that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you That is If God dwell in your hearts by faith all the current of your lives will be to dwell in him by love by hope and by obedience Thus Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Here is the Spirit of Donation and of Grace sent from the Spirit of Power and Glory God hath sent So Joel 2. 28 I will pour forth my Spirit on all flesh Here is the Spirits pouring forth the Spirit namely the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. which Spirit cooperateth in our hearts through which we have communion in our union I shall cast all that I have to speak at this time from these words into these three Considerations 1. How may a Believer and Christ be said to be one Spirit 2. What Evidences may I have that my soul and Christ are thus in union And then 3. What benefit and income have I by being united unto Christ For so the Text imports it by way of triumph benefit and blessing to that soul which is one Spirit with Christ And in all these three Considerations I am not to speak of the Maximum quod sic or the Minimum quod sic Not of the Degrees of believing knowing that the least grain of faith doth as truly unite to Christ as the Plerophoria faith of assurance though not so strongly First How may a believing soul and Christ be said to be one Spirit I shall demonstrate this in some few and brief particulars 1. This will appear in the life of Christ and the life of a Believer Take a Believer in his birth and progress in this world in his first and in his last and still you will find Christ and Believers walking hand in hand and heart in heart they do not only close together in the final close but through Christ their whole life is a harmony joying and joyning and rejoycing in one another True it is as Musitians may have in their Descant some sharp and flats some rests and pauses yet even they set out the harmony So a Believer may have some withdrawings of divine light Christ may seem to stand behind the wall and to be estranged but no sooner doth Christ call but straight saith the holy soul Draw me and I will run after thee Can. 1. 4. And if the Saint cries I am my Welbeloveds Christ saith presently She is his Can. 2. 16. Likewise as Christ and the soul have an union in life so have they also in death and suffering If they suffer he suffers if he suffers they suffer if Christ dies the Saints die yea count reckon your selves so saith Paul Rom. 6. 11. yet with this difference Christ dyeth for sin the Saints to sin Christus non filius fuit irae sub ira Christ was not a Son of wrath though under wrath But we were both and yet what we had done Christ counts himself had done and stands in our stead So that as Luther saith He was the greatest sinner in the world And he bids the Saints believe that all their sins were laid on him and that not only so but that his righteousness is made ours for so saith the Prophet He is the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 6. And if we be afflicted Christ is afflicted he having the same Isa 63. 9 spirit of sympathizing must needs have the same spirit in suffering Out of this sense if Christ be bound and led to Mount Calvary to suffer for his Saints saith the holy Soul I am not only ready to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Act. 21. 13. 2. We are one Spirit with Christ by having communion and interest in all the precious graces of Christ This is the Saints testimony 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit which Spirit is the sweet fruit of all the graces dwelling in our hearts and by which we cry Abba Father And if you would know what this Spirit of Grace is the Apostle tels you in opposing it to the worlds envyings Gal. 5. 21 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Be not proud of this thy Spiritual income but be joyfull and be chearfull for against such there is no law Why no law against such Because Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. So then if we rank up all these graces Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness c. these being one Spirit with Christ we by being in union with Christ have a communion with all the graces of Christ Thus Christ dwels in us by faith and we are in Christ by faith Christ dwels in us by love and we dwell in Christ by love only We love him because he loved us first So that though we be many members and have diversity of gifts and several operations yet but one spirit one body one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. Thirdly believers are one spirit with Christ in that they leave all other relations in coming to Christ If any thing oppose tribulation peril sword father mother friends a believer will through thick and thin cross or comforts good report or bad report through all to Christ How is man and wife one flesh by leaving all to be joyned to one another Matth. 19. 5. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh Thus is it in the spiritual union between Christ and the soul they leave all for Christ And this is but that which Christ hath done for us for he left Glory Father House and Home Phil 2. 5 6 7. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant yea he was made in the likeness of men and humbled himself and became obedient unto death And what was all this for but that his Saints might be joyned unto him in spirit in righteousness in life in grace in glory Christ left all for us that we might have a union with him so we must leave all other relations and cleave unto Christ alone And therefore let us put the question unto conscience How many of us can part and leave all for Christ if we finde not this resolution within us but we have a cleaving to father and mother to this worlds comforts and enjoyments profess what we will for Christ yet so far
nations men and devils combine do not grumble nor fear the wil and work of your heavenly father must be done However beliver go forward with your occasions with a holy subjection unto thy fathers will but take this in that whether it be life or liberty prosperity or adversity for so did Christ it be with resignation of all to God Matth. 26. 39. Not my will but thine be done Believers in times of fears must do as the children of Israel did Exod. 14. they were incompassed with a huge host and the red sea yet they go forward till they could go no further and then comes in that Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord So must believers in the midst of all national fears still be a going forward and see the salvation of God in all their enterprizes But you will further object Though I fear national troubles it is not I alone but Obj. many godly and eminent Christians are at a stand about the present affairs and proceedings And can you blame me to have fears who am but in the lower form I shall not blame but argue what cause of fears since being a believer thou hast Ans such refreshments as Gods presence doth afford unto his in any straits and troubles And what cause of fears can there be when all for Gods people shall work for their advantage thus saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. All shall work together for good to them that love God and thou loving God let it be tribulation or persecution good will be brought out of thy troubles and afflictions God will overturn Kings and Kingdoms yet if it produce good for thee what cause of fears God hath thrown down Ahasuerus with his hundred and twenty Provinces and the more he throws down the nearer is the end of all things and this should be so far from grief to Gods people that they should rejoyce yea lift up you heads you redeemed of the Lord the more shakings of the worlds powers the nearer is your everlasting joy Be glad then and rejoyce for the day of your redemption draweth nigh And the Text gives you this comfort that though foraign invasions come never so strong and home-bred enemies plot never so secretly yet fear not overcoming for thou shalt overcome saith the Lord unto his Church and people at the 15 and 16 Verses Behold I will make thee speaking of the worm Jacob to thresh the mountains and beat them smal and shalt make the hills as chaff and fan them and carry them away Do but consider these expressions and here 's enough to answer all national fears and enough to draw forth thy spirit to rejoce in the Lord and to glory in the holy one of Israel Comfort for Believers From their Spiritual Incomes 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit CHAP. I. Shewing the scope of the words and how Believers and Christ are one Spirit THe Apostle in the former part of this Chapter reproveth the Corinthians about their going to Law about things indifferent and in the verse before the Text about Fornication He brings in these words as lifting up his present Argument to a more high and spiritual Conclusion Know you not saith he v. 16. that is You do know what Moses saith that Two shall be one flesh this is matrimonial coupling The same effect hath Fornication and sin He that joyns himself to Drunkenness and Adultery is one with Drunkenness and Adultery But now the Lord to whom Believers are joyned hath a spirit above the world and such base carnal defilements For he that is joyned unto an Harlot is one body but he that is joyned to Jesus Christ is one Spirit The scope of these words holds forth that heavenly union and communion that is between Christ and every Believer And the Apostle brings them in as a royalty that every Child of God hath by being joyned to Christ as if he would have them boast in this their present Income above all such bitter sweets and pleasures of sin which are but for a moment Mark therefore how he opposeth it against â—he poor and beggerly Contracts of this World and Sin as being loth to speak so much of the worlds miscarriages and defilements and to hold so long from the spiritual souls enjoyment He doth as it were wind up another key delighting in that wherein his heart had found joy and experimental comfort for every Believer is in union with Christ and Christ is in union with every Believer Yea here 's my triumph here 's my glory Every Believer hath not only union but communion also for between a Believer and Christ there is union they are one and not only so but there is enjoyment of communion in this union They are one Spirit In the words two things are to be enquired into First what is meant by being one And secondly what is meant by being one Spirit 1. By Vnion we are not to understand Corporal or Personal union as if the Husband should be the Wife the Father the Son or the Head the Members or contrary but by being one with Christ is a Spiritual and Conjugal union an union of Relations as Head and Members Husband and Wife which though they be two in appearance yet are but one in compliance and acquaintance As Moses saith in Natures wedlock Two shall be one flesh that is man and wife shall live and move and act together for each other So Christ and every Believer though they be different persons as head and members husband and wife yet they both have but one Father one house one home they live and move and act together have one compliance one acquaintance one enjoyment one in love one in heart one all And the summ of this is eminently set forth in Eph. 5. from the 23. v. to the end of the Chapter 2. What is meant by being one Spirit for this is Spiritual conjunction In corporal conjunctions there is a union in flesh but this union of Christ with the soul is spiritual they are one Spirit By Spirit here we are not to understand the essential being of God or Christ for he is said to be a Spirit Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit He speaks it of his universal nature as he is Infinite and Omniscient thus neither Angels or men are in union with him onely Jesus Christ who is God equal with the Father blessed for ever comprehending all things by whom all things subsist But by Spirit here is meant the participation of the gifts and graces of God whereby he doth cooperate and work in our hearts a conformity to all those holy ends and purposes as he hath awarded in his Word to all the faithful in Christ Jesus So that by Spirit we are to understand the fruits of the Spirit And thus you may have a Cloud of witnesses Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He
Containing positive perswasions for souls to be strangers and sojourners on the earth 1. From former example 2. From present experience 3. From future expectation 1. Be exhoted from former example Let former example of all the Saints take place in us that we may be like-minded as they were Abraham was so and Jacob was so With this staff saith he came I over this Jordan and so were all the Patriarchs David was one of the Lords worthies and Gen. 32. 10. though a King yet saith he in the Text I am a stranger and Psal 39. 12. I am a stranger and a sojourner as all my fathers were yea Christ himself was so although he was the King of Kings although he was the standard for all Saints yet he was not a stayer but a stranger in this world John 18. 36. Jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world c And that Christians should be of the same minde not to be troubled at this worlds losses he tells his Disciples and as them so all believers John 14. 1 2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled I go to prepare a place for you yea in my fathers house are many Mansions and I will come again and fetch you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also What is the import of this but Christ owning of believers as strangers on the earth destitute and afar off from him his father crown and kingdom and to give them a word of comfort amidst this worlds discouragements he tells them that granting they were strangers yet poor hearts saith Christ be not troubled I will call for you and receive you that where I am ye may be there also 2. Be exhorted from present experience to be strangers on the earth This our deceased friend although a standard in his family yet you see but a stranger on the earth a traveller that is now gone to his home the body to the grave the spirit to God that gave it The Cedars are emblematical for greatness yet down they must as well as lesser shrubs But the Saints which are Gods myrtle trees amongst whom the Lord is said to walk and take repast amidst the Rev. 2. 1 golden Candlesticks which are his Church and people yet not onely the Cedars but the Myrtle trees must down it is appointed for all men once to dye yea the Saints Gods Myrtle trees must down as well as others this days experience teaches this our deceased friend was a standard a supporter to his family and a little pillar of his Countrey and Commonwealth witness those several places of trust and esteem he was often called unto so that his enemies being judges this may not be gainsaid Eccles 7. 1. That a good name is better then precious ointment and the day of death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the day of birth Then the day of generation or childe hood saith the Hebrew hinting that it is better for a childe of God to be gone out of this world then to be begotten again to be cropt off then growing up with a new life in this world when a mans conversation is as becomes the Gospel how sweet is life how welcome is death such a soul may say and all we may say of such a soul Christ is unto thee in life or death advantage Present experience speaks much comfort unto us in this our friends departure he had a good name a conversation not criminal but godly a Myrtle tree standing to and for the truth as it is in Jesus witness his communications and actions in his life and precious brethings of his soul in death and yet friends experience tels us how this flower is cropt what a stranger he was in the earth yea his own body laboring under and in afflictions of his poor tabernacle of clay presents unto me with such a like prospect Methinks I see not onely this but every Christian going up and down the world in this tabernacle of clay with legs and arms like the poor prisoner with his fetters The poor prisoner is clog'd with irons goes in pain waits with patience carries the chain in his hand the iron on his legs and he steps this way and that way but still is straitned his legs are bound his arms pinioned and his heart careful for his deliverance even so is the Christian in this tabernacle of clay he moves up and down the earth like a poor prisoner laden with irons sin straitens him one way and the world another he hath a body of flesh and corruption wherein he is manicled as with fetters of iron with which being shakled he moves here and there still carrying the chain in his hand though fastned on his heels he expects his fetters to be taken off and his clogging cares to be broken and the prisoner the Saint to be relieved and released And you that finde your selves clogg'd and that thus carry your chain in your hand waiting for your deliverance hearkenâ—â— what Christ saith Zec. 9. 12. Turn ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee who would be a lingering Saint having such a precious promise and such a gracious call Our friend and prisoner is gone unto his attainment experience at present tells you this And Christians what will you do would you have your Benjamin have a double portion then wait for your return Return O Shunamite return Return O poor soul the prisoner of hope turn from thy shakels and turn to thy Saviour Return unto thy rest Jesus Christ calls thee from this weak hold on earth to his strong hold in heaven You know 2 Pet. 1. 1. stayers are not returners but strangers are returners our friends are gone before let us hasten after like prisoners longing with like precious faith for the same precious experience of the Saints double portion both in grace and glory Thirdly and lastly be exhorted as from former example present experience so from future expectation thou expectest to dye you all know that is the Lords appointment Man must dye and after death the judgement Heb. 9. 27. but what is thy expectation are we like Paul he was a straitned stranger but his expectation and desire was to be with Christ yea he counts his present state a distress in regard of departing and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. I am in a strait saith he desiring to depart Ah but whether what is the Apostles expectation why he tells you it is to be with Christ Now what is yours dye you must but what is it you expect after death what company what place what being and possession speak your expectation as in the presence of the Lord Alas saith a poor soul what do you ask me can I tell what or where but I trust to be with Christ and confess that is best but surely I think