A CORONATION SERMON, preached
[ 424 ] A
COROΝΑΤΙΟN - SERMON,
PREACHED AT
DARTMOUTH.
CANT . iii. 11 .
Goforth,ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, with the crown wherewith hismother crownedhim in the day ofhis efpousals, and in the day ofthe gladness ofhis heart.
A :
Crown is thetop ofearthly glory, the culminating point ofhuman dignity. Pfalm xxi. 2, 3. " Thou hastgiven
" himhis heart's defire ; thou hast fetacrownofpuregold up- " onhis head." The ambition ofthe many, moves in various ſpheresbelow it ; the ambition of none afpires above it, except itbe thatanomalous monster, the manof fin,who affects to fit intheverythrone ofGod, and exalts himself above all that is calledGod, 2 Thef. ii. 4.
WhenGod puts a crown uponthe head,and afceptre into thehand ofa man,he engraves upon thatman(in a qualified ſenſe) both his name, and the lively characters of his Majesty and authority, Pfal. lxxxii. 6. " I have said, ye are gods, and " all ofyou the children of the Most High."
Butyet, in all thegrants and conveyances ofHeaven,there is always a refervation and falvo to the divine prerogative, to * diſplace it at pleaſure, and ſet it uponwhat headhe ſhall pleaſe, Ezek. xxi.
26. " Thus faith the LordGod, Remove the diadem, and take " offthe crown : This ſhall notbe thefame: Exalthim that is
" low, and abaſe him that is high."
Though dominion be not founded in grace, yet grace both embelliſhes, and ſecures thedomnion of men.
Theprinces of Pfal. ii. 10, 11, 12 . the earth owe fealty and homage to Jeſus * Chriſt ; and hadsome of them beenmore * The Lord dethrones kings,diſpoſes ofkingdoms..
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
fubject tohis laws, their kingdoms had flourished, andtheir governmentbeen more aufpicious.
The coronation-day ofa king, is, ina ſenſe, the marriagedaybetwixthim andhispeople,and is accordingly ſolemnized withall the figns and demonſtrations ofjoy and gladness: For theſbout ofakingis among them.
Thuswhenthe crown ofIfrael wasſetuponthe head ofSolomon,the ſcripture repreſents theirexuberantjoy,inanelegant, and lofty hyperbole: 1 Kings i. 40. " And all the people came up after him, andthe peo- " plepipedwith pipes, and rejoicedwithgreatjoy,ſo thatthe
" earth rent with the found of them."
Carnal men rejoice carnally, and ſpiritual men ſhould rejoice ſpiritually : The moſt glorious part of the folemnityof ſuchaday, confifts in, 1. Praiſes andprayers forhim thatwearsthe crown.
2. Ina ſpiritual improvementofthe action toourſelves.
1. Inpraiſesandprayers for the king,whom God hath ſet overus. Yourprayers and praiſes reflect more glory upon the crown, than all the jewels andſparkling stones withwhich it ſhines: Andſo I am perfuaded our king will account it; ac cording toZech. xii. 5. " The governors of Judah ſhallſay in " their hearts, The inhabitants of Jerufalem ſhall be my
" ſtrength inthe Lordof Hosts theirGod."
Praiſe thyGod, O England! for ſettingthy crown this day upon theheadofa Protestant prince; who accounted not his treaſures, or blood, dear unto him, to redeem the intereſt of Chriſt out of the dangers that were ready to fwallow it up.
Pray fervently for your king thisday: The concernments ofthepeopleofGodareſogreatinhim,as thattheyexact from allthe faints the uttermost importunity inprayer.
(1.) ThatGod wouldcleanſe andwashthe crown ofEnglandfrom allthat guilt and pollution it hath contracted under former governments, thatthe ſins of thecrownmaynot deſcend with it.
(2.) That the royal head on which it ſhall be ſet this day, maybe filledwiththewisdom ofGod, and matched with an holyheart, inflamedwith love toGod,and zealfor hisglory.
(3.)That as soonasmenhave ſet thecrown uponhis head, hemay chearfullytake it off again, and caſt it atthe feet of Jeſus Chriſt, as thetwenty-fourelders did, Rev. iv. 10. " And " the twenty-four elders fell down before him that fat on " the throne, andworſhippedhimthat liveth for ever andever,
" and caft their crowns before the throne," &c.
VOL, VIII.
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426 A Coronation-Sermon, preachedat Dartmonth.
(4.)ThatGod would make the crown fit eaſy, and long upon his royal head.
Eaſy, becauſe crowns are usually lined withthorny cares; and long, for the church's peace and tranquillity.
Secondly, The next thingbelonging to the duefolemnity of this day, will be the ſpiritual improvement of the whole fcene of actions,to yourown inſtruction and ſpiritual advantage ; andthis willbe much moreglorious,than all the triumphant arches,royal robes,thunderingguns, andloud acclamationsofthe people. To this purpoſe,Ihave choſen this text, for the direction, and fpiritualizing of the duties oftheday.
" Go forth, ye daughters of Zion, and beholdking Solomon, " with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him, in the " day ofhis eſpouſals, and in the day of thegladneſs of his
" heart."
This book ofthe Canticles, isa fpiritual epithalamium, fung inparts,betwixttheheavenlyBridegroom, and thebride. The matterof it is moſt ſpiritual and weighty, the ſtile of it rapturous and lofty, the intimate union and communion of Chrift andthe church, is elegantly illuſtrated in an allegory of marriage : But nothing isfoundhere light, or obſcene.
Procul hinc, procul este profani :
Nilhic nifi caſtum. * It is a eryſtal ſtream of pure ſpiritual love, fliding fweetlybetwixttwopleaſant banks, Chrift and the church.
Inthe ninth and tenth verſes you have the deſcription of a triumphant chariot,preparedbyking Solomon for thedaugh. tersofJerufalem: "The pillars thereofof filver, the bottom
" ofgold, the covering ofpurple, and the midst thereofpaved " with love." A chariot is aninſtrumentframed for eaſy, fafe, andhonourable conveyance : This chariot isthe covenantof grace, fittedbyChriſt for the fafe and honourable tranſporting ofhisbride, the church, through this world, to her ſtatelypavi-
lion, or glorious manfion inthe highest heavens .
But how ſtately and magnificent foever this royal chariot be, he that contrived and framed it is much more glorious to behold: And therefore,inthe next words,which are my text, believers are fummoned, and invited tobeholdand contemplate
Chrift, that framed it: " Go forth,ye daughters of Zion, and " behold king Solomon, with his crown," &c.
