The Riches of Grace Displayed, Sermons · Sermon 5
Rev. 3. 20.Serm. 5.
Behold, I ſtand at the doore and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me.
THere are three things in this text obſervable about Chriſt
1. His gracious aſſaying of a ſinners heart (Behold) I ſtand at the door and knock.
2. His gracious conveying of himſelf in to the opening ſoul (if any man open the door, I will come in to him.)
3. His gracious diſplaying of his goodneſſe (upon that entrance) to the opening perſon (and will ſup with him, and he with me.)
I have finiſhed the firſt of theſe, and am now to proceed to the diſquition of the two latter, wherof the one ſeems to ſet forth a poſſeſtion and union, and the other ſeems to ſet forth an expreſſion or communion which an opening ſoul hath with Chriſt.
The words have little or no difficulty in them, yet if you pleaſe take a ſhort par…phraſe upon them.
I] That is Jeſus Chriſt, not as man onelyonly, nor as God onelyonly, but as Mediator.
Will come in to him] a p…remp…ory expreſſion. He doth not ſay I will ſhun him, or I will expoſtulate with him for his neglects, nor yet will I onelyonly come to him, (whiles he treats with a ſinner, …e comes unto him) but I will come in to him. The door can no ſooner be open, but duplicate page duplicate page Chriſt comes in immediately, and indeed mercy is quicker in entring, then miſery is in opening.
And will ſup with him and he with me] Chriſt is pleaſed often to ſet forth his communion with the ſoul under the notion of a feaſt, and of a Supper: The confirmation of exceeding mercies hath been with a Supper: That of the Paſſover in the old Teſtament, and that of our Sacrament in the New Teſtament; but certainly the meaning is that Chriſt hath ſome choice, ſweet, admirable mercies and delights to impart or communicate to the ſoul which opens and receives him.
From all this I ſhall inſiſt only on two propoſitions.
1. That Jeſus Chriſt comes in and takes poſſeſſion of the ſoul which opens to him (I will come in to him.)
2. That there is an admirable and ſweet communion 'twixt Chriſt and the ſoul poſſeſſed of Chriſt, (I will ſup with him and he with me.
Doct. 1. That Jeſus Chriſt comes into the ſoul which opens unto him, or takes poſſeſſion of an opening ſoul.
There is a fourfold coming of Chriſt.
1. Perſonal: this was for redemption: A coming for ſinners.
2. Judicial, this ſhall be for retribution: a coming againſt ſinners.
3. Evangelical; this is for vocation: a coming unto ſinners.
4. Spiritual, this is for Application: a coming into ſinners.
There is a twofold Application of Chriſt.
1. One is Active, and in this the ſoul comes to Chriſt.
2. Another is paſſive, and in this Chriſt comes to the ſoule: which exactly to expreſſe, doth exceed my capacity.
The Scripture calls it ſometimes,
His apprehending of us, Phil. 3. 12. If that I may apprehend that for which alſo I am apprehended …f Chriſt Jeſus.
His forming of himſelf in us, G…l. 4. 19. Till Chriſt be formed in you.
His being or abiding in us, Jo…. 15. 4. Abide in me, and I in you.
His dwelling in us, Eph. 3. 17. Chriſt dwells in your hearts by faith.
But becauſe the coming in of Chriſt is reſtrained to the Metaphor of a King; or Maſter, coming in to poſſeſſe and dwell in an houſe or Manſion opened or yeilded up unto him.
I ſhall therefore keep cloſe to that, and for the un…olding of it inſiſt a little on three particulars.
1. What it is for Chriſt to poſſeſſe himſelf of the ſoul.
2. What the properties and adjuncts of this poſſeſſion are.
3. The reaſons why he takes poſſeſſion of that ſoul that opens to him.
1. What it is for Chriſt to take poſſeſſion of the ſoul.
In anſwer to this, conſider certaine premiſes before the opening of Chriſts taking poſſeſſion.
1. God (at firſt) made man a goodly creature, and righteous, and as he ſevered Paradiſe for his habitation, ſo he reſerved man (above all other creatures) for his own poſſeſſion.
2. Man quickly diſpoſſeſſed himſelf of that condition by ſinne, and ſtood now (qua talis) as an outlawry and rejected perſon.
