The Great Mystery of Godliness, Discourse 1
THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: JESUS CHRIST our Lord GOD and MAN, and MAN with GOD; One in JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
By Mr. ERBURY Miniſter of the Word.
1 COR. 2. 6, 7, 14.
We ſpeak wiſdome among them that are perfect; yet not the wiſdome of this world, nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought; But we ſpeak the wiſdome of God in a Myſtery.
But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are fooliſhneſſe unto him: neither can he know them becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned.
Gal. 3. 28.
Ye are All, One, in Jeſus Chriſt.
LONDON, Printed by M. F. for ROB. MILBOURNE, in little Britain, at the ſigne of the Holy Lamb. 1640.
THE MYSTICALL Union of CHRIST and his CHURCH; Grace, Mercy and Peace with all ſpirituall and ſpeciall bleſſings of Heaven be multiplied upon you and in you, by the bleſſed Spirit from God the Father through CHRIST JESUS our Lord. Amen.
Q. WHat muſt you do to be holy here, and happy hereafter?
A. Two things; Firſt, Know CHRIST, John, 17. 3.
Secondly, Be knit unto him, John …7. 21, 22, 23, 24.
Q. By what meanes may we come …o this?
A. Firſt, Outwardly.
1. In the Word I am taught to know him Joh. 17. 8.
2. In the Sacraments I am tied and knit to him, 1 Cor. 10. 61.
Secondly, inwardly
1. By Faith on my part, Ephe. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 27, 28, 29.
1. Grounded on the Word wherein I receive him.
2. Growing in the Sacrament wherein I am received into him.
2. By the Spirit on Gods part, 1 Cor. 6. 17. and 12. 13.
1. Aſſuring Chriſt unto me in the Word, Eph. 1. 13.
2. Sealing Chriſt unto me in the Sacrament, Rom. 4. 11.
This is my Body, ſo the Word ſaies without, when the bread is given in the Sacrament, and ſo the Spirit ſpeaks within, aſſuring, yea,
making
1. The Body of Chriſt as verily preſent to the faithfull, as the bread is to the receiver, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 26.
2. The faithfull partaker of Chriſts Body as verily as of the bread which he eates, 1 Cor. 10. 16.
3. The faithfull one with Chriſts Body as verily as the bread received & eaten is one with his body that feeds upon it, 1 Cor. 12. 12.
PART .I.
Quest. WHat is it to know Chriſt?
A. To find
1. The want of Chriſt, Phil. 3. 7.
2. The worth of Chriſt, Phil. 3. 8.
3. A willingneſſe in me to receive Chriſt, Phil. 3. 9, 10, 12, 14.
Firſt, when I feele the want of Chriſt in reſpect of the guilt and filth of ſin in me. Secondly, find the worth of Chriſt to pardon and purge my ſin. Thirdly, feele and find a willingneſſe in me to receive, Chriſt, that is, to accept of him on his own conditions.
1 Not only to be my Prieſt and Jeſus to ſave me by his blood, Heb. 2. 17
2 Nor only to be my Prophet and Chriſt, to teach me by his Word, Act. 3. 22.
3 But alſo to be my Prince & Lord to rule mee by his Spirit, leaving my old luſt, and living by his laws, denying my ſelfe, and delighting to do whatever he commands, Act. 5. 31.
Then I know Chriſt, and this is to beleeve in him. Read 1 Joh. 1. 6, 7. and cha. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. So Mat. 28. 20. Mar. 9. from v. 43. to the end. Luke 6. 46. Joh. 15. 14.
§. 1.
Q. HOw do you know the want of Chriſt?
A. 1 I am far and for ever in my ſelfe ſeparated from God by my ſin naturall and actuall, Iſa. 59. 2. Pſal. 58 3. Ephe. 2. 13, 14.
2 I am foully ſtained and ſtinking with all ſin in my whole nature, ſoule and body, Pſal. 14. 3. and 51. 5. Rom. 3 from ver. 10. to 20.
3 There is no power in me to think a good thought, or to keep any one of Gods commandements once in all my life, 2 Cor. 3. 5. Rom. 3. 9, 10. James 3. 2.
