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.

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,

2 If we have Christ for our Saviour, we must have him for our Prince, Act. 5.31. that is, we must resign up our selves and submit our selves to him. Isa. 9.6. Unto us a Son is born, to us a child is given. And why, how shall I know whether the Son be given me? Why, the government is upon his shoulders.

2 If we have Christ for our Saviour, we must have him for our Prince, Act. 5.31. that is, we must resigne up our selves and submit our selves to him. Isa. 9.6. Ʋnto us a Son is born, to us a child is given. And why, how shall I know whether the Son be given me? Why, the government is upon his shoulders.

Two ways we are said to have Christ for our Governor,

Two wayes we are said to have Christ for our Governour,

1 When we resign up our selves in obedience to him, when we have not a thought within us but is brought into subjection to the Lord Christ, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Prov. 12.5. The thoughts of the righteous are right thoughts, coming from a right ground, guided by a right rule, tending to a right end.

1 When we resigne up our selves in obedience to him, when we have not a thought within us but is brought into subjection to the Lord Christ, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Prov. 12.5. The thoughts of the righteous are right thoughts, coming from a right ground, guided by a right rule, tending to a right end.

Obj. But, whose heart is so right, that every thought is subdued to the will of Christ? Who is there but have many vain thoughts lodge in them? Jerem. 4.14.

Answ. He that hath Christ for his Prince, will not have a vain thought lodge in him; indeed, evil thoughts may rush in upon him, as sturdy beggars into an house, and they would be Masters, and have every one tend upon them; but a Christian, he suffers them not to lodge there, he rests not till they be thrown out of doors, they find no welcome in his heart: Indeed, a Christian man may have many evil thoughts within him, but yet here is the difference between him and the carnal man, a wicked man that hath not Christ, he hath not one good thought in him, the frame and inclination of, his heart is wholly evil, Gen. 6.5. Or if good thoughts or motions be cast in to stir him up to repentance; why, they suffer them not to lodge there, but they bid them come another time; whereas a good man, if a good thought come, it's most welcome to him, he entertains it; and cherisheth it, even as a Messenger sent from his Prince.

Answ. He that hath Christ for his Prince, will not have a vain thought lodge in him; indeed, evill thoughts may rush in upon him, as sturdy beggers into an house, and they would be Masters, and have every one tend upon them; but a Christian, he suffers them not to lodge there, he rests not till they be thrown out of dores, they finde no welcome in his heart: Indeed, a Christian man may have many evill thoughts within him, but yet here is the difference between him and the carnall man, a wicked man that hath not Christ, he hath not one good thought in him, the frame and inclination of, his heart is wholly evill, Gen. 6.5. Or if good thoughts or motions be cast in to stir him up to repentance; why, they suffer them not to lodge there, but they bid them come another time; whereas a good man, if a good thought come, it's most welcome to him, he entertains it; and cherisheth it, even as a Messenger sent from his Prince.

2 If an evil thought come into a natural mans heart, it's connatural to him, it finds lodging and welcome there, Eph. 4.18, 19. But a godly man, if an evil thought come, he looks at it as an enemy and traitor, he calls to all the family, to all the faculties of the soul to help against it: and if he be not strong enough, he calls to all his Christian friends, but especially he calls to his Prince to deliver him, even as a good Subject that hath a Traitor got into his house, that plots treason against the King, and spoils his goods, and he is not able to get rid of him, be secretly sends to his Prince for aid. This course David took, Psal. 139.23. Search me, O Lord, and try me. He would have God to make privy search, and find out the frame of his heart; unlike to them, Isa. 29.15. And then v. 24. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the ⟨p. 395⟩way everlasting. And if he would have God to be ruler over his thoughts, then much more of his words and actions. Now there are some men whose hearts are like the high-way ground, let evil thoughts come and go at their pleasures, they will not be subject to Christ. As for this man, we will not have him rule over us, Luke 19.14. What say they? Thoughts are free, and our tongues are our own, who shall control us? Whereas a Christian would have God rule all his thoughts and words; nay, a carnal heart is so wonderfully desperate, that they will not only not be servants to God, but they will make God servant to them. Isa. 43.24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, and wearied me with thy iniquities. They make God to serve a wearisome service, that as a cart is pressed under the sheaves, so is God under them; they load Gods patience with one sin after another, pitch one sin upon another, till he be burdened with our sins; and what parts and gifts, and liberties God gives them, they abuse to Gods dishonour, And is not this monstrous rebellion, for poor creatures to make God serve a wearisome service? Wonder not therefore if he say, Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

2 As a witch makes the devil serve her all her life, but at death she serves the devil; So God shall serve them all their life time, but at death they would serve God, and then they will do him the best service they can. Why do you think God will accept our service when we dye, when we have made him serve us all our life time?

2 As a witch makes the devil serve her all her life, but at death she serves the devill; So God shall serve them all their life time, but at death they would serve God, and then they will do him the best service they can. Why do you think God will accept our service when we dye, when we have made him serve us all our life time?

2 To have Christ for our Prince is not only to serve him, but we must give him Princely service, such service as becomes so royal a Prince, Mal. 1.8. Serve not him with blind and lame sacrifices, but with the best and fattest; crucify your fattest and dearest lusts to him, let him have your best parts, and best affections; righteous Abel brought to God the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof, Gen. 4.4. So let God have our first years, and the strength of your affections, give not him your old, decrepit age. 2 Sam. 24.24. I will not offer to God (saith David) that which cost me nothing. Araunah indeed gave them all freely to the King, like a King. If a man give to a King, he must give as to a King, he must give as a King. Nay, (saith David) if you as a King give those things to me, must not I then who am a King give as a King to that King of Kings? Let God have all you have, give up your selves and all your families to him.

2 To have Christ for our Prince is not onely to serve him, but we must give him Princely service, such service as becomes so royall a Prince, Mal. 1.8. Serve not him with blinde and lame sacrifices, but with the best and fattest; crucifie your fattest and dearest lusts to him, let him have your best parts, and best affections; righteous Abel brought to God the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof, Gen. 4.4. So let God have our first years, and the strength of your affections, give not him your old, decrepit age. 2 Sam. 24.24. I will not offer to God (saith David) that which cost me nothing. Araunah indeed gave them all freely to the King, like a King. If a man give to a King, he must give as to a King, he must give as a King. Nay, (saith David) if you as a King give those things to me, must not I then who am a King give as a King to that King of Kings? Let God have all you have, give up your selves and all your families to him.