Answer. They may be so stiled in a double respect :
(1.) Because Christ is formed in every believer, he is (in a spiritual
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Sense) conceived and formed in their souls, as the child is formed in its mothers womb. So the apostle speaks, Gal. iv. 19. " My little children, of whom I travail again in birth, till Christ be form- ed in you.""
(2.) In respect of the dear affection Christ bears to every soul that believeth in him. No man loves his brother, sister, or mother, as Christ esteems and loves believers, Mark ili. 34. when he was told, his mother and brethren were without seeking him ; he said, " Behold my mother, and my brethren : For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." The day of a sinner's consent to come under Christ's government^ is the day of his espousals, 2 Cor. xi. 2. And the day of a sinner's espousals to Christ, is the day of the gladness of his heart, Luke XV. 32. Thus you have the parts and sense of the text. The point from it is this :
Doct. That the day of a believer'' s espousals to Chj'ist hyjhithy is to Christ as the clay of a Mug's coronation is to him, even the day of the gladness of his heart.
It is very remarkable, what we find in Luke x. 21. where the Spirit hath carefully recorded one hour of joy in the life of Christ; for he had not many, being a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. " In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit,'"* saith the text : And what hour was that.? Why, it was the same hour in which the' seventy returned with these joyful tidings to him ; " Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name," ver. 17. The hour when Christ saw " Satan falling as lightning from heaven," ver. 18. his kingdom tottering, his forces routed by the gospel, his subjects running away to Christ, from under his cruel bondage, and made willing to come under his government : " In that hour, Jesus re- joiced in spirit." This was joyful news to Christ, it was the day of the gladness of his heart : He had now got a new throne in the souls of poor sinners, over whom the devil and sin had reigned ; this was a crown of glory to Christ.
In opening this point, I shall discourse these three things :
(1.) In what respect a sinner's espousals to Christ resembles the day of a king's coronation over his subjects.
(2.) Wherein these two days differ each from other.
(3.) On what accounts it is the day of the gladness of Christ's heart, as the text calls it.
Let me shew the resemblances and agreements which are betwixt the day of a king's coronation, and the day of a sinner's espousals to Christ by faith. And this will appear in six respects :
(1.) A king that is duly crowned over his subjects, hath a lawful right to govern them, either by lineal descent, conquest, or compact. Solomon had his right and title to the kingdom, by descent from his royal father David, who, by his last will and testament, constituted
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and appointed him to be his immediate successor upon the throne of Israel, 1 Kings i. 35. The Roman Cassar^s title to that kingdom, was by conquest, and this title was legitimated not only by the Jews acknowledgment of it, but also by Christ's express owning it, and sub- mission to it The people said, " We have no king but Caesar,^' John xix. 15. And Christ owned it, Luke xx. 25. when he had paid tribute, saying, *^' Give unto Caesar, the things that are Cae- sar's."" But David had his title by compact with, and voluntary elec- tion of the people : Abner confers with the elders of Israel about it, and they meet David at Hebron, and there chuse him king, in the room of Saul, 2 Sam. v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. and that in consideration of the eminent servicehe had performed for that kingdom, in delivering them from their mortal enemies the Philistines, enemies to their religion, and civil liberties. And certainly, the crown of Israel was not a re- ward above the merit of such a performance. " Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and said. Behold we are thy bone, and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out, andbroughtest in Israel : And the Lord said to thee. Thou shalt feed my people Israel ; and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron, before the Lord : And they anointed David king over Israel.''
But Christ hath right to reign over our souls, by all these titles and claims : The throne of our souls, by his Father's constitution and decree. Psalm ii. 6. " Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion ;" by conquest, for he wins it by the sword of his Spirit, before he possesseth it, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. he casts down by spiritual weapons all that opposeth, and brings every thought into obedience to him. And he hath right also, by consent and compact. Psalm ex. 3. " The people shall be willing in the day of thy power." Of which more anon.
(2.) On the coronation-day, kings appear in all their royal robes, glittering jewels, and all the lustre that can be put upon them ; they shine in the eyes of the people more gloriously than all that are about them. Velut Iwia, inter minora sidera ; There is none like him, in the beauty of his ornaments. Much more doth Christ excel all others in beauty and glory, in the eyes of those that chuse him for their Lord and King. 1 Pet. ii. 17. " To you that believe, he is precious." Hr/,ar„ Honour itself. Col. i. 17. *' He is before all things ; not only in time, or in order, but real dignity, and solid glory and excellency. So his spouse pronounceth him. Psalm xlv. 2. " Thou art fairer than the children of men ; grace is poured into thy lips." And Cant. v. 10. " My beloved is white and ruddy ; the chiefest among ten thousand." Examine and mark all the creatures in both worlds, angels and men, and they bear no more proportion to Christ in glory, than a glow-worm to the sun.
(3.) On the coronation-day, the consent of the people is demand-
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ed, and given. Consent was demanded by Abner, in the behalf of David, 2 Sam. iii 17, 18, and freely given by them, in order to Da- vid's coronation, ^ Sam. v. 1, 2, 3, 4. Thus at the coronation of our kings, the consent of the nobles and commonalty is demanded on the public theatre, in these words :
-ft HERE present you such an one, (naming tlie king) the right-
" ful inheritor of the crown of this realm : Are you willing to do *' your homage, service, and do bounden duty to him ?'''
▼ f E are willing ; or signify they are so, by their load and joy- *' ful acclamations."