Christ Displayed as the Choicest Gift and Best Master, Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

Christ Displayed as the Choicest Gift and Best Master · Sermon 1 (3 of 3)

p. 1047. He is thy heat; as the Sun is for the heat, as well as for the light of the world: What a cold frozen world would it be were it not for the Sun? what a cold season does its further distance from us cause in our Horizon? but the nearer the Sun is to us, the greater the heat, as in Summer: if thy soul p. 105have not Christ to warm thee, thou wilt be starved to death. If two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone, Eccles. 4.— 11? How can thy soul be warm, if Christ be departed from thee? O what a chilling coldness comes on the Soul, when Christ goes away! what aguish fits and starving coldness seizes on the whole Soul, and every grace, when this Sun draws in its beams and influences! at the best there will be a Laodicean lukewarmness.

8. Christ is thy health, and one that understands himself, will let go any thing rather than health; for that's the marrow and sweetness of all other comforts of life. Wisdom is health or medicine to all flesh, Prov. 4.22, and 3.8, it shall be health to thy Navel, and marrow to thy Bones. It is the watering, moistness, and fatness of the Soul; Christ is as necessary for health to the Soul that's sick and wounded, as Medicine for the sick, and a Plaister for the wounded body; the Soul cannot be sound without him. So long as you preserve him, you'l be strong and sound; strong to do, and strong to suffer; but if yo… lose him, you'l be no better than Sampson, when his strength was departed from him, Iudg. 16.19. What is cutting off the hair to divulsion and separation from your head?

9. He is thy heritage; so the Church accounted him, Lam. 3.24, The Lord is my portion saith my soul: not only her tongue, but p. 106her very heart takes him and speaks him her heritage; and David, The Lord is my portion, and my inheritance. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage, Psal. 16.5, 6 Say with Naboth, God forbid that I should give away the inheritance of my Fathers. That was only for life, this is everlasting; a never fading, ever-flourishing inheritance: that subject to many hazards, fire, inundation, robbery, blasting, and many casualties, yea, to utter loss, as the end declared; but this is above all such danger and detriment. O be not so foolish and sottish, as to part with this for all the world.

10. He is thy happiness; keep him for thy chief good: that that can alone give contentment to thy immortal Soul, is bound up in him. Happy is every one that retaineth him, Prov. 3.18. O ter que quater que beati, &c. Infinitely and for ever blessed, that receive and retain Jesus Christ, Prov. 8. ult. Prov. 3.3. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom; he is thy all, and wilt thou part with all at once? Thou art like to have a sad time of it; when Christ goes, farewell joy, and peace, and comfort, and all that's good.

2. For direction, 1st. In what manner,

2d. By what means, may the Soul keep Christ.

First, For the manner of holding and keeping this gift:

p. 1071. He must be kept in our Heads; though that is not enough: a full and distinct understanding of him is well; but a knowledg, a meer notion in the brain, of Christ, is but a sorry keeping; you must provide Christ a better place to lodg in, or he will not tarry with you. Must Christ be in the head, when Sin and Satan is in the heart? If Christ have no room in thee but the head, he is indeed no where.

2. In our Mouths; we must confess with the mouth, yet that neither is sufficient; 'tis too open a room, and leaking a vessel to hold this gift in; to speak and talk of Christ, and take his blessed name into our lips, when our hearts are far from him, and lives deny him, is but a poor keeping of Christ; if there be nothing left of Christ but what hangs on the lips, he is indeed departed already.

3. Keep him we must in our Houses and Societies; woe unto that place when Christ departs from them, when he removes his Candlesticks out of their place, and takes away his holy Ordinances; but alas! to have Christ in publick ordinances, and not in our hearts, will not serve the turn.

4. We must keep him in our Hearts; not in the hall of the senses, but in the closet of the heart; let him dwell and reign in our understanding, will, affections and memory; think on him continually, love him dearly, delight in him at all times. As Artemesia did ever p. 108carry in her mind her dear deceased Husband Mauseolus, mingling her very drink with his ashes; so let us bear Christ about with us in the vessels of our hearts, mingling our meat, drink, words and works with his sweetest remembrance: So the Spouse did, Cant. 3.4. I would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mothers house; and the chamber of her that conceived me. Which place according to the consent of best Expositors, is to be understood, either of the Church of God, in her publick Congregations, which is the Mother of us all; or else of the sanctified Heart and Conscience, which is the dwelling-place of Christ, of which he hath said, Here will I rest, and I will dwell in the heart of the contrite, Isa. 57.15, and there we should lay him up by Faith: If the head be for the world, yet let Christ have the heart.

5. Keep him, not only by way of a holy and perpetual recordation of him in our minds and hearts; but also by a constant and continued care, and unwearied diligence, to preserve and injoy the comfortableness and feeling of his gracious presence in your own Souls; imitating herein the fair Spouse, who when she had found him, would by no means let him go; but compelled him by a grateful violence to stay with her: this was one end why he hid himself for some time from her. Prius non inveniendus quaeritur, ut post inventus strictius teneatur. Thus Iacob held him by p. 109force, and wrestled hard for his blessing, and would not let him go till he had blessed him; but when he had obtained that, he suffered him to depart: but we should never leave him, no not when he hath blessed us, as prizing him more than any thing he can bestow. Nolo benedictionem tuam sed te, so must we prize more his person, than his blessings.

2. The way and means to keep him:

1. Leave all for him, retire from the world to injoy him; say of all other things, when thou hast found Jesus of Nazareth, let these go their way. Make him a bed in thy Soul whereon he may rest, that is, sweet-thoughts and meditations on him, and compl…cency in him; Cant. 3.7, Behold his bed, which is Solomons. Solomoni ergo (vel Christo) lectulum facimus (saith Gregory) cum a mundi solicitudinibus omnino cessamus, dum in solo deciderio Christi libenter pausamus, ei que ut nobiscum pauset, cor ab omni terrena cupiditate mundamus. The beauty and riches of every member of the Church, is resembled to the wealth and splendor of Solomons Bed, wherein Christ rests in his love: Be careful to keep your thoughts (amongst all worldly affairs) free for Christ. Religion (and so Christ) loves to lye in clean Sheets. Go to them that want Christs gracious presence, consult their experiences, and they will tell you, that their worldly affairs have so distracted their thoughts, that Christ is not p. 110there; and as their worldly cares and riches increased upon them, the further distance hath Christ been from them. Some, while poor and low in the world, have felt much more of the sweetness of communion with Christ, than when they grew richer and full of cares. O! who would not be content to take less of the world, that they might have more of Christ.

2. Never leave him, take heed of withdrawing from Christ, stick close to him, keep him company, and he will stay with you. As you do with a friend whose stay you desire, so deal with Christ; be much in his company, in prayer, reading, hearing, meditating, and all holy duties▪ be ambitious of more intimate communion with him; dayly increase sweet acquaintance, and humble familiarity with Christ.

