Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...

CHRIST the best INHABITANT.

Text, EPHES. 3. 17.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith.

I Have chosen this Text, by reason of this Sacramental occasion, which doth represent Christs dwelling in us: and it is the second head of Pauls Prayer. The first was, That they might be strengthened in the inward man. This; That Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith. Having in the former discourse opened the words, I shall not need to adde any thing here.

The point hence arising is: That it is a great prerogative, of which all the Saints are partakers, that they have Christ to dwell in their hearts.

The Apostle prayeth for it, being directed by the spirit of God in his prayer, and therefore we should esteem of it, as of a great priviledge: And as of that, of which all the Saints are partakers, because it is neces∣sarie

to salvation: none are saved without it. Now for the better understanding of it I will first of all shew you these two things.

• 1. What it is to have Christ dwell in our hearts.
• 2. What benefits we receive by his dwelling in them.

For the first, what it is to have Christ to dwell in our hearts; To this I answer. That then Christ dwells in our hearts, when as he works in them in another manner then he did before, he hath other works, and we see o∣ther effects then formerly:

First he shewes himself kinde and favourable to us, in∣lightning, giving comfort, refreshing, framing and ru∣ling ou•• spirits that be••ore he did not: and he doth not in others he is said to dwell in the Temple, because his eyes are upon it, his ears are there open to hear the pray∣ers of men, his mercy seat is there. Tis true, God fills heaven and earth: yet he is said to dwell in the Temple, because there he manifesteth his peculiar presence; so the phrases of the Scripture are to be understood. Go not up for God is not with you. That is, he will not assist you. God dwells where he assists: he dwells not where he helpes not. That you may understand this; consider these four particulars.

First where a man dwells, he must come to the house and abide in it: so Christ comes into the hearts of be∣lievers in whom he dwells, and unites himself to them, and their hearts to him. And that is done by a double act of the Spirit: First he humbleth and convinceth men of sin, he makes some alive, and us to be dead, the way to life is death, as the corn dies that it may live. And this the spirit of bondage doth by putting an edge to the Law, by making men desirous of Christ. Secondly the Spirit of adoption that unites us, that perswades us that Christ is ours: Love makes the union; Faith is the agent in this union: but it doth it by love: as fire is said to heat, though the qualitie doth it immediately: when after sound humiliation we believe reconciliation with

Christ; there is a love to Christ, then there is a union. That is the first word, he unites himself to the heart, and it to him.

Secondly, It is not enough for a man to come to the place, to be conjoyned to it for a time: but he must con∣tinue there, else he dwells not there but is a stranger: a dwell ••r must continue. Christ abides with us for ever, according to that everlasting Covenant which he hath made with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Is 55. 3 He hath made an everlasting Covenant with us: even the sure mercies of David. He never sepe∣rates himself from us: after he comes he continues for ever.

But it may be objected: though Christ will not depart from us; yet we may depart from him.

To this I answer, that he will not suffer us to depart from him, Ier. 32. 4. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them. That is, I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me, we are knit together with∣out separation, he never departs from us nor we from him; The reason why we continue in the state of grace, is not because grace is of an unsatiable nature: for it is a creature, and may vanish as all other creatures do: But it never failes because it is in Christ, and supported by his arm of omnipotencie. The light in the air may quickly perish, but if the sun be ever with it, it ne∣ver perisheth, ••o the water of a stream may fail, but if there be a spring to supply it, it never fails: grace may perish as it did in Adam, but men ingrafted into the second Adam can never fall, because Christ is never severed from them; we have his word for it, he keeps us by his power: There is an everlast∣ing Covenant on both sides. The Sacrament se ls this unto us; That God hath made a Covenant, that he will never depart from it, and we set our seal by it, that we will never depart from him, Gal 5. 3. He that is cir∣cumcised is bound to keep the whole Law. So he that receives

the Sacrament, is bound, he engages himself to keep the Law of faith: and he receives that oath when he was baptized.

Thirdly where a man dwells, there he must delight: else he is not said properly to dwell there: a man that is imprisoned, is not said to dwell in the spirit, because he delights not in it. Now Christ is said to dwell in us, because he delights in us, Esai. 62. 4. Thou shalt no more be called forsaken, but Hephsebah: because the Lord delighteth in thee; presence argues delight. God delights in the Saints therefore he dwells in them, he works in them that which is pleasing to them. Artifex amat opus proprium. He loves his own workmanship. Thus,

First God delights in them as in those that are beauti∣ful, Cant. 4. 1, 2, 3. Thou art beautiful my Love thou art fair: Thou hast Doves eyes, thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, which are shorn, which came up from washing: thy lips are a thread of Scarlet: thy Temples like a piece of Pomegranate.

