Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 3

Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ · Chapter 3

p. 302CHAP. III. Setting open the dolefulneſſe and danger of Mans eſtate without Chriſt.

Dolefulneſſe and danger of carnall mans eſtate.MAns Alienation and eſtrangement from Chriſt, declares and layes open the miſery and wretchedneſſe, the danger and dolefulneſſe of mans eſtate and condition by nature, a condition in which he is without Chriſt, and to be without the Lord Jeſus is the miſery of all miſeries. It is not the man that is without the crowne of worldly dignities to honour him, without the treaſury of earthly abundance to enrich him, without the ſenſuall and ſeeming paradiſe of carnall pleaſures to delight him, or without the preſence and countenance of fleſhly friends to ſolace him, but it is the man that is without Chriſt, who is of all men the moſt miſerable. The eſtate of Iſrael without the Arke was very uncomfortable, their ff1 Sam. 4.22.1 Sam 4:22glory was departed, the wife of Phineas tooke no comfort in the birth of a ſonne, the ordinary joy of Mothers: The condition of man without Chriſt is very dolefull, his glory is departed from him, all that man hath, not having Chriſt with it, is but an Ichobod, there is no glory in it: For man that is without Chriſt, is,

1. Without Life. The woman of gg2 King. 4.2 Kgs 4Shunems ſonne was without life, untill the Prophet came, and ſpread himſelfe upon him. Man is without the life of grace, alienated from the life of God, hhCol. 3.Col 3untill Chriſt comes and applyes himſelfe to the ſoule of man: For Chriſt is our Life. Declaratively he reveales it, meritoriouſly he hath purchaſed it, originally and efficiently he communicates it, as the head communicates life unto the members. Chriſt Jeſus is the diſpencer of the life of grace and glory to all Gods faithfull ſervants; and ii1 Iohn 5.12.1 John 5:12he that hath not the Sonne hath not life, ſaith Saint John: He that hath not the Sonne by cleare and ſaving knowledge, as the eye hath the Sun in the Firmament, enlightening and guiding by true p. 303and lively Faith, as the living branch hath the Vine by incorporation into it, by receiving juice and nouriſhment from it, by fervent and unfained Love, as the wife hath the husband by wedlocke with him, by matrimoniall affection to him, and by holy and humble ſubiection, as the Subject hath the King, by vailing and bowing to him: He who thus hath not the Sonne, he hath not life, his ſoule is not ſpiritually quickned, Chriſt not living in him, ſpirituall death beares dominion over him. He is kkEph. 2 1.Eph 2:1dead (ſaith S. Paul) in ſins and treſpaſſes: A Tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots, according to Saint Jude. Every man is a ſinfull dead man that hath not Chriſt graciouſly enlivening him, and this is a great miſery,Unhappineſſes of this eſtate. a condition of manifold diſcomforts, an eſtate of great unhappineſſe; the dead according to the fleſh, ſees nothing of all that ſweet and glorious light which the Sun caſteth forth upon him; the dead in ſinne hath no comfortable apprehenſion of Chriſt ſhining in the Goſpell more gloriouſly then the Sunne;2 Cor 4.3.2 Cor 4:3 Chriſt in the Goſpell is altogether hidden from them that have not Chriſt living in them:llE…el. 9.5. The dead (ſaith Salomon) know not any thing: The dead in ſinne know not any thing of the wiſedome of Chriſt guiding them, of the death of Chriſt mortifying their luſts, of the reſurrection of Chriſt quickning their ſoules, of the dominion of Chriſt reigning in their hearts, of the holineſſe of Chriſt ſanctifying their affections, nor of the fulneſſe of Chriſt ſatisfying their deſires. Prophane perſons are altogether empty of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus: In death (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) there is no remembrance of thee, in the grave who ſhall give thee thanks: Under the death and in the grave of ſinne,mmPſal. 6.5.Ps 6:5 there is no remembrance of Chriſt, he is not in all their thoughts, they thinke not upon him, as the traveller upon the guide leading them, as the rich man upon the treaſure enriching them, as the Bride upon the Bridegroome marrying them. Chriſt with carnall perſons, like David among his carnall acquaintance, is nnPſal. 31.12.Ps 31:12forgotten as a dead man out of minde, and like a broken veſſell. Can a maid, ſaith the Lord, forget her Ornaments, or a Bride her attire, yet my people have ooIer. 2.32.Jer 2:32forgotten me dayes without number. Chriſt the ornament and attire of the ſoule of man is p. 304forgotten by carnall people, as dead men are unmindfull of their apparell. 3. The dead are unſenſible of all diſeaſes, they have no feeling of any burthens; Man alienated from Chriſt and the life of God is paſt ppEph. 4.10.Eph 4:10feeling, he feeles not his ſinne, as a heavy burden oppreſſing him; he feeles not Satan, as an enemy buffeting him, as a Tyrant moleſting and captivating him; his conſcience, as a witneſſe accuſing, and a Judge condemning him, it is qq1 Tim. 4.2.1 Tim 4:2ſeared with a hot iron. Mans unſenſibleneſſe of his owne wretchedneſſe argues his unhappy and great eſtrangement from Chriſt Jeſus. 4. The body ſeparated from the ſoule is an unprofitable lump, a loathſome carkaſſe; the ſoule ſeparated from Chriſt is an unfruitfull branch ſeparated from the Vine, an unprofitable member rent from the body, a loathſome object in Gods ſight, uncleane, rrPſal. 141.1, 3.Ps 141:1Ps 141:3corrupt, abominable, and doing no good, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes. The whole man ſeparate from Chriſt Jeſus, is a veſſell full of all uncleanneſſe; his beſt ſervice like the ſavour of a dead man is unſavoury in Gods noſtrils. 5. The dead is uncapable of the food ſet before him, his body fals to the ground, cleaves unto the earth, and reſolveth into duſt. Man that hath not Chriſt living in him, is uncapable of the meanes of grace, his ſoules food,Gen. 41.Gen 41 he thrives not by the miniſtery of the word, his ſoule is leane and ill-favoured ſtill; like Pharaohs leane Kine after their eating of the fat; the Quailes choaked the Iſraelites, they proved not a nouriſhing, but a deſtroying food unto them. The word proves the ſavour of death unto ſſ2 Cor 2.14.2 Cor 2:14death, to him that is ſeparated from the Lord of Life. All that are without Chriſt are fallen from God unto the world, they minde onelyonly ttPhil. 3.19.Phil 3:19earthly things, they reſolve into the very duſt, they are buried under the world, as a dead man under the earth. The World hath the full poſſeſſion of them, the ſole Lordſhip over them, nothing but the World ſuites with them, nothing but the earth is ſavoury to them. 6. The body without the ſoule moves not, walks not: Man without Chriſt hath no motion, no inclination unto God,Iohn 11.John 11 makes no progreſſe in the way to life. Lazarus moved not, walked not untill Chriſt raiſed him: Man moves not in the way towards God and Heaven untill Chriſt gives him p. 305part in the firſt Reſurrection: Man in the ſtate of corruption, like Iſrael in the Prophet is bent unto uuHoſ. 7.11.Hos 7:11backeſliding; Mans continuance in ſinne increaſeth his eſtrangement from God. The longer man lives in the ſtate of corruption, the farther he removes from Heaven, the greater is the diſtance between him and ſalvation. Laſtly, in a word, a dead man is offenſive to the houſe where he is, hath no communion with the living, hath loſt all his dignity and priviledges which he enjoyed in his life time, can doe nothing for his owne defence, but is expoſed to the foot to tread upon him, to the fowles of the aire to devoure him. Thus the carnall man that is without Chriſt, is an offence to them that live the life of grace, hath no ſpirituall communion with Gods children, is eſtranged from all the Prerogatives and dignities belonging to the living members of Chriſt, unable to doe any thing in defence of himſelfe againſt the adverſaries of his ſoule, being expoſed and laid open as a very prey to Satan: And thus mans Alienation from the life of grace and holineſſe ſhewes his great miſery in being eſtranged from Chriſt Jeſus.

