glorious Crown Glorious Robes a glorious Throne I expect everlasting Joy and I expect Rivers of Pleasure Is not this an Inducement to a Believer to make Christ his Life When we expect great things how does it cause us to be intent about them Where a Soul expects high things and great things from Christ they will live upon Christ and to Christ make Christ their All In all Mercies and Comforts and Enjoyments what is the reason many are poor carnal dead Professors and have low Thoughts of those things that are Preached in the Gospel but because they never relished Christ And it is as much as ever they can do to creep along in the ways of God and may be something of Conscience causes them to perform Duty But where the Soul hath glorious and high Expectations it is otherwise great things he hath done for them and great things he is doing he is advocating and interceding with the Father answering all Accusations and pleading for poor Sinners I go to prepare a place for you saith Christ and will come again and fetch you that where I am you may be also I am going to prepare for you Mansions of Glory Robes of Glory Crowns of Glory immortal Glory Is not this Lord to be lived upon and to be desired more than all things that can be desired Therefore had you ever experienced what it is to enjoy Christ and live on Christ you could not but have high and glorious Thoughts of this blessed Jesus you could not but have your Hearts raised up with high expectation what he will do for you But poor trifling formal Professor whatever thou professest I fear thou knowest not Jesus Christ Ask your Heart Have I glorious hopes of Christ's appearing Have I glorious hopes of reigning with him in Heaven Doth he reign in my Heart now Do I prize him and make him my All desire him in all and glorisie him above all I believe should you put this Question to your Souls you would many of you know that you are great Strangers to Christ But a Believer that can experience the Love of Christ is lifted up in admiration of the Wonders of his Grace crying out Oh what Wonders of Grace What glorious Love What a precious Redeemer is this Did he die for me Did he cry out my God my God and was I on his Heart when he drank of the Brook by the way and lift up his Head and was it for me He went out of the World by a cursed shameful Death up to his Fathers Glory and said that he would come again to fetch me he will make Death to be a sweet Embassador for me the Angels will come and convey my Soul to Glory O what will be your Thoughts when you shall see your Lord coming in the Clouds when you shall hear him say Come you blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the Foundation of the World and sit down with Palms in your Hands and with Crowns on your Heads surely believing that he is your Lord and that his Glory is your Glory and that he will come again and fetch you then you shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes from 13. to 18. But I would not have you to be ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so we shall ever be with the Lord. So much for the eleventh Reason This is a glorious Life the Believer hath experienced and that because he hath great expectation of what Christ will do for him as well as what he hath done for him therefore desires to make this blessed Christ his Life The Twelfth Reason is because a Believer can see no object so glorious as the Lord Jesus Christ is And saith the Soul all I can see I count it all empty in comparison of Christ for to see the Father in the Son choosing me in election before the World was to see this glorious Love out of the Bosom of the Father to be given for me to be my Ransom and Salvation O how glorious an Object is he to behold O how glorious is the Sun in the Firmament that lightens the whole World But then O how glorious is he that came out of the Bosom of the Father the Brightness of his Glory O my Soul let me behold him and live upon him I can see no way but he is glorious O love for Delight The Thirteenth Reason A Believer desires to live on Christ because the Lord Jesus Christ hath paid all and done all for him he hath bought all for him and saith the Believer all I have is from Christ have I Peace Hope Joy It is all bought by Christ I might have had a desparing Soul or a cursed Hope I might have been under the Curse and Wrath of God I might have been among the damned Souls that are roaring in Hell But have I Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Christ hath bought and brought me to the hope of an incorruptible Kingdom of Glory and as he hath bought all and paid for all I live upon him for all As the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope All the Joy I have and hope I have of Heaven is bought by Christ all the Enjoyment of God I have all the Glory my Soul is crowned with all the Joy my Heart is filled with is bought by Christ therefore saith the Apostle Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten to us a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead It is Jesus Christ hath ransomed me from Death from Hell from Guilt of Sin he hath bought an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled therefore I desire to live upon him The Fourteenth Reason The Believer desires to live upon Jesus Christ because he works all his Works in him There is not a good Motion in him but Christ is the Worker of it not a good Thought or good Action but all is from Christ Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordain Peace for us for thou hast wrought all our Works in us The Lord hath wrought for me Redemption Salvation Sanctification Consolation and Hope of Glory therefore I will live
Christ a Christian's Life Or A Practical DISCOURSE OF A Believer's LIFE Derived from Christ and Resolved into Christ BEING The Substance of several Sermons Preach'd by the Author upon his Recovery from a Fit of Sickness and now extorted from him by the Importunity of Friends By JOHN GAMMON Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of a Congregation in White-Chappel Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords LONDON Printed by J. R. for W. Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street 1691. The Epistle Dedicatory To the little Flock of Christ over whom the Holy Ghost hath made me Overseer The Father of Mercies and God of all Grace who hath called you to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you and make known to you that Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all by Jesus Christ Beloved in the Lord I Have in some measure been acquainted with the longing Desire of most of you to have these Sermons Published by whose Importunity I have been prevailed with to Print them against many Struglings and much unwillingness in my self to go forwards with the Work for some of you well know how much I was set against the Printing of them and that for several Reasons First Knowing that there are plenty of good Books the Works of worthy Learned Men extant That there was no need of my unworthy Labours Secondly Knowing how little the best of Books are valued by most Thirdly Knowing the Scorn and Contempt not only of profane and wicked Persons but many that profess a great Zeal for God do contemn those principal Gospel-Truths Justification by Christ alone But if persons were truly wakened they would be of the Mind of Bellarmine That it will be best to rest upon Christ alone for Salvation when they come to die They will then see that they have had no cause to abuse the Servants of Jesus Christ that have made it their business to exalt Christ and Free-Grace Fourthly Knowing my own Insufficiency for so great a Work as to appear to Publick View Fifthly Because of many things that might be lest out in the Printing that was Preach'd I not Preaching by Notes cannot remember many things which were delivered to you when the Sermons were preach'd but here you will find the principal Heads of what I deliver'd being taken from my mouth by a Servant of the Lord when preached I have done my endeavour to supply what I could that was wanting and to correct what I saw out of order but it cannot be expected so well as it would have been if I had writ the Sermons I had preach'd at length yet finding the earnest desire of most of you to have them printed and the many Arguments you used to have them hastned to be published notwithstanding