The Beatitudes, Appendix · Sermon 1
Chriſts various fulneſs.
COL. 3.11.
But Chriſt is all in all.
THE Philoſopher ſaith, every Science takes its dignity from the object*Omnis ſcientia ſumit dignitatem ab objecto.; the more noble the object, the more rare the knowledge. Hence it is that Jeſus Chriſt being the moſt ſublime and glorious object, that knowledge which leads us to Chriſt, muſt needs be moſt excellent; 'tis called foreign, the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. So ſweet is this knowledge, that Saint Paul determined to know nothing but Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2.2. And indeed what needed he to know more? for Chriſt is foreign, all in all.
In the Text there is a Negation and an Aſſumption; ſomething the Apoſtle ſets down privatively, and ſomething poſitively.
1. Privatively. Saint Paul tells the Coloſſians what will not avail them; neque Circumciſio, neque Praeputium; neither Circumciſion, nor uncircumciſion availeth, &c. Circumciſion was a great priviledge, it w… a badge and cognizance to diſtinguiſh the people of God from thoſe who were exteri and forraign; it was a Pale between the Garden encloſed, and the Common. The people of circumciſion were a people of Gods circumſpection, they were under his eye, and his wing; they were foreign, his houſhold family; and rather than they ſhould want, God would make the heavens a Granary, and rain down Manna upon them; he would ſet the Rock abroach, and make it a living Spring; how glorious was circumciſion! Rom. 9.4, 5. Who are Iſraelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory, whoſe are the Fathers, and of whom as concerning the fleſh Chriſt came. What rich jewels hung upon Iſraels Crown! but in matters of ſalvation, all this was nothing, neither circumciſion, nor uncircumciſion, &c. From whence we may obſerve:
Doctr. That external priviledges commend no man to God; whether wiſe, or rich, or noble, this doth not ſet us off in Gods eye. 1 Cor. 1.26. Not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. God ſees not as man ſees; we are taken with beauty and parts; theſe things avail not with God, God lays his left hand on theſe, as Jacob did upon Manaſseh, Gen. 48.14. God often paſſeth by thoſe who caſt a greater ſplendor and luſtre in the world, and looks upon them of an inferiour Alloy; the reaſon is, that no fleſh ſhould glory in his preſence, 1 Cor. 1.29. If God ſhould graft his grace only upon wiſdom and parts, ſome would be ready to ſay, My wiſdom, or my eloquence, or my nobility hath ſaved me; therefore not many wiſe, not many noble are called. God will have no priding or vaunting in the creature.
Uſe. Uſe. Reſt not in outward priviledges or excellencies, theſe are …o ſtocks to graft the hopes of ſalvation upon; many of Chriſts kindred went to hell. Paul is called the ſervant of the Lord, Rom. 1.1. And James is called the brother of the Lord, Gal. 1.19. It is better to be the ſervant of the Lord, than the brother of the Lord. The Virgin Mary was ſaved, not as ſhe was the mother of Chriſt, but as ſhe was the daughter of faith; 'tis grace, not blood gives the precedency; an heart that hath Chriſt formed in it, is Gods delight, and this brings me to the next.
2. The Apoſtle ſets down ſomething poſitively; but Chriſt is all in all; in which words there is,
1. The Subject, Chriſt; dulce Nomen Jeſu, his Name is ſweet, it is as oyntment poured forth, Cant. 1.3. It was Jobs wiſh, Oh that my words were now written, that they were graven with an iron pen, and laid in the Rock for ever, Job 19.23. And it is my wiſh, O that this Name (this ſweet Name) of Chriſt, were now written, that it were graven with the pen of the Holy Ghoſt in our hearts for ever; the name of Chriſt hath in it, ſaith Chryſoſtom, a thouſand treaſuries of joy.
2. The Predicate, All in all; Chriſt is all fulneſs, all ſweetneſs; he is all that is imaginable, all that is deſirable; he who hath Chriſt, can have no more, for Chriſt is all.
The Propoſition out of the words, is, Doctr. that Jeſus Chriſt is the quinteſſence of all good things, He is all.
1. Sometimes faith is ſaid to be all, Gal. 5.6. nothing availeth but faith; faith is all, organice, as it is an inſtrument to lay hold on Chriſt, whereby we are ſaved; as a man is ſaved by catching hold on a Bough.
2. Sometimes the new creature is ſaid to be all, Gal. 6.15. Nothing availeth but a new creature; the new creature is all diſpoſitive, as it qualifies and fits us for glory; without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Hebr. 12.14. It is a ſaying of Chryſoſtom, at the day of judgement God will ask that queſtion as our Saviour did, Matth. 22.20. Whoſe image and ſuperſcription is this? So will God ſay, Whoſe image is this? if thou canſt not ſhew him his image conſiſting in holineſs, he will reject thee; thus the new creature is all.
3. Here in the Text Chriſt is ſaid to be all; but in what ſenſe is Chriſt all?
1. Chriſtus omnia eminenter; Chriſt is all by way of eminency; all good things are eminently to be found in him; as the Sun doth virtually contain in it the light of the leſſer ſtars.
2. Chriſtus omnia derivative, Chriſt is all by way of derivation; all good things are tranſmitted and convey'd to us through Chriſt; as your rich commodities, jewels and ſpices come by Sea; ſo all heavenly bleſſings ſail to us through the red Sea of Chriſts blood. Rom. 11.36. Through him are all things. Chriſt is that ſpiritual pipe through which the golden oyle of mercy empties it ſelf into the ſoul.
Reaſon. Chriſt muſt needs be all; for in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the Godhead, Col. 2.9. He hath a partnerſhip with God the Father. John 16.15. All that the Father hath is mine; ſo that there is enough in him to ſcatter all our fears, to remove all our burdens, to ſupply all our wants; there can be no defect in that which is infinite.
Uſe 1 Uſe 1. Information. And it hath ſix Branches.Inform.
Branch. 1 1. It ſhews us the glorious fulneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; He is all in all. Chriſt is a Panoply, a Magazin and Store-houſe of all ſpiritual riches; you may go with the Bee from flowre to flowre, and ſuck here and there a little ſweetneſs, but you will never have enough till you come to Chriſt; for he is foreign, all in all.
Now in particular, Chriſt is all, in ſix Reſpects.
1. Chriſt is all in regard of righteouſneſs. 1 Cor. 1.30. He is made to us righteouſneſs. The Robe of innocency, like the vail of the Temple, is rent aſunder, ours is a ragged righteouſneſs. Iſa. 64.6. Our righteouſneſses are as filthy rags. As under rags the naked body is ſeen; ſo under the rags of our righteouſneſs, the body of death is ſeen; we can defile our duties, but they cannot juſtifie us; but Chriſt is all in regard of righteouſneſs. Rom. 10.4. Chriſt is the end of the Law for righteouſneſs to them that believe *Domine Jeſu, ego ſum peccatum tuum, & tu es juſtitia mea. Luth.: That is, through Chriſt we are as righteous as if we had ſatisfied the Law in our own perſons. Jacob got the bleſſing in the garment of his elder brother; ſo in the garment of Chriſt our elder brother we obtain the bleſſing; Chriſts righteouſneſs is a coat woven without ſeam. 2 Cor. 5. ult. We are made the righteouſneſs of God in him.
2. Chriſt is all in regard of Sanctification. 1 Cor. 1.30. He is made to us Sanctification. Sanctification is the ſpiritual enamel and embroydery of the ſoul; 'tis nothing elſe but Gods putting upon us the jewels of holineſs, the Angels glory by it; we are made as the Kings daughter, all glorious within, Pſal. 45.13. This doth diſponere ad coelum, it doth tune and prepare the ſoul for heaven; it turns iron into gold, it makes the hea… which was Satans Picture, Chriſts Epiſtle. The Virg… …her 2.12. had their dayes of purification; they … firſt to be perfumed and anointed, and then they were to ſtand before the King; we muſt have the anointing of God, 1 John 2.27. and be perfumed with the graces of the Spirit, thoſe ſweet odours, and then we ſhall ſtand before the King of heaven; there muſt be firſt our dayes of purification before our dayes of glorification; what a bleſſed work is this! a ſoul beautified and adorned with grace, is like the coelum ſtellatum, the firmament beſpangled with glittering ſtars. O what a Metamorphize is there! I may allude to that, Cant. 3.6. Who is this that comes out of the wilderneſs with myrrhe and frankincenſe, and all the powders of the Merchant? So, who is this that comes out of the wilderneſs of ſin, perfum'd with all the graces of the Spirit? Holineſs is the ſignature and engraving of God upon the ſoul; but whence is this? Chriſt is all, he is made to us Sanctification; he it is that ſends his Spirit into our hearts to be a refiners fire, to burn up our droſs, and make our graces ſparkle like gold in the Furnace; Chriſt ariſeth upon the ſoul with healing under his wings, Mal. 4.2. He heals the underſtanding, and ſaith, Let there be light; he heals the heart by diſſolving the ſtone in his blood; he heals the will, by filing off its rebellion. Thus he is all in regard of Sanctification.
3. Chriſt is all in regard of Divine acceptance. Eph. 1.6. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved; foreign; he hath made us Favourites; ſo Chryſoſtom and Theophylact render it; through Chriſt God is propitious to us, and takes all we do in good part.
A wicked man being out of Chriſt, is out of favour; as his …oughing is ſin, Prov. 21.14. ſo his praying is … …ov. 15.8. God will not come near him, his brea… infectious; God will hear his ſins, and not his prayers; but now in Chriſt God accepts us. Eccleſ. 9.7. Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepts thy works; as Joſeph did preſent his Brethren before Pharaoh, and brought them into favour with the King, Gen. 47.2. ſo the Lord Jeſus carries the names of the Saints upon his breaſt, and preſents them before his Father, ſo bringing them into repute and honour; through Chriſt God will treat and parly with us, he ſpeaks to us, as Iſa. 62.4. Thou ſhalt no more be termed forſaken, but thou ſhalt be called HephꝪibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee. Through the red glaſs every thing appears of a red colour; through the blood of Chriſt we look of a ſanguine complexion, ruddy and beautiful in Gods eyes.
4. Chriſt is all in regard of Divine aſſiſtance; a Chriſtians ſtrength lies in Chriſt: Phil. 4.13. foreign, I can do all things through Chriſt. Whence is it a Chriſtian is able to do duty, to reſiſt tentation, but through Chriſts ſtrengthning*Nunquam Caeſar tanto impetu civitates oppugnavit, quanto Satan conſcientias piorum. Luther.? Whence is it that a ſparkle of grace lives in a Sea of corruption, the ſtorms of perſecution blowing, but that Chriſt holds this ſparkle in the hollow of his hand? Whence is it that the roaring Lyon hath not devoured the Saints, but that the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath defended them? Chriſt not only gives us our Crown, but our Shield; he not only gives us our garland when we overcome, but our ſtrength whereby we overcome. Rev. 12.11. They overcame him (that is, the accuſer of the Brethren) by the blood of the Lamb. Chriſt keeps the Fort-royal of grace that it be not blown up; Peters ſhield was bruiſed, but Chriſt kept it that was not broken. I prayed for thee that thy faith fail not, Luke 22.31. foreign, that it be not in a total Eclipſe. The Crown … all the Saints victories muſt be ſet upon the head of Chriſt. Rom. 8.38. In all theſe things we are more than Conquerors through Chriſt. Write the name of Michael upon all your conqueſts.
5. Chriſt is all in regard of pacification; when conſcience is in an agony, and burns as hell in the ſenſe of Gods wrath*Job 6.4.; now Chriſt is all, he poures the balm of his blood into theſe wounds; he maketh the ſtorm a calm. Chriſt doth not only make peace in the Court of heaven, but peace in the Court of conſcience; he not only makes peace above us, but within us. Joh. 16. ult. That in me ye might have peace; in me tanquam in fonte, ſaith Cyprian; all our golden ſtreams of peace flow from this fountain. John 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Jeſus Chriſt not only purchaſed peace for us, but ſpeaks peace to us; he is called the Prince of peace, Iſa. 9.6. Peace is a flowre of his Crown, he whiſpers his love to the ſoul, and ſends his Spirit that bleſſed Dove, which brings an Olive-branch of peace in its mouth, John 16.7. The peace which Chriſt gives, is peace in trouble. Micah 5.5. And this man ſhall be the peace, when the Aſsyrian ſhall come into our Land, and tread in our Palaces. Kings can proclaim war in a time of peace, but Chriſt proclaims peace in a time of war. Oh how ſweet is this peace! 'tis pax ſupra pacem, as Bernard ſaith: Auſtin calls it ſerenitas mentis, a ſweet calm and ſabbath in the ſoul; it is a foretaſte of glory, it is a bunch of grapes from the true Vine which chears the heart, it paſſeth all underſtanding, Phil. 4.7. Thus Chriſt is all in regard of pacification, he makes peace for us and in us; this honey and oyle flows out of the Rock Chriſt.
6. Chriſt is all in regard of remuneration; he it is that crowns us after all our labours and ſufferings; he dyed to advance us; his lying in the wine-preſs, was to bring us into the wine-celler; he is gone before to take poſſeſſion of heaven in the name of all believers. Hebr. 6.20. Whether the fore-runner is for us entred, even Jeſus. — Chriſt is gone to beſpeak a place for the Saints, John 14.2. He makes heaven ready for them, and makes them ready for heaven. Thus Chriſt is all in regard of remuneration. Rev. 22.12. foreign, Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me.
2. If Chriſt be all, it ſhews us what a vaſt diſproportion Branch. 2 there is between Chriſt and the creature; there is as much difference as between ens and nihil; Chriſt is all in all, and the creature is nothing at all. Prov. 23.5. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes on that which is not? The creature is a non-entity; though it hath a phyſical exiſtence, yet conſidered theologically, it is nothing; 'tis but a gilded ſhadow, a pleaſant fancy; when Solomon had ſifted out the fineſt flowre, and diſtill'd the ſpirits of all created excellency, here's the Reſult, ALL WAS VANITY, Eccleſ. 2.11. The Greek word foreign for Vain, ſignifies empty. — O quantum eſt in rebus inane? — We read the earth in the Creation was void, Gen. 1.2. foreign ſo are all earthly comforts void; they are void of that which we think is in them, they are void of ſatisfaction; therefore they are compared to wind, Hoſ. 12.1. A man can no more fill his heart with the world, than he can fill his belly with the aire he draws in. Now the creature is ſaid to be nothing in a three-fold ſenſe.
1. It is nothing to a man in trouble of ſpirit; if the ſpirit be wounded, outward things will give no more eaſe, than a Crowne of gold will cure the headache.
2. The creature is nothing to a man that hath heaven in his eye; when Saint Paul had ſeen that light ſhining from heaven, ſurpaſſing the glory of the Sun, Acts 26.13. though his eyes were open, he ſaw no man, Acts 9.8. ſo he that hath the glory of heaven in his eye, is blinde to the world; he ſees nothing in it to allure him, or make him willing to ſtay here.