2. Man that is without Chriſt, is without Light. He that is without the Sunne is in darkneſſe: He that is without the Sun of Righteouſneſſe is in darkneſſe and the ſhadow of death: There is no oyle of ſaving knowledge, no Starre of ſpirituall Light ſhining in the houſe and region of his ſoule:wwIohn 16 3.John 16:3 Of ſuch our Saviour ſaith, they have not knowne the Father nor me: They have not knowne the Father as a ſpirituall Parent regenerating them, as a heavenly King reigning and ruling within them, as a gracious dweller, poſſeſſing, furniſhing, and adorning their ſoules with his gifts and graces, as a dweller poſſeſſeth and furniſheth his houſe: They have not known the Father in his Word, adoring him according to his preſcription; in his Sacrament, as the Maſter of a feaſt in his banqueting houſe, feaſting and feeding them; in his precepts as a Lord and Maſter fearing him nor in his promiſes as a ſure and faithfull friend reſting and relying upon him; Neither have they knowne me; they have not knowne me in my natures as God and Man in one Perſon; in my Offices, as their Prophet inſtructing them; as their Prieſt, offering my ſelfe a ſacrifice p. 306for them; as their King, bearing ſpirituall dominion within them; as their Mediator, bringing them night to God, making reconciliation between them and God; they have not knowne me in my ſufferings, being crucified together with me; in my exaltations being planted with the likenes of my Reſurrection; in my communications, being filled with my fulneſſe, ſolaced with my comforts, and revived and cheered up with my bleſſed preſence; very miſerable is the carnall mans ignorance of God and Chriſt Jeſus. Therefore ſtiled xxEph. 5.8.Eph 5:8darkeneſſe, not darke, but darkeneſſe: it ſelfe. Ye were once darkeneſſe, univerſally darke, wholly darke, having no mixture, or glimpſe of ſpirituall light. Very ſad and ſorrowfull is that ſoules darkeneſſe which is eſtranged from the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe.

3. Man that is without Chriſt is without grace; without holineſſe. Naaman without Jordan was overſpread with a lothſome leproſie;2 Kin 5.2 Kgs 5 there is a very filthy leproſie of uncleanneſſe upon them that partake not of Chriſt: For Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſaith, is our yy1 Cor. 1.30.1 Cor 1:30Sanctification effectively, as the worker of it, originally as the head and ſpring from whence it is derived, without whom our ſoules are as empty of grace as the ciſterne of water without the fountaine; as full of errour, ſuperſtition, pride and prophaneneſſe as Baals houſe of Idolaters, as full of earthly mindedneſſe, and covetous practiſes, as the ſluggards field of thornes and bryars, as full of hypocriſie, deceitfulneſſe, and unrighteouſneſſe, as the Phariſees Sepulchers of dead mens bones, or the Temple of money-changers before Chriſt whipt them out. Our ſoules are indeed a very ſinke of uncleanneſſe untill Chriſt doth poſſeſſe us.

4. Man that is without Chriſt is without Liberty: Peter without the Angell continued in Herods priſon, without the Lord Jeſus man remaines the priſoner of Satan, the world, and his owne corrupt affections Every unregenerate man is a miſerable bond-man, led away captive at the will of Satan, unable to make any reſiſtance againſt him, a voluntary ſlave refuſing liberty tendred to him, loving darkeneſſe more then light, and Satans priſon better then Chriſts Palace; having p. 307no liberty in his underſtanding to diſcerne the things of God, in his imagination to meditate and thinke upon them, in his will to chuſe them, or in his affections to love, prize and delight himſelfe in them: The Liberty of the ſoule eſtranged from Chriſt Jeſus is nothing elſe but bondage. He that is moſt free to ſinne is the greateſt ſlave to Satan; where Chriſt is not, there is no Life quickning, there is no Sunne enlightening, there is no Conquerour diſſolving the holds of Satan, there is no dew ſuppling and ſoftening the hard and fallow ground of mans heart. There is no fire warming the cold and frozen affections, and therefore no liberty from corruption, no inclination to the wayes and works of ſanctification. It is only Chriſt Jeſus that miniſters to the ſoules of Gods ſervants freedome from uncleanneſſe, and liberty to true holineſſe.

