3.26 Who could repair the Image of God in us and restore the life of Grace when we were dead but Christ by his Spirit How could we ever put off the old man and put on the new die to sin and live unto God were it not for Christs death and resurrection Had not he sanctified himself for our sakes we had never been holy had he not born the punishment we deserved we had never been happy was not he given that whosoever believed on him might not perish but have everlasting life Tell me you that think Christ is a person that may be well spared c. who could ever have opened the eyes of the blind the ears of the deaf or healed a wounded spirit Who could have bound up a broken heart opened the Prison-dores broken off the chains of bondage and proclaimed liberty to the captives Who could have satisfied infinite justice born the weight of Gods Wrath removed the curse of the Law made reconciliation for iniquity and brought in everlasting righteousness certainly none but Christ. 8. Christ is a most gainful gift He is absolute and universal gain Christ is the most profitable gift to the soul that can be injoyed yea that can be imagined nothing more commodious nothing more enriching than Christ is to them that have him There is no man rich without Christ neither is there any poor that have him a man without Christ is a beggarly bankrupt but one that hath Christ is a wealthy King He that hath Christ hath all he that hath not him hath nothing Christ is not gain as worldly things are profitable in relation to their ends as wealth is good to supply want food to maintain life clothes to keep off cold air a bed to rest weary limbs but Christ is a rich and inestimable treasure to the soul without reference to any further end than himself he is to be desired even for himself his merchandise is better than silver and his gain than fine gold Prov. 3.14 Man knows not the price of wisdom of this wisdom Prov. 8.18 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx and Saphire there is no talking nor bidding in this Market so precious is this corner-stone No mention shall be made of corral or of pearls for the price of wisdom is above rubies The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure gold c. Job 28.18 19. What the Apostle saith of godliness is very true of Christ he is profitable for all things and he is gainful at all times and to all persons both for soul and body for the life that now is and the life that is to come and for ever The salvation of the soul is better than the gaining of a whole world What is a man profited if he gain the world and lose his soul How much more gain then is he by whom a world of souls are saved 9. Christ is a most suitable gift He suits all persons and all conditions whether a man be poor or rich young or old noble or ignoble learned or unlearned bond or free high or low the richest have need of him as well as the poorest and the meanest may have him as well as the greatest be in what condition or relation soever he is suitable to all And O! how suitable is Christ to the lost condition of all men by nature man is an enemy to God Christ is the Peace-maker he is a Captive Christ is a Redeemer he is lost Christ a Saviour he is sick Christ a Physician he is dead Christ gives life he is poor Christ gives riches he is weak Christ is strength he is guilty Christ hath righteousness he is filthy Christ hath blood to wash him in he is naked Christ hath a Garment to cloath him he is hungry Christ is the Bread of Life he is thirsty Christ gives living waters O! how suitable how acceptable is Christ to poor sinners He that hath Christ may say here 's strength to support me Wisdom to direct me Power to protect me Gold to inrich me Cordial to comfort me and Fulness to supply all my wants He is made all things to all men eyes to the blind feet to the lame and a Father to the poor Christ is for every turn and fitted for every condition be it what it will or can he hath a sufficiency relative and suitable to it there 's no disease but this Physician can cure it no Case but this Counsellor can resolve it no Enemy but this Champion can conquer no difficulty but this mighty Saviour can overcome 10. Christ is a most seasonable gift Every thing is beautiful in its season all other things have their several seasons as food is good but 't is when a man is hungry so cloaths when a man is naked Physick when a man is not well Musick when a man is merry now Christ is never out of season A gift bestowed in the nick of time is most valued Bis dat qui cito dat 't is a double favour when done in time the right timing of things is a high point of practical wisdom and puts a beauty and value upon all things Now considering the state of man as lapsed Christ was the most seasonable gift that ever the world heard of This is set forth in the Parable Luk. 10.30 A certain man went down from Ierusalem to Iericho and fell among thieves which stripped him wounded him and left him half dead c. The man that travelled was our first Parent Adam the Thieves were the Divels who deprived him of all wounded him and left him not half but wholly dead the Priest and Levite came by and looked on but passed away neither would nor could help him but the good Samaritan so esteemed by the Iews Christ he comes had compassion on him went to him bound up his wounds with his own soft hands poured in Wine and Oyl and brought him to an Inn and took care for him that he should want nothing towards his recovery takes the whole charge of it to himself What can be imagined more seasonable than for such a compassionate Physitian to come by look on and undertake when a man lyes bleeding and dying in the high way Ezekiel 16 beginning doth excellently express the seasonableness of his coming to us Christ is sent to us when we are at an utter loss can neither help our selves nor all the world do us any good give the least relief When he comes into the world it is said Heb. 10.5 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure all the world was at a loss to please God What shall man do and whither will he fly for help Then even then said I lo I come in the volume of thy book it is written of me to do thy will O God Christ comes in the very nick of time when all mankind was ready to perish
of candle to any all equally enjoy Eternity there is one lease and term-day to the lowest inhabitant of glory as to the highest and that is Eternity There is common to all one City the streets whereof are transparent gold that the poorest inhabitants of a place do all walk on streets of gold of Ophir is a great commendation of a City 'T is common to them all that they shall never sigh never be sad never be sick never be old never die all feel the smell of the fairest rose that ever men or Angels heard of or can imagine the flower the glory the joy of Heaven the Lord Jesus Christ. All walk in white and can sin no more all have eternal life fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore So Christ is a publick gift all that truly believe may receive him may keep him may use him though there be many thousands of souls that are receiving from Christ yet he is full enough to supply thy wants though millions of souls employ him in the world yet he is at leisure to do thy work too if thou employ him All his offices and benefits are for thy use most properly he is made ordained appointed and fitted unto us of God Wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Is not a Redeemer of use for captives a Saviour for sinners a Priest for offenders a Prophet for the ignorant a King to deliver such as are in bondage and to conquer and subdue oppressors What is a Physician for but for sick persons Look on Christ in all his undertakings from first to last he is for use As particularly 1. Wherefore did Christ empty himself and come into the world was it not for sinners and will such cast him off and pass him by as useless Did he rent the heavens and come down to thâ— earth on purpose to seek and save lost sinners Luk. 19.20 and 1 Tim. 1.15 and will ye noâ— now make use of him 2. Wherefore was he made a Sacrifice and laid down his life and spilt his most precious blood was it not for us Messias was to be cut off but not for himself not for Angels but for us and did God give his Son to die for no use and purpose is not he the good shepherd that giveth his life for his sheep that they may have life and have it more abundantly Ioh. 10.10 He died that by his death he might reconcile us to God when we were enemies Rom. 5.10 His blood was spilt to justifie us Rom. 5.9 He was delivered for our offences Rom. 4.25 He paid a ransome for us and made satisfaction to divine justice in our nature and stead He gave himself for his Church Ephes. 5.25 26. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by his word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle that it might be holy and without blemish He died that he might kill sin which would be our death and crucifie the old man and to establish a new Covenant and open a way to Heaven and shall all this be in vain did Christ die as a fool dieth 3. Wherefore did he rise again from the dead was it not for our use and benefit Rom. 4.25 He rose again for our justification that is God did declare by raising him from the dead that he hath accepted the death of his Son as of a sufficient ranâ—ome for our sins and he being our true pledg and surety therefore having satisfied for us by his death and returning again to life gives us a clear evidence and firm argument that God was fully reconcil'd and life purchased for us which assurance we could not have had if Christ our pledg had remained under the power of death and shall not we make use of Christs Resurrection to confirm our faith that God is satisfied for us He rose again that he might quicken us to a new life and shall we lye dead rather than improve 4. What was the end of Christs Ascension was not that also for us and our use and benefit that then he might lead captivity captive and give gifts to men Ephes. 4.8 either passively that Christ might take away from Satan death and hell and all their captives and make them his happy captives and shall such a Redemption be refused Or actively that he might captivate the world flesh devil death and hell which in several kinds had captivated mankind and shall not we make use of him for conquering such enemies He ascended that he might give his Spirit and confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost Act. 2.16 17. and that he might prepare a place for us And shall these great benefits be neglected 5. Once more Wherefore is he an Advocate but to plead for us when we dare not cannot come to speak for our selves What a strange piece of folly were it for a man that has a friend in the Court who is appointed purposely to plead his cause or present his petition and yet he make no use of him when the success of his business concerns his whole estate or life when we have sinned and offended God we have Christ our advocate with the Father to interpose betwixt the blow of Justice and our guilty souls and shall this priviledg be neglected 1 Ioh. 2.1 If we want any thing that God hath laid up for us he is ready to make intercession for us who cannot be denied Heb 7.25 He must perfume all our Sacrifices or they are not accepted offer up all our Prayers or they are not answered What need had we then to make use of him It is only by the blood of Christ that we have boldness or liberty to enter into the holy of holies Heb. 10.19 And by him is a new and living way consecrated for us that we may draw near with true hearts and full assurance of faith Heb. 10.20 22. And none can come unto the Father but by him O then make use of this only name and way and be often walking in it to God and his Throne of Grace Object O but I am a wretched sinner a worthless worm and captive what have I to do with such a precious Saviour with so glorious a Lord Answ. But pray tell me wherefore is Christ a Saviour is he not for sinners Wherefore is he a Redeemer is it that he should lye by God as useless was he not a Redeemer for Captives Hath not God fitted and dressed Christ as I may so speak for sinners use and advantage what if all the world should say so Christ should be a Saviour and save none a Redeemer and ransome none at all an Advocate and plead for none for all are sinners all are captives all are at enmity with God naturally We have the more need to use him because such Now for Direction how we must make use of Christ 1. As for the manner 2. The particular cases wherein 1. How or in what
children Not fashioning our selves according to the former lusts in our ignorance but as he that hath called us is holy so let us be holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.13 14 15. O what manner of persons should we be in all holy conversation and godliness It is most reasonable that we should walk in Christ as we have received him both from the rules of ingenuity fidelity and equity 1. It is a rule of an ingenuous man that nothing be done to the prejudice of him from whom we receive nothing but the fairest expressions of favour and kindness God deals with his people in sweet expressions and carriages of condescending love bounty and good-will all his ways are mercy and faithfulness his with drawings or whatever God doth to his people it is for their good Now for any man to walk contrary to God that still goes on to discover more of the riches of his grace to him is to requite evil for good a piece of great disingenuity there is not only rebellion and disobedience but wickedness in it 2. 'T is a rule of fidelity whatever is given to a man to be disposed of upon such and such things and for such ends should be carefully imployed and laid out upon such things and for such ends according to the will of the giver A man may certainly dispose of his own as he pleases Now Christ was not given to us to live as we list or to walk in the vanity of our minds as other Gentiles Ephes. 4.17 Those that have received Christ and do not walk worthy of him do not improve him for mortifying the old man and putting on the new man and for holiness of heart and life they go against the will of him that hath bestowâ—d thâ—s gift upon them 3. 'T is a rule and principle of equity whatsoever we have received from another to occupy we should return it with all possible advantage being intrusted in anothers business an ingenious and just man will labour to advantage him in whose business he is employed as much if not more than his own If we receive this special gift and grace of God and instead of walking answerably we dishonour him by walking contrary to the grace we have received where is justice and ingenuity in this deportment As if a servant be employed in his Masters business he is to use his utmost skill and strength and put to his utmost endeavours to perform his duty exactly So we are servants and whatever we do is our duty Lâ—k 17.10 the stock we have received from another must be faithfully returned to the owner with advantage Mat. 25.27 A servant is not to mind his own advantage and profit but his masters the end why you perform duties and frequent Ordinances must not be meerly to be free from guilt and horrour and to escape Judgment and Hâ—ll that 's but as a servant that works indeed and does his masters business for his own ends but you must eat and drink work and trade pray and hear and all that you do for God and his glory For directions how we must walk in Christ You must walk in Christ as you have received him 1. You received Christ as one that hath taken upon him your nature and sanctified it Ioh. 17.19 and in this respect you should walk in him as those that are sanctified Ephes. 4 20 21 22 23 24. But ye have not so learned Christ c. 1 Thes. 4.4 As you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more for this is the will of God even your sanctification that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour 2. As one that mediates and intercedes for you at the Throne of Grace and ye should be sure to walk in him come to God in this new and living way that your persons and services may be accepted and prayers answered 3. As one to whom you have resigned up your selves as your King and Lord ruler and governour that hath the sole ordering and disposing of you and all your affairs and ways and in this respect you should yield obedience and subjection to his commands and give up your selves wholly to him 4. As one that is your Saviour who is your strength and safety against all enemies and evils whose design and undertaking is to deliver you from the evil of sin Satan and the world in all your fears dangers temptations then you must fly unto him and relye upon him when he hath restored liberty to you captives and slaves you must walk in this liberty and make use of it not to sin but to serve him freely without fear and without distraction 5. As a guide and leader to shew you the way of life and happiness and 't is nothing but reason you should follow him and walk as he walked In a word he is your life and your all and so you should live not to your selves but to him and his praise and glorifie him in soul and body which are his that since he died for all 't is very reasonable that they which believe should not live henceforth to themselves but to him that died for them Rom. 6.22 â—3 Being made free from sin and become servants unto