Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Opening the folly of man in retaining his ſinne and contenting himſelfe without Christ.
4. THe meditation of mans eſtrangement from Chriſt in his naturall and corrupt eſtate, opens the exceeding great folly of man in being loath to change his corrupt eſtate, to put off the old man, as unwilling to forſake his carnall condition, as Micah his Idoll, though this ſeparate and keepe him from Chriſt, make him uncapable of Chriſt, exclude him from all claime and title to Chriſt; and this is the folly of all follies to retaine any thing which may exclude man from Chriſt, or hinder mans fruition and enjoyment of Chriſt; he that by retaining his ſin keeps himſelf from Chriſt, abides in darknes and chooſeth darknes rather then light, ſickneſſe rather then health, bondage rather then liberty, famin rather than fulnes, woes and miſeries rather than joyes and comforts, curſes rather than bleſſings, baſenes rather than honour, the leproſie rather then beauty, what ſhall I ſay death rather than life, hell rather than heaven, and evelaſting conſortſhip with the Divell in endleſſe burnings, rather than communion with God and Chriſt in everlaſting rejoycings. Men are eaſily perſwaded to leave ſicknes for health, darknes for light, ſtraw for pearls, thraldome for liberty, the tempeſt for a calme, &c. But men are uneaſily perſwaded to leave their ſin for Chriſt, to deny themſelves, and forſake the world for Chriſt, as Eliſha left his friends and his yoakes of Oxen to follow Elijah. This is a perſwaſion beyond the Rhetorick, Art and Eloquence of man and Angell, yea of Chriſt himſelfe, as he was man and a Miniſter of the Goſpell: for thus may you here him in the dayes of his fleſh expoſtulating and pleading with, reproving and upbraiding the men of Jeruſalem, O Jeruſalem Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them that are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wings, and you would not; and again you may behold him weeping over that City, and ſaying, O that thou hadſt known in this thy day, the things belonging to thy peace, but now they are hidden from thine eyes! And of old alſo may you heare him complayning in the mouth of the Prophet, I have laboured in vaine, I have spent my ſtrength for nought and in vain: None but God can perſwade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Such is mans averſeneſſe from Chriſt, that God alone can worke man into Chriſt: But perhaps ſome will ſay, What is this to us? We are all borne within the pale of Chriſts-Church, we are all baptized into Chriſt, we have all put on Chriſt, therefore no ſuch folly, no ſuch eſtrangement in us and our ſoules from Chriſt?
How man is in Chriſt.To this I anſwer, It is one thing to be in Chriſt by an Eccleſiasticall Generation and birth within the Church: Another thing to be in Chriſt by ſpirituall Regeneration and new-birth, being borne againe of Chriſt; it is one thing to be in Chriſt Sacramentally, by participation of the outward ordinance and element, another thing to be in Chriſt ſpiritually, by participation of the inward grace; it is one thing to be in Chriſt by an outward and formall profeſſion: another thing to be in Chriſt by an internall and gracious incorporation, ſRom. 9.6, 7.They are not all Iſrael, which are of Iſrael, neither becauſe they are the ſeed of Abraham are they all children.
Characters of man being without ChriſtIf you demand therefore how a man may diſcerne his being without Chriſt?
I anſwer, a mans being out of Chriſt may among many be diſcerned by theſe Characters or marks therof.
1 Without the Spirit & grace of Chriſt.1. By being without the Spirit and Grace of Chriſt. He that is without the light of the Sun is without the Sun; If any man (ſaith S. Paul) have not the Spirit of Chriſt he is none of his: He is without Chriſt, he that hath not the Spirit of Chriſt enlightning him, ſavingly to know God, as a childe his father with an affective knowledge; regenerating and endowing him with a child-like affection to God and Chriſt; reviving and quickning him to live to God and Chriſt Jeſus in true holineſſe; incorporating him into Chriſt, and making him partaker of Chriſts fullneſſe: Sanctifying and cleanſing him from his ſin, as the water doth waſh the ſpots from the fleſh; directing and guiding him to walke aright in the waies of God, and to doe the things pleaſing to God, as the hand of the teacher guides the hand of the learner to write according to the copy: He that hath not the Spirit thus working upon him, thus framing and diſpoſing his heart, hath not Chriſt; for he that is in t2 Cor 5.17.Chriſt, as a living member, by ſpirituall union, as a ſon by adoption, he is a new creature, old things are paſſed away, and all things are become new: When Chriſt came into the uIoh. 2, 15.Temple, he purged his Fathers houſe, he overturned the mony-tables, he drove out the buyers and the ſellers. When Chriſt cometh into man, takes his holy habitation in the ſoule of man, he throwes downe the holds of ſinne, he drives out all corrupt and carnall luſts, he purgeth the heart of man and makes it a holy houſe:2 Kin. 5.14. when Naaman put himſelfe into Jordan, his Leproſie departed from him. Man that is put into Chriſt by Faith, is cleanſed from the Leproſie of his ſin; Faith wAct. 15.9.purifieth his heart, and every man that hath this hope x1 Ioh. 3.3.purifieth himſelfe even as Chriſt is pure; 1 Ioh. 16.his thoughts of being in Chriſt Jeſus who remaines under the power of prophaneneſſe are meere deluſions. Reigning ungodlineſſe diſan…ls all communion with Chriſt Jeſus: He that walks not in Chriſt is a ſtranger to Chriſt. Where there is no expreſſion of true and ſaving grace, there is no evidence of being in Chriſt.
2. By being in Subjection under any luſt;2 Subjection under luſts. 2 Kin 4.40. one raigning ſin deſtroyes the life of the ſoule; an evill Herbe made the Prophets pot, a pot of death, one ruling luſt makes the ſoule the Subject of ſpirituall death; the breach of one Covenant forfets the whole Leaſe, allowance of the ſoule in the breach of one Commandement makes forfeture of whole Chriſt.… Sam. 20.1, …. Iam. 2.10. One Sheba blew the Trumpet and drew all Iſrael into Rebellion againſt David: One ruling ſin makes the whole man a Rebell againſt Chriſt: One raigning ſin ſo blinds the underſtanding that it cannot ſavingly diſcerne Chriſt, as one moat ſo blinds the eye that it cannot comfortably behold the Sun▪ one allowed ſin ſo diſtempers the ſoule that it cannot receive any benefit by the ordinances of God; as one ſtrong diſeaſe, ſo diſaffecteth the body, that it fruſtrates the uſe of the food: One ſwaying corruption ſo alienates the heart, that it cannot love Chriſt, as one ſtranger in the boſome of the wife ſo takes up her affection, that ſhe cannot love the husband. One perſon in the houſe ſo keepes the poſſeſſion that another can take no poſſeſſion. One domineering ſin ſo poſſeſſeth the ſoule, that Chriſt hath no poſſeſſion there: One chain diſables the priſoner to come forth and returne to his owne houſe: One fettering and binding luſt holds man faſt in Satans priſon, and diſables him to come to Chriſt, though a woman have but one husband, yet ſhe cannot marry a ſecond untill that husband is dead; the ſoule married, though but to one luſt, cannot marry it ſelfe to Chriſt, untill that luſt is mortified and dead. One covetous luſt in Judas; one inceſtnous luſt in Herod; one ambitious luſt in many of the chiefe Rulers; one worldly luſt in the young-man, was of ſtrength enough, to with-hold each of them from Chriſt, to continue them all without Chriſt; mans thoughts of intereſt in Chriſt remaining under the power of any one luſt are but vaine and idle dreames. He that comes not univerſally from the world, from himſelfe and every ſinfull luſt, never comes truly unto Chriſt. Iſrael came not to Canaan untill they forſooke Aegypt, renounced the ſervice of Pharaoh, ſaw the Aegyptians drowned in the waters, and left not a hoofe in Aegypt behind them. Man cometh not to Chriſt untill he forſakes the world, renounceth the ſervice of Satan, drowns every luſt in the tears of true Repentance, and leaves not a hoof, not one affection of his ſoule behind him, under the juriſdiction and command of the world; the love of the world is enmity with God, the ſervice of any ſin is Rebellion againſt God.
