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A44344 A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union beleevers have with God and Christ, and the glorious priviledges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye. Hooker, Thomas, 1586-1647.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672. 1656 (1656) Wing H2643; ESTC R7774 293,622 460

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was all the proper possession the Father had and holds from Eternity and this is the meaning of that other Phrase verse 30. I was with him as one brought up with him The Phrase is marvelous sweet and pregnant as one nursed up with him in his Bosom and Bowels from everlasting God the Father is compared to a Guardian of the Lord Jesus whom he keeps under his wing I am not alone the Father is ever with me yea the Father and I am one 2. It 's the Nature of Love to take ful content and complacence in the thing beloved and so the Father doth in his Son after an unspeakable manner takes an infinite fulness of soul-pleasing satisfaction so that before al Creatures were he lacketh nothing and he spent his whol thoughts in gazing upon the through concurrence of al unspeakable excellencies in the Lord Jesus Prov. 8.30 I was dayly his delight It was his constant and continued Exercise the ful imployment of his blessed Majesty to fil himself with the fellowship and familiarity of his Son When the Atheist enquires what God did before the World if the World was not Eternal Answ He was sporting himself with the unconceivable complacency and ravishing contents of his wel-beloved Son the Lord of Glory So that nothing was wanting while he enjoyed him nothing could be added while he possesseth him 3. There is a Love of Benevolence It 's the Nature of Love to study the good of the thing beloved This the Father doth also after an unconceivable manner The study and bent of his infinite Understanding is now to plot for the Honor and to lift up the Glory of his Son far beyond al praises So that more than the Father gave could not be enjoyed no more could be added no more could be desired by our Savior when he would make his request in that behalf Hither the Lord Christ repairs and here he takes up his stand as though no more could be conceived or communicated John 17.5 And now O Father glorifie me with thine own self with the glory I had with thee before the World was q.d. If he was put to his choyce to his desire or God the Father to his free giving he could wish no other nor no more glory but that which he had with him from Eternity 2. So the Father loves the Son as Man also in al the former particulars and in all the several properties of them so far as a finite creature is or can be made capable thereof not only in regard of the compass of its own ability but as far as underpropped and supported by an almighty power I shal point at the former specialties in so many words 1. In regard of union here in the surpassing excellency of the love of the Father appeared that he brought it into so neer a fellowship with himself that it doth not only exceed al the power of the creature to work such a union but even the reach of al reason of men and Angels to comprehend it For not only the Essence of the Deity takes up its dwelling and abode there bodily but it s taken into the very subsistence of the second person and melts into the personality of the second person and hence it is the Grace of union is indeed accounted a Grace of the greatest excellency above al other and in truth it is so not only in regard of the priviledg whereby our Human Nature is advanced one degree above the excellency of the creatures of highest rank for of that the place is meant and that the Apostle intends Hebr. 2.8 That al things are put in subjection to our Human Nature in Christ He took not the seed of Angels but of Abraham When he bringeth his first born into the world worship him al the Angels even as God-man but I say not only in regard of the height or the priviledg this Grace of union is to be attended But in regard of the unmatchable efficacy and Peerlessness of power that exceeds the bounds of my created ability In that the subsistance it hath by this is no other but the subsistence of the second person In that the Angels must sit in a lower forme and aloof off in the porch as it were and administer there by their attendance when our Human Nature is taken into the Chamber of presence the personal union with the Lord and so consequently as thereby Co-partner of divine honor and worship together with the second person None of which can be said of any creature or any created Grace in the hearts of the Saints 2. The Father takes ful satisfaction in the man Christ Jesus He proclaimes it openly Math. 3. last This is my wel beloved Son in whom I am wel pleased He alone it is in whom the Father smells a sweet savor of rest therefore when he cashieres al other sacrifices as such in whom there was no sufficiency our Savior no sooner offers himself but therein the Father quiets himself in fulness of content Hebr. 10.5 6. Burnt offerings and sacrifices thou wouldest not then said I Loe I come in the Volum of thy Book it is written of me I should do thy will 3. Improves the Soveraignty of his power and good pleasure to promote the Son and advance the glory of the man Christ Jesus Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand Therefore he sends