extra sunt indivisâ— Prophets Act. 10. 43. Apostles 1 John 5. 11. Christ himself Joh. 14. 16. do all bear witnesse to this truth That Jesus Christ is life eternal to every true beleever In what respect Christ is our life of glory I shall shew in the following particulars viz. 1. In regard of merit and acquisition Jesus Christ is the procurer of this life of glory Heaven is called a purchased Redemption or Possession Epb. 1â—4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ is the purchaser of this possession and his blood is the price of the purchase As he hath by his death purchased the Elect so hath he also by his blood purchased this life for those redeemed ones 1 John 4. 9. in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Had not Jesus Christ shed his blood no sinner had ever tasted of this life eternal Eternal life is the free gift of God and yet it is merited by Christ Christ who is the price and meritorious cause of life is the free gift of Gods grace and therefore our salvation is both free and yeâ— merited 2. He is our life efficaciously Though salvation be purchased for the Elect yet must the Elect of God be fitted and prepared for this salvation before they can be put into the possession of it The Apostle speaks of making the soule meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best of men are unfit for salvation as well as unworthy of salvation Though heaven be prepared for them yet cannot they enter into heaven till they be prepared This fitnesse or preparedness stands in the changing of our nature by the working of grace in the heart and in the merciful acceptation of God covering our infirmities and reckoning our weak endeavours for perfect obedience Natura mentis humanae quantumvis perfect a naturalibus donis absque gratiâ non est susceptibilis gloriae Parisiens lib. de vâ—rt cap. 11. The Apostle tells us that a man must be wrought for glory 2 Cor. 5. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Elect of God come into the world rough and unpolished filthy and defiled as well as others and they are not fit for this life till they be refined and polished Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of heaven Aquinas saith well Gratia haec divina eò infunditur electis ut peragant actiones ordinatas in finem vitae aeternae Now Jesus Christ doth fit and work the Elect for this glory He doth by his Spirit change their nature he doth by his grace renew the spirit of their minde he doth set up his own image in their soules and by working grace fit them for the enjoyment of that life of glory which he hath purchased 3. He is our life He is the fountaine of our eternal glory 1 John 5. 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne 'T is in him as in the head as in the root as in the fountain or spring All our glory is laid up in Jesus Christ as in a publick treasury Iesus Christ and all beleevers make up one mystical body of which he is the head and they the members therefore is their glory laid up in him 4. Jesus Christ is our life in regard of preparation As he doth prepare us for heaven so doth he prepare heaven for us This is attributed to his Ascension Iohn 14. 2 3. I go to prepare a place for you Not as if the place of glory were not created till the Ascension of Christ There were many souls in heaven glorified before Christ did corporally ascend thither Abel Abraham Isaac Iacob and the Prophets the meaning of it is onely thus much that Iesus Christ did not ascend only for himself to dwell in glory alone but he ascended for our sakes in our stead and place to possesse the purchased inheritance for us and to keep it for us till we actually come to be possessed of it our selves 'T is by way of allusion to the practices of great Kings who send their harbingers before them to make ready for them against their coming Iesus Christ is pleased to stile himself so in reference to the Elect. And therefore the Apostle calls him our forerunner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tells us that he is entred into the vaile for us Heb. 6. 20. and hence it is that we are said to sit down together with Christ in heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. 5. He is our life as the way to life He calls himself the way Iohn 14. 16. No man comes to the Father but by Christ This is that new and living way which the Apostle mentions Heb. 10. 19 20. 'T is through the vaile of Christs flesh that we enter into the Holy of Holies Iacob in his vision at Bethel saw a ladder which reached from heaven to earth Gen. 28. 12. upon this ladder the Angels of God ascended and descended This ladder is Iesus Christ so he tells us himselfe Iohn 1. 51. hereafter ye shall see heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Sonne of man He hath not only shewed us the way to heaven by his example but he is the way himself in which we go to God 6. He is our life in regard of distribution and communication As he hath purchased life for us and keeps possession of it for us so he it is that shall put us into possession of it when we come to enjoy it I will come againe and receive you unto my self Iohn 14. 3. The Apostle speaks of this in 2 Tim. 4 8. There is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day 'T is to be understood of Christ he that hath purchased the Crown for us will in that day visibly set it upon our head Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome c. Matthew 25. latter end 7. He is our life formally Iesus Christ is the matter of eternal life Our eternal life and glory stands in the full enjoyment of Iesus Christ in heaven The seeing of God the enjoyment of Christ is our very glory Rev. 22. 3 4. The Throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their foreheads The glory of heaven is called the eating of the tree of life Rev. 2. 7. Iesus Christ is the tree of life the enjoyment of him is the souls glory Iob therefore reckons up all his eternal glory by this very thing I know that my Redeemer liveth c. I shall behold him not with anothers but with these very eyes Full and perfect â— immediate
