The Practical Christian, Tract · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The Second Head of Meditation, is, Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
THe things to be meditated on, in, and about Him, I ſhall reduce to theſe Twelve Heads; Firſt, Who He is. Secondly, What He is. Thirdly, The Infinite love of God in giving ſuch a Redeemer to Man, and only to Man. Fourthly, The infinite love of Chriſt in undertaking the great Work of Redemption for Man. Fifthly, The amiableneſs, and lovelineſs of this Redeemer: Sixthly, The greatneſs of this Work of our Redemption. Seventhly, The ways and means of his effecting our Redemption: Eighthly, The priviledge that come by an Intereſt in Him: Ninthly, The evidences of it. Tenthly, The Means to procure it. Eleventhly, The Motives to it; And, Twelfthly, How to walk worthy of, and ſuitable to this Redeemer.
Sect. 1. Firſt, To take notice, Who Jeſus Chriſt is, viz. the Eternal Son of God, who in the fulneſs, of time took to his Divine Nature, our humane Nature, and ſo became God, and Man, in one Perſon, that he might be a fit Mediator to go between God and Man, to reconcile God to man, and man to God, Gal. 4.4, 5. 1 Coloſ. 20.21. (Man) becauſe man had finned, and Juſtice requir'd that nature, which had offended, ſhould make ſatisfaction; and (God) that he might be able to undergo the wrath of God due to our fins, and his ſuffering might be of infinite value, to purchaſe ſalvation for us; his ſufferings for a time, being more, than if all men, and Angels, had ſuffered to all Eternity.
Secondly, What Chriſt is to His, viz. that, He is the only remedy which God hath vouchſafed againſt Man's miſery, Acts 4.12. No other Name given under Heaven by which we can be ſaved. Joh. 8.24. If you believe not that I am he, you ſhall die in your ſins: and therefore it's a groſs Error, A man may be ſaved in any Religion, ſo he walk according to the Rules of it; and as he is the only remedy, ſo he is an All-ſufficient remedy, hath thorowly trode the Wine-preſs of God's wrath, fulfilled and brought in everlaſting righteouſneſs, and ſo able to ſave to the uttermoſt, all ſuch as come to God by him, Heb. 7.26.
Thirdly, To meditate on the infinite love of God to Man-kind, in vouchſafing ſuch a Remedy to us, and none to the fallen Angels, Heb. 2.16. and John 3.16. God ſo loved the World, that he gave, &c. with ſuch a Sic as has no Sicut, ſuch a So as has no Like; ſo as cannot be conceiv'd, much leſs expreſſed.
Fourthly, On the infinite love of Chriſt in the voluntary undertaking this great Work for us, and ſtanding between the wrath of God, and out Souls, when the whole Creation trembled at it, Pſal. 40.8. This is ſuch a love, as paſſeth love, and paſſeth knowledge; Men, and Angels not able to comprehend, what the bredth, and length, and depth, and heighth, is of this love of Jeſus Chriſt to poor ſinners, Eph. 3.18, 19.
Fifthly, To meditate on the amiableneſs, or lovelineſs of Chriſt, in himſelf; that your hearts may be drawn out the more after him, Cant. 5. laſt. He is altogether lovely, all deſirable, in his Names, Nature, Offices, Graces, Actions, Paſſions, and Benefits, purchaſed by him for us.
Firſt, In his Names: His name is as an Ointment poured out, Cant. 1.3. God hath given him a name above every name, that at the Name of Jeſus every Knee ſhould bow, Phil. 2.9. And this Name JESUS, ſo full of ſweetneſs, that (as Bernard hath it) it is Mel in ore, melos in aure, Jubilus in corde, Honey in the mouth, Muſick in the Ear, and a Jubilee in the Heart; ſo ſweet, that Auſtin, after his Converſion, delighted not to read any Book, wherein was not the Name Jeſus. And for his Name Chriſt, how full of ſweetneſs is this ſo called, becauſe he was Anointed to be the Mediator, King, Prieſt, and Prophet of his Church. You may read more of his precious names, Iſai. 9.6.
Secondly, Altogether lovely in his Natures, both Divine, and Humane; Firſt, For His Divine Nature, He is God, Co-eſſential, Co-eternal, and every way coequal with his Father, and therefore ſtiled God's-fellow, Zach. 13.7. Secondly, For His Humane Nature; as He was Man, ſo He was a Juſt, and Innocent Man, Mat. 27.19. A good man, that always went about doing good, to the Souls, and Bodies of others, Acts 10.38. An eminent Man, above all Men, fairer than all the Children of Men, Iſai. 45.2. and that both in Soul, and Body▪ And needs muſt, as being without all ſin, (from which all deformities come) eſpecially in his ſtate of Exaltation, as the Apoſtle tells you, when he met with him in the way of his Perſecution, Act. 26.13. At mid-day, O King, I ſaw, in the way, a light from Heaven, above the brightneſs of the Sun, ſhining round about me, &c.