the comforter in his name Joh. 14.26 Nay the Father makes this the maine scope of al his dispensations by Christ puts the Administration of all things into his hand That al may come to him depend upon him and give al glory to him in what they do receive and for what they seek and hence the Father carries al the Trade this way As great Princes when they wil advance their Favourites there come no petitions but by their hands no kindnesses or gifts but by their meanes That al may eye and honor receive al from them and by their means and returne to them Joh. 5.22 25. The Father judgeth no man but hath commited all judgment to the Son that all might honor the Son as they honor the Father REASON Here are al the grounds upon which Love grows and that in more than an ordinary Nature and measure and these are three all which are found in the Lord. 1. Neerness 2. Likeness 3. Suitableness of worth 1. Neerness And that we see to be a forceable argument in Nature to draw men to inlargedness of affections Love begins next home A Countrey Man we affect rather than a Forreiner one of the same Town before a Countrey Man a Kinsman before a Towns Man a Child before him the wife before others a mans self before al wife and Children and Kinsman and Towns Man So it is here The Lord Jesus is most Neer to God the Father and therefore most beloved It s said our Savior came from the Bosom of the Father Joh. 1.18 2. Likeness is the Load-stone of
prepare a place True there be Mansions enough but how hard to come at them He answers I wil come and bring you to my self USE 4. Of Instruction If God give Glory to Christ how unreasonable is it for us sinful wretches to deny our Savior his own his due If the Father give it we should be ready and careful ever to acknowledg it We do not the work of Angels but the work of God himself And this is the Scope of the Father in al his Counsel and therefore it should be ours He turns the Trade this way The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men might honor the Son as they honor the Father John 5.22 23. As great Princes when they wil advance any Person whom they purpose to make a Favorite they so contrive that all business must come through his hand that al may eye him honor him and have dependance upon him So it is with the Father Christ is his Favorite he hath so ordered it that al must come through his hand al from the Father by him al through him returned to the Father So the Father professeth Phil. 2.10 11. He hath given him a Name above all Names that at his Name all might bow As therefore the Father determined mined so we resolve I have both glorified him and will glorifie him John 11.28 There were Three things as ye have read before in the words 1 The Parties for whom Christ praies such as the Father had given him 2 What he praies for That they might be where he is 3 The end of this their being with Christ That they might see the Glory which the Father had given him Before we could come at the Second of these there was one Point which was supposed and taken for granted which makes way for al those that follow namely That Christ was in Heaven and did enjoy the fulness of Glory there given him of the Father and of both these that is both the Parts of the Point 1. That Christ is in Heaven 2. That he is possessed of the fulness of Glory by gift from the Father at his right hand both as Second Person and as Mediator God and Man Redeemer of the World we have fully written And before we can proceed to the Second Thing which was formerly propounded and wherein the pith of the Prayer of our Savior appears containing the main thing petitioned we shal be enforced to take in the last clause of the Verse as being nothing else but an amplification of the former Doctrine and laies out unto us the cause and reason whence it comes that the Father gave and Christ received this so great Glory The first Original from whence this so great and unconceivable Glory proceeds It is from the Love of the Father towards our Savior his blessed Son And that Love is not of yesterday nor of late or in this last Age of the World occasioned but it issues out of his antient and everlasting Lover wherewith he imbraced the Lord Jesus before the World was and that not only finished and brought to perfection but before the first corner stone before the Foundation thereof was laid I wil not give way to any curious Speculation but I beleeve it 's true and I suppose it 's suitable to the meaning of the words That the Father laid the Foundation of the Love of his Son in his own heart and thoughts in order of Nature before in his everlasting purpose he laid out in his contrivement the first Pillars and Principles upon which the World was founded He understands himself directly al other Quatenus sui imaginem gerunt So Wisdom seems to speak Prov. 8.22 He possessed me in the beginning of his way before his Works of old The first beginning of Gods way is to understand himself But we shal content our selves with that which is taken up with the currant and common consent of al. And then we have two Points 1. The Father loved his Son from everlasting before the Foundation of the World And this we handled formerly in the foregoing verse 23. 