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VERSE 8. For whether wee liue, we liue vnto the Lord; or whether we dye, wee dye vnto the Lord: whether we liue therefore, or dye, we are the Lords.
THe first part of this Verse sets downe the affirmatiue end which true beleeuers haue in life and death, viz. to liue and die to the Lord; of the which hath beene spoken in the
seuenth v. to which indeed that part doth specially belong.
The other part of this verse: Whether we liue therefore or dye, we are the Lords; is a most sweet and comfortable Illa∣tion, hauing the force of a reason to proue that wee should not liue and dye to our selues, but to the Lord.
The reason is taken à relatis, from things that haue a ne∣cessary relation one to another.
They which are the Lords seruants, must liue and dye to the Lord.
But we are the Lords seruants:
Therefore, &c.
Here is an affirmation of a thing, and an amplification of it.
The affirmation is, We are the Lords.
The amplification is from the extent of it; which is double; 1. of State. 2. of Time.
Of State, in life; and not onely so, but in death.
Of Time, both in life and death.
We: that is, which beleeue, not with a temporary or histo∣ricall faith onely, but with a true, liuely, applying, iustifying, sauing faith.
The Lords: How? his creatures; it is true, but so are the stones in the street, yea the diuels: how then? not his ene∣mies; though there be many such euen in his Church: but his seruants, bound to doe his will, and to bee at his disposi∣tion, whether if it be to liue or dye.
He hath created vs, and doth daily preserue vs; It is e∣quall, that hauing our being and maintenance from him, we should be subiect to his will.
He hath redeemed vs, and so the Father hath giuen vs to him, (which is most proper to this place, as the next verse sheweth) we were in captiuity vnder the diuell, bound and holden downe vnder him; but Christ hath rescued and re∣deemed vs; and therefore we are his bounden seruants in life and death.
But we are brethren with Christ, [Obiect.] and coheyres with him.
True, [Answ.] as we are sonnes of God; the Couenant makes vs sonnes; but the Redemption, seruants.
The Lords: yet we haue not all the meaning. We are then
the Lords, that is, in subiection to him, and also vnder his tuition. Our seruice to him is not onely hereby implyed, but, and that principally his care and protection of vs. As, Colos. 4.1. Masters giue to your seruants that which is iust and equall. Iust, that is, feed them, gouerne them, protect them, reward them. So we are the Lords, to receiue from him, as well as to performe vnto him.
Whether we liue or dye: That is, in all estates of health, sick∣nesse, riches, pouerty, prosperitie, aduersity, life, death: and also at all times, euen for euer.
All true beleeuers are in the Lords seruice, [Doctr.] and vnder his care and protection. Psal. 55.22. Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and he shall sustaine thee. 1 Pet. 5.7. Casting all your care vpon him, for he careth for you. 1 Cor. 3.21.22.23. All are yours, whe∣ther Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and yee are Christs, and Christ is Gods.
We ought not to dissent and wrangle one with another; [Vse 1] wee are holden in a common seruice to one Master, and are entertained of him with an equall care and loue.
Wilt thou iudge thy fellow seruant? Is it equall that hee should order his life and conscience according to the Rule of thy will, or of the Lords? Workes of seruants, in regard of vertue, or faultinesse, are to be measured by the will and law of our absolute Lord and Master.
It is a great dignity to serue King Salomon: [Vse 2] but vnspeak∣able honour and happinesse to be the feruant of Christ, * 1.1 a wiser, richer, and more gracious Master then Salomon could be: who vseth his seruants, not as vassals, but as his deare friends and brethren, protecting them, prouiding for them, and rewarding them with euerlasting life.
Be patient vnder the crosse, euen in death: [Vse 3] for in life and death we are the Lords; be thou in vtrumque paratus, liue wil∣lingly: and, if it be thy Lords will, willingly die: Be willingly rich, and not vnwillingly poore: willingly enioy thy children, and if thy Lord will haue it so, willingly resigne them vnto him. Whether the one or the other, it is the Lord, let him doe what seemeth him good, as sayd old Eli. Not as I will, * 1.2 but as
thou wilt, * 1.3 said our blessed Sauiour. So Saint Paul; Christ shall bee magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death: If I liue, by preaching; if I dye, by suffering.
A great comfort. [Vse 4] If we beleeue, we are Christs; He preserues vs while we liue, and he takes care for vs when we dye.
Not as we doe, doth Christ: we, when a seruant growes old, turne him away: But our Master tenderly cares for vs, to old age, in death, and after death.
We cannot doe as Christ doth: when our seruants dye, it is out of our power both to command them, and to doe for them: But death cannot separate vs from Christ; but it euen lets vs in to our Masters ioy.
O how sweet a thing is it, Christ to be a good Master to vs when we are dying! not to be forsaken in death, and left to our selues.
O the miserable estate of an impenitent sinner! As hee hath liued like a wretch and a beast, so he dyes. Thinke of it you drunkards, &c. you may liue in some pleasure here for a time, but your death shall be a very euill death, then you shall bee cast out. The Hauke while it liues, is in price, and vpon the Masters fist sometimes, but when it dyes it is cast vpon the dunghill: The Partrich is hunted while it liues, but when it dyes it is prepared for the Masters owne Table: such is the difference betweene a wicked man, and a true beleeuer, in death.
He which hath no care to liue to Christ, it is iust that in death Christ should take no care for him. It belongs to him to care for vs in death, to whom we haue directed our liues. To whom hast thou liued? to Satan? O truly miserable, for whom none takes care in the houre of death but the di∣uell our deadly enemy.
Happy is the man that in the houre of death hath the God of Iacob for his helpe: so haue all those which haue liued to him: If thou forsakest not God in thy life, he will neuer forsake thee in death; thy Master Iesus Christ will then stick close to thee when thou hast most need, and all the world can doe thee no good. Thou shalt haue assurance of the pardon of thy sinnes; Thou shalt tread downe Satan vnder thy feet;
Thou shalt lye downe in the peace, ioy, and comfort of a good conscience; For thy blessed Lord and Master le∣sus Christ careth for thee, and his honour is great in thy sal∣uation.
1 Kings 10.8. Iohn 15.15. Heb. 2.11.
1 Sam. 3.18.
Mat. 26.39.