The Christians Apparelling, Part 2 – Part 3
Par. 2. §. 1
Supper, differēce & diſtinguiſh all Chriſtiās of what Nation ſoeue… from ſuch as are not Chriſtians.
But there is alſo an Inward and Spirituall putting on of Chriſt, and that is by Faith, 2 Inwardly by faith.in the right vſe of our Baptiſme, whereby we put on Chriſt, both to Iuſtification and to Sanctification.
Section 2.
1 To Iuſtification.Now by Faith he is inwardly put on, Firſt, to Iuſtification, for ſo wee receiue and apply him to vsus, namely by beleeuing; by which wee receiue the benefit of the pardon of al our ſinnes,Iohn. 1.12. which God no longer imputes to vsus, as alſo ſtand cloathed with the perfect righteouſneſſe of Chriſt.
2. By the ſame faith we put on Chriſt vntounto Sanctification; 2 To Santification. Acts. 15.9. 1. By Mortification.for it is Faith which purifieth the heart; this is done by receuing the gifts of the ſpirit. This conſiſts in the exerciſes of Repentance; the parts whereof are firſt, mortification of ſinne, and a putting off of the Old man, which firſt muſt be done before we can put on the new man:Par. 2. §. 2 and then in viuification and newneſſe of life, in new obedience,2. By viuification. and in the practiſe of all Chriſtian vertues and graces. Rom. 6.3.4.5. &c Both theſe are required of vsus alike; namely, Firſt that we caſt off the workes of darkeneſſe, Rom. 13.12 13.14.and then put on the Armour of light; firſt, that we walke not in rioting & drunkennes, &c. &, then that we put on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Firſt, that we put off, concerning the former conuerſation, the Old man, Epheſ. 4.22 23.24.which is corrupt according to the deceitfull luſts, and then that we be renued in the ſpirit of our minds, and that wee put on that new man &c. So Coloſ. 3, 8.9.10-12.
Now,3. By increaſing in grace. this is further done when the grace of Chriſt increaſeth in vsus by degrees, and when wee indeauour to ſtrengthen Gods graces in vsus by vſe and practiſe. 2 Pet. 3.18.4. By imitation. and generally when wee imitate Chriſt in his holines, and in the workes of ſanctification, and when we expreſſe him in all our actions.Part. 2. §. 3.
And thus wee put him on by Faith, to Iuſtification and Sanctification; of both which we reade, when it is ſaid, that to the Lambs wife, Reu. 19.8.or the Church, it is graunted that ſhe ſhould bee arraied in fine linnen, cleane and white; for the fine linnen is the rigteouſneſſe of Saints; where this linnen hath two properties; it is cleane and pure becauſe Chriſt is ſo, and ſo it ſerues for our Iuſtificatiō; it is alſo white and ſhining, hauing a glorious luſtre to our Sanctification; which extends it ſelfe euen to our Glorification, 3 to glorification.which ſhall follow vponupon the former, when in Heauen wee ſhall bee cloathed vponupon, 1 Cor. 15.53.54.when at, and after the reſurrection, this corruptible ſhall put on incorruption, and this mortall ſhall put on immortalitie, 2 Cor. 5.4.and when mortalitie ſhall be ſwallowed vp of life. But of theſe more particularly afterward.
Section. 3.
It may further be demaunded, Whether thus to put on Chriſt bee in our power, Queſt… Whether to put on Chriſt be in our power or no?as may ſeeme to be implied in the Text, we being ſaid to put on Chriſt, it being a dutie alſo, vntounto which we are exhorted. I anſwere: This indeed we are ſaid to doe, yet if God did it not for vsus, and did not inable vsus thereunto, it ſhould be but ill performed by vsus. The truth is, we are ſuch babes and children, that of our ſelues wee cannot put on our own clothes.It is God that clotheth vsus. It is God then that clotheth vsus, who dreſſeth and vndreſſeth vsus, though hee vſe the miniſtery of his ſeruants herein. I, euen I, Iſa. 43.25.I, am hee that blotteth out thy tranſgreſsions for mine owne ſake; Ezek. 16.8.9.10.11.and I ſpread my skirt ouer thee, and couered thy nakedneſſe, — I waſhed thee with water, — I cloathed thee alſo with broidered worke, and ſhod thee with Badgers skinnes, and I girded thee about with fine linnen, and I couered thee with ſilke, I decked thee alſo with ornaments, and J put bracelets vponupon thine hands, and a chaine on thy necke, &c. Where we ſee, that not only our neceſſary clothing vntounto Iuſtification, but our ornaments and our outward beautie, conſiſting in holineſſe of life and conuerſation, and in good works, are alike from the gift and power of God. Thus, as we heard, not onelyonly the garment, but the putting of it on,Reuel. 19.8 was giuen vntounto the Bride; And to her was graunted, that ſhee ſhould bee arayed in fine linnen, &c. And behold, ſaith he, to Ioſhua the High Prieſt, I hauehave cauſed thine iniquitie to paſſe from thee, Zechar. 3.4.and J will clothe thee with change of rayment.
