A SERMON OF THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST; AND THE NECESSITY OF MAN'S SUBJECTION, DEPENDENCE, AND CHIEFEST LOVE TO HIM. PREACHED B OitE THE:JUDGES OF ASSIZE AT WORCESTER. PSALM ii 10, 11, 12. BE WISE NOW, THEREFORE, O YE KINGS; BE INSTRUCTED, YE JUDGES OF THE EARTH. SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR, AND REJOICE WITH TREMBLING, &C. Towaste this precious hour in an invective against injustice and its associates, is none of my purpose ; they are sins so directly against the principles in nature, so well known, I believe, to you all, and sò commonly preached against upon these occasions, that, upon the penalty of forfeiting the credit of my discretion, I am bound to make choice of a more necessary subject. What ! Have we need to spend our time and studies to persuade Christians from bribery, perjury, and oppression ; and from licking up the vomit which pagans have cast out? And that in an age of blood and desolation, when God is taking the proudest oppressors -by the throats, and raising monuments ofjustice upon the ruins of the un- just? And I would fain believe that no corrupt lawyers do attend your judicatures, and that Jezebel's witnesses dwell -not in our country, nor yet a jury that fear not an oath. I have therefore chosen another subject, which, being of the -greatest moment, can never be unseasonable ; even to proclaim: him who is constituted the King and Judge of all, to acquaint you with his pleasure, and to demand your subjection. The chief scope of the Psalm is, to foretell the extent andprev- alency of the kingdom of Christ, admonishing his enemies to sub- mit to his government, deriding the vanity of their opposing pro- VOL. It 38
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