by the laws: for they are invested with power by God himself, in order that they may exercise it for their people's good. Nor do we conceive that Christians of an inferior order should de- cline all offices of trust and power; or that power should not be exercised over the Church of God : for every society must be governed by laws : and it is desirable that the execution of the laws should be entrusted to those who will most consult the glory of God. But this we say, that no man should affect power under an idea that happiness consists in the possession of it, or that he himself is elevated and ennobled by it ; nor indeed for any other end, than as it may be instrumental to the advancing of God's honour, and the happiness of mankind. The Christian's must be the very reverse of that which we have seen to be the habit of the world. What worldly men affect, he must despise : and what they exact of others, he must, of his own mind and will, cheerfully render to all around him. Instead of wishing to enslave others, he must willingly make himself, so to speak, a slave to others; and account it his highest honour to render services even to the least and meanest of mankind : he must be the minister of all, the servant of all*.]
Oar Lord proceeded to illustrate this idea further, in a way,
II. Of comparison —
Our blessed Lord has exhibited a perfect pattern
for his people —
[lie was, in a sense that none other can be, " the Son of Man :" he was, as the Jews themselves understood that name to mean, the Son of God, even God himself0. Yet " he, though being in the form of God, and counting it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the like- ness of sinful men :" and, instead of appearing in outward pomp and splendour, and having the great men of the earth in his retinue, he came to minister unto his own rebellious creatures: yea, he waited upon them continually, " going about through all the towns and villages to do good" to their bodies and their souls. On his own immediate Disciples too he waited, con- descending even to wash their feet. Nor did he only spend his life in the service of mankind, but at last laid down his life for them, to ransom their souls from death and hell. No sacrifice was too great for him to make for their welfare, no suffering too heavy for him to endure. He " bare their infirmities and sorrows" by tender sympathy, and " he bare also their sins in
h $ov\o£ imports a servant who was also his master's property. Luke Nxii. (JO, 70.