TT E now come to the Regal office, by which our glorious Me- diator executes and discharge th 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,
SERM. XVI. ( THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, 199
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 ca- pacity of a King, to apply this purchase of his blood to them, they couM have had no actual, personal benefit by his death ; for what lie 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 govern- ment ; then ruling them as his subjects, and ordering all things in the kingdom of Providence for their good. So that Christ hath a twofold kingdom, the one spiritual and internal, by which he sub- dues 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 spiritnal and internal kingdom.
These words are considered two ways, either relatively or abso- lutely. Considered relatively, they are a vindication of the apostle from the unjust censures of the Corinthians, who, very unworthi- ly, interpreted his gentleness, condescension, and winning affabi- lity, 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 gos- pel, in the plainness and simplicity of it, for the subduing of re- bellious sinners to Christ : and in them we have these three things to consider,
1. The oppositions made by sinners against the assaults of the gos- pel, viz. imaginations, or reasonings, as the word \o\t<rpxg, may be fitly rendered. He means the subtleties, slights, excuses, subter- fuges, and arguings 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 reasonings, 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
* He makes use of the word strong hold, by an elegant metaphor, to express every thing in which the enemies of the gospel trust, fortify and exalt themselves against the truth of the heavenly word; such as carnal wisdom, learning, and eloquence.
200 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XVI.
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 doth 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 Jerom, Origen, 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 tri- " umph together P* And thus enemies and rebels are subdued, and made subjects of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, Hence the doctrinal note is,
Dock 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 powrer of darkness, but they were immediately translated into the kingdom of Christ, the dear Son, Col. i. 13.
This kingdom of Christ, which is our present subject, is the in- ternal spiritual kingdom, which is said to be within the saints, Luke xvii. 20, 91. " The kingdom of God is within you." Christ sits as an enthroned king in the hearts, consciences, and affections of his willing people, Psal. ex. 3. And his kingdom consists in " righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,'1 Rom. xiv. 17. and it is properly monarchical, as appears in the margin -f\
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 way and manner in which Christ ob-
* 0 beata victoria^ ubi victi cum victoribus simul triumphant ! Meyer in loc.
f This internal government is monarchical, and it must be so; for the right of governing men's consciences belongs to none but him, who is both infinitely wise znd most powerful ; neither hath Christ in this government any vicegerent, to whom his power and authority are committed.
SERM. XVI. THE FOUNTAIN OP LIFE. 201