In which words we have,
1. The spectators fummoned, or invited.
* Hence, far hence what e'er's profane :
There's nought to feed your unchaſte flame,
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
2. The Spectacle they are invited to fee.
1. Thespectators invited ; thedaughters of Zion.
ByZion, understand the church ; and by the daughters of Zion, the members ofthe church, oreveryparticularbeliever : Theſe are here invited, or fummoned to go forth, i e. oftheir entangling, diverting temptations; andto behold, viz. by the eye of faith, this moſt glorious,and heart-raviſhing object.
2. The spectacle they are invited tobehold and contemplate; king Solomon, with his crown, &c. the moſt illuftrious, glorious, and raviſhing fight that ever the eyes of mendid, or ſhall behold. By kingSolomon, underſtandChrist; ofwhom
Solomon inthisbook, is thefigure,orſhadow; yet one towhom Solomon, in all his glory was but adepainted fun on a ſignpoſt, tothe fun inthemid-heavens, ſhining inallhisglory.
And byhis crown, underſtand not any material crown, as thatofSolomon'swas;but thegloryandhonourthatis putupon
Chriſt,thekingofZion;ofwhich gloryacrownis theemblem.
What crown is here meant, interpreters are not all agreed about it ; ſome would have it to be understood ofour human nature, which he was crowned withalbyhis mother Mary, of whomhe took it : But though this aſſumption ofour nature, put fuchacrown of gloryupon it as it neverhad before, yet itwas rather an obſcuring ofChriſt's glory, than any addition ofglory to him.
Others interpret it of the crown ofthorns, with which his mother (the Jewish church, or ſynagogue) crowned him in the dayof his paffion at Jerufalem : But this ſeems tobe as hard and foreign a ſenſeas the former.
The moſtjudicious expofitors are agreed in a third ſenſe, viz. That, bythe crown on Chriſt's head, we are to underſtand that glory and honour, which believers give unto, or put upon Chrift, when in the day of their eſpouſals to him by faith, renouncing Satan, fin, and all that had exerciſed dominionoverthem before, with all trust anddependance on anyrighteouſneſs oftheir own, they give their deliberate, full, and hearty conſent, that Chriſt alone ſhall reign over them for ever andever; faying, " The Lord isourKing, the Lord is
" our Judge, the Lord is our Law giver." Chriſt is " the Lord " our righteouſneſs," andin allthingswewillobey him. This
Chriſt eſteems as a crown of gloryput upon his head, in the dayofhis efpoufals, and in the dayofthe gladneſs ofhis heart.
There is no ſuch honour, no ſuch pleaſure a poor finner can giveto Chrift, as to believe inhim ; this is asthe putting of a
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ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. crownofgloryupon hishead.
Itis true, itadds no glory to him,butit is the greatest manifeſtation ofhis glory, we are capabletomake.
Objection. But then itwill be objected, in what fenfebelievers can be tolerably ſtiled his mother ? For the text tells us, itwas the crown his motherput upon him.
Answer. Theymay be ſo ſtiled in a double reſpect :
(1.) Becauſe Chrift is formed in everybeliever,he is (in a ſpiritual ſenſe) conceived and formed intheir fouls, as the child isformedinits mother'swomb.
So the apostle ſpeaks, Gal. iv. 19. " My little children, ofwhom I travail again in " birth, till Chriſt be formed in you."
(2.) In reſpect ofthe dear affection Chriſtbears to every foul thatbelieveth inhim. No man loves his brother, fifter, ormother, as Chriſt eſteems and loves believers, Mark iii. 34. when he was told, his mother and brethren were without ſeekinghim ; he said, "Beholdmy mother, andmybrethren:
For whofoever ſhalldothe will ofGod,the ſame is mybro- " ther, and fifter, and mother." The day of a finner's confent tocomeunderChrift's government, is theday ofhis eſpouſals,
2Cor. xi. 2, andthe dayof a ſinner's eſponſals to Chriſt, is the day of the gladness ofhis heart, Luke xv. 32.
Thus youhavethe partsandſenſe ofthe text. The point from it isthis :
Doct. That the day ofabeliever's espousals to Christ byfaith, is to Chrift as theday ofa king's coronation is tohim, even theday of thegladness ofhis heart.
It is very remarkable, what we find inLukex. 21. where the Spirit hath carefully recorded one hourofjoy inthe life ofChrift; for he hadnotmany,being aman of forrows, and acquainted withgrief. "Inthathour,Jeſus rejoiced in ſpirit," faith the text: And what hour was that ? Why, itwas the famehour in which the ſeventy returned with theſe joyful tidings to him ; " Lord, even the devils are ſubject to us
" through thy name," ver. 17. The hour when Chrift faw " Satan falling as lightning from heaven," ver. 18. his kingdom tottering, his forces routed by the goſpel, his ſubjects running away to Chriſt, from under his cruel bondage, and madewillingtocomeunder his government: " In that hour,
" Jeſus rejoiced in ſpirit."
Thiswasjoyful news to Chriſt, it was the dayofthe gladness ofhis heart: He had now got a new throne in the fouls ofpoor finners, over whom thedevil and fin hadreigned; this was acrown ofgloryto Chriſt.
Inopening this point, Iſhalldiscourſe theſe three things :
ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
(1.) Inwhat reſpect a ſinner's eſpouſals to Chriſt reſembles thedayofa king's coronation over his ſubjects.
(2.) Wherein theſetwo days differeach from other.
(3.) Onwhataccounts it is theday ofthegladness ofChrift's heart, as the textçalls it.
Andthenapply it.
Letmethew the reſemblances and agreements which are betwixt the day ofa king's coronation, andthe dayof afinner's eſpoufals toChriſtbyfaith. And this willappear in fix reſpects : 1.4
(1.) Aking that is duly crowned overhisſubjects, hath a lawful righttogovern them,either bylinealdeſcent, conqueft, orcompact.
Solomonhadhis rightandtitle tothe kingdom, bydefcentfrom his royal fatherDavid, who, by his last will andteftament, conſtitutedand appointed him tobe his immediate fucceffor upon the throne of Ifrael, 1 Kings i. 35. The Roman Caeſar's titletothat kingdom, was by conqueft, and thistitlewas legitimatednotonlybytheJews acknowledgment ofit,but alfoby Chriſt's expreſs owning it, andfubmiflion to it.
The people faid, "We have no king but Caefar," John xix. 15. And Chriſt owned it, Luke xx. 25. when hehad paid tribute,faying, "Give unto Caefar,the thingsthatare Caeſar's."
ButDavid hadhis title bycompact with, andvoluntary elec-
tion of the people: Abner confers with the elders of Ifrael about it, and they meet David atHebron, and there chuſe him king, inthe room of Saul, 2 Sam.v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. and that inconfideration ofthe eminent ſervice he had performed for that kingdom, in delivering them from their mortalenemies the Philistines, enemies to their religion, and civil liberties. And certainly, the crown of Ifrael was not a reward above the meritofſuch aperformance. "Then came all the " tribes of Ifrael to David unto Hebron, and faid, Behold we
" are thybone, andthy fleſh.
