for want ofunderdandmg, 
 or of coniidering, the nature, arpc<5i:, 
 and influence of the Sinai Con{lirution, 
 that many perfons dream oftheNev/ 
 Covenant, in great numbers of places, 
 where Mofes and the Prophets had no 
 thought about it > but had the Conven- 
 tion at Horeb directly in view. It is 
 owing to the fame ignorance, or inad- 
 
^8 E S> AY ON THE 
 
 vertency, that Others argue from vari- 
 ous paflages in the Old Tcllament, for 
 julHiication before God by their own 
 obedience, and againllthc final perfe- 
 yerance of real fainis. Becaufc, to be 
 entitled to national happinefs, by per- 
 forming the conditions of the Sinai Co- 
 venant, and to lofe that right by back- 
 iliding into profligacy of manners -, are 
 very different things, from obtaining 
 juftincation before God, and forfeiting 
 an interefl in the great Redeemcr--fo 
 different, thatthereis no arguing from 
 the one to the other. 
 
 Again : As none but real Chriilians 
 are the fubjccbs of our Lord's kingdom, 
 . neither adults, nor infants, can be mem- 
 bers of the Gofpel Church, in virtue of 
 an external covenant, or of a relative 
 holincfs. A ftrikingdifparity this, be- 
 tween the Jewilli and the Chriftiau 
 church. Of this difference we may be 
 afllired by coniidcring. That a barely 
 relative fantSlity, fiippofes its pofTcirors 
 to be the people of God in a merely ex- 
 ternal fenfe : that fucli an ext-ernal peo- 
 ple, fuppofes an external covenant, 
 or one that relates to exterior con- 
 duel; and temporal bleilings : and an 
 . external covenant fuppofes an ex- 
 ternal king.. Now an external king^ 
 
K I N GD O M or C H Pv I S T. QlOs 
 
 is a political fovereign : but fuch is not 
 our Lord JefusChriltjiiotyet the divine 
 Father. Once5indeed.,i.t was othcrwife: 
 for, concerning the llraeUtilli nation, ic 
 is thus written > /, Jehovah, will be thy. 
 king. Gideo'rifald umo them^ I will ?70t rule 
 over you^ neit her fiall jny [on rule over you, 
 Jehovahffjall rule over you. Jehovah^ your- 
 God^ was your ki:ig*.-\x. was the peculiar 
 honor and happinefs of iiraeljto have a 
 Sovereign who was the only objc6i:of 
 their worfhip. For thus the Pfalmiil: 
 ijngs -y Blejfedisihs nation^ whofc (king) 
 Jehovah is their God-\ / Hence Jeho- 
 vah's complaint 3 They have rejected 
 me^ that I pjould not reign over thernX, 
 Yes, Jehovah, as a temporal monarch; 
 flood related to the ancient Ifraelites, 
 '^i^d. entered into a federal tranfadrion 
 with them at Sinai, not onlyastheOb- 
 jed of their worfhip, but as their 
 King, their judicial and civil infii- 
 tutes, their laws of war and of peace, 
 •various orders refpecling tlielandthev 
 occupied, and the annual acknow- 
 ledgments to the great Proprietor of 
 
 c ^ ■ 
 
 * Hofeaxiii. 10. Judges vlli 23 1 Sar^i. xlf, !2» 
 \ Ff. xxx'ii. 13 and cxliv. 15. luh. See the Sep- 
 tuagint Verfion, aud that of Junius and Tre-- 
 MELLius; together with PoLi Synopf. and Vt-. 
 -^SM.^ Czmmmt* In Ice X 1 Ssrp. ?Iii, 7. 
 
3P E S S A Y. O N T H 2 
 
 it, were all from God, as their politi* 
 cal fov4ireign. Hence all the natural 
 pollerity of Abraham were Jehovah's 
 people, on the ground of an external 
 covenant made with the wholenation. 
 The children of Ifracl, being diftln-* 
 guifhed from the Gentile world, by a 
 fyftcm of ceremonial preceptS5and their 
 divine Sovereign redding among them, 
 were denominated a holy station : for 
 that external fandlity which they pof^ 
 fefled, feems to have arifea, partly from 
 their National Cov€?tant^ and partly 
 from their having the Divine Prefence^ 
 among them. By the former, they 
 renounced idolatry in all its forms, and 
 gaveup themfelves to Jehovah in op- 
 pofition to the falfe objects of Pagan 
 worfhip 5 which feparation to the (er- 
 vice of God, is denominated kolinefs. 
 By the latter, they had a kind of local 
 nearnefs to God, which conferred a 
 relative fan(5lity > as appears by various 
 inilances. When, for example, Mo fes 
 Avith aftoainiment beheld the burning 
 bulb, the ground on which he flood 
 was pronounced holy^ becaufe of Jeho- 
 vah's peculiar prefence there. Thus it 
 was in the cafe of Jofhua: and fo in 
 regard to the place of our Lord's trans- 
 figuration > for Peter, calls it the holy 
 
K I N G D O M O F C H R. I S T. 3 I 
 
 mou?2t*. And why was part of the an- 
 cient fandtuary called the mofi holy pace? 
 but becaufe Jehovah in a lingular man*- 
 ner, and under a vilible emblem, dweU 
 there. Hence it is raanifeft, that the 
 Divine Prefence, v/hethcr under the 
 form of an auguft perjonage^ as in the 
 cafe of Jol]iua3 or under the emblera 
 o^ devouring firc^^s in thebulh^ and up- 
 on mount Sinait > or under the milder 
 appearance of ^ Iv/mlmns cloudy as over 
 the mercy feat, and at our Lord's trans - 
 figuration, confers a relative holinefs. 
 It is alfo equally plain, that this mira- 
 culous prefence of God being with^ 
 drawn from the feveral places to which 
 we have jull adverted, they have now 
 no more holinefs than any other part of 
 the earth. 
 
 So the Ifraelites, being feparated 
 from all other nations for the worfhip 
 of Jehovah as their God, to the excluli-- 
 on of ail idolatry , avowing fubjcction 
 to him as their king, in contradidindli- 
 onto all other fovereigns 5 and he red* 
 ding among them in the fandiuary, n; 
 in his royal palace 5 there was a rela« 
 
 *>Exo.d.Iii. 5. Jofir.v. 15. 2 Pet. I. 18., 
 f Exou. xlx,. i8» 
 
3*1 , ESSAYONTHE 
 
 tive holinefs attending their perfons, 
 and almofl every thing penaining to 
 them. For not only Jehovah's royal 
 pavilion, with ull its utcnfils and fer- 
 vices j the minilters of that landuary 
 and their feveral veftmentS) but the 
 people in general, the metropolis of 
 their country, the houfes of indivi- 
 duals, the land cultivated by them, and 
 the produce of that land, were all 
 lliled holy* . — The Divine Prefence re- 
 ading among them, appears to have 
 had an extenfive influence upon the 
 people, with regard to relative fane- 
 tity and external purity. So, in cafes 
 oF corporal pollution by difeafe, the. 
 patients were to be excluded from the 
 common intercourfes of fociety, that 
 they might not defile the camp, in the 
 midil: of which their fublime Sovereign 
 dweltf. Nay, divine law exprefsly 
 required, that even the furface of the 
 ground on which they trod Ihould be 
 preferved from one fpecies of defile- 
 ment j and the injunction is enforced 
 by this confia'eration, For Jehovah thy 
 God walketh in the inidft of the carnpX, 
 
 * See Exod xxvlii. 2, 4 xxix. 1. Lev xix. 
 23, 24.. XX. 26 XXV 2, 4. xxvii. 14, 30. Numb, 
 xvi. r^, 3^. XXXV. 34. Deut. vii. 6 f Nun-b. 
 
 V. 2, 3. and XXXV. 34. % Dcut, xxiil. 13, 13, 24 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 33 
 
 Remarkably to our purpofe is the 
 declaration of God, when fpeaking of 
 the ancient fancStuary -y There I will meet 
 with the children of Ifrael^ and Ifrael 
 (not the tabernacle) pall be fanElified 
 by ?ny glory.^. For, as Venema ob- 
 fervcs, <^-' neither the tabernarle nor the 
 ^' altar ^ is to be imderfiood ; but the 
 " J [r a elites themfelves^ as appears by 
 '^ the conne6lion and leries of the 
 '' difcourfe. Becaufe, in the imme- 
 " diately following verfe, the fan6ti- 
 ^' fication of the tabernacle, and of 
 '^ the altar, is exprefsly mentioned. 
 '*• Befides, it is plain that the external 
 '• fymbol of Jehovah's prefcnce, was 
 ^^ a fufficient indication of God's glory 
 ^' in the tabernacle. Thus the holinefs 
 ^' of the people,, equally as that of 
 ^'^ places, was derived from the ex* 
 ^' ternal prefence of Godt.'' — Now, 
 as the Divine Prefence had a local, vi- 
 fible refidence over the mercy-feat, 
 which was the throne of Jehovah ; as 
 that Prefence among the Ifraelites had 
 iuch an extenfive operation upon their 
 date, both in rcfpecl of privilege and 
 •of duty i as the whole nation was a 
 
 * Exod. xxlx, 43, Vid. JuNiuM and 
 Tremell. in loc. 
 
 f UiiTertat. Sac, L. ii. C, uu $ ^. 
 
34 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 typical people, nnd a great partcf their 
 worfhip of a fhadowy nuture > we 
 need not wonder, that in fuch an eccle- 
 fiadico-political kingdom almoll every 
 thing iliould be cileemed, in a relative 
 kn{{^^ holy. 
 
 Under the GofpelDifpenratlonjhoW- 
 <?ver, thefe peculiarities have no exig- 
 ence. For ChrJil has not made an 
 external covenant with any people. 
 He is not the king of any particular 
 nation. He dwells not in a palace made 
 with hands. His throne is in the 
 heavenly fandluary ; nor does he af- 
 ford his vifible Prefence in any place 
 upon earth. The partition wall be- 
 tv/een Jews and Gentiles has longbcen 
 demolifhed :*and, confequently, our 
 divine Sovei*ergn does not (land related 
 ro any people, or to any perfon, To as 
 to confer a relative fimdtity, or to pro- 
 duce an external holinefs 
 
 While the Sinai Covenant continued 
 in force, the Son of God was the King 
 of the Jews: for though, by Saul and 
 others bearing the regal character, the 
 Divine government was obfcured, 
 yet it was not aboliihed. The king- 
 dom of Ifrael, in the hands of the Sons 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRISTT. 35 
 
 of David^ being denominated //^i? king- 
 dom of Jehovah; the throne on which 
 Solomon fat being called the throne 
 of Jehovah^ j and the laws ot the Hate 
 being Hill divine, we are led to view the 
 Jewifh kings as \}[\^vicege rents of Jeho- 
 vahi". — In this light the queen of She- 
 ba confidered Solomon when fhe faid j 
 Blefjcd he the Lord thy God^ which de^ 
 lighted in thee to fet the §n his throne, 
 to be king for the lord thy god||. 
 Of the Jewilh magiftrates it is alfo 
 written, Ye judge not for man^ hut for 
 Jehovah^. Now fo long as a political 
 relation fubfiiled between the Son of 
 God and the feed of Abraham, an exter- 
 nal holinefs continued, as refulting 
 from that relation. But though this 
 foundation of relative fandlity was 
 not removed till the death ofChriil, 
 there is no intimation in the Evangeli- 
 cal Hiilory of any one being entitled 
 to a New Tellament rite, or to thecha- 
 rafter of a fubjed in the Mefliah's 
 kingdom, in virtue of that holinefs. 
 
 * :?. ChroTi. xill- S^ l Chron. xxiii. 5. ard 
 xxix. 23 t Vid. WiTsii Mifcell.Sac. Tom. II 
 p 920—936. Venemae. Hiji. Ecclef Vet. Teft. 
 Tom. L $198. Dffertat, Sac^ L. li.C.iv. § 2 
 Chron, !x. 8 
 
3^ ESSAYONTHE 
 
 Nay5the reverfe appears in the condu^ 
 ofjohn toward tbejews*. 
 
 The Covenantmade at Horeb having 
 long been obfolete, all its peculiarities 
 are vanifhed away ; among which, re- 
 lative r?A\d:ity made a conlpicuous 
 figure. That National Conftitution 
 being abolifhcdjjehovah's political ic- 
 vcreignty is at an end. The covenant 
 therefore now in force, and the royal 
 relation of our Lord to the church, are 
 entirely fpiritual. All that external 
 hxolinefs of perfons, of places, and of 
 thing?, which exifted under the Old 
 Oecon-^ my, is gone for ever : To that if 
 the profertbrs of Chriltianity do not 
 pofTefs a real, internal . fanctity, they 
 have none at all. ---The National Con- 
 fedefation at Sinai is exprefsly contraf- 
 tcd, in holy Scripture, with the New 
 Govenantf : and though the latter ma- 
 nifeftiy provides for internal holincfs, 
 refpecting all the covenantees, yet it 
 fays not a word about relative fantSlity. 
 And, indeed, liov/ iliould it*? fince, by 
 its commencement, the whole Sinai 
 Conftitution became obfolete > the 
 
 * 2 Cliron, xix. 6. § Matt. iil. 7— »I2« f Jcr. 
 £xxi. qi — 34. Hcb. riii. 7 — 13. 
 
K I NGDO M OF CHRIS T. ' 37 
 
 partition wall was broken down; the 
 fpecial relation between God and A- 
 braham's natural feed ceafed, and letc 
 no difference of a religious kind be- 
 tween Jews and Gentiles---no differ- 
 ence, in refpe^t of nearnefs to God 
 and communion with him, except 
 that which regeneration and faith in 
 Chriil produce. For, under the pre- 
 lent Difpenfation, Chrifi is all in all. 
 We may therefore fafely conclude, 
 that were the Jews converted and rc- 
 fettled in Paleftine, both they and their 
 infant offspring would be as entirely 
 deditute of the ancient relative holi- 
 nefs, as thofe Mahommedans are who 
 now rcfide in that country. 
 
 But did an external holinefs now 
 exill, we ffiould be obliged to consider 
 it as very different from that of the 
 ancient Ifraelites : for it appears, bv 
 what has been faid, that the grounds 
 of their exterior fandlity make no pare 
 of the Chriflian Oeconomy. Befides, 
 their holinefs extended to the whole 
 nation : but in what Utopia fliall v/e 
 find all the inhabitants polTeffedof this 
 relative purity ? Theirs continued as 
 long as they lived s except they com- 
 D 
 
38 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 mined fome enormous crime, by which 
 they forfeited their lives, or were caft 
 out of the congregation, for it did 
 not wear out by age, nor was it loft 
 merely by continuing in a iiate of un- 
 regenciiicy. Whereas, that external 
 hoiincfs for which io many plead, is 
 not generally confidered by them as 
 extending beyond the time of infancy. 
 — But why diould any contend for the 
 relative holinefs of infants, who deny 
 7L fandlity of that Icind, to places of 
 W'orlhip, clerical habits, and various 
 other things ? for it is plain that the 
 Jewifii external purity, whether of 
 perfons, of places, or of things, ori- 
 ginated in the iame Nntional Cove- 
 nant, and in the fame relation of God 
 ro Ifrael : and, confequently, raufl 
 •have the fame duration in one cafe, as 
 in another. We may therefore jullly 
 conclude, that the federal and relative 
 holircfs of which fo many fpeak, nei- 
 ther agrees with the laws of Judaifm, 
 nor with the nature of Chriilianity. 
 But if fo, it cannot belong to the 
 kingdom of Chriit. 
 
 Further : If all the fiibje61:s of Chrifl 
 be real faints, it may be jiiftly queried 
 whether any National religious efta^ 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 39 
 
 hViJhment can be a part of his kingdom. 
 That multitudes of individuals be- 
 longing to inch eilabliihrnents are Tub- 
 je<5i:s ot" the King xMeiliah, is cheer- 
 fully granted : but is it not plain, that 
 a National church is inimical to the 
 fpirit of our Lord's declaration. My 
 kingdorfi is not of this M'orld ? Does not 
 that comprehenfive and important fay- 
 ino; coniDel us to view the church and 
 the world in a centrafted point of 
 light ? And does not the idea of a Na- 
 tional church lead us to confound them ? 
 Does it not manifeilly confound tha 
 churck 0^ the firft'hor'ri^^vkich are written 
 in heaven ; with the world ^ that lies in 
 wickedfiefs^ whofc names are entered 
 in pariihi regiilers* ?---The fubjecls of 
 
 * It has been well obfcrved by a fenfiblc writer, 
 that when Jefus toM Pilate "the folc end of his 
 
 <i kinc^dom and of his coming into the world, was 
 
 «i truth and the propagation of it i Pilate fays, 
 
 «« IVh it is truth P He knew very well that truth had 
 
 4t little or nothing to do with the maxims of 
 
 ,« vrordly policy : that he, that is Jefus, was not 
 
 (< at all likely te be a coQipctitor with Caefar .• 
 
 »< that a iingJom 6 f truth could not interfere with 
 
 •« the claima of his mafter .* that it was triHing 
 
 «« to accufc him as an enemy to Caefar. But 
 
 t« thea, had jefus faid that he was fetting^ upon a 
 
 «« kingdom that claimed an al iance wiih the lUte, 
 
 •* and which pretended to a fupremacy, Fi. ate 
 
4<^ ESSAYONTHE 
 
 our Lord's kingdom are born of God, 
 are called out of the world 5 but na- 
 tural birth and local circumflances are 
 coniidered, either as giving member- 
 fhip, or as entitling to a pofitive rite 
 which confers niembcrfhip, in a Na- 
 tional church. The Church of Eng- 
 land, for inllance, includes all Englifh 
 fubjc6ls of the Britilli crown, whether 
 ihcy be moral or profligate, pious or 
 profane; fuch only excepted, as have 
 not been baptized, or as lie under a 
 fentence of excommunication. Nay, 
 fo tenacious is the Englifli Church of 
 this idea, as to conlider numbers with- 
 in its pale, who never conlidered them- 
 ielves in that light. For, in certain 
 cafes, well known to the do6i:ors in 
 Canon Law, Proteflant DifTentcrs, and 
 even Popilh recufants, are caft out of 
 its comnnmiovLr --caj} out^ with dread-^ 
 ful penalties annexed, though they 
 never acknowledged themfelves to 
 be in I 
 
 The Church of England, indeed, is 
 manifelUy a fecular kingdom. For it 
 
 *' would havdincl whereof to sccufe him." Ccm- 
 mrnton Bp, War burton's /liliance beliveen Church 
 Mr,d Siaie, p. 9« 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIS T . 4 i 
 
 is edabliihed by human laws, and ac- 
 knov/ledges a political head : nor is it 
 eileemed material whether that head 
 be male or female. It is a creature of 
 the (late, fupported by the ftate, in- 
 corporated v/ith the ftate, and gov- 
 erned by a code of laws confirmed by 
 tfee (Ute---a code, very different from 
 the facred canons of the New Teda- 
 ment 5 thofe being quite foreign to its 
 conflitution. Its principal officers Jire 
 appointed by the crown ; and, in vir- 
 tue of ecclcfiaftical ftaiion, arc lords 
 of Parliament*. Nay, even the doc- 
 Da. 
 
