"lambs in his arms, and gently leads them that be with young, Ifa. xlii. 11. He is one that can have compaffion upon the ignorant, and them that are out of the way.

5. Again, Sweet peace, and tranquility of foul, is the privilege of the fubjects of this kingdom: for this kingdom "confifteth in peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Rom. xiv. 17. And till fouls come under his scepter, they shall never find

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come

Yet do

peace : unto me, ye that are weary, I will give you reft.” not mistake, I fay not, they have all actual peace, at all times: no, they often break that peace by fin; but they have the root of peace, the ground-work and caufe 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. v. 11. "Being juftified by faith, we have peace with God." This is a feaft every day, a mercy which they only can duly value, that are in the depths of trouble for fin.

6. And lastly, everlasting falvation is the privilege of all over whom Chrift reigns. Prince and Saviour are joined together, Acts v. 31. He that can fay, "thou fhalt guide me with thy "counfels," may add what follows," and afterwards bring me

to glory," Pfal. lxxiii. 24. Indeed, the kingdom of grace doth but breed up children for the kingdom of glory. And to fpeak 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 fame, and the fubjects the fame. The fubjects of this are fhortly to be tranflated to that kingdom. Thus I have named, and indeed but named, fome few of thofe ineftimable privileges of Chrift's fubjects. We next apply

it.

Inference 1. How great is their fin and mifery who continue in bondage to fin and Satan, and refufe the government of Chrift! Who had rather fit under the fhadow of that bramble, than under the fweet and powerful government of Chrift. Satan writes his laws in the blood of his fubjects, grinds them with cruel oppreffion, wears them out with bondage to divers lufts, and rewards their fervice with everlafting mifery. And yet how few are weary of it, and willing to come over to Chrift! "Behold," faith one of Chrift's heralds, "Chrift is in the "field, fent of God to recover his right and your liberty. His royal ftandard is pitched in the gospel, and proclamation made, that if any poor finners, weary of the Devil's government,

Gurnall's Chriflian armour, p. 218.

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SERM. XVI. "and laden with the miferable chains of his fpiritual bondage, (fo as thefe irons of his fins enter into his very foul, to af"flict it with the fenfe of them) fhall thus come and repair to "Chrift, he fhall have protection from God's juftice, the Devil's "wrath, and fin's dominion; in a word, he shall have reft, "and that glorious, Ifa. xi. 10.”

And yet how few stir a foot towards Chrift, but are willing to have their ears bored, and be perpetual flaves to that cruel tyrant? O when will finners be weary of their bondage, and figh after deliverance! If any fuch poor foul fhall read these lines, let them know, and I do proclaim it in the the name of my royal master, and give him the word of a king for it, he shall not be rejected by Chrift, John vi. 37. Come, poor finners, come, the Lord Jefus is a merciful king, and never did, nor will hang up that poor penitent, that puts the rope about his own neck, and fubmits to mercy.

Inference 2. How much doth it concern us to enquire and know whofe government we are under, and who is king over our Jouls; whether Chrift or Satan be in the throne, and ways the fceptre over our fouls?

Reader, the work I would now engage thy foul in, is the fame that Jefus Chrift will throughly and effectually do in the great day. Then will he gather out of his kingdom every thing that offends, feparate the tares and wheat, divide the whole world into two ranks or grand divifions, how many divisions and fubdivifions foever there be in it now. It nearly concerns thee therefore to know who is Lord and King in thy foul. To help thee in this great work, make ufe of the following hints; for I cannot fully profecute thefe things as I would.

1. "To whom do you yield your obedience? His fubjects "and fervants ye are to whom ye obey," Rom. vi. 16. It is but a mockery to give Chrift the empty titles of Lord and King, whilst ye give your real fervice to fin and Satan. What is this but like the Jews, to bow the knee to him, and fay, Hail mafter, and crucify him? "Then are ye his difciples, if ye do "whatfoever he commands you," John xv. 14. He that is Christ's fervant in jeft, fhall be damned in earnest. Chrift doth not compliment with you; his pardons, promifes, and falva

* O how many of us would have Chrift divided into halves, that we might take the half of him only; his office, Jefus, and falvation? But Lord is a cumbersome word, and to obey, and work out our own falvation, and perfect holinefs, is the cumbersome and ftormy north fide of Chrift, and that we efchew and fhift off,

tions are real; O let your obedience be so too! Let it be fincere and univerfal obedience; this will evidence your unfeigned fubjection to Chrift, Do not dare to enterprize any thing, till you know Christ's pleasure and will, Rom. xii. 2. Enquire of Christ, as David did of the Lord, 1 Sam. xxiii. 9, 10, 11. Lord, may I do this or that? or fhall I forbear? I beseech thee tell thy fervant.

I

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; fpending their time about jejune and barren controverfies: but as to the power of religion, and life of godlinefs, which confift in communion with God in duties and ordinances, which promote holiness, and mortify their lufts, they concern not themselves about these things. But furely "the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power," 1 Cor. iv. 20. It is not meat and drink (that is, dry disputes about meats and drinks) "but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the "Holy Ghoft; for he that in thefe things ferveth Chrift, is ac

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ceptable to God, and approved of men," Rom. xiv. 17, 18. OI am afraid when the great host of professors shall be tried by thefe rules, they will fhrink up into a little handful, as Gideon's hoft did.

