when Christ takes possession of a poor soul he doth apply himself to it not onely in a way of affection wishing well to it not only in a way of consent I do yeild my self unto it not only in a way of consent I do yeild my self unto it not only in a way of union I take this soul as mine and will own it as my own self not onely in a way of promise I will bestow some good upon it but also in a way of unction that is he doth set up himself in this his possession He doth qualifie he doth sanctifie he doth beautifie every roome of the soul with the graces of his blessed Spirit As when the Lord entred into the Temple which Solomon built he then filled the same with his glory 1 King 8. 11. So when Jesus Christ enters into a soul he fills that soul with the glory of his grace with his influence as well as with his presence When the first Adam enters into us he enters as a contagion and as death so when the second Adam enters into us he enters into us as a renovation and life Therefore is Christ said to be formed in us Gal. 4. 19. The Papist talk of the figure of Christs body sticking in the garments c. that 's a vanity but this is a truth that Christ doth forme himself in the soul of a beleever he formes himself in us by conforming us unto himself implanting in us all holy graces which 1. Alter 2. Enable 3. Dispose and incline as if he should say this heart shall love sinne no more it shall be enflamed with love to me this heart shall trust vanity no more it shall trust on me this tongue shall blaspheme no more it shall praise me this person shall be a slaye no more he shall be a servant unto me Behold O soul thou art become mine and I must now adorne thee to be a delightful Mansion for my self therefore we are said to be new creatures and his workmanship and to put on Christ Blindnesse vanity folly pride be gone come in knowledge wisdom soundnesse of judgment truth regard of me and it come in and possess the upper roome of this soul the minde Unwillingness stoutness rebellion hardness hypocrisie be gone come in plyablenesse softnesse tenderness sincerity readiness compliance with my will dependance on my self come in and possess the royal chamber of the soul the will Irregularity vileness inordinatenesse be gone Come in purity order quickness come in and possesse the lower roome of the soul the affections All ye graces of my Spirit be ye set up in the inward rooms and spread and act in the outward rooms of the life in all spiritualnesse of behavior towards God and man c. 3. A sweet gubernation for Christ possesseth the soul as a Lord possesseth his Mansion to do what he pleaseth and to rule after his own will in it and therefore he is called the Lord of his Temple And the housholder who employs and sets every servant his work having first given unto them several talents He must have and hath the command and disposal of the soul As the Centurion said to one servant go and he went do this and he did it come and he came Matth. 8. So saith Christ to the soule which he takes possession of I will have you sometimes to abound and then you must be thankful and sometimes to want and then you must be contented now I will have you to do for me with your graces or with your estates and you must then be ready to do and another time now I will have you to suffer for me in your Name in your comforts in your possessions in your liberties perhaps in your lives and you must then be willing to forsake all for me Sometimes your lusts will be commanding but do not hearken to them sometimes Satan will be tempting but do not yeild to him sometimes your carnal friends will be trying of you but do not regard them you are none of theirs nor none of your own you are my possession and therefore must be only at my disposal 4. A watchful provision when a man takes possession of house or houshold or lands he is thereupon engaged to take care and charge over all He must Till the ground and manure it and mend it and keep it in heart and he must keep and repaire the house if it be sinking and he must maintaine the servants with all necessaries of food and rayment he must look to them when they be well and when they be sick just so doth Christ when he takes possession of a soule he takes upon him the full care of that soul he will be a sufficiency unto it By preserving the graces given unto it By adding sutable degrees and helps of grace for greater and further services By repairing and recovering a fallen or sinking soul There is a rich store-house in Christ for the soul which he possesseth He will give renuing grace and justifying grace and then he will keep that grace given And he will yet adde more grace and help And if the soul be drawn aside and falls he will not lose it he will seek after it he will find it again and recover it again 5. A sure protection when one hath possession it behoves him to keep possession he is to defray all the rents or dues wherewith that possession is charged and he is to answer and take off all claimes and titles made against his right of possession Go to my Master saith the servant to my husband saith the wife So doth Jesus Christ when he enters and takes possession of the soul This soul saith Christ is mine I own it I will provide for it plead for it or against it who will or can I will answer him I will answer for it I will stand 'twixt it all pleas 'twixt it and all claims 'twixt it and all hazards I will take all upon me and as long as I am Christ and as far as my blood will go or my intercession will go or my merits can go or my Spirit can go I will maintain and defend mine own John 17. 12. Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost John 10. 27. My sheep hear my voice c. Ver. 28. And I give unto them eternal life neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Rom. 8. 38. Neither life nor death nor Angels nor principalities 〈◊〉 powers nor things present nor things to come Ver. 39. Nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died c. As if he should say come who will and do your utmost yet I will be possessour and Saviour still Satan stands out and saith this soul belongs to me I have had possession of it a long time too