Thirdly, Altogether lovely in his Offices, o… Mediatorſhip, Prieſtly, Prophetical, and Kingly Office; Firſt, His Office of Mediatorſhip, for firſt he hath reconcil'd by this, God and Man, Law and Goſpel, Mercy and Juſtice; Secondly, Hereby He hath opened a way for us, into the Preſence o… God; whom we could no more draw nigh to, without Him, than the Stubble to the conſuming Fire, Heb. 12. laſt.
Secondly, For His Prieſtly Office, He is altogether lovely in that; Firſt, Becauſe He is a Prieſt, not after the Order of Aaron, but the Order of Melchiſedeck, Pſal. 110.4 Aaron was a temporary Prieſt, but Chriſt an Eternal Prieſt. Secondly, In that, He was not only a Prieſt, but Altar, and Sacrifice; all which, never any before Him was, Iſaiah 56.67. and 60.7. Thirdly, A Prieſt that ſprinkles Perſons, and Services with his precious Blood; ſo as to take away the iniquity of our holy things, and render all acceptable to his Father, Eph. 1.6. 1 Pet. 2.5. Fourthly, A merciful High Prieſt, that cannot but have a fellow-feeling of all our infirmities, Heb. 11.15. and knows how to ſuccour them under their temptations, Heb. 2. end. Fifthly, A Prieſt that is holy, harmleſs, ſeparate from ſinners, and ſo able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come to God by Him ſeeing He ever lives to make Interceſſion for them, Heb. 7.25.
Thirdly, Altogether lovely in his Prophetical Office; A Prophet that excels all other Prophets; Firſt. In that all other Prophets were but Types of this Prophet, even Moſes himſelf, Mat. 10.27. Heb. 3. Secondly, Other Prophets could ſpeak only to the Ear, but Chriſt to the hearts of men; other Prophets could only inſtruct, but not convert: Chriſt doth both, Revel. 3.7. Chriſt in ſpeaking, makes his to live, Joh. 5.25. Thirdly, Other Prophets could reveal but a part of God's will, Chriſt he makes known the whole will of God, John 15.15. Heb. 1.1, 2. Fourthly, All other Prophets had their Authority and Commiſſion from Him, He his from Himſelf, Mat. last, the laſt. Eph. 4.11. In a word; ſuch a Prophet, as he is the Angel's, Surety, & Mediator of the Covenant: the Angel, as he goes from God to us, and us to God; the Surety as he undertakes for us; and the Mediator he goes between God and us.
Fourthly, Altogether lovely in his Kingly Office; for, He is King of kings, a King that excels all other Kings in His wiſdom, power, righteouſneſs, mercy; Secondly, A Univerſal King; over all Nations, and all Creatures in the World, Math. 28. All Power is given to Him in Heaven and in Earth, and Eph 1 22. Thirdly, He is a ſpiritual King; a King that ſets up his Throne in the Hearts, and Conſciences of Men, which other Kings cannot; however the Pope, and his Pope lings will uſurp it, Revel 18.13. Fourthly, He is an everlaſting King, wh…e Kingdom can never be ſhaken, Heb. 12.27. Of whoſe Kingdom there is no end, Daniel 2.44. Fifthly, Altogether lovely in his Graces, and that both inherent in him, and diffuſive from him.
Firſt, Inherent in him, therefore do the Virgins love him, and run after him, Cant. 1.2. and the Angels worſhip Him, Heb 1. And he muſt needs be ſo, becauſe in Him, is the fulneſs of grace and truth, John 1.14. and he hath the Spirit without meaſure, John 3 34 and is anointed with the Oil of gladneſs above his fellows, Heb. 1.9.
Secondly In his diffuſive graces, for, from his fulneſs it is, we all receive grace for grace, Joh. 1.16. that is grace like to that in Chriſt, and one degree and meaſure of grace after another, 2 Cor. 3. laſt.
Fifthly, He is altogether lovely in his actions, for never man ſpake as he ſpake, Joh. 7.40. and never man did as he did, Joh. 9.39.
Sixthly, A together lovely in his Paſſions, never any man ſuffer'd what he did, or as he did; nor ſuffer'd ſo willingly, patiently, conſtantly, a… he did, Lament. 1.12. Behold and ſee, if there were ever ſorrow like to my ſorrow, &c.
