that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you That is If God dwell in your hearts by faith all the current of your lives will be to dwell in him by love by hope and by obedience Thus Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Here is the Spirit of Donation and of Grace sent from the Spirit of Power and Glory God hath sent So Joel 2. 28 I will pour forth my Spirit on all flesh Here is the Spirits pouring forth the Spirit namely the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. which Spirit cooperateth in our hearts through which we have communion in our union I shall cast all that I have to speak at this time from these words into these three Considerations 1. How may a Believer and Christ be said to be one Spirit 2. What Evidences may I have that my soul and Christ are thus in union And then 3. What benefit and income have I by being united unto Christ For so the Text imports it by way of triumph benefit and blessing to that soul which is one Spirit with Christ And in all these three Considerations I am not to speak of the Maximum quod sic or the Minimum quod sic Not of the Degrees of believing knowing that the least grain of faith doth as truly unite to Christ as the Plerophoria faith of assurance though not so strongly First How may a believing soul and Christ be said to be one Spirit I shall demonstrate this in some few and brief particulars 1. This will appear in the life of Christ and the life of a Believer Take a Believer in his birth and progress in this world in his first and in his last and still you will find Christ and Believers walking hand in hand and heart in heart they do not only close together in the final close but through Christ their whole life is a harmony joying and joyning and rejoycing in one another True it is as Musitians may have in their Descant some sharp and flats some rests and pauses yet even they set out the harmony So a Believer may have some withdrawings of divine light Christ may seem to stand behind the wall and to be estranged but no sooner doth Christ call but straight saith the holy soul Draw me and I will run after thee Can. 1. 4. And if the Saint cries I am my Welbeloveds Christ saith presently She is his Can. 2. 16. Likewise as Christ and the soul have an union in life so have they also in death and suffering If they suffer he suffers if he suffers they suffer if Christ dies the Saints die yea count reckon your selves so saith Paul Rom. 6. 11. yet with this difference Christ dyeth for sin the Saints to sin Christus non filius fuit irae sub ira Christ was not a Son of wrath though under wrath But we were both and yet what we had done Christ counts himself had done and stands in our stead So that as Luther saith He was the greatest sinner in the world And he bids the Saints believe that all their sins were laid on him and that not only so but that his righteousness is made ours for so saith the Prophet He is the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 6. And if we be afflicted Christ is afflicted he having the same Isa 63. 9 spirit of sympathizing must needs have the same spirit in suffering Out of this sense if Christ be bound and led to Mount Calvary to suffer for his Saints saith the holy Soul I am not only ready to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Act. 21. 13. 2. We are one Spirit with Christ by having communion and interest in all the precious graces of Christ This is the Saints testimony 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit which Spirit is the sweet fruit of all the graces dwelling in our hearts and by which we cry Abba Father And if you would know what this Spirit of Grace is the Apostle tels you in opposing it to the worlds envyings Gal. 5. 21 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Be not proud of this thy Spiritual income but be joyfull and be chearfull for against such there is no law Why no law against such Because Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. So then if we rank up all these graces Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness c. these being one Spirit with Christ we by being in union with Christ have a communion with all the graces of Christ Thus Christ dwels in us by faith and we are in Christ by faith Christ dwels in us by love and we dwell in Christ by love only We love him because he loved us first So that though we be many members and have diversity of gifts and several operations yet but one spirit one body one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. Thirdly believers are one spirit with Christ in that they leave all other relations in coming to Christ If any thing oppose tribulation peril sword father mother friends a believer will through thick and thin cross or comforts good report or bad report through all to Christ How is man and wife one flesh by leaving all to be joyned to one another Matth. 19. 5. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh Thus is it in the spiritual union between Christ and the soul they leave all for Christ And this is but that which Christ hath done for us for he left Glory Father House and Home Phil 2. 5 6 7. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant yea he was made in the likeness of men and humbled himself and became obedient unto death And what was all this for but that his Saints might be joyned unto him in spirit in righteousness in life in grace in glory Christ left all for us that we might have a union with him so we must leave all other relations and cleave unto Christ alone And therefore let us put the question unto conscience How many of us can part and leave all for Christ if we finde not this resolution within us but we have a cleaving to father and mother to this worlds comforts and enjoyments profess what we will for Christ yet so far
