and rule over us wholly subjecting our selves to the Scepter of Christ Jesus as a Priest to sanctifie us to expiate our offences and make atonement for us relying solely on Christs merits We must receive him in all his Ordinances in his word regenerating renewing reforming us in his Sacrament feasting strengthening sealing up his love and the forgivenesse of our sin unto us We must receive him in his Ministers as a Prince in his Embassadors as a Bridegroome in his friends in his members as a father in his children as a husband in his wife in his precepts as a King in all his Lawes obeying them in his promises as a faithfull friend in all his words beleeving them in his gifts and dispensations as a giver in his gifts as a workman in his workmanship as the eye receiveth the Sunne in his light and the ground the cloud in the raine and dew distilling thereupon Wee must receive him in our understandings as a light in our wils as a Prince in our thoughts as a treasure in our affections as a Lord and Master fearing him as a sure foundation building upon him as a bridegroome being full of love towards him The full receiving of Christ in the Gospell fils the soule with fulnesse of grace and consolation He that doth not universally receive Christ doth not at all receive Christ He that doth not surrender all truly surrenders none to Christ He that shuts Christ out of one roome of his soule leaves his whole man to the possession of sinne Satan and the world 8. Perpetually Christ must be received once and forever the Covenant between the soule and Christ is an everlasting Covenant a Covenant of wedlocke the Covenant between the husband and the wife is for ever untill death the husband is the guide delight and object the wifes love for ever so long as life lasteth Christ must be received as the soules guide and love for ever Christ must shine in the understanding as an everlasting Sunne rule in the will as an everlasting Prince possesse the soule as an everlasting dweller and abide in the affections as an everlasting husband The soule which truly receives Christ in the Gospell is an everlasting lover of Christ as Hyram loved David ever an everlasting servant to Christ as the servant under the Law which had his eare boared abode a servant in the house for ever as the land of Canaan was to Jacob and his seed an everlasting possession so must Christ be our everlasting portion we may not receive Christ and thrust him out againe as sicke men receive a Physitian and put him off againe as soone as the disease is put away as a besieged City receiveth souldiers and turnes them off againe as soone as the siedge is removed as the Philistines received the Arke and sent him away againe when Dagon could not stand before him as Amnon received Thamar and thrust her out of doores againe hating her more then ever he loved her Such are very base receivers of Christ as receive him either for fancy novelty or constraining necessity He is a very Philistine that will rather thrust Christ from him then suffer the fall of his Dagon his base lust or corrupt affection their love to Christ when at the best was but fained and counterfeit which afterwards turnes to hatred He is no sonne but a slave no Spouse but a harlot which abides not with Christ to the end Having therefore once received Christ to seweth Christ retaine Christ in every estate abide with Christ Man changes as Ittai with David in life and in death CHAP. V. THus of the manner of receiving Christ in the Gospell the second thing is the medium or meanes disposing and inabling us to receive Christ with rejoycing and thanksgiving The meanes are these 1. A full and through deposition and putting aside of all that is contrary to Christ 1. there must be a deposition of sinne all motes distempers and blindnesse being put away out of the eye the eye joyfully receives the Sunne ignorance and errour being put out of the understanding Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse is joyfully received in our knowledge the knowledge of Christ becommeth cleare and pleasant to the soule witherednesse and infirmity being removed from the hand the hand readily receives the gift Unbeleefe which wounds and withers the hand of faith being removed from the heart man cheerFully entertaines Christ and is filled with all ioy in beleeving rebellious proud and mutinous persons being put out of the kingdome the King is joyfully entertained by the people pride imaginations and every high thing which doth exalt it selfe against the knowledge of God being cast downe and brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ Christ is gladly received strange love and strange lovers being put farre from the wife the husband is cheerfully received by the wife the removall of strange lusts and corrupt affections prepares the heart to a joyfull entertainment of Christ He that doth not sorrow for his sinne cannot rejoyce in Christ He that doth not hate the former can never love the latter He that doth not empty himselfe of the one can never be filled with the other The Jebusites told David unlesse he tooke away the blind and the lame hee should not enter into the fort of Syon Unlesse wee take away the blind and the lame ignorance infidelity and all uncleannesse out of our soules Christ will never enter into our hearts we cannot receive Christ into our soules the keeping in of sin is the keeping out of Christ the holding fast of corrupt affections is the loosing of Christ Jesus as the Philistines keeping up of their Dagon wrought a removall of the Arke 2. There must be a deposition of the world in affection We must not love it in cogitation we must have no distracting thoughts about it in estimation we must not overprize but esteeme it as a thing which is not in c inquisition we must not seeke the things which are here below as if our happinesse consisted in the finding of these things in subjection we must not be the servants of the world in affiance we must not build upon them in rejoycing we may not rejoyce in them He that is married to the creature is divorced from Christ he that loves this hath no love to Christ he that is the servant of this cannot serve Christ therefore as Christ overthrew the tables of the money-changers and whipt the buyers and sellers out of his fathers house so must we whip the love thought command and delight of the world out of our hearts that we may receive Christ it is a great unhappinesse to lose Christ for the gaine of the world it were strange folly in a woman to refuse a wise a potent beautifull victorious and noble Prince and marry her selfe to a foolish impotent base beggerly and deformed captive
imperfections the name of birth of wealth of art of strength and humane excellencies are a name of no esteeme with God for God is no respector of persons None of these names have wisedome to open the mystery of mans salvation worth to satisfie Gods justice or ability to dissolve the works of Satan or sanctifie the soules of men Christ alone communicates salvation to the Lords people the Arke was the only place of safety to Noah from the deluge Christ is the onely safeguard of the soule of man from the deluge of destruction all that were out of the Arke perished in the waters there is no salvation to them that are out of Christ Jesus Christ is the head and root enlivining man The body of Lazarus lay corporally dead till Christ raised it the soule of man lies spiritually dead untill Christ quickens it Christ is the Sunne enlightening man the world without the Sun is in darknesse the soule without Christ is in blindnesse none of the Magitians and wise men onely Joseph was able to interpret Pharaohs dreame Neither man nor Angell but Christ onely hath revealed his fathers will and counsell touching mans salvation Christ is the Conquerour that vanquisheth the adversaries of mans peace all Israel stood trembling onely David overthrew the great Goliah Christ through death destroyed the Devill that had the power of death and delivered them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Christ is the surety that payes mans debt he gave himselfe a ransome for man whom all the world could not redeeme Christ is the fountaine purging the sinne of mans soule none of the rivers of Damascus only Jordan cleansed the leprosie of of Naaman neither man nor Angell only the Lord Jesus can purge away mans uncleannesse Christs righteousnesse is the roabe which covers us and makes us appeare just in Gods presence Jacob obtained the blessing not in his owne but in his elder brothers apparell Man is accepted of God obtaines the blessing of pardon and peace not through his owne but through the righteousnesse of Christ Christ is the treasure and store-house which filleth man all the garners in the land of Egypt were empty onely Joseph had provision for them all the soules of men are empty only Christ filleth all in all Christ is the Prince of mans peace and Authour of mans reconciliation with God Iosephs brethren being shepheards were an abomination to the Egyptians but by Iosephs meanes they came nigh to Pharaoh and found favour with him Man by reason of his sinne is an abomination to the Lord but through Christ he commeth nigh to God and finds sweet and gracious acceptance of God and thus as in a glasse we see all the causes of mans salvation and eternall happinesse derived and flowing from and through Christ Iesus God ministring all his fulnesse unto man by Christ and accepting man and all his holy service in Christ he that looks beside or beyond Christ for salvation looks beyond the fountaine for water to refresh him beyond the Sunne for light to guide him and beyond the rocke for a foundation to support him he that layes not firme and sure hold on Christ never meets with sweet with sure and everlasting peace he that truly embraceth Christ may undoubtedly perswade himselfe of his salvation he hath a guide of infinite wisedome to direct him a rocke of invincible strength to sustaine him a rich and royall roabe of absolute purity to cloath and cover him a Conquerour of insuperable power to subdue all that doth oppose him an Advocate or never failing intercession to take off all the accusations which are brought against him and a fiery Charet to carry him through all difficulties to sweet and everlasting rest in the highest heavens Christs comming in his Fathers name Christs authority and ability to minister salvation makes manifest their folly and vanity their pride and insolency who leaving Christ and the rules which he hath given the lawes of divine worship which he hath prescribed betake themselves to humane traditions and selfe-inventions teaching and receiving for doctrines the commandements of men a practise 1. very derogatory to the Authority and dominion of Christ who is the King of the Church whose voice alone ought to be heard in the Church of God who is set over the house of God and ought to be observed as the Lord and Master of the house by the whole family of faith and houshold of God who is exalted above the Church as the head above the members as the husband above the Spouse Doth not a Subjects receiving of Lawes from a forraine Prince much derogate from the authority of his owne Soveraigne Doth not a servants receiving direction from another man in his service annihilate his Masters jurisdiction Doth not a wives conforming her to the prescription of a stranger obscure and darken and even disanull the authority of her husband And what else doe the embracers of forraine and strange inventions but deny and disanull the jurisdiction and dominion of Christ Doth not our Saviour say to such You have made the Commandement of God of none effect through your traditions The observation of mens devices in Gods service is a transgression of Gods precepts He that thinks to honour and please God by thrusting upon God his owne devises in stead of honouring and pleasing him doth very highly dishonour and provoke him No man doth further honour Christ then he conformes himselfe to the Law and rule of Christ 2. This also argues much pride and presumption in man who but a proud Subject will take upon him to give a Law to his Soveraigne how he shall be obeyed who but an insolent servant will take upon him to prescribe to his Lord and Master how he shall be served and who but a proud soule durst take upon him to give a Law unto his God how he shall be adored who but the great Master of humane traditions sitteth in the Temple of God as God and exalts himselfe above all that is called God The most superstitious are the proudest of all persons their very humility is ambition who have a spirit of superstition overswaying them they adore themselves and not Christ who neglect the rule which Christ hath given and worship after their owne invention His servant man is to whom he obeyes he that worships according to a rule of his owne framing serves himselfe and not God instead of obeying God he becomes a Law-giver unto God This doth much impeach and disparage the perfection of Christs and the sufficiency of the Scriptures If there be light enough in the Sunne what needs a candle If all the treasures of wisedome be hidden in Christ and his word able to make man wise unto salvation what need or use in this behalfe of mans invention addition ever supposeth imperfection 4. This is very perillous to the soules of men He that leaves Christ and his word and
of old was upon Mount Gerazim the blessing is now upon the Gospell He that savingly entertaines the Gospell enjoyes a most blessed condition a condition of divine and heavenly wisedome Gods Ministers feed him with knowledge and understanding and make him wise unto salvation a condition of holinesse and sanctification the ministery of the word doth wash him like water and purifie him like fire a condition of liberty and freedome Moses freed Israel from Pharaohs bondage Gods Minister frees the soules of his children from the servitude of Satan the world and their owne corruption the word makes them free from ignorance in their understandings from perversenesse in their wils from vanity in their thoughts from infidelity servile feare worldly love and carnall joy in their affections the word makes them free to know God as the cleare eye is free to see the Sunne to receive Christ as the strong and open hand is free to receive a gift to love Christ as the bride hath an open and enlarged heart to love the bridegroome to attend Gods Ordinances to run the way of Gods Commandements as he whose feet and ankle-bones received strength by the ministery of Peter was free to stand and leap and walke and enter into the Temple and free to move and come to God by faith and love and joy as the rivers are free to move and flow unto the sea a condition of honour and exaltation the Gospell making them Sonnes of God by regeneration the friends of God by love the members of Christ by faith and heires annexed with Christ for their present title to and future participation of the same inheritance with Christ Jesus a condition of fulnesse and satisfaction they are satisfied with the goodnesse of Gods house the Gospell leads them unto Christ the Sunne in whom is all light the tree on whom growes all fruit the fountaine from whom flowes all refreshment the rocke in whom is all strength the pearle in whom is all worth and the Paradise in whom is all pleasure and peace very sweet and wonderfull gracious and overflowing are the comforts and contentments derived from Christ to Gods children under their enjoyment of the Gospell Lastly a condition of permanency and duration though the grasse wither and the flower fade yet the word of the Lord abideth for ever Though worldly fulnesse change like the Moone and vanish like a vapor and wither like the flower and the grasse yet the estate of grace into which men are called by Gods Ministers is an estate of firme and sure continuance they are sonnes abiding alway in their fathers house they are trees planted by the water side never withering they are houses built upon the rocke never sinking their graces like the light shine more and more to the day of their perfection the excellency of their estate who enjoy and make best use of the Gospell abundantly declares Gods dispensation of very great sweet and heavenly blessings by the labours of his Ministers CHAP. XV THe Lords dispensing of sweet and heavenly blessings unto man by the labours of his holy and faithfull Ministers shewes what the estate and condition of man is without the Lords Ministers even an estate of woes of myseries and curses Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very wretched and miserable an estate of death without spirituall life the earth without the Sunne is but a dead and fruitlesse lump the soule without the Sunne of Righteousnesse shining in the Gospell is dead in sinnes and trespasses a tree twice dead oncce by originall corruption and secondly by actuall transgression and plucked up by the roots wholly separate from all the meanes of life he that hath not the Sonne externally in the Gospell internally in his heart ministerially in his word and efficiently in his worke of grace he hath not life Such are farre from the life of grace and sanctification as are strangers to Christ in his Gospell The woman of Shunems sonne remained dead according to the body till the Prophet came and raised him the soule of man continues dead in respect of the inward man untill the Minister of the Lord comes to quicken him 2. An estate of darknesse Man without the ministery of the word is in darknesse and the shadow of death a darke body without an eye a darke house without a Lamp The soules clearest light is nothing else but darknesse as long as the Gospell doth not shine into it to irradiate and enlighten it There was once no light in all the land of Egypt onely the children of Israel had light in their dwellings there is no spirituall and heavenly light in all the world but among Gods Israel there is light only in their dwellings who enjoy the Gospell In Judah is God knowne and his name is great in Israel God is truly and savingly knowne only by that people who enjoy the light of the Gospell 3. An estate of servitude and bondage Israel continued under hard bondage untill Moses and Aaron came to deliver them untill the Lord raised a fiery pillar to conduct them out of Egypt unto Canaan Man abides under the hard bondage of Satan and his owne corruption untill the Lord sends his Minister to free him and sets up the fiery pillar of his word to lead him out of this servile and slavish condition Man without the Gospell is in prison and hath no key to open it he is taken captive and hath no weapon to resist his enemy to procure his freedome he is manacled with many fetters and hath no hammer to dissolve and loose them Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very base and servile When and where the Gospell shineth then and there as the Prophet speaketh The eyes of the blind are opened the prisoners are brought out from the prison and they that sit in darknesse out of the prison-house 4. An estate of emptinesse and barrennesse The field without the dew is unfruitfull the soule without the dew of divine and heavenly doctrine distilling thereupon beares no good fruit there is no lawfull conception without an husband all the fruit of the soule not espoused to Christ by the Gospell is illegitimate and a very abomination there is no reaping where is no sowing The soule which is not sowne with the seed of the word yeelds no harvest of grace they are barren ground nigh to burning who are strangers to the Gospell 5. An estate of pollution and uncleanesse The house without the besome is overspread with slime and cobwebs Naaman continued leprous untill he went seven times into Jordan and washed the Temple was a den of theeves till Christ came with his whip and drove them out the heart of man is an unclean house without the besome of the word sweeping it the soule of man is oversread with the lothsome leprosie of sin untill he bathe himselfe in the Jordan of