 * That our firft Reformers did not approve of 
 fccular grandeur, power, and cmploynfients, being 
 annexed to the char?dler of blfl^ops, is very appa- 
 rent. Thus Mr. Tyndal, for infiance « " Is it 
 «* not a (hame above all (hamcs, and a mon" 
 «* ftrous thing, that no man fhould be found able 
 ** to go^iern a worldly kiagdam, lave bifhops and 
 «* prelates, that are taken out of the world, 
 • * and appointed to preach the kingdom of God ? 
 ** To preach God's word is too much for half a 
 '« man ; and to minifter a temporal kingdom is 
 ** too much for half a man alfo Either other 
 ** requireth a whole man One therefore cannot. 
 «* well do both — Wherefore if Chrift's kingdots 
 «* be net of this ivorldy nor any of his difciplcs may 
 *• be otherwife chan he was j then Chrift's vicars, 
 *« which miniiler his kingdom in his bodily ab- 
 ** fence, and have the overfight of hi& flock, may 
 *[ bs none emperors, kings, dukes,, hrdsy knigb;?, 
 
4^ ESSAYONTHE I 
 
 trines profefTed, and the worfhip per- 
 formed in that eftabliHiment, are all 
 fecularized. Its creeds and forms of 
 prayer, its numerous rubrics and va- 
 rious rites, are adopted and uled under 
 ijie fanclion of civil authority Its Li-. 
 turgy,therefore,.maybeju{lly confider- 
 qd as an udcl of Parliament refpedring- 
 religious affairs. It mult therefore be 
 qoniidered as a kingdom of this worlds 
 
 *« temporal judges, or anv other temporal officer; 
 ^^ or, under any falfe names havt any fuch domi- 
 ** nion, or minifter any fuch office, as requireth , 
 ** violence.'* Thus Bp. Latimer, in his Strmon 
 ''of the Plough : *■' T\iis much I dare fay that 
 
 * fince lording and loitering hath come up, preach- 
 **^ fng hath come down, contrary to the Apoftles . 
 
 times For they preached, and lorded not s 
 
 and now they lord and preach not — Ever fince 
 
 ^ the prelates were made iords and nobles, the 
 
 ' plough (iandeth, there is no work done the 
 
 '* people ftarve— They arc othcrwife ©ccupied 
 
 * [than ia preaching :3 fome, in kings matters ; 
 '• fomeare ambafladors : fome, of the privy coun- 
 '* cil : fome, to furnifh the court ; fomc> hx a lords 
 '♦ of the p^irliament ; fome are prefidents, and 
 *< comptrollers of mints. Well, wtjll Is this 
 ** their duty ? Is this their office ? .s this their 
 *• calling i^ Should we have minifters of the church 
 ** comptrollers of the mints ? Is this a meet of- 
 *« fice for a prieft, that hsth cure of fou's ? Is this 
 •* his charge ? I would here aflc one queftion I 
 "* would fain know who comtrelleth the devil at 
 ** home iu bis parifli, while he comtrollcth the 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST, 43^^ 
 
 The tenor of the New Teftament^ 
 however, agreeably to our Lord's' 
 maxim, lead> us to confider p^irticular 
 churches as Congregational j. and as 
 conliiting of thoie who make a credi- 
 ble proicffi >n of repentance and faith. 
 Such congregations, wherever they 
 be, conltitute the viiible kingdom of 
 Ghriii:.---That the apollolic churches 
 were Congregatronal, is clear from 
 the facreti Records ; and that there- 
 wis no National church for the firll 
 three hundred years, is equally evident. 
 Becaufe there could not be any fuch 
 eitabliiliment, till the civil govern- 
 ment of fome nation or other profefTed 
 Ghriftianity ; which was not the cafe 
 before Constantine afcended the Im- 
 perial throne. Then, indeed, a kind 
 af political Chrillianity came into 
 fafhion, which has continued ever^ 
 
 ** mint ? [f the apoftles might not leave the of- 
 •«. fice of preachint^ to be deacons (hall we leave it 
 «* for minting J*'* Thus Bp Hooper: '* Our bi- 
 ** fhops have fo much wit they can rule and 
 ** ferve, astht^y fay in both ftates . in the churchy 
 •* and alfo in the civil policy vVhen one of 
 ««.them is .move than any man is able to fatisfy, 
 « let him do always liis beft diligence — Vhey 
 •• know that the primitive church had no fuch 
 ** biihops as be now a-days " In Mr Peircb'6 
 VhJicat, of D'ljpsnt, Part 111. Chap. }, 
 
44 < E S S A y O N T H E 
 
 rmce^and is yet in great repute. Nor 
 are National churches likely to fail, 
 while tiie policy ot lovereign princes, 
 and the pride or' afpiring prelates can 
 fupport them. But, being eitablilhed 
 by human laws, and each ot them ac- 
 knowledging a viiible head, either civil 
 or ecclefiaftical, either prince or pon- 
 tiff > they are iecular kingdoms, and 
 unworthy the name of Chriiiian church- - 
 es. . 
 
 Once more : As none but regenerate 
 perfons belong to the kingdom of 
 Chrifl, no one is a better fubjeft of his 
 dominion, or a more honorable mem- - 
 ber of his church, on account oUvealt/i 
 or power ^ o^ parts or learning. Thefe 
 things, though ufeful in their places, 
 of much reputation to a fecular empire, 
 and of great confequence to it 5 nei- 
 ther pertain to the true glory of a 
 Chri/tian church, nor to the llerling 
 worth of a Chriiiian character. For 
 what concern have worldly wealth and 
 civil power, in forming a fpiritual cha- 
 ra6ler, or in adorning a fpiritual king- 
 dom ? The greateft afHuence and the 
 highed: authority that mortals can en- 
 joy, add nothing to any one's moral 
 worth. No one is a bertcr man, be- 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST: 45 
 
 eaufe he is rich and powerful j northe 
 worfe, becaufe he is poor and in a low 
 llation. Thefe things are all exterior 
 to moral character. For the mod li- 
 centious are often exalted and wealthy, 
 while the moft upright and amiable are 
 loll: in obfcurity and opprefTed with 
 want Befidesjwhen wealth, or pow- 
 er, is poirefTed by a true fubje£t of our 
 Lord's kingdom, the honor attending 
 his character does not arife from his 
 riches, or his authority i but from the 
 holinefs of his life, or his likenefs to Je- 
 fus ChriU. 
 
 As our Britiih Sovereign Is the foun- 
 tain of honor to all his fubjt61:s, even 
 fo is the King Meffiah to all that arc 
 under his dominion. The only way 
 however to be great and honorable in 
 his kingdom, is to be humble, diligent, 
 and ufeful, in promoting the happi- 
 nefs of cur fellow Chrillians and fellow 
 creatures, Foraraongthe fundaniental 
 laws of Meiliih's empire, the following 
 is one, and it relates to comparative 
 honor.' fFhofoever will he great among- 
 you^ let him he you*' mtniffer ; and who- 
 foever will he chief among you^ let him be^. 
 your fervant. Even as the Son of man 
 cams not to be minifiercd unta^ but. t(^mi^ 
 
^6 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 nififfr^ and to give his life a ranfom for 
 many*Th\s being the law of honor, 
 and the jule oFpromotion, in the king- 
 dom of Chriit, we may fafely conclude, 
 that themeiincrt domeftic maybe a dig- 
 nified chamber in a goipel church, 
 and adorn the dotirine of God our Saviour: 
 while his wealthy and powerful mailer, 
 profeffing the fame fairh, may difgrace 
 the name of a Chriilian, and bring re- 
 proach on the congregation to which 
 he belongs. If the former be diligent 
 and faithful in his meniaUlation : if he 
 be found in the faith^ zealous for God^ 
 and heavenly minded 5 he is an honor- 
 able fiahjc^l: of Jefus Chriif, and high 
 in the eitimation of Heaven. If, on the 
 Cf^ntrury, the latterbe form il in his re- 
 ligions proteilion 5 if hf» be unjulf or 
 haughty, voluptuous or covetous •, he 
 d^'cs nor belong to the kinodom of 
 Chrid:, but is raaniteilly a lubjec^b of. 
 Satan. 
 
 Nor do the mofl fhining mental ac- 
 compli ihments. or literary acquifitions, 
 entev inro the true glory of this king- 
 dom. Genius and learning, like wealth 
 and power, are frequently polTefled by 
 
 * Matt. XX. 26f zy. Maik x* 42—45. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 47 
 
 the word of moral charadlers. They 
 cannot, therefore, make any part of 
 that excellence by which the lubjeds 
 ofjeius Chrifl are diitinguifhed from 
 thole fecular princes. It is not by the 
 gitts of common Providence, among 
 which parts and learning make a con- 
 spicuous figure i but by the graces of 
 the Holy Spirit, that any perion, as a 
 Chriilian, is v/orthy of regard. --Yes, 
 it is taith in Chrilt, and obedience to 
 him ', love to God, and benevolence 
 to man> humility, patience, andrelig- 
 nation5lpiriruality5 and heavenly mind- 
 ednefs, which adorn the fubjt 6ls of our 
 Lord's klngdom---which diflinguifh 
 them from the children of this world. 
 Thefe, and fimilar things, relpc6t the 
 ftateof theconfcience, and of the heart. 
 They form a chara<^er for eternity, and 
 favour of the heavenly world. Where- 
 as, learning and parts, equally as 
 wenlth and power, are quite ofadifFer- 
 ent nature. The dirtiniStion they make 
 between one another is entirely fuper- 
 ficial, and often difgraced by a profli- 
 gate heart--belongs only to this world, 
 and has no connection with heaven. 
 But, as will appear in its proper place, 
 the kingdom oiChrift is nearly allied to 
 heaven--is a ftate of preparation for 
 
4S ESSAYONTHZ 
 
 that fublimeblefledncfsjanintrodudlion 
 to its employments, and gives an earned 
 of its fruitions. Confequcntly, the true 
 glory of that kingdom cannotbutcon- 
 ilit, in the lively exercile of holy tem- 
 pers and heavenly affedlions* The 
 more there is of a likenefs to heaven, in • 
 the heart and life of any Chriftian > the 
 more there is of that honor which comes 
 from God^ and the more is the caufe of 
 Chrifl adorned. --To be a real fubjedof 
 this kingdom, is a much greater honor 
 -than merely to be a Prophet, or an A- 
 poftle. For Balaam was the former, 
 and Judas was the latere yet both of 
 them were bafe and wretched. Rejoice 
 not that the devils arefuhje^ to you y but 
 rather rejoice that your names are writ- 
 ten in heaven. Though 'I fpeak with the 
 tongues of men and of angels^'-and though 
 I have the gift of prophecy^ and under- 
 flandallmyjleries and all knowledge ; and 
 though I have all faith ^fo that I could rc" 
 move mountains.^ and have no charity^ lam 
 nothings in the cftimate of a fpiritual 
 Sovereign, or in reference to the hea- 
 venly ftate. 
 
 No minifter of the word, therefore, 
 when performing his public work, 
 fhoyld ever think of exalting himfelf 
 as an officer in this kingdom, by dif- 
 
K I N G D O M OF C H R 7 S 1'. ^p 
 
 pliiying his learning, his genius, or hiN 
 eloquence j for that would be to preack 
 himfelf^ not Chrift J ejus the Lord : but, 
 asi/2 the fight of God^ he lliouid honellly 
 aim at commending himfelfio every man' s 
 conjcience^ by manifeflation of the truth. 
 Then will he imitate a firit rate miniller 
 in the Mefliah*s kingdom, and obtain 
 the approbation ot his divine Sove- 
 reign. --Beiides, in thedifplays of pro- 
 found learning, by critical dirquifition!^ 
 cf great acumen, by metaphyllcal fpo- 
 culations j or of a fparkling genius, by 
 agreeable turns ofwit. Chrift and con- 
 fcience feel their intereils but little 
 concerned. The former is too obfcr- 
 vant of the preacher's motives, and too 
 jealous of his own honor, to be pleat- 
 ed v/ith fuch a procedure •, nnd the lat- 
 ter is either too liccpy to be arouled, or 
 too much pained to receive relief, bv 
 thofe means. If our Lord coniid-.V 
 himfelf as honored by tlic preacher'; 
 labr>\]rs, and if tlie miniiler have any 
 reafon to expect fucccf?,it muilbe by a 
 fiiithful and fimple promulgation of 
 
 revealed truths thofe truths wliich 
 
 regard fupreme authority in the divine 
 
 law, and favin^ g;race iii the ploriou? 
 
 go(pd--tho(e truth?, I will add^ which 
 
 E 
 
50 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 lie open to common capacities. If the 
 -confcience receive advantage, it is* by 
 the operation of the fame truths^ ei- 
 ther as convincing of fin and enforcing 
 duty, or as revealing pardon and af- 
 fording peace. But the honor ofChrifl 
 and the tranquility of confcience are 
 feldom promoted, in a public miniftry, 
 bv the refcarches of learnino:, or the 
 refinements of genius : for they arc 
 too faered, and too fpiritual, to ac- 
 knowledge their obligations to fuch 
 things. 
 
 The kingdom of Chrift is not of this 
 'ivorld^ wit/i regard to the means he em- 
 ployed in its fir fi efiahlifiment^ and ihojc 
 lie appointed for its enlargement and [up- 
 v^rt. Craft and violence^ injunice and 
 cruelty, Iiave been commonly ufed in 
 the founding, fupporting, and extend- 
 ing of fecular kingdoms. The Roman 
 L-mpire was founded, and grew to its 
 licight, in blood. Even the Jewifh 
 jcpublic waseflablifned, enlarged, and 
 defended by force of ai'ms. The Ca- 
 j:aanitifli nations, on account of their 
 'jiiormous wickednefs, were extermi- 
 li.ircd by the fword of Ifrael > or, if 
 iparcd hy the chofcn tribes, became 
 p-iijutarv' to then:. This, thoUgh ac- 
 
2C I N G D O M OF C H R I S r . 5 i 
 
 cording CO jGnovah's appointmenr, a-. 
 the great Proprietor of the whole er.rth-, 
 and chough a righteous cxecutio!i o-" 
 puniihaienc, for"" acts of rcbeliion 
 againil che Eternal Sovereign-, wa^^a 
 plain iftdication char, in various rui- 
 pe6ts^ the Ifraclitiih cluirch was a 
 ki!igdomofchi> world. Such alfo v/.v; 
 tiiat kingdom of iheMeiiiah which tl<o 
 carnal Jews in our Lord's time valnl-/ 
 expected, whenever the great promii(; 
 made to their fathers iliould be fulfilled: 
 for they dreamed of being exalted to 
 the highed: pitch of poiiticalgrarideur^ 
 and of having all the other nations un- 
 der their control. — The principle 
 inftruments employed by princes, to 
 eilablilli^mainta inland extend their do- 
 minions, are-^notperfons tlie moil re- 
 markable for integrity and benevo- 
 lence, forpiety and philanthropy J- but: 
 thofe v/ho are moll eminent for politi- 
 cal prudence, or martial bravery > for ' 
 fecret intrigue, or open hoflility-- 
 thofe who are bed qualified to per- 
 fuade by eloquence, to circumvent bv 
 cunning, or to fubdueby force. 
 
