Notwithstandingthegovernmentbothinpolicyandreligionwerejoined，firstinthehighpriests，andafterwardsinthekings，sofarforthasconcernedtheright；yetitappearethbythesameholyhistorythatthepeopleunderstooditnot；buttherebeingamongstthemagreatpart，andprobablythegreatestpart，thatnolongerthantheysawgreatmiracles，or，whichisequivalenttoamiracle，greatabilities，orgreatfelicityintheenterprisesoftheirgovernors，gavesufficientcrediteithertothefameofMosesortothecolloquiesbetweenGodandthepriests，theytookoccasion，asoftastheirgovernorsdispleasedthem，byblamingsometimesthepolicy，sometimesthereligion，tochangethegovernmentorrevoltfromtheirobedienceattheirpleasure；andfromthenceproceededfromtimetotimetheciviltroubles，divisions，andcalamitiesofthenation。
Asforexample，afterthedeathofEleazarandJoshua，thenextgeneration，whichhadnotseenthewondersofGod，butwerelefttotheirownweakreason，notknowingthemselvesobligedbythecovenantofasacerdotalkingdom，regardednomorethecommandmentofthepriest，noranylawofMoses，butdideverymanthatwhichwasrightinhisowneyes；andobeyedincivilaffairssuchmenasfromtimetotimetheythoughtabletodeliverthemfromtheneighbournationsthatoppressedthem；andconsultednotwithGod，astheyoughttodo，butwithsuchmen，orwomen，astheyguessedtobeprophetsbytheirpredictionsofthingstocome；andthoughtheyhadanidolintheirchapel，yetiftheyhadaLevitefortheirchaplain，theymadeaccounttheyworshippedtheGodofIsrael。
Andafterwardswhentheydemandedaking，afterthemannerofthenations，yetitwasnotwithadesigntodepartfromtheworshipofGodtheirKing；butdespairingofthejusticeofthesonsofSamuel，theywouldhaveakingtojudgethemincivilactions；butnotthattheywouldallowtheirkingtochangethereligionwhichtheythoughtwasrecommendedtothembyMoses。Sothattheyalwayskeptinstoreapretext，eitherofjusticeorreligion，todischargethemselvesoftheirobediencewhensoevertheyhadhopetoprevail。
Samuelwasdispleasedwiththepeople，forthattheydesiredakingforGodwastheirKingalready，andSamuelhadbutanauthorityunderHim；yetdidSamuel，whenSaulobservednothiscounselindestroyingAgagasGodhadcommanded，anointanotherking，namely，David，totakethesuccessionfromhisheirs。Rehoboamwasnoidolater；butwhenthepeoplethoughthimanoppressor，thatcivilpretencecarriedfromhimtentribestoJeroboamanidolater。Andgenerallythroughthewholehistoryofthekings，aswellofJudahasofIsrael，therewereprophetsthatalwayscontrolledthekingsfortransgressingthereligion，andsometimesalsoforerrorsofstate；asJehoshaphatwasreprovedbytheprophetJehuforaidingtheKingofIsraelagainsttheSyrians；*andHezekiah，byIsaiah，forshowinghistreasurestotheambassadorsofBabylon。Byallwhichitappeareththatthoughthepowerbothofstateandreligionwereinthekings，yetnoneofthemwereuncontrolledintheuseofitbutsuchasweregraciousfortheirownnaturalabilitiesorfelicities。Sothatfromthepracticeofthosetimes，therecannoargumentbedrawnthattherightofsupremacyinreligionwasnotinthekings，unlessweplaceitintheprophets，andconcludethatbecauseHezekiah，prayingtotheLordbeforethecherubim，wasnotansweredfromthence，northen，butafterwardsbytheprophetIsaiah，thereforeIsaiahwassupremeheadoftheChurch；orbecauseJosiahconsultedHuldahtheprophetess，concerningtheBookoftheLaw，thatthereforeneitherhe，northehighpriest，butHuldahtheprophetesshadthesupremeauthorityinmatterofreligion，whichIthinkisnottheopinionofanydoctor。
DuringtheCaptivitytheJewshadnoCommonwealthatall；andaftertheirreturn，thoughtheyrenewedtheircovenantwithGod，yettherewasnopromisemadeofobedience，neithertoEsdrasnortoanyother：andpresentlyaftertheybecamesubjectstothetotheGreeks，fromwhosecustomsanddemonology，andfromthedoctrineoftheCabalists，theirreligionbecamemuchcorrupted：insuchsortasnothingcanbegatheredfromtheirconfusion，bothinstateandreligion，concerningthesupremacyineither。AndthereforesofarforthasconcerneththeOldTestament，wemayconcludethatwhosoeverhadthesovereigntyoftheCommonwealthamongsttheJews，thesamehadalsothesupremeauthorityinmatterofGod’sexternalworship，andrepresentedGod’sperson；thatis，thepersonofGodtheFather；thoughHewerenotcalledbythenameofFathertillsuchtimeasHesentintotheworldHisSonJesusChristtoredeemmankindfromtheirsins，andbringthemintohiseverlastingkingdomtobesavedforevermore。Ofwhichwearetospeakinthechapterfollowing。
WEFINDinHolyScripturethreepartsoftheofficeoftheMessiah：thefirstofaredeemer，orsaviour；thesecondofapastor，counsellor，orteacher，thatis，ofaprophetsentfromGodtoconvertsuchasGodhathelectedtosalvation；thethirdofaking，aneternalking，butunderhisFather，asMosesandthehighpriestswereintheirseveraltimes。Andtothesethreepartsarecorrespondentthreetimes。For，ourredemptionhewroughtathisfirstcoming，bythesacrificewhereinheoffereduphimselfforoursinsuponthecross；ourconversionhewroughtpartlytheninhisownperson，andpartlyworkethnowbyhisministers，andwillcontinuetoworktillhiscomingagain。Andafterhiscomingagainshallbeginthathisgloriousreignoverhiselectwhichistolasteternally。
Totheofficeofaredeemer，thatis，ofonethatpayeththeransomofsin，whichransomisdeath，itappertaineththathewassacrificed，andtherebyboreuponhisownheadandcarriedawayfromusouriniquities，insuchsortasGodhadrequired。Notthatthedeathofoneman，thoughwithoutsin，cansatisfyfortheoffencesofallmen，intherigourofjustice，butinthemercyofGod，thatordainedsuchsacrificesforsinasHewaspleasedinHismercytoaccept。Intheoldlawaswemayread，Leviticus，16theLordrequiredthatthereshould，everyyearonce，bemadeanatonementforthesinsofallIsrael，bothpriestsandothers；forthedoingwhereofAaronalonewastosacrificeforhimselfandthepriestsayoungbullock，andfortherestofthepeoplehewastoreceivefromthemtwoyounggoats，ofwhichhewastosacrificeone；butasfortheother，whichwasthescapegoat，hewastolayhishandsontheheadthereof，andbyaconfessionoftheiniquitiesofthepeople，tolaythemallonthathead，andthenbysomeopportunemantocausethegoattobeledintothewilderness，andtheretoescapeandcarryawaywithhimtheiniquitiesofthepeople。Asthesacrificeoftheonegoatwasasufficient，becauseanacceptable，pricefortheransomofallIsrael；sothedeathoftheMessiahisasufficientpriceforthesinsofallmankind，becausetherewasnomorerequired。OurSaviourChrist’ssufferingsseemtobeherefiguredasclearlyasintheoblationofIsaac，orinanyothertypeofhimintheOldTestament。Hewasboththesacrificedgoatandthescapegoat：“Hewasoppressed，andhewasafflicted；heopenednothismouth；heisbroughtasalambtotheslaughter，andasasheepisdumbbeforetheshearer，soopenedhenothismouth“：*hereisthesacrificedgoat。“Hehathborneourgriefsandcarriedoursorrows“；*2andagain，“theLordhathlaiduponhimtheiniquitiesofusall“：*3andsoheisthescapegoat。“Hewascutofffromthelandofthelivingforthetransgressionofmypeople“：*4thereagainheisthesacrificedgoat。Andagain，“heshallbeartheirsins“：*5heisthescapegoat。ThusistheLambofGodequivalenttoboththosegoats；
sacrificed，inthathedied；andescaping，inhisresurrection；
beingraisedopportunelybyhisFather，andremovedfromthehabitationofmeninhisascension。
Forasmuchthereforeashethatredeemethhathnotitletothethingredeemed，beforetheredemptionandransompaid，andthisransomwasthedeathoftheredeemer，itismanifestthatourSaviour，asman，wasnotkingofthosethatheredeemed，beforehesuffereddeath；
thatis，duringthattimeheconversedbodilyontheearth。Isayhewasnotthenkinginpresent，byvirtueofthepactwhichthefaithfulmakewithhiminbaptism：nevertheless，bytherenewingoftheirpactwithGodinbaptism，theywereobligedtoobeyhimforking，underhisFather，whensoeverheshouldbepleasedtotakethekingdomuponhim。Accordingwhereunto，ourSaviourhimselfexpresslysaith，“Mykingdomisnotofthisworld。“*NowseeingtheScripturemakethmentionbutoftwoworlds；thisthatisnow，andshallremaintothedayofjudgement，whichisthereforealsocalledthelastday；andthatwhichshallbeafterthedayofjudgement，whenthereshallbeanewheavenandanewearth；thekingdomofChristisnottobegintillthegeneralresurrection。AndthatisitwhichourSavioursaith，“TheSonofManshallcomeinthegloryofhisFather，withhisangels；andthenheshallrewardeverymanaccordingtohisworks。“*2Torewardeverymanaccordingtohisworksistoexecutetheofficeofaking；andthisisnottobetillhecomeinthegloryofhisFather，withhisangels。WhenourSavioursaith，“TheScribesandPhariseessitinMoses’seat；allthereforewhatsoevertheybidyoudo，thatobserveanddo“；*3hedeclarethplainlythatheascribethkinglypower，forthattime，nottohimself，buttothem。Andsohedothalso，wherehesaith，“Whomademeajudgeordivideroveryou？“*4And，“Icamenottojudgetheworld，buttosavetheworld。“*5AndyetourSaviourcameintothisworldthathemightbeakingandajudgeintheworldtocome：
forhewastheMessiah，thatis，theChrist，thatis，theanointedpriestandthesovereignprophetofGod；thatistosay，hewastohaveallthepowerthatwasinMosestheprophet，inthehighprieststhatsucceededMoses，andinthekingsthatsucceededthepriests。AndSt。Johnsaysexpressly，“TheFatherjudgethnoman，buthathcommittedalljudgementtotheSon。“*6Andthisisnotrepugnanttothatotherplace，“Icamenottojudgetheworld“：forthisisspokenoftheworldpresent，theotheroftheworldtocome；
asalsowhereitissaidthatatthesecondcomingofChrist，“Yethathavefollowedme，intheregenerationwhentheSonofmanshallsitinthethroneofhisglory，yeshallalsositontwelvethrones，judgingthetwelvetribesofIsrael。“*7
IfthenChrist，whilsthewasonearth，hadnokingdominthisworld，towhatendwashisfirstcoming？ItwastorestoreuntoGod，byanewcovenant，thekingdomwhich，beinghisbytheoldcovenant，hadbeencutoffbytherebellionoftheIsraelitesintheelectionofSaul。Whichtodo，hewastopreachuntothemthathewastheMessiah，thatis，thekingpromisedtothembytheprophets，andtoofferhimselfinsacrificeforthesinsofthemthatshouldbyfaithsubmitthemselvesthereto；andincasethenationgenerallyshouldrefusehim，tocalltohisobediencesuchasshouldbelieveinhimamongsttheGentiles。SothattherearetwopartsofourSaviour’sofficeduringhisabodeupontheearth：onetoproclaimhimselftheChrist；andanotherbyteaching，andbyworkingofmiracles，topersuadeandpreparementolivesoastobeworthyoftheimmortalitybelieversweretoenjoy，atsuchtimeasheshouldcomeinmajestytotakepossessionofhisFather’skingdom。Andthereforeitisthatthetimeofhispreachingisoftenbyhimselfcalledtheregeneration，whichisnotproperlyakingdom，andtherebyawarranttodenyobediencetothemagistratesthatthenwere；forhecommandedtoobeythosethatsattheninMoses’chair，andtopaytributetoCaesar；butonlyanearnestofthekingdomofGodthatwastocometothosetowhomGodhadgiventhegracetobehisdisciplesandtobelieveinhim；forwhichcausethegodlyaresaidtobealreadyinthekingdomofgrace，asnaturalizedinthatheavenlykingdom。
HithertothereforethereisnothingdoneortaughtbyChristthattendethtothediminutionofthecivilrightoftheJewsorofCaesar。
ForastouchingtheCommonwealthwhichthenwasamongsttheJews，boththeythatboreruleamongstthemandtheythatweregoverneddidallexpecttheMessiahandkingdomofGod；whichtheycouldnothavedoneiftheirlawshadforbiddenhim，whenhecame，tomanifestanddeclarehimself。Seeingthereforehedidnothing，butbypreachingandmiraclesgoabouttoprovehimselftobethatMessiah，hedidthereinnothingagainsttheirlaws。Thekingdomheclaimedwastobeinanotherworld：hetaughtallmentoobeyinthemeantimethemthatsatinMoses’seat：heallowedthemtogiveCaesarhistribute，andrefusedtotakeuponhimselftobeajudge。Howthencouldhiswordsoractionsbeseditious，ortendtotheoverthrowoftheirthencivilgovernment？ButGodhavingdeterminedhissacrificeforthereductionofHiselecttotheirformercovenantedobedience，forthemeans，wherebyHewouldbringthesametoeffect，madeuseoftheirmaliceandingratitude。NorwasitcontrarytothelawsofCaesar。ForthoughPilatehimself，togratifytheJews，deliveredhimtobecrucified；yetbeforehedidso，hepronouncedopenlythathefoundnofaultinhim；andputfortitleofhiscondemnation，notastheJewsrequired，“thathepretendedtobeking，“butsimply，“thathewasKingoftheJews“；andnotwithstandingtheirclamour，refusedtoalterit，saying，“WhatIhavewritten，Ihavewritten。“
Asforthethirdpartofhisoffice，whichwastobeking，Ihavealreadyshownthathiskingdomwasnottobegintilltheresurrection。
Butthenheshallbeking，notonlyasGod，inwhichsenseheiskingalready，andevershallbe，ofalltheearth，invirtueofhisomnipotence；butalsopeculiarlyofhisownelect，byvirtueofthepacttheymakewithhimintheirbaptism。AndthereforeitisthatourSavioursaiththathisApostlesshouldsitupontwelvethrones，judgingthetwelvetribesofIsrael，“WhentheSonofManshallsitinthethroneofhisglory“：*wherebyhesignifiedthatheshouldreigntheninhishumannature；and“TheSonofManshallcomeinthegloryofhisFather，withhisangels，andthenheshallrewardeverymanaccordingtohisworks。“*2Thesamewemayread，Mark，13。26，and14。62，andmoreexpresslyforthetime，Luke，22。29，30，“I