Gospel, or the Church of God, whilst in its Mili

tant State, cannot be that Kingdom; because there El is no such Distribution of Rewards ; nor Places of i Honour or Glory to be bestowed upon the Saints, e whilft she is in her Militant Conflict and Suffering

Condition ; but when her Conflicts and Sufferings are over. Nor yet the Kingdom of Glory in the eternal Heavens. And why? Because that is not

fo properly called Christ's Kingdom, tho' he hath the 1 fame Interest in it with his Father, as God; but as -1 Man he hath not: For he himself as Man will be Ey a Subject in that Kingdom : And therefore 'tis not t said to be his, under this Consideration. But the

Kingdom in this place is call'a Christ's Kingdom, to distinguish it from the Ultimate Glory, that they

may fit, the one on thy Right Hand, the other on thy u Left Hand, in thy Kingdom. This is Christ's King

dom then distinct from the Kingdom in Heaven :

Besides we cannot think that any of the Saints i Mall fit at the Right Hand of God, in the Kingdom of

Heaven; which Place is proper to Christ only, as God, Man, Mediator; a Dignity not to be bestowe ed upon Angels : For unto which of the Angels said be at any time, Sit thou at my Right Hand ? Heb. i. 13.

Well then! The Kingdom that they meant, and in which Sense Christ understood them (for he knew

the Meaning of their Hearts, as well as their 4 Words) was the Visible Glory of Christ's Kingdom,

in this World, or upon this Earth. But it may be e objected by some, If this be the Kingdom i hat they

meant, and in which Sense Chrift understood them, hom does it appear that there shall be such a Kingdom? Whereas Christ Jharply rebukes and tells them that

they

they knem not what they asked. This sharp Reprehension need not fright any Person from beholding the Glory of Christs Kingdom held forth to us in these Words, if they are not willing to be frighted. For if we do but take notice of Christ's Anfwer, we may be satisfy'd as to the Truth of this Kirgdom, if any thing in reason will satisfy.

And therefore look into Verse 23. And he said unto them, Te fall indeed drink of my Cup, and be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized with : 0 But to sit on my Right Hand, is not mine to give : But it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. These Words I shall open thus, 'if the Sons of Zebedee, with their Mother, üid mean a Visible Glory of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth ; in which Distribution of Rewards should be given, and Places of Honours and Dignities should be bestow'd; and Christ understood them in the same Sense, as has been proved; then nothing can appear more plain for the Proof of the point in hand, but that there will be such a Time upon Earth, in which some will be preferred on the Right, and

some on the Left Hand of Christ, in his Kingdom. . This is so far from being deny'd by our Lord Jesus,

as that he does positively affirm it in these Words, that tho' it be not his to give (simply consider'd as Man) yet it shall be given to them for whom it was preparei: As if our Lord should say, There is indeed such a Kingdom to be, in which Rewards, Honours, and Dignities shall be bestowed upon them for whom it is prepared or appointed by my Falber. That which our Lord reproves them for, is only their Ambition to be above their Brethren. They would fain have had the preheminence above o

thers

thers; but Christ reproves them for that, in telling them they asked they knew not what, or they were riot well sensible what a Day of Suffering and Affliction there would be upon the Church and People of God first; and therefore the Time was unseasonable to ask for such Preferments. They were not well sensible for what End, or upon what Ground they asked such things, nor yet that it was in Christ's Dispose. This is the Reason of Chrif's Reproof; but withal he satisfies them, that

these great things which they asked for, should be 7 given at the Time appointed, by the Father, for e whom it was prepared.

CHAP. XII. The Disciples were in expectation that

the Kingdom, or Regal Power(which they had loft) should now be restored to Is R A EL.

1. This Kingdom cannot be understood of a Dispensa

tiuit urder the Gospel ; neither can it be meant of a Kingdom in the Eternal Heaven. 2. This Kingdom then must be a Visible, Personal, Reign and Kingdom of Christ in this world. 3. This Kingdom will be as real upon the Earth, as any of the Kingdoms of israel were. 4. The Apostle greatly defirid that the Time of the Corinthians Reigning were come, that we and all the Saints might reign with them

Gain those words in the First of the

Alts, Verse 6, 7, are of great Weight and of the same Import: When they

therefore were come together, they asked 1

bim," saying, Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Ifrael. And he said unto them. It is not for you to know the Times or Seasons mabichtbe Father bath pult in his own Puwer.

We

We may observe, First, Here is a great Qnestion asked of Christ by the Disciples, and that was the Restoration of the Kingdom, . Secondly, The Time when they ask'd that Question; and that was when they were to meet together after Christ's Resurrection. In the Question there are 4 things to be considered, First, That there is a Kingdom to be restored. Secondly, Their Eyes were upon Christ for the Restoration of it; W'ilt thou, &c. Thirdly, TheTime they expected its immediate Restoration;

Wilt thou at this Time ? Fourthly, The Persons to it whom the Kingdom is to be restored ; and that is

Israel. I shall first enquire what we are to under-
stand by this Kingdom which is to be restored. It
cannot be the spiritual Kingdom of Grace under
the Dispensation of the Gospel, because that was
then in being; not only a spiritual Kingdom which
had been in the Hearts of all the Faithful, from the
Fall of Adam; but that Kingdom which Christ and
his Disciples preached was at hand, saying, Re-
pent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Mat.i.
2. I say this Kingdom was begun, when Christ
went up and down doing good, when the Blind re-
ceived their Sight, and the Lame walked, the Leper's
were cleansed, and the Deaf heard, the Dead were
raised up, and the Poor had the Gospel preached to
them, Mat. xi. s. When the Lord Jesus Christ hall
poured out his Soul unto Death, and offered up
himself as the great atoning Sacrifice for Sin;
when he had accomplished that great Work of our
Redemption, and now was risen again from the
Dead, for our Justification, and just ready to as
cend up to Heaven, to pour down the Spirit upon ·
the Apostles, for the preac'sing of the glorious

U 2 Gospel,