The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 2 · Sign 5
5. Sign.
An heart taken with Chriſt hath high appretiations and valuations of Chriſt. It values and eſteems him above all the comforts and contentments in Heaven and Earth, Pſal. 73, 25. Whom have I in Heaven, but thee! and in the Earth, in compariſon of thee! Here is the breathing of a ſoul taken with Chriſt. Hee prizeth Chriſt above all the comforts and contents in the World.
For the better unfolding of this ſign, there is
1. Something conſiderable in the Act.
2. Something in the Object — Chriſt prized.
3. Something in the Meaſure — above all the comforts, contents, &c.
1. In the Act of prizing Chriſt, that wee do not mean a bare and naked Eſtimate of Chriſt, in the Underſtanding: but ſuch an one as prevails with the ſoul, and commands the ſpirit of a man to do actions conſonant and agreeable to that rate the Judgement ſet on Chriſt. I ſay, by prizing of Chriſt, wee do not mean a bare acts of Dijudication, what a man in his Judgement may conclude Chriſt to bee worth. Many bee, that will tell you, they conclude Chriſt to bee worth a World: who yet will not part with any thing for Christ.
But I mean ſuch an act of the underſtanding, as brings up the Heart, and the affections to cloſe with Chriſt in that height which the Underſtanding rates him at.
I ſay, ſuch an Act of Appretiation as prevails with a man to do actions conſonant and agreeable to the rate it pretends to ſet on Chriſt. As you ſee the wiſe Merchant. Hee did not barely judge that the Pearl was worth all hee had: but hee did Actions conſonant and agreeable to it. Seeing hee could not injoy the Pearl without parting withall hee had to compaſs it, hee ſells all to compaſs the Pearl.
That is the firſt. A ſoul taken with Chriſt doth not only barely judge and eſteem Chriſt worth all; but will part with all for the compaſſing of Chriſt.
2. Here is ſomething conſiderable in the Object. Chriſt prized.
1. Wee do not reſtrain and limit this only to the Perſon of Chriſt. There is ſomething in the Perſon of Chriſt, which may prevail with an Unbeleever, to eſteem of him. The dignity of his Perſon being God-Man, having all beauties and excellencies in him. This may raiſe up a kinde of eſteem of Chriſt in the hearts of unbeleevers.
2. Neither do wee limit it only to the Benefits of Chriſt, and the great things which hee hath done for man in general, in his humiliation, death, paſſion, &c.
But wee are to take Chriſt in the extent of Chriſt: Chriſt in his whole Latitude: Chriſt in his Holineſs, Chriſt in his Laws, Chriſt in his Government, Chriſt in his Truth, Totum Chriſti, the whole of Chriſt. Hee that prizeth not Chriſt in his whole latitude, and extent, doth not prize Chriſt at all as hee ought to do.
As wee ſay of Faith; it doth not eligere Objectum, it doth not chuſe its Object, ſingle out what it will eſteem, and what not: but prizeth of Chriſt fully in the latitude and extent of Christ, of Chriſt in his Perſon, Chriſt in his Beauties, Chriſt in his Laws, in his Holineſs, Truth, Government: And ſo highly, that they ſold themſelves to gain a Truth; loſt themſelves to ſave a Truth: They have made this brave adventure, thrown away themſelves, that they might keep up a Truth; as you ſee it in Queen Maries daies, in point of Tranſubſtantiation. So that is the ſecond. The ſoul taken with Chriſt is taken with All-Chriſt. As all in him is lovely: ſo the ſoul loves all; and prizes and eſteems of all of Chriſt.
3. That which is conſiderable in the Meaſure is, That a ſoul taken with Chriſt, doth prize Chriſt above all comforts and contents in Heaven and Earth.
This Chriſt commands, Mat. 16.24. If any man will come after mee, let him deny himſelf. If any] It is ſet down indefinitly. Not only you, who are poor, and have little to loſe, and deny your ſelves in: but they, who have moſt. You that are rich, you that have lands, poſſeſſions, have Crowns and Scepters. If any poor, any rich, any beggar, any Prince, &c.
Hee muſt deny himſelf] Not only in things unlawfull, but lawfull. Hee muſt yeeld up his ſins as a ſnare; his comforts, eſtate, and all as a Sacrifice for Chriſt, if hee call for them, Mat. 10.37. Hee that loves Father or Mother more than mee, is not worthy of mee. Theſe relations are expreſſed: but under theſe are comprized all the comforts and contents on earth.
And this was not only commanded, but it is practiſed by thoſe, whoſe hearts are taken with Chriſt. You ſee in Abraham, who left all; in Moſes, who prized more of the reproach of Chriſt, than all the treaſures in Egypt; in David, Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee! or in Earth, in compariſon of thee!
As the World would bee nothing elſe but Angiae ſtabulum; a noiſome ſink, a priſon to a godly man, were it not that hee injoys ſomething of Chriſt here: So Heaven it ſelf were but a gaudy Pageant, Vanity, if God and Chriſt were not there.
The Heaven, which carnal men do fanſy is a Turkiſh-Heaven, an heaven of pleaſures, delights, comforts, but fleſhly, outward. They conceive of it, according to their Principle.
But the Heaven of a godly man, it lies in God, it lies in Chriſt. Indeed
That is not Heaven, which is by God; but that is Heaven, which lies in God, to a godly man.
It was the meditation of one: Not Heaven, O Lord; but God, Non coelum Domine, ſed Deus & Chriſtus.and Chriſt. Rather ten thouſand times Chriſt without Heaven, than Heaven without Chriſt.
Thus doth the ſoul, that is taken with Chriſt, prize Chriſt above all the comforts, contentments of Heaven and Earth.