and sinke of the foulest and basest misery The man in the parable fell among theeves which stripped him of his rayment and wounded him leaving him halfe dead Man is fallen among three great theeves the Devill sinne and the world and these have stripped man of all his spirituall rayment these have taken all grace and holinesse from man which once covered him like a rich and costly garment and they have also wounded and left man halfe dead in his very naturall abilities The fall of man hath totally stript him of all grace and holinesse and also given a mortall wound to his morall and naturall faculties Hee that abides not with God at Jerusalem makes himselfe a prey to sinne the Devill and the world There came a Priest and a Levite passing by and looking upon the man thus stript and wounded but neither of them had compassion upon him neither of them ministred any consolation nor lent an assisting hand unto him Neither the Priest nor the Levite neither the Morall nor Ceremoniall Law can deliver sinfull man from Satans bondage nor heale his wounded conscience neither the works of the one nor the Rites and Ceremonies of the other can restore man to his originall happinesse nor justifie him in Gods presence Mans best abilities and all-humane devises are miserable comforters to sinfull and perplexed soules in their anguish Though the Priest and the Levite had no compassion upon him yet there came a Samaritan which had compassion upon him though the Law shew no pitty nor minister no comfort to wounded soules and afflicted consciences yet the Lord Jesus communicates both great and sweet mercies to broken hearted sinners The Samaritane a man from whom this distressed man could not expect any mercy had compassion upon him and helped him Christ is become the Authour of mans comfort and salvation beyond all humane and Angelical thought conceit or imagination the wisedome worke and love of God in providing a Saviour for distressed sinners was farre above the reach and comprehension of all creatures The Samaritan bound up this poore mans wound and poured in wine and oyle the Lord Jesus binds up the broken-hearted and gives the oyle of joy for mourning to them whose soules are truly humbled the Samaritan set the man upon his owne beast Christ communicates his owne honour to the penitent and broken-hearted sinner sinne is the cause of mans dejection Christ is the Authour of mans exaltation the Samaritan brought this distressed man to an Inne and tooke care for him gave two pence to the Hoast charged him to take care of him and promised payment of whatsoever he should spend more The Lord Jesus brings perplexed soules to God as to their spirituall Hoast and to the ministery of the Gospell as to an Inne full of spirituall provision gives his Ministers the two Testaments the Law and the Gospell out of them to minister to the soules of his people and chargeth them as the ministeriall Hoast of poore and perplexed soules to make all necessary and plentifull provision and in the end by his merits his active and passive obedience his two great pence he dischargeth the debt of all penitent and beleeving sinners The whole of a sinfull and grieved soules happinesse flowes from the Lord Jesus all the supply of mans want and emptinesse is derived from Christs super-abundant fulnesse All the myrrh and odours and instruments of Hesters purification and all her rich and costly apparell were given her out of the Kings house and the royall crowne was put upon her head by the Kings hand All the purity and perfection all the righteousnesse and justification all the dignity and excellency of a holy and gracious soule is drawne from Christ the spirituall and heavenly King All mans holy and heavenly excellencies are borrowed from the Lord Jesus Man is an empty cisterne and hath all his fulnesse from Christ the true and everliving fountaine Christ is the root by whom he is sustained the spring by whom he is filled the Sun by which he is enlightened the garment wherewith he is covered the crowne with which he is honoured the head by which he is guided the eye by which he seeth the hand by which he worketh the foot by which he walketh yea the very soule by which he liveth Whatsoever goodnesse or excellency is in a Christian it is Christs and not his owne his very life is nothing but the living of Christ in him he must say with Paul Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me The words are a declaration of a Christians life Christ living in beleeving man and man living unto Christ The Apostle setting forth how he was dead to the Law that he might live to God tels us that he was crucified together with Christ Christ being crucified for us and we being by faith ingrafted into him doe dye to sinne and mortifie our earthly members which are upon earth the death of the Lord Jesus is the death of sinne in all beleeving Christians they live no more as formerly they did they have Christ now living in them and communicating himselfe unto them He that hath not experience of Christs living in him in the way and worke of sanctification presumes in vaine of being saved by his death and suffering no man knowes the benefit of Christs death but he that feeles the vertue of Christs life Man hath no further assurance of Christs dying for him then as he feeles Christ living in him He that knowes the power of Christs death in the mortification of his lusts knowes also the vertue of Christs life in the quickning of his soule and can say with Paul now I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me In the words not to trouble you with many particulars we have two generall things proposed 1. Christian abnegation I live yet not I. 2. Holy and gracious vivification but Christ liveth in me In the abnegation we have 1. the Subiect I Paul the Apostle a man chosen and called of God a man filled and furnished with the fulnesse of Christ and in and under him is understood all beleeving Christians Such alone as are truly sanctified and gracious people are the compleat and proper Subiect of that life which is heavenly and spirituall Onely the living body is the seat and subject of the soule and that man alone that is spiritually quickned hath Christ residing and dwelling in him communicating holy and heavenly life to him 2. Here is the Predicate or thing affirmed Life and that is two wayes proposed 1. affirmatively I live 2. Negatively yet not I. First affirmatively I live I lived once under the Law which made me a persecutor of the Church of God convinced me of sinne wrought in me all manner of concupisence and slew me and I then found my selfe to be dead in sinne but now I have embraced Christ and am crucified with him now I am no more the man I was but now
the ewes many set Christ behind the oxe and the asse the farme and the wife their merchandise and worldly trafficke they prize the world above Christ they love this more then they love Christ the love of the world carries their heart farre from Christ when their bodies draw neare to Christ the overvaluing of the earth is an undervaluing of Christ when the world is over sweet and savoury to mens palates their soules disrellish Christ and his ordinances whon the earth is pleasant like a Paradise Christ and all the meanes of grace are apprehended as a very wildernesse Some deny not their owne pleasures but value them above Christ as Esau did a few pottage above his birthright some deny not their pride but as Absalom sought to raigne though it were to the dishonour and deposall of his father David from his throne so they seeke to magnifie themselves though to the dishonour of God and deposall of Christ from his Throne in their hearts some deny not their owne worth and goodnesse they are rich and full in their owne opinions as the man in the Prophet which dreamed he had eaten and was full some deny not their owne superstitions they receive for doctrines the commandements of men they will see Christ in a glasse of their owne framing learne Christ in a schoole of their owne erecting and draw the waters of salvation out of a cisterne of their owne digging doubtlesse they are a very small number that have learned the lesson of self-denyall questionlesse Christ hath spirituall and heavenly dominion in the soules of few men Very full of base respects and purposes are the hearts of many that professe Iesus Christ The Prophet speaks of a day wherein seven women should take hold of one man saying we will eat our owne bread and weare our owne apparell onely let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach There is a day now wherein seven a very great number take hold of one man Christ by an outward profession but they will eat their owne bread and weare their owne apparell they will find their owne pleasures walke in their owne wayes keep themselves apparelled with the old man they will not deny themselves they will not put away their old things and make all things new they will only be called by the name of Christ to take away their reproach of being reputed Atheists and Infidels among men Many men that professe themselves Christians doe shamefully deny the Lord Iesus and are far from the denyall of themselves their owne counsels and affections CHAP. V. IF you demand whence it is and how it comes to passe that men are so backward in denying themselves and their owne ends and in subjecting themselves and all that they have unto Christ I answer of this there are seven grounds 1. Mans overvaluing of himselfe Man is very prone to thinke of himselfe above that which is convenient to pride himselfe in his endowments abilities to thinke of himselfe as the Queene of Babylon did that he is a Queene and no widow wise and not ignorant rich and not poore full and not empty holy and not prophane free and not bound as Goliah prided himselfe in the talnesse of his stature and bignesse of his armour so doth man pride himselfe in his naturall morall and temporall habiliments and furniture contrary to the charge of the Apostle Man is wise in his conceit and will not stoop to wholsome instruction he thinks himselfe sufficient for himselfe to guide himselfe to sustaine himselfe to make himselfe acceptable unto God Esau thought he had enough and refused his brothers present vaine man thinks he hath enough wisedome faith love holinesse enough and therefore refuseth the spirituall and heavenly presence of Christ his ordinances benefits graces and all helps to happinesse he dreams that he is wise when he is foolish spirituall when he is carnal full when he is empty like the Laodicean and this disables him to deny himselfe and subject himselfe to Christ he that supposeth he hath water enough at home in his owne cisterne will not goe to his neighbours well Thoughts of self-sufficiency hinder men from going out of themselves and comming unto Christ The Pharisees conceited so highly of their owne wisedome that they refused Christ and his doctrine the whole puts not himselfe under the hands of the Physitian to be dieted lanced and purged by him 2. The overswaying of corrupt and carnall lusts These oversway man as a Master doth his servant or a King his subject they rule and reigne within man and make man their servant the servant as S. Peter saith of corruption and as a servant is not his own man but his Masters is guided by his Master minds and intends his Master seekes the pleasing and profiting of his Master is bound and cannot enter into the service of another Thus these men are not their owne men but the servants of their lusts moved led and guided by their lusts minding and intending their lusts seeking to please and profit their lusts making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof To these they are bound and cannot put themselves into Christs service they cannot take upon them Christs yoake these oversway man as a lover is overswayed by his love Man is very indulgent to them as David to Absalom and as he charged the Captaines of his armies to deale gently with the young man Absalom so man is very loath to have his lusts roughly handled he wishes that all the Prophets would prophesie smooth things and deceits and as the haâ—lot in Solomon caused the young man with her much faire speech to yeeld and forced him with the slattering of her lips so that he went after her as an oxe goeth to the slaughter Thus these lusts with their flatteries and fleshly-seeming sweetnesse and bewitching eloquence doe make the soule yeeld and follow them and as strange love in a wife takes away her matrimoniall love from her husband and makes her regardlesse of him and disobedient to him Thus the indulgency and love of man to his lusts takes away his love from Christ makes him regardlesse of Christ and rebellious against Christ These lusts oversway man as a disease overswayes the body distempers the palate destroyes the appetite and makes the meat distastefull and irksome Thus doe these lusts distemper the foule and make Christ and his word the bread of life and food of the soule unpleasant the very savour of death unto death There is no possibility of self-denyall and subjection unto Christ as long as the soule is overswayed by any carnall lusts the dominion of sinne and subjection unto Christ are incompatable and inconsistent Abner could not serve David untill he denied his service and obedience to the house of Saul 3. An inordinate disposition of the heart toward the Creature The heart of man is inordinate towards
Shunems sonne that was dead He lay upon the childe and his mouth upon the childes mouth and his eyes upon the childes eyes and his hands upon the childes hands he stretched himselfe upon the childe and the flesh of the childe waxed warme the childe neesed and opened his eyes Christ applyeth himselfe and his benefits to the understandings of men to the soules and consciences of men and their cold hearts are warmed their blind eyes are opened their soules are enlivened and Christ lives within them raising them from the death of sinne and restoring them to the life of God from which they are alienated by sinne therefore Saint John saith He that hath not the Sonne hath not life He that hath not the Son graciously possessing him spiritually quickning him powerfully working upon him and causing a holy change in him he hath not life the life of God that holy and gracious life which God through Christ communicates to the soules of his servants but he that hath the Sonne he that beleeveth in the Sonne is united to the Sonne and hath the Sonne living in him he hath life he is spiritually quickened and enlivened And God saith the Apostle hath given us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne God hath placed this and the fulnesse of all divine and heavenly good things in his Sonne he dispenseth all these by the Sonne that no man may live before him without the Sonne living in him and the Sonne is called Life having in himselfe the fulnesse of all life having the power of life and death being the Authour and the root of life in all them that live the life of grace no man comming to the Father receiving life from the Father finding grace and favour with the Father but in and through the Sonne who is to us the Way the Truth and the Life the way by whom we walk the truth by whom we are guided and the life by whom we are quickned called by Saint Paul our life because we live not the life of grace of our selves but by Christ It is a life which ariseth not from our flesh but is derived to us from Christ Christ liveth in us begetteth preserveth and perfecteth this life in all beleevers and for this end Christ came that all the chosen of God might have life and that they might have it more abundantly Ministring not onely an inchoation but a daily increase of the life of grace untill they come to the life of glory and Christ is termed eternall life having life eternall in himselfe working life eternall and living for ever in us we enjoying the true and eternall God in and through Christ And Christ liveth in all them that are the children of God 1. By way of Originall The life of grace is originally from Christ Christ being not only the Author of this life with the Father and the Holy-Ghost but also the root of this life in us living in us as the root liveth in the branches as the parent liveth in the childe therefore Christ is called the vine and we the branches As the life of the branches is originally in the vine so is our life originally in Christ and as the branches live by the vine living in them so we live by Christ living in us And the Apostle termeth the second Adam which is Christ a quickning spirit For as the life of the body of man is originally from the soule the soule quickning and living in the body so the life of grace is originally from Christ Christ spiritually quickening and living in all beleevers and as the body without the spirit is dead so is man without Christ spiritually dead in sins 2. By way of Coniunction Christ liveth in vs by being united to us and made one with us The stocke liveth in the graft by union with the graft we being taken out of the wilde Olive separated from our naturall and corrupt estate called and gathered home to Christ and grafted in the true Olive we live in him and he lives in us If ye abide in me and I in you ye shall bring forth much fruit saith Christ If ye be united unto me and I united unto you then you shall live and be very fruitfull By being built upon Christ the living stone they become lively stones 3. By way of influence infusion and transmission The heavens by an influence into the earth doe quicken and enliven the earth and make all the seeds and roots hidden in the earth to revive and put themselves forth to sprout and flourish there is an influence going forth from the Sun of righteousnesse into the soules of men reviving and quickning them and making them of dead to become living of barren to become fruitfull To you saith the Lord shall the Sun of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and ye shall goe forth and grow up as the calves of the stall There is an influence goeth forth from the skill seated in the mind and strength seated in the hand of the Artificer which passeth upon the worke whereby he moulds and fashions it and sets a stamp upon it according to his pleasure Thus there is a heavenly influence a holy vertue and power comming from Christ and his Spirit that new moulds and fashions that mightily quickens and enlivens the soule of man by which Christ sets his owne Image upon man and this is called the power of Christs Resurrection That I may know him saith Paul and the power of his Resurrection that I may know Christ and be made partakers of the good things which come by Christ that I may know him as a Prophet instructing me as a Priest sanctifying me as a King reigning spiritually within me and that I may know the power of his Resurrection in the vivification of my soule in the abolition of my sinne in the taking away of the guilt of my transgression in the acquisition of righteousnesse and in the restoring of me to the assured hope of future glory and immortality There is a virtue flowes from the Resurrection of Christs body from the grave to the resurrection of the soules of men from the death of sinne As Christ was raised from the death by the glory of the Father even so should we walke in newnesse of life saith the Apostle and this influence of Christ into the soule of man is called the exceeding greatnesse of his power an exceeding great power for the omnipotency of the Agent for the mightinesse of the Devill sinne death and the world who are overcome by it for the greatnesse of the holy and gracious change wrought thereby in the soules of men changing the whole frame of the hearts of men from death to life from darknesse to light from bondage to liberty from uncleannesse to holinesse from earthlinesse to heavenlinesse and by this powerfull and mighty influence doth Christ live in
awakened him out of his spirituall sleep and slumber he made him see himselfe I was alive once saith he without the Law I was once ignorant of the Law I was blind and knew not the meaning of the law I thought my selfe to be a living man in Gods family a shining starre in the firmament of Gods Church and a fruitfull vine in the Lords vineyard but when the commandement came sinne revived and I dyed when Christ awakened me opened my eyes and inabled me to discerne a right of the commandement then I saw I was under the dominion of sinne as a dead man is under the dominion of death wholly possessed by sinne as the dead by death Man hath first the sence of his being dead in sinne before he hath the sence of Christ living in him Christ makes man to know his misery by sinne before he knowes his happinesse by Christ Christ lives not where the soule is not awakened where the eyes of the understanding are not opened therefore awake saith the Apostle thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 2. Christ intending to live in man doth humble man and causeth man to dye to sinne Saul first dyed before David reigned in Israel The death of sinne in order of divine operation precedes the life of Christ and his grace in the soule of man first we are buried with Christ and then we are raised with Christ to walke in newnesse of life first we are planted into the likenesse of Christs death and then into the likenesse of his resurrection Christ therefore in the dispensation of spirituall life doth first kill and then make alive first wound and then heale he makes man sensible of his sinne as of a heavy burthen before he doth ease him as of a body of death before he doth raise him as of a mortall disease before he doth cure him he chargeth sinne upon the conscience of man he sets it upon him to pursue and follow him as the avenger of bloud under the Law pursued the malefactor The Lord let loose Pharaoh and the Egyptians upon Israel to impose heavy burthens upon them to deale hardly with them to beat and scourge them to pursue and follow them when he intended to set them free from Egypt Christ lets loose Satan and corruption upon man to tempt and vexe to accuse and torment man when he intends to free man to restore spirituall life and liberty unto man The Israelites were first led into the red Sea and the Egyptians there drowned before Israel triumphed Man is led into a sea of griefe and sorrow for sinne and his sinne there drowned and then he triumpheth in Christ then Christ lives in him and he in Christ When Christ therefore doth humble man as he cast Paul to the earth emptieth man of all thought of his owne worth and makes man abhorre himselfe below the dust causeth man with the Jewes at Peters Sermon to cry out men and brethren what shall we doe to accuse and condemne themselves to loath that sinne as a menstruous clout which was formerly worne by them as a garment of great choise to vomit up that sinne it is Jobs expression as the gall of Aspes which he formerly kept in his mouth and swallowed downe like sweet meat to hate his sinne more then ever he loved it and to thrust it out of the doores of his heart as Amnon hated Thamar more then ever he loved her and thrust her out of his house When Christ doth thus humble man thus set the heart of man against sin and mortifie sinne in man then Christ begins to live in man When a man puls downe a house that is ruinous and unhabitable and begins to lay a new foundation then we know he usually intends to dwell and live there Thus when Christ puls downe the old man a ruinous and unhabitable dwelling unfit to entertaine Christ when Christ puls downe our pride when our old man as S. Paul speaks is crucified with Christ when all high thoughts are cast downe and Christ hath laid another a new foundation of self-denyall and true humility then Christ meanes to dwell there then undoubtedly Christ begins to live there 3. Christ beginning to live in man puts a restlesnesse into the heart of man in his naturall and corrupt estate makes him out of love with himselfe fils him with dislike of his owne wayes and works alienates and takes him off from creature and works him to an earnest longing after Christ as the chased Hart panteth after the water-brookes being chased and frighted with the sence of his sinne and the hideous noise of his guilty accusing and tormenting conscience he begins to thinke of Christ to betake himselfe to Christ for comfort pardon and salvation as the guilty malefactor under the Law being pursued by the avenger of bloud betooke himselfe to the City of Refuge for shelter and defence now his soulâ— followeth hard after Christ now he prizeth interest in Christ farre above interest in the creature now he would take Christ upon any termes he would gladly leave all for Christ he sees there is no other Physitian can heale him no other surety can make satisfaction for him no other shield and buckler can protect him no other friend can comfort him and therefore he flies to Christ as Joah to the hornes of the Altar he presseth after Christ labours to lay hold on Christ as the diseased woman did whom no Physitian could cure and as there went a vertue out from Christ that healed her bloudy issue when she touched the hemme of Christs garment so there goes a vertue out from Christ healing and enlivening the soule longing after Christ and touching Christ by faith though it may seem to be but weakly and afar off For as when the iron comes neare the loadstone there goes a virtue from the loadstone that moves and drawes the iron to it so when man comes neare Christ in hearing in prayer in humiliation and earnest longing there goes a vertue from Christ which moves enlivens and drawes the soule of man home to Christ and Christ begins to live in man to sustaine and strengthen the soule of man 4. Christ beginning to live in man there is a revelation of Jesus Christ in the soule of man The Sonne of God as S. Paul speaks is revealed in man There goes a light forth from the Sunne in the Firmament which reveales the Sunne to the eye of man and there goes forth a spirituall and heavenly light from the Sunne of Righteousnesse into the soule of man which reveales Christ unto man which the Apostle cals a shining of Christ into our hearts Christ revealing himselfe unto the soule as the only Saviour ministring salvation to the soule as the only Prophet instructing man and filling him with heavenly knowledge as the only Jordan bathing and cleansing the soule from
