Secondly, The nature of this subjection. It consisteth of two things — (1.) Our willing and hearty consent to become subjects to Christ ; (2.) Our actual obedience to his commands.
1. Our willing and hearty consent to become subjects to Christ. This is the same with our being christians, when we yield up ourselves to Christ to become his people : 2 Cor. viii. 5, ' But first gave their •ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God ; ' Rom. vi. 13, * Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin ; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.' When the will consenteth, they are christians. And it is solemnly done in baptism, when God is taken to be our God, and we give up ourselves to be his people ; and when Christ is taken to be our saviour, we give up ourselves to be his members and redeemed ones, and we take him as our chief governor, giving up ourselves to be his subjects. Mark the phrases : Exod. xx. 3, ' Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' John v. 12, ' He that hath the Son hath life,' It importeth accepting, receiving, owning Christ as our Lord and redeemer. What the having God for our God doth imply, that having Christ for our Lord and redeemer doth imply also ; that implieth subjection and -dependence, so doth this ; so that this subjection is necessary to Chris- tianity itself, or our entering into the covenant of grace.
2. Actual obedience is the fruit of it ; and it implieth the strict and ready performance of all commanded duties, for therein we show the reality of our consent : Rom. vi, 16, ' Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness ? ' Mark, he doth say. His servants ye are whom ye obey ; not whom you consent to obey : certainly that is our lord and master upon
4G0 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXIX.
whom we bestow our service, time, and obedience. God's servants are so, not only by consent or open profession and express covenant, but it is verified and made good by a constant continual obedience. They do not only make covenant, but keep covenant with God. Be- sides consent, there is practice, or strict obedience to all the duties required of them.
Thirdly, The properties of this subjection and obedience.
1. It is a willing subjection and obedience: Ps. ex. 3, 'Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power,' They voluntarily submit themselves to the Son of God as their prophet, lord, and sovereign. There is a passive subjection and a voluntary submission. A passive subjection ; so all creatures at all times are under the power of the Son of God and our redeemer ; and amongst the rest, the devils themselves, though revolters and rebels, are not exempted from this dominion ; be hath a ministry and service for them to do, as well as the good angels : Phil. ii. 10, ' That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.' But then, by voluntary submission, those only are subjects, and admitted into his kingdom, who wholly and willingly give up them- selves to God their redeemer, that they may be saved on his own terms, and in the way that God hath appointed. The devil and wicked men are his subjects against their wills ; whether they will or no they are subject to him ; but all Christ's people are his by their own consent, to be guided and ordered by him. And as the subjection is voluntary, so is the obedience and service, which is the fruit thereof. It is not enough compulsorily to render Christ some unwilling services, but their obedience must be willing, ready, pleasant : 1 John v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep bis commandments, and his com- mandments are not grievous.' It must be done not only out of a sense of his authority, but out of love to him. Many may do what he commandeth, but they had rather leave it undone ; they have no delight in the work ; this doth not become subjection to Christ. A beggar is glad of your alms whether you give it with a good or ill will, because he needeth it ; but Christ hath no need of you and your service. We give it to him, not because he needeth it, but because he deserveth and requireth it ; and so it must be voluntarily, not by constraint or fear, but love.
2. It is a thankful subjection and obedience. The design of God in the work of redemption was to lay a foundation of the highest thankfulness ; therefore the obedience to our redeemer must be a thankful obedience. A mere law, as a law, requireth obedience ; but a benefit, as a benefit, requireth thankfulness. Therefore the gospel, which is called ' a law of faith,' Kom. iii. 27, requireth obedience ; and as it is a benefit (1 Tim. vi. 2, ' Partakers of the benefit'), the greatest that can be given to mankind, requireth thankfulness. Join both notions together, and then you will see it is a thankful obedience we are called unto. Thankfulness doth not discharge us of obed- ience, but constrain us to it most powerfully and sweetly. The first subjection is an act of gratitude, as well as an acknowledgment of Christ's sovereignty and power : Eora. xii. 1, ' I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living