Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Perſwaſion to a ioyfull entertainment of Chriſt.THis ſhould excite and move us all to worke our hearts to a ioyfull and thankfull receiving and entertainment of Chriſt comming in the Miniſtery of the Goſpell, the wiſe men wMat. 2 10.rejoyced with an exceeding great joy at the appearing of the Starre which pointed out the birth of Chriſt: Chriſt appeareth in the Goſpell, as a heavenly Starre, miniſtring celeſtiall and comfortable light to them thar ſit in darkneſſe; his appearance miniſtring matter of choiſeſt rejoycing, doubtleſſe he is no wiſe man, a man farre from true and ſaving wiſedome, that doth not rejoyce to ſee Chriſt ſhining in the Goſpell; the men of Bethſhemeſh were reaping their wheat harveſt in the valley, and they lifted up their eyes, and x1 Sam 6.13.ſaw the Arke, and rejoyced to ſee it, and breaking off their labours, ceaſing their harveſt-worke, they offered burnt offerings, and ſacrificed ſacrifices the ſame day unto the Lord. The man that lifteth up his eyes, his heart, his thoughts, his deſires from the world, and ſees Chriſt in the Goſpell, cannot but rejoyce to behold him. Men ſhould with great alacrity and readineſſe breake off their bodily labours to entertaine the Lord Ieſus, and offer to God the ſacrifice of praiſe and thanksgiving on that day, when Chriſt comes among them in his Goſpell, joyfull attendance upon Chriſt in the Goſpell ſhould have preheminence above every ordinary undertaking: When Iehoiada the Prieſt brought forth Jehoaſh the Kings ſonne, and put the Crowne upon him, all the people of the land y2 King. 11.12, 14.rejoyced and blew with trumpets. When the Miniſter of the Lord doth bring forth Chriſt in the Congregation, reveale and ſhew forth Chriſt the Sonne of God, in the miniſtery of the Goſpell, and doth ſet the zCant 3 11.crowne (according to Solomons phraſe) upon Chriſts head, by declaring Chriſts Soveraignty, and cauſing the people to ſubmit to Chriſts law and government, all the Congregation ſhould rejoyce and blow the trumpet of ſpirituall joy and gladneſſe: Agracious ſoule drawes matter of choiſe and ſweet rejoycing from Chriſts exaltation in the Goſpell.
This joyfull and thankfull entertainment of Chriſt comming in the Goſpell, was ſhadowed by the feaſt of ſolemnity, called aLev. 23.14, 25blowing of Trumpets, ſignifying the ſpirituall joy and gladneſſe occaſioned and raiſed in the hearts of men by Chriſts comming in the fleſh, and in the preaching of the Goſpell, the Lord Jeſus being the gladſome body and ſubſtance of all the Leviticall and Ceremoniall joyous feſtivals; this was alſo foretold and often prophecyed, How bIſa. 52.7.beautifull (ſaith the Prophet Eſay) are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publiſheth peace, and bringeth good tidings of good, that publiſheth ſalvation, that ſaith unto Sion thy God raigneth; which Prophecye the Apoſtle referres to the preaching of the Goſpell;Rom. 10.15. the feet carry the body in motion and going; the miniſtery carry Chriſt in the preaching of the Goſpell; the feet lift and beare up the body, the Miniſters lift up and carry Chriſt aloft, and make him conſpicuous in the eyes of the people, by their holy and wholſome doctrine; the feet of him that brings tidings of a pardon to a condemned perſon, tidings of redemption to a captive, tidings of ſupply to him that is in want, are very beautifull in the eyes of ſuch people; the feet of Gods Miniſters bringing tidings of forgiveneſſe, tidings of deliverance, tidings of all fulneſſe, in and by Chriſt Jeſus, are very beautifull in their eyes who know and feele the danger of their owne ſinfull condition; therefore cIſa. 52.9.breake forth into ioy (ſaith the Prophet) ſing together ye waſte places of Jeruſalem, for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jeruſalem. The comming of the Sunne comforteth him that ſits in darkneſſe; the comming of the Phyſitian comforts him that is oppreſt with ſickneſſe, the comming of the ranſomer comforts him that is in bondage, the comming of Chriſt in the Goſpell, like the comming of the light comforts men with knowledge, like the comming of a Phyſitian, with healing in his wings, comforts men with ſpirituall health, and like the comming of a ranſomer gives the comfort of ſpirituall freedome; ſweet, and bleſſed, and full of refreſhing is the joy ariſing from Chriſt, his comming in the Goſpell: This makes the dIſa. 51.3.wilderneſſe like Eden, and the deſart like the garden of the Lord. This fils the deſolate, ſad, and ſorrowfull ſoule of man, full of joy and gladneſſe, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody; and to this joyfull entertainment of Chriſts comming in his ſpirituall kingdome, Let us all provoke our hearts, and frame, and diſpoſe our ſoules, as the eye is diſpoſed to a joyfull entertainment of the light, the eare to a joyfull entertainment of muſicke, and the bride to a joyfull entertainment of the bridegroome.
And that we may give Chriſt comming in the Goſpell, a Chriſtian and wel-pleaſing entertainment, there are three things in the generall obſervable. 1. Modus, the manner how we muſt entertaine him. 2. Medium, the meanes which we muſt uſe to entertaine him. and 3. Motivum, the inducements perſwading thus to entertaine Chriſt.
1. Manner of entertaining Chriſt.1. The manner how Chriſt muſt be entertained and received; and thus Chriſt muſt bee entertained, received.
1. Spiritually.1. Spiritually. The entertainment of the King is ſutable to the condition, quality, and nature of the King; earthly entertainment is given to earthly Kings: Chriſt is a ſpirituall and heavenly King, his kingdome is not of this world, and therefore he muſt not be carnally but ſpiritually entertained; the eExod. 25.11, 16.Tabernacle into which the Arke was received had in it the two Tables of the Law, it was overlaid within with pure gold, and the Arke had a crowne of gold about it: Hee that will entertaine Chriſt muſt have the Law of God written in his heart, his ſoule within, and his life without muſt be overlaid with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, more pure and precious then the gold which periſheth; holineſſe and righteouſneſſe muſt crowne the ſoules of ſuch perſons as will entertaine Chriſt Jeſus; ſlimy, ſluttiſh, and filthy houſes are fitter to entertaine ſwine then Princes; corrupt, and carnall, unſanctified, and ungracious ſoules are fitter to entertaine Satan, the prince of darkneſſe, then to entertaine Chriſt the King of Righteouſneſſe. The Kings daughter, the Spouſe of Chriſt, the Type of all that truly entertaine Chriſt, was fPſal. 45 13.all-glorious within. Heavenly graces are the peculiar glory of Gods ſervants, making their ſoules a fit receptacle for the Lord Ieſus: As men therefore to receive and entertaine an earthly King, cleanſe their houſes, perfume and garniſh all their roomes, and prepare ſuch delicacies as the King delights in: Thus wee, to entertaine and receive Chriſt the heavenly King, muſt cleanſe our ſoules of all ſin, we muſt put all iniquity farre from us, as a ſpot from our faces, a diſeaſe from our fleſh, and a theefe from our houſe; we muſt garniſh all the roomes of the houſe of our ſoules, with ſpirituall ornaments, our underſtandings with ſpirituall knowledge, our wils with gracious liberty and freedome to embrace and chuſe Chriſt, our imaginations with holy thoughts and medetations upon Chriſt, our affections with filiall feare to offend Chriſt, with lively faith to beleeve in Chriſt, with pure and fervent love to Chriſt, with heavenly joy and delight in Chriſt; He that is moſt holy and gracious is moſt capable of Chriſt Ieſus; the ſoule which abides under the ſway and power of prophaneneſſe cannot receive the Lord Ieſus, the ſwaying preſence of ungodlineſſe, nullifies the gracious preſence of Chriſt Ieſus. No man receiveth Chriſt with true and ſollid comfort in the Goſpell, but only he whoſe ſoule is endowed with gIam. 4 8. Heb. 10.22. Mat. 5.8.purity and ſanctification.