Secondly as one delights in a garden, so God delights in them, Cant. 4. 12. because he hath planted them, with such graces, as flourish and grow up in them.

Thirdly as one delights in a Feast: so God delights in them, Cant. 5. 1. I have eaten my honey comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk, Revel. 3. 20. I will come and sup with them. I delight in them as in a Feast.

Fourthly where a man dwells, there he is active, one that doth nothing is not said to dwell in the place, but rather to be imprisoned: as one said of an idle man pointing to his body: hic situs est, his soul was buried in his body. So Christ is said to dwell in us, in regard of his activity, and influence, in regard of the works that he doth in us: he works efficaciously in the soul, making it fit for himself; Christ hath an influence into the Saints, he is still active, in them, furnisheth them with qualities, that they had not, and with actions that they did not be∣fore: as one having an house makes his garden: he dwells in us as the fire in the iron. That is as the fire giveth to

the iron all the qualities, and properties of fire; as hot, burning, and giving light: it makes it like the fire; so the spirit of a man when Christ dwelleth in him, is made as the Spirit of Christ in all thin••s according to that de∣gree of grace that he hath received.

We now come to the second thing we propounded, and that is to shew you the benefits that we have by Christ his dwelling in our hearts: and those are six.

First Where ever Christ dwelleth, he maketh that per∣son glorious: he filleth his heart with glory. This I take out of the Psal. 24. v. 7. Be ye lift up ye everlasting doors. That the King of glory may come in, The meaning is this, when ever Christ cometh into any mans heart, he comes as the King of glory. That is, not as one that is glorious in himself, and keepeth his glory to himself: but as one that com∣municateth his glory to that place where he cometh. For there is that difference between Christ his coming in to an house, and the coming of a Prince: when a Prince co∣meth, though he bring never so much glory with him, yet he putteth it not upon the house, the house remaineth the same. But when Christ cometh into the heart, he changeth he altereth the house, he beautifieth, and decks the soul with such excellencies, as in themselves are glo∣rious, and appear glorious unto the view of others. So Moses when he was with God, his face did shine, when he came down from the Mount, because there God com∣municated his glory to him. Indeed it is true, that was an outward visible glory: but yet the resemblance of that inward glory, which God communicateth to the soul of him in whom he dwelleth. That is he makes an im∣pression of his own glory, of his own Image upon that heart into which he cometh: he stampeth it, I say, upon the heart, and it is glorious in the Inward man; it shineth forth also in the life and conversation, even as the light shineth through the window: so is it when Christ dwel∣leth in the heart: he putteth a glory there which shineth forth: makes him glorious in the eyes of others, giveth a

gracious and heavenly tincture to all his actions. And the reason is, because where he dwelleth he bringeth the spirit with him, the Spirit of glory resteth upon them: as you have it in 1 Pet 4. The Spirit of glory resteth upon you when you are railed upon for his names sake. That is, that spirit dwelleth in you, covereth you; and let them say what they can, they shall not be able to hurt you, for you are compast about with light, even with the glorious Spirit of God. As if one should cast dirt upon the Sun, he cannot obscure the glory of it, because light dwells in it, so when men speak evil of the Saints, disgrace and revile them, they cannot hurt them, for there is glory in them that shineth about them.

Now glory is nothing else but the manifestation of some excellencie to the view of others: so we attribute still the word, glory, to such in whom we see some excellency: to see a man in gorgeous apparel, An Army under ban∣ners, to see a ship under sail, we say they are glorious. So Michal said of David, How glorious was the King of Is∣rael to day? because then he manifested himself: Now when God sheddeth abroad his Spirit into the heart•• of any, whom he infuseth the graces of his Spirit into them, he is said to put glory into them, This Christ doth wheresover he cometh, because he furnisheth them with grace, and every grace is glorious, As it is said of wisdom in the Proverbs. He that is in estimation for wisdom and glory: That is for wisdom which is glorious: so when Christ cometh into the heart of any, he makes them wise, and therefore glorious. The like may be said of an•• other v••rtue; therefore in the Epistle of Peter, vertue, and glory, are joyned together. In a word, the Image of God is in them: which is compounded of many graces, Now that image is a glorious Image, 2 Cor. 3. You are changed to the Image of God from glory to glory. That is from one glo••i us degree of grace to another; And this is the first b••n si•• we have by Christ, he makes them glorious in whom he dwelleth, because he putteth his graces in

them, and stamps his similitudes upon them.