3. Mans confining himſelfe within himſelf3. By mans terminating and confining himſelfe within himſelfe, not going out of himſelfe, nor looking beyond himſelfe to Chriſt, but doing all things for himſelfe and referring all unto himſelfe; That (ſaith our Saviour) which is yIoh. 3.6.of the fleſh is fleſh; he that is altogether fleſhly and hath nothing of Chriſt in him, he is fleſhly in his diſpoſition, in his affection, in his intention, in his undertaking hee minds himſelfe and his owne fleſhly ends and nothing els, he cannot looke beyond himſelfe, his owne fleſh is the circumference within which he moves, and the Center wherin he terminates his motion:Nihil agit ult…a ſuum genus. Nothing in the courſe of Nature works beyond the Spheare of its owne activity, a thorne beares not grapes, a Sparrow begets not an Eagle, the corrupt zMat. 7.17.Tree brings forth corrupt fruit; the waters move no higher in the ciſterne then they are in the fountain: He that is not of Chriſt by a holy and gracious Originall, cannot ſincerely intend Chriſt, but himſelfe in his undertaking; and he that lookes not beyond himſelf, hath nothing of Chriſt within him, he hath no principle, root nor ſpring of grace in his heart. Were he a tree of Chriſts planting, he would bring forth his fruit to Chriſt. Were he a child of Chriſts begetting he would encline and moove towards Chriſt in his affection; he would primarily intend Chriſt in all his doing, as the Rivers comming from the Sea, returne and aEccl 1.4.empty themſelves into the Sea, thus they who are of Chriſt returne and empty themſelves into Chriſt, doe all for Chriſt, for the filling up▪ and making of Chriſt glorious; he that confines himſelfe within himſelf,Evils of ſelfe-intendment. hath no love of Chriſt within him; Jonathans love to David cauſed him to ſtrip himſelfe for David, 1. No love. 1. Sam, 18.1.love to Chriſt will make a man as occaſion requires ſtrip himſelfe of all his honour, favour among men and earthly riches for Chriſt, according to the meaſure of mans love to Chriſt, are his manifeſtations of himſelfe for Chriſt: For love ſeeketh not b1 Cor. 13.5.her owne: He that loves Chriſt will abaſe himſelfe for Chriſt, put himſelfe and all that is his under the feet of Chriſt; he that ſeeks himſelf, that terminates his thoughts within the circumference of his owne fleſh,2 A baſe ſp…rit. hath a very low and baſe ſpirit, Chriſts Spirit which is a Spirit of c2 Tim. 1.7.power, a Spirit of magnanimity and courage, a Spirit of d1 Pet. 4.14.glory, a moſt glorious and excellent Spirit doth not reſt upon him.3. No comfortable diſcerning of God He that minds himſelfe and his owne ends hath no cleare apprehenſion and comfortable diſcerning of Chriſt and his beauties, he that minds ſtraw and ſtubble doth not diſcerne the worth of gold, ſilver and precious ſtones: ſuch a man hath no faith in Chriſt,4. No faith. he takes not Chriſt unto himſelfe to be the rock on which he buildeth, the Councellour by whom he will be guided, the King to whom he will be ſubject, and the husband to whom he joynes his ſoule in wedlocke; he hath not this faith in Chriſt; for as man by faith receiveth Chriſt to ſave him, ſo he gives himſelfe againe to Chriſt to love and ſerve him, to intend and honor Chriſt above himſelf and every creature; and thus man minding and intending himſelfe, demonſtrates his alienation from Chriſt. When man in the doing of workes of mercy blows a Trumpet,Mat 6.2.5. Mat 23.5. ſeekes himſelfe and his owne applauſe among men, and in the performance of the duties of piety, ſtands praying in the corners of the Street, hunts after the praiſe of men;… Sam. 15 30▪ Phil. 2.21. when a man with the Phariſees doth what he doth to be ſeene of men; or with Saul to be honoured before the people. When man in his ordinary and common imployments ſeeks his own things and not the things which are Chriſts, he declares himſelfe to be a ſtranger unto Chriſt.
4. Foure …old fulneſſe.4. By mans fullneſſe of himſelfe. Self-fullneſſe ever inferres an emptineſſe of Chriſt; he that is filled with himſelfe is empty of Chriſt: There is a foure-fold fullneſſe which argues an utter emptineſſe of Chriſt in man.
1 Self-fulnes.1. Self-fullneſſe, which is a high opinion of mans ſelfe, a conceit of ſufficiency in himſelfe; ambitious thoughts of fullneſſe enough at home in the Houſe of mans own heart, which our Saviour termes a eLu. 18.9.truſting in a mans ſelf. Mans leaning upon his owne arme to ſuſtain him, upon his own righteouſneſſe to juſtifie him, upon his owne ability to doe all things for himſelfe; this the Prophet cals a being fIſa. 5.20.wiſe in mans owne eyes; man taking upon him to be his own guide, his owne inſtructor and counſellour; this was an unhappy adjunct of the Laodicaean Angell, gRev. 3.17.rich, full and wanting nothing, not knowing that he was poore, blind, naked, miſerable and wretched. Hee that hath higheſt thoughts of his owne fullneſſe is moſt empty of Chriſt Jeſus, the rich (ſaith Luke) are ſent hLuk. 1.53.empty away; the rich, they who in their owne eye are full of wiſdome to guide themſelves, full of power to correct themſelves, full of righteouſneſſe to juſtifie themſelves, full of worth to obtaine every good thing at the hands of God for themſelves, theſe are ſent empty away, empty of Chriſt, empty of all ſaving knowledge, lively faith, fervent love and of every good gift and bleſſing which commeth by Chriſt: Self-fullneſſe diſables man to diſcerne any beauty or worth in Chriſt: the Phariſees were great ſelf-admirers, very deeply guilty of ſelf-fullneſſe, and they had very low opinions of Chriſt: Self-fullneſſe diſables the ſoule to taſte any ſweetneſſe in Chriſt, The iPro. 27 7.full ſtomacke loatheth the honey combe: This makes man uncapable of Chriſt; the full veſſell is uncapable of other liquor; the man that is full of himſelfe cannot receive Chriſt, there is no roome in their hearts to entertaine Chriſt; Chriſt came among his owne: a generation of men ful… of the thoughts of ſelf-ſufficiency, dreaming of fullneſſe enough at home in themſelves, ignorant and unſenſible of their neceſſity of Chriſt, and therfore they kIoh. ….11.received him not.
2. There is a fullneſſe of ſinne, 2. Fulneſſe of ſin.which argues an emptineſſe of Chriſt, there is no competition betweene the fullneſſe of ſinne and Chriſt in the ſoule of man: If ſin have the poſſeſſion, Chriſt hath no dominion. David did not reigne untill Saul was depoſed, there muſt be a depoſition of ſin, before Chriſt can reigne in the heart of man; there is no ſutableneſſe betweene Chriſt and a heart full of ſin: Chriſt will not dwell in a ſoule ſo ſordid and defiled with ſinne, he abhorres all fellowſhip and communion with uncleane and vicious people; he delights in none, but in them that excell in lPſal. 16.3.vertue; the Sun ſhines not where the houſe is full of darkneſſe; the phyſick works not where the body remaines full of diſeaſes; the Husbandman ſows not, where the field is full of thornes and bryars. Chriſt ſhines not into that ſoule, workes not upon that heart which is full of ignorance, earthlineſſe, infidelity and ſpirituall maladies. Such as are full of ſin, as Naaman was full of leproſie, as duplicate page duplicate page the Phariſees Sepulchers were full of dead mens bones, are farre from Chriſt; it is a thing altogether vaine and fruitleſſe once to mention or name, the m2 Tim. 2.19Name of the Lord Jeſus, unleſſe there be a departure from ungodlineſſe.
3 Fulneſſe of man.3. There is a fullneſſe of man, which argues an emptineſſe of Chriſt. Many are ſo addicted unto man, their hearts and thoughts are ſo taken up with man, that there is no entertainment for Chriſt in them; their ſoules are ſo poſſeſſed by man, that Chriſt hath no poſſeſſion in them: ſome are ſo devoted to the ſervice of man, that they cannot ſerve Chriſt, contrary to the charge of the Apoſtle, They make themſelves the n1 Cor. 7.23 1 Sam. 5.4.ſervants of men; not the civill, but the prophane and ſinfull ſervants of men; they exalt and ſet up man above Chriſt; as the Philistines did ſet Dagon above the Arke, they ſtudy man more then they ſtudy Chriſt, they doe more to ingratiate themſelves into the favour of man, then into the favour of Chriſt, the precepts of men are of more authority with them then the precepts of Chriſt: they accommodate and apply themſelves more to mens luſts then to Chriſts ſervice; they adore and magnifie man more then they adore and magnifie Chriſt; they aboliſh the worſhip of Chriſt, by making mens dictates the rule of their ſervice, as our Saviour himſelfe faith, In oMat. 15.9.vaine doe you worſhip me, teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men; the obſervation of mens inventions, ſubjection to mens dictates in the matter of divine worſhip, is not only vaine and fruitleſſe, but alſo pernicious and dangerous, a very profanation of Chriſts worſhip and ſervice, a ſhamefull abaſement of Chriſt below man, and a ſuperſtitious and idolatrous exaltation of man above Chriſt; a wretched ſeparation of the ſoule from Chriſt and inthralment of man to man; therefore the Apoſtle ſaith of ſuch, That they pCol. 2.18.hold not the head which is Chriſt; they are not ſubject to Chriſt, as the members to the Head; they are not guided by Chriſt, as the members by the head; they doe not exalt and lift up Chriſt, as the members do the head; they are not enlivened, acted and moved by Chriſt, as the members by an influence from the head, but they are ſubiect to ordinances after the commandements and Doctrines of men: mens inthralment of themſelves to mens luſts and inventions, utterly excludes them from Chriſt Jeſus, If I yet pleaſed men (ſaith St. Paul) I ſhould not be the qGal. 1.10.ſervant of Chriſt. If I ſtudied and obſerved men, made my ſelfe obſequious to the luſts of men, did haunt after the favour of men, or did make the wiſdome and invention of men my guide in things ſpirituall, I ſhould not be the ſervant of Chriſt. Chriſt hath no gracious Lordſhip and dominion in the ſouls of ſuch perſons, as are ſuperſtitiouſly devoted to mens inventions.
