the handling of the point of doctrine here propounded And because the doctrine hath two branches the one necessarily implied the other openly expressed I shall distinctly speak unto them both The truth implied in the first branch of the doctrine is 1. Branch of Doctrine Joh. 1. 12. Eph. 3. 17. this viz. that Christ is in Beleevers As beleevers do receive him so he dwelleth in their hearts by faith And therefore it is noteable that the Apostle having moved the Corinthians to prove themselves whether in the faith he addeth Know 2 Cor. 13. 5. ye not that Jesus Christ is in you This in-being of Christ in beleevers is to be understood not of an abode in them or any where else on earth corporally for in that sense the Heavens must receive him until the time of the restitution of Act. 3. 21. all things but of an habitation spirituall according to the testimony of the Apostle Because ye are Sonnes God hath Gal. 4. 6. sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Thereby intending to teach us that Christ is in beleeving Christians spiritually And this truth is by various metaphors suggested in the holy Scriptures 1. By being compared unto showrs which descending from heaven do sink and soak into the bowels of the earth He shall come down like rain 2. And his Name Psa 72. 6. Cant. 1. 3. Psa 109. 18. is like unto ointment poured forth which worketh it self into the bones not staying upon the outside of the person receiving it 3. He is meat and drink indeed unto the soul from Joh. 6. 55 56. whence he himself concludeth my doctrine He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him 4. Hereto might be added that he is the soul of our souls whereby we live spiritually Christ is our Life And mans life Col. 3. 4. Dan. 7. 15. is said to be in him 2 Sam. 1. 9. The body is called the sheath of the Soul which expression hinteth that the soul is in the body as the sword in the scabbard In like manner Christ who is the Christians life is in all them whom he enliveneth Having thus cleared the truth that Christ is in beleeving Vse 1 Christians I proceed to the application of it under three heads of Uses First For Instruction in four particulars 1. Hence the Godhead of Jesus Christ may be concluded undeniably for this spirituall ubiquity of Christ in the souls of all reall Saints in all the places of the world cannot belong unto any meer creature whatsoever This argument Saint Paul produced Act. 17. 23 24 27 28. to distinguish the true God from all Idol-gods He is not far from every one of us Omnipresence proveth Deity And the conclusion followeth with like strength when beleevers assert this truth He is in every one of us 2. This discovereth the unparellel'd condescentions of Jesus Jesus Christ being willing to abase himself thus low as to be within poor sinfull creatures This was a matter of admiration 1 King 8. 27. Mat. 8. 8. unto Solomon But will God indeed dwell on earth The good Centurion said Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof And the Psalmist with much affection calleth upon all the servants of the Lord to praise him and Psa 113. 1 3 5 6. praise him again upon this account Who is like unto the Lord God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth Did God humble himself in looking out of himself off from his own infinite beauties and perfections to view either men on earth or Angels and Saints in heaven How much greater is this condescention in Christ to make his abode in the souls of sinners Let me here dart only two thoughts into your mindes 1. That Christ came out of his Fathers bosome where he Joh. 1. 18. Prov. 8. 30. was daily his delight rejoycing alwaies before him 2. That the hearts of the best upon earth wherein he inhabits are like dark dungeons in regard of the clouds of ignorance not dispersed 1 Cor. 13. 12. Isa 64. 6. and like unsavoury dunghils in respect of many noysome lusts not fully subdued Therefore guess with gratitude how low our blessed Lord doth stoop in being content to dwell in us even in us every way so vile and so unworthy 3. This giveth us to understand the dignity of all true beleevers As they are precious excellent more excellent then Isa 43. 4. Psa 16. 2. Prov. 12. 26. others in many other respects which I now have not occasion to mention so upon this account that the Lord Jesus Christ is in them Moses the man of God judgeth Israel in this regard in a condition farre better then any other people For what Nation hath God so nigh unto them And how Deut. 4. 7. much was Zacheus affected with the apprehension of this favour this honour when Christ promised to abide at his house When he had climed into a tree to take a view of Luk. 19. 5. Christ and Christ telleth him that he should not only have a transient sight of him but also enjoy him as his guest oh how was Zacheus think you elevated by this entertainment Now such and greater honour have all his Saints Psa 149. 9. It was no doubt a very great honour put upon the blessed Virgin Mary both in her own account and in the judgement Luk. 1. 42 43 48 49. of all Christians that she did bear the holy body of Christ in her womb for a time He that is mighty hath magnified me and certainly the inhabitation of Christ by his Spirit in the souls of his servants is not a priviledge inferiour 4. This whispereth the madnesse and misery of all such who do dare to make opposition against beleevers for seeing Christ is in them therefore in so doing they seek as it were to pluck down Christ his house upon his head I shall not enlarge this Use 1. Either by shewing the various waies whereby wrong is done unto the servants of the Most High viz. by secret plots and open persecutions either by abating their comforts or encreasing their sufferings either by corrupting their judgements or drawing them to sin 2. Or by manifesting Christs knowledge and sensiblenesse of these their injuries together with his severity against their enemies witnessed both by judgements threatned in his Word and executed in the world from generation to generation But I only wish those who are herein guilty to minde the Item given by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Corinthians If any man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy 1 Cor. 3. 17. for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are The second Use is for the comfort of all true beleevers Vse 2 seeing Christ is in them I remember what is recorded concerning Paul that the
the earnest of the Spirit Therefore if Gods own earnest may give good hope then Christ in beleeving Christians giveth good hope of glory especially because the earnest it self is of so great value the receiving whereof is happinesse begun upon earth 2. Because of that near relation and close union which is betwixt Christ and them whom he inhabiteth They are not only related unto him as servants unto their Master though that would give ground of good hope Seeing he himself who is taken up into glory hath said Where I am there shall my servant be Neither are they only one with him Ioh. 12. 26. Joh. 15 5. Col. 1. 18. Ephes 1. 23. He in them and they in him as the branches in the Vine But he is united unto beleevers as the head unto the body which is called his fullnesse Therefore if there be hope that Christ will have a compleat body without the defect of any member in heaven or that every individuall member of Christ his mysticall body shall be glorified then Christ in beleevers is the infallible hope of glory 3. Because Christ by abiding in Beleevers doth prepare them for participation in glory The Apostle Paul is clear in his expressions to this purpose Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life Rom. 8. 9 10 11. because of righteousnesse But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Wheresoever Christ dwels spiritually his Spirit operateth effectually for the subduing of sinfull principles and for the advancing of the power of sanctification And thus he preparing the vessels of mercy for glory and making them meet to be made pantakers of the inheritance of Rom. 8. 23. Col. 1. 12. Saints in light he giveth them sure hope of glory This by way of application may serve as a good touchstone Vse 1 to try the truth of heavens hopes Not Christ in the Sermons which we hear nor Christ in the Chapters which we reade nor Christ in the Sacrament which we receive will administer ground of hope of future glory Though Christ be in our heads by high notions and in our mouths by frequent glorious expressions yet if he be not in our bosomes by spirituall inhabitation he is not unto us the hope of glory It is said of hypocrites that God is near in their mouths Jer. 12. 2. Mat. 15. 8. but farre from their reins And that with their lips they honour him but their heart is farre from him At the last day many shall pleade their profession of Christ calling him Lord Lord and talking of great works done in his Name who yet shall shall be rejected with doleful disappointments I will professe unto them saith Christ I never knew you depart from Mat. 7. 23. me Here then the question will be how may Christ his being in us be discovered I answer briefly 1. By the grace of Per fidem habitans virtute sua agens Hunnius in Text. Joh. 1. 12. faith whereby he is received 2. By the room into which he is welcomed 3. And by the effects of his entertainment First Whereas true Beleevers are the only receivers of Jesus Christ This faith will evidence it self partly by the incomparable value which it puts upon Christ To you who beleeve saith the Apostle Peter he is precious and partly by opposing 1 Pet. 2. 7. and purging out sinfull pollution that Christ may not be annoyed by it The heart is purified by faith Therefore ask your Act. 15. 9. selves as in Gods presence whether there be any thing in the world which you prize more then Christ or so much as Christ and whether you do indulge any wickedness within your bosomes without bitter complaints and vigorous opposition Secondly Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith The Spouse Eph. 3. 17. Can. 1. 13. saith He shall lie as a bundle of Myrrhe betwixt my breasts Therefore consider into what place Christ is welcomed Do you admit him into some out-house only As at his birth he was laid in a manger because there was no room for him in Luk. 2. 7. the Inne Or do you put him into a cock-loft only I mean Do you only fill your fancies with notions and tip your tongues with talk of Christ or is he indeed received with warm welcome into your hearts by longings loves and rejoycings Thirdly Whereas Christ is influentially operative in the soul where he resideth as the soul in the body where it is Christ is our life saith Paul and I am crucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Enquire Col. 3. 4 Gal. 2. 20. therefore exactly whether by such spirituall breathings sense and motions as were in Jesus Christ whilest upon earth you can make out your union and communion with him He 1 Joh. 2. 6. that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked what gaspings are in you after conformity to Gods will and the glory of his Name what sighs under sin with the expressions of divine displeasure what complacency in Gods service and the smiles of his face in the use of holy Ordinances what motions what progresse do you endeavour to make from sinne towards God in the mortifying of inward lusts and the advancing of the power of godlinesse in your conversations Sincere answers returned unto such like demands will suggest whether Christ be efficaciously present in you This truth administreth matter of much comfort unto all Vse 2 them who finde upon due examination the Lord Jesus dwelling in them When Zacheus heard that Christ would abide Luk. 19. 6. in his house he received him joyfully Greater cause of joy have they who have already lodged him in their hearts Now to quicken the belevevers joy upon that account viz. that Christ in them is the hope of glory these comfortable consequences may be considered 1. Hence they may assuredly expect the supply of all outward wants whether they look upon themselves as possessed of Christ or entitled by him unto glory The holy Scripture holds forth this inference as deducible from both these grounds Christ is the owner the heir of all things and therefore if God hath given us his Sonne how shall he not with him freely give us all things And if the Lord by the right Rom. 8. 32. of Christ hath been pleased to give interest in heavens glory he will certainly vouchsafe all earthly needfull accommodations This conclusion Christ himself gathers from the premises Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure Luk. 12. 32. to give you the Kingdom And the Apostle doth from the same
the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward But 〈◊〉 you eye in Christ what is equitable and imitable then consider in Moses what is attainable by the industrious actings of faith and meditation And yet to prevail further upon your spirits in promoting your magnanimity and patience by minding your hope of glory in Christ I wish you to compare your present sufferings on earth with your future glory hoped for in heaven both in regard of their quality and continuance for the one are both light and short whereas the other is both weighty and eternall The experience of Gods servants hath often put a Probatum est unto this direction 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. For this cause we faint not for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall Secondly Those who have not as yet received Christ to dwell in them are to be moved as they desire heavens glory hereafter and the comfortable hopes of it here upon earth to give entertainment unto Jesus Chaist Zacheus upon an hint given of Christs willingnesse to come into his house comes down out of the Sycamore-Tree quickly and receiveth him joyfully Now do you with seriousnesse consider Luk. 19. 4. with what 1. importunity 2. patience 3. and promises the Lord Jesus calleth upon you for entertainment Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and Rom. 3. 20. open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me 1. There is the use both of a voice and knocking therefore importunity He speaketh by his word and knocketh by his Spirit with some recoylings of an awakned conscience 2. This importunity is not only once it is not a knock or a word and away but he standeth he staieth and waiteth for admission This speaketh much patience 3. This patient importunity is backed with promises of communion upon willingnesse to take him in I will sup with him and he with me as if he had said I will feast his soul and I will accept of his provisions for my welcome Now if by these motives to which many more might be added you be disposed to enquire what you should do that may come into you and be in you the hope of glory I would refer you to the counsell given by the Psalmist which is doubled because weighty and necessary Lift up your heads O ye gates and be lift up ye everlasting doors and the Psa 24. 7. 9. King of glory shall come in Hence two directions may be gathered 1. That our souls which in regard of their immortality are called everlasting doors must willingly receive him He is a great King and will not take up with an out-house for his lodging for the place of his gracious abode Eph. 3. 17. He dwelleth in the heart Either there or not at all Therefore by meditating upon the fore-mentioned particulars suggesting Christ his deservings and the incomparable benefits to be received by him seek to prevail with your selves that your warmest loves strongest longings and highest joys may be laid forth upon him 2. That he must be received as Lord and King with free contentment to submit unto his Scepter and Regall Authority In houses where Kings were wont to be entertained Rex was usually written upon the door all the rooms were to be disposed of for his use In like manner must they commit the Keys of government into the hands of Christ with willingnesse to be ruled by him in all things who would receive him and through him the hope of glory 3. Hereto may be added heart-humiliation For whereas high stately Palaces are esteemed the fittest houses for the entertainment of earthly Princes Jesus Christ the King of glory maketh choice of lowly hearts for his habitation For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell Isa 55. 15. in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit Therefore levell your mountains of self-conceit lay your selves in the dust upon the serious review of the evil both of your lives and natures together with the deserved misery which you be neither able to resist nor undergo and make an unfeigned self-resignation unto the Lord to be alwaies in all things governed by him so may you expect the coming of Christ into your souls and the comfort of good hope of glory through him This one thing I earnestly move as a matter necessary to salvation by Jesus Christ viz. self-deniall with submission to Christ as tendred in the Gospel upon terms of free-grace The Apostle Paul looketh upon the Jews as not in the state of salvation Because they going about to establish Rom 10. 1 3. their own righteousnesse submitted not themselves unto the righteousnesse of God Their priviledges were high and their costly Sacrifices many and therefore they hoping without Christ then preached to work out their own welfare fell short of blessednesse The same Spirit of pride and self-dependance is in all our natures which is extreamly mischievous obstructing the way unto Christs welcome into the soul therefore I entreat and beseech Christians again and again herein to be exceeding carefull Neither let those who are most rich in parts duties enjoyments rely thereupon with disrespect of Christ Nor yet let Poor souls burthened with guilt beggarly in abilities most vile and unworthy in their own account keep off from Christ through distrustfull discouragements For as all good hope of glory is raised from Christ heartily entertained so no one who humbly obedientially stoopeth under his government Joh. 6. 37. shall be rejected In the last place The Doctrine administreth much comfort Vse 4 unto mourners bewailing the death of such who as they have just cause to beleeve had received Christ into their souls before they left this world because from this ground ariseth good hope that they are admitted into heavens glory Upon this account the Apostle disswadeth drooping and perswadeth chearfulnesse in Christians upon such occasions I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning 1 Thes 4. 13 14 18. them who are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For we beleeve that those who sleep in Jesus God will bring with him and so shall we ever be with the Lord Wherefore comfort one another with these words In this regard regular love to our deceased Christian Friends would turn our water into wine our tears into joys If ye loved me said Christ to his dejected Apostles ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father And this was ethe rason as some