3. Chriſt Jeſus was immediately promiſed as the author of life and ſalvation, and paſſed under Covenant, and Types, and at length in the fulneſſe of time was incarnated, and as a Mediatour and Redeemer, perfectly wrought out Reconciliation and Redemption.
4. The Goſpel makes publication if this, and indefinitely tenders Jeſus Chriſt to ſinners, and by vocation calls them to Chriſt, and the participation of ſalvation by him.
5. This vocation to ſome is ineffectual, to others it is …fficacious: To them (who from faith given) and thereby anſwer, or obey, or accept, or open to the call of Chriſt, it is effectual.
6. When this faith is wrought, then immediately and …emultaneouſly enſues an union 'twixt Chriſt and the beleever.
7. Which union is a ſpiritual relation 'twixt Christ and a beleeving ſoul, and a moſt intimate, cloſe, myſtical, and inſeparable conjunction 'twixt them: Expreſſed in Scripture by that of Head and Member, of Husband and Wife, of a Foundation and Living-ſtone built thereupon: of the Vine and Branches, &c.
8. In this union beleevers are by the Spirit of Chriſt immediately knit to him, and by him to God, ſo that (in a myſtical reſpect) they become one with him and with the Father, and partakes of all the good in and by Jeſus Chriſt, which flowes from him as the head from the members.
Chriſt in reſpect of himſelf is one that poſſeſſeth all good, and upon this union a communication thereof doth enſue.
9. The forme of this union is a myſtical compaction or co-augmentation by thoſe admirable joynts of the Spirit and Faith, Eph. 4. 16. And is ſeverally phraſed in Scripture.
As Chriſt ſtands under the relation of a Head, and we of members, It is called incorporation.
As Chriſt hath the relation of a foundation, and we of a building, it is called an inedification.
As Chriſt ſtands in the relation of an husband, and we of a wife, it is called a diſponſation and marriage.
As Chriſt ſtands in relation of a vine, and we of branches, It is called an inſition or implantation.
As Chriſt ſtands in relation of a Lord or Maſter, and we of an houſe and family; It is called (eſpecially on his part) An entrance, poſſeſſion and inhabitation.
Theſe things being premiſed, for anſwer to the queſtion we muſt know, that there is a double poſſeſſion that Chriſt hath of ſouls.
1. Poſſeſſio juris a poſſeſſion of Right or Title, by which he may lay claime unto them, which he may juſtly do.
1. Jure autoritatis: for all of them are the fruit of his power, the workmanſhip of his hand in Creation.
2. Jure pretii, for he hath laid down a price, and hath ranſomed, or purchaſed them by his death.
3. Jure donationis, for all of them are given unto him for ſubjection and rule.
2. Poſſeſſio Gratiae: A poſſeſſion of grace, or a gracious poſſeſſion, in which he doth not only claime but take poſſeſſion, or enters a as poſſeſſor: of this I am now to ſpeak, and it comprehends five things in it.
1. A Sovereigne ſeazure, when he comes in as a poſſeſſour; he doth in a way of propriety ſet up his Title in the ſoul: As if he ſhould ſay, now this ſoul is mine: It is no longer ſins, no longer the worlds, no longer the devils, no longer its own, but mine, and only mine, I am the Lord and husband of it. As in all contracts there reſults an excluſive propriety. Ezek. 16. 8. When I paſſed by thee, and looked upon thee, Behold, thy time was the time of love, and I ſpread my skirt over thee, yea, I ſware unto thee, and entred into a Covenant with thee, ſaith the Lord God, and thou becameſt mine. Or as Pſal. 132. 13. The Lord hath choſen Zion, he hath deſired it for his habitation. Ver. 14. This is my reſt for ever, here will I dwell.
Hence thoſe relative and impropriating expreſſions, as my love, my dove, my undefiled, Cant. 5. 2. As an husband can ſay, this woman is mine, &c.
The wife cannot be more the husbands, nor a houſe more the owners, nor a member more the heads, nor a branch more the vines then the opening ſoul is Chriſts.
Which is therefore ſaid to be knit unto him, Epheſ. 4. and to be joyned, or glued unto him, 1 Cor. 6. 17. and to be married unto him for an eternity, Hoſ. 2.
