Flavel, Fountain of Life, File 16.
( ...continued from File 15)
Sermon 16. Of the Kingly Office of Christ, as it is executed
spiritually upon the Souls of the Redeemed.
2 Cor. 10: 5.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ.
We now come to the Regal office, by which our glorious Mediator
executes and dischargeth the undertaken design of our redemption.
Had he not, as our Prophet, opened the way of life and salvation to
the children of men, they could never have known it; and if they had
clearly known it, except, as their Priest, he had offered up
himself, to impetrate and obtain redemption for them, they could not
have been redeemed virtually by his blood; and if they had been so
redeemed, yet had he not lived in the capacity of a King, to apply
this purchase of his blood to them, they would have had no actual,
personal benefit by his death; for what he revealed as a Prophet, he
purchased as a Priest; and what he so revealed and purchased as a
Prophet and Priest, he applies as a King: first subduing the souls
of his elect to his spiritual government; then ruling them as his
subjects, and ordering all things in the kingdom of Providence for
their good. So that Christ has a twofold kingdom, the one spiritual
and internal, by which he subdues and rules the hearts of his
people; the other providential and external, whereby he guides,
rules, and orders all things in the world, in a blessed
subordination to their eternal salvation. I am to speak from this
text of his spiritual and internal kingdom.
These words are considered two ways, either relatively or
absolutely. Considered relatively, they are a vindication of the
apostle from the unjust censures of the Corinthians, who very
unworthily, interpreted his gentleness, condescension, and winning
affability, to be no better than a fawning upon them for self-ends;
and the authority he exercised, no better than pride and
imperiousness. But hereby he lets them know, that as Christ needs
not, so he never used such carnal artifices: The weapons of our
warfare (saith he) are not carnal, but mighty, through God, &c.
Absolutely considered, they hold forth the efficacy of the
gospel, in the plainness and simplicity of it, for the subduing of
rebellious sinners to Christ: and in them we have these three things
to consider,
1. The oppositions made by sinners against the assaults of the
gospel, viz. imaginations, or reasonings, as the word "logismous"
may be fitly rendered. He means the subtleties, slights, excuses,
subterfuges, and arguing of fleshly-minded men; in which they
fortify and entrench themselves against the convictions of the word:
yea, and there are not only such carnal seasonings, but many proud,
high conceits with which poor creatures swell, and scorn to submit
to the abasing, humble, self denying way of the gospel. These are
the fortifications erected against Christ by the carnal mind.
2. We have here the conquest which the gospel obtains over
sinners, thus fortified against it; it casts down and overthrows,
and takes in these strong holds. Thus Christ spoils Satan of his
armour in which he trusted, by shewing the sinner that all this can
be no defence to his soul against the wrath of God. But that is not
all: in the next place,
3. You have here the improvement of the victory. Christ does
not only lead away these enemies spoiled, but brings them into
obedience to himself, i.e. makes them, after conversion, subjects of
his own kingdom, obedient, useful, and serviceable to himself; and
so is more than a conqueror. They do not only lay down their arms,
and fight no more against Christ with them; but repair to his camp,
and fight for Christ, with those reasons of theirs that were before
employed against him: as it is said of Jerome, Origin, and
Tertullian, that they came into Canaan, laden with Egyptian gold;
i.e. they came into the church full of excellent learning and
abilities, with which they eminently served Jesus Christ. "O blessed
victory, where the conqueror, and conquered, both triumph together!"
And thus enemies and rebels are subdued, and made subjects of the
spiritual kingdom of Christ. Hence the doctrinal note is,
Doct. That Jesus Christ exercises a Kingly power over the souls
of all whom the gospel subdues to his obedience.
No sooner were the Colossians delivered out of the power of
darkness, but they were immediately translated into the kingdom of
Christ, the dear Son, Col. 1: 13.