The Gospel must be heard 152 5. Importunate prayer must be made 152 153 Serm. 5. Doct. Jesus Christ comes into the soul that opens to him or takes possession of an opening soule 157 A threefold coming of Christ ibid. A twofold Application of Christ ib. 1. The Doctrine unfolded in three particulars 1. What it is for Christ to take possession of the soul 159 Certain premises in nine particulars 159 160. 161 Christ hath a double possession of the soul 1. A possession of right in three particular p. 163 2. A possession of grace which comprehends 1. A Sovereign seazure 163 2. A distinguishing furniture 165 3. A sweet gubernation 169 4. A watchful provision 170 5. A sure protection 172 2. The properties and adjuncts of this possession 1. The possessing is Real 175 2. Yet it is spiritual 175 176 3. It is powerful 176 4. It is eternal 177 3. Why Christ takes possession of the soule that opens to him answered in five particulars 178 179 Use 1. For Tryal who it is that hath possession of us 180 Christs possession of the soul is evidenced 1. By his affecting excellency 183 2. By his vertual efficacy p. 184 3. By his exceeding Authority 186 4. By our importunate insatiability 187 Use 2. They who finde Christs possessing presence must bless God and rejoyce in their portion 188 The blessed condition of such a one 189 Use 3. Instructions 1. Great rich learned persons should prize and esteeme godly beleeving Persons 192 2. Christians should remember whose they are and to whom they owe all ib. 3. Do not part with Christ when he hath gotten possession 193 Serm. 6. Doct. There is a sweet and excellent communion betwixt Christ and the soul possessed by Christ 196 What communion is in general and how it is distinguished 196 197 Spiritual communion respect either the Angels and glorified souls in heaven or those that walk by faith on earth 197 That there is a communion betwixt Christ and beleevers appears in four particulars 198 199 1. Wherein this communion doth consist It consists in a reciprocal expression betwixt Christ and beleevers 199 Which includes 1. An exceeding mutual love 200 2. A singularly mutual complacency or delight 202 Christ delights in beleevers their Persons Graces Services 202 203 Beleevers delight in Christ the glories of his person the wonder of his Redemption and the methods of his presence p. 204 3. A mutual benevolence 205 4. A mutual beneficence 206 The good Christ communicates to beleevers 207 1. Congruous good respecting this life 1. Fundamental in Justification Adoption Sanctification Preservation 208 209 210 2. Accidental 210 2. Glorious good respecting another life 210 211 2. The extent of this communion It is 1. Vniversal with all beleevers 211. 212 2. Radically and substantially equal for quantity 212 3. In respect of duration it is eternal 214 3. Why Christ hath such a communion with Beleevers 214 1. Communication is the principal end of his union offices and works 215 216 2. Jesus Christ is ordained to invest beleevers with as good nay with a better estate then men had in Adam 216 3. All the promises of God are Yea and Amen in Christ 217 4. Jesus Christ is filled with goodnesse in himselfe and with love also to his members 218 5. What else should Christ do with himself and with all his benefits 219 6. Beleevers have much work lying upon them for Christ 220 7. All the good we do is done by the strength of communion 221 8. Christ glorifies himself in it ib Use 1. For Consolation to all beleevers 222 This communion surpasseth all communions 1. For dignity p. 223 2. For commodity 224 3. For priviledge 225 4. For pleasure 226 5. For sufficiency 228 6. For duration 230 Serm. 7. Use 2. For Instruction to such as have communion with Christ and Christ with them in several duties 234 1. Walk with cheerful thankfulness ibid. Some Objections answered 235 236 Three considerations to provoke those that complaine they have but a little from Christ in communion to be thankful and cheerful 237 238 2. Live like those who have communion with Christ 239 3. Improve your communion with Christ 243 Considerations to perswade us to make use of Christ and to improve him 1. Though our relation be excellent yet our condition is indigent 244 2. There is a fulness in Christ with respect to our wants ib. Christs fulness hath in it three qualities 244 245 Christs willingness to impart himself according to his fulness expressed in four particulars 245 246 3. You your selves have all the kinds of improving Christ attending you as improving interests improving principles and improving Ordinances 246 247 Use 3. Search whether you have a share in this communion 248 Quest How this may be discerned 1. By preparations 249 Four things precede the state of communion 1. Contrition of heart 230 2. Poverty of Spirit 251 3. Discommunion with sin 252 4. Insition or implantation into Christ 255 2. By the formal concomitants 256 Four properties of a Christ and soul communion 1. It is spiritual and holy 256 257 2. It is a close and immediate communion 258 3. It is a full and satisfying communion 259 4. It is an inflaming communion 261 3. By the effects resulting upon this communion 263 264 Use 4. Exhortation to all out of communion with Christ not to rest in such a state 264 Two things to move to this 1. The unspeakable misery of a person out of communion with Christ p. 264. Three things make such a condition sad 266 1. His best portion is but poore and cursed ib. 2. All the Good in Christ is sealed from him 267 3. He stands alone in all his soul accounts 268 2. There is yet a possibility of attaining of this communion 269 THE Serm. 1. RICHES Of GRACE DISPLAYED Revel 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me THese words conteine in them three parts 1. The gracious behaviour of Christ towards poor sinners where you have 1. The matter of it twofold 1. He stands at the door 2. He knocks at the door 2. The wonder of it Behold I stand c. 2. The dutiful behaviour of sinners delivered by way of supposition or condition 1. If any man hear my voice 2. And if any man open the door both these may be amplified by 1. The conjunction of the duties Hear and open Not hear only 2. The indefinitenesse of the subject If any man no sinner is excluded by Christ but he who excludes himself 3. The comfortable event upon this hearing and opening Exprest in three particulars 1. Christ will come in to him 2. He will sup with him 3. And such a person shall sup or feast with Christ Before I insist on any Proposition two things must be touched viz. 1. The Explication of the words which
