Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
ANd a holy and gracious Chriſtian doth thus deny himſelfe,Grounds of Self-denyall. and put himſelfe and all that he hath under Chriſt.
1. In regard of that carnality, vanity, baſeneſſe, 1. Self-vanity.earthlineſſe, unworthineſſe, corruption, and uncleanneſſe, which he ſees, and feeles in his owne fleſh, in his owne affections, ends and counſels: He ſees there is an emptineſſe in himſelfe, that his owne fleſh is an rRom. 7 18.empty houſe, wherein dwelleth no good, and wherein is ſ2 Cor. 3.5.no ſufficiency to the performance of any good duty; he ſees that his owne heart is a City full of treaſon, tIer. 17.9.deceitfull above meaſure, and not to be truſted; he feeles a uRom. 7.23.law in his members, rebelling againſt the law of his mind, as Rebeckah felt the twinnes in her wombe ſtriving the one againſt the other; he diſcernes that his owne wiſedome is fooliſh, an empty lamp, a bleare-eye, a falſe light; he diſcernes that he is brutiſh, and hath not the wProv. 30.2.knowledge of the holy; he ſees much uncleanneſſe within himſelfe, many ſpots in his ſoule; he ſees that he is like Jacobs flocke, ſpotty coloured; like Noahs Arke, wherein are many uncleane beaſts among the cleane; like the field in the parable, wherein are many teares among the wheat; he ſees how he is yet in part xRom. 7.14carnall, and ſold under ſin, not fully freed and diſcharged from the ſtrength and working of ſinne; he diſcernes an unhappy proneneſſe in his heart, to conſult with fleſh and bloud, and to propoſe bie, and ſiniſter, low, and baſe ends; and having the ſight, ſence, and ſorrowfull experience of all this; he denyes himſelfe, as Jacob having experience of the yGen. 31.7.deceitfulneſſe of Laban, grew weary of him, denyed him his ſervice, and went forth from him. Thus a gracious man having experience of the corruption and deceitfulneſſe of his owne heart and fleſh, growes weary of himſelfe, denyes himſelfe, goes out of himſelfe, commeth unto Chriſt, and puts himſelfe wholly under Chriſt; and as the Evangeliſt ſaid of Chriſt, that zIoh. 2.13.knowing what was in man, he would not commit himſelfe unto man: ſo ſanctified man knowing what is in himſelfe, he will not commit himſelfe unto himſelfe, he will not truſt himſelfe with himſelfe, he denyes his owne wiſedome, he becomes a1 Cor. 3.18.a foole in his owne apprehenſion, and ſeeks to Chriſt to be made wiſe unto ſalvation; he looks upon his owne righteouſneſſe, as bIſa. 64.rotten ragges, and comes to Chriſt for juſtification; he conſiders his owne weakneſſe, and comes to Chriſt as the cIoſ. 10.6.Gibeonites came to Joſhuah, to reſcue him from his enemies, he is experienced in the vanity of all other helpers; and therefore comes to Chriſt, as the diſeaſed dMar. 5.29.woman, whom the Phyſitians could not cure, that Chriſt may heale his ſpirituall maladies; Man is ever ſo much the more ſtrong, and powerfull in the worke of ſelf-denyall, by how much the more clearly he diſcernes the carnality and baſeneſſe of his owne heart and counſell. He that knowes how ſubject he is to miſcarry when he leanes upon himſelfe, will readily put himſelfe and all that he hath under Chriſt.
2. In regard of the holy, ſtrong, and conſtant bent, 2. Holy inclination to Chriſt.and inclination of the heart of a gracious Chriſtian unto Christ: As every thing moves towards its proper centre, and is at no reſt untill it comes to that: ſo doth the ſanctified ſoule incline and move to Chriſt, the true centre of the ſoule, and reſteth not untill it comes to Chriſt, and hath the fruition of Chriſt; there is in a gracious ſoule ſuch a principle of grace, ſuch a communication of Chriſt, ſuch a ſutableneſſe between the ſoule and Chriſt, ſuch a fervent and operative love towards Chriſt, ſuch a vehement longing after Chriſt, that it mightily moves to Chriſt as the rivers to the ſea; that nothing but Chriſt can anſwer it, quiet and content it; there is in the ſoule ſuch a bleſſed reſidence, ſuch a powerfull and gracious energy, and operation of the Spirit of Chriſt, that as the eEzek. 1.20.wheeles in Ezekiels viſion moved, whereſoever the living creatures moved, becauſe the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles: ſo the ſoule moves after Chriſt, becauſe the Spirit of Chriſt is in the ſoule; this makes it fPſal. 42 1.pant after Chriſt, as the Hart after the water brookes; this makes it gPſal 63.1, 8.thirſt for Chriſt, as the dry ground for waters; this makes it follow hard after Chriſt, as the childe with cryes and teares after the father going from it; this makes it cry for Chriſt, as ſometimes hGen. 30.2.Rachel did for children, O give me Chriſt or elſe I dye; and as David thirſted, and his worthies i2 Sam. 23.15.burſt through the army of the Philiſtines for water out of the wels of Bethel: ſo the ſoule thirſting for Chriſt, breakes through all the armies of oppoſition to come to Chriſt, to refreſh it ſelfe with Chriſt; now it denies all, leaves all, paſſeth through all, proſtrates it ſelfe and all that it hath under Chriſt, that it may enjoy Chriſt, it hates all that hinders its comming to Chriſt, and embraceth all that may further its communion with Chriſt, ſutableneſſe between the ſoule and Chriſt, readily denyes and rejects all that hinders the fruition of Chriſt.