2. That which is of fresh Consideration unto which we shal speak a few words very briefly is the force of Argument or Reason here laid forth viz. The everlasting love wherewith the Father embraced his Son is the first cause why he gave him everlasting Glory The Eternal Glory of Christ is a Gift of the Eternal Love of the Father In grows out of this root it issues firstly out of this Fountain Hither our Saviors thoughts arise and here he rests This is the Crown of Glory and the Diadem in the Crown and the lustre and shine of that is The Love of the Father To this our Savior ascends and in this he satisfies himself and he would lead al his as afterwards we shal see Had not the Father given him glory out of his love glory it self would never have given our Savior content Nay Heaven and glory it self had not been worth the loving nor having unless the love of God were in them That is the quintessence of al. We shal open shortly two things 1. What we must understand this love to be 2. How this love is the cause of this glory For the right discovery and discerning of this love that we may come as neer the mind of our Savior and the meaning of the text as we may we shal with warines in some doubtful Seas sound and cast several passages that we may find where the Channel lies 1. It cannot then be taken for the spiritual and special fruits and effects of Gods love which the Lord dispenseth to his according to the good pleasure of his wil of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts This rather looks at the fountain that those streames for which Jude Prayes Grace Peace and Love be multiplied Jude 2. For this love is from eternity so are not those fruits and expressions because they are put forth in time Beside the glory of our Savior is one of those fruits which are here said to Issue from that love And I suppose it doth vertually and summarily include those spiritual expressions which makes way for it 2. Somtime the love of God is put by a Figurative speech for Election as that in Rom. 9.13 Jacob have I Loved that is Elected or set apart to be the subject of the expressions of his love And this also seems not to fit the place in hand For it goes somwhat against the grain of the phrase The love in the former and following words in the verse before and after leads us to another apprehension and looks another way Beside the aim of our Savior and his expression would perswade one to think that he eyes somthing in the Father which in a peculiar manner relates to him Not that which equally and indifferently belongs to the Holy Spirit and himself also as that purpose of
great a work unto his care and trust and laid it upon him as his charge which by mutual consent and convenant he willingly undertook Joh. 6.39 This is my Fathers will that hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose none but should raise it up at the last day And therefore adds verse 40. He that beleeves in me Shall have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Yea he gives up his account of his work John 17.12 Those that thou hast given me I have kept and lost none And therefore compares himself to the good Shepherd that layes down his self for his Sheep Joh. 10. 3. Gives him ful commission for the accomplishment of this work unto the ful even as he is the Son of man hath given right and liberty to the humane Nature of ours now received into personal union to use and improve any of the Attributes of the Deity for the further benefit of the Saints the good of his Church and the furtherance of those spiritual ends which may best ●et forwards the glory of God and the everlasting wellfare of his people This so wonderful a union doth advantage the Humane Nature to so high a priviledg to use al the excellencies of the Deity at al times answerable to al necessities to fetch supply suitable to the wants desires comforts of the Saints This is the meaning of those places Math. 28.18 All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth To have al power it to be Omnipotent for more than all cannot be conceived no● possessed more than that God hath not and that because it is an in-communicable Attribute he cannot communicate but the meaning is though it be not omnipotent yet it hath liberty to set that on work for the benefit and best good of Gods servants Hence what the Father doth the son is said to do also Joh. 5.26 As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the son to have life in himself Verse 19. What ever things he doth those the son doth likewise for as the Father raiseth up the dead even so he Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all Flesh to give unto them eternal life He that must rescue them from Hel and sin and death and from divine Justice he must have power over al That the power in Heaven may not prejudice and frustrate the work in Hel hinder it on earth oppose it 4. The Father leaves the immediate dispensation of al the work unto him to act it according to his own pleasure For so our Savior As the Father raiseth and quickeneth so the son quickeneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 And adds verse 22. For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed al judgment to the son Not that the Father hath not power for the execution of the work For he that gives it hath it in a principal and soveraign manner But he hath committed the immediate execution thereof unto the Lord Jesus and so of the whol work of our Redemption Joh. 5.27 That as Pharaoh said concerning Joseph when he appointed him next unto himself in the kingdom of Egipt Gen. 41.40,44 I am Pharaoh