 Bnt^the moil: illudrious inftrument? 
 employed by our Anointed Prince in the-/* 
 ere6ling of his monarchy^ were of n 
 
ESSAY ON THE 
 
 character quite the reverfe. They 
 were chiefly feleded from the lower 
 orders of life, and called from occupa- 
 tions efteemed mean. Uneducated in 
 the courts of royalty, in the fchools of 
 learning, or in tJie field of war > they 
 Avere llrangers to thefinefi'e of politici- 
 ans, little acquainted with Gentile phi- 
 lofophy, and unpraclifed in the art o>f 
 eloquence. It may be jullly prefum- 
 cd, therefore, that a firong degree of 
 rudicity appeared in their drefs, their 
 a fpe^^, and their accent: fortheywere 
 a pparently unlearned and unpolified men. 
 So ignorant were they of fciences cal- 
 led liberal, fo un polite in their add refs, 
 and fo uncanonical in their garb, that 
 multitudes called Chriilians, it is highly 
 piobable, would be affiamed to give 
 I hem a hearings were they now prefent 
 among us > unlcfs the public attention 
 were firfc excited, by the excrcife of 
 their miraculous powers. --Yes, by the 
 inflrumentality of thofe unlettered and 
 })lain men did our Lord ered his king- 
 dom, or cibibliili the gofpel church. 
 In making w^ar upon Satan's empire, 
 evangelical truth and fpiritual gifts, 
 laborious preaching and ardent grayer, 
 fortitude, patience, and a holy exam- 
 ple, were the arms they ufed. SucM 
 
K I NG D O M O F C H R I S T. 53 
 
 were the militia, and fuch thearmourp 
 employed by our divine Sovereign 3, 
 yet perfe6lly luited to the nature of hi.-: 
 kingdom. For it is an empire, not 01 
 fecular power and external pomp 3 bu-: 
 of. truth and ofrighteoufnefs, of lov-^r 
 and of peace. , 
 
 Were the Meffiah's kingdom oft/;/' 
 world^ his loyal fubjefts might lawful- 
 ly take thefword, to repel ailaiiants and 
 fubdue hi.s enemies: for without the 
 liberty of fuch defence, no fecular fcate 
 can long fubfid. This, however, he 
 abfolutely pohibited : which prohibi- 
 tion is founded in the peculiar nature of 
 his kingdom. , For thus he fpeaks, to 
 one who thought of defending his per- 
 fon and caufe by force 3 Put upihy fworc"^ 
 into the fie at h. Soon after, on another 
 occafion, he faid > If my kiv.gdgyn were 
 of this world ^ then rv'oiild my few ants fight ^ 
 that I fijould not he delivered to the Jews : 
 hut now is my kingdom not from hence^\ 
 As by the particle now-, our fpiritual So- 
 vereign apparently refers to his king- 
 dom among thf^Jews 5 iolie feems to 
 diilingui/h his dominion ]\\ the gofpel 
 church, from that over the Ifr.ielitiili 
 nation, E a 
 
54 ESSAY ON TH-E 
 
 Informer times, thcFloly Spirit fre- 
 quently came upon the lubjc&s of Je- 
 hovali's government, to infpire them 
 with martial courage for the defence of 
 his kmgdomjand to dellroy hiscnemies». 
 Hence,, among the ancient worthies,^ 
 Ave read of thole v^'hojuhdued kingdoms^ 
 waxed valiant i n fight ^ and put to flight the 
 armies of the aliens. But the difciples- 
 oFChrilf beingcalled to a different kind 
 of conflidb, divine energy is granted 
 for a different purpofe. The military 
 ferv'^ice of a Chrillian, as/uch, is entire- 
 ly of a fpi ritual nature. It is a good^ 
 fight of faith: -^ ftriving againft fin^ in 
 himfelf, and in the world around him :. 
 XK holding fafi the prof efiipn of his fait h^ in 
 fpite of all oppoiition. The Chridian 
 Jiero is conformed to tlie captain of 
 lalvation, in maintaining the truth, and 
 in bearing the crofs ^ in enduring thq 
 contradi6lion of fmncrs, and in defpi- 
 iing the faame that is call upon him. 
 His accoutrements are, as Paul informs 
 us, The girdle of trutJiy T^wd. the hreaft- 
 ol:ite of right eon fnefis 3 the fllield of faith y 
 and hemic t of hope ^ and thefwordofthe 
 Spirit'^' . Such is the armour provided. 
 l>y the Kin-?, Meiiuih lor his devoted 
 
 ■' P,;)h(.r. vi. ic~i8. I ThcfT. v. 8, 3 Cor. -s* 
 
K I MG-D O M O y C H a I S T. 53 
 
 fubjeccs 5 by which ihey are enabled 
 to defend theiiifeives, and to promote 
 the general intereils of his kingdom. 
 This holy empire depends not upon 
 power, wealth, or learning,, either for 
 ornament or fupport. Not by mighty 
 nor by powcr^but by ?ny Spirit^ faith J e-^^ 
 hovah. 
 
 Neither the force o^ fecular powery,. 
 nor the ^xis 0*1 carnal policy^ ought there- 
 fore to be ufed in promoting the caufe 
 ofChrifl; : fuch things being quite ab^ 
 horrent from his^ intention, and from 
 thenature of his kingdom. Thegreat 
 deiign of our Lord in founding a Spiri- 
 tual empire was, to difplay the perfec- 
 tions of God in the holinelsand happi- 
 nefs of his chofen people. The king- 
 dom ofChrill, as before obferved, is a 
 dominion of truth and of reditude, of 
 love and of peace. Now the intereil.5 
 of fuch a monarchy, and the Qwd pro-. 
 pofed by it, cannot l3e promoted by any 
 other than, fpiritual means, and thofe 
 ofdiv^ine appointment. It. is only fo 
 far as the minds of men are enlightened 
 by heavenly truth,, their confcienccs- 
 ; irnprciied with God's authority, and 
 \ their hearts engaged on fpiritual things^, 
 that the caufe of Chi'id is advanced^ 
 
5^ ESSAYON THE 
 
 But in what way {hall perfecuting force 
 be applied, to irradiate the dark under- 
 ftanding, to arouie the (lupid conici- 
 ence^and to fan^tify the depraved heart? 
 It is only by the fruits of an adoring af- 
 fection for God, of iincere love to the 
 brethren, and of cordial goodwill to all 
 mankind, that our Lord is honored, or 
 his end anfwered, by the fubjed:s of his 
 dominion. How, then, fhall coercive 
 meafures increafe thofe fruits of holi- 
 nefs ? Or how. (liall malevolence, in 
 any of its infernal forms, be employed 
 to fupport a kingdom of love and of 
 peace. 
 
 Nor are the contrivances of carnal 
 policy lefs foreign to theoiarure of this 
 kingdom, than the exertions of fecular 
 power. For v/hat has the policy of 
 princes, or of prelates, to do in main- 
 tainingj or in extending, an empire of 
 truth and of rcditude ? Truth fecks no 
 lubterfuge, and reftitude fears no exa- 
 mination: butthe operations of policy 
 are lubtle, and its lirlt defigns are latent. 
 The policy of great men may form ci- 
 vil ella.bliflimenis of Chriftianity, and 
 adorn the exterior of pub/ic worlliip. 
 it may dignify minifters of the word 
 with pompous titles^ unknown to the 
 
I K I N G I> O M O F C H R I S T. 57 
 
 I New Tedament, and Invefl them with 
 j temporal power, till their claim of fuc- 
 I ceeding to the Apoftles becomes an in- 
 fult upon common fenfe. Thefe and 
 fimilar things may be eiFe6]:ed by it, un- 
 der the fair pretext of rendering reli' 
 gion refpeciiable, and of making ir: 
 more general : but the empire of Jefus 
 Chriil difdains them all, becaufe they 
 bclons; to the kingdoms of this world. 
 
 But though our Lord neither needs, 
 nor accepts, the puny arts of men, to 
 adv^ance his caufe and fupport his inter- 
 efts 'y yet various methods have been 
 devifed by acclefiatlics, to obviate t/iff 
 offenceofthe crcfs^ to render themiclves 
 refpe6lable,and to promote fomething 
 ^ called Chrifiiamty. That they might 
 '^ not be thougju, like the Filliermen of 
 ' Galilee, unlearned and ig/iora^/^verConSj 
 they have eagerly fought literary titles, 
 and to be called Rahbi. To adorn the 
 minifterial office, and to fandlion their 
 adminiftrations, they have been as care- 
 ful as Jewifri priefts to appear in cano- 
 nicals. To prevent the pride of their 
 liearers bein.g difguded, certain humi- 
 liating truths have been kept out of 
 
 ■ fight j and that tiie confciences of 
 
 ■ others might not be pained, fofteningin« 
 
5^ ESSAYONTHE 
 
 rerpretations of divine precepts have 
 been given. To Hind hci^ from a I'uf- 
 picion of bigotry, the importance of 
 capitiil truths has been furrendered^ 
 and to keep fair v/ith fomething called 
 i'/iarity^ it has been agreed that human 
 inventions lliould hold the place of di- 
 vine inilinulons.- -Many of ihe clerical 
 characcer, in our National Ellabliih- 
 menr, have deliberately fubfcribed 
 what they did not believes folemnly 
 profefled their confent to what they 
 could not approve > and frequently 
 pra^tifed, as part of their public devo- 
 tions, what they were ccnflraincd to 
 wiili had never exiiled*. Nay, as it 
 the miniflers of tharEflabliilimcntpof- 
 feiTed a righteous monopoly oFpublifh- 
 ing evangelical truth, and ofadmini- 
 flering divine inllitutions, numbers of 
 them have fworn to perfecute their 
 Proteftant DiiTenting neighbours, for 
 daring to hold feparate alTembliest. 
 
 * Fc r can any man upon earth really believe 
 all that is contained in the Thirty Nine /IrtidfSf 
 and cordially approve of every thing contained in 
 the Book of Common Prayer ? 
 
 f Thas run3 part of an Oath which is taken by 
 Graduates in the Unive»fity of Oxford Item fpe- 
 claliter tu jurabi*, quod ititcnuUas communitatcs, 
 vc;l perfonas iftius Univerfit^t'S, impedies pacem. 
 epncordlam et amorsm — A>j Conventiculis interffe 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST.' 5^ 
 
 Thus multitudes have fubfcribed and 
 xonfcnrcd, trimcd and fworn, to pro- 
 mote the interells ofafpiritual king- 
 dom--a kingdom of truth, of love, and 
 of peace ! 
 
 thhes* nee eit tatiie vtl ex^rrff^ eonftnttre ; sEd ea 
 
 POTIUS, MODIS QUIBUS POTERIS IMPEDIRE. Ex' 
 
 cerp. e Corp. Slatut. bnlvfrfit. Oxon. Tit. iX. Se€c, 
 vi. § I' That is, Tou /JjaU in a partuu/ar manner 
 fmcar, that you <ivill not obfirud peace ^ harmony and 
 love* anong any communities ^ or per Jons ^ of this Uni- 
 ver/ii\' — Nor ought you io be prefent in Conventicies, 
 Kor either exprejsly nor tacitly confent to them nuT 
 
 RATHER HINDER THEM BY ANY MEANS IN YOUR 
 
 POWER. — How any man, at all acquainted with the 
 right*? ofconfcience, can take this Oath ; or, hav- 
 ing taken it, can treat DlfTenters as Chrlftian bre- 
 thren, without renouncing his own Conformity* 
 I cannot imagine, A more fiiocking dilemma 
 can fcarcely be conceWed : for it is perfavtion on 
 the one hand, and perjury on the other. — Of a fj* 
 FPJlar complexion is the eleventh Canon of the 
 Church of England, which is entitled, McAntain- 
 ert of Canveniicles cenfvredy and it reads thus ; 
 ♦ « Whofoever fhall hereafter afRrm or maintain, 
 i' Ti;ai there are within this realm other meet" 
 «• ingp, aHerablies, or congregations of the king's 
 «* born ful:>je«Sls, than fuch as by the laws of this 
 *♦ land are lield and allowed, which may rightly 
 «* challenge to thcmfelves the name of true and 
 •' b;wrul churches : Let him be excommunicated, 
 ** p.nd not rcftorcd, but by the archbifhop, after 
 •« his repentance, and public revocation of fuch 
 *' his wicked errors."— I will hear fisbjoin the 
 lollov.ir.g rtmark of Dx* 0\v£N ; ♦» There is in 
 
^O E S S A Y O N T H E 
 
 Some, of different CO mmunions5have 
 deliberately a<Sted as if the preacher's 
 work were a mere trial of (kill, and as 
 if a pulpit were the (lagc of ?i harlequin. 
 To difplay the fcitility of their inven- 
 tion, they have felc6tcd for texts mere 
 fcraps of fcripturc language > which, 
 fo far from containing complete pro- 
 pofitions, have not, in their diflocated 
 {late conveyed a lingle idea. Upon 
 thefe they liave harangued > while the 
 ignorant multitude have been greatly 
 furprifed that the preacher could find fo 
 much, where common capacities per- 
 ceived noihinp. --Sometimes thefe men 
 
 o 
 
 " this [cccleHaftical] Conformity required a re- 
 ** minciation of all other va)r8 of public worfliip, 
 ** or means of edification, tliat may be made life 
 ** of. For tbcy are all exprt- fsly forbidden in the 
 *' rule of the Conformity. No man, therefore, can 
 I* compW with that rule but that a renunciation 
 t' of all other public ways of edification as un- 
 / hwful IS part r>f the vifihle profefllon which 
 «* thty make. FiJeo meltora prr.loque, dtter'tora^ 
 *t ftqnor> is no ?.oo\ plea in rclijiion. It is up- 
 «< righlnefs snd integrity that will preferve men, 
 «< end nothing elfe. He that fhall endeavor to 
 tt cheat his confcltncc by dlftinaions. and mental 
 *« refervatlons, in any conccrnrrents of religiou3 
 «« worfhip, I fear he hath little of it, if any at all, 
 •♦ that is q:ood for aught.** Enquiry info the Orig, 
 Nature, Inftiiut- and Cotr.mm. of Evar^- Churcha^ 
 p. 22S, 229. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 6i 
 
 ofgenius will choofe pafTagcs of Scrip- 
 ture exprefnve of plain hillorical h6tSy 
 which have no connedion with the 
 great work of falvation by Jefus Chrillj 
 and handle them (not profeflediy by 
 •way of accommodation, for then ic 
 might be admitted) but as if they were 
 facred allegories. Such hidorical fadls- 
 being Ipiritualized^ as they love to call 
 it, doctrines, privileges, duties, in 
 abundance, are eafily derived from 
 them. Nay, fo ingenious are preachers 
 of this turn, that it is no hard matter 
 for them to find a great part of tkeir 
 creed in almod any text they take. 
 Thus they allegorize common fenfe 
 into pious abfurdity.--]t might, per- 
 haps, be too barefaced, though it would 
 certainly fuit the vanity of fuch preach- 
 ers, were they frequently to addrefs 
 their hearers on the pronominal mo^ 
 nofyllable /: and th^re arc two paiTa- 
 ^^^ of facred Writ where it occurs in 
 the mofl appofite manner. The former 
 Would make an admirable text s the 
 latter, a noble conclufion : and they 
 are as follows : *' Such a man as /--Is 
 .'**^ not this p;reat Babylon that / have 
 
 F 
 
:- ESSAY ON TH 3 
 
 built* '? Ocher?, and often the fame 
 perlbn?5 frequently ufe the geilures o£ 
 the theatre, and the language of a 
 mountebank : as if their bulinefs were 
 to amufe, to entertain, and to make their 
 hearers laugh. Extravagant attitudes 
 and quaint expreilions, idle ftories and 
 llmilics quite ludicrous, appear in abun- 
 dance, and conflitute no Imall part of 
 the entertainment furniilied by I'uch 
 chara6lers. But in what a ftate mull 
 the confciences of thofe preachers be, 
 who can deliberately and with preme- 
 
 * Mr. G Gregoey, vn^n an im ad verting on 
 the conduct which ii here cenfured, fays ; 'It is 
 ** dangerous on any occafion to depart from the 
 ** plain track of common fenfc ; and there i^ no 
 *• attempt at ingenuity fo eafy as that which bor- 
 *' ders upon nonfenfc — It is one of the mean arti- 
 ** fices of barren genius, to furprifc the audience 
 *•' with a teiit confining of one or two words. I 
 *' have heard of a perfon of thi« defcription, v-rlo 
 ** preached from 'Jch^vih Jtreh ^ and another, 
 ** from the monoiyllablcj But Thefe are con- 
 *■ temptible devices, more adapted to the moving 
 ** theatre of the mountebank than to the pulpit, and 
 '"* can only fervc to captivate the meanefl and mofk 
 ** ignorant of the vulgar.*' ^'frm&nj, Introduft. p. 
 14,15, 18 —Mr. Clauds fays, ** Never choofc 
 *' fuch texts as have not a complete fcnfc; for on • 
 *•' ly impertinent and fooUiTi people will attempt to 
 ** preach from one or two words, which figniPy 
 .t* nothing.*' E-Jf^y on Comp^Jt' of a Scrm. Vol. 1. 
 D- 5- 
 
]>: I N G D O M OF C H 11 I S 1 . 
 
 .Citation a6t in this manner ! Or, wh-M 
 jiiulivve think of their petitions for di- 
 vine aihllaiice, in addrefHng the peo- 
 ple, when they intend thus to treat 
 them I -- 1 called it e/Ue-rtairsment ; p.nd, 
 liirely, tfiey themfelves do not confider 
 it m a religious point of light. For 
 can any mail, who is not inGme delibe- 
 rately adopt meafures of this kind, 
 when really uflning, either to produce, 
 or to promote, a devorionnl and hea- 
 venly temper in the hearts of his hear- 
 ers? Yet that is the general end c; 
 preaching. Or can the preacher hav»j 
 any devotion, while ihov/ing the aij5 
 oi^ a mountebr.nk j and when, if the 
 biilkofhis auditory had no more de- 
 cency than himfelf, there would be a 
 burll of laughter throughout the aflem- 
 bly *? Whatever fuch declaimers may 
 think, where there is no lolemnity, 
 there is no devotion : and, we may 
 venture to add, that a perfon habitually 
 dcftitute of devotion in his own heart, 
 while pretending to teach others the 
 do<5trine ofChrift, is a wretched cha- 
 racter in the fight of God, and hasrea- 
 fonto tremble. Such a man fervesnot 
 our Lord Jefus Chrift, but his own in- 
 terelb, in fome form or other. He mav 
 Y/iih for popularity, and perhaps may 
 
64 E S S A Y O N T H E 
 
 obtain ic from the ignorant multitude ; 
 but people of fcnfe and of piety will 
 conlider him as difgracing his office, as 
 affronting their underdandings, and as 
 infulting the majefly of that Divine Pre- 
 fence in which he Hands. For wherc^ 
 upon earth, arc we to expe6t: folemnity, 
 if not in the pulpit ? There, a man 
 fhould be ferious and folemn as death. 
 
 It may perha Js be faid 3 ''This kind 
 '' of trifling has its ufe. It is a mean 
 *' of exciting curiofity, and of draw- 
 '* ing many to hear the gofpel, who 
 '• might not otherwife have the leafl 
 *' inclination fo to do." Such, I pre- 
 llime, is the chief reafon by which 
 preachers of this cad endeavour to juf- 
 tify themfelves at the bar of their own 
 confciences. In anfwer to which, a re- 
 petition of that capital fliying, My king- 
 dom is not of this Morld^ might be fuffici- 
 enc : for that muft be \\ wretched caufe, 
 even of a fecular kind, which needs 
 buffoonery to fupportit. To trifle in 
 the fervice of God, is to be profane. It 
 is, therefore, an impious kind of tri- 
 fling: and/;^// we do evil that good may 
 come ^--Through the interference of 
 Providence, and the fovereign grace of 
 G.od, various inftances of enormous 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST, I ^ 
 
 wickednefs have iffued in the higheil 
 good to mankind. Of this we have un- 
 doubted evidence in the felling of Jo- 
 fephbyhis envious brethren. We have 
 a llill moreflriking inftance inthedeatli 
 ofChrift, through the treachery of Judas 
 and malice of the Jews. Nay, perl'ecu- 
 tion has frequently been an occafion of 
 fpreading.the .gofpel : ystfev/-,- I taic^*' 
 it for granted, have perfecuted for that 
 end, or attempted to juilify the prac- 
 tice upon that principle. Were the 
 farcical condu6l, here cenfured, law- 
 ful, there would bereafonto think that 
 the caufe of Chrill, and the intercils of 
 harlequin, are very nearly allied 3 be- 
 caufe the fame kind of means is adapted 
 to promote them. 
 
