Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
THe conſideration of Chriſts living in all Gods children, may give us juſt occaſion to examine our ſelves, and to get good and cleare evidence of Chriſts living in our ſoules. This is the crowne and comfort of a Chriſtian to have Chriſt living in him: The more we are aſſured of this, the more ſweet and comfortable will the meditation of Chriſt be unto us, and the greater our courage againſt all oppoſing powers, and the more cheerfull ſhall we be in Chriſts ſervice. And this we ſhall diſcerne.
1. Purity.1. By the purity of our converſation. The order of our life without is ſutable to the root and Principle of our life within; he that hath a humane ſoule, and life within him, doth outwardly walke, ſpeake, and worke as a man; he that hath Chriſt living in him, converſeth, walketh, worketh, doth all things outwardly as a Chriſtian, conformeth himſelfe to Chriſt, is acted, moved and guided by Chriſt living in him, as the body is moved and guided by the ſoule living in the ſame:Ier. 31.33. Chriſt living in him, writes his Law in his heart, new moulds, new faſhions and frames his whole man, and makes it ſutable to the Law, cauſing him to be holy in all manner of converſation as he that hath called him is holy, Rom. 6.11.making him alive to God; receiving all his direction from God, to be wholly ſubject unto Gods will, totally devoted to Gods ſervice, to doe every thing for God, and to intend God above himſelfe, or any thing elſe; as Chriſt in the dayes of his fleſh did all according to the Commandement his Father gave him, he ſought not his owne but his Fathers honour. Thus he in whom Chriſt lives, makes Gods word the rule that guides him, he ſeekes God and not himſelfe, he purifieth himſelfe as Christ is pure, and ſtrives what in him lies, that he may approve himſelfe to God by walking humbly and holily with God.
2. By mans invincibleneſſe. He that hath Chriſt living in him is very victorious, even as Chriſt is victorious,2. Invinciblenes Chriſt is his life, and as Chriſt is invincible, ſo is the life of Chriſt in them that are his, ſinne and Satan may now and then foile them, but can never extinguiſh the life of grace in them; becauſe Chriſt who liveth in them is ſtronger then all that doth oppoſe them.1 Iohn 4.4. Ye are of God (ſaith Saint John) endowed with the life of God, and have overcome, becauſe greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world Chriſt living in his children, is greater then Satan who lives in carnall men, and therefore they are invincible.1 Iohn 5.18. We know (ſaith the ſame Apoſtle) that whoſoever is borne of God ſinneth not, is not under the power of ſinne, gives no allowance to ſinne, makes not a trade of ſinne; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himſelfe, and that wicked one toucheth him not, he keepeth himſelfe; that which is proper unto God, is transferred to the children of God, and they are ſaid to keep themſelves who indeed are kept of God, being kept (as Saint Peter ſaith) through the power of God unto ſalvation, having Chriſt living in them, the whole armour of God put upon them, the gifts of the Spirit communicated to them, giving themſelves to the ſtudy and practiſe of godlineſſe, and being frequent and fervent in holy and humble ſupplication unto God, they are kept that the evill one doth not touch them, his temptations are reſiſted, he cannot extinguiſh the life of Chriſt in them, in all aſſaults, afflictions, temptations, and tryals, they are more then Conquerours through Chriſt loving them, and living in them;Rom. 8.37. Chriſt ſuſtaines them in the deluge of affliction, as the Arke ſuſtained Noah in the deluge of waters: And though they ſometimes ſlip through the infirmity of the fleſh, yet they grieve under the burthen of their corruption, they are diſpleaſed with themſelves, they depart not from the feare of the Lord, they recover and revive, they prevaile as Joſhuah over the Amalekites, they grow ſtronger and ſtronger like the houſe of David, they goe forward like Iſrael in the way to Canaan, from ſtrength to ſtrength, untill they appeare before the Lord in Sion, they ſhine more and more, like the light unto the day of perfection; The longer Chriſt liveth in them, the more perfection of life is miniſtred to them.
