6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinks his blood you have no life in you Carnal reason knew not how to understand this Mysterie and therefore presently suggests this incredulous question how can this man give us his flesh to eat and what a sad effect followed on this mistake we read v. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus 3. There must be a faithful retaining or remembrance of it our memories are false and slippery like hour-glasses no sooner filled at one end but they run out at the other riven and chinky vessels that leake out the Water of life strive we all we can to make them Treasuries of Divine Truth and lay up the Word of God in them as in a store-house Thy word have I hid in my heart saith the Psalmist that I might not sin against thee To promote this Work we should do as a man that hath hid a treasure he goes often and sees whether it be safe so should we often turn in upon our memories and ask them as Christ the disciples do you not remember the five Loaves c. and the rather because we have a dangerous and subtile enemy who watches where we keep our treasures and unless we watch it narrowly will steal it from us 4. We must entertain it with love 2 Thes 2.10 Because they received not the truth in the Love thereof therefore God shall give them up to suffer strong delusions want of Love to the Word is the first step to Apostacy See a Soul seasoned with this Grace of Love in Jeremy Chap. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and they were unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart God makes his appear to the Conscience of the experienced Christian Mic. 2.7 Are not my words good to him that walketh uprightly Yes Lord so good that the Soul that tastes and digests them confesses they are sweeter than hony or the hony-comb If the mysteries of the Gospel are so sweet and sacred that the Angels themselves desire to pry into them how dearly then should dust and ashes love them Oh that we could say as the Psalmist How do I love thy Law all the day long is my study in it 5. The Word must be heard with Faith every hearer is not a profitable hearer As hearing distinguishes Professours from the Profane so believing distinguisheth the upright from hypocrites Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them that heard it because it was not mixt with faith and again 'T is the Power of God to salvation but to them that do believe Rom. 1.16 Though it be true that without the Word there can be no Faith for Faith cometh by hearing yet withal without Faith the Word hath no power As the Brasen Serpent was of no use to them that did not look on it so 't is in this case Look therefore unto me and be you saved when we come to hear we should all think that we hear God speaking to us as he did to Ezekiel Son of man eat that thou findest Ezek. 3.1 Faith is the life of the Soul As there heat in a dead-mans mouth never doth good no more doth the Word in a faithless hearer 'T is Faith that makes every part thereof powerful and effectual its precepts to direct us its threatnings to terrifie us its promises to comfort us Take but one instance in Jonah 3.5 we read that the men of Nineveh believed God 1 upon hearing Jonah his sermon and then they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth Faith is that living womb into which when the seed of the Word falls it becomes a fruitful mother of all spiritual Graces 6. Lastly to a saving attention there is required a universal obedience and a hearty resignation of our selves This was the Apostles Crown and Joy that his Romans had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that they had received Rom. 6.17 and this is Gods end in giving you his Word that it should bring every thought into the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 We should take heed of hearing with uncircumcised ears and stubborn hearts The sence of Gods mercy in revealing his Will and the Conscience of our duty to obey it should make us so ready to every thing that he commands that a little child should lead us Isa 11.6 Vse 1. Hence first is condemned that visible listlessness and supine negligence that many discover in this duty of hearing Can we chuse but tremble to hear that curse that is threatned against every one that doth Gods work negligently Isa 48.10 and yet alas how many of us hear as if we did not hear and mind no more the word of life than if we were hearing art Idle tale The Church hath ever been pestered with such professors God complains of them Ezek. 33.32 Son of man this People come and sit before thee as my People use to do c. Oh hear once more and tremble at that dreadful sentence which Christ breathed against incredulous and refractory hearers in Joh. 12.48 He that refuseth me and heareth not my words hath one that judgeth even the word that I have spoken the same shall judg him Sure it will be a double damnation to be condemned by the Gospel yet thus it will be if it be not the saviour of life to life it will be the Saviour of death to death And what greater equity than this do not such judg themselves unworthy everlasting life that