Laſtly, He is altogether lovely in the benefits he purchaſed, which are either Fundamental, or Conſequential; Firſt, For the Fundamental, they are the…e; Firſt, Reconciliation, Coloſ. 1.21. Adoption, John 1.12. Juſtification, Rom. 5.1. 2 Cor. 5.21. Sanctification, Eph. 2.1. Acts. 26.18. Glorification, John 17.21.
Secondly, For the Conſequential benefits, theſe you have, Rom 5.1, 2, 3 1 Cor. 3. the two laſt.
Sixthly, You are to meditate on the great Work of ou… Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt; and in it of theſe particulars The greatneſs of the Perſon that redeem'd us; the greatneſs of the Price wherewith; the greatneſs of the miſery from which; the greatneſs of the happineſs to which he redeem'd us; the compleatneſs of this Redemption; and the Evidences you have of your intereſt in this Redemption.
Firſt, On the greatneſs of the Perſon that redeemed us: No other but the Eternal Son of God, every way Coequal with his Father; and whoever heard of a King, that gave his Son, or a Prince that ever offer'd voluntarily to lay down his life for Enemies, Rebels, and Traytors? and yet behold, God, and Chriſt hath done this for us: Gal. 4.4.
Secondly, On the greatneſs of the Price, wherewith he redeemed us, with no other than his precious Blood, 1 Pet. 1.18.
Thirdly, The greatneſs of the miſery, from which he hath redeemed us, Verſ. 13. from that Vaſſall age, and ſlavery we were in, to ſin & Satan and the World, Death, Judgment, and Hell, 1 Theſ. 1.10. Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3.
Fourthly, On the greatneſs of the happineſs, unto which he hath redeemed us, viz. To be Heirs and Co-heirs, with himſelf, Rom. 8.17. 1 Pet. 1.10. Fifthly, On the compleatneſs of this Redemption, as he hath compleated it for us, Heb. 9.12, 26. So he makes us ſtand compleat in himſelf, 2 Col. 10.16. Sixthly, On the evidences you have of your intereſt in this Redemption, Three whereof you have, 1 Cor. 1.30. to whom Chriſt is made Redemption, to them he is alſo made wiſdom to enlighten them, and righteouſneſs to juſtifie them, and holineſs to ſanctifie them; A fourth Evidence you have, 1 Pet. 1.18. They are redeemed from their vain Converſation, and made new Creatures, 2 Cor. 5.17. Fifthly, They are redeemed from all iniquity, Tit. 2.14. Not only from the condemning, but the commanding power of it, Rom 6.14. Sixthly, They are made a People, Zealous of good works, Titus 2.14. and are redeemed out of the hands of their Enemies, that they may ſerve the Lord without fear, in righteouſneſs and holineſs, all the days of their life, Luke 1.74. Seventhly, To meditate on the ways, and means of his effecting this our Redemption, as theſe, his Incarnation, Converſation, Paſſion, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, Seſſion, and Interceſſion, at the right hand of God.
Firſt, About his Incarnation, to conſider and take notice that the Word was made Fleſh, Joh. 1.14. And the End wherefore he took our Nature, was that he might make us partakers of his Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. He, the Son of God, became the Son of Man, that we the Sons of Men might be made the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever-living God, John 1.12. Iſaiah 56.5. In the Incarnation of Chriſt, to take notice of theſe two Branches of it, viz. his Conception, and Nativity.
Firſt, For his Conceptiont; herein to meditate; Firſt, On the wonderful manner of it, it being not after the manner of other Men, but by the over-ſhadowing of the Holy Ghoſt, Luke 1.35. Secondly, The Reaſon of it, that He might be pure, and free from Original ſin, wherein all others are conceiv'd, and born, Pſal. 51.5. Joh. 3.6. Thirdly, The End of it, that He might, by the purity of his Conception, cover the impurity of our Conception.
Secondly, In the Nativity of Chriſt; Firſt, Take notice of whom it was, He was born; And why ſo? Firſt, That he was born of a Virgin, to fulfill the Scripture, Iſaiah 7 14. Behold a Virgin ſhall conceive, &c. And ſo born, that he might be without the leaſt ſpot, and contagion of ſin; wherein all others are both conceiv'd, and born, Pſal. 51. Secondly, Of the Virgin Mary becauſe the Meſſiah was to come of the Tribe of Judah, Heb. 7.14. and the Seed of David: of which ſtock Mary came, as you may ſee in the Genealogy, Luk. 3.
Secondly, To meditate on the uſe we are to make of it, namely this, That as Chriſt was conceiv'd, and born for us, ſo we be careful to look to this, that He be conceiv'd and born in us; or we can never expect to receive any benefit by his Conception, and Birth for us.
