Christ in Believers the Hope of Glory, To the reader (2 of 3)

Christ in Believers the Hope of Glory · To the reader (2 of 3)

p. 449. Mark, Hope makes the Soul silent an… satisfied under great temptations: David Psal 38. was under sore trialls, the LORD chastned him, his an w…s…stuck fast in him, his hand pressed him sore, both Soul and Body did bear th… marks, that GOD was contending with him fo… sin; Yea, his heart was ove…whelmed withi… him, and his streng…h b… …ailed him; And eve… when it was thus with him inwardly, enemie… p. 45without were seeking his Life, laying snares …or him, and seeking his hurt: What was …t then that quieted and calmed him, at this time, and made him carry as a man, that heareth not, and in whose mouth there are no reprooffs, but even that which immediately follows; For in thee O Lord do I hope.

Having laid down these Marks, whe…eby Men may try whither they have an Interest in this lively Hope or not; So I would advise such who see ground of fears, because without this lively Hope, seriously to consider, and lay these following things to heart. As 1. It is required that the Soul through its dwelling on the thoughts of this so great a Bussiness, be more sensible of, and affected with the missings of this Grace of Hope: Consider what a miserable condition the Soul is in, which is without hope in the World, and how lamentable their case is, who have no other hope, then a hope that will perish, which will but prove to them as a spiders web, and so faill them in their greatest need. 2. Be convinced …erein, that through your self, you shall never attain unto a lively Hope; You must again be be gotten unto this Hope: It is wholly and only the Work of GODS Spirit, neither nature, nor any natural advantages can help you thereto. 3. Let the thoughts of your hopeless condition, stir you up to self humiliation before the LORD, which is the only way to be exalted in p. 46due time. 4. Foresake all ground of hope i… your self; So the poor hath hope, Job. 5.16. For whatever it is in your self, you bottom o… ground your hope upon, it will be sound to be but a …lippery and …inful …oundation; And the more you build thereon, it shall be the wors… 5. Lay hold on Christ, as he is offered in the Gospel, and cleave to him by Faith: For Hope is begotten in the womb of Faith: All hope no… grounded on Faith and flowing from it, is bu… a meer phansie and chimera. 6. Having laid hold on Christ, as he is offered in the Gospel, and so resting on him for Salvation, wait for the breathings & influences of the Spirit on the Soul, in the careful and earnest undertaking and pursuit of the means, that your head may be lifted up thereby in hope.

For encouradgement thereto, observe these following things. 1. This lively Hope in the Soul, will calm many storms, and keep the Soul in a… even and stayed posture, under sharp and sad dispensations, and the multitude of shaking… and changings; It will deliver the Soul from many disquieting fears, and make the Soul sleep sweetly under them all, and lift up its head above difficulties, so that it shall be freed from perplexities, or be secure, because there is hope, Job. 11.18.2. This will encourage to constancy in duty, notwithstanding of opposition in the way; Hope will never suffer the heart to sink, it will be a cork to the poor Soul, p. 47which wi…l make it swime through the jaws and gulfs of the greatest opposition, and most insupperable like difficulties: When other …hings as so many weights and heavy loads, would bear down the Soul, Hope will draw and hold it up, that it go not to the ground: Or in case, the Soul, is at any time over charged and brought under water, as it were to the …rink of hell, Hope notwithstanding will recover again the Soul, out of the very womb of …ell, and will it make it look out towards the Temple. 3. Hope hardens a man, and makes him prooff against the day of battel; It encourageth and strengtheneth the Soul; There…y he can run through a troop, for he knows …hat his head is secured, well covered and guarded with the helmet of Hope, the Helmet of Salvation, 1 The… : 5.8. Eph: 6.17.4. Hope …s a strong guard against temptations: What values a man the great offers of the World, who has a Lively Hope of Heaven! The fear of death, worldly losses, and the greatest of …ufferings, will not once shake him who hath the Hope of Eternal Life: The hope of a bet…er Resurrection will make them refuse to accept of a deliverance, upon unworthy or base …erms. 5. Hope assures us of Heaven, where…ore we find that Heaven is often laid out to us by Hope, Eph: 1.18. & 4.4. Col: 1.5. Tit: 2.13. Heb: 6.18. It is The Anchor of …he Soul both sure and stedfast, and which entereth p. 48into that within the vail, whether the forerunner is for us entered, Heb: 6.19, 20.6▪ Hereto should these words encourage us Psal▪ 147 11. The LORD taketh pleasure in them tha… fear him, in those that hope in his mercy, 7. A… hope is needful, necessary and useful, whil… passing through the valley of sorrow and tear… so also, when drawing near the end of our journey, and when pale death comes to look us i… the face; For the Righteous hath hope in his death Pro: 14.32. When the hope of the Hypocrite and unrighteous person giveth up the Ghost, and foresaketh him in his greatest strai… even then will the Hope of the Righteous comfort and bear up his head; Yea, when death the king of terrors hath done its worst, an… conveyed the Soul into Eternity; Hope, tho… may take its leave of the Soul, as having no more service to do it, 1 Cor: 13.13. Yet wi… attend the corps of the Believer to the grave and be a bed unto his dust, Psal: 16.9 U… til the morning of the Resurrection dawn.

Again, as to those, who really have th… Hope, and yet cannot be convinced thereo… I would say these few things.

1. It is not strange, that such who are begotten again into a Lively Hope, be now an… then brought to doubtings, through these … such like grounds. As 1. Because sad no… strange like dispensations are measured out unto them by GOD: this makes the Church … out, Lam: 3.18. And I said, my strength an… p. 49my hope is perished from the Lord: See v. 1.2. This occasioned Iob also to say, that his hope was removed like a tree, or rooted out of the ground, Iob: 19 8.9, 10.2. Because there is …ant of growth in Grace and Mortifica…ion, for …hey hear that hope is a purifying Grace, and …hey can find no advancing in that work. 3. Because they miss the other above mentioned Fruits of a Lively Hope: But

2. Hope, is like to other Graces, not alwayes alike visible, sometimes so clouded and …id, that it cannot be easily seen or discovered; And in a very little, it may appear again, when the cloud and …hick mist is over, as we …ee, Lam: 3.18 There the Church com…lains, that her strength and hope was perish…d from the Lord, yet she sayeth, a little after, This I recal to my mind, therefore have I hope. And again v. 26. It is good, that a man should …oth hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of the …ord. The holy Man Iob cry…th out, as one …hat hath no hope, He hath destroyed me on every …de, and I am gone, and mine hope hath he re…oved like a tree: And nevertheless, before all is …one, and he end his reckonings, he get…eth his head lifted up on high, and hope brings …im so above, that he triumphs, Chap: 19. ….25.26, 27. For I know that my Re…eemer liveth, and though after my skin, worms …estroy this body, yet in my fl…sh, shall I see God, &c.

p. 503. Hope (as have other Graces) hath its degrees; There is a full assurance of hope, Heb. 6.11. And there is a weak Hope, that cannot see farr, being accompanied with many doubtings, discouragements, fears, &c, Nevertheless a weak hope may be a true hope, being on an Evangelical ground: Hope may be lively, in respect of its root, yet weak and sickly, in respect of its present frame and operations.

4. It is not therefore safe …o conclude, that there is no hope, because there is no full assurance of Hope, or Actual, Lively, Vigorou…, or stronge Hope.

5. It were better to make an impartial enquiry, according to the forementioned Marks; And search and see, if ever you had any thing of a True and Lively Hope of Glory through CHRIST; And providing you have ever had it▪ you may then be confident that the root remains; for the Gifts and Calling of GOD are without repentance; Rom. 11, 29.

