4. Leave not this way till you have the evidence in yourselves : 1 John V. 8, 10, ' There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.' Oh, then, give yourselves to Christ, that you may be saved by him ; and leave not waiting on Christ till your hearts can rejoice in him as your Lord and Saviour.
SEEMON XXIX.
Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the luives he to their- own husbands in every thing. — Eph. v. 24.
Here the apostle inferreth the conclusion from the foregoing argument. In the proposal of this conclusion two things are considerable — 1. The manner how this subjection is to be performed, 'As tb©-
church is subject to Christ.'
458 SERMONS uroN EPHESiANs V. [Ser. XXIX.
2. The extent ; unlimited, ' In everything ; ' that is, in everything that is lawful and belonging to her duty. Certainly those things which hinder our due subjection to God and Christ are excepted ; as the aposlle in another case, 1 Cor. xv. 29, * When he hath put all things under him, it is manifest that he is excepted that hath put all things under him.' There are cases excepted by a superior law. In Luke xiv. 26, it is said, ' If a man hate not father and mother, wife and children, he cannot be my disciple.' We still go on with the pattern. The point is tliis —
JDoct. That those that belong to Christ as his people do willingly and sincerely subject themselves to his government.
I speak of the regenerate and true members of the church. Others are subject to him outwardly ; they sincerely.
1. Let us state the nature of the subjection of the church to Christ.
2. Give the reasons of it.
In stating the subjection to Christ, we must consider — (1.) The foundation ; (2.) The nature ; (3.) The properties of it.
First, The foundation is Christ's authority. The primitive sovereign is God ; the sovereign by derivation is Christ the mediator, in his manhood united to the second person of the godhead. He is Lord, not as creator but redeemer, which kind of authority accrueth to him lay his own merit and purchase : Kom. xiv. 9, ' For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.' It was the fruit and consequent of the humiliation of the Son of God. And also by God's grant : Acts ii. 36, ' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ ; ' made, that is, appointed or ordained. Concerning it observe two things —
1. It is superadded to the former sovereignty and dominion, which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost had as creator. This new dominion and sovereignty is not destructive of the former, but accumulative. It did uot abolish God's right by the creation, for that continued still, and will continue whilst man receiveth his being from God, and the con- tinuance of his being by providential preservation. This therefore is superadded to the former by the new title of a redeemer: Kev. v. 12, * Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.' This authority is derivative, and cannot be supreme, but subordinate. Though Christ's office as head of the church be the greatest and highest that €ver was, above all angels and creatures, next to God, therefore Christ's place upon his investiture and solemn inauguration was at the right hand of the eternal throne of God, yet it is derived from God, and referred to him. Derived from God ; for this power was given to him : JVIat. xxviii. 18, ' All power is given to me in heaven and earth.' A power to make new laws, which shall be the rule of man's duty and God's judgment. And it is referred and subordinated to God : Phil, ii. 11, 'Tiiat every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' The supreme right of governing is still in God, and subjection to him is not vacated, but reserved and estab- lished on more comfortable terms.
2. This authority and dominion which the Kedeemer is possessed of
TeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 459
is comfortable and beneficial to us ; and the end and effect of it was our cure and recovery. God had a full right to govern us, which could not be disannulled by man's sin ; and it was so great that it cannot be greater : but it was not comfortable to us fallen and alienated from Ood ; for it was such a riglit as a prince hath over his rebels to punish them. We renounced God's service, and forfeited that interest which we had in his gracious government. Therefore was this new interest set on foot to save and recover us to God, that his right in us and over us might be comfortable to us ; therefore Christ's government and ■authority is spoken of in scriptures as medicinal and restorative, such as conduceth to make peace between God and man, that we may again €njoy his favour : Acts x. 36, ' The word which God sent to the chil- ■dren of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.' Also to reduce men to the obedience of God : Acts v. 31, ' Him hath <jod exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.' This new Lord hath made a new law of grace, which is propounded as a remedy for the recovering and restoring of the lapsed world of mankind to the grace and favour of ■God, and their duty and obedience to him, granting thereby free pardon and right to blessedness to all that sincerely repent and believe in him ; which consideration doth mightily enforce obedience, because it is a beneficial law we are under.