The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Chriſt a Servant in the Covenant.
THE fifth relation which Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant, is, He is a Servant in the buſineſs of the Covenant. Many Scriptures point at Chriſt under this Covenant-relation, Iſa. 42.1. and 49.3, 5, 6. and 52.13, and 53.11. Ezek. 34.23, 24. and 37.24, 25. Zech. 3.8. Mat. 12.18. Luk. 22.27. Mark. 10.45. Rom. 15.8. For the better underſtanding whereof, let us a little enquire in theſe ſix Particulars: 1. In what reſpects this name is given to Chriſt. 2. How he came under this Covenant-relation. 3. Whoſe Servant he is. 4. What kind of Service this is, which lyeth upon Chriſt by this Covenant-relation. 5. What doth pertain to his office, as Servant in the Covenant; and what was the Service he did in the buſineſs of the Covenant. 6. Some things in his Service, which commend his acting in this Covenant-relation.
And, 1. This Name, which is a name not only of ſubordination and ſubjection (as is the name Meſſenger), but of the loweſt and moſt abject condition of ſubordination. I ſay, 1. This name is given to Chriſt, not in regard of his nature, but in regard of his office as Mediator, as he took upon him a Service; this name is not a name of nature, for in regard of his Divine nature he hath another ſtyle, My Son is his name, not my Servant, Mat. 3.17, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. And in regard of his Humane nature, though the man Chriſt is by nature Gods Servant, yet he is not by nature a common Servant to both the parties in the Covenant, nor a Servant of the Covenant, but a Free-man, Mat. 17.26, Jeſus ſaith unto him, then are the children free. Therefore I ſay, it is not the name of the natural only begotten Son of God, nor the name of the man Chriſt (as it importeth any thing peculiar, and not common to the reſt of the creatures); but it is the name of Chriſt Mediator, God-man, Heb. 12.24. 2. This name is given to Chriſt mainly and eminently, in regard of the ſtate and condition of his humiliation, Phil. 2.7, 8, But made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a Servant, and was made in the likeneſs of men: and being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the croſs. For though now, when God hath highly exalted him, he be ſtill a Prieſt upon a Throne, Heb. 8.1, and conſequently promoting the ſame Truſt and Service about which he was ſent to the earth; yet his way of carrying on that Service is ſo Princely, as he carryeth condeſcendingly to men, Phil. 2.9, 10, Wherefore God alſo hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow, of things in heaven, and things in earrh, and things under the earth. If we ſhould yet name him by this Covenant-relation, we behoved to look upon him as a kinged and crowned Servant, who for performing that notable Service that was committed unto him, hath been exalted to a Glorious Throne; and yet for all his preferment, is as humble, and affable, and eaſie to be ſpoke with, as when he was upon the earth; for he beareth the ſame heart toward his people, Heb. 4.15, 16, For we have not an High-prieſt, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without ſin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 3. The name of Servant in the buſineſs of the Covenant, is given to Chriſt, in regard of his truſt; becauſe the greateſt truſt that ever was put upon man, was put upon him by the Covenant of Redemption: he was entruſted with a rare piece of Service; the ſaving of ſinners, the carrying through the work of Redemption, the weight of the loſt World being laid upon his ſhoulders, Iſa. 49.6, And he ſaid, it is a light thing that thou ſhouldſt be my ſervant, to raiſe up the tribes of Jacob, and to reſtore the preſerved of Iſrael: I will alſo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayeſt be my ſalvation unto the end of the earth. Joh. 17.2, As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him. Joh. 5.22, For as the father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. 4. This name is given to Chriſt, in regard of his work; for it is a name of work as well as of truſt, becauſe he ſerved a great Service in the buſineſs of the Covenant. I have elſewhere ſhewed, that the whole buſineſs of Redemption was his work: therefore you find he ſpeaks often of his work, and labour, and ſpending his ſtrength, and of the travel of his Soul, Iſa. 49.4, Then I ſaid, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought, and in vain. Iſa. 53.10, 11, Yet it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief: when thou ſhalt make his Soul an offering for ſin, … ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his Soul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. Joh. 4.34, Jeſus ſaith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that ſent me, and to finiſh his work. Joh. 17.4, I have glorified thee on earth: I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. Joh. 8.29, And he that ſent me is with me: the father hath not left me alone; for I do always thoſe things that pleaſe him. 5. This name is given to Chriſt, in regard of his wages and reward, which redounded unto him by this great Service which he performed unto God, by ſaving the elect world, which yet muſt be underſtood of no ſervile reward, for his love could not be hired: but we read of a reward promiſed and compacted unto him, Iſa. 53.11, 12, He ſhall ſee of the travel of his Soul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong: becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death: and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſors, and he bare the ſin of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſors. Pſal. 2.8, Ask of me, and I ſhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. A reward expected and eyed by him, Iſa. 49.4, 5, Yet ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. Though Iſreal be not gathered, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength. A reward craved by him, Joh. 17.4, 5, I have glorified thee on earth: I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do: And now; O father, glorifie thou me with thine own ſelf, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. A reward payed unto him as the fruit of his labours, Phil. 2.8, 9, And being found in faſhon as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the croſs. Wherefore God alſo hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, Heb. 12.2. 