Question. But what shall he do, who is brought to suspect all what formerly has been wrought in his Soul, looking on it all as false work? How I say, shall such win to any clearness concerning their Hope, or what shall they do for strengthening of the same?

Answer. Such would lay to heart, and well improve these following Considerations: As

1. As Hope it self, is the Gift of GOD, and p. 51not their own work; So is also the clear discovery of this Hope in the Soul, his Gift, and a new Gift. The observation whereof, should make the Soul fix its eye on the Soveraignity and Freeness of God, who may bestow His Gifts as He will; and depend on God for Light to …ee and discern things, which are given him of GOD▪

2 As the first lively Acting of Hope, is a fruit of the Spirit of Life, and floweth from the Spirit of Life in them; So all the after actings depend on continual influences from Heaven. These considerations should humble them under the impression of an absolute and Soveraign Lord; And should stir them up to search and see, wherein they have provoked GOD, …o hold in his Influences, in the continual outgoings of Hope, and withdraw his Light, whereby they might be in case to discern the being of Hope in the Soul, even when but w…ak in its operations.

3. Such are to humble themselves before …he LORD, in the sense of their naturall frailty and inability; As likewayes of their unrighteousness and transgressions, whereby they have provoked the LORD to leave them in the dark.

4. They must endeavour to lay to heart, and renew their dependance on GOD, with up…ightness of heart, and …o ponde… …he Word, and to drink it in, for it is through patience p. 52and comfort of the Scriptures that we have Hope, Rom: 15.4.

5. The life of Hope, will occasion frequent outgoings and renewings of Faith on the Mediator, receiving him, as offered in the Gospel, and embracing of GOD, as the alone satisfying and satiating portion in Christ Jesus; For Hope groweth out of the stock of Faith, neither can it be without it▪ so that whenever the Soul can say, the Lord is my portion, he may safely conclude, therefore will I hope: So David charged his Soul to hope in GOD. And why? Because he was the health of his countenance and his GOD, Psal: 42: and 43.

6. They must be much on the thoughts o… GODS Favours bestowed on them; The thoughts of common mercies being renewed unto them every morning, encourageth the Church to Hope, Lam: 3.22.23, 24. Th… dispensations of GODS loving kindness revealed in preserving …hem, that they are not consumed, and the renewed Fruit of his Compassion, continually discovered, and seriously considered, encourageth to Hope. Thus laying up as a rich Treasure, the experiences of these Expressions of GODS Love, and continually living therein, will work up the Soul to Hope; For Experience worketh Hope, Rom: 5 4. It is the nourishment (as it were) of Hope, and when this is a way, hope must become sick and weak; Whereas the thoughts of GOD… Mercy p. 53discovered through Experiences, is a noble Cordial and encou…agement to hope: Let Isra…l hope in the Lord, saith David, Psal: 130.7. And why? For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous Redemption; That is, all the stores of Power, choise of Methods, plenty of Means; abundance of wayes to save his People out of their troubles, be what they will, are in JEHOVAH; Then Hope in Him.

7. It were necessary, there were in such, a submissivenss unto GOD, that there be nothing in them, of a churlish or crabed disposition against the LORD; For this occasions his further withdrawing of himself, and indrawing of his Influences, and so to leave us in the dark: It is good therefore to put our mouths in the dust, if so be, there may be hope, stooping in the dust, and putting clay in the mouth, for fear, that it speak against GOD… Dispensations, Lam: 3.29. with Iob. 40.4, 5

8. It were necessary and need…ul in such an occasion, to stand and establish themselves, in the Faith of GODS Almighty Power, whereby he can work wonders; The Faith of this helped Abraham to hope against hope, Rom. 4. He looked upon God, as one who quickneth the dead, and therefore he was not discouraged, tho the matter in all humane probability was hopeless and desperate. A sight o… our difficulties in the way, as impossible to be mastered, makes u… often faint and conclude, that p. 54there is no hope, whereas a right sight of his Power and Al sufficiency, is an excellent Antidote against the same, Gen: 15.1, 2.

9. Joy and Peece in believing, and cleaving to Christ, according to the Gospel, as it is a work of the GOD of Peace, so it makes way, not only for to hope, but to abound in hope, Rom: 15.13.

10. It were good for such, they were continually laying to heart, this great and necessary duty, to wit, in a constant and continued Tract and way to foresake all other ground of hope besides GOD, that providing they could not with confidence say, that thei… hope was in GOD, yet that they could sincerly & freely declare that with their will they place… not their Hope and Confidence on any thing within themselves; Thus the Soul may have som… ground for winding up its Anchor, tho eve… under the power of dreadful unbelief.

11. It were good in such occasions, the did not per…mptorly and wickedly cast at t… ground of hope, which other wayes they mig… find, nor entertain an obstinate prejudic… against themselves, but ra…her lay that we… to heart, Heb: 10.35. Cast not away therefo… your confidence

The …hird …hing, which we have to spe… of, is the ground of Hope. Christ in you: A… these words may be co…si…ered three wayes.

First, In themselves, as holding forth p. 55great priviledge of Believers, in a near and inward Vnion with Christ.

Secondly, In so far as they hold forth the ground of this lively Hope.

Thirdly, In so far as they point out the Riches of the Glory of the Gospel, which is now revealed.

As to the First, Christ in you, These words hold forth the wonderful rich priviledge of Believers, in their Union and Communion with Christ, who is in them: For Understanding whereof, these following things, are worthy to be observed. As

1. This Union is one of the greatest Mysteries of the Gospel; However now we may wonder and admire, not being in case to take it up fully or understand the same, before we arrive in the Land of Light, where that which is imperfect, shall be done a way; The Apostle calls it a Mystery, yea, a Great Mystery, Eph: 5.32.

2. Though it be a great Mysterie, and so above our uptakings; Nevertheless, that we may understand so much thereof as is needful for our Comfort and Growth in Grace, let us consider that this Vnion in Scripture is held forth under diverse Similitudes.

(1.) Under the Similitude of the Union between Man and Wife in Marriage, Ephes: 5.31.32. As Man and Wife become on fl…sh, so Christ and the Believer become one Spirit, p. 561. Cor. 6.16, 17. Therefore he is spoken of, under the name of a Bridegroom, and the Church is called his Bride through the whole Song of Solomon, and John tells us Chap. 3.29 That he that hath the Bride is the Bridegr…m, So we read Revel: 21.9. Of the Bride the Lambs Wife: And as this is to express the usefulness and advantageousness of Christ to the Believer, and his Right and Interest in him, with what is his; So it is also to demonstra…e, as an evidence of the former, the near Vnio… and Communion, that is be…ween Christ an… them, whereby they are made one.

(…) Under the similitude o… that Union which is between the Root and the Branches Ioh: 15.1, 5. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches: See also Rom: 11.17. Which points o… th… absolute necessity of their depending o… him, for influences of Life and Strength; An… the necessity of their living and abidng in Him by Faith, for that end; And so to suck … and sap from Him continually, it holds forth also their close and inward Union wi…h Him that we in him are one Tree.

3 Under the similitu…e of that Union, whic… is between the head and the members. 1 Co… ▪ 12.12. Therefore the Head of every Man Christ, 1 Cor: 11.3. And he is the Head of … body, Eph: 4.15. and 5.23. Col: 1. … To shew that all the Influences of Life, wor… ing, motion and feeling, &c. are of him p. 57So that we live, move, and have our being of him; And can do no more without him, than a body without a Head; And therefore, there must be a near Union betwixt us and him.