2. Speedily. 2. Speedily.The ſervant ſpeedily opens the doore of the houſe when the Maſter knocks, and readily entertaines him. Chriſt is the great Lord and Maſter of the houſe of mans ſoule, at the doore whereof he knocks by the miniſtery of the Goſpell, and man muſt ſpeedily open to Chriſt ſo knocking, Behold (ſaith Chriſt) I ſtand at the hRev. 3.20.doore and knocke: the heart of unregenerate man is a doore ſhut, a hard, a ſtony doore: God and Chriſt are ſhut out,Eph. 2.12. to this doore Chriſt knocks by the preaching of the Law, threatning deſtruction to him that will not open; by the preaching of the Goſpell, promiſing pardon to all that ſpeedily and ſincerely open; by the rod of affliction and terrour of conſcience on all that doe delay to open; by the inward motion and powerfull operation of his Spirit on Gods choſen; repairing and diſpoſing their hearts to open to him: If any man (ſaith Chriſt) heare my voice, ſpeedily without delay, unfainedly, without hypocriſie, humbly without diſdaine, beleevingly, without unbeleefe, joyfully, without repining, and obediently without rebellion: If any man thus heare my voice, and open unto me, by underſtanding me and my will, by beleeving me and my promiſes, by loving me and my teſtimonies, by embracing me and my benefits, by dedicating himſelfe to me and my ſervice. I will come into him, I will make his ſoule my temple and holy habitation, I will enter into a neare and ſweet communion with him, and I will ſup with him, I will accept and delight in his knowledge, faith, repentance, and new obedience; and he ſhall ſup with me, I will communicate unto him juſtification, ſanctification, peace, the joy of the Holy-Ghoſt, the heavenly treaſure of all ſaving grace; their bliſſe and happineſſe is very great and comfortable, who give a full and ſpeedy entertainment to Chriſt comming in the Goſpell: It is a point of Chriſtian and choiſeſt wiſedome (according to the charge of the Prophet) to iIſa. 55.6.ſeeke the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is neare at hand: The Sunne of heavenly light which now ſhineth may ſet, and we be left in darkneſſe; the Well of ſalvation now opened may be ſealed up, and we periſh with want of ſpirituall water to refreſh us; the gate of mercy now opened to us may be ſhut againſt us, Chriſt may withdraw himſelfe, and refuſe to be found of us; the things belonging to our kLuk. 19.42.peace may be hidden from us: It is juſt with Chriſt to withdraw himſelfe from them that delay to receive him, Chriſt will be to them as a deafe man that heares not, in the day of their trouble and afflictions, who are deafe to Chriſt, and will not heare him in his Goſpell, in the day of his mercifull viſitation: O therefore lPſal 95.7, 8.to day, if ye will heare his voice, harden not your hearts, behold m2 Cor. 6.2.now is the accepted time, now is the day of ſalvation. Now while Chriſt is preached in the Goſpell, ſalvation, pardonall mercy is offered, now if ever is the time to accept it; therefore as Zaccheus nLuk. 19.6.made haſte, and came downe from the Sycamine tree, and received Chriſt into his houſe joyfully: So let us make haſte and come downe, every man from all high thoughts of our owne worth, and joyfully receive Chriſt into the houſe of our heart. When Chriſt appeared unto Abraham in the plaine of Mamre in the forme of an Angell, and two other Angels with him; it is ſaid that Abraham oGen. 18.1, 2, 6ranne to meet them from the tent doore, and haſted to his tent to make proviſion for them, he uſed all ſpeed in their entertainment. Thus when Chriſt appeares in the Goſpell, and comes to us by his Miniſters, we ſhould run from our tent doores, from our ſelves by Chriſtian denyall, from the world by deſertion, from our ſinnes by mortification. Thus we ſhould run to meet Chriſt comming in the Goſpell, and haſten every man into his tent, into his heart, and there make all ſpirituall proviſion to entertaine him: The uſe of haſt and ſpeed in the entertaining of Chriſt comming in his Goſpell, is more neceſſary and commendable then in any other undertaking.