6. The name of Servant is given to him, in regard of the ſpirit of fear unto which he did ſubject himſelf for a ſeaſon, while he was here in our nature, in the ſhape of a Servant: I ſay, though there were always in the heart of Chriſt a deſign of love, which made him run and ſerve in the buſineſs of the Covenant; yet there was ſomething of the ſpirit of a Servant in the man Chriſt, made under the law; and having taken upon him our condition, as well as our nature (which yet muſt be underſtood to be ſuch as did well ſtand with the heart of a Son, yea, with the heighth of that tranſcendent love, which was the love of God). And in regard of this he is ſaid to be made under the law, Gal. 4.4. When he put his name in our bond, he took on our ſevile condition, and ſubjected himſelf to threatnings and terrors of the law: and hence it is that he is ſaid to fear, Heb. 5.7. and to be troubled in ſpirit, Joh. 12.27. and 13.21.
2. But what engaged him, and brought Chriſt under this Covenant-relation, to become a Servant? Anſw. Sure it was by no neceſſity of nature that Chriſt was engaged in this Service; for he was not engaged, becauſe he could not chuſe but he muſt be a Servant: But rather I judg theſe four things did engage him: 1. The Lords choice and call; the Lord did freely and of meer Grace make choice of Chriſt, and ſend him in this Service, Iſa. 42.1, 6, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold: mine elect, in whom my ſoul delighteth.—I the Lord have called thee in righteouſneſs, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee. Iſa. 61.1, The ſpirit of the Lord God is upon me, becauſe the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek: he hath ſent me to bind the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the priſon to them that are bound. Iſa. 49.7, 9, Thus ſaith the Lord, the redeemer of Iſrael, and his holy one, to him whom man deſpiſeth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a ſervant of rulers: kings ſhall ſee and ariſe, princes alſo ſhall worſhip, becauſe of the Lord, that is faithful, and the holy one of Iſrael, and he ſhall chuſe thee, that thou mayeſt ſay to the priſoners, go forth; to them that are in darkneſs, ſhew your ſelves. 2. His own love engaged him: there was always in the heart of Chriſt, a deſign and aim of love to the elect world, and this engaged him in the Service of a Covenant, by which he might enjoy them, and they him, Joh. 13, 1, 3, 4, Now before the feaſt of the paſſeover, when Jeſus knew that his hour was come, that he ſhould depart out of this world unto the father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.—And that he was come from God, and went to God.—And he took a towel, and girded himſelf, &c. 3. His own free conſent, who was as willing to undertake this ſervice, as the Lord was to ſend him: this engaged him, Joh. 10.17, 18, Therefore doth my father love me, becauſe I lay down my life that I might take it again, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again, this commandment have I received of my father. Heb. 10, 7, Then ſaid I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. His free conſent and agreement, to be a Servant by voluntary condeſcenſion, this engaged him, and made him a Servant, Phil. 2.6, 7, Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of men. 4. His compact and Covenant engaged him: for he not only conſented to ſerve in this buſineſs of the Covenant, but he graciouſly condeſcended to be hired to perform ſuch a Service, and undertook for it, Iſa. 53.10, 11, 12, Yet it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief: when thou ſhalt make his ſoul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied: by his knowledg ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many: for he ſhall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong: becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death: and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſors, and he bare the ſin of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſors. Theſe, and nothing but theſe did conclude and determine Chriſt under this Covenant-relation, to ſerve this great Service of ſaving the loſt world.
3. Whoſe Servant was Chriſt in the buſineſs of the Covenant? whether of one of the parties, or of both? was he his fathers Servant only? or ours alſo? Anſw. He was a common Servant to both parties, God's Servant, and our Servant: I ſhall clear it by the following particulars:
1. He was God's Servant, for ſo his father frequently ſtyles him, Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant. Iſa. 53.11, My righteous ſervant. Zech. 3.8, My ſervant the branch. So he acknowledged himſelf to be, Joh. 17.4, I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. Heb. 10.9, Then ſaid he, Lo, I come to do thy will (O God). Joh. 6.38, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that ſent me.