And he is ſaid to own us as a Maſter owns a ſervant, Rom. 6. as an husband owns a wi…e, as a Lord owns an houſe, as the head owns the members, as the Lord once owned the Temple. So then Chriſt comes into the ſoule by way of poſſeſſion, when he doth intereſt himſelf in ſuch a peculiar way of union, and propriety, that he ſaith, this ſoul is mine, and the ſoul may reciprocally anſwer, this Chriſt is mine, as the Church in Canticles 6. 3.
2. A diſtinguiſhing furniture, when Chriſt takes poſſeſſion of a ſoul, there is not onelyonly a relation of propriety, but there is alſo a communication of quality: The Spirit of Chriſt actuates. the whole ſoul with grace. As to make Chriſt (in himſelf a Mediatour) there was not only the grace of union, by which he was God and man; but alſo the grace of unction, by which he was adorned and qualified to the work of Mediatour. So is it when Chriſt takes poſſeſſion of a poor ſoul, he doth apply himſelf to it, not onelyonly in a way of affection, (wiſhing well to it) not only in a way of conſent (I do yeild my ſelf unto it) not only in a way of conſent (I do yeild my ſelf unto it) not only in a way of union (I take this ſoul as mine, and will own it as my own ſelf) not onelyonly in a way of promiſe, (I will beſtow ſome good upon it) but alſo in a way of unction (that is) he doth ſet up himſelf in this his poſſeſſion; He doth qualifie, he doth ſanctifie, he doth beautifie every roome of the ſoul with the graces of his bleſſed Spirit: As when the Lord entred into the Temple which Solomon built, he then filled the ſame with his glory, 1 King. 8. 11. So when Jeſus Chriſt enters into a ſoul, he fills that ſoul with the glory of his grace, with his influence as well as with his preſence. When the firſt Adam enters into us, he enters as a contagion, and as death; ſo when the ſecond Adam enters into us, he enters into us as a renovation and life. Therefore is Chriſt ſaid to be formed in us, Gal. 4. 19. The Papiſt talk of the figure of Chriſts body ſticking in the garments, &c. that's a vanity, but this is a truth: that Chriſt doth forme himſelf in the ſoul of a beleever, he formes himſelf in us, by conforming us unto himſelf, implanting in us all holy graces, which 1. Alter. 2. Enable. 3. Diſpoſe and incline; as if he ſhould ſay, this heart ſhall love ſinne no more, it ſhall be enflamed with love to me; this heart ſhall truſt vanity no more, it ſhall truſt on me; this tongue ſhall blaſpheme no more, it ſhall praiſe me; this perſon ſhall be a ſlaye no more, he ſhall be a ſervant unto me. Behold (O ſoul) thou art become mine, and I muſt now adorne thee to be a delightful Manſion for my ſelf, therefore we are ſaid to be new creatures, and his workmanſhip, and to put on Chriſt.
Blindneſſe, vanity, folly, pride be gone: come in knowledge, wiſdom, ſoundneſſe of judgment, truth, regard of me and it; come in and poſſeſs the upper roome of this ſoul, the minde. Unwillingneſs, ſtoutneſs, rebellion, hardneſs, hypocriſie be gone; come in plyableneſſe, ſoftneſſe, tenderneſs, ſincerity, readineſs, compliance with my will, dependance on my▪ ſelf, come in and poſſeſs the royal chamber of the ſoul the will: Irregularity, vileneſs, inordinateneſſe be gone: Come in purity, order, quickneſs, come in and poſſeſſe the lower roome of the ſoul, the affections. All ye graces of my Spirit, be ye ſet up in the inward rooms, and ſpread, and act in the outward rooms of the life, in all ſpiritualneſſe of behavior towards God and man, &c.