(4) Under the similitude of an Union betwixt the Foundation and the Building, 1 Pet: 2.4.6. The Believer is built on him as lively stones, Christ is the chief corner stone of that Building, and it is in him, that all the building fi…ely framed together, groweth up into an holy Temple in the Lord; In whom they also are builded together for …nhabittation of God through the Spirit, Ephes: 2.21, 22. Which manifests that the Believer cannot subsist wi…hout him, more then a house can stand without a foundation; And therefore …hey must lean on him, and be firmely united …o him, other wayes they can neither stand nor …ubsist.

(5.) Under the similitude that is betwixt the Body and the Cloathing, or Armour; The Believer is said to put on the LORD Jesus Christ, Rom: 13.14. For as many of you, as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal: 3.…7. And he is put on as Cloath to defend from …he cold, and to cover their nak…dness, and …lso for addorning; So also is he pu… on as Ar…our for defending us against all spiritual enemies.

(6.) Under the similitude, that is betwixt the Accused and his Advocat, betwix… …he principal Debtor and his Cautione, who are as one p. 58person in Judgement; Therefore it is, that the Believer is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ, Eph. 1.3. Being choosen in him, v. 4. They are crucified with him, in a legal sense, Gal: 2.20. They are dead with him, Rom: 6 8. Col: 2.20. Buryed with him by Baptism unto death, Rom: 6.4. Quickened together, and raised up together, and made to sit together in Heavenly Places, Ephes. 2.5.6. Planted together in the likeness of hi… Death, and shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection, Rom: 6 5. Yea, and their Life is bid with him in God, Col: 3 3. So are they said to be heirs, and joynt heirs with him, Rom: ….17. All which palpably hold forth a real and legal Union betwixt Christ and Belivers to their Joy, Comfort, and satisfaction: Christ being their Cautioner, stands oblidged for them, and answers in Judgement for them, as a Head and publick person appearing for them. As Adam, was in respect of his posterity, so …his second Adam, this last Adam, as he is called, 1 Cor: 15.45 47. Who is a quickening Spirit, and Lord of Heaven, he appears as a Head, and publick person, all his Spiritual posterity, he binds and oblidges himself for them, in a Covanant with GOD; And having satisfi…d …or them, he is risen from the dead, and became the first fruits of them that sl…p…; And in him shall all his Spiritual seed be made alive, v. 22,

p. 593. This Vnion is held out to us in some other Expressions, which are most pathetick and condescending; As when Christ and they are called one seed, Gal: 3.16. One Body, 1 Cor: 12.13.27. 1 Cor: 6.16.17. And make up one Mystical Christ, 1 Cor: 12.12.

4. This Vnion, is inward; It is a mutual inbeing, for as here, he is said to be in us, and Rom: 8.10. Gal: 2.20. 2 Cor: 13.5. Ephes: 3.17. So, we are said to be in him, Rom: 8.1. 1 Cor: 3▪ 1. 2 Cor: 1.21. and 5.17. and 12.2. Rom: 16.7. Philip: 3.9. and. 4.…1. He in us, and we in him, Ioh: 14.20. O how wonderful and inconceiveable is this Vnion.

5. This Vnion hath some likness and resem…lance, with that Union which is betwixt the …ather and Christ, Ioh: 17.11.21.22. That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and in thee, and again, that they may be one, even as we are one.

6. This Vnion, is not only between Christ …nd the Souls of Believers, but also between Christ and their Bodies; For their Bodies are said to be Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor: ….19. And by the vertue of this Union, their dead Bodies, shall be again raised in the last …ay: For, if we believe that Iesus died, and rose …gain, even so them, which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him, 1 Thes. 4.14.

7. This Vnion is not only near and inward, p. 60but also durable & lasting; Therefore, he is no… only in us, but dwelleth in us, Ephes: 3.17. And we are said to abide in him, Joh: 15 6.7. And as we are dead in Christ, 1 Thes: 4.14 Rev: 14.13. Even so, in Christ shall we be made alive, 1 Cor: 15.22. And with him, 1 Thes: 4.14. So, that death cannot loose that knot, otherwayes the hope and comfor… of the Believer, which proceedeth from thi… Union, were loose and unsure; For if in thi… life only they had hope in Christ, they were of all men most miserable, 1 Cor: 15.19. with Rom. 8.11.

8. As it is excellent, near and inward, so greatly useful; There being no life, strength working, moving, growth, or fruitfullness without it: — If any Man have not the Spirit o… Christ, he is none of his, Rom: 8.9. Chris… Jesus must be in us, except we be Reprobate… 2 Cor: 13.5.

9. We must be careful, not to have perverted uptakings of this Vnion betwixt Chris… and a Believer, or of Christs In being in a Believer; That is, we are not to have carnal uptakings thereof; As it were such an Union, as between the clay & the thing formed thereof, o… betwixt the vessel, and the water that is in it, … betwix… things confounded and mixed togethe… in one: Nor are we to take it up, in a way an… wayes derogatory thereto; As if it were a substantial Vnion, such as there is, among th… p. 61Persons of the Trinity, or between Christs GOD-…had and Manhood: Nor should we think prophanlie of it, as if it were a meer phansie or notion. But we are so to apprehend it, as a real, tho Mystical, Mysterious and Spiritual Union, having Real and Spiritual Effects in Life and Death, and after Death, to wit, Peace with God, Reconciliation, Redemption, Remission of sins, Justification, Adoption, Approaching to God with Confidence, Santification, Comfort, Joy in the Holy Ghost, a Joyful Resurrection and Eternal Glory.

10. As this Union is Spiritual in it self, so …t is made up through a Spiritual Bond of Means; For, as it is, through Faith on our part, Eph: 3.17. So through the Spirit on his part, the which is promised in the New Covenant, Ezek: 36 27. Isa: 59 21. Christ hath promised to send him, Ioh. 15.26. And he must abide with us for ever, I…hn. 14.16. Therefore Christ and they are called one Spirit, 1 Cor: 6.16, 17.

But to come more particularly to the purpose, we shall now point out and demonstrate, …n what respect he is to be in the Beli…ver, Christ in you: We may apprehend Christ to be …n the Believer, in these respects.

1. As a King in his Kingdom, si…ting upon his Throne, Ruling and Defending it by his Laws …nd Statutes, preserving it by his Wisdom p. 62from intestine Ruptures, Divisions and B…oyl… and by his strength and mighty Pow…r fro… Outlandish Invasions; So is Christs Re…gni… as Head, Law-giver, and great Command… in the Souls of his People, by h…s Laws a… Statutes; So is he said to Reign over the house … Iacob — Luk: 1.33. with 1 Joh: 4 4.

2. As the Master of a Family in his ow… House, where he dwells with Contentmen… Ease, Satisfaction, Pleasure and Delight, … beholding his House: Even so, Christ …wel… in the Hearts of his People, Eph: 3.17 A… therefore called his own house, Heb: 3.6. And an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph: … 22. Christ standing before the door, promiseth to such as will open to him, to come it Revel: 3.20.

3. Christ is in the Believer, as a Tradseman in his Shop, doing the Work of his Calling; I say, so is Christ advancing the Work o… Grace in the Believer, for beliveth in them Gal: 2.20. And if Christ be in you, the body i… dead because of sea, but the Spirit is Life, becaus… of Righteousness, Rom, 8 10. As the GOD this World, that is the Devil, is and dwel… in them, to who… the Gospel is hid, and wh… are lost, blinding the minds of them, whic… believe not, 2 Cor: 4.3 4. And as the prince … the power of the air, that evil spirit doth wor… in the Children of disobedience, Ephes: 2.2… Even so, Christ having cast out this strong p. 63man, comes to the heart, and takes possession …hereof, and worketh therein, what is well pleasing in his eyes.

