Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. How Christ is to be made use of, as the life, by one that is so dead and senselesse, as he cannot know what to judge of himself, or his own case, except that it is naught.
WE spoke something to this very case upon the matter, when we spoke of Christ as the Truth. Yet we shall speak alittle to it here; but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned: and therefore we shall speak alittle to those five particulars; and so,
1. Shew, what this distemper is.
2. Shew, whence it proceedeth, and how the soul cometh to fall into it.
3. Shew, how Christ, as the life, bringeth about a recovery out of it.
4. Shew how the soul is to be exercised, that it may obtaine a recovery: and
5. Answere some Questions or Objections.
As to the first: Beleevers many times may be so dead, as not only not to see and know, that they have an interest in Christ, and to be uncertaine, what to judge of themselvs; but also be so carried away with prejudices and mistakes, as that they will judge no otherwayes of themselves, than that their case is naught; yea and not only will'deny, or mis-call the good, that God hath wrought in them by his Spirit; but also reason themselves to be out of the state of grace, and a stranger to faith and to the workings of the Spirit: and hereupon will come to call all delusions, which some time they had felt, and seen in themselves: which is a sad distemper; and which grace in life would free the soul from.
This proceedeth (which is the second particular) partly from God's hideing of his face, and changing his dispensations, about them, and compassing them with clouds; and partly from themselves, and their owne mistakes: as
1. Judging their state, not by the unchangable rule of truth; but by the outward dispensations of God, which change upon the best.
2. Judging their state by the observable measure of grace within them; and so concludeing their state bad, because they observe corruption prevailing now and then, and grace decaying; and they perceive no victory over temptations, nor grouth in grace, &c.
3. Judging also their state by others; and so they suppose that they cannot be beleevers, because they are so unlike to others, whom they judge true beleevers. This is also to judge by a wrong rule.
4. Judging themselves by themselves, that is, because they look so unlike to what sometimes they were themselves, they conclude, that their state cannot be good, which is also a wrong rule to judge their State by.
5. Beginning to try and examine their …ase and State, and comeing …o no close or issue, so that when they have done, they are as uncleare and uncertaine, what to judge of themselves, as when they began: or
6. Taking little or no paines to try themselves seriously, as in the sight of God, but resting satisfied with a superficial trial, which can come to no good issue.
7. Trying and examineing, but, through the slight of Satan, and because pitching upon wrong marks, comeing to no good issue, but condemning themselves without ground.
8. There is another thing which occasioneth this misjudging, to wit, the want of distinctnesse and clearnesse in covenanting with Christ, and the ignorance of the nature of true saving faith.
As to the third particular. How Chist is Life to the beleever in this case.
I Answere. Christ manifesteth himself to be life to the soul, in this case.
1. By sending the Spirit of life, that Enlighteneth, Informeth, Perswadeth▪ and Sealeth.
2. By actuating grace so in the soul, that it manifesteth it self, and evidenceth it self to be there, as the heate and burning of a fire will discover it self, without other toakens.
The fourth particular, to wit, how the soul should be exercised, or how it should imploy Christ, for an outgate out of this, hath been abundantly cleared above, where we shewed, that beleevers in this case would
1. Be frequent in griping Christ, and closeing with Him as their alsufficient Mediator: and faith thus frequently acting on Him, may discover it self at length.
2. Look to Christ, that hath eye salve, and is given for a witnesse.
3. Keep grips fast of Him, though they be in the dark, and walk on, griping to Him.
4. Keep love towards Him and his working, and in exercise.
5. Beg of Him to cleare up their state by his Spirit, explaining the true marks of grace, and discovering the working of grace in the soul.
But it will be said (and so I come to the last particular) what if after all this, I remaine as formerly, as unable to judge aright of my State, as ever?
Ans. Yet, thou would continue griping Christ, loving Him, looking to Him, casting a lost dead soul, with all thy wants, upon Him, and minde this as thy constant work. Yea, thou would labour to be growing in these direct acts of faith: and learne to submit to God herein, knowing that those reflect acts are not absolutely necessary, and that thou should think it much, if He bring thee to heaven at length, though covered with a cloud, all thy dayes.
Obj. 2. But others get much more clearnesse?
Ans. I grant that: yet know, that every one geteth not clearnesse, and such as have it, have it not in the same measure▪ and must God give thee as much as He giveth to any other? What if thou could not make …hat use of it, that others do, but wax proud thereby, and forget thy self? Therefore, it will be best to give God liberty to dispense his favours, as He will, and that thou be about …hy commanded duty, the exercise of faith, Love, Feare, Patience, &c.
Obj. 3▪ But if at any time I gote a sight of my case, it would be some peace and satisfaction …o me?
Ans. I grant that, & what knowest thou, but …hou may also get that favour ere thou die? Why …hen will thou not waite his leasure?
Obj. 4. But the want of it in the mean time maketh me go heartlesly and discouragedly about …ommanded duties, and maketh that I cannot apply things distinctly to my self.
Ans. Yet the word of command is the same, …he offer is the same, and the encouragement is the same: why then should not thou be going …on, leaning to Christ in the wildernesse, even though thou want that comfortable sight?
Obj. 5. But it is one thing to want a cleare …ight of my state; it is another thing to judge my self, to be yet in the state of nature: and this is my case.
Ans. I grant this is the worste of the two: yet, …hat if thou misjudge thy self without ground▪ …hould thou not suffer for thine own folly? and …hom can thou blame but thy self? And if thou judge so, thou cannot but know▪ that it is thy duty to do the thing, that thou supposeth is not yet done, that is, run away to Christ for life and salvation, and rest on Him, and abide there: and if this were frequently renewed, the grounds of thy former mistake might be easily removed.
Yet further, I would adde those few things.
1. Take no pleasure in debateing against your own soul; for that is but to serve Satans designe.
2. Be not too rash or ready to drink-in prejudices against the work of God, in your own souls: for that is to collude with Sathan against your selves.
3. Make much of any little light He is pleased to give, were it but of one mark; and be not ill to please: for one scriptural mark, as love to the brethren, may sufficiently evidence the thing.
4. See how thy soul would like the condition of such as are carnal, profane, carelesse in the matters of God: and if thy soul doth really abhore that, and thou would not upon any account choose to be in such a case, thou may gather something from that, to thy comfort: But enough of this case here?