(2.) Take it for actual obedience ; without it naked faith is of little use to seal and confirm our great privileges to us. Therefore, saith the apostle, * Can faith save him ? ' James ii. 14 ; that is, naked faith, destitute of obedience. Therefore when the scripture saith, ' Believe, and thou shalt be saved,' the meaning is, believe so as faith may pro- duce its proper fruit ; as he that is to entertain a king will make reck- oning of his train. There is no getting rid of doubts and fears till faith produce this subjection to Christ.
Use. To persuade all to subject yourselves to Christ, if you would not be such members of the church as a wooden leg is of the body, but firm and living members.
1. Consider whom it is we call you to obey : Jesus Christ, who —
[1.] Hath sovereign authority to command, as he gave good evidence in the days of his flesh ; for the whole course of nature obeyed him : Mat, viii. 27, ' What manner of man is this, that even the winds and seas obey him ? ' These are creatures that seem less liable to check and control, yet they retreat at his rebuke, and lay down their proud blasts and waves. The angels are all at his beck ; the good angels ministered to him in his lowest estate. If we expect to be like them for privileges, we sliould be like them for duties also. The bad angels : Mark i. 27, ' For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.' Now shall winds and seas, angels and devils, obey Christ, and shall man refuse his empire and sovereignty ? Oh, yield up yourselves to the Lord, and stand out no longer.
[2.] This Jesus is 3'our saviour, and shall he not be your Lord ? He that obeyed even to the death for your sakes that you might be made righteous, Rom. v. 19, bore tliat wrath that was due to his i)eople for their disobedience, let him command what he will, you should not grudge at it.
[3.] It is Christ who hath set us so perfect a copy, and first obeyed him- self, and put his own neck under the yoke, that we might obey him the more patiently. Now would Christ come down from heaven to set us a
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pattern, lie that was God's equal would be his subject, and will you refuse the obedience to which Christ himself hath submitted ? He became a living precept to us, religion exemplified, a visible commen- tary upon God's laws. Now the disciple is not above his lord, John xiii. 14. Christ hath performed all that was enjoined him to do and •suffer ; therefore let us imitate him in his humility, self-denial, cheer- fulness, and delight to do the will of God.
2. Consider wherein we are to obey him ; in things just and equal. He doth not burden us with needless laws, which have no respect to our good and safety. Besides the great remedial laws of faith and repentance, which are necessary to our recovery to God, what hath -he required of us but ' to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this pre- sent world ? ' Titus ii. 12. Soberly with respect to ourselves. He that liveth holily hath much the sweeter life than he that liveth sensually, and walloweth in all uncleanness and excess. Kighteously with respect to our neighbours, without which the world would be a den of thieves, or a public stage whereon to act all manner of villany, and we could have no security of anything we have. We would have others live justly and peaceably with us, and what more just and equal than to do so ourselves, to give every one his due, and supply them that need ? So godly, loving God, trusting in God, delighting ourselves in God, and worshipping him according to his own order, and enter- taining a constant communion with him by prayer and praise. These duties bring their own pleasure and sweetness along with them. Now, as Naaman's servant reasoned, 2 Kings v. 13, ' If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it ? how much rather when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean ? ' So in this case ; when such necessary things are required of us, should not we seriously set about them ?
3. Consider why this obedience is required. Christ doth not rule us for our hurt and ruin, but for our conduct.^ His conduct and government is to lead us to eternal life, and when you disobey him, you forsake your own happiness. The pilot governeth the ship to bring it to its haven, the physician governeth his patient to procure his health, the father governeth the children for their better education, the husband governeth the wife for her benefit ; so doth Christ govern the church, that he may make it a glorious church. It is for your happiness : Isa. i 19, ' If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; ' Exod. xix. 5, ' Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.' In short, obey him, and he will give you his Spirit : Acts v. 32, ' So also is the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him.' Obey him, and he will give you peace of conscience: Mat. xi. 29, ' Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly, and you shall find rest to your souls.' Obey him, and he will give you glory and eternal sal- vation : Eom. ii. 7, ' To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life.'