2. There is a conformity in his offices, he hath made us Priests, Kings and Prophets to his Father, Rev. 1.6. Kings to over-rule our lusts, to overcome the world, anointed with a royal Spirit, although not yet invested with full glory; Priests, to offer sacrifices of prayer, of a broken spirit, Psal. 51.12. Sacrifices of righteousness, Psal. 4.5. and to sacrifice our lives for Christ, Phil. 2.17. so he hath made us Prophets of God, Act. 2.17. he hath poured on us the Spirit of prophecy, poured, not dropped sparingly, but poured on us abundantly, hence it is that a christian understands many secrets of Gods will, Psal. 25. 14. many hidden mysteries of the Scripture, so that he is bound to see a secret providence of God, guiding him in his way.

2. There is a conformity in his offices, he hath made us Priests, Kings and Prophets to his Father, Rev. 1.6. Kings to over-rule our lusts, to overcome the world, anoynted with a royal Spirit, although not yet invested with full glory; Priests, to offer sacrifices of prayer, of a broken spirit, Psal. 51.12. Sacrifices of righteousnesse, Psal. 4.5. and to sacrifice our lives for Christ, Phil. 2.17. so he hath made us Prophets of God, Act. 2.17. he hath poured on us the Spirit of prophesie, poured, not dropped sparingly, but poured on us aboundantly, hence it is that a christian understands many secrets of Gods will, Psal. 25. 14. many hidden mysteries of the Scripture, so that he is bound to see a secret providence of God, guiding him in his way.

3. There is a conformity in their estate: our Saviour in this world went through a double estate, 1. Of Humiliation, 2. Exaltation, and in the most deep passions he went through, when he was excommunicated by the Church, hated, crucified, yet even then he mightily showed forth his divine power; hence he is said to triumph openly on the cross, Col. 2.17. and such is a Christians estate, Psal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, there is his humiliation: but the Lord delivers him out of all, there is his exaltation, for by those deliverances he makes them glorious, Psal. 149.4. He will beautify the meek with salvation; nay a christian in the midst of all his worldly comforts, he gets loose from them, so that you may see those are not the things he chiefly looks after, if he have great parts and gifts, yet they are clad with a Spirit of Christ crucified, Gal. 6.14. their outward deportment is but mean and homely, yet in their outward meanness and baseness, you may discern the power of Christ crucified, 2 Cor. 13 4. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, as he was crucified through weakness, and yet liveth in me by the power of God, even so we are weak with him, that is, in outward show, why, yet as Christ when he was most debased▪ showed forth most power; so a christian in his greatest debasements and weaknesses, Gods power is most magnified in him, never more glorious then when most debased. Hence those strange phrases, we are dead with Christ, Col. 2.20. and risen with Christ, Col. 3.1. crucified with Christ, Rom. 6.6. that is, by the same Spirit of Christ that is in us, we are so knit with him, that we are made of the same state with him; that as he was weak and base, and yet glorious; so are we,

2 There is a Spirit of liberty; nothing better expresseth the temper of the Son, Christ the Fathers Image, then a Spirit of liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; If the Son shall make you free, then you are free indeed, Joh. 8.36. His liberty is a real liberty: And this is

2 There is a Spirit of liberty; nothing better expresseth the temper of the Son, Christ the Fathers Image, then a Spirit of liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; If the Son shall make you free, then you are free indeed, Joh. 8.36. His liberty is a reall liberty: And this is

2. He hath a liberty from the dominion of sin, sin hath not that power to carry him captive, Rom. 6.4. Rom. 8.2. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death, that is, the Spirit of grace that commands and rules me like a law, hath freed me from the law of sin and of death, that a Christian is now but a beginner of sin, sin hath not that power over him that formerly it had; time was when I could not break off from evil company, but now the Law of the Spirit of life hath set me free from them; many a valiant spirit fears not death; many a soldier ventures upon a Canons mouth, but yet I presume he is captivate to many a base lust; but a Christian is not only freed from the fear, but the bondage of sin.

2. He hath a liberty from the dominion of sin, sin hath not that power to carry him captive, Rom. 6.4. Rom. 8.2. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death, that is, the Spirit of grace that commands and rules me like a law, hath freed me from the law of sin and of death, that a Christian is now but a beginner of sin, sin hath not that power over him that formerly it had; time was when I could not break off from evil company, but now the Law of the Spirit of life hath set me free from them; many a valiant spirit fears not death; many a souldier venters upon a Canons mouth, but yet I presume he is captivate to many a base lust; but a Christian is not only freed from the fear, but the bondage of sin.