mouth of the Prophet I have laboured in vaine I have spent my strength for nought and in vain None but God can perswade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Such is mans aversenesse from Christ that God alone can worke man into Christ But perhaps some will say What is this to us We are all borne within the pale of Christs-Church we are all baptized into Christ we have all put on Christ therefore no such folly no such estrangement in us and our soules from Christ To this I answer It is one thing to be in Christ by an Ecclesiasticall Generation and birth within the Church Another thing to be in Christ by spirituall Regeneration and new-birth being borne againe of Christ it is one thing to be in Christ Sacramentally by participation of the outward ordinance and element another thing to be in Christ spiritually by participation of the inward grace it is one thing to be in Christ by an outward and formall profession another thing to be in Christ by an internall and gracious incorporation They are not all Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children If you demand therefore how a man may discerne his being without Christ I answer a mans being out of Christ may among many be discerned by these Characters or marks therof 1. By being without the Spirit and Grace of Christ He that is without the light of the Sun is without the Sun If any man saith S. Paul have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He is without Christ he that hath not the Spirit of Christ enlightning him savingly to know God as a childe his father with an affective knowledge regenerating and endowing him with a child-like affection to God and Christ reviving and quickning him to live to God and Christ Jesus in true holinesse incorporating him into Christ and making him partaker of Christs fullnesse Sanctifying and cleansing him from his sin as the water doth wash the spots from the flesh directing and guiding him to walke aright in the waies of God and to doe the things pleasing to God as the hand of the teacher guides the hand of the learner to write according to the copy He that hath not the Spirit thus working upon him thus framing and disposing his heart hath not Christ for he that is in Christ as a living member by spirituall union as a son by adoption he is a new creature old things are passed away and all things are become new When Christ came into the Temple he purged his Fathers house he overturned the mony-tables he drove out the buyers and the sellers When Christ cometh into man takes his holy habitation in the soule of man he throwes downe the holds of sinne he drives out all corrupt and carnall lusts he purgeth the heart of man and makes it a holy house when Naaman put himselfe into Jordan his Leprosie departed from him Man that is put into Christ by Faith is cleansed from the Leprosie of his sin Faith purifieth his heart and every man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe even as Christ is pure his thoughts of being in Christ Jesus who remaines under the power of prophanenesse are meere delusions Reigning ungodlinesse disanâ—ls all communion with Christ Jesus He that walks not in Christ is a stranger to Christ Where there is no expression of true and saving grace there is no evidence of being in Christ 2. By being in Subjection under any lust one raigning sin destroyes the life of the soule an evill Herbe made the Prophets pot a pot of death one ruling lust makes the soule the Subject of spirituall death the breach of one Covenant forfets the whole Lease allowance of the soule in the breach of one Commandement makes forfeture of whole Christ One Sheba blew the Trumpet and drew all Israel into Rebellion against David One ruling sin makes the whole man a Rebell against Christ One raigning sin so blinds the understanding that it cannot savingly discerne Christ as one moat so blinds the eye that it cannot comfortably behold the Sun one allowed sin so distempers the soule that it cannot receive any benefit by the ordinances of God as one strong disease so disaffecteth the body that it frustrates the use of the food One swaying corruption so alienates the heart that it cannot love Christ as one stranger in the bosome of the wife so takes up her affection that she cannot love the husband One person in the house so keepes the possession that another can take no possession One domineering sin so possesseth the soule that Christ hath no possession there One chain disables the prisoner to come forth and returne to his owne house One fettering and binding lust holds man fast in Satans prison and disables him to come to Christ though a woman have but one husband yet she cannot marry a second untill that husband is dead the soule married though but to one lust cannot marry it selfe to Christ untill that lust is mortified and dead One covetous lust in Judas one incestnous lust in Herod one ambitious lust in many of the chiefe Rulers one worldly lust in the young-man was of strength enough to with-hold each of them from Christ to continue them all without Christ mans thoughts of interest in Christ remaining under the power of any one lust are but vaine and idle dreames He that comes not universally from the world from himselfe and every sinfull lust never comes truly unto Christ Israel came not to Canaan untill they forsooke Aegypt renounced the service of Pharaoh saw the Aegyptians drowned in the waters and left not a hoofe in Aegypt behind them Man cometh not to Christ untill he forsakes the world renounceth the service of Satan drowns every lust in the tears of true Repentance and leaves not a hoof not one affection of his soule behind him under the jurisdiction and command of the world the love of the world is enmity with God the service of any sin is Rebellion against God 3. By mans terminating and confining himselfe within himselfe not going out of himselfe nor looking beyond himselfe to Christ but doing all things for himselfe and referring all unto himselfe That saith our Saviour which is of the flesh is flesh he that is altogether fleshly and hath nothing of Christ in him he is fleshly in his disposition in his affection in his intention in his undertaking hee minds himselfe and his owne fleshly ends and nothing els he cannot looke beyond himselfe his owne flesh is the circumference within which he moves and the Center wherin he terminates his motion Nothing in the course of Nature works beyond the Spheare of its owne activity a thorne beares not grapes a Sparrow begets not an Eagle the corrupt Tree brings forth corrupt fruit the waters move no higher in the cisterne then they are in
earth from the common-wealth of these Israelites the Gentiles before the comming of Christ were strangers and before their calling and conversion by the ministery of the Gospell they were wholly excluded from the Priviledges and Prerogatives belonging to the Israelitish people as being strangers unto their common-wealth And the Apostle expresseth their misery and dishonourable estate by a Metaphor taken a iure Civitatis from the Rights and Priviledges belonging to a City being no Citizens no members of this spirituall common-wealth they were excluded from the Lawes Immunities Freedomes and Priviledges belonging to the same In the words we may observe 1. The Title given to the Church and people of God a Common-wealth 2. The Exemption of all prophane men from this Common-wealth called Aliens to the Common-wealth of Israel 1. Of the Title which is not proper but metaphoricall and it may teach us That Gods faithfull people are a spirituall and mysticall Common-wealth As they are termed a body consisting of many members of which Christ is the head a house consisting of many lively stones whereof Christ is the head corner stone an Orchard composed of many Trees of which Christ is the planter so they are also a spirituall a mysticall Common-wealth wherof Christ is the supreame Governour And Christs Church and faithfull people are a spirituall Common-wealth 1. In respect of multitude A Common-wealth consisteth of many persons the Church of Christ of many beleevers as a body of many members a house of many stones an orchard of many trees a flocke of many sheep and an army of many souldiers though they be but few a small number comparatively in respect of the prophane multitude like Gideons three hundred men to the Midianitish Hoast A little flocke a few a remnant one of a City and two of a Tribe as the Scripture speaketh yet considered simply and in themselves they are many One hundred forty and foure thousand were sealed Rev. 7.4 And the Prophet foretold of the conversion of the abundance of the Sea and of the comming of the forces of the Gentiles to the Church of Christ 2. In respect of Submission and Obligation to one Law The people of a Common-wealth though they be many yet they are all guided by one Law Thus the Church of Christ though they be many and dispersed farre abroad upon the face of the earth yet they are all subject to and guided by one divine and sacred Law They walke all as the Apostle saith by one Rule All Israel were guided by one fiery pillar in their journeyes All the nations of the earth have one and the same Sun ministring light unto them to guide them in their severall goings The beleevers of all Nations have one and the same word of God to be the light of their feet and the lanterne of their paths Christ prescribes one Law to all his Subjects one rule of beleeving obeying and adoring him 3. In respect of Subiection under one Governour In a Common-wealth there is one chiefe Ruler in the Church Christ is the supreame Governour He is the Head of this body the King of this Common-wealth As the body hath but one Head and the common-wealth but one King so the Church but one spirituall Head but one divine and heavenly King which is Christ therefore stiled the head over all things unto the Church and a King set upon the holy hill of Syon The Church is the Spouse and Christ the Bridegroome the Church the slocke and Christ the chiefe shep heard the Church the ship and Christ the Pilate the Church the family and Christ the Master of the house stiled by â—nt James one Law-giver and we by voice from Heaven are commanded to heare him 4. In respect of mutuall and common interest in all spirituall good things All the members in a common-wealth have interest in the common priviledge and liberties belonging to that common-wealth All the living members of the Church of Christ have claime and title to all the good things of Christ they are all sonnes of God they are all the Lords free-men they are all Citizens of the new Jerusalem they are all members of the same mysticall body they are all heires to the same inheritance and partakers of the same promises and benefits by Christ All is theirs whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death all is theirs and they are Christs Ther Sun is alike open and obvious to the eye of the poore and of the rich Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse is alike open and free in the communication of himselfe to the soule of the poore and rich beleeving Christian yet this parity of beleevers participation of Christ takes not away the imparity of dominion and subiection between themselves He that is inferiour in sanctification may be superiour in externall estate and iurisdiction For as there are various degrees of state in a common-wealth so there are in the Church of Christ on earth 5. In respect of Constitution and composition A common-wealth as Aristotle observes consisteth not of a Physitian and a Physitian nor of a countrey man and a countrey man but of a Physitian and a countrey man so the Church of Christ consists not of a Pastor and a Pastor nor of a hearer and a hearer but of a teacher and a hearer they are neither all teachers nor all hearers but some Pastors and some Disciples some teachers and some learners as in an army some are souldiers and some are Captaines in a family some are nurses and some are sacking babes some therefore in the Church are commanded to teach and some are enjoyned to learne 6. In respect of separation and distinction A common-wealth is separated and distinguished from other Lands by Lawes language habit priviledges c. The Church of Christ is separate and destinguished from all the residue of the world they are called out of the world they are a royall Priesthood a chosen generation a peculiar people called out of darknesse into a marvellous light They are a holy people unto the Lord their God the Lord their God hath taken them to be a speciall people unto himselfe above all the people that are upon the face of the earth And they are distinguished from all other people by their Originall they are borne of God by their Countrey they are Citizens of the new Jerusalem by their language they speake the language of Canaan God hath returned to them a pure language By their habit they put on righteousnesse as a garment their adorning is not the putting on of gold or plaiting of the haire but the adorning of the hidden man of the heart To be glorious within is their choise and speciall ornament they are distinguished from others as the living from the dead as the vine from the thorne as the lambe from the wolfe as light from darknesse God is their God and they are his children and they have priviledges which no
thou live within the pale of the Church yet if thou live under the power of any prophane lust thou art 1. An unbeleever thou receivest not Christ into thy soule thou buildest not upon the rocke but upon the sand and thou wilt sinke at the last for faith where it is is victorious it overcomes Satan the world and every lust it purifies the heart and makes man a holy Temple to the Lord it overturnes all the holds of sinne it drives all base lusts out of the heart as Christ overturned the Tables and drove the buyers and sellers out of his Fathers house 2. Thou art a very hypocrite a cursed counterfeit a whited sepulchre full of dead mens bones within like the Locusts which had the face of a man and the haire of a woman without but the teeth of a Lyon within and the taile of a Scorpion behind Thus though thou hast the face of a Christian without yet thou hast the rapine of a Lyon and the poison of a Scorpion the venome of all sinne within and wilt have the portion of an hypocrite at last 3. Thou art a defiler of things sacred an abuser of Gods Ordinances one that turnest the meanes of life into an occasion of death the evill herbe turned the Prophets pot into a pot of death the evill of sinne swaying in thy soule turnes the word of life into the savour of death Like the spider thou suckest poison out of the flower of that Word and Sacrament which in it selfe is sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe 4. Thou art a scandall to the Church of Christ where thou livest thou art a blemish to the Christian name as an ulcer to the face as a dead member to the body for through such as the Apostle saith is the name of God blasphemed misliving Christians are of all persons the greatest dishonour to Christ Jesus Lastly be assured thy condemnation will be greatest thy torment the severest They that come nearest to Heaven by their outward calling and profession and yet are strangers to the life and power of godlinesse shall sinke lowest into hell and drinke deepest of the cup of Gods vengeance To such therefore our Saviour saith it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of iudgement then for them 4. Are all prophane men aliens to the Church of Christ though they live within the pale thereof Then let all such as live within the Church learne by this to purge out and put away all prophanenesse to search and seeke for and furnish themselves with all saving gifts and graces the proper characters of the living members of the true Church of Christ knowing as the Apostle saith that he is not a Iew who is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly whose Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of men but of God It is not mans naked profession of Christ but his inward sanctification that makes him a true Christian and holinesse is the honourable and inseparable Adiunct of Christs Church called by the Apostle a Church of Saints because Christ who is the head of this Church is holy and makes them partakers of his holinesse separates them from the world by a holy calling commits his holy word unto them causeth it to dwell in them and bestowes his holy Spirit upon them and works holinesse within them and as Christ who is the head of the Church was according to the flesh conceived of the Holy-Ghost so is the Church the mysticall body of Christ sanctified by the holy Spirit and as the fulnesse of the God-head dwelleth personally in the personall body of Christ so dwell the three Persons of the Trinity mystically and spiritually in the mysticall body of Christ and all the living members of the same therefore as we professe our selves to be the children of God a God absolutely and infinitely holy so let us be holy in all manner of conversation as he that hath called us is holy as we professe our selves to be the members of Christ who is a holy head so let us conforme our selves to Christ as the members in the body naturall are conformed to the head and as we are stiled the Bride of Christ so let us feele in our hearts the sweet and heavenly motion of the holy Spirit the pledge of Christs love and as the Bridegroome loveth cloatheth adorneth and defendeth his Bride thus let us labour to discerne Christs shedding abroad his love into our hearts cloathing us with his righteousnesse adorning us with his graces and defending us by his blessed power and presence and as we are called children of light so let the light of grace in us like the light in the firmament shine more and more unto the perfect day the more we shine in holinesse the more sweetnesse shall we find in Gods Ordinances the greater tranquillity shall we have in our owne consciences the more amiable shall we be in the eyes of Christ Jesus the more shall we beautifie the Church of Christ whereof we are members and as the vessels of the transportative Tabernacle were at length translated into Solomons Temple so shall we after our ambulatory and mutable condition in the Church militant be translated to rest and reigne for ever in the Church triumphant CHAP. XV. Handling carnall Mans estrangement from the Covenant THe third Alienation declaring the misery of carnall and sinfull man is an Alienation from the Covenants of God termed strangers from the Covenants of promise Mans happinesse is built upon his interest in Gods gracious promise the strangers to this promise are the most unhappy of all persons Carnall men are aliens to Christ to the members of Christ to Christs common-wealth and to all the prerogatives and priviledges thereof strangers to the Covenants of promise made in and through Christ God made and often renewed and repeated his Covenants and promises with the Israelitish people concerning their salvation in and by Christ In the beginning the Lord made this Covenant with our first Parents promising that the seed of the woman which is Christ should breake the serpents head the Lord renewed it with Abraham and his seed saying I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy seed after thee and of the Israelitish people in this respect speaks Moses What Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for and what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Now to these Statutes Oracles and Promises the Gentiles before the comming of Christ were strangers they no way appertained
