Two sermons preached at Thurlow in Suffolk on those words, Rom. 6.13 "Yield your…

3. You must consider God, in your yielding your selves, as your Sovereign Ruler. For to whom you yield your selves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; as by v. 16. Tho' Teaching and Ruling may be diversly conceived of, they cannot be separate in this case. The nobler and final part of God's Teaching you, is teaching you your duty; what you are to practise and do. And so when he teaches you, he commands you too; and leaves it not arbitrary to you whether you will be directed by him or no. What is his by former right, and by after-consent, and self-resignation, shall it not be governed by him? if it be a subject capable of Laws and Government, as such consent shows it to be? Your yielding your selves to God is not an homage but a mockery, if you do it not with a resolution to receive ⟨p. 31⟩the Law from his mouth: and that wherein soever he commands, you will to your uttermost obey. But in this, and the other things that follow, my limits constrain me unto more brevity. Only let not this apprehension of God be frightful, yea let it be amiable to you, as in it self it is, and cannot but be to you, if you consider the loveliness of his Government, the kind design of it, and how suitable it is to the kindest design; that it is a Government first and principally over minds, purposely intended to reduce them to an holy and peaceful order, wherein it cannot but continue them, when that Kingdom comes to be settled there; which stands in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and all the Laws whereof are summed up in Love; being such also as in the keeping whereof there is great reward.

3. You must consider God, in your yielding your selves, as your Sovereign Ruler. For to whom you yield your selves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; as by v. 16. Tho' Teaching and Ruling may be diversly conceiv'd of, they cannot be separate in this case. The nobler and final part of God's Teaching you, is teaching you your duty; what you are to practise and do. And so when he teaches you, he commands you too; and leaves it not arbitrary to you whether you will be directed by him or no. What is his by former right, and by after-consent, and self-resignation, shall it not be govern'd by him? if it be a subject capable of Laws and Government, as such consent shews it to be? Your yielding your selves to God is not an homage but a mockery, if you do it not with a resolution to receive ⟨p. 31⟩