the same form with the Devil he is the first in wrath because he is thy father but thou art as yet no better then a child of wrath because thou art not begotten again by a lively faith a faith that is active and full of love and longings after Jesus Christ who is alone within the soul the hope of glory It may be thou hast lived thirty forty or fifty years but what Faith hast thou It may be thou hast lived under the teachings of Christ and under the offers of grace and peace and reconciliation this is more then ever the Devil had and yet he hath as much faith and knowledge as thou hast if thou hast not saving sanctifying faith for the Devil hath a faith of Time and Ages and if thou hast not learned beyond him thou must not sit above him take heed thou art not thrown down to him or below him What the Papists say of their Church that men must believe as the Church believes so may it be said of the generality of professors only not by such a necessity but such is most mens practise That they believe but as the Devil believes and in a sense many must give place to the Devil even in believing at leastwise in obeying But know as you are Companions here to believe alike so take notice that without saving faith thou must live alike in torment It is very like but that Servant was within the pale of profession Luk. 12. 45 46. he had a tongue to say I am a Believer and make no question of heaven and happiness but in his heart he said My Lord delays his coming Here is a profession of one God as these in the text had yet the Lord of that servant may come in an hour and cut him asunder and give him his portion with unbelievers 3. If the common belief of men be no better then the belief of Devils only in the aforementioned differences as that the Devil is without hope without repentance and both these are annexed yet to the life of man from the Bowels of mercy while it is called to day beg earnestly at the gate of the bountiful God for mercy and true faith beg Heaven to cleanse thy leprous soul of lust and sin and to give thee saving faith that thou mayst outstrip the Devil before thou dyest For if thou hast all knowledge and all faith so that thou couldst remove mountains yet all this is nothing without Christ be in your hearts by faith Say therefore as he doth in the Gospel Mar. 9. 24. Lord I believe help my unbelief I have a common profession but what will this profit me The Devils do believe and yet are the first of unbelievers I believe Gods soveraignty that Christ dyed for sinners yet Lord I believe help mine unbelief And that this may be from thy heart consider these few particulars 1. Consider what will profession profit thee if thou attainest not the end of it They that run if they do not attain it is no prize but rather a trouble Men by professing and not attaining will come home by weeping-cross for as there will be nothing due so there will be a heavy loss the loss of Heaven the loss of God his glory thy own salvation Consider therefore so to run that you may obtain the end of saving faith which is the salvation of your souls 2. Thou hast sins of Commission that are enough to condemn thee the least of them being charg'd upon thee and without faith in Christ all must be charged But yet consider if thou couldst diminish sins of Io. 3. 19. Commission what wilt thou do for sins of Omission This will be the condemnation that light is come into the world but men love darkness more then light And because thou didst not believe thou didst not love thou didst not savour of the grace of God Consider thy want as well as thy wickedness If thou wantest a heart-love to Christ in the best of all thy professions and performances thou art but as a sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal 3. Consider what abundance do profess how few there be that shall be saved There is but a little flock that need not to fear the enjoyment of God and his kingdom Luk. 12. 32. but there is a multitude that do profess that think they shall attain but the Devil will as soon because they have not filial fear in their profession nor saving faith the fruit of the Spirit of grace within their hearts Compare but that of Isa 10. 22. to the practise of the world and certainly it may make thee look about For though the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet a remnant of them shall be saved This Paul quotes in Rom. 9. 27. and makes it applicable to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews This also let Professors now consider for though I dare not forbid any to hope yet I am afraid that through common and National profession most will miscarry 4. Consider the character of the last times There will be but a little Faith but abundance of Profession Every one takes it for granted that we are in the last times and in those times it 's remarkable to have but little faith and love but without question never more profession but it is most false and as cold as mens charity which is very significant to be now for in these dayes of ours never was there more profession of the Christ of mercy and the Christ of love but never more coldness and deadness to shew works of mercy and love to one another And this is no wonder for when men are wanting to their own souls in a lively and sound faith no marvel they are not wanting unto men in a cold and frozen charity Men love the world more then Christ and his members though they seem by profession to have a love to both Joh. 3. 19. yet they rather are in darkness then in the light because their hearts are evil 5. And lastly consider the deceitfulness that is in our own hearts For what is most mens security but even the name of Christianity and the heart loves to have it so All is well thinks the common Professor if he hath been baptized into such a faith or rather into such a formality brought up under such Parents lived under such a Ministry and accounted of the Parish-Church a member then they think as well as the best This is most mens security and this is Satans subtilty to deceive the hearts of men The Devil hath wrought a notable and cunning design in the world to make people believe that if they be accounted Christians and in common in such a Parish that all is well and that they are Christians indeed and members of the Church as well as the best But let us not deceive our selves nor our souls in being such outside Jacks in Religion and Gods service and worship for all are not Israel that are
