to die for him but as I said all they and only they which die in the Lord as the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe plainely signifie are here by the voice of God from heauen and by the testimony of the spirit pronounced blessed But let vs consider who may be said to die in the Lord for this is the most materiall point in all this text The like phrase is vsed 1. Thess. 4. 16. The dead in Christ. 1. Cor. 15. 18. They which are a sleepe in Christ. Which places being vnderstood of al the faithfull do cuidently proue that this phrase is not to bee restrained to Martyrs only but generally to be extended to all true Christians They therefore are said to die in Christ who being in Christ do so â—nd this life or who being by a true saith ingrafted into Christ doe in that faith depart this life So that to this happines two things are required first that we be in Christ for else we cannot be said to die in him the second that we abide in him vnto the end for else we do not die in him But you will say how can we be in Christ seeing he is in heauen and we on the earth I answere whosoeuer truly beleeueth in Christ he is in Christ and being in him is blessed Heere therefore I am to shew two things 1. That the faithfull be in Christ 2. That their being in him is the ground of their happinesse For there euery faithfull man and woman is a true member of the body of Christ bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and consequently they are in him and he in them they being in him by faith and he in them by his spirit And they are not only in him but also one with him according to his prayer Ioh. 17. For as the body is one and yet hath many members and all the members though many are but one body so is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body namely of Christ and by the same were all made to drinke into one spirit viz. of Christ that is by the Spirit of Christ we are in Baptisme engrafted into the body of Christ and in the Lords Supper vnited to his Spirit 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. As therefore there is an vnion betwixt the head of the natural body and the members thereof which be most remote from it by reason of the vnity of the same soule which being chiefely seated in the head quickneth also the feet so is it in the mysticall body of Christ. For hereby as S. Iohn saith We know that we dwell in Christ and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirit This therfore is my first reason whosoeuer is in the body of Christ hee is in Christ euery one that truly beleeueth in Christ is in the body of Christ as a liuely member thereof therefore euery one that truly beleeueth in Christ is in Christ. The like comparison our Sauiour vseth Ioh. 15. where he saith that he is the vine and the faithfull are as it were branches in him As the branches therefore be in the vine so the faithfull are in Christ. Againe the Sacraments serue to this end to assure the faithfull that they be in Christ. For by the one we are baptised into Christ that is by Baptisme ingrafted into him Gal. 3. 27. in the other we eate his body and drinke his blood which whosoeuer doth he is in Christ and Christ in him Ioh. 6. 56. both whicâ— are plainely testified by the Apostle iâ— the place euen now cited For saith hâ— by the same Spirit we are all baptisâ— into one body and made all to drinke into one spirit But what need I other proofes seeing the holy Ghost in the Scripture plainely affirmeth that the faithfull be in Christ as 1. Cor. 1. 30. You saith the Apostle to the faithfull are of God in Christ. And it is an vsuall thing in the Scriptures to terme the faithfull such as be in Christ as Ephes. 1. 1. Philip. 1. 1. Colos. 1. 2. to the faithfull which be in Christ to all the Saints in Christ c. In the 8. to the Romans when he would signifie that the faithfull are forced from damnation he saith There is no condemnation to them which he in Christ Iesus When he would signifie that the faithfull are also regenerate he saith Whosoeuer is in Christ he is a new creature And finally as the faithfull are here said to die in Christ so elsewhere they are said to liue in him and he in them 2. Tim. 3. 12. Gal. 2. 