and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot no man shal do any thing which way so ever he turn himself c. Only I am Pharaoh So the Father to Christ he delegates the execution of al in Heaven and Earth unto him only he is greater This is the meaning of that place 1 Cor. 11.3 I would have you know that the Head of every man is Christ the head of the Woman is the man and the head of Christ is God Whence know 1. That the Apostle speaks not only of faithful men and Women but of al men and Women according to their sex For the scope is to shew that Women should be subject not only gracious but al. And this he shews from the feebleness and underness of their Nature and sex 2. That these different degrees of excellency are only to be attended in regard of subordination in order one to another and immediate dispensation from one to another for that Head implies not only excellency and dignity in the general but power to move al in subord nation to it authority to rule all in subjection 〈…〉 So that it is not excellency but power and 〈…〉 and that not at large for so Angels are the 〈◊〉 of men but as they be in subordination and not 〈◊〉 ●●ch as be far removed but such as have the next 〈◊〉 dispensation in way of providence ●e●ch ●ver other For otherwise Christ is head not of●●● but of Woman and Angels also so God himself is But the Apostles meaning and intent was to shew the orderly and next dispensation in the several degrees the immediate influence and dispensation of power and authority for the ruling of the femal sex is in a way of providence and appointment from man the immediate dispensation of power to man is from Christ to Christ from God the Father who hath sent him And thus Christ is and doth to al only distinguishing the manner and end of his dispensation To the wicked in way of Justice for their ruine and destruction To the godly in way of mercy for their spiritual good That 's the meaning of that All is yours c. And hence the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Christ is said when he hath conquered al enemies the last is death damned all the wicked and delivered up is Children into the hands of his Father he then is said To deliver up his Kingdom to the Father i.e. Only in regard of this outward dispensation For then God the Father shal in and through Christ communicate himself to all his Saints Use 1. We have here matter of wonderment at the Rich and unconceiveable compassion of the Father to miserable undone man who should be careful to provide for his good who is so negligent to provide for his own Spares nothing ●o purchase his Salvation who hath done what he can to destroy himself Had he sent the meanest of his creatures to succour us his servants to visit us his Angels to administer to us it had been more than we could have expected But to send his Son out of his own Bosom yea out of his own Bowels to work out our Redemption to make known the way of life and and to make it good unto our Souls Nature would not do this reason cannot reach this mercy the heart would not dare to beg this Sit we down in the everlasting admiration of his mercy As Elizabeth and Mary when he came to visit her Luk. 1.43 Whence comes it that the mother of my Lord should come to me So thou As David when he attended the dealing of the Lord towards lost man who had made himself the most vile and forlorn of al his creatures looks upon his own baseness and Gods kindness Lord what is man that thou
Christ the Author of Grace the giver of all grace and peace He is the great Almner by whom God gives al As in another case it s said The Father judgeth no man but hath committed al judgment to his Son so he comforts quickens none but by his Son therefore in these of al ordinances priviledge● performances look at them only either as those which lead to Christ or come from Christ What Christ hath received as man we have dispatched 2. What he gives now comes into consideration where there be two Doctrins 1. The Saints share in a like glorious grace with Christ 2. This glorious grace they receive by way of gift from our Savior To the First 2. Cor. 3.18 The Apostles Testimony is pregnant even to the letter of the doctrine We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory c. i. e. while by Faith in the evidence of the gospel we behold the glorious grace of God imprinted upon the humane nature of our Savior we come to receive the like print and impression of glorious grace upon our own Souls 2. Tim. 2.1 My Son be strong in the Grace that is in Christ As it is with the beams of the Sun that be in the aire they have heat and light continued to them while they are continued to the body of the sun If once that be intercepted the other decayes and vanisheth away So it is with the grace that i● in us which hath its beauty and glorious strength from the daily influence and continuance we have and hold in our communion and sweet intercourse with the Lord Jesus as the fountain of al grace and glory See this truth made good in four particulars 1. This grace is Inward and spiritual not that which orders a mans carriage in regard of himself nor moralizes his behavior to walk civilly and inoffensively towards others but it leaves an impression upon the most inward motions of the soul as they meet with God in the most retired and refined actions thereof Psal 15. The Queen is al glorious within Truth in the inward parts in those contrivements