Some againe are extraordinarily delighted in and taken up with the applauſe of men: All their workes of charity and piety are levelled to this marke, they doe all to be ſeen of men, to be praiſed of men, their rMat. 6.2.Almes, Prayers, Faſtings are as loſt labours, if men doe not obſerve them, if they gaine not the applauſe of men by them; mens praiſes are the firſt mover in all their ſervices, They love the ſIoh. 12.42.praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God, and when man is thus full, thus ſwolne and puffed up with the applauſe of man, thus ambitious of the praiſe of man; there is nothing of Chriſt in man, How tIoh. 5 44.can you beleeve, ſaith Chriſt, how can yee imbrace me, partake of me, ſubject your ſelves to me and quiet and content your ſelves with me, ſatiate and delight your ſelves in me, which receive honour one of another and ſeeke not the honour that cometh from God onelyonly. Hee that is ambitious of the applauſe of man is uncapable of Chriſt; the man that is vaine-glorious is farre from all ſweet and comfortable communion with Chriſt.
Some likewiſe uMat. 16.23.ſavour only the things of men, and not the things of God, the Word and Ordinances of God, the wayes and workes of God, the gifts and communications of God to the ſoules of men, have no ſavour with them: Theſe things are to them as the words of Eliphaz unto Job, wIob 6, 6, 7.Ʋnſavoury things, having no more taſte then the white of an Egg; ſorrowfull meat which their ſoule refuſeth to touch, they taſte no ſweetneſſe, they find no pleaſure in theſe things, they loath and leave them, as the Iſraelites loathed their Manna, and as the full ſtomack doth loath the hony-combe; they ſavour and reliſh onelyonly the things of men, that which is humane, corrupt and carnall, that which hath it's originall and ſpring from the wiſedome of the fleſh, this they ſavour, this ſutes with them, as meat with the palate, as water with the dry ground; the carnall counſell and perſwaſion, the corrupt practiſe and example of men, is very pleaſing to them, this is wholly of man, and therefore fully agrees with man, is no offence to man, but a pleaſing and delightfull thing to vaine man: They ſavour nothing in the labour of Gods Miniſters, but their humane art and eloquence, or ſome needleſſe ſpeculations, which are of man, theſe they reliſh, but the x2 Cor. 11 3.ſimplicity of Chriſt, preached and publiſhed in the Goſpell, they ſavour not: What they heare of Chriſt tending to the honour and exaltation of man, that they like according to their apprehenſion, but what they heare of Chriſt, tending to the mortification of their luſts and proſtration of themſelves under Chriſt, in this they take no pleaſure, this is a hard ſaying, it ſutes not with them; what they diſcerne in the worſhip of Chriſt externally pompous and glorious, carrying ſomething of man in it, that they approve and like, but the truth and ſincerity, faith and love, humility and ſelf-denyall enjoyned in the worſhip, and required in the worſhippers of Chriſt, they reliſh not, they have no pleaſure in theſe: the charity, mercy and bounty which they diſcern in the children of God, they can approve that which is humane and morall in them, and tending to the outward and common preſervation of man, they ſavour, but the purity and preciſeneſſe, power of godlineſſe, holy walking and zealous obſervation of Gods precepts are things which they reliſh not, but diſtaſte in Gods ſervants: So that as Abimelech ſhewed kindneſſe to Abraham for Sarahs ſake; Abraham was ſavoury to him by reaſon of Sarah: thus theſe men ſhew reſpect unto Chriſt, his Ordinances, his Miniſters and ſervants, onelyonly for man, for ſomething which they diſcerne and find of man there; they ſavour nothing but man in them: and thus their faith ſtandeth in the wiſdome of man, and not in the power of God and Chriſt; and this their ſavouring of man, declares their not favouring of Chriſt, their totall alienation and eſtrangement from Chriſt.