fitly taken carries away the defilements that are contracted within the body The blood of Christ is of a cleansing nature 'T is indeed the only cleanser It doth being taken by faith carry away all the filthinesse of the inward Man All the Ceremonial purifications were types of the purifying blood of Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. There ye have the typical cleansings expounded The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1. 7 Christ takes away the guilt of sinne by justification and he cleanseth us from the filthinesse of sinne by sanctification You reade in Zech. 13. 1. of a fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse This fountaine is nothing else but the fountain of Christs blood He that drinks daily of this blood shall be cleansed daily 3. Drink is of a reviving nature It recovers from faintings it opens the eyes helps feeblenesse of Spirit vid. Judg. 15. 18 19. Sampsâ—n being tired by that great slaughter of the Philistines found his spirits sink he prayes for drink and when he had refreshed himself with water his spirit came again and he revived Solomon Prov. 31. 6 7. prescribes strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine to the heavy hearted that they may forget their poverty and remember their misery no more Some drink is called Aqua-vitae because of its usefulnesse and efficacy this way The blood of Jesus Christ is a reviving blood When the soul is in deliquio spirituali when it faints and dies and sinks the sprinklings of this blood will fetch it again a drop or two of this true Aqua-vitae taken down by faith will open the eyes and restore it again This effect it had on Asaph Ps 73. 26. My heart and my flesh faileth c. but thou art the stay of my heart and my portion for ever This was foretold of Christ long before his birth by that Evangelical Prophet Esay 61. 1. and chap. 57. 15. To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones It is his blood and that alone that healeth the broken in heart 4. Drink is of a cheering nature It doth beget and continue cheerfulnesse The Psalmist tells us that wine maketh glad the heart of man Psalme 104. 15. The blood of Christ is a heart-chearing thing It 's the only foundation and the only preserver of true joy It will make the heart merry in adversity it will create laughter in heavinesse Psal 4. 6 7. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance c. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart c. The light of Gods countenance is lifted up onely in and through Jesus Christ Christs blood is the onely medicine for spiritual Melancholy When the Church was drinking in Christs wine-cellar taking down this blood how was her heart cheared Cant. 2. 3 4. I sate down under his shadow c. The Uses of this are 1. For Information in these particulars 1. Take notice of the great mystery of a beleevers union and onenesse with Jesus Christ The Scripture sets this out as by expresse testimonies â—o by natural resemblances as of vine and branches John 15. init of head and members Eph. 1. ult Eph. 6. 30. of husband and wife Eph. 6. 32. of the foundation and superstructory stones Eph. 3. 20 21. and of meat and eaters as in the Text. As there is a union between the meat and the body of him that eats it so there is an intimate union between a beleever and Christ his spiritual meat And indeed ouâ— union with him is the foundation of our feeding on him He could not be our meat if he were not our Head by mystical uâ—im This is the foundation of this eating this makes Christ ours gives us right to eat The Apostle Col. 2. 19. makes our union with him the foundation of our receiving nourishment from him And the souls feeding on him proves the soules union with him So it follows ver 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and â— in him As the meat which we eate is turned into the substance of our body so are we turned into Christ made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone 2. Behold here the fulnesse of Christ Whence shall we have bread in the Wildernesse to satisfie so many say the Disciples to Christ Mar. 8. 4 5. The fulnesse of Christ appears in this that he hath enough in him to feed so many and to feed every one so plentifully He hath sed his people ever since that promise Gen. 3. 15. and he will feed all his Elect to the end of the world and he will feed them all abundantly every kind of way he feeds them with grace feeds them with knowledge feeds them in respect of justification and he feeds them in respect of sanctification c. and yet is there no abatement of his fulnesse Did not the fulnesse of the Godhead dwell bodily in him Col. 2. 9. he could not feed so many so long every way without any diminution of his fulnesse the children have been eating above five thousand years and the loaf is still whole III. Behold the great love of Christ and of the Father in giving us this meat and drink Remember 't is his flesh that is our meat his blood that is our drink He could not have been our meat and drink if he had not been sacrificed the Priests were not to eat of the offerings allowed them till they were sacrificed had not Christ been sacrificed he could have been no food for us The love of Christ and of the Father appear the more in it that he should sacrifice his Sonne to be a meat offering for us and let out his blood to be a drink offering for us wonder to eternity at this love John 3. 