God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Iesus Christ our Lord. CHRIST The Best MASTER Joh. 13.13 Ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well for so I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VOS me vocantes dicitis magister aâ— domine bene dicitis sum enâ—m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per enallagen as Mark 15.34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod ponitur Mat. 27.46 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these are put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Grammarians speak the Nominative for the Vocative case Vel est mutata forma orationis ut hoc dicatur vos compellando me utimur his vocibus magister dominus Unless we read it with Epiphanius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Erasmus translates it Magistrum dominum for saith he it is not usual nor proper to call any thus unless he be present and they speak to him but now Christs Disciples did call him so when he was absent as Ioh. 21.7 This saith Beza is confessed but here the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be rendred saintatis vel vocantes me appellatis being here used it may be understood of the common speech wherewith they spoke to Christ when present The Syriack word Rabban and Maran as in Maranatha the Lord cometh 1 Cor. 16.22 soundeth something more Sacred and Divine than ordinarily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a teacher of Letters Manners or any Art in relation whereunto they were called Disciples or Learners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur qui pollet authoritate
that delivered him was called his Lord. So when we were mancipia peccati diaboli the Devils captives and slaves of sin in which condition if we had lived and died after a hard and toilsome service in the mean time our wages in the end should have been eternal death Christ by his death hath conquered sin and Satan and freed us from that wretched thraldom to this end that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Luke 1.74 75 Thus the Israelites were delivered from Egypt the house of bondage to serve God Hence the Preface to the ten commandments and David confesseth Psal. 116.16 I am thy servant I am thy servant thou hast loosed my bonds If a man had brought another out of Captivity or he had sold himself all his strength or service belonged to the buyer Christ hath bought us from the worst slavery and with the greatest price no thraldom so bad as bondage to sin no prison so black as Hell and certainly Christs blood is better than any money not to serve him then is to defraud him of his purchase no bondage so great as ours no price so great as Christs and therefore no service so great as that which we owe. 2. By the fathers donation or delivery up of them Iohn 17.6 I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word God hath made us and not we our selves and so hath absolute right to us and dominion over us hath given us unto Christ that we should serve him as well as be saved by him Isa. 44.21 Remember O Iacob thou art my servant I have formed thee thou art my servant O Israel they are given him for a Possession Psal. 2.8 3. By voluntary resignation and surrendring of themselves to him They have given themselves to the Lord that are real Christians 2. Cor. 8.5 'T is by their own consent and contract Rom. 6.13 Yeild up your selves unto God c. Christ loves to have his right and title established By our own consent we take Christ for our Lord and Master and give up our selves to him that we may be no longer at our own dispose and therefore 't is not only robbery but treachery and breach of Covenant to seek our selves in any thing and this resignation must be made out of a sense of Christs love to us in his death and sufferings 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ died that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him who died for them We enter upon other services out of hopes but we enter upon Christs service out of thankfulness 'T was our own voluntary Act by Marriage-Covenant we take him for our Lord our Husband Guide Governour and Protector and as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord so we Christ we have bound our selves by solemn vow and promise to be and continue Christs faithful servants unto the end of our lives now the word is gone out of our lips we may not alter it nor after we have made a vow enquire what we have to do He hath the best right to our best services by this three-fold title and a threefold cord is not easily broken our tongues are not our own to speak what we please nor our hearts to think what we please nor our hands to do what we list By vertue of these and many more titles we are anothers and are bound to live and Act for him according to his will and for his glory 3. What a Lord and Master Christ is The Scriptures give us these Characters or Properties of Him 1. He is the most absolute and supreme Lord. His stile is King of kings and Lord of lords he hath no superior or co-partner with him in his dominion and government all other Power and Lordship is dependent and derivative and subordinate 1. All Power is from him as 1. Civil Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree Iustice. 2. Ecclesiastical 2 Cor. 10.8 That power which the Apostle had was derived from Christ For though I should boast something more of the Authority which the Lord hath given us for Edification and not for Destruction 3. Inward and spiritual Mar. 16.20 They preached every where the Lord working with them the opening of the eyes of the blind quickening the dead turning them from darkness to light were the effects of his power not the parts or piety of the Preacher but his grace and spirit did the work Lastly extraordinary and miraculous power whereby they confirmed the word signs and wonders were wrought in his name and by his power When the lame man was healed and the Apostle examined by what power or by what name they had done it Peter answered Acts 4.10 Be it known unto you all tâ—at by the name of Iesus of Nazareth this man doth stand before you whole 2. As all power is derived from him and dependent on him so 't is to be used and obeyed in subordination to him 1. For him as the authority of Magistrates Parents 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream Eph. 6.1 Children obey your parents in the Lord so wives to husbands servants to masters Col. 3.18 2. According to him Acts. 5 29 the Apostle answered We ought to obey God rather than men 3. All other Lords are responsible to him for the use and abuse of that authority and those gifts they received from him and are therefore punishable by him 2 dly He is an universal Lord Lord of all 1. In regard of persons he is over all Rom. 9.5 He rules over all nations persons hearts all other Masters and Lords are inferiour to him Eph. 6.9 And ye masters do the same things to them that is your Servants forbearing threatning knowing that your master also is in heaven neither is there respect of persons with him 2. In regard of matters and acts outward inward Godward manward civil spiritual all come under his cognizance Eph. 6.5 6. Col. 3.23 Rom. 14.18 in all these things we are to serve Christ 3. In regard of places the three kingdoms of Heaven Earth and Hell have no other Lord but Christ Angels and glorified Saints in Heaven Saints Sinners and every creature on Earth the damned and Devils in Hell are all his subjects 3 dly He is a spiritual Lord for the manner of his rule and government Iohn 18.36 My kingdom is not of this world not from hence Not that he governs not in Heaven and Earth for though his kingdom be not of this world Rex tamen est in hoc mundo Bern. when Pilate had openly declared whose accusation it was Jesus plainly tells him that his Kingdom was not secular but spiritual not of this world So that he nothing intrenched on Caesars
