Invasions So is Christs Reâ—gniâ— as Head Law-giver and great Commandâ— in the Souls of his People by hâ—s Laws aâ—â— Statutes So is he said to Reign over the house 〈◊〉 Iacob Luk 1.33 with 1 Joh 4 4. 2. As the Master of a Family in his owâ— House where he dwells with Contentmenâ— Ease Satisfaction Pleasure and Delight 〈◊〉 beholding his House Even so Christ â—welâ— in the Hearts of his People Eph 3.17 Aâ—â— therefore called his own house Heb 3.6 And an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph â— 22. Christ standing before the door promiseth to such as will open to him to come it Revel 3.20 3. Christ is in the Believer as a Tradseman in his Shop doing the Work of his Calling I say so is Christ advancing the Work oâ— Grace in the Believer for beliveth in them Gal 2.20 And if Christ be in you the body iâ— dead because of sea but the Spirit is Life becausâ— of Righteousness Rom 8 10. As the GOD this World that is the Devil is and dwelâ— in them to whoâ— the Gospel is hid and whâ— are lost blinding the minds of them whicâ— believe not 2 Cor 4.3 4. And as the prince 〈◊〉 the power of the air that evil spirit doth worâ— in the Children of disobedience Ephes 2 2â— Even so Christ having cast out this strong man comes to the heart and takes possession â—hereof and worketh therein what is well pleasing in his eyes 4. Like into one in his obtained possession â—nd in his Garden delighâ—ing himself in the â—njoyment of what he hath gotten and purchased Even so is Christ in Believers havâ—ng purchased them unto himself and that with his own Blood pâ—ssâ—ssing them as his own and there delighâ—eâ—h he himself as in his Garden Song 6.2 My Beloved is gone down â—nto his Garden to the beds of Spices to feed in â—he Gardens and to gather Lillies So that this Expression Christ in you holds â—orth 1 Christ reco0ncilled with them by Faith He stands no more at the door knockâ—ng but he is let in and there is peace betwixt Him and â—hem he is come in 2. Christs â—nward Affection to them He cannot but love â—hem in whom he dwells and abides In whose bosome he layeth his head and in whose Heart he hath his Throne 3 â—hrists â—pecial acknowledging them â—o be his ransomâ—d Ones for his peculiar Treasure for his House and constant dwelling Place 4. Christs working in them the work of Holyâ—ess and drawing in them more and more â—vely Draughts and Lineaments of his new â—mage that the new Man of Grace may be â—tronger and stronger they made more and â—ore conformable to the Prince of their Salvtion in all the Graces of the Spirit 5. Christs reigning and sweying his Scepter in the Soul And that his Laws are obeyed his Statutes followed and that there is no willing subjection to any other Master That Christ having cast out the old tyrant usurper he is acknowledged as the Alone and Lawful Soveraign 6 Christs resting himself in his Love to them For where he loves there iâ— his resting place there he makes his abode 7. Christs being in them as their life the Fountain and Well spring of all Life and Operations Gal 2.20 8. In a word It holds sorth â—hat Christ is in them to do in and for them to bring them up to Glory to lead them through difficulties to strengthen them against opposition to comfort them against discouragements and to support them under crosses and so in the end to bring them home Question But how is He in the Believer I Answer He is there not only as GOD For so is he over all neither is he there meerly as Man For he is so in Heaven at the Right Hand of the Father where he must abide until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began Acts. 3.21 Buâ— as Mediator not in Person but by his Viceroy and great Lord keeper of his Room the Holy Ghost For he is the Comforter that â—hall ever abide with us And for whom Christ prayed the Father and wâ—â—m he was â—o send Ioh 14.16 17.26 Ioâ— 15.26 and 16.7.13 Question But is it by the Spirit himself that Christ lives and abides in the Believer Or is â—t alone by the Graces Effects and Operations of the Spirit Answer By whatever of the two it be by this way of Christs in dwelling is every way strong ground of Consolation and affords solide Joy and a sure well grounded Hope of Glory Notwithstanding there are several Expressions in Scripture that seems to plead â—or the Spirit himself As 1. The Believer is said to be the Temple of God of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor 3.16 17. and 6.19 Which gives to know more than that they have his Graces as the design ground of the Apostles reasoning holds forth Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy For the Temple of God as holy which Temple ye are Here three times they are called GODS Temple And not only so but as if the Apostle would further lay forth the business he adds And that the Spirit of GOD dwelleth in you All