Now this God doth; firſt, by giuing Chriſt in his perſon,How? 1 By giuing Chriſt. and in his merits and ſatisfaction; all which hee offers vsus in the Word. Secondly, 2 By applying Chriſt to vsus, by his word and Spirit.he doth it by an application of theſe to vsus which is made by his Spirit, and by the efficacie thereof, accompanying the Word preached. By this hee makes vsus one with Chriſt, giuing vsus to partake of the ſame Spirit which dwells in Chriſt: For as the bodie is one, and hrth many members, 1 Cor. 12.12.13.and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; ſo alſo is Chriſt: for by one Spirit wee are all baptized into one body, 1 Cor. 6.17. 1 Ioh. 3.24.&c. ſo that hee that is ioyned to the Lord, is (alſo) one Spirit, by which hee dwels in vsus, and we in him. By this Spirit, and with the gifts and graces of it, we are alſo clothed vntounto Sanctification, it being ſaid to bee that power of God from an high, with which the Apoſtles, Luk. 24.49. Act. 2.2.3.according to promiſe, were endued, or clothed. Which ſpirit is ſaid to hauehave come vponupon Gideon; or, as it is in the Originall, to hauehave cloathed him,Iudg. 6.34. when it ſtirred him vp to ſaue Iſrael; and vponupon Zachariah, 2 Chron. 24 20.when it ſtirred him vp to teſtifie againſt the ſinnes & idolatries of King Ioaſh, and the Princes of Iudah. God therefore it is that thus cloatheth vsus, euen as he at the firſt prepared garments for Adam and Eue; and as Rebecca was trimmed with the ornaments brought from her huſband, both giuen her, and put on her.
How yet we are exhorted to this and the like dutyes? Anſwer.Whence is it then, that we are both exhorted, and alſo ſaid to put on Chriſt? I anſwere: 1. concerning ſuch like exhortatations and commandements. Firſt, that wee are not now to meaſure our ſtrength by them, as if we were able to doe whatſoeuer God commands or exhorts to.Mat. 11 28. Chriſt ſaith, Come vntounto mee all yee that labour, &c. and yet elſewhere hee ſaith, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath ſent me, draw him. Secondly, that they hauehave their foundation,Ioh. 6.44. not on our naturall power, but on Gods promiſes, God promiſing to doe for vsus, what hee requires of vsus. Who doubts but it is our dutie, to ſee that our whole ſpirit, and ſoule and body bee blameleſſe, and that God calleth on vsus for ſo much;1 Theſſ. 5.23.24. yet ſaith the Apoſtle, Faithfull is hee that calleth you, who alſo will doe it, Paul bids vsus worke out our ſaluation with feare and trembling: but he immediately addes, ſaying, For it is God which worketh in you, Phil 2.12.13.both to will and to doe, of his good pleaſure.
Thirdly, Such exhortations are not yet invaine:And that not in vaine why? for they put vsus in mind what we ſhould doe, & what we once could hauehave done, and ſo ſerue to make the reprobate with out excuſe. Againe, ſuch as belong to Gods election are thus forced, ſeeing their dutie, & withall their owne inabilitie, to flye out of themſelues, and to ſeeke ſtrength from Chriſt, in the vſe of the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer, intreating the Lord to doe that for them which hee requires of them.Ioel. 2.12. Thus the Lord bids vsus turne and conuert vntounto him, and ſo to put on Chriſt; but Gods people pray, Turne thou mee, Ier. 31.18. Cantic. 1.3.and I ſhall be turned; draw me, and we will runne after thee; ſo clothe thou vsus,Pſal. 51.2. and we ſhall be clothed; waſh thou me from mine iniquitie; &c. Beſides, ſuch exhortations are ſanctified, as meanes to effect what wee are exhorted vntounto; God, whoſe Word is operatiue, giuing grace and ſtrength.Acts 3.7. Peter bidds a creeple ſtand vp: what power had hee ſo to doe? yet hee leaped vp, ſtood and walked, his ankle bones from God receiuing ſtrength. Our Sauiour ſpeaks to dead LaZarus, LaZarus come foorth; What power hath a dead man to riſe out of his graue? yet by the power of Chriſts Word (who thereby made the world of nothing) LaZarus came foorth.Iohn 11.43.44. Laſtly, when once the firſt grace is giuen, and conuerſion wrought, ſuch exhortations ſerue to admoniſh vsus, to ſtirre vp Gods graces in vsus, and to ſeeke after perfection, and to put on Chriſt ſtill more and more: for ſo the exhortation of putting on Chriſt is made to the Romanes conuerted. Though therefore we cooperate not with GOD in the firſt acte of our conuerſion, neither bee able of our ſelues at firſt to put on Chriſt, yet ſuch exhortations are not in vaine, neither muſt we neglect them.
I anſwer ſecondly, How and why this worke is aſcribed to us.God aſcribes to vsus this putting on of Chriſt, and other ſuch like workes as are not done, but either wholly by himſelfe, or not without him principally, to incourage vsus in well doing, by giuing the action vntounto vsus, & to ſhew himſelfe willing to accept of our indeauours though weake, and indeed none without him. Our care then muſt be, wee hence attribute not ſuch works to our ſelues, or thinke we hauehave power in our ſelues to doe them, as the Popiſh ſort, and our common people would hence inferre: for, Chriſt and his graces, wherewith we are clothed, are heerein both like and vnlike to apparell.
Like; for as apparell is not bred of vsus, neither growes out of our bodies, (as yet doth the wooll of the ſheepe) ſo doe not the graces of Chriſt flowe from our free will,Par. 2. §. 4. but from Chriſt himſelfe that Lambe of God, the fleece of whoſe righteouſneſſe and obedience actiue and paſsiue, couereth vsus.
Vnlike; Appparell may bee had by our owne induſtry or money; but Chriſt and his graces are altogether free, and without our power. Yet this hinders not, but that we may and muſt be exhorted to put on Chriſt, and directed to the Meanes, and Manner how.
Section. 4.
What is then to bee done? In one word,Our duty is to labour to be clothed with Chriſt. Reuel. 3.18. follow the aduice and counſell of thy Sauiour, which he giues thee in theſe words, I counſell thee to buy of mee gold tryed in the fire, that thou mayeſt be rich, and white rayment, that thou mayeſt bee clothed, Meanes hereof in the generall.and that the ſhame of thy nakedneſſe doe not appeare. Now this is not done by any price thou canſt giuegive equiualent to the worth thereof, or by any merit or good deſeruing in thee; but onelyonly by parting with thy luſts, and thy ſinnes, by true repentance, by faith, by prayer, and ſuch like holy exerciſes. VntoUnto theſe thou art called, if euer thou wouldeſt truely partake of the precious benefits of Ieſus Chriſt & of his righteouſneſſe, that thou mayeſt bee clothed therwith. Hoe, ſaith God,Iſa. 55.1.3-6 7. eueryevery one that thirſteth, come yee to the waters, and hee that hath no money; Come ye, buy and eate, yea, come buy wine and milke without money, and without price: — Hearken diligently vntounto mee, encline your eare and come vntounto mee, heare and your ſoule ſhall liue. — Seeke ye the Lord while hee may be found, call yee vponupon him while hee is neere; Let the wicked forſake his way, and the vnrighteous man his thoughts. —
Loe, God calles vsus to Hearing, hearkening, and to come vntounto him; which implies Faith, and the true knowledge of him, to ſeeking, and to calling by Prayer, and ſo to Repentance, & a forſaking of our waies; to which wee may adde the right vſe of the Sacraments, Par. 2. §. 5.eſpecially that of the Lords Supper; by all which we reape the fruit, and find the effect of Baptiſme, and ſo doe put on Chriſt.
What meanes to bee vſed that we may put on Chriſt as our Iuſtification.In the vſe then of theſe meanes labour to put on Chriſt, both in Iuſtification, and Sanctification; ſo ſhalt thou alſo put him on to Glorification.
Section. 5.
Firſt, If thou wouldeſt indeed hauehave thy ſinne pardoned and not imputed, and the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt in ſtead thereof imputed vntounto thee and made thine, and wouldeſt be cloathed therewith;1. A conſcionable hearing of Gods Word. then, Firſt, make conſcience of thy hearing of Gods Word, where thou mayeſt hauehave it ſincearely taught; neglect not the time of Gods mercifull viſitation whereby, in his Goſpell, hee calls thee to the participation of Chriſt and all his precious merits; forbeare not to frequent Gods Temple ſo often as thou mayeſt, eſpecially on the Sabbath day; neglect not hearing either through negliigencce or pride, and conceited fulneſſe, ſecurity or preſumption; Now, in the Goſpell preached, is the Cloath fayre yet open; there if we take our time, and no where elſe, may theſe rich garments be had and fitted to vsus, by Gods Miniſters whom he vſeth, as wee doe our Tailors to ſhape out, (by diuiding his word aright) ſpirituall garments for each of vsus, out of the whole cloath of Chriſt his Righteouſneſſe, and to fit and applie the ſame vntounto vsus, whereby our nakedneſſe and ſinne may bee couered from the reuenging eye of God, and we ſtand in his ſight as if wee had neuer ſinned. By this diligent, conſtant and conſcionable hearing of Gods word, we attaine to that knowledge of God in Chriſt, by which wee are truly iuſtified, and made for euer happy, according to that in Iſa, Iſa. 53.11. Ioh. 17.3.By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſeruant iuſtifie many. And in Iohn, This is life eternall, Part. 2. §. 6that they might know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent.
Only here we muſt remember, that when wee come into Gods preſence and Temple to heare his Word, wee ſet and preſent our ſelues before him as poore, wretched, miſerable and naked Creatures; and in that acknowledgement, come with hungring ſoules, and vnfained deſires, to eate of the Childrens bread; or at leaſt to feede on the crummes that fall from that Table, and to hauehave our nakedneſſe couered, and all our other wants ſupplied; either thus muſt we renounce our ſelues and acknowledge our nakedneſſe, or otherwiſe we muſt neuer looke to hauehave it couered.
Section. 6.
Repentance then is the next thing which wee muſt carefully looke vntounto,2. Repentance. if we would hauehave our ſinnes truly couered & forgiuen; which conſiſts in an vnfained acknowledgement and confeſsion of our ſinnes, Par. 1. §. 6.grounded vponupon a true hatred of the ſame, accompanied with firme and full purpoſe and reſolution againſt them, and followed with an effectuall forſaking of them; ſuch a confeſsion,1 Iohn. 1.9. pro. 28.13. ſuch a gracious promiſe of pardon, and of mercy. Now when our ſinnes are pardoned, then, and neuer till then are they couered; and the way to get them and our nakedneſſe indeed couered, is to vncouer them in the ſight of God, by a hearty and full confeſsion of them; in vaine elſe goe wee about to couer them, by hiding and concealing them, or by a careles ſecurity & ſeeking eaſe to our ſelues, through a loathneſſe to diſquiet our conſciences by viewing our ſinnes, or by extenuating and excuſing them, or by tranſlating them to others &c. Let vsus ſee this in the examples of Dauid, and of the Prodigall Sonne. Dauid by his owne experience teaching who is bleſſed, tels vsus, it is hee whoſe tranſgreſsiō is forgiuen, Par. 2. §. 6whoſe ſinne is couered; Pſal. 32.1thus he found it. But when? not whiles he concealed his ſinne and continued without repentance for it; for ſo long he was in a very Hell vponupon Earth; When I kept ſilence, my bones, ſaith he, waxed old through my roaring all the day long; for thus, hee lay naked to Gods diſpleaſure: Day and night thy hand was heauy vponupon me.—When then? not till he heartily confeſſed his ſin, but then his very thought and purpoſe of confeſsing, obtained a pardon; for ſaith he, I acknowledged my ſinne vntounto thee, and mine iniquitie hauehave I not hid: I ſaid I will confeſſe my tranſgreſsions vntounto the Lord, and thou forgaueſt the iniquitie of my ſinne. Euen thus are we all taught in the practiſe of the Prodigall Sonne, who firſt ſaid, and accordingly did,Luk. 15.21.22. ſaying, Father I hauehave ſinned againſt Heauen, and in thy ſight, and am no more worthy to be called thy ſonne. What followed immediately hereupon?Par. 2. §. 7 But his Father ſaid to his ſeruants, bring forth the beſt Robe and put it on him, and put a Ring on his hand, and Shooes on his feete. Till thus our ſinnes bee couered, by our diſcouering of them vntounto God; it is in vaine by any meanes of our owne to ſeeke to hide them: they may be hid from men, (ſuch is the wiſdome of men in the cloſe carriage of themſelues in their ſinnes) but yet hid they are not; for they are knowne to their owne Conſciences, (for no man ſinnes without a witneſſe within himſelfe) much more are they knowne to God, vntounto whoſe eies all things, (our very thoughts) are naked and opened, Heb. 4.13and vntounto whoſe Iuſtice and wrath ſinners are expoſed.
Section. 7.
The next thing is our Faith, which we muſt reach out as our hand to receiue and applie to our ſelues,3. Faith. this ſpirituall garment of Chriſt his righteouſneſſe, and the pardon of our ſinnes offered vsus in the Goſpell of Chriſt:Part. 2. §. 9. without which faith, neither Chriſt not his Word wil profit vsus any thing. God who prouides this cloathing for vsus,Heb. 4.2. and brings & offers it to vsus in his Word preached, requires our Faith, and that wee ſhould take it to vsus; otherwiſe, wee may well, and ſhould iuſtly ſtarue and periſh of cold, if, hauing garments brought vntounto vsus, we will let them lye by vsus, and not vſe them by putting them on. It is our Faith which truly makes vsus Chriſtians, & by which Chriſt dwells in vsus; by which wee receiue the pardon of our ſinnes, and are iuſtified, as was ſhewed in the beginning,
Section. 8
4. Prayer.4. Prayer, alſo is a notable means by which wee may obtaine the pardon of our ſinnes, and be diſcharged of all our debts; this muſt not be neglected: for when wee hauehave nothing of our owne to purchaſe Gods fauour, then the Prayer of Faith will preuaile; as wee ſee in that ſeruant in the Goſpell, who, when he had nothing to pay, and that his Lord commanded him to bee ſold,Mat. 18, 25 26.27. & 32 and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made; fell downe and worſhiped, ſaying, Lord, hauehave patience with mee, and I will pay thee all; whereupon, his Lord moued with compaſsion, looſed him and forgaue him the debt-after ſaying to him, I forgaue thee all the debt becauſe thou deſiredſt me. This courſe we are directed vntounto in the Lords Prayer, where this is one principall Petition reſpecting our ſelues, forgiue vsus our debts, Mat. 6.12. Luk. 11.4.or forgiue vsus our ſinnes: now where ſinne is forgiue in, there it is alſo couered.
Section. 9.
Laſtly, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is appointed as an excellent meanes of our further putting on of Chriſt,5 A reuerent receiuing of the Lords ſupper. after once we hauehave receiued him ſpiritually by Faith. For this, reuerently and preparedly receiued, helpes to gird Chriſt,Par. 2. §. 10 nearer and cloſer vntounto vsus; ſeeing in and by it is ſignified and ſealed, our ſtrait and cloſe vnion with him, whereby wee become one with him, and he with vsus, as alſo our communicating and participating of all his benefits, eſpecially ſuch as belong to our Iuſtification; and heereby wee againe renew that couenant which wee firſt made with God in Baptiſme, whereof the Apoſtle ſaith in my text, all yee that are baptiſed into Chriſt hauehave put on Chriſt.
And theſe are the meanes which wee muſt carefully, conſcionably and conſtantly vſe, if euer we would put on Chriſt Ieſus vntounto our Iuſtification.
Section 10
Now wee are not to reſt here, but to ſee that we alſo put him on vntounto Sanctification: Meanes to be vſed for the putting on of Chriſt to our ſanctification. 1 Cor. 1.30for Chriſt is made vntounto vsus of God, not onelyonly righteouſnes, but alſo Sanctification.
This is done particularly by Mortification of the old man, and viuification of the new man; generally by an imitation of Chriſt, and by an expreſsing of him in all things.
The Apoſtle elſewhere tells vsus wherein the fruit and effect of our Baptiſme conſiſts, ſaying,Rom. 6.3.4. Know yee not, that ſo many of vsus as are baptized into Ieſus Chriſt, are baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by Baptiſme into death; that like as Chriſt was raſſed vp from the dead by the glory of the Father: euen ſo wee alſo ſhould walke in newneſſe of life: — As therefore Chriſt died, and roſe againe to life: ſo, if we be Chriſts, & hauehave truely put him on, muſt we reckon alſo our ſelues to be dead indeed vntounto ſin, but aliue vntounto God through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Where wee ſee, the Apoſtle makes theſe two, Mortification & Viuification in vsus, to be as inſeparable, as they were in Chriſt; as inſeparable in the effects as in the cauſes,Theſe meanes are. the cauſe of Mortification in vsus being Chriſts death, & the cauſe of our viuification being his reſurrection, each of them made ours by our faith.
1 Mortification of the old man.The firſt thing then is, that wee take out the leſſon of the Apoſtle, who thus exhorts, Let not ſinne reigne in your mortall body, that yee ſhould obey it in the luſtes thereof: and Mortifie therefore (ye that are dead,Rom. 4.12. Coloſ. 3.5.8. and riſen with Chriſt) your members which are vponupon the earth; (that is, the members of the body of ſinne, or of old Adam which is in vsus) fornication, vncleanneſſe, couetouſneſſe, &c. Put off all theſe, anger, wrath, malice, &c. This muſt firſt be done before we can put on the new man, as Chriſt firſt dyed, before he could riſe againe.
Labour then we muſt to be partakers of Chriſts death, & to find the power of it in vsus daily, to the weakning of the contrary power of in dwelling ſinne; not that we may hope to hauehave this in this life done perfitly in our ſelues (though in Chriſt our Head all our ſins are both dead and buried, and not any one ſhall make vsus guiltie of eternall death:) for whether wee reſpect the nature of ſin, wee find it ſtill in vsus for being; it is ſtill in vsus, though it be not imputed vntounto vsus; or the motions of ſinne, wee muſt though we be regenerate, confeſſe and ſay with Paul, Rom. 7.23.I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my mind, &c. But the meaning, and our dutie is, that we ſee that this ſinne which is and moues in vsus, doe not raigne as a King in vsus, that we ſhould willingly obey it in the motions of it; but that we reſiſt it, by making vſe of our ſpirituall Armour, that wee ſtriue againſt it, & to the vtmoſt of grace receiued, withſtand the power of it; ſo that it may be in vsus as a Tyrant and an Vſurper, rather then as a lawfull King, to bee willingly obeyed.And a deniall of our ſelues. There muſt be a deniall of our ſelues, whereby we through ſelfe-wiſedome, and ſelfe-conceit, through ſelfe-will, and ſelfe-pride, make our ſelues gods, doing all things out of our owne wiſedome and reaſon (which yet is but folly) out of our owne freedome & authority (which yet is but ſlauery) & referring al things to our owne ends, and to our owne praiſe. All theſe muſt be denied: ſo that wee muſt not leane to our ſelues, or deſire to be our owne men, at our owne command, at our owne appointment and will; but wee muſt indeed ſhew our ſelues to acknowledge one only God and Lord, the Lord Chriſt Ieſus, whoſe only wil ſhould be our Law, our reaſon, our wiſdome, our will, our welfare, honour and happineſſe:2 Cor. 10.5. ſo that all our imaginations & reaſonings muſt bee caſt downe, and eueryevery high thing in vsus which exalteth itſelfe againſt the knowledg of God, & eueryevery thought (of ours) is to be brought into captiuitie to the obedience of Chriſt.
This is then to mortifie the fleſh, whē we can deny our own carnall, yea natural reaſon, and ſubmit it to Gods word; our owne will, and ſubmit it to Gods will (both by a ready obedience to that hee commands vsus to do, & by a willing ſubiection with patience, to that hee layes vponupon vsus to ſuffer, without murmuring or repining; ſo, when in our affections, wee (in compariſon of God) ceaſe to louelove our ſelues, to delight in our ſelues out of God, to ſeeke our ſelues, to liue to our ſelues; and in a word, when wee ceaſe to walke according to the fleſh, & withal, vſe all holy meanes to auoid and preuent ſinne, and all the occaſions of it: yea, the very firſt beginnings thereof, by ſuppreſſing & nipping it in the head ſo ſoone as it begins to ſtirre and moue, and ſo ſoone as it ſhall bee obſerued, (which obſeruation and watchfulneſſe is here required) to preſent and obtrude it ſelfe into our thoughts, or at the leaſt, ſo ſoone as it begins to tickle the affection; oh then, to repell it, and to deny and refuſe the bayts of Pleaſure, Par. 2. §. 11Gaine, Honour, whereby it would allure vsus, in conſideration, and by oppoſition of ſpirituall and better pleaſure, gaine and honour in Chriſt by obedience: this is a high pitch of Mortification; yea, the higher, by how much the foundation of it is laid lower, and it ſtrikes at the very head of this Serpent, and at the very firſt motions and ſtirrings of this viperous brood of ſinne, and ſinfull luſts, and ſo far puts off the rags of old Adam, that it lothes and hates euen the garment ſpotted by the fleſh.Iude 23.
Section. 11.
The Second thing to be looked to by vsus,2 Viuification. if wee would put on Chriſt to Sanctification, is to ſee to our viuification, and that wee liue as new men, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before the Lord, Luk. 1.75.all the daies of our life; that we now yeeld our ſelues vntounto God, Rom. 6.13.as thoſe that are aliue from the dead, and our memberr as Inſtruments of righteouſneſſe vntounto God—and that we obey from the heart that forme of doctrine which was deliuered vsus, that wee bee renewed in the ſpirit of our mind, …phe… 4.23 24.and that we put on that new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. This, for the particulars of it, may be vnderſtood from the former, by the contrary, and it is, when inſtead of our ſelues, wee can acknowledge God, ſubmit our ſelues in all things to his Soueraigntie Will and Word, conforming our wills to his will, refering all our thoughts, words and actions to his glory; louing and delighting in him aboue all, and walking in and according to the Spirit. So, when we, in the whole courſe of our liues plainely ſhew that we truely, and experimentally,Phil. 3.10. know Chriſt and the power of his reſurrection; and when we, being riſen with Chriſt do ſeek thoſe things which are aboue, Coloſſ. 3.1.2.and ſet our affections thereon: that is, highly eſteeme of them in our iudgements; will, and deſire them in our affections, ſeeke and labour after them in,Par. 2. §. 12 and by our indeauours. But ſeeing the former point giues light to this, as alſo that which followes, we will proceede.
Section 12.
