The Best Treasure, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Containing an uſe of Examination; Characters of ſuch as have an intereſt in Chriſt, and in all thoſe glorious treaſures.
CHriſtians; you that have hopes of an Intereſt in theſe treaſures of Chriſt: clear up your title: Be ſure your claim be good: Reſt not till you can have your evidences of Chriſt paſt diſpute, to make the matter plain and certain to you; that you are Chriſts, and Chriſt is yours: Adventure not at all your hopes of ſuch great and glorious things upon uncertainties: if you miſs and fail in your propriety to this Eſtate, you are undone for ever: There's no repairing the loſs of Chriſt when you come to dye: All your after-wit cannot mend this bad bargain when time is paſt: If you build upon the ſand, till the building time be over, you will have an Eternitie to repent your folly: there's no room for another adventure when the door of Heaven is ſhut: If you have too careleſly, and groundleſly laid your hopes of Chriſt, and Glorie, and and ſo are ſecure till the time be paſt, you can no more make tryal of a better building: O how great will the fa…l of miſtaken hopes be at laſt; when the Hypocrite ſhall ſay too late, wo is me, I am deceived! all my hopes for Heaven have Proved a Lye; I did ſuppoſe my title was good, and others thought ſo too: I could tell of Experiences, and dreamt of cloſing with Chriſt; I have had my Convictions, Deſires, Taſtes, Affections, Parts, Priviledges, and high hopes of Glory: But alas, now I ſee my building is upon the ſand; wo to me, all muſt down again! I have run in vain, and now I muſt ſit down in ſorrow to all eternity. O lamentable! when time is gone to come to ſuch a paſs: And ſurely this will be thy caſe whoever thou art that haſt not ſure grounds of thy intereſt in Chriſt: Therefore, Chriſtians, take not up upon probable hopes, but put it out of doubt that Chriſt is yours, and this ſtate is yours.
Queſt. But, ſaies the Soul, I confeſs it will be ſad and doleful to hear of theſe excellent treaſures, and miſs of all at laſt: But how might I do to be ſatisfied in this matter, to know that Chriſt is mine, and his Riches mine?
For the reſolution of this Caſe I ſhall ſpeak to four things.
1. How and in what manner a title to Chriſt and thoſe glorious treaſures are to be obtained.
2. Who they are that do obtain them.
3. What is requiſite towards the obtaining of them.
4. What are the certain and ſpecifical fruits and effects of ſuch an obtaining.
1. How or in what manner may the ſoul come to have a Right to Chriſt?
Anſw. There are three uſual ways by which perſons obtain a Title to a thing: 1. By Birth 2. By Purchaſe, 3. By Gift.
Firſt, By Birth: On this a natural Relation is founded: A Child comes to have a right to his Fathers Inheritance by Birth. This way the Bleſſing and Birth-right fell to the Firſt-born: So Eſau had his Title to the Birth-right and Bleſſing could he have kept it, Gen. 27. 32. So Manaſſeh had a right to the Bleſſing, becauſe he was the Firſt-born, Gen. 48. 18.
Secondly, Another way of obtaining a Title to a thing is by Purchaſe: So Jeremiah bought a Field, Jer. 32. 25, Thus men get a Title to Eſtates by Purchaſe, when they part with a conſiderable value for them.