the many Struglings I have had against the Work yet the dear Love I bear to you and the earnest desire I have to serve you in the Lord hath overcome my unwillingness in this Work having received an account from several of you the sweet comforts many of you received when you heard them preach'd and have also declared how much it would add to your comfort and edification if they were printed I hope through Grace that you will not be disappointed of your expectation Some of you have declared that the Preaching was as Marrow and Fatness to your Souls I hope that you will suck out some Spiritual Sweetness in the reading of them As God was graciously pleased to answer your Prayers in raising me from a sick Bed to preach these my sick-bed Meditations amongst you so I hope through mercy your longing desire to read them will be satisfied in receiving that comfort you expect to reap to your Souls in reading of them What is said of Mony that it answers all things to the subsistence of the Body may be much more said of Christ to them that live upon him he answers all their Wants supplies all their Needs He that hath Christ wants not he that hath not Christ inherits not what he seems to have Christ enjoyed in the Soul makes bitter things sweet heavy things light where Christ's Presence is Darkness is made Light and Sorrow turned into Gladness How precious are the enjoyments of them that have such a precious Pearl as Christ is He is the chiefest of ten thousand he 's a most excellent and lasting Good Heb. 13.18 All the hid Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge is in him Col. 2.3 What an excellent knowledge have ye attained unto that truly know Christ How doth this transcendent worth affect your Hearts changing them into his own Image and Likeness When a Soul comes to a saving knowledg of Christ he is changed then from Vir Terrenus an Earthly Man to Vir Coelestis an Heavenly Man Ignorance of Jesus Christ causeth Men to rest in Shadows and Forms in poor and low things compared with Christ and his Excellency are all but Dross and Dung so the Apostle esteems them Phil. 3.8 It is only a real saving knowledge of Christ can draw the Heart of a vain and perishing World to seek things that are above It is not a Speculation but an Application of Christ that brings home to the Immortal Soul what it stands in need of Life Light Pardon Peace Purity Righteousness Counsel Comfort Healing Deliverance Grace Glory all flows to the believing Soul from Christ in whom all fulness dwells The Soul that lives Christ hath a good Livelihood John 6.51 He shall live well for ever It is not an outside shew of Religion will be to the Soul what it stands in need of as Redemption Forgiveness Reconciliation Sanctification Consolation Salvation Christ is the Believers safe Sanctuary in all their Troubles and Temptations Isa 8.14 In this small following Treatise I hope you will find some Discourses of the fulness of Jesus Christ and the emptiness of the Creature for that is my Desire in all my Labours among you to get an esteem in your Hearts for Christ above all other things and that the Name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and ye in him I hope I need not doubt of your acceptance of those plain following Truths I do not think that you will refuse it for its plain Dress but rather embrace it for I know as for the most part of you that you had rather have Christ plainly preach'd than such Discourses that are bedeck'd with Rhetorick or painted over with curious
praying for their Ministers Many are readier to reproach them than to pray for them and to rejoyce in their Falls than to pray that they may be upheld How many that have excellent Gifts and Parts do little Work for God bring little Comsort to Souls If shining they are not burning Lights they leave cold earthly proud Hearts I think one Cause may be they have not been earnest at the Throne of Grace that a Blessing may attend their Labours People may be much in admiring such Ministers Gifts when the Word they Preach takes little effect upon their Souls Ministers have a great Charge committed to them a great Work to go through many Trials and Temptations in their Work they had need be daily the Subject of your Prayers and Pity Your strangeness to the Work may cause their Work to be much a Stranger to your Souls To be a Minister saith Luther is nothing else but to derive the Worlds Wrath and Fury upon himself The Dirt of Reproach saith one lies no where so thick as on Ministers Coats How many would count themselves happy in their ruin that bring the Tidings of Peace and Salvation to their Souls A miserable Happiness that rejoyceth in the Destruction of them that bring Salvation to them As the People would have their Ministers good Nurses to their Souls and good Examples to their Flock as they would not have them pervert them by their Error in Doctrin nor be Temptations to them by their Falls they should pray hard for them that they may neither miscarry in Life nor Doctrin that God's Urim and Thummim may be with them I hope Beloved in the Lord you will not shut me out in your Prayers as you would have the Name of Christ honoured by me your Souls well fed with wholsom Spiritual Food as you would not have my Enemies have the desire of their Hearts that wait for my Halting Alas I am a poor frail Creature that am encompassed about it may be with as many Temptations if not more than many others are and I fear have less Strength to go through them Pray for me that while I preach to others I may not be a Cast-a-way my self It is dreadful to drop into Hell from under the Pulpit but more dreadful to drop out of it into the Bottomless Pit It is sad for Ministers to be without the Grace of God and true knowledg of Jesus Christ they press others upon pain of Damnation not to neglect Like one that should spend time and strength to draw Water for others and perish with Thirst himself Or as one that directs many the right way and yet doth lose his own way As you would have me a faithful Labourer in the Harvest to bring full Sheaves to your Souls pray the Lord of the Harvest to give me Skill and Strength to bear the Burden and Heat of the Day As you would have the Word which I preach drop upon your Souls as the Rain and distil as the Dew and small Rain upon the Herb and as the Showers upon the Grass beg of God to pour out a double portion of his Spirit on me As you would have my Preaching powerful my Life teaching my Sermons Heaven-born my Lamp burning my Heart engaged my Talent improved my self to spend and be spent for your Souls good pray forget me not at the Throne of Grace I shall now take my Leave of you and subscribe with my Hand the Reality of my Heart your Loving Pastor and faithful Servant for the Lords sake JOHN GAMMON TO THE READER Christian Reader THE subsequent Tract being sent down to me in the Country I did as my other occasions would admit for I have not had time for a strict Perusal cursorily look it over and finding to my great satisfaction such a sweet breathing in every part of it I do joyfully recommend it to thy serious View as a Jewel not common or easie among the multitude of Books this Age abounds with to be found And that thou mayest know the Cask that hath sent forth such precious Wine I will give thee a brief Account of the Author tho indeed ex pede Herculem his own Work portrays him and delineates the frame of his Spirit far beyond what my feeble Pen can do But being well known to me perhaps better than to any besides I think it my Duty to wait upon him to the Press in this his first Essay with this just and impartial Character of him He is an holy serious good Man abounding with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit and every way fitted for that Great Work he is called to Prayer Meditation and the sanctified use of Affliction Luther's three Ingredients to make a Gospel-Minister few has a greater share of He is one of an excellent Spirit of great Faithfulness and Courage a perfect Hero in his Ministerial Work none of those Rattle-Snakes that hiss and sputter in warm Sun-shiny Weather but durst not peep out of their Holes in a Winter Season This worthy Champion for which his Praise is and will be in the Gates of Sion bore a glorious Testimony in the late horrid Persecution he stood manfully to his Arms when the Bulls of Bashan encompassed him about he never quitted