Some alſo are full of reioycings in man, contrary to the charge of the Apoſtle, y1 Cor. 3.21.They reioyce in men; in the wiſdome of men, in the learning of men, as in the onelyonly light which guides them; in the authority of men, as in the obligation which binds them; in the traditions and inventions of men, as in the rule of their religious worſhip and ſervice; in the eloquence of men, as in the loadſtone which drawes them, as in the muſicke which affects them; in the en…icing words of mans wiſdome, as in the onelyonly Rhetorick that delights them; in the countenance and favour of man, as in the onelyonly Sun that warms them; in the applauſe and approbation of man, as in the onelyonly Trumpet that makes a joyfull ſound in their eares; in the Abilities, gifts, induſtry and labours of man, as in the prime and maine cauſes of their ſalvation, welfare and felicity: And thus their whole acquieſcence is in man, their choyce dependance is upon man, their glorying and rejoycing is terminated in man, the glory of their whole welfare is aſcribed unto man: the Iſraelites rejoyced in the z1 Sam. 4.5.Arke, not in the Lord, and vaine men rejoyce in man, in the preſence of man, in the ability, favour, power and helpe of man, and not in Chriſt; Thus among the men of Corinth, a1 Cor. 1.4.One ſaid J am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo, looking with a humane eye upon, and glorying after a carnall manner in thoſe holy Meſſengers of God, even idolizing and abuſing the appointed inſtruments of their ſalvation, robbing Chriſt of his glory by an inordinate dependance upon, and glorying in the Meſſengers of Chriſt, aſcribing that to them which was proper unto Chriſt, exalting them into the very roome of Chriſt; ſo glorying in them that Chriſt was not glorious in their apprehenſion; the carnall overvaluing of the inſtruments is a ſhamefull undervaluing of the Lord Jeſus. Hee that doth not according to the expreſſion of the Prophet, bIſa 2.22.ceaſe from man; from the wiſdome and counſell, deviſe and invention, art and ability of man, ſees little or nothing of Chriſt, hath no comfort nor joy in Chriſt; he that doth not ceaſe from dependance upon man, from glorying and pleaſing himſelfe in man, from reſting upon the authority of man in matter of ſpirituall inſtruction, is very ignorant of Chriſt, a meere ſtranger to Chriſt; Chriſt ever proves uncomfortable to them whoſe rejoycings are in man.
4. Fulneſſe of world.4. There is a fullneſſe of the world, which argueth an emptineſſe of Chriſt in the ſoule of man. The Inne where Chriſt was borne was ſo full of gueſts, that there was no roome for Chriſt, but in a manger, a diſhonourable lodging for ſuch a glorious gueſt, in the heart which is filled with the world, there is no roome for Chriſt. Worldly minded men give a very unworthy entertainment unto Chriſt; the world ſo blinds them, that they cannot diſcerne the beauty, worth and excellency of Chriſt, any more then an eye full of duſt can diſcerne the brightneſſe and beauty of the Sunne, they ſee no cIſa. 53.2.comelineſſe in Chriſt for which they ſhould deſire him; this ſo fils their hearts, that they are uncapable of ſpirituall inſtruction, as dMat. 13.22.thorns and bryars make the field uncapable of ſeed; this beares ſuch authority and dominion within them, that they cannot vaile and bow to Chriſt, they cannot take Chriſts yoake upon them, they cannot ſet themſelves about Chriſts worke any more then a ſervant can put himſelfe from his Maſters ſervice into another mans worke, No man (ſaith Chriſt) can eMat. 6.24.ſerve two Maſters; no man can be the ſervant of God and Mammon: this ſo alienates the heart of a man from Chriſt, drawes the ſoule of man into ſuch ſpirituall fornication, that man can no more love Chriſt then a harlot can love her husband, for, if any man (ſaith Saint John) f1 Ioh 2.15.love the world the love of the Father is not in that man, And the love of the world (ſaith St. James) is gIam. 4.4.enmity with God: This doth ſo take up the thought, care, ſtudy, delight, ſtrength, labour, time and the very whole of man, and doth ſo fetter and bind him, faſten and encline him to things here below, that with the invited gueſts in the Parable, he hLu. 14.18.cannot come to Chriſt; he cannot imbrace Chriſt, he cannot attend on Chriſt; he cannot marry his ſoule to Chriſt; this doth ſo diſtemper their palates that they cannot reliſh Chriſt: The fleſh-pots of Aegypt were ſo ſavoury to the Iſraelites that they could not long reliſh their iNumb. 115.Manna. Chriſt is a diſtaſtfull diſh where the world is a ſweet feaſt; this fils the heart of man with diſhonourable thoughts of Chriſt. The over-prizing of the world is the under-prizing of Chriſt. Hee can never apprehend Chriſt as all in all, that doth not apprehend the world as nothing; the young mans over-prizing the world cauſed his departure from kMat. 19.21.Chriſt: the lovers of the world are very inconſtant in their following of Chriſt; if Chriſt and the world will not ſtand together, Chriſt is ſoone forſaken, the world alone hath their attendance, ſervice and affection: So that Chriſt hath no ſpirituall and gracious being, where the world hath ſuch full poſſeſſion. And theſe foure ſorts of fulneſſe in man are ſo many cleare demonſtrations of Chriſts eſtrangement from man.