3. Preſervation from ſinne and the world.3. By mans preſerving and keeping himſelfe from ſin, and from the world. Life preſerves the body from putrefaction, when the life is gone the body putrifies and rots; but whiles life is ſtrong and vigorous in the body, the body is freſh and comely; Man without Chriſt doth putrifie and rot in ſinne, he growes worſe and worſe; Rom. 6. Gal. 5.but Chriſt living in man, he is preſerved from ſinne, ſinne doth not reigne over him; they that are Chriſts have crucified the fleſh with the affections and duſts, their ſoules are purified by Chriſt as the gold by the refiners fire, and the cloath by the Fullers ſoape; they are kept by Chriſt as the Garden by the dreſſer, as the houſe by the dweller; they are purged from ſinne as the aire is purged from clouds and vapors by the wind and Sun; they are waſhed and ſanctified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor. 6.and by the Spirit of our God. Chriſt communicates ſpirituall health, and heavenly beauty to their ſoules, he purifies them to be a peculiar people to himſelfe, he makes them ſhine as lights, he will not ſuffer ſinne to remaine like a mortall wound or loathſome ulcer upon them; but he miniſters ſpirituall healing to them by the wings of his ordinances outwardly, and of his grace inwardly. Secondly, they in whom Chriſt lives are preſerved from the world; life inables man to lift up his body from the earth, to tread upon it with his foot; they in whom Chriſt lives have their converſation in Heaven, they mind the things which are above, where Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God, they firſt ſeeke the kingdome of God, and the righteouſneſſe thereof: This is the fountaine after whoſe waters they thirſt, the Sunne in whoſe light they rejoyce, the treaſure with which they deſire to be enriched, the thing which they deſire ſuites with the quality and nature of their life; Chriſt living in them, they chiefly deſire the things of Chriſt, their hearts and thoughts are taken off from the world, they prize it as a thing which is not, they undervalue it as dung and droſſe in compariſon of Chriſt, and the things of Chriſt; and they uſe it as if they uſed it not, Like Gideons three hundred men, they lap a little, but bow not downe to theſe waters; Chriſt doth marvellouſly innoble their diſpoſition in whom he lives, he will not ſuffer them to be carnally affected, nor worldly minded. The world is crucified to that man in whom Chriſt liveth.
4 Expulſion of what is contrary to Chriſt.4. By mans oppugning and expelling out of himſelfe whatſoever is contrary to Chriſt. It is the property of life to expell what is contrary to it, whatſoever doth oppoſe or prejudice it: The life of nature labours to the utmoſt the expulſion of diſeaſes tending to the diſſolution of nature, and the life of grace, or Chriſt living in man expels what is contrary to Chriſt, and to the life and worke of grace. Such a man is ſicke of the leaſt ſinne, he complaines of it, he ſtrives againſt it, the Law of his mind ſtrives againſt the Law of his members; as Jacob ſtrove againſt Eſau: ſo doth the ſpirituall part in him ſtrive againſt the carnall and fleſhly part; and as the living fountaine ſtrives againſt, and works out the mud which fals into it, ſo doth he that hath Chriſt living in him, worke out the vaine thoughts which fall into his mind, and the carnall luſts which riſe in his ſoule, and is never at reſt untill he hath cleared himſelfe of them; as Sarah was at no reſt untill ſhe had freed her houſe of the bond-woman, and her ſonne. Nothing is ſo diſpleaſing to him that lives the life of grace as that which diſpleaſeth Chriſt, his choiſeſt care is to keep his heart a cleane houſe for Chriſt to dwell in, and to make his ſoule the plenary poſſeſſion of Chriſt, that Chriſt may dwell and reigne alone there; he allowes himſelfe in no ſinne, as a chaſte wife allowes of no ſtrange lover in her heart; his ſoule is entire with Chriſt, hating what Chriſt hateth, loving what Chriſt loveth, expelling daily more and more whatſoever doth oppoſe Chriſts kingdome within him; he is as impatient of ſinne in his ſoule, as of a moate in his eye, as a loyall Subject of a traitor in his houſe, as a King of a forraine enemy in his Kingdome. If ſinne doe but once beginne to ſhew it ſelfe, he raiſeth all his forces to drive it out, and is at no peace untill he hath emptied himſelfe thereof.
5 Imbracemēt of what ſuites with Chriſt.5. By mans aſſuming and taking to himſelfe that which is moſt ſutable, and beſt agreeing with Christ. Every life drawes unto it ſelfe that which is moſt ſutable, and moſt agreeable thereunto, on that it feeds, with that it is maintained, and therein it delights. Thus he that hath Chriſt living in him takes unto himſelfe that which ſuites and agrees with Chriſt, in this he delights, on this his ſoule feeds: As his life is a ſpirituall life, ſo he drawes to himſelfe ſpirituall food, and exerciſeth himſelfe in ſpirituall duties; he deſires like a new borne babe the ſincere milke of the word, as his food, and to dwell in the houſe of the Lord, as in the banquetting houſe of his ſoule, where the ordinances of God are unto him, as a feaſt of marrow and of fat things, and of wines well refined upon the Lees: Nothing ſo fits and ſuites with the ſoule where Chriſt lives, as the word, and other ordinances of Chriſt; therefore ſuch men deſire this as their appointed food, pant after this as the chaſed Hart after the water-brooks, and long for it as the dry ground doth thirſt for waters: This is the food which maintaines the life of grace in their ſoules; this is that wherein their life delights it ſelfe as in its proper element; this is ſweeter then the honey or the honey-combe; this is better then thouſands of gold and ſilver; he hides it in his heart as good ſeed in good ground; he ſuffers it to worke upon him, as fire upon the mettall, purifying him, and working a gracious change within him; he exerciſeth himſelfe in duties of godlineſſe, he takes upon him Chriſts yoake, applies himſelfe to Chriſts precept, walks in all the ordinances of Chriſt; he lives not to himſelfe, but to the Lord; he delights himſelfe in the meditation of Chriſt; the doing of Chriſts will is his meat and drinke, and thus drawing to himſelfe what is moſt ſutable and agreeable, moſt pleaſant and delightfull unto Chriſt, he makes it manifeſt that he lives by Chriſt living in him.