the Field nor flinch'd from his Posts notwithstanding the imminent Danger himself and Family were daily exposed to but as one unconcerned in any Terrene Events he went on in his way in his Work and verily the Lord was with him he crowned his Labours with extraordinary Success and as a Token of his special Favour gave into his Bosom a most sweet People to be a Nursing-Father to whose Unanimity among themselves and Fervency of Love to their endeared Pastor whatever others may I am sure I cannot match in the Sphere of my Acquaintance But to pass from the Workman to the Work His Book will exactly shew him such an one as I have hinted Read it but seriously over and thou wilt be under no Temptation to think me a Flatterer but count me as much too low as the Queen of Sheba did the Relators of Solomon's Court. Thou wilt meet with no uncouth Phrases no Logical Whimsies no Flashes of wanton Rhetorick But here Oh! here thou wilt find the refined Language of Canaan the Dialect of the New Jerusalem and such a melodious Consort of Divine Musick as if the Lord set in with it will warm thy Heart refresh thy Spirit and ravish thy Soul as the Spouse was ravished with the Rays of Christs Glory I am Thy Soul 's well-wishing Friend C. N. Christian Reader THE Author of these ensuing Sheets desired my Perusal thereof that afterwards I would give my Judgment of the same to the World the former of which I easily granted and have Sheet by Sheet as they were done perused the same and suppose that thou hast them entire without Typographical Errors so far as we observ'd they are very carefully corrected However if some have escaped the Press they
But the Glory and Homage which is peculiarly due unto God he will not give unto another Isa 42.8 48.11 For what else do we by performing Divine Honour to any but own and acknowledge such to be God unto whom we thereby ascribe Divine Excellencies with respect whereunto we yield that peculiar Reverence which is due to God alone as such And seeing he dwelleth in the Light which none can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 is infinite invisible and incomprehensible in his Being it hath pleased God to condescend to give forth such a Representation of himself and such evident discoveries of his Divine Excellencies as might be a meet Object of Divine Honour and worthy to receive the Homage due from Creatures unto their Creator This was the Shekinahâ— or Divine Presence of old evidencing it self by Divine Operations Hence Jacob saith of it Gen. 28.16 17. Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid and he said How dreadful is this place this is none other but the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven The Egyptians said of the Plague of Lice Exod. 8.19 that it was the Finger of God This Divine Presence in the burning Bush obliged Moses to pull off his Shoes Exod. 3.5 and Joshua to the like act of Reverence Josh 5.14 15. unto the Lord as Prince of the Lords Host unto this Glory of God as discovering it self at the door of the Tabernacle in a Cloud Exod. 33.10 The people bowed their Heads and worshiped This Divine Presence of God dwelling between the Cherubims and filling the Temple 1 King 8.10 11 12 13 27 28 29 30. obliged Israel to Worship towards that Holy Place there being discovered the Tekmeria or evident Marks of the Divine Glory and to pay the same Respect to any other place or to that place now God is not there is Idolatry Deut. 16.5 6. 12.13 14. 1 King 12.28 29 30. Now proportionably unto that degree and measure of the Discovery which God is pleased to make of himself to his Church As to the Obscurity or Clearness of it such is the Glory or Defect of these Dispensations 2 Cor. 3.9 10 11 14 18. Heb. 1.1 In this respect therefore it is that the Dispensation of the Gospel is so far excelling the Glory of all former times in that by the Incarnation and Exhibition of Jesus Christ God is manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 is most clearly fully and gloriously revealed in the person of Christ No Man hath seen God at any time but the only begotten Son that dwelleth in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1.18 He was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the Dead Rom. 1.4 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake unto our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds who being the Brightness of his Glory and the Character or express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.1 2 3. Who thought it not robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 Seeing it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.19 All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge being hid in him Col. 2.3 And the infinite eternal unchangeable Excellencies of God in his Counsel of Peace his Love Grace and Mercy to lost Sinners being revealed by him and represented in him 1 John 3.16 1 John 4.8 9 10. By him is Glory brought to God in the highest on Earth Peace and good will towards Men Luke 2.14 Hence it is that all Idolatry is now more inexcusable than ever Men being not now left to grope in the dark since Christ is come a Light into the World John 3.19 John 15.22.24 Acts 17.30 31. So that we may conclude as this living to him is an Act of Divine Honour That he is worthy of it and we may say Rev. 1.5 Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen And Rev. 5.12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Wisdom and Riches and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing John 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Secondly Another Respect on the Account whereof this Living to Christ here pressed appeareth reasonable is as it is an expression of the greatest Love and highest Esteem of him to whom we live and this he is most worthy of being incomparably lovely in himself and having loved us with an infinite and everlasting Love who hath died for us while we were Enemies and Sinners and washed us from our sins in his Blood And Thirdly As this living to Christ is a Resignation of our selves unto the disposal of another He is most worthy of it who hath redeemed us with the price of his precious Blood therefore ought we to honour him with our Lives seeing we are not our own but his purchased People So that to live to Christ in the constant performance of Divine Honour to him in the highest Expressions of the greatest Love unto him and in the fullest resignation of our selves unto this Jesus our dear Redeemer is entirely his due and no more than our reasonable Service Secondly As it is in reason due to Christ so it is most necessary for us This being the Fruit God expects at our hands for this great Cost he hath been put unto for our Redemption from Wrath to come 2 Tit. 14. Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of Good Works Rom. 14.8 9. To this end Christ both died and arose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Therefore saith the Apostle None of us liveth to himself but whether we live we live to the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords The like we have in the Text whereon the following Discourse is raised Phil. 1.20 21. His earnest expectation and hope was that Christ should be magnified in his Body whether it be by Life or by Death for saith he to me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is saith Piscator in Loc. Vita mea est occupaâ—a in promovenda Gloria Christi my Life is employed in promoting the Glory of Christ Indeed the Syriack Erasmus Beza and others render this 21st Verse otherwise yet all allow this matter to be thus stated in the Verse before it nay the whole current of Scripture manifesteth this to be the great Testimony