3. The creature is nothing to one that is dying; a man at the houre of death is moſt ſerious, and is able to give the trueſt verdict of things; now at ſuch a time the world is nothing, 'tis in an Eclipſe, the ſorrow of it is real, but the joy imaginary. Oh then what a vaſt difference is there between Chriſt and the creature! Chriſt is all in all, and the creature nothing at all; yet how many damn their ſouls for nothing?
Branch. 3 3. It ſhews whether the ſoul is to go in the want of all; go to Chriſt who is all in all. Doſt thou want grace? go to Chriſt. Col. 2.3. In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge. Chriſt is the great Lord Treaſurer; go then to Chriſt; ſay, Lord I am indigent of grace, but in thee are all my freſh ſprings, fill my Ciſtern from thy Spring. Lord, I am blinde, thou haſt eye-ſalve to anoint me; I am defiled, thou haſt water to cleanſe me; my heart is hard, thou haſt blood to ſoften me†:*Quicquid ex me mihideeſt, id repletur ex vulneribus Chriſti. Aug. I am empty of grace, bring thy fulneſs to my emptineſs. In all our ſpiritual wants we ſhould repair to Chriſt, as Jacobs ſons did to their brother Joſeph; He opened all the store-houſes, Gen. 41.56. and gave to his Brethren corn and proviſion for the way, Gen. 42.25. Thus the Lord hath made Chriſt our Joſeph, our foreign, Col. 2.3. In him are hid all treaſures *foreign. Chryſoſtom., Oh then ſinners, make out to Chriſt; he is all in all; and to encourage you to go to him, remember there is in him not only fulneſs, but freeneſs; ho every one that thirſts, come ye to the waters. Chriſt is not only full as the honey-comb, but he drops as the honey-comb.
Branch. 4 4. If Chriſt be all, ſee here a Chriſtians Inventory; how rich is he that hath Chriſt*Qui habet habentem omnia, habet omnia.! he hath all that may make him compleatly happy. Plutarch reports that the wife of Phocion being asked where her jewels were, ſhe anſwered, My husband and his triumphs are my jewels! ſo if a Chriſtian be asked where are his riches, he will ſay, Chriſt is my riches. A true Saint cannot be poor; if you look into his houſe, perhaps he hath ſcarce a bed to lie on. 1 Cor. 4.11. Even to this preſent houre we both hunger and thirſt, and are naked, and have no certain dwelling place. Come to many a child of God, and bid him make his will, he ſaith as Peter, Acts 3.6. Silver and gold have I none; yet he can at the ſame time make his triumph with the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 6.10. As having nothing, yet poſseſſing all; he hath Chriſt who is all. When a believer can call nothing his, he can ſay all is his. The Tabernacle was covered with Badgers skins, Exod. 25. yet moſt of it was of gold; ſo a Saint may have a poor covering, ragged cloaths, but he is inlaid with gold, Chriſt is formed in his heart, and ſo he is all glorious within.
5. How ſhould a Chriſtian ſit down ſatisfied with Branch. 5 Chriſt! Chriſt is all. What though he wants other things, is not Chriſt enough? if a man hath Sunſhine, he doth not complain he wants the light of a Candle; hath not he enough, who hath the unſearchable riches of Chriſt? I have read of a godly man, who being blinde, his friend asked him if he was not troubled for the want of his ſight? he confeſſed he was; why ſaith his friend, Are you troubled becauſe you want that which flies have, when you have that which Angels have? ſo I ſay to a Chriſtian, Why art thou troubled for wanting that which a reprobate have, when thou haſt that which the glorified Saints have? Thou haſt Chriſt with all his Perquiſites and Royalties! Suppoſe a father ſhould deny his ſon furniture for his houſe, but ſhould ſettle all his Land upon him, had he any cauſe to complain? If God denies thee a little furniture in the world, but in the mean time ſettles his Land upon thee, he gives thee the field wherein the pearle of price is hid, haſt thou any cauſe to repine? A Chriſtian that wants neceſſaries, yet having Chriſt, he hath the one thing needful. Col. 2.10. Ye are compleat in him; what? compleat in Chriſt, and not content with Chriſt? Luther ſaith, the Sea of Gods mercy ſhould ſwallow up our particular afflictions; ſurely this Sea of Gods love in giving us Chriſt, ſhould drown all our complaints and grievances; let the Chriſtian take the Harp and the Viol, and bleſs God.
Branch. 6 6. If Chriſt be all, ſee the deplorable condition of a Chriſtleſs perſon; he is poor, he is worth nothing. Rev. 3.17. Thou art wretched, and miſerable, and poor, &c. The ſadneſs of a man that wants Chriſt, will appear in theſe ſeven particulars.
1. He hath no juſtification; what a glorious thing is it when a poor ſinner is abſolved from guilt, and is declared to be rectus in curia! but this priviledge flows from Chriſt; all pardons are ſealed in his blood. Acts 13.39. foreign, By him all that believe are juſtified: So then he who is out of Chriſt, is unjuſtified; the rea… us, or guilt of ſin cleaves to him; he muſt be reſponſible to juſtice in his own perſon, and the curſe ſtands in full force againſt the ſinner.
2. He that wants Chriſt, wants the beauty of holineſs; Jeſus Chriſt is a living ſpring of grace. John 1.14. Full of grace and truth. Now a Chriſtleſs perſon is a graceleſs pe…ſon, he hath not one ſhred of holineſs. The ſiens muſt firſt be engrafted into the ſtock, before it can receive ſap and influence from the root; we muſt firſt be engrafted into Chriſt, before we can of his fulneſs receive grace for grace, John 1.16. A man out of Chriſt is red with guilt, and black with filth; he is an unhallowed perſon, and dying in that condition, is rendred uncapable of ſeeing God, Hebr. 12.14.
3. He that wants Chriſt, hath no true Nobility; it is through Chriſt that we are akin to God, of the blood-royal of heaven; it is through Chriſt that God is not aſhamed to be called our God, Hebr. 11.16. But out of Chriſt we are looked upon as ignoble perſons; the Traytors blood runs in our veins; a man out of Chriſt is baſe-born; whoever is his natural father, the Divel is his ſpiritual father, John 4.48.
4. He that wants Chriſt, wants his freedom; nihil durius ſervitute. John 8.36. If the Son make you free, you ſhall be free indeed. A man out of Chriſt, is a ſlave, when he ſins moſt freely.
5. He that wants Chriſt, hath no ability for ſervice; he is as Sampſon, when his lock was cut; his ſtrength is gone from him, he wants a vital principle, he cannot walk with God, he is like a dead member in the body, that hath neither ſtrength nor motion. John 15.5. Without me ye can do nothing. The Organs will make no ſound, unleſs you blow in them; ſo unleſs Chriſt by his ſpirit breath in the ſoul, it cannot make any harmony, or put forth ſtrength to any holy action.