16. the Scripture expresses the great love of God to the Israelites that he gave them Manna from heaven Psal 75. 23 24 25. How much greater love doth he expresse in giving his Sonne to the Elect to feed them That Gods onely Sonne should be torn in pieces to be meat and drink for us Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us as to feed us with the body and blood of his own Son IV. Behold here the compleatnesse of Christ The Scripture speaks much of his compleatness and perfection Look upon him in what respect under what notion you please and you will see his compleatnesse Behold him as a Saviour and so he is a compleat he saves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7 25. he saves the soul the body from all evil unto all good and that for ever Consider him as a Physician and his compleatnesse will appeare He heales the soule the body heales in an instant heales to the bottom c. whatsoever he is compared to he is compleatly and perfectly so Behold him as a Feeder and he is compleat in that notion He is not onely meat nor onely drink but he
the children of God c. for as many of you as have been baptized c. there is neither Jew nor Greek bond nor free male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus The words are a Proposition In which we have 1. The Subject Christ But Christ 2. The Predicate He is all and in all He is all things that are necessary to salvation and that in all persons who do beleeve in him who are renued and regenerated by his grace I intend to go over all the comparisons by which Jesus Christ is set out in Scripture And I have begun with this as a Preface or introduction to the rest I shall handle it generally and draw from it this observation viz. Doct. The Lord Jesus Christ is all things in and to all persons that have a true saving interest in him Christ is all and in all It doth not exclude the Father and Holy Ghost but all other things as circumcision uncircumcision c. A like phrase Act. 4. 12. Christ is all and in all to every beleever Here are two rules to be observed 1. We are not to understand this as excluding the other persons of the Trinity for the whole God-head is all in alto beleevers as well as Jesus Christ But because Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity is the head of the mystical body by vertue of which union true beleevers are made one mystical body with Christ Eph. 1. ult therefore is this principally appropriated to him to be all in all to those that are united to him by saving faith 2. The truth of this proposition is not from the humane nature but from the divine it is from the power of the divine nature in Christ that he is all in all to his people because the fulnesse of the God-head dwells bodily in the humane nature as a part of the person Now he is all in all to them in these five respects viz. 1. By way of merit Jesus Christ is meritoriously all in all to beleevers Whatsoever they are whatsoever they have whatsoever they do or can expect is only upon the score and account of his purchase and merit They enjoy no good thing upon any other termes but only upon the consideration of Christs merits Because he hath done and suffered for them and in their stead therefore do they partake of those blessings which make them happy to all eternity The Patriarchs in the Old Testament Christians in the New have pleaded with God for all blessings only upon the account of Christ Dan. 9. 17. cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake Of this the Apostle speaks when he saith that Christ is made unto us of God wisdom righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Christ doth bestow upon us and God is pleased to accept for us the merit of Christs Passion death obedience and righteousnesse 2. Christ is all in all to them by way of conveyance As he hath merited all for them so 't is from him and through him that all good things are communicated to them John 14. 6. As we have all propter Christum so we receive all we have per Christum through Christ He is not only the fountaine but the Medium and conduit through whom all a beleever hath is conveyed to him Jesus Christ is a beleevers root Joh. 15. 5. Now as all the sap which is in the branches is communicated through the root so all the good which a beleever hath is derived through Christ God hath put all that good he intends to bestow upon his Elect into Christs hands as a Feoffee in trust and from him as the great Lord-steward is all communicated unto them Of this the Apostle speaks Col. 2. 19. From Christ the head the whole body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and â—nit together increaseth with the increase of God Jesus Christ is as it were the hand of God through which all good things are sent in to us He is the door John 10. 7. 3. Christ is all in all to them by way of efficiency and causality He it is that works all in all in his Saints 1 Cor. 12. 6. There are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all This our Saviour bears witnesse unto John 15. 5. when he tells us that without him we can do nothing The soul is the principle of all action in man Jesus Christ is the principle of all motion and spiritual action in his Saints for he is the soul of their soule Not a good desire not a good thought but what is inspired by Jesus Christ The Apostle doth freely acknowledge this Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me c. so Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your own salvation c. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure 4. Christ is all in all to them virtually he is instead of all things to them Solomon saith that money answereth all things Ecoles 10. 19. it is meat drink cloaths house lands c. all things that are vendible may be procured by money Jesus Christ is virtually all things he makes up all things that are wanting Hence it is that he is in Scripture compared to all things to food to cloathing to physick to gold to health c. because he stands for all these things unto the soules of his Saints Hence is that promise Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Jesus Christ is for all uses and purposes This is in the text he is Circumcision to the Gentile wisdome to the Barbarian c. 5. Christ is all in all to them by way of benediction and sanctification It is from him that any good they enjoy becomes a blessing to them He makes every thing effectual for those ends for which they are appointed No good thing would be good to us without the benediction of Christ yea were it not for his blessing every good thing would prove a snare a crosse and a curse to us as they do to them who have no interest in Christ This is that which Solomon saith Prov. 10. 22. The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich Thy health would be thy greatest sicknesse thy wealth would be thy ruine thy parts and abilities would be a snare to thee did not Jesus Christ sanctifie them by his blessing All the good the Saints enjoy depends upon Christs blessings to make them good to them The Application follows Use 1. How injurious to Jesus Christ are they who mingle other things with Jesus Christ as the causes of their salvation The Papists mingle their own merits and righteousnesse indulgences the sufferings of other men with the merits of Christ as the causes of their justification and salvation What else iâ— this but to deny the al-sufficiency of Jesus Christ If he be all in all for justification and
soft rayment are in Kings Courts Matth. 11. 8. The servant and Master now cannot be distinguished by their apparel unlesse it be thus that the servant excels the Merchant and Mechanick the Prince and Pesant scarce distinguished God would have it otherwise rayment should distinguish conditions as well as sexes Christ in this regard is fitly compared to a garment He distinguishes between the beleever and the unbeleever between the regenerate and the unregenerate 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature and 2 Cor. 13. 5. know you not that Iesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates God hath made Jesus Christ to be the distinguishing character between him that shall be saved and him that shall perish The Uses of this Point I. Behold Christs excellency He is all in all He is compared to all things that are both necessary and excellent He is life he is meat and drink he is a garment Quid quaeras saith Austin See in Joh. 19. quod in illo non invenias si esuris panis est si sitis aqua si in tenebris lumen est si nudus es immortalitatis tibi vestimentum Ministers are bound upon all occasions to preach up Christ that men may see their need of him that they may be provoked into a good opinion of him He is as needful for the soul yea more needful then garments are for the body He is all good he hath all good in him and that in a transcendent manner Quicquid velle potes debes est Dominus Iesus Christus Consider how farre he excels all other garments 1. Iesus Christ is a large garment Other garments can cover but one at once One garment cannot cloath several persons no more then one morsel can feed several men But Jesus Christ is a garment of such extent and dimension that he can cover many though they be at never so great a distance Should I feare saith Bernard that Christs righteousnesse will not serve for him and me No Non est pallium breve quod duos operire non potest All the Elect of God though they live in several Nations though they be a multitude which no man can number Rev. 7. 9. yet they are all cloathed and all sufficiently cloathed with this one garment I saw saith the Evangelist a wonder in heaven a woman cloathed with the Sun Rev. 12. 1. This woman is the whole Church of God This Sunne that covers the woman is Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse as he is called Mal. 4. 1. His skirt is large enough to cover his whole Church and yet never a member can complain of want 2. Iesus Christ is a garment for every part Your material garments will not serve every part That which is proper for the head will not cover the loynes that which fits the body will not fit the feet Every part of the body hath a distinct cloathing which is onely proper for it self But now Christ is a garment that fits every part He is the Diadem or Crown upon the head he is the robe upon the body he is the shooes upon the feet Luke 15. 22. Christ is a compleat suit of apparel from head to foot the soul is perfectly cloathed 3. Iesus Christ hath the uses of all garments There is no one garment that serves for all uses to the body Some Garments are good for covering but they are not for beauty Others serve for ornament and beauty but they do not serve for defence Some garments are good in the cold but they are not so useful and fit in a time of heat Persons that are of ability have several garments for several uses because no one garment is fit for all But Jesus Christ is a garment for all uses to the soule He is for covering and for ornament and for defence as good for all uses as for any use He is a Winter-garment and he is a Summer-garment he is as good for cooling as for heating He is the travellors and he is the labourers garment and he is the souldiers garment He is light for walking thick for stormy weather He is strong for fighting and spiritual warring against Satan and his temptations Christ suits all the occasions of the soule He is wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 5. 