The Sinners Sanctuary, Sermon 25
SERMON XXV.
Rom. 8.9.
— If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man, &c.
THere is a great marriage spoken of, Eph. 5. That hath a great mystery in it, which the Apostle propoundeth as the samplar and archetype of all marriages, or rather as the substance; of which all conjunctions and relations among the creatures are bu… the shaddows. It is that marriage between Christ and his Church, for which it would appear this world was builded, to be a Palace to celebrat it into; and especially the upper-house, Heaven, was made glorious for that great day, where it shall be solemnized. The first, in order of time, that was made by God himself in paradise, certainly to represent a higher mystery, The marriage of the second Adam with his Spouse, which is taken out of his bloody side, as the Apostle imports, Eph. 5. Now there is the greatest inequality and disproportion between the parties, Christ and sinners; so that it would seem a desperate matter, to bring two such distant and unequal natures to such a neer union, as may cast a copy to all unions and relations of the creatures. But He, who at first, made a kind of marriage between Heaven and Earth, in the composure of man, and joyned together an immortal spirit in such a bond of amity with corruptible dust, hath found out the way to help this and make it …easable: And truly, we may conceive the Lord was but making way for this greater mystery of the union of Christ with us, when he joyned the breath of Heaven with the dust of the earth: in this he gave some representation of another more mysterious conjunction. Now, the way, that the wisdome and love of God, hath found out to bring about this marriage, is this, Because there was such an infinite distance, between the only begotten Son of God, who is the expresse character of his Image, and the brightness of his Glory, and Us sinful mortal creatures, whose foundation is in the dust; therefore it pleased the Father, out of His good-will to the match, To send his Son down among men, and the Son out of his love to take on our fl…sh, and so fill up that distance with his low condescendence, to be partaker of flesh and blood with the children. And now, what the Lord spoke of man fallen, in a holy kind of irony or mock, Behold he is become as one of us, that men may truly say of the Son of God, not fallen down from Heaven, but come down willingly, Lo he is become as one of us, like us in all things, except sin, which hath made us unlike our selves. This bond of union, you have in the vers. 3. Christ so infinitly above sinners, and higher then the Heavens, coming down so low, to be as like sinners as might be, or could be profitable for us, in the li…eness of sinful flesh, &c. But yet this bond is not neer enough, that conjunction seemeth but general and infirm; both because it is in some manner common to all mankind, who shall not be all advanced to this priviledge. By taking on our nature, he cometh nearer to humane nature, but not to some beyond others; and besides, the distance is not filled up this way, because there is a great disproportion between that nature in Christ, and in us: In Him, it is holy, and undefiled, and seperated from sin; but in Us, it is unclean and immersed into sin; so that albeit he be nearer us, as a man; yet he is far distant and unlike us, a holy, perfect man: Now, what fellowship can be between light and darkness? as Paul speaketh of the marriage of Christians with Idolaters: much greater distance and disagreement, is between Christ and us. Therefore, it seemeth that some of us must be changed and transformed: But Him it may not be, he cannot become liker us than by partaking of our flesh; for if he had become a sinner indeed, he would have become so like us, that he could not help himself nor us either: this would eclipse the glory and happiness of the marriage: but in that he came as near as could be, without disabling him…elf, to make us happy, and so he was contented to come in the place of sinners, and take on their debt, and answer to Gods Justice for it; yea, and in his own person, he submitted to be tempted to sin, though it had been evil for us he had been overcome by it; yet this brings him a step lower and nearer us, and maketh the union more hopeful. But since he can come no lower, and can be made no liker us in the case we are in; then certainly (if the match hold) We must become liker him, and raised up out of our miserable estate, to some suitableness to his holy Nature; and therefore the love and wisdom of God, to fill up the distance compleatly, and effectuat this happy conjunction, that the creation seemeth to groan for, (for vers. 22. the whole creation is pained till it be accomplished) he hath sent his blessed Spirit to dwell in VsUs, and to transform our natures, and make them partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. as Christ was partaker of humane nature: and thus the distance shall be removed, when a blessed Spirit is made flesh, and a fleshly man made spirit, then they are near the day of espousals: and this indwelling of the spirit, is the last link of the chain, that fastens us to Christ, and maketh our flesh in some measure like His holy flesh. By taking on our flesh, Christ became bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh: But the union becometh mutual, when we receive the spirit; we become bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh, as it is expressed, Eph. 5.30. In allusion to the creation of Eve, and her marriage to Adam: the ground of the marriage is, That near bond of union, because she was taken out of man, and therefore because of his flesh and bone, she was made one flesh with him; even …o the sinner must be partaker of the Spirit of Christ, as Christ is partaker of the flesh of sinners: and these two concurring, these two knots interchanging and woven thorow other, we become one fl…sh with him. And this is a great mystery indeed, to bring two, who were so far assunder, so near other. Yea, it is nearer then that too; for we are said, not only to be one flesh with Christ, but one spirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit; because he is animated and quickned, by one Spirit, that same Spirit of Christ: and indeed spirits are more capable of union, and more fit to embosome one with another, then bodies; therefore the nearest union conceivable, is the union of spirits by affection: this maketh two souls one; for it transports their spirit out of the body, where it lives, and setleth it there where it loveth.