6. He that wants Chriſt, hath no conſolation; Chriſt is called the conſolation of Iſrael, Luk. 2.25. A Chriſtleſs ſoul is a comfortleſs ſoul; how can ſuch a … have comfort when he comes to dye? he is in debt, and hath no ſurety; his wounds bleed, and he hath no Phyſitian; he ſees the fire of Gods wrath approaching, and hath no ſcreen to keep it off; he is like a ſhip in a tempeſt; ſickneſs begins to make a tempeſt in his body, and ſin to make a tempeſt in his conſcience, and he hath nowhere to put in for harbour; oh the terror and anguiſh of ſuch a man at the houre of death! Iſaiah 13.8. Their faces ſhall be as flames; an elegant expreſſion! the meaning is, ſuch fear and horror ſhall ſeize upon ſinners in the evil day, that their countenances ſhall change, and be as pale as a flame; what are all the comforts of the world to a dying ſinner? he looks upon his friends, but they cannot comfort him; bring him his bags of gold and ſilver, they are as ſmoak to ſore eyes, it grieves him to part with them; bring him Muſick, what comfort is the Harp and Viol to a condemned man? There are in Spain Tarantula's venemous ſpiders, and thoſe who are ſtung with them, are almoſt dead, and are cured with Muſick*Tarantula icti, tibiis aut tympanis curantur.! but thoſe that dye without Chriſt, who is the conſolation of Iſrael, are in ſuch helliſh pangs and agonies, that no Muſick is able to cure them.
7. He that wants Chriſt, hath no ſalvation. Eph. 5.23. He is the Saviour of the body; he ſaves none but them who are members of his body myſtical; a ſtrong Scripture againſt the doctrine of univerſal redemption; Chriſt leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath, only to ſave his Spouſe from drowning; he is the Saviour of the body, ſo that thoſe who dye out of Chriſt are cut off from all hopes of ſalvation.
Uſe 2 2. It reproves them who buſie themſelves about other things with a neglect of Chriſt; Reproof. magno conatu nihil agunt. — Iſa. 55.2. Wherefore do you ſpend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not? If you get all the world, you are but golden beggars without Chriſt. The Phyſitian finds out noxious diſeaſes, but is ignorant of ſoul-diſeaſes; and while he gets Receits to cure others, he neglects the receit of Chriſts blood to cure himſelf. The Lawyer while he clears other mens titles to their Land, he himſelf wants a title to Chriſt. The Tradeſman is buſied in buying and ſelling, but neglects to trade for the pearle of price; like Iſrael, who went up and down to gather ſtraw; or like the load-ſtone, that draws iron to it, but refuſeth gold. Theſe who ſo mind the world, as to neglect Chriſt, their work is but ſpider-work. Hab. 2.13. Is it not of the Lord of Hoſts that the people ſhall labour in the fire, and weary themſelves for very vanity?
1. If Chriſt be all, then ſet an high valuation upon Uſe 3 Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Pet. 2.7.Exhort. To you that believe he is precious. If there were a jewel which contained in it Branch. 1 the worth of all jewels, would you not prize that? ſuch a jewel is Chriſt; ſo precious is he, that Saint Paul counted all things foreign, dung, that he might win Christ, Phil. 3.8. Oh that I could raiſe the appretiation of Jeſus Chriſt! prize Chriſt above your Eſtates, above your Relations; that man doth not deſerve Chriſt at all, who doth not prize Chriſt above all. Jeſus Chriſt is an incomprehenſible bleſſing; whatever God can require for ſatisfaction, or we can deſire for ſalvation, is to be found in Chriſt; oh then let him be the higheſt in our eſteem; no writing ſhall pleaſe me, ſaith Saint Bernard, if I do not read the Name of Chriſt there. The Name of Chriſt is the only muſick to a Chriſtians ear, and the blood of Chriſt is the only cordial to a Chriſtians heart.
2. If Jeſus Chriſt be all, then make ſure of Chriſt; Branch. 2 never leave trading in Ordinances, till you have gotten this pearle of price; in Chriſt there is the accumulation of all good things; oh then let not your ſouls be quiet, till this bundle of myrrhe lie between your breaſts, Cant. 1.13. In other things we ſtrive for a propriety; This houſe is mine, theſe jewels are mine, and why not this Chriſt is mine? There are only two words which will ſatisfie the ſoul, Deity and Propriety: Quid eſt Deus, ſi non eſt meus? ſaith Auſtin. What was it the better for the old world they had an Ark, as long as they did not get into the Ark? And that I may perſwade all to get Chriſt, let me ſhew you what an enriching bleſſing Chriſt is.
1. Chriſt is bonum tranſcendens, a ſupreme good; put what you will in the ballance with Chriſt, he doth infinitely out-weigh. Is life ſweet? Chriſt is better! he is the life of the ſoul, Col. 3.4. his loving-kindneſs is better than life, Pſal. 63.3. Are Relations ſweet? Chriſt is better; he is the friend ſticks cloſer than a brother.
2. Chriſt is bonum ſufficiens, a ſufficient good; he who hath Chriſt, needs no more; he who hath the Ocean, needs not the Ciſtern. If one had a Manuſcript that contained all manner of learning in it, having all the Arts and Sciences, he need look in no other book; ſo he that hath Chriſt, needs look no further. Chriſt gives grace and glory, Pſal. 84.11. The one to cleanſe us, the other to crown us; as Jacob ſaid, It is enough, Joſeph is yet alive, Gen. 45.28. So he that hath Chriſt, may ſay,Luther. it is enough, vivit Chriſtus, Jeſus is yet alive.
3. Chriſt is bonum adaequatum, a ſutable good; in him dwells foreign, all fulneſs, Col. 1.19. He is bonum in quo omnia bona; he is whatever the ſoul can deſire; foreign, &c. Chriſt is beauty to adorn, gold to enrich, balm to heal, bread to ſtrengthen, wine to comfort, ſalvation to crown; Chriſt is quicquid appetibile; if we are in danger, he is a ſhield; if we are diſconſolate, he is a Sun; he hath enough in his wardrobe abundantly to furniſh the ſoul.
4. Chriſt is bonum ſanctificans, a ſanctifying good; he makes every condition happy to us, he ſweetens all our comforts, and ſanctifies all our croſſes.
1. Chriſt ſweetens all our comforts; he turns them into bleſſings; health is bleſſed, eſtate is bleſſed, relations are bleſſed. Chriſts love is as the pouring ſweet water on flowres, which makes them caſt a more fragrant perfume. A wicked man cannot have that comfort in outward things as a godly man hath; he may poſſeſs more, but he enjoyes leſs; he who hath Chriſt, may ſay, This mercy is reached to me by the hand of my Saviour, this is a love-token from him, an earneſt of glory.
2. Chriſt ſanctifies all our croſſes, they ſhall be medicinal to the ſoul; they ſhall work ſin out, and work grace in; Gods ſtretching the ſtrings of his Viol, is to tune it, and make the muſick better; Chriſt ſees to it that his people loſe nothing in the Furnace but their droſſie impurities*Quod durum fuit pa…i, memi niſſe dulce eſt Sen. Trag..
5. Chriſt is bonum rarum, a rare bleſſing; there are but few that have him; the beſt things when they grow common, begin to be ſlighted; when ſilver was in Jeruſalem as ſtones, 1 Kings. 10.27. it was apt to be trod upon; Chriſt is a jewel that few are enriched with, which may both raiſe our eſteem of him, and quicken our purſuit after him; thoſe to whom God hath given both the Indies, he hath not given them Chriſt; they have the fat of the earth, but not the dew of heaven; and among us Proteſtants, many who hear of Chriſt, but few that have him. Luke 4.25. Many widows were in Iſrael in the dayes of Elias, when the heaven was ſhut up three years and ſix months, but unto none of them was Elias ſent ſave unto Sarepta, a City of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. There are many in this City who have Chriſt ſounded in their ears, but few who ha…e Chriſt formed in their hearts; O how ſhould we labour to be of this few! they who are Chriſtleſs, ſhould be reſtleſs.
