Looking Unto Jesus, Book 7 · Chapter 2 · Section 4
SECT. IV. Of hoping in Jeſus in that reſpect.
LEt us hope in Jeſus, as carrying on the great work of our ſalvation for us in his reſurrection. Only remember, I mean not a fluctuating, wavering, unſetled, uneſtabliſhed hope; no, no, let us hope firmly, ſurely, fixedly; let us come up to that plerophory, or full aſſurance of hope; that we may conclude comfortably, and confidently, Chriſts reſurrection is ours; and yet that our concluſion may not be raſh, but upon right grounds, we may examine the firmneſs, ſolidneſs, ſubſtantialneſs of our hope in Chriſts reſurrection by theſe following ſigns.
1. If Chriſts reſurrection be mine, then is Chriſts death mine; the fruits or effects of Chriſts death and reſurrection cannot be ſevered; if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his death, Rom. 6.5.we ſhall be in the likeneſs of his reſurrection. Mortification, and vivification, are twins of one and the ſame ſpirit; depart from evil and do good.— Ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well. Many may think they have their part in the firſt reſurrection,Pſal. 34.14. Iſa. 1.16, 17. but can they prove their death unto ſin? as there cannot be a reſurrection before a man dye, ſo there cannot be a reſurrection to a new life, but there muſt be a ſeparation of the ſoul from the body of ſin; what, ſhall a man cleave to ſin, be wedded to ſin; yea ſhall a man like it, love it, live in it, and yet ſay or imagine that Chriſts reſurrection is his? O be not deceived, God is not mocked! come, ſcearch, try, examine, haſt thou any ſhare in Chriſts paſſion? knoweſt thou the fellowſhip of his ſufferings? art thou made conformable to his death, that as he dyed for ſin; ſo thou dyeſt to ſin? if herein thou art at a ſtand, peruſe thoſe Characters laid down in his ſufferings and death, the truth and growth of our mortification, or of our death unto ſin is diſcovered before.
2. If Chriſts reſurrection be mine, then is Chriſt's Spirit mine, yea then am I quickened by the Spirit of Chriſt. Rom. 8.9, 11.If any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his:—but if the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you, then he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodyes (and I may add your mortal ſouls) by his ſpirit that dwelleth in you. Chriſts Spirit (if Chriſts reſurrection be ours) will have the ſame operation and effect in our ſouls that it had in his body; as it raiſed up the one, ſo it will raiſe up the other; as it quickened the one, ſo it will quicken the other. But the queſtion here will run on, how ſhall we know whether we have received this quickning Spirit? many pretend to the Spirit never more than at this day, but how may we be aſſured that the Spirit is ours? I anſwer.—
1. The Spirit is a Spirit of illumination; here is the beginning of his work, he begins in light; as in the firſt creation, the firſt-born of God's works, was light,Gen. 1.3. God ſaid, let there be light, and there was light; ſo in this new creation, the firſt work is light, God who commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſs hath ſhined into our hearts, 2 Cor. 4.6.to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. Hence the ſtate of nature is called darkneſs, and the ſtate of grace is called light; Ye were ſometimes darkneſs, but now ye have light in the Lord. Eph. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.9.And he hath called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light. There is a light in the mind, and a light in the heart, of thoſe who have the Spirit of Chriſt; there is a ſpeculative and an affective knowledg, not only to know the truth, but to love it, believe it, embrace it. O my ſoul, wouldſt thou know whether Chriſts Spirit be thine? conſider, and ſee then whether any of this new light of Jeſus Chriſt hath ſhined into thy heart; take heed, deceive not thy ſelf, thou mayeſt have a great deal of wit, and knowledg, and underſtanding, and yet go to hell; this light is a light ſhining into thy heart, this light is a Chriſt-diſcovering light; this light is a ſin-diſcoverings light; this light will cauſe thee to find out thy hypocriſy, deadneſs, dulneſs in ſpiritual duties; if thou haſt not this light thou art near to eternal burnings; darkneſs is one of the properties of hell, and without this light, inward darkneſs will to utter darkneſs, where is nothing but weeping and wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth.
