Chap. 1. Sect 2. jlrotung unto 'jdu.S'. the MejJiM and the DoCtrine of the Gofpd. John's Sermons were to the S~rmons of Jefusas aP;·efaceto a Difcourfe. But obferve this, that his moft ufuJl Note was Repentance; the Axe to th; Root, the Fan to the Ploor, the Chaffe to the Fire: As his Raymem was rough, fo was hts T?ngue; and thus mull: the way be made for Chrift in ftubborn obftinate hearts; plauflbtluy '. or pleafing of the flefh is no fit Preface to Re_geReration; if the heart of man had c?nttnu– ed upright, Chrill: might have been entcrtamed wHhout contradtdwn ; _but now vwlence mufl: be offered to our Corrupttons, ere we can have room for Grace; tf the great way– maker do not call: down hills, and raife up vallies in the bofoms uf men, •there IS no paf– fagefor Chrifr; never will Chrift come into that fou~. where the Herald of Repentance, ·either on or.e motive or other bath not been before htm. Shall we hear that Sermon that lohn preached in his own words? MattheiV in brief gives it in thus · Repentye, fo• the Kingdome of heave~> is at h,wd: tbefe are tht words Mot. 3· ,; when he firft b;gan to preach the Gofpd of Chrifl; and indeed we find Chrifl himfelf doth preach the fame Doctrine in the fame words: 1ifi" began to preach, and to fay, re- Mat. 4• , 7, pent; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. In tlus Sermon we muft obferve _thefe two parts; l1ere's, I. A Ducy; and, 2. A Mottve to thts Duty. I. The Duty ts repent.] It is not a Legal, but an Evangelical Repentance that is here meant; indeed the Law llrictly takes oo notice of repentance, but the Gofpel ; true, and through, and confummate repentance is a Gofpel-Grace. 2. The Motive is this; for the Kingdow of heaven is at hand. This phrafe, The Kingdom of heaven, bath feveral acceptations, and accordingly it bath occafioned fame differences. I. Sometimes it is taken for that glor!ous condition of the other world ; this may be implied ; but this I fuppofe few underftand to be the fenfe of this place. z, Sometimes it is taken for the Church ofChtill, q. d. repent, for now the Pedagogy of the Jews is expiring, or breathing its lall; and the Church of Chrifl: is at hand, a people that OJa!l bear the very flile of Chriflians; thatflJall profefs Chrifl:, andclofewith Chri!l: as their Saviour and Meffiah; ofwhich Church, that you may be apart, prepare for it ; repent. 3. Sometimes it is taken for the fpiritual Kingdom of Chri!l:, in oppofition to thofe earthly temporal Kingdoms which bare the fway, and domineered over all the world with Cruelty and Tyranny befOJ e Chri!l:s coming; of this Daniel prophelied; .And in the daycs of the(e Kings jha!l Dan, >· 44• the God of heaven fer up a Kingdom whi<h Jhail n.ever be deftroyed. Now what was this Kingdom, but the Kingdom of Grace? It is by an Hebraifm called the Kingdom of heaven, that is, an heavenly Kingdom; the Jews expected the Me!Iiah, and dreamed of an outward, glorious and pompous Kingdom: now, faith John, the Me!Iiah is ·come, and his Kingdom is come; but 'tis not an earthly, but an heavenly Kingdom; and therefore repent. 4· Sometimes it is taken for the preaching of the Gofpel, or for the preaching of the Kingdom of Grace and Mercy of God in Chri!l: unto men; q.d. 0 Sirs ! look._aboMJOII,there's now a difcovtry made of the.G/ory and Grace of God itt another way than .evCY formerly; and therefore prepare for it : refwt. 5. Sometimes it is taken for the GoJpel of Chrift, as it is publiflJed and preached unto all Nations: Obferve, I do not only fay, for tr.eGofpel as it is preached; but as it is preached to the Gentiles, or among all Nations, and this lltews how proper and pregnant an Argument this was to en- .fotce the Dochioe and Pradice of Repentance tjpon the ?ews, becaufe the calling of the Gent1lcs was near at hand, which would prove their rejection and cafting off, if they did .nor repenr. Oh how feafonable is this Sermon to us? Chriflians! hath not the Kingdom of hea– venapproacht unto us? take the Kingdom of heaven for the Kingdom of Glory, are we not nearco the door of Glory, to the Confines of Eternity? Wj>at is o1tr Life b11t a Vapour that appe.reth for a littletime, and ttfter irvanijhcthaway? We know not but ere the Sun have run one Round, our fouls may be in that world of fouls, and fo either in heaven or hell. Or take the Kinudo?J of heaven for the Church of Chrifl, and what expectations have we now of the flouri01ing llate of Chrifl: s Ch.urcb here upon Earth? T hm fl~a/1 the Children of Ifrad and Ju:lah begathered together--for great Jha/1 be the d.<y of {ez.:ml, Hof. I. I I A time is at h<nd, that Ifrael and {udah !hall be called to– gether, , tlm the fulnefs of the Gentiles !hall come in : and what is this but the great day •I 7ez.r:ct? Ob then what manner of perfons ought we to be? how fpiritual? how lteavenly-mmded? Arife, arife, Jhakf off rhydnjl;for ;_hy Lightilcoming, and (he (!ory of the Lord u rijing upon thee. Or, take the Ktngdom Of_ heave~l for the preaching or the Gofpel of Gtace, Mercy and Goodnefs ot Go~ !n Chnfl, what preachings are · Z · now
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