3. A ſweet gubernation: for Chriſt poſſeſſeth the ſoul as a Lord poſſeſſeth his Manſion, to do what he pleaſeth, and to rule after his own will in it: and therefore he is called the Lord of his Temple: And the houſholder, who employs and ſets every ſervant his work, having firſt given unto them ſeveral talents. He muſt have and hath the command and diſpoſal of the ſoul. As the Centurion ſaid, to one ſervant go, and he went, do this, and he did it, come and he came, Matth. 8. So ſaith Chriſt to the ſoule which he takes poſſeſſion of; I will have you ſometimes to abound, and then you muſt be thankful, and ſometimes to want, and then you muſt be contented: now I will have you to do for me with your graces, or with your eſtates, and you muſt then be ready to do: and another time, now I will have you to ſuffer for me in your Name, in your comforts, in your poſſeſſions, in your liberties, perhaps in your lives, and you muſt then be willing to forſake all for me. Sometimes your luſts will be commanding, but do not hearken to them; ſometimes Satan will be tempting, but do not yeild to him; ſometimes your carnal friends will be trying of you, but do not regard them; you are none of theirs, nor none of your own; you are my poſſeſſion, and therefore muſt be only at my diſpoſal.
4. A watchful proviſion, when a man takes poſſeſſion of houſe, or houſhold, or lands, he is thereupon engaged to take care and charge over all: He muſt Till the ground, and manure it, and mend it, and keep it in heart; and he muſt keep and repaire the houſe, if it be ſinking, and he muſt maintaine the ſervants with all neceſſaries of food and rayment; he muſt look to them when they be well, and when they be ſick; juſt ſo doth Chriſt, when he takes poſſeſſion of a ſoule, he takes upon him the full care of that ſoul, he will be a ſufficiency unto it,
By preſerving the graces given unto it.
By adding ſutable degrees, and helps of grace for greater and further ſervices.
By repairing and recovering a fallen or ſinking ſoul. There is a rich ſtore-houſe in Chriſt, for the ſoul which he poſſeſſeth: He will give renuing grace, and juſtifying grace, and then he will keep that grace given; And he will yet adde more grace and help.
And if the ſoul be drawn aſide, and falls, he will not loſe it, he will ſeek after it, he will find it again, and recover it again.
5. A ſure protection: when one hath poſſeſſion, it behoves him to keep poſſeſſion, he is to defray all the rents or dues wherewith that poſſeſſion is charged; and he is to anſwer and take off all claimes and titles made againſt his right of poſſeſſion. Go to my Maſter, ſaith the ſervant; to my husband, ſaith the wife; So doth Jeſus Chriſt, when he enters and takes poſſeſſion of the ſoul. This ſoul (ſaith Chriſt) is mine, I own it, I will provide for it; plead for it or againſt it who will or can, I will anſwer him, I will anſwer for it, I will ſtand 'twixt it & all pleas, 'twixt it and all claims 'twixt it and all hazards, I will, take all upon me, and as long as I am Chriſt, and as far as my blood will go, or my interceſſion will go, or my merits can go, or my Spirit can go, I will maintain and defend mine own.
John 17. 12. Thoſe that thou gaveſt me I have kept, and none of them is loſt.
John 10. 27. My ſheep hear my voice, &c. Ver. 28. And I give unto them eternal life, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Rom. 8. 38. Neither life, nor death, nor Angels, nor principalities, … powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come. Ver. 39. Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Chriſt that died, &c. As if he ſhould ſay, come who will, and do your utmoſt, yet I will be poſſeſſour and Saviour ſtill. Satan ſtands out, and ſaith, this ſoul belongs to me, I have had poſſeſſion of it a long time; too long, ſaith Chriſt, a deceiver and uſurper as thou art, but I have cruſhed and bruiſed thy power; Come thou out and never enter into this ſoule more.
Sinne ſtands out, and ſaith, this ſoul hath been my habitation from the firſt, but Chriſt caſts out the bond-woman with her childe, and ſaith, thy poſſeſſion is but an incroachment: This ſoul was mine by Creation firſt of all, and now is mine againe by purchaſe, and therefore ſin get you gone, Never ſhalt thou have royal poſſeſſion in any ſoul that belongs to me. And when the ſoul ſometimes reports ſad tydings, that divine juſtice calls upon it for arrearages, well, ſaith Chriſt, let me alone; I was thy ſurety, all is diſcharg'd, I have ſatisfied all: I am thy propitiation, feare thou not, all is well 'twixt thee and my Father, I am his beloved Sonne, in whom he is well pleaſed.