terriblenesse of God without Christ Iesus Christs comming in the Gospell would be unspeakably joyfull 4. Looke upon the frustration of all the Ordinances of God and labours of Gods Ministers by mens not receiving of Christ in the Gospell He that doth not receive and embrace Christ preached in the Gospell annihilates all the labour of Gods messenger had not Rebeckah received Isaac to husband she had frustrated all the labour of Eleazar the servant of Abraham If we receive not Christ to husband we frustrate the labour of the Ministers the Lords servants Should not Abner have brought about Israel unto David he had lost his labour his communication with the Elders of Israel and his speaking in the eares of Benjamin had been in vaine Thus all our preaching all our speaking in the cares of men is in vaine if they be not brought about to Christ if they doe not truly subject themselves to Christ if they receive not Christ as their spirituall King for what is the end of our preaching but to espouse you to Christ to worke you to the receiving and embracing of Christ as the husband of your soules and to present you as a chaste virgin unto Christ besides all your hearing all your attendance upon the word is vaine it is all hypocrisie and vaine ostentation if you receive not Christ Iacobs sonnes had gone to Egypt in vaine if they had returned empty handed and not carried home provision with them You come to the Well in vaine if you drinke not if you carry home no water with you you come to Gods house to Gods treasury to the wels of salvation in vaine if you returne empty hearted if you receive not if you carry not home Christ with you in your hearts all your labour is lost The temporall curse denounced on the people by the Prophet Haggai is in a spirituall sence fulfilled in such Ye have sowne much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough ye drinke but ye are not filled with drinke ye cloath you but there is none warme and he that earneth wages earneth to put it in a broken bag with holes Thus in this case much is heard much spirituall seed is sowne but little or no fruit is reaped they eat much they heare much but there is no spirituall filling their worldly thirst is not quenched their soule is not satisfied in Christ there is no warmth no love no zeale for Christ no burning of heart in hearing no fervency in supplication all that the Minister hath provided and dispensed for the soules enrichment it is all put in a broken bag with holes it is all lost it runnes out as fast as it is powred in if we recive not Christ in the Gospell all our hearing is worth nothing 5. Meditate upon the dignity excellency utility and comfort of receiving and embracing Christ in the Gospell 1. Christ received in the Gospell giveth life unto the soule Hee quickned Lazarus by his corporall voice accompanied with the power of his God-head he quickeneth the soule by his Evangelicall voice attended with the lively operation of his Spirit the Gospell is the externall instrument and meanes by which Christ liveth in the soule therefore is the Gospell called the word of life revealing and effecting life in Gods chosen Christ hath in himselfe all life our life is hid in Christ as the life of the branch is hidden in the roote and he that hath the sonne hath life hee that hath the Son in the Gospell as in the seed of his regeneration as in the instrument of his conversion as in the warlike weapon by which are throwne downe all the strong and mighty holds of Satan as in the Scepter by which Christ doth sway within him and bind and bow his heart unto subjection He that hath Christ in his heart by faith and love as a root of life living in him as a fountaine filling him with his fulnesse as a King sitting up his throne within him as a bridegroome betrothing himselfe unto him he hath life but he that hath not the sonne hath not life The evill of neglecting Christ in the Gospell is no lesse then eternall death and destruction 2. Christ received in the Gospell giveth light spirituall heavenly and comfortable light the receiving of the Sunne giveth light to the body the receiving of the Sun of Righteousnesse giveth light to the soule he that doth not embrace Christ in the Gospell hath no light but all darknesse within him 3. Christ received in the Gospell giveth health health of soule Here he commeth with healing in his wings the Angell in Bethesda cured the bodily impotent in the Gospell Christ cureth them that are spiritually diseased here he openeth the eyes of the understandings which are blinded strengthens the hand of faith which is withered rectifies the feet of the affections which are crooked purgeth away the leprosie of the soule which is defiled Christ by the Gospell as by a spirituall Iordan works many blessed cures upon the soules of Gods people 4. Christ received in the Gospell giveth honour He makes them that receive him in the Gospell the sonnes of God by adoption the friends of God by revelation of the will and mind of God unto them heires of God for that incorruptible inheritance whereof he makes them partakers the Lords free-men free from the guilt and punishment of sinne free from the power and dominion of sinne free from the tyranny and captivity of Satan free from the curse and rigour of the Law and free to serve God with an ingenuous and free spirit Kings and Priests to God for their dignity and dominion and for their holy and gracious consecration unto God high and excellent is the honour which Christ communicates to them that truly receive him in the ministery of the Gospell 5. Christ received in the Gospell giveth riches unsearchable riches riches which the wit of man cannot find out incomparable riches to which all the riches of the earth is not to be compared that knowledge faith and love which is farre more excellent then the gold that perisheth The poorest Lazar receiving Christ in the Gospell is endowed with greater riches then the wealthiest Dives in the world not embracing him 6. Christ received in the Gospell giveth prosperity the Arke received into Obed-Edoms house caused all that he had to prosper Crist received into the soule maketh the whole man prosperous he makes him prosper in hearing in prayer in meditation in the use of all Gods Ordinances as the tree prospers that is planted by the waters side he makes him prosper in all his undertakings whatsoever he doth shall prosper all the affaires of soule and body are made successefull and prosperous through the blessed presence of Christ Iesus He makes him prosper in the inward man making him victorious over all his corruptions replenishing him with all heavenly
fulnesse communicating to him peace and reconciliation with God and tranquillity of conscience He that receives the Lord Iesus like Joseph hath the Lord with him and is a prosperous man Mans not embracing Christ Iesus exposeth him to all plagues and curses in his soule in his body in all his services all blessing attends the holy and gracious embracement of Christ all curses follow the prophane refusall of Christ 7. Christ received in the Gospell sweetens and sanctifies all afflictions the tree sweetened the waters of Marah Christ takes away the bitternesse of affliction from the soule which beleevingly entertaines him he makes them see light in darknesse he sends them water out of the hard and stony rocke he gives them honey out of the belly of Lyons Meat out of the Eater and sweet out of the sowre he makes them sing in prison he makes them glory in tribulation he turnes the fiery furnace into a Paradise he so takes away the evill of affliction that it doth no more harme them then Nebuchadnezzars fire did the three children his affliction that enjoyes Christ in the Gospell is more pleasant and joyous then the carnall mans peace that shuts his heart against Christ peace without Christ is full of trouble trouble with Christ is full of consolation 8. Christ received in the Gospell giveth comfort holy sweet and sure comfort In the Arke was the pot of Manna in Christ is the treasure of all true comfort Christ in the Gospell makes a feast for his faithfull receivers a feast of fat things of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Of all comforts such have most fulnesse and sweetnesse as are ministred by Christ Jesus all others like Iobs friends prove miserable Comforters if Christ doth not comfort us Christ received in the Gospell comforteth the soules of his servants as a nurse her children feeding them as a Physitian his patients healing them as a mercifull King his delinquent and humbled subjects pardoning them as a teacher his schollers filling them with heavenly wisedome as a Bridegroome his Bride speaking graciously to them making them sensible of his love towards them replenishing them with strong and everlasting consolation his estate is of all mens the most joyfull who hath the most full and sweet enjoyment of Christ in the Gospell Perplexities distractions and convulsions of soule and conscience are infallible attendants of the neglect and refusall of Christ Iesus he that shuts his eyes against the Sun abides in darknesse he that shuts his heart against Christ abides in heavinesse 9. Christ received in the Gospell giveth satisfaction The Sunne satisfieth the eye with light the fountaine satisfieth the thirsty with water the pearle satisfied the Merchant in the parable with treasure Christ in the Gospell satisfieth the soule with wisedome in the understanding with holy and sweet meditations in the mind with the sence of his love in the heart with the treasure of spirituall gifts in the affections with sure and blessed peace in the conscience He that rightly possesseth Christ in the Gospell may say as Iacob did I have enough Christ in the Gospell is a living spring he that drinks of him shall thirst no more He is an al-sufficient portion to them that enjoy him he that seeks contentation with the neglect of Christ in his Gospell seekes for water to quench his thirst in a broken cesterne The soule is restlesse and never truly contented untill Christ is enjoyed the house without the husband seemes an empty place to the wife the world without Christ proves an empty thing to the soule 10. Christ received in the Gospell is an abiding substance to the soule he is an everlasting father he will never forget us he is a husband for ever he will never cease to love us he is a faithfull friend loving at all times his love is a Sunne that knowes no setting his gifts are t without repentance his grace an immortall seed that never dyes a well-spring springing up to life everlasting All that is without Christ is full of vanity and changes only Christ is a possession of everlasting continuance the meditation of all which should sweetly allure and draw us graciously dispose and frame us and mightily perswade and move us to give Christ a joyfull welcom comming to us in his Gospell 6. Fastening our frequent and most serious thoughts upon the brevity and vanity of the life of man Man hath no abiding City here he flourisheth like Ionahs gourd in an evening and is smitten and withered in the morning Death like the waters of the red sea drownes all onely Christ makes a safe passage through death for his Israel for all that receive him the Arke divided Iordan and Israel went dry and safe over to Canaan Christ makes a ready way for all that beleevingly entertaine him through the horrours of death to the heavenly kingdome death like the deluge spares none as Noah therefore betooke himselfe to the Arke and was preserved so let us betake our selves to Christ that we may be preserved from the second death all they who were out of the Arke perished in the waters all they that are out of Christ will perish in the deluge of Gods vengeance the Lord Jesus is the soules onely refuge and deliverance Behold saith the Lord by Moses in another case to morrow about this time I will cause it to raine a very grievous hayle such as hath not been in Egypt from the foundation thereof untill now Send therefore now and gather thy cattell and all that thou hast in the field for upon every man and beast that shall be found in the field and shall not be brought home the hayle shall come downe upon them and they shall dye He that feared the word of the Lord among them made his servants and his cattell flee into the houses and he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattell in the field and they were all smitten and died Thus in this case behold to morrow ere long very shortly the Lord will cause a mighty raine he will raine downe snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest send therefore now and gather your soules your selves your friends husbands wives children servants kindred and neighbours unto Christ get yee interest in Christ hide your selves by faith and love in Christ for upon every soule of man that shall not be found in Christ upon every parent and childe husband and wife master and servant young and old bond and free that shall not be brought home to Christ the haile fire and brimstone of Gods wrath shall come downe upon them and they shall dye both the first and the second death and now I know that he that feares the word of the Lord among you will flee to Christ give all diligence to receive and entertaine Christ to get a sure and
friends and welwishers of Christ much desire and with great earnestnesse endeavour gird thy sword upon thy thigh saith the Psalmist in the person of the faithfull unto Christ O most mighty shew thy selfe in thy word and Gospell like a mighty man of warre fully armed to mortifie the lusts to humble the soules and to bring into subjection all the thoughts of thy servants and doe this in thy glory and in thy maiesty make thy selfe appeare dreadfull and glorious by the powerfull and gracious effects of thy Gospell and in thy majesty ride upon the word of truth the Gospell of salvation prosperously Be thou successefull in the preaching of the Gospell for the speedy and universall manifestation of it to all people for the profligating and putting to flight of all false doctrines and corrupt worship as the Sunne doth dispell the clouds and Aarons rod devoured the Magitians serpents for the reclaiming and gathering home the soules of men as the shepheard gathereth home the sheep by his voice for the healing of the diseased soules of men as Bethesda healed the diseased bodies for the setting up of thy throne in their hearts to raigne and rule within them as a King reigneth in his Throne Christs blessed successe in the ministery of the Gospell is both the wish and prayer joy and labour of all that love him He is a very stranger to Christs kingdome that seekes not Christs exaltation The true members of Christ preferre the welfare of Christs Church kingdome and Gospell above the welfare of their owne estate and person As the arme lifteth up it selfe to receive the blow rather then it shall fall upon the head such as clearly discerne and truly taste Christ in the Gospell are very solicitous to uphold Christs kingdome and propagate his Gospell Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seeke thy good saith David to Jerusalem because the doctrine of salvation is there published the worship of God there erected and God there manifested and made knowne I will seeke thy good I will endeavour thy safety I will doe what in me lies to uphold the doctrine there taught and the worship there established I will seeke the good thereof by prayer and supplication by advice and counsell by communicating whatsoever is behoofull either for the supportation honour or comfort of it A good man will not willingly keep backe any thing which may tend to the advancement of Christ his Gospell and kingdome and thus it ought to be 1. In regard of the Covenant between us and Christ we are baptized into the name of Christ into the faith of Christ to beleeve in him as the authour of our salvation into the religion of Christ to adore and worship him as our spirituall and heavenly Soveraigne into the doctrine of Christ to learne him as the truth is in him to heare him as the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church into the profession of Christ openly declaring our hope and expectation of salvation by Christ our subjection under Christ and our dependance upon Christ into the service of Christ being dedicate and set apart by Baptisme unto Christ as his peculiar people to adore and serve him to honour and exalt him and into the death of Christ receiving Baptisme as a testimony of mortification and as an instrument of the Holy-Ghost for the extinguishing and killing of sinne by the death and for the quickning of our soules by the resurrection of Christ to the end that we who live should live no more unto our selves but unto Christ This is the tenour of the Covenant which the Lord himselfe uttered by the mouth of the Prophet I will be their God I will be their King to command them their counsellor to guide them their shield to defend them their Saviour to minister salvation to them their father to make provision for them to communicate the sence of my love unto them and their portion to satisfie them and they shall be my people the schollers of my schoole to learne my will the subjects of my kingdome to honour and exalt me the servants of my family to obey and serve me and the bride of my delight to love me and to bring forth fruit to me By vertue of the Covenant between us and Christ our names are given unto Christ as souldiers to their Captaine to fight for Christ as subjects to their Soveraigne to exalt and magnifie the name of Christ to labour the welfare and honour of the kingdome of Christ Abner entring into Covenant with David went forth to bring about all Israel unto David to exalt and set up David and to increase the kingdome of David Thus man being entred into Covenant with Christ must bring himselfe and all that is his and all other people so much as in him lies into subjection unto Christ he must to the utmost of his power labour the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome such men are very regardlesse of their holy covenant and sacred promise as labour not the exaltation of Christs kingdome and Gosple 2. In regard of the Relation betwixt us and Christ Christ is the King and we the Subjects Christ is the Lord and we the Servants Christ is the Head and wee the members Christ is the Bridegroome and we the Bride true Subjects endeavour the honour of their King and Kingdome Sauls Subjects would put to death all them who would not have Saul to reigne over them Davids Subjects preferred him above themselvs endeavoured his safety put themselves in hazard to safegard him accounted him worth ten thousand of themselves the members support and beare up the head imploy all their strength in the defence and honour of the head good servants labour their Masters honour and welfare Thy servants said Davids men to him are ready to doe whatsoever my Lord the King shall appoint and the Centurian could say of his servant Doe this and he doth it And the faithfull Spouse brings forth children to her husband she was a fruitefull Vine by the sides of his house and her children like Olive plants round about his Table a great honour a crowne as Salomon saith to her husband thus must we by vertue of that Relation which is betwixt us and Christ as loyall subjects mortifie and put to death whatsoever doth in us oppose Christs honour and dominion exalt Christ and his Gosple above our selves our ease profit or credit expose our selves to all difficulties dangers and inconveniences amongst men for the magnifying of Christs name and the welfare of Christs Gosple as good servants be ready to doe whatsoever Christ shall appoint us for the making of him glorious as true and living members of Christs mysticall body we must put our selves under Christ beare up Christ and make him conspicuous in the eyes of others and like a chaste Spouse bring forth all our fruite unto Christ endeavouring to the utmost of our power the
Stars in the night season communicate the fulnesse of the Sunne to the aire and inhabitants of the earth the Ministers as Starres in the right hand of Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse communicate to the soules of men the fulnesse of Christ Jesus in the night of this world we are all strangers to Christ Jesus without the Lords Ministers Christ is hidden from that people which enjoy not the ministery of the Gospell Gods Ministers by their labours communicate the knowledge of Christ as the Embassador communicates the knowledge of the King and of his mind God saith the Apostle who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined into our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus God is knowne in and through Christ as a man is knowne in and by his face We know an earthly Father in the face of his Sonne begotten by him we know God as a father of mercies only and through the face of Christ Jesus we see the face of man in a glasse in the Gospell in the labours of Gods Ministers we behold as in a glasse the face of Christ Jesus Christ is a storehouse in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisedome The Ministers have the ministeriall key of knowledge to open Christ unto the people Christ is a living fountaine a well of salvation a well sealed and shut up in the Scriptures Jacob rowled away the stone from the mouth of the well and gave Labans flocke water to drinke the Minister rowles away the stone removes the obscurity of the Scripture opens and interprets it and makes the people drinke of Christ the true and everliving fountaine the Ministers communicate the faith of Christ as Gods instruments the worke of faith in men the man of God by his prayer restored Jeroboams withered hand the Minister by his preaching and prayer restores the hand of faith in the heart of man formerly withered dryed up and of no use Faith commeth by hearing Who is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye beleeved even as the Lord gave to every man The Ministers communicate the life of Christ to men Christ by his corporall voice called Lazarus out of his grave by his Evangelicall voice by his word in the mouth of his Ministers he cals the soules of men out of the grave of sinne the dead in sinne heare the voice of the Sonne of God in the Gospell and they that heare live The ministery of the Gospell is the instrument of the soules vivification a meanes of Christs living in them that are Gods children the Ministers communicate the love of Christ Christ gives his love to the soule of man in the ministery of his word Isaac gave the pledges of his love to Rebeckah by Eleazar his father Abrahams servant Christ gives the pledges of his love to his Spouse the Church by the Ministers God his fathers servants by them he woeth and espouseth them unto himselfe and in the banquetting house of his ordinances his banner over them is love the Ministers communicate the peace of Christ the Embassador speaks words of peace from the King and communicates the Kings peace unto the people the Minister the Embassador of Christ the Prince of peace preacheth peace by Iesus Christ to the soules of men The Lord hath created ordained and appointed the fruit of his lips to be peace to them that are nigh and to them that are afar off Christ feeding the multitude corporally distributed bread unto them by his Disciples Christ feeding the soules of men spiritually with himselfe the true bread of life come downe from heaven communicates himselfe to men by the labours of his Ministers Abraham by the hands of his servants ministred jewels and bracelets to Rebeckah God by his Ministers communicates many spiritual and heavenly jewels even the whole treasury of Christ Jesus to his faithfull Church and servants whom he joynes in wedlocke with his sonne Manifold sweet and gracious are Gods dispensations of his Sonne by the labours of his Ministers Christ in and by the ministery of the Gospell is made very conspicuous and glorious in the eyes of the people very great is their blessednesse who have Christ communicated to them by the labours of Gods Ministers 2. In regard of the evils from which God delivers man by the labours of his Ministers God delivered the woman of Shunems sonne from bodily death by the ministery of the Prophet the Lord delivers the soule of man from spirituall death from being dead in sinnes by the labour of his Ministers the ministery of the Gospell is the instrumentall cause of the first resurrection the word is termed a word of life declaratively revealing life and operatively as an instrument working life God delivered Paul from his bodily blindnesse by the hands of Ananias he delivers man from spirituall blindnesse by the doctrine of his messengers by their instruction he opens their eyes and turnes them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God The Lord delivered Peter from Herods prison by the ministery of the Angell He delivers man from Satans prison and bondage by the worke of his Ministers by this as by a warlike weapon he casts downe the holds of sinne Satan fals like lightening from heaven and the soules of men partake of spirituall freedome as Goliah fell before David with a stone out of Davids sling so doth Satan before the Minister of the Lord with the word of God out of their mouth God delivered Naaman from his leprosie in Iordan and the impotent from their infirmities in Bethesda The Lord in and by the Gospell sanctifies the soules of his children this washeth away their uncleannesse this heales their infirmities this makes them new creatures Christ by his voice appeased the stormy tempest and gave a calme to his Disciples Christ by his Gospell appeaseth the tempestuous and perplexed consciences of his servants and brings them into a haven of spirituall peace and quietnesse He makes his Ministers as an Angell of God and one of a thousand to the afflicted soule comming like Noahs Dove with an Olive branch quieting him that is tossed upon the deluge of trouble turning his perplexity into peace his feare into confidence and his sorrow into sweet rejoycings God abundantly declares his dispensation of blessings by his Ministers through the removall of evils by their labours The Gospell is the choisest instrument averting evill foule and shamefull perplexing and mortall are the plagues and miseries resting upon them that neither enjoy nor regard the labours of Gods Ministers 3. In regard of the blessed state and condition whereinto God puts man by the labours of his Ministers The estate of man under the Gospell making a true use of the doctrines and instructions of Gods messengers is an estate of blessings The blessing
all prostrates it selfe and all that it hath under Christ that it may enjoy Christ it hates all that hinders its comming to Christ and embraceth all that may further its communion with Christ sutablenesse between the soule and Christ readily denyes and rejects all that hinders the fruition of Christ 3. In regard of the vanity nullity and nothingnesse which a gracious man discernes in himselfe and in all things else without and beside Christ he looks upon himselfe as on dust and ashes he is vile in his owne apprehension as a worme and no man he humbles and abhorres himselfe below the dust and ashes he looks on all other things as dung and drosse and a thing of naught in comparison of Christ he reputes all things in respect of Christ as Jothan did Abimelech in respect of the Sonnes of Jerubbaal but as a bramble in respect of the vine fig-tree and olive-tree and having such a low opinion of himselfe and all things else he readily denyes himselfe and all things else and makes all to vaile and stoop to Christ with Simon and Andrew they are ready to leave their nets their ship and their father to deny their possessions and their friends to put all under Christ to leave whatsoever is most profitable and deare according to the flesh for Christs sake with Paul to esteeme their very life as nothing that they may glorifie Christ and finish Christs worke The more any man doth undervalue himselfe and the creature the more he exalteth Christ the more freely fully and readily he prostrates all at the feet of Christ 4. In regard of the holy powerfull and universall raigne rule and dominion of Christ in a gracious and sanctified soule Here Christ reignes as a King in his Throne as Solomon reigned over the land of Canaan from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth so doth Christ raigne in a regenerate and gracious soule from the highest to the lowest faculty thereof and from the head to the feet and from the highest to the lowest undertaking of a Christian Here Christ reignes as a dweller in his house the dweller rules over all the roomes members and goods of his house and disposeth all to his service Christ rules over all the faculties of the soule members of the body and disposeth all the endowments and doings of a Christian to his owne service and for his owne honour Here Christ rules as the head over the body acting moving guiding and framing the whole man to a holy humble and free subjection Here Christ reignes as a Centurion in his army and as the servants of the Centurion did goe and come at his command and doe whatsoever he bad them Thus all the faculties of the soule and members of the body of a true Christian are at the command of Christ receiving their direction and commission from Christ doing every thing in subjection and obedience to Christ Thus the Psalmist speaking of Christs kingdome saith in the day of thy power when Christ should reigne by his Gospell and Spirit in the soules of men the people should be willing free ready and full in their subjection unto Christ and his enemies should bow before him and licke the dust such as were enemies rebellious and disobedient in their unregeneration should after their conversion bow themselves and licke the dust acknowledge and receive Christ as their Lord and King and in very great humility subject and prostrate both themselves and all theirs to him and his service for as Abner entring into Covenant with David and taking David for his King undertooke to bring about all Israelite to David Thus the soule entring into Covenant with Christ and taking Christ for its King brings about all to Christ and puts all in subjection under Christ 5. In regard of the holy and fervent desire of a gracious soule to exalt and set up Christ This is the prime â—â—â—our joy and comfort of a godly soule to see and feele Christs kingdome within him to set up Christ in his heart and to discerne him ruling and commanding there as a King in his Throne as a Pilate in the ship this is his suite and supplication unto God that Christs kingdâ—mâ— may come that Christ may reigne and rule within him as David sometimes thirsted and longed to see the power and glory of God in the Sanctuary so doth a godly man long to see the power and glory of Christ in his soule to behold him raigning in his heart In the day of Solomons coronation the people piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rung with the sound thereof In the day of Christs coronation and reigne in the soule of man the heart of man rejoyceth with exceeding great joy Christs dominion is a holy soules rejoycing the kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost It was the care labour and joy of David to bring the Arke of the Lord into the Tabernacle in that day David danced before the Lord with all his might and all the house of Israel brought up the Arke of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of a trumpet and set it in the midst of the Tabernacle Thus it is the care labour and comfort of the whole man that is godly to set up Christ in the midst of his soule to see him reigning in his understanding as the Sun in the eye guiding in his will as a Prince commanding it in his imagination as the obiect on which he thinketh with most frequency delight and comfort in his trust as the onely rocke whereon he buildeth in his feare as the King of Kings whom he chiefly reverenceth and in his love as an husband in the love of the wife so powerfull and operative is this desire labour and joy of a gracious soule touching the exaltation reigne and rule of Christ within it that as the people would have all the men put to death which would not have Saul reigne over them so doth such a man mortifie all his lusts which oppose Christs kingdome remove whatsoever may hinder Christs spirituall dominion and makes all vaile and stoop for Christs exaltation within him 6. In regard of a gracious soules acquiescence and contentation with the approbation of Christ In this it pleaseth in this it blesseth delighteth and satisfieth it selfe whatsoever it hath besides it this is in stead of all as the Sun is to the eye in stead of all lights and the fountaine to the thirsty in stead of all bottles the approbation of Christ is of very great price with a true Christian his praise is not the praise of men but of God not to have the approbation of men to his doings but of God not to have his eare tickled with the empty breath of vaine mans applause but with the solide and
of the cause contempt of God the cause of sin being found in every sin and in regard of Originall all other vices springing either mediately or immediately from this the more a man exalts himselfe the more he dishonours God the more a man doth lift himself up in his own conceit and opinion the more he doth cast plung himself into the gulf and mire of spirituall pollution fulnes of pride and fulnesse of uncleannesse are inseparable companions 2. Self-exaltation is the patron and protector of all other vices this blinds men that they cannot see their sinnes this hardens men that they will not confesse their sinnes this makes men such admirers of themselves and their owne wayes that they apprehend their very vices to be virtues this makes men studious and artificiall to cloake and colour and hide their sins this makes instruction and admonition the meanes of suppressing sin contemptible and causeth man with impudency and shamelesse boldnesse to maintaine and plead for his profanenesse the soule which learnes not to be humble cannot cease from transgression pride among other vices is like Goliah among the Philistines the Philistines were invincible untill Goliah was overthrowne other lusts in the soule of man are impugnable untill pride and self-exaltation is cast downe mans labour in the worke of mortification is vain and fruitles untill his pride is mortified the spirituall conquest is never gotten as long as pride beares the dominion He that overcomes not this overcomes no lust Selfe-exaltation in the soule of man is like a Castle or Fort and other vices like houses built under the Castle which cannot easily be assaulted and beaten downe because the Fort defends them the overthrow of other vices is impossible untill the Castle of pride is beaten downe in the heart of man the Pharisees being given to self-exaltation to the seeking and lifting up of themselves were under the power of every base lust erronious superstitious covetous malicious their very piety was nothing but hypocrisie he that doth not cease from himself will cease from no sinne if he be but once put upon the temptation therefore be not wise saith Solomon in thine owne eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill implying that where there is not a cessation from self-wisdome and self-exaltation there is no feare of God no keeping of Gods precepts no disposition no care to please God no cessation from sin for conscience sake therfore take away this vice saith Chrysostome that men would not appeare to men this vice of self-exaltation and all vices are cut off without labour Vpon the death of the first-borne of Pharaoh the children of Israel were delivered upon the mortification of pride the first-borne of the spirituall Pharaoh the soules of men obtain a gracious freedome Goliahs head being cut off all the Philistines fled the death of pride is the slight of all sinne he that exalts himselfe remaines both a stranger to the life power and comfort of all godlinesse and a nurse and patron to all unclean and base affections 3. Self-exaltation is the most invincible of all vices the roots thereof are so deepe and strong and so largely spread in the heart of man it puts the soule at such a great distance from God makes man so uncapable of Christ and heavenly wisdome so weds man unto himselfe and causeth man so to please and delight himselfe in himselfe so to prize the applause of man and to slight the approbation of God that there is no disease in the soul of man so uneasily cured no weed in the garden of mans heart so uneasily plucked up no enemy in the common-weale of mans soul so difficultly overcome as self-exaltation it is the hardest taske that ever man undertooke truly to deny himselfe and fully to prostrate and put himselfe under God and Christs yoake Pharaoh did many things in the way of love and honour to Joseph he put his ring upon his hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linnen and set him over his house but yet he reserved this unto himselfe to be greater in the throne then Joseph man may doe much in the way of outward zeale for God he may exalt God very farre above his profit above his pleasure above his peace yea above his life and yet still reserve to himselfe a preheminence above God he may cloath the naked feed the hungry and give his body to be burned in the cause of God and yet doe all this for himselfe more then for his God for his owne applause more then for the praise of God for the having of a name with men more then for the glorifying of the name of God Of all conquests selfe-conquest is the most difficult most excellent most noble and glorious he that can rule his spirit saith Solomon his proud his self-seeking and self-exalting spirit is better then he that taketh a City Man hath no greater enemy then himself he never doth more excellently then when he overcomes himselfe the overcoming of a Kingdome is nothing in comparison of mans conquest of his owne corruption pride is the first evill in mans departure from God and the last evill which is overcome in man returning unto God Shamma stood it out and defended the field when the people fled Self-exaltation stands it out like a mighty champion in the heart of man when all other lusts seeme to fly when other lusts goe out like fire that wants fewell yet this lust of self-exaltation as long as any thing of the old-man remaines in man will put it self forth and strive to soare aloft and climbe up in the thron of God Man hath most cause to watch pray against self-exaltation of all the evils which are within him 4. Self-exaltation corrupteth and destroyeth all the gifts and graces bestowed on man the evill herbe in the Prophets pot made the pot a pot of death ambition and self-exaltation in the soule of man marres all the excellencies of man turns all his gifts into a pot of death poysons all the endowments of man the more he hath received the lesse mindfull he is of God the higher thoughts he conceiveth of himselfe the more able and active he sheweth himself in evill and the more he sleights and scornes all instruction That man of all others is the fittest instrument to doe the worke of the prince of darknesse in whom abilities and a proud spirit are concurrent this like leaven sowrs the whole lump of mans vertues the tree sweetned the waters of Marah which were bitter but this like gall and wormwood sowres and imbitters those gifts and abilities which in themselves are very sweet and of singular use making vertue and the duties of piety subject and serviceable to mans vain-glory it is Gregories observation that as humility cuts the sinews of all vices and strengthens all vertues so pride destroyes all vertues and strengthens all vices pride is a very pernicious and venimous
doubtlesse that man never felt the power of Christ in his conversion that dreames of a power in himselfe to convert and change himselfe Presumption of self-goodnesse invincibly argues the absence of all saving goodnesse The diseased came either by their owne strength or by the help of others to Bethesda but when the foot was in the poole if the Angell did not move the waters there was no healing Man may come to the ministery of the word by his owne strength and by the perswasion of others but when he is come and heares the word there is no healing unlesse Christ worke mightily with the Gospell For Paul plants and Apollo waters but God giveth the increase Is Christ the Author and worker of spirituall life Then we must addresse our selves to Christ that Christ may quicken and enliven us Whiles we stand aloofe off and continue strangers to Christ we are all dead men dead spiritually while we live corporally alienated from the life of God while we enjoy the life of men continuing strangers to Christ we are all dead in sinne and as the dead know not any thing no more doe we savingly and comfortably know any thing of God of Christ of his word or of the Spirit of grace we are in darknesse like the dead we are blinde and groape at the noone day as in the midnight As the dead have no feeling of the disease which killed them of the burthen of earth cast upon them no more have we of the sinne which wounds us and hastens the second death upon us we are as Saint Paul said past feeling As the dead have no vigor no strength no motion no more have we any power disposition or inclination to any thing holy and savingly good in the sight of God As the dead are an uncomfortable spectacle and cast an evill savour so are we very unsavoury in Gods nosthrils an abomination in the eyes of God As the dead have no claime nor title to any thing their interest in what they once enjoyed is lost Thus we have no title to Christ no interest in Gods Covenant of grace and as the dead putrifie and rot more and more so we grow worse and worse as long as we continue without Christ O therefore let us come to Christ that he may enliven us as he raised Lazarus the Widowes sonne and the Rulers daughter Let us come to Christ to raise our soules as the woman of Shunem came to the Prophet to raise her dead sonne she made haste to the Prophet we must come speedily unto Christ in the dayes of our youth before we have continued long under the death and dominion of sinne the woman of Shunem came humbly to the Prophet she cast her selfe downe at the feet of the Prophet We must come to Christ in great humility humbling our selves before him having our hearts full of sorrow for our sinne earnestly petitioning the vivification of our soules The woman of Shunem laid hold upon the Prophets feet and would not let him goe untill he went with her and raised her sonne Thus must we lay hold on Christ carry him with us bring him home into the house of our hearts that Christ may quicken us to the life of grace here and to the life of glory hereafter This likewise discovers to us what all our works and services are as long as we are without Christ Christ is the Author and worker of spirituall life and while we are without Christ we are without spirituall life and where is no life there is no action no motion where is no life of grace there is no moving no stirring in the wayes of godlinesse All the workes of naturall men how specious soever in outward appearance yet they are as the Scripture termes them but dead workes their hearing praying receiving of the Sacrament and other duties of righteousnesse done by them are works without life For 1. they proceed not from an inward Principle of spirituall life all their motions in and about the duties of godlinesse like the motions of Clockes and Watches proceed not from life but from art from the feare of hell from the apprehension of death from the sence of affliction from the desire of the applause and favour of men from the hope of reaping the harvest of some worldly benefit and therefore as the clocke ceaseth his motion when the Spring is downe so doe these men usually cease their motion in the wayes of godlinesse when the outward loadstone which drew them is taken away as yron having no principle of life within it stops it's motion when the loadstone is removed then they are at a stay then they goe backe 2. Their services if we consider the nature of them they are but morall and ecclesiasticall services no spirituall services They have as the Apostle saith a forme of godlinesse but they deny the power of it As a dead man hath the forme and lineaments of a living man but not the power and vivacity of a living man their works for the matter of them may be morally and ecclesiastically good but not spiritually good their coine their service as Jeremy termes it is reprobate silver Reprobate silver may have the stamp colour and similitude of true coine and yet is base mettall A naturall mans duties of service and obedience to God may have the similitude and colour of a spirituall mans service but when they are tryed they are found to be counterfeit abominable in the sight of God how beautifull soever in the eyes of men Swines bloud is of as cleare and perfect colour to the eye as sheeps bloud yet it is of another nature and to offer Swines bloud under the Law was an abomination Thus the service of a carnall man may have the outward colour of a regenerate mans service and be as pure and perfect in the outward appearance as the service of the holiest persons and yet it is of another nature and a very abomination in the sight of God 3. Their services if you looke upon the adjunct of them are cold services coldnesse is a Symptome of death when a man is dead the whole man is cold the works of a naturall and carnall man are cold they have no spirituall life no heavenly warmth no vivacity and holy quicknesse in them It is said of David that he had many cloathes yet he got no heate Thus carnall men have all the ordinances of God all meanes to warme their soules and yet they continue cold as a dead body under many cloathes they may performe many religious duties and yet have no heate no warmth in them At the best they are but like Ephraims cake halfe baked like luke-warme meat such as is offensive to the stomacke and therefore Christ threatens to spew them out of his mouth they have nothing of the Spirit of God within them whose working is likened unto fire making men fervent in Prayer causing their hearts
Such a man is sicke of the least sinne he complaines of it he strives against it the Law of his mind strives against the Law of his members as Jacob strove against Esau so doth the spirituall part in him strive against the carnall and fleshly part and as the living fountaine strives against and works out the mud which fals into it so doth he that hath Christ living in him worke out the vaine thoughts which fall into his mind and the carnall lusts which rise in his soule and is never at rest untill he hath cleared himselfe of them as Sarah was at no rest untill she had freed her house of the bond-woman and her sonne Nothing is so displeasing to him that lives the life of grace as that which displeaseth Christ his choisest care is to keep his heart a cleane house for Christ to dwell in and to make his soule the plenary possession of Christ that Christ may dwell and reigne alone there he allowes himselfe in no sinne as a chaste wife allowes of no strange lover in her heart his soule is entire with Christ hating what Christ hateth loving what Christ loveth expelling daily more and more whatsoever doth oppose Christs kingdome within him he is as impatient of sinne in his soule as of a moate in his eye as a loyall Subject of a traitor in his house as a King of a forraine enemy in his Kingdome If sinne doe but once beginne to shew it selfe he raiseth all his forces to drive it out and is at no peace untill he hath emptied himselfe thereof 5. By mans assuming and taking to himselfe that which is most sutable and best agreeing with Christ. Every life drawes unto it selfe that which is most sutable and most agreeable thereunto on that it feeds with that it is maintained and therein it delights Thus he that hath Christ living in him takes unto himselfe that which suites and agrees with Christ in this he delights on this his soule feeds As his life is a spirituall life so he drawes to himselfe spirituall food and exerciseth himselfe in spirituall duties he desires like a new borne babe the sincere milke of the word as his food and to dwell in the house of the Lord as in the banquetting house of his soule where the ordinances of God are unto him as a feast of marrow and of fat things and of wines well refined upon the Lees Nothing so fits and suites with the soule where Christ lives as the word and other ordinances of Christ therefore such men desire this as their appointed food pant after this as the chased Hart after the water-brooks and long for it as the dry ground doth thirst for waters This is the food which maintaines the life of grace in their soules this is that wherein their life delights it selfe as in its proper element this is sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe this is better then thousands of gold and silver he hides it in his heart as good seed in good ground he suffers it to worke upon him as fire upon the mettall purifying him and working a gracious change within him he exerciseth himselfe in duties of godlinesse he takes upon him Christs yoake applies himselfe to Christs precept walks in all the ordinances of Christ he lives not to himselfe but to the Lord he delights himselfe in the meditation of Christ the doing of Christs will is his meat and drinke and thus drawing to himselfe what is most sutable and agreeable most pleasant and delightfull unto Christ he makes it manifest that he lives by Christ living in him 6. By mans feeding nourishing and strengthening himselfe by the ordinances of Christ The living man in whom is life and health doth not onely eat but gathers strength by his eating The man in whom Christ lives doth not onely use the meanes of grace but is perfected in grace by them Many there are who are frequent in the use of Gods ordinances and yet for want of spirituall life and an inward gracious digestive faculty they are as a man in an Atrophy that eats much and yet is leane and meager as if he had eat nothing Like the leane Kine in Pharaohs dreame that eat up the fat and yet were as leane and ill-favoured as if they had not eaten at all of whom Saint Paul saith they are alwayes learning and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth but they in whom Christ lives doe thrive by use of Gods ordinances they grow in grace as a childe by the mothers milke as a field by the dew they increase in knowledge as a Scholler in learning they waxe strong in saith as a Tree in roots they grow fervent in love as a fire in heate by the multiplication of wood they abound and are full of goodnesse as a Tree planted by the waters side is greene and flourishing and full of fruit and this is a comfortable argument and evidence of Christ living in us when we thrive by the meanes of grace and are filled with all those fruits of righteousnesse which are to the praise and glory of God in the day of Christ Jesus 7. By the sweetnesse of Christ to the soule of man Life is sweet to the living Christ is more sweet to them in whom he lives honours are sweet to the ambitious pleasures to the voluptuous and wealth to the covetous but Christ surpasseth all sweetnesse to them that are true Christians As the Apple tree among the trees of the wood saith the Spouse so is my Beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast All the fruits of Christs Prophecye Priesthood and Kingdome his death resurrection and all the benefits of them communicated to the Spouse by the Gospell on which she feedeth by faith to the revivement and refreshing of her soule are very sweet unto her Christ is all sweetnesse to true beleevers the knoweledge of Christ is sweet to their understandings as the light is sweet unto the eye the meditation of Christ is sweet to their imagination as the meditation of the husband is sweet unto the wife the love of Christ is sweet unto their soules as the wine is sweet unto the palate The word of Christ is sweet unto their eares as a joyfull sound his mouth is sweet and altogether lovely The presence of Christ is sweet unto them as the presence of the bridegroome unto the bride The Spouse affirmes of him that his cheekes are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers and his lips like Lillies dropping sweet myrrh declaring the surpassing sweetnesse which beleeving and holy soules doe find in Christs manifestation of himselfe and in the gifts and comforts which he communicates to them by the Gospell The more cleare and strong sweet and comfortable apprehensions we have of Christ the greater is our assurance of Christs living in us 8. By the spirituall
twice dead and plucked up by the roots according to Saint Jude Every man is a sinfull dead man that hath not Christ graciously enlivening him and this is a great misery a condition of manifold discomforts an estate of great unhappinesse the dead according to the flesh sees nothing of all that sweet and glorious light which the Sun casteth forth upon him the dead in sinne hath no comfortable apprehension of Christ shining in the Gospell more gloriously then the Sunne Christ in the Gospell is altogether hidden from them that have not Christ living in them The dead saith Salomon know not any thing The dead in sinne know not any thing of the wisedome of Christ guiding them of the death of Christ mortifying their lusts of the resurrection of Christ quickning their soules of the dominion of Christ reigning in their hearts of the holinesse of Christ sanctifying their affections nor of the fulnesse of Christ satisfying their desires Prophane persons are altogether empty of the knowledge of Christ Jesus In death saith the Psalmist there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks Under the death and in the grave of sinne there is no remembrance of Christ he is not in all their thoughts they thinke not upon him as the traveller upon the guide leading them as the rich man upon the treasure enriching them as the Bride upon the Bridegroome marrying them Christ with carnall persons like David among his carnall acquaintance is forgotten as a dead man out of minde and like a broken vessell Can a maid saith the Lord forget her Ornaments or a Bride her attire yet my people have forgotten me dayes without number Christ the ornament and attire of the soule of man is forgotten by carnall people as dead men are unmindfull of their apparell 3. The dead are unsensible of all diseases they have no feeling of any burthens Man alienated from Christ and the life of God is past feeling he feeles not his sinne as a heavy burden oppressing him he feeles not Satan as an enemy buffeting him as a Tyrant molesting and captivating him his conscience as a witnesse accusing and a Judge condemning him it is seared with a hot iron Mans unsensiblenesse of his owne wretchednesse argues his unhappy and great estrangement from Christ Jesus 4. The body separated from the soule is an unprofitable lump a loathsome carkasse the soule separated from Christ is an unfruitfull branch separated from the Vine an unprofitable member rent from the body a loathsome object in Gods sight uncleane corrupt abominable and doing no good as the Psalmist speakes The whole man separate from Christ Jesus is a vessell full of all uncleannesse his best service like the savour of a dead man is unsavoury in Gods nostrils 5. The dead is uncapable of the food set before him his body fals to the ground cleaves unto the earth and resolveth into dust Man that hath not Christ living in him is uncapable of the meanes of grace his soules food he thrives not by the ministery of the word his soule is leane and ill-favoured still like Pharaohs leane Kine after their eating of the fat the Quailes choaked the Israelites they proved not a nourishing but a destroying food unto them The word proves the savour of death unto death to him that is separated from the Lord of Life All that are without Christ are fallen from God unto the world they minde onely earthly things they resolve into the very dust they are buried under the world as a dead man under the earth The World hath the full possession of them the sole Lordship over them nothing but the World suites with them nothing but the earth is savoury to them 6. The body without the soule moves not walks not Man without Christ hath no motion no inclination unto God makes no progresse in the way to life Lazarus moved not walked not untill Christ raised him Man moves not in the way towards God and Heaven untill Christ gives him part in the first Resurrection Man in the state of corruption like Israel in the Prophet is bent unto backesliding Mans continuance in sinne increaseth his estrangement from God The longer man lives in the state of corruption the farther he removes from Heaven the greater is the distance between him and salvation Lastly in a word a dead man is offensive to the house where he is hath no communion with the living hath lost all his dignity and priviledges which he enjoyed in his life time can doe nothing for his owne defence but is exposed to the foot to tread upon him to the fowles of the aire to devoure him Thus the carnall man that is without Christ is an offence to them that live the life of grace hath no spirituall communion with Gods children is estranged from all the Prerogatives and dignities belonging to the living members of Christ unable to doe any thing in defence of himselfe against the adversaries of his soule being exposed and laid open as a very prey to Satan And thus mans Alienation from the life of grace and holinesse shewes his great misery in being estranged from Christ Jesus 2. Man that is without Christ is without Light He that is without the Sunne is in darknesse He that is without the Sun of Righteousnesse is in darknesse and the shadow of death There is no oyle of saving knowledge no Starre of spirituall Light shining in the house and region of his soule Of such our Saviour saith they have not knowne the Father nor me They have not knowne the Father as a spirituall Parent regenerating them as a heavenly King reigning and ruling within them as a gracious dweller possessing furnishing and adorning their soules with his gifts and graces as a dweller possesseth and furnisheth his house They have not known the Father in his Word adoring him according to his prescription in his Sacrament as the Master of a feast in his banqueting house feasting and feeding them in his precepts as a Lord and Master fearing him nor in his promises as a sure and faithfull friend resting and relying upon him Neither have they knowne me they have not knowne me in my natures as God and Man in one Person in my Offices as their Prophet instructing them as their Priest offering my selfe a sacrifice for them as their King bearing spirituall dominion within them as their Mediator bringing them night to God making reconciliation between them and God they have not knowne me in my sufferings being crucified together with me in my exaltations being planted with the likenes of my Resurrection in my communications being filled with my fulnesse solaced with my comforts and revived and cheered up with my blessed presence very miserable is the carnall mans ignorance of God and Christ Jesus Therefore stiled darkenesse not darke but darkenesse it selfe Ye were once darkenesse universally darke wholly darke having
the Israelites rejoyced in the Arke not in the Lord and vaine men rejoyce in man in the presence of man in the ability favour power and helpe of man and not in Christ Thus among the men of Corinth One said J am of Paul and another I am of Apollo looking with a humane eye upon and glorying after a carnall manner in those holy Messengers of God even idolizing and abusing the appointed instruments of their salvation robbing Christ of his glory by an inordinate dependance upon and glorying in the Messengers of Christ ascribing that to them which was proper unto Christ exalting them into the very roome of Christ so glorying in them that Christ was not glorious in their apprehension the carnall overvaluing of the instruments is a shamefull undervaluing of the Lord Jesus Hee that doth not according to the expression of the Prophet cease from man from the wisdome and counsell devise and invention art and ability of man sees little or nothing of Christ hath no comfort nor joy in Christ he that doth not cease from dependance upon man from glorying and pleasing himselfe in man from resting upon the authority of man in matter of spirituall instruction is very ignorant of Christ a meere stranger to Christ Christ ever proves uncomfortable to them whose rejoycings are in man 4. There is a fullnesse of the world which argueth an emptinesse of Christ in the soule of man The Inne where Christ was borne was so full of guests that there was no roome for Christ but in a manger a dishonourable lodging for such a glorious guest in the heart which is filled with the world there is no roome for Christ Worldly minded men give a very unworthy entertainment unto Christ the world so blinds them that they cannot discerne the beauty worth and excellency of Christ any more then an eye full of dust can discerne the brightnesse and beauty of the Sunne they see no comelinesse in Christ for which they should desire him this so fils their hearts that they are uncapable of spirituall instruction as thorns and bryars make the field uncapable of seed this beares such authority and dominion within them that they cannot vaile and bow to Christ they cannot take Christs yoake upon them they cannot set themselves about Christs worke any more then a servant can put himselfe from his Masters service into another mans worke No man saith Christ can serve two Masters no man can be the servant of God and Mammon this so alienates the heart of a man from Christ drawes the soule of man into such spirituall fornication that man can no more love Christ then a harlot can love her husband for if any man saith Saint John love the world the love of the Father is not in that man And the love of the world saith St. James is enmity with God This doth so take up the thought care study delight strength labour time and the very whole of man and doth so fetter and bind him fasten and encline him to things here below that with the invited guests in the Parable he cannot come to Christ he cannot imbrace Christ he cannot attend on Christ he cannot marry his soule to Christ this doth so distemper their palates that they cannot relish Christ The flesh-pots of Aegypt were so savoury to the Israelites that they could not long relish their Manna Christ is a distastfull dish where the world is a sweet feast this fils the heart of man with dishonourable thoughts of Christ The over-prizing of the world is the under-prizing of Christ Hee can never apprehend Christ as all in all that doth not apprehend the world as nothing the young mans over-prizing the world caused his departure from Christ the lovers of the world are very inconstant in their following of Christ if Christ and the world will not stand together Christ is soone forsaken the world alone hath their attendance service and affection So that Christ hath no spirituall and gracious being where the world hath such full possession And these foure sorts of fulnesse in man are so many cleare demonstrations of Christs estrangement from man 5. By mans spirituall emptinesse He that is empty of Christ is without Christ the Cisterne which is empty of water is without the fountaine hee that is empty of grace is without Christ the authour and fountain of grace he that is without the life of Christ who hath not Christ living in him as the root in the branches graciously enlivening him as the soule doth naturally enliven the body endowing him with spirituall principles of holy and gracious life enabling him like a living man to feele his sin as a living man his disease to rise up from the world as a living man ariseth from the Earth to feed upon the Ordinances of God as a living man upon the food which is set before him to walke in the wayes of God as a living man doth move and walke in an earthly way to follow Christ in attending his Ordinances in beleeving his Promises in obeying his precepts as Lazarus followed Christ when he had raised him from death to life he that hath not Christ thus living in him thus framing and disposing him to live to God to consecrate himselfe to Gods service to conforme himselfe to Gods precepts to intend God and his glory To live as the Apostle saith godly in Christ Jesus in Christ enlivenining him and according to Christs prescription He that doth not thus live is without Christ 2. He that is empty of the knowledge of Christ is without Christ the eye which is empty of the light of the Sun is without the Sun the soule which is empty of spirituall and heavenly light is without the Sun of Righteousnesse he that doth not know Christ as a Prophet instructing him and making him wise unto salvation as a Priest sanctifying and purging him from his corruption as a King bearing spirituall dominion within him bringing his whole man into a holy and humble subjection he that doth not know the death of Christ in the crucifying of his affections the resurrection of Christ in the rising of his soule to seeke the things which are above the power of Christ in working his heart from obstinacy and hardnesse from captivity and bondage from pride and haughtinesse to softnesse and tendernesse to liberty and freedome and to humility and meeknesse He that doth not know the beauties of Christ ravishing his soule with joy and delight in him the love of Christ in being espoused to Christ the worth and excellency of Christ in accounting all but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ and the fullnesse of Christ in feeling and finding all contentation in Christ he that doth not thus know Christ is without Christ in Christ are hidden all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom and he that hath Christ is full of spirituall knowledge as
