272 THE ABSOLUTE DOMINION reign. Thus far, at least, must our politics be divine, unless we will be mere confederate rebels. But it is yet a closer application which I intend. Though we are not our own, yet every man's welfare should be so dear to him- self,that, methinks, every manof you should presently inquire how far you are concerned in the business which we have in hand. I will tell you how far. The case here described is all our own. We are bought with a price, and, therefore, not our own, and, therefore, must live to him that bought us. We must do it, or else we violate our allegiance, and are traitors to our Redeemer. We must do it, or else we shall perish as despisers of his blood. It is no matter of indifferency, nor a dutywhich may be dispensed with. That God is our owner by creation and redemption, and who doth hitherto keep our souls in thesebodies, by whose mere will and power you are all here alive before him this day, will shortly call you before his bar, where these matters will' be more seriously and searchingly inquired after. The great question of the `day will then be this, Whether you have been heartily devoted to your Redeemer, and lived to him ; or to your carnal selves. Upon the resolution of this question your everlasting salvation or damnation will depend. What think you, then? 'Should not this question be now put home by every rational hearer to hisown,heart? But I suppose some will say, There is no man that wholly lives to God, for all are sinners ; how, then, can our salvation depend so much on this ? I answer, in a word : Though no man pay God all that he oweth him, yet no man shall be saved that giveth him not the preeminence : he will own none as true subjects that do not cor- dially own him in his sovereignty. Be it known to you all, there shall not a man of you enter into his kingdom, nor ever see his face in peace, that giveth him not the chiefest room in your hearts, and maketh not his work your chiefest. business. He will be no underling, or servant to your flesh. He will be served with the best, if he cannot have all: And in this sense is it, that I say the question will be put, in that great day, by the Judge of all, wheth- er God or our carnal selves were preferred. And whether we lived to him that bought us, or to our flesh. Beloved hearers, I will ask you whether you, indeed, believe that there will be such a day. I will take it for granted, while you call yourselves Chris- tians, much less will I question whether you would then be saved or condemned. Nature will not suffer you to be willing of such a misery, though corruption make you too willing of the cause. But the common stupidity of the world doth persuade me to ask you this whether you think it meet that men who must be so solemnly examined upon this point, and whose life or death de-
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