So that (ſummarily) then Chriſt doth come in and take poſſeſſion of the ſoul, when he doth unite himſelf to the ſoul, or ſeazeth on it as his own, and then purifies and enables it for his ſervice and uſe, and then erects his power and rule in it and over it, and undertakes for it, for full proviſions and protection.
Queſt. 2. What the properties & adjuncts of this poſſeſſion are?
Sol. 1. The poſſeſſing is real: it is not a fixious notion formed only by a wild imagination, for the doore of the heart is a real thing, and the knocking at the door is a real motion and offer, and the opening of the door is a real dilatation of the ſoul to embrace Chriſt; ſo likewiſe is his coming in, it is a real entrance and taking poſſeſſion of the ſoul, a real owning and intereſſing, &c.
2 Yet it is ſpiritual, you muſt not be ſo weak to imagine that the perſon of Chriſt comes now into our hearts, as once into ſinners houſes, O no, a corporal poſſeſſion cannot be, and it alone were fruitleſſe. But Chriſt takes poſſeſſion of the ſoul, (being a ſpirit) by his Spirit; and therefore as in one place Chriſt is ſaid to dwell in us, Eph. 3. 17. ſo in another place the Spirit is ſaid to dwell in us, John 14. 17. and as he is ſaid to be in us, ſo his Spirit is ſaid to be in us: He dwelleth with you, and ſhall be in you, ibid. It is his Spirit which applies him to us, and it is his Spirit which worketh in us (by way of efficiency) the graces we enjoy, and it is the Spirit of Chriſt who ruleth in us, &c.
3. It is powerful; all that Chriſt doth about the ſoul, either for entrance or maintenance, is carried with exceeding power when he is taking poſſeſſion, he doth diſpoſſeſſe the ſtrong man in the houſe, and with a greater ſtrength of power reſcues and delivers; as the Iſraelites were brought out of the houſe of bondage by an Almighty arme: When he poſſeſſeth the ſoul, (poſſeſſed by himſelfe) with his grace, he communicates theſe by an exceeding power; no power leſſe then Almightineſſe, leſs then that which raiſed Chriſt from the dead, is requiſite to quicken a dead ſinner.
And the preſervation of grace received is likewiſe a work of power: The ſame Sunne which begets the light muſt preſerve the light: We are kept by the power of God unto ſalvation.
4. It is eternal: till you can quench the love of Chriſt, till you can reverſe the ſeals of Chriſt, till you can cruſh the power of Chriſt, (which never can be done) Chriſt who hath taken poſſeſſion will keep it. If you had poſſeſſion of Chriſt, and Chriſt had no poſſeſſion of you, then ſome danger, but ye hold Chriſt, and Chriſt holds you, &c.
Queſt. 3. Why Chriſt enters and takes poſſeſſion, and will dwell in any ſoul that opens to him?
Sol. I anſwer:
1. You have his promiſe for it in the text, and Chriſt was never yet worſe then his word.
2. He will not be behinde hand in his goodneſſe to any: If he offers himſelf when the door is ſhut, he will not ſtand off when the door is opened. If he purſues us flying, he will not ſhun us yeilding; if he allures us whiles unwilling, he will ſurely embrace us being willing.
3. It is himſelf who makes the heart willing to open, and for this end, that himſelf might enter: There is no more required on our parts; I am willing ſaith Chriſt to enter, are you willing to let me in? If your will concurs with him, the work is done: nothing but the ſinners unwillingneſs hath kept him out all this while.
4. When the heart comes to open, it is now ſufficiently conditioned and fitted for all that Chriſt intends to work in it: For,
1. It is now willing to part with all for Chriſt.
2. It is now willing to reſign up all to Chriſt.
3. It is now willing to take all from Chriſt.
4. It is now willing to be diſpoſed in all by Chriſt.
5. When the ſoul comes to opening termes, it ſtands in the extreameſt need of Christ: Never did a wounded, gored body ſtand in more need of plaiſters, nor a diſeaſed body ſtand in more need of medicines, nor a tortured body ſtand in more need of eaſe, nor a ſtarved hungry body ſtand in more need of bread, nor a purſued body ſtand in more need of help, nor an accuſed body ſtand in more need of defence, nor a fainting body ſtand in more need of cordials, then the humbled and opening ſoul doth ſtand in need of Chriſt: Now Chriſt will come and help in a needful time: He will not be wanting to a ſoul in ſuch a condition.
