Milton

¶1Natura Christi mediatoris tam divina quam humana sic se habet.

¶2OFFICIUM ejus MEDIATORIUM est quo, A DEO PATRE AD ID DESIGNATUS, EA OMNIA LIBENS PRÆSTITIT ETIAMNUMQUE PRÆSTAT, QUIBUS HUMANO GENERI PAX APUD DEUM ET SEMPITERNA SALUS ACQUIRATUR.

¶3A DEO PATRE DESIGNATUS. Isa. xlii. 1. en servus meus, electus meus, qui animo meo complacitus est. et cap. lxi. 1. unxit Jehova me: hinc nomen Messias, et Christus, Psal. ii. et angelus fœderis, Mal. iii. 1. et paracletus, 1 Joan. ii. 1. paracletum, seu advocatum habemus, Jesum Christum. Psal. cx. 4. juravit Jehova, neque eum pœnitebit. Rom. iii. 25. quem præstituit Deus. Heb. v. 4, 5, 6. ita et Christus non ipse sibi hunc honorem tribuit, ut fieret—. et x. 9, 10. ut faciam, Deus, voluntatem tuam. qua voluntate sanctificati sumus. Joan. iii. 16, 17. Filium suum dedit. misit in mundum. et v. 34. non admetitur huic Spiritum. cap. vi. 27. hunc Pater obsignavit. et x. 36. quem Pater sanctificavit, et misit. Gal. i. 4. qui dedit semetipsum— secundum voluntatem Dei et Patris nostri.

¶4LIBENS. Joan. xv. 9. prout dilexit me Pater, ita et ego dilexi vos. Rom. viii. 35. quis nos separabit a dilectione Christi? num glap. 215dius—? Eph. iii. 18, 19. charitatem illam Christi omni notitia supereminentiorem.

¶5QUIBUS HUMANO GENERI PAX APUD DEUM. Rom. v. 10. reconciliati fuimus Deo per mortem Filii ejus. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. ex Deo, qui reconciliavit nos sibi per Jesum Christum. Deus erat in Christo, mundum reconcilians sibi. 1 Joan. ii. 2. ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris.

¶6ET SEMPITERNA SALUS. Matt. i. 21. et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: ipse servabit populum suum ex peccatis ipsius. 1 Tim. i. 15. Christum Jesum venisse in mundum, ut peccatores servaret. Joan. i. 17. gratia et veritas per Jesus Christum præstita est. 1 Joan. iv. 9. unigenitum misit Deus in mundum, ut vivamus per eum. 1 Thess. v. 9, 10. non constituit nos Deus ad iram, sed ad salutem obtinendam per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum.

¶7Nomen mediatoris et officium quoddam etiam Mosi tanquam typo Christi tribuitur. Gal. iii. 19. lex ordinata per angelos, per manum μεσίτου, id est, mediatoris. Quale id fuerit explicatur Act. vii. 38. hic ille est qui excepit viva eloquia quæ nobis traderet, cum Deut. v. 5. me stante inter Jehovam et vos ad referendum vobis sermonem Jehovæ.

¶8In officio mediatorio considerandum est munus triplex; PROPHETICUM, SACERDOTALE, REGIUM: horumque munerum administratio.

¶9PROPHETICUM est ECCLESIAM SUAM CŒLESTI VERITATE ERUDIRE, PLENAMQUE PATRIS VOLUNTATEM EDOCERE. Deut. xviii. 15. cum Act. iii. 22. et vii. 37. prophetam e medio tui suscitabit tibi Jehova. Isa. lxi. 1. unxit me Jehova ad evangelizandum, cum Luc. iv. 18. Ezech. xxxiv. 23. excitabo iis pastorem unum qui pascat eas, servum meum Davidem. Zech. vi. 12, 13. ecce virum qui ædificabit templum Jehovæ. Matt. xxiii. 8. unus est doctor vester Christus. Luc. x. 22. nemo novit quis sit Pater nisi Filius, et cui voluerit Filius eum revelare. Apoc. v. 7. accepit librum. Unde et p. 216consiliarius vocatur, Isa. ix. 6. et cap. lv. 4. testis, antecessor, et præceptor nationum. Joan. i. 9. lux illa vera, quæ illuminat omnem hominem venientem in mundum. Dei sapientia, 1 Cor. i. 24. apostolus professionis nostræ, Heb. iii. 1. fidei dux et consummator, cap. xii. 2. magnus ille ovium pastor, cap. xiii. 20. fidus ille testis, Apoc. i. 5. Heb. i. 1. ultimis hisce diebus locutus est nobis in Filio. Joan. i. 16, 17, 18. gratia et veritas per Jesum Christum præstita est. unigenitus ille Filius nobis exposuit. et iv. 25. Christus cum venerit, nobis annuntiabit omnia. et xviii. 37. ego ad hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut dem testimonium veritati. et xv. 15. omnia quæ audivi a Patre nota feci vobis.