So let us bee earnest with the Lord to deliver us from this estate of barrennesse and make us fruitfull from this estate of exilement and bring us to the enjoyment of the heavenly Kings face and countenance Let us make Christ our Friend that there may be an end put to the enmity betweene God and us and that we may be set at peace againe with God let us sigh and groane under our sinfull bondage and labour for spirituall freedome Let us labour to have true and saving grace powred into the pot of our soules that all our possessions and undertakings may be sanctified unto us and that the Word which our sinne hath made the savour of death unto death may thorow grace become the savour of life to life to every one of us And to the end we may be translated out of the state of corruption into the state of grace let us 1. Attend upon and hide the word of God in our hearts This is the Word of life by which our soules are quickned this is the Seed of Regeneration by which wee are new born this is the voyce by which wee are called out of the Kingdome of darkenesse into marvellous light this is the warlike weapon by which the holds of sinne are cast downe as the walls of Jericho were cast flat to the ground at the â—ounding of the Trumpets this is the fire by which the drosse of sin is purged out of our souls this is the word of Reconciliation by which wee are set at peace with God On this therfore let us wait this let us treasure up in our souls that therby a gracious change may be wrought in us 2. Let us labour for the sence and feeling of our sinne as of a loathsome disease as of a heavy burthen Complaine of sinne as Sarah did of the daughters of Heth be weary of sinne as a sick man of his disease Cry to the Lord as Paul did O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death the more sence and feeling wee have of sinne the more assurance of a discharge from sin When Israel sighed and groaned then their deliverance from Pharaohs bondage drew nigh when sin is a trouble and man growes weary of it as of a hard servitude then the houre of the soules spirituall deliverance approacheth therefore to such our Saviour speaketh Come unto me all yee that travell and are heavy laden and yee shall finde ease unto your soules 3. Let us get our hearts filled with godly sorrow for sin turne all your sorrow into sorrow for sinne Mourne for this as for the death of your first-borne Mourne secretly without ostentation mourne unfainedly without dissimulation mourne universally without the reservation of any sin as the deluge overflowed and drowned all the Earth hill and valley so let your sorrow drowne all sinne they that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Godly sorrow is ever attended with the joy of conversion remission and spirituall consolation They that mourne shall be comforted 4. Be very frequent and serious in the view and examination of your naturall and corrupt estate consider the basenesse the loathsomnesse the unprofitablenesse the cursednesse and the perilousnesse thereof men could never quiet themselves in this estate were they not inconsiderate of the evill thereof A Travellor that is out of his way would never goe on therein did hee consider that every step he treades is one step further from his home did carnall man consider that every action of his removes him one step farther from God and Heaven and brings him one step nearer to Satan and damnation hee would never please himselfe in this estate inconsideration makes way to all evill the Lord having mentioned the great impieties of Israel layeth downe this as the ground therof They are a Nation saith the Lord void of counsell neither is there any understanding in them O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end they doe not consider how they are in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity in the thraldome of Satan under the wrath of God in the state of damnation subject to a thousand easelesse and endlesse woes and miseries did men consider this they would awake out of their sleepe and stand up from the dead that Christ might give them light They would with David consider their waies and turne unto the testimonies of the Lord. 5. Addresse your selves to Christ by faithfull and fervent Prayer the Gibeonites sent to Joshua and he rescued them from the Amoritish Princes We must send by prayer to Christ to rescue us from the Prince of darkenesse the woman of Shunâ—m came to the Prophet cast her selfe downe tooke hold of his feet would not let him goe and hee went with her and raised her dead child thus must we come to Christ cast our selves downe humble our selves under the hand of Christ lay hold on Christ and never let him goe that he may raise us from the death of sin to the life of grace CHAP. VII Perswading to thanksgiving for deliverance out of our naturall and corrupt estate LAstly this ministers matter and occasion of great praise and thanksgiving to all them whom Christ hath delivered out of their corrupt and carnall estate and translated into the state of grace and holinesse Of all deliverances deliverance from sinne is the greatest the sweetest the choisest A deliverance of the greatest cost other deliverances are wrought by the power of God this is a deliverance wrought not onely by the power of God but also by the bloud of God by the bloud of Christ who is God and Man in one person Feed saith Saint Paul to the Bishops the Ministers of Ephesus the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Give thanks saith the Apostle unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darknes and translated us into the Kingdom of his deare Son in whom we have redemption through his bloud the deliverance of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Babylon the deliverance of Ieremy out of the dungâ—on of Peter out of Herods prison of Ionah out of the belly of the Whale or the three children out of the fiery furnace or whatsoever deliverance else you can mention cost not God so much as the deliverance of man from sinne for this God gave his owne his onely Sonne This is a deliverance which argues more of Gods love to man then all the deliverances which God hath wrought besides for man Therefore of this the Evangelist saith God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne And Christ saith Saint Paul loved the Church and gave himselfe for it This is a deliverance from greater evils
men of knowledge and sacred understanding God gives them the meanes of knowledge outwardly and works knowledge in them inwardly I am married unto you saith the Lord there is his covenant with them and I will give you Pastors according to mine owne heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding there is the ministration of the meanes of knowledge to them Thy maker saith the Prophet is thy husband there is the covenant of wedlock between God and his Church and all thy children shall be taught of God there is the inward illumination of their understanding and againe this saith the Lord shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them Naturall fooles are unfit to enter covenant with men spirituall fooles are as unfit for Gods covenant there is no communion between light and darknesse there is no covenant no fellowship between God who dwels in light inaccessable and them that are overwhelmed with the darknesse of ignorance 2. In regard of Alienation from Christ the foundation of the Covenant All the promises of grace and salvation are in Christ in him they are Yea and Amen sure and certaine firm and durable incline your â—are and come unto me faith the Lord heare and your soule shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David which is Christ in and through whom God shewes himselfe a father of mercies to all beleevers Ye saith Saint Peter are the children of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God made with our fathers saying unto Abraham And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed Vnto you first God having raised up his Sonne Jesus sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities God communicates all blessings through Christ Jesus every thing turnes to a curse to him that is without Christ the choisest Nectar proves bitter as gall to him that hath not Christ to sweeten the same unto him Now every prophane man is without Christ an enemy to the Crosse of Christ a despiser of the Doctrine of Christ an opposer of the Kingdome of Christ no friend of Christ no true member in Christ no lively stone built upon Christ the living stone and being out of Christ they are strangers to Gods gracious promise 3. In regard of Enmity against God who is the Authour of the covenant and the fruition and enjoyment of whom is the supreame substance and comfort of the covenant the chiefest and choisest good of the soule of man They shall be my people and I will be their God saith the Lord and I will make an everlasting Covenant with them I will be their God saith he I will be all in all unto them I will be their King to command them their Father to make provision for them their Husband to marry them their Friend to solace them their shield and buckler to protect them their Captaine to fight for them to vanquish all that doth oppose them the strength of their heart and their portion forever as the Psalmist speakes Now carnall men are without God alienated from the life of God and as our Saviour said in another case God is not a God of the dead but of the living so in this case he is not the God of them that are dead in sinne but of them that live the life of grace Prophane men are aliens and enemies to God by their evill works haters of God hating him in his Lawes of holinesse which he hath prescribed to them in his works of holinesse upon the soules of his children and in the holy labours of his faithfull and holy Ministers and having enmity against God they have nothing to doe wiâ—h the covenant of God 4. In regard of Agreement with sinne which is the breach of the Covenant Carnall man and sinne are at a very full agreement with this they agree as the palate with sweet meat stolne waters saith Salomon are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant with this their hearts accord as the hand with the glove the â—are with the musicke the foot with a plaine path or the fish with the water it is no burthen no trouble to them their foot is swift to run this race it is a sport to them to doe evill you drink up iniquity like water it is the centre to which they move it is the element wherein they desire and delight to live Now sinne is the breach of the covenant between God and the soule as adultery breaks the covenant of wedlocke between man and wife They are turned backe saith the Lord to the iniquity of their Fathers and have broken my covenant Raigning prophanenesse undoubtedly excludes man from Gods promise he that is as the Prophet speakes at an agreement with death and in covenant with Hell sinning securely and without feare cannot be in covenant with God he that is not afraid to offend God cannot be at peace with God 5. In regard of the absence of the Spirit the principall applying cause of the covenant and promise to the soule of man He saith our Saviour of the Spirit shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you that is the Spirit shall make application unto you of the benefits which come by me he shall make my death effectuall to mortifie your lusts and my bloud efficacious to purge away your sinne and my resurrection powerfull to revive and quicken your soules he shall make you partakers of all the promises favours and blessings of God dispensed through mee to man and for this the Spirit is called the Spirit of adoption assuring us of the fatherly love of God in Christ towards us The earnest and Seale of our inheritance assuring us of our salvation through Christ Now carnall men are destitute of the Holy-Ghost they are sensuall saith Jude having not the Spirit having not the Spirit as a dweller possessing them as a teacher instructing them as water washing them and having not the Spirit of God they have nothing to doe with the Covenant of God because God gives his Spirit to all such as he receives into his Covenant 6. In regard of the want of faith and obedience the condition of the covenant on mans behalfe The promise is made to them that beleeve received through faith and they which be of the faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham faith the Apostle And he that beleeveth faith Christ shall be saved but hee that beleeveth not shall be damned Faith apprehends the promise and purifies the heart and makes man capable of all the promises of God godlinesse having the promise of this life and of the life which is to come Now carnall
promising him that a woman should compasse a man contrite and broken hearted sinners are the proper subject of Gods sweetest mercies 3. We must relinquish the world Abner fell out with the house of Saul and then hee entred into Covenant with David Man must first fall out with the world take off his heart from the earth before he can enter into covenant with God because the love of the world as S. James speakes is enmity with God and he that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God the first husband must be dead before the woman can joyne her selfe in wedlocke with a second man man must be crucified to the world and the world unto him before he can be married unto Christ enter into Covenant with Christ when Zacheus received Christ into his house he gave the halfe of his goods to the poore and restored foure-fold to them from whom he had wrongfully taken The world is much slighted where Christ is truely received The soule is never filled with Christ unlesse it be emptied of the earth Dagon fals where the Arke is erected the exaltation of Christ is the prostration of the world Mans communion with Christ is sutable to his separation from the world He that will enter this Covenant and associate himselfe with Christ must with Matthew leave the receipt of custome hee must with Salomon looke upon the world as upon a thing of nought he must according to the Apostles rule use the world as if hee did not use it He must forget his owne people and forsake his Fathers house that will have consortship with Christ 4. We must renounce all intimate communion with corrupt and carnall people come out from among them saith the Lord there is the separation and I will be your Father and ye shall be unto me for sonnes and daughters there is Gods receiving them into covenant and communion with him the Prodigall deserted and repented of his fellowship with Harlots and riotous persons and then his Father lovingly received and imbraced him God is very propitious to such as repent of their sinfull fellowship with his enemies God ministers many comfortable expressions of his love to them who withdraw themselves from such as doe not love him when Moses left Pharaohs Court the Lord appeared to him in the wildernesse saying I am the God of thy Fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob the declination of fellowship with profane persons is usually attended with a sweet enjoyment of Gods presence and the ministration of many spirituall comforts were we more thoroughly alienated from vaine men wee should be more fully and sweetly acquainted with God could we give a bill of divorce to profane persons we should have a blessed and honourable wedlocke with Christ Jesus 5. We must with all diligence attend the Ministry of the word Encline your eare Come unto me saith the Lord Heare and your soule shall live and J will make an everlasting Covenant with you God by the labours of his Ministers brings men into covenant with himselfe by their labours hee opens the beauties and perfections of Christ he makes them see their necessity of Christ their misery without Christ and their happinesse in the enjoyment of Christ by their labours hee woes and perswades them to come to Christ fils their hearts with earnest longings after Christ with fervent and unfained love to Christ and so espouseth them unto him as Abraham by his Servant brought Rebecca to his son Isaac Thus doth God by his Ministers bring men to his Sonne Christ Jesus Did wee not shamefully undervalue and profanely estrange our selves from the labours of Gods Ministers wee could not be such strangers to Gods Covenant nor so empty of those blessings which Christ ministers to true beleevers Attend therefore Gods Word if ever you meane to enjoy the benefit of Gods Covenant 6. We must readily and fully receive Christ Christ is the foundation of the Covenant the promise is in Christ Josephs Bretheren came nigh to Pharaoh by Joseph man comes nigh to God by Christ findes favour with God and partakes of all the mercies of God through Christ through him we are made the Sonnes of God thorough him wee are accepted of God thorough him we receive of Gods fullnesse grace for grace the receiving of the Lord Jesus is the receipt of all mercies in him we are blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places without Christ wee are strangers to all Gods mercies in Christ wee have title to all Gods blessings Iosephs bretheren were lovingly entertained of him bringing Beniamin with them without whom they might not looke him in the face bringing Christ with us God will graciously receive us without Christ God will be a consuming fire to us And therefore let us all labour thus to interest our selves in Gods Covenant for hereby shall we have interest in all Gods Promises as in so many pillars to support us as in so many wel-springs to refresh us in all the creatures as in so many Servants to minister their assistance to us in all the Ordinances of God as in so many Starres to enlighten us as in so many dishes of spirituall dainties to feed us as in so many heavenly Bethesda's to heale us and in all the attributes of God as in so many branches of the tree of life to shelter and shadow us interest in the power of God to uphold us in the wisedome of God to guide us in the mercy of God to pardon us in the presence of God to encourage us in the love of God to solace us and in the All-sufficiency of God every way to satisfie and content us Sweet and sure full and everlasting joyous and honourable are the Prerogatives and comforts which are obtained by interest in Gods Covenant CHAP. XVIII Declaring the misery of naturall Man without Hope THe fourth Alienation declaring naturall and carnall mans misery is an Alienation from Hope Without hope The hope of salvation by Christ from this hope man in his corrupt and carnall estate is estranged Hope is a grace inclining and disposing a regenerate and beleeving soule with assurance and patience to expect and wait for the accomplishment of such good things as God in Christ hath promised and faith apprehendeth Gird up saith Saint Peter the loynes of your minds be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ all grace is dispensed through Christ the full communication hereof is reserved till Christs second comming and hope waits for the receiving of it in and through Christ The cause efficient of this hope is God the Author and giver of all good it is not a worke of nature but of grace not of man but of God Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us againe to a lively hope
by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Wherein you have the Author of this hope God a gracious and loving Father in Christ the moving cause the mercy of God the antecedent regeneration the foundation prop or pillar of it Christ risen from the dead the full accomplisher of mans welfare the inward instrumentall cause or root of hope is a lively and saving faith Faith is the ground of things hoped for the object of this hope is God in Christ all good things flowing from the grace of God in Christ to the soule of man therefore is Christ called the hope of glory and we are bidden to hope for grace by Christ The Seate or Subject of Christian hope is a regenerate and renewed heart therefore termed the hope of the godly Of this hope carnall men are destitute having no hope no hope of salvation the Gentiles before Christ was preached to them having no promise of life no Mediator between God and them had no hope of salvation Carnall men under the Gospell being no children of God by regeneration no members no partakers of Christ by faith having no interest in Gods covenant of life and peace no title to Gods promise of grace by Christ they have no hope Whence you see That Corrupt and carnall man hath no true and assured hope of salvation There is no hope of that mans salvation that continues corrupt and carnall there is no salvation in that estate In Pauls shipping towards Rome when neither Sunne nor Starres for many dayes appeared and no small tempest lay on them all hope that they should be saved was then taken away When neither Sun nor Star neither Christ nor any saving grace appeare in the soule of man and when the conscience of carnall man works like a tempest within him then however he flattered himselfe in the houre of his spirituall slumber and promised salvation to himselfe yet now all hope of being saved is taken away now he sees he is in the state of damnation now he sees as Peter told Simon Magus that he is in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity and that he hath no part nor lot in Christ but is as the Psalmist saith farre from salvation farre from the knowledge faith hope and sence of salvation they looke not to the holy One of Israel they looke not unto God as to their King to command them as to their Counsellor to guide them as to their Physician to heale them as their rocke to support them their hope is not in him their expectation is not from him their estate who live under the power of corruption is no estate of Christian hope but of desperation having no ground to hope or look for salvation by Christ For 1. The carnall man is uncapable of Christian hope Hope is a heavenly guest and dwels not in an uncleane and unregenerate heart the carnall soule is an empty house wherein dwelleth no good thing no saying gift and grace of God He that is not of God cannot hope in God he that is not in Christ cannot expect and wait for salvation by Christ the carnall man is dead in sinne the corporally dead have no more any humane hope their breath goeth out of their nostrils and as their thoughts so their hopes perish the spiritually dead have no spirituall hopes where there is no life of grace there is no hope in Christ the carnall man is blinde and cannot discerne Christ he is ignorant of Christ he knowes not the things belonging to his peace and how can he hope in Christ whom he knowes not the carnall man is proud he trusts in himselfe in his owne abilities in his owne worth in his owne duties and therefore cannot hope in Christ No man hath or can have a lively hope in Christ but he that is begotten againe by the resurrection of Christ. 2. The carnall man wants the instrumentall cause and root of hope Faith is the mother and hope the daughter Faith is the root and hope the branch Faith is the cause and hope the effect Faith apprehends the promise and hope expects and waits for the thing promised therefore the Apostle termeth Faith the ground of hope Now the carnall man beleeves not he builds upon the sand and not upon the rocke he is wedded to the world and not to Christ he confines himselfe within himselfe and commeth not out of himselfe to Christ he bringeth forth his fruit unto himselfe and not unto Christ he resteth in the creature in himselfe in some gift or duty of his owne he takes not up his full and everlasting rest in Christ and therefore beleeves not and as where is no root there is no branch so where there is no faith there is no hope 3. The carnall man is alienated from the props pillars and supporters of Christian hope that is to say the promise of God the grace of God in Christ and the merit of Christ These three support and beare up the hoping and waiting soule as the three pillars bore up the hangings in the Tabernacle These three are like three Cities of Refuge appointed by Moses to which the pursued malefactor betooke himselfe to these doth the guilty beleeving soule pursued with the sence of Gods displeasure the noise of his sinne and cry of his conscience betake himselfe hoping and expecting consolation from them Now to all these the carnall man is a stranger they belong not to him they are childrens bread dogs may not taste them they are Doves wings Owles and Ravens have no hiding place under them He that hateth to be reformed hath nothing to doe with Gods covenant carnall men receive the grace of God in vaine they embrace not the mercy of God in Christ tendred to them in the Gospell they reject it they are no more changed nor bettered by it then the rocke by the raine or the blinde by the Sunne not being mingled with faith it doth not profit them the merit of Christ doth not advantage them his righteousnesse doth not justifie them his death doth not mortifie their lusts his resurrection doth not quicken their soules his intercession doth not reconcile them unto God his ransome restores no spirituall freedome to them and therefore they have no hope of salvation 4. The carnall man is a stranger to the way to salvation There is a way of faith in Christ Christ is the way the truth and the life him the carnall man knowes not he never studied never learned Christ as the truth is in him he knowes not Christ living in his soule as he knows his soule living in his body he knowes not Christ enlightening him as the eye knowes the Sun whose light is sweet unto the eye he knowes not Christ ruling and raigning within him as the souldiers knew the Centurion commanding them and they yeelding ready subjection to him he knowes not Christ conquering and subduing Satan