5. Man that is without Chriſt is without acceptation with God. Chriſt is Gods beloved, in whom man is accepted; Man that is out of Chriſt, beares not Gods Image, is not Gods gracious workmanſhip, is eſtranged from Gods Covenant, hath no love of God within him; is the ſlave of Satan, the ſervant of the world, and a very ſinke of corruption. He is no Tree of Righteouſneſſe of Gods planting, no childe of Gods begetting, no loyall Subject of Gods Kingdome, no veſſell of Gods gracious filling, no partaker of Chriſts Righteouſneſſe to cloath and cover him; he brings forth no fruit to God, but all to himſelfe, to the fleſh, and to the world, and therefore can have no aceptation with God. Joſeph his brethren might not looke him in the face, unleſſe they brought their brother Benjamin with them; Man cannot looke God in the face with my confidence, or acceptance, unleſſe he bring Chriſt with him in the armes of his faith; Mans perſon and ſervice finds acceptance with God only in and through Chriſt Jeſus; without Chriſt man is ſtubble, and God a conſuming fire to deſtroy him; Man is a guilty malefactor, and God a ſevere Judge to condemne him; the whole of man without Chriſt Jeſus is a very abomination in Gods preſence.

6. Man that is without Chriſt is without Contentation. In Chriſt the ſoule meets with all ſatisfaction and fulneſſe. He is a p. 308Sun in whom the beleeving ſoule beholds all fulneſſe of light, a precious Iewell in whom he finds all fulneſſe of worth, a rocke in whom he feeles all fulneſſe of ſtrength, a fountaine from whom he drawes all fulneſſe of ſatisfaction, and a Paradiſe in whom he enjoyes all fulneſſe of pleaſures; but without Chriſt the ſoule finds vanity and emptineſſe in the greateſt abundance; the wife findeth an emptineſſe in a rich and full houſe, the husband being abſent, Chriſt wanting, the ſoule meets with vanity in the largeſt poſſeſſion. Chriſt is the marrow and the f…tneſſe, the fulneſſe and the ſweetneſſe of all our endowments, ſeparate Chriſt from them, and they are bitter, and doe not pleaſe us; weake and doe not ſuſtaine us; empty and doe not fill us; dumbe and doe not comfort us. It is not the abundance of any thing, but Chriſt comming with it, that gives contentation whether the thing be much or little. Without Chriſt the deſire is enlarged as hell, and never ſatisfied; the Lord Jeſus is the choiſe and onelyonly fulneſſe of all Chriſtians.

