the command of God,
truly it is the beauty and liberty of a reasonable soul. Some speak of all
subjection unto a law as slavery, but is it not an infinitely greater
slavery to be at liberty to sin, and serve our own lusts? O wretched and
base liberty! the Son indeed makes us truly free, and that from sin; and
he is truly a Redeemer who redeems us from all iniquity, John viii. 32;
Psal. cxxx. ult.; Tit. ii. 14.

But this commandment here spoken of, would not indeed be gospel, unless
there was a prior command, a brighter precept, given by the Father to the
Son. I find two commands given by the Father, and received by the Son,
which two you may conjoin and make one of, as here faith and love are made
one commandment. The first is, John x. 18, "I lay down my life of myself,
no man taketh it from me. This commandment have I received from my Father,
and no other." John xii. 49, 50, "The Father gave me a commandment, what I
should say and speak, and I know that his commandment is life
everlasting." This is more expressly and clearly set down, John vi. 39,
40, "This is the Father's will that sent me, that of all that he gave me I
should lose none, but raise them up at the last day. This is the will of
him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on
him, should have everlasting life." Here, then, beloved in the Lord, is
the foundation of our hope, and that which makes all commandments given by
God to us to come under a gospel notion, that which makes Christ's yoke
easy, and his burden light, and his commands not grievous. The great
commandment was imposed upon our Saviour. The great weight of that wrath
due to our sins was put upon his shoulders. This was the Father's will,
that he should lay down his life for his sheep; this command he received
willingly, and obeyed faithfully and fully. And by his obedience to this,
that great obligation to satisfy God's justice, and pay a ransom for our
souls is taken off us; inasmuch as he died, justice cannot come and demand
it at our hand. Now, therefore, there is another commandment given to
Christ, which directly concerns us, and it is this in substance: "I will
and command that thou who hast come in the place of sinners, and resolvest
to die for them, that thou give eternal life to whom thou wilt, even to as
many as believe in thy name; I give to thee the absolute disposal of life
and death; I command thee to preach life everlasting to all pious souls,
that shall f