3. Uanity of all things.3. In regard of the vanity, nullity, and nothingneſſe which a gracious man diſcernes in himſelfe, and in all things elſe without and beſide Chriſt; he looks upon himſelfe as on kGen. 18 28,duſt and aſhes; he is vile in his owne apprehenſion, as a lPſal. 22.6.worme and no man; he humbles and abhorres himſelfe mIob 42 6.below the duſt and aſhes; he looks on all other things as nPhil. 3.8.dung and droſſe, and a thing of oProv. 23.5.naught in compariſon of Chriſt; he reputes all things in reſpect of Chriſt, as pIudg. 9.9.Jothan did Abimelech in reſpect of the Sonnes of Jerubbaal; but as a bramble in reſpect of the vine, fig-tree, and olive-tree; and having ſuch a low opinion of himſelfe, and all things elſe; he readily denyes himſelfe and all things elſe, and makes all to vaile and ſtoop to Chriſt; with qMat. 4.21, 22.Simon and Andrew they are ready to leave their nets, their ſhip, and their father, to deny their poſſeſſions, and their friends, to put all under Chriſt, to leave whatſoever is moſt profitable and deare, according to the fleſh for Chriſts ſake, with Paul to eſteeme their very rAct 20 24.life as nothing, that they may glorifie Chriſt, and finiſh Chriſts worke: The more any man doth undervalue himſelfe, and the creature; the more he exalteth Chriſt, the more freely, fully, and readily he proſtrates all at the feet of Chriſt.
4. Rule of Chriſt.4. In regard of the holy, powerfull, and univerſall raigne, rule and dominion of Chriſt in a gracious and ſanctified ſoule: Here Chriſt reignes as a King in his Throne,ſPſal. 72.8. as Solomon reigned over the land of Canaan from ſea to ſea, and from the river to the ends of the earth: ſo doth Chriſt raigne in a regenerate and gracious ſoule, from the higheſt to the loweſt faculty thereof, and from the head to the feet, and from the higheſt to the loweſt undertaking of a Chriſtian: Here Chriſt reignes as a tEph. 3.17.dweller in his houſe; the dweller rules over all the roomes, members, and goods of his houſe, and diſpoſeth all to his ſervice; Chriſt rules over all the faculties of the ſoule, members of the body, and diſpoſeth all the endowments and doings of a Chriſtian to his owne ſervice, and for his owne honour: Here Chriſt rules as the uEph. 1.20.head over the body, acting, moving, guiding, and framing the whole man, to a holy, humble, and free ſubjection: Here Chriſt reignes as a wMat. 8.8.Centurion in his army, and as the ſervants of the Centurion did goe and come at his command, and doe whatſoever he bad them: Thus all the faculties of the ſoule, and members of the body of a true Chriſtian, are at the command of Chriſt, receiving their direction and commiſſion from Chriſt, doing every thing in ſubjection and obedience to Chriſt: Thus the Pſalmiſt ſpeaking of Chriſts kingdome, ſaith, xPſal. 110.3.in the day of thy power, when Chriſt ſhould reigne by his Goſpell and Spirit in the ſoules of men, the people ſhould be willing, free, ready, and full in their ſubjection unto Chriſt, and his yPſal. 72.9.enemies ſhould bow before him, and licke the duſt; ſuch as were enemies, rebellious, and diſobedient in their unregeneration, ſhould after their converſion bow themſelves, and licke the duſt, acknowledge and receive Chriſt as their Lord and King, and in very great humility ſubject and proſtrate both themſelves and all theirs to him, and his ſervice; for as Abner entring into Covenant with David, and taking David for his King, undertooke to z2 Sam. 3.bring about all Iſraelite to David Thus the ſoule entring into Covenant with Chriſt, and taking Chriſt for its King, brings about all to Chriſt, and puts all in ſubjection under Chriſt.
