DF GOD-REDEEMER. 279 Methinks, now, the consciences of some of you should prevent `'me, and preach over the sharper part of the sermon to yourselves, and say, I am the man thathave lived to myself,' and so consider of the consequence ofsuch a life ; but I will leave this to your med- itá'tion, when you go home, and next proceed to the exhortative part of application. Men, brethren, and fathers, the business that I come hither upon is to proclaim God's right to you, and all that is yours, even his new right of redemption, supposing that of creation ; and to let you know, that you are all bought with a price, and therefore are not your own, but his that bought you, and must accordingly be dedicated and live to him. Honorable and Worshipful, and all men, of what degree soever, I do here, on the behalf and in the name of Christ, lay claim to you all, to your souls and bodies, to all your faculties, abilities, and interests, on the title of redemption : all is God's. Do you acknowledge his title, and consent unto his claim? What say you ? Are you his, or are you not ? Dare you deny it? If' any man dare be so bold, I am here ready to make good the claim of Christ. Ifyou dare not deny it, we must take it as confessed. Bear witness, all, that God laid claim toyou andyours, and no man durst deny his title. I do next,, therefore, require you, and command you, in his name, give him hisown; renderto God the things that are God's. Will you this day renounce your carnal selves, and freely confess you are not your own; and cheerfully and unreservedly resign yourselves to God, and say, as Jos. xxiv. 15., "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ? " Do not ask what God will do with you, or how he will use you, or dispose of you. Trust him for that and obey his will. Fear not evil from the chiefest good, unless it be in neglecting or resist- inghim. Be sure of it, God will use you better than Satanwould, or than this world would, or better than you have used, or would use yourselves. He will not employ you in dishonorable drudge- ries, and then ,dash you in pieces. He will not seduce you with swinish sensualities, and keep you in play withChildish vanities, till you drop into damnation before you are aware; nor will he lull' you asleep in presumptuous security, till you unexpectedly awake in unquenchable fire. You need not fear such dealing as this from him : " His commandments are not grievous " 1 John v. 3. " His yoke is easy, his burden is light, and tendeth to the perfect rest of the soul ; " Matt. xi. 28--30. What say you ? Will you hereafterbe his, unfeignedly his ? Resolvedly, unreservedly, and constantly his ? Or will you not take heed, " that you refuse not him that speaketh;" Heb. xii. 25. Reject not, neglect not this offer, lest you never have another on the like terms again. He is willing to pardon all that is past, and put up with all the wrongs i
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