Sixthly, In a word, the delight of Christ was only in holy things and holy persons : they were his chosen companions ; even so it becometh his people to have all their delights in the saints, and in the excellent of the earth, Psal. xvi. 3. Thus, Christians, be ye fol- lowers of Christ in his holiness ; God hath decreed this conformity to Christ in all that shall be saved, Rom. viii. 29. he banished all unholy ones from his gracious presence for ever, 1 Cor. vi. 9. Heb. xh. 14. The design of Christ in dying for you was to make you pure and holy, Eph. v. 25, 26. O then, study holiness, eye your pattern, and as dear children, be ye followers of your most, holy Lord Jesus Christ.
Pattern 2. The obedience of Christ to his Father's will, is a pat- tern for the imitation of all Christians: it is said of Christ, Heb. v. 8. that he " learned obedience by the things which he suffered ;" a text which labours under some difficulties ; Christ learned obe- dience, and yet was not ignorant before of what he learned after- ward ; he was perfect in knowledge, and yet the apostle speaks of him as a proficient in the school of wisdom. But we must consider there are two ways of learning, viz. by
1 , The comprehension of the mind.
2. By the experience of the sense.
Christ, as God, was perfect in knowledge ; nothing could be added to him : but when he became man, then he came to under- stand, or learn by sufferings, as the apostle here speaks ; which, though it added nothing to his knowledge, yet it was a new method and way of knowing. Now the obedience of Christ is our pattern whereunto we are obliged (as ever we will warrant our claim of interest in him) to conform ourselves in the following properties of it.
First, Christ's obedience was free and voluntary, not forced or compulsory ; it was so from the very first undertaking of the work of our redemption, Prov. viii. BO, 31. " Then was I by him as " one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing " always before him : Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth ; " and my delights were with the sons of men.'" And when the fulness of time was come for executing that blessed design, which had been in prospect from all eternity, how cheerfully did the will of Christ echo to his Father's call, Psal. xl. 7. " Then said I, lo I " come, in the volume of thy book it is written of me, I delight
SERM. XXIX. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 403
u to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart." Nor was this a flourish before he came into the field and saw the enemy, for he laid down his life with the greatest cheerfulness and spontaneity that could be, John x. 17, 18. " Therefore doth my " Father love me, because I lay down my life that I may take it " again ; no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself :" and indeed the voluntariness of Christ, in his obedience unto death, gave his death the nature and formality of a sacrifice ; for so all sacrifices ought to be offered, Lev. i. 3. and so Christ's sa- crifice was offered unto God, Eph. v. 2. It was as grateful a work to Christ to die for us, as it was to Moses' mother to take him to nurse from the hand of Pharaoh's daughter. O Christians, tread in the steps of Christ's example, do nothing grudgingly for God, let not his commands be grievous, 1 John v. 3. If you do any thing for God willingly, you have a reward ; if otherwise, a dis- pensation only is committed to you, 1 Cor. ix. 7. Obedience in Christ was an abasement to him, but in you a very great honour and advancement : you have reason therefore to obey with cheer- fulness.
Secondly The obedience of Christ was universal and complete, he was obedient to all the will of God, making no demur to the hardest service imposed by the will of God upon him, Phil. ii. 8. " He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ;" and though it is true, the humanity of Christ recoiled and stagger- ed when that bitter cup of the wrath of God was given him to drink ; yet how soon was that innocent aversion overcome in him by a perfect submission ? Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be "done," Matt. xxvi. 39. Christians, here is your pattern: happy art thou, reader, if thou canst say, when God calls thee to suffering and self-denying work, I am filled with the will of God. Such was Paul's obedience, Acts xxi. 13. "I am ready not only to be " bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord " Jesus."
Thirdly, The obedience of Christ was sincere and pure, with- out any base or by-end, purely aiming at the glory of God, John xvii. 4. " I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work " thou gavest me to do." He sought not honour of men. This was the great desire of his soul, John xii. 28. " Father glorify thy name :" And truly the choicest part of your obedience consists in the purity of your ends, and in this Christ is propounded as your pattern, Phil. ii. 3, 4, 5.
Fourthly, The streams of Christ's obedience flowed from the spring and fountain of ardent love to God, John xiv. 31. "But " that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the u Father gave me commandment, even so I do ;" Thus let all
406 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SEEM. XXIX.
your obedience to God turn upon the hinge of love ; for " love is " the fulfilling of the law," Rom. xiii. 10. Not as if no other duty but love were required in the law, but because no act of obedience is acceptable to God, but that which is performed in love.
Fifthly, In a word, The obedience of Christ was constant ; he was obedient unto death, he was not weary of his work to the last. Such a patient continuance in well-doing is one part of your con- formity to Christ, Rom. ii. 7. it is laid upon you by his own ex- press command, and a command backed with the most encouraging promise, Rev. ii. 10. " Be thou faithful unto the death, and I " will give thee the crown of life.^