This kingdom of Christ, which is our present subject, is the
internal spiritual kingdom, which is said to be within the saints,
Luke 17: 20, 21. "The kingdom of God is within you." Christ sits as
an enthroned king in the hearts, consciences, and affections of his
willing people, Psal. 110: 3. And his kingdom consists in
"righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Rom. 14: 17. and
it is properly monarchical, as appears in the margin.
In the prosecution of this point, I will speak doctrinally to
these three heads.
First, How Christ obtains the throne in the hearts of men.
Secondly, How he rules in it, and by what acts he exercises his
kingly authority.
Thirdly, What are the privileges of those souls over whom
Christ reigns. And then apply it.
First, We will open the war and manner in which Christ obtains
a throne in the hearts of men, and that is by conquest: for though
the souls of the elect are his by donation, and right of redemption;
the Father gave them to him, and he died for them; yet Satan has the
first possession: and so it fares with Christ, as it did with
Abraham, to whom God gave the land of Canaan by promise and
covenant, but the Canaanites, Perizites, and sons of Anak, had the
actual possession of it, and Abraham's posterity must fight for it,
and win it by inches, before they enjoy it. The house is conveyed to
Christ by him that built it, but the strong man armed keeps the
possession of it, till a stronger than he comes and ejects him, Luke
11: 20, 21, 22. Christ must fight his way into the soul, though he
have a right to enter, as into his dearly purchased possession. And
so he does; for when the time of recovering them is come, he sends
forth his armies to subdue them; as it is Psal. 110: 3. "Thy people
shall be willing in the day of thy power." The Hebrew may as fitly
be rendered, and so is by some, "in the day of thine armies;" when
the Lord Jesus sent forth his armies of prophets, apostles,
evangelists, pastors, teachers, under the conduct of his Spirit,
armed with that two edged sword, the word of God, which is sharp and
powerful, Heb. 4: 12. But that is not all: he causes armies of
convictions, and spiritual troubles, to begird and straiten them on
every side, so that they know not what to do. These convictions,
like a shower of arrows, strike, point blank, into their
consciences; Acts 2: 37. "When they heard this, they were pricked to
the heart, and said, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Christ's
arrows are sharp in the hearts of his enemies, whereby the people
fall under him, Psal. 45: 5, 6. By these convictions he batters down
all their loose vain hopes, and levels them with the earth.
Now all their weak pleas and defences, from the general mercy
of God, the example of others, &c. prove but as paper walls to them.
These shake their hearts, even to the very foundation, and overturn
every high thought there, that exalts itself against the Lord. This
day, in which Christ sits down before the soul, and summons it by
such messengers as these, is a day of distress within: yea, such a
day of trouble, that none is like it. But though it be so, yet Satan
has so deeply entrenched himself in the mind and will, that the soul
yields not at the first summons, till its provisions within are
spent, and all its towers of pride, and walls of vain confidence, be
undermined by the gospel, and shaken down about its ears: and then
the soul desires a parley with Christ. O now it would be glad of
terms, any terms, if it may but save its life: let all go as a prey
to the conqueror. Now it sends many such messengers as these to
Christ, who is come now to the very gates of the soul; mercy, Lord,
mercy, O were I but assured thou wouldest receive, spare, and pardon
me, I would open to thee the next moment! Thus the soul is shut up
to the faith of a Christ, as it is, Gal. 3: 23. and reduced now to
the greatest strait and loss imaginable; and now the merciful King,
whose only design is to conquer the heart, hangs forth the white
flag of mercy before the soul, giving it hopes it shall be spared,
pitied, and pardoned, though so long in rebellion against him, if
yet it will yield itself to Christ. Many staggering, hesitations,
irresolutions, doubts, fears, scruples, half-resolves, reasonings
for and against, there are at the council table of man's own heart,
at this time. Sometimes there is no hope; Christ will slay me, if I
go forth to him, and then it trembles. But then, who ever found him
so that tried him? Other souls have yielded, and found mercy beyond
all their expectations. O but I have been a desperate enemy against
him. Admit it, yet thou hast the word of a King for it; "Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and
let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon him", Isa. 55: 7.
