4. With whom do you delightfully associate yourselves ? Who are your chosen companions f 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 ser- vants of Christ They are a company of themselves, as it is said, Acts iv. 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. v, 10. but vet all your delights should be in the saints and in the ex- cellent of the earth, Psal. xvi. 3.
5. Do you live holy and righteous lives ? If not, you may claim in* terest in Christ as your King, but he will never allow your claim, " The sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness," Psal. xlv. 6. If ye oppress, go beyond, and cheat your brethren, and yet call yourselves Christ's subjects, what greater reproach can yk study to cast upon him ? What is Christ the King of cheats ? Doth he patronize 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. Doth Christ exercise such a kingly power over the souls of all them that are subdued by the gospel to him ? O then let alt that are under Chrisfs government zvalk as the subjects of such a King * Imitate yourKing ; the examples of kings are very influen- tial upon their subjects. Your King hath commanded you not only to take his yoke upon you, but also to learn of him, Matth. xi. 29. Yea, and " if any man say that he is Christ's, let him walk even " as Christ walked," 1 John ii. 6. Your King is meek and pa- tient, Isa. liii. 7. as a lamb for meekness : shall his subjects be lions for fierceness ? Your King was humble and lowly ; Matth. xxi. 5. " Behold thy King cometh meek and lowly." Will you" be proud and lofty ? Doth this become the kingdom of Christ ? Your
* Regis ad exemplum omnis co?nponitv.r orbis. The whole world follow the example of the Prince,
SE11M. XVII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 21 1
King was a self-denying King ; he could deny his outward com- forts, ease, honour, life, to serve his Father's design, and accom- plish your salvation, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Phil. ii. 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 dili- gent in fulfilling his work, John ix. 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 judgment, if as he was> so ye are in this world, 1 John iv. 17.
Of the Kingly Office of Christ, as it is providentially exe- cuted in the World, for the Redeemed.
And hatli put all things under his feet, and gave him to he the head over all things to the church.
JL HE foregoing verses are spent in a thankful and humble ado- ration of the grace of God, in bringing the Ephesians to believe in Christ. This effect of that power that raised their hearts to be- lieve in Christ, is here compared with that other glorious effect of it, even the raising of Christ himself from the dead : both these owe themselves to the same efficient cause. It raised Christ front a low estate, even from the dead, to a high, a very high and glori- ous 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 special influence, ruling the world for the good of his people in it. " He gave him to be the head over all " things to the church.7'
In this scripture let these four things be seriously regarded.
1. The dignity and authority committed to Christ; " He hath " put all things under his feet ;"* which implies, full, ample and absolute dominion in him, and subjection in them over whom he reigns. This power is delegated to him by the Father : for be- sides the essential, native^ ingenite power and dominion over all, which he hath as God, and is common to every person in the Godhead, Psal. xxii. 28. there is a mediatory dispensed authority, which is proper to him as Mediator, which he receives as the re- ward or fruit of his suffering, Phil. ii. 8.
21& THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XVII.
2. The subject recipient of this authority, which is Christ, and Christ primarily, and only : he is the /xdutov dzxnxov, first receptacle of all authority and power. Whatever authority any creature is clothed with, is but ministerial and derivative, whether it be politi- cal, or ecclesiastical. Christ is the only Lord, Jude, ver. 4. The fountain of all power.
3. The object of this authority, the whole creation ; all things are put under his feet : he rules from sea to sea, even to the utmost bounds of God's creation, " Thou hast given him power over all " flesh/' John xvii. 2. all creatures, rational, and irrational, ani- mate, and inanimate, angels, devils, men, winds, seas, all obey him.
4. And especially, take notice of the finis cui, the end for which he governs and rules the universal empire ; it is for the church, i. e. * for the advatage, comfort, and salvation of that chosen remnant he died for. He purchased the church ; and that he might have the highest security that his blood should not be lost, God the Fa- ther hath put all things into his hand, to order and dispose all as he pleaseth. For the furtherance of that his design and end, as he bought the persons of some, so the services of all the rest ; and that they might effectually serve the end they are designed to, Christ will order them all in a blessed subordination and subservi- ency thereunto. Hence the point is,
Doct. That all the affairs of the kingdom of providence are ordered and determined by Jesus Christ, for the special ad- vantage, and everlasting good of his redeemed people.
John xvii. 2. " As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that u he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Hence it comes to pass, that " all things work together for good " to them that love God, to them that are called according to " his purpose," Rom. viii. 28.
That Jesus Christ hath a providential influence upon all the af- fairs of this world is evident, both from scripture assertions, and rationed observations, made upon the actings of things here below.