Thirdly, Another way of Right to a thing is by Gift and Adoption: So Jacob came to an Eſtate in the Land of Goſhen, and Joſeph to the Government of Egypt, and Moſes the Son-in-Law to Pharaoh, by gift and Adoption: Theſe are the three uſual ways by which an intereſt is obtained. By the firſt of theſe man can lay no claim to an intereſt in Chriſt: By Birth we are Children of wrath, Eph. 2. 3. By Purchaſe man can never get a claim to Chriſt: There's no buying this Pearl of price. Therefore a Title to Chriſt muſt come the laſt way, by Gift. Faln man having loſt his firſt Eſtate, with all right to life, and capacity to regain it, by fulfilling the terms in order to it, it muſt needs follow, that now if ever he obtain life again it muſt be on a new account, even of Grace. The breach of the firſt Covenant forfeited all, and bound over the Offender to death and damnation, till which penalty be removed (which loſt man could never do) there cannot poſſibly be any purchaſe made of new life and Salvation. Rom. 5. 12. Sin hath paſſed over all men, and Death by Sin for that all Men have ſinned, and by this fall all power of doing good is loſt. Rom, 7. 18. So that now of neceſſity there muſt be a change of the firſt term on which life was to be had, there being no poſſibility in loſt man to fulfill them, and if ever Salvation comes it muſt be by grace Eph. 2. 7. and gift: The new Covenant gives out all his mercies freely, Rev. 21. 7. There's no place for creature worth and merit in order to Salvation under the Goſpel; he that will be ſaved muſt accept it as a gift: That's the firſt, the way of obtaining Chriſt: He is the Fathers gift, and his own gift. Gal. 2. 20. God gives Chriſt to whom he pleaſeth, not for any diſtinguiſhing worth in the Creature, but from the good pleaſure of his will. Eph. 1. 11.
2. Who are they that obtain Chriſt, and Salvation by him?
Anſw. It is they that come to, and receive Chriſt by Faith. Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God: Chriſt is offerd in the Goſpel by grace, and is received by faith, the acceptance as offer'd of God is that which intereſts the Soul in him; This is called a comming to Chriſt, Mat. 11. 28. A letting Chriſt into the heart, Eph. 3. 17. A believing in him, 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believes in the Son of God hath the witneſs in himſelf: That is the witneſs of right to Chriſt and life. ver. 11. And this is the record God hath given us, Life Eternall; and all this in his Son: For where a gift is freely tendred to all that will receive it, there needs nothing to make that Perſon fit for that gift, but accepting the offer as tenderd to him: Neither doth this acceptance make a Perſon worthy of the gift, but fulfills the terms in order to an Intereſt in it: If a ſum of money be offered to a poor man, and he is called to receive it, this receiving doth not merit it, but appropriate it: So that the Perſons to whom Chriſt is tenderd is to ſinners, to all ſinners, to the chiefeſt of Sinners. 1 Tim. 1. 15. And to every one of them, Iſa. 55. 1. Ioh. 7. 37. And the terms on which he is held out is freel… without money, and without price, and nothing is required to entitle them to this glorious gift, but their receiving it as tendred.
3. What is neceſſary to the obtaining of Chriſt, and and ſo of thoſe glorious Treaſures in him? Without which Perſons cannot, will not, come to him?
Anſw. There are prerequiſites to the Souls obtaining of Chriſt: Though they do not merit Chriſt, yet are neceſſary to the receiving of him.
Firſt, That the Sinner be brought to ſee his abſolute need of Chriſt, and his everlaſting undoneneſs without him: This courſe the Spirit of God took with Laodicea. Rev. 3. 17. And with thoſe Jews, Acts 2. 23, 36. Opens to them their curſed damning Sin, and wretched ſtate by reaſon of ſin, that their hearts might be pricked and wounded. So the Jaylour was this way prepared for Chriſt. Acts 16. 30. He was made to ſee his doleful ſtate. Thus the Law is School-Maſter to bring to Chriſt. Gal 3. 24. To beat and wound the ſinner that he may ſee his need of a healing Jeſus: Thus the Spirit is promiſed to convince the World of ſin, Righteouſneſs, and Judgment. Joh. 16. 8. And ſo did God deal with the unconverted under the Goſpel. 1 Cor. 14. 25.