Thirdly, to put on Chriſt as our Sanctification,3. An imitation of Chriſt. is to imitate him, in all his imitable verues and graces; as in his humilitie, patience, meekeneſſe, ſinceritie, and ſimplicity, fewneſſe of words, yet boldneſſe of ſpeech, and ſo, in and according to thoſe generall affections, of louelove and charitie to man, zeale and reſpect to his Fathers glory, in & by which he wrought his Miracles as God, and effected the worke of our ſaluation as our Mediatour, in which particulars themſelues, we neither can, neither ought we ſo much as dare to imitate him. It was one end, though leſſe principall, of our Sauiours Incarnation, that in our fleſh and nature he might giuegive vsus an example, and bee a patterne to vsus how we ought to walke; he in it ſhewed that is not ſimply impoſsible to mans nature to keepe the Law of God perfectly, which power man had before his fall; which howſoeuer we cannot now attaine vntounto, through the weakenes of the fleſh, or rather ſtrength of it in vsus; yet wee are to ſtriue and endeauour our ſelues to the vtmoſt, that we may be conformable to Chriſt both in our doings and ſufferings, both in our obedience Actiue and Paſsiue he by his example ſetting vsus a perfect copy to write by, that we, ſo farre as he pleaſeth to guide our hands and hearts by his ſpirit, might take out thoſe Leſſons, which both by word and worke he hath taught vsus; and where we faile, wee might by faith hauehave recourſe to him, who comming in the likeneſſe of ſinfull fleſh, Rom. 8.3.4.and for ſinne hath condemned ſinne in the fleſh, that the righteouſneſſe of the Law might be fulfilled in vsus, who walke not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit, and after the example of our Sauiour Chriſt.
1 In his ſufferings and humilitie.Seeing then we cannot looke to come to Heauen, but by walking in the ſame way in which Chriſt our Sauiour is gone before vsus; It belongs to vsus if wee would approue our ſelues to bee indeede Chriſtians, and to put on Chriſt, to ſet him before vsus, and to runne with patience the ſame race which is ſet before vsus, and appointed to vsus: Looking vntounto Ieſus the authour and finiſher of our Faith, Heb. 12.1.2.3.who for the ioy that was ſet before him endured the Croſſe, despiſing the ſame, — Conſider him, ſaith the Apoſtle, that indured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelfe, leaſt you bee wearied and faint in your minds. To like purpoſe we are generally called to imitate him, not only in his ſufferings, but in his humilitie, patience, meekeneſſe, obedience, &c. Let the ſame mind ſaith Paul, bee in you, Phil. 2.5.6.7.8.which was alſo in Chriſt Ieſus, who being in the forme of God — made himſelfe of no reputation, and tooke vponupon him the forme of a ſeruant—and humbled himſelfe, and became obedient vntounto the death, euen the death of the Croſſe. Now this he did in louelove to vsus, and for our good and ſaluation; teaching vsus in like louelove and humilitie, to ſubmit our ſelues in all Offices of louelove to Chriſt, and to our fellow-brethren, though in other regards our inferiours; forgetting or laying aſide the conſideration of our greatneſſe, honours, wealth, learning, and ſtooping to their neceſsities, out of that louelove and duty we owe vntounto God & Chriſt. To like purpoſe Peter telleth vsus ſaying,1. Pet. 2.21.22.23. for hereunto are we called; becauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example that wee ſhould follow his ſteps, who did no ſinne, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reuiled, reuiled not againe, when he ſuffered hee threatned not, but committed himſelfe, (or his cauſe) to him that iudgeth righteouſly, &c.
All theſe places ſhew how wee are to imitate Chriſt in his humilitie, patience, and generally in his ſufferings: other places teach vsus to ſet him before vsus,2. In his holineſſe end other vertues. and to cloath our ſelues with his example, in all holineſſe of life, and ſinceare and vnblamable walking with him, after him, and before him as in his preſence. Thus Peter, as obedient children, 1 Pet. 1.14 15.16.faſhion not your ſelues according to the former luſts in your ignorance. But as hee which hath called you is holy, ſo be yee holy in all manner of conuerſation, becauſe it is written, be yee holy, for I am holy. Rom. 13.12 13.14.Euen as Paul, formerly, Let vsus caſt off the workes of darkeneſſe, & let vsus put on the armour of light; Let vsus walke honeſtly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkennes, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, not in ſtrife and enuying, but put yee on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: This one he oppoſeth to all the other, teaching vsus, that to imitate the example of Chriſt, is to hauehave all vertue and grace;Par. 2. §. 13 which therefore he names not particularly, as the nature of the oppoſition betweene vice and vertue required, but includs all in that one, of putting on Chriſt. As yee hauehave therefore, Coloſſ. 2.6.ſaith the ſame Paul, receiued Chriſt Ieſus the Lord, ſo walke yee in him. And ſaith Iohn, hee that ſaith he abideth in him, ought himſelfe alſo ſo to walke, 1 Ioh. 2.6.euen as he walked.
Section. 13.