2. He was our Servant alſo; for ſo he confeſſeth himſelf, Mat. 20.28, Even as the ſon of man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and to give his life a ranſom for many, Luk. 22.27. And ſo he behaved himſelf, and in his carriage while he was on earth, he gave proof of it, Joh. 13.4, 5, 14, 15, He riſeth from ſupper, and laid aſide his garments, and took a towel, and girded himſelf. After that, he poureth water into a baſon, and began to waſh the diſciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel, wherewith he was girded.—And ſaid, if I then your lord and maſter have waſhed your feet, ye alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you.
3. He was Servant to both parties, but with this obſervable difference, which is to be underſtood and cautioned: 1. Chriſt was Servant to God, in the Covenant and work of Redemption, by choice and election, not ſo to us: God made choice of him for this work, but we did not make choice of him; he made choice of us, Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold: mine elect, in whom my ſoul delighteth. Joh. 15.16, Ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you, and ordained you, that ye ſhould go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit ſhould remain. 2. He was God's Servant, not by condeſcenſion only, but by Covenant and compact with God; he is our Servant by condeſcenſion, but by no compact with us. In all Covenant-relations betwixt him and us, he is our Lord and Maſter, he is our Head and Husband, Pſal. 45.11, For he is the Lord, and worſhip thou him. Pſal. 110.1, The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-ſtool. And what further ſtooping is upon his part, is voluntary humbling of himſelf, Joh. 13.13, 14, Ye call me maſter and Lord, and ye ſay well: for ſo I am. If I then your Lord and maſter have waſhed your feet, ye alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet. Phil. 2.7, But made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of men. 3. He is God's Servant, not for love only to the work wherein he Serveth; but for wages, as I have already ſhewed: but he is our Servant for no wages nor reward which he could expect from us, but purely for love, Joh. 13.1, Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Joh. 15.13, Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 4. He is God's Servant, as a Son ſerveth his father, yea as a Servant ſerveth his Maſter, Mal. 1.6, A ſon honoureth his father, and a ſervant his maſter. Phil. 2.7, And took upon him the form of a ſervant. Joh. 6.38, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that ſent me. But he is our Servant, as a friend ſerveth his friend, Joh. 15.14, Ye are my friends if ye do whatſoever I command you. And as a man Serveth one whom he loveth and wooeth, which he doth neither for fear nor reward, but being wholly acted and determined to do ſo, from a principle of love, and a deſign of love within himſelf: Joh. 3.29, He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which ſtandeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly becauſe of the bridegrooms voice. Song 5.2, It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, ſaying, open to me, my ſiſter, my love, my dove, my undefiled:
4. What kind of Service is it which belongeth to Chriſt by this Covenant-relation? Anſw. 1. It was the greateſt piece of Service and truſt that ever was put upon man: no leſs then the whole work of our Redemption and Salvation, the weight of the loſt World, and of all the elect, was upon his ſhoulders in this Service, Iſa. 22.24, And they ſhall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers houſe, the off-ſpring and the iſſue, all veſſels of ſmall quantity; from the veſſels of cups, even to all the veſſels of flaggons. Joh. 17.2, 3, 4, As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do, 2. It was the hardeſt piece of Service that ever was laid upon any perſon. O what a hard Service was it to deſtroy the works of the Devil, to bind the ſtrong man, and to ſpoil his houſe, to fall into his quarters, and to bring off the priſoners; yea, to go into the priſon, and to ſet open the dores, and let the priſoners go free; to enter his perſon in priſon for them; to pay the debt of ſo many broken men; to bear their tranſgreſſions, and the chaſtiſement of their peace; to endure the ſtroak of the wakened up ſword of Divine Juſtice in our ſtead! Heb. 2.14. Mat. 12.29. Iſa. 61.1, 2. Zech. 9.11. Act. 2.24. Col. 2.15. 1 Cor. 15.55. Iſa. 53. throughout. It was the hardſhip of this Service that made him heavy and grieved, that made him pray, and cry, and weep, and ſweat blood, Joh. 13.21. Joh. 26.22, 42, Heb. 5.7. Luk. 22.24. The Service of no labouring man, of no ſlave, that ſerveth for hire, as a ſtranger in another country, is to be compared with the hardſhip of his Service. 3. This Service was an honourable place and Service; he ſerved as a King, Heb. 8.1, Now of the things which we have ſpoken, this is the ſum; we have ſuch an High-prieſt, who is ſet on the right hand of the throne of the Majeſty in the heavens. Joh. 5.22, 23, For as the father judgeth no man: but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the father. He that honoureth, not the Son, honoureth not the father which hath ſent him. Iſa. 22.23, 24, And he ſhall be for a glorious throne to his fathers houſe. And they ſhall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers houſe, the off-ſpring and the iſſue. Yea, It's a greater place than to be a King; for by it the man Chriſt is exalted far above all principality, and conſtituted Judg and Ruler of the Nations, Prince of the Kings of the Earth, head of the Church, and King of Saints. Phil. 2.8, 9. Eph. 2.20, 21, 22. Col. 1.28. Iſa. 9.6. Act. 17.31. Rev. 15.3. and 17.14. 