336 c HR I s T THE sERVANT OF G 0 D. Book n. METAPHOR. D IS PAR IT Y. i. JESUS Chri!T, although a Servant, is efi'entially one with the Father; the Father, Son and Spirit, are but the one everlafting and eternai God. I and my Father are one. 'Ihere are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Gho.ft; and theft three are infeparably one, 1 John v. 7· Il. A Se:vant amongll: M~n II. Chrill: hath a full, a clear, and infeparable bath not an mfeparable lnterell: m Intereft m all that the Father hath: All mine are his Mafter's Goods and Eftate. ·thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in I. A Servant and the Mafter are not e!fentially and infepa– rably one. Ill. Servants among Men many times, through Temptation, prove unfaithful, and deceive either Fa– ther or Mafter; yea, the 'bell: Ser– vants of good Men have in fame– thing or other mifcarried. IV. A Servant may be turned out of his Mafter's Service, and lofe his Honor. V. The Servant abides not in his Ma!ler's Houfe for ever. VI. A Servant differs from the Heir in Place, Dignity, and Pri– vilege. them, John xvii. 10. Ill. It wa~ impo!Eble for Chrift to be unfaith– ful, or difobey God his Father, becaufe he was without Sin, and Satan had nothing in him to faften a Temptation upon, 'John xiv. 30. IV. The Lord Jefus Chrift did not, could not difpleafe his Father, and therefore did not, nor could lofe his Honor. I do always the 'Things that plePfe him, 'John viii. 29. V. Jefus Chrift abideth in the Houfe of God for ever. VI. Jefus Chrift though he be called the Ser– vant of God, yet is he his own beloved Son, and Heir of all Things, by whom he made the World, Heb. i. 2. There is none in Heaven and Earth, that hath greater Glory, Place, or Privilege, confetred upon him, than the Lord Jefus Chri!T, Heb. i. 5, 8. VII. Too many are oftentimes forced to become Servants, becaufe they cannot otherwife tell how to Jive. VII. Jefus Chri!t had no Neceffity of Nature laid upon him, to accept of the low Place and Of– fice of a Servant. He was not forced to it, be– caufe he could not tell how to live without ferv– ing, he being infinitely happ¥ in himfelf from Eternity; but the Glory of his Father, and the dear Love he bore to the Creature, even to poor loft Man, moved him to become a Servant ; he did it freely for our fakes, that we might be Lords. I N F E R E N C E S. I. WE may note from hence the wonderful Condefcenfion of J efus Chrift ; there is nothing which fets forth his great Abafement for our fakes more than thrs; what Grace is this! Doth the Son of God, who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, be– come a Servant! He that thought it no Robbery to be equal with God, made him.felf of no Reputation, and took upo11 him the Form of a Servant! Phi!, ii. 6, 7. 'Ihe Son of Nian came not to be mini.ftered to, but to mini.fter, Mark x. 45· f!<.tfefl. But fome may enquire, Who.fe Servallt is Chri.ft? &c. 1. He is God's Servant: Behold my &rvant, &c. 2 . He is his People's Servant: 'Ihe Son of Man came 11ot to be mini.ftered un!o, but to mini.fter, and to give his Life for many, Matt. xx. 28. II. Let us learn from him, henceforward to humble ourfelves. Let the fame MiNd be in you, that was aifo in Chrift .Jefus, Phi!. ii. 5· Shall the Lord become. a Servant? and fhall the Servant [well m l'nde and Arrogancy, and nothmg content lum but to be called Lord; nay, and lord it over God's Heritage, whofe Servants they ought to be; tf they would be Gofpel Mini!Tcrs. Sureiy Chnll: abhors hrm who calls lumfelf the Ser– vant IJj Servants, whiHt at the f.1me 1une he owlts htmfelf above All that zs called Gods. Ill. If
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=