Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) by William Bates (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'A sermon on the death of Thomas Jacomb'.
My summary
Last week we started a sermon for the minister Thomas Jacomb on 'If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour' (Joh 12:26).
Bates' proposition from the text is that God will crown the fidelity and constancy of Christ's servants with the highest honour.
To manage his proposition Bates will consider in his sermon:
(i) what the service of Christ implies;
(ii) upon what accounts it is due to him;
(iii) the final reward that shall certainly attend it;
(iv) bring it home to our own bosoms by application.
Last week we saw the first main point.
So this week we secondly learn that we are obliged to serve Christ because we are his servants:
(i) by nature;
(ii) by redemption;
(iii) by deliverance;
(iv) by solemn covenant.
Thirdly Bates considers the final reward of Christ's servants, in particular the:
(i) order of it;
(ii) excellency of it.
Fourthly Bates applies his doctrine by encouraging us:
(i) to direct our ambitious desires and endeavours to seek heavenly honour;
(ii) to be effectually excited to choose Christ for our master and devote ourselves to his service for ever.
The sermon concludes with some comments about the life of Jacomb.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed Bates clear statement about what Christ has done for us and why we should serve him: 'By giving himself for us, he has not only freed us from the wrath of God, but restored us to his dearest favour: we are translated from the fearful state of being God's enemies into the amiable joyful state of his children : and consequently our Redeemer has purchased for us not only salvation from hell, but eternal glory, a life more divine and durable than the natural life in paradise. How can we seriously think of this transcendent benefit without a rapture of affection? He infinitely deserves our love and service who has bought us with so dear a price, and purchased for us a glorious and incorruptible inheritance.'
He does indeed!
Next week's reading
Commence 'A sermon on the death of Richard Baxter' by reading up to the heading 'The Application'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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