4. It was the moſt kindly Service that ever was done by man; for it was the Service of love, the deſign of love that was in his heart, made him with good will to ſerve: Jer. 31.3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, ſaying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love: therefore with loving-kindneſs have I drawn thee. He Served not only as a hired man and a ſtranger in a far Country, and as a King and great Lord Ambaſſador, whoſe Service was a Rule and Government; but he ſerved alſo as a lover, becauſe of the deſign of love, and of eternal enjoyment of his choſen people, which was in his heart, he wearied not to ſerve his father, who had promiſed to give him the people whom he loved with an everlaſting love; and he wearied not to ſerve his people, that he might court and woo them to himſelf; he did ſerve for the ſatisfaction that he promiſed to himſelf, in the enjoyment of the people, upon whom he had ſet his heart; and as low a price as poor ſinners are, yet he counted them worthy to be compaſſed with ſo high a deſign; he reckoned them a wager and recompence for all his Service, Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall ſee of the travel of of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. Heb. 12.2, Who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the throne of God. His Service is not unfitly reſembled by Jacobs, who Served for a Wife whom he loved, Gen. 29.15, 21, 27, And Laban ſaid unto Jacob, Becauſe thou art my brother ſhouldſt thou therefore ſerve me for nought? tell me what ſhall thy wages be.—And Jacob ſaid unto Laban, Give me my wife, (for my days are fulfilled)—Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this alſo for the ſervice which thou ſhalt ſerve with me, yet ſeven other years.
5. What was the Service which Chriſt did in the buſineſs of the Covenant? though this cannot be ſufficiently anſwered by us, who have not yet come to know and underſtand half of that which he hath done for his people, 1 Cor. 2.9, But as it is written, Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Joh. ….1, 2, Behold, what manner of love the father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, becauſe it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be; but we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him: for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Yet let us glance at it by that dim light which we have of the Scriptures. It is in general called by himſelf the work which his father gave him to do, Joh. 17.4. By which we underſtand, all that Chriſt had in commiſſion to do in our nature, from the time of his receiving a commiſſion to be the Mediator of the Covenant, unto the time of his delivering up the Kingdom to his father; more particularly, this Service which Chriſt did in the buſineſs of the Covenant, it's called the reſtitution of all things, Act. 3.21. When Chriſt ſhall bring all things out of that diſordered and ruined condition whereunto they were brought by the fall of man, and ſhall reſtore them to the Primitive integrity; when he ſhall reſtore fore-faulted man into his firſt eſtate of innocency and happineſs, by taking of the fore-ſaulture, and bringing him out of his excommunicated exiled condition, into the preſence and fellowſhip of God, Eph. 2.12, 13, That at that time ye were without Chriſt, being aliens from the commonwealth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers from the Covenant of promiſe, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Chriſt Jeſus, ye who ſometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt. And when the creatures ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21. This Service is called, the bearing the tranſgreſſions of many, the making his ſoul an offering for ſin, Iſa. 53.10, 12. It was the putting his Soul in our Souls ſtead; that the law might overtake him, that juſtice might ſmite him for us, and might take ſatisfaction from him, for the broken Covenant; it was the offering up of himſelf in a Sacrifice; the putting of his Soul in the flame of hot burning wrath for us, that the furbuſhed and wakened-up ſword of Divine Juſtice might be bathed in his blood, until it was full of blood, and ſatisfied, Heb. 9.14, How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal ſpirit, offered himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your conſcience from dead works to ſerve the living God. Zech. 13.7, Awake, O ſword, againſt my ſhepherd, and againſt the man that is my fellow, ſaith the Lord of hoſts: ſmite the ſhepherd, &c. It's called, the reconciling of the world to God, 2 Cor. 5.19. By which we underſtand, all the travel of his Soul, in the propounding, treating, and concluding of a peace 'twixt God and ſinners: for all that Service was laid upon him, and was performed by him: for he maketh the propoſition of peace, he carryeth on the treaty, until his own hand lead our hand to ſign the articles of peace propounded in the Goſpel, Eph. 2.17, And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20, To wit, that