1. Be willing to be much with Christ in Prayer, talking and conferring with him, as freely, frequently, and familiarly, as the Bride with her Bridegroom, Cant. 5.1, I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, saith Christ; q. d. It was thy hearty desire, O my dear Spouse, that I should come into this pleasant Garden; for thou saidst, Let my beloved come into his garden, (Cant. 4.16.) and now lo here I am, to answer the longing expectation of thy blessed Soul, which doth even pant and thirst after me, who am the health of thy countenance, and thy God, Psal. 42.11. My company p. 111thou dost affect, I see 'tis most sweet and pleasant to thee, and my company thou shalt have, here I am to be with thee as thou didst pray and desire; I come to eat thy pleasant fruits, and bring with me the inexpressible comforts of my Spirit, do thou eat and drink; Yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

2. Be willing to be with him in reading much and often in the book of God, where thou maist find this precious pearl as in a field; what else (saith the Prince of Anhalt) is the whole Scripture, but the swadling-clothes of the child Jesus? the Apostle, Col. 3.16. right well terms the word of God the word of Christ, because he is the matter of the whole, and the contents of all the Bible; shadowed in the Law, and shewed in the Gospel, Vnam vocem habent duo Testamenta; the word of the Lord contains nothing but the word, which is the Lord. Austin. How vainly do men look for immediate inspirations, when ordinary means is afforded; and others forbid the reading of the Scriptures, and call Pictures and Images Lay mens books?

3. Be willing to be with him in the Communion of Saints, Who are a garden inclosed, Cant. 4.12. in which Christ doth shew himself most graciously by their savoury speeches, and holy conversations, emblematizing and representing in a proportionable degree that most admirable ravishing fairness and pleasantness that is in Christ himself! let these then be the excellent ones of the earth, in whom is all your delight, p. 112Psal. 16.3. Attend his Ordinances, which are the conduits to convey Christ to us; though others pretend to be above them, yet keep ye under them if ye would keep Christ; to put the pitcher above the rock is not the way to take water. O let your fellowship be with the Father and with the Son.

3. Shake off sloth, ease and security; indulge not your selves, love not your carnal ease, be not drunken with the pleasures of the flesh, nor surfeit with the profits of the world, nor intoxicated with pomp and honours; set not your affections on things below, let not down your watch, be not secure nor high-minded, Rom. 3.3. Cant. 5.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. you have there Christ knocking at the door of her heart, with importunity, and tender vehemency; for admission, and he moves and solicites, Open my sister, my spouse, &c. every word an argument, a talent weight of love; and does Christ, call and knock, and beg at the door of our souls to enter? O what vile ingratitude is it to shut him out! Doth he solicite and entreat so many ways by his Word and Ordinances, Rod, and admonitions, and motions of his Spirit, what inexcusable obstinate madness is it to drive him away? Is any thing so worthy to be harboured there as he? and is it not an imcomparable honour that he should vouchsafe to come under our roof? She aggravates her fault because of his importunity. But observe her idle excuses and vain frivolous pretences for not opening to him, p. 113vers. 3. I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? What absurd and sluggish inconveniences does she plead? making that her apology which should be her shame, in casting off those garments of holiness, and spiritual duties which should ever adorn her; and growing weary of her nuptial robes, which she should ever wear: And the other is like unto it, I have washed my feet how shall I defile them? This is spoken after the manner of those hot Countries where they used to wash constantly before they composed themselves to a setled rest, or before they sat down to eat. By this custom the Church would excuse her somnolency and negligence, as if there were trouble or danger in rising up to entertain him: Sad shifts! A Christian should endure more for Christ than a little cold, or unseasonable diligence. One spark of Hell will burn up all these cloaks and fair pretences.

In the fourth verse Christ proceeds further, since knocking would not serve, outward means and moral arguments will not prevail, he works inwardly and effectually, by the powerful visitations and motions of the Spirit, which is called the finger, Mat. 12.28. compar'd with Luk. 11.20. Then her bowels were moved in her, or for him. Here's the great effect of spiritual visits of Christ, and the close and lively workings of his Spirit in the heart; then she arose and her hand… dropped with myrrh; active and vigorous endeavours should accompany inward motives and suggestions of grace; the feet should make haste, p. 114and the hands be diligent and operative, for this is to oyl the lock, and make the soul dextrous and prompt to all duties of holiness.

Vers. 6. You have the effect of her sloth: I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone: or he was gone, he was gone; which duplication is more passionate, and denotes the expedition and certainty of his absence, for which she is much troubled, and like a sad widow, wrings her hands, and crys out he is gone, &c. my soul failed when he spake, or melted, or went out of me, for his words which he had used to me; I was exanimated and astonished. O take heed of sloth.

4. Hold fast the word of truth, keep the mystery of faith in a pure conscience, and then you keep Christ. Take heed therefore of all Opinions that are opposite and destructive to the truths of Christ, he will not lodg where his truth is thrust out by errours. What was it that brought ruin to the ancient Churches of Greece, but this? they gave way to fond opinions, some to Iewish fables, some to the Doctrine o… Balaam, and of Devils▪ and of the Nicholaitans, as you read in the second or third Chapter of Revelation, and Ecclesiastical History. Preserve every truth of Christ according to its moment and weight; the dust of Gold is precious; 'tis dangerous to be careless in the lesser truths: Better heaven and earth should be blended together (saith Luther) than one dust of Gods Truth should perish. If you hearken to Satan and Seducers, p. 115this will be a little one, and that shall be a little one, till you have little'd away all the principles of faith. Count not those small things (as the men of the world do) for which the children of God have ventured their all. Martyrs were not so prodigal of their lives, but they knew what they did when they durst not give place for a moment. O beware of errour, if you would keep Christ; let men be in the eyes of the world, in righteousness Saints, in holiness Angels, in zeal like Christ himself: If damnable errours be the ground of their Catechisms, and their opinions be heretical, they cannot keep Christ amongst them, receive and retain his faithful Ministers and Embassadors: He that receiveth them receiveth me, and he that despiseth them despiseth me, saith Christ, Mat. 10.40 Luk. 10.16. Will Christ stay where his servants are despised and contemned? no, the Kingdom of Heaven shall be taken from such, Mat. 22.43. he takes it as done to himself, Mat. 25.40.

5. Be humble and fruitful, these may well be joined together; for humble souls like the low valleys watered with the dew of Grace, are most fruitful; he knows the proud afar off, and resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble, and dwells in such souls. Barrenness under Ordinances provokes him to leave men, as the barren fig-tree, Luk. 13▪6, 7, 8, 9. If it will not bear fruit after it hath been dressed and watered, Christ gives over to plead for its standing, p. 116and removes his presence from it. He delights to walk in a fruitful garden, Cant. 4. ult. Awake O Northwind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Impart him to others, that's the way to have him; would you have Christ to stay with you, walk about with him, take him abroad, never come into any company but leave something of Christ there; while you seek to shut him up in your selves, you lose him. Say with the Spouse, Cant. 7.10, 11, 12. Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, let us lodg in the villages, &c.

Let your minds and mouths be season'd with sweet and holy conceptions, and expressions of him, to the glory of God, and edification of others; then will Christ walk with you, as he did with those that were communing together of good things, Luk. 24.15. Not bitter in censuring others, not wasting your time in idle discourses, but use gracious speeches, and savoury communications. In a word, commit all to him in a way of well doing, and he will not leave his charge; employ him, and while he hath any thing to do for you, he will not leave his work. Improve and make use of him, and he will abide with you. Beware of committing (and approving thy self) in the least sin, or the least compliance with it; say not as Lot of Zoar, Is it not a little one? Sin approved is that very Delilah that cuts off the locks, and makes the Believer p. 117a prey to every Philistine. Sin is that which separates between us and our God, the great make-bait between heaven and earth, Isa. 59.2. Sin is that which will soon grieve away the holy Spirit by which you are sealed to the day of Redemption, Ephes. 4.30 O do not sin willingly and knowingly against God, and do not abate in your constant and fervent performance of duty, for these things strike at the union betwixt Christ and you, at the untying of the knot which God hath made so fast; and if it should once come to that, what would become of you? No sooner is the branch broken off the root, but it immediately withers and dies; For as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye except you abide in me. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me foreign, separated from me, ye can do nothing. You had need to use all holy means, whereby you may keep Christs special presence with your souls; many evils will flow in upon that soul that lets go Christ, Psal. 71.11. God hath forsaken him, prosecute and take him; Satan will sift you, sin will foil you, afflictions be too heavy for you, and you are sure to have worse company when he goes, and you will be apt to depart from him. Christ is that to thee, that thy soul cannot be without, thy light, life, health, happiness, thine all. Hell is heaven with Christ, and heaven is hell without him. Mallem presente Christo esse p. 118in inferno, quam absente Christo in coelo, said Luther.

Third Branch of Exhortation, is to make use of this Gift of God. O improve him to the uttermost; 'tis not enough to have Christ, unless you use him. Not enough to have a Well of Salvation, but we must draw water and drink it too, if we intend a benefit by it, Isa. 12.3. so we must be always drawing, and drinking, and deriving good from Christ, as the branch makes the best of the root, and draws from it, as though it would exhaust all its life and vertue. O that we could carry it so to Christ, even to draw from him, as though we would draw him dry, if such a thing were possible. We have a saying in Philosophy, The nearer any thing comes to the first cause, the more abundantly doth it receive from it; as the nearer any thing is to the Sun, the more it participates of its light and heat. Now you Believers are nigh unto Christ. (In whom all fulness dwells, Col. 1.19.) You are even in him, and he in you. O what supplys of Grace should you be fetching from him, upon all occasions! Why do you not live under more constant, more free and full derivations from him? why should ye want, or what should you want, who are not only at the fountain, but in it? It's not enough for Christians to have faith by which to live, but they must live by the faith which they have, Gal. 2.20. i. e. They must by faith draw continual supplys of p. 119Grace, comfort and strength from Christ. 'Twas the looking to the Brazen Serpent that cur'd them them that were stung; 'tis drinking of water that quenches the thirst, and eating the meat that satisfies the hungry. You then that have received Christ, and do keep him, make use and improvement of him; for though some gifts are only for laying up and looking at; yet this is both the excellency of Gods gift, and an encouragement to you for the performance of this duty; that he is for use, yea all for use and benefit to us. The great end for which he was given to us, is that we should make use of him for our own good; God gave his Son to all Believers, that they by applying him, might have life thorough him, 1 Ioh. 4.9. Ioh. 3.16. As Christ is a publick person, which both adds much to the excellency of this gift, and gives great encouragement to us to make use of him; It shews his excellency: Heaven is an excellent thing because publick, for 'tis observed, there is nothing in heaven, (that is the seat and element of happiness) but it is common to all, of publick use and enjoyment. The inhabitants of that glorious place, the glorified Saints and Angels, all see the face of him that sits on the Throne; they all drink of the water of life; all have access to eat of the apples of the tree of life; there is no forbidden fruit in heaven; all have the blessing of the immediate presence of the Lamb, and there is neither need of Sun nor Moon, nor light of candle to any; all equally enjoy Eternity; p. 120there is one lease and term-day to the lowest inhabitant of glory, as to the highest, and that is Eternity. There is common to all one City, the streets whereof are transparent gold; that the poorest inhabitants of a place do all walk on streets of gold of Ophir, is a great commendation of a City. 'Tis common to them all, that they shall never sigh, never be sad, never be sick, never be old, never die; all feel the smell of the fairest rose that ever men or Angels heard of, or can imagine; the flower, the glory, the joy of Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. All walk in white, and can sin no more; all have eternal life, fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. So Christ is a publick gift; all that truly believe may receive him, may keep him, may use him; though there be many thousands of souls that are receiving from Christ, yet he is full enough to supply thy wants: though millions of souls employ him in the world, yet he is at leisure to do thy work too, if thou employ him. All his offices and benefits are for thy use most properly, he is made, ordained, appointed and fitted unto us of God, Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. Is not a Redeemer of use for captives, a Saviour for sinners, a Priest for offenders, a Prophet for the ignorant, a King to deliver such as are in bondage, and to conquer and subdue oppressors? What is a Physician for, but for sick persons? Look on Christ in all his undertakings from first to last, he is for use: As particularly,

p. 1211. Wherefore did Christ empty himself and come into the world, was it not for sinners, and will such cast him off and pass him by as useless▪ Did he rent the heavens, and come down to th… earth on purpose to seek and save lost sinners, Luk. 19.20. and 1 Tim. 1.15. and will ye no… now make use of him?

2. Wherefore was he made a Sacrifice, and laid down his life, and spilt his most precious blood, was it not for us? Messias was to be cut off, but not for himself, not for Angels, but for us; and did God give his Son to die for no use and purpose? is not he the good shepherd that giveth his life for his sheep, that they may have life, and have it more abundantly, Ioh. 10.10. He died that by his death he might reconcile us to God, when we were enemies, Rom. 5.10. His blood was▪ spilt to justifie us, Rom. 5.9. He was delivered for our offences, Rom. 4.25. He paid a ransome for us, and made satisfaction to divine justice in our nature and stead. He gave himself for his Church, (Ephes. 5.25, 26.) that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water, by his word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, that it might be holy and without blemish. He died that he might kill sin, which would be our death, and crucifie the old man, and to establish a new Covenant, and open a way to Heaven; and shall all this be in vain? did Christ die as a fool dieth?

p. 1223. Wherefore did he rise again from the dead? (was it not for our use and benefit?) Rom. 4.25. He rose again for our justification; that is, God did declare by raising him from the dead, that he hath accepted the death of his Son as of a sufficient ran…ome for our sins; and he being our true pledg and surety, therefore having satisfied for us by his death, and returning again to life, gives us a clear evidence and firm argument, that God was fully reconcil'd, and life purchased for us; which assurance we could not have had if Christ our pledg had remained under the power of death; and shall not we make use of Christs Resurrection to confirm our faith, that God is satisfied for us? He rose again that he might quicken us to a new life, and shall we lye dead rather than improve?

4. What was the end of Christs Ascension? was not that also for us, and our use and benefit, that then he might lead captivity captive, and give gifts to men, Ephes. 4.8. either passively, that Christ might take away from Satan, death and hell, and all their captives, and make them his happy captives; and shall such a Redemption be refused? Or actively, that he might captivate the world, flesh, devil, death and hell, which in several kinds had captivated mankind, and shall not we make use of him, for conquering such enemies? He ascended that he might give his Spirit, and confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost, Act. 2.16, 17. and that he might prepare p. 123a place for us: And shall these great benefits be neglected?

5. Once more: Wherefore is he an Advocate, but to plead for us, when we dare not, cannot come to speak for our selves? What a strange piece of folly were it for a man that has a friend in the Court who is appointed purposely to plead his cause, or present his petition, and yet he make no use of him, when the success of his business concerns his whole estate or life? when we have sinned and offended God, we have Christ our advocate with the Father to interpose betwixt the blow of Justice and our guilty souls, and shall this priviledg be neglected? 1 Ioh. 2.1. If we want any thing that God hath laid up for us, he is ready to make intercession for us, who cannot be denied, Heb 7.25. He must perfume all our Sacrifices, or they are not accepted; offer up all our Prayers, or they are not answered. What need had we then to make use of him? It is only by the blood of Christ that we have boldness or liberty to enter into the holy of holies, Heb. 10.19. And by him is a new and living way consecrated for us that we may draw near with true hearts and full assurance of faith, Heb. 10.20, 22. And none can come unto the Father but by him. O then make use of this only name and way, and be often walking in it to God, and his Throne of Grace.

Object. O but I am a wretched sinner, a worthless worm and captive, what have I to do p. 124with such a precious Saviour, with so glorious a Lord?

Answ. But pray tell me, wherefore is Christ a Saviour? is he not for sinners? Wherefore is he a Redeemer? is it that he should lye by God as useless? was he not a Redeemer for Captives? Hath not God fitted and dressed Christ (as I may so speak) for sinners use and advantage? what if all the world should say so, Christ should be a Saviour and save none? a Redeemer and ransome none at all? an Advocate and plead for none? for all are sinners, all are captives, all are at enmity with God naturally. We have the more need to use him because such.

Now for Direction how we must make use of Christ:

1. As for the manner.

2. The particular cases wherein; 1. How or in what manner we may safely and comfortably make use of Christ.

1. Labour by all means to be acquainted with your spiritual condition; know the state of your souls; otherwise how canst thou make use of Christ suitably? As suppose thou hast a blind eye, or hard heart, how canst thou make use of Christ to open the one, or break the other, as thou ought, if thou knowest it not? as the Apostle saith in another case, 1 Cor. 11.26. Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat, &c. So here, examine whether thou hast received Christ, whether he be thine, before thou make use of p. 125him; doth Christ belong to thee, or not? how canst thou without trembling think of him or approach to him, when thou knowest not whether he will condemn or acquit thee in judgment? nor whether he be fet for thy rising, or thy fall? whether he be the corner-stone and foundation of thy happiness, or a stone of stumbling, to break thee, and grind thee to powder? Luk. 2.34. Mat. 21.44. Take heed of usurping that which belongs not to thee; do not ignorantly and presumptuously conceit thy self to improve Christ, before thou hast received him; try thy state to the bottom; hands off, prophane impenitent unbelievers, unreformed sinners.

2. Get a due sense of thy necessity and want of Christ; learn to look upon thy self as altogether insufficient as of thy self to do any thing: What man is most likely to make use of Christ, what soul is in nearest capacity to improve him, but he that knows he hath nothing, can do nothing without him? Will a man make use of a Physician that thinks he is not sick? Will any intreat his neighbours hand to help him to do or lift that which he is perswaded he hath strength enough to do himself? So if thou have any work to do, as suppose to resist Satan, subdue a corruption, and presumest thou canst do it thy self; thou art uncapable of making use of Christ: as a King to suppress rebels, will not call in foreign aid, &c. So think not your selves to have any sufficiency to do any thing that is p. 126good, 2 Cor. 3.5. Empty your selves of self-conceitedness; say not with Laodicea, I am rich, and increased with goods; but know what Christ saith, Ioh. 15.5. Non ait, fine me parum, potestis facere, sed nihil. Aust. Not but little, but just nothing; you cannot think, or speak, nor act in the least measure agreeable to Gods perfect will, but by Christ: unbottom your selves wholly, cast away self-confidence, that you may be fit for the Lord Jesus Christ, who filleth the hungry with good things, and sends the rich away empty, Luk. 1.53.

3. Apply Christ to thy self in particular by faith, believing and being verily perswaded that Christ is able and willing to do for thee… what thou needest, and what thou desirest in all thy exigencies; trust him with thy work and business; and cast thy self upon him as thou wouldest do on a trusty, able, and faithful friend: as we are to receive Christ by faith, so by faith we make use of him; as we apply him for our justification, so we improve him for continuance of it, and for our Sanctification and Salvation.

1. Thus the servants of God have done and prospered; they apply'd Christ in their several needs and exigencies, as Iob, David, Thomas and Paul.

2. Thus the Scriptures direct, and perswade us to appropriate Christ to our needing souls, so we are bid to put on Christ, Rom. 13.14. Taste and see that he is gracious, Psal. 34.8.

p. 1273. Thus Christ himself invites us to apply and improve him: Come eat of my bread, and drink of my wine which I have mingled, Prov. 9.5. Come partake of those good things my Father would have me to communicate unto you. Isa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, &c. Joh. 7.37. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. By these and such like passages in Scripture, you see what warrant you have to apply Christ, and perswade your selves, that if you make use of him, he will do for you that which shall be for your good. Christs call gives you a warrant to go to him, that you may possess these priviledges in Christ without intrusion or usurpation, this is that you have to shew to Conscience, you do not presume: Why dost thou, vile wretch, go to Christ for such a blessing? how durst thou that art a sinner look him in the face? lay hold on Christ? make use of Christ? why? I was invited and called. If it should be asked of the guests that came in a wedding garment, Friends, how durst ye come hither and approach the Presence-chamber of the Kings Son? they might answer, We were bidden to the Wedding, Mat. 22.10, 12. The Scripture doth not call us by name, thou Iohn and Thomas, though the offer be propounded generally, yet when God by his messenger speaks directly to my case, and I am included, here's a dish for my hungry soul, intended for me.

p. 1282. For particular cases, wherein this gift may be very useful, as a Jesus to save us from our sins, Matt. 1.21.

1. It is a tryed and effectual antidote against sin, that's the greatest evil in the world. Now improve Christ against the guilt, the stain, the temptation, the bondage, and the remainder of sin.

1. Against the guilt of sin; wouldest thou have pardon, make use of Christ, who hath shed his blood to satisfie infinite Justice, and purcha…e pardon and remission of thy sins, if thou believe in him, 1 Pet. 2.24, 25. He hath born them on his body on the Cross, Therefore, as the Apostle, 1 Ioh. 2.12, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the father, Iesus Christ the righteous, who is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but the sins of the whole world. If thou hast sinned against God, and guilt pleads against thee, and thou hast nothing to plead for thy self, thou maist go to this Advocate, who will intercede for thee, by vertue of his merits; and so thou maist scape the Judgment of God denounced against thee, Ezek. 18 4, The soul that sinneth it shall dye. O apply the blood of Christ, and sprinkle that upon thy Conscience, that thy sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, he will heal thy bleeding wounds, and drown the cry of thy sins.

p. 1292. Against the stain of sin, to purge and cleanse thee; Dost thou find thy Soul stained with original and actual pollutions, so that thou cryest out, I am unclean, I am unclean, I was born in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me; and innumerable evils committed by me, do leave a macula, or stain upon me? O then, fly to Christ, who is a fountain set open to wash from sin and from uncleanness, Zech. 13.1. Who is the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, John 1.29. Christ was without spot, knew no sin, was born holy, that he might cover the impurity of thy conception. Hath sin like a poison or leprosy spread over thy whole Soul, and all thy actions are impure, so that there is no soundness in thee, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores? Improve Christ in this case, who will wash thee in his blood, Rev. 1.5, bind up thy wounds, and make thee partaker of the Divine nature; as 2 Pet. 1.4. Though thy sins be as scarlet, he will make thee white as snow. If the blood of bulls and goats, sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works, to serve the living Lord, Heb. 9.13, 14? O then, look unto Christ and be healed, tell him (as he did) Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. No Soap, nor Nitre can purge it: the general deluge swept p. 130away sinners, but could not wash away one sin.

