efln Expoftion of the C H A p.1. evinced by the particular confiderationsofhis Inflitutions Hence our Obedience unto them is called our reafonablefervice, Rom. iz. r. z.His commands are cafte, becaufe all of them are fuited to that principle of the new Nature, or newCreature which he worketh in the hearts ofall his Difciples. It likes them, loves them, delightsin them, whichmakes them eafte unto it. The Lord Chrift rules, as we faid, by his Word and Spirit, theftgo together in theCovenant of the Redeemer, Ifa. 59. 20, 21. And their work is fuited and commenharate one to the other. The Spirit creates a new Nature fitted for Obedience according to the Word ; and the Wordgives out Laws and Precepts Mired unto the inclination and difpofition ofthat Nature : and in theft two confift the scepter and Rule ofChritr. Thisfuitablenefs ofPrinciple and Rule one to the other makes his Gcvernmenteafte, up- rightand righteous. 3. His commands are eafie,%bec-aúfes he continually gives out fupplies ofhis Spirit, to makehis fubjeéts toyield obedience unto them. This is that which above all other things fees a luJire upon his Rule. The Law was holy jute and good ofold ; but whereas it exhibited notJirengthunto men to enable them unto Obedience, it became unto them altogether ufeleffand unprofitable; as to theend they aimedatin its`obfer- vation. It isotherwife in the Kingdom of Chrift ; what ever he requires to have done ofhis fubjehs, he gives them Jtrength byhis Spirit and grace to perform it ; which makes his rule eafie,righteous,equal,and altogether lovely. Neither can any of the tonsofmen pretend 'fo the leaft [hareor interell in this priviledge. 4 This Rule and. Adminiflration ofChrifis Kingdom is righteous, becaufe ufeful andprofitable. Then are Laws good, wholefome and equal, when they lead 'unto the benefit and advantage ofthem that do obferve them. Laws aboutflight and trivial things, or fuch as men have no benefit or advantage by their obfervation, are jut-fly efteemedgrievous and burdenfome, But now all he Laws, and whole Rule of the Lord Chrift, are every wayufful and advantagious to his fuhjcéts. They make them hov,righteous, fuch as pleafe God and are ufeful io mankind. This is their nature, this their tendency. Whatfoever things are true, whatfiever things are honett, whatfoever things arepill., whatfoever things are pure, whatfoever things- are lovely, whatfoever things areofgood report, they are all ingeneratèd in the foul, by and in the oblèrvance of thefè Laws ofChrifl's Rule. They free the foul from the power of tuft; the fervice offin, fear of death hell and the world, guide it in the truth, make it fruitful amongtt mankind, and amiable untoGod himfelf. 5. Their endmanifefts them to be righteous. The worth and equity ofLaws is takenoff, when lowandunworthy ends are propofed unto their obfervation : But theft ofthe Lord Chrift dire& unto the higheff end, propofeand promife the moftglorious reward; fo that whatfoever maybe done or fuffered in an adherence unto them, bears noproportion to that exceeding rich and eternal reward which theyare attended with- al], which renders them highly righteous' andglorious. And many other conliderations of the like nature may be added. And hence a three-foldCorolary may betaken. a. That ourfubmion to this Scepterof the Lord Chrift, our obedience to the Laws ofhis Kingdom, and the Adminifirátion thereof, is very righteous, equal and reafon- able. What can be farther defired to render it fo, or to provokeus unto it ? z. That the condemnation of thofe thatsefufe the Reign of Chrift over them, that will not yieldobedienceunto his Laws, is molt jull and righteous. On thefe accounts will their mouthes be flopped for ever, when he comes to deal with them, who know not God, and obey,not the Go#el. 3. It is our wifdom to content ourElves with the Laws ofChrift, in things that belong untohis Kingdom. They alone, aswe have teen, have thole properties which makeour obedience ufefulor profitable; .what-ever we do elft in reference unto the fame endwith them, isneedlefs and fruitlefs drudging. V. The righteous Adminijirations ofthe Lord Chrift in his Government proceed allfrom his own habitual righteoufnefl and love thereunto. See this declared by the Prophet, Ifa. 11.1/. r,2,3,4,5,6,7. VI.God it aGod in eJpecialcovenant with the Lord Chrift, as he is the Mediator; God thy God. Of this Covenant I have treated largely elfe- where; and therefore fhatl not here inflt upon it. tvft. The
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