clearest Spectacle So Heaven it is a great volume but to every believing soul it is contracted into a very small print so that though the Creature put on the choisest Spectacle of Reason he cannot read a word and the Christian though he hath on the Spectacle of Reason and that which is suited to the Print which is Grace yet he can read but darkly yet read he can but 't is obscurely with ifs and ands fears and doubtings And what 's the reason Because he looks through an infirm medium But now put but off or rather put but on the Spectacle of Glory and then we shall see face to face know as we are known Yea and the sum of this the Apostle speaks in that 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then when the eye of faith is opened to fruition we shall see face to face c. CHAP. IV. The second Excellencie The Lords presence proclaims comfort And what will not this do against fears and dismayings SEcondly Although the fearing soul The Lords presence speaketh comfort to believers against fears and dismayings doth not see this special presence so beautiful and so full of splendor yet know that for the answering of all thy fears and dismayings it shines forth abundance of comfort And thus I charge all you that are the beloved of Gods soul to make use of it for thus God is present with you on purpose to administer comfort to you by his Spirit which Spirit is no less then Gal. 5. 22. love and joy and consolation And what will not this administer against all fears and dismayings 1. First what will not the love of God Gods love is in his presence administer Canst thou say by experience that earthly things administer comfort and refreshment to thy body and shall not Gods love much more refresh and chear thy fearing soul All earthly comforts are but Wine and Wine may chear the heart as the Psalmist speaks Ps 104. 15. But now the love of Christ is ten thousand times better and the Spouse finds it more sweet Cant. 1. 2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine Now this love of God is with thee by this special presence And if the love of earthly relations as of Father Husband Wife can administer comfort what will not the love of my heavenly Father and Christ my Husband who hath loved me with an everlasting Jer. 31. 3 love Yea when this love is round about me yea such a love that passeth Eph. 3. 19 2 Cor. 5. 14. knowledge Yea such a love that is about Saints is above Angels a love of an attractive sweetness not straitning but constraining the soul to comfort against all fears and dismayings 2. Though the love of God may administer enough comfort yet in this I am Gods kindness yea loving kindness about Believers with thee there is not only Gods love but Gods kindness yea his loving kindness And what will not the loving kindness of a God answer The kindness of a faithful friend is much but the kindness of a Father that 's more But what is this to the loving kindness of a God David tels you it is better then life Ps 63. 3. Thy loving kindness is better then life And he speaks this when his straits were as great as thine can be He was in a bewildered condition yet the loving kindness of the Lord administred comfort above life And that his loving kindness is round about thee by his special presence mark how familiarly the Lord speaks to thee Fear thou not for I am with thee As if he would lay all in thy lap whereby thou mightst be comforted 3. This special presence brings special This special presence hath in it special mercy to remove fears mercy with it yea God thus proclaims himself altogether a God of mercy In this I am with thee there is not so much as a moment of anger for if he was in any way with the soul but mercy the soul might fear as if he had said I am with thee a God of terror the soul might tremble but there is not the least of terror to affright thee in this my special presence but all mercy love and kindness to stir thee up against terrors and dismayings And therefore mark how the Text opposeth all slavish fears saying I am with thee fear not And as perfect love should cast out slavish fear so should mercy take in only hope and to that soul that hopes in mercy mercy alone is about such a soul without the least of terror yea against all terror and affrighting Therefore fear thou not but be thou comforted and hope in mercy Psal 33. v. 18. 4. This special presence is with thee to It is a full joy for a fearing soul against fears comfort thee as it is a full joy and a full tyde of comfort against all thy sorrowings So that if the question should be To what end the Lord encompasseth the soul with his special presence it is that our joy might be full for in his special presence there is fulness of joy Ps 16. 11. And if we take this fulness only to be in glory why should a night of sorrow so much trouble us for that joy comes in the morning And yet being a Believer thou art not benighted Although the Sun be not in the Meridian or in his highest altitude yet he is risen and shines above the Horizon of fears and doubtings So that to you must be applied that of the Prophet Mal. 4. 2. To you that fear my name that is to the poorest believing soul shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings And what joy must this administer when these wings that overshadow thee are no less then all the saving benefits of Christ Redemption Justification Sanctification yea the entrance into glory And to comfort thee they all encompass thee with healing A precious balm for comfort and refreshment against fears and dismayings So that though the soul flag through fears so that it cannot be upon the wing of prayer unto God as Christ speaks unto his Disciples Joh. 16. 24. Ask that your joy may be full the Father doth as it were prevent the soul that is fainting with fears and brings his wings over the soul saying Though you faint and ask not yet do not doubt but fear not I am with thee and in me there is such a full joy that may comfort thee against all thy sorrowings 5. This special presence of God doth There is in Gods being with believers all support to succor against fears not only administer comfort as it hath love in it and kindness mercy and joy but it hath in it for thy comfort all strength power and support So that grant thou art feeble weak and staggering why yet if thou hast a Stander that which way soever thou reelest thou