 The Seraphim, however, in Tfalah's 
 vifion, andthe Apoflles ofChrifl,appcar 
 to have had a very different view of 
 the cafe. The/or?;^^r (who ieem to be 
 an emblem of apodolic miniffers*,) are 
 prefented to notice, as performing the 
 fervice oftheir Sublime Sovereign with 
 profoundell awe. Struck with the ma- 
 iellyofhis appearance, and penetrated 
 by the authority of his commands.. 
 F a 
 
 f Vid, Filrlngam in k^l . 
 
66 ESSAY ON THE 
 
 they adore and obey with all bumility^. 
 and with all folemnity. Agreeably to 
 which, the /^//cr give it as divine law,, 
 thatthofe who would perform accepta- 
 ble worfhip^ muft do it wifA reverence^ 
 and godly fear. This law ofdevotion^^ 
 they further inform us, is founded in the: 
 rtature of things 3 as appears, by the 
 reafon adigned to enforce the precept, 
 For Gtir Codis a consuming fire. Such 
 is the ChrilHan's God, with regard ta 
 hispuritv/j his je.aloufy, and.his juftice*. 
 
 Conformable to this ideaof th^t Su- 
 blime Being v/hom every preacher pro* 
 fe/Tcs to fervc, was the- conduct of Paul 
 when difpenilr.g the gofpel. For, in 
 oppofition to fome wha luindled thi 
 word of God .deceitfully^ to amufe the 
 carnal aitd win their afFe61:ions j lie la- 
 boured, by mnnifeflatton of the truth ^ to 
 t'orardend him f elf fo-every-^man^s confci^ 
 ence^ as in the fight of God, Truth, con* 
 fcience, and God ! What facred and 
 folcmn ideas-! Yet Paul, as a preacher^, 
 habitually a<5(:edunder. their influence. 
 Thatcvaiigelical truth might be difplay 
 cd^ that tlie human conlcicnce might 
 be impreiled,. andthat the will of Gpd 
 
 * Hcb. xij. jjSj 295 Dc-ut. iv. ^4. ix. 5* 
 
Kt N <^D O M O F C H R J S T : 07 
 
 might b-e performed, were all included 
 in his defign How foreign are thefe 
 particulars from every thing of a farci- 
 cal nature ! Nor can any perfon who- 
 confiders himfelf, when preaching the. 
 word, as having eternal truth for the 
 fubject.of his diicourfe, the confcien- 
 ces of men for the obje(5ls of his regard^,, 
 and the omnicientGod for a witnefs of 
 his condu6t5 be otherwifethanfolemn: 
 forfuch an one will fpeak, as knowing 
 that he miift give an account. -^Vslh^n 
 hearing a minitler who afts in charac- 
 ter, and copicsthe example of Paul, we 
 are led to refle6t on that ancient oracle> 
 I will b^fanciifiei in them that come nigh 
 mcj to perform facred fervice. But 
 when fitting under theelFufions of a pul-- 
 pit buffoon, the language of an Egypti- 
 an tyrant occurs to remembrance 3 U'^ko 
 is Jehovah^ that I floould obey him''\ or 
 what is his woriliip, that 1 fliould treat 
 it- with reverence ?. 
 
 When a fermon was expelled from 
 Peter, by Cornelius and his friends, the 
 centurion expreilcd himfeit thus : M^^e 
 are all here pre font before God^ to hear, all 
 things that are commanded thee of God, 
 Thefe Gentiles, it ismanifcd, wei^ pe- 
 netrated with devout folemnity, and 
 
68' ESSAY ON THE 
 
 filled with holy expeiSbation. Notbe- 
 ing iiirembled tor carnal amufemenr, 
 but in order to know and perform the 
 will of God y they confidered them- 
 ielves as in the Divine Prefence : and 
 fo did their infpired teacher. A wor- 
 thy example for us to follow, when 
 convened to preach and to hear the 
 word of truth. But how contrary to 
 this is that pulpitdrollery, which is th6 
 objedl of ourcenfure ! For it converts 
 the folemn fervice of God (fhocking 
 metamorphofis ! ) into carnal aniufe- 
 mentj upon which numbers indeed at- 
 tend with pleafure, but with no more 
 devotion than if they were in a play- 
 houfe.* . 
 
 Is there any rae fan to be furpri fed 
 that men of fen fe, who are already pre- 
 judiced againd the genuine gofpel, 
 iliould have their difaffecli on to evan- 
 gelical trurhs increafed, when they find . 
 tiiofe truths avowed, and their impor- 
 tance loudly urged, by merry and re v/s? 
 If, inflead o^. found fpeeck^ Vy'kich cannot 
 he- condemned^ they meet with extrava- 
 gance and nonfenfe, what will thy fay? 
 Is there any reafon to wonder, that In- 
 fidels flic^iuld thence take occafion to re- - 
 diculc the Scripture^ as. calculated to , 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 69 
 
 ferve the meancfl purpofes ; or that 
 they iTiould contemptuoufly call 
 preaching prieftcraft ? If thofe who 
 profefs to love revealed truths drefs 
 them up in a fooTs coat, for the enter- 
 tainment of their hearers, will Deiils 
 forbear to laugh? If, where ihemanof 
 God iliould be heard, with all folemnity 
 warning finners to flee from the wrath to 
 come^ and intreating them to he recon^ 
 died to God ; a farcical droll appear^ 
 fpouting low wit and provoking refibi- 
 lity, will the Inftdel f^iy -, '^ The. 
 '^ preacher himfeif does not believe 
 '' the Chrillian miniftry to be a divine 
 " appointment, nor the exercife of it 
 '^ a devotional fervice^ but he finds it 
 *' convenient for fecular purpofes to 
 *' make pretenres of that kind ?--A- 
 mong all the devices of carnal policy 
 for the lupport and enlargement of our 
 Lord's kingdom, there are none more 
 contemptible, and few more deteflable, 
 than of converting the pulpit into a 
 ftage of entertainment. Of this mind 
 was an old Nonconform ill minilier, 
 when he faid j '' Of all preaching in 
 '^ the world I hate that mofb, v/hick 
 '^ has a tendency to make the hearers 
 ^^ laugh 5 or to affe6t their minds with- 
 ^^ fuch levity, asdage-plays do,inilead: 
 
70 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 " of affecting them with an holy revc- 
 '^ rence for the name of God. We 
 " fhoiild fiippofe, as it were, when we 
 '^ draw near him in holy things, that 
 '^ wefaw the throne of God, and the 
 ^' millions of glorious angels attend- 
 '' inghimj that we may bcawed with 
 '^ his majefty, led we profane hisfer- 
 '^ vice, and takehis name invain.''--- 
 Tothe pulpit harlequin we may there- 
 fore apply the following lines > 
 
 *' If an^^els tremble, 'tis at fucli a Tight : 
 
 " More (truck with gricf^or wonder^ who can tcU?*' * 
 
 7"^!? kingdom of Chrift is not of this 
 world ^ in regard to the laws by which it is 
 governed. Secular kingdoms are under 
 the direction of human laws, which are 
 frequently weak, partial, and unjuft--» 
 of laws which, when lead imperfect, 
 extend their obliging power no further 
 than the exterior behaviour : for it 
 would be vain and fooliih in a tempo- 
 ral fovereign, to tliink of giving law to 
 the thoughts, or deiires, of any fubjedl. 
 Civil penalties are the fan6tion of hu- 
 man laws, and external force gives them 
 their energy. --Not fo the laws of this 
 holy empire. For, proceeding from 
 Him, in whom are are all the treafures 
 ij knowledge^ they mull be confunaatelj 
 
K I N GD OM OF C HRI S T. 'Jt 
 
 wife : being enabled by Him who is 
 inflexibly juil and fupremeiy kind, they 
 cannot but be perfedlly good : being 
 given by him who fearchcs the heart 
 ^nd is Lord of confcience, their obliga- 
 tion extends to the latent defire, and the 
 riling conception. Controuling the 
 thoughts and binding the conlcience, 
 their fandtion is entirely fpiritual The 
 motives enforcing obedience to them, 
 arc the fmiles, or the frowns, of Him 
 who has our everlaliing all at his dif- 
 pofal. 
 
 As is the kingdom, fuch is the fove- 
 Teign j and as the fovereign, fuch are 
 his laws. If the kingdom be of this 
 world^ it muft have a political fove- 
 reign > whofe laws mud be coercive, 
 and confined to exterior behaviour. 
 Butifthekingdombeofafpiritualkind, 
 the fovereign mud be fo too His laws 
 muft extend no lefs to the confcience, 
 thanto the converfationi, and be enfor- 
 ced by fandlions of a fpiritual nature. 
 Such is the King MefTiah, and fuch are 
 the laws of his kingdonx 
 
 The fubjedls of our divine Sovereign 
 may beconlidered, either as detatched 
 individuals, or as united in diflin£t fo- 
 
f'i ESS AY O N THE 
 
 cieties, and vifibly profefling their Tub* 
 jcction to his authority. Hence the 
 execution of thofc laws by which they 
 are governed, comes under a twofold 
 confideration. As detatched individuals^ 
 the application of his laws to particu- 
 lar cafes, is entirely with him, and 
 with the confcience of each individual. 
 As united in diftinB focicties^ which are 
 called particular churches, his laws of 
 admiffion, of worfhip,andof exclufion, 
 are to be applied by the community-- 
 applied, not under the influence of car- 
 nal motives, but under the operation of 
 his authority, and for purpofes entirely 
 fpiritual. 
 
 By the laws of this kingdom, a credi- 
 ble profefTion of repentance and faith 
 is required of all, previous to baptifm. 
 Such profeflion being confidered as an 
 evidence of their fellowfiip in the gofpel^ 
 and of willing fubjedion to the autho- 
 rity of Chrifl, they are entitled to mem- 
 berihip in a particular church. On 
 this ground they are admitted : nor do 
 they forfeit their memberfhip, except 
 by fome capital departure from that 
 gofpel, or fome flagrant offence againft 
 this authority, --But as, by the laws of 
 our heavenly Sovereign, their admifllo-ii 
 
K I N G D O M O F C H U I S i . 7g 
 
 to vifible fellowihip v/as entirely for 
 rpiritual purpoies, their exclufion trom 
 it does not include temporal difadvan- 
 tages Their fitiiation asmcn5andas 
 the (ubjc(51:s of a political (late, not be- 
 ing altered by their church-relation 
 commencing J they iliould not be af- 
 fecled, in thole relpeiSts, by thedifTo- 
 lution oi that relation. For as the 
 laws ofChrift fay nothing about the ad- 
 miliion of one or another, on account 
 of his domeflic or civil connexions j 
 nor yet for his wealth or influence, his 
 parts or learning -, fo they are equally 
 fiicnt about pecuniary fines and latisfac- 
 tory penances, about civil difabiiities 
 and corporal punilliments, attending 
 the exclufion of any off-Vnder. The 
 former being quite foreign to qualifi- 
 cations for a fpiritual kingdom, the lat- 
 ter mull be utterly abhorrent from the 
 laws' by which it is governed > being 
 manifeilly the inventions of Aiuichrlll, 
 and the lupportcrs of his cruel thrcne. 
 Civil penalties, in this c-:iC(:^ are adapted 
 tcf generate fear, and promote hypo- 
 crifv y to fupprefs truth, and render 
 Chrillianity itfelf fufpicious. 
 
 G 
 
7-}- ESSAY ON T li E 
 
 Here we perceive another difparity 
 between thejewilh and the Chriiban 
 church. For under the Old Occono- 
 my, the laws of i;eligion were fundificd 
 by temporal politics^ and frequently 
 thof<^ of the feverelt kind*. To be call 
 out of thecongregation, to be forbid- 
 den accefs to the fan6luary worfliip, 
 (except for ceremonial pollution) was 
 to be deprived, notonly of ecclefialli- 
 cal privileges, butalfo of civil rights. 
 The church and the flate bein^r coex- 
 tended, and including the fame perfons, 
 an exciufion from the former was an 
 expuifion from the latter 5 whether it 
 was by a fentence of capital punilTi- 
 mcnr^orin fomeotlier way< Butthis, 
 like many other things, was peculiar 
 to that Difpenfition. 'It was founded 
 in the National fofm of their church- 
 fiate, and in their Theocracy. Tliencc 
 \x was thatblafphemy and idolatry were . 
 piiniilicd with death, as being high- 
 treafon againtl their divine Sovereign. 
 That Oeconomv being aboliihed, the 
 church of God has taken a new form. 
 T/ic priefthood being changed^ there is of 
 
 * See Exod. xii. 53, ig. xxx. 33, 3^- xxxi. 14. 
 he.y. vii. 20 — 27. xvii. 3— Q.xix. 8. xxiii. 27, 28, 
 29. Nnmb. ix. 13. xv. 30, 31. xix. 13. with nia- 
 j^y other rimilar pUces, 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIS T 
 
 i -y 
 
 ncceffity a change alfo of the law^ relating- 
 to the conilitucion, members, and go- 
 vernm.ent of thechurch. The laws oF 
 admiilion, and of exclulion, mull tliere- 
 forebe very different 3 as well as tliole 
 pertaining' to public worihin. Now, 
 to u n d e r il a n d t h c f e 1 a w s , w e m u il il i: d v 
 --^lot the Pentateuch of Mo fos j much 
 lefs the Pr ovine I ale of Lyndwoop, c r 
 the Codex of Gibson, but---ihe Nev/ 
 Tc fba m c n t o f Te fu s C h I'i il . To re a fo 11 
 from tlic c^n'litutionand fornijthe laws 
 and government, the privileges and 
 rites ofthe Jewilli, to thofe ofthechrii- 
 ti.in church j is to adopt a capiml 
 principle of Papal depravity, and gicf:^- 
 ly tocorruptour holy religion. 
 
 Our divine Sovereign has alf^ pro- 
 vided for the edification of his loyal 
 {iihjecl:^;, by ordinances and rites of 
 *v/orihip, no lefs than for the govern- 
 ment of his kingdom. As King of the 
 Chridian church, itconditutes a difcin- 
 guifhed part of his royal prerogative, 
 toprefcribe the whole of that fpiritiini 
 fervicc which is to be performed. CA 
 -'^is prerogative Jehovah was nKvays 
 -ilous : nor, under the former Geco-- 
 nomy, did he ever more irdlainlv, or^- 
 more feverely Touniili,. than whe/i hio- 
 
7(5 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 orders about the affairs of religion were 
 difrcgnrdGdj even though, as in the 
 cafe of Uzzah, the motive appeared 
 laudable. --What is religion, in its va- 
 rious branches, but that obedience 
 which isdiie to God ? And what is obe- 
 dience, but fubmifTionto his authority? 
 Now, as authority exerts itfelf in com- 
 r-iands, there cannotb-e obediencc,there 
 cannot be lioly worfliip, where there 
 is no divine command, either explicit 
 o r i ni pi i c i r . PFko ha t h re qu irecl this at 
 your hands ? In vain do ye worfiip me^ 
 teaching for doctrines the commandtnents 
 of ;??i?;';-- exclude and condemn a great 
 number of things, v/hich millions 
 edeem ornamental and iifeful in the 
 worlliip of God. 
 
 Strange, that any Proteftant church 
 fhould avowedly claim a "power to 
 ^^ decree rites or ceremonies" in the 
 iolcmn fcrvice of our divine Lord ! 
 As if he were not the legillator in 
 his ovv'n kingdom ! Or as if, though 
 pofTcfTcd of authoritv, he had not wif- 
 dom enough to provide- for his own 
 honor j or were defective in goodnefs, 
 refpe6ting his faith iul fubje6ls ! But 
 whatever the compilers and the fub- 
 fcribcrs of a National Creed may 
 
A i NGD x\t O P C H i^ I i V. 7'. 
 
 think, to perform rites which Ghrifl 
 did not appoint, and to alter thofc 
 which he enjoined, are vile impeach- 
 ments of his royal character,, and mud. 
 expofe to his relentment. The former 
 ufiirps his throne : the latter annuls 
 hishiws.- -S^ra/ige^ did I fay? the ex- 
 preffionmuil be recalled. For there is no- 
 re a (on to wonder that a National reli- 
 gious eitabiiihnient, with a political io- 
 vereign for. its head, fhould make the 
 claim! have jull mentioned. Who can 
 doubt whether the fame authority which 
 conftitutes, governs, and Uippcns :\ 
 community for any particular purpofe.^ 
 may not prefcribe to that community 
 with a view to the end. intended by it •' 
 Bur things fhouldnotbe called by wrong 
 names > and to denominate fuch an eil-.i- 
 bliJhment a church of Chrlft^ is a grob 
 miihomer. 
 
 The kingdom of Chriftis not like the e?):^ 
 pires of this world^ in regard to external 
 j'plendor. The grandeur of a tem.poral 
 kingdom chiefly confiils, in the number 
 and affluence of its nobility, the titles 
 and pompous appearance of its various 
 iiiagillrates, the flourilliing fiate of ir> 
 mmlIo and cpramerce, the wealth of ic. 
 G a.. 
 