the inexhausted fountain of all those streams of blessedness that flow forth all the Creation over the eternal Spring and Well-head of all those fresh Seas and Oceans of all the swelling-tides and bottomless depths of unutterable riches of grace and love to all his elect He must needs be rich who sets up and enriches so many thousand Bankrupts that had not only wasted their goods but sold themselves into slavery and bondage he pays their ransoms buys out their liberty and purchases Crowns and Kingdoms for them It would beggar all the Angels in Heaven to pay down the ransom of one soul yea to purchase the pardon of one sin The redemption of the soul is precious the soul of the meanest man alive is of more worth than a world as he himself tells us who went to the price of souls What then shall we think of Christ who saves so many millions of souls Hence in Scripture the richest things on earth are made use of to shadow out the riches of Christ. Under the title of wisdom he saith Prov. 8.18 19 Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and righteousness My fruit is better than gold and my revenue than choice silver And Prov. 3.16 Length of days are in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour Eternity hath the honour of her right hand riches are the left-hand blessings of wisdom The riches of Christ are not ordinary things not perishing riches but unsearchable and inexhaustible Eph. 3.8 There are unsearchable riches of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to be traced out never to be drawn dry Though all true believers have all their debts paid and are all maintained and advanced by his riches and at his cost and charges yet there is no lessening of this treasure that 's never the emptier Sumit unus sumunt mille quantum isti tantum illi neque sumptus absumitur One believer draws water of life and a supply of all needful blessings out of this Well of Salvation and a Thousand gracious souls do the like and the One draws as much as the Thousand yet the Well is never drawn dry As the Apostle Paul speaks of his over-abundant grace confesses he was dipt in a sea of mercy One Paul obtained as much grace even so whole and compleat a ransom without diminishing as would have saved a world Grace reigns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is rich and Lord of all 5. Christ is a most precious gift He is more precious than rubies and all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto him Imagine what you will name what you can and 't is unworthy to stand in comparison with Christ who is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon him and happy is every one that retaineth him Prov. 3.15 18. It 's too true there are not a few that set light by Christ and can see no beauty or comliness in him that they should desire him but to them that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 The wise Merchant understood his worth which made him sell all that he had with joy with a very good will so far from sticking and wavering so far from changing his mind that he persists in his resolution with a chearful heart that he might purchase this Pearl of great price Mat. 13.44 The Apostle Paul was at one with himself Yea doubtless I count all things but loss and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dogs-meat that I may win Christ Phil. 3.8 Let burning hanging all torments befall me tantumodo ut Christum nansciscar so I may get Christ saith Ignatius Could we give you a particular view and account but that 's impossible of every excellency and all the high perfections that are in Christ you would find him precious in all the parts of his Mediatorship in his person in his natures in his offices in all his gifts and graces Look on him as Mediator and there he shines forth most gloriously and appears to be the most peerless and precious thing in the world as Prophet he is most precious Enoch Noah Moses Elisha David c. were excellent and precious men in their times but were types of Christ he as far excels them as the substance doth the shadow He is Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of eminency and exellency above all other Prophets they spake to the ear he to the heart they searched out the mind of God he came out of his bosome and saith Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding Prov. 8.14 So as Priest he is most precious this office is the most excellent part of his mediation he could never have opened our eyes as Prophet nor ruled our hearts as King had he not died for us O the death and blood of Christ this Lamb of God! how precious of what infinite value The death of a Man is more precious than of a Beast of a King than of many Men of Christ more than a thousand Kings Thousands of Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl had been nothing to the price Christ paid See in the Hebrews how far Christs Priesthood excels all that went before him He alone is an everlasting Priest offering but once sufficient for all gone to Heaven c. and he is Sacrifice Priest Temple Altar and all in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Never was there on earth a King so precious as Christ though all good Kings are precious he is over all King of kings and Lord of lords his kingdom spiritual over all hearts consciences over all nations ages all sorts and ranks of men from generation to generation he is head and King alone without either Collegue in the largeness of his dominions or Regent in his minority or Vice-roy in his absence How precious is grace one dram of it better than all the treasures in the world Now he is the fountain of it full of grace and truth so Truths Ordinances so Comforts Promises all that belongs unto him very precious 6. Christ is a most pleasant gift Nothing more desirable and amiable than Christ to sinners Excellency is the attractive of desire beauty draws the eye that affects the heart and delight following love makes very delightful Now Christ is altogether lovely Totus ipse in universum delectabilis desiderabilis all throughout from top to toe desirable and delightful the cheif among Ten thousand matchless and incomparable To say nothing of his bodily features though Historians report Christ to be very beautiful as man As God he is the perfection of beauty 't is true beauty is not formally in God yet it is in him eminently and by way of Analogy for if beauty be good and a desirable perfection in the creature it must needs be in the infinite God as the perfection of the effect is in the cause If Roses and Lillies be fair he must be fair that created them but in another kind if the Sun Moon
the good of both worlds and infinitely more He is so needful a good that thou art undone without him that 's the misery of hell yea the very hell of hell He is so plentiful a good that thou art perfectly happy in him thou needest no more he is the Heaven of heavens he is the only suitable satisfying good which suits the nature and fits and fills the desires of the rational creature he can enlarge and suit all thy faculties answer and relieve all thy necessities fill up all the capacities of thy heaven-born soul. He is an everlasting good who will stay with thee and stand by thee when all other good things shall fail thee Wilt thou not now say Lord whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire in comparison of thee I 'm sure he is such a gift as thou wouldest have if thou knew what thou dost as thou shouldst have if thou understood thy self and answeredst the ends of the Gospel as thou must have if thou be not eternally miserable O what dost thou think of having this gift as thine own sure by this time thy heart may melt into astonishment and thy bowels be moved within thee and thy soul cry with the Martyr in the flames None but Christ none but Christ Well what saist thou to him is not Christ worthy to be accepted and embraced Is it not worth the while to have him for thine own Whatever thou thinkest now when death shall close thy eyes thou wilt be of this mind when thy soul stands quivering on thy lips ready to take its flight into the unknown regions of the other world when Devils will be waiting to seize upon it as soon as ever it leaves the body to hale it to the unquenchable flames of Hell when thy friends relations shall be weeping and wailing by thee but unable to afford thy dying body the least cordial or thy departing soul the least comfort Ah what wilt thou do in such an hour which is hasting on thee Without Christ on whom wilt thou call to whom wilt thou flee where wilt thou rest or hide thy self from the wrath of the Lamb of God Believe it though thou maist live without him thou canst not die without him without infinite horrour and confusion Is it not thy greatest concern to have him for thine to whom thou must stand or fall for ever from whose mouth thy sentence of eternal absolution or condemnation must come and who shall judg thee to thine unchangeable state of life or death of salvation or damnation though thou maist think thou canst do well enough without him at this day having what heart can wish in the world yet what wilt thou do at that day when the world shall be on a flame if Christ be not thine Once more let me intreat thee to answer Art thou willing or not to have this gift What say'st thou canst thou find in thine heart to deprive thy precious soul of such an inestimable treasure and to leave it naked in the other world to the cruelty of Devils and the dreadful curses of