3. Cordially, With much and fervent affection;3. Cordially. Rom. 6.17. the heart is Chriſts houſe, where he muſt dwell, Chriſts throne where he muſt raigne, and the pallace whereinto he muſt be received; the place of the Arke was not in a corner, but in the p2 Sam. 6.17.midſt of the Tabernacle, Chriſt muſt not be thruſt into a corner of the ſoule, his dwelling muſt be in the midſt thereof, in the heart of man, he muſt have the beſt and choiſeſt roome of mans affection; this Chriſt requires, My ſonne qProv. 23.26.give me thy heart, not thy head barely to know me, nor thy memory nakedly to remember me, nor thy tongue formally to ſpeake of me, nor thy foot onelyonly to come outwardly unto me; but thy heart to love and embrace me, to ſurrender and yeeld up all unto me. This was the Apoſtles prayer in the behalfe of the Epheſians, that rEph. 3.17.Chriſt might dwell, not onelyonly in their care, or in the tongue, the outward roomes of the body, nor in the head, or memory, the upper roomes of the ſoule; but in their heart, the middle and choiſeſt roome of the ſoule of man: Our prayers are but empty and fruitleſſe untill wee have prayed Chriſt into our hearts and affections; Chriſt commeth in the Goſpell as a King of mercies to pardon us; as a bridegroome to marry us, and we muſt entertaine him with love, much, ſtrong, and fervent love; as a malefactor his King comming to him with a pardon, or the bride the bridegroome; our love to Chriſt muſt be like the love of s1 Sam. 18.1.Ionathan to David, a love paſſing the love of women; our ſoule muſt be knit to Chriſt, as Ionathan ſeeing what David had done for Iſrael, in the overthrow of Goliah, his ſoule was knit to David: ſo we ſeeing what Chriſt hath done for us in the overthrow of Satan, our ſoules muſt be knit to Chriſt; our ſoules muſt long for Chriſt, as the ſoule of Shechem tGen. 34 8.longed for Dinah, our ſoule muſt delight in Chriſt, as the ſoule of the rich in his treaſure, and the ſoule of the bride in the bridegroome; thus the Spouſe expreſſeth her ſelfe, ſhew me O thou whom my uCant. 1 7.ſoule loveth, whom I love fervently, unfainedly, and with a longing deſire to enjoy; and in the banqueting houſe, in the miniſtery of the word ſhe found her ſelfe wCant. 2.4.5.ſicke of love, raviſhed with love to Chriſt.Plus eſt habere Chriſtum in corde quam in domo; quia cor noſtrum interius eſt nobis, quam domus noſtra. Aug. The entertainment of Chriſt into the heart is the glory of a Chriſtian, as the entertainment of the King to a houſe is the glory of a Subject: This is the fulneſſe of the ſoule, as the entertainment of the Sunne into the eye is, the fulneſſe of the eye, the heart is an empty veſſell untill Chriſt hath the poſſeſſion of it; this is the defence and ſafety of the ſoule, as the being of the Pilate in the ſhip, is of the ſafety of the ſhip; the being of the keeper in the Caſtle, is the ſafety of the Caſtle; the being of Chriſt in the ſhip in the ſtormy tempeſt, was the ſafety of the Diſciples;Mat. 8.25, 26. the being of Chriſt in the ſoule, is the ſafeguard of the ſoule in all the ſtormy tempeſts of trouble; the ſoule where Chriſt hath no dwelling lyeth open to all the aſſaults of Satan. This brings the ſoule to a ſweet communion with Chriſt in the Goſpell, as Iehu ſaid unto Iehonadab comming to meet him, x2 Kin. 10.15.Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart, if it be give me thine hand, and he gave him his hand, and he tooke him up to him into the charet. Non pertiuet domine ad te, …ec de tuis eſt qu… te non deligit, nec deligit te qui ſcienter offendit; dilectioni tue detrabit qui terminos a te poſitos irā ſit, & Evangelij tui decreta contemni…. Cypr.4. Cheerfully.Thus when we come to meet Chriſt in the Goſpell, Chriſt looketh to the integrity of our hearts, if our hearts be right with Chriſt, and we give him the hand of faith, and the hand of love; then he takes us up into his charet; then he takes us to himſelfe; then he brings us into a neare, a ſweet, and comfortable communion with himſelfe; the ſoule which doth not love Chriſt, hath neither cleare diſcerning of Chriſt, nor gracious fellowſhip with Chriſt.
