Christ All and in All, Sermon 6
ROM. 13. 14.
Put ye on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.VII. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. Jan. 11. 1651.
IN this Chapter the Apoſtle recommends unto Chriſtians the practiſe of ſeveral excellent duties for the adorning of their holy profeſſion in the world.
1. Subjection to civil Magiſtracy. This is urged by ſundry Arguments from v. 1. to 8.
2. Ʋnto that heavenly and divine grace of love. This is preſſed by many Arguments, from v. 8. to 13.
3. Ʋnto honeſty of converſation, v. 13. he would have them to abſtaine from all acts of intemperance, ſuch as rioting, drunkenneſſe, &c. and to walk, foreign, decently and honeſtly.
4. 'Tis the putting on of Chriſts righteouſneſſe. This he names to diſtinguiſh Chriſtian graces from moral vertues; unleſſe Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe imputed by faith be put on, that power to live holily may be derived from that fountaine, a Chriſtians holineſſe ſhall not exceed the righteouſneſſe of moral Philoſophers, and Jewiſh Phariſees, They did abſtaine from many works of the fleſh, they did practice acts of temperance and other vertues, but they did not draw power from this fountaine Jeſus Chriſt, being ſtrangers to Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, al their eminent vertues gained no ſaving acceptance from God. The Apoſtle therefore would have Chriſtians not onelyonly to walk holily, but to draw all power of holy walking from Chriſt the root of all true holineſſe, v. 14.
5. Not to make any ſuperfluous and inordinate proviſion for the fleſh, ver. 14. latter end. The text hath two parts.
1. An Act, foreign. It's a Metaphor borrowed from the putting on of garments, uſed by the Apoſtle often. In reference to the New-man, Eph. 4. 24. In reference to the ſpiritual Armour, Eph. 6. 11. In reference to acts of mercy, Col. 3. 12. And here in reference to the application of Chriſt. But Put ye on.
2. The object. The Lord Jeſus Christ.
3. Expreſſions relating to one and the ſame perſon. They are many times joyned together, though uſed ſingly and apart often. Acts 16. 31. Beleeve on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved; ſo in thoſe Apoſtolical benedictions. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with you all. We may diſtinguiſh them thus.
Lord is a Name of Power.
Jeſus a Name of Grace.
Chriſt a Name of Authority.
The words afford a twofold leſſon. The one implied, the other expreſſed, Viz. 1. That Jeſus Chriſt is a ſpiritual garment. 2. That it's the duty of beleevers to put on this garment.
Doct. 1. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is a ſpiritual garment. This is neceſſarily implied under the metaphor of putting on. This foreign doth imply foreign. Jeſus Chriſt is the ſoules cloathing. Chriſt is a Chriſtians veſtment. As he is ſpiritual meat and drink, ſo he is ſpiritual Apparrel.
Two things here to be opened.
1. To prove that Chriſt is a garment.
2. To ſhew the Analogy between Chriſt and other garments.
1. That Chriſt is a garment. This will appear two wayes.
1. From expreſſe Scriptures. All thoſe texts where mention is made of the putting on of Chriſt, are teſtimonies of this truth, Gal. 3. 17. As many as are baptized into Chriſt, have put on Chriſt. That in Eſay 61. 10. I will rejoyce in the Lord, for he hath cloathed me with the robes of righteouſneſſe; he hath put upon me the garments of ſalvation. Jerom expounds it of Jeſus Chriſt, ſalvatorem & juſtificatorem noſtrum; who covers us with his own righteouſneſſe as with a precious robe of ſalvation. This is taught by our Saviour in that counſel which he gives to the naked Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3. 18. I counſel thee to buy of me gold, &c. and white rayment that thou mayſt be cloathed. What are thoſe foreign but Jeſus Chriſt himſelf imputed and applied to the ſoule, Iſa. 52. 2? its ſpoken of deliverance from Babylon, and more fully of redemption by Chriſt.
2. From typical or more myſterious Scriptures. There are many of this kinde.
(1.) Thoſe garments of skins wherewith God cloathed our firſt parents after the fall. You read of them, Gen. 3. 21. This was not without a myſtery. Peter Martyr hath this note upon that place, that by theſe garments was ſhadowed out the promiſed Meſſiah, that bleſſed ſeed of the woman, who ſhould be ſacrificed upon the croſſe, and cut out (as it were) into garments for the cloathing of Gods Elect. The like is obſerved by Interpreters from thoſe kid-skins which Rebeccah put upon the hands of Jacob, and upon the ſmooth of his neck, when ſhe ſent him to his Father for the bleſſing, Gen. 27. 16. They did decipher Chriſt, with whom the ſoul being cloathed obtaines a bleſſing from the hands of God.
