John ii 6 "He that faith he abideth in him, ought himself
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you! They purgeyour sins, prevent your temptations, wean you from the world, and turn to your salvation : and how un reasonable then must your difcontentedness at them be ?
Fourthly, The time of your relief and fulideliverance from all your troubles is at hand; the time is but short that you shall haveanyconcernment about these things, 1 Cor. vii. 29. If the candle of your earthly comfort be blown out, yet remember it is but a little while to the break of day, and then there will be no need of candles.
Besides, Fifthly, Your lot falls bydivino direction, upon you, and as bad as it is, it is much easier and sweeter than the condition of Christ in this world was: Yet he was contented, and why not you? O that we could learn contentmentfromChrist in every condition. And thus I have laid before you some excellent patterns in the life of Christ, for your imitation.
SERMON XXX.
IJOHNXI . 6. He that faith he abideth in him, ought himselfalfo fotowalk, even as he walked.
THHESE words having been resolved into their parts, and their sense opened in the formerfermon: The observavationwasthis:
That every man is bound to the imitation of Christ, underpenaltyofforfeiting his claim to Christ.
In prosecution of this point, we have already shewnwhat the imitation of Christ imports, and what the imitable excellencies in the life of Christ are: It now remains that I shew you, in the next place, why all that profess Christ, are bound to imitate his example, and then apply the whole. Now the peceffity of this imitation of Christ, will convincingly, appear divers ways.
First, From the established order of Salvation, which is fixed andunalterable: God that hath appointed the end, hath also established the means and order by which men shall attain the ultimate end. Now conformity to Christ is the established method in which God will bring fouls to glory, Rom. viii. 29.
" For whom he did foreknow, he also didpredestinate,to be con- " formed to the image of his Son; that he might be the first-born
"amongmanybrethren." The fameGodwho hath predestinatedmentofalvation,hath,inorderthereunto,predestinatedthem
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The Method of Grace. unto conformity to Christ, and this order ofheavenisnever to be reversed ; we may aswellhope to be saved without Christ, as to be saved without conformity to Christ .
Secondly, The nature of Christ-mystical requires this conformity, and renders it indispensably necessary.
Otherwite, the body of Christ must be heterogeneous ; ofa nature different from the head ; and how monstrous, and uncomely, would this be ?
Thiswouldrepresent Christ to the world in an image, or idea, much like that, Dan. ii, 32, 33. " The head of fine gold, the " breait and arms of silver, the thighs of brass, the legs of iron,
" the feet part of iron, and part of clay."
Christ, the head, is pureandholy, and thereforeveryunsuitableto sensual, and earthly members. And therefore the apostle, in his description of Christ-mystical, describes the members of Christ (as they ought to be) of the fame nature, and quality with the head, 2 Cor.xv.
48, 49. "As is the heavenly, tuch are they also that are hea- " venly; and as we have born the image of the earthy, so we
" shallalfo bear the image of the heavenly."
That image, or resemblance of Christ, which shall be complete, and perfect, after the resurrection, must be begun in its first draught here, by the work of regeneration.
Thirdly, This resemblance, and conformity to Christ, appears necessary from the communion, which all believers have with Christ, in the same spirit of grace, and holiness.
Believers are called Christ's fellows, or copartners, Psal .xlv. 7. from their participation with him of the same spirit; as it is 1 Thef. iv. 8.
God giveth the same spirit unto us, which he more plentifully poured out uponChrift. Now where the same spirit, and principle is, there the same fruits, and operations must be produced, according to the proportions, and measures of the spirit of grace communicated; and this reason is farther enforced, by the very design, and end of God, in the infusion of the Spirit of grace :
For it is plain, from Ezek. xxxvi. 27. that practical holiness, and obedience, is the scope, and design, of that infusion of the Spirit.
The very innate property of the Spirit of God, in men, is to elevatetheirminds,and set their affections upon heavenly things, to purge their hearts from earthlydross, and fit them for a life of holiness, and obedience: Its nature, also, is assimilating, and changeth them, in whom it is, into the fame image with Jesus
Christ, their heavenly head, 2 Cor. iii . 18 .
Fourthly, The necessity of this imitation of Christ may be argued, from the design, and end of Christ's exhibition to the world, in a body of flesh.
For though we detest that doctrine of the Socinians, which makes the exemplary life of Christ to
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be the whole end of his incarnation; yet we must not run so far from an error, as to lose a precious truth. We say, the satisfaction of his blood was a main, and principal end of his incarnation, according to Mat. xx. 28. We affirm, also, that it was a great design, and end of the incarnation of Christ, to set before us a pattern of holiness, for our imitation: For so speaks the apostle, I Pet. ii. 21. " He hath left us an example,
" that we should follow his steps." And this example of Christ greatly obliges believers to his imitation. Phil. ii. 5. " Let this
" mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus."