4. Cheerfully. Old Jacob ſeeing the waggons which Joſeph had ſent to carry him to Egypt to bring him to himſelfe, it is ſaid his heart yGen 45 27.revived. Man ſeeing Chriſt in the Goſpell, comming by the labours of his Miniſters, as by a charet, to take and carry him of from the world, to bring him nigh unto himſelfe, and to the participation of his fulneſſe, ſhould have his heart revived, and his ſoule made cheerfull: Chriſt in the Goſpell miniſters all matter of rejoycing to his children; in the Goſpell Chriſt commeth as a zM…l. 4.2.ſhining Sunne, and here we ſhould rejoyce in him, as the eye rejoyceth in the light; Here Chriſt commeth as a bPſal. 110.2, 3.King in his armies, and we ſhould rejoyce in him, as the captive rejoyceth in him that commeth with warlike weapons to beat downe the priſon, and ſet him free; here Chriſt commeth as a cMal. 4.2. Iſa. 6.1, 2.Phyſitian with healing in his wings; and we ſhould rejoyce in him, as the ſicke in the Phyſitian that comes to cure him; here Chriſt commeth as dIoſ. 10.6.Joſhuah came to the Gibeonites, to reſcue them from the Amoritiſh Princes; and in him we ſhould rejoyce, as the beſieged City in him that comes to drive away their enemies: Here Chriſt commeth as a Maſter of the eCant. 2 4.feaſt in his banquetting houſe▪ and in him we ſhould rejoyce as the hungry ſtomacke in a feaſt of all varieties: Here Chriſt commeth as a fIoh. 3.29.bridegroome in his letters, in his friend, in his voice, to wooe, and betroth us, and in him wee ſhould rejoyce, as the bride in the letters, voice, and preſence of the bridegroome; ſuperlatively ſweet, and ſoule-raviſhing are the comforts which Chriſt diſpenſeth by his word and doctrine; he is altogether unworthy the name of a Chriſtian that doth not joyfully entertaine Chriſt comming in the Goſpell.
… Humbly.5. Humbly. Abraham entertaining the Angels gGen. 18.2.bowed himſelfe to the ground. Man muſt entertaine the Lord Ieſus in the Goſpell, with all humility, meekneſſe, lowly and reverent ſubmiſſion: Hee muſt proſtrate himſelfe, and all that is his at the feet of Chriſt; he muſt be low and baſe in his owne eye and apprehenſion; he muſt looke on himſelfe as hGen. 18.28.duſt and aſhes, Rom. 7.18.he that is moſt ſenſible of his owne vileneſſe, is moſt capable of Chriſt Ieſus; he muſt iRom. 12.16.captivate his owne wiſedome, and carnall reaſon; he hath the moſt cleare and comfortable diſcerning of Chriſt in the Goſpell, that is moſt apprehenſive of the vanity of his owne wiſedome. He that will be made wiſe unto ſalvation by the Goſpell, muſt become as a k1 Cor. 3.18. Luk. 9.23.foole in his owne opinion; he muſt deny himſelfe that will acknowledge and embrace Chriſt, abaſe himſelfe that will exalt and ſet up Chriſt, and be out of love with himſelfe that will be in love with Chriſt; he muſt diſcerne and feele his owne ſickneſſe, his owne poverty, his owne bondage, and emptineſſe, that will receive Chriſt in the Goſpell, as a Phyſitian to cure him, as a ſurety to make ſatisfaction for him, as a conquerour to free him, and as a fountaine to fill him. When David ſent his ſervants, and communed by them with