Secondly, Another requiſit to the Souls getting this title to Chriſt is this, that there be a knowledge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; his ſutableneſs and ſufficiency to ſave, his grace, and real willingneſs to heal, and cure all that come to him, Heb. 11. 6. hence, Eternal Life is ſaid to lie in the knowledge of Chriſt, Joh. 17. 3. that is, in the knowledge of his ſufficiencie, and willingneſs to ſave: therefore when Paul came to obtain Chriſt in order to it, ſays he: It pleaſed God to reveal his Son in me, Gal. 1. 15, 16. True faith carries knowledge with it: Faith is not hoodwinkt and blind, but hath his diſcerning: By faith we come to underſtand: hence the Goſpel is to be preached to every Creature; what is the Goſpel but the opening of Jeſus Chriſt, his ſufficiencie, and willingneſs to ſave ſinners; while perſons lie in a ſtate of ignorance, they cannot come to have a true title to Jeſus Chriſt.
Thirdly, 'Tis neceſſary that the Soul ſee the worth and excellency of Chriſt to ſatisfie: That were there no Heaven at the end; yet Chriſt himſelf were Heaven enough: So Paul ſaw an excellencie in Chriſt, Phil. 3. 8. And the Apoſtles alſo, Joh. 1. 14. The Soul that comes to Chriſt, muſt ſee him to be the chiefeſt of ten thouſand; the onelyonly deſirable one, none in Heaven but Chriſt, and none in Earth in compariſon of him, Pſa. 73. 25, He that only eyes Salvation in comming to Chriſt, takes him upon neceſſity, not upon choice.
Fourthly, Another requiſite to this comming to Chriſt is that the Soul be brought to a real and actual willigneſs to part with all for him; yea, to a throwing all over board to take him in, Phil. 3. 8. For whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them dung to win Chriſi. It was no ſmall ſum theſe Converts parted with before they could cloſe with Chriſt, Acts. 19. 19. They brought their Books, and burned them, and counted the price, and found it fifty thouſand pieces of Silver; which amounts in our money, to one thouſand, five hundred, ſixty and two pounds, and ten ſhillings: hence 'tis ſaid, That he that will be ſaved muſt pluck out his right Eye, and cut off his right Hand Math. 5. 29, 30. And the want of which made the Young man go away from Chriſt ſorrowful.
Fifthly, In order to a cloſing with Chriſt 'tis neceſſary that the Soul ſee an utter poverty, and inability in himſelf ever to come to Chriſt without Chriſt: Draw me, and we will run after thee, Cant. 1. 4. No man cometh to me (ſays Chriſt) except the Father, which ſent me, draw him, Joh. 6. 44. They muſt ſee themſelves poor, that come for ſatisfaction in Chriſt, Iſa. 41. 17. Thou muſt deny thy own Abilities, and Rigteouſneſs, and ſee thy ſelf utterly unable, ſo much as to look to Chriſt, till he give an Eye, Math. 11. 5.
Laſtly, The Soul muſt be brought to cloſe with all the terms of the Goſpel propos'd to him, and made heartily willing to take Chriſt on his own conditions, Math. 16. 14. A perſon is never fit for Chriſt till he can give him a blank, and bid him write his own terms, unfeignedly ſaying, Lord command me any thing; I ſtick at no propoſals, ſo I may be thine, he that would fain beat down the bargain ſhall never have Chriſt, Iſa. 44. 5. now to ſuch a reception of Chriſt 'tis needful that things be plainly opened, and all the demands of Chriſt be known, and conſidered, Luk. 14. 28. So that there may be a known and hearty conſent to Chriſt, and a full compliance with all his conditions.