2. This quickening ſpirit, is a ſpirit of faith; as it reveals Chriſt, ſo it inclines mens hearts to cloſe with Chriſt upon thoſe Goſpel-terms, as he is offered. I know there are degrees and meaſures of faith, but the leaſt meaſure of faith is a deſiring, panting, breathing after the Lord Jeſus; and no ſooner hath the ſoul received that new light from the ſpirit of Chriſt, but it is preſently, at the ſame inſtant, exceedingly affected with Jeſus Chriſt; O it deſires Chriſt above all deſires. I know not a more undeceiving ſign than this; read over the whole Bible, and where ever there was any ſoul-ſaving diſcoveries, there ever followed inward deſires, ſoul-longings after Jeſus Chriſt; when Paul preached of the reſurrection of Chriſt, ſome there were that mocked, jeered, and ſlighted that doctrine, but others (whoſe heart the Lord ſtirred) they were exceedingly taken with it ſaying we will hear thee again of this matter; yea, & this very Sermon ſo wrought on ſome that they believed, among whom was Dyonyſius the Areopagite, & a woman named Damaris, and others with them; Acts 17.32, 34.and when he preaced another Sermon on the ſame ſubject at Antioch, the Jews were much offended, but the Gentiles were ſo exceedingly taken with it that they beſought Paul, that theſe words (the very ſame reſurrection Sermon) might be preached to them the next Sabbath day. Their very hearts did ſo long after Chriſt whom Paul had preached, that when the congregation was broken up, Acts 13.42,many of the Jews and religious Procelites followed Paul and Barnabas; and the next Sabbath day came almoſt the whole City together to hear the ſame Sermon. O my ſoul,43. doſt thou hear theſe Sermons of Chriſts reſurrection; doſt thou hear ſweet-Goſpel-preaching?44. doſt thou hear the free tenders and offers of Chriſt; with all his glory and excellency to poor ſinners, to vile, loſt, undone ſouls, and art thou no whit taken with them? canſt thou ſleep away ſuch Sermons as theſe? haſt thou no heart-riſings, no ſtirrings, workings, longings, deſires in thy ſoul? O take heed! this is a dangerous caſe: but on the contrary, if thou ſayeſt in thy heart, Oh that I could hear this Sermon again! O the ſweet vertues of Chriſts reſurrection! I had not thought ſuch honey could have dropped out of this rock; O the bleſſed beginnings and ſpringings of grace which I felt in my ſoul on ſuch a meditation! Oh the deſire, the delight! O the longings! O the comforts of Chriſts reſurrection! O the drawings of the Spirit, inclining my heart to receive Jeſus Chriſt, to cloſe with him, and to reſt on him, and to give up my ſelf to him! why this Spirit of faith doth argue thy title and intereſt to the quickening ſpirit of Chriſt.
3. Thy quickening Spirit, is a Spirit of ſanctification; ſuch was the Spirit, whereby Chriſt was raiſed, he was declared mightily to be the Son of God, Rom. 1.4.according to the Spirit of ſanctification, by the reſurrection from the dead. That ſame Spirit which raiſed up Jeſus Chriſt, was that ſame divine Spirit which ſanctified his humane nature wherein it dwelt; and ſuch is that quickening Spirit to all in whom it dwelleth; it is a Spirit of holineſs, and it works holineſs, changing the heart, and turning the bent of it from ſin to holineſs.2 Cor. 5.17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature; old things are paſſed away, behold all things are become new. q. d. When once the believer is by an act of faith paſſed over unto Chriſt, there goes immediately from the Spirit of Chriſt into his ſoul an effectual power, which alters and changes the frame of the whole man; now he is not the ſame that he was; he is changed in his company, in his diſcourſe, in his practiſe; he is changed in his nature, judgment, will, affections; he is ſanctified throughout in ſoul, body, and Spirit; O my ſoul, try thy ſelf by this ſign, doſt thou find ſuch an inward change wrought in the ſoul? doſt thou find the law of God, a law of holineſs written on thy hearr? doſt thou find a law within thee contrary to the law of ſin, commanding with authority that which is holy and good? ſo that thou canſt ſay with the Apoſtle, I delight in the law of God after the inward man? Rom. 7.23, 25. Rom. 8.1.and with my mind I my ſelf ſerve the law of God? if ſo, ſurely this is no other, but the law of the ſpirit of life in Jeſus Chriſt; or the law of this quickening Spirit, communicated from Chriſt, unto thy ſoul.
