The Right Receiving of Christ, Preface · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
It is a Chriſtians duty to walke in Chriſt.
IT is the duty of a Chriſtian to walke, to be in motion, in a progreſſive motion, and going forwards. A Chriſtian muſt not be a talker, a talker onelyonly, but he muſt be a walker. It is eaſie to talke of Chriſt, though that be more then many will doe, but it is not ſo eaſie, nor ſo ordinary to walke in him. It is a good ſigne of a mans being in Chriſt. Rom. 8. 1. No condemnation to ſuch as are in him. But how may they be knowne that are in him? They walke after the Spirit.
It is a ſure ſigne, and evidence of ſpirituall life. Gal. 5. 25. If wee live in the ſpirit, let us alſo walke in the ſpirit. If we ſee a man walk, we are ſure he is alive.
It is a ſigne a man is in ſpirituall health. Ariſe, ſayes Chriſt to the palſey man, Take up thy bed and walke, Luk. 5. It was a ſigne he was healed when he could walke.
Sick men that keepe their beds, cannot walke. It is a ſigne that men have their ſpirituall ſight, and limbes, when they can walke. The lame, and the blind, cannot walke. Ignorant perſons are blinde. Men that are bodily blinde, can and doe walke, but it is impoſſible for men ſpiritually blinde to walke, becauſe it is impoſſible to walke but in the way, and impoſſible to walke in the way, when it is not ſeene. And lame perſons wanting limbes, and legges, as blinde perſons want eyes, neither can they walke, but when men walke, it is a ſure ſigne that they have their eyes, their legges, their health, and ſpirituall life.
It is a ſigne of ſpirituall ſtrength. A childe hath life but cannot walke, becauſe it is weake, and wants ſtrength, but as it growes ſtrong, ſo it gets abilitie to walke. And when a childe can once walke, it is a ſigne it hath naturall ſtrength. So here, if wee have ſome ſeedes, and beginnings of ſpirituall life, yet wee are but babes, and infirme weaklings, till wee can walke. But when once wee doe walke, it is a ſigne that wee are growne in grace, and have gotten ſome meaſure of ſpirituall ſtrength. Zech. 10. 12. I will ſtrengthen him in the Lord, and they ſhall walke up and downe in his Name. When therefore men walke up and downe in the name of the Lord, it is a ſigne they are ſtrengthened in the Lord.
It is a ſigne of Communion with God, and benefit received in the uſe of his Ordinances, the Word and Sacrament. Gen. 29. 1. Then Jacob lifted up his feete, and walked, and went on his journey; Then, namely after the ſweet communion he had with GOD in Bethel. And ſo when wee lift up our feete, and walke, with renewed vigour, and ſtrength, it is a ſigne wee have had fellowſhip with God in his Word, and Sacrament. Iſa. 2. 3. Hee will teach us his wayes, and wee will walke in his pathes. It is a ſigne that God himſelfe hath had the teaching of us, and that in the Miniſtry of the Word, wee have had communion with him when once wee fall awalking. So here in the Text, walking in Chriſt is made an evidence of Receiving Chriſt. Then may a man be knowne to have received Chriſt in the Word and Sacrament, when upon theſe duties done a man ſets to walking.
It condemnes ſuch as will be Chriſtians, Ʋſe.but walke not. The world is full of talkers, but walkers are rare to be found. Religion muſt be in the tongue, & it is that ſhould be talked of, though many men are more aſhamed to have holy & good ſpeech come from them, then to have oathes, and filthy communication fall from their mouthes. I do not condemne talking of Chriſt, talking of Religion; Talke and ſpare not, but yet walke withall, adde walking to your talking, and then are yee right Chriſtians indeed. Set your feete on worke as well as your tongues, and then yee ſhall bridle the tongues of enemies. It condemnes alſo Sedentary Chriſtians, that ſet them downe, and ſit ſtill. Sitting is for heaven. That is the Reſt that remaines for the people of God. But this life is no Reſting, but a walking life. Wee muſt not thinke of ſitting, till wee come to ſit upon thrones, till wee come to ſit downe with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdome of God.
It condemnes alſo ſuch kinde of Chriſtians that have ſometimes ſome fits of goodneſſe, but goe not on. They have their good words, but they are ſoone over. This is not to walke; walking is a conſtant continued pace in good. A thiefe may ſometimes walke on in the high way, but he will not ſtay long in it, but quickly turnes aſide into one by-way or other; whereas the honeſt traveller keepes on, and goes on an end till he comes to his journeys end. It is one thing to walke on in the wayes of God, and another thing to take a few ſteps, and out againe. Such are no walkers. A godly man who for his ſetled courſe walkes on in the wayes of obedience, may ſometimes through tentation, and infirmity, ſtep aſide into the wayes of ſinne, yet for all that he cannot be ſaid to walke in thoſe wayes. Pſal. 1. 1. Hee walkes not in the counſell of the ungodly. And ſo a morall or a wicked man, may ſometimes be in a good dutie, or a good way, but yet becauſe his conſtant courſe bends, and goes another way, he cannot be ſaid to walke in the wayes of God.
And ſo much for the firſt thing exhorted unto. The ſecond followes. To be Rooted in Chriſt, to a ſtabilitie, and ſtedfaſtneſſe in the profeſſion of Chriſt, verſ. 7. Rooted in him. It is a metaphor taken from trees. Trees have no ſtabilitie, nor firmeneſſe, unleſſe they roote into firme earth, neither have wee any firmeneſſe, unleſſe wee roote deepe in Chriſt. The point wee learne hence is this: