Psalm 2:6 Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. Christ is King in Zion, the alone Sovereign of His Church by his Father's appointment and ordination. I. THIS SOVEREIGN PRINCE. The sovereignty and royalty appears — 1. From Scripture prophecy. 2. From types. 3. From titles. 4. From the concurring testimony of enemies and strangers. 5. From the badges of sovereignty everywhere, ascribed to Him.See what happy persons the true and loyal subjects of Christ are. See the dangerous risk they run that invade His government and contemn His authority. Who are these? They that turn the authority derived from Him, to the hurt and prejudice of His kingdom and interest. They who venture to model His visible kingdom in the world after their own fancy. They who walk willingly after the commandments of men, in opposition to the commands of Christ. They will be found equally guilty who stand by and see those injuries done to the King of Zion by others, and are silent without witnessing against those things. II. THIS KINGDOM AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF IT. The kingdom of the Son of God is two fold: it is either essential or personal. His essential kingdom belongs to Him as to His Divine nature. His personal or mediatory kingdom belongs to Him as Immanuel, God-man. In this He acts by a delegate authority or a power committed by the Father for the salvation of the elect that were given Him. The mediatory kingdom is either more general or special. His general mediatory kingdom extends itself over heaven, earth, and hell. The kingdom or Church of Christ is sometimes called His "body" and His "flock." This Church is either militant on earth or triumphant in heaven. Why is this Church called the "holy hill of Zion"? The literal Mount Zion had two heads, one called "Moriah," the other "the City of David." Zion was the place of public worship. All the sacred things of God were kept there. In Scripture an opposition is stated between Mount Zion and Mount Sinai. Consider some of the properties of Christ's kingdom. 1. It is spiritual. 2. Of large extent. 3. Not populous. It is — 4. A kingdom of light. 5. A heavenly kingdom. 6. A regular and well-governed kingdom. 7. Much hated by the devil and the world. 8. A stable, firm, and everlasting kingdom. 9. A holy kingdom.Consider the actual execution and administration of this kingdom. By the royal authority of Zion's King He overrules and governs all creatures and all their actions, yea, the most dark and cloudy dispensations for Ills own and His Father's glory. With respect to His invisible kingdom of believers, there are these acts of His royal power that He puts forth. 1. He subdues them to Himself. 2. He writes His law on their hearts. 3. He enforces subjection to His laws. 4. He casts a copy of obedience unto all His subjects, and calls them to imitate Him. 5. He actuates and excites all His subjects to obedience to Him by His own spirit. 6. He meekens the hearts of His subjects to a due regard to all the intimations of His mind and will. 7. He corrects and chastens His subjects. 8. He commands peace, quiet, comfort, and deliverance to them.Prove that Christ has a visible Church from these considerations. He Himself is visible as to His human nature. The laws, ordinances, and officers of Christ are all visible. There is a visible difference between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the devil. The charge that is given to ministers in the dispensation of the solemn ordinances of the New Testament proves that Christ has a visible Church. And there is a visible and open war betwixt the seed of the woman and the serpent. Notice some acts of the royal authority of Christ ill His visible kingdom. Giving the lively oracles of His Word to His visible Church. Appointing the form of its government. Appointing its officers, and the way in which they are to be chosen. Appointing ordinances, such as preaching. Appointing censures for good discipline and order in His kingdom. Authorising the officers to meet in a judicative capacity in His name for the better and joint regulating of the affairs of His kingdom. Bounding and limiting all the courts and officers of His kingdom to govern His subjects, and to teach them no other thing than He has commanded. Giving express orders unto all His subjects to examine all spirits, doctrines, laws, impositions at the bar of the Word, and to contend earnestly for the purity of His truth and worship, ordinances and institutions. III. WHY HAS GOD THE FATHER SET AND ORDAINED HIM TO BE KING IN ZION? This flows originally from the sovereign love and good pleasure of God. It was for the Father's glory and honour to set Him upon the throne. It was that He might bring about salvation to His mystical body, the Church. Because His shoulders alone were able to bear the weight of the government. Seeing Christ bought the Church to Himself with the price of His blood, it was fit that the government of the Church should be committed to Him. Application — (1) Words of exhortation to all those who profess themselves the subjects of Christ's kingdom. Imitate your King. Trust Him at all times. Be much at your King's throne as supplicants. Obey your King's laws. Keep His ordinances of worship. Stand up for the honour of your King. (2) Words of exhortation to you who are yet strangers to Zion's King, or enemies to His kingdom and government. Surrender your rebellious arms, and submit unto His royal authority. (E. Erskine.) Parallel Verses KJV: Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. |
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