6. Chriſt is bonum ſelectum, a ſelect choice good; God ſhews more love in giving us Chriſt, than in giving us Crowns and Kingdoms. God may give us other things, and hate us; but in giving Chriſt he beſtows the higheſt pledge of his love; God may give the men of the world bona ſcabelli, as Auſtin ſaith, the bleſſings of the foot-ſtool; but in giving Chriſt to a man, he gives him bona Throni, the bleſſings of the Throne; what though others have a crutch to lean on, if thou haſt a Chriſt to lean on! Abraham ſent away the ſons of the Concubines with gifts, but he gave all he had to Iſaac, Gen. 25.5. God may ſend away others with a little gold and ſilver; but if he gives thee Chriſt, he gives thee all that ever he hath; for Chriſt is all, and in all: Pſal. 145.16. Thou openeſt thy hand, and ſatisfieſt every living thing; in beſtowing the world, God doth but open his hand; but in beſtowing Chriſt, he opens his heart; Chriſt is a crowning bleſſing.
7. Chriſt is bonum fine quo nihil bonum; he is ſuch a good, as without which nothing is good; without Chriſt health is not good, 'tis fuel for luſt; riches are not good, they are golden ſnares; Ordinances are not good; though they are good in themſelves, yet not good to us, they profit not; they are as breaſts without milk, as bottles without wine; nay, they are not only a dead letter, but a ſavour of death; without Chriſt they will damn us; for want of Chriſt millions go loaded to hell with Ordinances.
8. Chriſt is bonum permanens, an enduring good; other things are like the Lamp, which while it ſhines it ſpends; the heavens ſhall wax old like a garment, Pſal. 102.26. — But Jeſus Chriſt is a permanent good, with him are durable riches, Prov. 8.18. They laſt as long as eternity it ſelf laſts.
9. Chriſt is bonum diffuſum, a diffuſive, communicative good; he is full, not only as a veſsel, but as a ſpring, he is willing to give himſelf to us; if indeed Chriſt ſhould ſay, he would have nothing to do with us, we are not in his Commiſſion, he is not ſent to ſuch ſinners as we, then we might deſpair; but he is willing that we ſhould have him; he calls, Come unto me all ye that are weary; he would fain have the match made up between us and him; oh that we were but as willing as Chriſt is! Now then if there be all this variety of excellency in Jeſus Chriſt*Multifaria ſuav…tatis dul cedo exube…at in pectore Domini Jeſu. Bern., it may make us ambitiouſly deſirous of an intereſt in him.
Queſt. But how ſhall I get a part in Chriſt?
Anſw. 1. See your need of Chriſt, know that you are undone without him. How obnoxious are you to Gods eye! how odious to his nature! how obnoxious to his juſtice! O ſinner, how near is the Serjeant to arreſt thee! The Furnace of hell is heating for thee, and what wilt thou do without Chriſt? 'tis only the Lord Jeſus can ſtand as a ſcreen to keep off the fire of Gods wrath from burning thee. Tell me then, is there not need of Chriſt? though Chriſt be offered to ſinners, yet he will not have his love abuſed, he will not throw away himſelf upon ſuch as ſee no need of him; ſee thy ſelf wounded, and then Chriſt that good Samaritan, will poure in wine and oyle into thy wounds; think often of that Scripture, John 3.18. He that believeth not, foreign, is condemned already. He that dies in his ſin, not laying hold on Chriſt by faith, is as ſure to be condemned, as if he were condemned already.
2. Be importunate after Chriſt Lord, give me Chriſt or I die. As Acſah ſaid to her father Caleb, Joſh. 15.19. Thou haſt given me a South land, give me alſo ſprings of water. So ſhould a poor ſoul ſay, Lord, thou haſt given me an eſtate in the world, but this South-land will not quench my thirſt, give me alſo ſprings of water. Give me thoſe living ſprings which run in my Saviours blood; Thou haſt ſaid, Let him that is athirſt come, and whoſoever wil let him take the water of life freely, Rev. 22.17, 18. Lord, I thirſt after Jeſus Chriſt, nothing but Chriſt will ſatisfie me; I am dead, I am damned without him, oh give me this water of life. When the blind man was importunate, Jeſus ſtood ſtill, Luke 18.40. and wrought a cure upon him, verſe 42. Chriſt cannot deny a praying ſoul. As the tender mother opens the breaſt when the child cries for it: ſo when an humble, thirſty ſinner cries importunately to heaven, God will open the breaſt of free-grace, and ſay, Here, take my Chriſt, be ſatiated with him, let him be to thee all in all, both for food and medicine.
3. Be content to have Chriſt as Chriſt is offered, a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5.31. Be ſure you do not compound or indent with Chriſt. Some would have Chriſt and their ſins too. Is Chriſt all, and will you not part …th ſomething for this all? Chriſt would have you part with nothing, but what will damn you, if you keep, namely your ſins. Vomit up this poyſon by repentance, and Chriſt will pour in the wine of his blood to chear your heart.
There are ſome bid fair for Chriſt, they will part with ſome ſins, but keep a reſerve. Jacob would let all his ſons go but Benjamin; whereas if you leave but one ſin in your heart, it will be as an Egge for Satan to brood upon. If a man part with many lovers, and retain the love but of one Harlot, he is an Adulterer: ſo if thou parteſt with many ſins, and doſt retain the love but of one ſin, thou haſt an adulterous heart, and Chriſt will not make up a match with thee. Doth that man think he ſhall have Chriſts love that feeds ſinne in a corner? O part with all for him who is all. Part with thy luſts, nay thy life if Chriſt calls.
3. It exhorts us not only to get Chriſt, but to labour Branch. 3 to know that we have Chriſt,Exhort. 1 John 2.3. hereby we know that we know him. This reflex act of faith is more than the direct act. Some Divines call it ſenſus fidei, the perception, or ſenſible feeling of faith; now concerning this knowledge that Chriſt is ours, which is the ſame with aſſurance, I ſhall lay down theſe four Corollaries or concluſions.
1. That this knowledge is feaſible, it may be had, 1 John 5.13. Theſe things have I written to you that believe, that ye may know ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God. The meaning is, the Apoſtle wrote to theſe believers that they might know they were believers, and might be aſſured Chriſt was theirs. Indeed the Papiſts deny this certainty of knowledge; it is inſerted in one of their Canons, Anathema ſit — Let him be Anathema, who holds aſſurance. But that we may arrive at it, I ſhall evince by theſe demonſtrations.
1. Why elſe doth God bid us make our calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. if aſſurance may not be had? and to prove our ſelves whether we are in the faith, 2 Cor. 13.5. if we cannot come to this knowledge that Chriſt is ours? The Greek word there for proving foreign, ſignifies to boar, or pierce thorow a piece of mettal to ſee whether it be gold within or no; a Chriſtian may thus pierce his heart by examination and ſelf-reflection to ſee whether Chriſt be formed within him or no.
2. What are all the ſignes which the Scripture gives of a man in Chriſt but ſo many ciphers, if the knowledge of this intereſt may not be had? 1 John 3.14. We know that we have paſſed from death unto life becauſe we love the brethren; and 1 John 4.13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us, becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit. Here are two foreign, evident characters of a man in Chriſt; now theſe ſigns are in vain if aſſurance may not be arrived at.
