SOME GENERAL USES.
Before we come to speak of some particular cases of deadness, wherein
believers are to make use of Christ as the Life, we shall first propose
some useful consequences and deductions from what hath been spoken of
this life; and,
I. The faith of those things, which have been mentioned, would be of
great use and advantage to believers; and therefore they should study to
have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts, and a deep
impression thereof on their spirits, to the end, that,
1. Be their case and condition what it will, they might be kept from
despair, and despondency of spirit, from giving over their case as
hopeless; and from looking upon themselves as irremediably gone. The
faith of Christ being life, and the life, would keep up the soul in
hope, and cause it say,--how dead soever my case be, yet life can help
me, and he who is the resurrection and the life, can recover me.
2. Yea, be their case and condition what it will, they would have here
some ground of encouragement, to go to him with their dead soul, and to
look to him for help, seeing he is the Life, as Mediator, to the end he
might enliven and quicken his dead, fainting, swooning members, and to
recover them from their deadness.
3. They might be freed from many scruples and objections that scar and
discourage them. This one truth believed would clear up the way so, as
that such things, as would have been impediments and objections before,
shall evanish, and be rolled out of the way now: Such as, the objections
taken from their own worthlessness, their long continuance in that dead
condition, and the like.
4. They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plague and
evil of jealousy, whereby the soul is oft kept back from coming to
Christ: For they fear he will not make them welcome; they doubt of his
love and tenderness, and question his pity and compassion; yea, their
jealousy maketh them to doubt of his faithfulness; so that the faith of
this truth would cure this jealousy, and deliver the soul therefrom, and
open a way for the soul to come forward with boldness and confidence.
5. They might also be hereby helped to wait with patience, and to be
still and quiet under the Lord's various dispensations; so as they would
not fret nor repine against him, knowing that he would prove himself to
be Life, even the Life, in his own good time; so that the soul would
patiently wait at his door, till he were pleased to look out, and with
his look convey life into their dead soul.
6. They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any
help from any other quarter: knowing that he alone is the Life; and so
that help can no where else be had. The faith of this truth would guard
from any sinistrous ways which the soul, in a time of strait, is ready
to run to for relief: for hereby would it see that neither instruments
nor means, nor outward administrations, nor any thing of that kind, can
quicken their dead soul; and that he, and he alone must breathe in life
into them, as at first, so now again.
II. May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the
goodness and rich bounty of God towards his people, who hath found out
and condescended upon such a sure, safe, and satisfying way, whereby he
becometh all things to his people which they stand in need of; and that
notwithstanding,
1. That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his
hands.
2. That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts
beside him: O how much corruption, sin and death lodge within our souls!
and how more desirous are we ofttimes of death than of life!
3. That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have
granted unto us; yea, many a time we abuse them; and this he did
foresee, and yet notwithstanding would condescend unto us.
4. That we do little express our thankfulness for such mercies.
But not for our sakes hath he done this, but for his own name's sake:
For noble and holy ends hath he resolved on this course; as,
(1.) That he might be "all in all," Col. iii. 11, and they nothing; that
he alone might fill all in all, Eph. i. ult., and they be empty and
nothing without him.
(2.) That he might wear the glory of all; "for of him, and through him,
and to him are all things," Rom. xi. 36, and that no man might share
therein.
(3.) That man might be his everlasting debtor, and cast down, in
testimony thereof, his crown at his feet, "who sitteth on the throne,"
as those did, Rev. iv. 10, and might cry out with these same elders,
ver. 11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and
power," &c.; and with those, chap. v. 12, "Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
honour, and blessing."
(4.) That man's mouth might be stopped for ever, and all boasting
excluded; for man is a proud creature, and ready to boast of that which
is nothing and vanity. Now God hath chosen this noble way of the
covenant of grace, that no man might boast any more. Where is boasting
then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? no, but by the
law of faith, saith the apostle, Rom. iii. 24.
(5.) That all might be sure to the poor chosen believer. The Lord will
not have the stock of life, any longer to be in a man's own hand: for
even Adam, in the state of innocency, could not use it well, but made
shipwreck thereof, and turned a bankrupt; much more would man now do so,
in this state of sin, in which he lieth at present, therefore hath God,
out of love and tenderness to his chosen ones, put all their stock in
the hand of Christ, who is better able to manage it, to God's glory and
man's advantage, being faithful in all things, and a trusty servant,
"having the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily." "Therefore,"
saith the apostle, Rom. iv. 16. "it is of faith, that it might be by
grace; to the end, the promises might be sure to all the seed."
(6.) That believers might have strong consolation, notwithstanding of
all the opposition of enemies without and within, when they see that now
their "life is hid with Christ in God," Col. iii. 3, and that their life
is in their head, they will not fear so much devils and men without, nor
their own dead and corrupt hearts within.
III. How inexcusable must all such be,
1. Who will not lay hold on this life, on Jesus who is the Life, sure
life, yea, everlasting life.
2. Who seek life any other way, than by and through him who is the Life.
3. Who oppose this way of life, and not only reject the offers of it,
but prove enemies to it, and to all that carry it or preach it.
IV. Here is strong encouragement to all that would be at heaven, to
enter into this gospel, which is a way of life; such need not fear that
their salvation shall not be advanced; let Satan and all their
adversaries do what they can, all that enter into this way shall live.
For the way itself is life, and nothing but life. So that here all
objections are obviated; life can answer all. If the believer fear, that
he shall never win through difficulties, he shall die by the way; or by
fainting, succumbing and swooning, dishonour the profession, and at
length fall off and apostatize, or despair and give over all hope; here
is that which may answer and obviate all, "I am the life;" and who can
perish in the way which is the way of life, an enlivening way, yea, the
way which is life itself; yea, the life in a singular and eminent
manner?
V. Here is ground of reproof even of believers, who, though they have
come to Christ, yet do not live in him as they ought, do not walk in
him with that liveliness and activity which is called for; but,
1. Lean too much to their own understanding, gifts or graces; and think
thereby to ride out storms, and to wide through all difficulties, while
as, if he who is the Life do not breathe upon us, all that will fail us
in the day of trial. Our understanding and parts or gifts may dry up,
and our graces may wither and decay, and go backward.
2. Rest too much on duties; when they should in them go to him who is
the Life. For only in him is life to be had; and him should they seek to
in the ordinances, that they might have life from him in those outward
duties; and this appeareth in their way of going about duties, without
that dependence on him, and single eyeing of him, which is called for.
As also by their freting and repining, when duties do not their
business, as if life lay all in duties; and concluding all will be
right, because they get duties somewhat tolerably performed; and, on the
contrary, desponding, when duties fall heavy on them, and they find
themselves indisposed for duty. All which clearly evinceth, that they
lay too much weight on duties; while as it would be otherwise with them,
if they were purely depending on Christ, and looking for all from him.
3. Despond too soon, because they get not help and relief instantly; or
because they are not preserved from every degree of fainting.
4. Neglect to make use of him, and to come to him with all their wants,
failings and necessities, as they ought; or come not with that freedom
and boldness which the gospel grounds allow.
VI. This preacheth out the woful misery of such as are strangers to
Christ. For being strangers to the Life, they have no life, they are
dead, and death is engraven on all they do; even though,
1. They should be very diligent in external duties, yea, and outstrip
many true believers; as the Pharisees had their fasts twice a-week, Luke
xviii.
2. They should be eminently gifted, able to instruct others, and to
speak of the mysteries of the gospel, to purpose and to edification.
For such gifts of knowledge and utterance may be, where the lively
operations of the grace of Christ are not, and consequently where Christ
is not, as the Life.
3. They should seem eminent in all their outward carriage, and seem to
carry most christianly in all their walk, and appear most devout in the
matter of worship.
4. And they should have something more than ordinary; even taste of the
heavenly gift, and be made partakers of extraordinary gifts of the Holy
Ghost; yea, and taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world
to come, Heb. vi. 4, 5.
VII. This discovereth the noble advantage of such as have accepted of
Christ for their life. Their condition is happy, sure, desirable, and
thriving; for Christ is theirs, and life is theirs; because Christ, who
is the Life, is theirs.
_Obj._ 1. But some wicked persons may say, We see not that happy and
advantageous condition of such as go for believers; for we observe them
to be as little lively ofttimes as others, and as unfit for duties; yea,
and sometimes as much subject to sin and corruption as others.