4 There is no plague but is upon me, and for the ſinfulneſſe of my nature & ſins of my life, every curſe of God is on my ſoule and body in this life, and that which is to come, Deut. 27. 26. & 28. 16 Mat. 25. 41.
5 There is no good dwelling in my fleſh, nay not onelyonly an emptineſſe of all good, but an enmity againſt it, Gen. 6. 5. Rom. 7. 18. & 8. 7.
6 I have no power to pleaſe God in any good I doe, Rom. 8. 8. Prov. 15. 8. Heb. 11. 6.
7 I have no hope to goe to heaven when I die, 1 Cor. 15. 50. Rev. 21. 27.
O how miſerable and wretched is that man or woman that lives and dies (as many doe, Mat. 7. 13.) in this corrupt and curſed condition without Chriſt!
§. 2.
Q. VVHat worth do you find in Chriſt?
A. 1. The excellency of his perſon, being the onelyonly begotten, beloved Son of God, the heire of all things, the head of his Church, Angels, Principalities and Powers, being ſubject unto him, Eph. 1. 21, 22. Col. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Heb. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Pet. 3. 22.
2 The exceeding riches of his grace freely offered, and fully given unto me in the Goſpel, Eph. 2. 7. & 3. 8. Iſay 61. 1, &c.
3 The bleſſings that he brings, Acts 3. 26. Eph. 1. 3.
4 The graces that he gives, John 1. 14. 16.
O how happy is that man or woman that is made one with the Son of God! (how few are they Chriſt knowes, Mat. 7. 14.) yet thrice happy is hee or ſhee that have him for their head and husband, who hath all power in his hands, all heavenly bleſſings to beſtow upon them, all ſpirituall graces to give unto them, and an unſearchable riches of grace to endow them to eternall glory.
Q. What is the grace of Chriſt?
A. It is an honourable, holy and happy condition that Chriſt hath called me unto by the Goſpel; who being the ſecond Adam, received my nature unto himſelfe, reſtored it with himſelfe into favour with God againe from whom I fell, and raiſed my faln nature into a higher favour and grace with God the Father then it was in the firſt Adam before his fall, Eph. 2. 5, 6.
1 He hath taken my nature ſeparated from God, and hath now united it to the Godhead for ever, Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 11, 14.
2 He hath ſanctified my nature ſinfull in me, but perfectly holy in him, Luke 1. 35. Joh. 17. 19. Heb. 7. 26.
3 He hath in my nature fulfilled the whole Law for me, which I could never doe, Rom. 10. 5. & 8. 4.
4 Hee hath for my ſin in my ſtead ſuffered the whole wrath of the Lord, the curſe of the Law which I could never ſuffer, Iſa. 53. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24.
5 He filled my nature in himſelfe with all grace, God gave him not the Spirit by meaſure, but being made fleſh, we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, John 1. 14. and 3. 34, 35.
6 He fulfilled all righteouſneſſe that was to be done or ſuffered in life or death by me, in my nature, in whom God was well pleaſed, Mat. 3. 15, 17. Mat. 12. 18.
7 He raignes in my nature glorified above all in heaven, Epheſ. 1. 20.
§. 3.
Q. VVHy are you ſo willing to receive Chriſt?
A. That I may be knit unto him, Gal, 3. 26. 28.
PART .II.
Q. VVHat is it to bee knit unto Chriſt.
A. To become one with him by his Spirit, and my faith looking up and laying hold on my nature in him, that as hee tooke my fleſh and made it his, ſo I take his fleſh and make it mine, that thus I might bee one with him and he with me. I dwell in him and he in me; hee dwelleth in me by faith, and I dwell in him in my fleſh; that as my nature is become his, ſo all his might be mine, Joh. 17. 21. and 6. 56. Epheſ. 3. 17. Cant. 6. 7.