as thy resolution fails thee of leaving all for Christ so far is my fear of thee that thou art not in union with Christ Fourthly To be one spirit with Christ doth denote the constancy and perpetual tye that is between Christ and the soul No knot will be lasting and holding but this between Christ and believers Couple our selves to flesh never so strongly yet all will be broken couple our selves to sin never so strongly This shall you have of Gods hand ye shall lie down in sorrow your vanity shall be bound up in vexation of spirit No conjunction can hold but that which is spiritual nor no spiritual conjunction but that which is between Christ and believers Sin will make a separation though God be thy Creator Preserver these knots between the Creature and God will all be broken But this union with Christ and our spirits it is a constant perpetual and an everlasting holding I have read of one that writing to his Consort would use this salutation Eternal thine This was an expression of excess that can never be made good to any but Christ and believers and therefore for thy comfort thou doubting believer Christ and thee being one spirit bear up the head against all temptations for thy head and husband salutes thee with Eternal thine Jer. 31. 3. The Lord hath appeared unto me saying I have loved thee with an everlasting love A love that is both boundless and endless with such a love hath Christ loved his Church and people And therefore though all fails as it will flesh and heart and all will fail yet this spiritual union between Christ and the soul shall never fail Rom. 8. 35 36 37 38 39. Summon all these into one Tribulation distress famine persecution peril sword life angels principalities powers things present things to come now follows your triumph Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. But may the soul say If there be such Obj. affinitie between Christ and his Church and every believer and that all believers are partakers of one and the same spirit as Love Joy Peace Meekness Patience c. What is the reason of all that variance discord and dissention that is amongst even believers and professors The difference and disagreement amongst believers themselves ariseth from themselves Ans because our own spirits are most predominate If Christ did but Lord it whose spirit is righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost wranglig and discord would not be found amongst brethren we would not so strive and contend the faithful should contend onely for the faith not against the faithful members should not strive against members None should hate his own flesh Believers are flesh of one flesh and bone of the same bone all one in Christ why not so one with another This is our fault and indeed our misery we keep the spirit of Christ under and we exalt our own passions Christians therefore consider what you do in all your wranglings and disputings keep to this rule So far as you have attained walk together with a spirit of forbearance and complyance and bow your passions and your principles to the scepter of Christ for that is not a wangling but a righteous scepter I would have all Christians to keep to this rule against sin even to hate the Garment spotted with the flesh not to touch any unclean thing for what concord hath Christ with Belial light with darkness sin with saints No saith the Lord 2 Cor. 6. 17. Be ye separated and I will be a father unto you and you shall be my sons and daughters And Christians for your Saviours sake Let all bitterness and envyings and wranglings be put away from you as becometh Saints Ephes 5. 3. And thus much for the first thing considerable How Believers and Christ may be said to be one spirit CHAP. II. Touching Evidence whether we be one Spirit with Christ 2. THe next thing to be toucht upon is What Evidence may I have that Christ and my soul are one in this spiritual union For this is very considerable before we can draw any saving and solid comfort in the benefits and spiritual Incomes the soul hath by being one Spirit with Christ 1. As an Evidence for this union try your union with Christ by your communion with Christ Not that you should measure out your union by your communion for it is possible for the soul to be united unto Christ that as yet hath no acquaintance and familiarity with Christ As Mary did Ioh. 20. 15. talk with Christ as well as believe in Christ and yet she did not know him and why might not she have supposed him to be Christ as well as the Gardiner Therefore let us not measure our union with Christ by our communion but let us try our union by our communion and enjoyment Can thy soul say from experience as the Spouse Can. 2. 4. He brought me into the banqueting house and his Banner over me was love Without question so was house and table and all Hath thy sovl ever been fed with his dainties have you been at his table tasted of his wine It may be thou wilt say This I know that Christ hath stood Rev. 3. 20. at my door and knockt at my heart as he doth at many a Sinners in a Sermon But when was the time that Christ came in and supped with thee and when did you sup with him What inward feastings and familiarity hath there been between Christ and the soul We know the tie of Nature will constrain some exchanges and intercourses of love between man and wife but much more the band of Grace between the soul and Christ Try therefore thy union by thy communion 2. If you would know your Union try not only by your Communion but also by Convincement as Communion is an Evidence so Convincement We know that there can be no true marriage without convincement of love No more can there be between Christ and thy soul Now when was thy soul convinced of Christs alsufficiencie and thy self of thy own natural misery For this is the way Christ takes to wooe and win the soul unto himself Ioh. 16. 7 8. 3. They that have union with Christ flie the pollutions of the world None can be one with Christ and one with Swearing one with Drunkenness not one with Christ and one with Covetousness In such pollutions there is not communion with Christ and therefore no union For what communion hath light with darkness Christ with Belial The Spirit of Christ clears the heart of such guests as drive a trade with sin And would to God I might say of all you Professors as Paul saith of many of these Corinthians 1 Cor. 16. 11. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God 4. They that are one with
