Christ Inviting Sinners to Come to Him for Rest, Treatise · Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII.
Containes the Concluſion of the former Doctrine of Sanctification, with divers directions how to come to Chriſt for holineſs. I. Be ſenſible of the want of it. II. Be not ſatisfied with the ordinances further then you meet with Chriſt. III. Come not ſo much for comfort and peace as for holineſs. IV. Be ſenſible of new ſupplies. V. Converſe with Chriſt in the Goſpel.
I Shal now only add a word or two for the concluding of this, and ſo go on to the next reſt that is here promiſed.
Come to Chriſt for the Reſt of Sanctification, for holineſs, for the truth is, there is no true holineſs, but that which we have by our coming to Chriſt. The Scripture ſpeaks of true holineſs, there may be abſtaining from many ſins, and performance of many duties, but no ſaving holineſs, but that that is had from God through Chriſt as Mediator, no true holineſs til the Soul comes to be acquainted with Chriſt, and have it that way, and the holineſs that we have by exerciſing of Faith upon Chriſt as the Head of the Covenant, that indeed is the myſtery of godlineſs, that is the true godlineſs, that is godlineſs in a myſtery, which the world is not acquainted with, that is the power of godlineſs, the powerful holineſs that comes by Chriſt. And indeed that is the Reaſon why there is ſo much ſtrength of Grace in the Hearts of the Saints, becauſe they have it from Chriſt, it is from the ſpirit of Jeſus Chriſt that is in him, and Chriſt is the Lyon of the tribe of Judah, his ſpirit is a ſpirit of might. Common gifts have not that ſtrength as this holineſs that comes from Chriſt hath, the holineſs that is from Chriſt, that is the only ſupernatural holineſs, it is that that is the divine Nature, whereas that kind of abſtaining from ſin and performing of duties, that civil men have, and that comes in by common gifts, that is not the divine Nature, they have it but in a natural way, what they have is by ſtrength of Reaſon and argument, but that which comes in by the exerciſe of Faith in Chriſt, that is ſupernatural, that is of a divine Nature, and that is aboundant, aboundant is the holineſs that the Soul comes to have in exerciſing of Faith in Chriſt. In drawing of Grace from Chriſt the Heart grows more in the way of Holineſs, it exerciſeth much more Faith in Chriſt, in a little time, then it did in a long time before, though perhaps thoſe were truly godly before and members of Chriſt yet for want of a right underſtanding how all Grace comes from God through Chriſt, and ſo drawing of it that way, they did not thrive in the waies of Godlineſs. That text in the 3 of the Epheſians and the 17. Is moſt admirable for this, the Apoſtle praies. That Chriſt might dwel in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in Love. there is the ſtrength of Grace, when Chriſt dwels in our heart, That you may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the Love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledg, that ye might be filled with all the fulneſs of God. Here is the fruite of it, that you might be filled with all the fulneſs of God, a ſtrange ſpeech, had it not been in Scripture who durſt have expreſt himſelf thus that by comming to know God in Chriſt, you may come to be filled with all the fulneſs of God in Chriſt. It were very much to ſay thus, by knowing God in Chriſt, you may come to have God, that is ſomwhat, but ſecondly that you may come to be filled with God, that's more, But Thirdly, That ye may come to be filled with the fulneſs of God, that is yet more, yea, Fourthly, That you may come to be filled with all the fulneſs of God. What a gradation is here, that ſhews the admirable uſe of knowing God in Chriſt. Whereas now, other men and women, that onelyonly are taught in their childhood to ſerve God, they muſt ſerve God, and they are reſtrained from many ſins, and they performe duties, they wil pray, and come to heare, but not being acquainted with the myſtery of the Goſpel, and drawing holineſs from God through Chriſt, how far are thoſe from having this text made good in their hearts, that is, from being filled with al the fulneſs of God. Whereas afterwards they come to have more cleere underſtanding of the miſtery of Godlyneſs from Chriſt: then they come to enjoy communion with God more then ever they did, whereas before they were ſtrangers to God, now they have communion with him▪ yea, now they feele Gods fulneſs come more fully into their hearts then before, now they feele a fulneſs from God, and ſo come by degrees to be▪ what is ſaid in this text, to be filled with al the fullneſs of God.