Q. How are you one with Chriſt Jeſus?
A. 1. Not one in conceit and imagination.
2 Nor one in conſent and affection.
3 Nor one in ſubſtance and tranſfuſion, as if the Godhead or manhood of Chriſt were mixt with any ſubſtance.
4 But one in ſpirit, or rather one ſpirit, that is more, the ſelf-ſame ſpirit dwelling in him, dwels in me: ſo uniting me unto him, that through his manhood from his Godhead, it conveyes, and I receive all ſpirituall life in ſoule and body for ever, 1 Cor. 6. 17 Rom. 8. 11. 1 Joh. 3. 23. John 6. 60.
Q. What union then is this that is betweene Chriſt and you?
A. The neareſt that may be imagined: for there is an union, firſt, of linage or fleſh; thus many kinſmen are one.
2 Of love or friendſhip; thus many men are one, Acts 4. 32. the ſoule of Jonathan was knit to David, and this union of Spirits is nearer then the firſt of bodies.
3 Matrimoniall; thus man and wife are one, and this union is nearer then both the former, ſeeing married perſons are not onelyonly one in fleſh, but in higheſt love and friendſhip; beſides a man muſt forſake father, neareſt fleſh and friends to follow and cleave to his wife.
4 Myſticall, thus Chriſt and his Church are one by a nearer union then all the three; for Chriſt is not onelyonly, firſt, partaker of fleſh and blood with us, Heb. 2. 14. Secondly, We are his friends, John 15. 14. Thirdly, he is our husband alſo, Iſay 54. 5. Fourthly, But alſo he is our head, and we are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bone; and this union is called Myſticall, becauſe it is more then any, unconceivable in thought, and unutterable by tongue; kinſmen, friends, and married ones muſt die, and then their union ends. But Chriſt hath ſo taken my fleſh as never to be divided from it; ſuch a friend as not life nor death can divide me from him, whoſe love paſſeth all knowledge and time, loving me unto the end, and after all; and not onelyonly beloved, but I am betrothed and married to him for ever, and not onelyonly betrothed, but I am of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bones, nay, by faith I eate his fleſh and drink his blood, what nearer union can be?
Q. What is it to eat his fleſh?
A. 1. To apprehend, apply, and partake of his fleſh as my owne, as the meat I eat is mine.
2 To beleeve that I am truely and really (though ſpiritually) united unto him, and one with him, of his bone, and of his fleſh, as the meat I eat becomes one with my ſubſtance.
3 To expect in faith for all grace and growth in good ſtrength in his ſervices, quickning and comfort, and eternall life from the fleſh of Chriſt: as the meat I eat maintaines life, gives nouriſhment and enables mee for all naturall actions, ſo doth Chriſt, for ſpirituall bread ſtrengthens mans heart, and wine cheares it, ſo, and more in mee doth Chriſts fleſh and blood.
Q. How ſhall I make this knowledge of Chriſt effectuall, and the knot faſt for ever?
A. 1. By a faithfull humble meditating on the grace of Chriſt, Joh. 6. 43, 44, 45, 55, 56.
2 By an affectionate hearty thankſgiving to God the Father who hath bleſſed me with all ſpirituall bleſſings in Chriſt, Eph. 1. 3.
3 By a fruitfull diligent growing in all the graces of the Spirit, Joh. 15. 3.
4 By fervent daily prayer to God the Father through Chriſt Jeſus by the Spirit to enlighten and lead me to the love of God unto eternall life, Eph. 1. 17. and 3. 19. 2 Theſſ. 3. 5.
§. 4.
Q. HOw doe you meditate on Chriſt?
A. I deſire to know Chriſt, not as one farre from mee, but as one with me, and I in him, and from him, or rather through my fleſh in him, receiving all things from God the Father for my ſalvation. This is the meaning of that, Joh. 6. 56. ſpoken of before, to eate the fleſh of Chriſt (i. e.) by faith to apply and truly to partake of Chriſts fleſh as mine owne, and being out of my ſelf, in it to have life, and through it to have all things that concerne grace and glory.
This is that S. Paul determined to know, onelyonly Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. Gal. 2. 20. for this excellent knowledge S. Paul counted all things but dung, that he might win Chriſt; what is that? That I might bee found in him not having mine owne righteouſneſſe but his, not my ſelfe, but him, Phil. 3. 8, 9, 10.
Q. What doe you meditate of in Chriſt?
A. 1. I finde my nature, ſoule and body united to God in him, and therefore feele my ſelf reconciled, and at one with God the Father; his Father, my Father, his God my God, Joh. 14. 20. 21, 23. & 20. 17.
2 I ſee my nature ſanctified perfectly in his perſon, from which I ſeek a power to ſanctifie mine more and more in my perſon, Heb. 2. 11. John 17. 10.
3 As hee hath fulfilled the law for me, ſo
1 In him God accounts me righteous, Rom. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 21.
2 In me God accepts of my upright purpoſe to pleaſe him in all things for perfect righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 119. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
3 From him I receive a power to perform the whole law in every point, though not perfectly in the higheſt pitch and purity that the Law requires, yet (ſeeking and ſtriving to perfection) pleaſingly as God accepts in Chriſt Jeſus; who fulfilling the Law for me in my fleſh, which he took, writes the Law in me by his Spirit, which he gives, making me to delight …n the Law of God in the inward man, to be ready to doe his will, to have reſpect to all his Commandements, to refrain my feet from every evill way, to purge my ſelf from all filthineſſe of fleſh and Spirit, perfecting holineſſe in his fear, Jer. 31. 33. & 32. 40. Heb. 8. 10. Rom. 7. 22. Pſal. 40. 8. & 119. 6. 101. 2. 2 Cor. 7. 1 Phil. 3. 12, 13, 14, 15.
4 He hath ſatisfied Gods juſtice in ſuffering in my ſtead, being made a curſe for me, and in his own ſelf bearing my ſins in his own body upon the tree; ſo I look for
1 Peace in my ſelf from above, being crucified with Chriſt, Gal. 2. 20
2 Power over ſin within, being crucified with Chriſt in my corrupt nature, Rom. 6. 6.
Chriſt ſtood on the Croſſe as my ſurety in my ſtead.
1 As a ſinner; for he was made ſin for me, 2 Cor. 5. 2.
2 As accurſed, for hee was made a curſe for me, Gal. 3. 13.
So being one with him.
1 As hee in my nature is full o… grace, ſo out of his fulneſſe I looke to receive grace for grace, Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 9. & 2. 3, 9, 10.
2 My beſt duties are in me damnable, but in Chriſt Jeſus, God and Man, my Mediator and Maſter, my perſon is accepted, and all my actions pleaſing, Eph. 1. 6.
3 I ſee my ſelf ſhut out of Paradiſe, I have no hope of heaven in my ſelfe, a dead dog, a damned creature, an heir of hell; but God which is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith hee hath loved me when I was dead in ſin, hath quickned me together with Chriſt, and raiſed mee up with him, and made me ſit together in heavenly places with Chriſt Jeſus. So then in Chriſt I roſe, and in Chriſt now I raign in heaven being now on earth, (i. e.) I ſee by faith my own nature in Chriſt ſitting at the right hand of God, who is my good and great high Prieſt,
In
1 Preſenting my perſon to the Father and making mee pleaſing unto him, Heb. 4. 14.
2 Perfuming my prayers, and praying for mee to his Father, Heb. 7. 25. Revel. 8. 3, 4.
3 Preparing a place for me, and me for that place by his Spirit, John 14. 2, 16. Col. 1. 12.
§. 5.
Q. VVHat are the bleſſings that Chriſt Jeſus brings?
A. Firſt, Eternall election to life in his Fathers love, Eph. 1. 4.
2 Adoption to become the ſon of God with himſelfe, Eph. 1. 5.
3 Acceptation of my perſon, and all my actions in him, Eph. 1. 6.
4 Redemption of my ſoule and body by his blood; and juſtification, whereby I am fully cleared from Gods judgement, freed from Gods wrath, my ſins forgiven, and I freely accounted as juſt, Eph. 1. 7.
5 Vocation, whereby I am the called of Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 1. 6. in the Goſpel, wherein he hath abounded to me in all wiſdome and prudence, having made knowne unto mee the myſtery of his will, Eph. 1. 8, 9.
6 Eternall ſalvation, and an immortall inheritance in heaven with all Angels and Saints that ever were or ſhall be, Eph. 1. 10, 11.