cannot serve God and Mammen I could wish all Moral hearts would consider this and not couzen the soul by their double haltings But now the Saint takes the word of Christ for truth and saith Rather then I will be a stranger unto Christ I will be strange unto the world For Iam. 4. 4. The friendship of the world is enmity against Christ What though we have frowns from the world and the world will be strange to us yet we have favours from our friend Yea though in the world we have a portion of persecution yet from Christ we have a portion of comfort Ioh. 16. 3. In the world ye shall have tribulation strangeness and hard usage but be of good comfort I have overcome the world And this is a precious favour Believers believe it against the worlds frowns 4. And lastly Saints are strangers in this earth because there is a necessity of either being strangers or friends The Texts before Mat. 6. 24. speak a necessity of being one Ye cannot serve God and Mammon be in friendship with the world and in friendship with the Lord We must either hate the one or love the other hold to the one or despise the other And saith the godly heart Rather then I will be estranged from the Lord take the worlds friendship who will I will not have it at such a rate as to lose my friendship with the Lord For in his favour is life Ps 30. 5. What though I am a stranger and a traveller for a night I shall be at home in the morning when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Ps 17. 15. And therefore what though a stranger here there is a necessity except I would lose the Lords favour but that is better then life Away therefore world away riches honours profits Rather then to lose the shineings of the Sun the Moon shall be under my feet Rather then be estranged from my precious Father and my friend the Lord Jesus all the worlds pomp glory and pleasure all sublunary things shall be under my feet And thus much for the grounds and reasons why the Saints are strangers in the earth First because they are not at home secondly because their acquaintance and kindred are in heaven thirdly because the world is strange to them And Fourthly because of necessity they must be strangers or friends The uses pertinent to the present occasion follow CHAP. IV. Sheweth Characters for tryal whether we be strangers on the earth or no. FIrst by way of tryal or examination Secondly of dehortation and exhortation Vses Thirdly of comfort and consolation First If the Saints be strangers on the Vse 1 earth then let us make search and serious inquiry into each of our own hearts whether we be Saints by being sojourners in the world There is a daily sojourning in the spirit by all the children of God while they are in the flesh not like the Post who is a traveller indeed but is but onely from stage to stage and so to return whence he came out But Saints are strangers to a Heb. 11. 10. City whose builder and maker is God never to set their rest up till they be at home in their heavenly habitation Now to try whether we be such travellers and in this world strangers take a word in these three or four following characters 1. Do we set up our abode in this world and what is our esteem of life and goods and all that we possess you know strangers though they bed and board yet they count not any thing as standingly their own but look and wait for a remove and therefore have of all things such present estimation as gain but loss Yea and I count saith Paul Phil. 3. 8. all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord and do count them but dung that I may win Christ Second Character Could you contentedly live here in this world always or are you waiters till your change comes are Joâ— 14. 14. you grieved that time spins out and your life must end or have you a desire to depart O yes saith the stranger I could not live here from my friends my father wife Pâ—il 1. 23. and children not for a world if you would give me my dwelling for nothing I cannot be contented So the Christian if I might have all the world yet my content and comfort is elsewhere and how shall I get home to my heaven and house of happiness that 's my care and daily trouble not that I would make more haste then speed but fain I would be gone and I care not how soon Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. that I might come to thee who art my heaven and happiness Thirdly Have you another place in your eye then this your present enjoyment strangers still think of home so Saints are still thinking of their eternity the home of heaven is still in the eye of faith and heart of love of every true believer Alas saith the poor soul Here I have no continuing Heb. 13. 14. Finiti ad infinitum nulla est proportio City no continuing Goods Lands Livings And if I had a continued house I would be a continued Tenant for what is earth to heaven perishing to perpetuals finite to infinite my fathers love is above all O saith the longing soul when shall I get home when shall I appear before my father in Sion I am here a stranger and an alien as were my fathers and my dear brethren My dear Saviour had neither Luke 9. 8. holes nor houses nor whereon to lay his head He had another Kingdom and thâ— is mine by faith I have it in my eye and this is my daily expectation Abraham looked for a City whose builder and maker was God And Moses had respect unto the recompence of reward and these were strangers and sojourners as appeareth by the Apostle Heb. 11. 9 10. verse 26. The fourth and last Character is this Examine whether the world loves you or if it hates you The lovers of the world and the beloved of the world are not the children of God but the children of the world Christ gives this as a Christians character John 15. 18 19. If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world therefore the world hates you Mark it If ye were of the world that is if you were one of them and in their family having one father you would have the same friendship the world would love his own not count you strangers but stroke you as one of her own worldly brats But if you are of heavens family are travellers through the world as through a wilderness to your Canaan and rest as the traveller through a Town the dogs will bark so Christians through this world must expect the