7^ ii S S A Y O N THE 
 
 yeomanry, and the elegance of its pub- 
 lic buildings. Magnificent palaces and 
 royal robes are quite in character for 
 fecular princes. Enligns of honor,, 
 fplendid equipages, and (lately manfi- 
 on^, are fuitable to the nobles : while 
 a more folemn kind of exterior pomp is 
 vei-y becoming the miniders of public 
 juftice. Theie^ and limilar things give 
 an air of dignity, and of importance,,, 
 to political lovereignties : but they are 
 all foreign to the kingdom of Chrill, the 
 glory of which is entirely fpiritual -- 
 The Chrillian Church is dignilied and 
 adorned, by being the depofuary of di-- 
 vine truth in its unadulterated (hite, and 
 by pra6li{ing divine appointments in 
 their primitive purity v^ by pofTefling- 
 the beauties oFholinefs, and by enjoy- 
 ing the prefence of God. Such is the- 
 true glory of our Lord's kingdom,, 
 which renders it incomparably fuperior 
 10 every temporal monarchy. 
 
 It muO: therefore be very- abfurd to 
 think of doing honor toGhrilHanity, by 
 
 erefting pompous places of wor/hip, by 
 ^9;//^rr^^//?/^thofe places, and by adorn- 
 ing ra'iih Jhowy veftments^ in the per- 
 formance of public v/Orfhip. Let the 
 vilavos of princes, ;nid the manfionsof- 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 7O • 
 
 tlie mighty, be magnificent and richly 
 ornamented v iet the nobles and judges 
 of the land, when acling agreeably to 
 their different charaders, appear in 
 robes of (late and in robes of rfiagiflracyj 
 as thofe things belong to the kingdoms 
 of this worldy nor pretend to any thing 
 more, there is no thing ami G, no thing iii- 
 confiilentwith llation or profeflion. But 
 confine them there, and by no means 
 think of decorating the kingdom, or of 
 promoting the caufe of Chrifi, by any 
 thing fimilar. Were any man to lacker 
 gold, and paint the diamond, to increafe 
 their luflre, he would certainly be confi- 
 dered asiniane Yet the conduct of thofe 
 perfonsis more abfurd,whp borrow the 
 trappings of fecular kingdoms, to adorn 
 the fpiritual kingdom of Jcfus Chrilt. 
 
 As to places of wo:'f)ip^ conveniency 
 is all that is wanted, and all that be- 
 comes thefimplicity ofChriilianity. To 
 * lay the fird ftonc of fuch an edifice with 
 folemn formalities, isjewifh* : to de- 
 dicate ir, whencompleted, to any par- 
 :ticuLu- faint, is manifeftly luperftiiious : 
 I; to confccrate it by any folemn form, 
 L')oksas if it fucceeded lo the honors of 
 
 *'Ezra iii. 10. it. 
 
So E S S A Y O N THE 
 
 Solomon's temple J as if the Deity were; 
 expelled to relide ia it, rather than 
 grant his prefence to the congregation 
 wor/liippin^ there j and as if it were 
 to pollels a relative holineis, like that of 
 the ancient fandiiary. I may venture. 
 toadd, that aiiy religious parade at the. 
 firil opening of iuch a place^is apparent- 
 ly inconliilent with the idea ot all dif- 
 tin6lionofplaces5 in regard to woriliip,_ 
 being aboliilied, and too much refem- 
 bles ajewilli, oraPopiiliconfecration*. 
 
 * I will here r.ibjoiiia few particnlars mentioned 
 by Mr. James Owcti, relative to Cdnfecrations. He 
 r^iows, that the Ifraelitcs dedicated not only the ta- . 
 b.crnacle and temple, but alfo their private hoiifes^ 
 and thtir cities (Dciir. xx. 5. Pfalm xxx. title, 
 Nehcm. xii. 27.)---That the Jewifli fynagonrucs 
 were not confecrated, nor efbeenicd holy, as the 
 •xmple was-- -That the confccration of places for 
 Chridiaii worlhip was invented in the time of Cq/i- . 
 fra;itJnc---Thii Chriltians had not long been inpof- 
 ieilion of confecrated teuiples, before they ihoui^ht 
 it expedient to furnifh them with altars; andbe^. 
 ing provided with altars, they afterwards invented. 
 thj facrificc of the ma(s---That the Papifls, like the 
 olJ Pagan Romans, firft confccrate the ground, and > 
 then the edifice erc6lcd npon ii---That Durandus ^ 
 argiiqs for the confccration of churches, from the 
 example of Ntbuchadnezzar dedicarino; his golden 
 i'na:re.--That Roman Catholics confecrate, with va- 
 rious and folemn formalities, the firii foundation 
 ibne of a building intended for poblic worfhip-— 
 That they confccrate bells, priefts-?,arments, and ; 
 a.l!null every diing belonging \y their corrupted • 
 
K I N G D O M O F C H R I S T. 8 I 
 
 In regard to minijiers^ when attend- 
 ing to any branch of their holy fun61:i- 
 on, let them not think of heightening 
 their own importance, or of promo- 
 ting the cnufe of Chrill, by imitating 
 Jewifh or pagan prieiis, adorned with 
 peculiar habits, when performing their 
 different rites. If Chriftian miniiiers 
 be decently clothed, when in their own 
 fiimilies, when vifitingtheir friends, or 
 when walking tlic ftrects r, why lliould 
 they not be conlidered as properly ha- 
 bited for the performance of their fa- 
 cred office ? What reafon can be af- 
 ligned for the life of any particular 
 drefs, when engaged in public fervice, 
 th at would not militate againit the fpi- 
 rituality of our Lord's kingdom, and 
 the fimplicity of his worfhip ? 
 
 worfhip-— That thongh in England, fince the 
 Reformation, it does not appear that }<ny Form 
 for the confecrating; of churches, and of biiryinc; 
 o;rounds, has received the fanciion of public autho- 
 rity ; yet various Forms for thofe pnrpofcs have 
 been pabliHicd and nfed-'-That the confecraring 
 bidiop ble[ft;s the chnrch or chap"!, and prays'* that 
 *•' that the blefTed Spirit would fend down on the 
 *' place, his fan^'tfyi7ig power a?id grace'* ---Th^i 
 he confecrates the font, the pulpit, the readirfg- 
 de(k, the communion table, the paten, the chalice, 
 and f) on. Hifl.ofConf^crat, of Altars yTe?nplejy 
 H7id Churchi'Sj psflim. 
 
8x E S S A Y O N TH E 
 
 Itmavrperhaps, be faid -, ^'Clerical 
 '' habits are indififerent and harnilefs 
 ^' things, except when they are impo- 
 ^' fed." But iffo, the idea of impofi- 
 tion being excluded^the canonical di'Q^s 
 of a Popiih priell, the red hat of a car- 
 dinal, and the triple crownof a pontiff, 
 may all be juiLlied : for, in themfelve?,. 
 they are equally harmlefs as the gown, 
 the iiirplice, or the band. Innocent, 
 iiowever, as all thefe peculiarities are,. 
 detached from the minillerial cliarac- 
 icr, and from holy woriliip > the reafon 
 or motive of wearing them in facred 
 fervice, maybe carnal, bafe, and iinfiil. 
 In fome. there is too much ground of* 
 fufpicion, a defire of being eflcemcd 
 by the vulgar, either as peri'ons of 
 learning, or as epilcopally ordained,, 
 when they are not fo J and, in others, 
 a lull: of increailng their learned and 
 prieilly importance, are the latent rea- 
 fons of wearing thofc idle badges of 
 clerical diilinclion But when illite- 
 rate men alTume the garb of learning, 
 their vanity is contemptible : when 
 they intend, by fo doing, to obtain that 
 refpc6i: from the ignorant, of which 
 they know themfelves unworthy, their 
 p radical falfehood is deteftable : and 
 v/hcn any minifter thinks of magnif} -. 
 
KI N G D O M OF CHRIST. 83 
 
 inghi* ofncCjby pompofity in the pul- 
 pit, he betrays his ignorance relating to 
 the nature of that kingdom in which he 
 protVfTes to be an officer. --Do the laws 
 of this holy empire forbid the fubje6ts 
 to affo6t iliining and collly apparel, as 
 not becoming thofc who profefs gcdll- 
 nefs'^ 5 and will not the principle of 
 that prohibition apply with increailng 
 force to the ca(e before us ? Is it in- 
 confident with that fpiritual minded- 
 iicfs, of which every avowed difciple 
 of Chrifl makes an implicit proftHion, 
 to be fond of a fhowydrefs in the inier- 
 couvfes of common life 3 and can it be 
 fuitable to the fimplicity of Chridian 
 worfhip, to the charader of its Lord, 
 or to the example of his Apoiiles, for 
 minifceis to make a more grand appear- 
 ance, and take more fhite upon them, 
 v/hen performing their folemn fervice, 
 than at any other time ? Let thefe who 
 und eriland theChriflian fyilem, and are 
 heavenly minded, form the determina- 
 tion. 
 
 It muflindeed be acknowledged, that 
 the ancient people of God had a fplen- 
 did fancluary, and afumptuoustemple> 
 
 * I Tim. ii. 9^ lO; i Pet. iii. 3; 4. 
 
84 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 that the Jewifh priefls, when perform- 
 ing facred fervice, apearcd in holy gar- 
 ments 'y and that the highprieft, on cer- 
 tain occafions, was richly adorned, in 
 a manner peculiar to his office. But 
 then it is plain, that thoTe things were 
 exprefsly appointed by Jehovah 5 that 
 theDiipeniation to which they belong- 
 ed was of a typical nature > that they 
 were fuited to the church while in a ftate 
 of minority -, that the whole Jew iih 
 nation was then thevifible church j that 
 Jehovah was not only the God, butaUo 
 the King of that nation ; that the an- 
 cient fanctuary was a palace, where po- 
 litical royalty reiided*, as well as a tenv 
 ple, where Deiry was adored 5 and 
 that the pricils were officers in theftate, 
 as well as minillers ol relio;ion. To 
 fuch a politico-eccleliaftical. kingdom 
 the fplendor of the fan£tuary, and the 
 drefs of the priefts, were manifeftly 
 adapted. Hence the tabernacle is cal- 
 led a worldly Jan^luary^ and the rites 
 performed there elements of the world\ . 
 To thefe, the heavenly fmdluary, into 
 which our Great High prielt is entered, 
 and the fpiritnal worfhip of the Chrif- 
 tian church, (land oppofed.--lt fhculd 
 
 * Matt. V. ;5. t ^^cb. ix i. Gal. 4""; 9. Col. ii« 
 8, 20. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. C5 
 
 not be forgotten, that though the Son 
 ofGod, when difphiying his glory ns 
 King of the Jewiih ruire, took up his 
 abode in the fandtuary, as in a royal pa- 
 lace y yet, when //e came into Ins c-Vft' 
 country*^ as King of the Gofpel Church, 
 he had not w/iere to lay his head. 
 
 What, then, have the fplendor, the 
 laws, or the rites of Jiidaifm, to do in 
 the New Oeconomy > except we mean 
 to convert the Chrillian church into the 
 Jewifh temple? Grandeur and iTiow, 
 whether as pertaining to places of wor- 
 fhip, or to miniders of the word, are 
 abhgrrent from the Gofpel Difpenfati- 
 on : nor, under the prefent Oeconomy, 
 have they any other tendency, than to 
 .o;rarify that pride from v/hich they ori- 
 f^inate, and to give the kingdom r-f 
 Clirid a fecular appearance. --The New 
 Oeconomy being intended for all nati- 
 ons and all fucceeding ages, is equally 
 fitted for the rich and the poor : nor 
 does it make any diftini^lion, in regard 
 to places, where its worfnip iliould be 
 performed. That God be adored in 
 fptrit and in truth^ accorcl i ng to h i s o w n 
 rule, is all it requires of one congvega- 
 H 
 * Joh. i. II. See Dr. Loddrldge in loc. 
 
r\ 
 
 6 E S S A Y O N T H E 
 
 tion or of another. It difdains, there* 
 fore, to borrow any part of its glory, 
 iVonithc grandeur of an edifice, or from 
 the garb of a minitlcr. Though far 
 from fuppofing rullicity, illiteracy, and 
 meannefs, to be charaderillics of a 
 Gofpel church 5 yet I may venture to 
 ruTcrt, that an aflcmbly of princes in a 
 Iplcndid cathedral, with an archpielate 
 appearing in canonical pomp, may in- 
 Jultthc Divine Majefly, and be utterly 
 unworthy the name of a church > while 
 a congregation of day-labourers, with 
 an illiterate miniller inthemeanelf ha- 
 bit, convened in a barn, may be a fpiri- 
 tiial temple, enjoy the Divine Prefcnce^* 
 and perform the Chrillian worfhip in 
 iill its glory. '-It has been well obfcr- 
 ved, by a certain author, that '^ the 
 *•' prefcnce of God confers dignity and 
 ^'' importance:" but chat ''he can re- 
 ^'* ctivQ none from created, much lefs 
 '*^ from artificial pomp and magnifi- 
 '' cence." To which I will add, in 
 the words of Dr. Owen> " If the whole 
 '' flru6liirc of the temple, and all its 
 ^^ beautiful fcrvices, were nov/ in be- 
 '* in^T^ on the earth, no glory would rc- 
 '• dound unto God thereby : he would 
 <^ receive none froni it. To expeft the 
 
KINGD OM OF CHRIS T. 87 
 
 " glory of God in them, would be an 
 " high diflionor unto him*.'* 
 
 If fecular grandeur, however, muft 
 needs attend the religion of Him who 
 was born in a liable, and lived in pover- 
 ty, who received the acclamations of 
 royalty, when riding upon an af?, and 
 quickly after expired on a crofs s^-if, 
 1 fay, it ?7iiiJI: appear in the worlliip of 
 any who pretend to follow theFifher- 
 men of Galilee, thofe prime miniftcrs 
 in the Mefliah's kingdom, let itbecon- 
 fiiicd to fuch as avow themftlvcs mcQ:- 
 b(:rs of a National ertablifhnicnr. For^ 
 with regard to thofe who maintain th;ir ' 
 particular churches are Congrrgaiion- 
 al, conlilling of fuch as make a credible % 
 profeflion of repentance and faiih \ 
 pompand lliow in the worlTiip of God 
 are quite unbecoming their principle>. 
 Yes, let thofe monopolizethe fplendcr 
 in queftion, who confider the chLicii 
 and tlie (late as of equal dimenlions •, 
 who acknowledge aviliblehead of po- 
 litical rvoyalry ; and who mull fearch, 
 not the New Teilnment, but a code of 
 Canons and Conditutions larger than 
 
 * On ths Pirfonof C/^'*/;^, p. 354, tS5*^ 
 
88 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 the whole Bible*, if they would know 
 on what foundations their ecclefiafti- 
 cal fabric (lands, and by what laws it is 
 governed. The National form of the 
 JewilTi church being their model, and a 
 temporal monarch being their head, 
 why ihould not they have magnificent 
 cathedrals, and confecrate them like 
 Jewiili temples ? Why ihould not anci- 
 ent Judaifm be imitated in thefe parti- 
 culars, as well as in other things? As 
 the head of the Engl tin Church is 
 adorned with royal robes j as the prin- 
 ciple officers in itare appointed by him^ 
 and are Lords in the legiflature > and 
 as it is cllabliilied by laws of the flate, 
 v/ho fhall forbid the various orders of 
 its miniders being adorned with found- 
 ing titles, and with pompotis canoni- 
 cals ? Inhere is no reafon to wonder 
 that, in fuch a conilitucion and fuch a 
 polltv, almoil every thing fhould wear 
 a fecular appearance. For, political 
 
 * Refer! no; to Glhfon' s Codex. <' When,*' fays 
 vSIr Michel^! Forfler, <^ Cbrifti^nity became the 
 *' eftablifiicJ reii^^ion of the empire, and church 
 <^ and ftaic became one body, confidered only 
 ^' in different views and under different relations ; 
 *' the ccclefiadical and civil laws of ilie empire 
 " flowed from one and the fame fonrce, mperial 
 *' refcripts.'"'' Exa?7ibiat. of Bp. Cibfon's Codex jp* 
 122. Edit. 3d. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 89; 
 
 authority pervading the whole eccleli- 
 ailical frame, it would be inconfillenc 
 withitfelf ifits various parts had no tan 
 air of external grandeur. As a king- 
 dom of this world, it is refpecrable > 
 but it ihould. not pretend to any thing 
 more. 
 
 Bur, however it may be with a Na- 
 tional eftabliihmenr, let not Proteftaiit:. 
 DilTenters behave as if they envied, ei- 
 ther its magnificence, or its emolu- 
 ments^ No : let not thofe who confi- 
 der the Church and the World as oppo- 
 flre ideas y who maintain, that ChrillT' 
 only is the head of Chrillian com.mami- 
 ties y and that the New Tedamentcon- 
 tains the whole of their eccleliallical po- 
 lity, be defirous of- external grandeur. 
 in any thing pertaining to public wor* 
 iliip : left they pradically deny theic 
 own principles, and implicitly reproach 
 primitive Chrillianity for being too 
 fimple and too fpiritual. It is fre- 
 quently much ealier for people, and 
 much more defired by them, to aillmble 
 in an elegant edifice, and for their mi- 
 nifterto appear in c?inonical failiion > . 
 than to perform a fpiritual woriliip,and 
 to iliine in the beaun'cs of holinefs. The 
 H 1. 
 
9? ESSAYONTHE 
 
 fplendor of a place for affembling, and 
 the pageantry of clerical drefs, are pro- 
 cured by money j butthe graces of real 
 fandity, and internal devotion, are of 
 heavenly origin: nor is theexercile of 
 them to be expedted, unlefs by thofe 
 who are habitually aiming at it.-- f will 
 add, whatever kind of fuccellion to the 
 Apoflles may be claimed by diocefan 
 biihops*, yet letnot Prcteftant Diflcnt- 
 ing minilters implicitly arrogate an 
 apoftolic mifHon, powers, and authori- 
 ty, by calling themfelves ambassadors 
 ofChrlfi. For that character, it is plain, 
 belonged to the firft-rate mefTengers 
 of our divine Sovereign Or, if any 
 of thofe who publifh the gofpel of peace 
 confidera title of thathigh importance 
 as quite fuitable to the dignity of their 
 eccleflaftical (lation, their credentials 
 mud be produced. 
 