¶10Partes prophetici muneris duæ sunt; externa veritatis divinæ annuntiatio, et interna mentis illuminatio. De illa Matt. iv. 17. ex eo tempore cœpit Jesus prædicare et dicere—. Marc. i. 14. idem. De hac Luc. xxiv. 32, 45. nonne cor nostrum ardebat intra nos, dum aperiret nobis scripturas? tunc aperuit eorum mentem, ut intelligerent scripturas. Act. xvi. 14. Lydiæ cor Dominus aperuit, ut attenderet iis quæ dicebantur a Paulo. Joan. viii. 12. ego sum lux illa mundi; qui sequitur me, non ambulabit in tenebris, sed habebit lumen vitæ.

¶11Christus propheticum munus suum ab initio statim mundi obibat, ad finem etiam mundi obiturus. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. prænuntius ille qui in ipsis erat spiritus Christi—. cap. iii. 19. per quem spiritum etiam spiritibus in carcere profectus prædicavit. Joan. i. 10. in mundo erat, sed mundus eum non agnovit. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. profecti, docete omnes gentes, et ecce ego vobiscum sum usque ad finem sæculi. Act. i. 3. quibus se, postquam passus fuit, vivum exhibuit, dicens quæ ad regnum Dei spectant. 2 Cor. xiii. 3. quandoquidem experimentum quæritis loquentis in me Christi.

¶12SACERDOTALE MUNUS est quo CHRISTUS PRO PECCATORIBUS HOSTIAM SE DEO PATRI SEMEL OBTULIT, PROQUE NOBIS SEMPER INTERCESSIT ET ETIAMNUM INTERCEDIT.

¶13p. 217 SACERDOTALE MUNUS. Psal. cx. 4. tu es sacerdos in sæculum secundum ordinem Melchesedechi. Zech. vi. 13. erit sacerdos in solio suo. Heb. v. 10. cognominatus a Deo summus sacerdos secundum ordinem Melchesedechi. et vii. 17, 20, 21. idem.

¶14PRO PECCATORIBUS. Isa. liii. 12. ipse peccatum multorum pertulit. 2 Cor. v. 21. Fecit enim, ut qui non novit peccatum, pro nobis peccatum esset. Gal. iii. 13. Christus nos redemit, &c. dum pro nobis factus est exsecratio. Heb. ix. 28. ut in seipso attolleret multorum peccata. 1 Pet. ii. 24. qui peccata nostra pertulit in corpore suo supra lignum illud—. et iii. 18. passus est justus pro injustis. 1 Joan. ii. 2. ipse propitiatio pro peccatis nostris.

¶15HOSTIAM SE. Isai. liii. 10. quandoquidem exponebat se ipse sacrificium pro reatu. Psal. xl. 7, 8. holocaustum et oblationem pro peccato non expetivisti: tum dixi, ecce venio. Eph. v. 2. tradidit semetipsum pro nobis oblationem et victimam Deo. Heb. ix. 14. qui per Spiritum æternum seipsum obtulit. Et θεάνθρωπος quidem se θεάνθρωπον obtulit: nam qui rapinam non duxit paria esse Deo, idem exinanivit se, Phil. ii. 6, 7; verum ex humana maxime natura; sic enim multa scripturæ loca diserte explicant. Matt. xx. 28. detque animam suam in redemptionis pretium pro multis. Act. xx. 28. ecclesiam Dei quam per proprium sanguinem acquisivit. Col. i. 20. per sanguinem crucis ejus. v. 22. in corpore illo carnis suæ per mortem. Heb. ix. 12. per proprium sanguinem ingressus est. et x. 10. per oblationem corporis. 1 Pet. ii. 24. in corpore suo supra lignum. et iv. 1. cum Christus passus sit pro nobis carne. 1 Joan. iv. 10. et miserit Filium suum, ut esset propitiatio pro peccatis nostris. Rom. iii. 25. quem præstituit Deus ut esset placamentum per fidem in sanguine ipsius, ad demonstrationem justitiæ suæ.

