248 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. XIX.
prefer an apple before a jewel. So here the Lord sets out to us Christ and the things of this life, and men prefer the base contentments of the world before Christ. Therefore let us accept of Christ if he hath given himself for us.
2. It exhorteth and presseth us to a spiritual consecration, to give up ourselves to Christ : Kom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.* Jesus Christ gave himself as a sin-offering, and we must give up ourselves as a thank- ofifering unto God. Now, let me tell you your giving up yourselves is a far other manner of giving up than Christ gave up himself. You never keep yourselves so much as when you give up yourselves to God. All the receiving is on our part. God would have us give up our hearts to him. How ? That we might be made better. Better be given up to God than left to ourselves. Christ gave up himself to be crucified, but we give up ourselves to be glorified. And Jesus Christ gave up himself voluntarily, there was no necessity lay upon him ; but woe unto us if we give not up ourselves to God, there is a necessity laid upon us ; we do but give God his due and his own, but Jesus Christ had power over his life, to lay it down, and take it up, for he was an absolute master of his life ; but we are dependent, under an obliga- tion ; therefore our giving is but to make our relation to God more explicit. And again, Jesus Christ could sanctify himself ; he was priest, altar, and sacrifice, and brings all out of his own store ; but all we have is from God. It goeth under the name of our deed, but the sacri- fice, fire, and altar all come down from heaven ; yet the act must be done by us.
And here take these two cautions —
[1.] You must do as Christ did, give up your all, body, soul, estate, goods, good name, life, parts, interest, relations ; write upon all. Holi- ness to the Lord ; there must not be a hoof reserved ; for these things are but trifles in comparison of what Christ parted withal for us. Some stick at one thing, some at another ; some divide the body and the soul. In times of safety, when the public profession of religion is honourable, then men will give up their bodies to Christ ; their eyes shall be lifted up in prayer, and their tongues shall speak well of Christ, but their heart is not given him. In times of trouble, then they could give God their souls ; but profession is suspended, the body must be spared and excused. And then in the soul, some make an untoward division between conscience and affections ; fain they would have Christ to pacify and satisfy their conscience, but they give their hearts and affections to the world. Some could give up their parts for Christ. Oh ! they could plead for him, and do some good act of kindness, but not a penny of their estates. Christians, you must not thus stand buck- ing with God, and play Pharaoli's trick, but all must be given up. The devil knows, when we divide, the whole will fall to his share. It would be sad if God should deal with you as you deal with him, and glorify no more than you give him, take the body into heaven, and leave the soul in hell.
[2.] You must not retract your vows. It is dangerous to alienate things once consecrated, to say with him, ' I go, sir, and went not,' Mat, sxi. 30 ; or as Ananias, to keep back part of the money for which he
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 249
sold his possession, and yet the thing was in his own power. But you are not in your own power ; it is not indifferent whether you will give up yourselves to Christ or no, but it is a duty ; and therefore live as if thou wert not thine own master, but act for Christ, think for Christ, and do for Christ ; it is not an hard law. Consider what Christ did : ' Christ pleased not himself,' Eom. xv. 3. He had a private will as well as you, but he denied it, and yielded to the public will, Christ did not obey his private will to the prejudice of his public, therefore let it not be grievous to renounce your will : 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, ' For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if Christ died for all, then were all dead ; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.'