The Happiness of Enjoying and Use of Christ, Part 2 – Title page 2
VERSE 10.
And yee are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power.
CHAP. XVI. Aſcribing perfection in Chriſt to ſuch alone as are truely gracious.
IN the precedent verſe is the fulneſſe of Chriſt opened, in this verſe is the fulneſſe of his members propoſed. Chriſt is very free, & full, and gracious in his miniſtrations to his ſervants: As there is a fulneſſe in the Vine ſo there is a fulneſs in the Branches; as there is a fulneſſe in the Sea, ſo there is a fulneſſe in the Rivers; as there is a fulneſſe in Chriſt, ſo there is a fulneſſe in his Members; they are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power.
Scope of the Apoſtle.Theſe words contain a third argument, uſed by the Apoſtle, to dehort and diſſwade men from having recourſe to humane traditions, philoſophicall doctrines, vaine and needleſſe ceremonies; from ſeeking perfection or fulneſſe in ſuch empty lamps, broken ciſternes, and barren trees; conſidering they have perfection nearer home, and in themſelves, being in Chriſt, members of Chriſt, incorporate into Chriſt, in whom is all fulneſſe, they need not looke elſe where for perfection, for they are complete in him.
In the words wee have two things in the generall. 1. The Saints perfection,2 Parts, 1 Saints perfection. 2. Chriſts exaltation and yee are complete in him. 2. Chriſts exaltation, which is the head of all principality and power. Firſt, of the Saints perfection, and ye are complete in him: wherein we may take notice 1. Of the ſubject yee, not all, but yee: Yee who are effectually called from the death of ſinne to the life of grace,Ioh. 11.44 as Chriſt called Lazarus from the death of the grave, to the life of nature: Yee that are ſavingly enlightned,Ioh. 9 as the eies of him that was borne blind were opened: Yee that are ſpiritually purged and cleanſed from ſin,2 King. 5. as Naaman was waſhed from his Leproſie in Iordan: Yee that have put off the old man,Eph. 2.4. and put on the new,Gen. 41.14, 42. 2 Cor. 5.17. as Ioſeph had his priſon garments taken off, and veſtures of fine linnen put upon him, and a golden chaine about his necke: yee from whom all old things are put away, and to whom all things are become new, yee are complete in him.
Note.Such alone as are truely holy and gracious, are complete and perfect in Chriſt Ieſus. Such alone are living branches in this vine, a ſpirituall Bride to this husband, endowed with Gods image, intereſted in Gods promiſe, ſeparated from worldly vanities, and the power of uncleanneſſe, clothed with Chriſts righteouſneſſe, and filled with Chriſts fulneſſe.
Uſe 1 Prophane and carnall people are farre from all ſpirituall perfection, as the dead are farre from life, the blinde farre from eye-ſight, and bondmen farre from freedome. Unregenerate and ungracious perſons have no ſaving knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus, no participation of his fulneſſe, no intereſt in his benefits, no taſte of the ſweetneſſe of his mercies. Chriſt to them is a hidden Manna whom they taſte not, an eclipſed Sunne whom they ſee not, a ſealed Well of whom they drinke not, like the Tree of Life to Adam expelled out of the garden of Eden; Gen. 3.one to whom they come not, of whoſe fruit they feed not. Reigning prophaneneſſe deprives the ſoule of all the benefits and comforts of the Lord Jeſus.
Such alone as are truly gracious, are Uſe 2 filled with Chriſts fulneſſe, diſcern Chriſts excellencies, and are refreſhed with the ſweetneſſe of his mercies: They alone that live to Chriſt enjoy Chriſt, and are made perfect by Chriſt, and have the promiſe of eternall life in and through Chriſt.Dignus planè eſt morte qui tibi Chriſte recuſet vivere, & qui tibi non ſapit, deſipit; & qui curat eſſe, niſi propter te, pro nihilo eſt, & nihil eſt, propter teipſum: Deus, feciſti omnia, & qui eſſe vult ſibi & non tibi, nihil eſſe incipit inter omnia. O Chriſt (ſaith Bernard) hee is plainly worthy of death who refuſeth to live to thee; and hee that is not wiſe for thee, is fooliſh; and hee that cares to bee, unleſſe for thee, goes for nothing, and is nothing. O God (ſaith hee) thou haſt made all things for thy ſelfe, and hee that will bee for himſelfe, and not for thee, beginnes in the midſt of all things, to bee nothing. Without Chriſt mans greateſt fulneſſe is nothing elſe but emptineſſe: hee that ſeeks himſelfe, and not Chriſt, loſeth both himſelfe and Chriſt: hee that ſtrives without Chriſt to be happy, involves himſelfe in the ſnare, & caſts himſelfe into the gulfe of the greateſt miſery. To live to the Lord Jeſus in true holineſſe, is the onelyonly way to everlaſting happineſſe: Hee that for Chriſt can make himſelfe nothing, ſhall in Chriſt finde the perfection of all things. Labour then to bee of their number who are truly holy and gracious, that you may bee complete and perfect in Chriſt Jeſus.
