2. We were redeemed to this end ; for we are redeemed unto God : Eev. v. 9, ' Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.' To be redeemed unto God is to be redeemed to his service, and admitted into his favour and friendship and communion with him, to restore God's right to us, and our happiness in the enjoyment of heaven. Christ first appeased God's wrath, and restored us to a course of service, which we should comfortably carry on till we have received our wages : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That he would grant unto us, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.'
3. Our entering into covenant with God implieth it. In every covenant there is ratio dati et accepti — something given and something required : Isa, Ivi. 4, ' They choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant.' To take hold of his covenant there, is to lay claim to the privileges and benefits promised and offered tlierein. Now this cannot be done unless we choose the things that please him ;
VeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 43
that is, voluntarily, deliberately, not by chance, but choice, enter into a course of obedience, wherein we may be pleasing or acceptable to him ; this is the fixed determination of our souls. Our faces must be set heavenward, and the drift, aim, and bent of our lives must be for God, to walk in his way: Kom. xii. 1, 'I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,' A man devoteth himself to God, out of the sense of his love, to serve him and please him in all things.
4. The relations which result from our covenant interest. There is the relation between us and Christ of husband and spouse, Hos. ii. 19. Now the duty of the wife is to please the husband, 1 Cor. vii. 34. The relation of children and father, 2 Cor. vi. IS, ' I will be a father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord.' Now the duty of children is to please the parents ; and that is said to be well-pleasing to the Lord, Col. iii. 20, and the rather because it is a pattern of our own duty to him. Masters and servants : Ezek. xvi. 8, ' Thou enteredst into covenant with me, and becamest mine ; ' Acts xxvii. 23, 'Whose I am, and whom I serve.' They that please themselves carry themselves as if they were their own, not God's. All that we are, and all that we have and can do, must be his, and used for him in one way or another.
Use 1. Is for reproof of those that study to please men. To approve themselves to the world, to be accepted in the world, that is their great end and scope.
1. How can these comply with the great duty of christians, which is to please the Lord ? Gal. i. 10, ' If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.' To hunt after the favour of men, and to gain the applause of the world, is contrary to the very essential disposition of the saints, whose great aim is to approve themselves to God, however men esteem of them. There is a pleasing men to their edification : Eom. XV. 2, ' Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good, to edification ; ' and 1 Cor. x. 33, ' Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.' But to please the sinful humours, dispositions, and affections of men, to make this our great scope, is contrary to sincerity and fidelity in Christ's service. Certainly a man ought not to disobhge others, much less irritate and stir up the corruptions of others, but his great care must be to approve himself to God.
2. There is no such necessity of the approbation of .men, as of God ; his acceptation, and the testimony of a good conscience concerning our fidelity in his service, is more than all the favour, countenance, applause, or any advantage that can come by men. Choose the approbation of Christ, and you are made for ever ; it is not so if you choose the approbation of men. Please God, and no matter who is your enemy, Prov. xvi. 9. Please men, and God may be angry with you, and Wast all your carnal happiness, as well as deny you eternal happiness. Please the Lord, and that is the best way to be at peace with men.
Use 2. By way of self-reflection. Is tliis your great scope and end ?
1. Your end will be known by your work. If you labour to approve yourself to God in every relation, in every condition, in every business, in every employment, and are still using yourselves and all that yon
44 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XIII,
have for God, this is your trade, and this is your study ; you are still at his work, that if a man should ask you, -What are you a-doing ? "Whose work is it that you are employed about ? you may be able truly to say, it is the Lord's. For whom are you studying, preaching, con- ferring, praying ? Wliat guideth you in all your relations ? To whom do you approve yourselves ? For whom are you sick or well ? 2 Cor. V. 15, ' That they which live should not live to themselves, but unto him which died for them ; ' and Rom. xiv. 7-9, ' For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself ; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whc-ther we die, we die unto the Lord ; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.' What moveth you to go on with any business ? Who supporteth you in your business ? Can you say to God, What God would have me to do, I do it ?