3. If Chriſt's reſurrection be mine, then am I planted together in the likneſs of Chriſt's reſurrection; then do I reſemble, and am made conformable to Chriſt in his reſurrection; now if we would know wherein that reſemblance is, the Apoſtle tells us, that like as Chriſt was riſed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, Rom. 6.5.even ſo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life. Our mortification is a reſemblance of Chriſt's death, and our vivification is a reſemblance of Chriſts reſurrection. In this ground of our hope concerning our intereſt in the reſurrection of Chriſt, I ſhall propound theſe queſtions. —
Rom. 6.4.1. Whether indeed and in truth our ſouls are vivified?
2. Whether we increaſe and grow in our vivification?
For the firſt, the truth and certainty of our vivification will appear by theſe rules.—
1. True vivification is general, both in reſpect of us, and in reſpect of Grace.
1. In reſpect of us, it is diffuſed throughout the whole man; the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly (ſaith the Apoſtle) and I pray God that your whole ſpirit, 1 Theſ. 5.23.ſoul, and body may be preſerved blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And. 2. In reſpect of Grace, it is in every Grace; I know it is a queſtion, whether all Graces are ſo connexed and chained together, that poſſible they cannot be ſevered? but I ſuppoſe it is truly anſwered, that in reſpect of habit they cannot be ſevered, though in reſpect of the act or exerciſe they may be ſevered; ſome Graces are more radical than others, as faith and love, and therefore they firſt appear; but as a man lives firſt the life of a plant, then of ſenſe, then of reaſon, though all were radically there at firſt; ſo it is in graces; experience tells us that ſome Chriſtians are eminent in ſome graces; and ſome in other graces; ſome have more love, and ſome more knowledg, and ſome more patience, and ſome more ſelf-denial; but all that are true Chriſtians have each of theſe graces in ſome meaſure or other; or at leaſt they have them in habit, though not in the act; if vivication be true, there is a whole work of grace both in heart and life; as the light in the ayre runs through the whole hemiſphere, ſo the whole work of grace runs through, and is diffuſed through the whole man, ſoul, body, and ſpirit. O my ſoul, this may put thee to thy ſtudy, becauſe of the ſeveral conſtitutions or tempers of graces; thou mayeſt find this or that grace, this or that image of Chriſt clearly ſtampt on thy heart; but thou canſt not find ſuch and ſuch graces; in this caſe, fear not, for if in truth and ſincerity thou haſt but one grace, thou haſt the whole chaine of graces. But to ſpeak to ſome graces in particular.
Gal. 2.20.2. True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle of Faith. The life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God. They are the words of a man purſued by the law unto Chriſt; Paul ſeeing he was dead by the law, he ſpeaks for a better husband; the law finds him dead, and leaves him dead, Nevertheleſs I live (ſaith Paul) what means he? a natural life? why ſo? he lived before now; no, no, it is a better life than a natural life; ſuch a life is no contentment to a ſoul purſued by the law; very heathens and infidels have ſuch a life, and in that reſpect are as happy as the beſt of Saints; Paul's life is a ſpiritual life, and the Spring of his life is the Son of God; Jeſus Chriſt is eſſcentially, radically, fundamentally life it ſelf, and by his incarnation, paſſion, reſurrection, he is life for his Saints; they live by him, and in him, and for him, and through him; he is the heart and liver of their Spiritual life. But as from the heart and liver there muſt be arteryes, and vains for maintenance of life and conveyance of blood throughout all the body; ſo from Chriſt there muſt be ſome conveyance to bring this to life unto us, and this is by faith; I live by the faith of the Son of God. O my ſoul, doſt thou live this life of faith on the Son of God? canſt thou make uſe of Chriſt in every ſtate, and in every condition? As for inſtance; in thy particular calling, doſt thou look to Chriſt for wiſdome, ſucceſs, bleſſing, ability? doſt thou ſay, if I have ill ſucceſs, I will yet go to Chriſt; it is he that ſet me here, and it is he will enable me? in caſe of proviſion, doſt thou run to Chriſt, and doſt thou hang upon him for all things needful? doſt