3. He hath liberty from being servant unto men, 1 Cor. 7.23. Ye are bought with a price, be not servants of men: he doth not mean that they should shake off all obedience and subjection; but though they should be subject to their Masters, ye now they should not serve them in a slavish manner, but with freedom of Spirit in obedience to Christ, heartily and readily, 1 Cor. 7.22. he that is called in the Lord, being a servant is the Lords freeman, he doth his Masters work with a free spirit, and withal he doth the work of Gods service with much more freedom, and when they come to their own liberty, they will be inclined to good duties, strive to gain opportunity for prayer and reading, and hearing, whereas others though they have much more outward liberty, yet they have far less inward.

3. He hath liberty from being servant unto men, 1 Cor. 7.23. Ye are bought with a price, be not servants of men: he doth not mean that they should shake off all obedience and subjection; but though they should be subject to their Masters, ye now they should not serve them in a slavish manner, but with freedom of Spirit in obedience to Christ, heartily and readily, 1 Cor. 7.22. he that is called in the Lord, being a servant is the Lords freeman, he doth his Masters work with a free spirit, and withall he doth the work of Gods service with much more freedom, and when they come to their own liberty, they will be inclined to good duties, strive to gain opportunity for prayer and reading, and hearing, whereas others though they have much more outward liberty, yet they have far lesse inward.

4 The Spirit of God that sets me free from the service of men, makes me free to every duty of God, to have free access to him, the Spirit that set me at liberty from Satan, will make me run the ways of Gods Commandments with an enlarged heart, Psal. 119.32. Ps. 110.3. Gods people are a willing people and as he is free from the bondage of men, so he is Lord over them, he can make them all serve him; Gen. 25.23. God told Rebecca there were Nations in her womb, and the elder should serve the younger, how was that fulfilled, seeing Jacob calls Esau Lord, and himself his servant? Gen. 33. Why, as some say, that must be understood of the Nations, not of the persons; but it may be Esau's Lordship and roughness did Jacob more real service then ever Jacob did him, whence was it that he went out of his Fathers house, met with so glorious a vision the first night? whence was it that he made such a vow to God, that if the Lord would be with him, and bless him in that country, then the Lord should be his God? whence was it that he returned with such a blessing? whence was it that he so wrestled with God and obtained a blessing? was not this from Esau's bitterness, and for fear of him? which shows that every fury and persecution of wicked men do Christians the truest service, as it was with the Tyrants in Syria, and Egypt, all the tyranny did but purify the people of God, and make them white, Dan. 11.35.46. they are but as scullions to scour and rinse Gods people, they are but as servants or like house-wives, they lay them in soap, and dung, and sharp lee, but it is but to make them white.

4 The Spirit of God that sets me free from the service of men, makes me free to every duty of God, to have free access to him, the Spirit that set me at liberty from Satan, will make me run the wayes of Gods Commandements with an inlarged heart, Psal. 119.32. Ps. 110.3. Gods people are a willing people and as he is free from the bondage of men, so he is Lord over them, he can make them all serve him;

Try therefore whether you have the spirits of sons. Do you find in you the nature of Christ? do you find your selves invested with a Kingly Royal spirit? do you find in you the spirit of prophecy? do you find in you the state of Christ, that in the meanest condition you have a mighty power of Christ breathing in you? why, then it is evident you have the Spirit of God, but if we find we are not like him in his nature, we cannot pray or prophesy, then we have none of Gods Spirit.

Try therefore whether you have the spirits of sons. Doe you find in you the nature of Christ? do you find your selves invested with a Kingly Royall spirit? doe you find in you the spirit of prophesie? doe you find in you the state of Christ, that in the meanest condition you have a mighty power of Christ breathing in you? why, then it is evident you have the Spirit of God, but if we find we are not like him in his nature, we cannot pray or prophesie, then we have none of Gods Spirit.

Do we find our selves still in bondage to sin, lying under the fear and dominion of it? then we have not Gods Spirit in us, Gods Spirit would set us free from all bondage.

Do we finde our selves still in bondage to sin, lying under the fear and dominion of it? then we have not Gods Spirit in us, Gods Spirit would set us free from all bondage.

3 We are said to have the Son, when we have Christ not only for our Saviour, but for our Prince. Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour. To whom he is a Saviour, to them he is a Prince. It were dishonour, to God to save those whom he cannot rule, to deliver them from sin and Satan and yet leave them in their sins; God hath sent his Son not only to save but to rule us.

3 We are said to have the Son, when we have Christ not onely for our Saviour, but for our Prince. Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour. To whom he is a Saviour, to them he is a Prince. It were dishonour, to God to save those whom he cannot rule, to deliver them from sin and Satan and yet leave them in their sins; God hath sent his Son not only to save but to rule us.