which God alone is privy to Sound ones in Gods statutes 2. This impression of glorious Grace in VNIVERSAL Every faithful hath not some few or many but all the saving and sanctifi●ng Graces of the Spirit in al the kinds of them and is able and doth also put forth the operations thereof as occasions do invite and the Law and his own duty doth require at his hands Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness we al receive grace for grace i.e. for each grace in Christ there is the like and answerable Grace left in the heart of every beleever As it is with the seal and the Wax There is in the Wax letter for letter syllable for syllable word for word answerable to that which was in the Seal Every letter there instamped is for the kind and number imprinted upon the Wax So it is with the grace of our Savior that is like the seal our hearts like the wax We receive patience from his patience humility in him leaves a like impression of humility in us c. Holiness from his holiness courage from his courage Hence is that of the Apostle Galat. 4. 19. My little Children of whom I travail again until Christ be formed in you As it is with the parts of the Body of a Child naturally in an ordinary and common way of Providence There is not one or few or many members of a man but al the particulars are fashioned when the Child is conceived otherwise it is not a human creature but a monstrous birth If the hand should want some fingers or the Arm a hand or the Body an Arm But Nature in the course of generation intends al the parts and al the proportions of them unless her work be hindered and blemished So it is in our spiritual Regeneration when a Christan is born by the immortal Seed of the word in the Womb of the Church Whol Christ i.e. All the saving and gracious dispositions of soul whereby a man comes to be a perfect Christian and to carry the stamp of Christ his everlasting Father are left upon him otherwise he is not a new Creature but indeed a fal● birth and Monster in Christianity And hence the Apostle wisheth they should comprehend c. And be filled with al bis Fulness Eph. 3.19 i.e. They should not be an empty crevis or corner no part of the Body but it should be sanctified to become a weapon of righteousness no faculty of the soul but it should be adorned with some glorious impression of the power of Grace wisedom and prudence in the mind holiness in the wil harmonious readiness in al the affections to attend the counsel of the Lord to be instruments of holiness 3. As they share in al the kinds of glorious Grace here while they are in their infancy and in the Bosom of the Church So also They do partake of all the PERFECTIONS of al these kinds When they shal arrive at the end of their hopes the Salvation of their souls Here the earnest there the ful bargain Here the first fruits there the whol harvest of holines and happiness 1. Joh. 3.2 We are now the sons of God but it doth not appear what we shal be but this is known that when Christ doth appear we shal be like him for we shal see him as he is Then we shall not see him darkly as he is revealed in his word dispensing himself in his Ordinances But we shall see him as he it He shall dart in those unconceiveable beames of the fulness of all holiness from himself immediately upon the Soul Then the Soul shall see nothing but a Christ and receive nothing but the impressions of the holiness happiness of a Christ This is called the Perfect Man that a perfect Christian when this glory is made Perfect when there shall be no weakness to enfeeble the strength of Grace no blemishes to darken the surpassing beauty of holiness This is the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 4. They share in the CONSTANCY and immutability of al this glorious Grace When they shall be beyond all fears and changes above principalities and powers beyond the noise of temptations which may assauk and hinder the work of Grace without and beyond the sight and presence of sin which may any waies enfeeble it Called An excessive exceeding eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 This is called the Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 The Crown of life and glory Jam. 1.12 This is the Diamond in the Crown and glory of our glory when Grace is now setled in the Throne and Crowned with immutability and Eternity i.e. becomes victorious and enemies vanquished as admitting no alteration nay no opposition of any thing to hinder nay not the sight of any enemy more
the same Nature upon himself for the great work of our Redemption and so he is head 1. It s proper to him to have al Grace firstly in himself in way and right of communication for had he not been the son of man and son of God together the way of Grace and life had been shut up from the sons of Adam Hebr. 10.20 And in this sence it is said That with him is the Wel of life Ps 36.9 And he is said to be a fountain of living Waters to have life in himself Joh. 5.26 And to quicken whom he wil. Joh. 5.21 2. The right and propriety of immediate dispensation is committed to his hand of all Grace and good Of his Grace we receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 And the Holy Spirit takes of his not of his own when he communicates to the Souls of the Saints Joh. 16.14 15. He shal shew you al things He shal glorifie me for he shal receive of mine Al things that the Father hath are mine Therefore said I