God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 9.13, Whiles by the experiment of this miniſtration, they glorifie God for your profeſſed ſubjection unto the Goſpel of Chriſt. This Service is called the ſaving of the loſt world, Luk. 19.10. And the bringing many Sons to glory, Heb. 2.10. That was a great Service indeed, to have the weight of the loſt world upon his ſhouldiers; to have the keeping and leading, yea, the bearing in his arms of all that numberleſs number of the ranſomed and redeemed ones, whom God had appointed unto Glory, Joh. 17.12, While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: thoſe that thou gaveſt me, I have kept, and none of them is loſt. Iſa. 40.11, He ſhall feed his flock like a ſhepherd: he ſhall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his boſome, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young. In a word, the Service which Chriſt did in the buſineſs of the Covenant, was the the tranſacting of the Covenant; he did all that buſineſs from beginning to end; and without him was nothing done of all things pertaining to God, and a new Covenant betwixt him and us: whereof ſee more particularly what we have ſpoken of the Mediator of the Covenant, Chap. 4.
Ʋſe 1. Think with your ſelves and conſider the love that made him come under this Covenant-relation; that made him a common Servant to both the parties: for though he had wages and a reward propounded to him; yet it was love that acted Chriſt in performing this great piece of Service. His Service of love is much commended, 1. From the infinite condeſcenſion that was in it: O what condeſcenſion was it for a Son to become a Servant! Heb. 5.8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he ſuffered: for the Son, the only begotten Son and Heir, to become a Servant! Mat. 21.37, 38, But laſt of all, he ſent unto them his Son, ſaying, they will reverence my Son. But when the husbandmen ſaw the Son, they ſaid among themſelves, this is the heir, come, let us kill him, and let us ſeize on his inheritance. For the Son of God to become a Servant to the ſons of men! Phil. 2.6, 7, Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himſelf of no reputation: And took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of men. 2. From the voluntarineſs of his coming under this Covenant-relation; when he was not a Servant by any neceſſity of nature, that he made himſelf one; that when nothing elſe was to do it, his grace, his love determined him to go and ſerve his enemies, and make himſelf of no reputation, Phil. 2.7. Rom. 5.8, But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us. Heb. 10.9, Then ſaid he, Lo, I come to do thy will (O God). O what ſtrange love was that, which made Chriſt ſo willingly leave the Throne, and come down to the foot-ſtool, and ſtand and ſerve! Mat. 20.28, Even as the Son of man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and to give his life a ranſome for many. Joh. 13.4, 5, He riſeth from ſupper, and laid aſide his garments, and took a towel, and girded himſelf. After that, he poureth water into a baſon, and began to waſh the diſciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Gal. 2.20, And the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. 3. His Service of love is commended, from the lowneſs of the wager and price which he is to have for his Service and love. Was man a crown and wager for Chriſt to work and to run for, that he might win it? how great a diſproportion is there betwixt the Service and the Wages? Can poor polluted nothings, ſuch as we are, be a price for ſuch Love, for ſuch Service, for ſuch tranſcendent infinite Love? and yet ſuch was the wager for which he ſerved, Joh. 13.1, Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Joh. 17.19, And for their ſakes I ſanctifie my ſelf, that they alſo might be ſanctified through the truth. 4. His Service is commended from the largeneſs of his deſign of Love, through which he did drive the ſerving of this Service; that God, the Son of God, did drive this piece of Service through ſo deep, and broad, and long a deſign of tranſcendent love, from everlaſting to everlaſting; through ſo many decrees, which at laſt could produce nothing in the reſult, but this price, To have his poor people engaged to him by a Covenant; whereas we might think a lower deſign might compaſs ſinners, and a leſs price might buy poor man, Jer. 31.3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, ſaying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love: therefore with loving-kindneſs have I drawn thee. 1 Joh. 3.1, Behold what manner of love the father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, becauſe it knew him not. Eph. 3.18, 19,—may be able to comprehend with all ſaints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: and to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledg, that ye might be filled with all the fulneſs of God. 5. His Service is commended for his performing of it, and doing his work ſo long before he was to reap that low price of all the travel of his Soul, to wit, the enjoyment of his people, Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied: He ſerved long ago for that wager which is not not yet payed to him; and he knew when he ſerved that Service, that he ſhould lie ſo long out of a great part of his ſatisfaction, Joh. 17.20, Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe on me through their word.
Ʋſe 2. This Covenant-relation ſpeaks ſad things to them who will not ſerve Chriſt: 1. Wo to them that will not ſerve him, who refuſe a conſent of their Service to him, who made himſelf a Servant for our ſake, Luk. 19.14, But his citizens hated him, and ſent a meſſage after him, ſaying, We will not have this man to reign over us. Pſal. 2.3, Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us. We love to be Lords over our own liberty and wills, and to break his bands. 2. Wo to them that think ſhame to ſerve him: there is a generation that think it is below them to ſerve Chriſt; they judg his Service is not honourable, though he was not aſhamed to ſerve us, Luk. 22.27, For whether is greater, he that ſitteth at meat, or he that ſerveth? is not he that ſitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that ſerveth. Heb. 2.11, For both he that ſanctifieth, and they who are ſanctified are all of one; for which cauſe he is not aſhamed to call them brethren: And though it be no ſhame, but honourable to ſerve him, Pſal. 116.16, O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant, and the Son of thine hand-maid: thou haſt looſed my bonds. Pſal. 84.10, For a day in thy courts is better then a thouſand: I had rather be a dore-keeper in the houſe of my God, then to dwell in the-tents of wickedneſs. Ifa. 58.13, And call the ſabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and ſhalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words. 3. Wo to them that pretend to ſerve him, and do nothing but Eye-ſervice in his work; though he was real and cordial in ſerving our Intereſt, for his Soul travelled in the buſineſs; but the ſpirits of ſuch act nothing in his Service, Eph. 6.6, Not with Eye-ſervice, as men-pleaſers, but as the ſervants of Chriſt, doing the will of God from the heart. Iſa. 29.13, Wherefore the Lord ſaid, Foraſmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but hath removed their heart from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men, &c.
O Conſider with your ſelves, 1. What pride there is in refuſing to ſerve him, whoſe Service is ſo honourable an employment, that it is not below the Kings of the Earth to bring their Glory unto Chriſt, and to bow before him: Pſal. 2.10, 11, 12, Be wiſe now therefore, O ye kings: be inſtructed, ye judges of the earth. Servo the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiſs the Son, leſt he be angry, and ye periſh from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little, Pſal. 54. throughout. Who would not bow to him, who ſhall break them all that will not bow unto him? Iſa. 60.12, For the nation and kingdom that will not ſerve thee, ſhall periſh; yea, thoſe nations ſhall be utterly waſted. Pſal. 2.9, Thou ſhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou ſhalt daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſel. Pſal. 110.5, The Lord at thy right hand ſhall ſtrike through kings in the day of his wrath. 2. Conſider what huge and monſtrous ingratitude, and unkindneſs it is, not to ſerve him who hath voluntarily humbled himſelf to ſerve us; who though he was our maker, Heb. 1.2, 3, yet made himſelf of no reputation for our advancement, Phil. 2.7. Conſider how he hath commended his Service unto us, and be aſhamed not to be found among his ſervants and followers. See more of this, Chap. 18.
Ʋſe 3. Exhortation, 1. Conſider and know what he hath done in this Covenant-relation, after he hath ſerved this Service, and done all that was incumbent to him in this relation: he may put the queſtion to us, which ſometimes he put to his Diſciples, Joh. 13.12, Know ye what I have done to you? 'tis a pity that his Service is ſo little known and taken notice of among his own people, for whom he hath done this Service: 'tis a pity that it ſhould be met with doubtings, whether he hath done Service for us; or denials of our intereſt in it: which occaſion diminutive thoughts and expreſſions of it.
2. Conſider how ill Chriſt was uſed in this relation, that you may be broken for it: he was ſmitten by both the parties, It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, Iſa. 53.10. Rom. 8.32, He ſpared not his own Son. Zech. 13.7, Awake, O ſword, againſt my ſhepherd, and againſt the man that is my fellow, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. And his own people ſmote him, and uſed him very ill, Mat. 21.38, But when the husbandmen ſaw the Son, they ſaid among themſelves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and let us ſeize on his inheritance: Joh. 1.11, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Iſa. 53.3, He is deſpiſed and rejected of men; a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was diſpifed, and we eſteemed him not. Yet his love did bear him through all this cold encouragement.