Christ constrains me to live to him I go through the World taking notice of nothing else Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me who loved me a wretched Sinner who loved me an undone Sinner who loved me a condemned Sinner who loved me a dead Sinner O the love of Christ constrains me that if I live let me live in him let me live to him O how can I live without him O stay me with Flaggons comfort me with Apples for I am sick of love Cant. 2.5 The love of Christ constrains a Believer it is not the Law it is not because else I shall be damned without him no no if I do Duties enjoy Sabbaths it is all nothing to me without Christ Fifthly A Believer fears nothing more than the withdrawings of Christ of all the tidings and news that can be brought to him nothing does he fear so much as Christs withdrawing from him he fears lest the Sun should withdraw that he should see a dark Day though Christ will never be gone totally yet he fears the hiding of his Face Sixthly A Believer hath a new principle a principle of Grace the Kingdom of Heaven within him that he cannot live without Christ the new Creature the new principle is Christ possessing the Heart and when Christ possesses the Heart it puts all things at Arms length so Christ may be enjoyed Gal. 1.16 I conferred not with flesh and blood when God revealed his Son then I was off of my old principle I did not confer with flesh and blood with fleshly principles I was not only off from my own righteousness my own works my own Prayers and Duties but I come to live upon Christ I come to have a new life within a new glory revealed to my Soul I come to live upon Christ to drive a new Trade for Heaven When once the Lord revealed Christ to me I conferred not with flesh and blood Now conferring with flesh and blood is the ruin of many Souls First take conferring with flesh and blood for the World and all the enjoyments of it how many turn their back on Christ and ruin their Souls for the love of the World 2dly Take flesh and blood for all the performances and duties that Persons can do when Persons take this for their Righteousness how do they split their Souls on it When Paul was a Pharisee he thought his own duties would save him but when Christ was revealed to him then saith he I count all but dung and dross that I may win Christ one that was righteous a praying Paul one that had enough to carry him to Heaven as he thought alass saith he all this was but flesh and blood when I came to know Christ 3dly Take Believers with what they have to oppose them take Believers under their doubting then they will consider what they have of their own to help them to Heaven but saith Paul I conferred not with flesh and blood The 7th Reason the Believer by Faith hath found Christ the Pearl of price he hath found enough to live upon The Merchant goes seeking goodly Pearls but when he hath found the Pearl of great price he sells all to buy that Pearl Mat. 13.46 Who when he had found one Pearl of great Price he went and sold all that he had and bought it He was seeking goodly Pearls There are many good things that Persons seek but not the good I confess they are goodly Pearls Praying is a good duty Hearing is a good duty the Lord's Supper and Baptism are good duties and they are the Believers priviledge and are not to be omitted But Christ is the Precious Pearl the Pearl of great price There is not one of these Pearls will open the Kingdom of Heaven or give you access to the Throne of Grace or Crown you with everlasting Glory The foolish Virgins had these goodly Pearls but not the Pearl of great Price they went along with the Wise Virgins they were called Virgins they were without spot but when the Bridegroom came they wanted the Pearl of price when Christ came they cried Give us of your Oyl if they had had but one dram of Grace they had entred in with the Bridegroom but we see they were shut out Many go through the Field of the Gospel and take up many goodly Pearls Praying Hearing and Fasting are goodly Pearls but when the Soul comes to find Christ to know him he sells all for that Pearl of price Sell them how does he part with his duties no no does he neglect Praying Hearing and other duties and ordinances no but he sells them as if a Man should bind up all his goodly Pearls together and give them all for one Pearl of great price So a Man sells all his duties and performances as that which doth nothing in point of Justification but all for to glorify that Jesus Christ that precious Pearl of price He sells his sins and his righteousness too many think if they part with their sins they have found the Pearl of price it is a good thing to turn from sin but truly there must be another turn you must turn from your own righteousness too as to resting on it and trusting to it Many are troubled for these goodly Pearls and say O if I could but pray as some can I should have a great deal of comfort if I could mourn as I see some do I should be encouraged to come to God in hope he would pardon me these are goodly Pearls but here is a Pearl must brighten all these the Blood of Christ must wash away the filth of these Tears and the guilt of your Duties and make you clean or you are undone for ever for these Pearls though they go through the World they will not go in Emmanuel's Land not one drop of your own righteousness in Heaven Phil. 3.8.9 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith And be found in him all that is done by a Believer on earth is to bring forth fruit to God as a meet Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven as one made holy and blameless and sanctified to bring forth fruit to this glorious Christ But is this Fruit once to be mentioned in the Kingdom of Glory as the cause of our being glorified it is not there Lord I have Prayed or I have been at the House of God or I have Fasted no if that had been might not the Foolish Virgins
Field let us lodge in the Villages let us get up early to the Vineyards let us see if the Vine flourish Ah you that have experience of Christ methinks it should be your voice always on your Beds and in your walking Come let us go come my Beloved and wake with with me come and watch over me Come my Beloved let us go forth into the Field let us lodge in the Villages the Spouse knows the Sweetness of his Company the Excellency of his Presence the Glory of his Holiness Without Christ what would a Sermon or a Sabbath be What though I could lay up Silver like Dust if I could heap up Gold like Pibble Stones if I could gain all the Riches of the World what is it all without Christ But the Believer knows what it is to enjoy Christ and live in Christ and therefore cries O let him be with me in all I do in all my Undertakings Lord my Soul waiteth and Watches for thee Psal 130.6 My Soul watches for thee more than they that watch for the morning As a Man that is in sorrow all Night he longs for the break of the day Saith the Psalmist My Soul doth wait for the Lord. I am not an out-side Professor my Soul is engaged in the Work I wait for the Lord more than they that watch for the Morning What stirs up the good Man to this earnest longing for God Oh he had the experience of the sweet Comforts he had found in Communion with the Lord That Soul must needs be dead and careless in seeking the Lord that experiences not what it is to enjoy the Lord in Duties and Ordinances O that it might please God to convince all you that hear me this day that have been formal careless Professors Had you ever had a taste of Christ you could not be content to go on so cold and careless as most of you do in your Profession The 11th Reason or Ground is this A Believer knows it to be a glorious Life We are changed from Glory to Glory into the same Image Now the Believer knows it to be a glorious Life because he hath received and doth expect great things from Christ Saith the Soul I will live upon Christ for I have received great things from Christ First I have received the Pardon of my Sins from him I was under the Wrath of God but now I have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 I am a pardoned Soul I am saved from Wrath by him even that Jesus that saves from wrath to come 1 Thess 1.10 Secondly I have received Justification by him a Righteousness to stand before God being justified freely by his Grace Rom. 3.24 Thirdly I received Sanctification from him Acts 26.28 Who were sanctified through faith in Christ Jesus Fourthly I have received Consolation from Christ and then I expect great things to come I expect when this poor earthly Tabernacle is laid down for Christ to raise me not only to raise my Body out of the Grave but to change my vile body and fashion it like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.21 I do expect to see my Lord coming with his glorious Train when the last Trump shall blow awaking me out of my sleep and raising up my dust at the last day John 6.44 I expect at Christs appearing a great Glory Tit. 2.13 14. Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Saith the Believer I live upon Christ because I expect great things from Christ when Christ comes I have a blessed hope I desire he may be my Life all in my Life I look for great things when Christ comes it is a blessed Hope that I have When will you have your Hopes accomplished at the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Why do you expect such great things I will tell you Because he gave himself for me and redeemed me You that have low Thoughts of Christ can you expect great things from Christ Can you say even Amen so come Lord Jesus you that seldom invite him into your Closets now Can you expect his coming will be joyful to you Will you not rather say Let not thy Chariot Wheels make such speed for I am not ready What is he a coming Have you a blessed hope in him If one of you should go to many and say Do you hope for Christs coming They would say Yes but have a care for many have a cursed hope a vain hope and a bad hope a Devilish hope I fear When Christ comes many will be dreadfully mistaken What can you expect at Christs coming when you do not desire Christ here A little thing takes their Hearts off from Christ their Hearts are more set on other things than Christ they have not invited Christ nor have a blessed hope in Christ But all you Saints that have made Christ your Life will have a blessed hope in Christ at Death You that can speak with comfort you desire not Life nor any means nor mercies but what you enjoy Christ in them You will have a blessed Hope when the glorious Trump is sounded before him you will say What is that the Voice of my Lord Is this Trump for me must I awake be raised up be glorified with my Lord go in with the glorious Church Triumphant and set upon the Throne with them But for the poor careless lifeless legal formal Professor the dead-hearted and trifling Professor Christ's coming will be a dreadful appearing to you What is Christ's appearing when I have not made him my Life I have not lived upon him I have not lived to him I am at a distance from him I am a Stranger to him O see how furious are his Chariot Wheels Is that him in Flames of Fire that makes the Mountains tremble O my Heart how canst thou but shake at the sight of him But the Saint he rejoyces and he hopes and waits for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ O Saint have you but little here but short hints here but little comfort here The great comfort is That you make Christ your Life that you live on Christ and though you do enjoy but little now I tell you there is great things for you when Christ appears looking for that glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour who gave himself for me O saith a Believer I long to see that Face that was spit upon for me I long to see that Glorious Body that was pierced for me that glorious Head that was Crowned with Thorns for me those Hands and Feet that were nailed to the Cross for me It will be a blessed a glorious hope the Lord Jesus's appearing Oh I long to see him I expect glorious things I expect a
Mercy Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the Grave or thy faithfulness in destruction Shall I have a shower upon my dying Soul Shall I be brought to have Communion with God Thus when the Lord seems to stand at a distance from the Soul he comes down in a shower by his Spirit that he finds very familiar Communion with God Therefore the Apostle when he prays for the Corinthians he prays That the Grace of the Lord Jesus the love of God the Father may be communicated unto them by the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13 14. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen The Grace of Christ your Life the Love of God in Christ communicated to you through the Holy Ghost So when the Love of God is come down on the Soul then the Soul comes to have sweet Communion with God before the Soul was afraid to come to God but now it can say Lord thou knowest me and I know thee Lord thou knowest what is in me and what thou hast wrought in me Thus the Soul goes on knowing and being known So the Soul is carried on in this sweet Frame with that familiar sweet Communion with God that the Soul wishes it might always be employed in God's Service Again When Christ is revealed by the Spirit to the Soul the Soul comes to know its Adoption that it can and doth know God to be his Father the Spirit of the Lord poured out crying Abba Father Gal 4.4 5 6. But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons Christ comes to redeem us the Holy Spirit comes to reveal to the Soul that you are no more Servants but Sons that we might receive the Adoption of Sons Sons of God redeemed by Christ's Blood but the Soul seems to be doubting whether it be so or no Well saith the Apostle because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father O what would many a poor doubting Soul give to call God Father Though many a Wretch calls God Father But a poor Believer if all the World were given him to be his Portion he would trample on all to call God Father in deed and in truth to go to God as a Father to have God for my Father that glorious God that made Heaven and Earth that glorious God that turns Men to Destruction and saith Come again ye Children of Men who feeds the Saints above with eternal Pleasure This God I can call my God my Father my Portion my Portion living my Portion dying a Portion beyond all the World This God by the Spirit the Soul comes to know to be his Father and the Soul is never well but when he is speaking to his Father there is such a Converse between the Father and the Child Again The Spirit when it comes with its revealing Evidence comforts the drooping Soul that Jesus Christ is everlasting Life to him They that live on Christ shall have everlasting Life from Christ The Believer hath many sweet and comfortable showers many precious drops flowing into his Soul that he can witness the Prophesie is come to pass The Prophet Joel saith Joel 3.18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Mountains shall drop down new Wine and the Hills shall flow with Milk and all the Rivers of Judah shall flow with waters and a Fountain shall come forth from the House of the Lord. The Prophet alludes to those Waters that were conveyed from some Spring through Conduit Pipes towards the Altar Ezek. 47.1 2 3. for the use of the Temple in which Water the Priests washed what was to be washed This no doubt is a shadow of the purifying Blood of Christ and his sanctifying Spirit and Word and in that it is said to come from the Lord it intimateth that these glad Tidings this saving Grace shall be first Preach'd from Jerusalem and by the Church which is the House of God shall be published to others The Valley of Shittim that this Fountain shall water the meaning is it shall refresh purge and make fruitful all holy Works It was on the Plain of Moab on the Borders of Israel toward the South-East Numb 33.49 Josh 3.1 not far from the Dead Sea These Waters shall flow down to the dry and thirsty Mr. Pool's Annotations the barren and fruitless Gentiles and make them fruitful And it shall come to pass in that day in the day of the Gospel in that day that a Soul believes in Christ what shall come to pass In that day the Mountains shall drop down new Wine the new Wine of the Gospel not the old Lees of the Law but Wine upon the Lees. The Law may fret and grind your Spirits to Powder Mr. Strong 's Treatise of the two Covenants but what can melt them but the Covenant of Grace Isa 25. new Wine new Comforts new Peace and Joy that the Law could never bring Christ brings and the Hills shall flow with Milk the glorious Promises of the Gospel that shall be as Milk to the poor Soul Milk to poor Babes in Christ But then a poor Soul may object Truly I have desired Christ if I know my own Heart I would fain live upon Christ but yet I find my Heart very barren I do not find my Soul flourishing nor increasing nor growing but I find Comforts are absent from my Soul that I may say still the Comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me To this I answer Soul you that desire Christ nothing in the World is like Christ to you you shall not miss of growth in Grace you shall not miss of this blessed Life though the Lord may not give it to you according to your Measures but according to his own good Will Grace and Wisdom for God hath very glorious Ends that you have not your Vessels full at once The First Reason is That you may depend upon Jesus Christ for daily incomes and supplies Alas while you are in this Life your Vessels are always filling and you are always to live in a way of dependence on Christ not only for that Grace you have received but for daily manifestation of Grace to your Souls for the grace of Faith and for the love of God to your Souls You are to wait daily on the Lord for strength Not I live saith Paul I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God 2 Gal. 19 20 21. I depend on Christ for all I live by the Faith of the Son of God and one that lives by Faith does not live by Sight There is something absent that a Man waits for for what we enjoy what
he did walk frowardly before me gave me not my ends in smiting him yet I will heal him and wherein doth this healing consist Alas in restoring Joy and Comfort to him The poor Soul was overwhelmed with Sorrow his Heart was ready to sink and fail within him and lest it should do so he will heal him Here is a healing indeed the healing of broken Bones and broken Hearts the Lord Jesus was anoynted by the Father for this very purpose with the Oyl of Joy and Gladness above his Fellows that he might speak in due season that he might bind up the broken Spirits The Lord Jesus delighteth to do this Will and Work of his Father O he loveth to be doing with broken Hearts And O that we had Work for the Lord Jesus This day he is among us now to see if there be any Heart in this condition that he may heal us it is his delight to do it O how doth many a poor Soul come under an Ordinance with an heartless Mind cold and dead and his Heart doth burn within him while the Lord by his Spirit hath Communion with him in those Ordinances What refreshing doth arise to a poor weary Soul when the Lord that createth the Fruits of the Lips speaketh Peace to such troubled and weary Souls He reviveth the Spirits which languish and are ready to go out As the poor Birds that in the Winter are hard put to it some lie you hardly know where as if they were dead or dying when the Sun returneth how doth it revive their little Spirits that were dead before The Night brings a heaviness and burden along with it to the Body but in the morning when the Sun ariseth how doth it enliven and enlighten Oh so it is in this case many poor Souls can say by experience when darkness hath been long on them they have no light no comfort no refreshment no breathing of the Spirit to their Apprehensions in Ordinances on their Heart O how have their Hands hanged down and their Knees feeble and knock one against another for feebleness And that which was within them in their own Apprehension ready to die But no sooner hath the Lord Jesus the Sun of Righteousness looked on them Mr. Murcer but they have had their Ankle-bones stretched The Joy of the Lord is their strength Neh. 8.10 The Saint indeed sometimes may have some Graces that may not be in exercise but there are other Graces set on work so that a Soul still lives a fruitful Life While you are ignorant of Christ there is no going forward whatever whatever Duties we do it is all but an heap of Ignorance Legal Repentance is such Sorrow as is in Hell but they that know Christ go forth of themselves to Christ for all First The Soul goes forth from his own Righteousness all becomes as filthy Rags he goes forth from himself you will never thrive while under the old Adam no believing in Christ no living on Christ until the Soul goes out of himself before ever you can see Christ glorious you must go out of your selves Cant. 3.11 Go forth O ye Daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his Espousals and in the day of the gladness of his Heart It is a glorious crowning when we are crowned with Christ's Crown but a withered Crown when we are crowned with our own Doings and Duties The Pharisees never thrived under any thing they did because they did not come forth of themselves Go forth from your sins from your selves out of your selves to Christ for your Life A poor Man hath nothing at home and he goes forth every day for something to live on So a poor Believer cries Lord I have nothing in my self I will live upon Christ for all it is not enough that I have made a Profession or can hear a Sermon or have got good Books but saith the Soul that knows Christ I will live every day on Christ for new experience for new supplies every day for the manifestation of his Grace of his Love of his Peace The Natural Man is bound up in himself and is fond of his Prison As the Prodigal he was resolved as long as he could get Husks he would live on them rather than go to his Fathers House for Bread Many poor Creatures while they can but speak to God in Duty though they have many fears they will live on that rather than go to Christ to be their Life The Woman of Canaan was highly to be commended for when Christ told her she was a Dog she desired a Crumb Why Woman sure you may fare better than to live on Crumbs What have you nothing at home No she must live upon Christ for she had not a Crumb of her own that would feed her Soul Mat. 15.25 26 27. She came and worshiped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread and to cast it to Dogs And she said Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Master's Table I shall never thrive till I am under Christ's Table A Crumb from Christ will satisfie me more than all my own Loaves I am sure not a word drops from him but it is Life not any Look from him but it is Life not any Communication from him but it is Life So a Soul that lives on Christ he goes forth of himself O pray how do you that have been so long without the knowledge of Christ that live upon your own Duties A Believer will tell you he lives better and fares better now he is Christ's Beggar and lies under his Table for a Crumb than he did when he lived on his own stock There is Liberty in this Life If the Son make you free ye are free indeed You are but Bond-slaves by Nature a Slave to the Devil a Slave to the World a Slave to your selves in Bondage to the Law and I believe many Professors in this day understand not these words If the Son make you free then are you free indeed Many will be ready to say Make me free I will pray my way to Heaven I will hear my way to Heaven Ay but do what you will while you are out of Christ you are in Bonds it is only Christ can make you free John 8.36 If the Son make you free ye shall be free indeed The Servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever the Servant shall be cast forth When you have done all you shall be shut out of Heaven if you are not a Son The Servant abideth not in the House for ever but the Son abideth for ever If you bring the best of your Performances at the Great Day before the Lord and hope to be accepted for your so doing if you should say Lord receive me into thy Kingdom of Glory for I have prayed and fasted and gave
rational Soul But the Soul hath new Qualities being changed by Christ dwelling in the Soul they are changed in their Understandings their Affections their Wills It may be compared to Iron put into the Fire while Iron remains red hot and the Fire is in it if you beat the Iron to pieces you cannot separate it from the Fire knock but the least piece of Iron Fire is in every piece yet the Iron is not the Fire nor the Fire the Iron yet the Iron is in the likeness of Fire So the Soul is not so changed into the Image of Christ as not to retain its own natural Faculties but by reason of Christ dwelling in it is changed in its Qualities from Evil to good So there is the Glory of Christ appearing in all the Actions of a Christian tho' they have many Infirmities yet all that they principally design is the Glory of God When Fire is in the Iron you cannot separate it you cannot say that Iron is without Fire nor Fire without Iron So in this Life you may see a Saint hath many Imperfections but yet Christ is in him swaying his Heart and Life with the Scepter of his Righteousness Though there are the same Faculties yet the Qualities are all made new So though there is corruption in Prayer and weakness in Faith and weakness in Love yet there is true Love and true Faith Repentance there is something seen of Christ in all his Infirmities 2 Cor. 6.18 We are changed from Glory to Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Lord the Spirit or the Spirit of the Lord. Dr. Owen on the Spirit in every Faculty of the