2. By way of reward. As in a covenant there is not only a duty incumbent, but a benefit accruing to the party that contracteth ; so Christ in this eternal treaty dealt with God by way of bargain and pur- chase ; his aim was to get a special interest in, and relation to believers, as mediator. Tliis was all the gain he reckoned of : Isa. liii. 10, ' When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.' And therefore by virtue of this purchase he hath many relations to them ; they are given to him as subjects of his king- dom, as scholars of his school, as children of his family, as the spouse of his bosom, as the members of his body. All these relations I shall insist upon ; for this was the honour granted to Christ upon his obed- ience ; I mean, he counted it an honour, and bought it at a dear rate, and yet was contented with the purchase. Alas ! nothing could be added to the greatness of his person, who was equal with the Father in glory and power ; the jirivileges of the incarnation were but as so many milder humiliations ; but he was so tender of souls that he was pleased to take it as a gift from his Father, and a reward of all his services. Mark it, nothing else could bring Christ out of heaven into the manger, the wilderness, the cross, the grave, but to get an interest in your souls : Isa. liii. 11, 'He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied,' What did he gain by all his expense of blood and sweat, his temptations, agonies, taking our nature, bearing our burden, but to see you safe in the arms of mercy, that he might be your king, your prophet, your priest, your head ? Next to the title of the Son of God, Christ valueth that of being head of the church. And see how
318 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XVIIT.
the relations are diversified, tliat he might come nearer and closer to us : a king is a more large relation, a master hath a more particular inspection ; a master may he faithful and careful, hut he hath not the howels of a father ; a father is very tender, hut the greatest intimacy is hetween hushand and wife, we are the wife of his hosom ; if hushand be a relation too remote, hecause the union is civil, he comes nearer to us yet, he will be our head, we his members, where the union is natural. Let us go over these severally.
[1.] We are given to him to be subjects of his kingdom. Christ is lord of all the world, but he prizeth no title like that of king of saints, Kev. XV. 3. No throne to him like the conscience of a humble sinner ; the heart is his best presence-chamber, there is his throne of state set. He had an eternal right, together with the Father and Holy Ghost, but he would come and suffer, and be crowned with a crown of thorns, that he might have a new right as mediator, and have the crown of glory put upon his head in the church. Therefore it is said, Acts v. 31, that upon his resurrection, 'God hath exalted him to be a prince and a saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins.* The grant was made long before, when he first contracted with Christ about the salvation of the world ; but when the price was paid, then it was made good. There is never a subject Christ hath, but he is bought, and with the dearest price, his sovereign's own blood : Mat. xx. 28, ' The Son of man gave his life a ransom for many,' Xvrpov avrl TToWoJv. In other kingdoms many subjects die, that the j^rince may be seated in the throne ; but here the prince dieth for the subjects' sakes, that he may govern his spiritual realm with peace and quiet- ness. And as the price was great, so the Father hath made him a large grant. Christ's empire is universal ; properly he is the catholic king, there are no bounds and limits of his kingdom ; first or last, in all the habitable parts of the earth there are or shall be some that acknowledge his sceptre : Isa. xlix. 12, ' Behold, these shall come from far ; and lo, these from the north, and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim.' From the east, west, north, south, Jews, Gentiles ; the Jews that are now his enemies shall acknowledge his sovereignty : Hosea i. 11, * Then shall the children of Judah, and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land.' As the tribes flocked to Hebron to crown David, so shall these to crown Christ ; and this royal garland shall Christ wear to all eternity. It is true it is said, 1 Cor. xv. 29, ' He shall resign up the kingdom to the Father.' I answer — In kingly dignity there are two things — regia cura and regius lionor — kingly care, by which he ordereth and defendeth his subjects against enemies, that shall cease ; but the kingly honour which he receiveth from his subjects shall be for ever and ever ; he shall alwa3's be honoured as king and mediator of the church. He shall resign the kingdom ; that is, that way of administration by which he now governeth ; for when the elect are fully converted and sanctified, and enemies destroyed, there will be no need of this care. Now after he hath bought us out of liis Father's hands by his merit and purchase, he is forced to recover us from the devil by his power and conquest. The word is the rod of his strength, the sacraments are our oath of allegiance; in prajer we