As Christ by His birthright has obtained these two dignities, so He
imparts and communicates them to every believer in Him, under that law
of matrimony of which we have spoken above, by which all that is the
husband's is also the wife's. Hence all we who believe on Christ are
kings and priests in Christ, as it is said, "Ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into
His marvellous light" (1 Peter ii. 9).

These two things stand thus. First, as regards kingship, every Christian
is by faith so exalted above all things that, in spiritual power, he is
completely lord of all things, so that nothing whatever can do him
any hurt; yea, all things are subject to him, and are compelled to be
subservient to his salvation. Thus Paul says, "All things work together
for good to them who are the called" (Rom. viii. 28), and also, "Whether
life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours; and
ye are Christ's" (1 Cor. iii. 22, 23).

Not that in the sense of corporeal power any one among Christians has
been appointed to possess and rule all things, according to the mad and
senseless idea of certain ecclesiastics. That is the office of kings,
princes, and men upon earth. In the experience of life we see that we
are subjected to all things, and suffer many things, even death.
Yea, the more of a Christian any man is, to so many the more evils,
sufferings, and deaths is he subject, as we see in the first place in
Christ the First-born, and in all His holy brethren.

This is a spiritual power, which rules in the midst of enemies, and is
powerful in the midst of distresses. And this is nothing else than that
strength is made perfect in my weakness, and that I can turn all things