The reaſon of al the emptineſs, ſcantineſs, and barrenneſs that is in your heart, is for want of underſtanding, how God hath filled Chriſt with al fulneſs, from whom wee are to receive grace for grace, and by drawing grace from Chriſt we come to have permanent holineſs and laſting holineſs, and this indeed is the reaſon, as heretofore ye have heard, why the grace of the ſaints endures for ever, and they can never faile, whereas the grace of Adam did faile, becauſe the one comes from God through Chriſt, and the other did not, that did not come from God through a mediator ſo as this did, and therefore this is permanent and the other is not. But of that I ſpake before, only we bring it in now, as a further motive to make us ſeek for holineſs in Jeſus Chriſt, this reſt of ſanctification.
Some rules I wil briefly propound by way of direction as helps in ſeeking of grace and ſanctification in Chriſt. As,
Firſt, Labor to get a ſence of your want of holineſs and of your need of Chriſt for it.
Secondly, in the exerciſing of your ſelves in the ordinances, be not ſatisfied with the ordinances, any further then you meet with Chriſt, be not ſatisfied with a prayer, or with hearing, but think with your ſelves, what have I of Chriſt here, that I told you in the opening of the point, how Chriſt was the ſanctification of the heart, becauſe the bleſſing of al the ordinances is by having Chriſt there. There are two or three things more that I would commend unto you.
The Firſt, Is this, in ſeeking Chriſt do not come ſo much for enlargement, for comfort, for peace, as for ſanctification, you ſeek your peace for holineſs, rather then ſeek holineſs for peace, this is a ſpecial rule of direction to thrive in ſeeking for ſanctification by Chriſt. Many Chriſtians, they ſeek to have Chriſt, but why? that they might have peace, that they might have comfort, and they make their holineſs but ſubſervient to their peace and comfort, They think thus, except I be holy, I cannot have peace, therefore I wil labor for holineſs that I might have peace. But a true gracious heart wil rather ſay thus, the more holineſs I have, the more peace I have, and therefore, I wil labor for peace, that I might have holineſs, One labors for holineſs, that he might have peace, and the other labors for peace, that he might have holineſs, Now thoſe Chriſtians that labor rather for peace, that they might have holineſs, wil more thrive then the other, that labors for holineſs, that they might have peace. It is true indeed, it is one good motion to labor for holineſs, becauſe it wil bring peace, I but it is a ſtronger motive, to labor for peace that we might have holineſs therefore when we ſeeke to Chriſt, we ſhould ſeeke rather for holineſs and ſanctification from Chriſt, then that we might have peace.
Would you know the reaſons you ſay, you tel us that Chriſt is our ſanctification, but we have not found ſuch ſanctification from Chriſt to increaſe holineſs; but what is the Reaſon? you have exerciſed your faith upon Chriſt mainly that you might have peace, that you might have enlargement and comfort as others have, and that is the reaſon that your holineſs is ſcant, if you had exerciſed your faith in Chriſt that you might have holineſs, then you might have had more peace. Saith Chriſt, be it unto thee according to thy faith, ſo in this caſe, Chriſt ſaith to every beleever, be it according to thy faith, according to what you exerciſe your faith, ſo be it unto you. As, do you exerciſe your faith for peace and comfort, and mainly for that? you have ſome peace and comfort, but you ſhal not have ſo much holineſs: but do you exerciſe your faith for holineſs moſt? then you ſhal have moſt holineſs. Now certainly a true chriſtian prizeth holineſs rather than peace, and I know no ſurer argument for the truth of grace, and the difference between an hipocrite, and one that hath true grace, than this, the hipocrite would have holineſs that he might have peace, I but the true beleever would have peace, that his peace might increaſe his holineſs.