Secondly, A second benefit that we have by Christs dwel∣ling in us, i•• this, where ever he dwelleth, he ruleth and governeth, he guideth the spirit wherein he dwel∣leth, he keepeth the heart in order, from mutinies and tumults: he keepeth all the affections in obedience, And this is a great benefit, and this he doth where he dwelleth; Therefore in Psal. 24. it is said Be you lift up ye everlasting doors, (speaking there of the soul which onely is everlast∣ing▪) and the King of glory shall come in, That is he ruleth as a King, dwelleth as a King, that ruleth in the place where he cometh. That as Satan ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience: so Christ ruleth in the chil∣dren of obedience: he guideth them, and governeth them, he ordereth their steps the right way, That is, when there are in them lusts fighting in their mind, a law in their members, rebelling against the Law of the spirit: he keepeth down these Rebels, he mortifieth these lusts: and therefore in Rom. 8. The affections are said to be ser∣vants to righteousness, That is because righteousness ruleth in the hearts of those in whom Christ dwelleth.

But you will say, what benefit is this: what privi∣ledge is it to have Christ rule us? it seemeth rather to be contrary▪ it seemeth rather that this is to be re∣strained, and to be over-ruled; is it not better to have our liberty?

I answer, that it is not: but it is a great priviledge to have Christ govern in us: for he is not as those governours that govern for themselves; but he hath the propertie of a good governour, that spendeth his sweetness for the good of those, over whom he is a governour. And this you will see if you consider what a government it is. For it freeth you from the government of other Lords: from the goverment that your lusts have over you, Again he go∣verneth not as a Tyrant, by force, but as the soul govern∣eth the members without difficultie. Now as it is said of the Members, that while they serve and obey the soul, That

very labour is a rest, and that obedience is a liberty: even so the soul when it obeyeth Christ, that is indeed a libertie, and that service is rest, the reason is, because Christ guideth them sweetly in whom he dwelleth: all the members are guided by the soul with a willing re∣sigation, so that from an inward propensness, not from constraint, they do what they will: it is therefore an easie government. Again when any thing is made obe∣dient to what is the proper rule of it, it is the better for it: for therein the perfection of every creature lieth, when the Creature hath a Law given it, according to which if it work, it is in the best condition. Now God him∣self & the law is the rule to which every man should con∣form, therefore the creature is best, when it is in obedience to him; even as is the body of man, when it is best go∣verned, and kept closest to the rule, it is best in health: so it is in the soul of a man, the better it is governed, the more obedient it is to Christ, the better it is in health: for every rebellion is a sickness and disturbance to the foul: Therefore you have a great benefit, when Christ dwelleth in your hearts as a King; If it were not for that my Brethren, whether would your unruly affections car∣ry you? how would those rebels wound you? how would they rob you of all that that is good? those foolish and hurtfullusts that are in you, how would they drown you in perdition? Now when Christ dwelleth in the heart, he keepeth down these lusts, keepeth the soul in good temper, guideth our feet into the way of peace: our feet of themselves would be running into miseries and dan∣gers, his goverment keepeth us out of these: This is his goverment, and this is the second benefit that we have by Christ his dwelling in us.

The third benefit is this, where Christ dwelleth there he comforteth, and refresheth the heart; This I take out of Esai. 57. 15. Thus saith the Lord, the high and loftic one that inhabiteth eternitie. I dwell in the high and holy place,

with him also that is of a contrite, and humble spirit, to re∣vive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones; In that place you have Two benefits ex∣prest: one is, that Christ refresheth the heart of the humble in whom he dwelleth. And secondly he giveth life to them: we will speak of both: and begin with the first which is the third in order. When a man is drooping, when his spirit is dejected in him, when he meditateth of nothing but of fear and danger. Now when Christ cometh into the heart, he setteth all at rest: he bringeth a tranquilitie to the soul. In a word he filleth the heart with joy where∣soever he cometh; For as the Sun bringeth light into the world, so Christ bringeth joy into the heart; and you can no more have him in your heart without some joy, then the Sun can be in the world without light; And it must needes be so, because where Christ cometh, he bringeth matter of joy with him, for where ever he co∣meth he bringeth salvation, as he said to Zaccheus, this day is salvation come unto thine house. Now when Christ shall say unto a man, That salvation is come unto him, he bringeth matter of joy, so he is said to come as a Bridegroom. Now a Bridegroom is alwayes bringing of joy, so it is compared to the joy in harvest, and to the joy of those that divide the spoil.