Secondly, here is the benefite, complete, full, entire, perfect; complete in the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, in the inchoation of all ſaving gifts and graces, in title to all Gods promiſes, in the acceptation of their perſons and ſervices in and for Chriſt,Eph. 1.6. Chriſt being the Beloved in whom they are accepted. And hence we learne, that
Doct. There is a ſpirituall and heavenly perfection and fulneſſe in Gods faithfull ſervants: Sorts of perfectiona fulneſſe of inchoation, but not of conſummation, as there is a fulneſſe of light begun in the aire in the dawning of the day; a fulneſſe of parts, but not of degrees, as there is a fulneſſe of members in an infant as well as in a man, in reſpect of parts, though not in reſpect of full growth; a fulneſſe of truth and uprightneſſe, though not of abſoluteneſſe: The leaſt dramme of gold, and drop of water, is as truly gold and water, as all the gold in the Kings Treaſure, or all the water in the deep Sea: a fulneſſe in reſpect of intention, Phil. 3.12.though not of acquiſition; they ſet perfection as a marke before them, they preſſe to it, though they have not yet fully attained: a fulneſſe of duration, though not of fruition; they doe not faile and fall, like Haſael, 2 Sam. 2.23.by the way, but like good travellers, they goe from ſtrength to ſtrength untill they appeare before the Lord in Sion, Pſa. 84.7.though they do not yet enjoy the end of their calling: a fulneſſe in reſpect of extention, they mortifie all luſts, they depart from every evill way, they allow themſelves in no ſinne, though they cannot wholly aboliſh any ſinne; they have an eye to all Gods precepts, and walke in all Gods ordinances, though they limpe and halt a little, as Iacob did in his travell, after hee had obtained the bleſſing. This perfection and fulneſs of Gods Saints and Servants was ſhadowed in the Arke, as it was a type of the Church; the Arke had a crowne of gold about it,Exod. 25.10, 11. the Church, the faithfull ſervants of the Lord, are crowned with divers gifts and graces here, and ſhall bee with the crowne of glory hereafter: The Arke had foure proportionable dimenſions, the faithfull ſervants of Chriſt have the depth of faith, the height of hope, the latitude of charitie, and the longitude of perſeverance, abounding (as the Apoſtle ſaith) in every thing, 2 Cor. 8.7.in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all diligence and love: The Candleſtick in the Sanctuary had ſeven lamps, Exod. 25.31.37.and many branches, adorned with bowles, knops and flowers; the Church and faithfull ſervants of God, are repleniſhed with fulneſſe of divine and heavenly light, and beautified with the gracious workes of the Spirit;Iſai. 11.9. this was propheſied, The earth, the faithfull people of God on earth, ſhall bee full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, abundantly repleniſhed with all the gifts of God; and this the Lord ſignified by the mouth of the Pſalmiſt,Pſa. 72.16 ſaying, There ſhall be an handfull of corne in the earth, on the top of the mountaines, the fruit thereof ſhall ſhake like Lebanon and flouriſh like the graſſe of the earth: A propheſie of the plentifull preaching of the Goſpel, abundant communication of divine and ſaving gifts to men, a large encreaſe of the number of beleevers, and ſweet conſolations ariſing in the ſoules of men upon their freedome from the power of Satan, and their owne corruption under Chriſts kingdome. And this perfection & fulnes of the ſervants of God is expreſſed ſomtimes by the beauty of the Lillies of the valley; Cant. 2.2.Cant. 6.10ſometimes by the brightneſſe of the Sunne, the Moone, and the Morning; ſometimes by the glory and rich attire of a Queene clothed with gold of Ophir, Pſal. 45.9, 13, 14.and a needle wrought garment; ſometimes by a body waſhed with water,Ezek. 16. and anointed with oyle, cl…thed with broidred worke, ſhod with a Badgers skinne, girded about with fine linnen, covered with ſilke, decked with ornaments, having bracelets upon the hands, and a chain on the