(8.) Clirist is an enduring good ; other things are like the lamp, which while it shines it spends, the heavens " shall wax old like a garment," Ps. cii. 26. But Je- sus Christ is a permanent good, with him are durable riches, Prov. viii. 18. They last as long as eternity itself lasts.
(9.) Christ is a diffusive communicative good ; he is full, not only as a vessel, but as a spring, he is willing to give himself to us. Now then if thei*e be all this excel- lency in Jesus Christ, it may make us am- bitiously desirous of an interest in him.
Quest. But how shall I get a part in Christ ?
Ans. 1. See your need of Christ, know that you are undone without him. How obnoxious are you to God's eye ! how odi- ous to his nature ! how obnoxious to his justice ! O sinner, how near is the sergeant to arrest thee ! The furnace of hell is heat- ing for thee, and what wilt thou do without Christ? It is only the Lord Jesus can stand as a screen to keep off the fire of God's wrath from burning thee. Tell me then, is there not need of Christ ?
A. 2. Be importunate after Christ, " Lord,
give me Christ, or I die !" As Achsah said to her father Caleb, Josh. xv. 19., " Tiiou hast given me a south hind, give me also sj)rings of water :" so should a poor soul say, " Lord, thou hast given me an e- state in the world, but this south land will not quench my thirst, give me also springs of water; give me those living sj)riiig8 which run iti my Saviour's blood ; thou hast said, ' Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely,' Rev. xxii. 17, 18. Lord, I thirst after Jesus Christ, nothing but Christ will satisfy me ; I am dead, I am damned without him, O give me this wa- ter of life !"
A. 3. Be content to have Christ, as Christ is offered, a Prince and a Saviour, Acts v. 31. Be sure you do not compound or in- dent with Christ. Some would have Christ and their sins too. Is Christ all, and will you not part with something for this all ? Christ would have you part with nothing but what will damn you, if you keep, name- ly, your sins. There are some bid fair for Christ, they will part with some sins, but keep a reserve. Doth that man think he shall have Christ's love that feeds sin in a corner ? O part with all for him who is all ! Part with thy lusts, nay thy life if Cliris^^ calls. It exhorts us not only to get Christ, but to labour to know that we have Christ, John ii. 3., " Hereby ye do know that we know him." This reflex act of faith is more than the direct act. Some divines call it the perception, or sensible feeling of faith. Now concerning this knowledge that Christ is ours — which is the same with assurance — I shall lay down these four coroHaries or conclusions :
First, That this knowledge is feasible, — it maybe had, 1 John v. 13., "These things have I written to you that believe, that ye may know ye have eternal life, and that ve may believe on the name of the Son of God."
1. Why else doth God hid us make our " calling and election sure," 2 Pet. i. 10., it assurance may not be had ? and to " prove ourselves, whether we are in the faith," 2 Cor. xiii. 5., if we cannot come to this knowledge that Christ is ours ?
2. What are all the signs which the scrip-
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ture gives of a man in Christ but so many ciphers, if the knowledge of this interest mav not be had ? I John iii. 14. and John iv.'lS.
3. There are some duties enjoined in scripture which to perform is utterly im- possible, if the knowledge of an interest in Christ be not attainable ; we are bid ' to rejoice in God,' Phil, iv, 4. And ' to re- joice in tribulation,' 1 Pet. iv. 13. How can he rejoice in suffering, who doth not know whether Christ be his or not ?
4. Why hath Christ promised to send the Comforter, John xiv. 16., whose very work it is to bring the heart to this assurance,, if assurance that Christ is ours may not be had?
5. Some of the saints have arrived at this certainty of knowledge ; therefore it may be had. Job knew that his Redeemer lived. Job xix. 25. And St. Paul had this assurance, 2 Tim. i. 12., Gal. ii. 20. Yea, may some say, Paul was an eminent be- liever, a Christian of the first magnitude, no wonder if he had this jewel of assurance ! nay, but the apostle speaks of it as a case incident to other believers, Rom. viii. 35., " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?" He doth not say, " Who shall se- parate me ?" but us ! so that by all it ap- pears that a believer may come to spell out his interest.