Out of all which places, wee may obſerue,Inferences hence. beſides the bare example of Chriſt, 1. That wee are called and commanded to imitate it, and to bee holy as he is holy. 2. That his very example is our call, for wee are therefore patiently to ſuffer for wel doing, for euen herevnto were yee called, ſaith Peter, becauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example, &c. 3. That he thus and thus did for vsus, and for our good, ſo that his doing and ſuffering for vsus, carries greater force with it then his bare example, as if wee could not without moſt vile vnthankfulneſſe, but be anſwerable vntounto him in the like affections. 4. That, in regard of his ſufferings, wee ſhould thus ſympathize and partake with him therein;2 Sam. 11.11. as did Vriah with Ioah and the Arke, when they encamped in the open Fields, he would not go home, eate and drinke, and lie with his wife: and as the people with Dauid, when hee flying from Abſolom, 2 Sam. 15.30.went vp Mount Oliuet bare headed and bare-footed, they went ſo alſo. 5. That for our encouragement and ſtrengthning, it is ſafe walking after him when he hath broken the Ice for vsus, and hath gone by the way of the Croſſe before vsus into Heauen, being now ſet downe at the right hand of the throne of God; Heb. 12.2.3.which wee muſt conſider—leaſt elſe we be wearied and faint in our minds. 6. That Chriſt thus doing and ſuffering for vsus, is the efficient cauſe of the like grace in vsus, exciting and ſtirring vsus vp, and inſpiring vsus by his ſpirit in vsus to doe the like. Wherefore, foraſmuch as Chriſt hath ſuffered for vsus in the fleſh, 1 Pet. 4.1.arme your ſelues likewiſe with the ſame mind, &c. ſaith the Apoſtle, and ſay I, if you would bee Chriſtians indeed, conſider well, both what Chriſt did, and with what mind he did it; and ſo farre as you may, doe you likewiſe: Chriſt was a Prophet to teach and inſtruct his Church; bee thou ſo to in knowledge, to teach and inſtruct thy Family, thy Seruants, Wife and Children. Chriſt was a Prieſt, offering himſelfe in ſacrifice for thee, and making interceſsion alſo to God the Father for thee; be thou ſo alſo, by offering thy ſelfe, thine owne carnall reaſon, will, affections, luſts, in ſacrifice to him,Rom. 12.1. &c. by mortifying them; ſo alſo by offering him by thy faith to God the Father, and by giuing him the ſacrifice of thy Prayers and prayſes continually. He was a King and
Par. 2. § 14.
thoughts, our words and actions clothed with him.In and by all the powers and faculties of ſoule. As 1 vnderſtanding. 1 Cor 2.2. Let each facultie and power of ſoule and body thus put him on, that thou mayeſt be ſtraitly knit vntounto him, and become one ſpirit with him.
Let thy vnderſtanding make him eſpecially the obiect of it; and with Paul, determine to know nothing, ſaue Ieſus Chriſt, and him crucified, and what may lead to the knowledge of him. Let him onelyonly be thy wiſdome, who of God is made vntounto vsus wiſedome; that is,1 Cor. 1.30. not onelyonly the Authour, but the obiect of our wiſdome: this is,2 Will, by ſeeking our owne by happineſſe in him. when denying, as is ſaid, our owne reaſon & wiſdom, or worldly, ſenſuall and deuilliſh wiſdome, we ſeeke onelyonly to be wiſe in him. So, whatſoeuer thy will inclines to loues or deſires, let it be God, & Chriſt, or at leaſt, let it bee loued or deſired, not for it ſelfe, but for Chriſt. Place all thine happineſſe in him; hauehave him once, and hauehave all things in him; as, know him, and know all things.Ioh. 17.3. This is life eternall (and ſo all happines) ſaith our Sauiour, that they might know thee the onelyonly true God, and Ieſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent. Which knowledge implies louelove, vponupon an apprehenſion of Chriſt by faith. Doe thou then account that in him, once inioyed by faith, are all things that are or can bee deſired, but in an eminent, excellent, and moſt perfect manner, as all wealth, honour, glory, ſtrength, and pleaſure. All theſe are in God infinitely, not by collection, but in an vnion, and as in a fountaine; yea, God is moſt perfectly all theſe, they being all one in him, yea himſelfe. If then thou wouldeſt hauehave true and ſolid happineſſe, ſeeke it onelyonly by faith, in the true and experimentall knowledge of God in Chriſt. Wouldeſt thou bee rich and want nothing? ſeeke this ſufficiencie and wealth only in and by Chriſt. Wouldeſt thou attaine to true honour and dignitie? ſeeke it onelyonly in Chriſt, and by being a Chriſtian indeed, from God and not from men. Wouldeſt thou be ſtrong and potent? labour to be ſtrong onelyonly in the might of Chriſt, not preſuming on thine owne ſtrength: ſo ſhalt thou with Paul, 2 Cor. 3.5.who of thy ſelfe art not able to thinke any thing as of thy ſelfe, Philip. 4.13yet bee able to doe all things through Chriſt which ſtrēgthneth thee. Deſireſt thou pleaſures, & wouldſt thou be happy therby? ſeeke them only in Chriſt, and deſire not to enioy any pleaſure, but onelyonly in him; and ſo in all things elſe which are deſireable. Yea, on the contrary,3 Memory. hate and deteſt what he hates, and for his ſake. So, let not onelyonly thy Vnderſtanding and Will, with thy Affections, but alſo thy Memorie bee clothed with Chriſt;2 Of body as 1 by the tongue. Epheſ. 4.24. be not vnmindfull of his benefits, eſpecially recall often his death and paſſion, and the benefits thereof; and whatſoeuer elſe thou forget, bee alwayes ſure to remember them. So, let thy words alwayes ſauour Chriſt and the beſt things, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the vſe of edifying, that it may miniſter grace vntounto the hearers. Epheſ. 5.19.20.Speake euer to his praiſe and honour with all thankfulneſſe; not that your tongues only ſhould be tipp'd therewith, but ſpeake to your ſelues in Pſalmes, and Hymnes, & ſpirituall Songs, ſinging and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giuing thankes alwayes for all things vntounto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Chriſt is thine husband,Pſal. 45.1.2 think often of him, and ſpeak of his praiſes. Let thine heart indite a good matter, and then ſpeake of the things which thou haſt made touching the King; and let thy tongue bee the Pen of a ready writer, (ſaying) Thou art fayrer then the children of men, Rom. 6.19.&c. So,1 Cor. 6.15.20. giuegive the members of thy body as ſeruants to righteouſneſſe vntounto holineſſe; Know you not, that your bodies are the members of Chriſt? — for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, 2 Eyes. 3 Eares. &c.which are Gods. Let your Eyes turne away from beholding vanitie, and that onelyonly for God and Chriſt, and becauſe of your couenant made with him; let your eyes enter into the ſame couenant, that with Job, you will not thinke, Iob. 31.1.or looke (luſtfully) vponupon a Mayd. Let your Eares, ſmell, taſte, and touch, enter the ſame couenant with God; and for God, and with reſpect to Chriſt, and your couenant with him, let them alſo forbeare and abſtaine from intertaining euill words & reports, from laſciuious & too delicate ſauours, abuſe of meat and drinke through exceſſe and intemperancie, whether in reſpect of quantitie, or qualitie, through curioſitie; and from Venerious and luſtfull touches, and generally from ſinne.