And all this to the praiſe of the glory of his grace, Eph. 1. 6, 12.
§. 6.
Q. VVHat are the graces that Chriſt Jeſus gives?
A. 1. Knowledge, Col. 2. 3. to underſtand,
1 The Word of God and meaning of the Scriptures, Luke 24. 45.
2 The will of God, Iohn 15. 15. and the minde of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2. 16.
3 The myſteries, of the kingdome of heaven, Mat. 13. 11.
4 The miſery, wretchedneſſe, blindneſſe, poverty, nakedneſſe of my naughty nature, Rev. 3. 17, 18. Rom. 7. 18.
5 The graces of the Spirit in me, and the good things which are freely given unto mee of God through Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Cor. 2. 12.
2 Faith, with the beginning and increaſe thereof, Mark 9. 24. Luke 17. 5. Eph. 2. 8.
3 Repentance with a mourning melting ſpirit, Acts 5. 31. for every ſin in my ſelf and others by Chriſts look on me, Luke 22. 61, 62. and mine on Chriſt, Zech. 12. 10.
4 Love to God and men, good and bad, Deut. 30. 6. Rom. 5. 5. 1 Theſ. 4. 9. Mat. 5. 44.
5 The feare of the Lord God, Ier. 32. 40. This covenant is made in Chriſt, Heb. 8. 8. therefore he gives it, working it in mee by his Spirit, and warning me of it by his Word, Luke 12. 5.
6 Hope of my inheritance in heaven, Rom. 15. 13. 2 Theſſ. 2. 16.
7 In a word all other graces ſpringing from the Father, the fountaine of grace, conveied in Chriſt, through his fleſh by his Spirit into my heart, ſhed abroad and ſtreaming on to everlaſting life, Iohn 4. 14. & 7. 37, 38. Gal. 5. 22, 23, 24.
§. 7.
Q. VVHat muſt you doe on your part to continue your communion with God the Father in Chriſt Jeſus by the Spirit?
A. 1. Generally.
1 Fly for my life every ſin open or ſecret, and every appearance of evill that may ſeparate betweene God and me, or make mee faile of his grace in Chriſt, or grieve his holy Spirit, Eſay 59. 2. Heb. 12. 15. Eph. 4. 30.
2 Follow after holineſſe, and in all holy occaſions, company and courſes, commanded by God and commended by good men, continue and increaſe in all goodneſſe & all good duties, cleanſing my ſelfe continually from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in his feare, 2 Cor. 7. 1.
2 Particularly.
1 I give all diligence alwayes to make my calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1. 10.
2 Walke humbly with my God hourely, with a reverend awfull reſpect of his preſence, fearing to offend his Majeſty in any thing, Mich. 6. 8 Pſal. 139. 2, 3.
3 Renew my repentance daily for my hourely offences or frailty, confeſſing them in particular, and craving pardon, and purging, 1 Joh. 1. 9.
4 I humble my ſelfe weekly in faſting for ſome ſpeciall ſins and daily ſlips in his ſervice, or my calling; put aſide ſome houres, if I cannot a whole day, Mat. 5. 20. and 6. 17.
5 Remember to covenant monthly with my Lord in the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Chriſt Jeſus, or as oft as it is adminiſtred, 1 Cor. 11. 26.
6 Once in the yeare caſt up all my accounts, ſee how my Communion is increaſed, and my corruptions leſſened, and how far I am gone and grown in grace, and in the knowledge of Chriſt, Lev. 16. 34. Once a yeare Merchants caſt up their whole accounts, and Husbandmen know their increaſe of corne and cattell; So they who are wiſe Merchants and working Chriſtians, may obſerve in themſelves a change or increaſe in a yeares ſpace, what cannot be ſo ſenſibly perceived in a ſhort time.
7 The Chriſtian Sabbaths and Saints muſt be my delight, holy and honorable, when, and with whom I have more opportunity and time to have communion with thy God, Iſa. 58. 13. Pſal. 16. 3.
8 The Word of God muſt abide & dwell in me richly, wherein I may acquaint my ſelfe with my Maſters will, my Fathers love, and communicate both to my fellow ſervants and brethren, Col. 3. 16.
