John ii 6 "He that faith he abideth in him, ought himself
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SERM. XXX.
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 atthem be ?
Fourthly, The time ofyour reliefand fulideliverance fromall your troubles is at hand; the time is but ſhort that you ſhall haveanyconcernment about theſe things, 1 Cor. vii. 29. Ifthe candle ofyour earthly comfort be blown out, yet remember it is buta little while to the break ofday, and then there will be no need ofcandles.
Besides, Fifthly, Your lot falls bydivino direction, upon you, and as badas it is, it is much easier and ſweeter than the condition of Chriſt in this world was: Yet he was contented, andwhy not you? O that wecould learn contentmentfromChriſt inevery condition. And thus I havelaid before you ſome excellent patterns in the life ofChriſt, for your imitation.
SERMON XXX.
IJOHNXI . 6. He that faith he abideth in him, ought himselfalfo fotowalk, even as he walked.
THHESE words havingbeen reſolved into their parts, and their ſenſeopened inthe formerfermon: The obſervavationwasthis:
That every manis bound to the imitation ofChrist, underpenaltyofforfeiting his claim to Christ.
In proſecution of this point, we have already ſhewnwhat the imitation of Chriſt imports, andwhat 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, arebound to imitate his example, and then apply the whole. Now the peceffity of this imitation ofChriſt, will convincingly, appear diversways.
First, From the eſtabliſhed order of Salvation, which is fixed andunalterable: God that hath appointed the end, hath alfo eſtabliſhed the means andorder by which men ſhall attain the ultimate end. Now conformity to Chriſt is the eſtabliſhedmethod in which God will bring fouls to glory, Rom. viii. 29.
" Forwhom hedid foreknow, he alſo didpredeſtinate,tobe con- " formedto the image ofhis Son; thathe mightbe the firſt-born
"amongmanybrethren." The fameGodwho hath predeſtinatedmentofalvation,hath,inorderthereunto,predeſtinatedthem
SERM. XXX.
The Method ofGrace. unto conformity to Chrift, and this order ofheavenisnever tobe reverſed ; we may aswellhope tobe ſaved without Chrift, asto be faved without conformity to Chrift .
Secondly, The nature ofChrift-myſtical requires this conformity, and renders it indiſpenſably neceſſary.
Otherwite, the body ofChrift must be heterogeneous ; ofa nature different from the head ; andhow monftrous, and uncomely, would this be ?
Thiswouldrepreſent Chrift to the world in animage, or idea, much like that, Dan. ii, 32, 33. " The head of fine gold, the " breait andarms of ſilver, the thighs ofbraſs, the legs of iron,
" the feet part of iron, and part ofclay."
Chriſt, thehead, is pureandholy, and thereforeveryunſuitableto ſenſual, and earthlymembers. And therefore the apoſtle, in his deſcription of Chriſt-myſtical, deſcribes the members ofChrift (as they ought tobe) 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; andas we have born the image of the earthy, ſo we
" ſhallalfo bear the image ofthe heavenly."
Thatimage, or reſemblance ofChriſt, which ſhall be complete, and perfect, after the refurrection, must bebegunin its firſt draught here, by the work ofregeneration.
Thirdly, This reſemblance, and conformity to Chriſt, appears neceſſary from the communion, which all believers have with Chrift, in the ſame ſpirit of grace, and holiness.
Believers are called Chriſt's fellows, or copartners, Pfal .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, andoperations must be produced, according to the proportions, and meaſures of the fpirit ofgrace communicated; and this reaſon is farther enforced, bythe very deſign, and end of God, in the infuſion of the Spirit of grace :
For itis plain, from Ezek. xxxvi. 27. that practical holiness, and obedience, is the ſcope, and deſign, ofthat infuſionof theSpirit.
The very innate property of the Spirit of God, in men, is to elevatetheirminds,andſet their affections upon heavenly things, to purge their hearts from earthlydroſs, and fitthem for a life ofholiness, and obedience: Its nature, alſo, is afſimilating, and changeth them, inwhom it is, intothe fame image with Jeſus
Chrift, theirheavenly head, 2 Cor. iii . 18 .
Fourthly, The neceſſityof this imitation of Chriſt may be argued, from the deſign, and end of Chrift's exhibition to the world, in a body of flesh.
For though we deteft thatdoctrine 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. Weſay, the fatisfaction of his blood was a main, and principal end ofhis incarnation, according to Mat. xx. 28. We affirm, alſo, that it was a great deſign, and end of the incarnation ofChriſt, 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,
" thatwe ſhould follow his ſteps." Andthis example ofChrift greatly obliges believers to his imitation. Phil. ii. 5. " Let this
" mind be inyou, which alſo was in Chriſt Jeſus."
Fifthly, Our imitation ofChriſt, is one ofthoſegreat articles which every man is to ſubſcribe, whom Chriſt will admit into the number of his diſciples.
Luke xiv. 27. " Whosoeverdoth 66 not come after me,cannotbe my diſciple." And again, John xii. 26. " If anyman ſerve me, let him follow me . " To this condition we have fubmitted, if we be fincere believers; and therefore are ſtrictly bound to the imitation ofChriſt, not only byGod's command, but by their own confent.
But if we profeſs intereſt inChriſt, when our hearts never conſented tofollow, 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 tobe fuch as walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. AndGal. v. 25. " If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.
Sixthly, The honour of Chrift neceffitates the conformity of Chriſtians to his example, elſe what way is there left to ſtop detracting mouths, and vindicate the name of Chrift from the reproaches ofthe world ? How can wisdom be justified of her children, except it be this way ? By what means ſhall we cut offoccaſionfrom ſuch asdefire occafion, 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 profeffion, and practice, or you can never hope to vindicate the name, and honour ofthe LordJesus. The uſes follow'; for,
1. Information.
2. Exhortation .
3. Confolation.
First use, for information.
Infer. 1. Ifall that profess interest in Christ, be strictly bound to imitate hisholy example; then it follows, that religion is very unjustly charged, by the world, with the scandals, and evils of them that profefs it. Nothing canbe more unjust and irrati onal, ifweconfider,
SERM . XXX.
The Method ofGrace.
First, That the Chriſtian religion ſeverely cenſures looſe, and ſcandalous actions, in all profeſſors, and therefore is not tobe cenſured for them.
'Tis abſurd tocondemnreligion, for what itselfcondemns : looſeneſs noway flows from the principles of Chriſtianity, but is moſt oppoſite, andcontrary to it. Tit. ii.
11 , 12. " For the grace ofGodthat bringeth falvation, 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 thename, and profeffion of it, though they only cloak, and cover their evils under it.
I confeſs it is a great abuſe of fuch an excellentthing as religion is ; butyet, ifithad not an awful reverence paid it, bythe confciences of allmen, it would neverbe abuſed to this purpoſe, byhypocrites, as it is.
Thirdly, According to this reaſoning, therecanbenoreligion in the world; for name me thatreligionwhich is not ſcandalizedby thepractices ofſomethat profeſs it. So that this practice hath a natural tendency to Atheism, and is, no doubt, encouragedby the devil, for that end.
Infer. 2. Ifallmen forfeit their claim to Christ, who endeavour not to imitate him in the holiness ofhis 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 conftitute a Chriſtian ; then this quarter of the world would abound with Chriſtians :
But if Chrift owns none for fuch, but thoſe that tread in the ſteps ofhis example; thenthe number of real Chriſtians is very fmall.
The generality of men that live under the Chriftian name, are fuch as walk after the flesh, Rom. viii. 2. according to the course of this world, they yield their members as inftruments 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 timesſhould we allfee, 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 allthe tumults, anddisturbances thatare in it; whenas nothing in the world, but religion, advanced in the powerofit, canheal, and cure theſe epidemical evils. O if men were once brought under the powerofreligion, indeed, to walk after Chriſt inholineſs, obedience, meekness, and ſelf-denial; no ſuch miferies as /
The Method of Grace.
SERM. theſewouldbe heard ofamong us.
Ifa. xi. 8, 9. " The fucking child ſhall play upon the hole of the aſp, and aweaned
" child ſhall put his hand on the cockatrice den ; they ſhall not " hurt, nordestroyin allmyholy mountain : For the earth ſhall
" be full ofthe knowledge of the Lord, asthewaters cover the "fea."
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 ofChriſt; the holiness, heavenlineſs,humility, felf-denial, anddiligence inobedience,which was inChrift, is, in fome meaſure, to be found in all fincere
Chriſtian's: They ſhew forth the virtues of him that calleth them; the graces of the Spiritdo more, or leſs, thine forth in them: And O how endearing, ſweet, and engaging, are theſe things ! Uponthis very account the apoftle invited others into the fellowship ofthe faints.