Secondly, Another rule is this, Though Chriſt doth give in grace, increaſe of ſanctification and holineſs, yet do not depend upon what Chriſt gives in for the preſent, but ſtil keep thy heart ſenſible of the need of new ſupplies. There is many Chriſtians, when they have been at duty, and have exerciſed faith upon Chriſt for this reſt of ſanctification, and have got ſomewhat, ſome enlargement, and ſome quickening of ſpirit, and ſome reſolution in the way of God, here they reſt, and now they think they are wel, they think to live upon this ſtock a great while. But now we are to pray for our daily bread, and to depend upon Chriſt for new ſupplies of grace and holineſs, every day, every moment, according to every worke that we are ſet about, to go to Chriſt for new ſupplies, as if we had nothing at al given us before, and Chriſt wil be wel pleaſed with this, that though we have never ſo much Grace, yet to go to him to renew our faith, as if we had none at all, that i…, as ſtrongly; I do not mean that we ſhould apprehend that we have none at all, but as ſtrongly and eagerly to exerciſe faith upon Chriſt for new ſupply of holineſs, as if we had none at all, and indeed thoſe that ſeem to have none, exerciſe Faith in Chriſt moſt.
Thirdly, For Concluſion of all, take this as a Rule, Thoſe Chriſtians that do moſt converſe with Jeſus Chriſt in the bleſſed way of the Goſpel, thoſe will increaſe moſt in Grace, and they have this by way of Sanctification: I wil give you but only that one Scripture, in way of alluſion to apply it to this, in Acts, 4 13. Now when they ſaw the boldneſs of Peter and John, and perceived they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledg of them that they had been with Jeſus. Peter and John, had much boldneſs, they had ſtrength of Grace, they had much boldneſs notwithſtanding all their oppoſition. But how came they by it, they were unlearned men, ignorant men, poor weak men in regard of their naturals, and yet they had got aboundance of Grace, ſo as to make their profeſſion of Chriſt with boldneſs, notwithſtanding all the rage of their potent adverſaries, and the people wondred how they could get ſuch ſtrength as they had, but ſaith the text, they took knowledg of them, that they had been with Jeſus. It was that that did ſo raiſe their ſpirits, it was that quickned them, and inlarged their Hearts ſo much with Grace that they had been with Jeſus, that they had converſed boldly with Chriſt. Now I would apply this in a ſpiritual ſence, that as Peter and John did grow to that height and ſtrength of Grace by converſing bodily with Chriſt, much more may Chriſtians grow to a height, ſtrength and fulneſs of Grace by much converſe with Jeſus Chriſt. Converſe with Chriſt in a way of Faith, and that will mightily enlarge thy Heart in Grace. And the truth is, when you ſee any Chriſtian, that perhaps his natural parts may be but weak, but yet you ſee him grow in Grace mightily, he hath a mighty large Heart for God, and hath much ſpirit in prayer, and his converſation is very holy and convincing, you may conclude this man and this woman to have been with Jeſus Chriſt, that is, converſt much with Jeſus Chriſt. Would you know whence it is that you ſee many poor Chriſtians not long ſince, how they have grown in holineſs, and you think they have got a great deal more than you have got, they can depend upon God more, and can rejoyce in tribulation more, and they have more ſpiritualneſs, and more Savor in their converſation, and find a great deal more ſweetneſs in the waies of God than you, whence is it? Their means perhaps is not more, their outward means, their parts in Nature is not more, whence grows it then? Would you know whence? They have been with Jeſus, they converſe much with Chriſt, and you may have it too.
The Reaſon why you have been a profeſſor perhaps twenty or thirty years, and you now grow old, and yet perhaps weak ſtill, and it is as much as can be ſaid of you that there is ſome hope that there is ſome good in you, but for the ſeeds and ſparks of divine Nature that are in others ſpirits, there is no ſuch matter at all, what is the Reaſon? becauſe they are not acquainted with this drawing of Sanctification from Chriſt by the exerciſe of Faith. Wel, thus much ſhal ſuffice for this Reſt, the reſt of Sanctification, the Reſt of holineſs, that brings abundance of Reſt unto the Heart, according as that encreaſeth ſo doth holineſs encreaſe.