20. The vse which we are to make hereof is two-fold the one of instruction the other of comfort For seeing the faithfull are in Christ it behoueth all them who would seeme to bee true Christians to behaue themselues as becommeth those which are in Christ gouerned and guided by his spirit according to his Word For this we are to know that the offences I meane especially such as be notorious offences of such as be or would seeme to be in Christ do redound to the dishonor of Christ our head For as we seeme to haue communion with him which in sinful actions indeed we haue not but are then affected as members of the naturall body benummed with the palsie which though they haue vnion with their head yet haue not communion of sense and motion deriued to them from the head but I say as wee seeme to haue communion with him so we seeme to draw him into the communion and fellowship of our sinne which is horrible to be thought When as therefore we are incited or allured to the practise of sinne let this consideration restraine vs. For seeing wee professe our selues our soules and bodies to bee members of Christ let vs say with the Apostle Shal I take the member of Christ and make it the member of a harlot Gâ— forbid And so for other sinnes shall I defile the member of Christ with idolatrie and make it a member of Antichrist or shall I pollute the member of Christ with drunkennesse with theft with blood with witchcraft c. and make it as much as in me lieth a limbe of the diuell God forbid The comfort which all the faithfull are from hence to reape is that comfort of all comforts namely that they are in Christ and consequently are so to conceiue of themselues as being in Christ. I say againe that all they who embrace the mercies of God in Christ and doe lay hold vpon him by a true and a liuely faith are to bee assured that they are in Christ and consequently that they are in the fauour of God and accepted of him in Christ as righteous and in Christ adopted as the children of GOD and heires of eternall life Many not well considering this point doe greatly weaken the faith either of others or their owne Of others as namely they who halting betweene
vs and the Papists do affirme that whiles we consider the mercies of God and merits of Christ wee haue cause of assurance as the Protestants teach but when wee looke into our selues wee haue iust cause to doubt according to the doctrine of the Papists But I answere if we looke into our selues as we are in our selues considered a part from Christ the best of vs all shal haue iust cause not onely to doubt as the Papists teach but also to despaire Yea it were presumption for a man in that case to make but a doubtfull matter of it But although we are to be humbled in the conceit of our owne vilenes and are not onely to doubt but also to despaire of saluation in our selues wee being not considered as in Christ yet this hindreth not but that wee may and ought to be assured of saluatioÌ„in Christ. For though wee be sinfull in our selues yet are wee the righteousnes of God in Christ though in our selues wee haue broken the law and are therefore subiect to the curse thereof yet in Christ we haue fulfilled the law and are freed from the curse though in our selues we are the children of wrath and seruants of sinne yet in Christ we are the children of God and heires of eternall life As therefore the faithfull most certainly be in Christ so let them learne to conceiue of themselues as they be in Christ that what cause soeuer they haue in themselues to doubt they may in Christ assure themselues of their iustification and saluation Many a one that indeede beleeueth in Christ doth himselfe wrong by not thinking of himselfe as hee is in Christ. For the more assured wee are of Gods loue in Christ the more shall our heart bee enflamed with loue towards God and our brethren for his sake the more zealous we shall be of Gods glorie the more cheerefull in his seruice And that which is the happinesse of a Christian here wee shall leade our liues in the expectation of a better life For the life as it were of this life mortall is the assurance of life immortall Thus you haue heard that the faithfull be in Christ and the vse which wee are to make thereof now wee are to shew that this being in Christ is the ground of our happinesse For it is not our liuing nor our dying in it selfe that maketh vs happie but our being in Christ whilest we liue maketh vs happy beatitudine viae that is with such a happinesse as in this time of our pilgrimage is incident vnto vs whilest we are in the way and our being in Christ when we die maketh vs happie beatitudine patriae that is with complete and eternal felicitie when we comming to the end of our way doe arriue into the hauen of rest and heauen of blisse which is the countrey and kingdom which the Lord hath prepared for all those that be in Christ. Now that our being in Christ is the ground of all our happinesse I shew it thus For first if we be not in Christ we are in the state of damnation And contrariwise the cause why any man is exempted from damnation is because he is in Christ. There is no condemnation saith the Apostle to them that are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 1. Secondly If wee be not in Christ wee are dead in our sinnes neither can we do any thing being out of him which belongeth to a spirituall life But being in him we liue in him and he in vs a spirituall life which neuer shall haue end For as in the