Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 15
Vers. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith—
HEre is the second petition of the Apostle's prayer, wherein he seeketh that which is the cause of strengthning and corroboration by the Spirit, spoken of, ver. 16. even that Jesus Christ by vertue of a continued act of lively faith in Him, might be perpetually present in His Vertue, Grace and Spirit, working not only in their tougnes and brains, but also and mainly in their hearts. Doct. 1. That we may partake of any saving benefit purchased by Christ, and particularly, that we may be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man for doing any thing that is spiritually good, it is most necessary that we partake first of Christ Himself, being most strictly united to Him, and even as the members are to the head, from which they receive sense and motion. Christ giveth nothing of His purchase unto any, but to whom He giveth Himself first, 1 Joh. 5. 11, 12. and to whomsoever He giveth Himself, upon those He bestoweth all things; Christ in us being the hope of glory, Col. 1. 27. the fountain of life, Gal. 2. 20. and of all things needfull, 1 Job. 4. 4. for, Paul, having prayed that they may be strengthened with might in the inner man, subjoyneth the way and manner how this strength was to be conveyed unto them, even by Christ's dwelling in their hearts by faith. 2. There is a strict conjunction and near familiarity between Christ and Believers, even such, in some sort, as is between an indweller, and the house, wherein he dwelleth, whereby Jesus Christ, God and Man in one person, is present with the Believer, not in His substance only, as He is God; for, so He is every where, Jer. 23. 24. nor in His substance at all, as He is Man; for, so the heavens do contain Him, Act. 3. 21. but by His gracious operation and speciall influence upon them, whereby He quickeneth them, (Rom. 8. 10.) ruleth them (Act. 9. 6.) and liveth in them, Gal. 2. 20. for, he prayeth that Christ may dwell in their hearts, which petition is granted, in behalf of all Believers, seing he prayed in faith. 3, Though Christ doth thus familiarly communicate Himself unto all Believers, so as to dwell in them by His gracious presence; yet not unto all alike: but unto some in a larger measure than unto others, according as He worketh more, and more effectually in some than in others: for, though Christ did already dwell in those converted Ephesians, chap. 2. 22. yet Paul doth pray that Christ may dwell in them, which therefore must be understood of a greater measure and degree of His indwelling presence, than formerly they had. 4. Where Jesus Christ doth once take up His abode and dwelling in the heart, there He remaineth constantly and flitteth not: in so far, as though sometimes He withholdeth that gracious influence of His, which is necessary only to the wel-being, flourishing, and vigorous thriving of grace in the heart, Cant. 5. 6. yet He never withdraweth that influence, which is necessary to the being of grace, and without which grace would utterly die and perish, Psal. 73. 23. for, the word rendered to dwell, signifieth to take up a fixed and immovable habitation, and differeth from another word very like unto it, which signifieth to sojourn in a place only for a season, 1 Pet. 1. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts. 5. Though even the bodies of Believers be temples of the holy Ghost, and consequently of Jesus Christ; for Christ dwelleth in them by His Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 19. yet the heart, will and affections of man, are the chief place of His habitation, wherein He resideth as in His strong citadel, from which He commandeth the other faculties and members. And without His presence there, He cannot have any habitation in any part of the man elsewhere; the tongue cannot receive Him by speaking, nor the understanding by knowing, nor the hand by external working, except He be received in the heart, from which proceed the issues of life, Pro. 4. 23. for, he prayeth that Christ may dwell in their hearts. 6. Though Jesus Christ doth make His first entry unto, and dwelleth in Believers by His Spirit, 1 Joh. 4. 13. whereby He uniteth them to Himself, quickeneth and ruleth them, yea, and worketh the grace of faith in them, Joh. 6. 44. yet, faith being so wrought, the Believer doth thereby lay hold on Christ, Philip. 3. -12. giveth Him daily imployment, Joh. 15. -5. and Christ being so laid hold upon and imployed, remaineth and resideth in the Believer: for therefore is it, that he ascribeth this indwelling of Christ in the heart unto faith; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. 7. Such is the power and vertue of faith; that those things, which are at furthest distance, whether in respect of time (Joh. 8. 56.) or of place, are present to it, and to the heart by it. Even as those things are present to the eye and ear, which are clearly seen and distinctly heard, though in respect of place they may be many miles distant, so whole Christ both as God and Man is present to the heart in His merit, vertue and efficacy, laid hold upon by faith, though His humane nature be locally present in heaven only, Act. 3. 21. and therefore there is no necessity, in order to our spirituall life, that His body be present in the Sacrament, and received by the mouth and stomach: for, He is conveyed unto, and dwelleth in the heart by faith, besides that the flesh profiteth nothing, Joh. 6. -63-.