5. By mans ſpirituall emptineſſe: 5. Spirituall emptineſſe. 1. Empty of lifeHe that is empty of Chriſt is without Chriſt; the Ciſterne which is empty of water is without the fountaine; hee that is empty of grace is without Chriſt the authour and fountain of grace; he that is without the life of Chriſt, who hath not Chriſt living in him, as the root in the branches,lGal. 2.20. graciouſly enlivening him, as the ſoule doth naturally enliven the body, endowing him with ſpirituall principles of holy, and gracious life, enabling him like a living man to feele his ſin, as a living man his diſeaſe; to riſe up from the world, as a living man ariſeth from the Earth; to feed upon the Ordinances of God, as a living man upon the food which is ſet before him; to walke in the wayes of God, as a living man doth move and walke in an earthly way; to follow Chriſt, in attending his Ordinances, in beleeving his Promiſes, in obeying his precepts, as Lazarus followed Chriſt when he had raiſed him from death to life; he that hath not Chriſt thus living in him, thus framing and diſpoſing him to live to God, to conſecrate himſelfe to Gods ſervice, to conforme himſelfe to Gods precepts, to intend God and his glory, To live (as the Apoſtle ſaith) m2 Tim. 3.12.godly in Chriſt Jeſus; in Chriſt enlivenining him and according to Chriſts preſcription. He that doth not thus live is without Chriſt.
2. Of knowledge.2. He that is empty of the knowledge of Chriſt is without Chriſt; the eye which is empty of the light of the Sun is without the Sun; the ſoule which is empty of ſpirituall and heavenly light is without the Sun of Righteouſneſſe; he that doth not know Chriſt as a Prophet inſtructing him and making him wiſe unto ſalvation; as a Prieſt ſanctifying and purging him from his corruption; as a King bearing ſpirituall dominion within him, bringing his whole man into a holy and humble ſubjection; he that doth not know the death of Chriſt in the crucifying of his affections; the reſurrection of Chriſt in the riſing of his ſoule to ſeeke the things which are above; the nEph. 1.19.power of Chriſt in working his heart from obſtinacy and hardneſſe, from captivity and bondage, from pride and haughtineſſe to ſoftneſſe and tenderneſſe, to liberty and freedome, and to humility and meekneſſe: He that doth not know the beauties of Chriſt raviſhing his ſoule with joy and delight in him; the love of Chriſt in being eſpouſed to Chriſt; the worth and excellency of Chriſt in accounting all but oPhil. 3.8.dung and droſſe in compariſon of Chriſt, and the fullneſſe of Chriſt in feeling and finding all contentation in Chriſt he that doth not thus know Chriſt is without Chriſt, in Chriſt are hidden all the treaſures of pCol 25.knowledge and wiſdom, and he that hath Chriſt is full of ſpirituall knowledge as the Sea of qIſa. 11.6.waters.
3. Of power.3. He that is empty of the power of Chriſt is without Chriſt: When the body is empty of the power of the ſoule, the ſoule is departed from it, become a ſtranger to it: thus when man is altogether empty of the ſpirituall and heavenly power of Chriſt, then is man without Chriſt, a meere ſtranger to Chriſt, all they that are partakers of Chriſt have experience of the power of Chriſt, in caſting downe the ſtrong and mighty holds of ſin in their ſoules, in humbling their hearts, in bringing the thoughts of their hearts into the obedience of Chriſt; in overcomming and caſting Sat…n out of their hearts; in ſanctifying and cleanſing their ſoules; in perſwading them to beleeve and lay hold upon the promiſe of life; in pacifying and quieting their perplexed conſciences; in making them able to endure afflictions, and in cauſing them to grow and encreaſe in all heavenly graces: He therefore that hath not experience of this power of Chriſt, in the r2 Cor. 10.4.caſting down of the holds of ſinne, as Iſrael had experience of the power of the Lord, in caſting down the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the trumpets; he that feeles not this power of Chriſt in making him victorious over Satan, as the man in the Goſpell had experience of Chriſts power in ſMat. 17.21.caſting the uncleane ſpirit out of him:Ioh. 17.17. He that doth not diſcerne Chriſt powerfull in ſanctifying him; as Naaman diſ…rned the vertue of Jordan in purging his Leproſie from him, and the lame man diſcerned the power of the Angell in Betheſda healing him: He that knowes not the efficacy of Chriſt in perſwading him to beleeve, in reconciling him to God; as Joſephs brethren diſcerned the eſticacy of his Interceſſion with the King of Aegypt for them: Hee that perceives not Christ pacifying his troubled ſpirit, binding up his broken tIſa. 61.2.heart, and healing his wounded conſcience; as the Diſciples felt the power of Chriſt uMat. 8.26.calming the ſtormy tempeſt; and the wounded man in the Parable felt the Samaritan wLuk. 10powring wine and oyle into his wounds and binding up the ſame: He that diſcerns not Chriſt xPhil 4.13.ſtrengthning and ſuſtaining him in temptations and tryals; as the Arke bare up Noah in the deluge; he that feeles not Chriſt yPſal. 72.6.comming downe upon his ſoule like raine upon the mowen graſſe, and as ſhowers that water the Earth, making him fruitfull in every good gift and grace: he that is empty of theſe powerfull and mighty miniſtrations of Chriſt is without Chriſt, under the power of his corruption in his naturall, and carnall condition.
4 Of liberty.4. He that is empty of the Liberty which Chriſt miniſtreth is without Chriſt, he that doth not feele Chriſt freeing him from the death of ſin, as the woman of Shunems ſon felt the Prophet freeing him from bodily death, x2 Kin. 4.34.his fleſh waxing warme and his eyes opening: freeing him from the thraldome and imbondagement of ſin, as Peter aAct. 11.7.felt the Angell freeing him from his fetters and Herods priſon; freeing him from the ſervitude of the world, as Iſrael diſcerned Moſes, freeing them from the ſervitude of Aegypt; freeing their underſtandings from ignorance, as the Sun freeth the ayre from darkneſſe; freeing their wils from perverſeneſſe, their thoughts from vanity and their a…fections from coldneſſe and deadneſſe, as the fire freeth the houſe from cold and filleth it with heat: making the whole man free to know, beleeve, love and rejoyce in God, as the cleare eye is free to ſee, the Brides heart is free to love the Bridegroome, and the Sun free to run the race which is ſet him: Hee that is a ſtranger to this freedome, remaining a captive under the power of his luſts, and the world, is farre from Chriſt, an empty houſe in whom Chriſt hath no dwelling.
5. Of love.5. He that is empty of the love of Chriſt is without Chriſt: He that doth not diſcerne the love of Chriſt, as the Bride diſcernes the love of the Bridegroome: Hee that perceives not Chriſt bCan. 1.2.kiſſing him with the kiſſes of his mouth (it is the Churches expreſſion in Salomons Song) applying the doctrines of his Love, Mercy and Peace to his conſcience, making him ſenſible of his love in the uſe of his Ordinances, as the Bridegroom… makes the Bride ſenſible of his love in his cCan 2.4.banquetting houſe, making him joyfull in the Houſe of dIſa. 56.7.Prayer, inabling him to pray with confidence, returning a gracious anſwer to his holy and humble petitions: He that perceives not the love of Chriſt in the cleare and comfortable revelation of his ſecrets to his underſtanding; in his holy and ſanctified working upon his ſoule, in ſealing up the pardon and forgiveneſſe of his ſin; in the free and plentifull communication of himſelfe, his gifts, graces and benefits unto his heart; in the ſanctifying and ſweetning of all his tryals, in making all to worke for the beſt unto him, in giving him water out of the rocke, meat out of the eater, and ſweet out of the ſowre. He that is thus empty of the love of Chriſt is without Chriſt. Where Chriſt is, there his love is, and his love is not idle but operative, manifeſting it ſelfe in the div…ne and heavenly fruits and effects thereof to the ſoule. And thus by theſe marks and characters, mans being without Chriſt, mans abiding in his corrupt eſtate and carnall condition is plainly diſcernable.