3. There are ſome duties enjoyned in Scripture, which to perform is utterly impoſſible; if the knowledge of an intereſt in Chriſt be not attainable; we are bid to rejoyce in God, Phil. 4.4. and to rejoyce in tribulation, 1 Pet. 4.13. How can he rejoyce in ſuffering, who doth not know whether Chriſt be his or no?
4. Why hath Chriſt promiſed to ſend the Comforter, John 14.16. whoſe very work it is to bring the heart to this aſſurance, if aſſurance that Chriſt is ours may not be had? Therefore in Scripture we read of the ſeal of the Spirit, Epheſ. 1.13. The earneſt and firſt-fruits, 2 Cor. 1.22. Rom. 8.23. The promiſe of the Comforter were in vain, the earneſt and witneſs of the Spirit were but phantaſmes and nullities, if the aſſurance of union with Chriſt be not feaſible.
5. Some of the Saints have arrived at this certainty of knowledge; therefore it may be had. Job knew that his Redeemer lived, Job 19.25. And Saint Paul had this aſſurance, 2 Tim. 1.12. Gal. 2.20. Yea, may ſome ſay, Paul was an eminent believer, a Chriſtian of the firſt magnitude, no wonder if he had this jewel of aſſurance! nay, but the Apoſtle ſpeaks of it as a caſe incident to other believers, Rom. 8.35. foreign? who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? He doth not ſay, Who ſhall ſeparate me? but us! ſo that by all it appears that a believer may come to ſpell out his intereſt in Chriſt.
Caution 1. Not that the Saints have alwayes the Caution 1 fame certainty, or that they have ſuch an aſſurance as excludes all doubtings and conflicts; there will be flowings and ebbings in their comforts, as well as in their graces; was it not ſo in David? ſometimes we hear him ſay, Gods loving-kindneſs was before his eyes, Pſal. 26.3. As it is a Proverbial ſpeech, I have ſuch a thing in my eye, I ſee it juſt before me; but at another time, Where are thy loving-kindneſses? Pſal. 89.49. A Chriſtian hath not alwayes the ſame Plerophory; Saint Paul at one time ſets up the Trophies of victory, and ſings his foreign, or triumphant ſong. Rom. 8.37. We are more than Conquerors. At another time how did the Plumes of his confidence fall? and he was as a man in the midſt of the Sea, ſtrugling with the waves, and crying out for help, Rom. 7.24. foreign, O wretched man that I am, &c. A Saint in this life is like a ſhip at Anchor, which though ſafe, yet it may be ſometimes toſſed upon the water; theſe doubtings and convulſions God ſuffers in his children ſometimes, that they may long the more for heaven, where they ſhall have a conſtant ſpring-tyde of joy.
Caution 2. Not that all believers have the ſame aſſurance. Caution 2
1. Aſſurance is rather the fruit of faith, than faith: Now as the root of the Roſe or Tulip may be alive, where the flowre is not viſible; ſo faith may live in the heart, where the flowre of aſſurance doth not appear; yet this is ſure, there is ſo much wrought in the heart of every believer by Gods Spirit as he can bottom his hope upon; as for inſtance, a high prizing of Chriſt, an acquieſcence in Chriſt, a rejoycing in his image, a delighting in his word; the weakeſt believer hath ſo much to ſhew as he would not part with for a world.
2. Aſſurance is difficult to be obtained; it is a rare jewel, but hard to come by; not many Chriſtians have this jewel.
1. God ſees it good ſometimes to with-draw aſſurance from his people, that they may walk humbly; through the corruption of our nature we are apt to abuſe the richeſt mercies; the Moth breeds in the fineſt cloth, the Worm in the ſweeteſt fruit; pride is apt to breed in this ſweet fruit of aſſurance. It is hard for Chriſtians to want aſſurance, and be content; and to have it, and be humble.
2. Satan doth what he can to way-lay and obſtruct our aſſurance; he is called the red Dragon, Rev. 12.3. And how doth he trouble the waters of a Chriſtians peace? If the Divel cannot keep a believer from heaven, he will do what he can to keep him from an heaven upon earth; he will wrack him with fears and diſquiets. If he cannot blot a Chriſtians evidence, yet ſometimes he caſts ſuch a miſt before his eyes, that he cannot read his evidence; the Divel envies that God ſhould have any glory, or the ſoul any comfort.
3. That we want aſſurance, the fault for the moſt is our own; we walk careleſly, neglect our ſpiritual watch, let go our hold of promiſes, comply with temptations; no wonder then if we walk in darkneſs, and are at ſuch a loſs, that we cannot tell whether Chriſt be ours or no; our uneven carriage grieves the Spirit, whoſe work it is to ſeal up aſſurance; if we quench the graces of the Spirit, no wonder if God quench the comforts of the Spirit.
3. Aſſurance is very ſweet; this wine of Paradiſe chears the heart; how comfortable is Gods ſmile! the Sun is more refreſhing when it ſhines out, then when it is hid in a cloud; for want of this knowledge Chriſt is ours; we often hang our Harps upon the Willows, and ſit as Iſrael by the Rivers weeping, Pſal. 137.1, 2. A man that hath a rich Mine of gold in his Field, yet if he doth not know it is there, he cannot take the comfort of it. One that hath a great Eſtate befallen him beyond the Seas, yet if ignorant of it, he is as if he had no ſuch Eſtate. Hagar had a Well of water by her, but her eyes being held that ſhe ſaw not the Well, ſhe ſat weeping; it is the knowledge of an intereſt gives comfort. Luke 1.47. My ſpirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour; not a Saviour, but my Saviour. The Rabbins ſay that Moſes dyed with a kiſs from Gods mouth; he that knows Chriſt is his, hath a kiſs from Chriſts lips, he dyes triumphing; aſſurance puts a man in heaven before his time.
4. Aſſurance is very uſeful, it will put us upon ſervice for Chriſt.
1. It will put us upon active obedience; aſſurance will not (as the Papiſts ſay) breed ſecurity in the ſoul, but agility; it will make us mount up with wings, as Eagles, in holy duties; faith makes us living, aſſurance make us lively; if we know that Chriſt is ours, we ſhall never think we can love him enough, or ſerve him enough. 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of Chriſt conſtrains us. Aſſurance is like wings to the Bird, like oyle to the Lamp, like weights to the Clock, it ſets all the wheels of obedience a going; aſſurance is a whetſtone to the graces, it ſtirs up hope, love, zeal; faith makes a Chriſtian walk, 2 Cor. 5.7. aſſurance makes him run: Nehem. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your ſtrength. Aſſurance breeds ſuch joy in the ſoul, as doth derive and iſſue forth ſtrength for duty.
2. Aſſurance will put us upon paſsive obedience: Rom. 5.3, 5. We glory in tribulation, becauſe the love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts. He that hath Chriſts love ſhed into his heart, will be willing to ſhed his blood for Chriſt; he who knows Chriſt is his, will come to him with Peter upon the waters; he comforts himſelf with this, though he loſe all for Chriſt, he ſhall find all in Chriſt. Mr. Fox ſpeaks of a woman in Queen Maries dayes, who when the adverſaries threatned to take her husband from her, ſhe anſwered, Chriſt is my husband; when they threatned to take away her children, ſhe anſwered, Chriſt is better to me than ten ſons; when they threatned to take away all from her, ſaith ſhe, Chriſt is mine, and you cannot take away him from me; that man who is aſſured Chriſt is his, will hazard the loſs of all for him; he knows though he may be a loſer for Chriſt, he cannot be a loſer by Chriſt; for Chriſt is all, and in all. No wonder Saint Paul was willing to be bound, and dye for Chriſt, Acts 21.13. when he knew that Chriſt loved him, and had given himſelf for him, Gal. 2.20. Though I will not ſay Paul was proud of his chain, yet he was glad of it, he wore it as a chain of pearle.