4. What are the certain fruits, and effects of the Souls obtaining Chriſt?
Anſ. Firſt, That Soul that hath an intereſt in Chriſt is a new Creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt he is a new Creature; old things are paſt away, all things are become new. As the Lord Chriſt when he was crucifi'd, was laid in a new Tomb; ſo when he is received he muſt be lodged in a new heart: In redemption work all things are new: there's a new Covenant, Heb. 8. 8. A new Mediatour; the firſt Covenant had none, Heb. 9. 15. Souls are now brought into a new ſtate, of new and glorious Priviledges: They were dead, but now are made alive, Eph. 2. 1. There's a new Law alſo, the Law of the Goſpel, called the Law of the Spirit of life, Rom. 8. 2. Therefore 'tis neceſſarie that the Soul be renewed alſo; this is promis'd under the Goſpel, Iſa. 65. 17. Behold I create new Heavens, and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs, ſo 2 Pet. 3. 13. there will be a wonderful change wrought in that Perſon above what fleſh and blood can do, an inward change a new heart, and a new Spirit, Ezek. 36. 26. new deſires, Pſ. 63. 1. Before the Soul did long after the world, pleaſures, vanities; but now, My Soul breaks for the longing it hath to thy Judgments at all times, Pſ. 119. 20. Pſ. 42. 1, 2. New affections to God, Pſ. 116. 1. new love to Chriſt, 1 Cor. 16. 22. new love to the Law of God, Pſ. 119. 97, 127. new love to the people of God, 1 Joh. 3. 14. new love to the name and glory of God, Pſ. 26. 12. Pſa. 145. 15. new affections for the Croſs of Chriſt, and reproach for his name, Gal. 2. 14. Heb. 11. 26. a new will to loath ſin and cleave to God and Holineſs, Rom. 7. 19▪ Act. 11. 23. a new Conſcience, Heb. 10. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 3. and they have a new Conveſation, Rom: 6. 4. Eph. 2. 10. Phil. 1. 27. They will walk in newneſs of the Spirit, Rom. 6. 4. They are created to good works to walk in them, Eph. 2. 10. At leaſt, they deſign it, though they fall ſhort of it. Thus a Soul that is come to Chriſt is a new Creature. That Soul that hath no renewings in him, that hath the ſame Spirit, deſires, affections, will, conſcience, that ever he had, cannot prove his intereſt in Chriſt.
Secondly, Tha… Soul that hath received Chriſt hath received the Spirit of Chriſt, Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his, 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one Spirit we are all baptiz'd into one Body. None can receive the Son, but he muſt have the Spirit too; for Chriſt is not divided: He that hath Chriſt, hath the Father and the Spirit, for theſe three are one. Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Chriſt may know it by the effects of it: The Spirit of Chriſt is a quickening Spirit, it begets a principle of Life: The Soul that was dead to God, and holineſs; now hath a new life, a heart to move after God: it works from other motives, even from love to God: Doſt thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace? No heart to pray, hear, &c. and is this habitual? O then here's no fruit of Chriſts Spirit.
The Spirit of Chriſt is a ſin-oppoſing ſpirit, always quarrelling with Luſt; always convincing, troubling, humbling the Soul for ſin, Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11, 12. It gives no peaceable poſſeſſion to it, but always oppoſes it as fire doth water: Where the Spirit of Chriſt is, 'tis a leading guiding Spirit, Rom. 8. 14. Chriſtians, what is it leads you? Is it your own Spirits? if you have received the Spirit of God, you may know it by thoſe Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty: ſuch a one is co…vinced by the word, and perſwaded, and help'd by the word to this and the other duty.
Again, The Spirit of Chriſt is a praying Spirit: A Soul that is in Chriſt cannot live without prayer; though no eye ſee it, and no good come by it, yet he cannot omit ſecret prayer, Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'Tis not enlargement of affections, parts, abilities, and expreſſions in prayer; but the inditings of the Spirit; inward breathings, ſighs and groans of the Spirit: A man may pray like a Saint, or an Angel, and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer: but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wreſtle with God by Chriſt; the inward ſuggeſtions of hope, when a Soul can go to God as to a Father, when the very heart goes out to God in prayer, and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love: Theſe are the effects of a Spirit of prayer, and the fruit of a Souls reception of Chriſt.