But the time of mercy is past, I have stood out too long: yet
if it were so, how is it that Christ has not made short sock, and
cut me off? set fire, hell fire to my soul, and withdrawn the siege?
Still he waiteth that he may be gracious, and is exalted that he may
have compassion. A thousand such debates there are, till, at last,
the soul considering, if it abide in rebellion, it must needs
perish; if it go forth to Christ, it can but perish: and being
somewhat encouraged by the messages of grace sent into the soul, at
this time, such as in Heb. 8: 25. "Wherefore he is able to save to
the uttermost, all that come unto God by him;" and, John 6: 37. "He
that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out;" and in Matt. 11: 28.
"Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden and I will
give you rest." It is, at last, resolved to open to Christ; and
saith, "Stand open ye everlasting gates, and be ye opened ye
everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in." Now, the
will spontaneously opens to Christ: that royal fort submits and
yields; all the affections open to him. The will brings Christ the
keys of all the rooms in the soul. Concerning the triumphant
entrance of Christ into the soul, we may say, as the Psalmist
rhetorically speaks concerning the triumphant entrance of Israel
into Canaan, Psal. 114: 5, 6. "The mountains skipped like rams, and
the little hills like lambs; what aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou
fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" So here, in a
like rhetorical triumph, we may say, the mountains and hills skipped
like rams, and the fixed and obstinate will, starts from its own
basis and centre; the rocky heart rends in twain. A poor soul comes
into the word, full of ignorance, pride, self-love, desperate
hardness, and fixed resolutions to go on in its way: and, by an
hour's discourse, the tide turns, Jordan is driven back. What aileth
thee, thou stout will, that thou surrenderest to Christ! thou hard
heart, that thou relents, and the waters gush out? And thus the soul
is won to Christ; he writes down his terms, and the soul willingly
subscribes them. Thus it comes in to Christ by free and hearty
submission, desiring nothing more than to come under the government
of Christ, for the time to come.
Secondly, Let us see how Christ rules in the souls of such as
submit to him. And there are six things in which he exerts his
kingly authority over them.
1. He imposes a new law upon them, and enjoins them to be
severe and punctual in their obedience to it. The soul was a
Belialite before, and could endure no restraint; its lusts gave it
laws. "We ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, serving
diverse lusts and pleasures," Tit. 3: 3. Whatever the flesh craved,
and the sensual appetite whined after, it must have, cost what it
would; if damnation were the price of it, it would have it, provided
it should not be present pay. Now, it must not be any longer "anomos
Theoi, all' ennomos toi Christoi", without law to God; but under law
to Christ. Those are the articles of peace which the seal willingly
subscribes in the day of its admission to mercy, Mat. 11: 29. "Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me." This "Law of the spirit of life
which is in Christ Jesus makes them free from the law of sin and
death," Rom. 8: 2. Here is much strictness, but no bondage; for the
law is not only written in Christ's statute-book, the bible, but
copied out by his spirit upon the hearts of his subjects, in
correspondent principles; which makes obedience a pleasure, and
self-denial easy. Christ's yoke is lined with love, so that it never
galls the necks of his people: 1 John 5: 3. "His commandments are
not grievous." The soul that comes under Christ's government, must
receive law from Christ; and under law every thought of the heart
must come.
2. He rebukes and chastises souls for the violations and
transgressions of his law. That is another act of Christ's regal
authority: "whom he loves he rebukes and chastens," Heb. 12: 6, 7.
These chastisements of Christ are either by the rod of providence
upon their bodies, and outward comforts, or upon their spirits and
inward comforts. Sometimes his rebukes are smart upon the outward
man, 1 Cor. 11: 30. "for this cause, many among you are weakly and
sick, and many sleep." They had not that due regard to his body that
became them, and he will make their bodies to smart for it. And he
had rather their flesh should smart, than their souls should perish.