4. Like into one in his obtained possession, …nd in his Garden, deligh…ing himself in the …njoyment of what he hath gotten and purchased: Even so is Christ in Believers hav…ng purchased them unto himself, and that with his own Blood, p…ss…ssing them as his own, and there deligh…e…h he himself as in his Garden, Song. 6.2 My Beloved is gone down …nto his Garden, to the beds of Spices, to feed in …he Gardens, and to gather Lillies.

So, that this Expression, Christ in you, holds …orth. (1) Christ reco0ncilled with them by Faith; He stands no more at the door knock…ng, but he is let in, and there is peace betwixt Him and …hem, he is come in. (2.) Christs …nward Affection to them; He cannot but love …hem, in whom he dwells and abides; In whose bosome he layeth his head, and in whose Heart he hath his Throne. (3) …hrists …pecial acknowledging them …o be his ransom…d Ones; for his peculiar Treasure, for his House, and constant dwelling Place. (4.) Christs working in them, the work of Holy…ess, and drawing in them more and more …vely Draughts and Lineaments of his new …mage, that the new Man of Grace▪ may be …tronger and stronger, & they made more and …ore conformable to the Prince of their p. 64Salvtion in all the Graces of the Spirit. (5.) Christs reigning and sweying his Scepter in the Soul; And that his Laws are obeyed, his Statutes followed, and that there is no willing subjection to any other Master; That Christ having cast out the old tyrant & usurper, he is acknowledged as the Alone and Lawful Soveraign. (6) Christs resting himself in his Love to them; For where he loves, there i… his resting place, there he makes his abode, (7.) Christs being in them, as their life, the Fountain and Well spring of all Life and Operations, Gal: 2.20. (8.) In a word, It holds sorth …hat Christ is in them, to do in and for them, to bring them up to Glory, to lead them through difficulties, to strengthen them against opposition, to comfort them against discouragements, and to support them under crosses, and so in the end to bring them home.

Question, But how is He in the Believer?

I Answer, He is there, not only as GOD; For so is he over all, neither is he there meerly as Man; For he is so in Heaven, at the Right Hand of the Father, where he must abide, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets, since the World began, Acts. 3.21. Bu… as Mediator, not in Person, but by his Viceroy, and great Lord keeper of his Room, the Holy Ghost; For he is the Comforter, that p. 65…hall ever abide with us; And for whom Christ prayed the Father, and w…m he was …o send, Ioh: 14.16, 17.26. Io… : 15.26, and 16.7.13.

Question, But is it by the Spirit himself, that Christ lives and abides in the Believer; Or is …t alone by the Graces, Effects and Operations of the Spirit?

Answer, By whatever of the two it be, by this way of Christs in dwelling, is every way strong ground of Consolation, and affords solide Joy, and a sure well grounded Hope of Glory. Notwithstanding, there are several Expressions in Scripture that seems to plead …or the Spirit himself. As

1. The Believer is said to be the Temple of God & of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor: 3.16, 17. and 6.19. Which gives to know more than that they have his Graces, as the design & ground of the Apostles reasoning holds forth, Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God? And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy: For the Temple of God as holy, which Temple ye are. Here three times they are called GODS Temple, And not only so, but as if the Apostle would further lay forth the business, he adds, And that the Spirit of GOD dwelleth in you: All which may be said very properly of a Person, and more properly than of any work wrought by the Spirit. To the same purpose the p. 66Apostle speaketh, 1 Cor: 6.19. What, know ye not, that▪ your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God— The Holy Ghost is said to be in them as a Temple.

2. The Spirit is spoken of as a Gift, with a d…fference from his Works and Effects o… Grace; — Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given us, Rom: 5.5. Here is the Grace of Love wrought by the Holy Ghost; And moreover the Apostle sayes, that it is by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us; So that the Holy Ghost himself is given as a special Gift, besides that of his Fruit and Operations in the Soul; Compared with Ezek: 36.27. And I will put my Spiri… within you.

3. Christ promises to send him in h… Room, and mentions him alwayes as a Person▪ that he will send to dwell and abide with them, to work in them; …o saith he, Iob. 14.16▪ 17. And I will pray the Father, and he shall giv… you another comforter, that he may abide with yo… for ever (So that it is the Comforter himsel… that he promiseth here, and not simply h… Comforts) And who is this Comforter? Eve… the spirit of Truth, whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, b… ye know him: And as if this were not sufficien… he adds further, for he dwelleth with yo… and shall be in you: And yet further, v. 26. Bu… the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost p. 67whom the Father will send in my Name, He shall teach you all things — So that the Comforter himself as distinguished from his teaching, is promised here, And Ioh: 15.26. He is also promised as contradistinguished from his Operations, and testifying o… Christ.

4. The Believer is said to have the Spirit, So that they belong not to Christ, who have not have the Spirit of Christ, Rom: 8.9. He is said to dwell in them, Rom: 8.11. 1 Cor: 3.16. 2 Tim: 1.14. To be with them Ioh: 14.17. And to be in them, Rom: 8.11.— By his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

5. Not only doth the Spirit help our infirmities▪ which is through Grace; But the Spirit himself, is said to make intercession for us with groaninos which cannot be uttered, which āpears to be somewhat other, that is given them then the meer Graces of the Spirit; And that because there immediately follows, And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, Rom: 8.27.

6. The Believer is said to be sealled with the holy Spirit o… promise; And he is the earnest of our Inheritance, Eph: 1.13, 14. And given as a seal and Pledge, Eph: 4.30. The earnest of the Spirit is given in their hearts, 2 Cor: 1.22 So also 2. Cor: 5.5. which seems to hold out more than his Fruits.

7. Therefore the Believer is commanded not only, not to quench the Spirit, Ephes: 5. p. 6819. which may have respect to his Operations, and Indrawings of Grace in the Soul; But also, not to grieve the Spirit, Ephes: 4.30. Which seems to import the dwelling of the Spirit in them.

8. It is by vertue of this Union betwixt the Spirit and the believer, that their very dust is raised up in the last day; so that God by the Spirit that dwelleth in them, shall quicken their mortal bodies, Rom: 8.11. This Spirit then that dwelleth in them, must be somewhat else, then his Graces, for by these, the mortal bodies are not quickened. And he is called the Spirit of Him that raised up Iesus from the dead,

