In short, concerning this kingdom, which belongeth to the second person, the Father appoints it, the Son merits it, the Holy Ghost as Christ's viceroy governs it. The Father chooseth a certain number of men, giveth them to Christ ; the Son dieth for these men, ransometli them from the grave and hell, and committeth them to be ruled and governed to the Spirit, as Christ's vicar ; the Spirit useth the ministry of men, we are the Holy Ghost's overseers, Acts xx. 28, by which grace is wrought, and so we are united to Christ. Our work by the power of the Spirit is to bring them to Christ, and Christ bringeth us to God the Father by his intercession and by final tradition, which is the last act of Christ's mediatory kingdom : 1 Cor. xv. 24, ' Then shall he deliver up the kingdom to the Father.' God giveth us to Christ, Christ to the Spirit, the Spirit uniteth us to Christ, and Christ bringeth us to God. So that if we would enter into this kingdom, we must go to God the Father, confess thou art a traitor and rebel, desire him not to enter into judgment with thee, but seek to be reconciled. If thou thus comest to the Father, he will send thee to the Son ; as Job xlii. 8, God biddeth the friends of Job to seek his intercession : I will not be pleased with you but in Christ ; ' If I did not regard the presence
208 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVIT. [Sek. VIII.
of Jehos]iapliat, I would not look to thee, nor see thee,' 2 Kings iii. 14. Go to the Son, reflect upon Christ's merit and intercession ; say, Lord, appear for us before thy Father ; were it not for thee he would not regard my face. The Son will send you to the Spirit : I cannot ])ring you to God in your impurity and rebellion ; go to the Spirit of my Father, that he may wash you, and purge you. Plead the promise of the Spirit : John xvi. 13, 14, ' Howbeit, when he that is the Spirit of truth shall come, he will guide you into all truth ; for he shall not speak of himself : but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you.' When we come to the Spirit, he Avill send us to Moses and the prophets ; hear them. The word is ' the rod of his strength.' By the word we are gained, by the sacraments we take an oath of allegiance, in prayer we perform our homages, in alms and acts of charity we pay him tribute ; praise and honour are the revenues of this crown.
Thus I have showed the title, the largeness of the grant, and the manner of administration.
2. We are given to Christ as scholars in his school. He is the great prophet, and doctor of the church. Certainly Christ loveth the honour of this chair ; he counteth it an honour to be our prophet. It is his title, Acts iii. 22, ' A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from among your brethren.' Christ he came out of the bosom of God, to show his mind and heart ; he is called ' the apostle and high priest of our profession,' Heb. iii. 1. Christ taketh the titles of his own ofHcers. Though he be Lord of the church, yet he is an apostle. He counteth it an honour to be a preacher of the gospel, God's legate a latere, the Son of God is first on the roll of gospel preachers. He laid the foundation of the gospel when on earth ; he teacheth now he is in heaven ; others teach for him. Christ counts it his liberty to teach ; he is to be a light to the Gentiles. He doth not teach the ear, but the heart ; he is still to nurture us, and bring us up. He is an excellent teacher ; he doth not only set us our lesson, but giveth us a heart to learn. The scripture is our book, but Christ is our master, and we shall see wondrous things if he doth but open our eyes.
3. We are to be children of his family. A master is not so careful as a parent. This was the thing propounded to allure Christ to the work of redemption : Isa. liii. 10, ' He shall see his seed ;' he shall have a numberless issue and progeny. Though all are Benonis, sons of sorrow, and Christ died in the birth, yet this was his privilege, ' He shall see his seed.' Jesus Christ hath a great family, take it altogether : Kev. vii. 9, ' A great company which none could number, redeemed out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.' _ Christ is wonderfully pleased with the fruitfulness of his death. It is his great triumph at the last day, Heb. ii. 13, ' Behold I and the children wliich God hath given me.' It is a goodly sight when Christ shall rejoice in the midst of them, and go with this glorious train to the throne of the Father. Jesus Christ is our brother and our father : by regene- ration and the merit of the cross, our father ; but in the possession of heaven, our brother. We are co-heirs with him.