3. Conſider how you entertain his Service, 2 Cor. 6.1, We then, as workers together with him, beſeech you alſo, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Do not ſlight it; do not refuſe it upon whatſoever pretext; but if he will do you Service, and condeſcend to do you good, ſuffer him to do it: 'tis no preſumption to let him take his will of you; he took it ill to be otherwiſe dealt with, Joh. 13.6, 8, And Peter ſaith unto him, Lord, doſt thou waſh my feet? Peter ſaith unto him, Thou ſhalt never waſh my feet. Jeſus anſwered him, If I waſh thee not, thou haſt no part with me. And no wonder he take it very ill, to have his Service ſlighted and refuſed; for his Service is the heighth of his love, which he …annot endure to have ſlighted: his Service offered, is ſlighted …y all thoſe who will not give their conſent to let him do unto them all the good offices which are mentioned in the Goſpel by all who do not ſubject their conſent unto it, Joh. 5.40, And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. Mat. 22.5, But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandiſe. 4. Conſider what advantages we have by his Service: 1. His condeſcenſion was the cauſe of our exaltation: if he had not ſerved, we had not reigned: if he had not come down to the footſtool, we ſhould never have come up to the Throne, Heb. 5.8, 9, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he ſuffered: and being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal ſalvation unto all them that obey him. Rom. 8.17, And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chriſt: if ſo be that we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified together. 2. It was the hardſhip of his Service which makes ours ſo eaſie; he left us little to do: when he was made under the law, he did bear away the bondage of our Service and Duties, Rom. 7.4, Wherefore my brethren, ye alſo are become dead to the law by the body of Chriſt, that ye ſhould be married to another, even to him who is raiſed from the dead, that we ſhould bring forth fruit unto God: He did hear the hard and inſupportable yoke, and left us nothing to do, but to ſerve for love; he brake the force and power of the adverſary, and left us only a broken party and routed forces to deal with, 1 Cor. 15.55, O death, where is thy-ſting? O grave, where is thy victory? Yea, he hath not left us alone to deal with theſe. 3. By his Service we have our liberty; and can be no more Servants, but Friends and Children of the houſe. See Gal. 4.4, 5, 6, 7, But when the fulneſs of time was come, God ſent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons. And becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, father: wherefore thou art no more a ſervant but a Son: and if a Son, then an heir of God through Chriſt. Joh. 8.36, If the Son therefore ſhall make you free, ye ſhall be free indeed. Joh. 15.15, Henceforth I call you not ſervants, for the ſervant knoweth not what his Lord doth; but I have called you friends: for all thin…s that I have heard of my father, I have made known unto you. Rom. 8.2, For the law of the ſpirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus hath made me free from the law of ſin and death. Gal. 4.31, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. We were ſlaves, and condemned under perpetual bondage, married unto an angry tyrant (ſo was the law become to tranſgreſſors); but by his becoming a Servant under the law, by his putting on our condition, we became ſharers of his liberty and Sonſhip. 4. By his Service we have wages and a reward for our Service, even for our poor worthleſs endeavours after duty, about which there are ſo many queſtionings in the hearts of believers, whether they ſhall be accepted, and but few thoughts of a recompence. I ſay, our Service could never have been rewarded but for his Service: this brought with it not acceptation only, but a reward to ours, upon his account, being done in his name, Luk. 17.10, So likewiſe ye, when ye ſhall have done all theſe things which are commanded you, ſay, We are unprofitable ſervants; we have done that which was but our duty to do. Heb. 11.6, And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. Iſa. 45.19, I ſaid not unto the ſeed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Iſa. 56.6, 7, Alſo the ſons of the ſtranger that join themſelves to the Lord, to ſerve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his ſervants, every one that keepeth the ſabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my houſe of prayer: their burnt offerings, and their ſacrifices ſhall be accepted upon mine altar: for mine houſe ſhall be called an houſe of prayer for all people. 5. By his Service we have that honourable marriage with him which was the price of the travel of his Soul, even to have our Souls engaged to him for the Service of love which he ſerved, that he might have his people for his reward, as Jacob ſerved for the Wives that were given him in Laban his houſe, Gen. 29.20, 28, 29. Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied.