Soul What a glorious change to be changed into the Image of Christ The Beams of the Sun have several effects some things it withers some things it revives The Gospel of Christ and the goodness of God that melt the Heart of a Saint hardens the Heart of an impenitent Sinner but the Soul that hath Union with Christ that Christ is his Life the Love of Christ conforms the Soul to Christ There is the meekness of Christ though not in Perfection there is the Love of Christ the Humility of Christ though not in perfection the self-denyal of Christ there is the Patience of Christ though not in perfection but through Christ you are pardoned The Soul that is changed into the Glory of Christ hath natural corruption natural backwardness but Christ being their perfect Head and spotless Righteousness they are pure and lovely in God's Eye Jesus Christ God Man hath all the glorious Idea's of God's Image and Grace shining in him as in a Glass he reflects the same in and by the Glass of the Gospel in the Hearts of Believers who by Faith contemplating are by the efficacious working of the Spirit of Grace transformed into the same glorious Image even from Glory to Glory from one degree of glorious Grace unto another Thus the believing Soul by Faith contemplating the Wisdom Meekness Patience Kindness Justice c. of God shining in Christ is by the effectual concurrence of the Spirit of Christ transformed into a wise meek patient kind and just Spirit Faith by contemplating the Glory of God in Christ brings into the Soul Spiritual Ideas of the same glorious Image a Divine Light and Life bearing some resemblance to the Life of God or Divine Nature so that Christ the essential Glass of God hath not only a manifestative Mr. Gale's Treatise of the Saints Amity with Christ but also transformative changing Glory shining in them Beloved have you not all immortal Souls What would you have your Souls be like when you come to die Would you have them like the Devil Would you have the Pride and Envy of Hell the Covetousness of Hell Or would you have the Image of Christ stamped on you that you may live Christ and lead an humble Life a meek Life a self-denying Life an holy Godly Life What likeness would you have your Souls appear in out of your Body Whose Image and Stamp would you have them bear Most Men live to themselves and make provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof And some live to be revenged of others to get the World of their side The Lusts Persons seek to fulfil are innumerable to speak but how would you have your Souls appear What condition would you have them in Would you have them in Christ O then beg Christ may be your Life Beg you may be changed from Glory to Glory into his Image every day of a Believers Life he is going from Glory to Glory Poor wretched ignorant Professors What do you think will become of you e're long if Christ is not your Life Eternal Death will be your Portion You see many Imperfections in a Believer yet he is perfect in Christ being changed into the Image and Glory of Christ A Believer all his works are works of Grace all his walking walks of Grace all his Actions Actions of Grace and in all that he doth there is a Glory on it through Christ his glorious Lord. They that live on external Duties they will give you the hearing of a Sermon and away they seek not to know Christ but they will be found as dreadfully miserable as the Turk or Heathen that never heard of Christ for notwithstanding their Profession they are swallowed up in the World Take a covetous Man his Heart is on this World Take a gluttonous Man his Heart is set to make his Belly his God Take a Man that lives on Christ his Heart is knit there he cleaves to the Lord with full purpose of Heart Thirdly It is a glorious Life because you have the hope of Glory You never will have the hope of Glory till you have Christ living in you Christ in you the hope of Glory 1 Tim. 1.1 If a person be without Christ he is without all true hope of Salvation there is neither hope of the Glory of God nor rejoycing in the Hope while a person is without Christ What have you hope of Glory But have you a good Hope If you come to live Christ then you have a good hope if you have Christ in you then as sure as Christ is in you you shall come to Glory Who is in you Who lives in you We know our next Neighbour we know our familiar Friend or Acquaintance Who do you converse with Who is your near Neighbour Christ or the World Christ or vain Thoughts Christ or Carnality Is Christ in you If Christ is in you then he reigns in you and you converse most with him What is your daily Food your Livelyhood Mistake me not I would not have you neglect your daily Calling I hope you understand me better But what do you make the chief of your Aims and Ends What takes up your Heart most Does the Love of Christ the Mercy of Christ the Peace of Christ affect you most If so I tell you you live a glorious Life
him in Glory Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in Glory The Saints if they consider need not be so afraid at the approaching of Death for it will be the real happiness of their Souls for then you shall enjoy that perfect Communion and Blessedness that you long for here on this side the Grave We are willing to have rest but are loath to go to bed we are willing to be released of our sins and troubles but we are unwilling to die and we shall never be wholly freed from them till then How lingring are we as if our Desires were that Christ's Chariot-wheels should stay a little longer But sure were the Joy of this glorious Life more cleared up to us we should long to put off our Mortality and to put on Immortality 2 Cor. 5.1 2 3 4. You that have Christ for your Life are very safe Death shall rob you of nothing for the Apostle saith For him to live is Christ and to die is gain Death does but take away that clod that we carry about us that we may see the Sun of Righteousness more glorious and enjoy him more perfectly in immortal Life and Glory Death robs most but shall not rob the Believer you shall but make an exchange of Heaven for Earth Glory for your Shame Joy for Sorrow for your crying and weeping here praise and Hallelujahs above Fourthly Death shall not rob you of your Treasure Indeed the Damned live but it is a miserable Life living Death in everlasting chains When Death comes the Treasure of the Saint is perfectly enjoyed What they had an earnest of before now they have in possession now they shall put on the glorious Robe and the Royal Crown on their Head they shall put on the Crown of Glory and of Righteousness Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness O what a laying up is here When the Apostle was ready to be offered up saith he I am ready to be offered up but I shall lose nothing by it for I cannot have my Crown till I die 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all that love his appearing I am ready to go I do not repent my going I know very well the time of my departure is at hand But what then Though it be I have fought the good fight I have kept the Faith I have lived Christ I have made him the hope of my Life and now I shall receive my Crown I have been in Troubles and Trials and in my Lords Battles but now I am going to receive a Crown of Righteousness Why so Had Paul deserved it by his Works No but as God is a righteous God and had promised Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day I shall have it when I am offered up when I am put to Death and then shall I wear a Crown an Immortal Crown on my Head for ever and this is not only for me but for all that love his appearing they must needs love his appearing that have him for their Life O the glorious Crowns that the Saints shall be crown'd with at that day a Crown of Life that never withers Here our Comforts wither while we hold them in our Hand they wither like a Beautiful Flower in the Morning it holds up its Head but by Evening it is withered A Crown of Glory that never fades away O what treasures will the Saints have when Death comes that have made Christ their Life The Worldling will lose his Treasure the Hypocrite will lose his hope he will never hope more Job 27.8 For what is the hopes of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul Tho he hath gained applause of Men he shall lose it Dan. 12.