Thirdly, They that have obtain'd an intereſt in Chriſt, have crucified the fleſh with the luſts there of, Gal. 5. 24. They, and only they that are in Chriſt have crucified the fleſh; that is, the body of death, original ſin: The general Nature of ſin; the univerſal extents of ſin; come under the workings of this Crucifixtion: O try Souls; …ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of ſin? Have you ever found felling ſtroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions, are you baptiz'd into the death of Chriſt, and as he died for ſin, ſo do you die to ſin; and by vertue of his death, and wounds, do you fetch power, and ſtrength from him to crucifie it? There's a difference between the curbing; and the crucifying of ſin: ſin may be chain'd up, impriſon'd, and not crucified: Hypocrites that are under a ſeeming change, do reſtrain, and confine ſin; yea they may puniſh ſin, but do not crucifie it: The crucifying of ſin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound, fetch'd from the blood, and death of Chriſt: Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Chriſt, to deſtroy the power of ſin, nothing ſo mortally ſtabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Chriſts Crucifixtion, and a laying hold on promiſes by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Chriſt, Rom. 6. 4, 6. Our old man is crucified with him: The putting our luſts into the ſide, wounds, and grave of Chriſt; A levelling the Ax to the body of ſin, doth ſtrange work to the crucifying of it. Trie then are your corruptions, Pride, Paſſions, Earthlineſs as ſtrong as ever? deceive not your ſelves, this will never aſſure your intereſt in Chriſt till ſin be deſtroyed: 'tis true, when the wound is given, ſin doth not immediately die, but the bodie of ſin is dying, and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath leſs ſtrength every day; as a man that loſeth his blood weakens more and more; ſo a Soul that crucifies Luſt, finds it to weaken day by day.
Fourthly, Another effect of a Souls union with Chriſt is this: There will be ſome reſemblance of Chriſt. 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is ſo are we in this World. As Chriſt was Crucified in the fleſh, ſo are his Crucified to the fleſh: And as Chriſt was riſen and juſtified in the Spirit, ſo are they ſanctified by the Spirit, and have the nature, and Image of Chriſt: Hence we are ſaid to be made conformable to the Image of his Son. Rom. 8. 29. They that are Chriſt's are in ſome meaſure of truth like him. 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have ſomething of Chriſt's Nature, and Spirit: Let the ſame mind be in you that was in Chriſt Jeſus. Phil. 2. 5. Chriſt's mind was off from, and above the World; and herein lies as great an evidence of intereſt in Chriſt as in any thing, that Soul is dead to, and wonderfully looſe from the World. Gal. 6. 14. Chriſt's mind was heavenly, he favour'd the things above, his meat, and drink was to do his Fathers will, If you are Chriſt's you will be of the ſame mind; nothing in the World will ſo much delight you as to do ſomething for God: Chriſt's mind was heavenly, to do his work, and haſten home; and if you are Chriſt's this will be your mind to diſpatch your work, and haſten home. Chriſt was full of mercy, humility, meekneſs: If you are intereſted in Chriſt, ſo it will be with you.
Laſtly, They that are intereſted in Chriſt, do intereſt Chriſt in themſelves, and in all that is theirs, 2 Cor. 8. 5. They firſt gave themſelves to the Lord: Such do devote, and make over themſelves, and all to Chriſt, and glad they have any intereſt, parts, capacities, that Chriſt will accept of; they cannot keep back a part; no, were it a thouſand times dearer, Chriſt ſhall have all, Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine: The keeping back of part loſt Ananias, and Saphira; they were undone, and damned for ever, Act. 5. If Chriſt be yours; you will entitle him to all you are and have. And thus are we come to a Concluſion in this matter: That Soul that can come to ſeal to thoſe things, is a happy Soul: O bleſſed Soul indeed! Then mayſt thou boldly ſay, The Lord is my helper; God, Chriſt, the Spirit, the Promiſes the Kingdom, and glory is mine. Thus much for the uſe of Examination.