(2.) Thoſe garments of the High Priests. God appointed in the Law that glorious garments ſhould be made for Aaron. You read of them, Exod. 28. 2. What was typified by thoſe garments? They related to Chriſt. As the High Prieſt did typifie Chriſt; ſo the garments did ſet out the pure adminiſtration of Chriſt, who offered up himſelf without ſpot, Heb. 9. 14. and they did alſo teach the people of God, that it is Jeſus Chriſt that cloathes their ſoules with choice raiment, that fine linnen which is the righteouſneſſe of Saints, Rev. 19. 18. This type is more fully expounded in Zech. 3. 3, 4. Thoſe filthy garments noted Joſhuab's ſinnes, and the ſinnes of the people. That rayment which was afterward put upon him, did ſignifie Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, wherewith all ſpiritual Prieſts are gloriouſly decked and cloathed.
(3.) The wedding-garment in the Goſpel. You read of it, Matth. 22. 11, 12. What is meant by this wedding garment, but Jeſus Chriſt, who being apprehended, and put on by faith, works and creates the ſaving fruits of grace in the heart, and in the life?
II. Wherein ſtands the Analogy? There are ſeveral uſes of garments, in all which reſpects Chriſt is a garment to the ſoul.
1. Garments are for the covering of the body. Men uſe garments, that the nakedneſſe of their bodies may not appeare to the eyes of others; for this reaſon did our firſt parents few fig-leaves together to hide their nakedneſſe. In the ſtate of innocency, when the body was without guilt, nakedneſſe was the greateſt Ornament; when ſinne had polluted the body, then was nakedneſs deformity; therefore man ſought the beſt garments he could to cover that nakedneſſe. For the ſame reaſon did God afterwards make man garments of skins to cloath him, Gen. 3. 17. Jeſus Chriſt is a covering to the ſoul. He is the Lamb of God that did not onelyonly redeeme us by his blood, ſed etiam lanis operuit, ſaith Jerom.
(1.) He covers the deformity of our natural filthineſſe.
(2.) He covers the uglineſſe of our actual ſins, Pſal. 32. 2.
(3.) He covers all the ſpots of our holy duties. The mercy-ſeat under the Law, covered the two Tables of the Decalogue, vid. Exod. 25, 17, 18, 21. This mercy-ſeat did typifie Chriſt, who is called foreign, Rom. 3. 25. as the mercy-ſeat is, Heb. 9. 5. the Cherubims covered the mercy-ſeat, and the mercy-ſeat covered the Ark in which were the two Tables of the Law. Jeſus Chriſt is that covering mercy-ſeat, that covers or plaiſters over all the ſinnes which beleevers commit againſt the Law of God. Hence it is that God is ſaid not to behold iniquity in Jacob, Numb. 23. 31. He doth not ſee it to impute it, becauſe it is hidden under the covering mercy-ſeat, Jeſus Chriſt.
2. Garments are for Ornament. They do ſet out the body—Viro veſtis magnum decus addit honeſta. Garments to the body are as rich hangings or coſtly varniſh over a wall of clay, they make it look better then it would do. Garments do mend the crookedneſſe of bodies that are bowed, and they do ſet out the perfections of beautiful bodies. Jeſus Chriſt may well be compared to a garment in this reſpect he puts a beauty upon the ſoule, a rich, laſting, perfect beauty. Therefore it is that he is compared to the wedding-garment, Matth. 22. 12. and to the High Prieſts garments, Exod. 28. 2. which were made for beauty and glory. Hence it is that beleevers that are loathſom and crooked in themſelves, are made ſo excellently beautiful in Chriſt. You read much in Solomons ſong of a beleevers comelineſſe, Vid. Chap. 4. 1 2, 3, &c. and againe, Chap. 7. 1, 2, 3. 4. &c. 'Tis becauſe of the beautiful dreſſe in which he is attired. The comely garment puts comelineſſe on him that weares it. You read of the orient beauty and rich attire of the Kings daughter, Pſal. 45 13, 14. The Kings daughter is the real Saint, the cloathing of wrought gold, and the rayment of needle-work, is nothing but Chriſt, and the graces he brings with him in which the ſoule is inveſted. Chriſt is the onelyonly Ornament indeed. He is a crown and diadem upon the head, he is a jewel in the boſome, he is a ring upon the finger. No ſoul hath any true beauty (though outwardly cloathed in ſcarlet) that hath not on it this garment. Chriſt is the ſoules Ornament, as he is a juſtifier, and as he is a ſanctifier, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He adorns us as he is our juſtification, putting us into a ſtate of righteouſneſſe. And he adornes us as he is our Sanctification, by communicating unto us his own comelineſſe in the ſeeds of holineſſe.