with them and as a man by meanes of a whorish woman is brought to a morsell of bread so these by meanes of their fornication with this whorish woman the world they become very beggars in grace and get a blot and a staine which cannot be wiped off being without God he overprizeth the world in the siege of Samaria Doves dung was sold at a high price because they wanted bread he that wants God the bread the staffe and stay of his soule highly prizeth the dung and drosse of the earth and wanting God the world with her cares honours pleasures customes fashions and allurements overwhelmes him as the deluge did them that were without the Arke miserable is their slavery and servitude to the world who have not God graciously possessing them spiritually reigning and ruling within them 5. He that is without God is full of sinne The sluggards field in Solomon being without a diligent husbandman to manure it was full or thornes and nettles He that hath not God the great husbandman of the soule to manure him is overgrowne with the thornes bryars and nettles of all sorts of vices full of all abominations as Baals house was full of Idolaters and the Pharisces Sepulchers full of rottennesse and dead mens bones his lusts binde and chaine him as the fetters did Peter in Herods prison his understanding is full of blindnesse as the Egyptians houses were full of darknesse he sees nothing of God of Christ nor of his owne unhappy estate his will is full of perversenesse and frowardnesse no liberty no inclination there to move God-ward to intend God his glory or his soules welfare he is led away captive by his lusts as the Egyptians by the Assyrians naked and barefoot poore blinde naked miserable and wretched His thoughts are full of vanity pride basenesse covetousnesse fraude beastlinesse and what not these trade and trafficke and travell up and downe within him as swine in a stithe and make him a very dunghill and loathsome habitation as the buyers and sellers made the Temple a den of theeves his affections are full of all pollution base feare carnall confidence worldly love and fleshly joy his soule like the cup in the womans hand upon a skarlet coloured beast Rev. 17. full of abominations and filthinesse and his wayes works and particular passages of his life superscribed with names titles and characters of blasphemy against God Christ Heaven the Gospell and Christian Religion He that is without God and the Lord Jesus is the most loathsome of all Creatures 4. He that is without God is full of curses Where God is not the curse goeth mans very blessings are turned into curses his morall and temporall abilities all his possessions the wife in his bosome the children in his house the meat on his table the apparell on his backe is a snare to him Cursed is he in the City and in the field in his basket and in his store in the fruit of his body and in the fruit of his land in the increase of his kine and flocks of his sheep in his comming in and in his going out Yea the very word which he heareth Sacrament which he receiveth and Prayer which he maketh becomes a curse the savour of death unto death yea Christ himselfe the medium of all blessings to the soule becomes a stone of stumbling and a rocks of defence The Prophets pot before the meale was powred in was a pot of death the very whole of man without God turnes to a curse to man O the folly of them that blesse themselves in their havings not having God with them within them regenerating renewing and purifying and sanctifying all unto them Mans blessednesse consists not in any havings but in the having of God to him that hath God for his God the Lyon proves a hive of honey-combs the greatest crosse a sweet blessing to him that hath not God the choisest Paradise becomes a wildernesse the calmest river a tempestuous Sea his greatest prosperity his heaviest misery 5. He that is without God is without all the having of all things is as nothing if we have not God with them God is the fulnesse of every thing what is the having of a lamp without oyle a bone without marrow a vessell without liquor such is the having of all things without God he that with Senacherib hath Lordship over many Nations he that with Absolon hath all bodily beauty he that with the rich man in the parable hath more substance then his house can hold he that with the false Prophets hath all the applause of the world every mans tongue a trumpet to sound his praises he that with the man at the wedding feast hath all the Ordinances of God yet if with all this he hath not God he may say as Haman did in another case all this availe me nothing He that is without God is a house without a foundation to uphold him a besieged City without a Captaine to rescue him a sheep in the mouth or a Lyon without a Shepheard to deliver him a chased Hart his sinnes like a thousand arrowes sticking in him the venome of the infernall fiery serpent boyling and burning within him his conscience with a hideous cry pursuing him and no water-brooke to refresh him and a condemned malefactor ready every moment to come to his heart-rending soule-torturing and never ending execution without a King of mercies to pardon him The losse of God is of all losses the greatest no darkenesse like the want of this Sun no famine like the want of this bread no storme comparable to the want of this calme O the blessednesse of the soule which enjoyes God! O the slavery basenesse misery of the soule which is without God! Saul in his distresse cryed out the Philistines make warre against me and God is departed from me The carnall man will one day cry out the Devils make warre against me the fiends of Hell are come upon me and God is departed from me Had man the lively sence and feeling of future woes terrors and perplexities whereinto his being without God will cast him he would give himselfe no rest untill he had gotten the sweet and sure fruition of him O therefore be as loth to live now without God enlightening enlivening sanctifying and possessing you as you will be loath at last to perish without God pardoning helping saving and delivering you CHAP. XXIII Declaring that God is and the excellency of our interest in God THe carnall mans estrangement from God his being without God ministers matter of excitation to all men to labour 1. for cleare sure and invincible evidence of this truth That God is and 2. for sure and infallible interest in this God 1. Labour for cleare evidence a lively powerfull and working perswasion of this in your hearts that God is and that he is such a one as in his word he hath revealed himselfe to be this is the pillar and
treasury of Christ 2. Deliverance from 5 evils dispensed by Ministers 1. Spirituall death 2. Blindnesse w Act. 26.18 3. Bondage 4. Vnclannes 5 Soul tortures Deut. 11.29 3. Man by labours of Ministers put into a condition of 6. Excellencies 1. Of wisdome 2. Of Sanctification 3. Of Freedome x Act. 3.7 8. 4. Of Exaltation 5. Of Satisfaction 6. Of Duration Mans estate without the Gospell an estate 1. Of Death y Eph. 2.1 z Iud. ver 12. a 1 Ioh. 5.12 2 King 4. 2. Of Darknes b Exod. 10.23 3. Of Servitude c Isa 42.7 4. Of Emptines â— Of PollutioÌ„ 6. Of Sorrowâ— Exod. 15.25 d Iob 20.22 e Psal 42.1 Mat. 8. 2 Kin. 2. Their folly opened who estrange themselves from the ministery f Num. 16. Grounds of neglecting the ministery Folly and evill hereof Care not to withdraw our selves from Gods house g Heb. 10.25 Care not to sleight Gods Ministers 1 Cor. 2.14 Num. 11.5 b Hest 2.13 17. Christ the Authour of mans welfare Scope of the Apostle Analysis 2. Parts Subdivision 1. Subjection Note 2. Praedicatum Note c 1 Tim. 5.6 Mat 4.16 d 2 Cor. 3 10. f Ier. 23.28 g 1 Pet. 2.2 Doct. h Gen. 37.7 9. i Rom. 12.1 k Luk. 9.23 l 2 Cor 5.15 m Rom. 6.13 n Eccl. 1.4 o Exod. 10.26 p Ioh. 3.30 q 2 Cor. 8.5 Grounds of Self-denyall 1. Self-vanity r Rom. 7 18. Å¿ 2 Cor. 3.5 t Ier. 17.9 u Rom. 7.23 w Prov. 30.2 x Rom. 7.14 y Gen. 31.7 z Ioh. 2.13 a 1 Cor. 3.18 b Isa 64. c Ios 10.6 d Mar. 5.29 2. Holy inclination to Christ e Ezek. 1.20 f Psal 42 1. g Psal 63.1 8. h Gen. 30.2 i 2 Sam. 23.15 3. Uanity of all things k Gen. 18 28 l Psal 22.6 m Iob 42 6. n Phil. 3.8 o Prov. 23.5 p Iudg. 9.9 q Mat. 4.21 22. r Act 20 24. 4. Rule of Christ Å¿ Psal 72.8 t Eph. 3.17 u Eph. 1.20 w Mat. 8.8 x Psal 110.3 y Psal 72.9 z 2 Sam. 3. 5 Desire to exâ—â—â— Chrâ—st a Mat. 6.10 b Psal 63.2 c 1 King 1.40 d Rom. 14.17 e 2 Sam. 6.14 f 1 Sam. 11.12 Acquiescence in Christs approbation g Rom. 2.29 h Ioh. 8.50 i Ioh 4. â—4 k 2 Cor. 6.4 l 2 Cor. 10.17 18. Want of self-denyall dangerous m Gen. 19.9 n 1 Sam. 10.27 Å¿ Psal 2 2. t 1 Sam. 5.4 4. Sorts non-denyers of themselves 1. Self-wise u Isa 5.21 w Num. 10.30 2. Self-willed x Dan. 11.3 Psal 2 2. y Isa 30.9 10. Self-lusted z 1 Sam. 2.29 a Eccl. 7.10 b Maâ— 6. Mat. 8. 4 Worldly minded d 1 Sam. 16. e Luk. 14 18. f Ezek. 33.31 g Amos 8.5 5. Voluptuously affected and vainly exalted h Isa 4 1. Seven grounds of backwardnesse in self-deniall 1. Self-prizing i Isa 47. k 1 Sam. 17. l Rom 12 16 m Gen 33 9. n Rev. â— 17 2. Overswaying lusts o 2 Pet. 2.10 p Prov. 7.11 22 q Isa 4.4 1 Ioh. 2.15 3. Inordinate disposition toward the creature r Iudg. 11. 4. Over-prizing man Å¿ 1 Cor. 7.24 t Ioh. 9.22 u Ioh 13 42.4â— w Ioh. 5.44 x Luk 14.26 5. Mistaking of Christ y Eph 4.27 z 1 Cor. 2.14 a Phil. 3.8 b Eph. 4.19 c Cant. 1.3 d Isa 53.1 e 1 Sam. 16. Å¿ Isa 53.2 g Isa 25.6 h Rom. 15.13 i 1 Pet. 1.7 8. k Mat. 19.29 l Mat. 13. â—0 m Cant. 5.9 6. Corrupt devising of false Christs n Ier. 7.10 o Prov. 27.7 p Prov. 13.7 7. Ignorance of nature of Christs yoke q Mat. 11.29 r Prov. 3.17 Å¿ 2 Cor. 1.11 t Psal 46 4. u Psal 23.2 Evils arising from want of Self-denyall 1. Vncapablenes of Christ w Rom. 7.3 4. x Gal. 6.14 Gal 5.24 2. Alienation from the benefits and comforts of Christ y Ioh. 5.14 z 1 King 1. a Luk. 14.26 27. 3. Emptinesse and hallownâ—s of profession 4. Abasement under the creature b 2 Pet. 3. 5. AnnihilatioÌ„ of the fruit of Christs death c 2 Cor. 5.15 6. Deprivation of the fruit of Gods Oâ—dinances d Ionah 1. 7. Losses waiting on the want of self-deniall e Mar. 9.34 35. 8. Apostacy from Christ f Ioh. 6.66 Luk 14 23. Mâ—â— 1â— â— 9. Christs rejection of such 2 Tim. 2.13 2. Perswading Self-denyall g Gen. 12. h Heb. 11. i 1 Cor. 6.12 1 Kinds and qualifications of Self-denyall 1. Spirituall 2. Voluntary 3. Vniversall 4. Continuall Subjection joined to Self-denyall with the qualifications 1 Holily 2. Cordially 3. Fully 4. Perpetually Inducements to Self-denyall 1. Christs interest in a Christian 2. Relation to Christ 3. Subjection of all things under Christ 4. Abuse of things not made serviceable to Christ k Rom 11.36 5. Comforts â—sing from Self-denyall 6. Mitigation of disasters 7. ContentatioÌ„ in all estates Characters of Self-denyall 1. Captivation of Self-reason l 1 Rom. 12.16 m Prov. 30.2 3. n 1 Cor 8.1 2. o Eccl. 1.18 p 2 Cor. 10 5. q 1 Cor. 3.18 2. Cessation from mansself r Prov. 23.4 Å¿ Isa 58.13 t Gal. 5.24 u Iam 5.5 w Heb. 11.25 x Gal. 5.36 y 1 Cor. 10.33 z Heb. 4.10 3. Application of mans selfe to Christ a 1 Pet 4.1 â— b Rom. 12.1 c 2 Cor. 8.3 d 2 Cor. 5.15 e Rom. 7.4 f Mat. 16.24 4. Ascribing of all to the grace of God g 2 Cor. 3.5 h Act. 14.14 15. i Act 3.12 13 16. k Isa 31.7 l 1 Cor. 3.3 4 5 m Gal 6.14 n Rom. 7 18. o Rom. 6.8 p Gal. 6.14 q 2 Sam. 6.22 r Luk. 6.22 Å¿ 2 Coâ— 4.13 t Gal. 6.14 u Iudg 9 9. 6. Desertion of all w Ruth 2.11 x Luk. 14.26 y Cant. 5.10 z Prov. 23.5 a 1 Cor. 7.20 b Psal 45. c Deut. 33.8 9 d Gen. 12.1 e Ioh 9. f Mat. 4.22 7. Mans pleasing and delighting himselfe in Christ under the crosse g Isa 32.2 h Psal 73.25 26. i Isa 50.10 k Iam. 1.7 m 1 Pet. 1.8 8. Valuing of Christs crosse above the worlds crowne n Heb 11.26 o Psal 84.10 p 2 Cor 6.9 10. q Act. 5.41 r Col. 1 24. 9. Mans making it his honour to honour Christ Å¿ Prov. 12.4 t Rom. 6.21 Gal. 1.10 u Rom. 14.18 Gal 6.8 w Rom 16.18 x Ioh. 12.26 y 2 Cor. 1.12 Sincere heart z Ioh. â— 47 Ioh. 19.23 a Psal 139.23 Ionah 1. 〈…〉 b 1 Tim. 1.15 c Psal 119.60 Hab. 1.16 2 Humble heart 3. Pious heart d Ps 119.104 e Psal 40.8 f Col. 1.10 g Psal 112.1 4 Plaine heart h Ios 7. h 1 Kin. 14. Isa 30.10 1 King 22. Psal 141 5. 5. Heart-grieving at evill Eziâ— 9. k Ps 119 â—16 8. Deceits in Self-denyall 1. Superstitiously l Psal 8.6 7 8. m 1 Tim. 4 1â—5 n Col 2.18 19 2. Covetously o Psal 127.2 p Eccl. 6.1 2. 3. Partially q 2 King 10. r 1 Sam 15. Mat. 6. 4. Constrainedly Å¿ Isa 26.16 5. Hypocritically t Mat. 7.15 u
the soules of Gods children 4. By way of gubernation and direction The head liveth in the members acting and guiding the members to move and worke according to the dictates of the head and Christ as head liveth in beleevers his members acting and guiding framing and disposing them to move and walke and doe the things pleasing in his sight the will moves the members of the body too and fro by a commanding active power that goes from the will acting and stirring the members according to the disposition of the wil the Pilot by his presence in the ship and by his activity strength and skill turnes the rudder of the ship and guides the course therof to a quite contrary point of the Compasse the King by an influence from his Majesty authority power and Laws lives and reigns in the hearts of his loyall and obedient Subjects binding and bowing them to the observation of his Edicts That there is a commanding active power passeth from Christ upon the soules of all sanctified persons whereby he lives and reignes in them acts and moves them according to the disposition of his will turnes the rudder of their affections and guides the course of their lives to a quite contrary point then what they formerly moved and tended to hence it is that our Saviour saith the kingdome of God is within you Christ by his Spirit enlightening their hearts and effectually moving working and framing their soules to beleeve his promises and doe his will and they are said to have the Law in their hearts Christ ruling and commanding there by putting into their hearts a disposition of holy and humble subjection sutable to the holinesse of the Law And it was prophecyed of Christ that in the day of his power when Christ should be preached and his kingdome erected in the hearts of men The people should be willing voluntarily and freely subject and obedient unto Christ as the members to the head and thus Christ lives in men by his holy gubernation raigne and rule in the soules of men 5. By way of preservation and continuance unto perfection The soule lives in the body preserving the body from putrefaction continuing the body unto its appointed perfection Christ liveth in the soules of Gods children preserving them from sinne that they doe not putrifie in sinne though annoyed with sinne as the body with nasty humours and keeping them from the death of sinne that it never get dominion over them as death over dead men though it abide like a disease within them perfecting also the life of grace in them untill they come to the life of glory Those thou gavest me saith Christ I have kept and none of them is lost Whom God the Father gives to Christ by eternall election and effectuall vocation them Christ keeps in the state of grace in them he nourishes and maintaines spirituall life them he keeps in the knowledge of Gods truth in the saith of Gods promises in the love of Gods testimonies in the obedience of Gods precepts them he keeps in prosperity that they swell not in adversity that they repine not in temptation that they despaire not in all changes that they change not he doth perfect stablish strengthen and settle them he makes spirituall life more full and active strong and vigorous in them the longer Christ liveth in them the more perfection he ministers unto them the more abundantly he fils them the more he manifests the power of his grace towards them and thus Christ lives in Gods children by preserving and perfecting the life of grace in them And thus you see it is apparent that Christ doth live in Gods children by his gracious and powerfull worke of Sanctification CHAP. XXII IF you demand what is the life of Christ or Christ living in the children of God I answer it is a spirituall power or Principle of grace which Christ by his Spirit doth put into the hearts of the elect at their regeneration inabling them to move themselves to God-ward in knowing willing intending thinking loving speaking and doing the things which are pleasing unto God called the life of Christ because Christ is the Authour and the root thereof because it is a life which Christ commandeth and approveth and because hereby Christ liveth in all them that are regenerate and this is sometimes termed a being alive to God because men are hereby moved and quickned to doe what pleaseth God sometimes it is stiled a living with Christ having communion and fellowship with the grace of Christ for newnesse of life or with the glory of Christ for eternall felicity sometimes it is termed a new life a pure and unblameable life framed not after the lusts of the old man but after the will of God in his word and sometimes it is called a living unto God regenerate man consecrating and ordering his whole life after the will of God and unto his glory Christ living in man doth inable move and worke the heart of man to acknowledge God and Christ to be his Lord and himselfe not to be his owne but Gods and Christs servant 2. To frame and order his thoughts words and works according to the word of God and Christ in every thing 3. To referre and apply himselfe his whole life and whatsoever he hath to the honour of God and Christ And fourthly in all the changes dangers and afflictions of his life to depend upon God and Christ for counsell supportment protection and deliverance and this is Christs living in man and Christs keeping and continuing man in the state of grace unto the state of glory If you aske me how or in what manner Christ begins to live in man I answer 1. Christ doth awaken man as the Angell smote Peter upon the side and awakened him when he slept between the two souldiers with fetters upon him in Herods prison This doth Christ by his word without and the motion of his spirit within smite upon the heart and conscience of man sleeping between two great souldiers the devill on his right hand and the world on his left hand in the prison of sin Christ thus smiting upon man awakens man causes him to open his eyes to see his miserable and wretched estate to see the danger wherein he stands As the Prophet opened the eyes of the Syrians and let them see they were in Samaria in the hands of their enemies Thus Christ awakens man opens the eyes of mans understanding and makes him see himselfe in the hands of Satan lead away captive by him at his will in the gall of bitternesse and under the bond of iniquity poore blind naked miserable and wretched Christ makes him see the necessity he hath of his righteousnesse to justifie him of his power to deliver him of his intercession to reconcile God unto him and of his fulnesse to fill him Thus when Christ intended to live in Paul he first