30. 4. Jesus Christ is a garment fit for all sexes for all sizes for all conditions No one garment will fit all bodies That which is decency in one sex would be monstrousnesse on the other That garment which fits a childe would be unuseful to a grown man That which is proper for the Subject would be unsutable for the Princes weare But now Christ is as proper for one as for another He is as fit for the woman as for the man for the childe as for the father for the King as for the Subject As the Apostle saith in another case we may say in this There is neither Barbarian Scythian Jew nor Gentile male nor female bond nor free but ye are all one in Christ Col. 3. 11. God hath made Jesus Christ a fit garment for the soules of all sorts of men There is no soul too big none too little none too small none too great for Jesus Christ to array and cover 5. Jesus Christ is a durable garment All other garments are of a moldring nature The moth corrupts them old age takes away the beauty of them the strongest and finest garments turne to rags by daily use But Jesus Christ is a lasting garment the moth cannot fret it old age cannot weare it thin Christ is now as fresh as when he was first put upon Adam in Paradise When our bodily garments shall be pluckt off yea when the very garments of our bodies like the mantle of Elijah shall fall into dust then will this garment abide upon the soul as beautiful as now it is The Lord did miraculously preserve the garments of the Israelites from waxing old Deut. 8. 4. Though they were worne fourty yeares in the wildernesse yet they were not threed-bare Their bodies wasted but their garments did not waste They were as fresh when they came to Canaan as they were when they came out of Egypt Jesus Christ though he be worne every day yet he doth not wax old He is as fresh upon the soul on its dying day as upon the first moment of its regeneration 6. Jesus Christ is a free garment All that is required on mens part is to put him on He is provided without our cost without our care Though he be the most costly garment in himselfe yet he is the most cheap garment in the world Other garments cannot be had without money Christ is obtained without money without price The Scripture speaks of buying him Rev. 3. 18. this buying is free receiving The Prophets expound the phrase Esay 55. 1. Buy milk and wine without money without price Indeed this garment is so invaluably rich that all the treasure in
that long sickness how unlike himself was he he had no actual repentance till Nathan came to him with a message from God and quickned him Sinne quencheth the Spirit in Godly men as the water quencheth the fire Sinne takes off the edge of the soul deads the appetite and affection to the things of God It locks up the heart that it cannot act as it was wont to do 2 Sicknesse begets torment and anguish in the body When sicknesse is in extremity in the body how doth a man cry out of paine head and heart and every part is under torment What restlesse tossings are men under when diseases are violent heare how Job complaines Chap. 30. 16 17 18 Sinne is a Creator of torment and painfulnesse in the soule Felix his sinne made him tremble Acts 24. 25. Cains sinne put his spirit into such anguish that he cries out My punishment is greater then I can beare Gen. 4. 13 14. Judas his sinne did bring such despairing torment upon his soule that he takes away his life to end his misery Matth. 27. init And even Gods own people when they fall into this spiritual disease they are pained at the very heart till by pardon and remission they have obtained a healing from God How full of paine was Davids spirit by reason of his sinne He was as a man upon the rack for a long time if he did ever recover his former serenity Vid. Psalme 6. per totum Psalme 38. per tot Many of the deare children of God do by sinne fill their hearts with such anguish that they are never without much smart to the day of their death 3 Sicknesse doth bring uncomelinesse The most beautiful body in the world if pining sicknesses continue long upon it becomes like a garment that is moth-eaten the eyes sink the colour is lost the skin is shriveld the bones stick out c. Job observes this Chap. 16. 8. Thou hast filled me with wrinkles which is a witnesse against me and my leaâ—nesse rising up in me beareth witnesse to my face Sicknesse makes streight bodies how down beautiful faces look ghastly well-coloured cheeks look pale and oftentimes the more beautiful sicknesse findes us the more uncomely doth it leave us Sicknesse turnes youth into old age vid. Lam. 3. 4. My flesh and my skin hath he made old Sickness dries up the spirits Prov. 17. 22. A merry heart doth good like a medicine a broken spirit dries up the bones Sin takes away the comelinesse of the soule The first sinful sicknesse that ever entered into the world hath turned the soules and bodies of all mankinde into deformity and uglinesse Could we see the picture of Adams soule in the state of innocency and compare it with the soules that are diseased with sinne we would wonder at the sad change Sinne is a very deformed thing it turned Angels of light into ugly devils Those who were never healed by regeneration and remission of the disease of sin what deformed souls have they they have not one spot of beauty upon them Psal 14. 