3. Garments are for the defending of the body. They are munimenta corporis. They are as light armour upon the body. In the Winter they guard the body againſt the nipping cold; in the Summer they preſerve, and defend it from the parching heat. Every blaſt would pinch the body, were it not for our garments, every thorn would prick, every ſtone would bruiſe the foot if it were not fenced by that rayment which is upon it. The garments are a little movable Garriſon in which the body marches through many inconveniences which otherwiſe it could not do. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the defence of the ſoul; he ſaves it from many a knock which otherwiſe it would get.
1. He defends the ſoul from ſinne. Sinne hath not that power and dominion over a beleever that is cloathed with Chriſt, as it hath over the ſoule that is uncloathed. Rom. 6. 14. Sinne ſhall not have dominion over you. Chriſt keeps ſinne from bearing that ſway in a Saint which it doth in other men. It is a vanquiſhed, wounded, crucified enemy.
2. He defends them from the rage and fury of men. Man would teare them to pieces, if this garment did not interpoſe between their rage and the ſoule. Of this our Saviour ſpeaks, John 16. 33. the ſting cannot touch the skin till it pierce thorough the rayment. The arrow cannot wound the body till it pierce through the garment. Jeſus Chriſt preſerves his people from the devouring teeth of ungodly enraged men.
3. He defends them from the fiery aſſaults and onſets of the devil. Simon, Simon, Satan hath deſired to ſift thee as wheat is ſifted: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith may not faile, Luk. 22. 32. This roaring Lion would tear them into pieces, if this impenetrable garment were not betwixt his teeth and their ſoules. Theſe fiery darts would ſtrike to their very hearts, did not this garment dead them and beat them back againe. That the devil by his malice and power doth not deſtroy you, it is becauſe you are cloathed with this garment. Could Satan either break thorough, or pluck off this garment, he would as ſoon prevaile over you, as he doth over others.
4. He defends them from eternal wrath. God is in himſelf to ſinful men a conſuming fire, Heb. 12. 29. This fire doth not burne, nay it doth not ſinge the beleever, becauſe he hath this garment upon him, 1 Theſ. 1. 10. 'Tis a beleevers comfort, that the wrath of God muſt burne Jeſus Chriſt, before it can burne him. The hotteſt flames cannot ſo much as touch the body till they have burnt thorough the garments. The wrath of God cannot ſeize any more on Chriſt, he hath laine under it once for ever, and therefore it ſhall never ſeize upon the beleever that is incircled about with Chriſt, as the body is with the garment. The fire cannot devoure the man while the ſcreen ſtands between him and the flame; Jeſus Chriſt is a beleevers ſcreen, which ſtands continually between him and the devouring flame of Gods anger.
5. Garments are for the warmth of the body. 'Tis a great piece of the providencial care of God, that garments that have no heat in them, ſhould give warmth to the body, Job 37. 17. The garments receive heat from the body, and then they keep the body warm, Job 31. 20. if he were not warmed with the fleece of my ſheep. Jeſus Chriſt is in this reſpect truly a garment to the ſoul; he keeps the ſoule in a good warmth. There is indeed no ſpiritual warmth till Chriſt have wrought it, and when it is wrought, 'tis preſerved by vertue of this garment. The two Diſciples were very chill, as cold as yee till Chriſt wrought a holy heat in them; then they began to glow, yea, to burne; Did not our hearts burne within u…, &c. Luke 24. 32? if you finde any holy heat within you, you are to attribute it to this heart-warming garment, as to the onelyonly cauſe of it. The Ordinances would never heat you, if Chriſt did not firſt heat them. We are by nature as cold as that childe was, when his ſpirit was departed, 2 Reg. 4. 34. And yet Jeſus Chriſt by laying himſelf upon us, chafes us into a lively warmth.
