The Way of Life, Treatises 4 · Treatise 1
GAL. 2.20.
I am crucified with Christ, neverthelesse I live.
THese words (as you have heard) containe a third Reason or Argument, brought by the Apostle, to prove, that men who are justified by faith in Christ, dare not give up themselves unto, nor allow themselves in any knowne sins.
And it is taken from the fellowship which a justified person hath in the death of Christ: Crucified with Christ, and therefore dead to sin.
Now this his crucifying with Christ, because against it, it might be objected, but you live still? therefore he amplifies his crucifying with Christ, by the diversity; I live still; hee shews you what kind of life it is:
First, for the roote of it, it is a life; I live, yet not I, but Christ in me.
Secondly, In the flesh, in his mortall body.
Thirdly, He shews you the instrument of this his life, Faith in Christ Jesus, which though hee live in his mortall body, yet his life is not a carnall and corrupt life, but a life of Christ, Christ lives in him.
So that in these short words of the text; I am crucified with Christ, neverthelesse I live; you have set forth, both the life and death of a Christian.
A person justified by Christ is crucified with Christ, for Paul speakes in the name of all that seeke for righteousnesse by Christ, ver. 17. the note is evident from the words.
To bee crucified with Christ, implies two things. First, to have fellowship with Christ in his death; see it manifest: and we are said to have fellowship with Christ in his death, in three respects:
First, In regard of the value of his death, the merit, price, and ransome of his death, which it made and paid for us; he offered up himselfe to take away the sins of man, Heb. 9.28. so that by the propitiation and atonement he made for us, our sins are taken away, Rom. 3.24, 25. and you know when God speakes to the soule, humbled by the voyce of a Messenger, one of a thousand, to declare to man, where his righteousnesse is to be had; God will say, Deliver him, for I have found a ransome for him, Job 33.23, 24. so that there is no poore soule that finds a ransome by Christ, but it is as much as if he had paid it himself. Mat. 20.28. The son of man came to give his life a ransome.
Secondly, we are said to have fellowship with Christ in his death, in respect of the vertue of it; his death doth not onelyonly pardon, but in some measure crucifie, so that the body of sin in us is crucified by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to that Rom. 6.6. Our old man is crucified with Christ, that the body of death may be destroyed in us, that henceforth we should no longer serve sin; Gal. 5.24. As many as are Christs, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts; So that now by vertue of the crucifying of the Lord Jesus, all our sinfull lusts are mortified, so as that we are in some measure struck off from putting forth such vigour and strength of affection to any worldly comfort, as before we did. In respect of which, it is said Gal. 6.14. God forbid we should glory in any thing, save in the crosse of Christ, whereby the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world. These goodly buildings and Palaces are not the things he sets his heart upon, there is not here left a stone upon a stone, no more triumphing in such comforts as these be; and this Iohn Baptist was wont to preach; that all flesh was grasse, and all the glory thereof but as the flower of the field. This is because of the spirit of bondage and mortification, breathing upon them, Esay 40.6, 7, 8. Thus we draw vertue from Christ crucifying and mortifying our lusts, so farre as they are unsetled and carried inordinately after any worldly comfort: Indeed God hath allowed all the comfortable good things of this life to them that obey and love the truth, 1 Tim. 4.3, 4, 5. But yet so, as that in respect of the strength and vigour of our affections, we say, Whom have I in heaven but thee? Psal. 73.35.
Thirdly, A justified person hath fellowship with Christ in the likenesse of his death; for that Paul doth exceedingly desire and long after, Phil. 3.10. I counted all things losse, not onelyonly that I might be found in him as justified by faith in him, but that he might know the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, and bee made conformable to his death, meaning that as Christ did suffer, so he might feele Christ in all his sufferings, and that his owne sufferings might be conformable to his death, according to 2 Cor. 4.10. I beare about in my body the dying of the Lord Iesus; he meanes that he did continually expose himselfe to such kinde of sufferings, as his calling led him to, that as Christ dyed for him, so he dies for Christ in this world. All his afflictions were some kinde of resemblance of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus; so a man is partaker with Christ in the fellowship of his sufferings, 1 Pet. 4.12, 13, 14. When a man is brought on to fiery trialls, or any other affliction in this world, then is he partaker of the sufferings of Christ; for though it be true, a Christian cannot so carry his sufferings as in some things to be like Christ, yet in some others he may.