Now, my beloved, you see what way this great marriage, that heaven and earth are in a longing expectation after, shall be brought about. Christ he did forsake his Fathers house, when he lest that holy habitation, his Fathers bosome, a place of marvellous delight, Prov. 8.30. And descended into the lowest parts of the earth, Eph. 4.9. And, He came out from the Father into the world, John 16.28. This was a great journey to meet with poor sinners. But, that there may be a full and intire meeting, you must leave and forsake your fathers house too; and forget your own people, Psal. 45.10. You must give an intire renounce to all former lovers, if you would be His; all former bonds and engagments must be broken, that this may be tyed the faster: And to hold to the subject in hand, you must forsake and forget the flesh, and be possessed of his holy Spirit: as he came down to our flesh, you must rise up to meet him in the Spirit: the Spirit of Christ must indeed prevent you, and take you out of that natural posture you are born into, and bring you a great journey from your selves, that you may be joyned unto Him.
This Spirit of Christ is his messenger and ambassadour, sent before-hand to fit you, and suit you for the day of Espousals; and therefore he must have a dwelling, and constant abode in you. This indwelling, imports A special familiar operation, and the perpetuity or continuance of it. The Spirit is every where in his being, and he worketh every where too; but here he hath a special and peculiar work in commission, To reveal the love of God in Christ, to engage the soul to love him again, to prepare all within for the great day of Espousals, to purifie and purge the heart from all that is displeasing to Christ, to correspond between Christ and his Spouse, between Heaven and Earth, by making intercession for her when she cannot pray for her self, as you find here, vers. 26. and so sending up the news of the souls panting and breathing after Christ, sending up her love, groans and sighs to her beloved, giving intelligence of all her necessities to Him, who is above, in the place of an Advocat and Interceeder; and then bringing back from Heaven light, and life, direction from her Head (for the Spirit must lead in all truth) and consolation, for Christ hath appointed the spirit, to supply his absence, and to comfort the soul in the mean time till he come again: you have this mutual and reciprocal knot in 1 Ioh. 4.13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, by the spirit that he hath given. It is much nearness to dwell one with another, but much greater, to dwell one in another: and its reciprocal, such a wonderful interchange in it, we in him, and he in us: for the Spirit carries the soul to Heaven, and brings Christ, as it were, down to the earth: He is the Messenger that carries Letters between both: our prayers to Him, and His prayers for us, and love-tokens to us, the anointing that teacheth us all things, from our husband, 1 Ioh. 2.27. and revealing to us the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.12. giving us the fi…st fruits of that happy and glorious communion we must have with Christ in Heaven, as you see, ver. 23. of this chap. and sealing us to the day of redemption, Eph 1.13. and 4.30. Supplying us with divine power against our spiritual enemies, fetching alongs from Heaven that strength whereby our Lord and Saviour overcame all, Eph. 3.16. Gal. 5.17. This is a presence that few have, such a familiar and love-abode: But certainly, all that are Christs, must have it in some measure: Now, whosoever hath it, its perpetual, the Spirit dwells in them: Its not a sojourning for a season, not a lodging for a night, as some have fits and starts of seeking God, and some transient motions of conviction or joy, but return again to the puddle: these go through them as lightning, and do n…t warm them, or change them; but this is a constant residence; where the Spirit takes up house he will dwell, he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you, and abide for ever, Joh. 14.16, 17. If the Son abide in the house for ever, Joh. 8.35. much more the master of the house must abide. Now the Spirit where he dwells, hath gotten the command of that house: all the power is put in his hand, and resigned to him; for where he dwells, he must rule, as good reason is, He is about the greatest work that is now to do in the world, the repairing and renewing of the ruines and breaches of mans spirit, which was the fi…st breach in the Creation, and the cause of all the rest: He is about the cleansing and washing this Temple, and we may be perswaded that he who hath begun this good work, will perform it untill the day of Christ, till we be presented blameless and without spot to our husband, Phil. 1.5, 6. and this is the grand con…olation of believers, that they have this presence assured to them by promise; that the Spirit is fixed here by an irreovcable and unchangeable Covenant or donation, and will not wholly depart from them, though he may withdraw and leave you comfortless …or a season, Isa. 59.21.