nations men and devils combine do not grumble nor fear the wil and work of your heavenly father must be done However beliver go forward with your occasions with a holy subjection unto thy fathers will but take this in that whether it be life or liberty prosperity or adversity for so did Christ it be with resignation of all to God Matth. 26. 39. Not my will but thine be done Believers in times of fears must do as the children of Israel did Exod. 14. they were incompassed with a huge host and the red sea yet they go forward till they could go no further and then comes in that Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord So must believers in the midst of all national fears still be a going forward and see the salvation of God in all their enterprizes But you will further object Though I fear national troubles it is not I alone but Obj. many godly and eminent Christians are at a stand about the present affairs and proceedings And can you blame me to have fears who am but in the lower form I shall not blame but argue what cause of fears since being a believer thou hast Ans such refreshments as Gods presence doth afford unto his in any straits and troubles And what cause of fears can there be when all for Gods people shall work for their advantage thus saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. All shall work together for good to them that love God and thou loving God let it be tribulation or persecution good will be brought out of thy troubles and afflictions God will overturn Kings and Kingdoms yet if it produce good for thee what cause of fears God hath thrown down Ahasuerus with his hundred and twenty Provinces and the more he throws down the nearer is the end of all things and this should be so far from grief to Gods people that they should rejoyce yea lift up you heads you redeemed of the Lord the more shakings of the worlds powers the nearer is your everlasting joy Be glad then and rejoyce for the day of your redemption draweth nigh And the Text gives you this comfort that though foraign invasions come never so strong and home-bred enemies plot never so secretly yet fear not overcoming for thou shalt overcome saith the Lord unto his Church and people at the 15 and 16 Verses Behold I will make thee speaking of the worm Jacob to thresh the mountains and beat them smal and shalt make the hills as chaff and fan them and carry them away Do but consider these expressions and here 's enough to answer all national fears and enough to draw forth thy spirit to rejoce in the Lord and to glory in the holy one of Israel Comfort for Believers From their Spiritual Incomes 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit CHAP. I. Shewing the scope of the words and how Believers and Christ are one Spirit THe Apostle in the former part of this Chapter reproveth the Corinthians about their going to Law about things indifferent and in the verse before the Text about Fornication He brings in these words as lifting up his present Argument to a more high and spiritual Conclusion Know you not saith he v. 16. that is You do know what Moses saith that Two shall be one flesh this is matrimonial coupling The same effect hath Fornication and sin He that joyns himself to Drunkenness and Adultery is one with Drunkenness and Adultery But now the Lord to whom Believers are joyned hath a spirit above the world and such base carnal defilements For he that is joyned unto an Harlot is one body but he that is joyned to Jesus Christ is one Spirit The scope of these words holds forth that heavenly union and communion that is between Christ and every Believer And the Apostle brings them in as a royalty that every Child of God hath by being joyned to Christ as if he would have them boast in this their present Income above all such bitter sweets and pleasures of sin which are but for a moment Mark therefore how he opposeth it against â—he poor and beggerly Contracts of this World and Sin as being loth to speak so much of the worlds miscarriages and defilements and to hold so long from the spiritual souls enjoyment He doth as it were wind up another key delighting in that wherein his heart had found joy and experimental comfort for every Believer is in union with Christ and Christ is in union with every Believer Yea here 's my triumph here 's my glory Every Believer hath not only union but communion also for between a Believer and Christ there is union they are one and not only so but there is enjoyment of communion in this union They are one Spirit In the words two things are to be enquired into First what is meant by being one And secondly what is meant by being one Spirit 1. By Vnion we are not to understand Corporal or Personal union as if the Husband should be the Wife the Father the Son or the Head the Members or contrary but by being one with Christ is a Spiritual and Conjugal union an union of Relations as Head and Members Husband and Wife which though they be two in appearance yet are but one in compliance and acquaintance As Moses saith in Natures wedlock Two shall be one flesh that is man and wife shall live and move and act together for each other So Christ and every Believer though they be different persons as head and members husband and wife yet they both have but one Father one house one home they live and move and act together have one compliance one acquaintance one enjoyment one in love one in heart one all And the summ of this is eminently set forth in Eph. 5. from the 23. v. to the end of the Chapter 2. What is meant by being one Spirit for this is Spiritual conjunction In corporal conjunctions there is a union in flesh but this union of Christ with the soul is spiritual they are one Spirit By Spirit here we are not to understand the essential being of God or Christ for he is said to be a Spirit Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit He speaks it of his universal nature as he is Infinite and Omniscient thus neither Angels or men are in union with him onely Jesus Christ who is God equal with the Father blessed for ever comprehending all things by whom all things subsist But by Spirit here is meant the participation of the gifts and graces of God whereby he doth cooperate and work in our hearts a conformity to all those holy ends and purposes as he hath awarded in his Word to all the faithful in Christ Jesus So that by Spirit we are to understand the fruits of the Spirit And thus you may have a Cloud of witnesses Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He
