[2.] The duties. The notion of the Lord doth call for duty and obedience, and it is our part to obey : Heb. v. 9, ' He became the author of salvation to them that obey him.' Our obedience is the best testi- mony of our subjection to him. This is to be pressed, because the carnal world is usually guilty of a double injury to Christ ; one is, that they seem to like him as a saviour, but refuse him as a lord, whereas Christ is not only a saviour to bless, but a lord to rule and command. These two things must not be divided. But some catch at comforts but
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neglect duty. Certainly a libertine, yokeless spirit is very natural to us : Ps. xii. 4, ' Who is lord over us ? ' The world sticketh at Christ's authority : Luke xix. 14, ' We will not have this man to rule over us.' His laws, and restraints of repentance, faith, and obedience are their great burden : Ps. ii. 3, ' Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' If he will come as a saviour, he shall be welcome ; but we cannot endure he should be chief. The greatest part of the world is libertine, if not in opinion, yet in practice. They would not be under command. He might have customers more than enough for his benefits, but they look upon self-denial, mortification, and strict walking as harsh and severe. If we love privileges we must not decline* duties : Hosea x. 11, 'Ephraim is a heifer not taught, that loveth to tread out the corn,' but will not break the clods. The mouth of the ox was not to be muzzled that trod out the corn. In short, Christ is the ' head of the church,' as well as ' the saviour of the body,' Eph. v. 23. You must give him obedience as well as apply his benefits. Where he is a saviour, he will be prince and lord too. Many carry it so as if they would have Christ to redeem them, but Satan to rule and govern them. Christ must heal their consciences, but the world hath their affections. No ; if thou hast no care to obey him as a lord, thy esteem of him is but imaginary, thy knowledge is but partial, thy application of him unsound. The other injury is, that if he will accept of an empty title, and some superficial compliments and observances, he shall have enough of that, and be called Lord oft enough ; but there must be a thorough subjection, to do his strict and spiritual duties: Luke vi. 46, ' Why call ye me Lord, and do not the things which I say ? ' It is a mockage to call him Lord and not do the things which he hath commanded. This is disclaimed : Mat. vii. 21, ' Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.' By ' the will of my Father ' is meant the whole duty we owe to God ; for this is not made void by Christ, but established upon better terms.
Use. To persuade us to own Christ as a lord. All is in his hands ; he hath 'potestatem vitce et necis, power of life and death : James iv. 12, ' There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.' He hath absolute power to dispose and state the terms of salvation and damnation : John xvii. 2, ' Thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.'
1. Let us enter into the state of subjects, servants, and vassals to him, by renouncing the devil, the world, and the flesh, who were once our old lords, but were indeed our enemies. As the people said, Isa. xxvi. 13, ' Other lords besides thee have had dominion over us/ These must be dispossessed before Christ can take the throne. With godly sorrow and detestation let us throw off these things, resolving no more to hearken to Satan's temptations ; to grow more dead to the vanities and plea- sures of the world, and to tame and subdue our own flesh. Engage1 yourselves to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as your God, as your Lord and happiness, returning by Christ through the Spirit to the love and obedience of your creator, and depending upon him for the effects of his love to you. You see his readiness to help poor wretches liable to eternal wrath, and to make them eternally blessed with this
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glory. We enter ourselves subjects to this sovereign Lord, that we may enjoy the rights and privileges of his kingdom. . 2. Be not subjects only by name and profession, as many are, and by their ignorance, unbelief, and disobedience are little better than heathens and aliens. We must not be partial subjects, to obey in some measure. No ; you must ' walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,' Col. i. 10. ' Of the Lord/ that is, the Lord Christ. We must love him, and serve him, and study to please him in all things, not in a few only, which are not cross to our interests and wills, but we must give him an entire universal obedience to all his laws.