394 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SER. VI Jl.
as can be between creature and creature, which are equal in their being, notwithstanding the inequality of many extrinsical respects ; but in this distance between Christ and his people, the distance is between the Creator and the creature, the potter and the clay, the thing formed, and him that formed it ; betwixt the most lovely person, and the most loathsome ; between the heir of all things, and the children of wrath ; the king immortal, and a poor vassal to sin and Satan. And consider also the many benefits we enjoy by it ; we have the com- munion of his righteousness, Spirit, and graces : 2 Cor. v. 21, ' He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' There are two maxims in the civil law, Uxor fulget radiis mariti — the wife participated in the honour of the husband ; so we have the communion of Christ's righteousness ; and Uxori lis non intenditur — the husband is answerable for the wife ; the pleas must be brought against him. So Jesus Christ hath paid our debts, and re- presenteth the merit of his sacrifice ; he is responsible for the debts we owe to divine justice. Participation is another benefit : Eph. v. 26, 'Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water.' Christ upon the cross had merit enough to purchase, and love enough to intend, and wisdom enough to choose, the greatest benefit for us ; and what did he purchase, intend, and choose, but to sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water through the word ? And lastly, we must receive him to the ends for which God offereth him ; that is, to be Lord and husband ; which importeth a forsaking all others, and a devoting and giving up ourselves to Christ, to live in his love and obedience.
(1.) Before there can be a receiving, there must be a renouncing of all other loves. Christ will be entertained alone. The husband can- not endure a co-rival and competitor. And the marriage consent im- plieth an election and choice, which is a renouncing all others, and a preferring him alone. So the marriage covenant runneth : Hosea iii. 3, ' Thou shalt not be for another, but shalt be for me.' So Ps. xlv. 10, 11, 'Hearken, 0 daughter, and consider; incline thine ear : forget also thine own people, and thy father's house. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty : for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.' All that do consider what is offered in Christ's name, and con- sent to the motion, they must forsake all their old ways, the old corruptions, and old passions, and old affections; and seriously think of leaving all their worldly pleasures and vanities ; they must not stick at their choicest interests, most pleasing lusts, and dearest sins, though it be a right hand, and a right eye, Mat. v. 29. If we consent to take Christ, and retain our old loves still, we shall be little the better for being Christians.
(2.) You must give yourselves up to him, to live in his love and obedience. There are two grand duties we must resolve upon, if Ave enter into this relation — conjugal love and conjugal obedience.
(1st.) Conjugal love. There is no want of love on Christ's part : Isa. lxii. 5, ' As a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.' Now this love must be mutual ; as he in us, so we in him. Now conjugal love is such a love as is greater to the yoke-
VeE. 10.] SEEMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 395
fellow than to any other. So our love to Christ is a superlative love. "We must not only love him not less than other things, nor equal with other things, but above them, cleaving to him alone. Some love Christ less than other things ; they love him a little, but love the world better. Honour and greatness better : John xii. 42, ' How can you believe that seek honour one of another ? ' Pleasure : 2 Tim. iii. 4, ' Lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God.' Profit : 2 Tim. iv. 10, ' Demas hath forsaken us, and embraced the present world.' Some love Christ, but love other things equal with him. They are divided ; it is a nice case ; hard to say which hath the mastery : they make a pother with religion, but never feel the true force of it. But the true conjugal affection is superlative : Ps. lxxiii. 25, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee ;' Phil. iii. 8-10, ' I count all things but dung and dross, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord.' They prefer Jesus Christ before all things in the world. Besides, as an husband, he must have this love.
(2d.) This is a Lord that must have conjugal obedience : Eph. iii. 23, 24, ' The husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, and the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.' I urge it, as wives are subject to their husbands in everything, so let the church and each believing soul be to Christ. Surely, if you con- sent to marry to Christ, you must reckon upon it, that you are no longer your own to dispose of, and therefore henceforth you mnst no more live to yourselves. Christ is accepted and received for Lord, Col. ii. 6, and as such you must consent to serve and obey him : Ps. xlv. 12, ' He is thy Lord, worship thou him.' You must take him so as never to be ashamed to own him ; take him for better, for worse; take him and his cross, Mat. xvi. 24 ; take him and his yoke, Mat. xi. 29 ; take him and his spiritual laws, John xiv. 21. You are to be obedient to Christ in all things. You are no more to do what you will, but what will please the Lord, 1 Cor. vii. 30. In short, you must obey him, if you will have benefit by him, Heb. v. 9.