CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹4. They glorify Christ who receive him as a Lord and King, to whose Laws they willingly submit themselves; For the self-love of a man may make him glad of Christ as a Saviour, but then to resign up themselves in an obediential manner to all the commands of Christ, in this they draw back: Christ is not to be considered only as a propitiation for our sins, but also as a King who doth govern his people by holy and spiritual laws, and hence we may read that he interpreted the Law in a more spiritual and strict way Mat. 5. then the Pharisaical Doctors had done, and laid the axe to the very root of all corruption within us, he forbids heart-lusts, heart-passions, these Embers in the fire though they never flame out; he calls upon all to deny themselves, to take up their cross, and to follow him; To love him more then Father or mother; If therefore we would honour Christ, it's our duty to forsake all those rebellions we are guilty of, To lay down our opposition and enmity against his commands, to take his yoke upon us, and to think it light and easy; What an honour was it to Christ to have men leave all their outward subsistence and earthly comforts to follow him? Did they not hereby declare that they prized the service of Christ more then all the world, and that they accounted more of his commands then the greatest Monarchs in the world; So that all who walk disorderly and contrary to Christs command, they say with those in the Parable, Christ shall not reign over us; Though he will reign over them, maugre all their disobedience, if he do not govern them with the Sceptre of grace, he will break them with a rod of Iron.

¹4. They glorifie Christ who receive him as a Lord and King, to whose Laws they willingly submit themselves; For the self-love of a man may make him glad of Christ as a Saviour, but then to resigne up themselves in an obediential manner to all the commands of Christ, in this they draw back: Christ is not to be considered only as a propitiation for our sins, but also as a King who doth govern his people by holy and spiritual laws, and hence we may reade that he interpreted the Law in a more spiritual and strict way Mat. 5. then the Pharisaical Doctors had done, and laid the axe to the very root of all corruption within us, he forbids heart-lusts, heart-passions, these Embers in the fire though they never flame out; he cals upon all to deny themselves, to take up their crosse, and to follow him; To love him more then Father or mother; If therefore we would honour Christ, it's our duty to forsake all those rebellions we are guilty of, To lay down our opposition and enmity against his commands, to take his yoke upon us, and to think it light and easie; What an honour was it to Christ to have men leave all their outward subsistence and earthly comforts to follow him? Did they not hereby declare that they prized the service of Christ more then all the world, and that they accounted more of his commands then the greatest Monarchs in the world; So that all who walk disorderly and contrary to Christs command, they say with those in the Parable, Christ shall not reign over us; Though he will reign over them, maugre all their disobedience, if he do not govern them with the Scepter of grace, he will break them with a rod of Iron.