necke, ſignifying the riches, fulneſſe, ſplendor, beauty and admirable excellencie of thoſe graces, with which the Lord adorns the ſoules of his ſervants, grace and holineſſe making Gods children ſurpaſſingly beautiful. That ſoule is moſt comely and beautifull, which hath the greateſt meaſure of ſanctification: This is likewiſe ſymbolized by the waters comming forth under the threſhold of the Temple, riſing higher and higher,Ezek. 47.5. untill they grew ſo deepe, that a man might ſwim in them; and for this the children of God are termed,Cant. 4.2. a flocke of Sheepe even ſhorne, come up from the waſhing, every one bearing twinnes, none barren among them: for this they are ſtiled, a Garden incloſed, a Spring ſhut up, a Fountaine ſealed, an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleaſant fruits, a Tree planted by the waters ſide, Pſa. 92.12whoſe leafe doth not fade, trees bearing more fruit in their old age. It is the propertie of Gods children to grow to more perfection, their corruptions, like the houſe of Saul, 2 Sam. 3.1growing weaker and weaker; and their graces, like the houſe of David, waxing ſtronger and ſtronger: and the Scripture ſpeakes of them plainly, teſtifying that they are full of goodneſs, Rom. 15.14.as the ſtarres are full of light, and good trees full of good fruit; full of piety towards God, full of charity towards man, full of knowledge in Gods will, full of faith in Gods promiſes, full of godly ſorrow for their offences, full of humility & meekneſſe for their low opinion of themſelves, & readineſs to put their neckes under the yoke of Gods precepts:Phil. 1.11. Full of the fruits of righteouſneſſe, as the fields are full of all ſorts of fruit in the day of harveſt:Col. 4.12. Perfect and full in the will of God, in the knowledge and obſervance of it, as a good ſervant is full in knowing and obeying his maſters will, as a good traveller is full in his way knowing it, and going on fully in it, with all his ſtrength, with all cheerfulneſs, and with all ſtedfaſtneſſe: Yea,Eph. 3.19. filled with all the fulneſſe of God, not with the fulneſſe of his eſſence, but of his operations and communications of grace to the ſoules of men: With the fulneſſe of his will, Col. 1.9.being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wiſedome and ſpirituall underſtanding: With the fulneſſe of his promiſes, beleeving them, and drawing waters of conſolation from them with the bucket of faith, as from ſo many Wells of comfort: With the fulneſſe of his love, as the the childe with the love of the parent, feeling the love of God ſhed abroad in their hearts: With the fulneſſe of his gifts, as the aire is full of the light of the Sunne: With the fulneſſe of his Chriſt, who filleth all things in all men. And thus wee ſee there is a ſpirituall and heavenly fulneſſe in the Lords ſervants.Epheſ. 1.
CHAP. XVII. Laying downe foure grounds of the Saints perfection.
1. Union with Chriſt.IN regard of union with, and incorporation into Chriſt: They are united unto Chriſt as branches to the vine; the vine is of the ſame nature with the branches; ſo is Chriſt, as man, of the ſame nature with beleevers: the branches have their originall from the vine, beleevers are begotten againe by Chriſt to a lively hope: the branches are ſupported, nouriſhed, and filled by the vine; ſo are all true beleevers by Chriſt.Rom. 12.5. They are united unto Chriſt, as members to the head; the head communicates ſenſe and motion to all the members of the body, Chriſt communicates ſpirituall life, ſenſe and motion, a heavenly fulneſſe of all good things to the members of his myſticall body: They are united unto Chriſt as the bride unto the bridegroome,Hoſ. 2.19 they are betrothed unto him for ever; the wife by her wedlocke participates of the name, honour, dignity, and earthly fulneſſe of her husband; the Church, by ſpirituall wedlocke with Chriſt, partakes of the name, honour, dignity, and heavenly fulneſſe of Chriſt: As man and wife are one matrimoniall fleſh; 1 Cor. 12.12.ſo are Chriſt and his members one myſticall Chriſt.