Again Christ bringeth his spirit, and his spirit is a spirit of joy, therefore he is called the comforter, this made God break forth into this speech: seemeth the consolations of God a small thing to you?

Again he bringeth a Kindom, and that Kingdom con∣sisteth of joy, in Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God is not meat, and drink, but Righteousness and Peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Again where Christ dwelleth, you cannot have him but you must have much joy with him, because joy followeth him naturally; at his right hand are plea∣sures for evermore. Therefore in whomsoever he dwel∣leth that partie must needs have joy. Look through the world, and what joy some ever a man hath, it is accord∣ding

to the measure of his participation with God. There∣fore those that have him fully, as in heaven, they have a fulness of joy: Those that have him not at all, as in hell, there is a fulness of grief: Indeed in heaven it is mid∣day, and in hell, it is midnight, The one hath the sun alwayes with them; the other darkness it self. Now those that are in the way to both, as the Saints which are in the spring of the day, They have some measure of joy, even as much as they participate of God, and the repro∣bate that shall be damned, and here dwell in the twi-light, they have some flashes of joy, according as God com∣municateth himself in common gifts and graces unto them. But in a word, so much of God so much of joy a man hath: Now when God himself dwelleth in a mans heart, and if joy thus naturally follow him, it must needs refresh the hearts of those in whom he dwelleth: so much for the third Benefit.

A Fourth Benefit is this, That he giveth life to those in whom he dwelleth, that is he maketh them living men; he liveth in every man in whom he dwelleth as the vine in the branches. That is all the actions and properties of life we draw from him, all the sense we have is from him, in him we live, move, and have our being, and this is a great Benefit. For the worst living thing, is bet∣ter then the best dead thing, and amongst lifes, the life of grace which Christ giveth is the best life; because it cometh nearest to the life of God, and Angels: And they have onely this life, in whom Christ dwellerh, for the most living men are but ghosts whilest they are alive: now when Christ cometh into their hearts; he putteth life into them, he makes them living men. Again those that are in Christ: though they have some root of life con∣tinually in them, yet they are often, dead, and dull, and indisposed to do any holy duty: It is Christ now that quickneth them, and maketh them ready to every good work. All the motions, all the fruites of life in your selves, are but the budding and putting forth of the spirit;

therefore all such blossomes are precious, and they should be nourished in you: you should not let them wither for want of sap, and that you may have from Christ, for it is he that quickeneth every man, by his Spirit; That look as the old Adam maketh sin active in every one that is born of him, so the second Adam communicateth grace and life to those that are ingrafted into him by faith. Therefore he is called a quickening spirit: even as a man liveth when the soul is conjoyned to the body, so the soul liveth, when Christ is conjoyned to it: Look upon all the living Saints, the reason why they live among such a multitude of dead men, is because Christ is in them; if you see one more holy then another, more active, more nimble in the wayes of Gods commandments then ano∣ther, it is because Christ dwelleth more in him then in ano∣ther: if you find your selves more ready, and more strong to perform any duty, it is because Christ helpeth and quickeneth you, for he is your life. In a word, all the life you have is derived from his inhabitation, and dwel∣ling in you, And this is the fourth Benefit that we receive from Christ, he makes us living men.

The fifth benefit we have and receive from Christ his dwelling in us, is that he consecrateth us, and maketh us holy. Know ye not saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 3. 17. That ye are the Temple of God, and that the spirit dwelleth in you. That is Christs act, no man is holy, but he whom Christ consecrateth, and he consecrateth the soul, That is, he sanctifieth it, sets it apart, maketh a temple peculiar to him∣self: for holiness is nothing but an appropriating some∣thing to Gods use, and sequestring it from common uses: Now when Christ works such a work in the spirit of a man, he is said to consecrate a man, to sanctifie him.