Ʋſe 1. Doth Chriſt come in and take poſſeſſion of the ſoul which opens to him? I beſeech you earneſtly to ſurvey your eſtate; wiſely and ſeriouſly conſider to whom you do belong; who or what it is that owns you and hath poſſeſſion of you There was a great contention once amongſt ſome Nations about H…mer (an excellent Poet) they ſeverally pleaded their intereſt in him. And truly ſo it is about the ſoul of man, many lay claime unto it, ſinne doth, the world doth, Satan doth, Chriſt doth.
The ſoul of man is not a waſte piece of ground, nor is it a deſolate habitation, ſome one or other hath poſſeſſion of it: if Chriſt hath not, beſure that an enemy of Chriſt, and of the ſoul, hath the poſſeſſion: Hath Chriſt poſſeſſion, or hath he not? O Sirs, Meditate a while of this deſcription, vanity poſſeſſeth my mind, iniquity poſſeſſeth my heart, vexation poſſeſſed my life, but Chriſt never yet poſſeſſed my ſoul
Life is come into my body, and ſin is come into my ſoul, and the Law is come into my conſcience, and the Gospel is come unto my ear: and ſtrivings are come into my Spirit, and honours are come upon my Name, and riches are come upon my Trade, and friends are come in to my ſociety, but Chriſt, but Jeſus Chriſt is not yet come into my houſe.
Nay, yet again, a ſword is come to waſte us, famine is like to come to pine us, death will ſurely come to remove us, and judgement, the judgement of God will come to condemne us, and if Chriſt be not come in to ſave us, what will become of our Chriſtleſſe ſouls? Therefore try and examine your ſelves, prove your ſelves whether Chriſt be in you, 2 Cor. 13. 5.
He hath called upon you by his Word, but is he come in? He hath offered himſelf to you by his. Miniſters, but is he come in? He hath knockt at your doors by the ſtrivings of his Spirit, but is he come in? ye have been almoſt perſwaded to open, but is he come in? you think that you have opened unto him, but is he come in? you think that he is come in and hath taken poſſeſſion, but is he ſo indeed?
O friends, the ſoul may be loſt by fancy, as well as by obſtinacy, by ſelf deluſion as ſoon as by ſelf rebellion: what a bitter thing will this prove? I thought my ſelf to be Chriſts poſſeſſion, but was deceived, and now am hells portion.
Queſt. But you will ſay, how may one know that Chriſt is come, and hath taken poſſeſſion of the ſoul indeed.
Sol. It may be evidenced.
1. By his affecting excellency.
2. By his virtual efficacy.
3. By his exciting authority.
4. By our importuning inſatiability.
Firſt, by his affecting excellency: O ſirs, before Chriſt comes in, much of the excellency of Chriſt appeared to the ſoul by way of invitation, but when he is come to the ſoul, more of his excellency now appears by way of fruition: Apprehenſion may much affect us, but fruition and experience doth much more affect us: Now the ſoul ſees indeed a wonderful Redeemer, a wonderful love, a wonderful ſatisfaction, a wonderful happineſs. As the Queen of Sheba, when ſhe ſaw Solomon in his glory, her ſpirit failed; or as Simeon, when he got Chriſt in his armes, Now let me depart, mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation; or as Jacob when he ſaw Joſeph, now let me die; or as David, return to thy reſt O my ſoul, for, &c. Pſal. 116.
The ſoul which is poſſeſſed of Chriſt, adores, admires, cries out, I am ſatisfied, I have enough; the pearl is found, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand is mine: As the Sun darkens all the Stars; all is as nothing to Chriſt: Now I have love, joy, friends, lands and al in Chriſt.
This is the Chriſt that I looked for, that I longed for; I ſee, and finde in him the great love of God; the exact beauty of holineſſe; a …ull redemption; God reconciled; a ſpring of life; worth to ſatisfie judgement; worthineſs to fatisfie my will; ſweetneſſe to ſatisfie my affections; happineſs to ſatisfie my whole ſoul; now I am abundantly payed for all my prayers, pains, &c.