There be two things in Christs sufferings, wherein we are not like unto him. The one is that he suffered the whole malediction or curse that was due to us for our sins, now the curse of God is removed, and now they come as pledges of Gods Fatherly love to heale the corruption of our nature, and to perfect the worke of faith in us.
The other is, that Christ in his sufferings made satisfaction to the Father for the sins of all the people of God; he gave his life a ransome.
This is not to be found in our sufferings. But yet three things there be, in which we have fellowship with Christ in all our sufferings, when we suffer as Christians.
First, in respect of the cause of our sufferings; That look as Christ suffered for righteousnesse sake, so we must not suffer as evill doers; for to suffer as an evill doer, is opposed to the sufferings of Christ, in that place of Peter aforenamed, we must agree in this, both to suffer without cause in respect of man: There is cause why Christ should suffer, as having our sins upon him, and there is reason why we should suffer chastisement for our sins from the hand of God, but in respect of man, it must be without cause.
Secondly, there must be a likenesse in the manner of our sufferings: as Christ suffered meekly and patiently, Esay 53.7. so ought we patiently without murmuring; yea and joyfully, Hebr. 12.4. Looking unto Iesus, the Author and finisher of our faith.
Thirdly, There must be a likenesse in the fruits of our sufferings, look as Christ learned obedience by it, so must we, Heb. 5.7. They bring forth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse, Heb. 12.11. Thus are we said to be crucified with Christ, by having fellowship with him in his death.
Now in the second place, we have such fellowship with Christ in his death, as is a kinde of crucifying, which implies three things.
First, crucifying you know was a lingring death, they were many houres a dying, fainting, and pining away; though Christ was soone dead, yet so were not the other; and it implies thus much, That we in our sufferings shall have a lingring work of it, wearing, and wasting, and consuming of us, till in the end we lay downe our heads in Gods peace. 1 Cor. 15.31. I die daily; notwithstanding all the comforts I have in Christ, the supportance and consolation I meet with, yet I take them to witnesse, I die dayly: Corruption dayly dyed in him, else he could not so rejoyce in his sufferings; the outward man dying dayly, and the inward man renued day by day, he had a lingring death of his lusts, not but that he hasted after a speedy subduing of his lusts, but yet at the best hee had but a lingring worke of it.
Secondly, crucifying was counted an accursed death; now the curse is removed, but yet because God would have us drink of the cup, we shall taste of the bitternesse of it, in the mortification of sin, Esay 38.17. God sprinkles our afflictions many times with much bitternesse, and all to this end, that sin might be more and more bitter to us, and we more weaned from our lusts, and prepared for a better life; mortification many times puts us to much anguish, No affliction is joyous for the present, Heb. 12.11.
Thirdly, crucifying was a shamefull death, specially among the Romanes, which was without the gate, as if they were not worthy to live in the fellowship of any place; so was Christ crucified, Heb. 13.12, 13. And therefore, if we would be partakers with him in his death, we must be content to bee thrust out of the gate; and hence it is, that the world reproacheth us, and counts Christian profession a disgracefull way, and the more like unto Christ it is, the more loathsome it is to the world; let us therefore goe forth and bear his reproach.
Now for the reasons of the point.
Reas. 1 It is taken from Gods acceptance of Christ as of a publique person in his death and sufferings; he died not to and for himself, but the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all, Esay 53.56. He was wounded for our transgressions, and by his stripes we are healed; and God might fitly impute our iniquities unto him, and his sufferings to us, in respect that he made him the head of his Church, the Saviour of his body, Ephes. 5.23. Christ is the Saviour of his mysticall body, by becomming the head of his Church: So looke as the head suffers, all the members suffer; so God making Christ our head, he suffering, we suffer with him.