He shal take of mine and shew it unto you 3. The manner how this spiritual presence is communicated Answ It appeares in the Nature and maaner of it in three things 1. The second person in the glorious Trinity assuming our Nature into mystical and personal union with himself remaining the same person after the union which he was before the union doth therein become surety for the faithful and enter into covenant with God the Father in their room and purchase both Grace and glory in their behalf For had he not taken the Nature of man it had been unpossible he should have communicated unto man any good So the Apostle reasons when he would shew the way how life came to be derived to the seed of Adam and not unto Angels gives this as the ground Hebr. 2.16 For v●rely ●e took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham And therefore these were redeemed life was conveyed unto these the other in their sins and sorrows And being thus fitted for the place of a Surety He did in special manner enter upon termes of agreement in the behalf of those he would do good unto The happiness of those were committed to his care by the Father and undertaken willingly by himself Joh. 6.38 39. This is the will of the Father that those that he hath given me I should lose none but raise them up at the last day And he is as careful to attend their spiritual welfare as may be therefore he concludes of them in their times and answerable to their conditions I have other Sheep and those I must bring Joh. 10.16 And when they are brought I will in no wise cast away nor suffer any to take them away Joh. 6.37 2. Having thus purchased Grace and glory for them he hath now both right and liberty to improve al power in Heaven and Earth to communicate Grace and glory to them Yea the Human Nature of our Savior hath liberty power to let on work any and all the Attributes in the behalf of the poorest beleever in the world yea right to send the good Spirit of the Lord for his spiritual relief Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him that is Christ power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore in verse 4. he saith I have finished the work thou gavest me to do q. d. Christ hath nothing to do in this vale of ●eare● but search ou● and seek up some scattered and wildering Servants of the Lord. Yea liberty to send the spirit upon this imployment Joh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send you from the Father Yea makes this his main Errand to heaven in his ascension Joh. 16.7 It is expedient c. If I depart I will send him unto you 3. He doth improve this power and the operation of the Spirit to close the Soule with himself and to hold the bent of the heart towards him for ever 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit As by his spirit he sanctified our Nature and took it into personal union with himself and gave in subsistence which of it self it had not nor could attain So by the operation of his Spirit he prepares the Soul for himself carries it in the promise to himself and acts it upon himself The Soul moved by the vertue of the Spirit moves to and staies upon the Lord Christ As in the Eccho the Air moved by the voice in such manner returns the same voice by vertue of its own motion Come unto me I come Lord. And not only carries and closeth the Soul with himself but holds it in this holy bent to himself that way Christ-ward Heaven-ward This is like the growing up with Christ being as scions ingrafted into him as the true Vine and so are truly and so called sons as the scions united to the stock may fitly be called the Sons thereof and hence Christ is stiled The eternal Father Isa 9.6 Behold a Son is given and this son is a Father and an eternal Father and begets us as sons unto his Father and will deliver us up unto him at the great day Here am I and the Children which thou hast given me Hebr. 2.13 This is that which Christ calls his abiding in us If I abide in you and you in me Joh. 15.4 The Reason in a word is this He that is the life of the faithful must be in the faithful So is Christ Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life c. USE 1. CAUTION To al especially the wicked and enemies of the Saints That they do not offend and wrong them or do the least evil to them because they do wrong to the Lord Jesus and he so takes it as to himself Act. 9. Saul why persecutest thou me And the sufferings of the Saints for a good cause are called the sufferings of Christ 2. Cor. 1.5 Thus the Lord sends to Sennacherib Isa 37.28 I know thy going out and thy coming in and thy rage against me It was bent against Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem but it was against the Lord in them True it is The wicked see not know not consider not this being blinded with Ignorance and Malice and therefore Paul asks the question when Christ speaks Who art thou Lord q. d. I own not thy speech nor understand thy person Our Savior answers I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Yea this wil be for the condemnation of their persons and confusion of their faces at the day of Judgment when the Saints in this sentence shal be honored and they set down for ever abased before their faces Depart ye cursed c. For I was in prison and ye visited me not c. Why When Lord saw we thee c. They were not acquainted with the presence of our Savior He add In that ye did it not to one of these ye