Secondly, by his virtual efficacy: Chriſt is not an empty notion, but a quick agent: and when he comes into a ſoul, vertue from him comes into the ſoul too: Chriſt and his Spirit come together, and dwell together, If any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt he is none of his. In Mal. 3. 1. you Rom. 8. 9.read a promiſe of his coming into a prepared ſoul. Ver. 3. And then of the work which he doth when he is come (He ſhall ſit as a refiner and purifier of ſilver.)
A refiner or purifier uſeth the fire to melt the mettal, and to ſeparate the droſſe and ruſt from it, and ſo makes it pure, and beautiful, and uſeful.
The ſoul of a man is a corrupt veſſel, and when Chriſt comes in to it, he doth by his Spirit, (which is compared to fire) cleanſe and purifie it, make it holy, delightful, and ſerviceable, ſtamps his own image upon it: Now you ſhall be able to love your God, to hate your ſinne, to overcome the world, to pray, to mourn, to truſt, to wait, to be meek, lowly, contemned, &c.
3. By his exceeding authority: when Chriſt takes poſſeſſion, he doth immediately ſet up his Throne, and rule in the heart: He rules all, and rules alone, and the ſoul is willingly obediential. He pulls down all authority contrary to himſelf: as that laſt Monarchy in Daniel cruſhed all the reſt.
He hath poſſeſſion who hath an acknowledged and conſented dominion over your ſouls; His ſervants ye are whom ye obey, Rom. 6. O how doth this diſcover multitudes to be none of Chriſts poſſeſſion? Some they will not have him to rule at all: Others like the Mother about the childe, let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it; a ſinful luſt muſt rule, and a worldly luſt ſhall rule, and Chriſt (if he pleaſe) ſhall then rule too; but would you be half ſaved? ſurely where Chriſt indeed takes poſſeſſion, Chriſt alone is ſet up, and the whole ſoule comes freely under ſubjection. None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, ſaid the Martyr: I will know none but Chriſt, love none but Chriſt, ſerve none but Chriſt; the will of a beleever comes up to the will of its Saviour.
4. By our importunate inſatiability; If Chriſt hath taken poſſeſſion of the ſoul, that ſoul would have more poſſeſſion of Chriſt: O I have not yet attained, I have not yet enough of Chriſt. O ſaith Paul, that I may apprehend as I am apprehended, Phil. 3. Such a ſoul would have all to fall into the hands of Chriſt, and to be more and more poſſeſſed by Chriſt: Lord, here's yet much ignorance, O poſſeſſe my minde more with thy light. Lord, here are many doubts and f…ars, O poſſeſs my judgement more with thy evidencing and comforting grace: Lord, here is much backwardneſſe and dulneſs, O poſſeſs my will more with thy quickning grace: Lord, here is much weakneſſe and failings, O poſſeſs my heart more with thy ſtrengthening grace.
Ʋſe 2. If upon ſearch any of you do diſcerne Chriſts poſſeſſing preſence, riſe up and bleſſe God, go home and rejoyce in your portion: It was a great matter for Chriſt to come into a mans houſe: It is more for him to come into a mans heart.
When Zacheus opened his doors to Chriſt, This day (ſaid Chriſt) is ſalvation come into thy houſe: O Chriſtian, if Chriſt be come into thy ſoul, the King of glory, the Prince of peace, the Lord of life is come into thy ſoul; it is more then for a King to come to a poor mans houſe.
I know not where to begin, or where to end, or in what phraſe to ſet forth thy bleſſed condition.
1. All that makes for heaven is thine; the perſon of a Saviour, that's thine; the price of Redemption, that's thine; the peace of Reconciliation, that's thine; the releaſe in Juſtification, that's thine; the priviledge of Adoption, that's thine; the ſpring of Sanctification, that's thine; the promiſe of Conſolation, that's thine; the hope of Salvation, that alſo is th…ne.
1 Cor. 3. 21. All things are yours. Ver. 22. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or C…phas, or the world, or life, or death, or things preſent, or things to come, all are yours. Ver. 23. And ye are Chriſts.