Alſo intimepast, when Saul "waskingoverus,thou waſt he that leddeſt out, andbrought- " eſt in Ifrael: And the Lord faid to thee, Thou shalt feed
" my people Ifrael; andthou shalt be a captain over Ifrael.
"So allthe elders of Ifraelcame to the king to Hebron, and " kingDavidmade a league with them inHebron, before the " Lord : And they anointed David king over Ifrael."
ButChriſt hath right to reign over our fouls, by all theſe titlesandclaims: The throne ofour fouls, byhis Father's conſtitution anddeeree, Pfalm ii.6. " Yet have I ſet my kingu- " ponmyholy hill of Zion ;" byconquest, for he wins it by the fword ofhis Spirit,before he poffeffeth it, 2Cor. x.45-
ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. the caſts downby ſpiritualweapons allthatoppoſeth, andbrings every thought into obedience to him. And he hath right alfo, byconfent and compact, Pfalmcx. 3. "The people ſhall
" bewilling in the day ofthy power."
Ofwhichmore anon.
(2.) On the coronation-day,kings appear inall their royal robes, glitteringjewels, and all the luftre thatcanbe put upon them; they ſhine in the eyes ofthe people more glorioufly than all that are about them.
Velut luna, interminorafidera; There is none like him, in the beautyofhisornaments. Much more doth Chriſt excel all others in beauty andglory, in the eyes ofthoſe thatchuſehim for their Lord and King.
I Pet. ii. 7. "To you that believe, he is precious." Η τιμης Ηοnour itſelf.
Col. i. 17. "He is before all things ;" not only intime, or inorder,butin realdignity, and ſolid glory and excellency.
So his ſpouſe pronounceth him, Pfalm xlv. 2.
"Thou art fairer than the children ofmen; grace is poured " intothy lips." And Cant. v. 10. "Mybeloved is white
" and ruddy; the chiefeſt among ten thouſand."
Examine and mark all the creatures in both worlds, angels andmen, andtheybear no more proportion toChriſt in glory, than a glow-worm to the ſun.
(3.) On the coronation-day, the conſent of the people is demanded, and given.
Conſent was demanded by Abner, in thebehalf ofDavid, 2 Sam. iii. 17, 18. and freelygiven by them, in order to David's coronation, 2 Sam. v. 1, 2, 3,4.
Thus at the coronationofour kings, the conſent ofthe nobles andcommonality is demandedonthe public theatre, in theſe words:
66 I Herepreſent you fuch an one, (naming the king) the "
" willing to do your homage, ſervice,anddobounden dutyto " him ?"
Andtheyſay, E are willing; or W " fignifythey are ſo, by their loud andjoyful acclamations."
So it is, when Chriſt is crowned King over the foul ; his right is afferted, and their confentdemanded by his ambaffadors ; the believer manifeſts hishearty conſent, Pfalm cx. 3.
" Thy people ſhall be willing inthedayofthy power." And overall thatare made truly willing to receive him, he reigns, and inveſtsthem with all the privileges ofhis kingdom, John i. 12. The unbeliever is notwilling tocome under Chriſt's government.
John v. 4. You willnot come to me, &c. And
A Coronation-Sermon, preachedat Dartmouth.
the iſſue of their unwillingneſs, is their eternal ruin, Luke xix. 27. " But thoſe mine enemies, thatwould not that Iſhould
" reign over them; bring them hither, and ſlay them before "me." Nowtomakea foul trulywillingto acceptChrift's government, and give his conſent to him, fourthings must be done upon, and by fuch a foul : (1.) He must be convinced of his ſin andmiſery; noman willbe willingto change hisLord, whilst he finds no matter of complaint. (2.) He must know, and deliberate upon the terms ofChriſt ; for an ignorant perfon cannot be faid to conſent ; Non confentit, qui non fentit.
Chriſt will haveall the world to know his terms, and will not hide the worſt andhardest things from them, whether they like them or not : No man ſhall ſay afterwards, I was furprized, or impoſedupon; had I known this, I hadnever conſented to be a Chriſtian.
Therefore the hardest terms ofChriftianity are plainly propounded, Lukexiv. 26. and thatto cut offall after-pleas and pretencesfor refiling from Chriſt, John xvi. 1. " Theſe things have I ſpoken toyou, that ye ſhould not " be offended inme." (3.) Upondeliberation,there muſt appear tothe foulthat chuſeth Chrift, andconſents tohis government, a preponderating good ; that Chrift, with all his reproaches and fufferings, is betterthan fin, with all its honours andpleaſures : No man will change for no advantage, much leſs tohis loſs.
Thus Moſes ſaw more glory and excellency inthe very reproaches of Chrift, than in allthe treaſures of Egypt, or pleaſures of fin, Heb. xi. 25, 26. O ! faiththe foul, though there be hard and bitter ſufferings inthe way of godlineſs, yet it is infinitely better for me to endurethem for Chrift, thantobedamned. And uponbalancing the gains and loſſes, the conveniences and inconveniences ofChriſtianity, the odds appear ſo great, that the foul pronounceth they are not worthy tobecompared, Rom. viii. 18. (4.) When all is done, there muſt be a divine Almighty influence uponthe will ; without which, men will never heartily confent to Chrift's terms.
"Noman (faith Chriſt) can come unto me, except my Fa- " ther, which hath fent me, draw him," John vi. 44. This influenceofGodupon the will, is in away ſuitable to its nature, Hof. xi. 4. and produceth a confent without coaction.
Ifthe Lord ſhew anymanthe infinite advantages that come and accrue to his foul by Chriſt, this very diſcovery doth, as itwere, compel that man to come in to Chrift ; as that expreffion is uſed, Luke xiv. 23. a fcripture vilely abuſed in our times.
Chriſt compels none into his kingdom, as the Spaniards did the poorIndians tobaptifm, or as others have been
432 ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. compelled to the Lord's table : He will reign overa willing people, ornotreign at all.
(4.) On the coronation-day, a champion appears on the king's behalf, to challenge anythat ſhalldenyhisright, orby allurements or threatenings attempt todraw his ſubjects from theirdutyand allegiance: He throws downthe gantlet, and defies the proudeſt enemythe king hath.
SowhenChrift is crownedKing overthefoulsofhis people, there is a public defiancebid, a formal challenge given, to all the enemies ofChriſt and hispeople; asyou may readat large,
Rom. viii. 33, 34, 35. " Who ſhalllay anythingtothe charge "ofGod's elect ? Who is he that condemneth ? Who ſhallſe- "parateus from the love ofChriſt ?" Devils and men are defiedtodo theirworst. Chriſt muſtreign,till all his enemies are put under his feet: Sin ſhall nothavedominionoverhispeople, for they are not under the law, but under grace.