7. Man without Chriſt is without all ſpirituall splendor and beauty. The Sunne is the glory of the world; the eye is the glory of the head; the ſoule of the body; the jewell is the glory of the Ring; the Flowers, Herbs, Trees and Fruit, are the glory of the Garden and the Field; the Arke was the glory of Iſrael, and Chriſt is the glory of the Chriſtian; ſtiled the yyLuk 2.32.Luke 2:32light of the Gentiles, and the glory of Iſrael, being both the Author and the matter of their glory. Their glory in reſpect of instruction, as the teacher is the glory of the Schoole; in reſpect of vivification, as the ſoule is the glory of the body; in reſpect of Redemption, as the ranſomer is the glory of the captive; in reſpect of Conqueſt, as David was the glory of Iſrael, overcomming the great Goliah; in reſpect of Juſtification, as the garment is the glory of him that weares it; in reſpect of Sanctification, as Jordan was the glory of Naaman, cleanſing him from his leproſie; in reſpect of repletion, as the fountaine is the glory of the ciſterne; and in reſpect of wiſe and powerfull gubernation, gracious and plentifull miniſtration, as the King is the glory of the Kingdome, the ſhepheard of the flocke; and as Joſeph was the glory of the Land of Egypt, miniſtring p. 309proviſion to it: He that partakes moſt of Chriſt Jeſus, is the moſt beautifull and glorious of all others; but man without Chriſt is without all ſpirituall beauty, in regard of ignorance, as a darke houſe without light, even zzEph. 5.8.Eph 5:8darkeneſſe it ſelfe; in regard of nakedneſſe, as a man without a garment, aaRev. 3.17.Rev 3:17naked, miſerable and wretched, having no other cloathing then a menſtrous clout to cover him, led by Satan like Egypt by the Aſſyrians, naked, bbIſa. 20.4.Isa 20:4barefoot, his buttockes, yea the whole man uncovered; in regard of ſpirituall contagion and foul-ſicknes, his ſoule like the body of Lazarus full of ſores,Luk. 16.Luke 16 or like the body of Job full of ſore boiles, from the ſole of his foot unto his crowne; loathſome and incurable are the ſoules-maladies which hath not Chriſt as a Phyſitian to heale him; in regard of the plenitude and fulneſſe of all ſinne, like the ſluggards field (inccProv. 24.…0.Prov 24 Salomon) full of nettles, thornes and bryars, wanting Chriſt the great husband man to manure and dreſſe him, and in regard of the reſidence of Satan in him, as a cage of uncleane birds; in regard of the preſence and inhabitation of loathſome luſts, as a ſepulchre full of dead mens bones; in regard of the dominion of corruption, as a dead man under the power of death, in whom is no beauty left; and in regard of the ſordidneſſe and baſeneſſe of his practiſe, way and order of his life, as a Sow wallowing in the mire; fowle and ſhamefull, horrid and loathſome is mans uncomelineſſe without Chriſt: The greateſt ſinner is the fowleſt monſter; bodily beauty without Chriſt is but greene graſſe upon a rotten grave, or a faire garment upon a leprous backe. Did man ſee his uncomelineſſe and deformity without Chriſt, he would ſtile himſelfe as the Prophet ſtiled Paſhur, ddIer. 20.4.Jer 20:4Magor-miſſabib, feare round about, every way a terrour to himſelfe.

8. Man without Chriſt is without honour. He is no Sonne of God, but one of Satans ſpurious brood; no Free man, but a ſlave to Satan and his owne corruption; no Spouſe of Chriſt, but a ſpirituall harlot committing fornication with the world; no Conquerour, but a captive led away by divers luſts; no friend nor favourite of God, but an alien and enemy in Gods account, likened to the dung and the droſſe, the chaffe and ſtubble; for their emptineſſe, baſeneſſe, and vileneſſe in the ſight p. 310of God, being baſe in their corrupt originall; In their carnall diſpoſition, baſe in their eeIer. 4.22.Jer 4:22underſtandings, wiſe onelyonly to doe evill; baſe in their wils, chuſing the evill and refuſing the good; baſe in their ffPhil. 3.21.Phil 3:21imaginations, minding onelyonly low things; baſe in their feare, truſt, love, ioy, fearing where no feare is, fearing man that ſhall ggIſa. 51.12.Isa 51:12dye, and the ſonne of man which ſhall be made as graſſe, truſting in an arme of fleſh, leaning upon a withered reed, loving and ſetting his eyes on that which is not, and rejoycing in a thing of nought, and baſe in all their intendments; the ſatisfying of the luſts of the fleſh are the higheſt marke, to which they levell the arrowes of all their endeavours. The whole way and practiſe of man without Chriſt Jeſus, ſavours of nothing but baſeneſſe: He that hath not Chriſt to innoble him is moſt ignoble in his inward diſpoſition, in his outward condition, in all his undertaking: We may ſay of them, as Job did of ſome of his time: They are hhIob 30.8.Job 30:8children of fooles, yea children of baſe men, they are viler then earth. He that is the greateſt ſtranger to Chriſt Ieſus, is the moſt baſe of all creatures.

