The points that might be drawn hence are many ; for a taste take these : —
Obs. 1. That Jesus Christ is master and Lord, SeairoriTi koI Kvpio<i, * king of nations,' Jer. x. 7 ; and ' king of saints,' Kev. xv. 3 ; or, as the apostle in one place, ' Head over all things to the church,' Eph. i. 22. He is over all things, supreme and absolute ; but the Church's head, from whom they receive all manner of influence. He hath a rod of iron to rule the nations, and a golden sceptre to guide the church. In the world he ruleth by his providences, in the church by his testimonies, Ps. xciii., joer totum. In the world, the attribute manifested is power ; in the church, grace. Well, then, here is comfort to God's people, your Lord is the world's master : ' Let the waves roar, the Lord reigneth,' Ps. xciii. You need not fear, he is not only Lord to protect you, but master of them that rise up against you. Again, who would not choose him to be a Lord, when, whether we will or no, he is our master, and bow the knee to him that will else break the back, and touch his golden sceptre lest we be broken with his rod of iron, and take hold of his strength by faith lest we feel it in displeasure ? Lord, let me feel the efficacy of thy grace, rather than the power of thine anger !
Ohs. 2. Observe again, that Christ is Lord and Jesus; he came to rule, and he came to save. I shall handle these two titles — (1.) Conjunctly ; and then, (2.) Singly and apart.
1. Conjunctly: 'Let all Israel know that God hath made tin's Jesus, whom ye have crucified. Lord and Christ,' Acts ii. 3G. It is usual to observe in Christ's style and title a mixture of words of power and words of goodness and mercy : see Isa. ix. 6, et alibi -passim. Now for what end ? Partly to show that he is a desirable friend, and a dreadful adversary : partly to set forth the mystery of his person, in whom the two natures did meet : partly to show that he is not good
158 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 4.
out of impotency and weakness ; if we pardon and do good it is out of need. God is strong enough to revenge, but gracious enough to save and pardon. Power maketh us cruel : ' Who findeth his enemy and slayeth him not?' If we forbear, it is out of policy, not out of pity. * The sons of Zeruiah ' may be ' too hard for us,' but Christ, who is the great Lord, he also is Jesus ; he hath the greatest power, and the greatest mercy ; mighty, but yet a Saviour. Partly to show how we should receive him ; we should not only come to him for ease, but take his yoke, Mat. xi. 28, 29. Give him your hearts as well as your consciences ; if Christ save, let not sin lord it. What a pitiful thing it is when men would have Christ to redeem them, and Satan to rule and govern them ! Ov deXo/jLev tovtov /BaaiXevaat, ' We will not have this man to reign over us,' Luke xix. 14. There the business sticks : ' The carnal mind is enmity to the law,' Kom. viii. Lusts cannot en- dure to hear of a restraint, and therefore we oppose most Christ's nomothetic power ; like angry dogs we gnaw the chain. The language of every carnal heart is, ' Our lips are our own ; who is lord over us ?' Ps. xii. 4. To be controlled for every word, every thought, every action, we cannot endure it. Oh ! consider Christ hath many enemies, but they are his chief enemies that do withstand his reigning : Luke xix. 27, ' Those mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them,' &c.
2. Let us handle these two titles singly and apart.
[1.] He is Lord : Acts x. 36, ' Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all' As he is God he hath the same glory with the Father ; as mediator there is a dominion that results from his ofhce ; for so he is the ' heir of all things,' the head of all creatures, and king of the church, and at the last day the judge of all men. But he is chiefly a Lord because of his heritage in the church ; a Lord over his own people, who are ' given to him for a possession ' by God the Father, Ps. ii. 8, and ' bought with his own blood,' Acts xx. 28 ; and taken into a marriage covenant with him, Eph. v. 25-27. And as Sarah called her husband lord, so must the church own Christ for Lord and husband. Well, then, let us acknowledge the dominion of Christ ; let him be Lord alone in his own house ; let us yield subjection and obedience to him ; let us beware of depriving him of that honour to which he hath so good a right. You will say, Who are those that deny Christ his Lordship ? I answer: —