Queſt. Queſt. But how ſhall I get this jewel of aſſurance?
Anſw. Anſw. 1. Make duty familiar to you; when the Spouſe ſought Chriſt diligently, ſhe found him joyfully, Cant. 3.4. The Ordinances are the Lattice where Chriſt looks forth, and gives the ſoul a ſmiling aſpect. As Chriſt was made known to his Diſciples in the breaking of bread, Luke 24.35. ſo in the uſe of holy Ordinances, in the breaking of bread, Chriſt makes a glorious diſcovery of himſelf to the ſoul. Chriſts parents found him in the Temple, Luk. 2.46. They who would find Chriſt with comfort, and have the kiſſes of his lips, ſhall be ſure to meet with him in the Temple.
2. Preſerve the virginity of conſcience; when the glaſs is foule you will not poure wine into it, but when it is clean; ſo when the ſoul is cleanſed from the love of every ſin, now God will poure in the ſweet wine of aſſurance*foreign. Socrat.. Hebr. 10.22. Let us draw near in full aſsurance of faith, having our hearts ſprinkled from an evil conſcience. Guilt clips the wings of joy; he who is conſcious to himſelf of ſecret ſin, cannot draw near to God in full aſſurance; he cannot come with boldneſs, but bluſhing; he cannot call God Father, but Judge; aſſurance is a flowre that grows only in a pure heart; before David prayes for joy, he firſt prayes for a pure heart. Pſal. 51.10. Create in me a clean heart O God.
3. Be much in the actings of faith; the more active the childe is in obedience, the ſooner he hath his fathers ſmile; if faith be ready to dye, Rev. 3.2. if it be like Armour hung up, or like a ſleepy habit in the ſoul, never look for aſſurance. God will not ſpeak peace to thee when thou art aſleep; it is the lively faith which flouriſheth into aſſurance. Abraham had a vigorous, ſparkling faith. Rom. 4.18. who againſt hope believed in hope. That is againſt the hope of ſenſe he believed in the hope of the promiſe; and how ſweetly doth God manifeſt himſelf to Abraham? he calls him his friend, he makes him of his Cabinet-counſel, Gen. 18.17. Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do? Wouldſt thou have Chriſt reveal his love to thee? k…ep faith upon the wing; this is the Bird which ſoars aloft, and plucks a bunch of grapes from the true Vine.
4. If Chriſt be all, then make him ſo to Branch. 4 you.
1. Make Chriſt all in your underſtanding, be ambitious to know nothing but Chriſt. 1 Cor. 2.2. For I determined not to know any thing among you ſave Jeſus Chriſt. The Greek word is foreign, I judged not; I did not think any thing in my judgement worth knowing in compariſon of Chriſt. Auſtin ſaith of Cicero, he liked his eloquence, but he could not take ſo much delight in reading him, quia Nomen Chriſti non erat ibi, becauſe he could not finde the Name of Chriſt there; what will all other knowledge avail a man at his death, who is ignorant of Chriſt? — Si Chriſtum neſcis, nihil eſt ſi coetera noſcis. — What is it to have knowledge in Phyſick? to be able with Eſculapius and Galen to diſcourſe of the cauſes and ſymptomes of a diſeaſe, and what is proper to apply, and in the mean time to be ignorant of the healing under Chriſts wings? What is it to have knowledge in Aſtronomy, to diſcourſe of the Stars and Planets, and to be ignorant of Chriſt that bright morning ſtar which leads to heaven? what is it to have skill in a ſhop, and ignorant of that commodity which doth both enrich and crown? what is it to be verſed in Muſick, and to be ignorant of Chriſt, whoſe blood makes atonement in heaven, and muſick in the conſcience? what is it to know all the ſtratagems of War, and to be ignorant of the Prince of peace? O make Chriſt all, be willing to know nothing but Chriſt; though you may know other things in their due place, yet know Chriſt in the firſt place; let the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt have the preheminence; as the Sun among the leſſer Planets.
This is the crowning knowledge, Prov. 4.18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge.
1. We cannot know our ſelves unleſs we know Chriſt; he it is who lights us into our hearts, and ſhews as the ſpots of our ſouls, whereby we abhor our ſelves in duſt and aſhes. Chriſt ſhews us our own vacuity and indigency; and untill we ſee our own emptineſs, we are not fit to be filled with the golden oyle of mercy.
2. We cannot know God, but through Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4.6. Out of Chriſt God is terrible, he is a conſuming fire; it is through Chriſt that we know God as a friend; oh then treaſure up the knowledge of Chriſt; he is the golden ladder by which we aſcend to heaven; to be ignorant of Chriſt, is as if a man were poyſoned, and there were an herb in the garden could cure him, but he is ignorant of that herb.
2. Make Chriſt all in your affections.
1. Deſire nothing but Chriſt, he is the accumulation of all good things. Ye are compleat in him, Col. 2.10. Chriſt is the Chriſtians perfection; what ſhould the ſoul deſire leſs? what can it deſire more*foreign. Ignatius.? Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. David had his Crown and his Throne to delight in; I but it was the preſence of Chriſt he chiefly thirſted after; without Chriſt all his other comforts were not only emptineſs, but bitterneſs.
2. Love nothing but Chriſt; love is the choyceſt affection, it is the pureſt ſtream of the ſoul, it is the richeſt jewel the creature hath to beſtow; oh if Chriſt be all, love him better than all; let your Rivers ſtill run into this golden Sea. Every mans heart is ſet upon his treaſure; in Chriſt there are unſearchable riches, Epheſ. 3.8. Though the Angels have lived ſo long in heaven, yet to this day they know not how rich Chriſt is. Take the moſt precious pearle or Diamond that is, and the Jeweller can ſet the full value of it; he can ſay, This is worth ſo much, and no more; but the riches of Chriſt are unſearchable, it cannot be ſaid he is worth ſo much, and no more; neither man or Angel are able to ſet the full value of the pearle of price; and ſhall not Jeſus Chriſt lie neareſt our hearts? ſhall he not have the cream of our love?
Conſider 1. If you love other things, when they dye your love is loſt; but Chriſt lives for ever to requite your love.
2. You may love other things in the exceſs, but you cannot love Chriſt in the exceſs. MARY LOVED MUCH, Luke 7.47. but not too much; if Chriſt cannot be prized enough, he cannot be loved too much; the Angels in heaven cannot love Chriſt to his worth.
3. When you love other things, you love that which is worſe than your ſelves; if you love a fair houſe, a pleaſant garden, a curious picture, theſe things are worſe than your ſelves; if I would love any thing more intenſly and ardently, it ſhould be ſomething which is better than my ſelf, and that is Jeſus Chriſt. He who is all, let him have all; give him your love who deſires it moſt, and deſerves it beſt.
— Minus te amat qui aliquid tecum amat. —
3. Make Chriſt all in your abilities, do all in his ſtrength. Epheſ. 6.10. Be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. When you are to reſiſt a tentation, to mortifie a corruption, do not go out in your own ſtrength, but in the ſtrength of Chriſt: Be ſtrong in the Lord. Some go out to duty in the ſtrength of parts, and go out againſt ſin in the ſtrength of reſolutions, and they come home foiled. Alas! what are our reſolutions, but like the green withs which did binde Sampſon! a ſinful heart will ſoon break theſe; do as David when he was to go againſt Goliah, ſaith he, I come to thee in the Name of the Lord. So ſay to thy Goliah-luſt, I come to thee in the Name of Chriſt. Then we conquer, when the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah marcheth before us; Chriſt is called an horn of ſalvation, Luke 1.69. The ſtrength of a creature lies in his horn; ſo the ſtrength of a believer lies in this horn of ſalvation: Oh make Chriſt all, do all in his ſtrength. The Bird may as well flie without wings, as we can do any thing prevailing without Chriſt. 1 Sam. 2.9. For by ſtrength ſhall no man prevail.