thou ſay; If I want means, God will create means; he commands all means, and he can ſuddenly do whatſoever he will? In caſe of protection, doſt thou look unto Jeſus to be thy ſhield and protector? doſt thou mind the word of God to Abraham, Fear not Abraham, for I am God all-ſufficient, Gen. 15.1.thy buckler and thy exceeding great reward? In caſe of thy Children, goeſt thou to Chriſt, ſaying, Are not my Children thy Children, and wilt thou not provide for thy own? it is true, thou muſt do what thou canſt, but for the reſt, deſpair not; caſt thy burthen upon him, who hath commanded thee in nothing to be careful, Phil. 4.6. Phil. 27.10.but in all things to make thy ſuits known with prayer and ſupplication; when my Father and Mother forſake me, God will take me up, ſaith David. He is a Father to the Fatherleſs, he provided for them in the womb, he provided breſts for them ere they ſaw the Sun, and therefore how ſhould he but have care, and compaſſion over thy Children? in caſe of proſperity, doſt thou ſee Chriſt's love in that ſtate? doſt thou ſet him in the firſt place, receiving all, and joyning in all as coming from him? is this it that makes thy proſperity ſweet, becauſe, thou knoweſt and believeſt that thy ſins are pardoned? otherwiſe what is thy ſilver, and gold, ſo long as thy pardon is not ſealed in the blood of Jeſus Chriſt? if a priſoner condemned to dye ſhould abound in all outward plenty, what comfort could he have, ſo long as his pardon were not ſealed? it is the life of faith that ſweetens proſperity; who are better Chriſtians than they! who know they enjoy theſe things with God's favour and bleſſing; faith ſees Gods love in all, and ſo is abundantly thankful; faith makes a man to eat, and drink, and ſleep, and to do all in Chriſt; as it coſt Chriſt dear to purchaſe our liberty to the creatures, ſo faith ever ſets Chriſt in the firſt place; it receives all as coming from him, it returns all as to the glory of him: in caſe of diſgrace, doſt thou commit thy credit to Jeſus Chriſt? doſt thou look up to Jeſus, and deſireſt no more good name, repute, or honour than Chriſt will afford thee? or in caſe of death, doſt thou like Stephen reſign up thy ſoul to Chriſt? doſt thou ſee death conquered in the reſurrection of Chriſt? doſt thou look beyond death? doſt thou over-eye all things betwixt thee and glory? O the ſweet of this life of faith on the Son of God! if thou knoweſt what this means, then mayſt thou aſſure thy ſelf of thy vivification.
3. True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle of hope of glory. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4.which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in heaven for you. By Chriſts reſurrection we have a lively hope for our reſurrection unto glory; is not Chriſt our head? and if he be riſen to glory,John 18.22. ſhall not his members follow after him? certainly there is but one life, one Spirit, one glory of Chriſt and his members; The glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given unto them ſaid Chriſt. The ſoul that is vivified hath a lively hope of glory on ſeveral grounds. As, 1. Becauſe of the promiſes of glory ſet down in the word; now on theſe promiſes hope faſtens her anchor; if Chriſt hath promiſed, how ſhould I but maintain lively hope? 2. Becauſe of the firſt-fruits of the Spirit; there are ſometimes fore taſts of the glory, drops of heaven poured into a ſoul; whence it comfortably concludes, if I have the earneſt and firſt-fruits, ſurely in his time Jeſus Chriſt will give the harveſt. 3. Becauſe of Chriſts reſurrection unto glory; now he roſe as a common Perſon, and he went up into heaven as a common Perſon; whence hope is lively, ſaying, why ſhould I doubt, or deſpair, ſeeing, I am quickened together with Chriſt, Eph. 2.5, 6.and raiſed up together with Chriſt, and am made to ſit together with Chriſt, in heavenly places? Try, O my ſoul, by this ſign: Art thou lively in the hope of glory? doth thy heart leap and rejoyce within at a thought of thy inheritance in heaven? in a lively fountain the waters thereof will leap and ſparkle; ſo if thy hope be lively, thou wilt have living joys, living ſpeeches, living delights; amidſt all thy afflictions thou wilt ſay, theſe will not endure for ever; I my ſelf ſhall away ere long, Glory will come at laſt. O the ſweet of this life of hope! if thou feeleſt theſe ſtirrings it is an argument of thy vivification.