Secondly, To meditate on the Converſation of Chriſt, and conſider how He walkt and liv'd in the World: which you may find, in the Goſpel, to have been, Very wiſely, inoffenſively, humbly, holily, ſpiritually, heavenly, and actively, for the glory of God, and the good of Souls; ſuch muſt our Converſations be, conformable to the pattern ſet before us, that ſo having good Conſciences, they may be aſham'd, who have, and would ſlander our good converſation in Chriſt, 1 Pet. 3 16. 1 Epiſt. John 2.6.
Thirdly, In the Paſſion of Chriſt, to meditate on theſe Particulars, the Matter of his ſufferings, the Cauſes of his ſufferings, the Manner of his ſufferings, and the Uſe we are to make of his ſufferings.
Firſt, The Matter of his ſufferings, what it was that He ſuffered: which was, Firſt, The Vailing of His glory under our Fleſh. Secondly, The imputation of the ſins of the whole World, 1 Pet. 2.24. Thirdly, The fierceneſs of his Father's wrat…, Lam. 1.12. and the Curſe due to all our ſins, Gal. 3.13. Fourthly, The rage of Men and Devils in the proſecution, and perſecution of him unto death; Even the ſhameful curſed death of the Croſs.
Secondly, The Cauſes of his ſufferings; Firſt, The efficient Cauſe, that was God, Iſaiah 53.10. Acts 2.23. Secondly, The inſtrumental cauſe was the Devil, and his Inſtruments, Judas and the Jews, Luk. 22.53. Thirdly, The meritorious cauſe, our ſins, Iſaiah 53.3, 4. 1 Pet. 2.24. Fourthly, The final cauſe, that He might bring us back again to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. and Redeem us from Eternal ſufferings, and ſweeten, and ſanctifie all our temporal ſufferings.
Thirdly, For the manner of his ſufferings, that was, Firſt, Willingly, without compulſion: Secondly, Patiently, ſo as he was, as a Sheep dumb before the Shearer, Iſaiah 53. Thirdly, Conſtantly unto Death.
Fourthly, For the uſe you are to make of his ſufferings, which is this: To be willing to ſuffer a little from him, and for him, who hath ſuffered ſo much from us, and for us; and the rather, Firſt, Becauſe by his ſufferings he hath freed us from Eternal ſufferings, ſweetned and ſanctified all our temporal ſufferings: Secondly, Becauſe he hath promiſed, if we ſuffer with Him, we ſhall Reign with Him, 2 Tim. 2.12. Thirdly, Becauſe, if we chuſe rather to ſin than ſuffer for him, we muſt expect to ſuffer for ever in Hell, Mark 8. laſt. Fourthly, Becauſe all the ſufferings of this life, are not worthy the glory that ſhall be reveal'd, Rom. 8.18. 2 Cor. 4.17. This light and momentary affliction, &c.
Fourthly, In the Reſurrection of Chriſt, to meditate on theſe things; Firſt, The truth and certainty of his Reſurrection: we have the teſtimony of God, Angels, and Men for it, 1 Cor. 15.3. to the end. Secondly, On the Ends of his Reſurrection; as, Firſt, That he might declare to all the World, that he was the Son of God, true and very God, Rom. 1.4. Secondly, That He might manifeſt to all the World, that he had fully ſatisfied the Juſtice of God, John 16.8, 9. Heb. 2.13, 14. Thirdly, That He might ſtrengthen our faith in that full ſatisfaction, and reconciliation He hath made for us: whence, that Rom. 4. laſt. He died for our offences, and roſe again for our Juſtification; and hence that Triumph, Rom. 8.34. Who is he that condemns? It is Chriſt that died, yea rather that is riſen again, &c. Thirdly, The evidences you have in the Merits, and Benefits of Chriſt's Reſurrection. Whether he be riſen as our Head, and will raiſe us up hereafter to glory: which we may know thus; if we be riſen with him, and by him, from a ſtate of death, to a ſtate of life, and grace, called the firſt Reſurrection, Revel. 20.6. Such only ſhall have an intereſt in the benefits of the ſecond Reſurrection, at the laſt day, John 5.28. Fourthly, What you muſt do to get an intereſt in the firſt Reſurrection, that you may come to have the comfort of the ſecond; and that is to attend conſtantly on the Miniſtry of the Word, and to beg the Spirit of Chriſt to quicken that Word, that it may quicken your dead Souls, according to his promiſe, John 5.25.
Fifthly, In the Aſcenſion of Chriſt, to meditate on theſe things; Firſt, The truth of it, by the teſtimony of Angels, and Men, Acts 1.10, 11. Luke 24.51, 52.