And that he doth when he revealeth to us the vanitie of earthly things on one side, And the excellencie of hea∣venly things on the other side. By this means the heart is weaned from those, and is knit and married to these

in a conjugal love, so that it loveth him, and nothing be∣sides; and this I say Christ doth, by revealing the truth, making earthly things to appear vain as they are, and God to appear beautiful and excellent as he is: For when he appeareth as he is, we cannot but love him: and that is the reason it is said, Sanctifie them with thy truth; that is, when any man hath the truth revealed unto him, he seeth things as they are, then his spirit cleaveth unto God, lo∣veth God, marrieth it self unto God, keepeth it self pro∣per unto him, weaneth itself, and estrangeth it self from all other things. That which is called sanctifying in that place, you shall find in two places of Scripture exprest in such tearms, as express this double act of Christ which I named unto you, as in the 2 Tit. verse penult. He hath purified to himself a peculiar people; that is, he hath em∣ptied them of whatsoever may draw them from God, and hath sanctified them by his spirit. And so again in the 30. Deut. 6. And the Lord God will circumcise the heart, that thou mayest love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, &c. That is, I will draw you to me, your hearts shall cleave to me. Now then when these two acts are done, the heart circumcised, and love put into it, that it cleaveth to God without separation. This is the sancti∣fying of the heart, this Christ works wheresoever he co∣meth. And (my Brethren) this is not an easie thing to do, and indeed no man can do it but Christ: for this holiness of spirit is not onely an abstaining from the things common and unclean, from pollution of flesh and spirit; it is not an abstaining from them out of judgement onely, but then a mans spirit it is holy, when he hath an inward propence inclination to that which is good, and an aversness to that which is evil. When the spirit hath a new quality put into it, Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good, this is holiness, not to abstain from the evil onely, but to abhor it, not onely to do the good, but his spirit cleaveth to the good, loveth the good. So it is said, Lot had his righteous soul vexed with the un∣clean

conversation of the Sodomites, that is, he had a holy soul, and in this his holiness was seen, that he vexed, &c. So Moses, his holiness appeared when he wept, when he saw the people commit idolatry; so Paul, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the idolatry of the peo∣ple of Athens. So when a mans spirit sti••reth it self after this manner, when from that new quality that is put in∣to it, it works out the uncleanness that is in it: this is the holiness of the spirit, and no man hath it but from Christ. As the needle, unless it have it from the Load∣stone, could not have that property of looking to the North; so it is with the spirit of a man, before Christ dwelleth in him, before he hath put a new quality of holiness, he never looks towards God, but when it is done once, it cannot do otherwise; therefore those in whom Christ dwelleth cannot sin, that is, cannot delight in sin: this is a great benefit therefore, and this holi∣ness of spirit they have in whom Christ dwelleth, To be holy in all manner of conversation, to be holy at all times in all places, in all that he doth to have a holiness of spirit acting and appearing therein. It is a hard thing, and therefore the benefit is the greater: so now how much unholiness we may find in the spirits of men, when the spirit of a man steppeth out and doth what it doth to its own ends, and looks not to Christ, but to other ends, this is unholiness and adultery of the spirit; therefore those, the trade of whose life is not to look at God in their actions, but to themselves, to pass from pleasure to pleasure, and from sport to sport, and all for themselves; those also that are so much occupied in worldly businesses that God is forgotten, this is exactly contrary to holi∣ness, for here the spirit turneth it self from God, whereas we should be holy in all manner of conversation, holy in every thing, holy in eating, holy in drinking, holy in re∣creation, holy in all our business, holy in mirth, &c.

But you will ask how shall that be?

When you do all these as to God, as fit••ing you for

his service; when you put God as the end unto all that you do, then is your spirit holy, you know that place, Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. That is, respect God in it, make not your selves the utmost end of it, for then your heart is unho∣ly, for holiness is to keep the heart close to God, pecu∣liar to him alone, eying God in all things. When he turneth from him, that is the unholiness of the spirit. This benefit we have by Christ dwelling in our hearts, our spirits are consecrated unto him, all that is in us is turned, and looks that way; and so much for this fifth Benefit.

The sixth and last benefit we have by Christ dwelling, is defence, he defendeth those in whom he dwelleth, he covereth them, he is a buckler and protector to them, he preserveth them from all evil, from all crosses, or the e∣vil of crosses. This is a great benefit. For there is this difference between Christ and other Inhabitants, other Inhabitants are defended by the house wherein they dwell, but here the Inhabitant defendeth the house. And the reason is good, because, though he dwell in our hearts, yet he is our habitation, as it is in the Psalm, that is, we dwell in him, he covereth us, as a house covereth a man, and defendeth him from the violence of the weather. This you have excellently exprest in the 4. Isaiah, the two last verses, Upon all their glory shall be a defence; that is, upon all the people of God which are glorious, he calleth them glory in the abstract. I will de∣fend them from all evil. If you ask what defence it is? you shall see a distribution of it, in the verses following, I will be as a covering in the heat of the day: That is, one kind, and a place of refuge and covert from storm and from rain. That is, if there be heat I will keep you from that, if there be storms and rain I will preserve you from that; you shall be as a man within doors. Thus Christ defen∣deth those that belong unto him, he is a covering to them, he keepeth them safe; in the 1 Cor. 3. Him that destroyeth