6. Garments are uſed for distinction. They difference one ſex from another. God would have the ſexes diſtinguiſhed viſibly by their apparel, Deut. 22. 5. The man ſhall not put on that which appertaineth to the woman, &c. And as they diſtinguiſh ſexes, ſo they ſhould diſtinguiſh the conditions of men: they that weare ſoft rayment are in Kings Courts, Matth. 11. 8. The ſervant and Maſter now cannot be diſtinguiſhed by their apparel unleſſe it be thus, that the ſervant excels, the Merchant and Mechanick, the Prince and Peſant ſcarce diſtinguiſhed. God would have it otherwiſe, rayment ſhould diſtinguiſh conditions as well as ſexes. Chriſt in this regard is fitly compared to a garment. He diſtinguiſhes between the beleever and the unbeleever, between the regenerate and the unregenerate, 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature, and 2 Cor. 13. 5. know you not that Ieſus Chriſt is in you except you be reprobates. God hath made Jeſus Chriſt to be the diſtinguiſhing character between him that ſhall be ſaved, and him that ſhall periſh.
The Uſes of this Point.
I. Behold Chriſts excellency. He is all in all. He is compared to all things that are both neceſſary and excellent. He is life, he is meat and drink, he is a garment. Quid quaeras, ſaith Auſtin, See in Joh. 19.quod in illo non invenias? ſi eſuris panis eſt, ſi ſitis aqua, ſi in tenebris lumen est, ſi nudus es, immortalitatis tibi veſtimentum. Miniſters are bound upon all occaſions to preach up Chriſt, that men may ſee their need of him, that they may be provoked into a good opinion of him. He is as needful for the ſoul, yea, more needful then garments are for the body. He is all good, he hath all good in him, and that in a tranſcendent manner. Quicquid velle potes & debes est Dominus Ieſus Chriſtus. Conſider how farre he excels all other garments.
1. Ieſus Chriſt is a large garment. Other garments can cover but one at once. One garment cannot cloath ſeveral perſons, no more then one morſel can feed ſeveral men. But Jeſus Chriſt is a garment of ſuch extent and dimenſion, that he can cover many, though they be at never ſo great a diſtance. Should I feare ſaith Bernard, that Chriſts righteouſneſſe will not ſerve for him and me? No, Non eſt pallium breve, quod duos operire non poteſt. All the Elect of God, though they live in ſeveral Nations, though they be a multitude which no man can number, Rev. 7. 9. yet they are all cloathed, and all ſufficiently cloathed with this one garment. I ſaw ſaith the Evangeliſt, a wonder in heaven, a woman cloathed with the Sun, Rev. 12. 1. This woman is the whole Church of God. This Sunne that covers the woman, is Chriſt the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, as he is called, Mal. 4. 1. His skirt is large enough to cover his whole Church, and yet never a member can complain of want.
2. Ieſus Chriſt is a garment for every part. Your material garments will not ſerve every part. That which is proper for the head will not cover the loynes; that which fits the body will not fit the feet. Every part of the body hath a diſtinct cloathing which is onelyonly proper for it ſelf. But now Chriſt is a garment that fits every part. He is the Diadem or Crown upon the head, he is the robe upon the body, he is the ſhooes upon the feet, Luke 15. 22. Chriſt is a compleat ſuit of apparel, from head to foot the ſoul is perfectly cloathed.
3. Ieſus Chriſt hath the uſes of all garments. There is no one garment that ſerves for all uſes to the body. Some Garments are good for covering, but they are not for beauty. Others ſerve for ornament and beauty, but they do not ſerve for defence. Some garments are good in the cold, but they are not ſo uſeful and fit in a time of heat. Perſons that are of ability have ſeveral garments for ſeveral uſes, becauſe no one garment is fit for all. But Jeſus Chriſt is a garment for all uſes to the ſoule. He is for covering, and for ornament, and for defence; as good for all uſes as for any uſe. He is a Winter-garment, and he is a Summer-garment; he is as good for cooling as for heating. He is the travellors, and he is the labourers garment, and he is the ſouldiers garment. He is light for walking, thick for ſtormy weather; He is ſtrong for fighting, and ſpiritual warring againſt Satan and his temptations. Chriſt ſuits all the occaſions of the ſoule. He is wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption, 1 Cor. 5. 30.