4. True vivification acts all its dutyes upon a new principle of love to Chriſt; men not enlivened by Jeſus Chriſt may do much, and go far in outward ſervice, yea they may come to ſufferings, and yet without love to Chriſt all is loſt, all comes to nothing.1 Cor. 13.1. Though I ſpeak with tongues of men and Angels—though I have the gift of Propheſie, and underſtand all myſteries, and all knowledg, —though I beſtow all my goods to feed the poor; Ver. 2.3.and though I give my body to be burnt, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. All the reſt may be from the fleſh, and for the fleſh, and fleſhly ends; but a true Goſpel-love is from Chriſt, and tends to the Glory of Chriſt: For Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4.7.But how may we know that all our actings are out of love to Jeſus Chriſt? I anſwer.—
1. If we act by the rule of Chriſt. If ye love me keep my commandements.— He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them, 1 John 14.15, 21.23, 24.he it is that loveth me.— If any man love me, he will keep my commandements. He that loves Chriſt, he will look upon every act, every ſervice, every performance, whether it be according to the rule of Chriſt, and then on he goes with it.
2. If we act to the honour of Chriſt. We may pray, and hear, and preach, and act ſelf more then the honour of Jeſus Chriſt; whiles Chriſt ſhewed miracles, and fed his followers to the full, they cryed up Jeſus, and none like Jeſus; but when Chriſt was plain with them, ye ſeek me, not becauſe ye ſaw the miracles, but becauſe ye did eat of the loaves, John 6.26. Ver. 66.and were filled; when he preſſed ſincerity upon them, and preparation for ſufferings, from that time many of his Diſciples went back, and walked no more with him. Its no news for men to fall off when their ends fail; only they that love Chriſt look not at theſe outward things in reſpect of the honour of Jeſus Chriſt; and hence it is that in all their actings they will carry on the deſign of the Father in advancing the honour of the Son, whatever it coſt them. O my ſoul apply this to thy ſelf; if thou liveſt the life of love, if in all thy actings, duties, ſervices, thou art carried on with a principle of love to Jeſus Chriſt, it is a ſure ſign of thy vivification.
For the ſecond queſtion, whether we increaſe and grow in our vivification? we may diſcover it thus.—
1. We grow, when we are led on to the exerciſe of new Graces; this the Apoſtle calls adding of one Grace unto another:1 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7. add to your faith vertue, and to vertue knowledg, and to knowledg temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience Godlineſs, and to Godlineſs brotherly kindneſs, and to brotherly kindneſs charity. At firſt a Chriſtian doth not exerciſe all Graces, though habitually all Graces may be planted in him, yet the exerciſe of them is not all at once, but by degrees. Thus the Church tells Chriſt, at our Gates are all manner of pleaſant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved; Cant. 7.13.ſhe had all manner of fruits which ſhe had reſerved for Chriſt; new and old: ſhe had young converts, and more ſeetled profeſſors; or ſhe had new and old Graces, as others; ſhe added Grace to Grace, ſhe was led on from the exerciſe of one Grace, unto another new Grace: As wicked men are led on from one ſin to another, and ſo grow worſe and worſe; ſo godly men are led from one Grace to another;Rom. 5.3, 4. and ſo they increaſe, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.
2. We grow, when we find new degrees of the ſame Grace added; as when love grows more fervent, when knowledg abounds, and hath a larger apprehenſion of ſpiritual things; when faith goes on from mans caſting himſelf on Chriſt, to find ſweetneſs in Chriſt; and ſo to plerophory, or full aſſurance of faith: when Godly ſorrow proceeds from mourning for ſin, as contrary to Gods holineſs; to mourn for it, is as contrary to him who loves us; which uſually follows after aſſurance; when obedience enlargeth its bounds,Rev. 2.16. and we abound more and more in the work of the Lord. I know thy works (ſaid Chriſt to the Church of Thyatyra) I know thy works, and the laſt to be more than the firſt.