Fifthly, Our imitation of Christ, is one ofthosegreat articles which every man is to subscribe, whom Christ will admit into the number of his disciples.
Luke xiv. 27. " Whosoever doth 66 not come after me,cannot be my disciple." And again, John xii. 26. " If anyman serve me, let him follow me . " To this condition we have submitted, if we be sincere believers; and therefore are strictly bound to the imitation of Christ, not only by God's command, but by their own consent.
But if we profess interest in Christ, when our hearts never consented to follow, and imitate his example; then are we self-deceiving hypocrites, wholly disagreeing from the scripture character of believers,
Rom. viii. 1. They that are Christ's, being there described to be such as walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. And Gal. v. 25. " If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.
Sixthly, The honour of Christ neceffitates the conformity of Christians to his example, else what way is there left to stop detracting mouths, and vindicate the name of Christ from the reproaches of the world ? How can wisdom be justified of her children, except it be this way ? By what means shall we cut offoccasionfrom such as desire occasion, but by regulating our lives by Christ's example ? The world hath eyes to fee what we practise; as well as ears to hear what we profess : Therefore either shew the consistency betwixt your profession, and practice, or you can never hope to vindicate the name, and honour of the Lord Jesus. The uses follow'; for,
1. Information.
2. Exhortation .
3. Consolation.
First use, for information.
Infer. 1. I fall that profess interest in Christ, be strictly bound to imitate his holy example; then it follows, that religion is very unjustly charged, by the world, with the scandals, and evils of them that profess it. Nothing can be more unjust and irrati onal, ifweconfider,
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The Method of Grace.
First, That the Christian religion severely censures loose, and scandalous actions, in all professors, and therefore is not to be censured for them.
'Tis absurd tocondemnreligion, for what itself condemns : looseness noway flows from the principles of Christianity, but is most opposite, and contrary to it. Tit. ii.
11 , 12. " For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath " appeared to allmen; teaching us, that denying ungodliness,
" and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and " godly, in this present world."
Secondly, It is an argument of the excellency of Christian religion, that even wicked men, themselves, covet the name, and profession of it, though they only cloak, and cover their evils under it.
I confess it is a great abuse of such an excellentthing as religion is ; but yet, if it had not an awful reverence paid it, by the consciences of allmen, it would never be abused to this purpose, by hypocrites, as it is.
Thirdly, According to this reasoning, therecanbenoreligion in the world; for name me that religion which is not scandalizedby the practices of some that profess it. So that this practice hath a natural tendency to Atheism, and is, no doubt, encouraged by the devil, for that end.
Infer. 2. Ifallmen forfeit their claim to Christ, who endeavour not to imitate him in the holiness of his life, then howsmalla number of real Christians are there in the world? Indeed, if liberal talking, without accurate walking ; if common profession, without holy practices, were enough to constitute a Christian ; then this quarter of the world would abound with Christians :
But if Christ owns none for such, but those that tread in the steps of his example; then the number of real Christians is very small.
The generality of men that live under the Christian name, are such as walk after the flesh, Rom. viii. 2. according to the course of this world, they yield their members as instruments of unrighteousness unto fin, Rom. vi. 13.
Strict godliness is a mere bondage to them; narrow is the way, and few there be that walk therein.
Infer. 3. What blessed times should we all fee, if true religion did once generally obtain, and prevail in the world ! How would it humble the proud, meeken the passionate, and spiritualize those that are carnal ! The perverse world charges religion with all the tumults, and disturbances that are in it; whenas nothing in the world, but religion, advanced in the power of it, can heal, and cure these epidemical evils. O if men were once brought under the powerofreligion, indeed, to walk after Christ in holiness, obedience, meekness, and self-denial; no such miseries as /
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SERM. thesewouldbe heard of among us.
Ifa. xi. 8, 9. " The fucking child shall play upon the hole of the asp, and a weaned
" child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den ; they shall not " hurt, nordestroyin all my holy mountain : For the earth shall
" be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the "sea."
Infer. 4. Hence it also follows, that real Christians are the Sweetest companions. 'Tis a comfortable thing to walk with them that walk after the example of Christ; the holiness, heavenliness,humility, self-denial, and diligence in obedience,which was in Christ, is, in some measure, to be found in all sincere
Christian's: They shew forth the virtues of him that calleth them; the graces of the Spirit do more, or less, thine forth in them: And O how endearing, sweet, and engaging, are these things ! Upon this very account the apostle invited others into the fellowship of the saints.
1 John i. 3. " That ye may have " fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Fa- *ther, and with his SonChriftJesus." And is it not sweet to have fellowship with them, who have fellowship with Christ?