4. Jeſus Chriſt is a garment fit for all ſexes, for all ſizes, for all conditions. No one garment will fit all bodies. That which is decency in one ſex would be monſtrouſneſſe on the other. That garment which fits a childe, would be unuſeful to a grown man. That which is proper for the Subject, would be unſutable for the Princes weare. But now Chriſt is as proper for one as for another. He is as fit for the woman, as for the man; for the childe, as for the father; for the King, as for the Subject. As the Apoſtle ſaith in another caſe, we may ſay in this. There is neither Barbarian, Scythian, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, bond nor free, but ye are all one in Chriſt, Col. 3. 11. God hath made Jeſus Chriſt a fit garment for the ſoules of all ſorts of men. There is no ſoul too big, none too little, none too ſmall, none too great for Jeſus Chriſt to array and cover.
5. Jeſus Chriſt is a durable garment. All other garments are of a moldring nature. The moth corrupts them; old age takes away the beauty of them; the ſtrongeſt and fineſt garments turne to rags by daily uſe. But Jeſus Chriſt is a laſting garment; the moth cannot fret it, old age cannot weare it thin. Chriſt is now as freſh as when he was firſt put upon Adam in Paradiſe. When our bodily garments ſhall be pluckt off, yea, when the very garments of our bodies like the mantle of Elijah, ſhall fall into duſt, then will this garment abide upon the ſoul as beautiful as now it is. The Lord did miraculouſly preſerve the garments of the Iſraelites from waxing old, Deut. 8. 4. Though they were worne fourty yeares in the wilderneſſe, yet they were not threed-bare. Their bodies waſted, but their garments did not waſte. They were as freſh when they came to Canaan as they were when they came out of Egypt. Jeſus Chriſt, though he be worne every day, yet he doth not wax old. He is as freſh upon the ſoul on its dying day, as upon the firſt moment of its regeneration.
6. Jeſus Christ is a free garment. All that is required on mens part is to put him on. He is provided without our coſt, without our care. Though he be the moſt coſtly garment in himſelfe, yet he is the moſt cheap garment in the world. Other garments cannot be had without money, Chriſt is obtained without money, without price. The Scripture ſpeaks of buying him, Rev. 3. 18. this buying is free receiving. The Prophets expound the phraſe, Eſay 55. 1. Buy milk and wine without money, without price. Indeed this garment is ſo invaluably rich, that all the treaſure in the world cannot purchaſe one inch of it. He that dreames of buying Chriſt, ſhall die without Chriſt.
II. Behold the ſufficiency of Chriſt for ſpiritual life. Two things are neceſſary for the bodily life, food and rayment, 1 Tim. 6. 8. Jeſus Chriſt is both food and rayment. He is ſet out as rayment in Baptiſme. Gal. 3. 27. and he is held out as food in the Sacrament of the Supper. He is every way ſufficient for all the concernments of the ſoule; he feeds it, he cloaths it, and that with the beſt food, and the beſt rayment, with himſelf. His fleſh is meat, his blood is drink, his righteouſneſſe is cloathing, ſubſtantial durable cloathing.
III. The miſery of thoſe that are without Chriſt. All men are by nature ſtrangers to Chriſt, Eph. 2. 12. He that is without Chriſt, is without ſpiritual rayment, he is a naked man. The Scripture calls the ſtate of nature a ſtate of nakedneſſe, Ezek. 16. 4, 8. and Rev. 3. 18. A naked condition is a miſerable condition. Nakedneſſe is a very comprehenſive word. A naked man is expoſed to the ſcorn of every eye, its a ſhameful object, Rev. 3. 18. A naked man is expoſed to every ſtorm; every ſhower wets him, every wind pierces him. A naked man is unfit for employment; he is neither fit to fight, nor to labour. Such as are without Chriſt are unſpeakably miſerable. Their condition is full of ſhame, their condition is full of danger; they have nothing to cover them from Gods wrath, from the devils rage. They have nothing to warme their hearts when they are cold with feares, terrors, deſpaires, and ſpiritual anguiſh. A naked body amongſt dar…s and ſwords, is not ſuch a ſpectacle of compaſſion as a naked ſoule expoſed to the arrows of Gods wrath. They are as unfit for any work, as the naked man is for labour and travel, Vid. Eſay 3. 6. he that is without Chriſt, hath neither bread nor rayment.