Come, Gebal, Ammon, andAmalek; come Satan, and allhis infernal powers; they are all defied inthename ofChrift. Believers arehisown ſubjects,and none ſhallpluckthem out ofhis hand.
(5.) At, or about, the coronation-day, an act ofindemnity, pardon andoblivion, is past and publiſhed, pardoning the of fences the ſubjects had committed untothatday. Thus it is at the day of Chrift's coronation over the believer's ſoul, and its eſpouſals to him by faith ; all his fins are pardoned, new andold, great and ſmall. Andofthis, proclamation is openly made in the goſpel, Acts x. 43. "To him give allthe pro- "phets witneſs, thatthrough his name,whoſoeverbelieveth in "him, ſhall receive remiſſion ofſins." O glorious pardon ! free without purchase; fullwithout exception, and final without revocation. Now there is agoal-delivery, the prifon-doors are open, liberty proclaimed to the captives, Ifa. Ixi. 1,2.
TheKing of Sion is amercifulKing, andhis ſubjects ſhall find him fo: They have gladded his heart, by accepting his government ; and he will glad theirs, by his pardons:
The Sonhathmade them free, andthey are freeindeed.
(6.) In aword, a coronation-day is adayofgladneſs, aday ofjoyandtriumph ; joydiſplays itſelfinthe faces ofall loyal ſubjects ; thoſe only that had rather be under another government, hang thehead, and bite the lip.
So it ishere; all thatare loyal fubjects to Jeſus Chrift, rejoiceexceedingly inhis government; and itmustneeds be ſo, becauſehis kingdomconſiſts injoy in the HolyGhoft, Rom, xiv. 17. When Zaccheus came underthis King, he came down joyfully, Luke xix. 6,9. when the eunuch received
ACoronation-Sermon, preachedat Dartmouth.
him forhis Lord and King, he went home rejoicing, Acts viii. 39. when Şamaria fubmitted to his fceptre, there was greatjoyin that city,Acts viii. 5, 6, 7. and let thejoybewhat itwill, the cauſes ofjoy are greater than the joy itſelf.
But thoſethatbelongtoSatan's kingdom, that love tobe underthe dominion offin, andhatethe ſtrictneſs and ſeverities of religion; theſe arethe only malecontents ; theſe fret to ſee Chriſt's kingdom enlarged, andſecretlyplot to destroy it.
Thus we •ſee the agreement betwixttheday ofa king's coronation over his fubjects, andChrift'scoronationoverbelievers.
Butthough theyharmonize in theſe particulars, anddivers others thatmaybe named; yet, 2dly, There are as many remarkable differences anddifa greements betwixt them, but noneto the believers loſs ordifadvantage; for they all fallon his fide: As, ex. gr.
(1.) It is not the privilege ofevery fubject, no, norof one amongmany thouſands, to fee the king whois crowned over them, to hear his voice, or give their explicit confent in his preſence;butevery ſubject in Chrift's kingdomdothſeeChrift bytheeye offaith. John vi. 40. " He that feeth the Son, and "believeth on him." Seeing, and believing, areterms convertible; theydo allhear his voice, and give their explicit conſenttotakehim for theirKing. Union with Chriſt is not aworktobedone by a proxy, or repreſentative; but it is the refultofa folemndebate betwixt Chriſt and the foul.
(2.) Kings are crowned over manythat lovethem not, but are filled with prejudice against their perſons andgovernment.
But it cannotbe ſoin thekingdom ofChrift ; To them that believe, he is precious, 1 Pet. ii. 7. All Chriſt's fubjects love him above father or mother,wifeor children, yea, above their own lives; otherwise they cannot be his ſubjects, Lukexiv.
26. Theyalfodelight in his government,and nothingwouldbe morepleasant totheirfouls, thanto find everythought oftheir heart brought into ſubjection to him, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. They darenot confederate with his enemies, and will chuſe rather todie, thanforſakehim: Theywill eſteem it aglorious thing, though theirrightarm ſhouldbe fevered from their ſhoulderblade, for their regular endeavours todefendand ſupport the crownupontheheadof their royalMafter.
(3.) The relationbetwixtaking andhis fubjects, may, and mustbe diffolvedbydeath: death fears not to arreſtthe moſt potentmonarchupon his throne, and tranflatehis crown toanother head.
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434 A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
But our King, Chriſt, lives for ever ; death hath no domi nion over him : his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and hisdominion thatwhich ſhallhave no end, Dan. vii. 13, 14.
Death is fo farfrom ſeparating Chriſt, andhis fubjects, that it brings them nearer together than ever they were before ; it brings them into his immediate prefence, to his facial viſion,
1 Cor. xiii.12. and fixes them there for ever, 1 Theff. iv. 17.
(4.) Kings maydegenerate unto tyrants, andſubjects into rebels ; they may undermine the laws, liberties, and religion oftheir people : they that rule over the people, may make them to howl, Ifa. lii. 5. The world is too full of ſuch inſtances and examples ; but Chriſt can never oppreſs his fubjects. " The fceptre ofhis kingdom is a right ſceptre," Pfal. xlv. 6. " His yoke is eaſy,and his burden is light," Matth. xi.
29. And his true fubjects can never shake offtheir allegiance tohim ; they ſhall ratherdie,than do it.
(5.) Kings will not permittheirgreatest favourites to fit in their thrones ; it is their peculiar honour, and not communicable to any. Gen. xli. 40. " Only in the throne, I will be
" greater than thou," ſaid Pharaoh to his Joſeph.
ButChriftpermits, andappointsallhisſubjects to fitwith him upon his throne,Rev. iii. 21. The glorywhichGod gavehim, hehath given tothem,John xvii. 22. Whatking is like Chrift ?
(6.) To conclude: thejoy and triumph at a king's coronation, isonly among men, in this lower world; but the joy andtriumph at Chriſt's coronation, is among angels inheaven,
Luke xv. 7. The city ofGod holds a folemn triumph at the converfionofa particular finner ; what are the ſhouts ofmen, tothe jubilations ofangels ?
Thus you have fix particulars wherein they agree, and as many in which they differ.
Wecome, inthenext place, to enquire into, 3dly, The reasons why Chriſt's coronation over believers, is thedayofthegladneſs ofhis heart. And it must be fo,
(1.) Becauſe it is Chriſt's marriage-day, at least the day of his eſpouſals ; andthe day of marriage, oreſpoufals, is aday ofjoy and gladneſs.