4. Make Chriſt all in your aimes, do all to his glory, 1 Pet. 4.11. Let Chriſt be the center to which all the lines of your actions are drawn; the hypocrite pretends Chriſt, but drives on ſome ſelf-intereſt, Hoſ. 10.1. He is like one who pretends to woe for his friend, but is a ſutor for himſelf. Simon Magus would have given money for the gift of the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 8.18. but probably the reaſon was, becauſe he intended to have ſold that gift to others; how many make the Name of Chriſt a ſtirrup to get into the ſaddle of honour and preferment? it is well if ſome have not made the Crown delinquent for its jewels, and the Church for its Lands. The ſquintey'd hypocrite is the Divels wind-fall; oh make Chriſt all in your aimes and deſigns; in every action propound this queſtion, Will this make for the honour of Chriſt? will this bring any Revenues into his Exchequer? how happy were it if it might be ſaid of us, as the Angel ſpeaks to the two Maries, Matth. 28.5. I know that ye ſeek Jeſus which was crucified! If a man doth not take a right aime, he can never hit the mark; he who doth not aime at Gods glory, can never hit the mark of his own ſalvation.
5. Make Chriſt all in your affiance, truſt to none but Chriſt for ſalvation; the Papiſts make Chriſt ſomething, but not all; they truſt partly to Chriſt, and partly to their own merits; they pray to Chriſt and Angels; to Chriſt as a Mediator of Redemption, and to Angels as Mediators of Interceſsion; they invocate the Virgin Mary for mercy, ſo mingling her milk with Chriſts blood; but what is given to others ſuperſtitiouſly, is taken from Chriſt ſacrilegiouſly; they have their Maſſes, Pennance, extream unction; they confeſs ind…ed Chriſts blood doth wholly ſati…fie for Original ſin, but ſins after Baptiſme committed, they have fountains of their own to waſh in. The Eagles feathers will not mix with other feathers; Chriſt will not endure to have his blood mixed either with the merits of Saints, or prayers of Angels. Chriſt will be all in all, or nothing at all.
And is there not naturally a ſpice of Popery in our hearts? we would be grafting happineſs upon the ſtock of our own righteouſneſs; every man (ſaith Luther) is born with a Pope in his heart. How ready are we to Idolize our duties and graces, and to draw ſo much from the ſtream, as to neglect the Spring! Oh make Chriſt all in regard of recumbency; let him be your City of refuge to flie to, your Ark to truſt to. It was a good ſpeech of Luther, If I could keep the whole Moral Law, I would not truſt to this for juſtification, I would vail and ſtoop to Chriſts merits.
6. Make Chriſt all in your joy. Gal. 6.14. God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Luke 1.47. My ſpirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour. The Virgin Mary did not ſo much rejoyce that ſhe was Chriſts Mother, as that Chriſt was her Saviour; ſhe did not ſo much rejoyce that Chriſt was conceived in her womb, as that he was formed in her heart; how glad was Simeon when he had taken Chriſt in his arms! Luke 2.29. How chearful may that man be who hath taken Chriſt in the arms of his faith? The wiſe men when they ſaw the ſtar, rejoyced with exceeding great joy, Matth. 2.10. O Chriſtian, haſt thou ſeen the Lord Jeſus? hath this morning Star ſhined into thy heart with its enlightning, quickning beams? then rejoyce, and be exceeding glad. Shall others rejoyce in the world, and will not you rejoyce in Chriſt? how much better is he than all other things? God hath given the men of the world a Crutch to lean on, he hath given thee a Chriſt to lean on; oh rejoyce in Chriſt! Shall the Malefactor rejoyce, and ſhall not the Favourite rejoyce? it reflects diſparagement upon Chriſt when his Saints are ſad and drooping; is not Chriſt yours, what would you have more?
Object. 1. But ſaith one, I am low in the World, Object. 1 and that takes off the Chariot wheels of my joy, and makes me drive heavily?
Anſw. But haſt thou not Chriſt? and is not Chriſt all? Anſw. Pſal. 16.5, 6. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup, the lines are fallen unto me in pleaſant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage. Chriſt is omnibus Theſauris opulentior, an inexhauſtible Treaſury;Aug. and he who by faith is united to him, hath a title to all Chriſts riches. A beggar being married to a Prince, ſhe hath a right and title to all his Revenues.
Object. 2. If indeed I knew Chriſt were mine, then I Object. 2 could rejoce, but how ſhall I know that?
Anſw. 1. Is thy ſoul fill'd with anhelations and pantings after Chriſt? Anſw. doſt thou deſire as well water out of Chriſts ſides to cleanſe thee, as blood out of his ſides to ſave thee? Theſe ſighs and groans are ſtirred up by the Spirit of God, by the beating of this pulſe judge of the life of faith in thee; a wicked man hath none of theſe breathings after Chriſt. Job 21.14. They ſay unto God depart from us. Chriſt and grace are dead commodities, they care not for them; if the heart move Chriſtward, the Spirit as a divine loadſtone hath been drawing it.
2. Haſt thou given up thy ſelf by an univerſal ſubjection to Chriſt? art thou his not only by education, but dedication? this is a good ſign that Chriſt is thine. Pſal. 27.8. When thou ſaidſt, Seek ye my face, my heart ſaid unto thee, Thy face Lord will I ſeek.
Branch. 5 5. Be thankful for Chriſt; God hath done more for you in giving you Chriſt, than if he had ſet you with the Princes of the earth, Pſal. 113.8. He hath done more for you, than if he had made you Angels; for by vertue of your marriage-union with Ghriſt, you are richer than the Angels. O be thankful for Chriſt; God in giving you Chriſt, hath done more for you, than if he had given you the whole world; he can make more worlds, but he hath but one Son; as Naomi ſaid to her Daughters, Ruth 1.11. Are there yet any more ſons in my womb? Hath God any more ſons to give? in ſhort, God cannot give a greater gift than Chriſt; for in giving Chriſt, he gives himſelf to us; and all this calls aloud for thankfulneſs.
Uſe 4 Uſe ult. Here is a breaſt of comfort to every man that hath Chriſt,Conſol. Chriſt is all, it is good lying at this fountain head. When a Chriſtian ſees a deficiency in himſelf, he may fee an all-ſufficiency in his Saviour. Happy is that people whoſe God is the Lord. Pſal. 144. ult. That ſervant need not want, who hath his Maſters full purſe at command; he need not want, who hath Chriſt; for Chriſt is all and in all. What though the Fig-tree doth not flouriſh, if thou haſt Chriſt the Tree of life, and all fruit growing there? In the houre of death a believer may rejoyce, when he leaves all, he is poſſeſſed of all, as Ambroſe ſaid to his friend, I fear not death becauſe I have a good Lord. So may a godly man ſay, I fear not death becauſe I have a Chriſt to go to; death will but carry me to that torrent of divine pleaſure which runs at his right hand for ever more. I will end with that 1 Theſ. 4.18. Wherefore comfort one another with theſe words.