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever What is the Hope of a Hypocrite of a Christless Soul when he hath breathed his Last when his Soul sits quivering on his Lips Alas I have made a Profession of Religion I thought I had something laid up but all is lost for ever O that I should hope in vain and now the end of my hope is come and not the Salvation but Damnation of my Soul Though I have done many things and made a clutter in the World and eat and drunk in Christ's Presence it is all in vain that I have hoped my strength and my hope is perished for ever and then all his Peace is lost No Peace saith my God to the wicked Then the Storm of Divine Vengeance will come and awaken the false hope of the Hypocrite then the Worldling will lose all his Riches The Young Man was sorrowful to leave all and follow Christ Persons are afraid to do any thing for Religion for fear of wanting But whether the Young Man will part with all to follow Christ or no he must leave all at Death Death does spoil them of all their Treasure But it is not so with the Saint The poor Christless Soul may say when he considers his state Whatever I have e're long it will be taken from me if I have treasured up the Worlds Goods and have not made Christ my Life I am like for ever to be undone to use this World to God's Glory will be our Mercy but to over-love it it will be our undoing but Death to the Saint will be the year of Jubile they shall have double for all their Trials Troubles and Sorrows when Death comes they shall have all restored to them whatever they have lost for Christ it will be gain then they have laid up for themselves a good Foundation for time to come as the Apostle speaks 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the times to come that they may lay hold on eternal Life A good Foundation against the time to come the Saints have their Treasure in store when they go hence Mat. 6.20 Lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal In Heaven there his Heart was there his Hope was there his Desire was there his Longing was and now he comes to die his Treasure is
Promises they shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live It is called a Vivification We are by Nature dead in Trespasses and Sins in our deliverance from them we are said to be quickened Eph. 5.5 Though dead we hear the voice of the Son of God and live being made alive unto God through Jesus Christ Rom. 6.11 Now no such Works can he wrought in us but by an effectual Communication of a Principle of Spiritual Life and nothing will deliver us Some think to evade the power of this Argument by saying that all these Expressions are metaphorical and arguing from them are but fulsom Metaphors and it is well if the whole Gospel be not a Metaphor to them But if there be not an Impotency in us by Nature unto all Acts of Spiritual Life like that which is in a dead Man unto the Act of Life natural if there be not a like power of God required unto our Deliverance from their condition and they work in us a Principle of Spiritual Obedience as it is required unto the raising of him that is dead They may as well say that the Scripture speaks not truly as that it speaks metaphorically and that the almighty Power the exceeding Greatness of God's Power that is put forth are exercised herein Eph. 1.18 Col. 2.12 13. 2 Thess 1.11 2 Pet. 1.3 And what do these Men intend by this quickning this raising from the Dead by the power of God A perswasion of our minds by rational motives taken from the Word and the things contained in it But was there ever heard of such a monstrous Expression If there be nothing else in it what could the Holy Writers intend by calling such a Work as this a quickning of them who were dead in trespasses and sins through the mighty power of God unless it were by a noise and insignificant Words to draw us off from a right understanding of what is intended Dr. Owen on the Spirit p. 279. Sect. 49. and it is well if some are not of that mind Do you hear the Voice of Christ continually in the Word preached but you must hear another Voice or you are undone for ever If the Voice of the Ministration of the Word without the Power of the Spirit would awaken Men there would be fewer in Hell and more in Heaven than there are This is the external means but yet there must be the pouring out of the Spirit or else this will do no good And here I shall shew how the Spirit of God works on the Heart First The Spirit of God works effectually that is the Voice of the Son of God How long may we preach the Resurrection of the Dead to a dead Man before he rises but that Resurrection that is preached when Christ comes with the Sound of the Trumpet and saith Ye dead arise presently the Dead arise We may come and sound the Trumpet in the Ears of Sinners but they will not hearken till Christ come by the effectual working of his Holy Spirit then it works indeed Acts 16.14 speaking of Lydia whose Heart the Lord opened and then she attended to the things of the Kingdom of God And a certain Woman named Lydia a Seller of Purple of the City Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul She attended as one whose Heart was opened and was sick for Christ and rejoyced to hear Christ preached Secondly The Spirit of God comes and perswades the Heart to close with Christ Saith a sick person I am perswaded if I could but have such a Physician I should be cured healed of my sickness So poor Souls lie complaining but not in Despair they are sick unto Death but yet shall not die they see themselves lost without Christ yet shall not die for want of Christ The Spirit perswades them to embrace Christ John 6.45 It is written they shall be taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learn'd of the Father cometh unto me It is written in the Prophet they shall be all taught of God Is this to leave off all teaching No they shall be all taught of God How Why God shall teach them by the Power of his Spirit in the Word And how then Every Man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to me God teacheth them by the World and the Spirit perswades them there is Life in Christ The Soul is perswaded to close with Christ for the Soul that is sick for Christ shall never die Saith Christ He that believeth on me shall never die But the sick Sinner is perswaded that Christ can heal him and will heal him he groans but not in Despair he sighs but not as a Person that is out of hopes but does believe that Jesus Christ will be his Salvation and is his Life he shall hear the Voice of the Son of God The preaching of the Word is the means but it must be the Spirit of God that must work and make it effectual and then the Soul makes no delay no consideration of this or that but closes with Jesus Christ as a dying person closes with a Medicine that may cure him Thirdly The Voice of Christ is a Voice that engrafts it self with power in the Heart The Apostle saith Jam. 1.21 Receive with meekness the engraffed word which is able to save your Souls They are peswaded that Jesus Christ is their Life the Promises of Christ are become theirs though they are sick of Love to Christ they shall not die for want of Christ Ask Believers what it is they want they will tell you they want more strength from Christ more knowledge of Christ more Communion with Christ Now they that have not had these Symptoms of Life lie yet in the Grave of sin and the Worm of Conscience feeds on them and they feel it not Millions feel not the Worm of Conscience till they come to Hell Saith Christ I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance The whole need no Physician but they that are sick The Second Character of such that never made Christ their Lise are those that never see themselves poor and undone without Christ Thou sayest thou art high and increased in Goods and hast need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Rev. 3.17 What without Christ and not cry out thou art poor miserable and undone They that never see themselves poor miserable and undone are yet without Christ What without Christ and well enough What hath enrich'd you Need of nothing What are you well enough without Christ Thou sayest I am encreased What can you patch up with any Duties with any Hopes with any thing below Christ But saith Christ thou art poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked 3ly They never made Christ their Life that never prized that glorious Gospel that brings them Tidings