Christ do mind the things of Christ Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit that is All their thoughts words works projects and contrivances do habitually fix and center in Christ Try therefore which way thy thoughts thy projects run If they meet in Christ then from these and such like Evidences drink down thy spiritual comforts for from our union with Christ flow such spiritual incomes even benefits enough to hold up the heart in the worst of outward crosses losses persecution trial troubles whatsoever Mark therefore CHAP. III. Sheweth the precious Incomes by being one Spirit in Christ FIrst All the precious Promises are yours 1 Tim. 4 8. Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of this life that now is and of that which is to come True Godliness cannot be without union with Christ and poor Creatures it is very certain that this life will not make thee happy But now if another will if a Jesus and Eternal Glory will you have this riches promised in that life that is to come This life that now is is indeed to make you gracious and in it you have a rich promise of comfort Joh 4. 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will be with you to the end of the world A precious Jesus in a precious promise is enough to bear up the soul in all temptations What though thou art poor personally if Christ be one with thee spiritually thou hast a plenty in the midst of all thy poverty The Lord is a sun and a shield Ps 84. 11. yea he will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that are Believers What saith the Apostle for the chearing of thy spirit 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises What wilt thou desire more If promises that are precious if promises that are great if exceeding great and precious promises will do thee good they are all thine if thou hast union with Christ 2. All the richest Graces are ours from the least of Faith to the fulness of Assurance Gods graciousness is the richest and supereminentest grace And it may be for the present thou hast but a grain or a drop of that Ocean but know the whole Sea of love is all thine It may be thou goest weeping notwithstanding thou bearest Ps 126. 6. precious seed yet know thy spiritual comfort is sheafs of joy yea joy unspeakable and full of glory At present thou hast by union with Christ no less then Riches of grace and Gracious riches nay but Exceeding riches of Grace is all yours if you be Christs Ephes 2. 7. 3. All the sweetest Comforts are yours if you have union with Christ I cannot say all earthly Comforts but rather Crosses the sweetest and heavenly Comforts are yours and the very thought of this should swallow up ten thousand Crosses how much more the possession Yet this is the fault of Christians one little trouble or Affliction swallows up abundance of Enjoyment whereas one thought of Christ and one enjoyment from him should swallow up abundance of afflictions What will not peace of Conscience bring which is a continual feast unto the soul by Christ being thine And if Joy in the Holy Ghost may comfort thee that is thine If wine refined if wine and milk if water of life if the Spring of all comfort may comfort thee it is yours if you be married to Christ 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all comfort And lest the soul should think to have him thus only in Heaven he adds that he is a God of comfort for you on Earth to comfort you in all your tribulation that we may be able to succour support and comfort others by the comforts wherewith he comforteth us And what a precious Income is this to have by Christ all heavenly sweet and precious comforts 4. By union with Christ all the highest Priviledges are yours If it was a priviledge to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter what a high priviledge is it to be sons and daughters of the most high God and thus thou art by being united unto Jesus Christ 1. What a priviledge is it to be born an Heir unto some Great man on earth What honour and homage will men give to Heirs upon this account But by this union with Christ thou art an Heir to God and Coheir with Christ 'T is true thou wast not born to it but every Believer was bought into this eminent high and noble priviledge And if we do but consider the price it may suffice to set forth this priviledge 1 Pet. 1. 19. Ye were not redeemed with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Iesus Christ 2. It may be thou art poor and therefore Great men upon Earth will scorn to cal thee Friend Brother Sister Son Daughter many are so proud that in thy poverty they wil be ashamed to own thee But thou hast this priviledge in being joyned to Christ that the Lord of all is not ashamed to call you Brethren Sons Daughters Friends nay you that are joyned to Christ are Gods jewels Joh. 1. 12. To as many as Mal. 3. 17. believed to them he gave power to become the sons of God And saith the Apostle Heb. 2. 11. For this cause he is not ashamed to call us Brethren For what cause The verse before tels you because of union thou hast this priviledge He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are both one for this cause he is not ashamed to call us brethren 3 What a priviledge is it counted to be free of some Corporations as to be a Freeman of London and such like Cities And Paul tels you it was his priviledge to be free-born But now the Saints of God by being united unto Christ are made free of that new Ierusalem which is Heaven it self Christ hath inroll'd his Saints in the book of life all your names are written and enrolled in Heaven and you are Citizens by vertue of your union Eph. 2. 19. 4. What a priviledge is it to be freed from all Arrests Mens persons count this a great priviledge But what is it to have the soul free and to have it so free that it shall be free indeed Such a priviledge have Saints by Christ he by marrying them unto himself hath made them free free indeed from all arrests No condemnation to them that are in Christ It would be well if wicked men that have no interest in Christ could bribe Satan Death and Hell and at the great day of Judgment come off from their arrests but that is impossible but if they could Conscience will rise in judgment against them and issue out a greater Writ then that of Belshazar upon the wall But now Believers are free by vertue of Christ having this priviledge that none shall lay