2. All that may make thee up in all conditions, Chriſt will be that unto thee; do loſſes befal thee for Chriſt? Chriſt will make them up: He alone will be better to thee then all the world; what thou loſeſt in the world, thou ſhalt finde in him. Arnulphus cryed out on his death-bed, O Chriſt, How true art thou in thy promiſes? how true art thou in thy promiſes? how true art thou in thy promiſes? They about him asked what he meant thereby; O ſaith he, Chriſt promiſed, that if any forſook wife and children, and houſe, and friends for his ſake, he ſhould receive an hundred fold in this world. This ſaith he hath my Saviour verified to me, for I will not part with the love of Chriſt, and the joy I finde in my Chriſt for a thouſand worlds.
Doth exile, impriſonment, any hardſhip befal thee for Chriſt? Chriſt will make up all; Thou mayeſt be forced from thy poſſeſſions, but Chriſt will not be ſevered from his poſſeſſion: When Paul was bound at Jeruſalem, Chriſt was with him; when he was throwne into the Caſtle, Chriſt Act. 23. 11was with him; when he was at ſea, Chriſt was with him; when he was cheined at Rome, Chriſt alſo was with him.
Let men and devils do their utmoſt, Chriſt will own, Chriſt will ſtick to, Chriſt will comfort, Chriſt will help, Chriſt will ſave his poſſeſſion What ſhall I ſay more? doth any thing trouble thy ſoul? what is it? Is it the remaining power of ſin? It ſhall not have dominion over thee, ſaith Chriſt: Is it violent temptation? I will bruiſe Satan under thy feet, ſaith Chriſt: Is it want of more grace? I wil ſanctifie you thorowout, ſaith Chriſt: Is it want of comfort? I will ſend the Comforter, ſaith Chriſt: Is it want of ſtrength? My grace ſhall be ſufficient for thee, ſaith Chriſt: Art thou troubled for thy ſinnings? I will anſwer for them, ſaith Chriſt: Doeſt thou feare perſeverance? I will never leave thee nor forſake thee.
Ʋſe 3. Doth Chriſt take poſſeſſion of an opening ſoule? the inſtructions thence are theſe,
1. Then you great rich learned perſons, prize and eſteem a little better of godly and beleeving perſons: The Emperour kiſſed the hollow of Paphnutius his eye, which he l…ſt for Chriſt: Much more are we to honour Chriſt himſelf in whomſoever we finde him. A real Chriſtian is no leſſe then the Temple of God, and poſſeſſion of Chriſt: Our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 John 1. 3. And let men take heed of injuring Chriſts poſſeſſion you; I injure him, &c.
2. Then (Chriſtians) remember whoſe you are, and to whom you owe all: you are Chriſts, all that belongs to you is Chriſts: your graces, your parts, your faculties, your eſtates, your honours, your lives, your bodies, your ſouls, all Chriſts: let none meddle with Chriſts poſſeſſion: But let Chriſt command his own, and do what he will with his own; He hath more right to you and yours, then you your ſelves: If he call for his own, let him have it. If he ſaith, I will now uſe your greatneſſe▪ uſe your wealth, uſe your ſtrength, uſe your ſouls, uſe your bodies; Lord ſay, we are thine, thine we are, thy ſervants we are, thy purchaſe, thy poſſeſſion, altogether at thy diſpoſal.
3. Do not part with Chriſt when once he hath gotten poſſeſſion. The King of Perſia caſts ſome beames of Honour upon Hermiſda, and clothed him ſutable to his noble condition, but all was to Theod. l. 5 c. 39.take him off from Chriſt, but diſcerning it, he rents them from his back; what ſhall I forſake and deny my Chriſt for theſe, &c? Nazianz…ne relates of ſome Chriſtian ſouldiers commanded by Julian to throw ſome Franckincenſe into the fire, as if it were to his honour, and they had their reward. But when they ſaw the deceipt: They runne to him, throw him his money againe, crying out, we are Chriſtians, we are Chriſtians.
O Sirs, keep poſſeſſion of Chriſt, and let Chriſt take poſſeſſion of you. If thou thruſt Chriſt out of your doors, reſolve upon it, that he will thruſt your ſouls out of heaven.