6 Thriving by ordinances.6. By mans feeding, nouriſhing, and ſtrengthening himſelfe by the ordinances of Chriſt. The living man in whom is life and health doth not onelyonly eat, but gathers ſtrength by his eating: The man in whom Chriſt lives, doth not onelyonly uſe the meanes of grace, but is perfected in grace by them: Many there are who are frequent in the uſe of Gods ordinances, and yet for want of ſpirituall life, and an inward gracious digeſtive faculty, they are as a man in an Atrophy, that eats much, and yet is leane and meager, as if he had eat nothing; Like the leane Kine in Pharaohs dreame, that eat up the fat, and yet were as leane and ill-favoured, as if they had not eaten at all, of whom Saint Paul ſaith, they are alwayes learning, 2 Tim. 3.7.and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth; but they in whom Chriſt lives, doe thrive by uſe of Gods ordinances;2 Pet. 3 18. they grow in grace, as a childe by the mothers milke, as a field by the dew; they increaſe in knowledge, as a Scholler in learning; they waxe ſtrong in ſaith, as a Tree in roots;Rom 15.14. they grow fervent in love, as a fire in heate by the multiplication of wood; they abound and are full of goodneſſe, as a Tree planted by the waters ſide, is greene and flouriſhing, and full of fruit; and this is a comfortable argument and evidence of Chriſt living in us, when we thrive by the meanes of grace, and are filled with all thoſe fruits of righteouſneſſe which are to the praiſe and glory of God in the day of Chriſt Jeſus.
7. By the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt to the ſoule of man. 7 Sweetneſſe of Chriſt to ſoule.Life is ſweet to the living, Chriſt is more ſweet to them in whom he lives; honours are ſweet to the ambitious, pleaſures to the voluptuous, and wealth to the covetous;Cant. 2.3. but Chriſt ſurpaſſeth all ſweetneſſe to them that are true Chriſtians: As the Apple tree among the trees of the wood (ſaith the Spouſe) ſo is my Beloved among the ſonnes; I ſate downe under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſt. All the fruits of Chriſts Prophecye, Prieſthood, and Kingdome, his death, reſurrection, and all the benefits of them communicated to the Spouſe by the Goſpell, on which ſhe feedeth by faith, to the revivement and refreſhing of her ſoule, are very ſweet unto her. Chriſt is all ſweetneſſe to true beleevers; the knoweledge of Chriſt is ſweet to their underſtandings, as the light is ſweet unto the eye; the meditation of Chriſt is ſweet to their imagination, as the meditation of the husband is ſweet unto the wife; the love of Chriſt is ſweet unto their ſoules, as the wine is ſweet unto the palate: The word of Chriſt is ſweet unto their eares, as a joyfull ſound, his mouth is ſweet and altogether lovely: Cant 5.16.The preſence of Chriſt is ſweet unto them, as the preſence of the bridegroome unto the bride: The Spouſe affirmes of him,Cant. 5.13. that his cheekes are as a bed of spices, as ſweet flowers, and his lips like Lillies dropping ſweet myrrh, declaring the ſurpaſſing ſweetneſſe, which beleeving and holy ſoules doe find in Chriſts manifeſtation of himſelfe, and in the gifts and comforts which he communicates to them by the Goſpell. The more cleare and ſtrong, ſweet and comfortable apprehenſions we have of Chriſt, the greater is our aſſurance of Chriſts living in us.