_Ans._ 1. However it be with them, either in thine eyes, or possibly in
their own sometimes, yet thou mayest hold thy peace; for in their worst
condition, they would not exchange with thee for a world; in their
deadest-like condition, they are not void of all life, as thou art,
notwithstanding all thy motions, and seeming activeness in duty; because
all thy motion in and about duty is but like the moving of children's
puppets, caused by external motives, such as a name, applause, peace
from a natural conscience, or the like; and not from any inward
principle of grace and life.
2. Howbeit they sometimes seem to be dead, yet they are not always so;
life doth really work sometimes in them; whereas there was never any
true or kindly motion of life in thee.
3. There may be more life in them, yea, life in motion, when they seem
to be overcome with some lusts or corruption, yea, when really they are
overcome, than beholders that are strangers to the heart can observe.
For when temptation is violent, as having the advantage of the time and
place, of the constitution of the body, and the like, it argueth no
small degree of life, and of life in motion, to make some resistance and
opposition thereunto, though at length he should be overcome thereby.
And this opposition and resistance, flowing from a principle of grace,
speaketh out life, though corruption, having the advantage, should at
that time overpower the motion of life, and carry the man away.
4. If it be not otherwise with believers than is objected, they may
blame themselves, for not improving Christ better for life.
_Object._ But some who are true believers will object the same, and cry
out of themselves as dead; and say, They find not that liveliness and
activity in their souls, that will evidence Christ, the Life, dwelling
and working in them.
_Ans._ It may be they prejudge themselves of that lively frame they
might enjoy, and so wrong themselves:
1. In not exercising faith on Christ, and drawing life from him and
through him. The life which they live should be by faith, Gal. ii. 20.
How then can such as do not eat become fat? by faith we feed on Christ.
2. In not watching, but giving way to security, and thereby encouraging
and strengthening the adversary, as we see in David; when they stand not
on their watch-tower, they invite Satan to set on; and he is vigilant
enough, and knoweth how to take his advantage, and to improve his
opportunity.
3. In giving way to laziness and not stirring up themselves, as we see
in the bride, Cant. iii. 1; v. 3; when they stir not up the grace of God
which is in them, how can they be lively? If grace be laid by, it will
contract rust. The best way to keep grace lively, is to keep it in
exercise, how little soever it be.
4. By their rashness, walking without fear, as is to be observed in
Peter, when he slipped so foully. When through their want of
circumspection, they precipitate themselves into danger, and cast
themselves among their enemies' hands, is it any wonder, that it go not
with them as they would; and that they provoke God to leave them to
themselves; that they may know what they are, and learn afterwards not
to tempt the Lord, and to walk more circumspectly?
5. By leaning too much to their attainments, and not looking out for new
influences of grace and life. Hereby they provoke God to let them know
to their expense, that for as great a length as they are come, they must
live by faith, and be quickened by new influences from the Spirit of
life.
6. So they may wrong themselves through their ignorance of Christ, and
of the way of making use of him; and if they, through unacquaintedness
with Christ and the right way of improving the fulness that is in him,
miss the fruit and advantage which otherwise they might have, they can
only blame themselves.
7. They may also prejudge themselves by their self-love, self-esteem,
self-seeking, self-pleasing, &c., which piece and piece will draw them
off Christ, and cause them forget the way of sucking life from him, who
is the fountain of life.
8. When they give way to small sins, they open a door to greater; and
they lose thereby their tenderness, and so provoke the Lord to withdraw;
and this is another way, whereby they prejudge themselves of that
benefit of liveliness, which they might otherwise have.
9. So also by worldly-mindedness, which alienateth their mind from God;
and,
10. By their impatience, and fretting, and repining against God, and his
wise dispensations, they also prejudge and wrong themselves; for while
they are in that mood, they cannot with due composedness of Spirit, go
to Christ, and draw life from him through faith.
_Obj._ 3. But is there not even some of those who are most tender, that
complain of their deadness and shortcomings?
_Ans._ 1. It may be that they complain without cause; and that they have
more cause of rejoicing, and of blessing the Lord for what he hath done
to them, than of complaining.
2. Their complaining will not prove the want of life, but rather the
contrary. For when they complain most, they must be most sensible if
their complaints be real, and not merely for a fashion; and sense is a
manifest evidence of life.
3. It would be remembered, that the Lord can make their failings and
shortcomings contribute to the furthering of their life, as we see it
did in Peter.
4. It would also be remembered, that Christ doth not distribute and give
out of this life to all his members and followers, in a like measure;
but to some more, and to others less, according as he seeth it meet and
convenient, both for his own glory and their good, He hath more service
for some than for others; and some he will employ in greater and more
difficult work, which will call for more life; and others he will employ
in common work, which will not call for such an eminent degree of life.
5. And upon the same account, he may think it good to give to the same
person a larger measure of grace at one time than at another.
6. And that for wise reasons and noble ends; as,
(1.) That all may see how absolute he is in his dispensations; a
sovereign that doth with his own what he will, and will not give an
account of any of his ways or communications to us.
(2.) That we may learn submission, and quietly to stoop before him,
whatever measure he be pleased to dispense towards us.
(3.) That we may learn to depend upon him more closely all along; in all
our ways to acknowledge him.
(4.) That we may learn to exercise patience, which must have its perfect
work, in waiting upon him as a great king. This is his glory, and it is
the testifying of our homage to him.
(5.) He will train us up so as to be well contented and satisfied, if he
bring us home at length, though not with such a convoy of the graces of
his Spirit as we would wish.
(6.) That we may see and read our daily obligation to Christ our life,
and the daily need we have of his keeping our life in, by fresh gales of
his Spirit, and new heavenly influences.
(7.) And that getting new proofs of his kindness and faithfulness, we
may give him new songs of praise daily, and so express our thankfulness
to him, which will tend to set forth his glory.
VIII. This may point out unto believers, several duties to which they
are called. We shall name some few of many; as,
1. That they should rejoice, and be comforted in the thoughts of this,
that they have such a complete Mediator, one that is thoroughly
furnished, and made all things for them; not only the Way, and the
Truth, but the Life also.
2. The thoughts of this should also stir up the wondering at the wisdom,
graciousness, and goodness of God; and to thankfulness for providing
such an all-sufficient way for them.
3. This should also encourage them under all temptations, faintings,
backsets, and fits of deadness that they fall into, that there is one
who is the Life; and that he whom their soul hath chosen is the Life,
and so fully able to quicken and enliven them.
4. This should teach them humility, and not to be proud of any thing
they have or do; for it is he, who is the Life, who keepeth them in
life, and helpeth them to any duty; yea, it is life that worketh all in
them.
5. And likewise it should teach them to acknowledge him, to whom they
are obliged for any thing they do, for any life they have, or any acts
or fruits of life that appear in them; and to be thankful to him
therefor.
6. And mainly, they should here read their obligation and duty, to
improve this advantage, and to draw life out of this fountain, and so
live by this life; act and do all in and through this life; and so be
quickened by this life, in all their fits of deadness; and for this
cause would keep those things in mind:
(1.) That they should live in a constant conviction of their own
weakness, deadness, and inability to do any acts of life of themselves;
and far less to recover themselves out of any distemper and fit of
deadness which they fall into.
(2.) That they should live in the faith of this, that there is life
enough in him, who is the Life, to do their business. They should be
persuaded of his all-sufficiency.
(3.) That he is not only an all-sufficient deliverer, able to deliver a
soul that is, as it were, rotting in the grave, and to cause the dead to
hear his voice and live; but also most willing and ready to answer them
in all their necessities, according to wisdom, and as he seeth it for
his glory, and their soul's advantage. The faith of this is necessary,
and will be very encouraging.
(4.) That they should go to him, how dead-like soever their condition
be, and by faith roll their dead case upon him, who is the Life.
(5.) That they should pray upon the promises of grace and influence,
even out of the belly of hell, or of the grave, with Jonah, chap. ii. 2;
for he is faithful and true, and tender-hearted, and will hear and give
a good answer at length.
(6.) That in the exercise of faith and prayer, they should wait with
patience, till he be pleased to come, and breathe upon the dry bones,
and till the Sun of Righteousness arise on their souls with healing in
his wings.
But of this more particularly in the following cases, which now we come
to speak a little unto, of purpose to clear more fully how the believer
is to make use of Christ as the Life, when he is under some one
distemper or other, that calleth for life and quickening from Christ the
Life. We cannot handle distinctly all the particular cases which maybe
brought under this head; it will suffice, for clearing of this great
duty, to speak to some few.