3. Against the bondage of sin; every one is by nature a bondslave to corruption: Now Christ was sent to Preach, as well as purchase deliverance for captives, and to open the Prison to them that are bound, Isa. 61.1, 2. If a number of men were taken captives by the Turks, and made Gally-…laves; suppose some rich Merchant should lay down a vast sum of Money to purchase their liberty; or a great Prince make way by the Sword for their escape, or give some Prisoners in exchange for them; and should this dear-bought liberty be proclaimed to all in general, That whoever will apply themselves to him, should be free from bondage; How deservedly may those lye and dye in Chains, that will not accept and make use of those easie terms? If thou cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me, &c? Christ alone, that Son will make you free, Ioh. 8.32, 33, 34. 'Tis not a feigned, or fancied, but a real liberty, free indeed.

4. Against the danger of sin; Art thou afraid of such a corruption? art thou annoyed with such a temptation, and ready to say, ah, I shall one day perish by the hand of such a sin? Then to prevent falling into sin, and antidote thee against the solicitations of it, with Paul run to Christ, and beseech the Lord once and again, till thou have that answer, My grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12.8, 9. p. 131When sin comes as a Potiphars Wife, and offers thee deadly Poison in a golden Cup, let Faith answer, I would consent, but that I am a Christian; how can I do this great wickedness and sin against my Christ? I cannot gratifie this or that lust, but I must be disloyal to my Lord Christ. When ever temptations assault, and an host incamp against thee, hast to the Captain of thy Salvation, as David, at What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee, Psal. 56.3.

5. Against the whole body of sin, make use of Christ, who came to destroy the works of the Devil: Would thou have sin mortified and killed, and the old man crucified, nail him to the Cross of Christ, that by vertue of his death, sin may receive its deaths wound; no corruptions can stand before Christs Cross. Rom. 6.8, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.

1. Art thou troubled and molested with passion, and transported with anger? nothing so effectual to subdue and bridle that short madness, as Christ. Nihil ita irae impetum cohibet, sicut Iesus: 'Tis the property of contraries to expel one another. Christ is meekness and love.

2. Doth Pride, that detestable sin, swell thee? art thou proud of wealth, honour, gifts, friends, &c? Nihil ita superbiae tumorem, sedat sicut Iesus, he is humble and lowly, Mat. 11.29.

p. 1323. Or that diabolical sin of envy? Christ can cure thee of that rotten vice: Nihil ita livoris culmas; sanat sicut Iesus: Who ever shewed more opposition to it than Christ, who prayed that his Servants might have the same glory with him, Ioh. 17.22.

4. Or that idolatrous heathenish sin of Covetousness? Christ alone can quench the insatiable thirst after worldly things. Ioh. 4.14, Whoever drinks of this water shall never thirst. Nil ita temperat sitim avaritiae sicut Iesus▪ Thou wilt trample the Moon under thy feet, and scorn to love this poor dunghil-world, or be fond of these beautiful vanities, and fairfac'd nothings.

Lastly, Dost thou feel in thy Soul the scorching heat of Concupiscence, and knowest not how to rid thy self of it? Go to Christ, who will quickly quench that flame: Nihil ita extinguit libidinis flammam, sicut Iesus. Christs blood is an excellent antidote against lust, and will quench, and not curb only, that inflamation. So we might add many more instances for our mortification, &c.

2. As a Physician to cure all Diseases; Christ, the gift of God, is a most excellent and soveraign Remedy for all diseases and spiritual indispositions; whatever the Soul ails, go to Christ, and he can and will help.

1. For darkness and blindness; none better than Christ. Do the eyes of thy mind wax p. 133dim and dark, that thou canst not (so well as formerly) see the soulness of sin, the fairness of Christ, the beauty of holiness? O make use of Christ, who can open blind eyes, and clear the sight, and make you see that plainly, that others can scarce perceive. He can illuminate the mind, anoint the eye with eye-salve, Rev. 3.18, that thou maist see how naked and wretched thou art; dispel all darkness, and shew thee the light of life, Iohn 8.12, and 12.46. If any walk in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God, Isa. 50.10.

2. Deadness; Christ is an effectual remedy against deadness and lifelesness of spirit: Whither should we go but unto him who hath the words of eternal life? Thou hast fallen among Thieves, and they have bereaved thee of all, yea, of life it self; why Christ is that good Samaritan, which puts Wine and Oyl into thy wounded Soul, Luk. 10.30, he complains that ye will not come unto him, that ye may have life; he is called our life, Col. 3.4. O derive life and strength from him.

3. Hardness; Art thou infected with that sore disease of hardness of heart, so that thou canst not mourn for sin, nor art scarce sensible of the great burden of sin and misery, nor lay to heart the evils of the times, but thy heart is a Rock, or an Adamant? O go to Christ, who can, and will take away the heart of stone, p. 134and give thee a heart of flesh, Ezek. 11.19, and 36.26. In him this gracious promise is, and ever shall be, yea, and Amen. Soak thy heart thorowly in this promise, and set before thine eyes a crucified bleeding Saviour. Hence that saying of Bernard, Cui fons forte sicul es lanynam invocat Iesum, non fluxit uberius. What hardness of heart could ever stand before Jesus Christ? or what Soul ever went to Christ, and came away with a hard heart, and was not melted as wax before the Sun? If Christ do but strike upon the heart, though it were a Rock, he can make it gush out with a torrent of brinish tears.

4. Barrenness; Thou complainest of unfruitfulness, thou receivest much and returnest little, thou art dry and unprofitable; make use of Christ in this case; the water is not more effectual to make fruitful the barren ground, than the dew of Christs Grace, to fructifie a barren heart; I the Lord can turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful garden, Isa. 51.3. He hath promised to make the Wilderness like Eden, and the Desert like the Garden of the Lord. He hath said, Isa. 35.1, 2, 6, 7, That the desert shall blossom as the rose, yea it shall blossom abundantly; for in the wilderness shall water break out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. Go to Christ for the fulfilling of those great and precious promises; say, Cant. 4. ult. Lord send out thy p. 135spirit, to breathe upon my Soul, to blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out, &c. Christ saith, Except ye abide in me, and I in you, ye cannot bear fruit. Under the term abiding, is implyed, making use of Christ, drawing sap and nourishment from him, Ioh. 15.4, 5.

5. Despondency; when thou art disquieted with melancholly, Psal. 27.13, doubting and distrustful thoughts arising from the weakness of Grace, power of Corruption, and malice of Satan; have recourse to Christ, who hath an incomparable faculty of dispelling all these perplexed and pensive conceits that do torture thy mind: He himself suffered, and was tempted, was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and therefore is able to succour us in all our temptations and troubles, Heb. 2.18, and 4.15, 16. Now if a man be in any trouble in outward estate or body, what will he do in such a case? He will go and consult with one that hath been in the like condition. Do thus, make use of Christ for help, who hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, Heb. 13.5; which words of his, being spoken home to the heart of a distrustful, perplexed person, by his own Spirit, must needs be of refreshing vertue, and reviving power, as that light will ever spring up out of darkness, and scatter those mists that darken the mind and disturb our peace: 'tis he that forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth all thy diseases, Psal. 103.3.

p. 1363. Improve this gift of God, as a sweet and forcible attractive and help to draw your hearts to the performance of all those duties that are required of you; and to assist in the exercise of those graces that are to be found in you.

As 1. Faith; In the want or weakness of Faith, make use of Christ, who must needs be very helpful; for he is the author and finisher of your faith, Heb. 12.2, he is infinitely able to begin, increase, and perfect your faith, so as that it can have no other vertue or power, but such as is derived only from him. 'Tis he by whom we believe in God, who raised him from the dead; his own Disciples finding their faith infirm and weak, did repair to him for more strength, and for a larger measure of it, acknowledging him to be able, and themselves impotent and unable to do it, saying, Luke 17.5, Lord increase our faith.