 By this charaderiftlc of our Lord's 
 kingdom, and by the general nature of 
 it, we are further taught, That/z;^/>//V//y 
 a n d fpirituality m uil c o n if i t u t e t h e chief 
 giorvof that worfhip which he requires 
 ---This forms another flrikingdefparity 
 between the Mefliah's government and 
 
 * See Dr. Owen's Nature of a C^f^cl Churchy 
 mnd its GQ-jcrnmsnt. i>. 3 3. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST: 9I 
 
 the ancient Txheocracy.-— It has been 
 obferved, by Dr. Erskine, that " the 
 '^'refpedpaid to God, under the Old 
 ^■'Teiianient Difpenfation, correfpond- 
 '^ ed to his chara6ler as a temporal mo- 
 ^* narch -, and in a great meaiurecon- 
 '' filled in external pomp and gaiety, 
 '^ dancing, indrumental mufic, and 
 '^ other expreffions of joyufual at co- 
 '^ ronations or triumphs. Butthehour 
 '^ is now come, in which the true 
 ^' worfhippers mud woriliip the Fa- 
 *' therin fpiritand in truth > not with 
 '* external ihow and pageantry*." Yes, 
 numerous rites, and ceremonious pomp, 
 were appointed by Jehovah in the firft 
 eftabliihmentof the Jewifh church : to 
 which various additions were made, by 
 divine order, in the time of Davidf. 
 Thefe things were undoubtedly fuited 
 to the nature of that Uifpenfation, and 
 to the church of God, while in a (late 
 ofminorityt. On worfliip, fo various 
 in its branches, and fo fplendid in its ap- 
 pearance, multitudes attended, and 
 found amufement in it, who were in 
 ^:heir hearts difaffe6led to God. In 
 hearing the temple mufic, vocal and in- 
 (Irumental, there is no doubt but num- 
 
 * Theological Differtations, p. 69. f r Chron. 
 xvi. 4, 5^6. z Chron. xxix. 25. % ^^^' iv. i—f. 
 
Sl'X S S S A Y N T H E 
 
 bcrs ofiingodly people were much d'e-. 
 lighted. Such a concert, by peilons 
 trained to the employment, and under 
 the dirc<5lion of fkilful m afters, muiL 
 produce very pleafing emotions in the- 
 attending multitude : a great m;ijority- 
 of whom, it is highly probable, confi-. 
 dered their fyftcm of worfhip as the beft, 
 that could be appointed, it being To. 
 grand and fo delightful. 
 
 Butthough that fyftem was fitted both, 
 to the people, and to the times j though, 
 itwas of great utility, and anfwered the 
 purpofe of Jehovah, under afhadowy 
 difpenfation j yet the New Teftament^ 
 informs us,that its numerous rites were, 
 the mere elements of fpirituai know^^ 
 ledge, and of holy worfhip. Nay, com- 
 pared with appointments and iervices^ 
 oftheChriftian church, that they were 
 beggarly elements and carnal ordinan- 
 ces*.-- Why, then, iliould any profcf- 
 fors of Chrillianity be fo fond of ccrd-. 
 monious pomp in the worfliip of God?. 
 Why fo attached to the language and 
 forms of Judiifm, or pra6biie a ritual 
 nearly akin to the rubrics of Mofes ? 
 Why call the holy fupper a facrifice^. 
 the Lord's table an altar ^ and the ad- 
 ^ Gal. i/. 9. Ktb. ix. lo. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST: 53 
 
 miniftrator ^ prieft ? Why have re- 
 courfe to the temple worfhip for mufi- 
 cal inftruments, and for a fet of fingers 
 dillinclfrom the congregation atlarge? 
 Why Ihould refponiive finging, and 
 tunes more fit for atheatre than tor the 
 worlliip of God, be heard in religious 
 afTemblies ? Why, without an appoint- 
 ment for alternate finging, fhould one 
 part of a congregation fufpend an adl 
 of focial worfhip, while the other car- 
 ries it on ? To thefe and (imilar que- 
 ries the anfwer muft be 5 Becaufe things 
 of this nature amufe and pleafe the car- 
 nal mind- -Becaufe the iimpiicity and 
 fpirituality of NewTeftament worfhip 
 have no charms for the multitude — 
 And becaufe the generality love to per- 
 form fomething called religious worftoip^ 
 in a way of their own devifinor. Xo 
 lave appearances, however, as many 
 things in the Jewifn ritual were pretty 
 well adapted to pleafe the carnally 
 minded, they will be contented with 
 having the Chriftian worlliip reformed, 
 in various particulars, according to the 
 ancient model, as completed in the time 
 of David. --Who, that enters a fplen- 
 did edifice, where he beholds a minif- 
 ter in his canonicals, nnd meets with 
 fuch entertaining woriliip, can forbear 
 
94 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 to think of the temple fervice ? Such, 
 through a courfe of ages, has been the 
 prediledrionof multitudes for ancient 
 Judaifm, that a number of its peculia- 
 rities, which were either honorable 
 and profitable to the prieft^, oramuling 
 and pleafing to the people, have been 
 incorporated with Chriftianity, nor- 
 withfianding the mifchiefs produced 
 by fimilar condud' in the apoltolic 
 churches. 
 
 I faid, Honorable and profitable io the 
 priefts — AmufiKg and pi e a fin g to the 
 people. But here thcyllop ; forthofe 
 branches of Judaifm that were of a dif- 
 ferent kind, are treated as entirely ob-* 
 folete. ^^>^ forindance, though num- 
 bers of Chriflian minilters are fond 
 enough of pricftly veftments, and of 
 tithes, y//;'f divino > yet they are not in- 
 clined always to waflo their feet ^ before 
 they perform facred fervice* > much 
 lefs to perform \'ibarcfoef\ --As tothe 
 peop/e, though multitudes of them are 
 greatly delighted with pompous ap- 
 pearances and mufical founds, they are 
 far from being in raptures with circura- 
 
 * Exod. XXX. i7--'2T. f Sec Dr. Lightfoot'i 
 Temple Service^ Chap. I and X. aiii Dr. Gill 0|l 
 Exo.l. iii. 5. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 95 
 
 clfion. For notwithftanding that A- 
 brahamic rite retained its obligation 
 and utility, as long as any Jewilli cere- 
 mony did j and though, in apoflolic 
 time 5, judaizing Chrillians had the 
 higheil: opinion of its importance > yet, 
 like the ancient baptilmal immcrfion, it 
 is now conlidercd as too painful and 
 too indelicate for polilbed perfons to 
 re<>ard.--Thus the worHiip of the New 
 Occonomy is become a compound, un- 
 known to the Bible, of Judaifm and 
 Chriilianity : and it is treated by too 
 many minillers, as a trade, not a divine 
 fervice > by numbers of people, as an 
 article of decent amufcmcnt fuitable to 
 the Lord's day, not as duty to God, and 
 as a mean of preparing for heaven. 
 *' Men run to church, fays Erasmus, 
 '' as to a theatre, to have their ears 
 ^' tickled*." The prophets prophefy 
 fcilfeJy^ And the priefls bear rule by their 
 means^ and my people love to have it fo : 
 and what will ye do in the end thereof '?-|- 
 
 But though the magnificence of pla- 
 ces intended for public worfliip, the 
 confecration of thofe places, canonical 
 habits, and various amufing ceremo- 
 nies ^xQ now defended ( if defended at 
 * In I Cor. xiy. 19. f Jer. v. 31. 
 
g6 ESSAYONT HE 
 
 all by Scripture) on the ground of Old 
 Tcftamentcuftoms 5 yet we are taught 
 by the moll refpe^table ecclefiaflical 
 hiflorians, that they originated in aper- 
 verfc imitation of Paganifm. Chrifli- 
 ans being furrounded with Heathens, 
 of whofe converfion they were defir- 
 oits ', and the latter having been accuf- 
 tomed, in performing their idolatrous 
 Woriliip, to the external pomp of tem- 
 ples and of ceremonies ; Constan- 
 TINE had no fooner aboiiflied the fu- 
 perllitions of his anceftors, than magni- 
 ficent places of worlhip were erected, 
 and confecrated with great parade: it 
 being confidered as unlawhil, except 
 in extraordinary cafes, to perform any 
 part ot public worihip in them, previ- 
 ous to their confecration. Heathens 
 having olten reproached Chridianity, 
 for the poverty and fimplicity of its ap- 
 peal ance, the Chrillians of the fourth 
 century adopted many of the Pagan 
 rites. Miniiters of the word, for ex- 
 ample, when performing their office, 
 appeared in canonical habits, and with 
 prieflly pomp. Their newly cre6ted 
 temples were confecrated, by finging 
 of fuch hymns as v/ere thought fuita- 
 ble to the occafion, by prayers, and by 
 thankfgivings. Then, in the Eadcrn 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. p^ 
 
 churches, the refponfive finging of 
 David's Pfalms was introduced > pre- 
 centors were appointed, and laws were 
 framed by different Councils to direct 
 the lingers in the performance ot their 
 iervice'^.--Such was the oi igin of thofe 
 gaudy appearances which, to imufe the 
 carnal mind^ have fo long corrupted 
 .the worfhip of God, and Iccularized the 
 kingdom ofChrill ! Vam man would he 
 wife^ and, in his great wifdom, thinks 
 it neccfTary to add a few ornaments and 
 fupports to this heavenly empire, of 
 which it was entirely dtftitute when 
 the Apoftles left the earth. This was 
 thought expedient, in order to render 
 the religion of Jefus a little morepleaf- 
 ing, refpe6fable, and edifying, than itJ 
 was inits nativeftate. Butwtllmav he? 
 demand, with the afp''6f <^f incenfed 
 majefty, PFko hath required this at your 
 hand^ 
 
 The kingdom of- Ch^ift is not o^tJns Vi^orld^ 
 in refpedl of its iwm unities^ its riches^ 
 and its honors. Wealth, titles, and au- 
 thority, are frequentiv confeicd by i'e- 
 cular princes .* but they are all external 
 1 
 
 * ViJ. SpanhenliHifl, Feeler Scc^I. \V. p. 5;i^ 
 S54. Vencma; Hifl. Ecclcf. beeul. IV. § 128. 
 
9& ESSAYONTH£ 
 
 things. Apatentof peerage, or a lu- 
 crative ofnce, gives no wiTdom to the" 
 mind, no peace to the confcience, no 
 holinefs to the heart. The poflollbr, 
 notwithltanding his plentiful income 
 and fplendid title, may be a fool, a 
 wretch, andadiigracetothehumanipe- 
 cies.--Thehigheilhonorsand thegreat- 
 ed emoluments which the fubjedbTof an 
 earthly kingdom can enjoy, are all of 
 them unfatisfadlory : and, therefore, 
 thcfirfL favourites of temporal princes 
 •are fometimes the mofl unhappy. Of 
 this we have a remarkable inflance in 
 Haman, the prime favourite of Aha- 
 Aierus. --Great privileges and exalted 
 honors are enjoyed by comparatively 
 very few fubjedls of any temporal mo- 
 narch ', the nature of the cafe forbid- 
 ding them to become general, among 
 the inhabitants of any country. Duke- 
 doms, marquifates, and grants from the 
 crown, are but feldom beftowed, how 
 loyal fccvcr the fubjedis may be. Be- 
 fides, thofe diftinguifhed favors are of 
 lliort duration, and quite uncertain. 
 
 Whereas, the immunitie.*?, emolu- 
 'rnents, and honors of our Lord's king- 
 dom, are all of them fpiriiual and in- 
 ternal. They are fuited to the (late of 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 99 
 
 an enlightened mind, to the feelings of 
 an awakened confcience, and to thede- 
 iires of a renewed heart. Pardon of all 
 ^n, and complete acceptance with God^ 
 adoption into the heavenly family, and 
 a title of future glory, are fome of the 
 privileges and honors enjoyed by the 
 iubje^s of this kingdom. Biefling?, 
 thefe, of infinite worth, becaufe of their 
 fpiritual nature and immortal duration. 
 Nor are they confined to a few dirtin- 
 guiihed favourites of our ccleftial So- 
 vereign y for they are comnion to ail 
 his real rLibje6ls. Yes, they are all en- 
 riched, and all ennobled, with rightc- 
 ■oufnejs^ peace^ and joy in the HoIyGkcjl. 
 
 Now, a? the immunities, grants, and 
 honors, bellowed by the King Meiliah, 
 are ail of a fpiritual nature 5 his faith- 
 ful fubjedls have no reafon to wonder, 
 ortobe difcouraged, at any perfecuti- 
 ons, affli6lions,or poverty which max'- 
 befal them. Were his empire of t his 
 worlds then indeed it might be expe6t.- 
 ed, from the goodnefs of his heart and 
 the power of his arm, that thofe who 
 are fubmiffive to his authority, zealous 
 for his honor, and conformed to his 
 image, would commonly find them- 
 felves eafy and profperous in their tecj>' 
 
100 ESSAY ON THE 
 
 poral circumflances. Yes, were his 
 dominion of a lecular kind, it might 
 be luppofed thar an habitually conlci- 
 entious regard to his laws, would le- 
 cure from the oppreflion of ungodly 
 men, and from the diilrefTes of temporal 
 want. --Thus it was with Ifrael under 
 their Theocracy. When the rulers 
 and the people in general were pundlu- 
 al in obferving Jehovah's appoint- 
 ments, thei^ipulations of the Sinai Co- 
 venant fecured them from being op- 
 prefTed bv their enemies, and from any 
 remarkable affliction by the immediate 
 hand of God. Performing the condi- 
 tions of their National Confederation^ 
 they were, as a people, warranted to 
 expe6b every fpecies of temporal prof- 
 perity. Health, and long life, riches, 
 honors, and vi6tory over their enemies, 
 were promifed by Jehovah to their ex- 
 ternal obedience^. The punifhments 
 alfo, that were denounced againfl fla- 
 grant breaches of the Covenant made 
 at Horeb, were of a temporal kind"[". 
 
 * See Exod. XV. 25:, 26. xxiii. 25:--2S. Lev. 
 xxvi. 3-- 1 4. Deur. vii. 12-24. vijl, 7, 8, 9. xi. 
 TV-17. xxviii. 3-13. t Lev. xxvi. 14— 39. 
 
 Deut. iv. 25, 26, 27. xi. 27. xxviii. 15--68. xxix. 
 
 22-28. See Dr. Erfkbie's Theclr^g. Dilf^rtat. p. 
 32--29. External obedience— PunifhmciUs of a 
 
KINGDOM OF C H R I b i . 131 
 
 In this reCpQ&iy however, as well as, 
 in other things, there is a valt difference 
 between the JewiJTi, and the Chridian 
 Oeconomy . This dilparity was plain- 
 ly intimated, ifl millakenot,by the op- 
 podte modes of divine proceeding, in 
 ellablifhing Jehovah's kingdom among 
 the Jews, and in founding the empire of 
 Jefu5 Chrift. To fettle the Ifraelitifh 
 church, to exalt the cholen tribes above 
 lurrounding nations, and to render the 
 ancient Tlieocracy fupremely venera- 
 ble, the divine Sovereign apper.red in 
 terrible majetly . Wafling plagues and 
 awful deaths were often infiicled by 
 eternal juflice, on thofe who dared to 
 oppofe, or to opprefs, the people of 
 God. An angel was commiifioned to 
 deilroy the Egyptian firit-born} Pha- 
 raoh, with his mighty hofl, were 
 drowned in the Red fea j and the Ca-- 
 naanitiih nations were put to the fword,, 
 
 rfm/>ora/kmd, Thcfe an J liniilar cxprciHcRS in 
 this E'Tay are to be nnderflood, as refcrrinrr to the 
 Sinai Covenant /Vit^/y confid-^rcd, and to Jthovah's 
 reqniritior.s ss the ki/;g of Ifrael. They are ijiiite 
 eonfiil^nr, therefore, with its being the duty of A- 
 brabam's natural feed lo perform :?.terHai ob-di- 
 dice to rh:^i Sablime Sovereign, confidcred as God 
 of the whole esrtb ; and with final pimilhmcnt ht- 
 ing iadicled by hiin, in failure of thai obcdicnc<> 
 
ox ESSAYONTHE 
 
 that the fubjetSts of Jehovah might pof- 
 lels their fertile country. Manitelt in- 
 dications thefe, in connexion with ex- 
 prefs promifes, that the fpecial Provi- 
 dence of God would exalt and blels the 
 natural feed of Abraham with temporal 
 felicity j provided they did not violate 
 the Sinai Covenant. 
 
 But when the Prince Meiliah found- 
 ed his kingdom, all things were other- 
 wife No marks of external grandeur 
 attend eel cd his pcrfonal appearance : 
 andj inllead of executing righteous 
 vengeance on thofe whooppoled him, 
 his language was y The Son of man is 
 'not cortie tn deftroy men^ slives^ but tojave . 
 them. Father^ forgive them^ for they 
 know not what they do ! — After a life of 
 labour and of beneficence, of poverty 
 and ofreproach, he fell a vi£lim to per- 
 fecution, and a martyr to truth. Such 
 was the plan of divine Providence?, 
 rerpe<51:ing Chrili our King, and fuch 
 was the treatment with which he met 
 from the world! Striking intimations, 
 thofe, that his moft faithful iubjc6i:s 
 would have no ground of difcourage- 
 menr, in any fufferings which might 
 await them > and that, confidercd as his 
 ^depcndants, fpiritual blcflings were all 
 'they fhould have to exped. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. IO3 
 
 It mufl: indeed be acknowledged, that 
 as vicious tempers and immoral prac- 
 tices have a natural tendency to impair 
 ■health, diilrefs the mind, and wafte the 
 property j To the exercifeof holy affecti- 
 ons, and the practice of true godlinefs, 
 have the moll friendly afpeclon aChrif- 
 tian's own temporal hrippinefs, (ex- 
 cept Co far as perfecution intervenes ) 
 and on the welfare ofiociety. But then 
 it is evident that this arifes from the 
 -jiature of things, and from the luperin- 
 tendency of common Providence > ra- 
 ther than from the dominion ofChrift, 
 -as a fpiritural monarch. For, focon*- 
 fidered, fpiritual bleffings are all that 
 •they have to exped from his royal hand* 
 
 By the prophetic declarations of oui* 
 Lord himfelf, and by the hiftory of 
 
 -this kingdom, it plainly appears, that 
 among all the fubjevts of his govern- 
 
 . ment, none have been more expoled to 
 perfecution, affliction, and poverty^ 
 than thofe who were raofl eminent for 
 
 robedience to his laws, and mofi ufeful 
 
 ,in his empire. The mod uniform fub- 
 jeclion to his authority, and the warm- 
 ertzeal for his honor, that ever appear- 
 
 ,edupon earth •, were no fecurity from 
 Ibittcr perfecution, from pincking po^ 
 
|04 ES SAY O N THE 
 
 verty, or from complicated afHi<5bion. 
 Our divine Lord, confidcred as a fpiri-i 
 tu'al fovereign, is concerned for the fpi- 
 ritual interetls of thofe that are under 
 his government. His perfonal perfec- 
 tions and royal prorogatives, his pow- 
 er and v/ifdom, his love and care, are 
 therefore to be regarded as engaged^ 
 both by office and by promife,--not to 
 inake his dependants eafy and profper- 
 ous in their temporal concerns > but-- 
 to (Irengthcn them for their fpiritual 
 warfare j to prefervethem from final- 
 ly falling by their invible enemies J to 
 make all affli6l:ions w§rk together for 
 their good > to render them, in the final 
 iffue, more than conquerors over every 
 oppofer ; and to crown them witl^ 
 cverlaftinglife. 
 
