A Fathers Testament, Chapter 21
CAP. XXI.
Man in Christ is above other men, and all creatures, next the Creatour.
IN our selves we are. 1. Dead, a meer privative, a nothing, 2. Dead in sin, meer corruption, corruption of Hell; what we are, or may be in Christ now consider. We are quickned together with Christ. Christ is that overflowing Fountain, by whose fulness of grace our empty chanels are not only 1. Scoured from that choking mire, which stops all passages; but 2. Stored with the water of life, with the fulness of God: (see, Hab. 2.14. Eph. 3.19.) But how are we quicken'd with Christ, raised, and sit together in heavenly places with him? (Eph. 2.6.) Not only virtually, as the fruit lies in the seed, or root, but in some kind actually. As in the first fruits the whole field, and in the Cake of the first dough the whole lump was sanctified, and an actual blessing conveyed in it, so Christ being ra…sed is the first fr…its of them that sleep, (1 Cor. 15.20.) the first Cake of the new lump, (1 Cor. 5.7.) and in him even actually (in a kind) are they quickened, who are yet unborn. As a wife, or child takes possession of that land in the husband, or Father, which he hath purchased in their name.
Hence we evidently see, first that the only life of man by which he is a C…ristian, a blessed creature, nay indeed by which he is a right man, is not that natural, and fading, but this spiritual and eternal life which we have in Christ: hence called the life of God, Eph. 4.18. (begotten by God, Jam. 1.18.) the life of Christ, (2 Cor. 4.10.) he our life, (Col. 3.4.) and liveth in us, (Gal. 2.20.) and the life of the Spirit: he gives it, (2 Cor. 3.6.) And as the vegetative life of plants, the sensitive life of beasts, the rational life of man is nothing elss but the Act of such a soul, giving the creature such a being, and enabling it unto such actions; so the divine, and spiritual life is nothing else, but that A… of Gods Spirit dwelling in man, and giving him a spiritual being, a divine nature, and enabling to spiritual, and Godly actions; or (to use the Scripture phrase) to live, and walk in the Spirit, Gal. 5.25.) whereby we live in God, and to God (see, Rom. 8.9, 10. Gal. 2.20. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12.)
For without question the true life of man differs from all other life in inferiour, or contrary creatures: but in this natural life, the faculties, and actions of it) man differs not from plants in growth, from beasts in sense, from wicked spirits in reason. That form then, which gave man his difference (doubtless) was that Image of God, in which he was created perfect; by the loss of which he lost the per…ection, and truth of humane nature. He therefore that hath no other, but this natural life, is but an half-man; hath little or nothing of a man, but is partly a beast, in respect of sense, partly a Divel in regard of his perverted, and distor…ed reason.
2. Secondly, here we may easily observe, that howsoever a carnal man glisters in carnal eyes, honoured, admired, yet is he a very Abject, and the skumm of the creatures: so a spiritual man (contrary) though he seem a base thing in the eye of the world, and more base in his own, a reproch of men, and scorn of the people, (Psal. 22.6.) yet is he indeed the most noble, and excellent creature in the world, and next the great Creatour. Hence the Saints (in terms) are called the Excellent, (Psal. 16.3.) preferred in their excellencie before others, whatsoever are their earthly advancements. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, Prov. 12.26. & 28.6. This is Heavens, this is Gods Heraldry. Now are they Sons of God, and Heirs apparent, 1 Joh. 3.1.
But because their pr…rogatives are such, as never eye saw, ear heard, or entred into the heart of man, (1 Cor. 2.9.) such as infinitely transcends our vastest thoughts, therefore are they veiled under many similitudes, and compared to those things which are most honourable, and highest in the eyes of man. They are Kings, (Rev. 1.6.) and their Kingdom not fading, but unshaken, (Heb. 12.28.) not earthly, but heavenly, (2 Pet. 1.11.) they have their sceptres, (Heb. 1.8.) their Palaces, (Psal. 45.8.) their thrones, (Rev. 3.21.) their crowns, (2 Tim. 4.8.) God himself their diademe, (Isa. 28.5.) they have their glory, even the glory of God, (1 Thes. 2.12.) Christ himself their glory, (Luk. 2.32.) and they the glory of Christ, Isa. 46.13.
This eminencie of Saints may be cleerly shewed in an evident demonstration. For no creature can stand in competition with them, but only other men, and Angels. For the first their eminencie will easily appear by comparison, even in those things, wherein men challenge precedencie before others.
Men are counted more honourable, as they go before others in birth, estate, or end. Look then first to that broad difference betwixt the birth of the spiritual, and the carnal creature. Flesh is born of flesh, Joh. 3.3. The natural man is of earth earthy, 1 Cor. 15.47. nay of hell, and therefore hellish. His Father in the flesh is a sinful man, his spiritual Father those spiritual wickednesses, even Satan, Ioh. 8.44. But Spirit is born of Spirit. The new man is not born of flesh, and blood, not of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.13. God his Father, who hath begotten him, 1 Pet. 1.3. God his Mother also, who (foreign) conceiving hath brought himforth, Jam. 1.18. In their generation, or birth there is no comparison.