¶16SEMEL OBTULIT; virtute quidem et efficacia ab ipso mundi principio, ut supradictum est, Apoc. xiii. 8. ipso facto autem in illa consummatione sæculorum; idque semel, Heb. vii. 27. et ix. 25, 26, 28. Christus p. 218semel oblatus. et x. 10, 12, 14. una oblata victima. 1 Pet. iii. 18. semel pro peccatis passus.

¶17SEMPER INTERCESSIT—. Isa. liii. 12. pro defectoribus intercessit. Jer. xxx. 21. quem jubebo accedere, ut appropinquet ad me? nam quis—? Joan. xiv. 6, 13. nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me. et xvii. 9. ego pro iis rogo. Rom. viii. 34. qui etiam intercedit pro nobis. Heb. vii. 25. semper vivens ut interpellet pro iis. et viii. 1, 2. consedit ad dextram throni majestatis sanctorum minister. Intercedit autem primum comparendo pro nobis coram Deo, Heb. ix. 24. 1 Joan. ii. 1. advocatum apud Patrem habemus, Jesum Christum justum. Secundo preces nostras Deo gratas reddendo. Joan. xiv. 13. quicquid petieritis in nomine meo, hoc faciam. Quod autem legitur, Rom. viii. 26, 27. Spiritus intercedit pro nobis, et, secundum Deum intercedit pro sanctis, id quo modo fiat, superiora verba ejusdem versus demonstrant; Spiritus una adjuvat infirmitates nostras. et Gal. iv. 6. misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda vestra clamantem, Abba, Pater; id est, incitantem ac suadentem, ut nos fide Deum invocaremus Patrem: hoc autem ab interpellandi munere sacerdotali quo Christus pro nobis intercedit, facile distinguitur.

¶18MUNUS REGIUM est quo CHRISTUS A DEO PATRE REX CREATUS ACQUISITAM AB SE ECCLESIAM INTERNA POTISSIMUM LEGE AC SPIRITUALI POTESTATE REGIT ATQUE CONSERVAT, HOSTES VINCIT ATQUE DEBELLAT.

¶19A DEO PATRE REX. Psal. ii. 6. ego inungens regem meum. et cx. 1. cum Matt. xxii. 44. dixit Dominus Domino meo, sede—. Ezech. xxxvii. 25. David servus meus princeps ipsis erit usque in sæculum. Dan. ii. 44. suscitabit Deus cœli regnum. et vii. 14. huic datus est dominatus—. Matt. xi. 27. omnia mihi tradita sunt a Patre meo. et xxviii. 18. data est mihi omnis auctoritas. Luc. i. 32. dabitque ei Dominus Deus sedem Davidis patris sui, regnabitque in domo Jacobi in æternum, et regni ejus non erit finis. Eph. i. 20, 21, 22. quem collocavit— longe supra omne imperium. Apoc. i. 5. princeps regum terræ. et xix. 16. rex regum.

¶20p. 219 ECCLESIAM. Psal. ii. 6. regem meum præfeci Zioni—. Matt. ii. 5, 6. sic enim scriptum est per prophetam—; ex te exibit dux qui pascet populum meum Israelem. Luc. i. 33. regnabitque in domo Jacobi. Eph. i. 22. eumque constituit caput super omnia ipsi ecclesiæ. Col. i. 18. estque caput ecclesiæ.

¶21INTERNA POTISSIMUM LEGE—. Jer. xxxi. 31, 32, &c. cum Heb. viii. 8. et x. 16. hoc illud est pactum; indam leges meas cordibus ipsorum—. Luc. xvii. 21. ecce, regnum Dei intus habetis. Joan. iv. 23, 24. spiritu ac veritate. et xviii. 36. regnum meum non est ex hoc mundo, si esset—. Hinc etiam lex regni, donum Spiritus, eodem quinquagesimo die post Christum passum Hierosolymis est data, quo data est lex Mosaica post pascha in monte Sinai, Act. ii. 1. ut ostenderetur legem carnalem atque servilem lege libera at spirituali, veterem nova abolitam tunc fuisse. Rom. xiv. 17. non enim est regnum esca et potus, sed justitia et pax et gaudium per Spiritum Sanctum. Psal. lxviii. 19. cum Eph. iv. 8, &c. dedit dona hominibus: spiritualia nempe. Unde et arma quoque militantium sub rege Christo spiritualia tantum sunt. 2 Cor. x. 4. 1 Joan. v. 4. hæc est victoria quæ vicit. Quibus ex rebus, cum præstantia regni Christi præ cæteris omnibus, tum ejus divina ratio elucet: quandoquidem non corpora solum, ut magistratus civilis, sed animum maxime et conscientiam regit: idque non vi et armis corporeis, sed iis rebus quæ mundi judicio infirmissimæ sunt. Quapropter et vis omnis externa ab regno Christi, quæ est ecclesia, abesse debet.

