To stir us up, in a word, to labour to be more under the government of Christ, and to get assurance of it, let us consider, if we be not Christ's, whose are we ? There is but two kingdoms. If Christ rules us not, the devil and the world must rule us.
And what kind of subjection is it to be subject to our own lusts ? to a
damned world and to Satan ? Is it not to be ruled by our enemies, and
base enemies ? Our lusts are baser than the devil himself. For the devil
is a substance, and ruleth by them. Now who would be willing to serve
* That is, ' naughty ' ='wicked. — G.
THE christian's END. 321
an enemy ? nay, to be a servant of servants, to be under these tyrannical enemies, restless enemies, that do encroach upon us more and more ? and all the fruits we have by their service is shame and grief at the best ; and shall we serve those that will pay no better wages ? Yet this is the con- dition of all that have not Christ for their Lord. They serve some base lust, and Satan, a tyrannical lord, that instead of better rewards, punisheth them with eternal destruction ; so that they serve him with the price of their o^\ti souls.
I beseech you, seriously consider of it, and put this qxurre to your souls ; I have lived in such and such a sin, but what is the fruit of it? The best is shame. If I am not ashamed here, it will end in eternal shame. So that it is a sweet thing to be under the government of Christ. It is utile do»t,i- nium, a dominion for our good.
And lest we should be discouraged, take heed of all temptations that withdraw us from the love of Christ's government, because our nature is opposite to this yoke. If thej' seize upon us, we shall be great losers by them in our reputation, and in much of that comfort which otherwise we might have gotten.
Beloved, you should lose nothing by Christ. What we lose for his sake, we shall gain in peace of conscience, in grace, and in this world too, if he seeth it good. No man ever lost by the service of Christ. Let a man lay beginning and end together, and tell me if he hath gotten anything by serving his lusts ; for God payeth him home here, in much terror of con- science, and crosses, and losses at the end, besides hell hereafter, though at first he enjoy some seeming comfort.
And therefore lay it as a principle, that God's service is the best and and most profitable service.
Ohj. Ay, but it appeareth to the view of the world that they that stick close to Christ, and will disclaim all for a good conscience, fall into this and that misery.
Ans. 1. First, The reason is, because they be not good enouffh. It may be they be negligent in the service of Christ ; and therefore God will purge them, and make them better, and will try their graces, that they may know themselves the better.
2. Secondly, One main end is, indeed, Christ will sulfer his to be exercised with this and that affliction, that he maij have glory in his servants ; that the world may see he hath some that are content to lose something for his sake ; that will part with anything, and break with any man that they may please the Lord.
3. Thirdly, If we serve Christ, he ivill speak to our consciences that it is not in rain to serve him, howsoever things fall out in the world. I confess there is a mystery in Christ's government, which we must take notice of. We can give no reason why his enemies should so reign, and his church be put under hatches. Only in general we know, that all this, in conclusion, shall serve for the church's good. * And all shall work for the best to them that love God,' Kom. viii. 28. God is all this while a- working the church's good and the enemies' ruin, though we see not the mystery of Christ's kingdom.
I beseech you, labour to make a good use of this ; get under Christ's government, and when flesh and blood shall put up a petition, or suggest anything, give it a non placet, deny the petition ; say, I am Christ's, and I owe nothing to any but to Christ ; therefore not to sin or myself. All my debt is to the Spirit, and to Christ. Therefore I will ' sow to the Spirit,
VOL. V. X
822 THE christian's end.
not to the flesh,' Gal vi. 8. ' I am Lou^lit with a price,' 1 Cor. \i. 20 ; my liberty cost Christ dear, therefore I will die honourably, rather than prostitute myself to any base courses. Thus we should have high thoughts of ourselves. And upon all temptations suggested to us, make use of this consideration, that we arc not our own, but Christ's.
NOTES.
(a) P. 291. — ' Men are as thoir aims are. Noble spirits liave noble aims.' Again we are reminded tliat Sibbes was a contemporary of Shakespeare. This instantly recalls Vincentis's exquisite words : —