Therefore I would shut up all in a word of exhortation to you, that since we have the promise of so noble and happy a guest, you would apply your selves to seek him, and then keep him; to receive him, and then retain him. It is true that he must first prevent u…; for as no man can say that Iesus is the Christ, but by th… Spirit of God, so no man can indeed p…ay for the Spirit, but by the Spirits own intercession within him. Where God hath bestowed any thing of this Spirit, it is known by the kindly and fervent desires after more of it. Now, since we have such a la…ge and ample promise, Ezek. 36.27. Ioel 2.28. of the pouring out of the Spirit, and that in as absolute and free a manner as can be imagined; and this renewed by Christ, and confirmed by his Prayer to the Father for the performance of it, Ioh. 14.16, 17. and then we have a sweet and affectionat promise propounded in the most moving and loving manner that can be, Luk. 11.13. where he encourageth us to pray for the Spirit, and that from this ground, that our Heavenly Father who placed that natural affection in other fathers towards their children, whereby they cannot refuse them bread when they cry for it: He who was the Author of all natural affection; must certainly transcend them infinitly in his love to his child…en as the Psalmist argues, Shall not he that planted the ear, hear, and he that formed the eye, see? So may a poor soul reason it self to some confidence, Shall not He who is the …ountain of all natural love in men and beasts, have much more Himself, and if my …ather will not give me a stone when I seek bread, certainly he will far lesse do it? Therefore if we being evil, know how to give good things to our chilren, how much more shall our Heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him. Alas that we should want such a gift for not asking it! my beloved, let us enlarge our desires for this Spirit and seek more earnestly; and no doubt affection, and importunity will not be sent away empty. Is it any wonder we receive not, because we ask not, or we ask so coldly, that we teach him in a manner to deny us, qui ti…ide rogat, I may say frigide; docet negare, ask frequently, and ask confidently, and His heart cannot deny. O that we could lay this ing…gement on our own hearts, to be more in Prayer! Let … presse our selves to this, and we need not presse Him; albeit the first grace be wholly a surprisal, yet certainly he keeps this suitable method in the enlargements of grace, that when he gives more, He enlargeth the heart more after it, He openeth the mouth wider to ask and receive, and according to that capacity, so is His hand opened to fill the heart. O, why are our hearts shut, when his hand is open! Again, I would exhort you in Jesus Christ, to intertain the Spirit suitably, and this shall keep Him. To this purpose are these exhortations, Grieve not the Spirit, Eph. 4.30. and quench not the Spirit, 1 Thes. 5.19. There is nothing can grieve Him, but sin: and if you intertain that, you cannot retain Him. He is a Spi…it of holinesse, and He is about the making you holy; then do not marr him in his work, labour to advance this, and you do him a pleasure. If you make his holy Temple an unclean cage for hateful birds, or a Temple for Idols, how can it but grieve him? and if you grieve the Spirit, certainly the Spirit will grieve you, will make you repent it at the heart. Please him, by hea…kning to his motions, and following his direction, and he shall comfort you: His office is to be a spring of consolation to you; but if you grieve him, by walking in the imagination of your hearts, and following the suggestions of the Flesh, His enemy, no doubt that spring will turn its channel another way; and dry up for a season toward you. It is not every sin or infirmity that grieves Him thus, if so be that it grieve thee; but the intertaining of any sin, and m…king peace with any of his enemies, that cannot but displease Him: and O what losse you have by it! You displease your greatest friend, to please your greatest enemy: you blot and bludder that seal of the Spirit, that you shall not be able to read it, till it be cleansed and washed again. Now, if any man have not this Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, he is not a Christian: take this alongs with you, who aim at nothing but the external and outward shew, or visible standing in the Church: if you have not this Spirit, and the seal of this Spirit found on you, Christ will not know you for his in that day of his appearing.