9. Man without Chriſt is without peace. Chriſt is the Prince of iiIſa 9.6.Isa 9:6peace, his Subjects are the onelyonly Subjects of peace. God is in none, but in Chriſt, kk2 Cor 5 19.2 Cor 5:19reconciling the world unto himſelfe. Joſephs brethren found favour with Pharaoh onelyonly through Joſeph; Chriſt alone is the Authour of reconciliation between God and man, peace is llAct. 10.36.Acts 10:36preached onelyonly by Chriſt Jeſus. God Miniſters are the inſtruments of peace onelyonly to ſuch perſons as embrace the Lord Ieſus, and Chriſt (ſaith the Apoſtle) is our mmEph. 2.14.Eph 2:14peace, the revealer, the procurer, and the worker of peace in al… the children of peace. Man that is without Chriſt is an enemy to the God of peace, a ſtranger to the Covenant of peace, uncapable of the word of peace, an alien to the way of peace, and full of ſinne, the maine impediment of peace, to him therefore that wants Chriſt there is no peace. No true, no ſpirituall, no heavenly peace, no joy and peace in the Holy-Ghoſt; Sinne is mans trouble, but Chriſt is mans peace; He that is full of ſinne and empty of Chriſt, hath nothing to doe with peace. Joram once asking, is it peace, Jehu? was anſwered, nn2 Kin. 9 22.2 Kgs 9:22What haſt thou to doe with peace ſo long as the whoredomes p. 311of thy mother Iezabel, and her witchcrafts are ſo many. Carnall man asking, Is it peace, O Meſſenger of God? can looke for no other but Jehu's anſwer, what haſt thou to do O carnall man with peace, ſo long as thy luſts are ſo ſtrong within thee, thy fornications with the creature ſo many, and thy eſtrangement from, and rebellions againſt the Prince of peace ſo great: His thoughts of peace are all vile and baſe deluſions, who continues empty of Chriſt, the ſole diſpencer of peace to all beleeving ſoules.

Laſtly, and in a few words, Man without Chriſt is without protection. He hath no ſhield to defend him in the day when Satan makes warre upon him: He hath no helper to reſcue him when the prince of darkeneſſe, the world, and his owne luſts beſiege him. He is without ſupportation, and muſt ſinke like the houſe built upon the ſand, in the houre, when the winds and waves of affliction doe beate upon him. He is without remiſſion, the Law ſtands like the hand writing in Belſhazzars wall againſt him, and fils him with diſmall feare and trembling, his ſinnes are upon him, and he muſt dye in them. He is without bleſſing, all becomes a curſe unto him, all without Chriſt is bitter, like the waters of Marah without the Tree. He is without ſalvation, there is no other name given under heaven whereby he may be ſaved. He that is without Chriſt is a childe without nurſe, his ſoule doth ſtarve; a City without a Watchman, the enemy makes a prey of him; a Ship without a Pilot, his ſoule ſplits upon the rockes of deſperation, when the ſtormy tempeſt of an accuſing conſcience begins to toſſe and ſhake him: He is a ſicke man without a Phyſitian, he dyes in the diſeaſe that is upon him: He is a withered branch without root, prepared fewell for everlaſting burning: Surely mans baſeneſſe, wretchedneſſe, woes and miſeries continuing a ſtranger to Chriſt Jeſus, doe even ſurpaſſe the expreſſion of the tongues of men and Angels. O how are they beyond meaſure ſtupid, blockiſh and ſenceleſſe, who pleaſe and bleſſe themſelves in their impieties, in an eſtate of eſtrangement from Chriſt Ieſus! O how ſhould the meditation of mans miſery without Chriſt ſet his ſoule on worke to get intereſt in Chriſt.