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therefore Partakers of the Glory of that World, or the World to come; which, as has been fhewn, will be fubjected unto Chrift and the Saints, in the Glory of this vifible Kingdom: Which Texts of Scripture cannot fairly be apply'd unto any other State or Time.

Again in Matth. xx. and the 20, 21, 22. we read how the Mother of Zebedees Children came with her two Sons unto Chrift, worshipping of him, and defir'd a certain thing of him. And he said what wilt thou? She faith unto him, Grant that these my two Sons may fit, the one at thy Right Hand, and the other at thy Left, in thy Kingdom. This was her Request to Chrift for her Children. But Jefus answered and faid, Te know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of, or to be baptized with the Baptifm that I am baptized with? As if our Lord fhould fay; Tou are looking at the Glory, and defire to be made great in it; but do not fo well confider the Sufferings that I am, and that ye are to go through firft. Therefore confider whether ye are able to drink of my Cup, and to be baptized with my Baptifm? They faid unto him, We are able. They faid, that is, the Sons of Zebedee make answer now (having fet their Mother on to ask, as being afhamed to begin first) We are able. In the 23d Verfe. And he faid unto them, Te shall drink indeed of my Cup,' and be baptized with my Baptifm; but to fit on my Right Hand and on my Left, is not mine to give; but it fall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my. Father. The main thing to be opened in thefe Words is, What Kingdom thefe Sons of Zebedee meant, which they defired fo much to be advanced in; the Spiritual Kingdom of Grace under the Gospel

Gofpel, or the Church of God, whilft in its Militant State, cannot be that Kingdom; because there is no fuch Diftribution of Rewards; nor Places of Honour or Glory to be bestowed upon the Saints, whilft fhe 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 calledChrift's Kingdom, tho' he hath the fame Intereft in it with his Father, as God; but as Man he hath not: For he himself as Man will be a Subject in that Kingdom: And therefore 'tis not faid to be his, under this Confideration. But the Kingdom in this place is call'd Chrift's Kingdom, to diftinguish it from the Ultimate Glory, that they may fit, the one on thy Right Hand, the other on thy Left Hand, in thy Kingdom. This is Chrift's Kingdom then diftinct from the Kingdom in Heaven: Befides we cannot think that any of the Saints fhall fit at the Right Hand of God, in the Kingdom of Heaven; which Place is proper to Chrift only, as God, Man, Mediator; a Dignity'not to be beftowed upon Angels: For unto which of the Angels faid be at any time, Sit thou at my Right Hand? Heb. i.

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Well then! The Kingdom that they meant, and in which Senfe Chrift understood them (for he knew the Meaning of their Hearts as well as their Words) was the Visible Glory of Chrift's Kingdom, in this World, or upon this Earth. But it may be objected by fome, If this be the Kingdom that they meant, and in which Senfe Chrift understood them, how does it appear that there fhall be fuch a Kingdom? Whereas Chrift fharply rebukes and tells them that

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they knew not what they asked. This fharp Reprehenfion need not fright any Perfon from beholding the Glory of Chris Kingdom held forth to us in thefe Words, if they are not willing to be frighted. For if we do but take notice of Chrift's Anfwer, we may be fatisfy'd as to the Truth of this Kingdom, if any thing in reafon will fatisfy.

And therefore look into Verfe 23. And he said unto them, Te fhall indeed drink of my Cup, and be baptized with the Baptifm that I am baptized with: But to fit on my Right Hand, is not mine to give: But it fhall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Thefe Words I fhall open thus, if the Sons of Zebedee, with their Mother, did mean a Vifible Glory of Chrift's Kingdom upon Earth; in which Diftribution of Rewards fhould be given, and Places of Honours and Dignities fhould be beftow'd; and Chrift understood them in the fame Senfe, as has been proved; then nothing can appear more plain for the Proof of the Point in hand, but that there will be fuch a Time upon Earth, in which fome will be preferred on the Right, and fome on the Left Hand of Chrift, in his Kingdom. This is fo far from being deny'd by our Lord Jefus, as that he does pofitively affirm it in thefe Words, that tho' it be not his to give (fimply confider'd as Man) yet it fhall be given to them for whom it was prepared: As if our Lord fhould fay, There is indeed fuch a Kingdom to be, in which Rewards, Honours, and Dignities fhall be bestowed upon them for whom it is prepared or appointed by my Farber. 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

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thers; but Chrift reproves them for that, in telling them they asked they knew not what, or they were not well fenfible what a Day of Suffering and Affliction there would be upon the Church and · People of God first; and therefore the Time was unfeasonable to ask for fuch Preferments. They were not well fenfible for what End, or upon what Ground they afked fuch things, nor yet that it was in Chrift's Difpofe. This is the Reafon of Chrift's Reproof, but withal he satisfies them, that thefe great things which they asked for, fhould be given at the Time appointed, by the Father, for whom it was prepared.

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CHAP. XII.

The Disciples were in expectation that the Kingdom, or Regal Power(which they had loft) fhould now be reftored to ISR A E L.

1. This Kingdom cannot be understood of a Difpenfation under the Gofpel; neither can it be meant of a Kingdom in the Eternal Heaven. 2. This Kingdom then must be a Vifible, Perfonal, Reign and Kingdom of Chrift in this World. 3. This Kingdom will be as real upon the Earth, as any of the Kingdoms of ifrael were. 4.The Apoftle greatly defir'd that the Time of the Corinthians Reigning were come, that we and all the Saints might reign with them.

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Gain thofe Words in the Firft of the Acts, Verse 6,7, are of great Weight and of the fame Import: When they therefore were come together, they asked bim, faying, Lord wilt thou at this time refore again the Kingdom to Ifrael. And he faid unto them, It is not for you to know the Times or Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power.

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