Chrift hath now a new ſpouſe, a foul, inwhichhe never dwelt before ; and as a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, fo doth Christ over believers, Ifa. lxii. 5. Here is anew relation entered, and that with the King of kings ; the angels ofGod rejoice exceedingly in it, butmuch more
Chriſt, the bleſſed Bridegroom.
(2.) It is Chriſt's day of conquest and victory over Satan, theday inwhich hehathdepoſedhim fromhis throne, Matth .
ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
xii. 29. delivereda foul, of invaluable worth in his eyes, out ofthe power ofdarkness, and tranſlated it into his own kingdom, Col. i. 13. andthe dayof conqueſt is a dayof extraor-
dinaryjoy andtriumph, Ifa. ix. 3 .
(3.) It is theday inwhich he receives the fruit and reward ofhis bloody travels, and bitter agonies: there is now a fon, or daughter, born toGod, anheirborn tothe heavenly inheritance. Now itis mostpleasantand joyful toJeſus Chrift, to ſeeof the travail ofhis foul, Ifa. liii. 11. no fatisfaction in this world comparable to it.
When a young heir is born to thekingdom andcrown ofheaven, it deſerves atriumph..
(4.) It is theday in which Chriſt finds a foul that was loft, Luke xv. 5, 6. Whatjoy was it to the Father of the prodigal, when he had found his loft fon ? Luke xv. 20. there was mirth andmuſic, feasting and rejoicing : " This my Son was loft,
" and is found ; was dead, audis alive."
Poor finners are loft creatures bynature,theyhave lost their God, and therein themſelves too. Godhath loft, and the devil found, every unregenerate ſinner : all ſtrayers from God fall to his ſhare.
But this loſs is not irrecoverable ; the errand and end for which Chriſt came into the world, was to ſeek and to fave thatwhich was lost, Matth. xviii. 11. and when the finner that was loft comes home to him by repentanceand faith, heobtains the endof his incarnation, life, and death, upon that foul ; which cannot but be the day of the gladneſs of his heart.
Ifthen the day ofa king's eſpouſals, or marriage, be a day ofjoyandgladneſs to his foul; ifa day of conqueſt, and dividingthe ſpoils, be a day ofjoy tothe conqueror, after a ſharp and bloody fight ; ifit be ajoy to a mother, after long and fore travail, to embrace her in her arms, and kiſs the child, forwhom the endured ſo many bitter throws ; ifit be ajoy to a father to find and recover a child that was loft, and as dead tohim : in a word, ifit be high delight and fatisfaction to fee agreat defign, on which the heart is intently ſet, brought at laft, by orderly conduct, to the defired happy iſſue; then let us allow the day ofa finner's coming into Chriſt by converſion, tobe as a coronation-day to a king, the day of his efpoufals, and of the gladneſs ofhis heart.
Ufe I. This point, like a fruitful root, fends forth many branches, and all loaden with diverſity of fruits.
The firſt is for information, inſeveral inferences from it.
Inference 1. Beinformedfromhence,what isthetruecauſe r Iii 2 T
436 A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. and reafon ofSatan's rage and ſpite againstthe goſpel, andthe noſt painful, able, and fuccefsful preachers ofit in theworld.
Thegreatdeſign ofthegoſpel, andofall that fincerelypreach it, istowinandperfuade Satan'sſubjects to forſake his cruel, unjuft, and tyrannical government, and ſubmit to the kingdomand ſceptre ofthe LordJeſus. What is the preaching ofthe goſpel,butthefounding ofatrumpet inthedevil's kingdom, towinhis ſubjects fromtheir allegiance tohim, to proclaim another king in his territories ? Every faithful mini ſter'sbuſineſs is, togathertheſe wretchedvaſſals ofSatantoge+ ther, andſet beforethemthe miferable captivityandbondage theyarein, under that tyrant that rules over them, (whoſe laws, likeDraco's, are written inthebloodoftheir ſouls), td exaggerate their finand miſery, and to let them know how willingChrift is toreceive and ſavethem,iftheywill renounce andabandon Satan'sgovernment. To ſetbefore themtheblef fed freedem, andglorious privileges ofthe ſubjects of Chrift; to beſeech and perfuade them, to break away fromtheir old cruel maſter, and come over to Chrift : to answer alltheir pleasandobjections against it, and to denounce the wrath of Godagainst allthe refuſers of Chriſt's gracious proclamation.
Now Satan is notignorantof allthis; he eſteems the lofs of one,muchmorethe revoltofmany, a greater mifchief,than a kingreckons the lofsofakingdom: andto fee them break a way ſo faſt fromhim, and be lifted to fight against him ; O how itgrates that envious ſpirit, andſharpens hismalice against the instruments and agents inthis work!
This, as a * late worthy ſpeaks, torments the foulſpirit, toſee himselfforfaken ofhis old friends and ſervants, and this newLord to comeand takeawayhis ſubjects from him. Hence come perſecutions, flanders, &c. inſhowers,uponChriſt's faithful miniſters.' He knowshiskingdom ofdarkneſs muſt vanish, as the light ofthe goſpel riſes, and ſpreads itſelf.
You read, Rev.xiv.6, 7. of " an angel flying inthemidst ofheaven, having the everlasting
"goſpel to preach tothemthatdwell on theearth." And in ver. 8. you have another angel following him, ſaying,Babylon isfallen, isfallen; that great city ! Nosooner is the two-edg ed ſwordof thegoſpel drawn, butthenext voiceis, Victory! victory! Heknows every home-charge made by the goſpel, will iſſue inaroutof his infernal legions. Now minifters coming forthagainsthim as heralds, toproclaimChriſt's right, andas captains of the army of Chriſt, their general ; he owes them a particular grudge, and ſeeks everyway to ſtop their
*Gurnal's firstpart, p. 59.
ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
mouths, anddestroy their perfons. And furelyhehath pushedhard at them, and madedefperate attempts againstthem, in our days. Nodoubt but itwas reckoned a great fervice donehim, to shut up the mouths offomany at once; butthe timedraws nigh,thatBabylon muſt fall, andthoſe that could not lately ſhew their faces on earth, must fly in themidst of heaven, with the everlasting goſpel. The dead witneſſes of Chrift shall hear ſhortly a great voice from heaven, ſaying,
Comeuphither; andthey shall afcend in acloud, their enemies beholding,but notable anymoretohinderthem.
Inference 2. How cauſeleſs,and altogethergroundless, are thedifcouragements and fearsofhumbledand convinced fin ners,that Jefus Chriſt will reject them, and ſhut the door of mercyagainst them, ifthey should goto him, and cafttheir poor finful fouluponhimby faith ?
Certainlyfuchperſons fear, whereno fear is. That which isthe command of Christ, the earnestdefire ofhis foul, that act which makes his heart glad, as the text ſpeaks ; cannever meetwith ſuch arepulfe asyou fear.
Was everany king unwillingtohave the crownfet upon his head ? Dothey ufe to frown upon their ſubjects thatare upon the knee, tendering theirhomage and allegiance to them ?No,no; it istheday ofthegladneſsoftheirhearts. Renouncethy oldmaſter Satan, give abill ofdivorcetothoſe lufts which havereigned overthy foul,ponder well Chrift's terms, andheartilyconfent tothem, andtrywhetherhe will not quicklyconfutetheſe vain fearsof thine, and fullymake good his gracious, ſweet, and moſtencouraging word, John vi. 37. " Him that cometh unto me, I "will innowifecastout."
Afweetencouragement toacomingfoul! Andbecauſe ſenſe ofguilt and unworthineſs uſually doubles their fears, Chriſt hath cauſed adouble negative to be put intothattext, onpurpoſe toobviate their fears, anddiſcouragements ; &μη εκβαλω εξω : Iwillnot,no, Iwill not : or, aswe render, " I will inno wiſe caſt him out."
Acts of delight flow freely, and easily, and ſo doth this.
Inf. 3. What an high and honourable relation doth faith bringthefoulofa finner into!Theday ofconverfion is theday of that foul's eſpouſals toChrift .
Aking from heaven makes fuit for apoor finner's heart, woo's forunion with finful creatures, rejoices exceedingly, whenhewinstheirconfent,andeſpouſes them for ever tohimfelf,when he obtains it ; for contractus is nothing elſe, but confenfus explicatus; a contract is conſent explained, in affirmativeplainwords, depraefenti.
I de diſclaim, and for ever
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. renounce all others ; and willingly yield up my heart and life to Jeſus Chriſt.
Now, ex contractu oritur vinculum, an obligation reſults from this contract with Chrift, and a moſt honourable myſtical union with him. "Hethat is joined to " the Lord, is one ſpirit," I Cor. vi. 17. The greatest honourthatwas ever put uponthe human nature, was by its afſumptionintounion with the Son ofGod,hypoftatically ; and thegreatest honourthat canbe done to our perfons, is by our union with Chrift, myſtically;hereby we become " Members
" ofhis body, of his flesh, and of his bones," Eph. v. 30. the ſpouſe ofChriſt. O what a preferment is this ! What foul feels not itſelflifted up far above all earthly honours, in fuch a relation to Chriſt as this ? The nobles and barons of the kingdoms, think it a preferment to ſerve the queen ; and the angels ofheaven do notthinkthemſelves degraded, byperforming ſervice to the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Well might great Conſtantine prefer the honourofbeing amember of the church, to that of being head ofanempire.
Let all the faints underſtand theirdignity and privileges,by thistheirhonourable union with Chriſt ; and with it letthem balance all the reproaches, ſcorns, and contempts, this vile world loads them with for his fake.
Inference 4. Be informed hence, ofthe dreadful anddamning nature ofthefin of unbelief; a fin that questions, yea, denies
Chrift's right to rule over thefoul; blinds the mind, hardens the heart,stiffens the will, andmakes thefoulobstinate and inflexible to all the gracious tenders ofChrist in the gospel.
Unbelief is the poisonous breath ofSatan, whiſperingjealoufies, furmiſes, and dangerous prejudices against Chriſt intotheear ofthe ſoul, and all tending to this mischievous deſign and purpoſe, viz. to hinder or breakthe treaty ofthe ſpiritual marriage betwixt Chriſt and the foul. Now itwillbe digging at the very root and foundation of the affenting act, and thus itwhiſpers, how canstthou be fure ofthe reality of the things reportedinthe gofpel ? Is itnot poffible they may bedevifed fables, the cunning artifices of men, to keep the world in awe? Thou never faweſt Chriſt, for whoſe ſake thou art ſo earnestly follicited torenounce allthy real, ſweet, and preſentcomforts and enjoyments.
Then it dilates rhetorically upon the fevere terms ofthe goſpel, advises the foul tothink fadly, how hard, grievous, and unreasonable the demands of Chriſt are, Luke xiv. 26. " Ifany man come tome, and hate
" not his father and mother, wife and children, brethren and " fifters,yea, andhis own life alſo, he cannotbemydiſciple."
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmonth,
How likeſt thou this, foul ? Here are all thy principal comforts, thy moſt dear and defirable things in the world, bothperſonal andrelative, tobe forſaken, yea, hated for Chrift's fake: the terms are ſet ſo high, that a man muſt loſe his brainsandbowels too, faith unbelief, before hecan be wrought uptothem.
Canſt thou endure to fee all the labours ofthy life tobecomea prey to thine enemies ? That which hath coft thee ſo much ſtudy and toil, ſcattered and destroyed in aday, when itisyetin thepower of thine hand tofave all ; thyhabitation to caſt thee out, thy pleasant fields pofieffed by ſtrangers : Impius has fegetes ; haſtthou hardineſs enough to encounter beggary ? to fight with hunger, thirst, and nakedneſs ? tolie in a naſty goal, to endure a parting pull with nearest relatives,which are as thine own foul ? But yet there areharder trials than theſe.
Canſt thou endure a tormenting death, by cruel barbarous enemies ? Canſt thou ſtand quietly at a ſtake, and endure the exquiſite torments of the fire, and thatin the fulness of thytime, whilftthou art in the flower of thineage, fulness of thy ſenſes, and haft fo fair a profpect of many pleaſant years before thee; and all this for an unfeen glory in anotherworld ? Theſe are the feeling arguments urged by infidelity, against embracing Chrift's overtures inthe goſpel, or coming under the fceptre ofthis new Lord : and with howmanydo they prevail ; thus Satan fixes hisſubjects, and makes them ſecure to himself.
But finner, ifGod have any intention of ſaving mercy to thysoul, thou shalt feel the more potent principles ofdivine faith and love over-powering and ſubacting theſe carnal reaſonings withinthy soul.
Itis admirable tobeholdthe Almighty influences ofgrace upon nature ; how the drawings of the Spirit, his omnipotent pull at the heart, makes the ſtrongest ties this world hath upon it, to give way, and caſily to looſe.
Mark x. 28. " Lord, we have left all, and followed thee."
Ifnot,butthoube fixedly reſolved nottochange Satan's government for Chriſt's; ifthou ſay in thy heart, and ſtand to that faying, I will never confent toſuch hard conditions ; then hear thy ſentence, read thy mittimus, Luke xix. 27. " But thofe
" mine enemies, thatwouldnotthat I ſhould reign overthem ; " bring hither, and flay them before me."
The ſentence is dreadful, the execution ſure ; thy unbelief will as furely damn thee, as a milſtone about thy neck, in the midstofthe fea, will drown thee, Mark. xiv. 16. " He that believeth not, ſhall be
" damned."