3. They are altogether become stinking A dead carrion a putrefied carcasse is as beautiful and as sweet an objâ—ct as a sinfully-diseased soul Yea even Gods own children by falling into sinne though but in one or two particular acts do lose much of their beauty They do not look with that grace they did before Every act of sin casts a dark thick shadow upon the soul As deep wounds leave skars upon the body so sinful acts leave some skarres of infamy upon the soul A Saint doth not look like the same man he was before he fell into sin 4 Sicknesse brings death Dorcas was sick and died Act. 9. 37. Long sicknesses if they be not removed will bring the strongest body to the dust of death Sicknesse is indeed Anteambulo mortis the forerunner of death The sick-bed is the direct way to the dark bed the grave Sinne doth bring death to the soule One disease of sinne if it be not healed by Christs bloud will certainly bring the soule to eternal death Rom. 6. 23. it hath brought many to hell and it will certainly bring all others to the same condition that live and die in it unhealed He that dies in his sinne shall die for ever II. For the nature of this sicknesse 'T is a more dreadfull sicknesse then any other sicknesse I shall set it out in a few particulars 1. It seizeth upon the most noble part of man All other sicknesses do infest the body onely but sinne is a disease in the soul Those sicknesses are most painful and most mortal which seize upon the vitals and inward parts A disease that feeds upon the spirits doth soone drink up the natural moisture and is not so easily cured Sinne is a disease that doth immediately reach the spirits 'T is the sicknesse of the heart O Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse that thou mayest be saved Jer. 4. 14. The Apostle it 's true speaks of the filthinesse of the flesh and of the spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. Some sins are onely acted by the brutish fleshly and sensitive part others rest in the spirit as pride vain-glory envy c. yet notwithstanding even those filthinesses of the flesh have their chief seat and residence in the heart according to that of our Saviour Matth. 15. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts c. All sinne is spiritual wickednesse in regard of the fountaine and root of it As grace is seated in the heart so also is sin Ier. 4. 18. This is thy wickednesse because it is bitter because it reacheth unto thine heart 2. Sinne is a sicknesse which God never made All bodily diseases are the handy work of God He created Plagues Feavers Consumptions c. Amos 3. 6. But sinne is a sicknesse of which God never was the Author 'T is true God sometimes punisheth sinne by sinne not by creating sinne but by suffering a sinful creature to fill up his sinne by withdrawing denying his grace which onely can preserve from sin 3. Sinne is a sicknesse which separates between God and men No other disease can divide between God and the soule Hezekiahs plague Asa's gout Iobs sores none of all these did make any division between God and them Some sicknesses do separate between the husband and the wife the father and the childe at least in regard of actual communion though not in regard of affection but no bodily sicknesse divides between God and men But sinne doth separate between God and the soule Esay 59. 2. It makes God stand at a distance from his own children to hide his face from them and to deale with them as with enemies 4. Sinne is the cause of all other sicknesses All bodily diseases come from this disease Hast thou not procured this thy unto self Thine own doings shall correct thee c. Jer. 2. 19. A distempered soul is the true cause of a distempered body Sinne was the first
Vine I shall present you with four clusters by which you may judge of the rest First the fruits of his death There are many particulars in this cluster I name but six 1. The satisfaction of Divine Justice The appeasing of Gods anger towards the Elect Esay 53. 6. Christ by his death did as perfectly satisfie the demands of justice as though God had never been offended he made full payment 2. The reconciliation of beleevers to God He hath not onely paid what justice required but he hath perfectly made agreement between God and the sinâ—er that now thorough Christ God is as well appeased and is become as perfect a friend to the beleever as he was to Adam iâ— Paradise God hath not in his heart the least grâ—dge towards his person Of this the Apostle speaks Eph. 2. 14 15. and Col. 1. 21 22. 3. The working out of a compleat righteousness for the sinner Such a righteousnesse as that the sinner may with a holy boldnesse chalenge the Law of God to finde fault with it Of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 17 18 19. This is called in divers respects righteousnesse of God Rom. 1. 17. The righteousnesse of faith Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 4. 13. The righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 5. 18. 4. The destroying of him that had the power of death Of this you may â—eade Col. 2. 15. and Heb. 2. 14. Saâ—ans supremacy over the soule is abolished and the captived soul made the Lords freeman 5. The sweetning and perâ—uming of the grave and the freedome of the sinner from the fear of death This fruit is mentioned by the Apostle Heb. 2. 15. 6. The killing of the power of sinne Christ by dying for sinne slew sinne so as that it can never damne any of the Elect. Of this you mâ—y read Rom. 6. 4 6. Secondly the â—ruits of his resurrection These are many I shall set a few before you these foure 1. Spiritual vivifiâ—ntion The soule of a beleever is raised up and empowred to walk in â—â—â—â—nesse of life This the Apostle applieth principally to the resuâ—â—◠〈…〉 2. 