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 5.

Did Christ work,* 1.1 and work out all that God gave him to do; till he had finished his work: How necessary then is a laborious working life to all that call themselves Christians? The life of Christ you see was a laborious life. Shall he work, and we play? Shall a zealous active working Christ, be reproached with idle negligent and lazy fellows? O work and work out your own sal∣vation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2.12.

But if Christ wrought so hard,* 1.2 we may sit still. If he finished the work, nothing remains for us to do.

Nothing of that work which Christ did remains for you to do.* 1.3 It's your commendation and duty to leave all that to Christ; but there's other work for you to do. Yea, store of work lying upon your hands. You must work a•• well as Christ, though not for the same ends Christ did. He wrought hard to satisfie the Law, by fulfilling all righteousness. He wrought all his life long, to work out a righteousness to Justifie you before God. This work falls to no hand but Christs, but you must work to obey the com∣mands of Christ, into whose right ye are come by Redemption. You must work to testifie your thankfulness to Christ, for the work he finished for you. You must work to glorifie God by your

obedience. Let your light so shine before men. For these and divers other such ends and reasons, your life must be a working life.* 1.4 God preserve all his people from the gross and vile opinions of Antinomian Libertines, who cry up grace, and decry obedi∣ence. Who under specious pretences of exalting a naked Christ upon the throne, do indeed strip him naked of a great part of his glory, and vilely dethrone him. My pen shall not english, what mine eyes have read. Tell it not in Gath.

But for thee, Reader, be thou a follower of Christ: imitate thy pattern. Yea, let me perswade thee as ever thou hopest to clear up thine interest in him, imitate him in such particulars as these that follow.

• First, Christ began early to work for God. He took the morn∣ning of his life, the very top of the morning to work for God. How is it (said he to his Parents when he was but a child of about twelve years) that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business? Reader, if the morning of thy life be not gone, oh devote it to the work of God, as Christ did. If it be, ply thy work the closer in the afternoon of thy life. If a man have any great and necessary business to do, it's good doing in the morning; afterwards a hurry of business and diversion comes on.
• Secondly, As Christ began betime, so he followed his work close. He was early up, and he wrought hard; so hard, that he forgat to eat bread, Joh. 31, 32. So zealous was he, in his Fathers work, that his friends thought he had been besides himself, Mark 3.21. So zealous, that the zeal of Gods house eat him up. He flew like a Seraphim, in a flame of zeal, about the work of God. O be not ye like Snales.* 1.5 What Augustus said of the young Ro∣man, well becomes the true Christian; whatsoever he doth, he doth it to purpose.
• Thirdly, Christ often th••ught upon the shortness of his time, and wrought hard because he knew his working time would be but little. So you find it, Joh. 9.4. I most work the works of him that sent me whilst it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. O in this be like Christ. Rouze your hearts to diligence with this consideration. If a man have much to write, and be almost come to the end of his paper; he will write close, and pack much mat∣ter, in a little room.
• ...

• Fourthly, He did much work for God, and made little noise. He wrought hard, but did not spoil his work when he had wrought it, by vain ostentation. When he had exprest his Charity in acts of mercy and bounty to men, he would humbly seal up the glory of it, with this charge; see ye tell no man of it, Matth. 8.4. he affected not popular air. All the Angels in Heaven could not do what Christ did, and yet he called himself a worm, for all that. Psal. 22.6. O imitate your pattern. Work hard for God, and let not pride blow upon it when you have done. It's hard for a man to do much, and not value himself for it too much.
• Fifthly, Christ carried on his work for God resolvedly. No discouragements would beat him off, though never any work met with more from first to last. How did Scribes and Pharisees, Jews, Gentiles, yea Devils, set upon him, by persecutions, and reproaches, violent oppositions and subtil temptations; but yet, on he goes with his Fathers work for all that. He is deaf to all discourage∣ments. So it was foretold of him, Isai. 42.4. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged. O that more of this spirit of Christ, were in his people.* 1.6 O that in the strength of love to Christ, and zeal for the glory of God; you would pour out your hearts in service, and like a River sweep down all discouragements before you.
• Sixthly, He continued working, whilst he continued living. His life, and labour ended together. He fainted not in his work. Nay, the greatest work he did in this world, was his last work. O be like Christ in this, be not weary of well doing. Give not over the work of God, while you can move hand or tongue to pro∣mote it. And see that your last works, be more than your first. O let the motions of your soul after God, be as all natural motions are,* 1.7 swiftest when nearest the center. Say not it is enough, whilst there is any capacity of doing more for God. In these things Christians be like your Saviour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 5.
• * 1.2

  Object.
• * 1.3

  Sol.
• * 1.4

  Da mihi Chri∣stum, ••on quaero do••a gratiae, sed Chri∣stum. No•• quaro promissio∣nes, sed Christum. Non quaero sanctifi∣cationem, sed Christum. Ne mihi narra fabulam de mediatore, & officio; narra mihi de Christo. Com∣mentarius de sta••u Eccles. Brit. p. 45.
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  Saevior ab obi∣ce ibit.
• * 1.7

  Si dixisti saffi∣cit, p••iisti.