Thou hast caſt the vileſtdiſhonour upon Chritt, T
440 ACoronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. thouhast rejectedthe only wayof ſalvation ; andwhat can the illue of thy finalunbeliefbe,but ruin anddeſtruction ?
Use II. My next work will be perfuafive work, to gain the confentof the fouls tocome under the fceptreand government of Chriſt ; tomake his heart glad, and yourſelves happy for ever, by your eſpouſals tohim : And O that I could this dayfo repreſent thisking in hisglory,ſodiſcover the miſerable thraldom you are in under Satan, andyour lufts ; fo clear up the reasonableneſs and eaſineſs ofChriſt's terms anddemands, that theremightbe as chearful andhearty(though notfo loud andaudible) an applaufe, andacclamations returnedtodemand ofyourconſent to Chriſt, as thisday are, or ever were at the coronation of any king.
1. Andto this end, firſt confider the glory and dignity of the perſon of Chriſt; he is the Son of Godby nature, the brightness of hisglory, and the expreſs image of his perſon,
Heb. i. 3. " He is the Prince ofthekings ofthe earth," Rev. i. 5. The moſtglorious monarchthat ever ſwayed a fceptre overmen, isbut as aworm ofthe earth, or a deſpicable infect intheair,compared withSolomoninhisglory; the moſt perfect beauty in the creatures, beneath orabove, is blackneſs and deformity, in comparison with Chrift: the beauty ofrofes, lilies,fun, ſtars,angels, is notworthy to be mentioned in compariſon with Chrift: "Thou art fairer(faithhis fpouſe) than
" theſonsof men." None everſaw him ſavingly by the eye offaith,butwere charmed into hisboſom by love. The facial viſion of Chriſt is the feast ofbleſſed ſouls above.
This king ofglorymakes fuit for yourhearts this day; he woo's for your conſent; he paffedby apoſtate angels, not once making them atender of reconciliationor union, but comes toyou in his redgarments,glorious inhisapparel : he ſhedhis invaluable blood to redeem you toGod; he loved you, and gave himself for you: if there be a drop of love in your hearts, methinks the excellency of Chriſt ſhould extract and engage it. Writethat man abeast, a ſenſeleſs ſtock, that hath no lovefor Christ.
2. Confider, What ableſſed ſtate, abounding with glorious andinvaluableprivileges,yourconſentto beChriſt's is introductiveto: itopens toallprivileges, mercies, andbleſfings, defirable inthe eyes ofmen; it opens into freedom and liberty, fromthe the vaſſalage ofSatan,the ſervitude of fin, the curle ofthelaw, thedanger of wrathtocome.
John viii. 36. " If the Son, therefore, make you free, thenareye free indeed."
It opens the door into reſt and peace; peace with God,
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
peace inyourown confciences, Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. The delici . ouſneſs of peace you never yet taſted, who are ſtrangers to Chrift; nor ever ſhall,tillyou conſent to be his, Rev. ii. 17.
This ſhall be your ſupport, amidst all the confufions anddiſtractions, hurries and tumults, of this reſtleſs and unquiet world. Mic. v. 5. " This man ſhallbe the peace when the Af- " fyriancometh into our land, andwhenhe ſhall tread in our
" palaces." Chriſthath pitchedhis ſtandard inthegoſpel; repair unto it, come underhis banner, and lift yourſelves among hisfaithful fubjects, and the gloryoftheworldtocome isyours, ifyou overcome, andbe faithful untodeath, Rev. iii. 21. The fubjects of Chriſt, inthiskingdom of grace, are ſhortly to be alltranſlated into the kingdom ofglory, Rom. viii. 30.
3. Confider the miferable bondage you are now in, over whom Satan rules, andhowyour condition ſtill grows worſe and worſe, till it ſhall notbe capable of anyfurther addition of mifery, to make it more abfolutelyand completely miferable.
You are now without God, without a promise, without peace, without the pardonof one fin, Eph. ii. 12. You have no communion withGod, nor title toheaven; flaves to your fordid lufts, Tit. iii. 3. you are underthe curſe, Gal. iii. 16. condemned already,John iii. 18. andwheneveryoudieout of Chriſt, you ſhalldie inyour fins, John viii. 24. Hethat was your ruler in the world, is to be both your companion and tormentor inthe world to come, Matth . xxv. 41 .
Is this acondition to be ſatisfiedin ? Canyou ſleep quietly inyour chains ? O methinks the poor priſoners ofSatan ſhould figh and cry, through the grates ofthe priſon, eſpeciallywhen theyare informed ofdeliverance atthedoor.
You have no reaſon to ſcare at the terms and conditions propounded toyou by Chriſt ; they are equal, neceſſary, and eaſy, Matth. xi. 29. " Come untome ; myyoke is eaſy, and "myburdenis light.His commandsare notgrievous," 1 John v. 3. "All his ways are pleaſantneſs, and all his paths are
" peace," Prov. iii. 17. " The joy of the Lord ſhall be your " ſtrength," Nehemiah viii. 10. Iftherebe repenting work, believingwork, fin-mortifying work, or fuffering workfor you ; there is alſo a ſuitable proviſion ofdivine aſſiſtance, to enable and carry you through it all. 2 Cor. xii. 9. "My grace is fuf- "ficient for thee." Ifmen caſt you out, Godwill receive you,
2Cor. vi. 17, 18. Ifany sharp trial befal you, there is a door of eſcape prepared for your outlet, 1 Cor. x. 13. Ifyou meet with trouble in the world,you shall not fail ofpeace in Chrift,
VOL . VIII.
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ACoronation-Sermon, preachedat Dartmouth.
John xvi. 33. If you loſe any outward enjoyment for Chrift's fake, it ſhallbe recompenced an hundred-fold in this world, befides the reward ofheaven hereafter, Matth. xix. 29. If you be caſt in prifon for Chrift, the Comforter ſhall come fromheaven, and rest uponyou there, I Pet. iv. 13, 14. Ifyou fuffer with him, you shall reign with him, 2 Tim. ii. 12.
What think ye, brethren, of Chrift's terms now ? What is there here, for men to ſcare and fright at ? Can you mend yourſelves elfewhere ? O when ſhall the match be made?
Whenwill you come to Chriſt, and ſay, Lord, I heartily •conſent to take thee for my King : Iam pleaſed with the hardeft condition required inthy word ??