3. We grow when the fruits and duties we perform grow more ripe, more ſpiritual, and more to the honour of Chriſt: it may be we pray not more, nor longer than ſometimes we uſed; it may be our prayers have not more wit, or memory, than ſometimes they had; yet they are more ſavory, more ſpiritual, and more to Chriſt's honour than ſometimes they were: Now we muſt know that one ſhort prayer put up in faith, with a broken heart, and ayming at the honour of Chriſt, argues more of growth in grace, than prayers of a day long, and never ſo eloquent, without the like qualifications. In every duty we ſhould look at their ends, and ayms; for if we debaſe our ſelves in the ſenſe of our own vileneſs, and emptineſs, and inability; and if we aym at God's honour, and power, and praiſe, and glory, it is a good ſign of growth; we call this ſpiritual part of duty, when it is from God, and through God, and to God.
4. We grow when we are more rooted in Chriſt; ſo the Apoſtle deſcribes it,Eph. 4.15. a growing up unto him in all things. This is Scripture phraſe; growth of grace is uſually expreſſed by growing into Chriſt, but now in grace, and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. As if to grow in grace without him, were nothing, as indeed it is not.2 Pet. 3.18. Philoſophers, moral men, and others, may grow in vertues, but not in Chriſt. Come then, ſearch, and try whether we are more rooted in Chriſt: when a young plant is new ſet, the roots are a ſmall depth in the earth, one may pull them up with his hand; but as the tree ſhooteth up in height, ſo it ſtrikes the root deep and deeper downward, that no force can move it; ſo it is with us, we have not for degree ſo firm and near a conjunction with Chriſt, at our firſt union; but the more we live with him, like good trees ſpreading in the ſight of all men, and bringing forth the fruits of righteouſneſs, the more we come to root downwards by a more firm faith, and firm confidence. Our union is anſwerable to that which uniteth us; now at the firſt, faith is but weak, like a ſmoaking wick, or a poor bruiſed reed; but whiles faith is drawing the Spirit away from Chriſt, the more it exerciſeth, the more it is ſtrengthened; even as in babes, their powers every day, at firſt are feeble; but the more they feed and exerciſe, by ſo much the more they put forth their ſtrength in all their operations: time was, that Peters faith was ſo weak, that at the voice of a Damoſel, Peter was ſhaken; but by walking, while in Chriſt he was ſo rooted, that neither threatnings, whippings, impriſonment, conventings before great powers, nor any other thing could ſhake him: you may object, if we are not at firſt rooted in Chriſt, a weak faith may be quite overthrown; we may then fall away; true, if we be not rooted in any manner; but this we are at our firſt ſetting into Chriſt by faith; only this I ſpeak of is of an higher degree of rooting, which doth not only ſhut out falling away, but very ſhaking and tottering, in a good meaſure: ſurely this is not the ſtate of every believer; no, no, it is only the condition of ſuch, who have long walked in Chriſt, and are grown in grace, holineſs, vivification.
O my ſoul, try now the growth of vivification by theſe few ſigns; art thou led on to the exerciſes of new graces, adding grace to grace? doſt thou find new degrees of the ſelf ſame grace? is thy love more hot, thy faith more firm? all thy boughs more laden and filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs? are all thy dutyes more ſpiritual? are thy ends more raiſed to ayme at God, to ſanctifie him, and to debaſe thy ſelf? art thou more rooted in Chriſt? in all thy dutyes, graces and gracious actings; haſt thou learnt habitual to ſay, I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me? doſt thou intereſt Chriſt more and more in all thou doſt? doſt thou know and affect Chriſt more and more? Oh when would an ambitious courtier be weary of being graced by his Prince? when would a worlding be weary of having the world come in upon him? why ſhouldſt thou O my ſoul be weary of inſinuating thy ſelf by faith and affection into Chriſt; come, ſcearch, try; it may be little winds have formerly ſhaken thee, but ſo it is, that inſencibly, and thou knoweſt not how, thy root is ſtruck lower and lower into Chriſt; and now thou art not ſo ſoon ſhaken with every wind; ſurely thy hope is well grounded; thou haſt a part in Chriſts reſurrection; it is thine, even thine.