5. Conſider what this relation calleth for at our hands: That Chriſt was a Servant in the buſineſs of the Covenant, this calleth us, 1. To yield our ſelves to be his Servants upon the terms of that Covenant wherein he ſerved, even to ſubject our conſent to ſerve him in …ke relations, 2 Cor. 9.13, Whiles by the experiment of this miniſtration, they glorified God for your profeſſed ſubjection unto the Goſpel of Chriſt. 2 Chron. 30.8, Now be ye not ſtiff-necked, as your fathers were; but yield your ſelves unto the Lord, Iſa. 56.6. 2. His Service calleth us to ſerve all his intereſts and relations, his people, eſpecially the people who are nearly related to him, Mat. 12.40, 50, And he ſtretched forth his hand toward his diſciples, and ſaid, Behold, my mother, and my brethren: for whoſoever ſhall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the ſame is my brother, and ſiſter, and mother. So he himſelf argueth, Joh. 13.14, 15, If I then your Lord and maſter have waſhed your feet, ye alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you. 3. To ſerve him in that Covenant-relation, in ſuch manner as he ſerved us, or rather our intereſts; and that was, 1. Willingly and chearfully: For ſo did he undertake and undergo that Service, Heb. 10.7, Then ſaid I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Luk. 22.15, And he ſaid unto them, With deſire have I deſired to eat this paſſover with you before I ſuffer. Let our Service to him be ſuch, Pſal. 2.11, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Deut. 28.47, 48, Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord thy God with joyfulneſs, and with gladneſs of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore ſhalt thou ſerve thine enemies which the Lord ſhall ſend againſt thee, in hunger, and in thirſt, and in nakedneſs, and in the wane of all things. 2. He ſerved cordially, his Soul travelled in the buſineſs, Joh. 12.27, Now is my ſoul troubled, and what ſhall I ſay? father, ſave me from this hour: but for this cauſe I came unto this hour. Mat. 26.38, Then ſaith he unto them, My ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. Let your Service to him be ſuch, that your hearts may be yoaked, and your Spirits may act ſomething in ſerving him, Deut. 10.12, And now, Iſrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to ſerve the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul? Rom. 1.9, For God is my witneſs, whom I ſerve with my ſpirit in the Goſpel of his Son. Phil. 3.3, For we are the circumciſion, which worſhip God in the ſpirit, and rejoice in Chriſt Jeſus. 3. He ſerved with much ſubmiſſion of his will to his ſathers in all things, Heb. 5.8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he ſuffered. Mat. 26.39, 42, And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, ſaying, O my father, if it be poſſible let this cup paſs from me: nevertheleſs, not as I will, but as thou wilt. He went out again the ſecond time, and prayed, ſaying, O my father, if this cup may not paſs away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Joh. 4.34, Jeſus ſaith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that ſent me, and to finiſh his work. Let us do Service to him with like ſubmiſſion of Spirit, 2 Sam. 15.26, But if he thus ſay, I have no delight in thee: behold, here am I, let him do to me as ſeemeth good unto him. Act. 20.22, 24, And now behold, I go bound in the ſpirit unto Jeruſalem, not knowing the things that ſhall befall me there: but none of theſe things move me: neither count I my life dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with joy, and the miniſtry which I have received of the Lord Jeſus; to teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God. 4. He ſerved faithfully: for in all queſtions and debates that occured while he was here in the form of a Servant, he was always for his father, true to his intereſt, Heb. 3.2, Who was faithful to him that appointed him: Joh, 8.28, 38, Then ſaid Jeſus unto them, When ye have lift up the Son of man, then ſhall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of my ſelf; but as my father hath taught me, I ſpeak theſe things, I ſpeak that which I have ſeen with my father: and ye do that which ye have ſeen with your father. Let us be ſure to ſerve him ſo, in all queſtions and ſides in theſe days, to be ever for him, and his intereſts, and upon his ſide, 1 Kings 22.14, And Micajah ſaid, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord ſaith unto me, that will I ſpeak. Heb. 3.2, As alſo Moſes was faithful in all his houſe. Act. 13.36, For David after he had ſerved his own generation, by the will of God fell aſleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and ſaw corruption. 5. He performed his Service prudently, Iſa. 52.13, Behold, my ſervant ſhall deal prudently, he ſhall be exalted, and extolled, and be very high. He did all things for promoting the buſineſs that was committed unto him, with admirable wiſdom and diſcretion: ſo is there alſo a wiſdom with fidelity to be ſtudied in ſerving his intereſts, that we do not mar the end of our Service, Mat. 24.45, Who then is a faithful and wiſe ſervant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his houſhold, to give them meat in due ſeaſon? Mat. 10.16, Behold, I ſend you forth as ſheep in the midſt of wolves: be ye therefore wiſe as ſerpents, and harmleſs as doves. Mark. 9. laſt. Have ſalt in your ſelves, and have peace one with another.