4. Lastly, Be convinced of the unreasonableness of all that you can pretendagainst this great duty. Ifyou fay, Tlie pains ofmortification are hard, you must in reaſonyield, that the pains ofdamnation are harder, andthat it is better for you to "enterinto life, halt and maimed, thanhaving two eyes or "hands, tobe caſt into hell ; where the wormdies not, and "wherethe fire is not quenched," Matth. v. 29. Ifyouſay, you have nopowerto come to Chriſt, your confciences will preſently tell you, thatyou neveryetput forth the uttermost power thatyouhave, in ſtriving for your own ſalvation : It will alſo tell you, that you ſuppoſe you have ſuch apower; elfe why have you ſo long delayed repentance and converſion upon this pretence, that you will feriouſly perform them hereafter ? Befides, though your endeavours do not oblige God to do that for you, you cannot do of yourſelves ; yet it is more probable he will do ſo, when you ftrive to your utmoſt, than when you carelefly neglect thoſe duties, and give yourſelves up to the contrary courſes.
Ifyou fay, you would ftrive, if you were affured of ſucceſs, and that you should be received and accepted by Chriſt, if you came unto him, anddid caſt your poor fouls upon him,you can anſwer yourſelves, ifyou will, that you daily ſpendyour time, pains, and ſtudies, upon lefferthings, having no afſurance at all offucceſs. The hufbandmantoils allday at plough, yet is not affuredof a good harveft; his corn may die in the feed, or be blaſted in the ear.
The mariner ventures his eftate on the fea, yet hath no affurance ofa good return ; the ſhip may miſcarry.
The miner will dig into the bowels of the earth, and try here and there; yet hath no afſurance he ſhall find thatrich veinofore, that shall recompence his coſt andpains. Now ifmen will labour fo hard, and adventure ſo much upon uncertainties, for a littleoftheworld ; doth not your ownreaſon conclude, you
A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth. 443 ought todo more, and adventure furtherthanany of them, to obtain Chrift, and eternal ſalvation ? O strive, ſtrive to make youreſcape out of Satan's kingdom, to Chriſt : Sit not with foldedhands on the feats offloth,ſaying, It isto no purpoſe.
Suppoſe yourſelves now upon your death-bed, all earthly. comforts infipidthings toyou, confcience prefaging thewrath to come, timeand hope endingtogether; would you notthen wish, O that we had been ruled andgovernedby Chriſt's laws and Spirit, and not by Satan, and our own lufts ! Hadwe been the ſervants of Chrift, we hadnow been going to Chrift ; had he governed, he would have faved us : buthis ſervants we are towhom weobey : We have ſerved our lufts, and thewages offin is death.
-Or ſuppoſe you saw the gloryofheaven, or the horrors of hell; thatyou heard the hallelujahs ofthe palm-bearing multitude, orthe ſhrieks of damned caft-aways ; would it be fo indifferenta thing toyou, whether you obey Chriſt's call, or no ? Believe it, theſe are no deviſed fables, butdo really exiſt, whether youmind them, or not. And why ſhould you not ſuppoſe, and forethink things ſo ſure, and ſo nigh ? A ſweez voice comes from heaven this day, ſaying, let all that expect to enjoy the glorythatis here, ſee that they ſubmit heartily to Chriſt's fceptre ; for he ſaves nomore than he rules: Andthe wholenumber of the glorified inheaven is made up of fuch as heartily cloſedwith Chriſt's terms on earth. Adreadful voice comesupfrom hell, crying (as itwere) in your ears ; as ever you expect to eſcape the miſeries and torments that are here, do not reject Chriſt's yoke and government as we did : Our yielding up of ourſelves to the ſway and government of our lufts, was our ruin.
Use III. To conclude: Let all men try their own eſtates, andexamine to what king they do indeedbelong, andwhoſe ſubjects in truth they are, Chriſt's or Satan's ; for theſe two kingdoms divide the whole world. God hath furnished us with ſelf-reflecting powers; weare able to retire out of the confufednoiſes ofthe world, and fit retired inthe innermost cloſet ofourown fouls, where none but God and our confciences ſhall be privy to our debates; and there folemnly demand of our confcience, and charge it to make plain and faithful anſwers to fuch questions and enquires as theſe :
1 Quest. 1. To whom do I yieldthe moſt prompt, chearful and conftant obedience ? To the commands ofChrift, or to the follicitations of Satan and my own lufts ? He that hath my obedience, the fame is my Lord and King, Rom. vi. 16. " Το
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444 A Coronation-Sermon, preached at Dartmouth.
" whomye yield yourſelves ſervants to obey, his fervants ye " are towhomye obey." WhenGod andconfciencecalls me topray,and theworldcalls me offto attend its enſnaring plea fures, and unneceſſary employments ; which oftheſe calls do
Ipay obedience to?
Quest. 2.Whogoverns the ſecretandunſeenpart ofmy life?
That everyman is, in the accountofGod, whichhe is in ſecret, Rom. ii. 28, 29. Now who is king inthe cloſet ? And what rules do my thoughts move by ? If Chriſt bring my thoughts intoobedience, ſo that Idare not indulge to myſelfa finfulliberty toenjoy the ſpeculativepleaſure of the ſins Ihave acted, orwouldact, hadI opportunity for it: And ifI am in the fear ofGodwhenalone,and make confcience ofmy fecret, as well as public duties ; then Iam under Chrift's governe ment, and he is king of my foul, 2 Cor. x. 5. Matth. vi. 6.
But if I make an external ſhew ofobedience to Chriſt, and ſe. cretlyobeymy lufts ; Iam reallythe ſervantoffin, andbelong toanother king. O myconfcience ! what ſayeft thou to theſe things?
Quest. 3. Whom do I follow, or heartily refolve tofollow, when itcomestoa parting-pointbetwixt Chriſt andtheworld ; when I must cleave to the one, and forſake the other ? Matth. vi. 24. Do Iwith fullpurpoſe ofheartcleave tothe Lord? Acts xi. 23. Is itmy fincere reſolution tofollow the Lambwhitherfoever he goeth ? Rev. xiv. 4. Or have I ſecret referves to quit
Chrift's ſervice, and give religion the flip, when it comes to realdiſtreſs anddifficulty ? Theſe are founding questions, and willdiſcover whoſe government we are under.
The CONCLUSION.
Thus I have endeavoured to fpiritualize and improve the great and folemn actions of this good day; aday for which (I hope) the childrenyet unborn ſhallpraisethe Lord. How happywillourking and queenbe, ifthey reign over a people that Chriſt reigneth over ; and will confcientiouflypaythem obedience in, and for the Lord! I believe it will be a greater joytotheirfouls, to feeyou fet the crownupon Chriſt's head.. inyourſubjectionto his laws, thanto feethe imperial crown of England ſetupon theirown heads. Religion breeds the beſt ſubjects, Let England praiſe the Lord for ſuch a day as this ! how manyfad years are run out, ſince it fawthe crown upon the heads ofa Proteftant king and queen at once! Let faithful magiſtrates rejoicethey ſhall nevermorebeputupon the odious anddangerous drudgeryof perfecuting goodmen, under fuchagovernment as this: