God's people below are kings incog. They are travelling disguised like pilgrims to their dominions above. - Once a king unto God always so: God does not make kings for the devil to unmake at his pleasure. - If you are spiritual kings, be holy. Should I meet a person all in dirt and rages, I should be mad was I to take that person for a king or a queen. Nor can I believe you to be royally descended, or crowned for the skies, unless you carry the marks of royalty in your life and conversation. - If any of God's anointed kings so far forget their dignity as to live in sin; their throne will shake; the crown will tremble on their heads; they will be driven from their palace for a time, like David, when he fled from Absalom, and went weeping over the brook Kidron. But like David, they shall be brought back again to Jerusalem (for Christ will not lose the purchase of His blood): though not until they have severely smarted for it.
God's people are kings and priests, Rev. i. 6.
1. As kings they are (1.) ordained to a kingdom of glory; and in the mean while, have an internal kingdom of holiness and happiness. (2.) They are anointed with the Holy Ghost. (3.) They are crowned. The doctrines of the gospel are the Church's crown and ornament. Rev. iii. 11. and xii. 1 (4.) They have the sceptre of God's strength to lean upon. (5.) And a globe also. They only truly enjoy even present life. Earthly kings hold a globe in their hands; but the spiritual kings have the globe under their feet. (6.) They have robes. The inner robe of sanctification; and the outer robe of Christ's righteousness for justification before God, Psalm xlv. (7.) They have their guards: angels, grace, providence.
Before conversion they are reges designati, kings elect; after it reges de facto, actual kings.
2. As priests, they are devoted to God, and set apart for His service by a spiritual ordination. Here is a truly indelible character conferred: when the Holy Ghost lays the hand of His grace, not only upon the sinner's head, but upon the sinner's heart. - They offer up spiritual and moral sacrifices. - They pray. - They are blessers of both in will and in act.
Inward holiness and eternal glory are the crown with which God adorns and dignifies His elect. But they are not the cause of election. A king is not made a king by the royal robes he wears, and by the crown that encircles his brow: but he therefore wears his robes, and puts on his crown because he is a king.
Augustus Toplady
The Works of Augustus Toplady, pp. 543-544
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