In the general, it ought to be an inducement to us (as we may well apprehend) to behave our selves answerably to such a state, as we are, hereby, brought into, if we now first dedicated our selves to him, and ⟨p. 121⟩are confirmed in, by our iterations of it. For he takes no pleasure in fools, therefore having vowed our selves to him, to serve, and live to him, let us pay what we have vowed. Better it had been not to vow, than to vow and not pay; and, instead of the reasonable sacrifice he required of us, to give him only the sacrifice of fools. We are, upon special terms, and for special ends, peculiar to the most high God. They that are thus his, are a royal Priesthood, He hath made us Kings and Priests. 1Both those offices and dignities have sometime met▪ ⟨p. 122⟩in the same person. And to God and his Father, i. e. for him. Not that both those offices do terminate upon God, or that the work of both is to be performed towards him, but our Lord Jesus, it being the design of his Father we should be brought into that high, and honourable Station, hath effected it, in compliance with his design, and hath served his pleasure, and purpose in it. He hath done it to, i. e. for him. So that, to God, and his Father may be referred to Christ's action, in making us Kings and Priests, not to ours, being made such. Yet the one ⟨p. 123⟩of these refers to God immediately, the other to our selves. Holy and good men are Kings in reference to themselves, in respect of their Self-dominion into which they are now restored, having been, as all unregenerate persons are, slaves to vile, and carnal affections, and inclinations. The minds of the regenerate are made spiritual, and now with them the refined, rectified, spiritual mind, is enthroned; lift up into its proper authority, over all sensual Inclinations, Appetitions, Lusts and Passions. A glorious Empire! founded in conquest, and managed, ⟨p. 124⟩afterwards when the victory is complete (and in the mean time, in some degree, while judgment is in bringing forth unto victory) by a steady sedate Government, in most perfect tranquility and peace.
In the general, it ought to be an inducement to us (as we may well apprehend) to behave our selves answerably to such a state, as we are, hereby, brought into, if we now first dedicated our selves to him, and ⟨p. 121⟩are confirmed in, by our iterations of it. For he takes no pleasure in fools, therefore having vow'd our selves to him, to serve, and live to him, let us pay what we have vowed. Better it had been not to vow, than to vow and not pay; and, instead of the reasonable sacrifice he required of us, to give him onely the sacrifice of fools. We are, upon special terms, and for special ends, peculiar to the most high God. They that are thus his, are a royal Priesthood, He hath made us Kings and Priests. 1Both those offices and dignities have sometime met▪ ⟨p. 122⟩in the same person. And to God and his Father, i. e. for him. Not that both those offices do terminate upon God, or that the work of both is to be performed towards him, but our Lord Jesus, it being the design of his Father we should be brought into that high, and honourable Station, hath effected it, in compliance with his design, and hath served his pleasure, and purpose in it. He hath done it to, i. e. for him. So that, to God, and his Father may be refer'd to Christ's action, in making us Kings and Priests, not to ours, being made such. Yet the one ⟨p. 123⟩of these refers to God immediately, the other to our selves. Holy and good men are Kings in reference to themselves, in respect of their Self-dominion into which they are now restored, having been, as all unregenerate persons are, slaves to vile, and carnal affections, and inclinations. The minds of the regenerate are made spiritual, and now with them the refin'd, rectify'd, spiritual mind, is inthroned; lift up into its proper authority, over all sensual Inclinations, Appetitions, Lusts and Passions. A glorious Empire! founded in conquest, and managed, ⟨p. 124⟩afterwards when the victory is compleat (and in the mean time, in some degree, while judgment is in bringing forth unto victory) by a steady sedate Government, in most perfect tranquility and peace.
- 1Rev. 1.6.