9 Take heed of omitting any occaſion of doing good, or receiving good in conference or company with men, or my good duty in publicke or private before God, Mal. 3. 16.
10 Beware of careleſſe and cuſtomary performance of any holy duty, but do it in love of Communion with my God, that by every prayer I make, every word I heare, &c. I may come neerer to him in Chriſt Jeſus, Jer. 48. 10. Pſal. 73. 28.
11 Weane my ſelfe from the world, uſe the world as not uſing it, entangle not my ſelf in other mens matters nor mine own, draw heavenly thoughts from earthly things, deny my ſelfe not only in indifferent, but in lawfull, yea neceſſary things, 1 Cor. 7. 31. & 6. 12.
12 Watch my heart with all diligence, the riſing of my luſt, the checks of my conſcience, the motions of the Spirit, &c▪ Pro. 4. 23.
13 Worke out my ſalvation with feare and trembling, ſtriving harder▪ running faſter, and preſſing on to the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus, Phil. 2. 12. and 3. 14.
14 Obſerve ſtill my preſent eſtate▪ the tempter of my ſoule, my ſpirituall decayes, deadneſſe, dulneſſe, hardneſſe of heart, ſecurity, ſtrangeneſſe from God, I ſuffer not theſe to ſtay long upon me, but ſtir up my ſelfe by repentance and prayer, and ſtrengthen the things which remaine and are ready to die, Rev. 3. 2, 17. and 2. 4, 5.
15 Goe forward in good duties, fruitfull in good works, fervent in ſpirit, zealous in Gods cauſe, ſenſible of the leaſt ſinne, and above all things beward of barrenneſſe and back-ſliding, and an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Col. 1. 10. Rom. 12. 11. 1 Theſ. 5. 22. Heb. 10.
16 Stir up my faith continually, ſeek to the Lord, ſtrengthen it, ſtudy the promiſes, apply them perfectly, and in them Chriſt to thy ſelfe, ſticke very faſt unto the Lord, cleave unto him, cling about him, depart not from him, depend upon him, delight in him, and be thankfull to him, beleeve and live in the light of his countenance, and of his Commandements, Iſa. 64. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 13. Act. 11. 23.
17 In my neareſt approaches, and deareſt imbraces by him, I am not too bold, but in my ſtrongeſt feelings, ſweeteſt refreſhments, ſpirituall conſolations in Chriſt, comforts of the ſpirit, joy in Gods face and favour, I feare and tremble before him, Pſal. 2 11. 1 Pet. 1. 17.
18 Feare the Lord my God all my dayes, a feare not of diſtruſt but of diligence to work, & jealouſie to watch my ſelfe, a feare not ſervile only of his juſtice, but ſonnelike of his goodneſſe, a feare not to drive me from God, but to draw mee to him; wee cannot beleeve or love the Lord too much, but yet God doth not cocker his children, therefore when thou moſt beleeveſ… that thou lieſt in the arms of his love, feare the more, leſt then thou fall aſleep, ſecure and ſweetly ſin: Satan ſeeks but this, to find thee thus, hee cares not then, but rocks, ſits by, and ſings, and keeps thee faſt aſleep, with the ſweet ſound of faith and aſſurance Pro. 28. 14.
Oh the ſlights of Satan, the methods, myſteries, and depths of the Devill, in our neereſt communion with God to caſt us fartheſt from him!
19 Continue conſtant in prayer, watching thereunto with all perſeverance, preſent my ſelfe oft before the Lord upon my knees, in my Cloſet, or ſome corner, if it bee but a word or two, 'twill increaſe my acquaintance and my communion with him; have my heart ever upward, heavenly and humble, ſending up ſometimes ſtrong groanes, ſudden ſighs, ſhort ejaculations, petitions or prayſes in the midſt of worldly affairs, callings and company, &c. when they think not of it, ſteale a ſecret thought to the throne of grace, and my Father which ſeeth in ſecret, &c. Luk. 18. 1. Eph. 6. 18. Col. 4. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Neh. 2. 4.
§. 8.