the Law and intolerable wrath of God 3. Consider on what terms thou maist have this gift for thine thou maist possibly think that so boundless and bottomless a treasure must cost thee very dear and the price must be exceeding great of a pearl so matchless and incomparable much will be expected from me and I shall never be able to compass this gift But know sinner to thy comfort all that God requireth of thee is only to accept Christ heartily and thankfully canst thou desire any thing cheaper wouldest thou desire him to fall lower in his terms Nay is it possible to do so and make thee happy How can he be thine unless thou receive him for thine that is a poor favour a vile gift that is not worth acceptance what more reasonable take him for thine and he shall be thine canst thou both deny him and enjoy him refuse the gift and have it too Our emptiness is the best plea and self-denial our best price thou givest more for thy bread thy clothes thy house and for the needful comforts that are for the support of thy frail body than thou needest to give for this great and glorious Christ thou payest money for them but thou maist have him without money and without price One would think that the equity of the condition should both amaze thee and allure thee God doth not â—ell but give his Son he knows thou hast nothing and he would only have thee to know that too and be humbled under the sense of thy spiritual poverty thou maist lose a gift by offering to buy it Thy money perish with thee c. 'T is said indeed Isa. 55.1 Come buy c. for the word is used here improperly for to get attain receive procure furnish your selves c. So Prov. 3.8 and elsewhere something must indeed be done by those that partake of Christ they must come and accept of him And something parted with but of no valuable consideration in gain to God and what would be prejudicial to us and inconsistent with having this gift But God requires not of thee things impossible he doth not say If thou wilt remove mountains dry up oceans stop the course of nature create worlds and Christ shall be thine as great as good as he is he doth not say If thou satisfie my justice answer the demands of my Law merit my love and favour then shall he be thine No he himself hath done all this for thee all that he desires is that thou wouldest receive him that hath done so Neither doth he require any thing of thee that is barbarous and cruel as the Heathen Deities did of their worshippers he says not if thou wilt lance and mangle thy body as Baal's Priests did or if thou wilt go barefoot in sackcloth long and tedious Pilgrimages as the Papists do If you will offer your Children in the fire and give the fruit of your bodies for the sin of your souls as some did then he is yours Nor doth he require of thee chargeable and costly as to offer the best and chiefest of thy flock in sacrifice to him nor as he once did of the young man to sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor Nor as Idolaters lay down such a part of thy estate for thy pardon But he only requires that thou first thirst and then buy be sensible of thy want and poverty and nothingness and then open an empty hand and take Christ as thy Saviour and Lord and wilt thou not do it Canst thou deny him and thy poor soul so reasonable so equitable a request as the Servant said to Naaman If the prophet had commanded thee some great thing wouldest thou not have done it how much more then when he only saith wash and be clean So say I to thee If God had commanded the greatest things imaginable
not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already and the reason this sentence is past upon such is because they believe not on the only begotten Son of God and the wrath of God abides on them Ioh. 3.36 We are all lost in Adam and if it be the office of Christ to save them that are lost they do worthily abide in death who refuse him and his Salvation 2. This sin of refusing Christ this very sin will e're long bring you actually into the place of condemnation whence there is no return What shall we be damned No far be it from me to pronounce the sentence of condemnation upon the worst of men but this you may be assured of that if you live and die without Christ your portion will be in utter and everlasting darkness 2 Thes. 2.12 That they all might be damned that believed not the truth c. Iesus Christ will be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Thes. 1.7 8 9. and take your lot with them Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their portion in the lake of fire and brimstone the very worst place in Hell Luke 12.48 To say nothing of Temporal Judgments answer me this question Isa. 33.14 Who among you can dwell with everlasting burnings The time will come when you shall remember what the Minister said O how fain would he have had me to escape these torments how earnestly did he entreat me With what love and tender compassion did he beseech me how did his bowels earn over me yet I did but make a jest of it and hardened my heart against all how glad would he have been after all his studies prayers and pains if he could have perswaded me cordially to accept Christ he would have thought himself well recompenced for all his labours he would have laid his hands under my feet and have fallen down on his knees to beg of me obedience to his message and all the entreaties of Ministers are the entreatings of God O how long did he wait how freely did he offer how lovingly did he invite how importunately did he solicite how long did Christ stand knocking at my door crying open to me sinner why sinner are thy lusts and pleasures better than me is earth better than heaven why then dost thou delay or deny wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be O that thou wouldest hearken to my voice and obey my Gospel O that they were wise As one that is loath to take a denial would not be repulsed O how would he have gathered thee and thou wouldest not shall the God of heaven and earth follow thee in vain from one place to another Turn ye turn ye why will ye die I would not have you perish If you go on with your refusal of Christ you may expect that the hellish gnawing of conscience for this one sin will hold scales with all the united horrour of all the rest you will then cry out O fools and ideots that we were when we refused so excellent a gift so blessed a Saviour we could then see no beauty in him nor comeliness wherefore we should desire him but now how fair and glorious is he whom we see upon the white Throne how desirable is his Sacred Majesty O how amiable is his countenance how doth he shine with incomparable splendor above the brightness of ten thousand Suns What wrong have we done our own souls that we have deprived of so beautiful and delightful an object as this most sweet and glorious Saviour If now we had time and leave to make our choice we would prefer the enjoyment of him whom we once contemned before ten thousand worlds But alas we cannot the term of mercy is expired and the time of justice wrath and vengeance so much spoken of by our faithful Pastors is now come and now we must be judged to the easeless endless and â—emediless torments of the infernal pit And all our pleasures and delights are gone O that we had never been born O that we had been so happy as our horses or swine which die but once and fell no more pain for ever whereas we must be ever dying and never free from pain and misery Wo wo wo unto us that ever we were born to see this day and to die this death and to live this life which will be a never dying death We that accounted such an one a precise fool for his care to receive and improve this gift of God shall groan out this sad complaint in the anguish of our spirits This was he whom we had sometimes in derision and a Proverb of reproach we fools counted his life madness and his end to be without honour now he is numbred among the Children of God and his lot is among the Saints Therefore we have erred from the way of truth and the light of righteousness hath not shined upon us and as for the way of the Lord we have not known it What hath pride profited us or what good have riches with our vanity brought us all these things are passed by as a shadow and as a Post that hasts away O with what infinite horrour and restless anguish will this conceit rent the heart in pieces and gnaw up the conscience when he considers in hell that he hath lost heaven for a lust and Christ for a meer shadow whereas he might at every Sermon had even the Son of God his own for the very taking and with him for ever unspeakable joy and glory yet then neglecting so great Salvation must now be crying out therefore against himself as the most raging Bedlam that ever breath'd lye down in unquenchable flames without remedy ease or end Whereas all those that now accept of Christ shall while they live when they die and for ever cry out with the Apostle 2 Cor. 9.15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift 2. Second Branch of Instruction and Exhortation Such as have received this gift of God must make it their care and business to retain and keep him Buy the truth but sell it not Prov. 23.23 Remember how thou hast received and hold fast Rev. 3.3 This was the exemplary wisdom and care of the Church Cant. 3.4 I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mothers house and into the chamber of her that conceived me She came by him hardly and therefore she will not part with him lightly it cost her dear to find him she sought him up and down with tears and pains and returns with many a non inventus yet at last got him with much hazard and danger much loss and suffering and therefore having found him whom her soul loved she would by no means part with him nor leave him for the greatest advantages in the world she knew well that nothing under heaven could countervail the loss of him nothing in this wide universe though never so lovely and desirable could be equivalent to
enemies Col. 1.21 Those that are afar of are made nigh by the blood of Christ he hath broken down the partition-wall and slain the enmity Ephes. 2 16 17 18. If thou hast some dear friend who bestows a gift on thee in token of his dear love and respect to thee and there should be afterwards some disagreeing and falling out betwixt you wouldst thou shew this gift a pledg of league and amity c. thus hold up Christ to God 3. Or though it be not thus yet thou wantest the sense and feeling of his love and art comfortless in the want of it O then make use of Christ in this case who is able to make all Consolations abound and fill thy soul with joy and peace in believing He hath said Ioh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless Tristatur aliquis nostrum veniat in cor Iesus Is any man sad saith Bernard let that sweetest name Jesus come into his heart and so he shall have that peace and comfort that the world cannot give neither can the world take it away from him Christ is a most soveraign Cordial apply and use him and your joy will be full 4. Or art thou terrified in Conscience and groaning under the insupportable burden of a wounded spirit art thou affrighted with accusing and condemning thoughts O go to Christ who as he can make peace in the Court of Heaven so he can create peace in thy heart and still the crys of Conscience and make a calm there also though the waves roar and the winds blow c. thy soul shall have peace in him which passeth all understanding Col. 1.20 And will say in me ye shall have peace be of good cheer let not your hearts be troubled though your hearts ake and tremble yet he is greater thaâ— your hearts who is nigh to justifie you Isa. â—â— 8 so that you may triumph with the Apostle Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died Rom. 8.34 Expect no peace in laying aside Christ. 5. Are you afraid of death and judgment to come in this case also make use of Christ. It 's reported by Cassander that in ancient times sick and weak dying persons were directed and accustomed to make use of Christ at that time especially interposing him betwixt them and Gods Judgment saying these words Lord we put thee the death of our Lord Iesus Christ betwixt us and thy judgment But what need we look into Historians the Scriptures shew what languishing souls and drooping spirits must do Psal. 23.4 5. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death yet I will fear no evil c. Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.4 taken out the venome and malignity of it Death lost its sting in Christs side And now O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 57. Or fearest thou judgment look to Christ and thou shalt not die the second death but he will raise thee up at the last day Ioh 6.49 50. Having Christ thou maist stand in judgment and lift up thy head with joy for 't is the day of thy Redemption then the redeemed of the Lord shall return with joy everlasting and you shall appear with him in glory 4. Fourth Branch of Exhortation Be â—ery thankful for him yea let your whole soul go out in thankfulness be ever praising and magnifying God for his unspeakable mercy in Christ your Sacrifice your Redeemer your Saviour often call upon your sluggish hearts and say Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Psal. 103.1 and 116.12 What shall I render to the Lord for this the greatest of all his benefits O be thankful not in a common ordinary formal manner but in the most lively enlarged and raised manner that is possible where the mercy is high and great the thankfulness must bear some proportion to it O let your apprehensions be widened to conceive the vastness of this mercy that your affections may be more enlarged to praise God for it O how shall we get our hearts affected with it what thankfulness can be enough for such a gift should not the whole soul be summon'd in to give its most united acknowledgment of so signal a mercy for God to give his only begotten Son to be a Saviour for sinners Here 's the wonder of wonders God never did the like before and he 'l never do the like again and blessed be his name there is no need he should It would have been admirable mercy if God would have sent some other person upon this Errand to redeem and save undone sinners If send he will why did he not send an Angel or body of Angels to try their skill and see what they could do Nay why did he not send an Angel as once he did with a flaming sword in his hand to keep off sinners from the Tree of Life O this did not comport with his gracious designs though it did too well with the creatures merit therefore he would not do it no his own Son shall be pitcht upon he is the person whom God will send Surely here was love great love great to the degree of infiniteness Millions of Angels were nothing to one Son to one such Son his first-born his only begotten Son the Son of his love who lay in his bosom had been his delight from everlasting O astonishing mercy O admirable goodness and condescention how may we cry out here Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him and the Son of man that thou makest this account of him Psal. 8.4 and 144.3 or as Iob 7.17 What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him Here was God so loving so as can never be expressed never be comprehended Ioh 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him might not perish but have everlasting life The Heavens and the Earth were once called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the ingratitude of a sinful people Isa. 1.2 May not now Heaven and Earth Angels and men all creatures whatsoever be called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the stupendious love of God! O Christians what influence hath this upon your dull and sluggish hearts what are you made of that you are no more in the sense of it drawn out in blessing loving admiring and adoring of God Pray if there be any holy ingenuity in you take some pains with your selves that you may be much more affected with it and give not over till you have such thoughts and affections upon Gods giving his Son raised in you as may in some measure answer to those thoughts and affections which you shall have about it when you shall be in Heaven The Angels never reaped that advantage that we do yet they were at praising-work as soon as ever Christ was born