Oletallyour delights be in the faints, andintheexcellent of the earth, who excel in virtue, Psal. xvi. 3. yet, mistake not, there is agreatdeal of difference betwixt one Christian, and another, and even the best of Christians are sanctified but in part.
If there be something sweet, and engaging, there isalfo,something bitter, and distasteful, in the best of men.
If there be something to draw forth your delight, and love; there is, also, something to exercise your pity, and patience.
Yet this is most certain, thatnotwithslanding all theirinfirmities, and corruptions, they are the best, and sweetest company, this world affords.
Infer. 5. In a word, ifnoman's claim to Christ be warranted, but theirs that walk as he walked ; bow vain, and groundless, then, are the hopes, and expectationsofallunsanctified men, who walk after their own lusts ? None are more forward to claim the privileges of religion, than those that reject the duties of it ; multitudes hope to be saved by Christ, who yet refuse to be governed by him: But such hopes have no scripture warrant to support them; yea, they have no scripture testimonies against them. 1 Cor. vi. 9. " Knowye not that the unrighteous shall not
" inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived, neither forni- " cators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abu- " fers of themselves with mankind; nor thieves, nor covetous,
" nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the " kingdom of God." Ohow many thousand vainhopesare lard
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The Method of Grace. in the dust, and how many thousand fouls are sentenced to hell by this one scripture !
Second use, for exhortation.
If this be so, it naturally presses all the professors of Christianity to strict godliness in their conversations, as ever they expect benefit by Christ. O professors, beyenot conformed unto this world, but be ye transformed, by the renewing of your minds : Set the example of Christ before you, and labour to tread in his steps.
This is the great business of religion, the main scope of the gospel. Give me leave, therefore, closely to press it upon your hearts, by the following motives.
Motive 1. Christ hath conformed himself to you, by his abasing incarnation ; how reasonable therefore is it that you conform yourselves to him in the way of obedience and fanctification? He came as near to you, as it was possible for him to do, strive you therefore to come as near to Christ as it is possible for you to do: he hath taken your nature upon him, Heb. ii. 14. yea, and with your nature he hath taken your weaknesses and infirmities, Rom. viii. 3. and not only your natures and your infirmities, but your condition also, for he came under the law for your fakes, Gal. iv. 4. He conformed himselftoyou, though he was infinitely above you, that was his abasement; do you conform yourselves to him, who are infinitely beneath him, that will be your advancement: his conformity to you emptied him of his glory, your conformity to him will fill you with glory : heconformedhimself to you, though you had no obligation upon him ; will you not conform yourselves to him, who lie under infinite obligations so to do ?
Motive 2. You shall be conformed to Christ in glory ; how reasonable therefore is it you should now conform yourselves to him in holiness ? The apostle faith, 1 John iii. 2. " We shall
" be like unto him, for we shall see him as he is :" Yea, not only your fouls shallbelikehim, but your very bodies, even those vile bodies of yours, " shall be changed, that they may be fashi- " oned like unto his glorious body." How forcible a motive is this tobringmen into conformity with Christ here ! especially, seeing our conformity to him in holiness, is the evidence of our conformitytohim in glory, Rom. vi. 5. 2 Pet. iii. II . Oprofeffors, as ever you look to be with Christ in glory hereafter, see thatye walk after Christ'sexample in holiness and obedience here.
Motive 3. The conformity of your lives to Christ your pattern, is your highest excellency in this world: The measure
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The Method of Grace. of your grace is to be estimated by this rule.
The excellency of every creature rises higher and higher, according as it approaches still nearer and nearer to its original; the more you resemble Christ in grace, the more illustrious and resplendent will your conversations be in true spiritual glory.
Motive4. So far as you imitate Christ, in your lives, and no farther, you will be beneficial to the world in which you live: so far as God helps you to follow Christ, you will be helpful to bring others to Christ, or build them up in Christ ; for all men are forbidden by the gospel to follow you one step farther than you follow Christ, 1 Cor. xi. 1. andwhenyou have finished your course in this world, the remembrance of your ways will be no further sweet to others, than they are ways ofho liness and obedience to Christ, 1 Cor. iv. 17. If you walk according to the course of this world, the world will not be the better for your walking.
Motive 5. To walk as Christ walked, is a walk only worthy ofa Christian ; this is to " walk worthy of the Lord,"
I Theff. ii. 12. Col. i. 10.
By worthiness * the apostle doth not mean meritoriousness, but comeliness, or that decorum which befits a Christian: as, when am an walks suitably to his place and calling in the world, we fayhe acts like himself; fo, when you walk after Christ's pattern, you then act like yourselves, like men of your character and profession: this is consonanttoyour vocation, Eph. iv. 1. " I beseech you, that you walk worthy of " the vocation wherewithyou are called."
This walking suits with your obligation, 2 Cor. v. 15. for it is to live unto him who died for us .