¶22REGIT ATQUE CONSERVAT. Isa. ix. 6, 7. consiliarium, principem pacis; et paci nullus erit finis—. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. diebus ejus servabitur Jehuda—. Joan. x. 28. neque rapiet eas quisquam e manu mea. Heb. vii. 2. rex justitiæ, rex pacis.

¶23HOSTES VINCIT ATQUE DEBELLAT. Psal. ii. 9, &c. confringes istos virga ferrea; secundo nempe adventu. et cx. 1, 2. cum Matt. xxii. 44. Dan. ii. 44. regnum comminuturum et consumpturum omnia illa regna. mundum, Joan. xvi. 33. et 1 Joan. v. 4. mortem, et legem, et peccatum, p. 2201 Cor. xv. 26, 54, 57. aculeus mortis est peccatum: vis autem peccati lex. Deo autem habetor gratia, qui dat nobis victoriam per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Satanam, Rom. xvi. 20. Luc. xix. 27. meos inimicos qui noluerunt me regnare supra eos, adducite huc. Apoc. xvii. 14. agnus vincit eos.

¶24Regnum Christi dicitur regnum gratiæ et regnum gloriæ: gratiæ, quod et regnum cœlorum Matt. iii. 2. jamque advenit: gloriæ, quod in secundo ejus adventu manifestius futurum est.

¶25Regnum Christi, quemadmodum sacerdotium, ut ex citatis modo auctoritatibus liquet, est æternum: id est quoad mundus duraverit, et mediatorii officii administratio ex usu erit: id quod perspicue docet apostolus, 1 Cor. xv. 24, 28. Christum in fine sæculi traditurum esse regnum Deo Patri; eique subjectum iri; quemadmodum et sacerdotali quoque muneri (quamvis id æternum quoque dicatur) et prophetico finis imponetur, ut Deus sit omnia in omnibus. De hoc plura vide hujus libri capite ultimo, ubi de regno Christi glorioso.

¶1The nature of Christ the Mediator, human as well as divine, has been already defined.

¶2THE MEDIATORIAL OFFICE of Christ is that whereby, AT THE SPECIAL APPOINTMENT OF GOD THE FATHER, HE VOLUNTARILY PERFORMED, AND CONTINUES TO PERFORM, ON BEHALF OF MAN, WHATEVER IS REQUISITE FOR OBTAINING RECONCILIATION WITH GOD, AND ETERNAL SALVATION.⁶

¶3AT THE SPECIAL APPOINTMENT OF GOD THE FATHER. Isai. xlii. 1 behold my servant ...... mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. lxi. 1. Jehovah hath anointed me. Hence he derived the name of Messias, of Christ, Psal. ii. of the messenger of the covenant, Mal. iii. 1. and of the advocate, 1 John ii. 1. we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. Psal. cx. 4. Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent. Rom. iii. 25. whom God hath set forth. Heb. v. 4—6. so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest. x. 9, 10. I come to do thy will, O God ..... by the which will we are sanctified. John iii. 16, 17. God gave his only begotten Son .... God sent not his Son into the world to condemn—. v. 34. p. 309God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. vi. 27. him hath God the Father sealed. x. 36. him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world. Gal. i. 4. who gave himself..... according to the will of God and our Father.

¶4VOLUNTARILY. John xv. 9. as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Rom. viii. 35. who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, &c. ..... or sword? Eph. iii. 19. the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

¶5WHATEVER IS REQUISITE FOR OBTAINING RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. Rom. v. 10. we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself. 1 John ii. 2. he is the propitiation for our sins.

¶6ETERNAL SALVATION. Matt. i. 21. thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. 1 Tim. i. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. John i. 17. grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 1 John iv. 9. God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live by him. 1 Thess. v. 9, 10. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¶7The name and office of mediator is in a certain sense ascribed to Moses, as a type of Christ.⁷ Gal. iii. 19. the law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. What the nature of his office was, is explained Acts vii. 38. this is he ...... who received the lively oracles to give unto us, compared with Deut. v. 5. I stood between Jehovah and you at that time to show you the word of Jehovah.

¶8p. 310 In treating of the functions of the Mediator, we are to consider his threefold office, as PROPHET, PRIEST and KING, and his manner of administering the same.