right which he saith not to avoid death but to shew that he was unjustly accused 4. He is an eternal Lord Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever Isa 9.7 Luke 1.33 He is the King immortal 1 Tim. 1.17 Death the King of terrors and terror of Kings is subdued by this Lord not only so as never to touch him but also never to hurt any of his Servants Other Rulers though they be called gods and lords yet shall dye like men earthly Monarchs either by some Poison or Treason are brought to untimely deaths at least some disease or other will lay their glory in the dust but Jesus Christ is yesterday today and the same for ever 5. He is a mighty Lord most able to do what is good for his Servant and to subdue all persons and things to himself Psal. 3.21 He can kill the Soul and throw both the Body and Soul into Hell he can subdue the hearts of men even of the deadliest enemies unto his love and obedience he can protect and shelter his Servants from all evil and bestow all good things on them for the world is his and the fulness thereof He hath under his command the forces of all creatures in Heaven and Earth which he rules as he pleases to his own purpose he can at ease frustrate the harmful intentions and noisom qualities of the worst of them he can turn their malice into mercy their hatred into love yea can bring forth glory to himself and profit to his Servants not only against but even out of their mischievous designments as in Daniel and the three Children c. 6. He is a most just Lord his is a Scepter of righteousness Heb. 1.8 his right hand is full of righteousness The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal. 145.17 In him is exact and perfect integrity and equity of all his counsels words and actions and there is no unrighteousness in him His will is the rule and standard of justice and whatever he commands is most equal and right because he wills and commands it 7. He is a most glorious Lord and Master The glory of Kings and Emperours is but a borrowed ray or spark from his Majesty the glory of all the Caesars c. is but a black coal in comparison of his splendor and when he shall appear in his glory the glow-worms of worldly splendor and majesty shall disappear and be extinguished the poorest Servant he hath shall then appear with him in such glory that the combined-excellency of Kings shall not be so much as a shadow to it 8. He is a most gracious Lord he puts them upon none but safe honourable and comfortable employments He puts no more upon them than they can go through and lays no more upon them than they are able to bear he knows their mould and frame remembers they are but dust he is Jesus as well as Lord a Shepherd as well as a Master he joins his glory and their happiness together he never requireth brick from his people without giving them straw he will either multiply grace or diminish the temptation his Grace is always sufficient for them 9. He is a wise judicious Master A man that serves a fickle and unconstant Master who often changes his mind has a hard task and endless labour but a prudent man who orders his affairs with discretion and deliberation his commands are but once obeyed his work is soon done what he doth now anon he must undo and so Sysiphus like he is ever doing and hath never done he never knows an end of his work But the Servant of Christ is at a good certainty and knows before-hand what his work must be and what his wages as his Master himself is so his Commandments are immutable and invariable without so much as a shadow of change Iam. 1.17 That was a needless cavil and meer peevishness and selfishness in Ionah Ionah 4.2 10. He is a most knowing and discerning Lord. He observes the ways and works of his Servants so narrowly that the closest and subtillest among them cannot deceive him he spies them in every corner nay every corner of their hearts in them all things are open and naked before him though now in some sort he be absent yet he needs no informer he knows what every Servant doth in his absence and will manifest every ones work to all the world his eyes are as a flame of fire clearer than ten thousand suns he takes notice of all their services and hearts Rev. 2.19 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first 11. He is a pitiful and merciful Lord and Master He hath an eye as pitying as it is piercing he doth no less observe the wants and troubles than the ways and works of his Servants he is a Father as well as a Master and As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal. 103.13 14 And spareth them as a father his son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 hath more tender bowels than a mother Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking-child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Christ is not as the slothful man thought a cruel and hard Master Matt. 25.24 that looks for much work and gives little encouragement but is moved with compassion towards his Servants Matt. 18.27 he will not have his Servants complain that they serve an hard Master 12. He is a meek and lowly Master condescending to serve his Servants here and hereafter 1. Hereâ— Matt. 20.28 He came not to be ministred unto but to minister Luke 22.27 Whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth He stoopt so low as to wash his Disciples feet 2. Hereafter Luke 12.37 Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you That he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Study but yet expect not to understand either the comfort or condescention of this promise made to the faithful Servants of Christ He shall gird himself c. Lord saith one did I not think that the cheer and the attendance were both one I should say the attendance were infinitely better than the meat Think what it is for Christ himself to serve at the Table what is it but infinite delight for the guests to have him set himself to solace them who is infinite as in sweetness so in knowledg to make his sweetness please them Nor will the dignity of these
come unto me Hear and your soul shall live why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Alas ye feed on husks and chaff till you return to Christ. Isa 55.2 3 4 7. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools delight in folly turn ye at my reproof Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding O that you were wise and would understand these things and consider your latter end O that there were such hearts in you c. O that ye knew the things that belong unto your peace in this your day before they be hid from your eyes O when shall it once be what is your resolution shall Jesus Christ be your Lord and Master or shall he not Take heed how you refuse him that speaks from heaven do not as you want Christ despise this loving invitation and make light of this gracious offer lest his wrath be kindled in his breast and you perish He that hath so long held forth his Scepter of Grace yet stands waiting for your return yet stretcheth forth his arms to embrace you yet opens his very heart to entertain you Hark he bids you come and lodg your souls in his warm bosom yet he calls by his Word yet he strives by his Spirit and follows you with checks of conscience and renews his mercies on you every morning would fain draw you with cords of love if it would be But it will not be always thus his patience will not always wait his Spirit shall not always strive with man the door of mercy shall not always stand open When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us then 't is too late Luk. 13.25 O come to Christ now or never do it this day or you may never be invited again Hear now Christ bespeaks and wooes thee sinner Cast down thy weapons of rebellion surrender thy soul to me give me thy heart submit to my government I vvill pass by all thy former resistance and put up all the wrongs thou hast done me I will remember thy iniquities no more but pass an act of everlasting oblivion upon them O look unto me and be ye saved This is my business with you my beloved at this time this is mine errand to your Souls What answer shall I return from you to him that sent me The great work you know of us Ministers is to perswade men to become Christs covenanting Servants to consent to his Laws and acknowledg his Lordship our way to win your hearts is to tell you what he is some little hath been spoken but not the thousand part of the excellencies of this incomparable Lord O he is the chiefest of ten thousâ—nd his name is wonderful he is God and Man in one person he is Man that you may not be afraid of him God that he may be able to do you good He is the Lord of lords and King of kings Heir of all things Saviour of the world c. 