leave their hearts behind them when they come to hear it doth not that malefactor deserve to dye when his pardon is sent him freely that has it read as if he were a-sleep These messengers that were sent by Benhadad to make peace with Ahab when distressed by him will rise in judgment against such drousy hearers We read the men took diligent heed if they could catch any word of him that they might take hold of for their hope and they did so for when they arrested him thus Thy servant Benhadad saith I pray thee let me live the King of Israel answered is he yet alive he is my brother and they took hold of that word and ecchoed it back to him saying thy brother Benhadad Vse 2. Attend then as Lydia did that you may be saved as Lydia was whatsoever you do saith the Preacher do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 Judg of the importance of the duty by the earnest injunction of the great God of heaven settle it in your hearts Luk. 21.14 and why for the water of life will run out or run besides us if we do not hear with a holy heedfulness Heb. 2.1 Wherefore we ought to give diligent heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we let them slip The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies either to run besides as water that flows besides a place or else it signifies to run thorough a thing as
he ceased not to give thanks for them making mention of them always in his prayers Had Paul known any blessing better than this sure he whose heart was so set upon them would have begged it for them But further to prove the greatness of this inestimable blessing read 2 Cor. 6.16 where the Apostle enjoyns his Corinthians the highest pitch of holiness upon this ground For what agreement hath the temple of God with idols for ye are the temple of the living God as he hath said I will dwell in them and walk among them and I will be their God and they shall be my people In this Scripture we have a double argument to prove the greatness of this blessing 1 Christs dwelling in his people 1. The greatness of the duty that is urged from it v. 17. Come forth from among them and be ye separate c. Now for weighty services God usually furnishes his people with strongest arguments as is evident in Abraham's case Gen. 17.1 't was high service that God enjoyned him Walk before me and be thou perfect And high encouragements God gave him I am God all-sufficient c. Deus jubet juvat God's Commands carry strength with them whatever Abraham's weakness be yet this supports him that the everlasting arms are under him God is all-sufficient both for the work and reward 'T was hard work too on which God set Moses when he sent him with a commission to deliver Israel from Egypt and suitable encouragements God gives him God finds his heart low and raises it to a height suiting his service by working no less than three several Miracles to strengthen him his Rod is turned into a Serpent his hand is leprous and the river is turned into blood Exod. 4. 2. A second argument which this Scripture yields us to prove the greatness of this blessing is this That Christs dwelling in us is but a short abridgment of the Covenant of Grace for that 's presently added I will be your God and you shall be my people When we have summed up all those invaluable blessings that are treasured up in the Covenant we have all in a little viz. in Christ dwelling in us peace pardon grace glory all is virtually comprehended in this 2ly Again 't is the very blessing God promises the Saints in Heaven Rev. 21.3 where S. John saw the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven c. He heard a voice from heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people c. Christs dwelling in us is but Heaven aforehand or Heaven upon Earth if God dwell in us here by his Grace he will dwell with us in glory But for our more Methodical prosecution of the point I shall confine my self to this method 1. I shall explain it 2. Confirm and 3. Apply it For the Explication I shall do that by answering several Queries in which the sum of the Conclusion lies Q. 1. The first is what we are to understand by the heart A. Not to trouble our selves with the various acceptations of the word heart in Scripture many of which are impertinent to our purpose we are to understand by heart the Will and the Affections especially as in the former Discourse these are the spring out of which are the issues of life Prov. 4.22 and that good treasure mentioned Mat. 12.24 But a good man out of the good treasure of his heart c. Q. The next thing to be enquired is what we are to understand by Christs dwelling in us A. It 's a Metaphorical or figurative speech to shew that intimacy and holy acquaintance that is between Christ and Believers Christ is not in the heart as a stranger in an Inn where he tarries but a night but as a man dwelling in his own house where he lives and works and rules c. More particularly this dwelling of Christ implys these several things 1. It implys propriety Christ will never usurp where he hath no right no he never dwells but in his own his own he will never lose and more than his own he will never