Salvation John 17. 4. I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 4. It is the glory of Christ to do this John 17. 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them He glorifies all his attributes by it of mercy and kindnesse and truth and power He glorifier all his Offices by it His Priestly Office in that he is able to save to the utmost Heb. 7. 2 25 26. His Prophetical office that he can reveal the way of salvation not only to the ears but hearts of sinners And his Regal office that he can open the doors and come in as a King of glory Psal 24. 2 Cor. 8. 23. If any enquire of Titus or our brethren they are the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ Beleeving and converted and saved sinners they are the glory of Christ as so many lame diseased men cured are the glory of a Physician Vse 1. The first use shall be of reproof unto all such who do shut the doors against Jesus Christ against a willing Christ a saving Christ a Christ that stands and knocks who stand out and will not hearken to his calls nor open to his knocks they are guilty of the greatest sin in the world they despise the greatest the kindest yea the onely salvation of their souls This is as if a sick man should bolt the doors against his Physician or as if a traytor should bar the door against his Princes pardon O think of this you who have had Christ knocking at your doors so many yeares and would not open the time is coming that you like those foolish Virgins shall knock at his doore too and he will not open to you Hearken to this you who can open your doors to every sinful temptation to every sinful lust to every call of the the world but have never opened your doors to let in Jesus Christ You shall have your will a while and God will have his Will on you after a while He will break open the doors of your consciences and he will set open the doores of Hell for those sinners who will set open the doors for sin but will shut their doors against Christ the sick man doth deservedly perish who refuseth both the Physician and medicine too why yellest thou in hell O damned soul was there not a Christ offered to thee on earth to save thee Vse 2. For sensible and broken hearted sinners and lost in their own eyes my exhortation is to you Strive to beleeve that Jesus Christ is willing to enter into your hearts and shut the doores no longer against him but get thy heart opened that Christ may enter in to wipe off those teares to answer those doubts to clâ—anse that house to purifie and pacifie that troubled conscience of yours O remember It is Jesus Christ 2. Things 1. Who did set mercy at liberty without a Christ thou canst not expect the least mercy by Jesus Christ thou mayest hope for the greatest mercy Justice is satisfied and now the mercy-seat stands open This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief said Paul 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2. Who must set conscience at liberty The house will be full of trouble till Christ comes in As in Jairus house there was nothing but weeping till Christ came in and raised his daughter Those in Act. 2. 39. and he in Acts 16. 39. There was nothing but prickings and tremblings till faith opened the doore for Christ to come in and then presently there was rejoycings by them all the golden key of the Gospel must open that which was shut up by the iron key of the Law O strive to beleeve that Christ is willing to save a broken sinner and to help you in this consider four things 1. The door of a broken heart is the great doore at which Christ knocks He calls to such a sinner by name come unto me Behold he calls thee open thy door for a broken Saviour O thou broken hearted sinner let me but come in and I have oyle to supple those sores of yours and I have balme to cure those wounds of yours and I have blood and merits and mercies to answer for those sins of yours and I have a spirit to cleanse and beautifie that soul of yours you cannot need the thing which I have not nor desire the good which I will not freely give unto you 2. Jesus Christ hath broken through many of your doors already to finde you out and to get within you He hath broken through the door of your ignorance and through the door of your self-conceitednesse and through the door of your consciences there is but one doore left the door of your will If you be but willing to take him he stands upon no more 3. The more able you are to beleeve that Christ is willing to enter your hearts the more willing your hearts will be to open unto Christ The truth is all that the troubled soul urgeth if it be strictly observed is the questioning of Christs willingnesse to save it All those objections of greatnesse of sinnings of want of deeper humblings and want of holinesse of long resistances of the variety of sinnings of utter unworthinesse c. Arise from this suspition Christ is not willing to save sinners these are reasons we think that Christ will not save us Now why doest thou stick at this For If he be willing to save any it is to save sinners and he never saved any but a sinner who because a sinner was therefore unworthy Must not Christ save because we deserve not to be saved must not he be merciful because we be sinful Ah Lord who then should be saved Hath he not saved the greatest of sinners the crucified thief the blaspheming Paul the unclean Mâ—gdâ—lâ—â— the bloody Manasses the Sodomitical Corinthians the Christ-killing Jews 4. Lastly know that all his anger is not against swearers and liers and adulterers assuredly his greatest displeasure is against unbeleevers This sin dishonours and greives him more then all other sinnings Quest But who can help it can we open the door Sol. No nor must you yet shut the door There are four doors if thou didst stand at more often strength would come to open the door of thy heart viz. 1. The door of the blood of Christ look upon it more it speaks good and great things for a broken sinner 2. The door of Gods free and fulâ— and everlasting Covenant study it better 3. The door of the preaching of the Gospel attend it oftner 4. The door of heaven by continual praying and waiting O never never cease begging O Lord O Lord Thou that callest make me to heare Thou that knockest make me to open nay do thou by thine own spirit open my doors that the King of glory may come in Rev. 3. 20. Serm.