2. Repentance; Does any lye and groan under the guilt and burden of impenitency? O let him address himself to Christ in this sad case, who came into the world to call sinners to repentance; not as we in the Ministry, to call outwardly, but to call with an effectual voice, and to cause to repent, Mat. 11.13. God not only gave him to the world to be a Saviour, but hath exalted him to be a Prince, to give repentance and remission of sins, Act. 5.31. If thy heart be secure and senseless, go to Christ who will freely give (not sell) and p. 137work in thee godly sorrow, that leads to repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. That repentance you frame in your selves, will miserably deceive you; so that Austin said, that repentance doth drown more than sin, when you think you can sufficiently do it your selves; whereas Christ alone doth give true and acceptable repentance.

3. Love; Christ is the best teacher of Love that ever the world had; who taught it, not only by his words, but by his blood, by his life, and by his death. Wouldest thou learn to love? Go to Christ; if thou canst not learn it of him, thou canst never learn it. Love is the greatest commander of love, and the most effectual argument that can insuperably constrain us to it; and none ever loved at the rate and measure that Christ hath loved; to stand by such a fire, is the way for a congealed heart to melt, and the coldest affections to grow warm. A lively Faith still holding Christ the glass of infinite love and goodness, before our faces, is the greatest lesson in the art of love. A believing view of the nature, undertaking, love, obedience, doctrine, example, sufferings, intercession, and Kingdom of Jesus Christ, must needs inflame believers hearts with an answerable degree of love: O steep that stiff and hardned heart in the blood of Christ, and it will melt, and it will change thy unkind, unthankful heart, in the very nature of love, to come over with Thomas, and by the passage of p. 138his wounds, wind thy self into his heart.

4. Obedience, both active and passive, to which Christ is both an incomparable motive, and admirable pattern: He fulfilled all righteousness, and became obedient to the death of the Cross; Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, was his resolution when he came into the world; and not my will, but thine be done, when he went out of it. He hath said, he will write his Laws in your hearts, and cause you to walk in his statutes, and give you one heart and one way, that ye may serve him for ever, Ezek. 36.27. Christs obedience is thine, walking in Christ; all the acts of it are exerted and performed in the strength of Christ.

5. Prayer; would you know how to pray, as to have your Prayer accepted and answered? let Christ be made use of, who is the alone Mediator, that by the vail of his flesh, hath made a new and living way into the holy place; and sits at Gods right hand making request for you: So that by him, you may have free access with boldness to the throne of grace, Heb. 10.19, 20. Have you a friend in the Court, that will plead your cause, and speak a good word to the King, and will you not make use of him? O Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, Heb. 4.16. In Christ we have access, Eph. 2.18, and 3.14. Rom. 8.34. 1 Ioh. 5.4. Ioh. 14.13. If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it; in time of the Law, p. 139if any sinned, he was to go to the High Priest, who was to mediate and intercede for him to God. So now we must come to Christ, who mediates, and makes intercession for us; though we have transgressed, he hath suffered; though we be unworthy, yet he is worthy; if we and our suit be commended by one of so great worth, and such interest in the Father, can we doubt of success?—He will give us also his spirit, to help our infirmities, and teach us what to pray for as we ought, and lead us by the hand unto God, and enable us to cry, Abba, Father.

4. Improve Christ, as the purchaser and conveyer of all blessings and benefits to your Souls, which they stand in need of; are you empty and hungry, come to him for food; are you naked, come to him for clothes; are you weak, come to him for strength; if wavering, for stedfastness; if weary, for rest.

1. Let the poor, needy and hungry Soul come to Christ, and not lay out its money for that which is not bread; but hearken unto him, eat that which is good, and let your soul delight it self in fastness, Isa. 55.2, 3. He alone will feed and fill the Soul, and satiate it with his goodness; He will make a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined, Isa. 25.6. O labour to …ake in his sweetest consolations fresh every morning; the Soul cannot live without some comfort or other, p. 140if it finds no such sweetness in Christ it will look for it elsewhere; and if it tast nothing in his ways to keep it up, it will go down to earthly delights for relief.

2. Let the wretched, naked Soul, make use of Christ, and not sow together Fig-leaves, as Adam, Gen. 3.7. Never think to patch together a deal of filthy rags to cover thy uncleanness and nakedness, Isa. 64.6. But if thou know that thou art naked, then buy of Christ white raiment that thou maist be clothed, and the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, Rev. 3.18. Christs righteousness is a long white robe to cover thy nakedness, see Ezek 16. begin. the Soul according to its nativity is naked and filthy; but Christ spreads his skirt over it, and puts on excellent ornaments, he will take away thy filthy garments, and cloathe thee with change of raiment, Zech. 3. begin.

3 Let the weak improve Christ for strength, who will perfect his strength in their weakness; so that thou maist say with the Apostle, When I am weak, then I am strong, 2 Cor. 12.9. And by his strength, I can do all things, Phil. 4.13. Trust not in your own strength, but rely upon the power of Christ in all your performances; art thou to grapple with some strong corruption or temptation, and desirest to overcome it? hast thou some weighty and difficult duty to perform? make tryal of Christ, and thou shalt find that he gives power p. 141to the faint, and to them that have no might, Isa. 40.29.

4. Let the wavering make use of him for stability and fixedness; Art thou afraid of Apostacy in these backsliding times, go to Christ to stablish thee, 1 Thes. 3.13, That he establish your hearts, unblameable in holiness before God, even our father, at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ, with all his saints. He is a Rock, if thou build on him, thou shalt never be moved, Matt. 16.10. God stablisheth your Souls in Christ, 2 Cor. 1.21. If you can get rooted and built up in him, and established by him in the faith, you need not fear (though you must beware) of being spoiled through Philosophy and vain deceit, Col. 2.7, 8. Do you fear falling away from the Grace or Truth of God? then make special use of Christ, who is able to establish you, and keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Iude 24.

5. Let the weary Soul come to Christ, and he shall find rest; make use of this gift of God, which is far more suitable to a wandering sin-sick soul, than the softest bed to the wearied body: what was prophesied by Lamech concerning his Son Noah, is compleatly fulfill'd in Christ, whereof Noah was a type, Gen. 5.29. He called his son Noah, rest, (for saith he) this same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands. Think often on that soul-refreshing promise, Matt. 11 28, p. 142Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you, &c. Come poor restless, easeless, and dejected souls, let others weary themselves in seeking riches and reputation in the world, to you I faithfully promise rest, which is the thing you want. Fecisti nos domine propter te, & inquietum est cor nostrum, donec veniat ad te.

5. Improve this gift of God as a standing cordial against those failings and despondencies of spirit, and make use of it in the midst of those sad thoughts and mi…givings of heart you may be under through fear of wrath, terrours of conscience, and shrinking apprehensions of death and judgment.

1. Is God angry, doth he begin to thunder, and write bitter things against thee? and his waves and billows go over you, so that your moisture is dried up, and you almost overwhelmed with the fierceness of his wrath? Now let faith recollect it self and say, Well, Christ is mine, in whose wounds is room enough to hold, and in whose heart is readiness enough to receive all that fly unto him; true indeed, there is a terrible storm of justice gathering over my head, and ready to fall upon me, but my Christ is my shelter, an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, Isa. 32.2. A flood of vengeance is coming, but I am got into the Ark; destruction near, but Christ is my Passover, my little Sanctuary, able and willing to save to the uttermost with all kinds and degrees of Salvation, p. 143Heb. 7.25. He hath trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with him, Isa. 63.3. O then enter into this rock, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty, till the indignation be over-past. When God is angry with thy soul, take Christ in thine arms and come to him.