Reas. 2 It is taken from the power of the spirit of Christ, which by his death he hath purchased and procured for us from the curse of the Law, that we might finde the promise of the spirit through faith in him, Gal. 3.13, 14. so that we now receiving the spirit of Christ from the death of Christ, hence it is that we are made conformable to his death; for the same spirit of Christ that raised him up from the dead, doth also quicken our mortall bodies, Rom. 8.13. And the same spirit by which he died, doth mortifie sin in us, Rom. 6.6. Hence is that speech, The old man is crucified in us, the mighty power of Christ working a spirit of mortification in us, that spirit mortifies the pride of our hearts, the vanity of our mindes, the hypocrisie of our spirits, the rebellion of our natures, and crosseth the principallest of our affections to the profits and pleasures of this world, and all from the power of the spirit of the Lord Jesus, applying the efficacy of the death of Christ to our soules, and thus are we made like unto Christ in suffering.
Vse. It may first serve to take away a scandall that many times is cast upon the Doctrine of Justification by faith, imputing to it licentiousnesse, and opening a doore to liberty to all sin; the common objection of Papists against this Doctrine, who doe object, as the false Apostles did, but the Apostle convinces the falshood of such an Objection by many reasons. There is no man seeks righteousnesse by Christ, but he destroyes the body of sin; no man partakes in Justification by Christ, but he is crucified with Christ, and if we therefore be justified by faith in Christ Jesus, there is no man weaned from sin, more then such men, no man more weaned from the things of this world, nor so much, as he that is justified by faith in Christ Jesus; no man hath fellowship with Christ in his death pardoning his sin, but he hath fellowship with him also purging him from sin, so that herein the Apostle puts an answer into the mouth of all justified persons, against that cavill against this Doctrine of Justification by faith in Christ.
Vse 2 It is a signe of tryall, to know whether any of us be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus, the main point that concernes the peace of every mans soule; It is that great case of conscience, in which whosoever is not resolved, he knowes nothing of conscience or of Religion as he ought to know, and the Apostles word herein is very emphaticall, Seeking for righteousnesse. Thou shalt know it by this; So many as seek to be justified by Christ, they are crucified with Christ: Well then, art thou alive to all thy lusts, the strength of thy spirit goes an-end with all thy lusts further then the Law restraines thee not, there is no lust but thou strongly affectest it, whether it be pride, or vaine fashions, or worldlinesse, or whatever else, and so you may try it by all the former things delivered.
Vse 3 It may serve to teach Christian men that have found their part in Christ, and have found lusts decaying; Be not troubled with the sufferings you meet with in this world, goe on in this world, go on in this worke, it is the most happy employment thou canst follow; Thou findest a lingring work of it, to get a proud heart humbled, to get a wanton and uncleane heart made pure in the sight of God; why, it is enough if they bee but a dying, though lingring, so thou beest but doing, and dost not please thy self in thy lingring, though it be but slow worke, yet it is crucifying worke, and though a man crucified live a while, yet he lives but a dying life, and though there bee bitternesse and shame in the worke, yet notwithstanding goe forth and fight the Lords battailes, and suffer joyfully from Gods hand, and from mens; God will bruise thee, and make thee to have experience of sorrow, as well as Christ had; the world will have an eye to thee, thou shalt not goe without some nayling to the crosse; yet feare not for all the evils that shall befall you, thou hast fellowship with Christ in all thy sufferings, and that is enough for thee. And therefore suffer constantly, and learne obedience by it, and bee sure you grow more fruitfull, and more abundant in all the works of righteousnesse.
Doct. 2 A crucified Christian yet lives.