IV. The miſery of thoſe that reject Chriſt. None but mad men and barbarous men reject cloathing. 'Tis the character of a diſtracted mad-man to refuſe raiment. Vid. Luke 8. 27. You read a ſad ſtory of a man poſſeſſed with a Legion of devils, and the text ſaith, he wore no cloathes; his madneſſe is evidenced by that that he would ſuffer no cloathes to be put upon him; for v. 35. When Chriſt had cured him, the text ſaith, he ſate at the feet of Jeſus cloathed, and in his right minde. 'Tis a ſigne that that man is ſpiritually poſſeſſed with a Legion of devils, that will not be cloathed with this ſpiritual garment. And yet the world is full of theſe ſpiritual Bedlams. They will go naked. Let Miniſters ſay what they will, let the ſpirit of God uſe never ſo much importunity, they will not be cloathed. They will have none of Chriſt. Theſe garments are hanged out every day in the publick market, yea, men are intreated to take them even without money, and yet they will not. Is it not juſt that ſuch men ſhould be buried in hell in their own rags, that will not embrace Chriſt that they may be cloathed with eternal ſalvation.
V. None ſo well arrayed as Saints. Dives had purple, &c. Luke 16. 19. They have Chriſt.
VI. Here is comfort for poor Chriſtians, counſel for proud men, you that will have the beſt apparel and new faſhion.
VII. When you put on your garments, think of Chriſt. A ſerious Chriſtian may ſpirituallize every thing he uſeth or beholds.
VIII. Hinder none from Chriſt, Exod. 22. 27, 28. Job 24. 7. Amos 2. 8.
Doct. 2. 'Its the duty of men to put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. This is often recommended to us in Scripture. Two things I ſhall briefly open.
1. What it is to put on Chriſt, How we muſt put him on. 2. Why we muſt put him on.
1. Chriſt is put on two wayes. There is a double putting on of Chriſt.
1. A putting on of Chriſt for juſtification. When by faith we apply him unto our ſelves, by faith for righteouſneſſe. The Apoſtle tells us that Chriſt is made unto us of God juſtification, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He is called Jehovah, our righteouſneſſe, Jer. 23 6. 'Tis by his righteouſneſſe that the beleever is conſtituted righteous in foro Dei; which is by an act of grace of God imputing and reckoning this perfect righteouſneſſe of Chriſt unto him, as his own righteouſneſſe. Now then doth a perſon put on Chriſt, when by an act of faith, he doth apply Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe unto himſelf for juſtification. This was that which the Apoſtle deſired, Phil. 3. 9 That he might be found in Chriſt, not having his own righteouſneſſe which is by the Law, but that which is by the faith of Ieſus Christ, the righteouſneſſe of God by faith. When this righteouſneſſe is actually applied, received, relied upon, then is Chriſt put on: This is one piece.
2. A putting on of Chriſt by imitation. When we imitate the gracious life of Chriſt. This refers to Sanctification, and new obedience. To put on Chriſt, is virtute Spiritus Chriſti undique nos munire, quâ idonei ad omnes partes ſanctitatis reddamur, Calvin. And ſo Eraſmus. In as much as ye are ſpiritually ingraffed into Chriſt, hunc ipſum induite, eluceat in omni vitâ quem ſitis profeſſi, exprimite quem imbibiſtis, &c. Zuinglius. When we apply his righteouſneſſe for our juſtification, when we put on his example, and expreſſe his vertues in a courſe of ſanctification, then, and not till then do we put on Chriſt as the Scripture requires.
II. Why we muſt put him on. There is good reaſon. I might be large in each, but I ſhall onelyonly give general Reaſons.
1. Christ is of no effect to us if we do not put him on. Garments neither warm, nor cover, nor defend, nor adorne the body if they be not put on. Chriſt is rendred invalid to ſuch as do not apply him. His righteouſneſſe will not juſtifie you, if you do not by faith put it on as a garment. His holy life will do you no good if you do not imitate it. His righteouſneſſe will periſh as to you; his vertues will be loſt as to you, if you do not actually put on both. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of making Chriſt of no effect, Gal. 5. 4.
2. If we do not put on Chriſt both theſe wayes, we can have no hopes of ſalvation. If Jeſus Chriſt be not put on for righteouſneſſe, there is no remiſſion of ſinne, All our guilt is imputed to our ſelves. 'Tis by the imputation of his righteouſneſſe that our ſins are covered, Rom. 5. 20. And where there is no remiſſion, there can be no ſalvation. And if we do not put on the vertues of Chriſt in a courſe of ſanctification, we can have no Scripture-hope of heaven. The Apoſtle is expreſſe for this. He that hath this hope, purifieth himſelf as Chriſt is pure, 1 Joh. 3. 3. Our Juſtification is by Chriſts righteouſneſſe, and our Sanctification is an evidence of our Juſtification. Ergo.