2. Art thou grown strange to him, and alienated thy self from him by sin? none is so proper and necessary to be made use of as Christ in this case, who is the peace-maker between God and man; who hath not only made peace between those, but so ratified and confirmed it, that nothing shall be ever able to dissolve it. God reconciles the world to himself by Christ, 2 Cor. 5.19. not only them that were strangers, but even enemies, Col. 1.21. Those that are afar of, are made nigh by the blood of Christ; he hath broken down the partition-wall, and slain the enmity, Ephes. 2 16, 17, 18. If thou hast some dear friend who bestows a gift on thee, in token of his dear love and respect to thee, and there should be afterwards some disagreeing and falling out betwixt you, wouldst thou shew this gift a pledg of league and amity? &c. thus hold up Christ to God.

3. Or though it be not thus, yet thou wantest the sense and feeling of his love, and art comfortless in the want of it; O then make use of Christ in this case, who is able to make all Consolations abound, and fill thy soul with joy and peace in believing: He hath said, Ioh. 14.18. I p. 144will not leave you comfortless; Tristatur aliquis nostrum, veniat in cor Iesus. Is any man sad (saith Bernard) let that sweetest name Jesus come into his heart, and so he shall have that peace and comfort that the world cannot give, neither can the world take it away from him. Christ is a most soveraign Cordial, apply and use him, and your joy will be full.

4. Or art thou terrified in Conscience, and groaning under the insupportable burden of a wounded spirit? art thou affrighted with accusing and condemning thoughts? O go to Christ, who as he can make peace in the Court of Heaven, so he can create peace in thy heart, and still the crys of Conscience, and make a calm there also; though the waves roar, and the winds blow, &c. thy soul shall have peace in him which passeth all understanding, Col. 1.20. And will say, in me ye shall have peace, be of good cheer, let not your hearts be troubled; though your hearts ake and tremble, yet he is greater tha… your hearts, who is nigh to justifie you, Isa. ….8 so that you may triumph with the Apostle, Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, Rom. 8.34. Expect no peace in laying aside Christ.

5. Are you afraid of death and judgment to come? in this case also make use of Christ. It's reported by Cassander that in ancient times, sick and weak dying persons were directed and accustomed to make use of Christ at that time especially, interposing him betwixt them and p. 145Gods Judgment; saying these words, Lord we put thee the death of our Lord Iesus Christ betwixt us and thy judgment. But what need we look into Historians, the Scriptures shew what languishing souls and drooping spirits must do, Psal. 23.4, 5. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, yet I will fear no evil, &c. Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death, Heb. 2.4. taken out the venome and malignity of it; Death lost its sting in Christs side: And now O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 15.55, 57. Or fearest thou judgment, look to Christ and thou shalt not die the second death, but he will raise thee up at the last day, Ioh 6.49, 50. Having Christ, thou maist stand in judgment, and lift up thy head with joy, for 'tis the day of thy Redemption, then the redeemed of the Lord shall return with joy everlasting; and you shall appear with him in glory.

4. Fourth Branch of Exhortation, Be …ery thankful for him; yea let your whole soul go out in thankfulness; be ever praising and magnifying God for his unspeakable mercy in Christ, your Sacrifice, your Redeemer, your Saviour; often call upon your sluggish hearts, and say, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name, Psal. 103.1. and 116.12. What shall I render to the Lord for this the greatest of all his benefits?

p. 146O be thankful, not in a common, ordinary, formal manner, but in the most lively, enlarged and raised manner that is possible; where the mercy is high and great, the thankfulness must bear some proportion to it. O let your apprehensions be widened, to conceive the vastness of this mercy, that your affections may be more enlarged to praise God for it; O how shall we get our hearts affected with it! what thankfulness can be enough for such a gift! should not the whole soul be summon'd in to give its most united acknowledgment of so signal a mercy? for God to give his only begotten Son to be a Saviour for sinners! Here's the wonder of wonders! God never did the like before, and he'l never do the like again; and blessed be his name, there is no need he should. It would have been admirable mercy if God would have sent some other person upon this Errand to redeem and save undone sinners. If send he will, why did he not send an Angel, (or body of Angels) to try their skill, and see what they could do? Nay, why did he not send an Angel (as once he did) with a flaming sword in his hand to keep off sinners from the Tree of Life? O this did not comport with his gracious designs (though it did too well with the creatures merit) therefore he would not do it; no his own Son shall be pitcht upon, he is the person whom God will send. Surely here was love, great love, great to the degree of infiniteness. Millions p. 147of Angels were nothing to one Son, to one such Son, his first-born, his only begotten Son, the Son of his love, who lay in his bosom, had been his delight from everlasting. O astonishing mercy! O admirable goodness and condescention! how may we cry out here, Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him, and the Son of man that thou makest this account of him! Psal. 8.4. and 144.3. or as Iob 7.17. What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him, and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him! Here was God so loving, so as can never be expressed, never be comprehended, Ioh 3.16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on him might not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Heavens and the Earth were once called upon to be filled with astonishment, because of the ingratitude of a sinful people, Isa. 1.2. May not now Heaven and Earth, Angels and men, all creatures whatsoever, be called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the stupendious love of God! O Christians! what influence hath this upon your dull and sluggish hearts? what are you made of, that you are no more (in the sense of it) drawn out in blessing, loving, admiring and adoring of God? Pray, if there be any holy ingenuity in you, take some pains with your selves, that you may be much more affected with it, and give not over, till you have such thoughts and affections p. 148(upon Gods giving his Son) raised in you as may in some measure answer to those thoughts and affections which you shall have about it, when you shall be in Heaven. The Angels never reaped that advantage that we do, yet they were at praising-work as soon as ever Christ was born, Luk. 2.13, 14. A multitude of the heavenly host was praising God, saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will towards men

Good Zachary so soon as his mouth was opened, begun his Prophecy, with Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath visited and redeemed his people, Luk. 1.68, 69. And old Simeon ended his life with praise and blessing God, Luk. 1.19. 'Tis the duty of all Christians in every thing to give thanks, 1 Thes. 5.18. because this is the will of God in Christ, much more should every soul give thanks, for Christ the top of all blessings, the flower of all enjoyments; think much of this threefold cord of obligation to praise: 1. When a gift is free: 2. When it is great. 3. When special▪ thanks is most due: for though a man receive a benefit from another, yet if he have in any measure deserved it before, or it be in lieu of something to be done after, it abates the thankfulness: But though it be free, yet if it be not much worth, that lessens thanks; but if it be a thing of worth, yet if it be commonly to be had, or given to all, this will take off somewhat of the edg of thankfulness. But now,

p. 1491. Christ is an absolutely free gift, not only undeserved, but undesired and expected: kindness by the rules of friendship and love, in the heathens judgment, doth challenge either recompence if we deal with our matches, or acknowledgment where the distance is great, and the greater this, the greater that: Now betwixt God and us the distance is infinite, and if it were possible our love and thankfulness should fill up that distance, and extend it self to infiniteness. Let Angels and men adore and praise God for this gift to eternity in Heaven, yet they must be ashamed and blush at the imagination of merit. The dignity and worth of this gift must lay an infinite (though sinless) debt for ever on all the Citizens of Glory, whether home-born, and natives of the Country, as elect Angels, or adopted strangers, as glorified Saints. Christ is the flower, glory, and crown of free Grace.

2 The gift is of unspeakable worth and excellency, than which none could ever be greater, none better, the only begotten Son, God blessed for evermore, the brightness of his Fathers Glory; co-equal and co-essential with the Father; there could be no addition at all made to his Glory; he was so high he could not be higher, so great, so good, &c. He is better than wealth or health, than peace or life.

3. There's distinguishing favour in bestowing Christ on thee, and not on others; that p. 160which is common to all, will never leave such an impression of wonder and praise; but when it comes to me and us, that makes deepest impression. The passing by of my Father and Mother, my Brother, my Sister, Husband or Wife, Neighbour or Friend, and taking me, is a most endearing favour. Two lye in the same womb, sit in the same seat, hear the same Sermon, and one is taken and another left, Psal. 147.12, 19, 20. Praise the Lord, O Ierusalem, praise thy God, O Zion. Among many other grounds and reasons, that's one in the 19. verse, He shews his w…rd unto Iacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel, he hath not dealt so with any Nation. Here he speaks not of the measure (as if others had the same grace revealed in nature, but in inferiour degrees) for he saith, as for his judgments they have not known them; and being full of it, he concludes, Praise ye the Lord: Christ esteemeth this the flower of Grace, and blesseth his Father for it, Mat. 11.25. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. To consider, that of all England, all Europe, all Adam's posterity, that ever were masters of a living soul, the Lord passed by so many thousands and millions, and the lot of free grace fell upon me, precisely by name, and not on many besides, no less eligible than I was: O how should it ravish our hearts into p. 151admiration and praise. Blessed are your eyes, for they see such things that many Kings and Prophets have desired to see and have not seen them, Luk. 10.23. O what thoughts will ye have of this mercy in Heaven when you shall have your souls laden with a massy weight of glory, and thousands of souls spitting out blasphemies on the Majesty of Heaven, out of the sense of the torment of the gnawing-worm that never dies; and you consider the soul of Iudas might have been in my souls stead, and my soul in the same place of torment that he is now in. O the unsearchable riches of the free grace of God in Christ! How should we now sing that new Song that properly belongs to all redeemed ones, Rev. 14.3. and to say with a loud voice, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth on the Throne for ever and ever, Rev. 5.8. ad finem: and Rev 7.12. O how should we extol and shew forth his praises, had we as many tongues as members, or joints, or hairs; were our whole body turned into that one member, yet should we not be able for this high and glorious mercy, sufficiently to celebrate the praises of the most high God.

5. Fifth and last Branch of Exhortation, Be fruitful in Christ: True thankfulness improves the gift to the Donors honour. A friend gives me a token, I'le receive it for his sake; a jewel, I'le keep it for his sake; a Book, I'le use it for p. 152his sake; a Ring, I'le wear it for his sake; that is, so as may best express my love, and report his goodness. Were we truly thankful to our God, we would use and improve this gift for his sake, to his glory. O let it be our chief care to improve this transcendently excellent gift, to his glory who gave it. Let me press this Exhortation on …ou in the words of the Apostle, Col. 2.6. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. It is not enough to have or to know that we have received Christ, but we are to see that we walk in him, or according to him. 'Tis not sufficient for us to take Jesus Christ, this gift of God, offered in the Gospel, but our deportment and carriage must be such as becomes them that have received so great a favour. Christ was the greatest Legacy that ever was bequeathed to poor creatures, and he and his benefits that come with him, is matter of greatest weight and concernment that ever God be-trusted in the hands of dust and ashes; the most rich▪ glorious and perfect gift, that ever came out of the hands of God. Wherefore let us gird up the loyns of our mind, and be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Iesus Christ, as obedient children: Not fashioning our selves according to the former lusts in our ignorance, but as he that hath called us is holy, so let us be holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1.13, 14, 15. O what manner p. 153of persons should we be in all holy conversation and godliness!

It is most reasonable that we should walk in Christ, as we have received him, both from the rules of ingenuity, fidelity and equity.

1. It is a rule of an ingenuous man, that nothing be done to the prejudice of him from whom we receive nothing but the fairest expressions of favour and kindness. God deals with his people in sweet expressions and carriages of condescending love, bounty, and good-will; all his ways are mercy and faithfulness; his with drawings, or whatever God doth to his people, it is for their good: Now for any man to walk contrary to God, that still goes on to discover more of the riches of his grace to him, is to requite evil for good, a piece of great disingenuity: there is not only rebellion and disobedience, but wickedness in it.

2. 'Tis a rule of fidelity: whatever is given to a man to be disposed of upon such and such things, and for such ends, should be carefully imployed and laid out upon such things, and for such ends, according to the will of the giver. A man may certainly dispose of his own as he pleases. Now Christ was not given to us to live as we list, or to walk in the vanity of our minds as other Gentiles, Ephes. 4.17. Those that have received Christ, and do not walk worthy of him, do not improve him for mortifying the old man, and putting on the p. 154new man, and for holiness of heart and life, they go against the will of him that hath bestow…d th…s gift upon them.

3. 'Tis a rule and principle of equity: whatsoever we have received from another to occupy, we should return it with all possible advantage: being intrusted in anothers business, an ingenious and just man will labour to advantage him in whose business he is employed, as much if not more than his own. If we receive this special gift and grace of God, and instead of walking answerably we dishonour him by walking contrary to the grace we have received, where is justice and ingenuity in this deportment? As if a servant be employed in his Masters business, he is to use his utmost skill, and strength, and put to his utmost endeavours to perform his duty exactly. So we are servants, and whatever we do, is our duty, L…k. 17.10. the stock we have received from another, must be faithfully returned to the owner with advantage, Mat. 25.27. A servant is not to mind his own advantage, and profit, but his masters; the end why you perform duties, and frequent Ordinances, must not be meerly to be free from guilt and horrour, and to escape Judgment and H…ll, that's but as a servant that works indeed, and does his masters business for his own ends; but you must eat and drink, work and trade, pray and hear, and all that you do, for God and his glory.

p. 155For directions, how we must walk in Christ: You must walk in Christ as you have received him

1. You received Christ as one that hath taken upon him your nature, and sanctified it, Ioh. 17.19. and in this respect you should walk in him, as those that are sanctified, Ephes. 4 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. But ye have not so learned Christ, &c. 1 Thes. 4.4. As you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more; for this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

2. As one that mediates and intercedes for you at the Throne of Grace; and ye should be sure to walk in him, come to God in this new and living way, that your persons and services may be accepted, and prayers answered.

3. As one to whom you have resigned up your selves as your King and Lord, ruler and governour, that hath the sole ordering and disposing of you and all your affairs and ways; and in this respect, you should yield obedience and subjection to his commands, and give up your selves wholly to him.

4. As one that is your Saviour, who is your strength and safety against all enemies and evils; whose design and undertaking is to deliver you from the evil of sin, Satan and the world; in all your fears, dangers, temptations, then you must fly unto him; and relye p. 156upon him; when he hath restored liberty to you captives and slaves, you must walk in this liberty, and make use of it (not to sin) but to serve him freely, without fear and without distraction.

5. As a guide and leader to shew you the way of life and happiness; and 'tis nothing but reason you should follow him, and walk as he walked. In a word, he is your life and your all, and so you should live (not to your selves) but to him and his praise, and glorifie him in soul and body which are his; that since he died for all▪ 'tis very reasonable that they which believe should not live henceforth to themselves, but to him that died for them. Rom. 6.22, …3. Being made free from sin, and become servants unto God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Iesus Christ our Lord.