2d. Christ is a king to defend his people. As Clirist hath a sceptre to rule them, so a shield to defend them, Ps. iii. 3., " Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me." Whew An- tiochus did rage furiously against the Jews, he took away the vessels of the Lord's house, set up an idol in the temple ; then this great king, called Michael, did stand up for them to defend them, Dan. xii. 1. Christ preserves his church as a spark in the ocean, as a flock of sheep among wolves. That the sea should be higher than the earth and yet not drown it, is a wonder • so that the wicked should be so much higher than the church in power, and not devour it, is because Christ hath this inscription on his vesture and his thigh, King of kings. Ps. cxxiv. 2, 3., " If it had not been the Lord, who was on our side, they had swal- lowed us up." They say, lions are insomnes, they have little or no sleep; it is true of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, he never slumbers nor sleeps, but watcheth over his church to defend it: Isa. xxvii. 2, 3., " Sing ye unto her, a A-ineyard of red wiue ; I the Lord do keep it, lest any hurt it. I will keep it night and day." If the ene- mies destroy the church, it must be at a time when it is neither night nor day, for Christ keeps it day and night. Christ is said to carry his church, as the eagle her young ones upon her wings, E.\od. xix. 4. The arrow must first hit the eagle before It can hurt the youngones, and shoot through her wings : the enemies must iirst strike through Christ, before they can destroy his church. Let the wind and storms be up, and the church almost covered with waves, yet Christ is in the ship of the church, and so long there is no danger of shipwTeck.
IS8
OF CHUISTS KINGLY OFFICE.
Nor will Christ only defend liis churcli, as he is king, but deliver it, 2 Tim. iv. 17., *' And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion," viz. Nero. 1 Chron. xi. 14., " The Lord saA'ed them by a great deliver- ance." Sometimes Christ is said to com- mand deliverance, Ps. Ixiv. 4. ; sometimes to create deliverance, Isa. xlv. 18. Christ as a king, commands deliverance, and as a God creates it. And deliverance shall come in his time. Isa. Ix. 22., " I the Lord will hasten it in his time."
Quest. IVhen is the time that this King will deliver his people ?
Ans. WTien the hearts of his people are humblest, when their prayers are ferventest, when their faith is strongest, when their forces are weakest, when their enemies are highest, now is the usual time that Christ puts forth his kingly power in their deliver- ance, Isa. xxxiii. 2, 8, 9.
3(/. Christ is a king to reward his people. There's nothing lost by serving this king : L He rewards his subjects in this life : (1.) He gives them inward peace and joy ; a bunch of grapes by the way : and often- times riches and honour. " Godliness hath the promise of this life," ] Tim. iv. 8. These are, as it were, the saints' vails. But besides the great reward is to come, " An eter- nal weight of glory," 2 Cor. iv. IT. Christ makes all his subjects kings, Rev. ii. 10., " I will give thee a crown of life." This crown will be full of jewels, and it will * never fade,' 1 Pet. v. 4. — (2.) Christ is a king in reference of his enemies, in sub- duing and conquering them ; he pulls down their pride, befools their policy, restrains their malice. That stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smote the image, Dan. ii. 34., was an emblem, saith Austin, of Christ's monarchical power, con- quering and triumphing over his enemies. Christ will make his enemies his footstool, Ps. ex. 1. He can destroy them with ease, 2 Chron. xiv 11., " It is nothing with thee, to hel])." He can do it with weak means, without means. He can make the enemies destroy themselves: he set the Persians against the Grecians: and, 2 Chron. xx. 23., the children of Ammon helped to de- stroy one another. Thus Christ is king in vanquishing the enemies of liis chm-ch. —