Secondly, The End of his Aſcention, to ſhew that he was true and very God, in that he could lift up his Body into the Ayr: 2. That he might open the Gate of Heaven for us, which we had ſhut by our ſin; and prepare a place for us in it, Heb. 10 19, 20. John 14.3, 4.
Thirdly, Take notice of the uſe you are to make of the Aſcention of Chriſt, which is, To aſcend daily in our hearts and affections to him, Coloſ. 3.1; 2.
Sixthly, In the Seſſion of Chriſt, at the right hand of God; Firſt, To take notice what it is, viz. that Equality of Glory, and Dignity, Authority, and Power He hath with his Father, Phil. 2.6.9. Eph. 1.20.
Secondly, To meditate on the End of his Sitting there, which is, Firſt, That He may Rule and Raign, until he hath made all his Enemies his Foot-ſtool, 1 Cor. 15. Secondly, That he may aſſure us, that as he ſits there in our name, and nature, ſo he will cauſe all his at the laſt to ſit with him upon the ſame Throne of glory, Rev. 3.21. Thirdly, The uſe that we are to make of it, which is the ſame, Col. 3.1, 2.
Seventhly, In the Interceſſion of Chriſt, Firſt, To take notice what it is, viz. the preſenting of his active and paſſive obedience to his Father, for the procuring all that grace and mercy he hath purchaſed, and his Father hath promiſed to his Elect; or, if you will, thus, That part of his Prieſtly Office, whereby, for his ſatisfaction ſake, he deſires, wills, and procures, for all his Elect, the acceptation of their Perſons, and Services, and the remuneration of all their weak endeavours for his glory, Revel 8.3, 4. Revel. 14.13.
Secondly, Meditate on the Ends of his Interceſſion; as, Firſt, That we may have the benefit of all he hath done and ſuffered for us; which we could not, had he not gone into Heaven to make Interceſſion for us, Heb. 9.7.24. Secondly, That ſo he might take away the iniquity of our holy things, and render our Perſons and ſervices acceptable to his Father, and ſo be able to ſave us to the uttermoſt, 1 Epiſt. John 2.12. Heb. 7.25.
Thirdly, The uſe that we are to make of it, and that is, In all our ſervices, ſtill to draw neer to God in the name of Chriſt, and beg the acceptance of our Perſons, and Service, and all that grace we ſtand in need of, for his Interceſſions ſake, Col. 3.…7. Heb. 4. laſt. But then,
Eighthly, To meditate on the great Priviledges that come by Jeſus Chriſt to ſuch as have a true, actual and real intereſt in Him; as, 1. Remiſſion of all our ſins, 2 Cor. 5.19. 1 John 17. Rev 15. 2. Imputation of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. 5.20. 3. Reconciliation to God, 1 Coloſ. 20. And thereby, 1. Peace with God and Conſcience, Men and Angels, Rom. 5.1. Col. 3 15. Iſai. 11.6. Hoſ. 2. end. Heb. 1. laſt. 2. Communion with the Father, and the Son, 1 John 1 3. 3. A ſpiritual right and title to all Creature-comforts, which are loſt by the Fall, 1 Tim. 4.45. and all that is God's and Chriſt's, all his Attributes, Promiſes, Providences, 1 Cor. 3. 2 laſt. 4. A ſanctified uſe of every eſtate, both of Proſperity and Adverſity, Health and Sickneſs, Life and Death, Rom. 8.28. All things work together for good, &c.
4. Priviledge, Adoption of us into his Family, to be the Sons and Daughters of the great and ever living God, Eph. 1.5. Joh. 1.12. 1 Joh. 5.1.
5. Sanctification of our natures, Acts 26.18. Sanctified by Faith in Chriſt, 1 Theſ 5.21. The God of Peace ſanctifie you, throughout, &c 2 Pet. ….4. Whereby we are enabled to die unto ſin, and live unto righteouſneſs, 1 Pet. 2.24.
6. Acceptation of our Perſons, and all our Services, notwithſtanding all our infirmities and imperfections, Eph. 1.6. 1 Pet. 2.5.
7. Inhabitation of his Spirit, to aſſiſt us in all our duties, and lead us in all our ways, 1 Joh. 3 laſt. Rom. 8.14.26.
8. Confirmation and eſtabliſhment in a ſtate of Grace, Joh. 10.18. 1 Pet. 1.5.
9. The continual Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt for all that Grace and Mercy we ſtand in need of, Heb. 7.25. 1 Joh. 2.2, 3.