In regard of proportion: 2. Proportion betweene Saints and Chriſt.There is a naturall proportion and likeneſſe betweene the head, and the members, betweene the parent and the child, betweene the Sunne and the aire enlightned by the Sunne; and thus there is a ſpirituall proportion between Chriſt and all ſuch as, like living members, are enlivened by him, like children are begotten of him, and ſavingly enlightned by him, as the Sunne doth enlighten the aire: There is a gracious proportion and anſwerableneſſe betweene Chriſt and all Gods faithfull ſervants, as betweene the Sunne and the Starres in the firmament, as betweene the King and the Queene in the Court, as betweene the father and the children in the family; they are holy as hee is holy, in proportion,1 Pet. 1.15. Rom. 8.29 in imitation, in quality, but not in adequation, degree, and equality: they are conformed unto Chriſt in ſanctification and in ſuffering: Chriſt hath fulneſſe above meaſure, they have fulneſſe in meaſure: In Chriſt is fulneſſe, as in the fountaine, in them as in the ciſterne.
3 Chriſts communication to the Saints.In regard of Communication: The Sun communicates light unto all the Starres, the Sea waters to all the Rivers; Chriſt hath not received for himſelfe alone, but for all his members. Joſeph had not the fulneſſe of Egypt for himſelfe alone, but for all the people of the land, to diſpenſe to them according to their ſeverall neceſſities: God hath put all fulneſſe into Chriſt, and through Chriſt hee doth diſpenſe the ſame to us. God (ſaith S. Paul) hath bleſſed us with all ſpirituall bleſsings in heavenly places in Chriſt; Epheſ. 1.3.with knowledge, juſtification, remiſſion, adoption, ſanctification, and all ſpirituall riches in Chriſt. God diſpenſeth all his fulneſſe by Chriſt Jeſus to his ſervants: As the Angels came downe by Jacobs ladder; ſo doe all the gifts of God come downe to the ſoule of man by Chriſt: Of his fulneſſe wee doe all receive, Ioh. 1.16. Ioh. 17.8.grace for grace. The words (ſaith Chriſt) which thou gaveſt mee, I have given them; the words of precept to direct them, the words of promiſe to ſuſtaine them, the words of life to quicken them, the words of peace to comfort them; what thou haſt revealed and given to me, as Mediator, have I revealed and communicated unto them, as their teacher and Saviour.
In regard of Imputation: 4. Imputation of Chriſt.Chriſt with all his benefites is imputed to beleevers, their ſinnes are imputed unto him, and his righteouſneſſe is imputed unto them. Hee that knew no ſinne, 2 Cor. 5.11.was made ſinne for us, that wee might bee made the righteouſneſſe of God in him; not our righteouſneſſe, but the righteouſneſſe of God; not in us, but in Chriſt. As Joſua the high Prieſt had his filthy garments taken from him, Zach. 3.and was clothed with change of raiment: ſo is our ſinne, like a filthy garment, put from us, and wee are clothed with Chriſts righteouſneſſe, as with a rich and royall robe, and wee are to put on Chriſt to juſtification; being, through faith, clothed and covered with Chriſt his perfect innocencie and holineſſe of nature and actions, as with a garment to appeare holy and unblameable without ſpot or wrinkle before God. And wee are alſo ſaid, to put on Chriſt to ſanctification, Rom. 13.being decked and adorned with the gifts and fruits of his Spirit, as with jewels & ornaments: Yee are of God (ſaith Saint Paul) elected, 1 Cor. 1.30.called, regenerated by his Spirit. All things are of God by creation, elect beleevers by the grace of adoption and regeneration: Yee are of him in Chriſt, elected in Chriſt before the foundation of the world: In Chriſt, who is made unto us of God, wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption: Made unto us of God, not by creation, but by ordination: Wiſedome, the authour and teacher of wiſedome, revealing to us the counſell of his Father, touching our ſalvation, and making us wiſe by giving us the ſpirit of illumination: Righteouſneſſe, our Juſtifier making us righteous through his righteouſneſſe imputed to us: Sanctification, our Sanctifier, regenerating and renewing us by the worke of his Spirit: Redemption, by his merit and efficacie, freeing us from the power of Satan, the dominion of our corruption, and death eternall: He is our Wiſedome as a Prophet, our Juſtification and Sanctification as a Prieſt, our Redemption as a King: Hee is our Righteouſneſſe Imputativè, by way of imputation; hee is our