 Our Lord has promifed, indeed, that 
 their obedience to his royal pleafure, 
 fhall meet with his gracious regards in 
 the prefent life. Not by indulging 
 them with temporal riches, or by 
 granting them external honor and eafe j 
 but by admitting them into more inti- 
 mate communion with himfelf, and by 
 rejoicing their hearts with his favcr*^. 
 Yesj to deliver from fpiritual enemies^, 
 ^ Job. xii, 26, and xiv, 21, 23> 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 105 
 
 and to provide for fpiritual wants 5 to 
 indulge with fpiritual riches, and to 
 ennoble with fpiritual honors, are thofe 
 royal acbs which belong toHinijWhofe 
 kingdom is not of this world. In the be- 
 flowment of thefe bleffings, the glory 
 of his regal chara6leris much concern- 
 ed. But millions of his devoted fub- 
 je6]:s may fall by the iron hand of op- 
 prellion, flarve in obfcurity, or fuffer 
 accumulated afHiction in other ways j 
 without the lead impeachment of his 
 power, hisgoodnefs, or his care, as 
 ,the fovereignof a fpirituaikingdom. 
 
 The kingdom ofChrift is not like thedo^ 
 rrtintons of fecular princes^ with regard to 
 its limits and its duration. The widely 
 extended monarchies of antiquity were 
 confined to certain parts of the habita- 
 ble globe, and in the courfe of a few 
 centuries they came to anend. Notfo, 
 the empire of Jefns Chrifl: : for thus run 
 the prophetic oracle?, refpefting him 
 aiid his kingdom. Hejloall have domi- 
 nion from fea to fea^ and from the river 
 to the ends of the earth. All things fhall 
 fall down before him : all nations fhall 
 ferve him. There was given him domini- 
 on^ and glory^ and a kingdom^ that all 
 \peopley nations^ and languages fiould ferve 
 
I06 ESSAY ON THE 
 
 hi7n. His dominion is an everlafti?2g do^ 
 mmion^ which Jhall not pafs away^ and 
 .his kingdom that which fljall not be def- 
 froyed. He Jhall r^ign ever the houfe of 
 Jacob for ever ^ and of his kingdom there 
 fioall be no end*. Concerning tlie gra- 
 ■dual. enlargement and univerfal extent 
 ofthis kingdom, our Lord fpenks in hi^- 
 parable of ^ grain of muftard Jeed y and 
 -in that oHcaven^ pervading the whole 
 iiiais of meal. --This holy empire Ihall 
 illue in the ultimate glory : and the* 
 i:he prefent form of its admini'lratiou 
 will ceafe, when God fiall be all in all<, 
 yet the glorified fubjeds of it iliall ne- 
 ver diXQt^ never be difunited, nor ever 
 withdraw their allegiance from Jefus 
 Chrift, Such are the foundations of his 
 dominion, and fuch rhe excellence of 
 his government, that each of his real 
 fubjecVs will from the heart fay j Ley 
 THE King live ! and let him reign^ till 
 all his eneynies become hisfootjiool\ ! 
 
 Once more 5 The empire of Chrift^ or 
 the Go [pel Churchy is called the king- 
 DOxM OF HEAVEN. A^ our Lord, in the 
 mod emphatical manner, is denomina- 
 ted, THE King of kings \ we may with 
 
 * Pf. Ixxii. ??, ir. Dan. vii 14 Luke i. 33. 
 jf Pf. Ixxii. IS. and c. i. r, Cor.xv. 25. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. IC7 
 
 propriety confider his holy monarchy, 
 as the kingdom of kingdoms. This ap- 
 pellation, //^^ ki'ngdom of heaven ^x^'^m- 
 feftly fets the New Teftament church 
 at the greatefl: diftance from every le- 
 cular monarchy, and teaches us to con- 
 iider it as nearly allied to the heavenly 
 Hate*. The ffthjeiSts of it are deicribed, 
 as born from above j as the heirs of 
 glory. They are governed by laws, 
 indulged with privileges, and inverted 
 with honors, which are entirely fpiri- 
 tual, and all from heaven. The truths 
 they believe, the bleffings they enjoy, 
 the obedience they perform, and the 
 expedations they entertain, have a re- 
 gard to heaven. It is the authority q^ 
 a divine Sovereign under which they 
 < live, and his approbation at which they 
 aim. The pleafureswhich they enjoy, 
 confidered asthefubje6tsof JefusChrill:, 
 are all of a fpiritual nature, and all fa- 
 vour ofthe heavenly world. 
 
 As Chrid is a fpiritual monarch, his 
 dominion refpedbs the underllandings, 
 the confciences, the hearts of men 5 
 
 * Ecclefiara Chrifli Jefii vere elTe Regnum C(nlo^ 
 ruintx. inter ejus (latum et condiiionem ecclefiae 
 coeleflis maximam intercedere affinitatem et con-* 
 jundionem. Vitringa m Aj^ oca /)!/>/. ^,S8S'Am[isL^ 
 lot]. 1 719. 
 
I08 ESSAY ON THE 
 
 and is a preparation for that fublittKI 
 (late, where knowledge and re6tiLude5 
 where obedience and love, whtic har- 
 mony and joy. are all in their full glory. 
 The foundation of this government^ 
 as it rerpt(5ls individuals, is laid in re- 
 generation.. There the preparation for 
 htaven begins : and all the genuine 
 fruits of that important change, which 
 is made by divine influence, in the 
 iTiind, conscience, and heart of a fin* 
 ner, have a tendency toward heaven j 
 and many of them are anticipations of 
 it. That worlhip which is performed 
 by the fi.b c<51s ot Chriif, is no further 
 fpiiitual, and agreeable to the New 
 Oeconomy, than it is animated witlf 
 fuch affections as abound in heaven. 
 F )r the time is come, when thofethat 
 w rlhi p the Father, ;;^Af/? worfiip him in 
 fpirit and in truth. Knowledge and 
 Ff vcrence of G«^d, a^ revealed by the 
 Mediator •, confidence in him, and love 
 to him \ ftlf-abafement in his prefence, 
 and acqviieicence in hi^ d<' minion 5 arc 
 the principle ideas included in fpiritnal 
 worfhip, w^hether as per^orniedbv the 
 fu!)jecls oS Clii'l here, or bv the faints 
 made perfed in glory. 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. log 
 
 It is manifefl from this charadteriftic 
 of our Lord's kingdom, that a profellL- 
 on of allegiance to him is entirely vain^ 
 not attended wixh/piritual minclcdnefs : 
 becaufe it is natural for good fubje<51:s 
 to feek the profperity of that kingdom 
 to which they belong. Now the inter- 
 efls of Melliah's empire are all of a 
 fpiritual nature. In the fpread of evan- 
 gelical truth, and the purity of divine 
 worfhip \ in the exercife of love, and 
 the pradtice of holinefs, the intereils and 
 honor of this kingdom chiefly coniift. 
 Inditterence about thefe, is an evidence 
 of the heart being difafFe6led to our di- 
 vine Sovereign > but allegiance to him, 
 will manifefl itfelf by an habitual re- 
 gard to them. --In whomfoever this 
 holy Monarch reigns, there is a relifli 
 for fpiritual riches, honors, pleafures^ 
 To enjoy his favor, and bear his 
 image > to perform his will, and be- 
 hold his glory, are things of the high- 
 eil importance iii the eileem of real 
 faints. Nor is it a mere di^late of the 
 tmderllanding and confcience, that it 
 ihould be fo. It is matter of choice : 
 for their hearts are engaged on thofj^ 
 obieds. 
 
 K 
 
il6 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 Ic Is common for fubjeds to imitate 
 a fovereign whom they love and re- 
 vere y elpeceially, if they have deri- 
 ved Ilgual benefits from his adm'iniltra- 
 tion. Now fiich is the nature of our 
 Lord's government, that it is impoili. 
 ble for any one to beunder it, without 
 lincerely loving and profoundly rever- 
 ing him--vvithout feeing an excellence 
 in his example, which commands 
 elleem and excites imitation. But if 
 we be fond of wealth, or emulous of 
 grandeur and fhow j if we purfue pre- 
 eminence, and grai'p at power 5 we 
 imitate the children of this world, not 
 Jefus Chrift. Thofe things are eagerly, 
 fought, and highly prized, by thefub- 
 jedts of Satan, becaufe they are carnally 
 minded ', but he is unworthy to be cal- 
 led adifciple of Chrirt, who is not ha- 
 bitually ftriving to copy his exam- 
 ple. Nor can any pretend, thathe ever 
 encouraged, byword or d^Qd^ thepur- 
 fuit of fecular di(lin6tions, the acquifi- 
 tion of wealth, or the pleafurcs of fen- 
 fuality, but quite the reverfe. Far from 
 fe eking honor which comes from mcn^ he- 
 neither courted the fmiles of the rich, 
 nor the patronage of the mighty: for 
 the friendfiip of this world ^ is enmity with 
 Qedi So our Lord efteemed it, and fo 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST: 111 
 
 muft his difciples. To be the fiibj eels 
 of a fpirimal kingdom, and to have our 
 hearts on temporal enjoyments, are in- 
 con iillent. Tif he carnally minded is 
 deatti ; hut to he fpritually jninded^ is 
 life and fc ace. 
 
 As Chrifl is a fpiritual fovercign, and 
 his church a fpiritiial kingdom, ?X\ the 
 fubjedts of his government muitbe con- 
 iidered, as in a fiate of preparation for 
 heaven. The prevailing diipofitions of 
 their hearts are in favor of heavenly 
 things • and to promote the exerciie 
 of fpiritual affections, the NewOeco- 
 nomy, in all its branches, is much bet- 
 ter adapted than wasthe Mofaic fyllem. 
 For as it is the moll perfect difpeniati- 
 on of divine grace, that ever was, or 
 ever will be enjoyed on earth ^ fo it 
 makes the neared approaches to heavea. 
 
 It has been juftly remarked by a cer- 
 tain author, '' That the Le^al Oeco- 
 ^^ nomy introduced that of Grace, by 
 '' thegofpel, and then vanillied away. 
 '^ The Difpenfation of Grace, in like 
 *^ manner, is now performing its work, 
 ^^ fulfilling its day, announcing, un- 
 " folding, introducing the kingdom 
 ^' of glory: ^i\di ^y hen that which is. ^er-^ 
 
Ill ESSAYONTHE 
 
 *' feet is come^ then that which is in part 
 '' P^all he done awaj.'' —Yes^ the Old 
 Oeconomy, and the Jcwifh Theocracy, 
 were manifelHy iiuroduftory to the 
 Chriftiau Dilpenfation, and the Meffi- 
 ah's kingdom. Thofcj being typical 
 and iTiadowy, led to theic, and in them 
 received thciF final completion. But 
 the New Difpenfation, and the king- 
 dom of Cliriil, have no completion 
 ihort of heaven. Thither they lead, 
 and there they terminate. No wor- 
 ihip is agreeable to the Mcfliah*s king- 
 dom, which is not animated by hea* 
 venly afTc61:ions. All the external fer- 
 vices of religion are only fo many 
 means of exciting thofe holy affefti-* 
 ons, of promoting communion with 
 God, and of cultivating a heavenly 
 temper. Confequently, the worfhip of 
 thofe who reft in exterior fcrvices, is 
 quite fuperficial, and has nothing fpi- 
 riaial, nothing heavenly in it. 
 
 Jehovah, under the former Difpenfa- 
 tion, having chofen the Holy of holies 
 for the place of his refidence, the Jews 
 were directed to ad d re fs him in prayer, 
 confidcred as on his throne htiyeen thf 
 
SlINGDOM OF GHHIST'. ^1:^ 
 
 Cherubim*. They knew, indeed^ that- 
 he inhabited celeltial manfions > and 
 therefore, when bending the knee be- 
 fore him, their hands were extended 
 toward heaveny ; but yet he was more 
 immediately regarded by them, as rc- 
 iiding in the earthly fan43:uary. For^ 
 notwithdandin^ their defiretobe heard 
 in heaven^ '' the cry of their prayerj. 
 '' and the eye of their faith, v<;ere di- 
 ^' re6led firlt to the mercyfeat.'' The 
 mofL eminent faints, under that Oeco- 
 nomy, looked toGodinbothj didho- 
 mage to him in both > nor could they- 
 havenegle<51:ed him in refpedt of cither, 
 without being culpable. — WlicreaSj 
 whenChriilians pray, they lock direct -- 
 ly to their Father who is in heaven^ and 
 as on a throne of grace in the celeflial 
 tc-mple i without the lead regard to. 
 any place upon earth, or lo any viflble 
 
 objcftj. 
 
 " God,faysDr Erskjne, as hufband 
 ^' of the the Gofpei church, claims 
 '^ from his people inward afFcclion and 
 ^' .love, and accepts thcni only who 
 
 K a 
 
 * I Kinoes viii. 27— qo, 58, 42, 44, 4?. 2 King^ 
 xix. I). Pfaiin xxviii. 2. Ixxx. i Dan. vi. 10. 
 f I Kina^sviii. 2 j. X Sc^e Br. Coodi-ln on Chrijt 
 tbs Muftator, B. YI. Chap, iii. 
 
114 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 ' worfhip him in fpiritand in truth. In 
 ' the mofaic covenant it was otherwife. 
 ^ There he appeared chiefly as atem- 
 ' poral prince, and th-erefore gave laws 
 ' intended rather to direct thie outward 
 
 * condudt, than to regulate the ablings 
 ' of the heart. Hence every thing in 
 ' that Difpenfation was adapted to 
 ' flrike his fubjeds with awe and re- 
 ^ verence. The magnificence of his 
 ' palace, and all its utenfils 3 his nu- 
 ^ merous train of attendants 5 the 
 ^ fplendid robes of the high-priefi, 
 ^ who, though his prime minifler, was 
 ' not allowed to enter the Holy of ho- 
 ' lies, fave once a year, and, in all his. 
 ' miniflrations, was obliged to difco- 
 ^ ver the mod humble veneration for 
 ^ IfraersKingj the folemn riies with 
 ^ which thcpriefls were confecratedj 
 ' the fhi6lnG fs with which all impuni- 
 ' ties and indecencies were forbidden, 
 ' as things which, though tolerable in 
 ^ others, were unbecoming the dig- 
 ^ nity of the people of God, efpecially 
 ' when approaching to him : allthefe 
 ' tended to promote and fecure the 
 
 * refpcdl due to their glorious Sove- 
 ' reign. "--It was, however, foretold, 
 
 by one of the minor Prophets, '' that 
 ^^ in Gofpcl times, menfliould notcrJl 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. II5 
 
 «' God, Baali. i.e. my Mafter^huiIJIn. 
 '^ i. e. my HuJhand-'ThQ pafTage im- 
 '«• ports at ieail thus much, thatGod^ 
 «^ who in the Jewilh Difpenfationhad 
 '' chiefly difplayed the grandeur, dif- 
 '^ tance, and ieverity of a Mafter, 
 <' would, in the Chriitian Difpenfati- 
 '^ on,ckiefly difplay the afFe6lion and 
 '' familiarity of a hufband and friend*. " 
 
 Yes, under the Mofaic iyftem, the 
 highpriefl only, and he but once in a 
 year, was admitted to the mercyfeat, 
 or throne ofjehovah, ma worldly fane- 
 tuary. That appearance of the Jewifh 
 pontifFbefore the Lord, though grand 
 and folemn, was a mere emblem of Ipi- 
 ritual things, and of that holy inter- 
 courfe which all the fubjeds of this 
 kingdom have with God, in the per- 
 formance of fpiritual worfhip. For as 
 Jefus entered into the heavenly fandlu- 
 ary, with his own blood .• as he is there 
 a p''iefi upon his throne^ uniting the fa- 
 cerdotal cenfer with the regal ceptre j 
 he ever lives, not only to govern his 
 widely extended empire, but likewife 
 to intercede for all his followers, and to 
 be the medium of their accefs to thedi- 
 vine Father. In virtue of his atone^. 
 