5. In regard of the holy and fervent deſire of a gracious ſoule to exalt and ſet up Chriſt: This is the prime …our,5 Deſire to ex… Chr…ſt. joy and comfort of a godly ſoule, to ſee and feele Chriſts kingdome within him, to ſet up Chriſt in his heart, and to diſcerne him ruling and commanding there, as a King in his Throne, as a Pilate in the ſhip; this is his ſuite and ſupplication unto God, that Chriſts aMat. 6.10.kingd…m… may come, that Chriſt may reigne and rule within him as David ſometimes thirſted, and longed to ſee the bPſal. 63.2.power and glory of God in the Sanctuary: ſo doth a godly man long to ſee the power and glory of Chriſt in his ſoule; to behold him raigning in his heart: In the day of Solomons coronation the c1 King 1.40.people piped with pipes, and rejoyced with great joy, ſo that the earth rung with the ſound thereof: In the day of Chriſts coronation, and reigne in the ſoule of man, the heart of man rejoyceth with exceeding great joy, Chriſts dominion is a holy ſoules rejoycing, the kingdome of God is righteouſneſſe and peace, and dRom. 14.17joy in the Holy-Ghoſt. It was the care, labour, and joy of David to bring the Arke of the Lord into the Tabernacle, in that day David e2 Sam. 6.14danced before the Lord with all his might, and all the houſe of Iſrael brought up the Arke of the Lord with ſhouting and with the ſound of a trumpet, and ſet it in the midst of the Tabernacle. Thus it is the care, labour, and comfort of the whole man that is godly, to ſet up Chriſt in the midſt of his ſoule, to ſee him reigning in his underſtanding, as the Sun in the eye; guiding in his will, as a Prince commanding it; in his imagination, as the obiect on which he thinketh with moſt frequency, delight and comfort; in his truſt, as the onelyonly rocke whereon he buildeth; in his feare, as the King of Kings, whom he chiefly reverenceth; and in his love, as an husband in the love of the wife: ſo powerfull and operative is this deſire, labour, and joy of a gracious ſoule, touching the exaltation, reigne, and rule of Chriſt within it; that as the people would have all the men put f1 Sam. 11.12to death which would not have Saul reigne over them: ſo doth ſuch a man mortifie all his luſts which oppoſe Chriſts kingdome, remove whatſoever may hinder Chriſts ſpirituall dominion, and makes all vaile, and ſtoop for Chriſts exaltation within him.
Acquieſcence in Chriſts approbation.6. In regard of a gracious ſoules acquieſcence and contentation with the approbation of Chriſt: In this it pleaſeth, in this it bleſſeth, delighteth, and ſatisfieth it ſelfe, whatſoever it hath beſides it, this is in ſtead of all, as the Sun is to the eye in ſtead of all lights, and the fountaine to the thirſty in ſtead of all bottles; the approbation of Chriſt is of very great price with a true Chriſtian; his gRom. 2.29.praiſe is not the praiſe of men but of God; not to have the approbation of men to his doings, but of God; not to have his eare tickled with the empty breath of vaine mans applauſe, but with the ſolide and ſweet inſpiration, and breathing of Gods Spirit, aſſuring him of Gods acceptation of him; as our Saviour ſought not himſelfe, nor his owne praiſe, but the hIoh. 8.50.praiſe of his Father, made it his iIoh 4.…4.meat and drinke to doe his Fathers will, and contented himſelfe with his Fathers approbation, how unworthily ſoever men thought of him: Thus all the members of Chriſt in proportion ſeeke not themſelves, nor the applauſe of men, but the teſtimony of Chriſt; in this they rejoyce and ſolace themſelves, in all things k2 Cor. 6.4.approving themſelves to God, as good ſervants, in all eſtates, in all changes, in all their undertakings; and this is the holy glorying, rejoycing and comfort of the ſoule, to l2 Cor. 10.17, 18.glory (as the Apoſtle ſaith) in the Lord, to glory in the dominion of God, ſubjecting himſelfe unto him, to glory in the power of God, reſting upon him, to glory in the teſtimony of God, bleſſing and pleaſing himſelfe in Gods approbation for not he that commendeth himſelfe is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth: Gods approbation is the crowne and comfort of a Chriſtian; and therefore as the wife ſeeks and rejoyceth in the approbation of her husband, though ſhe diſpleaſe her ſelfe, and all the family to enjoy it: Thus the ſoule which is wedded to Chriſt ſeeks the approbation of Chriſt, pleaſeth himſelfe herein, and for the enjoyment whereof will diſpleaſe his owne fleſh, and all the world, he denies whatſoever is a hinderance hereunto, he ſubjects himſelfe wholly unto Chriſt, to gaine and keep the teſtimony of Chriſt; for as he ſaid of Plato, unius Platonis calculum inter mille, the approbation of Plato alone was in ſtead of a thouſand: ſo the teſtimony and approbation of one Chriſt, of Chriſt alone, is more to a gracious ſoule, then the applauſe of the world or whatſoever the earth can affoord, and for theſe and ſuch like cauſes doth a man endued with true holineſſe deny himſelfe, his owne ends and counſels, and proſtrates all under Chriſt Jeſus.