SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST. 309 . subject to him, to see how rare these are in the world, andyet how confident and careless most men are. It may be that you may think much that I so question your love ; yet Christ, that knew all things, questioned Peter's love to him; and that three times, till it grieved Peter. I am a stranger to the most of you, and therefore know not your conditions or inclinations. Yet judge me not censorious if I fear the worst, and if I measure you by the rest of the world ; and then Imay confidentlyand sadly con- clude that Christ hath few loving subjects' among you. Ifwe could hear your oaths and vain speeches turned to heavenly, soul-edify- ing discourse, and your covetousness to conscionableness, and see that the word of Christ were your law, and that you laid out your endeavors for heaven in good earnest, then we should say, ' These people are the loving subjects of Christ.' But when men are ene- mies to Christ's doctrine, and ways, and worship, and had rather live after thé flesh, and the world, and the traditions of their fathers, and are notorious for profaneness, superstition, and enmity to reformation, who can choose but condole your case ? And if your olsstinacy will not endure us to help you, yet you shall give us leave, whether you will or no, to lament you. Use 2. But it is time that I turn my speech to exhortation ; and O that you would encourage me with your resolutions to obey ! My business here to-day is aé his herald and ambassador, to pro- claim the Lord Jesus your King and Savior, and to know whether you will heartily acknowledge and take him so tobe or not. And to persuade you to take so fair an offer while you may have it, and to kiss the Son lest his wrath be kindled. This is my business here, in which if I had not some hope to speed, the Lord knows I would not have been here to-day. You will say, ' This is a common errand ; do you think we never heard of Christ before ?' I confess it is common, blessed be God for it, (and long may it to continue and increase, and let it be as constant and durable to us as the sun in the firmament ; and the Lord grant that England's sins or enemies may never bereave them of the blessing of the gospel, and then it will bea happier land than yet ever was any on the face of the earth;) but is it as common to receive Christ in love and obedience ? I would it were. I know the name of Christ is common. The swearer doth swear by it, the beggar begs by it, the charmer puts it into his charms, and the jester into his jests, and every Papist and ignorant Protestant doth mutter it ofttimes over in his prayers. But who trembleth at it ? or triumpheth in it? Who maketh it his fear and his joy? And give up their souls and lives to be governed by Christ? I do here solemnly proclaim to you that the Lord Jesus will not be put off with your compliments : he cares not for your mere name of Christianity,
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