This walking only suits with your designation, Eph. ii. 10. " For you are created in Christ Jesus unto
" good works, which God hath before ordained we should " walk in them."
In a word, such walking as this, and such only becomes your expectation, 2 Pet. iii. 14. " Wherefore
" [beloved] , seeing that you look for such things, be diligent, " that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and "blameless."
Motive 6. How comfortable will the close of your life be at death, if you have walked after Christ's pattern and example in this world ! A comfortable death is ordinarily the close of a holy life, Psal. xxxvii . 37. "Mark the perfect man,and behold
* The word worthiness, as used in scripture, does not always denote an exact proportion ofequalitybetween one thing and another, but a certain fuitableness and fitness which excludes inconsistency.
Davenant on Coloff. p. 25.
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" the upright; for the end of thatman is peace." A loose, careless life puts many terrible stings into death.
As worms in the body are bred of the putrefaction there, so the worm of conscience is bred of the moral putrefaction, or corruption that is in our natures and conversations. O then be prevailed with by all these considerations to imitateChrift in the whole course, and compass of your conversations.
Third use, for consolation.
Lastly, I would leave a few words offupport and comfort to such as sincerely study and endeavour, according to the ten den cy of their new nature, to follow Christ's example, but being weak in grace, and meeting with strong temptations, are frequently carried aside from the holy purposes, and designs of their honest, well-meaning hearts, to the great grief, anddifcouragement of their souls. They heartily wish and aim at holiness, and say with David, Psal. cxix. 5. " O that my ways
" were directed to keep thy statutes."
They follow after exactness in holiness as Pauldid, Phil . iii. 12. " If by any means
" they might attain it."
But finding how short they come, in all things, of the rule and pattern, they mourn as he did, Rom. vii. 24. " O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from " the body of this death ?" Well, if this be thy case, be not discouraged, buthearken to a few words of support and comfort, with which I shall close this point.
SUPPORT I.
Such defects in obedience make no flaw in your justification : for your justification is not built upon your obedience, but upon Christ's, Rom. iii. 24. and how incompleat, and defective foeveryou be in yourselves, yet at the fame instant,
" you are compleat in him which is the head of all principality and power," Col. ii. ro. Wo to Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, and the most eminent saints that ever lived, if their justification, andacceptationwithGod, had dependeduponthe perfection, andcompleatness of their own obedince.
SUPPORT.
II.
2. Yourdeeptroubles for the defectiveness of your obedience, do not argue you to be less, but more sanctified, than those who make no such complaints; for these prove you to be better
" acquainted with your own hearts, than others are ; to have a deeper hatred of fin than others have; and to love God, with a more fervent love than others do; the most eminent saints have made thebitterest complaintsuponthis account, Psal. Ixv.
3. Rom. vii. 23,24.
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SUPPORT III.
3. The Lord makes excellent uses even of your infirmities and failings to do you good, and makes them turn to your unexpected advantage: for, by these defects he hides pride from your eyes ; he beats you off from self-dependence ; he makes you to admire the riches of free grace; he makes you to long more ardently for heaven, and entertain the sweeter thoughts of death : and doth not the Lord then make blessed fruits to spring up to you from such a bitter root ? O the blessed chymistry of heaven, to extract such mercies out offuch miseries !
SUPPORT IV.
4. Your bewailed infirmities do not break the bond of the everlasting covenant. The bond of the covenant holds firm, notwithstanding your defects and weaknesses, Jer. xxxii. 40.
" Iniquities prevail against me," saith David, yet in the same breath he adds, " as for our transgressions thou shalt purge
" them away," Psal. lxv, 3.He is still thy God, thy Father for all this.
SUPPORT V.
5. Though the defects of your obedience are grievous to God, yet your deep sorrows for them are well-pleasing in his eyes, Psal. li. 17. " The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a " broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Ephraim was never a more pleasant child to his father, than when hemoanedhimself, and smote upon his thigh as thou dost, Jer. xxxi. 20.
Your fins grieve him, but your sorrows please him.
SUPPOR VI.
6. Though God have left many defects to humble you, yet he hath given many things to comfort you.
This is a comfort that the desire of thy soul is to God, and to the remembrance of his name. This is a comfort, that thy fins are not thy delight as once they were ; but thy shame and sorrow.
This is a comfort, that thy case is not singular; but, more or less, the fame complaints and sorrows are found in all gracious fouls through the world; and, to say all i none word, this is the comfort above all comforts, that the time is at hand, in which all these defects, infirmities, and failings shall be done away,
1 Cor . xiii, 1. " When that which is perfect is come, then that which is " in part shall be done away."
For ever blessed be God for Jesus Christ.
And thus I have finished the third general use of examination, whereby everyman is to try his interest in Christ, and