8. Heavenly heate.8. By the ſpirituall warmth and heavenly heate which man hath within him. Heate is an evidence of life, Chriſt warmes the ſoule where he lives; they that have Chriſt living in them, are not like David in another caſe, having many cloathes and no heate, much meanes of grace and no ſpirituall warmth; they are not like Hoſeah's Cake halfe baked, nor like the Laodicean Angell neither hot nor cold; but as the fleſh of the Shunamites childe waxed warme when the Prophet ſpread himſelfe upon him:2 King 4. Thus their hearts in whom Chriſt liveth are heated, and warmed by the labour of the Prophet, by the Miniſters opening and applying the word of life unto them,Luke 24.321 Ier. 20.9. Mat. 3.11. their hearts burne within them, with indignation againſt ſinne, with love to God, and with zeale for God: The word is like fire in their bones, the whole man is ſet in a holy flame, they are baptized with the Holy-Ghoſt and with fire: The Holy-Ghoſt like fire enlightening and purging their ſoules, and warming them with holy and fervent love, making them fervent in prayer, and burning in ſpirit ſerving the Lord. All the duties they performe have a ſacred fire mixed with them, a holy heate put into them, as the ſacrifice under the Law was off…red up with fire: Thus their whole ſervice is no dead carkaſſe without fire, but a burnt offering unto the Lord, they doe all in love to God, and in zeale for God; holy men like Eliah, in their hearing, prayer, meditation, are carried in a fiery chariot; their religious exerciſes kindle a fire in them, which burnes up their corruption like ſtubble, purifies their ſoules like ſilver, and puts their heart into a very ſweet and gracious temper; lukewarmneſſe is farre from them that are enlivened by Chriſt Jeſus; Mans deadneſſe in the duties of godlineſſe argues mans alienation from the life of Chriſt; Mans zeale for Chriſt is proportionable to the meaſure of life received from Chriſt; he doth in vaine aſſume the name of a Chriſtian, who joynes not zeale to his profeſſion: For as to him that deſired to know what manner of man Baſill was, there was preſented in a dreame a pillar of fire, with this Motto, talis est Baſilius, ſuch a one is Baſill, and ſuch in deed in ſome meaſure may be the Motto of every true Chriſtian, becauſe he that is enlivened by Chriſt, and hath his whole dependance upon Chriſt, and graciouſly filled by Chriſts miniſtrations, he muſt of neceſſity have his thoughts taken up with Chriſt, and his heart burning with zeale for Chriſt.
9. By the price which man doth put upon Chriſt. 9. Chriſt prized. Iob ….4. 2 Sam. 18.Life is valued at a high rate, above all the reſidue of mans temporall poſſeſſions: The Devill could ſay, skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life. Chriſt to them, in whom he lives, is more deare then temporall life; he is the choiſeſt of all their poſſeſſions; as the people eſteemed David, ſo they eſteeme Chriſt better then all their thouſands, whether honours, riches, liberty, life, or whatſoever elſe; he is to them in reſpect of all things elſe, as the Apple Tree among the Trees of the wood, as the Prince among the beggars, as the Sunne among the gloe-wormes, as the jewell among the droſſe: Man that hath Chriſt living in him, ſo prizeth him, that he will ſell all to enjoy him, as the Merchant did for the precious pearle, he will leave all to keep communion with him, as the bride to keep her fellowſhip with the bridegroome; Chriſt is to his apprehenſion the faireſt of ten thouſand, the Paradiſe wherein he is delighted, the crowne with which he is honoured, and the fountaine in whom his ſoule finds all ſatisfaction.
10. By mans care to keepe Chriſt. 10 Care to keep Chriſt.Man is very carefull to preſerve his life, he contendeth much to maintaine this, he will part with any thing rather then with his life. In like manner, a man that hath Chriſt living in him is very carefull to keep Chriſt; he will endure any hardneſſe rather th…n be deprived of Chriſt; he will loſe his goods, his credit, his liberty, and his life rather then loſe Chriſt; becauſe Chriſt is the life of his life, Chriſt is the rocke on whom he builds, the root by whom he lives, the royall Roabe with which he is cloathed, the precious pearle in which lies all his riches, the Paradiſe wherein grow all his comforts, the friend in whom he chiefly delighteth, and the husband with whom his ſoule is joyned in everlaſting wedlocke; and therefore his greateſt care is to keep Chriſt, he layes hold on Chriſt, as the woman of Shunem upon the Prophet, and will not be thruſt away, as Joah on the Hornes of the Altar, and will rather dye then leave his holdfaſt on Chriſt; he reſolves to be with Chriſt, as Ittai with David, whether in life or in death, whatſoever be his eſtate: Nothing is ſweet and deare to him as Chriſt is, and therefore ſtrives by prayer, hearing, conference, meditation, holy and humble walking, and the uſe of all holy meanes to keep Chriſt, neither loſſe nor gaine, threatnings nor perſwaſions,Rom. 8.38. peace nor trouble, life nor death, can worke him to a deſertion of Chriſt. And in theſe particulars as in ſo many lively characters may we diſcerne the living of Chriſt in us.