the Temple of God, him will the Lord destroy. It is his Temple, it is the place where he dwelleth, and be assu∣red, Christ will not have his house pulled down over his head; no man will promise his Inheritance to be spoyl∣ed. Now Gods children are his portion, they are his sheep, he will not suffer them to be plucked out of his hands. Therefore the Prophet Esay compareth his Church to a Tent, that though it be made of two or three mate∣rials, onely cords and stakes, yet saith he, there shall not a cord be broken, nor a stake plucked up. My Brethren, if you look upon the Church, you will wonder that they should not have been swallowed up ere this time, but know that God dwelleth in this Tent, he keepeth and defen∣deth them. Christ dwelleth thus in every believer, in par∣ticular he will be a buckler, and defence unto him. And this benefit you have by Christ dwelling in you.

And so much for the Benefits you receive by Christs Inhabitation in you.

We must add something now for the application of this point; and first, you may make this use of it. Learn to judge aright of the works of God in your hearts, and remember that it is wrought by Christ himself. It is Christ himself that is in you, that consulteth with you, that acts in you, that enliveneth you to every duty, he himself is given us of God, to be our wisdom, righteous∣ness, sanctification, and redemption; it is he himself that will come in and sup with us, Rev. 3. And therefore if you would have a great measure of grace, a great measure of comfort and refreshing, if you would feel the life of grace flowing abundantly in your hearts, fasten your eyes upon Christ the fountain. This is our fault (my Brethren) that we look upon grace, and remission of sins, and san∣ctification, separated from Christ, we labour not for Christ in the first place, we look upon pardon for sin, we go unto God for it, but we think not upon Christ; learn first to get Christ to dwell in your hearts, fasten your eyes upon him, intreat him to come thither and sup with you, and

then take from him justification and sanctification, the spirit and every grace. For so it is, as when a wife mar∣rieth a husband, she must not think of the titles, ho∣nours and commodities that he bringeth separately from himself, for then it is an adulterous thought, she must first take her husband, and then those other things come along with him: so must we do with Christ, fasten our eyes up∣on Christ himself, love him, cleave to him, labour to have our heart•• married to him by faith, then we have remission of sins, then we have adoption, then we have reconcilia∣with God, and every particular grace coming along with him. Even as if a man would have a treasure that lieth hid in a field, he must first have the field it self, and then he may take the treasure; he must not think of the treasure as of a thing abstracted from the field, even so, thou must get Christ, for in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and of his fulness, we receive grace for grace. But this is our hinderance, that we look upon these things separately and apart from Christ. But let us remember that it is Christ that dwelleth in our hearts, and although indeed it is by his spirit, yet it is he himself that is the fountain of all; get Christ therefore more and more into your hearts; for you must know that there are degrees of dwelling, as the Sun dwelleth more in the house at seve∣ral times, so Christ dwelleth more and more plentifully in the hearts of men, even as there is a neerer union be∣tween us and him, and so he dwelleth in us accordingly; as there are degrees of familiarity between friends, so are there degrees of union and habitation, between Christ and us. And accordingly are there degrees in all the effects of his habitation; labour therefore to get Christ in your hearts.

But you will say, how shall this be done?

Labour to get a contrite and humble heart, there God delighteth to dwell; there are but two places in which he delights, Isa. 57. In the highest heavens, and with him al∣so that is of an humble and contrite spirit; look what delight

he hath to dwell in the heavens the same delight he takes to dwell in him that is of an humble spirit. This is the reason why so many living in the Church have not Christ in them; they are not yet humbled, they are not yet sen∣sible of their sins, they know not as yet that they are children of wrath; whereas a man that is humbled, and broken with the sense of his sins, that hath his heart wounded with them, this is one that is a fit habitation for Christ to dwell there. Therefore it is, that even the Saints themselves, when they begin to have their hearts lifted up in them, that Christ removeth them far from him, and therefore also is it that he humbleth them, before he returneth to them again: So it was with David and Hezekiah, when they were li••ted up in their hearts, you see how God for sook them, and how angry he was with them: get humbled hearts therefore. When you can say to Christ in good earnest, as the Centurion said, Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: that is the best way to draw his favour to you. You know how readily Christ healed his servant, how he admired him.

