The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 2.

How much doth it concern us to enquire and know whose government we are under,* 1.1 and who is King over our Souls? Whether Christ or Satan be in the Throne, and sways the Sce∣pter over our souls.

Reader, the work I would now engage thy soul in, is the same that Jesus Christ will throughly and effectually do in the great day. Then will he gather out of his Kingdom every thing that offends, separate the tares, and wheat. Divide the whole world into two ranks, or grand divisions; how many divisions and sub-divisions soever there be in it now. it neerly concerns thee therefore to know who is Lord and King in thy soul. To help thee in this great work make use of the following hints, for I cannot fully prosecute these things as I would.

• First,* 1.2 To whom do you yield your obedience? His Subjects and servants ye are to whom ye obey. Rom. 6.16. It's but a mockery to give Christ the empty titles of Lord and King, whilst ye give your real service to sin, and Satan. What is this

• but like the Jews to bow the knee to him, and say hail Master and crucifie him? Then are ye his disciples, if ye do whatsoever he com∣mands you. Joh. 15.14. He that is Christs servant in jest, shall be damned in earnest. Christ doth not complement with you. His Pardons, Promises, Salvations are real; O let your obedi∣ence be so too. Let it be sincere, and universal obedience; this will evidence your unfeigned subjection to Christ. Do not dare to enterprize any thing, till you know Christs pleasure and Will. Rom. 12.2. Enquire of Christ, as David did of the Lord, 1 Sam. 23.9, 10, 11. Lord may I do this, or that, or shall I for∣bear? I beseech thee tell thy Servant.
• Secondly, Have you the power of godliness, or a form of it only? There be many that do but trifle in Religion, and play about the skirts and borders of it: spending their time about je∣june and barren controversies; but as to the power of Religion and life of Godliness, which consists in communion with God in du∣ties and ordinances, which promotes holiness; and mortifies their Lusts, they concern not themselves about these things. But sure∣ly, the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1 Cor. 4.20. It is not meat and drink, (that is, dry disputes about meats and drinks) but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy-Ghost, for he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God; and approved of men. Rom. 14.17, 18. O I am affraid when the great Host of Professors shall be tried by these rules, th••y will shrink up into a little handful; as Gideons Host did.
• Thirdly, Have ye the special saving knowledge of Christ? All his Subjects are translated out of the Kingdom of dark∣ness. 1 Col. 13. The Devil that ruleth over you in the daies of your ignorance, is called the Ruler of the darkness of this world. His Subjects are all blind: else he could never rule them. Assoon as their eyes be opened, they run out of his Kingdom. And there is no retaining them in subjection to him any longer. O enquire then, whether you are brought out of darkness, into his marvelous light. Do ye see your condition how sad, mi∣serable, wretched i•• is by nature? Do ye see your remedy, as it lies only in Christ; and his pretious blood? Do ye see the true way of obtaining interest in that blood, by faith? Doth this know∣ledge run into practice, and put you upon lamenting heartily your

• misery by sin? Thirsting vehemently after Christ, and his Righ∣teousness? Striving continually for an heart to believe, and close with Chirst? This will evidence you indeed to be translated out of the Kingdom of darkness, into the Kingdom of Christ.
• Fourthly, With whom do ye delightfully associate your selves, who are your chosen Companions? Ye may ••ee to whom ye be∣long by the Company you join your selves to. What do the Subjects of Christ among the slaves of Satan? If the Subjects of one Kingdom, be in another Kings dominions; they love to be together with their own Countrymen; rather than the natives of the place: so do the servants of Christ. They are a company of themselves, as it is said, Act. 4.23. They went to their own Company. I know the Subjects of both Kingdoms are here ming∣led, and we cannot avoid the company of sinners, except we go out of the world. 1 Cor. 5.10. But yet all your delights should be in the Saints, and in the excellent of the earth. Psal. 16.3.
• Fifthly, Do ye live Holy and Righteous lives? If not, you may claim interest in Christ as your King; but he will never al∣low your claim. The Scepter of his Kingdom is a Scepter of Righteousness. Psal. 45.6. If ye oppress, go beyond, and cheat your brethren, and yet call your selves Christs Subjects; what greater reproach can ye study to cast upon him? What, is Christ the King of Cheats? Doth he patronize such things as these? No, no, pull off your vizards, and fall into your own places; you belong to another Prince, and not to Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 2.
• * 1.2

  O how many of us would have Christ divided in two halves, that we might take the half of him only, and take his office, Jesus, and Salvation; but Lord is a cumbersom word, and to obey, and work out our own Salvation, and perfect holiness, is the cumbersom, and stormy northside of Christ, and that we eschew and shift off.