Abigail to take her to wife; ſhe aroſe and l1 Sam. 25.40, 41.bowed her ſelfe on her face to the earth, and ſaid, behold, let thy handmaid be a ſervant to waſh the feet of the ſervants of my Lord. When Chriſt communeth with us by his ſervants, the Miniſters in the preaching of the Goſpell, to take our ſoules to him to wife: We muſt riſe up, with all lowly reverence, entertaine their meſſage, receiving it as the Word of God,1 Theſ. 2.13. and not of man; wee muſt bow our ſelves to the earth, humble and abaſe our ſelves very low, ſhewing all obedience to their doctrine, and ready to miniſter any ſervice to their perſons, as Saint Paul teſtifies of the Galathians, My temptation (ſaith he) which was in my fleſh ye mGal. 2.14.15.despiſed not nor reiected, but received me as an Angell of God, even as Chriſt Ieſus. I beare you record, that if it had been poſſible, ye would have plucked out your owne eyes, and have given them to me. Great is the love and reverence ſhewed by Gods children towards Chriſt and his Miniſters in the Goſpell. Chriſt is ever ſo much the more precious unto men, by how much the more they are abaſed in their owne ſence and feeling; Chriſts favour, dwelling, and communion, is onelyonly with the ſoule which is truly nIſa. 57.15. Iſa. 66.2.humble.
6. Chiefly. Chriſt is the higheſt King,6. Chiefly. and muſt have the chiefeſt roome in the heart of man, Chriſt excels all creatures, and muſt have preheminence above all others in the hearts of his receivers,o1 Sam. 5.4. Dagon in the Philiſtines Temple fals before the Arke; the creature, and whatſoever elſe in the heart of man, muſt fall before Chriſt; all muſt be baſe and vile in compariſon of Chriſt; the Elders of Gilead bringing home againe Ieptha to fight for them againſt the children of Ammon, made him their pIudg 11.9, 10head. Man bringing home, and receiving Chriſt into his heart to fight for him againſt Satan, and his corruption, muſt make him his head, exalt him, and give him preheminence above all creatures. Chriſt is King of Kings, and muſt have preheminence in our obedience, Rev. 19.16.as Kings have in the hearts of their loyall Subjects; Chriſt is the husband of his Church, and muſt have preheminence in our love, 2 Cor. 11.2.as husbands have in the hearts of their chaſte and loving wifes; Chriſt is the pearle of choiſeſt worth, and muſt have preheminence in our choiſe, and eſtimation,Mat. 13.44. as the pearle with the Merchant above the droſſe. Chriſt is the Sun of cleareſt and ſweeteſt light, and muſt have preheminence in our underſtanding, Mal. 4.2.as the Sun in the eye above other lights; Chriſt is the ſureſt, the moſt conſtant and loving friend,Cant. 5.16. and muſt have preheminence in our delight and joy, as a friend hath preheminence in the joy of his friend above all ſtrangers: He is farre from the true receiving of Chriſt, that doth not thus exalt Chriſt; he doth very ſhamefully abaſe Chriſt that ſets up any thing above Chriſt; hee neither diſcernes the worth, nor taſtes the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt in the Goſpell, who makes not himſelfe and all things to vaile and ſtoop to him.