9. He is said to be sent forth into their Hea…ts, crying Abba Father, Gal: 4.6.

10. David prayeth expresly, Psal: 51.11. That the LORD would not take his Holy Spirit from him.

Vse, 1. This is a noble point of Truth, and full of many grounds o… Comfort: And how could Believers other wayes then rejoyce, providing this Union betwixt Christ and them were believed? Did they know that Christ were in them, keeping house in them, dweling with them, with joy and satisfaction, would it not make them sing under all adversity. And that upon a four fold account. 1. Upon the account of the great Honour which i… brought to them thereby, even to them, who p. 69formerly were meer cages of unclean spirits, and yet still have much coorruption abiding in them: That the King of Zion, who is King of kings, LORD of Lords, Heir of all, the Brightness o… his Fathers Glory, and the express Image of his Person, Heb: 1.3. Who is the Image of the invisible GOD, the first borne of every Creature, Col: 1.15. That he (I say) should come and loege with them, lodge in their Heart, within their Soul; That he whom the Heaven of heavens cannot contain, that is High and Lofty, who dwells in Eternity, should live with such a One, and be united with such: O what incomprehensible Honour is this! Elizabeth cryed once with great admiration, And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke. 1.43. And may not the Believer with much more admiration cry out, And whence is this to me, that my Lord himself should come to me? And not only so, but come to me, and dwell and abide with me? 2. Here is great comfort on the account of profit and advantage: Have they the Heir of all things, so near to them and with them, living in them, what can they then want? For if Christ be theirs, all things are theirs, life, death, …hings present, and things to come, 1 Cor, 3.22, 23. Hath GOD given Christ, and shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom: ….32. And what can they lack that have all things? what can they want, who have Him p. 70in them, in whom dwells all the fullness of the God head bodily? Col: 2.9. What want they who have Heaven? And can they want Heaven within them, who have Christ within them? They are compleat in him, Col: 2.10. Which is …he Head of all principality and power. 3. Here is comfor upon the account of safety; Who, or what can harm them, who have preservation or salvation wi…hin them? Christ the Author of Eternal Salvation within them. O what security for them, in whom he is! What can tribulation or distress, or famine or n…kedness, or peril or sword do to such? can they separate him, who is become a Habitation for Christ, from the love of GOD, which is in Christ Jesus? No, no; can the ship drown wherein Christ is? Can fire or water, harm a Soul, who is a Habitation for Christ? What can satan do against Christs lodging? Can he, or dare he cast it down? 4. Here is Comfort upon the account of security and tranquility: For who can weaken and endamage their right to Glory, that allready have begun Glory in the soul, to wit, Christ the hope of Glory? can satan or the world make such an one miserable? No, surely; greater is He that is in them, then he that is in the world, 1 Ioh: 4.4. What surer pledge of Heaven and Salvation, can the soul have, then a begun possession? What is Heaven, other then a life of Communion with GOD, in the nearest and p. 71strictest degre…? And … stricte… Union can any have with Christ than to have him in them?

Vse, 2 Unbelievers and strangers …o Christ, may hence gather these princ…pal Points for their better improvement o… …he …oresaid Truths. 1. Have n… mean …hough…s …f …he life and state of B…liev…rs; You s…e to what they are …x…l…ed, h…wever contemp…able in the eyes of …he World: despise you such an incomprehensi…le …ch advantage? I… is no such despic…ble and mean Life as, you phansie: Have then a higher esteem thereof, if you would be truely Wise. 2. Again, on the other hand, ponder seriously, what a fearful and m…serable condi…ion i… is, wher…in ye are who are strange…s to Christ; And in place of Christ in you, the H…pe of Glory, ye have satan …n you, working th… w…ks of darkness, blinding the mind, left the light of the glorious Gospel …f Christ, who is the Image of God, shouuld shine unto you, 2 Cor: 4 4. Be…ng without Christ, …o ye have no hope strangers from the Covenants …f promise, and without God, Ephes: 2 21. Without a Leader and Commander, Isa: 55.

Without Protect…on or …oy, and w…thout …ll that …s good. 3 Do no… only think on it, …ut dwell on the thoughts of it, until that your …earts be wrough… up to a real sorrow and …rief, that ye have been so long in such a con…ition, and have keeped Christ so long at the p. 72door, and so have foresaken your own Mercies, and have loved death rather then life Ionah. 2.8. Prov: 8 36.4. Endeavou… earnestly to win free of this estate, and to b… Partakers of this singular and unspeakable advantage, to have Christ in you. Seek unto to him, who hath the Kings keys, and the k…ys of of David, and that openeth and no ma… shutteh, That he may put his hand into the hol… of the lock, and cast open the leaves, and unbolt the dear of your heart and come in. 5▪ Whatever ye do, Be carefull that ye w…on… none of them, Ye see who is near han… them, and whose House and Habitation …hey are: Do …hem no hurt, left ye bring on you… selves, the wrath of him that dwelleth i… them.

Vse, 3 For Application of these comfortable Truths aright, there are several Dutie… required of Believers themselves.

1. They must make use of Christ for Light Counsel and Direction in all their wayes; Seeing …e is so near unto you, that he is even within you, then make all your difficulties know… unto him; Undertake nothing without his Advice: Believers are to trust in the Lord wit… all …heir heart, and in nothing to lean unt… their own understanding, acknowledging him in all th…ir wayes, and he shall direct thei… path…, Pr… : 3 5.6. Thus therefore, as the… received Christ Jesus the Lord, so should the… p. 73walk in him, Col. 2.6. Setting him up for their Patern and Example, and so walking as be walked in the World, in all Humility, Pati…nce, Love, Zeal, Holiness and Uprightness, …hat thereby it may appear that Christ is in …hem, and that they are rooted and built up …n him, and established in Faith.

2. They must lay to Heart that great Duty of growing in Grace, and bearing Fruit in him, Ioh. 15.2. That this Union with Christ may appear; For when found fruitful in him, …hen it appears that they are united unto a Fruitful and sappy Root, and that the foun…ain of Life and influences is in them: And on …his account are they to be the more diligent in …hese following Duties. As 1. Live in the constant and real Convictions of your Impo…ency to do any thing of your selves, knowing …hat ye are not sufficient of your selves, to …hink any thing as of your selves, 2 Cor. 3.5. …. Acknowledges that all your sufficiency is in Christ, through whom ye can do all things, …hilip. 4.13. Believe his All-sufficiency and …eadiness to help and bear through Difficulties, …ll such, who will imploy him and his Grace. …. In confidence hereof, go to him for help, …epend on him for assist…nce, according to the …romises, lay the weigh… of the Duty on him …y Faith. 4. Lean and rest on him by Faith: …nd so venture upon every commanded Duty …ith uprightness of Heart.

p. 743. The Believer must lay to Heart the Du…y of rejoycing in him, and of boasting alone in him: And that in these respects. 1. As having all what they have, in and through, and for him alone: As also all they have to expect for the making of them compleatly happy, must run through this Channel, so tha… the Believer is alone Compleat in him, Col. 2.10.2. Because they will find all their wants, through Lo…ses, Crosses, Tossings, sharp D…spensations, &c. Richly made up in Him, in whom Dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead Bodily. Col. 2.9. For He is in the…, 3. Because, that through Him they are brought to the highest pitch of Honour and Credite imaginable, as having Christ abiding and dwelling in them. 4. Because that through Him they have the …urest hope of seeing God, and of dwelling in Glory eternally; For Christ in them is the hope of Glory. 5. Because that in Him they have cause to triumph over Death, Hell, the Grave and Corruption, and over a Body of Death, Rom. 7.24, 25. 1 Cor. 15.55.6. Because they have him near at hand, to go to, is all their Needs, Miseries, Doubts and Questionings, Weakness, &c. He is ever at hand, for he is in them.

