[2.] His supremacy is not precarious.
[3.] In the management of his supremacy he useth much conde- scension. Now, to stand out against him, oh, what egregious pride is this !
[1.] He hath an absolute jurisdiction over us. Those that are our betters, we are to honour and respect them, though they have not power over us ; but God is not only honourable, but chief and su- preme, and hath a full right in us. In the civil law they distinguish of a twofold dominion ; there is dominium jiirisdictionis and dominium proprietatis — the dominion of jurisdiction and of propriety. The do- minion of jurisdiction is proper to reasonable creatures, who only are capable of government. Propriety, that respects other things, as our goods and lands ; and propriety argues a greater right and a greater dominion. A man may have a jurisdiction over others when he hath not an absolute dispose over them, as a prince over his subjects. Nay, a man that hath a jurisdiction and propriety too, his propriety is greater over his lands and estate than over his servants, though they be slaves ; yet, because they partake of the same nature with himself, he hath not such a power to dispose of them as he hath to dispose of his goods and lands. Now God hath not only an absolute jurisdiction over us, which were enough in the case, but he liath a propriety, a more absolute power over every man than the greatest monarch hath — Avhat shall I say — over his subjects, over his slaves ? nay, a greater propriety than he hath over his goods and lands. Why ? For he made us out of nothing ; he is our potter, we his clay: he hath such a power over us, to dispose of us according to his will, as a potter over his clay to form what vessel he pleaseth. Now for a man to strive with his maker, it is as If the clay should lift up itself against the potter. So much the prophet saith, Isa. xlv, 9, ' Woe unto him that striveth with his maker.' What ! shall the pot lift up itself against the potter ? That were monstrous, since it is his. Now the potter did not make the matter, only bestows form and art upon it, but God gives us form, matter, and all, and shall we rise up against him, and contemn him ?
[2.] Consider that his supremacy is not precarious ; it doth not stand to the courtesy of man, that is, whether man will yield God to be supreme, yea or nay ; but it is backed with a mighty power : 1 Peter v. 6, ' Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.' God's hand is a mighty hand, and therefore we should humble ourselves. It is a madness to contend with the Lord of hosts. What are we to the Lord, who can stop our breath in a moment ? Job iv. 9, ' By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed.'
198 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXII.
With a breath God can destroy us all, and resolve us into nothing ; therefore, to rise up against God, this is the greater pride. Other superiors cannot always maintain their right ; they may he foiled in the contention ; but surely God will have the best of it ; it is madness to contest with him.
[3.] God hath not only right, and that backed with an almighty jjower, but in the management of his supremacy over men he useth much condescension. To instance that in two things.
(1.) In making motions of peace to such proud and obstinate crea- tures as we are, that can be of no use or profit to him ; ay ! and though he be the wronged party. Tiiere is in us that which Austin calls injirmitas animositatis — the weakness of strength of stomach. We are striving who shall yield first. Though it be for our interest and ad- vantage to be reconciled, yet we are looking who shall submit first; but the Lord, though he can back his sovereignty with power, yet he comes down from the throne of" sovereignty, and makes offers of grace, and prays you to be reconciled. When he might destroy, then he be- seecheth, and speaketh supplications to the creature ; he comes and entreats you with a great deal of affectionate earnestness. Oh ! that God should stoop thus to a handful of unprofitable dust — creatures that can no way be of use and profit to him ! What pride is this, to stand it out against such a God !
(2.) In seeking to reclaim us, and soften us by many mercies, and by his kind dealing with us. God would break the heart rather than the back of the sinner, and therefore he seeks to melt us with acts of kindness. Now for us to continue our pride and rebellion after all this, what a pride is this — of how horrible a nature ? Rom. ii. 4, ' Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance, uot considering that the goodness of God should lead us to repentance ?' God withholds his hand, and is loath to strike ; nay, not only so, but doth follow us with acts of grace and kindness, and maintain us with his own expenses, and yet the proud heart of man will not relent. Mark that word, they ' despise his goodness ; ' they do in effect say, God shall not have my heart for all this. Oh, how great is this pride ! These are considera- tions that may give us a little light to judge of that pride that is in obstinacy and impenitency in sin. If you consider God's absolute right, he hath not only a dominion of jurisdiction over us, but a full propriety in us, to use us at his pleasure ; and this right of his is backed with almighty power, and doth not stand with the creature's courtesy ; and though it be so, j'et it is managed with a great deal of condescen- sion and love; he beseecheth poor creatures, and tendereth offers of peace, and they are fed and maintained at his charge, and taste of his goodness and bounty.