2. For their estate, what infinite disparitie? 1. in life. 2. In things belonging to life. The life of Saints is the life of God, (Eph. 4.18.) their nature the divine nature, (2 Pet. 1.4.) the blessed Spirit the soul of this life, which animates him, (Rom. 8.9, 10.) Carnal men have a filthy spirit, informing, and working in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. In the one God works all their works, (Isa. 26.12.) will, and deed, (Philip. 2.13.) in the other Satan, and Sin. Things belonging to life are (as the life) temporal, or spiritual. The Saints spiritual portion in one word is God. Christ his Bread and meat, Joh. 6.35, 55. he the portion of his cup, (Psal. 16.5.) the cup of salvation, (Psal. 116.13.) the drink indeed, (Joh. 6.55. 1 Cor. 10.4.) Christ his garment; (a most royal robe.) He puts on Christ, (Gal. 3.27.) Christ his house: (he dwels in him, 1 Joh. 4.13.) he our everlasting habitation, (Psal. 90.1.) Heaven, or rather the God of Heaven his inheritance, Psal. 16.5. how contrary is the other? his portion for the present is nothing but sin, his bread ashes, and a deceitful heart, (Isa. 44.20.) and his drink iniquity, (Job 15.16.) and he drunk with it, (Isa. 29.9, 10.) his reckoning cup fire, and brimstone, (Psal. 11.6.) his garments cursing, (Psal. 109.18.) and his inheritance hell-fire, Matth. 25.41.
But surely in temporal conveniences th…re the men of this world much exceed the other: So indeed they boast, but lye. The little of the righteous is much better than the superfluitie of others, (Psal. 37.16. Prov. 16.8.) The prosperitie of the wicked deadly, Prov. 1, 32. the troubles of the righteous wholsome, Psal. 119.71. The one cursed in blessings, the other blessed in curses. In a word the one in his best, and most comfortable estate a w…eful creature; the other in his worst ever blessed, Luk. 6.20. to 27.
3. For their ends, the one shall flourish i… never ending peace: the other is cut off for ever, Psal. 37.37, 38.
Lastly, it hath pleased the Lord of all creatures to prefer them even above the Angels. First in our Creation we were made a little inferiour to them, but as Princes prefer their Favourites, by some honourable office, above others, who are more nobly descended, so our Lord hath advanced us above them in setting the crown upon our heads, crowning us with honour, and glory, and giving to us (as his Viceroyes, not to Angels) dominion over the works of his hands, (Psal. 8.5, 6.) appointing even them to be ministring spirits for us, who are heirs of salvation, (Heb. 1.14.) our guards to defend us, (Psal. 34.7.) our Guardians in all our ways to keep us, Psal. 91.11.
2. In the work of Redemption our nature assumed, theirs refused, Heb. 2.16. we r…de…med, they rejected. And as our nature is infinitely exalted above the most glorious Angels in the person of Christ: so by him many great Prerogatives granted to us who are his members, whom he redeems with his blood, nourishes with his flesh, dwels in us by his Spirit, and crowns with his glory, Joh. 17.22. In a word, Saints are the highest Favourites of the most Highest; having fellowship and communion with God, (1. Joh. 1.3.) nay union with the Father, and the Son (one Spirit with Christ) and one in them, as they are one, Joh. 17.21.
Seeing then our Father is in Heaven, our H…ad in Heaven, ou… life, our Country, and Portion in Heaven; seeing our spirits were born in Heaven, and our bodies look to Heaven, let our treasure, minds, and conversation also be in Heaven. So shall we (even here on earth) live in the Suburbs of Heaven, and in due time being advanced to that glorious City (the heavenly Ierusalem) eternally reign with the King of Heaven. Amen. Amen.
Let me shut up all in that sweet Poem.
Boetius. Libr. 5. M…tr. 5.
I.
Into what different moulds doth Gods wise hand
Cast his wet clay? and to their various …orms
Their divers postures fitts? some sweep the sand
Drawn out at length; as tottering boats in storms
They mount, and …all, dragging their lazy trains
They plow long …urrowes on the dusty plains.
II.
Some (light as ayer) mounted on liquid sky
Spread to the gentle winds their featherd sails;
Swimming with plumed o…rs through Heavens fly:
Some shod with hoofs, some frosted with sharp nails
Through woods and forrests, plains, and mountains trace,
And set their prints upon th'earths scarr'd face.
III.
Yet though their various shapes, and gate betray,
How …ar their natures differ each from other,
All meet in this: All gaze upon the clay
From which they spring, and st…re upon their Mother.
Prest down with earthy Yoke, their dullard sight
Pores on dark shades; they use, not view the light.
IV.
Man only rears alo…t his honour'd head:
His body stands, and walks upright: his eyes
Transport his soul, where it was highly bred,
To keep acquaintance with his neer Allies.
On earth his down-cast look he never places,
But when he stoops, and losty head abases.
V.
I… then thou art not beast, or earth; if ma…,
Thy body guides the soul, thy eye the mind:
Thy flesh looks where it tends, not wher't began
Oh shall the Heaven-born soul forget his kind?
Shall heavenly minds mind earth? while earthy eyes
Eye Heaven? soar up my soul: trans…end the skies.
Else while thy body lives, thy spirit dies.