A practical discourse of God's sovereignty with other meterial points, deriving thence.

Inferences.

I. We gather hence the honourable and safe estate of the Church, which hath the Son of God to be Head and Saviour of it!

II. Let no Man pretend to this honourable Relation, without something to shew for it; by which he may a∣vouch his Membership to Christ. The currentest mark and ••vidence whereof, will be your conformity, not to Men or Self; but to Christ Jesus your Head: It is that must deno∣minate you Christians indeed. At latter day Christ will know None, but who have made their Robes white in the blood of the Lamb. All Hang-by's and Ivy-claspers will then be shook off, and no One retain'd but such as have His sub∣stance in them. Many shall come and plead their works, What they have been, and what they have done; and their old hypocrisie will be so Immovable and Impudent, that they l even expostulate the matter with Him, Have not we Prophecied in thy Name? and in thy Name cast out Devils? and done many wonderful works? &c. Of whom our Lord will profess, That He knows them not; No, nor Never knew them: He knows His own by their likeness to Him; He knows, and cannot but know, the Members of His Body; My sheep I know, but who are ye? will He then say to all that are but professing Members of Him: Which will be, indeed, a Doleful conclusion of their groundless (though specious) Confidence! Look to it therefore in time.

III. Let those who are really of this Body, bear them∣selves worthily, both towards their Head and Fellow∣Members: And let That be your badge of distinction from Christians meerly Nominal.

1. Own the Supremacy of your Head, by giving Him the Preheminence in all things: Call no Man on Earth Master, (i. e. In point of Faith:) Give unto Caesar all that belongs to him; yet so, as still to have respect unto Christ as the Supreme Law giver.

2. Submit to His Government; Steer your course by His Councels, and follow His Conduct: Go after Him

wherever He shall lead you: Let all your sens••s have their Seat in your Head: Let every thing be understood by you, according to His sense and interpretation of it.

3. Expose your self for Him; Stand between Him and Wrongs; Preserve His honour and Interest with the ut∣most hazard of your self: Let life and death be as things indifferent to you, so as Christ may be Magnified in you; Phil. 1. 20.

4. Look to this your Head for supply of all Grace: From His fulness it is to be had, and No where else. There∣fore, Hold to your Head, lest Notions beguile you of your Reward, Col. 2. v. 18, 19. Be sure, withall, that you keep to your Place and Duty, lest you miss of the Nourishment that belongs to you: A Member out of its place, is (for the time) as a Member cut off.

5. Adorn your Head by a constant Reaching at perfect Conformity to Him; Shew forth His virtues; Be holy as He was; Let all your fruits be such as are meet for such a Root. God the Father is the Head of Christ; and ye know, that He bore the express Image of His Person, in all that He did: He could do Nothing but what He saw the Fa∣ther do: So do you by your Head Christ; Make Him your Example: And in order thereto, live upon Him as your immediate Root; and give Him the honour of His own productions.

Then Carry it towards your Brethren as Members of the same Body.

1. Usurp not upon them, as if more than a fellow-member with them. Judge not the Strong, Nor despise the Weak: Who made thee a Judge? There's none but hath need of forbearance from others; and the less you see your need, the more need you have of it.

2. Intrude not into Anothers place and office: Each Member hath its own, to which it is fi••ted: This it best becomes, and here it will be most useful; Elsewhere it would be both useless, and a deformity; as a finger, or o∣ther Member, if transposed and out of its own joynt.

3. Shew your Co-membership by your love and tender

regard towards others: Have compassion on the Ignorant, and those out of the way (as your Head towards you.) If One be weak or Wounded, let him that is Strong and Whole, support and bind it up: If one foot stumble, let the other step in for its help: Consider thy self, lest thou al∣so be tempted. Members of the same Natural body, need no Arguments to perswade to this duty; they do it by In∣stinct: And the want of Compassionateness in us towards others, (though it shall not dry up, yet) may much restrain, at least in our apprehension, the Springs of Christ's pity to∣wards our Selves.

4. Let the good of the whole have the preference before a particular part; And let That of a lower use deny it self for the safety and assistance of That which is more Noble: This (in a degree) is to lay down our life for the Brethren. He that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of Men; and a good evi∣dence it is of your Membership to Christ.

IV. Let every One that is of this Body, be well apaid with his Lot; Be glad and Rejoyce for ever in this your Portion. This is the Exaltation the brother of low degree should value himself by. Whatever your Rank or conditi∣on may be in the World, Rest contented with your place, and be thankful for it: Desire not (your self) to change it; But strive to fill it up, and be as useful in it as you can. Look also for Troubles, and think them not strange: The Captain of your Salvation was made perfect through suf∣ferings; and the servant may not look to fare better than his Lord.

V. If Jesus Christ be your Head, Be confident then of all Love, Councel, Care, and Protection from Him: Union with Him intitles to All He hath. It is Natural to the head, to love, and to Cherish the Body, and every Member of it: To Contrive and Cast-about for its welfare and safety: As a Man cherisheth his own flesh, so doth Christ His Church, Eph. 5. 29. What though be, in thy self, an uncome∣ly Member? He will put the more Comeliness upon thee; He will cloath thee, and Feed thee, and Physick thee:

He will give Grace and Glory, and No good thing will He with-hold from thee: For, He being the First born, Prince and Head of the family, all the younger Brethen are to be Maintained upon His Inheritance.

VI. Rest also assured of safe Conduct to the Promised land. Adversaries and difficulties you will certainly meet with: Remaining Corruptions (like the mix'd multitude) will be tumultuating and tempting within; The Amale∣l••ites and People of His wr••th will stand in your way with∣out, Or be falling on your Rear, to Cut-off the weak and feeble; And the Serpent will yet be Nibling and bruising your heel: But higher than that he cannot touch; your heart and your head are out of his Reach, and therefore you are safe; yea this Serpent himself shall be bruised under your feet shortly-Come (will your Captain say to you) Come, set your feet on the Neck of this King of pride, and do by him as he hath done by others, and would have done also by you: Give him double according to his works. This is the time when ye shall Judge Angels; And all under the Conduct of this your Head and Captain; Who will Now present you to His Father even before the presence of His Glory, with ex∣ceeding Joy!

Notes

• Infer. 1.
• Infer. 2.
• Mat. 7. 22.
• ver. 23.
• Infer. 3.
• Joh. 154, 5.
• Heb. 5. 2.
• Gal. 6. 1.
• Infer. 4.
• James 1. 9.
• Heb 3. 10.
• Infer. 5.
• 1 Cor. 12. 23.
• Ps. 84. vlt.
• Infer. 6.
• Rom. 16. 20.
• I••sh 10. 24. Rev. 18 6.
• Cor. 6. 3.
• Jude. ver. 24.