Q. VVHat ſhould you eſpecially pray for?
A. 1 That the God of our Lord …eſus Chriſt, the Father of glory may give unto me the ſpirit of wiſdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; The eye of my underſtanding being enlightened, that I may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints: And what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power to usward, who beleeves according to the working of his mighty power.
In
1 pardoning all my ſinnes againſt him, Num. 14. 17.
2 Subduing the power of every ſin in me, Mich. 7. 19.
3 Sanctifying me more and more in ſpirit, ſoule, and body blameleſſe, 1 Theſ. 5. 23.
4 Strengthening mee in all hi… ſervices, Iſa. 40. 29.
5 Supporting me in all my ſufferings, faintings, feares, Iſa. 41. 1…
6 Supplying all my wants exceeding abundantly above all tha… I can aske or think, Eph. 3. 20.
7 Saving me to the uttermo… from all evill, Heb. 7. 25.
8 Preſerving me to ſalvation, tha… I fall not from good, 1 Pet. 1. 5▪
9 Preſenting me faultleſſe before his glorious preſence with joy, Jude 24.
10 Raiſing me at the laſt day, and changing my vile body that it may be like unto his glorious Body, according to his mighty working, &c. Phil. 3. 21.
Which he wrought in Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead, and ſet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but alſo in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church; which is his Body, the fulneſſe of him that filleth all in all, Eph. 1. 17, 18, &c.
2 That God would grant me according to the riches of his glory, to be ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Chriſt may dwell in my heart by faith, that being rooted and grounded in love, I may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fulneſſe of God, Eph. 3. 16, 17, 18.
1 The fulneſſe of the knowledge of his Will, Col. 1. 9.
2 The full aſſurance of his favour, Col. 2. 2.
3 The fulneſſe of all grace in Chriſt Jeſus.
4 The fulneſſe of all joy in the holy Ghoſt, unſpeakeable and glorious, not only in the feelings of faith, but of afflictions, 1 Pet. 1. 6, 8. Rom. 5. 3.
5 The fulneſſe of glory in his haevenly kingdome at his right hand, when he ſits to intercede for mee and his whole myſticall body, to raigne in us his members, and over his and our enemies, till the laſt day, when he ſhall deliver up the kingdome to God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 28. Then God ſhall be all in all, when wee ſhall bee filled with the fulneſſe of God, and ſee him face to face. Now we ſee God the Father mediately in the face of Chriſt, then we ſhal ſee him immediately face to face with Chriſt: yet without a Mediator; now we are filled with the fulneſſe of Chriſt only, then we ſhall be filled with the fulneſſe of God alone.
1 We are the fulneſſe of Chriſt who being his members, he accounts himſelfe but maimed without us, Eph. 1. 23 1 Cor. 12. 12.
2 We have the fulneſſe of God, in Chriſt, who being our head, ſupplies by his Spirit all things unto us, that can be had in God the Father, or from him, what ever can make us:
| 1 Holy in him here, 2 Happy with him hereafter. | Ephe. 3. 19. 1 John 1. 3. |
Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in us: unto him be glory in the Church by Chriſt Jeſus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen, Eph. 3. 20, 21.
In him (that is Chriſt) we actually are by our actuall incorporation into that ſociety which hath him for their head, and doth make together with him one body (he and they in that reſpect having one name, 1 Cor. 12. 12.) for which cauſe by vertue of this myſticall conjunction, we are of him and in him, even as though our fleſh and bones ſhould be made continuate with his. Hooker pag. 123.
Ergo gratulemur & agamus gratias, non ſolumnos Chriſtianos factos eſſe, ſed etiam Chriſtum. Intelligitis, fratres, gratiam Dei ſuper nos; capitis, admiramini, gaudete. Christus facti ſumus; Si enim ille caput eſt, & nos membra, totus ille homo & nos. Auguſt. in Iohan. tract. 31. Let us rejoyce and give thankes, that we are not onelyonly made Chriſtian men, but alſo made Chriſts Brethren; yee underſtand the grace of God, that is upon us; ye underſtand it, ye wonder at it. Rejoyce ye, we are made Chriſt. For if he be the head and we the members, both he and we are one whole man.