¶9HIS OFFICE AS A PROPHET is TO INSTRUCT HIS CHURCH IN HEAVENLY TRUTH, AND TO DECLARE THE WHOLE WILL OF HIS FATHER. Deut. xviii. 15. compared with Acts iii. 22. and vii. 37. Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee. Isai. lxi. 1. Jehovah hath anointed me to preach, compared with Luke iv. 18. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David. Zech. vi. 12, 13. behold the man ..... he shall build the temple of Jehovah. Matt. xxiii. 8. one is your master, even Christ. Luke x. 22. no man knoweth who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Rev. v. 7. he took the book. Hence he is called counsellor, Isai. ix. 6. and lv. 4. a witness, a leader and commander to the people. John i. 9. that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 1 Cor. i. 24. the wisdom of God. Heb. iii. 1. the apostle of our profession. xii. 2. the author and finisher of our faith. xiii. 20. that great shepherd of the sheep. Rev. i. 5. the faithful witness. Heb. i. 2. God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. John i. 16—18. grace and truth came by Jesus Christ ..... the only begotten Son ..... he hath declared him. iv. 25. when Christ is come, he will tell us all things. xviii. 37. to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. xv. 15. all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.

¶10His prophetical office consists of two parts; one external, namely, the promulgation of divine truth; the other internal, to wit, the illumination of the understanding. The former is mentioned Matt. iv. 17. from that time Jesus began to preach and to say—; and Mark i. 14. the latter Luke xxiv. 32, 45. did not our heart burn within us ..... while he opened to us the Scriptures? then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. Acts xvi. 14. the Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended unto the things that p. 311were spoken of Paul. John viii. 12. I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

¶11Christ's prophetical office began with the creation of the world, and will continue till the end of all things. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. the spirit of Christ which was in them ...... when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, &c. iii. 19. by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. John i. 10. he was in the world ..... and the world knew him not. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. go ye therefore and teach all nations ...... and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Acts i. 3. to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion .... speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 2 Cor. xiii. 3. since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.

¶12CHRIST'S SACERDOTAL OFFICE is that whereby HE ONCE OFFERED HIMSELF TO GOD THE FATHER AS A SACRIFICE FOR SINNERS, AND HAS ALWAYS MADE, AND STILL CONTINUES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US.

¶13CHRIST'S SACERDOTAL OFFICE. Psal. cx. 4. thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Zech. vi. 13. he shall be a priest upon his throne. Heb. v. 10. called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. See also vii. 17, 20, 21.

¶16ONCE OFFERED; virtually, and as regarded the efficacy of his sacrifice, from the foundation of the world, as above stated; Rev. xiii. 8. actually, in the fulness of time, and that once for all, Heb. vii. 27. ix. 25, 26, 28. Christ was once offered. x. 10, 12, 14. by one offering. 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ hath once suffered for sins.

¶15HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE. Isai. liii. 10. when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. Psal. xl. 6, 7. burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required: then said I, Lo, I come. Eph. v. 2. Christ hath given p. 312himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God. Heb. ix. 14. who through the eternal Spirit offered himself. Being God-man, he offered himself in that capacity; he who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation, &c. Philipp. ii. 6, 7. He offered himself, however, more particularly in his human nature, as many passages of Scripture expressly indicate. Matt. xx. 28. the Son of man came .... to give his life a ransom for many. Acts xx. 28. the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Col. i. 20. through the blood of his cross. v. 22. in the body of his flesh through death. Heb. ix. 12. by his own blood he entered in. x. 10. through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 24. who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. iv. 1. forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh. 1 John iv. 10. he sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Rom. iii. 25. whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness.

¶14FOR SINNERS. Isai. liii. 12. he bare the sin of many. 2 Cor. v. 21. he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Heb. ix. 28. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. 1 Pet. ii. 24. who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. iii. 18. he hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. 1 John ii. 2. he is the propitiation for our sins.

¶17HAS ALWAYS MADE INTERCESSION. Isai. liii. 12. he made intercession for the transgressors. Jer. xxx. 21. I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me; for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? John xiv. 6, 13. no man cometh unto the Father but by me. xvii. 9. I pray for them. Rom. viii. 24. who maketh intercession for us. Heb. vii. 25. he ever liveth to make intercession for them. viii. 1, 2. who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary. He makes intercession, first, by appearing in the presence of God for us, Heb. ix. 24. 1 John ii. 1. we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Secondly, by renp. 313dering our prayers agreeable to God. John xiv. 13. whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do. As to the expressions, Rom. viii. 26, 27. the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, and, he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God, the preceding words of the same verse show in what sense they are to be understood; the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; and Gal. iv. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father; that is, encouraging and persuading us to address God as our Father through faith. This is easily distinguished from the intercession which Christ makes for us in his sacerdotal capacity.

¶18THE KINGLY OFFICE of Christ is that whereby BEING MADE KING BY GOD THE FATHER, HE GOVERNS AND PRESERVES, CHIEFLY BY AN INWARD LAW AND SPIRITUAL POWER, THE CHURCH WHICH HE HAS PURCHASED FOR HIMSELF, AND CONQUERS AND SUBDUES ITS ENEMIES.

¶19MADE KING BY GOD THE FATHER. Psal. ii. 6. I have set my King upon my holy hill. cx. 1. compared with Matt. xxii. 44. the Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand. Ezek. xxxvii. 25. my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Dan. ii. 44. the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom. vii. 14. there was given him dominion. Matt. xi. 27. all things are delivered unto me of my Father. xxviii. 18. all power is given unto me. Luke i. 32. the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Eph. i. 20—22. when he set him at his own right hand.... far above all principality—. Rev. i. 5. prince of the kings of the earth. xix. 16. King of kings.

¶20HIS CHURCH. Psal. ii. 6. yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion. Matt. ii. 5, 6. thus it is written by the prophet ...... out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Luke i. 33. he shall reign over the house of Jacob. Eph. i. 22. who gave him to be the head over all things, to the church. Col. i. 18. he is the head of the body, the church.

¶21p. 314 CHIEFLY BY AN INWARD LAW. Jer. xxxi. 31, 32. compared with Heb. viii. 8. and x. 16. this is the covenant that I will make with them ...... I will put my laws into their hearts. Luke xvii. 21. behold the kingdom of God is within you. John iv. 23, 24. in spirit and in truth. xviii. 36. my kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight. Hence the law of the kingdom, the gift of the Spirit, was given at Jerusalem on the fiftieth day from the crucifixion, as the Mosaic law was given on the fiftieth day from the passover in Mount Sinai, Acts ii. 1. in sign that the old law was superseded by the new, the law of bondage and of the flesh by the law of the Spirit and of freedom. Rom. xiv. 17. the kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Psal. lxviii. 18. compared with Eph. iv. 8. he gave gifts unto men, that is, spiritual gifts. Accordingly, the weapons of those who fight under Christ as their King are exclusively spiritual. 2 Cor. x. 4. 1 John v. 4. this is the victory that overcometh the world. Herein it is that the pre-eminent excellency of Christ's kingdom over all others, as well as the divine principles on which it is founded, are manifested; inasmuch as he governs not the bodies of men alone, as the civil magistrate, but their minds and consciences,⁸ and that not by force and fleshly weapons, but by what the world esteems the weakest of all instruments.⁹ Hence external force ought never to be employed in the administration of the kingdom of Christ, which is the church.

¶22p. 315 GOVERNS AND PRESERVES. Isai. ix. 6, 7. Counseller ...... the Prince of peace: of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. in his days Judah shall be saved. John x. 28. neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Heb. vii. 2. the King of righteousness ...... King of peace.

¶23OVERCOMES AND SUBDUES HIS ENEMIES. Psal. ii. 9. thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, namely, at his second coming. Psal. cx. 1, 2. compared with Matt. xxii. 44. Dan. ii. 44. it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms. The world; John xvi. 33. and 1 John v. 4. Death, and the law, and sin; 1 Cor. xv. 26, 54—57. the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan; Rom. xvi. 20. Luke xix. 27. those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither. Rev. xvii. 14. the Lamb shall overcome them.

¶24The kingdom of Christ is also styled the kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of glory. The kingdom of grace is the same as the kingdom of heaven, which is at hand, Matt. iii. 2. The kingdom of glory is that which is destined to be made more manifest at his second advent.

¶25The kingdom of Christ, as appears from the authorities just quoted, is, like his priesthood, eternal; that is, it will endure as long as the world shall last, and as long as there shall be occasion for his mediatorial office. This is clearly taught by the apostle, 1 Cor. xv. 24, 28. then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ...... and shall also himself be subject unto him; in like manner as a period is assigned to his priestly office (although that also is called eternal) as well as to his prophetical office, that God may be all in all. See more on this subject in the last chapter of the present book, on the kingdom of Christ in glory.