The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

2. Therefore Secondly: To receive Christ King and Lord under a Covenant of Grace, is to receive him not only as a King, to give me Laws morally, but I receive Jesus my King efficiently, to incline my will, bow my heart, and to enable me to be subject to him, and obey his Commandments; this is the King under a Covenant of Grace which we chiefly look at, and thus I conceive he is chiefly to be looked upon; for thus (not by giving Laws) doth he heal us: all his Offices tend to healing, to redemption; but giving Laws is no healing, no redemption; they may make our sore worse, our bondage: but what the Apostle saith of him as a Priest, Heb. 7.26. Such an High-Priest became us, &c. so I say of him as a King, Such a King became us, not only one who hath authority to give us Statutes, but power to cause us (not force us) to walk in his Statutes, Ezek. 36.27. and to this doth Mr. Pemble, Diodati and Junius agree, upon that, Zech. 6.23. Christ sitting and ruling upon his Throne: He delivers us from our spiritual enemies, gives his Spirit to incline us to voluntary obedience, enacts a Law of the Spirit, as they said before: were it not thus, poor Christians must go look for their comfort where they can find it, when obedience to Commands is pressed, and holy walking with God required. To this of Zechariah doth the speech of Peter, Acts 5.31. agree, Him hath God exalted with his right hand (Christ then is upon his Throne) to be a Prince and a Saviour (both his Offices, as in Zechariah) to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. This exalted Saviour on his Throne gives forgiveness of sins: this exalted Prince on his Throne gives repentance to Israel. If Christ as a Prince only gives Laws, he gives no repentance: for to gives Laws, is not to give repentance. Christians then in the work of faith, or union, receive Christ, such a Prince, and Lord, as gives repentance to the Soul who receives him; he gives what Ephraim and true Converts pray for, Jer. ⟨p. 261⟩31.18. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. Such a King then we receive as hath power over our wills and affections, to incline them to obedience, rules them, and yet saves their liberty, makes us freely and sweetly to obey what is commanded by him: