ment was given to the Saints of the High Ones and the Time came that the Saints poffeffed the Kingdom. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion, and the Greatness of the Kingdoms under the whole Heaven, fhall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High; whofe Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all Rulers hall ferve and obey him. Obad. 21. And Saviours fhall come upon Mount Zion. And the Kingdom fhall be the Lord's. So under the Roots, Reign, Rule, &c.

There were many in Christ's Time who waited for, and expected the Kingdom. Mark xv. 43. Luke xxiii. 51. Jofeph of Arimathea an honourable Councellor, which also waited for the Kingdom of God. Luke xvii. 20. And when he was demanded of the Pharifees, when the Kingdom of God fhould come, he answered them, and faid, the Kingdom of God cometh not with outward fhew, Neither fhall they fay, Lo here, or, Lo there: For behold the Kingdom of God is within you. xix. 11. Because they thought the Kingdom of God fhould immediately appear. Others miftook it for the temporal Kingdom. Acts i. 6. Wilt thou at this Time reftore again the Kingdom to Ifrael? It was anciently, and then preached, Gal. iii. 8.-Preached before the Gospel to Abraham, faying, In thee shall all Nations be blessed. 1 Pet. iv. 6. For this Caufe was the Gospel preached to them that are dead. 1 Pet. iii. 19. Preached to the Spirits (now) in Prifon. Act. xxviii. 23. To whom be expounded

expounded and teftified the Kingdom of God, perfuading concerning Jefus, both out of the Law of Mofes, and out of the Prophets, from Morning till Evening. Matth: iii. 2. x. 7. Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Luke viii. 1. Preaching, and fhewing the glad Tidings of the Kingdom of God. ix. 6o. Go thou and preach the Kingdom of God. xvi. 16. The Law and the Prophets were until John: Since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every

Man

αύτην

*This Text, and Matth. xi. 12. want explaining. From the Days of John the Baptift until now the Kingdom of Heaven βιαζεται Luke xvi. 16. Every Man saul Bialera preffes (with Force and Violence) into it. So the Kingdom of Heaven Braletai, must be, is forced or taken by Force, i. e. not without Force; this is the Senfe, as well from the parallel Place above, as from the following Words, and Biasa, they that ufe Force (and they only) agraces have it for a Prey, (the like Expreffion occurs fer. xxi. 9. xxxix. 18. xlv. 5. His Life fhall be unto him for a Prey) get into it.The Difcourfe here is about Admiffion into the Kingdom of Chrift in this World, which (as above) is by Faith in Christ, owning him for the true King of Ifrael, fo putting themselves under his Protection; this Kingdom could not be robbed or taken, like a City, by Force; but if any Strong Oppofition had been made against the Faith in Christ, Force and Violence must be used to overcome it. And this was the Cafe then: Till John they had the Law, and Prophets for Guides to Chrift; but they had made a pretty good Shift to conftrue away the Meaning of them, and through Pride, Ambition and Covetousness, had imagined a great many pretty Schemes of a Temporal King, &c. and being themselves to be made Princes in all Lands, and fo forth: But when John pointed directly to Chrift, as he stood amongst them, and declared that he was the Lamb of God, who was to take away the Sins of the World, and confequently, that the whole Law was spiritual, and now to be fuperfeded, fo that both their

prefent

Man prefeth into it. Mark. xi. 10. Blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David, that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hofanna in the Higheft.

prefent Preferments and future Hopes were at once forfeited ; they made great Oppofition, and as our Saviour tells them, Matth. xxiii. 13. Shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men.

-That they went not in themselves, neither suffered they them that were entering to go in.-So there was a Neceffity to ufe Violence to overcome this Refiftance, and we know that many in fpite of all Oppofition did, from John's Baptism, preach Chrift, (i. e. the End of the Law) before they knew he had fulfilled all: And fo they had, (as all who with Force and Violence prefs forward to get in, will always have) an Entrance miniftred unto them abundantly, (as every Chriftian, Rev. i. 6. and elsewhere is to be a King) into the Kingdom, and have a Seat or Throne in it, for a Prey, that which he gained by Force. Is not this the Prey, which Pfal. cxi. 5. is to be given to them that fear Jehovah ? analw is to take or feize any Thing by way of Prey,—to get what could not have been obtained if Force and Violence had not been used. Doth not calling the Happiness of the next World, or the Kingdom, a Prey (as it is in inumerable Places) imply, that Force must be used to obtain it; and is not agral to take by Force very properly used? They have conftrued this, as if the Violence was offered to the Kingdom, whereas it is only using Force and Violence to obtain Admiffion against those who oppofe our Entrance. No Words could more clearly and ftrongly express the ftate of the Church at that Time; when its Riches and confequently Power was got into the Hands of Pharifees, Hypocrites, a Generation of Vipers, who would have deprived all Mankind of a Crown hereafter, rather than not wear the Bonnet (Exod. xxviii. 40.) for a few Years here. When we confider thofe terrible Times, when the Door was locked against thofe who were willing and defirous to enter, fo that they were obliged to force it open to get Admittance, with what Pleafure may we congratulate the-happy Days, when the Doors are not only not locked, but fet open to all, Jews, Turks, Infidels, Enthufiafts, Mad-Men.-When they

are

I.

eft. The Direction, Matth. vi. 33. Seek ye firfi the Kingdom of God. Is come--Matth. xii. 28. The Kingdom of God is come unto you. Theff. ii. 12. Hath called you unto his Kingdom. Whose it wasAll the Appellations center in the Son of Man: He was God; Son of God: Jefus Chrift; King of Heaven; our Lord; our Saviour, &c. Matth. xvi. 28. There be fome Standing here which shall not taste of Death, till they fee the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. Whence it was not.-John xviii. 36. My Kingdom is not of this World: If my kingdom were of this World, then would my Servants fightbut now is my Kingdom not from hence. In what it confifted- I Cor. iv. 20. The Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in Power. Rom. xiv. 17. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteoufness and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft. Where it is- -Luke xvii. 21. The Kingdom of God is within you, (my Influence and your Obedience.) What it was like-Mat. xiii. 19. When one heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and underftandeth it not, then cometh the wicked One and catcheth away &c. 31. Luke xiii. 19. Like a Grain of Mustard Seed-Sowed -and becometh a Tree. Matth. xiii. 33. Like

are not only invited, but compelled to come in; nay when the very Foundations are dug up to make Way for them. Surely the Guest Chamber will be full ere long: But then they who have not on the Wedding-Garment will be caft out into the outer Darkness. -And will not he who knowingly and defignedly admits fuch be caft out with them? Let every felf this Question.

afk him

unto

unto Leaven, which a Woman took and hid in three Measures of Meal till the whole was leavened. 37. He that foweth the good Seed is the Son of Man: The Field is the World: The good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom: But the Tares are the Children of the wicked One: The Enemy that fowed them is the Devil: The Harvest is the End of the World, and the Reapers are the Angels (the reft below.) 44. Like unto Treasure hid in a Field: the which when a Man hath found, he bideth; and for joy thereof goeth and felleth all that he hath and buyeth the Field,

it.

Like unto a Merchant-Man feeking goodly Pearls : Who when he had found one Pearl of great Price, he went and fold all that he had, and bought -Is like a Net that was caft into the Sea, and gathered of every Kind, which when it was full, they drew to Shore, and fat down, and gathered the Good into Veffels, but caft the bad away 52. Therefore every Scribe, which is inftructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like a Man that is an Houfe-holder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure [the two Teftaments]Things new and old. xviii. 23. Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain King which would take account of his Servants.-Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Forgave him the Debt, &c. xx. 1. Like unto a Man that is an Houfe-holder, which went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers.-Is it not lawful for me to do what I will my own? - 22. Like unto a certain King that made a Marriage Feaft for his Son.

with

and