7. Fully.7. Fully. Whole Chriſt muſt be received, we muſt entertaine Chriſt according to all his Latitudes, as all the points and lines are received in one Center, whole Chriſt muſt meet in mans heart, as in a Center: We muſt receive Chriſt in his perſon, as God and man in one perſon, as our onelyonly Mediator, the only Jacobs ladder, by whom God and all bleſſings come downe to us, and by whom we aſcend againe to God. We muſt receive Chriſt in his Attributes, in his wiſedome, as a light to guide us; in his power, as a rocke to ſupport us; in his truth, as a faithfull witneſſe that never deceives us; in his juſtice as a righteous Judge to awe us; in his mercy, as a King of mercies to forgive us; in his holineſſe, as a fountaine of grace to ſanctifie us; in his righteouſneſſe, as a royall roabe to cloathe and cover us; and in his love, as a bridegroome to marry us, and in his All-ſufficiency as a fountaine to fill us. We muſt receive Chriſt in all his Offices, as a Prophet to inſtruct us, making Chriſts doctrine the compleat and only rule of our faith and obedience; as a King to reigne and rule over us, wholly ſubjecting our ſelves to the Scepter of Chriſt Jeſus; as a Prieſt to ſanctifie us, to expiate our offences, and make atonement for us, relying ſolely on Chriſts merits. We muſt receive him in all his Ordinances, in his word regenerating, renewing, reforming us; in his Sacrament feaſting, ſtrengthening, ſealing up his love, and the forgiveneſſe of our ſin unto us: We muſt receive him in his Miniſters, as a Prince in his Embaſſadors; as a Bridegroome in his friends, in his members; as a father in his children; as a husband in his wife, in his precepts, as a King in all his Lawes obeying them; in his promiſes, as a faithfull friend in all his words beleeving them; in his gifts and diſpenſations, as a giver in his gifts, as a workman in his workmanſhip▪ as the eye receiveth the Sunne in his light, and the ground the cloud in the raine, and dew diſtilling thereupon: Wee muſt receive him in our underſtandings as a light, in our wils as a Prince, in our thoughts as a treaſure, in our affections as a Lord and Maſter, fearing him, as a ſure foundation, building upon him, as a bridegroome being full of love towards him: The full receiving of Chriſt in the Goſpell fils the ſoule with fulneſſe of grace and conſolation He that doth not univerſally receive Chriſt, doth not at all receive Chriſt: He that doth not ſurrender all truly, ſurrenders none to Chriſt: He that ſhuts Chriſt out of one roome of his ſoule, leaves his whole man to the poſſeſſion of ſinne, Satan, and the world.
8. Perpetually. Chriſt muſt be received once, and forever;8. Perpetually. the Covenant between the ſoule and Chriſt is an qIer 32.40.everlaſting Covenant, a Covenant of wedlocke; Hoſ. 2 19.the Covenant between the husband and the wife is for ever, untill death; the husband is the guide, delight, and object, the wifes love for ever, ſo long as life laſteth; Chriſt muſt be received as the ſoules guide, and love for ever; Chriſt muſt ſhine in the underſtanding as an everlaſting Sunne, rule in the will as an everlaſting Prince, poſſeſſe the ſoule as an everlaſting dweller, and abide in the affections as an everlaſting husband: The ſoule which truly receives Chriſt in the Goſpell, is an everlaſting lover of Chriſt; as Hyram loved David r1 Kin. 5.1.ever, an everlaſting ſervant to Chriſt; as the ſervant under the Law, which had his eare boared, abode a ſervant in the houſe sExod. 21.6.for ever; as the land of Canaan was to Jacob and his ſeed an tGen. 48.4. Pſal. 73.26.everlaſting poſſeſſion, ſo muſt Chriſt be our everlaſting portion; we may not receive Chriſt and thruſt him out againe, as ſicke men receive a Phyſitian, and put him off againe as ſoone as the diſeaſe is put away; as a beſieged City receiveth ſouldiers, and turnes them off againe as ſoone as the ſiedge is removed; as the Philiſtines received the Arke,1 Sam. 5. 2 Kin 13 15. and ſent him away againe when Dagon could not ſtand before him; as Amnon received Thamar and thruſt her out of doores againe, hating her more then ever he loved her: Such are very baſe receivers of Chriſt, as receive him either for fancy, novelty, or conſtraining neceſſity. He is a very Philistine, that will rather thruſt Chriſt from him, then ſuffer the fall of his Dagon, his baſe luſt, or corrupt affection; their love to Chriſt, when at the beſt was but fained, and counterfeit, which afterwards turnes to hatred: He is no uIoh. 8.3….ſonne, but a ſlave; no Spouſe, but a harlot, which abides not with Chriſt to the end. Having therefore once received Chriſt, to ſeweth Chriſt, retaine Chriſt in every eſtate, abide with Chriſt; Man changes, as Ittai with David, w1 Sam. 15.21in life and in death.