Wiſedome, Sanctification and Redemption, Effectivè, by way of inherent and gracious operation. Chriſt (ſaith*Chriſtus factus eſt nobis ſapientia in praedicatione, juſtitia in peccatorum abſolutione, ſanctificatio in converſatione, redemptio in paſſione. Bernard) is made unto us Wiſedome in preaching, Righteouſneſſe in the abſolution of ſinne, Sanctification in converſation, and Redemption in his paſſion. Chriſt (ſaith*Liberans ab errore, peccatorum dimiſ…ione, per ſpiritum paracletum. Two ſorts of men excluded from Chriſt and the number of his Saints. Theophilact) maketh us wiſe, freeing us from errour; hee maketh us wiſe by forgiveneſſe of ſinnes; he ſanctifieth us by his Spirit the Comforter. And thus he … parteth to us perfect redemption, or d…a…ce from all evils: and thus it appe…e…, that there is a ſpirituall and heavenly perfection and fulneſſe in all the Lords ſervants.
This ſhewes how great ſtrangers they are to Chriſt, how farre from the number of Gods faithfull ſervants, Firſt, who are empty of all ſaving grace; whoſe ſoules, like the fooliſh virgins lamps, are empty of all ſpirituall and heavenly oyle; whoſe hearts are an empty houſe,I. Matth. 25. Rom. 7.18. Hoſ. 10.1. wherein dwelleth no divine and ſaving good; whoſe lives are (as the Prophet ſaid of Iſrael) an empty vine, bringing forth to themſelves, to the fleſh, but not to God; empty of the knowledge of God, as the eyes of the blind are of light, having no wiſedome to diſcerne the things which differ, any more then a blind man can diſcerne of colours; empty of faith, as Jeroboams withered hand was empty of ſtrength, having no power to beleeve, to lay hold on Chriſt, and the promiſe of …nall life; empty of love, as a dead m…n is empty of hea…e. It is ſaid of David, th… hee was old and ſtricken in yeares, … they c…ver…d him with clothes, but h… … Many ſuch there bee ſo old … have ſpent ſo many yeares in … of the world, and in the work… … that though they have much … warme them, many ſermons, …ny …monitions and inſtructions, yet they get no heat, no love doth burne within them, their ſoules remaining like an empty chimney wherein is no fire; empty they are of all the fruits of righteouſneſſe, as a withered branch is empty of grapes; Such men have nothing of Chriſt in them, as the empty ciſterne h…th nothing in it of the fountain; Such men can do nothing to the reſiſting of Satan, no more than an empty hand to the withſtanding of the enemy in the battel. The unclean Spirit finding the houſe empty, Matth. 12.44, 45.entred in with ſeven others worſe then himſelfe: Such are unprofitable to others in their ſpirituall diſtreſſes, like the pits which were empty when the children of the Nobles came unto them in their thirſt:Jer. 14.3. as an empty lanthorne that gives no light to him that travels in the dark, like the fig-tree which bare no fruit when Chriſt came to it in his hunger: Such men know not how to comfort themſelves, how to ſuſtain and ſtay themſelves in their own diſtreſſe; they have nothing of God and Chriſt at home within themſelves, in their owne hearts: but as Hagars bottle was empty, had no water in it,Gen. 21. neither knew ſhe which way to looke for water to refreſh her, but ſate downe and wept; ſo are their ſoules empty, and when trouble comes upon them, they know not which way to looke for comfort; they have no anker to ſtay them in the ſtorme, but are (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith of the Mariners in the tempeſt) even at their wits end: Pſal. 107.27.Such men are a diſhonour to the Goſpel, a ſhame to the Chriſtian profeſſion, as an empty Scholar that hath no learning in him, is a diſgrace to the Schoole, or a barren Tree a diſcredit to the Orchard: To ſuch men it may be ſpoken, as once Archidamus ſpake unto his ſon, raſhly conflicting with the Athenians, wanting ſtrength to make his part good againſt them,Aut vi… bus a…e, aut anim…s adi…. Either adde to thy ſtrength, or take from thy boldneſſe: ſo muſt theſe men either adde to their ſhew more power of godlineſſe in their converſation, or ceaſe from their profeſſion. For as in warre audaciouſneſſe without ſtrength is dangerous, ſo in religion profeſſion without practice is ſcandalous: and what is the end of ſuch empty and barren Chriſtians, but as the tree that had leaves without fruit was curſed,Matth. 21.19. Joh. 15. and the withered branches caſt into the fire and burned: ſo the curſe and everlaſting burning will be theſe mens laſt portion.
2 This likewiſe ſhewes how farre they are from Chriſt, who in ſtead of ſpirituall and heavenly fulneſs, have a fulneſſe of ſin and uncleanneſſe within them; ſome being full of worldly mindedneſſe, of diſtracting cares and cogitations, as the ſluggards field was full of thornes and briars; Pro. 24.31.ſome are full of idolatry and ſuperſtition, full of errour, hereſie, and corrupt opinions, as Baals houſe was full of Idolaters from one end to the other; 2 King. 10.21.ſome are full of fraud and deceit,Ier. 5.27. Iſa. 22.2. as a cage is full of birds; ſome are full of ſtirres, tumults, and contentions, as the Sea is full of ſtormes; ſome are full of hypocriſie, full of many noiſome and filthy luſts, as the Phariſees Sepulchres were whited without,Matth. 23.27. but full of dead mens bones within; ſome are full of malice, wrath, and indignation,Iam. 3. as the ſerpents are full of deadly poiſon; ſome are full of curſing, ſwearing, evill ſpeaking, as the woman on the ſcarlet coloured beaſt was full of the names of blaſphemy, and the golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthineſs: Rev. 17.3.4.and what attends this fulneſſe of impiety and profaneneſſe, but fulneſſe of ſhame, fulneſſe of woes, fulneſſe of everlaſting tortures? Fulneſſe of vengeance ever waits upon fulneſſe of ungodlineſſe.
CHAP. XVIII. Evidencing the fulneſſe of the Saints by foure Characters or markes, with foure motives to labour for fulneſſe.
THis may teach us then duely to examine Uſe 2 the eſtate of our ſoules, and to labour for clear and comfortable evidence of this ſpirituall and heavenly fulneſſe. The preſence of this fulnes will be diſcerned,
1 Fulneſſe of reſiſting evill.1 By the fulneſſe of mans reſiſting and withſtanding every temptation, every oppoſition, every contradiction of the Divell, the World, and the Fleſh, As a Caſtle full of armour, full of men, full of fortification, full of all proviſion, abides all aſſaults; a tree full of roots abides and holds out againſt all the guſts and blaſts of winds. The Arke being pitched within and without, full of ſtrength, endured all the toſſings of the Deluge. The man in whom this fulneſſe is, in the midſt of all oppoſitions, as Chryſoſtome ſaid of Peter, is as a man made all of fire walking in ſtubble, he overcomes and conſumes all oppoſition; all difficulties are but whetſtones to his fortitude, all Satans temptations are but firebrands caſt into the water, all the gainſayings of the world are to him but as the barking of dogs to a traveller, all the proffers of the world are baſe and contemptible; the very reproach of Chriſt is in his eye greater riches then all the treaſure of Egypt: Heb. 11.the horſe neighes at the trumpet, the Leviathan laughs at the ſpeare, the man that is filled with Chriſt accounts it all joy to fall into manifold temptations; Jam. 1.2.hee is ready to goe through fire and water, hee carries his life in his hand, he ſayes to father and mother. I know you not; to carnall counſellors and friendly enemies, Get you behind me Satan.
2 By the fulneſſe of anſwerableneſſe to the whole law2 Fulneſſe of anſwerableneſſe to the whole law. and will of God: where is fulneſſe of grace, the whole man is put into a holy frame, and there is a readineſſe to obey every precept, as the Centurions ſouldiers were ready to every command, to goe, and come, to doe this, and to do that;Mat. 8.8. a readineſſe to beleeve every promiſe, as there is a readineſſe in the hand to receive every gift; a readineſſe to embrace every wholeſome admonition, as there is a readineſſe in the eye to receive light from every ſtarre, a readineſſe in the ground to receive raine from every cloud, a readineſs with diligence to follow every good worke, 2 Tim. 2.21.as there is a readineſs in the hand of a good Scholar to write after every letter in the copie.
3 By the fulneſſe of liberty and freedome from the rule and power of every ſin:3 Fulneſſe of liberty from the rule of ſin. as Joſuah put all the Canaanites under, ſo doth fulneſſe of grace put downe every luſt, it ſuffers no ſin to reigne: as Aſa depoſed his owne mother,2 Chr. 15. ſo doth this the mother ſin of the ſoule, the ſin that is moſt deare: If the eye offend, it plucks it out;Mat. 5. if the hand offend, it cuts it off: it doth not worke by halfes as Saul did, but deſtroyes all as Samuel did:1. Sam. 15 it reſtores the whole man to liberty; the underſtanding to know, as Chriſt reſtored the blind man to ſight; the will to embrace Chriſt, as the man whoſe hand was withered, had it made whole to receive any gift; the imagination and affections to mind and meditate upon, to love and delight in the things which are above, as Chriſt healed the woman that had a Spirit or infirmity, making her able to walke upright: it makes the whole man free to move and come to Chriſt, as the Rivers move towards the Sea. This the Pſalmiſt termeth an inlarging of the heart to run the way of Gods commandements: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, Pſa 119.32. 2. Cor. 3.17.there is liberty, ſaith the Apoſtle.
4 By the fulneſſe of mans application of himſelfe to Chriſt.4. Fulneſſe of mans application of himſelfe to Chriſt. The more fully man receives of Chriſt, the more fully he doth apply himſelfe to Chriſt; the more the River receives from the Sea, the more ſtrongly, ſpeedily, and fully it returns again and empties it ſelfe into the Sea. Mans motion to Chriſt is according to his gracious receivings from Chriſt; where there is fulnes of grace, Chriſt is apprehended as a King for his authority, as a moſt precious Pearl for his worth, as a Ranſomer for his purchaſe, which he hath made of us, as a Bridegroome for his love to us, and conjunction with us: and as the wife which receives the husband gives her ſelfe againe unto the husband, thus the ſoule which receiveth Chriſt doth give it ſelfe againe to Chriſt. Saint Paul ſaith of the Macedonians,2 Cor. 8.5. they gave themſelves unto the Lord as to their Counſelour to direct them, as to their Shepheard to feed them, as to their King to honour him, as to their Lord and Maſter to ſerve him, as to their Husband to love him, to rejoyce and delight in him, and bring forth fruit unto him: and this is ſtiled a yeelding vp of our ſelves to God, and, a living unto God; Ro. 12.1 2. Cor. 5.15.mans ſubjection unto God and Chriſt being ever ſutable to the power and dominion of grace within him.
This ſhould perſwade and move all men to labour for ſpirituall and heavenly fulneſſe, to abound, as the Corinthians did,Perſwaſion to this fulneſſe. in every gift; to abound in knowledge, as good ſchollers in learning, as the ſtarres in light:2 Cor. 8 7 2 Pet. 3.18 to grow in knowledge; In the knowledge of our ſelves, and bee abaſed: In the knowledge of the Law of God, and bee reformed by it, and conformed to it: In the knowledge of the majeſtie, puritie, and perfection of God, and bee humbled in the apprehenſion of it: In the knowledge of the authoritie and dominion of God, and feare to offend him: In the knowledge of the power of God, and hide our ſelves under him: In the knowledge of the promiſes of God, and build upon them: In the knowledge of the bounty of God, and bee thankfull: In the knowledge of the love of God, and be cheerfull: In the knowledge of the gracious working of God, and aſcend to more ſpirituall perfection: In the knowledge of the death of Chriſt, attaining to a greater meaſure of mortification: In the knowledge of the reſurrection of Chriſt, being more and more quickned by him: In the knowledge of the fulneſſe of Chriſt, drawing neerer to him, receiving more and more from him, more and more ſolacing, quieting and contenting