And that conſtantly and daily.Thus doe conſtantly and eueryevery day; In the morning when thou firſt breakeſt thy ſleepe, bee ſure thou awaken with God & Chriſt; dart vp ſome ſhort ejaculation at leaſt vntounto him,Par. 2. §. 15 & lift vp thy heart and ſoule vntounto him; ſee thy ſelfe incloſed in the armes of his gracious prouidence, commend thy ſelfe to it ſtill, reſt thy ſelfe vponupon him, if thou ſleepeſt againe. And when thou riſeſt, thinke of thy reſurrection out of the graue at the laſt day by his power. When thou clotheſt thy ſelfe, think alſo of putting on thy Sauiour, put him on with thy clothes. Conſider, thou now layſt aſide thy night-clothes, which are more homely, and putteſt on ſuch apparell as will keepe thee warme, & arme thee againſt the iniuries of the weather, and of the way; and becauſe thou goeſt abroad into open view, thou putteſt on, not ſoule or torne apparell, but whole, cleane, and neate clothing. Let this put thee in mind of Chriſt, and of thy ſtraight vnion with him, and that thou, by godly meditation, reading, and more ſolemne prayer, arme thy ſelfe againſt the dangers of the day, that thou goe not out, as not in body, ſo not in ſoule, naked or vnfenced; but that thou by daily repentance repayre the breaches in thy ſoule and conſcience by daily ſinne; waſh thy ſoule as thy face, in the teares of true repentance, as knowing thy ſoule and life ſtands as well, if not more, in neede of cloathing, waſhing, mending, as doth thy body and apparell. Thus goe out and anſwerably, and according to the former directions, carry thy ſelfe all the day, doing all things in the name of Chriſt,Coloſſ. 3.17 and to his glory: Whatſoeuer yee doe in word or deed, doe all in the name of the Lord Ieſus, giuing thankes to God and the Father, by him—.Hauing once put on Chirſt, what is then to be done?
Section. 15.
And here remember, that hauing once put on Chriſt, as wee all of vsus profeſſe our ſelues to doe that are baptized, wee firſt, ſee that we more and more put him on,1. Grow in grace. by increaſing in all grace, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt: 2 Pet. 3.18.which is done by exerciſing of grace receiued, and imploying it to beſt aduantage; for thus wee hold faſt our garment, and gird it more & cloſer to vsus.
2.2. Defile not this garment by ſcandalous ſinnes. That wee take heede we defile not this garment by ſinne, wee hauehave taken on vsus a precious name, the name of Chriſt; let vsus therefore take heed we diſhonour not that precious name by which wee are called, leaſt Chriſt and religious Profeſsion, be made only a cloake to couer our ſin from men. If a man carry glaſſes or any precious thing that may be indangered by a fall, hee will looke warily to his ſteppes; euen ſo ſhould we, leaſt Gods honour fall to the ground by vsus. Many ſtand ſo much vponupon the bare name of a Gentleman, that they are very carefull to do nothing which may ſtaine that name, their reputation and gentilitie. And ſhall not we be more carefull,Par. 2. §. 5 that Gods name, which is vponupon vsus, bee not diſhonoured, by others and our ſelues? take heed: for if hee that takes the name of God, though but into his mouth,Exod. 20.7. in vaine, ſhall not be holden guiltleſſe, how much leſſe we, that beare and weare it vponupon vsus continually? take heede then of defiling this thy garment, or of ſtayning thy profeſsion, by ſcandalous ſinnes;Eccleſ. 9.8. Let thy garments be alwaies white, and looke to cleanneſſe of heart and hand, to vprightneſſe and ſincerity in all thy waies; there is great reward belongs to ſuch; Thou haſt a few names, Reu. 3.4.5.ſaith Chriſt to the Church of Sardis, which hauehave not defiled their garments, and they ſhall walke with me in white, for they are worthy: He that ouercommeth, the ſame ſhall be cloathed in white rayment, &c. the contrary ſhall bee found in others: of many we may ſay, that in regard of their often falls and relapſes after a ſeeming repentance and profeſsion,Par. 2. §. 15 their garments are at the beſt, but like a Beggers Cloake, all patched: the beſt I know, though like a neat and well clad man walking in miry and durty ſtreets, he chuſe his ſteppes, and walke warily, yet hee cannot auoid ſome ſpots and beſprincklings; yet his care is preſently to wipe them off, and rub them out by repentance. This is the beſt remedy in ſuch caſes: yet ſuch blotts ſhould carefully be auoided, as knowing that the leaſt ſinne and folly in a Profeſſor,Eccleſ. 10.1 is a great blemiſh to his profeſsion, the rather conſidering this our garment is of fine white linnen, Reuel. 19.8.which therefore makes any ſtaine or blemiſh more conſpicuous to the eye.