vnion of the bodie with the soule the bodily life consisteth so in the vnion of the whole man with Christ consisteth our spirituall life And as the bodie seuered from the soule is dead so the whole man seuered from Christ is spiritually dead how liuely or cranke so euer he may seeme to be in respect of the bodily life Thirdly if we be out of Christ we are altogether foolish in respect of spiritual things yea our wisedome is â—mitie against God we are in our serues vniust and guiltie of sinne vnholy and defiled with manifold corruptions and laffly in our selues are bondflaues of fin and Satan but being in Christ he is made vnto vs of God wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption For being in Christ wee haue communion with him and he with vs. So that as our sinne was his by imputation so is his obedience ours he being made sinne for vs that we might be the righteousnes of God in him And as his sufferings be ours so ours be his But wee are not onely made partakers of his merits to our iustification but also being in him we are made partakers of his graces vnto sanctification For as the sacred oyle being powred on the head of the high Priest who was a figure of Christ rested not there but descended to his lower parts so the oyle of grace wherewith Christ our head was annointed without measure is from him deriued to his members For of his fulnes wee doc all receiue euen grace for grace Ioh. 1. 16. Fourthly being in Christ we haue not onely communion with him in respect of his merits and efficacie but also haue vnion with him in respect of his person wee being made one with him and hee with vs from which vnion the asortsaid communion doth proceede And therefore in him as our head wee may truly be said to haue fulfilled the law in him wee haue satisfied the iustice of God And that which is more in him are wee not onely risen againe but also are ascended into heauen and set in the heauenly places in Christ Ephes. 2. 6. And our life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. Al which doe argue the assurance which the faithfull ought to haue of their iustification of resurrection vnto glorie and of eternall life For so long as the head is aboue the waters the other members cannot be drowned so while our head is happie in heauen the saluation of all his members is most sure and certaine Lastly being in Christ we are not only vnited vnto him but in him wee are also vnited to the whole Trinitie and being vnited vnto it we shall haue with it euerlasting fellowship in which fellowship and fruition of God perfect felicitie doth consist Thus haue you heard that the faithfull are in Christ and that all which bee in Christ are happie and blessed Now if we beleeue as our dutie is this vndoubted truth namely that al which by faith are in Christ be blested then will we in our iudgements esteeme and in our affections desire to be in Christ aboue all the things of this world For what is our happinesse that is esteemed and affected of vs as our chiefest good If therefore this be our happinesse to bee in Christ then will wee with the Apostle esteeme all other things as drosse and dung that hauing gained Christ
that if hee would be saued hee must seeke to be freed from the curse of the Law and so bee forced to seeke for saluation out of himselfe in Christ to which ende the Lawe is said to bee a schoolemaster vnto Christ. The very same is to be vnderstood of the Euangelicall faith or faith in Christ. For many there be and they as it is to be feared are the greatest number who are content to make profession of the Gospel either because it is inioyned being as ready to embrace the religion of Antichrist if authoritie should impose it vpon them or because it standeth well with their outward respects or to say the best of them because it promiseth saluation to them that beleeue but rest in this outward profession of faith without any speciall application of the promises of the Gospell or apprehension of the merits of Christ without which it is not a true and effectuall faith vniting vs vnto Christ or iustifying vs in him For it cannot bee that a man seeing by a legall faith his owne damnable estate in himselfe he should be said truly and effectually to beleeue the promise of the Gospell which assureth saluation to all though most wretched in themselues that beleeue in Christ who is not willing to receiue and embrace him as his Sauiour desiring in his heart to be made partaker of the merits of Christ and resoluing in his mind to rest and rely vpon him for saluation For whatsoeuer either Papists or they that are Popishly minded doe speake of this applying of the promises of the Gospell and particular apprehending of Christ it is most certaine that without it faith doth not iustifie vs before God or vnite vs vnto Christ. For though 〈◊〉 sufferings of Christ bee as a soueraigne salue to heale our sores though his body be meat indeed and his blood drinke indeed to feed our soules vnto eternal life though his righteousnes be as a wedding garment to couer our nakednes and to make vs accepted of God yet his merits doe not cure our diseased soules vnlesse they be applied his body blood do not nourish vs vnlesse we spiritually eate his body and drinke his blood neither doth the robe of his righteousnes couer vs vnlesse we put it on And surely if faith doth iustifie vs as it is an instrument to apprehend Christ who is our righteousnes and no◠in any other respect then is it most certain that it doth not iustifie vnlesse it be such a faith as doth apprehend the righteousnes of Christ and apply the promise of the Gospell to our selues Wee must therefore learne to applie the promise of the Gospel to our selues which we may do after this manner Is this true as I acknowledge it to be the word of truth that although I am by the sentence of the law and testimony of mine owne conscience an accursed wretch in my selfe notwithstanding I shall be happy and blessed in Christ if I receiue him to be my Sauiour and truly beleeue in him for in him I shall not only be acquited from the curse but also intitled to the kingdome of heauen And doth the Lord in the ministery of the Gospell which he hath vouchsafed vnto me not only reueale the riches of his abundant mercy in Christ and offer the same vnto vs but also stirre vs vp to embrace his mercy offered vnto vs in Christ and by his Embassadors earnestly desire vs to be reconciled vnto him I do therfore vnfainedly receiue the Lord Iesus to be my sweete Sauiour first earnestly desiring in my heart to be made partaker of his merits to which end I wil daily pray vnto God that as he hath desired mee to accept of his mercy and to be reconciled vnto him so he would bee pleased to accept of the merits and obedience of Christ as a full discharge for my sinnes and that in him he would bee reconciled vnto mee pardoning my sinnes and imputing vnto mee the righteousnes of his Sonne and secondly resoluing in my mind to acknowledge him to be my only Sauiour and to rest vpon him alone for my saluation being perswaded that hee died for my sinnes and rose againe for my iustification Thus by application the Euangelical faith becommeth effectual to vnite vs vnto Christ and to iustifie vs before God But as our faith must be effectuall in apprehending Christ the obiect thereof vnto iustification so must it bee in some measure effectuall in the subiect that is the beleeuer vnto sanctification For true faith inwardly purgeth the hart and outwardly worketh by loue Fo◠when a man is truly perswaded of the euerlasting loue of God towards him in Christ this perswasion which is faith if it bee true and effectuall cannot but stirre vp his heart to loue the Lord and his neighbour for the Lords sake Faith therefore as S. Iames saith must be demonstrated by good workes which are the necessary fruits thereof For although faith alone doth iustifie as Paul sheweth because faith is the only thing in vs which concurreth vnto the act of iustification and is the only grace which serueth as an instrument to apprehend and receiue Christ who only is our righteousnes yet that faith which is alone not ioyned with repentance amendment of life doth not iustifie as Iames proueth because it is not a true faith For euen as the body saith he without spirit that is breath is iudged dead so faith without workes which are as it were the breathing of a liuely faith is iudged to be dead We are to remember that they which be in Christ haue their workes to follow them as it is heere said For in whom Christ dwelleth by faith to iustifie them hee dwelleth also by his spirit to sanctifie thē neither did he come wit◠water alone or blood alone but as Io◠saith hee came both with water and blood both which gushed out of h◠side the blood I say of redemption to purge vs from the guilt of sinne and the water of ablution to cleanse vs from th◠corruption And euen as from the fis◠Adam there is communicated vnto vs not only the guilt of his first sin by in◠putation because as we were in him a the root so in him we sinned originally but also the corruption of his natur◠which by his sinne hee had contracte◠deriued vnto vs by generation So fro◠Christ the second Adam there is co◠municated vnto vs not only the me◠of his obedience by imputation to a quite vs from the guilt of sinne beca◠in him as in our head we haue fulfill◠the law satisfied the iustice of God but also the graces of his spirit where we are made partakers of the diuine 〈◊〉 ture deriued vnto vs by regeneration therefore we be in Christ wee beco◠new creatures 2. Cor. 5. 17. walking 〈◊〉 after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 81. For if we shal say that we haue communion with