'T is infinite condescention of love in him to treat with you or intreat your consenâ— that he may be your Lord. This being a matter of greatest importance and knowing the terror of the Lord let me perswade you for that end I intreat you to press upon your selves and improve in your retirements these considerations as motives 1. Motive Yeild up your selves to the service of the Lord Christ or you are unjust you do him open wrong Equity and justice requires that you render to all their due jus cuique tribuere is the first and most proper act of justice Tribute to whom tribute fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 It is a common principle among you which nature teacheth that you deal righteously with men owe no man any thing do no man wrong let every one have that which of right appertaineth to him And if we may not deny unto Caesar the things that are Caesars it is but right we should also give unto God the things that are Gods by so many just titles Why now you cannot without apparent wrong to Christ deny him your selves you are his and owe your selves unto him and all you have and all that you can do you are not your own but his I lay claim unto you in the name of Christ and challenge your souls and bodies to his use Dare you deny the claim or will any step out and question this title The Lord Jesus hath laid challenges to you It has been a custom in England on the Coronation day as multitudes of people were feasting in Westminster-Hall a Herald comes forth and Champion for the King and proclaimed his title to the Crown and if any questioned his title he was there ready to make it good I do now proclaim to you that Christ is your Lord and you are his Servants and challenges your service if any question his Title I will justifie it and make it good let the case come to tryal on condition that whoever is convinced shall yield subjection Let me ask you then Did not he make you and not ye your selves Psal. 95.6 and does not he preserve and sustain you and ye are the Sheep of his pasture Vers. 7 Did not Christ purchase you with his own blood 1 Pet. 1.18 Were you not the dearest purchase and was not the greatest price paid for you that ever the world heard of Well what say you to this Title Doth not justice give every one his own and are not you Christs If there be any creature in Heaven or Earth that can lay a better claim or pretend a juster Title to you than Christ then let it have your hearts and service but if the Lord Jesus have the full and sole right to you then do not so much wrong him and your own souls as to deny or withstand this just and reasonable motion 2. Give up your selves to this Lord or you are unthankful gratitude as well as justice requires this at your hands Nothing is more abhorrent to an ingenuous spirit than the brand of ingratitude to be so base and unworthy as to render evil for good ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris call a man unthankful and you call him all that 's naught abhor it as death to be guilty or have the name of ingratitude Well now suppose a man had by some capital crime incurred the danger of the Law and the sentence of death were past upon himâ— should another step in and humble himself to beg the pardon or begger himself to buy the freedom for him Must not that man be wholly his who hath ransomed him from the Gallows This is our case Sin was our work and Death was our wages
we had sinned and must dye for it there was no escape from destruction but the Lord Jesus would not suffer us to perish but debased himself came down from Heaven gave himself for us and suffered in our stead that we might live and made himself a Servant for us though no way bound to us Now judg with your selves I appeal to your own Consciences whether this incomparable favour do not lay an unavoidable obligation upon us to devote our selves wholly to him 2 Cor. 5.14 15. If after Christ hath stoopt so low as to become man and was made under the Law and being in the likeness of sinful flesh bore our infirmities and sorrows lay under the frowns oâ— his Father and submitted himself to the pain shame sting and curse of the death of the Cross if after all this we should neglect his Salvation reject his Soveraignty Would not the Heavens blush at this unheard of ingratitude and the very bruits rise up in judgment against us and condemn us The Ox knows his owner and the Ass his Masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Isa. 13. Jer. 8.7 8. 3. Resign your selves to this blessed Lord for he deserves you he is worthy of you if you were Ten thousand times better than you are you can never submit your selves to a better Lord nor serve a better Master There is nothing in him that can justly discourage you nor reasonably deter you from his service fear not evil from the greatest good unless it be in a way of disobedience and rebellion He is not a proud rigid imperious or cruel Master he will not deal with you as the treacherous Master the World which fills your souls with nothing but husks and swill and rewards all your painful services with nothing but disappointment and misery at the best presents you with a breast full of wind and vanity and at the last with wo and vexation and leaves you helpless in your greatest necessities Nor is he cruel and tyrannical as Satan who fills his Servants with terror here and hereafter rewards them with fire and brimstone Nor like the flesh and sin whose work is bad and its wages no better for the servant of sin besides that he hath no fruit nor comfort of his service in the mean time when he comes to receive his wages at the end of his term findeth nothing but shame or death shame if he leave his service if he leâ—ve it not death Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death 'T is horrible intollerable slavery to serve Sin Satan and the World but when you give up your selves to the service of Christ you shall live to the sollidest contentment and real joy and honour you cannot possibly yield your selves to a more excellent and delightful service His yoke is easie and his burthen light his ways are ways of pleasantness and all his paths are peace Prov. 3.17 His service is freedom and his work wages to be Christs devoted servant is not only better than liberty but more to be desired than soveraignty No other Lord ever bought his Servants so dear or fed them so plentifully or clad them so sumptuously or used them so gently or rewarded them so bountifully He will protect and prosper them yea takes pleasure in their prosperity he will bless them with spiritual blessings which are the best blessings and lead them by his own counsel yea carry them in his bosome and afterward receive them to glory 4. Surrender your selves to this great Lord for he desires you yea that you would be his as he hath been yours is all he desires you cannot bestow a better gift upon him than your selves others may give him their goods their estates c. but he that gives Christ himself can give no more no better He desires you not that he hath any need of you or to make advantage of you but that he may restore you better to your selves than he receives you He will put his grace into your hearts repair his image in your minds and make you wise unto salvation Seneca tells us That among other Scholars that gave rich gifts to their Master Socrates Eschines gave himself having nothing else to give His Master answered Upon this condition I take thee that I may restore thee better than I receive thee On the same and no worse terms yea much better Christ accepts of those that tender their service unâ—o him he that gives not himself to the Lord whatever else he gives in his esteem is just nothing nothing in esse gratiae in point of truâ—h worth and grace First you must give your selves to the Lord and then your goods to his poor if you would find acceptance 2 Cor. 8 5 or as the King of Sodom said to Abraham Give me the persons the souls and take the goods to thy self 5. Take Christ for your Lord and own your selves for his Servants for so you are whether you will or not your consent and resignation is necessary to your good to ease you of your cares and secure you from present eternal misery not for his title and right which is absolute and unquestionable and he will have you either by love or by force He requires in the Covenant of Grace that he have his right by your consent and not by constraint that you thankfully accept the motion and with hearty and full consent of will resign your selves to him as his own even as his creatures and his ransomed ones by a Covenant never to be violated But if you will not understand and acknowledg this plenary dominion he hath over you he will not lose his right nor lay down his claim to you It 's the greatest folly to rebel against this Lord to whom at last you must be forced to submit Who would not chuse him to be their Lord when whether they will or no he will be their Lord Who would not desire to be ruled and guided by his Testimonies rather than to be suppressed and destroyed by his Providence We must all either bow the knee or he will break the back if we will not bear his yoke we must become his footstool Were it not better to take hold of his strength by Faith than his strength should take hold of us in displeasure and wrath and to feel the efficacy of his grace than the power of his anger The proudest Rebel shall at last cry Lord Lord but it will be too late At length Christ will be too hard for all that rise up against him and will not that he should reign over them he that will not come to him as a friend shall be slain by him as an enemy Luke 19.27 every one Sub pedibus ejus erit aut ad obtatus aut victus all must one way or other be subject to him either as sâ—rvants or slaves either under his grace or under