Sometimes he spares their outward, and afflicts their inner man,
which is a much smarter rod. He withdraws peace, and takes away joy
from the spirits of his people. The hidings of his face are sore
rebukes. however, all is for emendation, not for destruction. And it
is not the least privilege of Christ's subjects to have a seasonable
and sanctified rod to reduce them from the ways of sin: Psal. 23: 3.
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Others are suffered to go
on stubbornly in the way of their own hearts; Christ will not spend
a rod upon them for their good, will not call them to account for
any of their transgressions, but will reckon with them for all
together in hell.
3. Another regal act of Christ, is the restraining and keeping
back his servants from iniquity, and withholding them from those
courses which their own hearts would incline, and lead them to; for,
even in them, there is a spirit bent to backsliding, but the Lord in
tenderness over them, keeps back their souls from iniquity, and that
when they are upon the very brink of sin: "My feet were almost gone,
my steps were well nigh slipt," Psal. 73: 2. Then does the Lord
prevent sin, by removing the occasion providentially, or by helping
them to resist the temptation, graciously assisting their spirits in
the trial, so that no temptation shall befall them, but a way of
escape shall be opened, that they may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10:
13. And thus his people have frequent occasions to bless his name
for his preventing goodness, when they are almost in the midst of
all evil. And this I take to be the meaning of Gal. 5: 16. "This, I
say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of
the flesh;" tempted by them, you may be, but fulfil them ye shall
not; my spirit shall cause the temptation to die, and wither away in
the womb, in the embryo of it, so that it shall not come to a full
birth.
4. He protects them in his ways, and suffers them not to
relapse from him into a state of sin, and bondage to Satan and more.
Indeed, Satan is restless in his endeavours to reduce them again to
his obedience; he never leaves tempting and soliciting for their
return; and where he finds a false professor he prevails; but Christ
keeps his, that they depart not again. John 17: 12. "All that thou
hast given me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of
perdition." They are "kept by the mighty power of God, through faith
unto salvation," 1 Pet. 1: 5. Kept, as in a garrison, according to
the importance of that word. None more solicited, none more safe
than the people of God. They are "preserved in Christ Jesus," Jude
1. It is not their own grace that secures them, but Christ's care,
and continual watchfulness. "Our own graces left to themselves would
quickly prove but weights, sinking us to our own ruin," as one
speaks. This is his covenant with them, Jer. 32: 4. "I will put my
fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." Thus, as
a king he preserves them.
5. As a king he Regards their obedience, and encourages their
sincere service. Though all they do for Christ be duty, yet he has
united their comfort with their duty; "this I had, because I kept
thy precepts," Psal. 119: 56. They are engaged to take this
encouragement with them to every duty, that he whom they seek "is a
bountiful rewarder of inch as diligently seek him", Heb. 11: 6. O
what a good master do the saints serve! Hear how a king expostulates
with his subjects, Jer. 2: 31. "Have I been a barren wilderness, or
a land of darkness to you?" q. d. Have I been such a hard master to
you? Have you any reason to complain of my service? To whomsoever I
have been strait-handed, surely I have not been so to you. You have
not found the ways or wages of sin like mine.
6. He pacifies all inward troubles, and commands peace when
their spirits are tumultuous. This "peace of God rules in their
hearts" Col. 3: 15. it does "brabeuein" act the part of an umpire,
in appeasing strife within. When the tumultuous affections are up,
and in a hurry; when anger, hatred, and revenge begin to rise in the
soul, this hushes and stills all. "I will hearken (saith the church)
what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people,
and to his saints," Psal. 75: 8. He that saith to the raging sea, be
still, and it obeys him; he can only pacify the disquieted spirit.