3. Have ye the fpecial faving knowledge of Chrift? All his fubjects are tranflated out of the kingdom of darkness, Col. i. 13. The devil, that ruleth over you in the days of your ignorance, is called the ruler of the darkness of this world: His fubjects are all blind, elfe he could never rule them: As foon as their eyes be opened, they run out of his kingdom, and there is no retaining them in fubjection to him any longer. O enquire then, whether you are brought out of darkness into this marvellous light! do you fee your condition, how fad, miserable, wretched it is by nature? do you fee your remedy, as it lies only in Chrift, and his precious blood? Do you fee the true way of obtaining interest in that blood by faith? doth this knowledge run into practice, and put you upon lamenting heartily your mifery by fin? thirfting vehemently after Chrift and his righteoufnefs? ftriving continually for a heart to believe and close with Chrift? This will evidence you indeed to be tranflated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ.

4. With whom do you delightfully affociate yourselves? Who are your chofen companions? you may fee to whom you belong by the company you join yourselves to. What do the fubjects of Chrift among the faves of Satan? If the subjects VOL. I.

Ff

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; fo do the fervants of Chrift. They are a company of themselves, as it is faid, Acts iv. 23. "They went to "their own company." I know the fubjects of both kingdoms are here mingled, and we cannot avoid the company of finners except we go out of the world, 1 Cor. v. 10. but yet all your delights fhould be in the faints and in the excellent of the earth, Pfal. xvi. 3.

5. Do ye live holy and righteous lives? If not, you may claim intereft in Chrift as your king, but he will never allow your claim. "The fcepter of his kingdom is a fcepter of righteousness," Pfal. xlv. 6. If ye opprefs, go beyond, and cheat your brethren, and yet call yourselves Christ's fubjects, what greater reproach can ye ftudy to caft upon him? What is Chrift the king of cheats? Doth he patronize fuch things as thefe? No, no, pull off your vizards, and fall into your own places; you belong to another prince, and not to Chrift.

Inf. 3. Doth Chrift exercife fuch a kingly power over the fouls of all them that are fubdued by the golpel to him? O then let all that are under Chrift's government walk as the fubjects of fuch a King t. Imitate your king; the examples of kings are very influential upon their fubjects. Your king hath commanded you not only to take his yoke upon you, but also to learn of him, Mat. xi. 29. Yea, and if any man fay that he is Chrift's, "let him walk even as Chrift walked," John. ii. 6. Your King is meek and patient, Ifa, liii. 7. as a lamb for meekness: fhall his fubjects be lions for fiercenefs? Your King was humble and lowly; Mat. xxi. 5. "Behold thy King cometh meek "and lowly:" Will you be proud and lofty? Doth this become the kingdom of Chrift? Your King was a felf-denying King; he could deny his outward comforts, ease, honour, life, to serve his Father's defign, and accomplish your falvation, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Phil. ii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Shall his fervants be felf-ended, and felf feeking perfons, that will expofe his honour, and hazard their own fouls for the trifles of time? God forbid. Your King was painful, laborious, and diligent in fulfilling his work, John ix. 3. Let not his fervants be lazy and flothful.

tate your King, follow the pattern of your king: this will give you comfort now, and boldness in the day of judgment, if as he was, fo ye are in this world, 1 John iv. 17.

The whole world, follow the example of their king.

Opens the Kingly Office of Chrift, as it is providenti ally executed in the World, for the Redeemed.

EPH. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

HE foregoing verfes are spent in a thankful and humble adoration of the grace of God, in bringing the Ephefir ans to believe in Christ. This effect of that power that raised their hearts to believe in Chrift, is here compared with that other glorious effect of it, even the raising of Chrift himself from the dead both these owe themselves to the fame efficient cause. It raised Chrift from a low eftate, even from the dead, to a high, a very high and glorious state; to be the head both of the world, and of the church; the head of the world by way of dominion, the head of the church by way of union, and fpecial influence, ruling the world for the good of his people in it. "He gave "him to be head over all things to the church.”

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In this fcripture let these four things be feriously regarded. 1. The dignity and authority committed to Chrift; "He hath put all things under his feet;" which implies, full, ample and abfolute dominion in him, and fubjection in them over whom he reigns. This power is delegated to him by the Father: for befides the effential, native, ingenite power and dominion over all, which he hath as God, and is common to every person in the Godhead, Pfal. xxii. 28. there is a mediatory dispensed authority, which is proper to him as Mediator, which he receives as the reward or fruit of his fuffering, Phil. ii. 8.

2. The subject recipient of this authority, which is Chrift, and Christ primarily, and only: he is the sparer dextov, first receptacle of all authority and power. Whatever authority any creature is cloathed with, is but minifterial and derivative, whe ther it be political, or eccelefiaftical. Chrift is the only Lord, Jude iv. The fountain of all power.

3. The object of this authority, the whole creation; all things are put under his feet: he rules from fea to fea, even to the autmost bounds of God's creation, "Thou haft given him power over all Ach," John xvii. 2. all creatures, rational, and irrati