4. Seeing Christ is come so near unto them, that He is in them; so they are to keep near Communion and Fellowship wi…h him; and that in these following respects. 1. That they p. 75converse with him in their thoughts, separating themselves from all others, singly to speak with him, adoring and admiring his Love and Condescendency towards them, and with delight continuing in the Meditation of his Person, Offices and Mediatory Works, &c. 2. That they be often speaking with him in Prayer: And thus keeping up a Correspondence with him, laying out all their wants before him, pouring out their Souls in his Bosome, going to him on all occasions. 3. That they seek advice of, and consult him in all Emergents, attempting nothing, without giving him notice first thereof. 4. That they set h…m up con…inually as their Patern, that they may be Followers of God as dear Children, Ephes. 5.1. He ha…h left us an example, that we should follew his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21.5. That they unbosome their whole Secrets to Him, seeing He is their Heart and bosome Friend, and seeing this is the real and sure token and demonstration of resting in, and crediting of Him. 6. That …hey approach unto Him, or unto God through Him, with all Christian freedom and familia…ity, with an assurance of accep…ance, seeing He is come so near to the Soul: For in him, We have boldness and access, with confidence by the Faith of Him, E…hes 3.12. And through Him we …oth have an access, by one Spirit unto the Father, Ephes. 2 18.5 Seeing it hath pleased Christ, …o worthy and excellent a Guest, to take up p. 76Lodging in the Souls of Believers, they must beware of g…ieving Him: We should be loath to let a good Guest go to the door upon the account of our incivility. Now among other things, these following will grieve Christ and and provoke him to depart, (2.) In case we have not that high esteem of Him as we ought; any will soon weary in Company, where affronted and slighted. (2.) Providing due honour and Respect to him be not intertained and fostered, notwithstanding of all our forementioned freedom and familiarity with him: For homliness must not spill good Manners. He is a great King and Jealous God. A Sen Honoureth his Father, and a Servant his Master: If then I be a Father, where is mine Honour? And if I be a Master, where is my Fear? saith the Lord of Hosts, &c. Mal. 1.6. (3) Providing we have not strong, hearty, and sensible desires after him: For as Love and Kindness waxeth cold, so Friendship dryeth up. His Love i… strong, and love must be answered with love, otherwayes it turns into Jealousie; He is a jealous Lover; And as his Love has mounted far above all Love, yea above all the Love of Women, though distilled into one: Therefore we should carry our selves, as ever sensible hereof, continually praying that ou… Hearts might alwayes be directed into …he Lor… of God, 2 Thess. 3.5. And we keeped there… Iude v. 21. And may abound yet more and mor… p. 77Phil. 1.9. (4.) Providing we be carnally minded, this will chase him out of the Soul; Because the Carnal mind is enmity against God, Rom. 8.7. (5.) Providing we give free access to inward Corruption, that will exceedingly grieve him: For he is come expr…sly into the Soul, to break that yoke of bondage; And to deliver the poor Soul from the Tyranny of Sin: And when man willingly subjects unto his unreconcilable enemies, it is a direct and open declaring, and proclaiming our unwillingness to intertain him longer in the Soul, and a seeking these beastly, self and Soul-ruining Lusts and Desires above him: An… that cannot but grieve him, when he sees Satans company more prized then his. (6) Providing we disesteem and undervalue his Doctrine, Leading, Counsel and Advice, resisting his Motions, and tr…mpling on his Laws; This will make him weary of his Lodging, when we are not so ready as formerly to do what a Friend desires us, and when not so willing to take his Advice, and to follow it, then it is a Symptome, that we are jealous of him, and wearied of his company. (7) Providing we be lazie and sloathful in Duty: This will grieve the Spirit, because he is dishonoured thereby, and in effect declared to be a dry sapless Root, when the branches in him are seen without Fruit, notwithstanding o… all their fair leaves.

p. 786. Is Christ so affable and gracious, that he takes up lodging in poor Souls? Then they should heartily welcome him, and let him know so much: And that 1. By giving him the Throne, and the head of …he Table, with the best place in the House, for he is worthy: He is the Lord of Hosts, the Master, the Husband, the kindly Suitor; Hereby we manifest our high esteem and burning Love towards H…m, as knowing that none is to be compared wi…h him. 2. To make him the more welcome, we should call in all our scattered Desires and wandering Aff…ction…, which now are spent and set loose in hunting after the scum of empty shaddowy Vanities, and g… ther them in, and direct them all towards him▪ as to the Center: As being only worthy of a…l Love and Affect…on; for He is altogether a…d wholly Lovely, Song 5 16 And the Desire of all Nations, Hag. 2.7 3. We should to the u… termost of our Power, lay out our selves … Him, sparing no cost nor Labour to pleas… Him, and to evidence our sincere affections towards him. 4. We should give him his whole will and Command over us, and over what is ours; so that all our Power, Wisdom, Will, Conscience, Memory, Affections, &c. With all the Members of our Body attend his Command; so as he might ever freely take and dispose of us and ours, according to his good pleasure, without opposition or gainsaying, p. 79whereby he might be the more freely Master of the House, and freely make us… of all, according to his Will. 5. We sh…uld side with him against all that would oppose him in our Souls; And by his Au…hority, and through his Strength, we should put to the door, all that are enemies to him and his Interest in our Soul…: were it the right eye, or the cutting …ff of the right hand, if in opposition to him. 6. We should with cheerfulness and outstreched Hearts, run in the wayes of his Commandments, and do his will with delight and readiness, and seek to know what might please or displease him, tha… the one might be done, and the other eshewed, whatever might follow thereupon.

7. Hath Christ so far honoured the poor Believer, as to come under a roof with him, yea as to come into his Heart, to dwell and abide there; And should they not s…k all occasions again to honour him? Namely, 1. They should put the Crown upon his Head, and behold King Solomon, with the Crown, wherewith his Mother crowned him, in the day of his Espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his Heart. 2. They should earnestly and carefully observe all the Precepts and Ordinances in the Wo…sh…p, whereby he is publickl… and solemnly served and honoured in the World; This is the honour and open Testimony of Respect he calls for The sons of Eli, honoured him not thus, ne… ther p. 80Nadab and Ab…hu, nor Vzza, nor the Bethshemites, wherefore his fierce anger was powered forth against them. 3. They should recommend him to the Love and Esteem of others, speaking good of him in all Companies, laying forth his Beauty and desireableness at the Bride doth, Song. 2. And so engaging and perswading others to love him. 4. They would so carry themselves, that others that look upon them, may see a desireable Lovelyness and Beauty in Christianity, That is, by walking chearfully in the wayes of GOD, that others may not be scarred therefrom, through their sad and dejected carriage, as if there were no reason of Joy and Gladness of heart in the Service of GOD, and as is he were an unkindly and hard Master, whom they serve.

8. Is Christ himself within the Believer, then surely they are called to walk so, that all that notice them, may distinctly see, and freely say, that such have not only been with Christ, but that they are continually with him, and he with them, and that he lodges and lives in their Souls: And for that effect. 1. They should have a care, that they be not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of their minds, Rom: 12.2 That it might be manifest, that they serve another Master, then the world serves, and that they are moved and led by another Spirit. 2. Their hearts should be lifted up in the wayes of the Lord; p. 81As it was with the Heart of that good King, 2 Chron: 17.6 3. Their walk and carriage should be singular, Heavenly and Spiritual, as being above the World, and the vanities thereof, as having their Hearts and desires in Heaven, Where Christ sitteth on the Right Hand of GOD, Col: 3.1. And as having their Conversation in Heaven, Phil: 3.20. And as it becometh the Gospel, Phil: 1.27. Having Christ in them, so should they be dead and crucified to the World. 4. Thus having Christ in them, whose eyes are at a fl…me of fire, who sees their whole carriage, and knows the frame of their Hearts, they should endeavour in their whole carriage and walk to be upright and without hypocrisy, that they may present themselves pleasant before him, who sees the secrets of of the Heart; For our rejoycing is this, saith the Apostle, 2 Cor: 1.12. The Testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, no… with fleshly wisdom, but by the Grace of GOD, we have had our conversation in the World, &c. Wherefore laying aside — all guile and hypocrisies, — 1 Pet: 2.1.5. They should then make it appear that Christ is in them, by serving him after a lively manner; So it is not sufficient to follow Duti…s, but to perfo…m them as living in Christ, or as having Christ, living in them, as having the Fountain of Life within them, and the Bread of Life; Therefore are they to present their bodies a living sacrifice unto GOD, p. 82Rom: 12.1. And shew forth themselves as lively stones—built up a Spiritual House, — 1 Pet: 2 …5.6. They must also make this evident by their Zealous way of walking, seeing Christ hath a loathing at lukewarmness, Rev: 3 15:16. That they are Zealous of good Works, Tit. 2.14.7 Their Christian carriage should fill them with Joy and Gladness, as delighting themselves in the Law of the LORD, and rejoycing in serving and pleasing of him. 8. They must walk in the fear of the LORD, and be in his fear all the day long, and carry themselves circumspectly and tenderly, as in the sight of Jesus Christ, who is in them, and locketh upon them, wherever they be, and in whatever they are doing.