take All that the Father hath given me shall come to me Job 6.37 Satan shall never sit quiet for ever in a soul that belongs to Christ though the strong man armed keeps the house yet a stronger than himself will come and bind him not one of those that are heirs of the promises shall miscarry no I will ransom them from the Power of the grave I will redeem them from death Hos 13.14 4. Christ's dwelling in believers implies actual possession a man may have a just right or claim where yet he may not dwell Christ doth not content himself with a bare right to his redeemed but he takes actual possession of them he keeps house in theirs hearts Joh. 14.20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Furthermore Christ Jesus may be said to possess believers two ways 1. By assuming our nature When the Word was made flesh he dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 1 lived and conversed awhile with the sons of men yea he dwelt in us in as much as he was partaker of flesh and blood with us And as the fulness of the God-head dwelt in Christ so Christ too dwells in us 2. By communicating to us his Spirit The Spirit of Christ is the Fountain of all Grace and comfort and by this Spirit of Christ we have both union and communion with him Gal. 2.20 Christ liveth in me Christ is in us as a Principle of life and Grace active and operative he is not in the Soul as once he was in the ship asleep but always inciting quickening and enlivening his elect who would again becom dead in sin but he acts and excites his own Grace in them 3. Christs dwelling in us means the neerest intimacy that is imaginable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 't is in the original I will indwell in them 2 Cor. 6.16 As if Christ could never have communion enough with his People Now this sweet and saving intimacy will appear in those things 1. His People shall know his secrets Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant The saints are all Gods secretaries when God intended that fearful overthrow of Sodom shall I hide from Abraham saies God the thing that I do No Abraham was his friend and as a bosom-friend He shall know his Councell such honour have all his saints 2. He will speak to their hearts Hos 2.14 When the hearts of Gods People are so overwhelmed with grief that men and Angels prove miserable comforters They may speak to the ear but cannot reach the heart then Christ alone doth this I even I am he that doth comfort thee c. Isa 51.12 Christ speaks such things as make our hearts leap Thus he spake
into Macedonia and help us Where by the way we may note that Ministers how meanly soever esteemed in the world are those by whom God helps his perishing people This title the Apostle owns a helper of his peoples joy 2 Cor. 1.24 Those that cannot help themselves sometimes can yet help others poor themselves yet make many rich Luther boldly told the Prince of Saxony Scire te velim c. I would have your Highness know you have more need of my Prayers than I have of your Protection Well now it appears indeed that Christ by his death hath pulled down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and that God hath put no difference between us and them for what was Macedonia at this time when Paul was called to preach Christ there but a mass and mixture of Ignorance and Atheism as we and other Gentiles were without God without Christ and without hope Eph 2.12 Being come to Macedonia he begun to preach at Philippi ver 12. and his encouragements at first were but mean for his auditory were only a few poor Women ver 13. Gualter on the place excellently notes how God exercises the faith and constancy of his Servants Paulus vocatus per Angelum putaret aliquis omnes ei obviam venturas c. Paul was called by an Angel who would not have thought that the whole Country would have flocked to hear such a Preacher But alas Paul's hopes fail him not one man came to hear the great Apostle only a few poor Women and among these God singles out one and marks her up for mercy v. 16. A certain woman named Lydia c. We have here then the History of Lydia's Conversion and here again we have 1. The Apostle preaching 2. A weak Woman hearing 3. The great God blessing the Sermon Or we hare 1. The person convetted who is several ways described 1. By her Name to confirm the truth of the story Lydia 2. By her Sex a Woman that Sex by which sin entered into the world 3. By her imployment a seller of Purple a trade as one observes serving not so much for necessity as for pride 4. By the place of her abode a stranger one of Thyatira a City of Lydia all these difficulties God breaks thorough humane improbabilities are no prejudice to Omnipotency Though we are by nature like the Prodigal are run into a far Country yet our Heavenly Father can easily bring us home 5. She 's described by her Religion she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Worshipper of God A Gentile she was yet some dark notions she had of God which she got either by the light of nature or by tradition from her fore-fathers or some familiar acquaintance with the Jews such another as Cornelius was Act. 10. But whatever dark apprehensions she had of God yet she fell far short of a Christian for till the heart be made good ground and purified by Faith 't is impossible it can bear good fruit 2ly We have the means of her Conversion 1. Paul Preaches 2. Lydia heard the Word 3. God makes the Word effectual he opens her heart 'T is this latter part of the verse that I design for the subject of my discourse viz. the means of Lydia's Conversion God opened the heart of Lydia c. The first thing that I shall note is this Doct. 1. That 't is Gods work to open mans heart God may and doth use inferiour means to knock but none can open but himself Gods word in Scripture is called a hammer Jer. 23.29 With this God beats and knocks at the door of our hearts but no heart opens unless it be held in the hand of his own Spirit hence is that complaint of the Prophet Isa 53.1 Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed No wonder that men believe not the report of the Gospel whilst God doth not put forth or make bare his own arm But for methods sake in prosecuting the Conclusion I shall observe this order 1. I shall shew what 's meant by the heart 2. What 't is to open the heart 3. I shall prove that 't is Gods work to open the heart 4. Shew why God opens the heart 5. Answer an Objection 6. Lastly come to Application 1. Then let us enquire what is meant by the heart and here to pass by the various significations of the Word in Scripture by heart here we are to understand the rational Soul with the faculties and affections which are therein for as the heart is the fountain of Natural life so 't is of Spiritual This is the womb wherein Christ is first formed see Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness sc Here faith is seated here it s born and breaths its first breath Act. 8.37 Philip to the Eunuch If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist be baptized There is no less in that zealous Prayer of the Apostle for his Ephesians chap. 3.17 where he is upon his knees to the God of Heaven that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith 3. Let us inquire what 't is to open the heart In short to open the heart is to convert a soul or to turn a sinner from the power of darkness unto God The word in the Original that is here used signifies properly to open a door Now our hearts in Scripture as they are usually called doors so by nature they are all shut and that under three several locks and God in our Conversion opens them all There is one lock or bar of ignorance and this is Gods first work to open our understanding by nature we are very darkness it self Ephes 5.8 Like that poor man born spiritually blind thick cataracts there are upon all our eyes unless God touch them with the hand of his Grace and say Ephphata be opened Now as the first creature that God made in the first Creation was Light Gen. 1. so 't is in the new Creation he commands light to shine out of darkness Oh the gross and rude notions and apprehensions that we have by nature of the most fundamental Truths or the Gospel How hardly are we perswaded that by nature we are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity tell a poor sinner that he is the servant of sin he 'l reply as the Jews he was never in bondage to any man How hardly were the Disciples themselves perswaded that Christs Kingdom was any other than an earthly Kingdom With what difficulty were they brought to believe that their Lord and Master was risen nor had they at last had not Christ himself opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luk. 24.45 O rich mercy O Divine work The Preacher tells us 'T is a good thing for the eyes to see the light What a mercy is it then when Christ opens blind eyes to see the wonderful things contained in his Law Ps 119.18 2. The second
to the sick-man Mat. 9.2 â—on be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Christ can speak such Words as never man spake the Words which he speaks are Spirit and life 'T is storied of a Peer of this Kingdom that he dyed with joy of an unexpected pardon how great then is the joy that possesseth a Soul that receives a pardon from God! Such pardoned ones are bid to be glad and shout for joy Psal 32.11 And all others flatly forbid to meddle with this joy Hos 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other People for thou hast gone a-whoring from thy God 3. The sweetness and closness of that intimacy which we have with Christ by vertue of his dwelling in us appears by this that we have all things common with Christ Christ calls nothing his own that may do us good all lour fresh Springs are in him if we are Christs all is ours Paul Apollo Cephas life and death c. All Christ's offices and efficacies his life death blood merit Spirit all his advantage to us yea death it self is gain to believers Phil. 1.21 For me to live is Christ and to dye is gain The Church keeps all her choice presents for Christ Cant. 7. vlt. And Christ bestows all his rarities on his Church 3. Christ dwelling in us implies his abiding or continual residing in us in Isa the 57.15 God is said to inhabit eternity 1 who only is eternal wherever Christ dwells he takes up his residence for ever he saith this is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Though men may be weary of their dwelling how-ever accommodated both for necessity and delight yet Christ is never That 's the promise he makes his People 1 Kings 6.13 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my People Israel 5. Christs dwelling in us implies his preservation of us every man is bound to repair and preserve his own house where he dwells so is Christ Christ's dwelling doth not look like the house of the sluggard that drops thorow no what-ever storms beat on it it stands and is impregnable That 's remarkable in Psal 6.7.2.3 At Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling at Sion There brake he the arrows of the bow c. That place is sure of safetie and protection where God dwells as on the contrary Gods departing makes way for destruction We read that the Heathens have placed their Security in the presence of their idol-Gods Tacitus reports of the Tyrians when they were besieged by Alexander bound Hercules with a golden chain that he should not depart And the Romans were wont by some verses to call off the Tutelary gods out of the Cities which they did besiege God hath bound himself to us by a Covenant better than a golden chain that he will never leave us nor forsake us Q. 3. The third Query is how Christ dwells in the heart by faith A. The answer is this 'T is the office of Faith to receive Christ Jesus Christ knocks by his Word and Spirit and Faith makes haste to open and let him in it gives Christ the free and full possession of the Soul and delivers up all into his hand and to his use For can two walk together unless they are agreed We read in Gen. 30.6 When Lot and Abraham had multiplied their substance they could not dwell together and there was strife between their herdsmen Christ and we could never have dwelt together had there been any strife between us there is no agreement between Christ and Belial But when Christ comes and dwells in us he comes like Noah's Dove he brings us news of peace purchased by the blood of his Cross The Psalmist admires the happiness of such as dwell together in unity though but natural brethren Psal 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is c. How good then and pleasant must it be for Christ and us to dwell together This is our happiness Christ says of every believing soul as of Sion This is my rest for ever here will I dwell c. Psal 132.14 Res 2. Such in whom Christ dwells shall never lose their interest in God by sin or backsliding for Christ himself will be a continual spring or fountain of life and grace within us Joh. 4.14 The water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of living water Can we ever die with thirst when we have a fountain within us no fear of forfeiting our title to that great and glorious inheritance if Christ be in us he will keep both it for us and us for it he will preserve us by his grace unto his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 Res 3. If Christ dwell in us he will defend and protect us from all dangers death and hell have nothing to do where Christ the Lord of life dwells When Lazarus was dead his sister told Christ Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Joh. 11.21 Christs presence is his peoples security from hat second death Satan may bring up his black Legions and storm the Castle but shall never take it Hear ye whose hearts are habitations for the Lord Christ what your Redeemer saith Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me that is in me mystical neither id head nor members Res 4. If Christ dwell in us we shall never want either counsel or comfort his Spirit shall supply us with both If we want counsel we shall hear a voice behind us saying this is the way walk in it He whose name is Counsellor hath not his name for nothing in our greatest perplexities this great Counsellor will advise and direct us for he is made of God to be wisdom to his redeemed Again if we want comfort he 'l revive the drooping spirits of his contrite ones Isa 57.15 The Church out of her experience cries but that his mouth is as sweet things Cant. 5.16 And the words that he speaks are as life to despondent and dying souls Reas 5. But one thing more Christ will never leave his dwelling till he bring us to a dwelling-place with himself in glory This was purchased to us by his death and prepared for us by his Ascension Joh. 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you No sooner shall these earthly houses be dissolved but Christ is presently ready to receive us into everlasting habitations Vse 1. The Application follows and let the first Use be of Information And 1. It discovers the vain delusion of all hypocrites and formalists who admit Christ into their mouths but shut him out of their hearts this was the Religion of the Pharisees whose falsity in matters of Gods Worship Christ Jesus reprehends Mat. 15.8 Well did Isaias prophesie of you saying this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from me 'T is sad when Christ is neer in our mouths but far