Of God's kingdom,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Gatéchifm.
: the Lord, ye that tremble at his word : Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's fake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: But he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. And John xvi. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues : Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service.
Q. 13. What is the third inference from hence ?
A. That it should be indifferent to a Christian what condition God puts him into, so that he may but be useful tofanctify and exalt the name of God therein ; Phil. i. 20.-As always, so now also Christ shall be magnified inmybody,whether it be by life or by death .
Q. 14. What is the last inference hence ?
A. That it is an high and dreadful provocation of God to prophaneandabuse his worship, whereon his name is called, and wherein it is to be sanctified; Lev. x. 1, 2, 3. AndNadab andAbihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Then Moses said un toAaron, this it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in themthatcome nigh me,and before all the people will
I be glorified.
Of God's Kingdom.
Hat do we pray for inthesecondpetition?
Quest. 102.W A. In thesecondpetition, which is, [Thy kingdom come,] we pray that Satan's kingdom-may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Q. 1. What is the first thing signified by the kingdom of God here?
: A. The gospel is here intended by the kingdom of God, Matth. xiii . 47.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
Q. 2. What is the thing signified by the coming of this kingdom of God ?
A. It signifies the removal of all impediments, that hinder its propagation in the world ; 2 Theff. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
VOL . VIII.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism .
Q. 3. Who, and what hinders the propagation of it ?
A. Antichrist, that man of fin, hinders it externally ; z Theff. ii . 4. Who oppofeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The devil and mens lusts internally; 1 Theff. ii. 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hindered us .
Luke xix. 14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a messenger after him, saying,We will not have this man to reign over us.
Q. 4. What then is the desire of all good men, with respect to the coming of the gospel kingdom ?
A. That all nations maybe brought to Christ by the preaching of it, and so Christ's kingdom be greatly exalted and enlarged ; Ifa. ii . 2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Q. 5. What is thesecondthing here meant by the kingdom of God?
A. It signifies and intends the work of saving grace wrought inmens fouls ; Luke xvii. 21.
Behold, the kingdom of God iswithinyou.
Q. 6. Why is this work of grace called the kingdom of God?
A. Because where-ever saving grace comes, it subdues the foultoChrist's sceptre ; 2 Cor. x. 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ .
Q. 7. Wherein consists the kingdom of grace ?
A. It consists not in external rites and observances, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost ; Rom . xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost
Q. 8. What do we ask of God in this petition,with respect to this kingdom of grace?
A. Herein we desire not only our own personal progressive fanctification, but the sanctification of others all the world over ; Acts xxvi. 29. And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Q. 9. What is the thirdthing here meant by the kingdom of God?
A. By it is here meant the future state of glory and blessed