10. Laſtly, The Conſecration of Souls and Bodies, Rom. 8.30. John 17.22.
Tenthly, To meditate, (if you would have the comfort of the forenamed Priviledges); To meditate (I ſay) on the Evidences of an actual and real intereſt in Chriſt: and that, 1. Becauſe it is expreſly commanded, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your ſelves whether you be in the faith, Know ye not that Ghriſt is in you, &c. 2. Becauſe the moſt do deceive themſelves herein, flatter themſelves that they are Chriſt's, and Chriſt is theirs; becauſe they are baptized into his Name, and make a profeſſion of him: to whom Chriſt will ſay at the laſt Day, I know you not, &c. Luke 13.25. And therefore to ſearch and ſee, the intereſt you have in Him, be not only nominal and profeſſional, but actual and real; Q. Well then, How may we know it? Anſ. By the Grounds of it, the Means of it, and the Fruits of it.
1. By the Grounds of it, whence it ariſeth; and they are theſe. 1. A ſight and ſenſe of their loſt condition, that they came into the World without Chriſt: before Men be convinced of this, they will never look out after Chriſt, Eph. 2.12. 2. It ariſeth from ſound Humiliation, under the fight and ſenſe of their loſt condition, ſo as to be willing, upon it, to break off the League between the Soul and every ſin: for a Graft muſt be cut off from the old Stock, before it can be ſet into a new; This you may find in thoſe new Converts, Acts 2.37. And the Jaylor, Acts 16.29. 2. You may know it by the Means of it: now theſe are four. whereof there are two on Chriſt's part, ſc. His Word, and his Spirit; and two on our part, ſc. Faith and Love: By theſe, as ſo many Bands and Ligaments, the union is made between Chriſt and the Soul. By the two former, God draws the Soul home to Chriſt; By the two latter, he unites and knits it to Chriſt.
1. The Word of Chriſt: that is the Ordinance, by which he cuts them off from the old Stock, and ingrafts them into the new, Acts 26.18. therefore called the ingrafted Word, James 1.21. Now Souls are cut off from the old Stock, by ſound Humiliation under their ſinful and miſerable condition by nature, ſo as to be willing to have the League broken between the Soul and every ſin, to part with all for Him: And they come to be ingrafted to Him, when they are made willing to receive Him on Goſpel-terms, not only as their Saviour, but their Ruler.
2. Another Means, and the principal, is the Spirit of Chriſt, 1 Joh. 3. laſt. which the Lord gives effectually to accompany his Word, for the cutting them off from the old Stock, and ingrafting them into the new: and this the Spirit doth by convincing them of ſin, righteouſneſs, and judgment, Joh. 16.8. By being in them, firſt a Spirit of Bondage, and then of Adoption, Rom. 8 15. By mortifying of their Corruptions, Rom. 8.13. and quickning them with Grace, Verſ. 10, 11. 1 Cor. 6.11.
3. Another Means, or Band of our union with, and intereſt in Chriſt, is a lively Faith, taking us off from our own righteouſneſs, and cauſing us to reſt, and rely only on the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, for Juſtification and Salvation, Joh. 3.16. Phil. 3.9.
4th. Means, or Band, is an unfained Love to Chriſt for his lovely Self, and all his Members for his ſake, Joh. 14.21. 1 Joh. 3.14.
3. You may know it by the fruits of it, which are eſpecially theſe; 1. A through change of heart and life, 2 Cor. 5.17. 2. Subjection and obedience to his Laws and Commandments, Joh. 14.15.21. & 15.14. Then are you my friends, if you do whatſoever I command you, and Heb. 5.9. 3. Conformity to him in heart and life, doing and ſuffering, living and dying, Rom. 6.5, 6. 1 Joh. 2.6. 2 Tim. 2.12. 4. A conſtant adherence to him in faith, love, and obedience, with full purpoſe of heart not to depart from him, Heb. 3.14.
Tenthly, To meditate on what we are to do for the getting, and clearing up our intereſt in Chriſt, and all he hath done, and ſuffer'd for us: to this end mind well a few directions; as, Firſt, Look to this, that you be throughly convinc't of, and humbled under your ſinful and miſerable condition out of Chriſt, ſo as to find your ſelves in a loſt, and undone condition, Luke 19.10. Sick in Soul with the confideration of it, Mat. 9.13. Burdned with, and weary of your ſins, Mat. 11.29. And pricked in your hearts, as they, Act. 2.37. for this is the firſt work of the Spirit of God, in bringing in a Soul to Chriſt, viz. the convincing him, and humbling him under his ſin, and miſery by reaſon of ſin, Joh. 16.8.