Neverthelesse I live, What doth he meane by that? Why, first I live a naturall life in this mortall body, these crucifyings are not such as crush me to death; Yet I live, I thanke God, I am lively to goe about all the duties God cals me to; and I live also a spirituall life, 2 Cor. 6.9, 10. We are as unknowne, and yet well knowne, as dying, and behold we live, crucifyed with Christ, but yet I live, 2 Cor. 4.8. to 11. Troubled on every side, alwaies persecuted, and yet not destroyed, even when most crucified, yet still they live.
Reas. Taken from the efficacy of the life of Christ, in the death of Christ, and so from the life of Christ, in the death of Christs members, 2 Cor. 4.10, 11. Alwaies bearing about in my body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Christ might bee made manifest in us; so that when a Christian man is crucified with Christ, here is the fruite of it, the life of Christ is manifested in our dying body of sin, mortifying our corruptions, supporting our spirits, in our weakest and worst times; for when the Lord Jesus was crucified upon the Crosse, he spoyled principalities, and powers, and trampled upon all our enemies; so in the death of all his members to their lusts, he spoyles the powers of darknesse, and triumphs over all the enemies of their salvation.
Vse 1 To satisfie the minds of such as are afraid of their friends, wives, or children, brethren and sisters, afraid they should be lost, and be men of another world, if once they become crucified and mortified, if once they finde them seeking righteousnesse by Christ, and dead to the Law, and weaned from the world; many a poore soule is apt to thinke it selfe undone, and so will our best friends pity us, and say, alas for us, wee are utterly undone, so many persecutions and afflictions, as we are now subject unto, as men quite cast away: but be not deceived, see what the Apostle here saith, hee would have all the world know, he is not an undone man; Though I bee crucified with Christ, neverthelesse I live, I live a bodily life vigorous, and a spirituall life gracious. Therefore let no man be afraid of mortification, and the duties that lead to it; yea, let me say to you, Looke as you see it is with a man in his carnall estate, when he thinks himselfe most lively, he is then a most dead creature, dead in trespasses and in sins, Ephes. 2.1, 2. and 1 Tim. 5.6. so let me say to thee, when thou art dead to sin, thou art most alive to God, through Jesus Christ; but should you say to a carnall man, I am glad to see you so lively, and so cheerefull, and so livelike, he may say to you, Alive! alas, I am dead in trespasses and sins: But come to a Christian and say to him, I am sorry to see you so drooping, what all a-mort, all crushed and crucified; what would he say? why, Yet I live, and were I a little more dead, I should live a more lively life then ever yet I did; and therefore, bee not afraid of being too much weaned from the world, feare not the livelihood of your selves and yours, for at the worst you shall be able to say, Yet I live.
Vse 2 Of comfort to all such Christians, as are indeed mortified and crucified with Christ in this world; Doe you so alwaies carry the matter, as when they are most ready to faile you, you may beare up your hearts with this resolution? Neverthelesse I live, persecuted, but not forsaken, dying, but behold we live, having nothing, yet possessing all things, poore, and yet making many rich; so that if you find at any time, your spirits dismaied and discouraged with any weaknesse of body, or distresse either of the inward or outward man, yet a man must inure himselfe to this speech, Neverthelesse I live; What though I be crucified with Christ? why, I live still: What though many things befall me amisse? it matters not, so that I fall but into the armes of Christ; suppose I fall into the jawes of death, yet though dying, behold I live; thus must every Christian resolve within himself, when he meets with hard measures, from Gods hand, or from mans. God thought it comfort enough for Baruch, and yet he spake but of a naturall life; Behold, I wil give thee thy life for a prey, and that is enough for thee; and so Ebedmeleck the good Ethiopian, I will not deliver thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, but thou shalt have thy life for a prey; though he lose profit and pleasure, yet neverthelesse he lives; though heaven and earth should fall together, and estate all crushed, neverthelesse I live; he shews not forth his own dead-heartednesse, but the life of Christ; he never suffers but for well-doing, and he learnes obedience by it, and he gets his corruptions mortified, and his distempers healed; and is not this a most comfortable condition, when a man may say, I am crucified with Christ, yet neverthelesse I live?