which may be said very properly of a Person and more properly than of any work wrought by the Spirit To the same purpose the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor 6.19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God The Holy Ghost is said to be in them as a Temple 2. The Spirit is spoken of as a Gift with a dâ—fference from his Works and Effects oâ— Grace Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us Rom 5.5 Here is the Grace of Love wrought by the Holy Ghost And moreover the Apostle sayes that it is by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us So that the Holy Ghost himself is given as a special Gift besides that of his Fruit and Operations in the Soul Compared with Ezek 36.27 And I will put my Spiriâ— within you 3. Christ promises to send him in hâ—â— Room and mentions him alwayes as a Person that he will send to dwell and abide with them to work in them â—o saith he Iob. 14.16 17. And I will pray the Father and he shall givâ— you another comforter that he may abide with yoâ— for ever So that it is the Comforter himselâ— that he promiseth here and not simply hâ—â— Comforts And who is this Comforter Eveâ— the spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him bâ—â— ye know him And as if this were not sufficienâ— he adds further for he dwelleth with yoâ— and shall be in you And yet further v. 26. Buâ— the Comforter which is the Holy
pleasant and delectable â—o us here We only shall make mention of the most principal ones As 1 It is a Life of greaâ— Joy and Gladness They shall obtainjoy and gladness Isa. 35.10 and 51 8. Then thâ—s Gladness is great it shall be an unspeakably glorious Joy 1 Pet. 1.8 For then they shall see him seeing the joy which now they have when they love him whom they see not and believe on an unseen Christ is inexpressible and full of Glory How much more inexpressibly full of Glory shall they then be when they come to embrace him whom their Soul loveth whom now they enjoy alone by Faith Spiritual Joy and Gladness in the Holy Ghost is the very beginings of it in time Rom. 14.17 It is here a Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 It is an exceeding great joy 1 Pet. 4.13 That when his Glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy It is an everlasting joy â—sa 35.10 and 51.11 The very earnest thereof here enjoyed far surpâ—steth the laughing joy of the wicked Psal. 4 7 It is a peculiar joy a rejoycing in the gâ—adness of his Nation Psal. 106.5 Here is Fulness of joy Psal 16.11 2. It is a Life of clear Sight we shall know no more in part but know even as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 And We shall see him as he â—s 1 Joh 3.2 Now we see darkly through a Glaâ—s But then face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 In the Light of Glory there is no Daâ—kness The Soul no sooner enters the threshold of Glory but it is delivered from all Damps Mists Clouds and Imperfections and capacitate more fully and distiâ—ctly to receive the Outtings of Light â—verlastingly flowing from that Fountain of Light who dwelleth In the Light which no man can approach unto 1 Tâ—m 6.16 Not that the Soul shall then be in case to behold Gods being whom no man hath seen or caâ— see He remains for ever God Invisible 1 Tim 1.17 And the Believer a finite Creature and sâ— incapable to behold the Being of God whicâ— is Infinite and Invisible But they shall be admitted to such nearness and enjoy such immediate Manifestations and Beams flowing froâ— the Fountain of Glory that it shall be as a seâ—ing of him face to face and a knowing of him as we are known in comparison of what here enjoyed Undoubtedly our Understandinâ— though never so deep shall be there compleaâ—ly satisfied and that is enough and may satisâ—â—â— us 3. That Glory hath a wonderful transforâ—ing vertue as appeareth from 1 Iohn 3.2 〈◊〉 shall be like Him that is like unto Christ 〈◊〉 whom the Apostle speaks there for we shaâ—â— see him as he is The discoveries of God in thâ— Land of Glory shall transform us and iâ— print in the Soul those Heavenly Accompliâ—â—ments which shall make us like unto him Tâ—â— Divine rayes proceeding from that Object 〈◊〉 received by the Soul shall make it so farâ—â— capable conformable to the Object caâ—â—â—ing alongst with them a transforming Poâ—â—â— and Vertue They shall imprint in the Souâ—â— lively Copy of the Glorious Communicaâ—â— Vertues after a more Clear full Heavenly 〈◊〉 visible way and in a far greater measure 〈◊〉 here Though even here the Glory of the Lord being seen as in a Glass changeth the Believer Into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 This is a powerful operative Glory a continual refreshing Glory 4. That Glory filleth up the spacious desires and out-stretched uptakings of the Soul so that the Soul living in Glory can complain of no wants but is compleatly satisfied Ps. l7. 