12 13. You being deâ—â— i◠〈…〉 He â—ath quickâ—ed together 〈…〉 2. An assured evidence 〈…〉 from sinne This the Apostle 〈…〉 resurrection of Christ Rom. 4. 25. He was 〈◊〉 again for our justification The resurrection of Christ from the grave is a full proof that all the debt is paid the discharge of the prisoner is a cleare testimony of the discharge of the debt The Prophet puts them together Esay 53. 8. He was taken from prison and from judgement And hence the Apostle argues against those that deny the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 17. If Christ be not raised we are yet in our sinnes 3. An Argument of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day If the Head be raised the body shall not lie for ever in the grave the Resurrection of Christ is a pledge of ours as the first fruits were unto the Jewes a pledge of the ensuing harvest The Apostle alludes to that 1 Cor. 15. 20. And therefore the Apostle saith that Beleevers are raised up together with Christ Ephes 2. 6. They did rise in their representative when Christ was raised 4. The Confirmation of our hope of heaven This fruit of Christs Resurrection the Apostle sets down 1 Pet. 1. 3. We are begotten againe to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead The Doctrine of Christs Resurrection is the nourishment of the grace of Hope Thirdly The fruits of his Ascension This is a very rich cluster I shall name a few these five 1. Leading captivity captive The Apostle mentions this Eph. 4. 8. By â—eturning to heâ—ven from whence he came he did publickly â—arâ—y his spoile with him he did declare that â—ll the enemies of our salvation were perfectly brought under As great Conquerours when they have subdued their enemies do lead captive those whom they have overcome so Christ the great Captaine of our salvation did by his Ascension let his people see that their spiritual enemies were all eternally vanquished 2. The conferring of Mâ—nisterial gifts yea of the office of Ministery on his Church Of this the Apostle speaks Eph. 4 8. The Ministery of the Church is a fruit of Christs Ascension And t is as possible to pull him out of Heaven as to destroy that which he so solemnly settled at his Ascension 3. The more pleâ—tiful effusion of his Spirit upon his Church Of this fruit of his Ascension our Saviour speaks John 16 7. If I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I go away I will send him Christ when he departed powred forth his Spirit in greater plenty then ever it was before to supply the want of his bodily presence And then 4. Preparations of Mansions for his members This fruit is mentioned John 14. 3. As a man when he hath espoused a wife provides a house for her abode against the day of marriage so Christ having espoused the Church goes to heaven before-hand to make all things ready for their entertainment against the marriage day 5. An assured evidence of their corporal Asâ—ension Christ ascended and 〈…〉 as the fore-runner of his Churâ—◠〈…〉 The Apostle tells us that Christ 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not onely for ou◠〈…〉 our stead to give us an undoubted 〈…〉 that weâ— also shall personally entertaine the ascension of the head is the praeludium of the glorification of the members Fourthly The fruits of his Intercession These are very many I shall name these four 1. Assurance of the Application of all his benefits Whatsoever Christ purchased by his death â—e doth actually apply to the Elect by his intercession The Prophet puts them together Esay 53. ult This is one fruit of Christs intercession beleevers are sure to be put into full possession of all that which Christ hath merited for them by his blood-shed This some make to be the meaning of that Scripture John 14 3. They refer it to his intercession Christ by his satisfaction obtained for the Elect a right to heaven and by his intercession he doth actually apply it to them 2. The superseding and stopping of all Accusations made against them The Law accuseth Satan pleads the Law against beleevers and hence accuseth them Christ is interceding continually at Gods right hand to invalidate all these accusations There can no sooner come in any complaint but Christ throws it out Of this fruit of his intercession the Apostle speaks Rom. 8. 33 34. 3. Manuduction into the presence of the Father with boldnesse Christ is at Gods right hand for this very purpose that when ever a beleever hath any request to preâ—er to God he may take them by the hand and bring theâ— to the Father with confidence This fruit of his interâ—ession is set down by the Apostle Heb. 4. 14. 16. 4. Assurance of the acceptance of our weakest services This fruit of his intercession is mentioned Rev. 8. 3 4. The ascending