Secondly, To hunger, and thirſt after an intereſt in Chriſt, above all other things in the World, Iſaiah 55.1. Revel. 22.17. ſo, as with the Apoſtle, To account all things but loſs, and dung, in compariſon of it, Phil. 3.
Thirdly, You are to be willing to take Him on Goſpel-terms, ſuch as he therein offers himſelf; as theſe, Firſt, To take Him in all his Titles, and Offices, not only as your alone Jeſus, but Lord and Chriſt, Rom. 13. end, Put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo, Acts 16.31. Secondly, Be willing to deny our ſelves, and t…e up his Croſs to follow Him, Mark 8.34. willing to part with all, and every ſin, yea all, and every thing, to follow Him, as Chriſt adviſed the young man, Luke 19. Sell all thou haſt, and come and follow me, &c. For, as a Noble Lord ſaid well, That Perſon may be deceived, that thinks to ſave any thing by his Religion, but his Soul: meaning, his Religion might coſt him the loſs of all. Thirdly, Give up your ſelves to Him in a Univerſal, ſincere and conſtant obedience, and conformity to Him, and all his commands; expreſly requir'd, Heb. 5.9. Heb. 3.14. John 15.14. Fourthly, You are to endeavour to lay hold on Him, and cloſe with Him, and be united to him by faith, and love, Rom. 11.19, 20. Eph. 3.17. Gal. 5.6. John 14.21. And that you may, to wait conſtantly on the Miniſtry of the Word, and beg the Spirit of God, effectually to accompany it, for the begetting, and working of this faith, and love, whereby you may be actually, and really united to him, and made one with him, 1 Cor. 12.13.
Eleventhly, To meditate on the motives and incouragements you have to get and clear up your intereſt in Chriſt. You have ſeen enough in what hath been ſaid before, yet take two or three more; Firſt, Conſider the miſerable condition of a man our of Chriſt in theſe particulars; Firſt, So long as Men are without Chriſt, they are without Covenant, without hope, and without God in the World, Eph. 2.12. Secondly, They lie under the guilt of all their ſins, Rom. 3.19. and that you cannot ſtand under the guilt of one ſin, that firſt ſin, how much leſs under the guilt of ſuch innumerable ſins. Thirdly, You remain ſtill in Vaſſallage and ſlavery, unto the baſeſt and … Tyrants, Sin, Sa…an, and the World, Eph. … Fourthly, You ſin in all you think, and … do, Pro. 15.8. Rom. 8.7. Titus 1.15. …, Every thing you have, and uſe, is accur…ed to … Deut. 28 16. to the end. Mal. 2.2. Sixthly, The… … but a ſtep between you and Hell, John 8.21. 1 Cor. 6.9. Mat. 25. laſt.
Secondly, Conſider the happy eſtate of a man in Chriſt: he is freed from all, that is truly evil, and inſtated in all that is truly good; Firſt, He is freed from all evil, both of ſin, and puniſhment, from the evil of ſin, both the guilt of it, and the filth of it, 1 John 1.7. Rom. 8.1. Rom. 6.14. Secondly, He is inſtated in all that is good: As the Wife is by her marriage, in all the honours, riches, pleaſures of her Husband; ſo is the believing Soul, in all the honours, riches, and pleaſures of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3. end. As Chriſt is a King, ſo are Believers made Kings to God, Rev. 1.6. As he is Heir of all things, Heb. 1.3. ſo they are Heirs, and Co-heirs with Chriſt, of the ſame Kingdom, Rom. 8.17. they are compleat in him, Col. 2.10. A third motive may be this, The great willingneſs, and readineſs of Jeſus Chriſt to receive, and ſave poor loſt ſinners, ſuch as are willing to take Him, and accept of Him upon Goſpel-terms; this appears in theſe Particulars.
Firſt, That his deſire is towards his Cant. 7.10. Swears, as he lives, he deſires not the death of a ſinner, Ezek. 33. ſo as the fault is Man's, and not his, if any be not ſaved. John 5.40. you will not come unto me, that you may have life. See this clearly in that Book, Entituled, The Self condemning Sinner.
Secondly, In that he offers Himſelf freely to all without exception of any that will come to him in a way of faith and love, Iſaiah 55 1. Rev. 22.17. Thirdly, In that he invites all to come to him, that find their want and need of him, Mat. 11.29. and promiſes to caſt away none that come to him, John 6.37. Fourthly, In that he ſends his Miniſters to woe, and beſeech them in the name of Chriſt to come in, and be reconcil'd to God; 2 Cor. 5.20. Fifthly, In that he bewails their folly that will ſtand out againſt him, and their own ſalvation, Mat. 23. Oh Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, that killeſt the Prophets, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as the Hen gathers her chickens, and you would not.