 * Thiohgical DiffertaiionSy p. 4^ S» 6 
 
Il6 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 mcnt made on the crofs, and of his ap* 
 pcarance in the heavenly world, the 
 meaneit fubjeccs of his dofninion, when 
 pertorming ficred Icrvice, /lare bold- 
 nefs to enter into the holieft. Each of 
 them, in the exerciie cf faith, of hope, 
 and of love, has accels to the Divine 
 Majeily on a throne of grace > and 
 each has reafon to expert acondefcend- 
 ing audience from the King Eternal. 
 Hence wc find, that New Tellament 
 faints are called the domeftics ef God -^ 
 which ^ ' may have fome relation to that 
 ^' peculiar nearnefs to God, in which 
 ^' the jewiili prieils were: and refer 
 '<^ to that gr^'ir intimacy of unrellrain- 
 '^ ed converfe to v/hich we, as Chrifli- 
 '' ans, are admitted. In which ref- 
 ^' pecbour privileges feem to refemblc, 
 **^ not only thofe ofi he people praying 
 ^' in the common court oflfrael > but of 
 ^^ the prieiis, worfhipping in they^<?^</<r 
 " itfelf^:' 
 
 The fuperior advantages ofbelievers. 
 imdcr, the Chriftlan Oeconomy, in re-^ 
 gard to communion with God, and the 
 iandifying influence which that holy 
 iatcrcourfe ha^ on their minds, are 
 ilronoly exprelTed in the following re- 
 
 * Pr. '0<iddrid'ji*s Note^ on Epbcf. ii* 19. 
 
KI NGDO M O F CHR X ST. II7 
 
 markable words : But we all^ in an un- 
 veiled face^ beholding as in a glafs the 
 glory of the Lord^ are changed into the 
 fame image ^ from glory to glory ^ even as 
 hy the Spirit of the Lord^ , The Apof- 
 tie Lere plainly alludes to that glory 
 which appeared in the face of Mofes, 
 after his intimate converfe with Jeho- 
 vah on the mount. So dazzling was 
 the luftreof his countenance, that the 
 children of Tfrael were afraid to come 
 nigh him. He therefore put a veil up- 
 on his face^thatthey might have fami- 
 liar intercourfe with him'j' : which veil 
 was an emblenij not only of thejewilli 
 blind ednefs, but alfo of the darknefs of 
 that Difpenfation.--Now, in contrail 
 with thefe things, Paul informs us, that 
 the glory of the divine perfe6lions ap- 
 pears and fhines mx\\Q unveiled face of 
 Jefus Chriit 5 that this glory is beheld 
 
 * 2 Cor. iii. 18. Li an unveiled face. So, I 
 humbly conceive, flionld here be rendered. Com- 
 pare 2 Cor. iv. 6. where the infpired writer fpeaks 
 of the light of the knowledge of the glory of Cod , 
 in the face of Jefus Chrift. That will admit the 
 fiipplemenul prepofition /;/, as well as w^th, cannot, 
 I prefiime, be doubted : and that the whole fcopc 
 of Paul's reafoninc; in the context leads us to think 
 of the face of 6'Ar/,^, rather than that of believers, 
 being unveiled ^\s,\i Imiftakc notjfolidly proved by 
 the learned Renins, in his Dilfcrtat. Philolog. 'The- 
 plog. Diflert. xxvi. \ 4, s, 6- t Exod.xxxiv.29. ?c. 
 
Il8 ESSAYONTHE 
 
 by New Teftamcntbelievers -, and that, 
 by beholding it, thev are gradually 
 transformed into the glorious image of 
 God. What an illullrioiis view does 
 the Apotilehere giveusof theNewOe- 
 conomy ! He not only rcprefents the 
 (late and privileges of the Golpel 
 Church, as greatly fuperior to thofe of 
 the Jewifh people 5 but as nearly ap- 
 proaching to the employments, and the 
 fruitions of the celedfal world. For 
 we cannot eafily form a more exalted 
 idea of the bufmefs and blefledncfs of 
 heaven, than thatof contemplating the 
 glory ofGod, and of making continual 
 advances inlikenefs to him. 
 
 As, in the perfon of our Mediator, 
 the nature of God and the nature of 
 man were not united, till jud before the 
 commencement of this kingdom-, as 
 God was not manifefled in theflefJo^ but 
 with an immediate view to this holy 
 and fpiritual empire \ fo there is no rea- 
 fon to wonder that the favored fub- 
 jecbs of Mefliah's government have a 
 more intimatecommunion with Jeho- 
 vah, than was ever enjoyed by thejew- 
 i/h church. Under the Old Covenant, 
 Ifrael in general had a kind of local 
 nearnefs to God, in the performance of 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. II9 
 
 religious worfhip 5 and real faints had 
 fpiritual communion with him . But 
 then it was by means of priefts, who had 
 infirmities > of facrifices, that were 
 imperfed > and of fervices, that were 
 mere fhadows of heavenly things: all 
 which were confined to an earthly fanc- 
 tuary. Whereas the fubjet5i:s ol Jefus 
 Chrillhave accefs to the Father of mer- 
 cies, without regarding any priell, be- 
 fides their Sovereign > any facrifice, 
 befides his death; any incenfe, befides 
 his interceflion. All thefe they regard as 
 appearing, as operating, as efficacious 
 on their behalf, in the heavenly fan6lu- 
 ary. Yqs^ their High-priell, who is 
 of infinite dignity > their facrifice. 
 which isofboundlefs worth y and their 
 incenfe, which is confummately fra- 
 grant, are for ever in the immediate 
 prefenceof God--for ever deferving, 
 and for ever obtaining the divine ap- 
 probation. On thefe, therefore, in all 
 their approaches to Eternal Majefty, 
 their dependence fixes. Hence their 
 worfhip isperformed, through theaids 
 of grace, with reverence and with 
 confidence, with loveand withdelioht. 
 /f^e have accefs with confidence^ hy the 
 faith of Chx'i^, 
 
IZO ESSAY ON TH£ 
 
 Now, to worfhip God with pro- 
 found reverence, yet without a ilavilli 
 fear 3 with Heady confidence, ccnne6b- 
 ed with deep humility > with fubmif- 
 fion to his will, as the moil high Lord 5 
 with love to his excellence, as the infi- 
 nite beauty 5 and with joy in his all- 
 fufficiency, as the Chiet Good 3 is to 
 perform a fpiritunl fervice, and to adore 
 in a heavenly manner. In theperform- 
 ance of'fuch worfhip, v/ehavc comma-* 
 nion yiriiht/^e Jpirits of juft men made 
 perfefi'-\vQ enter within the veil--we 
 have feilowihip with God--we antici* 
 pate the bufinefs of heaven, and talle 
 itsrefincd pleafures. Inthefe holyex* 
 ercifcs of the mind, confcience, and 
 heart, we feel ourfelvfs near to God, 
 as the fountain of all blelTednefj, and 
 are trained for the heavenly world. 
 Thus we are habituated to a kind of 
 celeflial fervice, by which our likenefs 
 to Chrifl is promoted, and our defires 
 after heaven increafed. In thefe things 
 the very lifeof'fpiritualworfhip and of 
 real religion confifts. He therefore is 
 not worthy to be called a fubjc6t of 
 our Lord's kingdom, who is not habi- 
 tually aiming in his devotional fervicesj 
 at his delightful and foiemn intercourfe 
 v/ith God. Norishedeiervingofthat: 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 121 
 
 exalted charadter, whofe thoughts and 
 cares, whofe hopes and fears, whofe 
 joys and forrows, are not principally 
 concerned about the government and 
 grace ofChriil, confidered in their con- 
 ne6bion with the heavenly Hate. 
 
 It mufl, indeed, be admitted, that 
 this communion with heaven is ex- 
 tremely imperfe6b in the prefent life. 
 Becaule, though every true fubjecl of 
 the King Mefliah be in a (late very dif- 
 ferent from that of a merely nominal 
 Chriflian, and though he is thankful for 
 that difference j yet he is not, he can- 
 not be fatisfied, either with what he 
 knows, or with what he enjoys J with 
 •what he is, or with what he does. Not 
 with what he knows : for he knows 
 hut in parf^ and he feels the deficiency. 
 His acquaintance with the Greateft and 
 Beil of beings-- with the character and 
 perfed:ions, with the works and ways 
 ofGod, is extremely fmall. His know- 
 ledge of the adorable Jefus--of his Per- 
 fon and ofEces, of his grace and work, 
 of his kingdom and glory, is very con- 
 traded. Nay, the knowledge he has 
 of himfelf, and of his final deftination 
 in the heavenly world, is exceedingly 
 
Ii2 E S S A Y O N TH E 
 
 -fcanty : for the heart is deceitful ah ove 
 all things ; and it does not yet appear 
 what wefiall he. He cannot theretore 
 be contented with fueh a pittance of 
 ipiritu.il knowledge. 
 
 Not with what he enjoys : for his 
 enjoyment of fpiritual pleaiure is, at 
 the higheft, comparatively low. Be- 
 fides, it is frequently interrupted by the 
 infurre6tions of indwelling fin, and by 
 the incurfions of outward temptation. 
 Though he fometimes exults in the 
 light ot God's countenance, partaking 
 of joy that \sunfpeakahle and full of glory 'y 
 yet he frequently mourns the want of 
 that exalted pleafure, and groans being 
 burdened. 
 
 Not with what he is : for he feels 
 much depravity, and laments over it, as 
 affecting his mind with darknefs> hrs 
 confcience with guilt, or with ftupidi- 
 ty 5 and his paflions with carnality. 
 So far from perfectly bearing the image 
 of Ch rift, that his language frequently 
 is •, O wretched man that 1 am ! who 
 Jloall deliver me from the body of this death! 
 
 Not with what he does: for though 
 
 hefincerely defires to perform the will 
 
 'of God, as'revealedin divine precepts, 
 
K' I N-G D O M O F C H RI S T. ICI3 
 
 and illuftrated by the' example of 
 Chrifl: j yet he perceives that his obe- 
 dience is very imperfe<5l. Does he, {or 
 inrtance, addrefs himfelf to God in 
 prayer ? in that devout exercife his 
 whole foul fhould be engaged. Reve- 
 rence of the divine Majefty, and an 
 abaiing fenfe of his own guilt -, faith in 
 thegreatatonement, and confidence in 
 paternal mercy -, the ardour of petition, 
 and the comfort of expectation, fhould 
 be all united. But frequently, alas I 
 his thoughts wander, and his pious af- 
 fe6tions are dull, if not dormant. His 
 prayer feems little befides a conflict 
 with his own corruption. Me rifcs 
 from his knees with forrow and with 
 fighs. Afhamed ofthe manner in which 
 he has treated the omnifcientObjedl of 
 his worfhip, he cannot forbear exclaim- 
 ing J God be merciful to me a finner ! and 
 this, perhaps, is the only petition over 
 which he does not mourn, as dellicure 
 of holy animation. --Or if he enjoy li- 
 berty in his converfe with the Father o f 
 all mercies, how often does he find fe- 
 crct pride, and felf-gratularion, arife 
 inhis heart? as if the Moll Holy would 
 regard his confefHons, petitions, and 
 thankfgivings for the fake of their owut 
 excellence ! Aware ofthe latent poiXoE^^ 
 
la-j. ESSAY ON THE 
 
 he is almofl confounded. For well he 
 knows, that Chriftianity is the religion 
 of {inners--of depraved, of guilty, of 
 unworthy creatures : and that nothing 
 is more inconfiftent with evangelical 
 truth, or more deteftabiein the fight of 
 our Maker, than fclf-applaufe refped- 
 ing acceptance with God. Knowing 
 himfelf to be a polluted v/orm that de- 
 ferves to pcrifll, he trembles to think of 
 ever fuppoflng that the majeily of the 
 Moll High, and the purity of the Mod 
 Holy, will accept his imperfeft fervi- 
 ces for their own fake. In the mofl cm- 
 phatical manner he, therefore, with 
 Job exclaims > Bekold^ I am vile /--/ 
 abhor myfclf ! So various and fo great 
 are the defects in our devotional fer- 
 vices, that we might well defpair, were 
 it not for a High-priefl who bears the 
 iniquity of our holy things. For we 
 find- a law-y that when we would do goedy 
 evil is pre fent with us. 
 
 To fuch imperfections and fuch com- 
 plaints, is a real fubjeft of our Lord's 
 dominion liable in the prefent life. 
 B'n, looking forward to the feparate 
 fcate, when he lliall he withChrifl^ which 
 is far better^ and to. the refurredlion of 
 the righteous 5 with joy he adopts the 
 
KINGDOM OF CHRIStT, 1^^-' 
 
 language of David and (-xys^ I JIj all be 
 fatisfied^ when I awake withtJiyiikenefs. 
 Yes, when that ultimate and e verlailing 
 Oeconomy commences, his mind be- 
 ing all irradiated with divine truth, he 
 fhali be fiiiisfied with ^\\'\\,\\q knows : 
 perfedly pofleiling the Chief Good, he 
 ihallbe latisfied with what he enjoys > 
 confcious of complete rectitude, he 
 lliall be fatisfied with what he/j ; and 
 knowing his obedience to be confiim- 
 mate, hefhallbe latisfied with what he 
 ^fl^j. --Delightful, ravifhing thought! 
 To have all our immortal powers ex- 
 panded and filled, with knowledge of 
 the Supreme truth, and with love to the 
 Supreme Beauty > with reverence of 
 the Supreme Lord, and with delight ia 
 the Supreme Good, mull conliitute com- 
 plete happinefs. Yetiuch is the grand 
 refult of our Lord's dominion in the 
 heartsofmen! To this, therefore, we 
 mufl look, upon this ouraffedlions mull 
 be placed, if we would behave as the 
 fubjedrs of Jefus Chrill, and. finiih our 
 courfe with honor. For as this life is 
 the feed-time of an eternal harvefi^ a? 
 no ?tx\Q gathers grapes 0^^ t/iorns^ or figs of 
 thldleSj and as whatever a man fcws^ 
 that Jloall lie alfo reat -, Co we have no 
 L a 
 
12.6 ESSAY ON THE 
 
 reafonto expert heav^en as oiirfinalre- 
 lidence, if we be not habitually defirous 
 ofcommunion with God in aliour vvor- 
 iliip, and of making it our bulinefs to 
 perform his will. 
 
 It is one of the noWeil: and moft de- 
 lightful employments of the human 
 mindj to contemplate the gradual reve- 
 lation of Jehovah's v/ill, and the grow- 
 ing difplay of his eternal favor, from 
 the fall of our firll parents, to thecon- 
 fummation of the divine Oeconomy;- 
 Itisboth pleafing and improving to re- 
 flect on the Patriarchal Difpcnfation in- 
 troducing the Mofaic Syftem j on the • 
 Sinai Confederation making way for 
 the New Covenant 5 on the Jewifh 
 Theocracy leading to the Kingdom of 
 Chrift 5 on the government of that 
 kingdom as a preparation for celedial 
 manliotib J on the performance of holy ' 
 worHiip, by rhefubjedts of Chrillherc, 
 fis the mean of communion with faints 
 in light •, and on the prefent liate of 
 worfhip and of blelfednefs in the hea- 
 venly lanftuary, as preparing for the 
 ultimate glory. 
 
 In reference to the communion of 
 
 believers with thefpiritsofjufi men mads 
 
< K r N G I> O M O F C H R I S T. 1 ^T 
 
 perfect^ in the performance of fpiritual 
 worfhip; and rcipe^ting the eonfum- 
 mation of all things. Dr. Owen fpeaks 
 as follows, with whofe words i lliall 
 conclude. ^^ Were all that die in the 
 ^* Lord immediately received into that 
 '^ rtate wherein God fi all he all m all^ 
 '^ without any life ot the mediation of 
 ^' Chrill, or the worfhip of praifeand 
 '^ honor unto God by him^withoutbe- 
 '^ ingexercifed in the afcriptionof ho- 
 ^^ norjgloryjpoweranddominionunto 
 " [Chriil, 1 on the account of the pall 
 ^^ and prefentdifcharge of his office 3 
 " there could be no communion be- 
 '^ tween themand us. But whililthey 
 '^ are mi\\(^ fayi6iuary ^ in the temple of 
 ^' Goclj in the holy worfhip ofChrid, 
 '' and of God in him, and we are not 
 '^ only employed in the fame work in 
 '^ facred ordinances fuited unto our 
 '' Hate and condition, but in the per- 
 '* formance of our duties do by faith 
 ^' e^ter in withm the veil^ and ippro^ch 
 '' unto the fame throne of grace inthe 
 •' moftholy pkce 3 there is a fpiritual 
 *' communion between them and us. 
 '' So the Apoftle expreiTeth it, in the 
 ^' twelfthofHebrews--As wearehere, 
 ^^ in and by the word and other ordi- 
 '^ nraices, prepared and made meet for 
 
128 
 
 ESSAY ON THE £> ^. 
 
 «^ the prefcnc Hate of things in glory j 
 
 '' fo are they, : the fpiritsot the jull: 
 
 '' made pcrre(5lj by the temple wor- 
 
 '^ Ihip of heaven, fitted for thatllate of 
 
 '' things when Chrill fhall give up the, 
 
 '^ kingdom unto the Father^ that God- 
 
 ^^ MAY BE ALL IN ALL*." 
 
 *07i the P erf on ofChriJl, Cbap, xxu p. 365, 366. 
 
Now in the Prefs^ 
 
 AND SOON WILL BE PUBLISHED, 
 
 R f P P O N S 
 
 Sekaion of HYMNS, 
 
 INTENDED BY THE 
 AUTHOR as aji APPENDIX to Dr. WATTS^s 
 PSALMS and HYMNS; 
 
 BEING 
 
 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND APPROVED 
 SELECTION OF HYMNS, EXTANT, 
 
 THOSE WHO WISH TO POSSESS THIS 
 TRULY VALUABLE BOOK, MAY BE SUP- 
 PLIED BY APPLYING TO WILLIAM DU-. 
 EELL, THE PRINTER HEREOF, AT No, 
 19, QUEEN-STREET, NEW-YORK. 
 
THOSE WHO WISH TO POSSESS 
 THE Rev. ABRAHAM BOOTHS' 
 PIECE ON BAPTISM^ ARE IN- 
 FORMED, THEY MAY BE SUP- 
 PLIED IN THE SPRING, BY AP- 
 PLYING TO THE Rev. WILLIAM 
 ROGERS, OF PHILADELPHIA,— 
 AND BY Mr. SING, OF NEW- 
 YORK. A L S 0-—BOOTHS' 
 
 REIGN OF GRACE, 
 

 
 ■.■■■ •.*-r';. 
 •t' *■'.■■' ■- 
 
 •1-. 
 > ^''