none can say certainly what they expect but I hope the best as well as others would you have me to say certainly that is more then Paul doth or I think any Saint Nay but do not so reckon Mark the Apostle not onely in the behalf of himself but of others also 2 Cor. 5 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Mark Christians the Christians expectation not that every childe of God doth come up to this faith of certainty and assurance but we are all for to desire it as all strangers they desire home and know their home and travel after it though it be but by steps and strides yet a constant pace goes far so Christians must all keep journeying and going on though not coming to this attainment and thou poor weakling faith though thou canst not say so much yet think the more press hard and follow after though thou canst not go so fast as such whose evidence is sure Though thou canst not say I know and we know yet say I hope and it is best yea happy for that soul whose evidence is clear though we all cannot say We know yet let us not be sad but say We may know In this Pronoune We lies much divinity for the comfort of a Christian for we know we have tabernacles of clay poor bodies of dust and ashes And why should not we know we have a building of God with all such properties as not made with hands eternal in the heavens Methinks every Christian is like a stranger and a traveller that comes into his Inn and takes up his lodging for a night the people bring him meat and drink and gives him bed and board but they know not whence he comes nor whether he goes but now he knows himself where he goes and whether he would so Christians though the world knows not yet they do For we know c. I am a traveller and a stranger but I have a home a house a heaven a building I expect it saith Faith c. I am a stranger saith Patience but I have a building I wait for it saith Patience It is but to day and to morrow and the next day it shall be perfected so saith Patience I must have its perfect work a little to day more to morrow the third day I shall have possession I am a stranger in the earth saith Love but I have a building and O how I long for it Psal 42. 2. My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God! Now unto such souls that make out after home heaven and happiness with such a triplicity of We We expect it saith Faith wait for it saith Patience long for it saith Love to such gathering of a heart in Grace the Lord doth make a gracious answer Cant. 1. 11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver Mark poor soul here is a We to answer thy We not a Wo but a We not to dismark thee but to make thee gracious and glorious Thou that hast an I of faith expecting and I of patience waiting and an I of love longing this is a Christians We Now the Lord unto thy soul hath his We We will make thee I will saith God the Father and I will saith Christ the Son and I will saith the blessed Spirit All this makes this We to make the soul graciously glorious and gloriously gracious Now be perswaded O soul upon this thy future expectation here thou art a stranger living in thy houses of clay bedecked onely with furniture of infirmity weakness and crosses and a few broken comforts and crackt enjoyments but in heaven there is brightness and purity there is blessedness and peace there is never broken joys and everlasting comforts there are houses richly furnished with furniture free from all infirmity bordered with gold and set forth with silver all variety interwoven for soul satisfaction Hasten O strangers O strangers hasten without lingring long for this thy expectation But may some say I know every childe of Obj. God shall be well provided for of their heavenly Father Eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2. 9. neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what the Lord hath prepared for them that love him but there is that to be passed would make one fear the straits of death is not an easie passage it fills my heart with grief and my eyes with tears at the present sence of my deceased friend but what fears and pain and staggering may it be if I should be called to pass the straits of death the Lord knows In Answer unto this and so as pertinent to our present occasion I shall adde but a word of comfort and consolation and so conclude the time and Doctrine CHAP. VII Containing comfort for dejected souls in their loss of Christian friends and encouragements for estranged Saints in this world 3. IF it be so that the Saints are strangers on the earth then Saints be you freed from fear grieve not for the death or departure of the faithful nor being faithful be thou not afraid to dye To all Gods children death is but a messenger of life and a calling from the cross to the crown You know every one will hasten to a father or a friends house and what though there be a plash of water and a few bryers to go through if we do wet our feet or tear our garments so long as we are going home such things are nothing home and the father makes us through all Christians I will not say all your way is paved and smooth to heaven and happiness but some rubs fears sorrows may be in your way but know assuredly Christ hath sweetned the grave for every childe of God what though you do wet your feet by fears and pricks your hearts with sorrow let the hope of home and father and Christ make you be comforted and encouraged Captain Death hath taken away a friend now and he stands in the way to press thee too but may not we be comforted in this My friend was a stranger here and he is now gone home to his dwelling place where father and friends are yea where he shall want for nothing freed from fears and cares aches and pains but fed with favor love and life such dishes that the world never had at their tables The Saints indeed have meat in heart and hand I mean at present that the world knows not of but alas Saints though this be wine and milk yet this is but the first mess in this spiritual banquet Our Master Christ keeps the best wine and the best chear and best welcome until the last After death every thing to a faithful soul is disht out and disht up unto Eternity the longing soul through the straits of death is satisfied and