The Uſes of this.
1. What ſhall we ſay of thoſe that inſtead of putting on Chriſt, put on their own works and duties? The Papiſts teach their proſelytes to cover themſelves not with Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, but with their own works, and their own righteouſneſſe. They call Impu…tive righteouſneſſe in ſcorn putative righteouſneſſe. Well! let them cloath themſelves with their own fleece, but let us be cloathed onelyonly with Chriſts righteouſneſſe. Our own righteouſneſſe is too thin, and too narrow, it will neither cover us, nor warme us, Eſay 28. 20. our own righteouſneſſe is a ſoiled garment, a very filthy rag, Eſay 64. 6. The Apoſtle Paul, was as touching the righteouſneſſe of the Law blameleſſe, Phil. 3. 6. and yet he durſt not appeare before God in the day of judgement in that garment, but in the garment of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, Phil. 3. 9. Let us therefore abhor this Doctrine; rather take Chriſts counſel, then Antichriſts counſel. Antichriſts advice is, buy of him, &c. but Chriſts counſel is to buy of him precious rayment, Rev. 3. 18. Let us rather be adviſed by the Churches Counſellor Chriſt, Iſa. 9. 6 then by him who is next to Satan the Churches greateſt outward deſtroyer.
2. What ſhall we ſay of thoſe that inſtead of putting on Chriſt by imitation put on the devil. Inſtead of expreſſing the vertues of Jeſus Chriſt, hold out the vices of Satan; live inordinately, unholily, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, full of envy, malice, intemperance, covetouſneſſe, licentiouſneſſe of every kinde; inſtead of putting on Chriſt themſelves, they hate, perſecute all thoſe that do thus put him on. Let them know, they that will not put on Chriſt by ſanctification, ſhall not put him on for juſtification. He is made of God to us, wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He that rejects him as to ſanctification, ſhall be rejected by him as to righteouſneſſe and redemption.
3. Be intreated to put on Chriſt. Put him on both theſe wayes.
1. Put him on for righteouſneſſe. 1. Have you not all need of him? are you not unrighteous? are ye not under guilt? If your righteouſneſſes be as filthy rags, what are your unrighteouſneſſes? 2. Is there any other garment that will carry you dry thorough the dreadful ſtorms of Gods wrath? you muſt make another Scripture if you will finde another garment. Gods Scripture mentions no other covering but Gods righteouſneſſe. Read and remember that Text, Rom. 9. 30, 31, 32. 3. Undervalue not the great love, and deep deſign of God in providing his Son for your rayment, He is made unto us of God wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Therefore called the righteouſneſſe of God, Phil. 3. 9. 4. God will accept of nothing you do till you be inveſted in this garment. He will own none that come not in his own livery. You ſhall have no bleſſing, yea you ſhall have his curſe, if you have not the kid-skins of Chriſts righteouſneſſe upon your necks, and upon the ſmooth of your hands; your elder brothers garments muſt be on you, elſe you cannot be bleſſed. Now that you may put on Chriſt, you muſt (1) put off all thoughts of your own worth. Theſe are inconſiſtent, Phil. 3. 7, 8, 9. 2. Beg of him that he would cloath you. Lie at his feet, as Ruth did at the feet of Boaz, and ſay, Spread thy skirt over me, for thou art my neer kinſman, Ruth 3. 9. I conclude this with comparing thoſe two Scriptures, Jer. 23. 6. with Jer. 33▪ 16. in the firſt, Chriſt is called the Lord our righteouſneſſe, in the other the Church is ſo called. 1. Becauſe that which is proper to the head, is common to all the members. 2. They are as willing to apply Chriſts righteouſneſſe, as he is to communicate it.
2. Put him on by a holy imitation. Walk as Chriſt walked. 1. Chriſtianity conſiſts chiefly in this. Chriſtianity is imitatio divinae naturae, 1 Pet. 2. 21. 2. 'Tis one end of Chriſts incarnation. He became man, that that might be a perfect pattern of holineſſe in our nature. 3. He that doth not imitate his life, ſhall have no benefit by his death, 1 Pet. 2. 21.