2. 'That obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' It is not enough to profess the gospel, but we must obey the gospel if we would be exempted from the terror of the judgment.
Now what is it to obey the gospel ? To yield up ourselves to do the will of Christ revealed in the gospel. This obedience is necessary if we consider the gospel, or faith, or Christ.
[1.] The gospel, which is the sum of things to be believed and done. It hath its commands as well as the law, it is not all made up of pro- mises. The three great commands of the gospel are repentance, and. faith, and new obedience.
(1.) Eepentance ; that we should bewail our former failings, and be ready and willing to return to God. Now when men harden them- selves in their sins, and reject all admonitions to the contrary, they do not obey the gospel : Isa. i. 19, 20, ' If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land ; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured by the sword.' Unbelief of divine promises and threaten- ings, and obstinate impenitency go together. Wilful disobedience to this great command of the gospel is the damning sin. Some are so obstinate in evil, that they cannot be persuaded by any means to relinquish it. When they will not be persuaded to accept of God's offers of mercy and grace in Christ, but love darkness more than light, John iii. 19, they are left to his vengeance.
(2.) Faith in Christ. Not to mind this is against God's peremptory command : 1 John iii. 23, ' This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.' It is not a slighting of grace only, but a high point of rebellion and disobedience to God. And so disobedience to this command maketh way for our disobedience to other commands: 'How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? ' Heb. ii. 3.
(3.) New obedience. The whole moral law is adopted into the new covenant; for Christ redeemed us to God, and the kingdom of the Mediator is subordinate to the kingdom of the Father : Titus ii. 12, ' We should live soberly, righteously, and godly.' To neglect our duty is to disobey the gospel ; though we own it in profession, we contradict it by practice ; though we are not ashamed of the gospel, yet the gospel is ashamed of us, if we go on in our sinful ways.
[2.] Faith implieth obedience ; for it is a hearty consent to take the blessedness offered for our happiness, the duty required for our work, and so hath an influence on our whole obedience : Eom. x. 16, ' But they have not all obeyed the gospel ; for Isaiah saith, Who hath believed our report ? ' Kom. i. 5, ' We have received apostleship for the obedience of faith among all nations ; ' Eom. xvi. 26, ' The mys- teries of the gospel are made manifest for the obedience of faith ; ' that
252 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeR. VI.
is, that we may subject ourselves to God : Acts vi. 7, ' Many of the priests were obedient unto the faith/ Not only believed, but performed the duties which faith calleth for.
[3.] Christ ; his example, his authority.
(1.) His example. He came from heaven to teach us how to obey God, most willingly, readily, and at the dearest rates : Heb. v. 8, 9, ' Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered : and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him ; ' as the a7rocr(j)pdyi(T/jLa, the best impression can be left upon us. He submitted to his Father's will in the hardest duties : Phil. ii. 8, ' Obedient to the death of the cross.' He took upon him the yoke of obedience, and that even to a shameful, painful, accursed death. What impression should this stamp and seal leave upon us ?
(2.) His authority and sovereignty. He is the Saviour of the body, and the head of the church. We receive him not only as a priest, but as our Lord and king : Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a Saviour.' Therefore we must not only look to be feasted with privileges, but mind our duty and obedi- ence to him.
Use 1. "Well, then, if you would have the comfort and not the terror of this day, you must obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; that is the trial which christians must undergo. If you cry, Lord, Lord, and be workers of iniquity, he will not know you and own you. If you profess a religion which you abhor, all your worship is a lie, and all the confidence you build upon it is but a vain deceit : Eom. 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 ? ' Alas ! many christians live as if they were baptized in the devil's name, and sworn to be his bondmen ; they give up themselves to worldly and fleshly lusts, as if their baptism were a protestation against Christ, and all respect to his laws. But let it not be so with you, beloved christians ; your glory and safety will be obedience to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray consider —