Laſtly, You are to take notice, how you are to walk worthy of, and ſuitable to, ſo dear a Redeemer, and precious Saviour, by imitating him in his carriage, both towards God, and Man, in his doings, and ſufferings: 1. His doings, 1 Epiſt. John 2.6. He that ſaith, he abides in him, ought to walk as he walked; Q. But you will ſay, Can any walk, as he walked? He was void of all ſin, we are ſull of ſin. A. There's a double (As); one that imports Equality, and another Similitude: as it imports equality, it's impoſſible for any to walk as he walked; but as it imports ſimilitude and likeneſs, ſo we may, and muſt walk after him. As a Scholar that writes after his Maſter's Copy, he begins every Line, as his Maſter begins, and ends as he ends; he frames every Letter as his Maſter frames it, joyns letters and ſyliables together, as his Maſter doth, though there be no equality: he cannot write as well as his Maſter, yet there is a ſimilitude, he labours to imitate, and write like his Maſter; So true Chriſtians, though they cannot live, and walk ſo exactly, as Chriſt did, yet they labour to come as neer to him, as they can, to imitate, and follow him, though not in his divine acts, which he did as God, and as Mediator, which is impoſſible, yet in his moral and humane acts, which he did as Man; ſo they labour to make him their only pattern in their carriages, both towards God and man; Firſt, In their carriage to God: now for his carriage towards God, that was full of piety, full of ſaith, full of zeal, full of heavenly-mindedneſs: Firſt, Full of Piety, Heb. 7.26. He was holy, harmleſs, ſeparate from ſinners, 1 Pet. 2 22. He did no ſin, neither was there any guil found in his mouth; and we required to follow him in that, 1 Pet. 1.15. 1 Ep. John 3.2. Secondly, Full of faith, ever confident of his Father's preſence, aſſiſtance, and acceptance in whatſoever he did, even in his greateſt deſertion on the Croſs, crying my God, my God, He held faſt his faith; and we requir'd to follow him in thi…, Iſaiah 50.10. Heb. 3.14. 1 Pet. 1.13. Thirdly, He was full of zeal for God, both in publick, and private; Firſt, In publick, the Zeal of God's Houſe even conſum'd him, John 2.15, 16, 17. Secondly, In private, He went about doing good, to the bodies & ſouls of others. Acts 10.38. We are to imitate him in this, it being the end of our Redemption, Titus 2.14. The end of his correction of us, Revel. 3.19. Fourthly, He was full of heavenly-mindedneſs, ſtill extracting ſpiritual and heavenly diſcourſes from worldly and Earthly occaſions, John 4.10. Joh. 13.2. John 6.26, 27. and we are requir'd to follow him in this, Col. 3.1, 2. Phil. 3 20. Secondly, Follow him in his cariage towards man: now for that, you may obſerve in the Scripture, it was full of wiſdom, innocency, truth, juſtice, humility, meekneſs, love, mercy and pitty to others: and we commanded in the Scriptures to imitate him in all theſe: Firſt, In his wiſdom and innocency, Mat. 10.16. Secondly, In his truth, Eph 4 24. Thirdly, In his juſtice and righteouſneſs, Rom. 13.7. Luke 1.6. In his humility and meekneſs, Mat. 11.20. In his patience, 1 Pet. 2.21, 22, 23. In his love to all, even our very Enemies, Mat. 5.44, 45. Eph. 5.2. and in mercies to the Bodies and Souls of men, Rom. 12. the 3 laſt. James 5. 2 laſt. In his pitty and compaſſion, Gal. 6.1. 1 Pet. 3.8. Jude 22.23. Thus for his doings. Secondly, To imitate him in his ſufferings: 1 Pet. 2.21. Q. How did Chriſt ſuffer? A. 1. He ſuffer'd willingly, none could compel him to it, John 10.18. You muſt follow him in this, when God calls unto it, as the Apoſtle, Acts 21.13. Secondly, Chriſt ſuffered patiently, Iſaiah 53.7. Heb. 12.2. we to follow him in this, as we are commanded in the ſame place, to look unto Jeſus; and, 1 Pet. 2.21. tread in his ſteps. Thirdly, He ſuffer'd believingly that God would ſupport him and deliver him, ſo muſt we, 1 Cor. 10.13. Fourthly, He ſuffer'd fruitfully, ſo as to learn obedience by his ſufferings, Heb. 5.8. ſo are we, Micah 6.7, 8. Revel. 3.19. Fifthly, Chriſt ſuffer'd conſtantly even to the death, and ſo are we requir'd, Rev. 2.10. Thus of Chriſt.