[2.] Consider the price that was paid for us. The apostle Peter gives us an account of that : 1 Peter i. 18, 19, 'We were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.' The great- ness of the price doth argue his full propriety in us. That which was bought with silver and gold gave the buyer an interest in the thing or person so bought, not only in lands, but servants ; as if a man had bought another out of captivity, or he had sold himself, all his time, strength, and service belonged to the buyer. Yea, the dominion was so absolute, that the servant had no plea against his master if he had died by his stripes after a while, ' He is his money,' saith the law, Exod. xxi. 21. But now we are bought with the blood of the Son of God, and therefore what degree of service can be answerable to so great a price ? Judas sold our Saviour at a cheap rate, for thirty pieces
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of silver ; but before God's tribunal it was blood of a higher price ; and as to us, the indignity and cheap price that was put upon him maketh the obligation the greater ; therefore we should wholly bend ourselves to promote his glory.
4. By conquest. Prisoners of war were theirs that took them till they paid their ransom. The apostle alludeth to it : 2 Peter ii. 19, 1 For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bon- dage;' Rom. vii. 14, 'Sold under sin.' We are Christ's by conquest: Col. i. 13, ' Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness.' By strong hand : Luke xi. 21, 22, ' When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace : but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoil.' Indeed this conquest is sweet, for it is not a captivity, but a rescue ; as Abraham pursued after the kings that took Lot prisoner, Gen. xiv., and rescued him, and would have nothing for his pains but the liberty of the persons. So that it is a blessed conquest, but yet such as giveth Christ an interest in us, as David got an interest in Michal, Saul's daughter, by slaying Goliath.
5. Actual possession. When we are united to him by the Spirit, our property in ourselves is quite destroyed by our union with Christ ; so that our bodies and souls are not our own to dispose of, but his. Thence the apostle : 1 Cor. vi. 15, ' Shall I take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot ? God forbid.' Christ hath a right in everything that is a christian's ; it is actually seized upon by the Spirit.
6. By resignation and voluntary consent. When Christ taketh hold of us by his Spirit, we take hold of him. Christ maketh over himself to us, and we give up ourselves to him, every interest and concernment to him : ' My beloved is mine, and I am his,' Cant. ii. 16. We are so. It is the time of spiritual marriage between Christ and the soul. We give up all to him, every interest, relation, concernment ; and this must not be retracted in word or deed. Therefore unless we mean to retract our vows, and deal treacherously in the covenant, we should live as those that are Christ's : 2 Cor. viii. 5, ' But first gave their ownselves to the Lord ; ' 2 Chron. xxx. 8, ' Yield yourselves to the Lord.'
Thirdly, The third reason is taken from the value of his service- Life is only then worth the having when we may honour Christ by it, otherwise not. For a man that hath an interest in better things to desire life merely for itself, is foolish ; for it is better to be with God, Phil. i. 23, 7roXX(o /xdXXov Kpelrrov, ' by much more the better.' For a saint t© live here with so much trouble and molestation is no eligible thing ; but yet if Christ hath any use for us, we must be content. David prayeth for life, but still in order to service : Ps. cxix. 17, ' Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and keep thy word/ Paul loved his work rather than his life, and preferred obedience before safety : Acts xx. 24, ' Neither count I my life dear unto me, so I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' So that was David's hope in the prolongation of life : Ps. cxviii. 17, ' I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord.' Further oppor- tunities to honour God. This is that which maketh life to be life
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indeed, communion with God in Christ. It is not he who lives longest and most plentifully, but most serviceable to God's glory, that makes life to be life indeed.