They say of frogs, that if they be croaking never so much in the
night, bring but a light among them, and they are all quiet: such a
light is the peace of God among our disordered affections. These are
Christ's regal acts. And he puts them forth upon the souls of his
people, powerfully, sweetly, suitably.
(1.) Powerfully: whether he restrains from sin, or impels to
duty, he does it with a soul determining efficacy: for "his kingdom
is not in word, but in power," 1 Cor. 4: 20. And those whom his
Spirit leads, go bound in the spirit, to the fulfilling and
discharge of their duties, Acts 20:22. And yet,
(2.) He rules not by compulsion, but most sweetly. His law is a
law of love, written upon their hearts. The church is the Lamb's
wife, Rev. 19: 7. "a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking
flax he shall not quench," Isa. 42: 2, 3. "I beseech you by the
meekness and gentleness of Christ," saith the apostle, 2 Cor. 10: 1.
For he delighteth in free, not in forced obedience. He rules
Children, not slaves; and so his kingly power is mixed with fatherly
love. His yoke is not made of iron, but gold.
(3.) He rules them suitably to their natures in a rational way;
Hos. 11: 4. "I drew them with the cords of man, with bands of love;"
i.e. in a way proper to convince their reason, and work upon their
ingenuity. And thus his eternal kingdom is administered by his
Spirit, who is his prorex, or vicegerent in our hearts.
Thirdly, and lastly, we will open the privileges pertaining to
all the subjects of this spiritual kingdom. And they are such as
follow.
1. These souls, over whom Christ reigns, are certainly and
fully set free from the curse of the law. "If the Son makes you
free, then are you free indeed," John 8: 36. I say not, they are
free from the law as a rule of life; such a freedom were no
privilege to them at all: but free from the rigorous exactions, and
terrible maledictions of it; to hear our liberty proclaimed from
this bondage, is the joyful sound indeed, the most blessed voice
that ever our ears heard. And this all that are in Christ shall
hear, "If we be led by the Spirit, we are not under the law," Gal.
5: 18. "Blessed are the people that hear this joyful sound," Psal.
89: 15.
2. Another privilege of Christ's subjects, is, freedom from the
dominion of sin. Rom. 6: 14. "Sin shall not reign over them; for
they are not under the law, but under grace." One heaven cannot bear
two suns; nor one soul two kings: when Christ takes the throne, sin
quits it. It is true, the being of sin is there still; its defiling
and troubling power remains still; but its dominion is abolished. O
joyful tidings! O welcome day!
3. Another privilege of Christ's subjects, is, protection in
all troubles and dangers to which their souls or bodies are exposed.
"This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our
land, and when he shall tread in our palaces," Mic. 5: 5. Kings owe
protection to their subjects: none so able, so faithful in that work
as Christ; all "thou gavest me, I have kept, and none is lost," John
17: 12.
4. Another privilege of Christ's subjects, is, a merciful and
tender bearing of their burdens and infirmities. They have a meek
and patient king; "Tell the daughters of Sion, thy king cometh meek
and lowly;" Mat. 21: 5. Mat. 11: 29. "Take my yoke, and learn of me,
for I am meek and lowly." The meek Moses could not bear the
provocations of the people, Numb. 11: 12. but Christ bears them all:
"He carries the lambs in his arms, and gently leads them that be
with young," Isa. 42: 11. He is one that can have compassion upon
the ignorant, and them that are out of the way.
5. Again, Sweet peace, and tranquillity of soul, is the
privilege of the subjects of this kingdom: for this kingdom
"consisteth in peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Rom. 14: 17. And
till souls come under his sceptre, they shall never find peace:
"Come unto me, ye that are weary, I will give you rest." Yet do not
mistake, I say not, they have all actual peace, at all times: no,
they often break that peace by sin; but they have the root of peace,
the ground work and cause of peace. If they have not peace, yet they
have that which is convertible into peace at any time. They also are
in a state of peace, Rom. 5: 11. "Being justified by faith, we have
peace with God." This is a feast every day, a mercy which they only
can duly value, that are in the depths of trouble for sin.