of the body That their knowledge is stronger then it was at first that the habits of grace are strengthned c. This is by vertue of their implantation into the Vine Christ is the beleevers breast the beleever by sucking at the brest growes from a childe to a young man from a young man to an old man in Christ 4. Spiritual fructification The fruitfulnesse of the Branch is from the fulnesse of the Root The Stock sends out its sap to every Branch and so every branch buds and blossoms and brings forth fruit Abeleevers spiritual fruitfulness is from Jesus Christ Christ sends out his sap and fatnesse to him and then he doth according to his kind bud and blossome and bring forth fruits in his season This is that which followes immediately after the Text He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 'T is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separated from me ye can do nothing David Psalme 1. 3. tells us from whence our fruits spring namely from our implantation He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water which bringeth forth his fruit in his season So Psal 92. 13. 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in old age c. This preheminencie these mystical trees have of the natural Old age makes the natural tree barren but it makes the mystical tree the more fruitful Consider what God saith to his people Hos 14. 8. From me is thy fruit found This the Church acknowledgeth when she calleth them Christs fruits Cant. 4. 16. They are borne by the Church 〈…〉 produced by Christ The◠〈…〉 fruits in regard of benefit but 〈…〉 Christs fruit in regard of production The Creation the Preservation the ripening of 〈◊〉 are from Christ They are our fruits in regard of Inhaesion but they are Christs fruits in regard of Procreation That Christian is either blinded with ignorance or filled with malice or swelled with pride who will not acknowledge his spiritual fructification to be from Christ 5. Spiritual fellowship The Branch by vertue of its ingraffing into the Stock hath fellowship with the Stock it doth partake of all the good of the Stock A beleever by vertue of his implantation into Christ hath spiritual fellowship with Jesus Christ in all his good things God is faithful saith the Apostle by whom ye are called into the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 9. He that is a Branch of Christ is spiritually married to Christ Hos 2. 19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever in righteousnesse in judgemene in loving-kindenesse in mercies and in faithfulnesse Marriage gives the wife an interest in all the good things of her husband His honours his riches his relations are now related to her Her name is set upon all the goods which are marked with her husbands name where he is Caius she is Caia where he is Master she is Mistresse By our implantation into Christ all his possessions are ours His honours are ours we are called by his name He Christ we Christians His riches are ours his relations are ours I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God John 20. 17. Hereby 1. We communicate with Christ in his death Rom. 6. 5. All the fruits of his death are ours onely by reason of our ingraffing into him 2. Hereby also we communicate with Christ in the fruits of his resurrection Rom. 6. 5. We shall also be in the likenesse of his resurrection Hereby 3. we have communion with him in his life Rom. 6. 8. If we be dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him He will be for ever unto us a spring of spiritual life Because I live you shall live also John 14. 19. Herein do these spiritual Branches differ from the natural a natural branch may die though the Root live but a spiritual Branch of Christ can never die while there is life in Christ his Root Hereby 4. Do we participate of the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Christ is ours because we are Branches of Christ in 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit Consider but one Text which doth fully shew our spiritual fellowship from this very ground 'T is 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus c. There are three things in this text First that beleevers are in Christ Secondly that their being in Christ is from Gods Donation Of him are ye in Christ Thirdly that by vertue of their interest in Christ it is that they come to have fellowship with Christ he is to them wisdome c. because they are in him He is their wisdom as he hath revealed salvation to them as he guides them in the way of salvation He is their righteousnesse as he hath perfectly obeyed the Law commanding and as he hath fully satisfied the Law 〈…〉 Sanctification to them as he hath 〈◊〉 them his Spirit to renue them by regeneration and he is their Redemption as he shall raise theâ— up at the last day and glorifie them Thâ—â— much for Explication The Uses of this Point are of three sorts 1. Information 2. Exhortation 3. Consolation 1. For Information 1. We may learn from this Metaphor the nature of the union that is between Christ and beleevers The Doctrine of our spiritual union with Christ is a stupendious mystery therefore the Holy Ghost makes use of natural similitudes to set it forth Among others he makes use of this of the Vine and Branches Which teacheth us three properties of this Union 1 That it is a Real union The Branches and the Vine are not united appearingly but truly Christ and a beleever are united not imaginarily but really Though it be an invisible union to the eye of sense yet it is visible to the eye of faith Though it be a spiritual union yet it is a true union Hence it is that the Name of Christ is communicated to all his members 1 Cor. 12. 12. so also is Christ Not Christ personal but Christ mystical If the union were not in reality Jesus Christ would never impart his name to any of them 2. That it is a very strict union The union between the Vine and Branches is not a loose union but a close union by vertue of this union they are made one tree The union between Christ and a beleever is a very close union They are not united together as a wooden legge is united to the body onely by external bands and ligaments but as the natural legge is united to the body by inward bands by those influences of Spirits Animal and Vital which descend from the Head to the members The beleever is not tied to Christ onely by the bands of an outward profession but made one with Christ by a reall incorporation Christ