Two things here are to be opened.

1 That he that hath Christ, hath him for his Saviour. 2 That he that hath him for his Saviour, must have him for his Prince likewise.

We are ready commonly to conceive, that every one would have Christ for his Saviour, but indeed they are but rare that would have a Saviour indeed. To have Christ for our Saviour implies two things.

We are ready commonly to conceive, that every one would have Christ for his Saviour, but indeed they are but rare that would have a Saviour indeed. To have Christ for our Saviour implyes two things.

1 He that hath Christ for his Saviour, looks up to him for salvation in all his distresses, Isa. 45.22. Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth. He that looks for any other Saviour, denies Christ. He that hath Christ for his Saviour, in what coasts soever of the world he lives, he must look up to him for salvation, as they that looked towards the Temple, had their petitions heard: So, wheresoever we are in what condition soever, we must look towards Christ, and long after him for salvation, not only from Gods wrath, and hell, but even from whatever distresses we are in, torment of conscience, sickness, imprisonment; we must wait upon him for deliverance. Isa. 8.17. I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. The Church was then in grievous distress, both in regard of sin and calamity, there were none for her to look unto, either Princes or Priests, to redress the matter, all had been in vain; but there was no hope in them, yet I will look unto the Lord, and wait on him that hideth his face, Isa. 17.7. Speaking of such times wherein only a few gleaning grapes should be left. In that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the holy one of Israel. We cast respect or disrespect upon one with our eye, whilst our eyes are upon the creature, and turned away from God, we disrespect God; but when our eyes are toward him, set on him, we show respect to God, and this man hath Christ for his only Saviour. This was Jehoshaphat's practice, 2 Chron. 20.12. Being in a great fear of a mighty host that came against him, he set himself to seek God, and prayed, O Lord, we know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee. This having our eyes towards Christ in evil times, argues that we have Christ for our Saviour, Psal. 121.1. I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. And he means the Hills of Zion and Moriah, where the Temple and Ordinances were. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Jonah went away from God when he should have gone to Nineveh, he sent him to Nineveh, but he fled to Tarshish; and therefore, because he would not have God for his Prince to rule him, he would not be his Saviour, but sent out a mighty tempest against him, and the most unruly creature of the Sea to swallow him up;

and then Jonah out of hopes prays out of the Whales belly, If I am utterly cast out of his sight, yet I will look again towards his holy Temple, Jonah 2.4. His heart had respect to it, though he could not tell which way it stood, and in that he had respect to Christ, a d therefore the Lord sent him a glorious deliverance, If you have Christ for your Saviour, your eyes will be towards him in every distress.

and then Jonah out of hopes prayes out of the Whales belly, If I am utterly cast out of his sight, yet I will look again towards his holy Temple, Jonah 2.4. His heart had respect to it, though he could not tell which way it stood, and in that he had respect to Christ, a d therefore the Lord sent him a glorious deliverance, If you have Christ for your Saviour, your eyes will be towards him in every distresse.

2 He that hath Christ for his Saviour, not only looks for salvation by him from all his distresses, but from all his sins likewise, Psal. 130.7, 8. He shall redeem Israel from all his sins, and therefore his name is called Jesus, Mat. 1.21. Hos. 14.2. They said unto God, Take away all our iniquities & receive ⟨p. 394⟩us graciously. They desire God not only to take them away, that is, to pardon them, but to heal them, for so God understands them, vers. 4. I will heal your back-slidings. We think it a common thing for men to desire Christ to be their Saviour, but how sew are there that desire to be redeemed from all their sinful ways? How many are there whom Christ would lovingly gather, but they will not be gathered? Mat. 23.37. And if God speak so of his Church, wonder not if he say so of Babylon, He would have healed her but she would not be healed, Jer. 51.9. God looked that his people, living amongst them 70 years▪ they should be brought on, but none were, or very few, therefore God bids his people, Come out from amongst them, Jer. 24.25. God complains of the evil lives of his people, that they were like wild asses, snuffing up the wind at their pleasure; and when he called to them, Withhold thy foot from being unshod; they said desperately, No, strangers have I followed, and after them will I go. How do such men look for Christ to be their Saviour, when they will not be delivered from their sins? when Christ comes to cast out their sins, they are ready to cry as the man possest with the Devils, Art thou come to torment us before our time? Pulling away their sins from them, is a grievous torment to their souls: do but take away their hopes of some gainful sin, and they are enraged, Acts 16.19.

2 He that hath Christ for his Saviour, not onely looks for salvation by him from all his distresses, but from all his sins likewise,