6. And lastly, everlasting salvation is the privilege of all
over whom Christ reigns. Prince and Saviour are joined together,
Acts 5: 31. He that can say, "thou shalt guide me with thy
counsels," may add what follows, "and afterwards bring me to glory,"
Psal. 73: 24. Indeed, the kingdom of grace does but breed up
children for the kingdom of glory. And to speak as the thing is, it
is the kingdom of heaven here begun. The difference betwixt them is
not specifical, but only gradual: and therefore this, as well as
that, bears the name of the kingdom of heaven. The king is the same,
and the subjects the same. The subjects of this are shortly to be
translated to that kingdom. Thus I have named, and indeed but named,
some few of those inestimable privileges of Christ's subjects. We
next apply it.
Inference 1. How great is their sin and misery who continue in
bondage to sin and Satan and refuse the government of Christ! Who
had rather sit under the shadow of that bramble, than under the
sweet and powerful government of Christ. Satan writes his laws in
the blood of his subjects, grinds them with cruel oppression, wears
them out with bondage to divers lusts, and rewards their service
with everlasting misery. And yet how few are weary of it, and
willing to come over to Christ! "Behold (saith one of Christ's
heralds) Christ is in the fields sent of God to recover his right
and your liberty. His royal standard is pitched in the gospel, and
proclamation made, that if any poor sinners, weary of the Devil's
government, and laden with the miserable chains of his spiritual
bondage, (so as these irons of his sins enter into his very soul, to
afflict it with the sense of them) shall thus come and repair to
Christ, he shall have protection from God's justice, the Devil's
wrath, and sin's dominion; in a word, he shall have rest, and that
glorious," Isa. 11: 10.
And yet how few stir a foot towards Christ, but are willing to
have their ears bored, and be perpetual slaves to that cruel tyrant?
O when will sinners be weary of their bondage, and sigh after
deliverance! If any such poor soul shall read these lines, let them
know, and I do proclaim it in the name of my royal Master, and give
him the word of a King for it, he shall not be rejected by Christ,
John 6: 37. Come, poor sinner, come, the Lord Jesus is a merciful
King, and never did, nor will hang up that poor penitent, that puts
the rope about his own neck, and submits to mercy.
Inf. 2. How much does it concern us to enquire and know whose
government we are under, and who is king over our souls; Whether
Christ or Satan be in the throne, and sways the sceptre over our
souls?
Reader, the work I would now engage thy soul in, is the same
that Jesus Christ will thoroughly and effectually do in the great
day. Then will he gather out of his kingdom every thing that
offends, separate the tares and wheat, divide the whale world into
two ranks or grand divisions, how many divisions and subdivisions
soever there be in it now. It nearly concerns thee therefore to know
who is Lord and King in thy soul. To help thee in this great work,
make use of the following hints; for I cannot fully prosecute these
things as I would.
1. "To whom do you yield your obedience? His subjects and
servants ye are to whom ye obey," Rom. 6: 16. It is but a mockery to
give Christ the empty titles of Lord and King, whilst ye give your
real service to sin and Satan. What is this but like the Jews, to
bow the knee to him, and say, Hail master, and crucify him? "Then
are ye his disciples, if ye do whatsoever he commands you," John 15:
14. He that is Christ's servant in jest, shall be damned in earnest.
Christ does not compliment with you; his pardons, promises, and
salvation are real; O let your obedience be so too! Let it be
sincere and universal obedience; this will evidence your unfeigned
subjection to Christ. Do not dare to enterprise any thing, till you
know Christ's pleasure and will, Rom. 12: 2. Enquire of Christ, as
David did of the Lord, 1 Sam. 23: 9, 10. 11. Lord, may I do this or
that? or shall I forbear? I beseech thee tell thy servant.
