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
sight of some Christian Act. 28. 15. brethren cheared him after a sad shipwrack whom when Paul saw he took courage And Caesar cheared the drooping Mariners in a storm by minding them of his presence How much more should the in-being of Christ solace the beleeving soul 1. Because of his authority and power to order all casualties and concernments according to his pleasure whereas many times the best of creature-friends can do no more then pity and pray Thus our Lord cheared his Apostles All power is given unto me and lo I am with Mat. 28. 18 20 you alway even unto the end of the world And it was a cordiall to the Disciples in a storm that Christ was with them whom the windes and waves must obey 2. Because this a Mat. 8. 26 27 Psa 132. 14. bode of Christ speaketh his complacency This is Mr Bayns his Note upon the Text. A man cannot properly be said to dwell in a prison in which he taketh no delight And this answereth a Scripture-expression elsewhere Here I will dwell for I have desired it saith God of Sion Though many times drooping Christians viewing their own beggarlinesse and vilenesse judge themselves worthy to be detested and deserted and would relinquish themselves if they could yet Christ looketh to the poor and contrite soul as a meet habitation Isa 66. 1 2â— for himself 3. Because he doth graciously communicate himself unto the soul where he resideth according to the necessities thereof I dwell with him that is of a contrite Isa 57. 15. and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the contrite ones When you reade this promise remember his ability and fidelity in these and all other kindes to accommodate those whom he inhabits to their compleating in the accomplishment of his Mediatorship Therefore doubtlesse there cannot possibly be either any creature-want or danger wherein the improvement of this in-dwelling of Christ may not refresh the beleeving Christian 4. Because Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus maximè Gen. 39. Psal 63. Act. 23. 10 11 this will be constantly and abundantly relieving in times of the greatest solitarinesse though in banishment or the closest imprisonment and at the greatest distance from the dearest friends Joseph in Egypt David in the wildernesse and Paul prisoner in the Castle were admirably cheared by this company And Christ is now and will be evermore the self-same in his servants for their consolation The third Use is for Exhortation to perswade Beleevers Vse 3 unto a double duty 1. To purge all discovered pollution out of themselves because of Christs speciall residence in them This Use the Apostle Paul maketh of this doctrine for having said to the 2 Cor. 6. 16. 7. 1. Corinthians Ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them he addeth Having therefore these Promises Dearly Beloved let us clense our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit This was one charge which God gave unto old Israel in a military condition that all bodily filth should be buried under ground and this is rendred as the reason For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst Deu. 23. 13 14 of thee therefore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee Oh that Christians would in this respect oppose inward defilements and not outward pollutions only How carefull are we to sweep and wash away whatsoever might be offensive unto our Friends in the rooms where we lodge them And what guest can so well deserve welcome as Jesus Christ unto whom all sinne is abominable he being Prov. 8. 7. the holy One of God Be not satisfied therefore with fair faces and white hands but labour to make and to keep the in-side clean also 2. To prepare for Christs contentfull entertainment in their bosomes Who is not willing to be at cost in providing Luk. 5. 29. both food and furniture fitting for the welcoming of worthy friends It 's said Levi made Christ a great Feast in his own house yea Solomon brings in the whorish woman reporting Prov. 7. 16 17. her provisions made for the young man whom she sollicited to lewdnesse I have deck'd my bed with coverings of Tapestry with carved works and fine linen of Egypt I have perfumed my bed with Myrrh Aloes and Cinamon And should not a principle of pure love to Christ prevail with Christians to do more then sordid lusts do with the bruitish children of men If you demand what is the provision to be laid in for Christ his welcome The Apostle telleth you it is perfecting holinesse in the fear of God which practice also 2 Cor. 7. 1. he moveth by the argument under-hand as was hinted in the former branch of the Exhortation By the encreasing and acting of all the graces of the holy Ghost Christ will be abundantly contented This is intended by these metaphoricall expressions of the Spouse unto Christ At our Cant. 7. 13. gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my Beloved I would cause thee to drink Cant. 8. 2. of spiced wine of the juyce of my Pomegranate And take this encouragement all you drooping souls who are low and little in your own eyes judging nothing of your graces worthy Christs acceptance or meet for his entertainment that his Loves will take in good part that which with sincere good-will you shall provide and make tender of with respect unto his content I will sup with you saith he to the Rev. 3. â—0 Church And upon the invitation of the Spouse thus expressed Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat his pleafant Cant. 4. 16. fruit This answer speaking good acceptance is returned I am come into my garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered Cont. 5. 1. my Myrrh with my Spice I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey I have drunk my wine with my milk Oh how ready with chearfulnesse is the Lord Jesus to own and accept all graces notwithstanding their defects and mixtures in the bosomes of them whom he doth inhabite This therefore should both quicken and embolden poor beleeving souls to lay in and lay out for his satisfaction who is pleased to abide in them I proceed to the second branch of the Doctrine which is 2. Branch of Doctrine the truth openly expressed viz. That the existency of Christ in Beleevers giveth existence unto their hopes of glory If the reasons hereof be demanded I answer Because Christ his spirituall presence in us is Gods earnest of glory The Apostle is expresse for this Having In arrahbone ut pignus Dickson on the Text. 2 Cor. 5. 5. mentioned the longings of Saints to be swallowed up of life he addeth Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who also hath given unto us
foretold of him both substantiall and circumstantiall were exactly fullfilled in him The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Ioh. 1. 14. Jesus Christ These things I only touch upon without enlargement Secondly In relation to his people Christ is the riches of Christus est nobis thesaurus spiritualium divitiarum Day in Text. 1 Cor. 2. 7. the Gospels glory The blessed Apostle is very open in his expression to this purpose We speak the hidden wisedom of God which God ordained unto our glory Many rich and glorious are the true Christians advantages from Jesus Christ I shall briefly point at four which St Paul hath recorded together in Eph. 1. And before I mention the particulars the generall which he premiseth being very comprehensive is worthy consideration Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Eph. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenlies in Christ The Originall neither restraineth the word Heavenly to places or things but the holy Ghost hinteth thus much That whatsoever spirituall blessings which are incomparably the best any Saints receive from the Lord either here upon earth or hereafter in heaven all are derived through Christ The particulars follow 1. Electing love is in Christ He hath chosen us in him before ver 4. the foundation of the world 2. Adoption into the right and priviledges of Gods children is by Christ Having predestinated us unto the Adoption ver 5. of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 3. Fatherly acceptance with God pardoning all sins is upon the account of Jesus Christ He hath made us accepted ver 6 7. in the beloved in whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his grace 4. And the possession of our rich Inheritance is by reason of our co-heirship with Christ Jesus In whom also we have ver 11 12. Neque solum gratiam omnem inherentem habemus a Christo derivatam sed gratiam acceptationis divinae ad vitam aeternam habemus Dav. in Text. Vse 1. obtained an Inheritance c. that we should be unto the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ These short touches may be sufficient to clear the truth of the doctrine I proceed to the Application Ministers therefore should in this regard the more abundantly preach Christ Our Apostle having in the Text told the Colossians that Christ is the riches of the glorious Gospel he addeth immediately in the verse following whom we preach yea this is considerable that when Paul was a prisoner for such preaching he maketh this the greatest boon to be begg'd of God in his behalf that he might have liberty with ability to declare such things unto them in his Ministry Continue in prayer withall praying for us that God Col. 4. 2 3 4. would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the Mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds that I may make it manifest The like request he maketh unto the Ephesians Pray Eph. 6. 18 19 20. alwaies in the Spirit c. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassadour in bonds And he greatly glorieth in this as a transcendent honour That he was made a Minister of the Gosple to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see Eph. 3. 7 8 9. what is the fellowship of the mystery c. And this practice may prevalently be perswaded by the consideration of 1. The Ministers Office 2. The Peoples need First By Office We are Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2. and it is required in Stewards that a man be found faithfull In this respect we must produce for the honour of our Master and the use of his Family such Treasures with which he hath been pleased to entrust us As Abrahams servant Gen. 24. 53. brought forth Jewels of silver and Jewels of gold to win the heart of Rebecca to Isaac so should we spread before our people the unvaluable riches of Christ that we might work out their hearts unto him Secondly As our Office so the Peoples necessities do call for our help herein for there are hidden things herein as the word mystery intimateth 1 Cor. 2. 7. which very few understand in comparison of the multitudes who are palpably ignorant hereof This our Saviour suggests who having by the Parable of the Sower taught that not above one part of four receive saving profit by the Gospel preached among them he said unto his Disciples Vnto you it is given to know Luk. 8. 10. the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but unto others in Parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand And nothing that can possibly be taught is more usefull Vt sciant nihâ— doâ—â—ri posse absolutius Cal. in ver 28. and advantagious Hereby the proud heart is most kindely humbled and the humbled heart most sweetly comforted This knowledge will enrich the poor in Spirit and keep them lowly who are rich in grace It will encrease the hatred of sinne the contempt of the world faith in the promises love to God Christian courage zeal patience together with humble boldnesse in addresses unto God upon all occasions It is the one thing necessary By means hereof as the Luk. 10. 42. Apostle hints in the verse following the Text Ministers may hope to present their people perfect in Jesus Christ But these things I do only name without enlargement yet before I dismisse this Use I desire leave to entreat my Brethren in the Ministry to minde the counsell and practice of this our Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 23. 18 19. viz. to study familiar plainnesse in unfolding these rich mysteries of glorious Gospel grace which are treasured up in Jesus Christ My second Use must be directed both unto Ministers and Vse 2 people To move them to seek more and more the knowledge of Christ Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in Col. 3. 16. Prov. 2. all wisedom How unweariedly labourious are men in digging into the bowels of the earth to finde and to fetch out the riches there Now of how little worth is all the worlds wealth being compared with Christ The Gospel is the treasure Mat. 13. 44 46 in the Field of which the Parable speaketh and Christ is that one Pearl of great price which is of more worth then any mans All. Therefore the Scriptures should be searched as Joh. 5. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men search for treasures to make further and fuller discoveries of Christ because in him eternall life and all things conducible thereunto are to be enjoyed Saint Paul who by experience knew the worth of