England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 44
COLOSSIANS 1.20. Whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.
DIvine friendſhip, according to its formalitie and cauſalitie I have handled; according to its extent, I am now to purſue it, to wit, how farre it reaches, which is noted in theſe laſt words; To things in earth, and to things in Heaven. This Scripture is difficult, yet other Scriptures compared with it, will helpe us to ſee ſomething into it. By things in earth, is meant the Elect, called and uncalled. By things in Heaven, is meant Saints and Angels. By reconciling of all theſe to himſelfe, is meant the gathering of them all into one ſpirituall bodie, under one head the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by vertue of which the ſtate of fallen man is reſtored, the ſtate of bleſſed Angels confirmed, all to concenter in one common bleſſedneſſe for ever; according to that Epheſ. 1.10. That in the diſpenſation of the fulneſſe of time, he might gather together in one all things in Chriſt, which are in Heaven, and which are in earth. Gathered together in one foreign, to renew the ſtate and condition of all, Angels and men, in and under one head, which is here mentioned Jeſus Chriſt. That Angels have the ſame common head with Saints, and ſo conſequently the completion of their ſtate in the ſame head, together with us, is apparent, Col. 2.10. And yee are compleat in him which is the head of all principalitie and power. Angels are of the quire above, together with the Saints, and they all ſing one tune; and they are of the fellowſhip below alſo, they are brought in as joynt members of the univerſall inviſible Church. You are come to mount Sion, to the Citie of the living God, to the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels.
The condition of the greateſt ſtates, is here conſiderable: The nobleſt creatures are beholding to Chriſt, things in heaven as well as things in earth. Nothing is abſolute but God: men are noble, Angels are noble, but they all lean upon one more noble then themſelves, or elſe they would fall and become as ignoble as thoſe curſed ſpirits below us. Man is a little lower then Angels, Angels a great deal lower then Chriſt; their being is founded in his greatneſſe, and is confirmed in his goodneſſe. That grace which is redemption to the lower world, is confirmation to the upper.
There would be no place for pride, if this point were well digeſted. None apter to ſwell in ſpirit then man; man ſets us up externally a little, and then the Devill ſets us up internally much; few but ſwell and break eternally, when gotten high in the world. I wonder at it, were you as high as heaven, as high as Angels, yet were ye below Chriſt. The body of Heaven in its brightneſſe, is under his feet, Exod. 24.10. What is under Chriſts feet, he can trample upon at pleaſure; pride is no ſmall ſin, and yet it growes up (the Lord knows) from very ſmall things. What haſt thou that thou haſt not received? What have things in heaven, which they have not, and hold not from Chriſt?
The leſſe may be ſaid for ſin, the greater 'tis, and the worſe that heart in which it growes. Pride is a grand plague, 'tis one that hath taken leave of Chriſt and conſcience, to humor himſelf; but Ah Lord, when will this man content himſelf! A man will ſooner breake his heart, then content his heart, which purſues the proud luſts of it. A ſoule devoted to it ſelf, is as cruell a Maſter to ſerve, as the Devill: to purſue the dictates of a proud ſpirit, is endleſſe work, and hell enough for any creature, if there were none elſe to come: Soules in this conſumption, ſhould conſider their diſeaſe, and their cure. The remedy of every vice is in Chriſt, this tree hath leaves to cure all diſeaſes. There is no diſtemper in the ſpirit, but Chriſt may be conſidered under ſuch a notion as to rectifie it. Conſider Chriſt as the keeper up of Angels, and 'tis enough to keep down the ſpirit of any man.