Again, the neerer you draw unto him, the more he will dwell in you; it is the Apostle Iames his counsel, or rather the Spirit of God ••y St. Iames, I•…•…. 5. Draw neer to God, and he will draw neer unto you. And Christ himself, in Iohn 15. 4. Abide in me, and I will abide in you. That is, if we would come n••••r him, we must not suffer our selves to go a whoring after the things of the world, but mind him, draw neer unto him, then would he dwell in you.

Again, the wider you open the door, w••••n he knocks, the further he ••ntr••th, Rev. 3. I stand at the door and knock, if any man will open the door, I will come in and sup with him; that is I will come in and dwell with him, enter commons with him. Now •…•…re said to open the door, when you yield to his knocking, that is, when you are stirred up to any good duty by hearing the Word: all

all provocations are knocking at the door, the more you yield to these, and the more willing you are to perform holy duties, the more you open, and so the more Christ dwelleth in you.

Again, the less you live to your selves, and the more you are emptied of your selves, the more Christ dwel∣leth in you, the less you live to pleasures, and the more you are emptied of whatsoever is in you, the more will Christ dwell in you.

Again, the cleaner you keep your heart, the more will he delight to dwell in you, a man that is of a neat dispo∣sition, loveth not to be in a soul place; so Christ abhor∣reth to dwell in a heart that is ••oul and unclean, the more clean therefore you keep your heart from Rebelli∣ons and unruly lusts, and the more you are free from any kind of vanity, and the more you grow up in holiness, the more will Christ delight to dwell in your heart.

Again, the larger spirit a man getteth, and the stron∣ger he is in the inward man, These are the means where∣by you may get Christ to dwell in your hearts; and the more humble and contrite spirit you are of, the nearer you draw unto him; the wider ye open the doors when he knocks, the less you live to your selves; the cleaner you keep you heart, the stronger you are in the inward man: why then the more you shall have Christ governing you, the more you shall have him putting his glory upon you; the more you shall find him comforting and refreshing your hearts, the more you shall find him quickning you to every good work; the more he will defend you, the more he will consecrate you: But still remember that it is Christ that doth all, when you do any holy duty, when you have any strength to perform any thing that is of any special moment, it is Christ that dwelleth in you, that acteth in you; as the Apostle saith, it is Christ that liveth in me; that is, if you see any holiness in me, if you see me excelling others in grace, if you see me doing great

and strong actions of Religion, it is not I that do it but Christ that liveth in me, it is he that strengtheneth me; there∣fore for a man to think to live the life of grace without Christ, is as if a man should think to live a natural life without a soul, no wonder therefore that you cannot ab∣stain from such and such a lust, that you cannot pray, that you cannot sanctifie the Sabbath; no wonder, seeing you want Christ, no man else can do it. Sampson, when God was departed from him, became as another man; the reason why he did such marvellous things, above the reach of other men, was because God was with him; the reason why the Saints do so much, is because God is in them, he liveth in them, he enableth them to do all that they do; therefore if you find your selves as com∣mon men as other men, not able to do peculiar things, not able to reach that pitch of holiness which God re∣quireth, and is expressed in the lives of the Saints; know that the reason is, because you have not Christ: remem∣ber that it is Christ that doth all, and therefore in all the things that you do, if you find your selves at a dead lift, if you be unable to do a holy duty, labour to sigh for Jesus Christ; say, Lord I can do nothing without thee, it is thou that must enable me to every good work, I cannot so much as think a good thought without thee: labour thus to have recourse to Christ, it is he that must quicken and enliven us, or else we are but dead men.

Secondly, If Christ live in the Saints, then let them know what priviled ••e they have, and triumph, and re∣joice in it. It is good for us (my Brethren) often to re∣flect upon these spiritual priviledges: remember now that you have Christ in you, that must be a great advan∣tage to you. When Moses was to go up with the people in∣to the promised Land, he would not be content with ••n Angel, but he would have Gods own presence, God yieldeth to his opportunity. You see by that how much Moses esteemed of Gods presence: know therefore that

it is a great benefit to have the presence of Christ in the soul, learn to esteem it so; it bringeth much comfort, and another kind of comfort then any other creature can bring. Again, consider if Christ dwell in you, you are made living Temples, in the 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5. Ye as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. They were dead stones, and dead Temples before; and this is a great priviledge, for we have all the benefits that the Temple had: no sacrifice you know was accepted but from the Temple, no prayer was accepted but what came from the Temple, or directed towards the Temple. So it is with the Saints, all their prayers are accepted, because Christ dwelleth in them, and they are his spiritu∣al Temples to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Christ, it is peculiar to them alone; others may pray and hear the Word, and do some other out∣ward duties of Religion, but they are not acceptable, be∣cause they are not Temples of Christ. Consider this (my Brethren) and rest not in your outward performan∣ces, nor priviledges: labour to have the assurance of be∣ing the Temples of God, it is that which makes your sacrifice accepted. This confuseth the common error, men think they may satisfie their lusts, &c. and yet if they pray morning and evening, receive the Sacrament at least once in the year, and do some other outward per∣formances, they think they make God some amends. But alas it is not so, the Lord abhorreth all those sacrifices, because they come not from his Temple. They are not sacrifices offered upon that altar they should be, they are not yet of that holy Priesthood spoken of before, and yet there is that hypocrisie in the spirits of men, that they are neither willing to omit holy duties altogether, nor willing to perform them in that holy and zealous man∣ner as they ought: Labour therefore to have Chirst dwel∣ling in your hearts, otherwise nothing will be ac∣cepted.

I thought to have added something to have made known to you, when Christ dwelleth in your hearts. As one way to know it, where Christ dwelleth, there none dwelleth but him as the glory of God filled the Temple, so Christ filleth the heart.

Again, where he dwelleth, he dwelleth powerfully, he is strong, able to make men go through with their good purposes and resolutions.

Again, 3. He continueth and abideth there for over, he makes them constant in performing holy duties.

And lastly, He is active as the Sun, when that dwel∣leth in the world, we see how it enlight••eth the world, so Christ enlightneth the soul where he dw••lleth, makes us able to judge all things. Again, where the Sun cometh, it thaweth the frozen earth, and causeth a Spring, it cau∣seth every thing to flourish; so Christ dwelleth in the heart as the Sun in the world, or as the soul in the body, see what a beauty the soul putteth upon the ••ody, what motion, what sence; such an al eration there is when Christ commeth into a mans heart. If you find therefore a power in you to do good duties, not weak offers, and breeding of good conceptions, and yet have no strength to bring them forth, Christ is not yet in you. But if Christ be in you, where he dwelleth, he dwelleth powerfully: shall the Devil think you, powerfully rule those in whom he dwelleth? And shall not Christ strengthen and enable those in whom he dwelleth?

Again, if you finde your Religion to be but for a fit, if upon sicknesse or upon the apprehension of death, or upon the touch of some sermon, or upon some fearful ac∣cident befalling others or your selves, you can pray, and hear, and perform the outward parts of Gods Worship, and yet fall off again afterwards. Know for certain that you have not Christ in your hearts; for if once he were there, he would remove no more, ••ut ••n••••le you to? constart course of holiness. There may be some cl••u∣ding now and then: but the Sun will n••ver set upon your hearts.

Lastly, If you find not an alteration in your soul, a spring in the inward man, as when the Sun cometh into the world life, and beauty, as when the soul commeth into the body, be assured that Christ is not yet come into your heart: on the contrary, if you do find all these, then know that Christ dwelleth in your hearts. And this you are to re∣joyce in, as the greatest priviledge vouch safed to you un∣der the Covenant of Grace.

Notes

• Doct.
• What it is to have Christ dwell in the Heart.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• ••t consisteth in 4, things.
• The cause of perseverance in Grace.
• z.
• Isai. 55. 3.
• Object.
• Answ. Jere. 32, 4.
• Gal. 5. 3.
• 3.
• Isai. 62. 4.
• 1. Cant. 4. 1, 2, 3.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cant. 4. 12.
• 3. Cant. 5. 1. Revel 3. 20.
• 4.
• 1. 6. Benefits of Christ dwel∣ling in us. Psal. 24. 7.
• 1 Pet. 4.
• 2 Cor 3.
• Psal. 24.
• Rom. 8.
• Objection.
• Answer.
• Simile.
• 3. Benefit.
• Isai. 57. 15.
• Rom. 14. 17.
• 4 Benefit.
• 5 Benefit.
• How Christ sanctifieth us.
• 2 Tit.
• Deut. 30. 6.
• How we may get Christ in our hearts.
• Heb. 17. 16.
• Simile.
• Quest. Answ.
• 6. Benefit.
• Isaiah 4. 6.
• 1 Cor. 3.
• Use 1.
• Rev. 3.
• Simile.
• Simile.
• Quest. Answ. what holiness of Spirit is. Isay 57.
• Ia
• I••
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3.
• Use. 2.
• Exod. 33.