9. Is Christ come into their Souls to work his work, then the… should not suffer him to be idle, bu… g…ve him employment: He accounts Employment the greatest Friendship, and best Reception that we give him; To wit, 1. That he teach and lead them in the wayes of GOD; Thus he getts Employment as a Prophet. 2. That he command and lead them as a King; Wh…reas … corruptions diverts from following the Dicta…es of his Spirit; He is given for a leader and commander to the People, Isa: 55.4. And for that end, he must be employed. 3. Tha… he w…sh …hem from their da…ly polu…ions, seeing he i… a fountain opened to the House of David, and to the …nhabitants of J…rusalem, for sin p. 83and uncleanness, Zach: 13.1. His blood cleanseth us from all sin, 1 Joh: 1.7. And he is faithful, &c: …: 9.4. That he pray for them as an Advocate with the Father, being a Propitiation or at…onement for their sins, 1 Ioh: 2.1, 2. — Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them, Heb: 7.25 5. That he renew & sanctity them wholly in Spirit, & Soul, and Body, that he renew them wholly in the inward Man; So that the new Man of Grace may grow, and corruption may be brought under. 6. That he strengthen them, with all might, according to his Glorious power, unto all patience and long s…ffering with Joyfullness Col: 1.11. That he may grant them, according to the riches of his Glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, in the Inner-man, Ephes: 3.16. That they may be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Ephes: 6.18.7 That he may refresh and enliven the…, when sicking and fainting under fears, weakness, outbreakings of corruption, hidings of the Lords Face, or such like. 8. In a wo…d, that he may make them confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in …hem, will pe…form it, until the day of Ies…s Christ, Phil: 1.6. That in him they may perfect their Holiness in the fear of G…D, 2 Cor: 7.1. That so the work may be C…owned to his Glory: That they may be presented to him, A glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle,—but that they should be Holy and without blemish, Ephes. 5.27.

p. 8410. Seeing Christ is so near them, that he himself, is in them, so they should have their retreat to him, in all their difficulties, for help and deliverance: And that 1. when distempered wi…h doubtings and discouragements an…nt their State, present frame, or Duties: For with him is the Fountain of Life, and in his Light shall we see Light, Psal. 36 9.2. When they are assaulted with sinking dis…ouragements, so that they cannot stand and subsist under their burdens: For in him alone, and in the strength of his power, can they be strengthned: He can make them renew their strength, and mount up with Wings as Eagles, to run and not be wearied, Isa 40.31, 3. Or when disordered with outward losses or crosses; For he only can make up all their losses, and fully satisfy, being an incomparable portion, Ier. 10.16.4. When they are confounded with fears, whether from the breaking forth of Corruptions, or from the deceitfulness of their own Heart, the cuningness of Satan, the weakness of Grace, the accusations of Conscience, &c. Seeing he is a present help upon all occasions, and easily with a blink of his Countenance, can drive away all these clouds and grounds of fear.

Having now gi…en some Observations of these words, Christ in you; We come now to speak of them, in so far as they are the ground of the hope of Glory: And so they teach us, p. 81that Christ in the Soul, is a most sure, clear and certain ground of a lively hope of Glory, which we shall manifest and confirm with these Scriptural Reasons.

1. All such in whom Christ is and Lives, He hath purchased and bought with his Blood, Gal. 2.20. Christ liveth in me (saith he) and then addeth, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Such are bought with a price, both Soul and Body, 1 Cor. 6.20. And seeing Christ hath bought them so Dear, and taken possession of them, as of his peculiar Treasure, what is there that can afford ground once to call in question▪ or doubt of their Salvation, they are bought unto Glory, and Glory is purchased unto them, and Christ possesseth them as such, and so they are certain of Glory. 2. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus, Rom. 8.1. And who are in Christ, the same hath Christ in them, as is clear from what fol…ows in that Text, ver. 9.10.3. That Christ is in the Soul, sayes, that however they were once without Christ, yet now are they made …igh by the Blood of Christ; Who is our Peace, …nd hath reconciled us unto God, Ephes 2.12, 13, 14, 16. Reconciled Souls shall certainly possess Glory. 4. Christ is called our Life; And our Life is hide with him in God, Col. 3.3, 4. They then that have him in them, may be …ssured of Eternal Life. 5. Such in whom Christ lives, shall be Filled with all the fulness of p. 82God, as we see Ephes. 3.17, 19. That is, until begun Grace here, be perfected in Glory hereafter, where we shall be filled fully and compleatly with the fulness of God, enjoying his pres…nce in immediate Communion with him, so full as we shall be able to contain.

Ioh. 17.23, 24.6. Christ is made for all such, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. 1 Cor. 1.30 How then can they be deprived of Salvation? 7. Such are the Children of God, as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. Who are led by the Spirit, have the Spirit o… Christ in them, ver. 9, 10, 11. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God, ver. 14 And if Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and joynt Heirs with Christ, ver. 17. So that Christ in them, must be a certain and sure hope of Glory 8. Providing Christ be in them, then The Spirit is Life (saith the Apostle, Rom. 8.10.) Because of Righteousness: That is, their Soul and Spirit is already living, by vertue of Christs Righteousness, and the Life of Glory is begun in them, therefore they shall live the Life of Glory hereafter. 9. These that have Christ in them they have received Abundance of Grace, and of the Gift of Righteousness, through Christ living in them; And so shall certainly Reign in Life by Him, Rom. 5.17.10. Such who have Christ in them, they are quickned together with Him, yea they are raised up together in Heavenly p. 83places in Christ Iesus. Ephes. 2.5, 6. Christ takes possession in their Name, and they in him, as their Head and Agent: And so in effect, and in respect of legal Certainty, they have present possession of Glory; so that Christ in them, must be the assured hope of Glory.

For further clearing and confirming hereof, observe these following Considerations. To wit. 1. That Christs being and living in the Soul, gives us to know the greatest Love and Respect He hath for that Soul: And whom he Loves. He Loves unto the end, Ioh. 13 1. And what can separate the Soul from his Love, Rom. 8.38, 39.2. Christs coming into a Soul, intimates his union therewith, which union is fast, and who can loose it? And being one with him, and united with him, so they shall be alwayes with him: He hath prayed, that they might be with him, wher… he is, that they might behold his Glory, Ioh. 17.24. He will not want his Servants: For where he is, there they must be also, Joh: 12.26.3. Christs being in the Soul, holds forth his protection; He …s in them, to own and defend them; & who can wrong them whom Christ defends? Whom Christ defends, the Father defends also, Joh. 10.27, 28, 29, 30. My sheep hear my voise, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. p. 84My Father which gave them me, is greater then all, …nd no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand. I and my Father are one. 4. Christ is in them, taking possession of them, as of his own purchase: And who shall, or can take his Possession over his head? Because greater is He, that is in them, then he that is in the World, 1 Joh. 4.4.5. He is in them, as fitting and preparing them for Glory, and Sanctifying and cleansing them, With the washing of Water by the Word: That He might present them to himself a Glorious Church, not having spot or wrinckle, or any such thing, but that they should be Holy and without blemish, Ephes. 5.26, 27.6. He is in them by his Spirit, as the pledge and earnest of Glory, Ephes. 1.13, 14. 2 Cor. 1.22.7. In a word, that he is in them, is begun Glory, Glory in the Seed, and in the out-sprouting: He is in them, working the work of Grace, and that is the foundation of Glory: Here they have begun Communion with him, and that shall never be broken off, but be carried on to a more imm… diate, sweet, full, and uninterrupted Fellowship in Glory; so that Christ in the Believer, can be no other thing then the sure hope of Glory.

Vse 1. This Truth makes way for confuting 1. Papists, who are against assurance of Salvavation, and who defend and teach, that we are to fear and doubt all the dayes of our Lif… ▪ For if Christ in us, be the assured hope of Glory, p. 85then undoubtedly▪ some of these, in whom Christ dwelleth attain to this assurance: For some of them come through Grace to see, that Christ dwells and abids in them. 2. It is for confutation of Arminians, who lay a sure foundation for the doubting of Papists, in …aying, that the Saints may fall away, and that wholly and finally: But providing that were true, then Christ should not be the Hope of Glory in the Saints: For, according to that Doctrine, he could be in us to day, and not tomorrow, and so his being in us, could be no hope of Glory. 3. It is for confutation of Antimonians, who deny Sanct…fication to be any evidence of Justification; notwithstanding we see that Christ in Believers, is a sure and fast ground of the hope of Glory: Now his being in them is through the work of Sanct…fication. 4. For confu…ing of poor deceived Souls, who build their Hope of Glory on some other thing. As (1) Upon an imagination that God is merciful; which can afford them no more ground of the hope of Glory, then to all living, yea then to Devils. (2) Who build their hope upon their naked fancy of their good Heart, which is most false, the Heart being Deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: So is it an undoubted token that Christ is not in them: For since He i… Light, so should he discover their deceitfulness unto them: So that it can never be a p. 86ground of Hope, but a sufficient foundation of a real imagination, and of a dreadful deceit. (3.) Who build their hope upon their innocency and freedom from scandalous outbreakings; with the Pharisee Luke 18 Yea a Heathen will pretend more then they. (4) Who build upon their Civility and Sobriety, which readily they may have through a soft nature & humor, through good education, & corrupte… by ends, which may be a ground of self-deceiving, though never of the hope of Glory. (5.) Who bui…d on ou…ward diligence and carefulness, after publick Worship, wherein a Pharisee may go beyond them, and which at most but holds forth, that they have a Name they live, and yet are dead. Dead and formal Worship, is no assured hope of Glory. (6) Who build on the forsaking some Lusts and former evil practises, to which they were formerly addicted; whereas notwithstanding Satan may have a sure and certain Poss…ssion of their Soul.

Vse 2. This Truth serves to inform us of these two. 1. That the state of these, who are yet without Christ is very sad, and lamentable: For if without Christ, they have no hope of Glory: And what have they then, though they had the World at their disposal, and were swiming in Pleasure…? Alas! they want that, which might sweeten the want of all other things, to wit, the hope of Glory. 2. p. 87That the condition of those, who have fled to Christ, and have gotten that noble Guest, Christ in them, is unspeakably happy: For let their outward Estate be here in the World, what it will, they may Sing in the hope of the Glory of God; having Christ in them, so they have the assuredest hope of Glory imaginable: They have Christ, who is the whole Covenant whereby Glory is ensured: They have him with…n their Souls, who already hath given them the possession of Glory, fitting them to have a Portion in the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: And who takes possession of them, that he and they may never more be separate.

Vse 3. This Doctrine contains also in it a Reproof. 1. To Unbelievers who notwithstanding they be wholly without Christ, and his Spirit, nevertheless dreams and imagins, that they have an undoubted right unto Glory; And so deceives themselves wi…h a vain and ungrounded hope, that all will be well with them at last. 2. For reproof to Believers, who have this assured ground of hope, nevertheless improves it not for their comfort and encouragement: But holds themselves up with doubtings and scruples concerning their Right and Inheritance; taking heed to the lying whisperings and temptations of Satan, and so lives in Terrors, sinful Fears and Unbelief, whereby they wrong and grieve the p. 88noble Spirit, who hath taken up quarters in their Soul, even for that end among others that they might have a lively hope of Glory and thereby be supported under the pressure of Terrors and Fea…s, strengthened against th… Soul troubling injections, and heart-distur… ing temptations of Satan, and comforted against all discouragements

Vse 4. Th…s Doctrine …olds out these following Duties to the Unbeliever. As 1. They ought to Labour to have this Truth, deeply rooted in their Hearts, that before Christ be in them, they can have no well grounded hope ever to see God in Glory. 2. That herein they are to be convinced of the necessity of giving ear unto the Call of the Gospel, and to give obedience thereunto, which is (as we shall after hear) that we receive Christ, the Prince of Life in our Souls. 3. That therefore there should be nothing so desirable to them, as to have Christ living and working in their Souls▪ and to rest on nothing less for a satisfying ground of the hope of Glory.

Vse 5. This Truth holds out unto us, the sure ground of the consolation of Believers, in whom Christ is: O! what cause of gladness and rejoycing have they, go as it will with them in the World: For though the World frown upon them, nevertheles… they may rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God, what…ver ground of sorrow, they may otherwayes p. 89have, as they see how it fares with them in the World, yet when they look within, and beholds the footsteps of Christ walking within them, and the Fruits of his living and abiding in them; so may they raise up themselves with unspeakable and excellent joy.

Objection, But it may be asked, how comes it then, that even such are more filled with fears and anxieties then others, concerning their Eternal Happiness and lively hope, and are continually in fears and doubting, possessing their Life often in sorrow?

Ans. 1. It is one thing to have Christ in us, and another thing to see him in us; This is a new and different Gift: And God may give the one, when he thinks good to with-hold the other. 2. The Lord may thus for wise and holy ends measure out his Favours: As he is a Soveraign, so he is also wise; he doth what he will, and yet doth all in deep Wisdom, for wise and holy ends: The Lord may have a high and Soveraign hand in this business, and may find …t necessar, so to keep them humble, tender, wa…chful and diligent in Duties: For he sees that readily, did they see how rich they were, they would forget bo…h God and themselves, not being well ball…ssed to carry such a high Topsail, and that thus they might come to boast and turn secure, and give too much advantage to Satan to assault and overcome them. 3. They may read…ly have a sinful h…nd p. 90therein themselves: And that (1) When they give too much heed to the lying Injections and temptations of Satan: It is not safe to entertain discourse with such an enemy, who is a Lyar and a Murderer from the beginning: He is too great a Sophist and Disputer for us. (2.) When they give too much way to corruption, which darkens all, and gives Satan advantage and occasion to accuse of Hypocrisy, and to alledge and say, providing Christ be in you, how is it so and so? (3) When by the false Injections of Satan, they Nick-name the work of Christ in them, consenting to the reproaches of the enemy, and joyning with him in affording Objections against all the work of Grace in their Soul: And thus having filled their mind with prejudices against themselves, through the instigation of Satan, they are not in case, either to receive, or accept of any right Information concerning their Souls. (4.) It may also f…ll out through their misunderstanding the true Nature and work of Grace, and of Christs being in them, imagining that nothing can be called or reckoned Christ in the Soul, but an exceeding great out-letting of the Spirit, carrying the Soul over all difficulties, accompanied with great joy and gladness, and with an eminent and great degree of Sanctification.