15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Then shall all the corners of the wide and vastly enlarged Soul be fully satisfied There shall be no Hunger and Thirst there after wants for all shall be enjoyed what the Soul can desire This teacheth us 1 st That all the good to be enjoyed there shall be real and not apparent only and imaginary 2 ly It shall be a most fit and suteable good other wayes it could never satisfy superfluity of Water is satisfying to a Fish because in its Element yet could not be so to man who lives in another Element 3 ly There shall be no scarcity of â—hat suteable and convenient good but a fulness that shall answer all the extended desires of the Soul 4 ly That the Soul shall possess and enjoy this â—ullness that it may be satisfied therewith and get all its wanâ—s filled up thereby 5. In â—hat Glory the Believer is admitted to more close Fellowship with God For there they are admitted to stand before the Throne of God Revel 7.15 There it is that they shall fully possess Him as their Portion and thaâ— familiarly For they â—tand there as Ministers oâ— State attending the Kings own person Then behold they Hâ—s Face and live and do rejoyce iâ— the Light of his Countenance day and nighâ— They are made Pillars in the Temple of God and they shall go no more out Rev. 3.12 Glorâ— is their House and Element They could noâ— live without thâ—t Glory They could noâ— breath without His Company He dwells among them even He that sitteth upon t thâ— Throne Revel 7.15 There the great Tabernacle of God is with men whereof this Tabernacle enjoyed by them in the Church Militanâ— is but a smâ—ll resemblance There it is when that word shaâ—l be made good and lively whicâ— we have Revel 21.3 And I heard a great voicâ— out of Heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle 〈◊〉 God is with men and He will dwell with them anâ— they shall be his People and God himself shall bâ— with them and shall be their God The Believeâ— there lyeth in the Bosome of God there it 〈◊〉 that They shall see his Face and his Name shall bâ— in their Foreheads Revel 22 4. 6. In Glory they shall have near Communioâ— wiâ—h Jesus Christ their Head their Husbanâ— their Brother their Lord and King Then they are with Christ and enjoy Him Phil. 1 23. 2 Cor. 5.8 And â—hat for ever and ever 1 Thess 4.17 He lives with them and feed them The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them Rev. 7 17. They shall sit with him there upon his Throne Revel 3.21 There got they the Morning Star Revel 2.28 There do they eat of the hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 Here the Soul is put to long for nearness with Christ and complain of clouds interrupting the Beams of His Love But there they shall see Him to their Contentment and Satisfaction For they shall be continually with the Lord and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth Revel 14.4 There shall the Iâ—habitanâ—s of Glory be partakers of the Marriage of the Lamb Revel 19 7 8. 7. In Glory their Work and Imployment shall be to serve God and the Lamb day and night in his Temple Revel 7 15. and 22.3 And to praise
being of him And can do no more without him than a body without a Head And therefore there must be a near Union betwixt us and him 4 Under the similitude of an Union betwixt the Foundation and the Building 1 Pet 2.4.6 The Believer is built on him as lively stones Christ is the chief corner stone of that Building and it is in him that all the building fiâ—ely framed together groweth up into an holy Temple in the Lord In whom they also are builded together for â—nhabittation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2.21 22. Which manifests that the Believer cannot subsist wiâ—hout him more then a house can stand without a foundation And therefore â—hey must lean on him and be firmely united â—o him other wayes they can neither stand nor â—ubsist 5. Under the similitude that is betwixt the Body and the Cloathing or Armour The Believer is said to put on the LORD Jesus Christ Rom 13.14 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal 3. â—7 And he is put on as Cloath to defend from â—he cold and to cover their nakâ—dness and â—lso for addorning So also is he puâ— on as Arâ—our for defending us against all spiritual enemies 6. Under the similitude that is betwixt the Accused and his Advocat betwixâ—â—he principal Debtor and his Cautione who are as one person in Judgement Therefore it is that the Believer is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Eph. 1.3 Being choosen in him v. 4. They are crucified with him in a legal sense Gal 2.20 They are dead with him Rom 6 8. Col 2.20 Buryed with him by Baptism unto death Rom 6.4 Quickened together and raised up together and made to sit together in Heavenly Places Ephes. 2.5.6 Planted together in the likeness of hiâ— Death and shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom 6 5. Yea and their Life is bid with him in God Col 3 3. So are they said to be heirs and joynt heirs with him Rom â— 17 All which palpably hold forth a real and legal Union betwixt Christ and Belivers to their Joy Comfort and satisfaction Christ being their Cautioner stands oblidged for them and answers in Judgement for them as a Head and publick person appearing for them As Adam was in respect of his posterity so â—his second Adam this last Adam as he is called 1 Cor 15.45 47. Who is a quickening Spirit and Lord of Heaven he appears as a Head and publick person all his Spiritual posterity he binds and oblidges himself for them in a Covanant with GOD And having satisfiâ—d â—or them he is risen from the dead and became the first fruits of them that slâ—pâ— And in him shall all his Spiritual seed be made alive v. 22 3. This Vnion is held out to us in some other Expressions which are most pathetick and condescending As when Christ and they are called one seed Gal 3.16 One Body 1 Cor 12.13.27 1 Cor 6.16.17 And make up one Mystical Christ 1 Cor 12.12 4. This Vnion is inward It is a mutual in-being for as here he is said to be in us and Rom 8.10 Gal 2.20 2 Cor 13.5 Ephes 3.17 So we are said to be in him Rom 8.1 1 Cor 3 1. 2 Cor 1.21 and 5.17 and 12.2 Rom 16.7 Philip 3.9 and. 4. â—1 He in us and we in him Ioh 14.20 O how wonderful and inconceiveable is this Vnion 5. This Vnion hath some likness and resemâ—lance with that Union which is betwixt the â—ather and Christ Ioh 17.11.21.22 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and in thee and again that they may be one even as we are one 6. This Vnion is not only between Christ â—nd the Souls of Believers but also between Christ and their Bodies For their Bodies are said to be Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor â— 19 And by the vertue of this Union their dead Bodies shall be again raised in the last â—ay For if we believe that Iesus died and rose â—gain even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes. 4.14 7. This Vnion is not only near and inward but also durable lasting Therefore he is noâ— only in us but dwelleth in us Ephes 3.17 And we are said to abide in him Joh 15 6.7 And as we are dead in Christ 1 Thes 4.14 Rev 14.13 Even so in Christ shall we be made alive 1 Cor 15.22 And with him 1 Thes 4.14 So that death cannot loose that knot otherwayes the hope and comforâ— of the Believer which proceedeth from thiâ— Union were loose and unsure For if in thiâ— life only they had hope in Christ they were of all men most miserable 1 Cor 15.19 with Rom. 8.11 8. As it is excellent near and inward so greatly useful There being no life strength working moving growth or fruitfullness without it If any Man have not the Spirit oâ— Christ he is none of his Rom 8.9 Chrisâ— Jesus must be in us except we be Reprobateâ— 2 Cor 13.5 9. We must be careful not to have perverted uptakings of this Vnion betwixt Chrisâ— and a Believer or of Christs In being in a Believer That is we are not to have carnal uptakings thereof As it were such an Union as between the clay the thing formed thereof oâ— betwixt the vessel and the water that is in it 〈◊〉 betwixâ— things confounded and mixed togetheâ— in one Nor are we to take it up in a way anâ— wayes derogatory thereto As if it were a substantial Vnion such as there is among thâ— Persons of the Trinity or between Christs GOD-â—had and Manhood Nor should we think prophanlie of it as if it were a meer phansie or notion But we are so to apprehend it as a real tho Mystical Mysterious and Spiritual Union having Real and Spiritual Effects in Life and Death and after Death to wit Peace with God Reconciliation Redemption Remission of sins Justification Adoption Approaching to God with Confidence Santification Comfort Joy in the Holy Ghost a Joyful Resurrection and Eternal Glory 10. As this Union is Spiritual in it self so â—t is made up through a Spiritual Bond of Means For as it is through Faith on our part Eph 3.17 So through the Spirit on his part the which is promised in the New Covenant Ezek 36 27. Isa 59 21. Christ hath promised to send him Ioh. 15.26 And he must abide with us for ever Iâ—hn 14.16 Therefore Christ and they are called one Spirit 1 Cor 6.16 17. But to come more particularly to the purpose we shall now point out and demonstrate â—n what respect he is to be in the Beliâ—ver Christ in you We may apprehend Christ to be â—n the Believer in these respects 1. As a King in his Kingdom siâ—ting upon his Throne Ruling and Defending it by his Laws â—nd Statutes preserving it by his Wisdom from intestine Ruptures Divisions and Bâ—oylâ— and by his strength and mighty Powâ—r froâ— Outlandish