2. Have you the power of godliness, or a form of it only? There
be many that do but trifle in religion, and play about the skirts
and borders of it; spending their time about jejune and barren
controversies: but as to the power of religion, and the life of
godliness, which consist in communion with God in duties and
ordinances, which promote holiness, and mortify their lusts, they
concern not themselves about these things. But surely "the kingdom
of God is not in words, but in power," 1 Cor. 4: 20. It is not meat
and drink, (i. e. dry disputes about meats and drinks) "but
righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; for he that in
these things serves Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of
men," Rom. 14: 17, 18. O I am afraid when the great host of
professors shall be tried by these rules, they will shrink up into a
little handful, as Gideon's host did.
3. Have ye the special saving knowledge of Christ? All his
subjects are translated out of the kingdom of darkness, Col 1: 13.
The devil, that ruleth over you in the days of your ignorance, is
called the ruler of the darkness of this world; his subjects are all
blind, else he could never rule them. As soon as their eyes are
opened, they run out of his kingdom, and there is no retaining them
in subjection to him any longer. O enquire then whether you are
brought out of darkness into this marvellous light! do you see your
condition, how sad, miserable, wretched it is by nature? do you see
your remedy, as it lies only in Christ, and his precious blood? Do
you see the true way of obtaining interest in that blood by faith?
does this knowledge run into practice, and put you upon lamenting
heartily your misery by sin? thirsting vehemently after Christ and
his righteousness? striving continually for a heart to believe and
close with Christ? This will evidence you indeed to be translated
out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ.
4. With whom do you delightfully associate yourselves? Who are
your chosen companions? You may see to whom you belong by the
company you join yourselves to. What do the subjects of Christ among
the slaves of Satan? If the subjects of one kingdom be in another
king's dominion, they love to be together with their own countrymen
rather than the natives of the place; so do the servants of Christ,
They are a company of themselves, as it is said, Acts 4: 23. "They
went to their own company." I know the subjects of both kingdoms are
here mingled, and we cannot avoid the company of sinners except we
go out of the world, 1 Cor. 5: 10. but yet all your delights should
be in the saints and in the excellent of the earth, Psal. 16: 3.
5. Do you live holy and righteous lives? If not, you may claim
interest in Christ as your King, but he will never allow your claim.
"The sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness," Psal.
45: 6. If ye oppress, go beyond, and cheat your brethren, and yet
call yourselves Christ's subjects, what greater reproach can you
study to cast upon him? What is Christ the King of cheats? Does he
patronise such things as these? No, no, pull off your vizards, and
fall into your own places; you belong to another prince, and not to
Christ.
Inf. 3. Does Christ exercise such a kingly power over the souls
of all them that are subdued by the gospel to him? O then let all
that are under Christ's government walk as the subjects of such a
King. Imitate your King; the examples of kings are very influential
upon their subjects. Your King has commanded you not only to take
his yoke upon you, but also to learn of him, Matth. 11: 29. Yea, and
"if any man say that he is Christ's, let him walk even as Christ
walked," 1 John 2: 6. Your King is meek and patient, Isa. 53: 7. as
a lamb for meekness: shall his subjects be lions for fierceness?
Your King was humble and lowly; Matth. 21: 5. "Behold thy King
cometh meek and lowly." Will you be proud and lofty? Does this
become the kingdom of Christ? Your King was a self-denying King; he
could deny his outward comforts, ease, honour, life, to serve his
Father's design, and accomplish your salvation, 2 Cor. 8: 9. Phil.
2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. shall his servants be self-ended, and
self-seeking persons, that will expose his honour, and hazard their
own souls for the trifles of time? God forbid. Your king was
painful, laborious, and diligent in fulfilling his work, John 9: 3.
Let not his servants be lazy and slothful. O imitate your King,
follow the pattern of your King: this will give you comfort now, and
boldness in the day of judgement, if as he was, so ye are in this
world, 1 John 4: 17.
(continued in file 17...)
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