our ſoules in and with him. Let us labour for fulneſſe of Faith, as the tree increaſeth in the fulneſſe of his roots,Col. 2.7. beeing rooted and built up in Chriſt, and ſtabliſhed in the faith, abounding therein with thankeſgiving. Let us ſtrive to bee full of love, as a fire of much wood is full of heat; and as the bride is full of love, even ſick of love towards the bridegroome: to bee full of joy with the light of Gods countenance, as the favourite is full of joy with the Kings countenance, the light of the Kings countenance being unto him as life, and his favour as a cloud of the latter raine. O let us endevour to bee full of the holy Ghoſt, full of the fruits of the Spirit, as a good orchard is full of all ſorts of fruit. And the better to provoke our ſoules to this, let us meditate:
Upon the fulneſſe of that power which doth oppoſe the welfare of our ſoules:Foure meditations moving to this fulnes 1. Fulneſs of oppoſing power There is a fulneſſe of ſinne, a fulneſſe of Satan, a fulneſſe of worldly vanities, which without a fulneſſe of grace we can never withſtand, ſubdue and caſt downe. When the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Sampſon, he rent the Lyon: Iudg. 14.when the Spirit of the Lord cometh mightily in the fulneſſe of his grace upon us, then Satan the roaring Lyon is put to flight, then his workes are diſſolved, then the ſtrong holds of ſinne are caſt downe, and the ſoule prevaileth: Therefore the Apoſtle chargeth us to bee ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of h…s might, to put on the whole armour of God, that wee may bee able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Divell.
2. Sweet agre…ment be…ween Hea…t and WordUpon the ſweet agreement which will ariſe from this fulneſſe betweene our he…rts and the word of God: This will make the commandement an eaſie yoke, a plaine path: this will make the Word ſweet and pleaſant, as the light unto a cleare eye, wine unto a thirſty palate, or meat to a healthy and hungry ſtomacke, or the voyce of the bridegroome to the bride, when her heart is full of love towards him.
3. Satisfaction which it miniſtreth I…h. 4.14. Ioh. 7. Mat. 13.44.Upon the ſatisfaction and contentment which this fulneſſe of grace will miniſter to the ſoule: It will bee as a living ſpring, as floods of water within us, quenching our thirſt, and taking off all our longings from the world: it will bee to us as the pearle to the Merchant in the Parable, in ſtead of all worldly treaſure, it will content us in every eſtate, bee in ſtead of all to our ſoules.
Upon the joy ariſing hence:4. …oy ari…i…g … it. Fulneſſe of grace brings fulneſſe of joy, ſtrong joy diſpelling all ſorrow and ſadneſſe, as the Sunne doth the clouds; full joy making the underſtanding joyfull in the knowledge of God, making the will joyfull in the choyce and embracement of God, in the ſinners free and full intendment of God, and the glory of God; making the imagination joy…ull in the meditation and thought of God, making the memory joyfull in the remembrance of God and his word, and workes; making all the affections joyfull in the truſting, fearing, and loving of God; making all the members of the body joyfull in the performance of their ſeverall offices and ſervices to God-ward. This filleth with all joy and peace; with the joy of children for our adoption, with the joy of brides for our ſpirituall conjunction, with the joy of friends for our knowledge of Gods ſecret and counſell, with the joy of rich men for our treaſure and intereſt in all things, with the joy of heires for our claim and title to Gods kingdome, with the joy of Nobles for our dignitie and exaltation, with the joy of Conquerours for our victory over all oppoſition, with the joy of free men for our ſpirituall prerogatives and freedome, with the joy of Kings for our holy and gracious dominion, with the inchoation of all joyes in this life, and the conſummation and perfection of endleſſe joy hereafter in heaven.
FINIS.
THE DOLEFULNES AND DANGER OF NEGLECTING CHRIST, AND THE OPPORTUNITY OF GRACE.
PROV. 1.29, 30, 31.
For that they hated knowledge, and did not chooſe the feare of the Lord.
30 They would none of my counſell: they deſpiſed all my reproofe.
31 Therefore ſhall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
JER. 51.9.
We would have healed Babylon, but ſhe is not healed: forſake her, and let us go every one into his own countrey: for her judgement reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even unto the skies.
LONDON, Printed by R. Young for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup neere Saint Auſtins gate, 1640.