and God hath thought it much that we would not come down to open the doors and to accept of the blood of his Sonne We have made our God and Christ to waite upon us with spiritual deliverances Is it not righteous that we should wait upon him for temporal deliverances O that we could stop our mouths and silence and check our impatient and murmuring hearts this day Remember saith God how ye have dealt with my Christ with my Spirit with my Gospel with my Offers of grace and salvation Confesse it and be ashamed and humbled this day that you have dealt thus with your God and with your Saviour It is not that the Lords eare is heavy nor is it that his hand is shortned Isa 59. 1. that he heares not and delivers not all this while But it is to recompence unto us our own wayes Because when he called we would not hear therefore Prov. 1. 24 25. when calamities be upon us we shall call upon him and not be answered Vse 4. The next Use shall be of Exhortation to perswade you to let in Christ and not to close the door against him any longer but as the Apostle spake To day whiles it is called to day hearken to his voice Heb. 3. 7. and to know in the day of your visitation the things which concerne your peace O what a mercy is it for Christ to come and waite upon us Consider 1. Your withstandings of Christ are unspeakably dangerous you lost your soules once by Adams wilfulnesse will you lose them the second time by your own Every refusal of Christ is if mercy relieve us not a new destruction of the soule A contempt of Christ a crucifying of Christ afresh a cruel murdering of our own souls 2. All shall be pardoned if yet you will hearken and open to him mercy can pardon sinnes against mercy and Christ can pardon sins against Christ former refusals are no prejudice to future invitations and offers of grace If we be humbled and they be accepted Acts 3. 17. And now brethren I wote that through ignorancâ— you did it as did also your Rulers Verse 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out 3. What would a damned soul give for one opportunity more what would a dying man give for one day more what cuts his soul more then his delaying and slighting of Christ Soul-opportunities and Christ-opportunities are precious more worth then all the world mercy is in them grace glory eternity is in them The whole earth hangs on a point and so doth heaven on an inch of opportunity Quest But what must be done Sol. Get 1. Knowledge of your sinful condition and exigences and necessities 2. Knowledge of the worth and singularity of Christ to a sinners condition John 4. 10. If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me drink Thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Vse 5. The last Use shall be of Exhortation and encouragement to distressed and laden Consciences Behold yet Christ stands at thy door and knocks why doest thou not open unto him why art thou afraid of a gracious Saviour why yet holdest thou him at the the door with thy unbeleeving disputes and doubts O that God would set thee at liberty O that God would this day over-power thy heart O that Jesus Christ who hath made all ready to feast and welcome thy drooping heart woâ—ld by his Spirit command off thy fetters command on his strength that thou wouldest open thy doors and give one welcome to thy Saviour He is worthy to come in though thou be not worthy to receive him Once say O blessed Christ the door is open and such as I am is thine if thou wilt have all my heart all is thine welcome O Christ and welcome O blessed Spirit of Christ and welcome thou Covenant of Grace and welcome thou free mercy of God and welcome all the excellencies of Christ and welcome all the Lawes of Christ and welcome all you conditions of Christ Blessed Christ Take the best Roome I have set up thy self and abide in my Judgement as the most excellent Treasure In my will as the most excellent happinesse In my affections as the only love desire joy hope and confidence of my poor soul Thou holdest me at the door thou diddest not stand on my worthinesse nor except against me for my sinfulnesse O deare Christ Take me a poore miserable sinner and make me another an holy and well-pleasing creature I can bring nothing to thee but I will expect all from thee I will trust on thy blood for pardon on thy merits for acceptance on thy Spirit for holinesse on thy compassions for comforts on thy selfe thy selfe alone for salvation on thy faithfulnesse and fulnesse for all And is it so saith Christ and doest thou so saith Christ well be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven I will be thou cleane Grace Mercy and Peace enter into this poor soul for ever Rev. 3. 20. Serm. 3. Behold I stand at the doore and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me YOu have heard already out of these words the graâ—iâ—us behaviour of Christ towards sinners viz. his singular readinesse his earnest importunity and his patient expectations to enter into their hearts and save them Behold 〈◊〉 stand at the door and knock I am now to discover the dutiful behaviour of sinners towards Christ If any man heare my words and open the doors I will come into him c. The words you see are expressed in an hypothetical or conditional form If any man c. to note unto us That something must be done on our part as well as something on Christs part though Christ be willing to save a sinner yet he will not save him against his will 'T is true this willingnesse to open unto Christ is not a natural but a supernatural effect it is voluntas mota nay mutata as Austin rightly speaks yet it it must be or else there can be no conversion no salvation of us Againe they are expressed in an indefinite way as well as conditional Not if this or that man but if any man c. To note That there is a latitude a full latitude in the offer of Christ and grace No sinner under the Gospel is excluded by Christ but by himself Although the Application of Christ be definite and particular yet the proclamation is indefinite and general Favours say the Lawyers sunt ampliandi Now the condition of Christs entrance is only this If any man hear my voice and open the doore The hearing answers to his counselling in verse 18. and the opening answers to his knocking in v. 20. Both of them united make up if I mistake not that which we call beleeving which comes by hearing and is in it self the
be for retribution a coming against sinners 3. Evangelical this is for vocation a coming unto sinners 4. Spiritual this is for Application a coming into sinners There is a twofold Application of Christ 1. One is Active and in this the soul comes to Christ 2. Another is passive and in this Christ comes to the soule which exactly to expresse doth exceed my capacity The Scripture calls it sometimes His apprehending of us Phil. 3. 12. If that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended â—f Christ Jesus His forming of himself in us Gâ—l 4. 19. Till Christ be formed in you His being or abiding in us Joâ— 15. 4. Abide in me and I in you His dwelling in us Eph. 3. 17. Christ dwells in your hearts by faith But because the coming in of Christ is restrained to the Metaphor of a King or Master coming in to possesse and dwell in an house or Mansion opened or yeilded up unto him I shall therefore keep close to that and for the unâ—olding of it insist a little on three particulars 1. What it is for Christ to possesse himself of the soul 2. What the properties and adjuncts of this possession are 3. The reasons why he takes possession of that soul that opens to him 1. What it is for Christ to take possession of the soul In answer to this consider certaine premises before the opening of Christs taking possession 1. God at first made man a goodly creature and righteous and as he severed Paradise for his habitation so he reserved man above all other creatures for his own possession 2. Man quickly dispossessed himself of that condition by sinne and stood now qua talis as an outlawry and rejected person 3. Christ Jesus was immediately promised as the author of life and salvation and passed under Covenant and Types and at length in the fulnesse of time was incarnated and as a Mediatour and Redeemer perfectly wrought out Reconciliation and Redemption 4. The Gospel makes publication if this and indefinitely tenders Jesus Christ to sinners and by vocation calls them to Christ and the participation of salvation by him 5. This vocation to some is ineffectual to others it is â—fficacious To them who from faith given and thereby answer or obey or accept or open to the call of Christ it is effectual 6. When this faith is wrought then immediately and â—emultaneously ensues an union 'twixt Christ and the beleever 7. Which union is a spiritual relation 'twixt Christ and a beleeving soul and a most intimate close mystical and inseparable conjunction 'twixt them Expressed in Scripture by that of Head and Member of Husband and Wife of a Foundation and Living-stone built thereupon of the Vine and Branches c. 8. In this union beleevers are by the Spirit of Christ immediately knit to him and by him to God so that in a mystical respect they become one with him and with the Father and partakes of all the good in and by Jesus Christ which flowes from him as the head from the members Christ in respect of himself is one that possesseth all good and upon this union a communication thereof doth ensue 9. The forme of this union is a mystical compaction or co-augmentation by those admirable joynts of the Spirit and Faith Eph. 4. 16. And is severally phrased in Scripture As Christ stands under the relation of a Head and we of members It is called incorporation As Christ hath the relation of a foundation and we of a building it is called an inedification As Christ stands in the relation of an husband and we of a wife it is called a disponsation and marriage As Christ stands in relation of a vine and we of branches It is called an insition or implantation As Christ stands in relation of a Lord or Master and we of an house and family It is called especially on his part An entrance possession and inhabitation These things being premised for answer to the question we must know that there is a double possession that Christ hath of souls 1. Possessio juris a possession of Right or Title by which he may lay claime unto them which he may justly do 1. Jure autoritatis for all of them are the fruit of his power the workmanship of his hand in Creation 2. Jure pretii for he hath laid down a price and hath ransomed or purchased them by his death 3. Jure donationis for all of them are given unto him for subjection and rule 2. Possessio Gratiae A possession of grace or a gracious possession in which he doth not only claime but take possession or enters a as possessor of this I am now to speak and it comprehends five things in it 1. A Sovereigne seazure when he comes in as a possessour he doth in a way of propriety set up his Title in the soul As if he should say now this soul is mine It is no longer sins no longer the worlds no longer the devils no longer it s own but mine and only mine I am the Lord and husband of it As in all contracts there results an exclusive propriety Ezek. 16. 8. When I passed by thee and looked upon thee Behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee yea I sware unto thee and entred into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine Or as Psal 132. 13. The Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation Ver. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell Hence those relative and impropriating expressions as my love my dove my undefiled Cant. 5. 2. As an husband can say this woman is mine c. The wife cannot be more the husbands nor a house more the owners nor a member more the heads nor a branch more the vines then the opening soul is Christs Which is therefore said to be knit unto him Ephes 4. and to be joyned or glued unto him 1 Cor. 6. 17. and to be married unto him for an eternity Hos 2. And he is said to own us as a Master owns a servant Rom. 6. as an husband owns a wiâ—e as a Lord owns an house as the head owns the members as the Lord once owned the Temple So then Christ comes into the soule by way of possession when he doth interest himself in such a peculiar way of union and propriety that he saith this soul is mine and the soul may reciprocally answer this Christ is mine as the Church in Canticles 6. 3. 2. A distinguishing furniture when Christ takes possession of a soul there is not onely a relation of propriety but there is also a communication of quality The Spirit of Christ actuates the whole soul with grace As to make Christ in himself a Mediatour there was not only the grace of union by which he was God and man but also the grace of unction by which he was adorned and qualified to the work of Mediatour So is it
long saith Christ a deceiver and usurper as thou art but I have crushed and bruised thy power Come thou out and never enter into this soule more Sinne stands out and saith this soul hath been my habitation from the first but Christ casts out the bond-woman with her childe and saith thy possession is but an incroachment This soul was mine by Creation first of all and now is mine againe by purchase and therefore sin get you gone Never shalt thou have royal possession in any soul that belongs to me And when the soul sometimes reports sad tydings that divine justice calls upon it for arrearages well saith Christ let me alone I was thy surety all is discharg'd I have satisfied all I am thy propitiation feare thou not all is well 'twixt thee and my Father I am his beloved Sonne in whom he is well pleased So that summarily then Christ doth come in and take possession of the soul when he doth unite himself to the soul or seazeth on it as his own and then purifies and enables it for his service and use and then erects his power and rule in it and over it and undertakes for it for full provisions and protection Quest 2. What the properties adjuncts of this possession are Sol. 1. The possessing is real it is not a fixious notion formed only by a wild imagination for the doore of the heart is a real thing and the knocking at the door is a real motion and offer and the opening of the door is a real dilatation of the soul to embrace Christ so likewise is his coming in it is a real entrance and taking possession of the soul a real owning and interessing c. 2 Yet it is spiritual you must not be so weak to imagine that the person of Christ comes now into our hearts as once into sinners houses O no a corporal possession cannot be and it alone were fruitlesse But Christ takes possession of the soul being a spirit by his Spirit and therefore as in one place Christ is said to dwell in us Eph. 3. 17. so in another place the Spirit is said to dwell in us John 14. 17. and as he is said to be in us so his Spirit is said to be in us He dwelleth with you and shall be in you ibid. It is his Spirit which applies him to us and it is his Spirit which worketh in us by way of efficiency the graces we enjoy and it is the Spirit of Christ who ruleth in us c. 3. It is powerful all that Christ doth about the soul either for entrance or maintenance is carried with exceeding power when he is taking possession he doth dispossesse the strong man in the house and with a greater strength of power rescues and delivers as the Israelites were brought out of the house of bondage by an Almighty arme When he possesseth the soul possessed by himselfe with his grace he communicates these by an exceeding power no power lesse then Almightinesse less then that which raised Christ from the dead is requisite to quicken a dead sinner And the preservation of grace received is likewise a work of power The same Sunne which begets the light must preserve the light We are kept by the power of God unto salvation 4. It is eternal till you can quench the love of Christ till you can reverse the seals of Christ till you can crush the power of Christ which never can be done Christ who hath taken possession will keep it If you had possession of Christ and Christ had no possession of you then some danger but ye hold Christ and Christ holds you c. Quest 3. Why Christ enters and takes possession and will dwell in any soul that opens to him Sol. I answer 1. You have his promise for it in the text and Christ was never yet worse then his word 2. He will not be behinde hand in his goodnesse to any If he offers himself when the door is shut he will not stand off when the door is opened If he pursues us flying he will not shun us yeilding if he allures us whiles unwilling he will surely embrace us being willing 3. It is himself who makes the heart willing to open and for this end that himself might enter There is no more required on our parts I am willing saith Christ to enter are you willing to let me in If your will concurs with him the work is done nothing but the sinners unwillingness hath kept him out all this while 4. When the heart comes to open it is now sufficiently conditioned and fitted for all that Christ intends to work in it For 1. It is now willing to part with all for Christ 2. It is now willing to resign up all to Christ 3. It is now willing to take all from Christ 4. It is now willing to be disposed in all by Christ 5. When the soul comes to opening termes it stands in the extreamest need of Christ Never did a wounded gored body stand in more need of plaisters nor a diseased body stand in more need of medicines nor a tortured body stand in more need of ease nor a starved hungry body stand in more need of bread nor a pursued body stand in more need of help nor an accused body stand in more need of defence nor a fainting body stand in more need of cordials then the humbled and opening soul doth stand in need of Christ Now Christ will come and help in a needful time He will not be wanting to a soul in such a condition Vse 1. Doth Christ come in and take possession of the soul which opens to him I beseech you earnestly to survey your estate wisely and seriously consider to whom you do belong who or what it is that owns you and hath possession of you There was a great contention once amongst some Nations about Hâ—mer an excellent Poet they severally pleaded their interest in him And truly so it is about the soul of man many lay claime unto it sinne doth the world doth Satan doth Christ doth The soul of man is not a waste piece of ground nor is it a desolate habitation some one or other hath possession of it if Christ hath not besure that an enemy of Christ and of the soul hath the possession Hath Christ possession or hath he not O Sirs Meditate a while of this description vanity possesseth my mind iniquity possesseth my heart vexation possessed my life but Christ never yet possessed my soul Life is come into my body and sin is come into my soul and the Law is come into my conscience and the Gospel is come unto my ear and strivings are come into my Spirit and honours are come upon my Name and riches are come upon my Trade and friends are come in to my society but Christ but Jesus Christ is not yet come into my house Nay yet again a sword is come to waste us famine is like to come to pine us death
will surely come to remove us and judgement the judgement of God will come to condemne us and if Christ be not come in to save us what will become of our Christlesse souls Therefore try and examine your selves prove your selves whether Christ be in you 2 Cor. 13. 5. He hath called upon you by his Word but is he come in He hath offered himself to you by his Ministers but is he come in He hath knockt at your doors by the strivings of his Spirit but is he come in ye have been almost perswaded to open but is he come in you think that you have opened unto him but is he come in you think that he is come in and hath taken possession but is he so indeed O friends the soul may be lost by fancy as well as by obstinacy by self delusion as soon as by self rebellion what a bitter thing will this prove I thought my self to be Christs possession but was deceived and now am hells portion Quest But you will say how may one know that Christ is come and hath taken possession of the soul indeed Sol. It may be evidenced 1. By his affecting excellency 2. By his virtual efficacy 3. By his exciting authority 4. By our importuning insatiability First by his affecting excellency O sirs before Christ comes in much of the excellency of Christ appeared to the soul by way of invitation but when he is come to the soul more of his excellency now appears by way of fruition Apprehension may much affect us but fruition and experience doth much more affect us Now the soul sees indeed a wonderful Redeemer a wonderful love a wonderful satisfaction a wonderful happiness As the Queen of Sheba when she saw Solomon in his glory her spirit failed or as Simeon when he got Christ in his armes Now let me depart mine eyes have seen thy salvation or as Jacob when he saw Joseph now let me die or as David return to thy rest O my soul for c. Psal 116. The soul which is possessed of Christ adores admires cries out I am satisfied I have enough the pearl is found the chiefest of ten thousand is mine As the Sun darkens all the Stars all is as nothing to Christ Now I have love joy friends lands and al in Christ This is the Christ that I looked for that I longed for I see and finde in him the great love of God the exact beauty of holinesse a â—ull redemption God reconciled a spring of life worth to satisfie judgement worthiness to fatisfie my will sweetnesse to satisfie my affections happiness to satisfie my whole soul now I am abundantly payed for all my prayers pains c. Secondly by his virtual efficacy Christ is not an empty notion but a quick agent and when he comes into a soul vertue from him comes into the soul too Christ and his Spirit come together and dwell together If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his In Mal. 3. 1. you Rom. 8. 9. read a promise of his coming into a prepared soul Ver. 3. And then of the work which he doth when he is come He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver A refiner or purifier useth the fire to melt the mettal and to separate the drosse and rust from it and so makes it pure and beautiful and useful The soul of a man is a corrupt vessel and when Christ comes in to it he doth by his Spirit which is compared to fire cleanse and purifie it make it holy delightful and serviceable stamps his own image upon it Now you shall be able to love your God to hate your sinne to overcome the world to pray to mourn to trust to wait to be meek lowly contemned c. 3. By his exceeding authority when Christ takes possession he doth immediately set up his Throne and rule in the heart He rules all and rules alone and the soul is willingly obediential He pulls down all authority contrary to himself as that last Monarchy in Daniel crushed all the rest He hath possession who hath an acknowledged and consented dominion over your souls His servants ye are whom ye obey Rom. 6. O how doth this discover multitudes to be none of Christs possession Some they will not have him to rule at all Others like the Mother about the childe let it be neither mine nor thine but divide it a sinful lust must rule and a worldly lust shall rule and Christ if he please shall then rule too but would you be half saved surely where Christ indeed takes possession Christ alone is set up and the whole soule comes freely under subjection None but Christ none but Christ said the Martyr I will know none but Christ love none but Christ serve none but Christ the will of a beleever comes up to the will of its Saviour 4. By our importunate insatiability If Christ hath taken possession of the soul that soul would have more possession of Christ O I have not yet attained I have not yet enough of Christ O saith Paul that I may apprehend as I am apprehended Phil. 3. Such a soul would have all to fall into the hands of Christ and to be more and more possessed by Christ Lord here 's yet much ignorance O possesse my minde more with thy light Lord here are many doubts and fâ—ars O possess my judgement more with thy evidencing and comforting grace Lord here is much backwardnesse and dulness O possess my will more with thy quickning grace Lord here is much weaknesse and failings O possess my heart more with thy strengthening grace Vse 2. If upon search any of you do discerne Christs possessing presence rise up and blesse God go home and rejoyce in your portion It was a great matter for Christ to come into a mans house It is more for him to come into a mans heart When Zacheus opened his doors to Christ This day said Christ is salvation come into thy house O Christian if Christ be come into thy soul the King of glory the Prince of peace the Lord of life is come into thy soul it is more then for a King to come to a poor mans house I know not where to begin or where to end or in what phrase to set forth thy blessed condition 1. All that makes for heaven is thine the person of a Saviour that 's thine the price of Redemption that 's thine the peace of Reconciliation that 's thine the release in Justification that 's thine the priviledge of Adoption that 's thine the spring of Sanctification that 's thine the promise of Consolation that 's thine the hope of Salvation that also is thâ—ne 1 Cor. 3. 21. All things are yours Ver. 22. Whether Paul or Apollo or Câ—phas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours Ver. 23. And ye are Christs 2. All that may make thee up in all conditions Christ will be
right side of the bowle and the other upon the left side thereof The golden Candlestick is the Church the seven Lamps are the several graces of it the Olive trees are the abundant supplies of his grace and the seven Pipes the manifold wayes by which Christ deriveth good Now the good which Christ communicates to beleevers is twofold 1. Congruâ—us which respects the militant condition Bonum Honestum 2. Glorious which respects the triumphant condition Bonum Jucundum 1. The congruâ—us good which respects this life is first fundamental in 1. Justification wherein he bestows his blood upon beleevers for the remission of all their sinnes and so to exempt them from condemnation Rev. 1. 5. That loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his own blood And his righteousnesse upon them we are made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. and so to present them capable and fit for salvation 2. Adoption when he makes them the Sonnes of God Gal. 4. 4. God sent forth his Sonne verse 5. To redeeme us that we might râ—receive the Adoption of Sonnes so that Beleevers by Jesus Christ attaine to the dignity of being the Sonnes of God John 11. 12. And thereupon heirs of God and coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. Their Saviour becomes their brother Heb. 2. 10 to 13. And their God becomes their Father 3. Sanctification wherein he gives fellowship to them in the graces of his Spirit renuing and changing them by the infusion of divine qualities 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 4. He makes us partakers of the divine nature As God took of the Spirit in Moses and imparted some of it on the Elders of Israel or as Jonathan who loved David as his own soul 1 Sam. 18. 3. stript himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle verse 4. So doth Jesus Christ he doth power out of his Spirit upon beleevers imparts not only the garment of righteousnesse to justifie them but also his very Spirit of grace to be a sword and a girdle unto them a sword to slay their sins and a girdle to bind and strengthen them for his service Therefore are beleevers said to have communion in his death Phil. 3. 10. and to be planted in the likenesse of his death and resurrection Rom. 6. 5. 4. Preservation These things will I do unto them and not forsake them As the Sunne gives light and keeps it one hand to give another to hold as Christ himself went on with his own work of redemption never ceasing till he had finished it and ascended to glory so doth he in his work of Beleevers He is the Authour and finisher of faith a spring of eternal life The Authour of it to them that obey him 2. Accidental he kisseth them with a lip of peace salutes them with joy unspeakable seals them with the signet of his own Spirit puts sugar into their wine 2. The glorious good which respects another life is beyond all expression and conception It is called a Kingdom a crown of life a crown of righteousnesse that shall be given 2 Tim. 4. 8. Paradise an exceedingly exceeding weight of glory This also will Christ impart to beleevers He will give them besides all they meet with here of grace of peace of joy of help c. hereafter eternal life and they shall be where he is not only to behold his glory but to be glorified with him they shall enter into their Masters joy Quest 2. What the extent of this communion is 'twixt Christ and beleevers Sol. The question may be understood either of the extent 1. Of number Or 2. of quantity Or 3. of duration and accordingly I shall unfold the question in three particulars 1. The extent of Christs communion with beleevers is for number universal Beleevers are some of them strong Abraham was strong in faith he was the Father of the faithful and some of them are weak I beleeve Lord help my unbelief said the father of the childe some are ripe and well grown others are new born babes and very tender all are included union is as large as opening and communion is as large as union Christ hath communion with them all ye are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 28. and all of them have communion with Christ The Head hath a conjunction with an influence into the little Toe as well as into the strong Arme and the root in the vertue of it extends to the weakest branch as well as to the strongest Limb of the tree 2. The extent of Christs communion with beleevers is radically and substantially equal for quantity I confesse in respect of degrees for some part of this communion and in respect of some acts and in respect of some feeling or sense the communion is unequal and different for some have a greater measure of holinesse of strength of joy of evidence then others have but yet the radical and substantial part of this communion is equal and alike A full Reconciliation Redemption Sanctification Remission Christ is alike Redeemer to all beleevers and their Justification and Adoption are alike and the seed of Sanctification is alike and the frâ—ition of God in glory essentially considered is alike Though one star exceeds another in magnitude yet both are alike seated in the heavenly Orb and though one member be larger in the body then another yet every one hath an equal conjunction with the head Christ doth not clasp beleevers with a different spirit nor do they clasp Christ with a different faith his relation to them is one for the nature of it and their love to him is all one for the truth of it 3. The extent of Christs communion with beleevers in respect of duration is eternal or is continued to eternity It admits of no intercision in this life nor of any cessation in that other life for Christ hath an infinite goodnesse to communicate to them which they cannot take in but by an infinitenesse of time His treasures can never be spent upon them He hath glory for them to an eternity and they have a love to bestow upon him which will spend it self and yet last for ever and ever Quest 3. Why hath Christ such a communion with Beleevers Sol. The Reasons may be these 1. Communication is the principal end of all about Christ it is the end of his union the end of his offices and the end of his works 1. It is the end of all his unions There is a twofold union One is personal the union of natures in his person and that was for this end viz. to make him a â—it and able Mediator and Redeemer for us Vnto us a childe is born unto us a Son is given Isaiah 9. Another is mystical the union of himself with beleevers as an head with his members and this is for
hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse or what communion hath light with darknesse and what concord hath Christ with Belial and what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. Some would reconcile our Religion and Popery and you would reconcile heaven and hell 2. Of communicativenesse all the good which Christ imparts to us is for to make us good and for to enable us to do good If you kindle a fire it is to give warmth If you give your steward money it is to lay it out All the starres they say have light from the Sunne but then their light imparts it self againe by influence to bodies sub-celestial you must do more then others Thou hast received knowledge from Christ this candle should give light to others as well as to thy selfe Thou hast received grace from Christ this oyntment should heat the souls of others as well as his own soul thou hast received mercy and comfort from Christ this cordial should be let out to binde up and susteine the drooping hearts of others as well as thine own Christ hath shewed pity to thee surely it is that thou shouldest shew pity to others He forgives thee shouldest not thou forgive thy brother when you were wandering he sought after you when you were ignorant he instructed you when you were untoward he yet bare with you when you humbled your soules he cheered you when you yeilded to him he presently embraced you O how often hath he bound up your wounded soules How often hath he raised up your fallen feet you have lived upon his blood upon his Spirit upon his love upon his bounty all your dayes Let the same minde be in you which is in your Christ O when shall the soule of a childe of a wife of a servant of a friend of a neighbour cry out and say I blesse God for such a Father for such a Husband c. 3. Improve your communion with Christ Heb. 4. 14. seeing that we have a great High Priest verse 16. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Sirs there is a double condition of the soul one is of distance I never found a Christ O then be wise to strive to get him The other is of presence I enjoy a Christ O then be wise to make use of him When I want bread then I must look out for it when I possesse bread then I must feed on it Consider three things to set on this 1. Though your relation be excellent yet your condition is indigent No Christian hath so little of Christ but he hath matter for praise And no Christian hath so much from Christ but he hath matter still left for prayer Every day we finde it a great work to do a little work much patience to beare a little crosse much strength to conquer a little temptation much faith to answer one doubt much love to eat out one lust much zeal to act one piece of service As our receits are more then our desarts so our wants are much larger then our receits 2. There is a fulnesse in Christ and that with respect to your wants compare any part of good in him with any part of want in your selves it hath in it three qualities 1. Sutableness Mercy to answer misery Holinesse to answer sinne Peace to answer trouble strength to answer weaknesse c. 2. Fulnesse remission of sinnes lies in his blood as in a perfect merit and discharge Holiness lies in his natures as an original and infinite spring 3. Willingnesse to impart this to you I know the great scruple still lies about this but in truth the imparting will of Christ is unutterable can love invitation union donations assure you of this he bids us come and eat abundantly I will not expatiate in this onely if you consider 1. That gracious designe in God to draw up some to a glorious and eternal communion with himselfe 2. The voluntary contract 'twixt him and Christ to effect this 3. All that for which Christ engageth himself to beleevers as well as unto God his and their Father 4. All his cost already upon them which would be lost without further communicating you must confesse his wonderful willingnesse unlesse you would imagine that either God should misse of his designe or Christ is willing to lose all his pains 3. You your selves have all the kindes of improving of Christ attending you For you have 1. Improving interests 〈◊〉 and communion he is yours and therefore will do you good He hath done you good and therefore will do you more good 2. Improving principles Faith and love He is the fountaine and faith is the vessel given purposely unto you still to draw out of his fulnesse 3. Improving Ordinances the word and Sacrament They are bread set out on purpose to feed you They are the armes of Christ spread on purpose to strengthen you they are the pipes of Christ laid out on purpose to convey more of Christ unto you Therefore O thou feeble and complaining soul who hast communion with Christ consider thy selfe and thy condition often and say what need I yet from Christ wherein do I fall short what is it that I want what may Christ yet do for me And then stirre up faith to act in Christ to go to Christ to beg of Christ to draw from Christ more faith more love more humility more patience more fruitfulnesse more faithfulnesse more strength more assurance more joy c. Say thus a friend will do for a friend an husband will do for his wife an head will do for a member A Christ surely a Christ will do for a beleever If he gives himself he will give all other things if he hath given his blood for me already if he will give me glory hereafter surely he will give me a dramme of grace more and a drop of comfort more Vse 3. Is there such an excellent and sweet communion between Christ and the soul possessed by Christ O then sadly and seriously search whether you have a share in this communion yea â—â—ne There are three sorts of people in the world Some of them have no communion at all with Christ they are strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel Some of them have a communion of prosession a moral a visible communion Have we not heard thee preaching in our Synagâ—gue have we not eat and drank in thy presence but this is not sufficient Some of them have a communion of possession and profession both Have any of you this communion with Christ Quest How may that be discerned Sol. I conjecture it may be evidenced three ways 1. By preparations 2. By formal concomitants 3. By resulting effects 1. By preparations Are you fitted for such a communion as this the person who wanted a wedding garment was pulled out as unmeet for a wedding feast Christ will not have communion with every person Sirs whatsoâ—ver