The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

Now when he is gone mark what the Text saith in the 14. Verse, We will not have this man to rule over us; the Citizens hated him and sent a messenger after him saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. Herein is implied two things, first that God would rule over the hearts, he would inform their judgements, and fit their souls to receive grace, but mark what they say, We will not have him to reign over us, we will not have the Lord Jesus take possession of our hearts, and rule and guide them in the way of grace and salvation, and so say all natural men when the truth of God is followed and pressed, and their consciences awakened and their minds enlightened, then they cry out, we will not be troubled and pestered with these matters; in the 8. of Rom. 7. there saith the Text the carnal mind is enmity against God,¹ for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. A natural man is not subject to God, ⟨p. 98⟩he is not, nay he cannot be subject to the Law of God, the Text doth not say he doth not obey the Law of God, but he is not subject to it; for it is one thing to obey the word and Spirit of God, and another thing to be subject unto it, as for example, suppose a master command his servant to do something that is unjust and unlawful, and if he will not do it, then beats him; the servant is then said to be subject to his master, he may bear the blow and endure the stripes of his master, but if he be honest and will not do the thing, he cannot be said to obey his master; so likewise if it please a Prince to deal harshly with his subject, and punish him unjustly, his subject may submit himself unto him, but he doth not obey him, but this is the madness of our sinful natures that we will not be subject to the Word of God, we will not bear the blow, nor endure the stroke of the Spirit, that so it may pluck us out of our corruptions, and frame us and fashion us in this case, and make us fit to receive grace;

Now when hee is gone marke what the Text saith in the 14. Verse, We will not have this man to rule over us; the Citizens hated him and sent a messenger after him saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. Herein is implyed two things, first that God would rule over the hearts, hee would informe their judgements, and fit their soules to receive grace, but marke what they say, We will not have him to reigne over us, wee will not have the Lord Iesus take possession of our hearts, and rule and guide them in the way of grace and salvation, and so say all naturall men when the truth of God is followed and pressed, and their consciences awakened and their minds enlightned, then they cry out, we will not be troubled and pestered with these matters; in the 8. of