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 itnot ſweet to have fellowship with them, whohave fellowship with Chrift?
Oletallyour delightsbe inthefaints, andintheexcellent ofthe earth, who excel in virtue, Pfal. xvi. 3. yet, miſtake not, there is agreatdeal ofdifference betwixt one Chriftian, andanother, andeven the beſt ofChriftians are fanctified but in part.
If there be fomething fweet, and engaging, there isalfo,fomething bitter, anddiſtaſteful, in the beſt ofmen.
Iftherebe fomething todraw forth your delight, and love; there is, alſo, fomething to exercife your pity, and patience.
Yet this is moſtcertain, thatnotwithſlanding all theirinfirmities, and corruptions, they are thebeſt, and sweetest company, this world affords.
Infer. 5. In a word, ifnoman's claim to Chrift 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 lufts ? None are more forward toclaim the privileges of religion, than thoſe thatreject the duties ofit ; multitudes hope tobe ſaved by Chriſt, who yet refuseto begoverned by him: But ſuch hopes have no ſcripture warrant to fupport them; yea, they have no ſcripture teftimonies againft them. 1 Cor. vi. 9. " Knowye notthat the unrighteous ſhallnot
" inherit the kingdom ofGod ? Benot deceived, neither forni- " cators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abu- " fers of themfelves with mankind; nor thieves, nor covetous,
" nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, ſhall inherit the " kingdom ofGod." Ohow many thoufand vainhopesare lard
SERM . XXX.
The Method ofGrace. in the duft, and how many thousand fouls are ſentenced tohell by this one fcripture !
Second use, for exhortation.
Ifthisbe ſo, it naturally preſſes all the profeſſors of Chriſtianity to ſtrict godliness intheir converſations, as ever they expect benefit by Chriſt. O profeſſors, beyenot conformedunto this world, but be ye transformed, by the renewing ofyour minds : Set the example of Chriſt before you, and labour to tread in his ſteps.
This is the great buſineſs of religion, the main ſcopeof the goſpel. Give me leave, therefore, cloſely to preſs it uponyour hearts, by the following motives.
Motive 1. Chrift hath conformed himself to you, by his abaſing incarnation ; how reasonable therefore is it thatyou conform yourſelves to him in the way of obedience and fanctification? Hecame as near to you, as it was poſſible for him todo, ſtrive you therefore to come as near to Chriſt as it is poffible for you todo: 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 hewas infinitely above you, that was his abaſement; do you conform yourſelves to him, who are infinitely beneath him, that willbe your advancement: his conformity toyou emptied him ofhis glory, your conformity tohim will fillyou with glory : heconformedhimself toyou, though you had noobligation upon him ; will you notconform 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 tohim 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 onlyyour fouls ſhallbelikehim, butyour verybodies, even thoſe vilebodies ofyours, " ſhall be changed, that they may be faſhi- " oned like unto hisglorious body." How forcible a motive is this tobringmen into conformity with Chriſt here ! eſpecially, feeing our conformity tohim in holiness, is the evidence ofour 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 inholiness and obedience here.
Motive 3. The conformity ofyour lives to Chriſt your pattern, is yourhighest excellency in this world: The meaſure
VOL . III.
SERM . XXX.
The Method ofGrace. ofyourgrace 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 willyour 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 Chrift, or build them up in Chriſt ; for all menare forbidden by the goſpel to follow you one ſtep farther than you followChriſt, 1 Cor. xi. 1. andwhenyou have finiſhedyour courſe in this world, the remembrance ofyour ways will be no further fweet to others, than they are ways ofho lineſs and obedience to Chrift, 1 Cor. iv. 17. If you walk according tothe course ofthis world, the world will not be the better for your walking.
Motive 5. To walk as Chriſt walked, is awalk only worthy ofa Chriftian ; this is to " walk worthyofthe 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 amanwalks 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 ofyour character and profeſſion: this is conſonanttoyour vocation, Eph. iv. 1. " I beſeech you, that you walk worthy of " the vocation wherewithyou are called."
Thiswalking ſuits with your obligation, 2 Cor. v. 15. for it is to live unto him whodied for us .
This walking only ſuits with your defignation, 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, fuch walking as this, and ſuch only becomes your expectation, 2 Pet. iii. 14. " Wherefore
" [beloved] , feeing that you look for fuch things, be diligent, " that ye may be found of him in peace, without ſpot, and "blameleſs."
Motive 6. Howcomfortable willthe cloſe ofyour life be at death, ifyou have walkedafter Chriſt's patternand example in this world ! A comfortable death is ordinarily the clofe of a holy life, Pfal. xxxvii . 37. "Mark the perfect man,and behold
* The word worthiness, as uſed in ſcripture, does not alwaysdenote an exactproportion ofequalitybetween one thing andanother, but a certain fuitableness and fitneſs which excludes inconfiftency.
Davenant on Coloff. p. 25.
SERM . XXX.
The Method ofGrace.
" the upright; for the end of thatman is peace." A looſe, careleſs life puts many terrible ſtings intodeath.
As worms in the body are bred of the putrefaction there, ſo the worm of confcience is bred of the moral putrefaction, or corruption that is inour natures and conversations. O then be prevailed with byalltheſe conſiderations to imitateChrift inthe whole courſe, andcompafs of your converſations.
Third use, for confolation.
Laftly, I would leave afew words offupport and comfort to ſuchas fincerely ſtudy and endeavour, according tothe tenden cy of their new nature, to follow Chriſt's example, but being weak ingrace, and meeting with ſtrong temptations, are frequently carried afide from the holy purposes, and deſigns of their honeft, well-meaning hearts, to thegreat grief, anddifcouragement oftheir fouls. They heartilywiſh and aim at holineſs, and ſay with David, Pfal. cxix. 5. " O that my ways
" were directed to keep thy ſtatutes."
They follow after exactneſs in holiness as Pauldid, Phil . iii. 12. " Ifby any means
" theymight attain it."
But findinghow ſhort they come, in allthings, oftherule andpattern, they mournas hedid, Rom. vii. 24. " O wretched man thatI am, who ſhall deliver me from " the body of this death ?" Well, if this be thy cafe, be not diſcouraged, buthearken to a few words of fupport and comfort, withwhich I ſhallcloſe this point.
SUPPORT I.
Suchdefects in obedience make no flaw inyour juſtification : for your juſtification is not built uponyour obedience, but upon Chrift'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 toAbraham, Mofes, David, Paul, andthemoſt eminent ſaints that ever lived, if their juſtification, andacceptationwithGod, had dependeduponthe perfection, andcompleatness oftheir own obedince.
SUPPORT.
II.
2. Yourdeeptroubles for the defectiveness ofyour obedience, do not argue you to be leſs, but more fanctified, than thoſe who make no ſuch complaints; for theſeprove you to bebetter
" acquaintedwith your own hearts, than others are ; to have a deeper hatredof fin than others have; and to loveGod, with amore fervent love than others do; the moſt eminent ſaints havemade thebittereſt complaintsuponthis account, Pfal. 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 unexpectedadvantage: for, bytheſe defects he hides pride from your eyes ; he beats you off from ſelf-dependence ; he makes you to admirethe 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 ofheaven, to extract ſuch mercies out offuch miferies !
SUPPORT IV.
4. Your bewailed infirmities do not break the bond of the everlasting covenant. Thebond 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 tranfgreffions thou ſhalt purge
" them away," Pfal. lxv, 3.He is ſtill thyGod, thy Father for allthis.
SUPPORT V.
5. Though the defects of your obedience are grievous to God, yet your deep forrows for them are well-pleaſing in his eyes, Pfal. li. 17. " The facrifices ofGod are a broken ſpirit, a " broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe."
Ephraim was never amore pleaſant child tohis father, thanwhen hemoanedhimself, and ſmote upon his thigh as thou doſt, Jer. xxxi. 20.
Your fins grieve him, butyour forrows pleaſe him.
SUPPOR VI.
6. ThoughGod have left manydefects to humble you, yet hehath givenmany things tocomfort you.
This is a comfort that the defire of thy foul is toGod, and to the remembrance ofhis name. This is a comfort, that thy fins are not thydelight as once theywere ; but thy ſhame and forrow.
This is a comfort, that thy caſe is not fingular; but, more or leſs, the fame complaints and forrows are found in all gracious fouls through the world; and, to ſay allinone 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 " inpart ſhall be done away."
For ever bleffed be God for Jesus Chrift.
And thus I have finiſhed the third general uſe of examination, whereby everyman is to try his intereſt in Chriſt, and