O it were better thine hand should wither, and thine arm fall from thy shoulder, than ever it should be lifted up against Christ, in the poorest of his members. Believe it, sirs, not only your vio- lent actions, but your hard speeches are all set down upon your doomVday book ; and you shall be brought to an account for them in the great day, Jude 15. Beware what arrows you shoot, and be sure of your mark before you shoot them.
Inf. 7. If there be such an union betwixt Christ and the sa'mts, as hath been described, upon what comfortable terms then may be- lievers part with their bodies at death ?
Christ your Head is risen, therefore you cannot be lost : nay, lie is not only risen from the dead himself, but is also " become the " first-fruits of them that slept," 1 Cor. xv. 20. Believers are his members, his fulness, he cannot therefore be complete without you : a part of Christ cannot perish in the grave -(*, much less burn in hell. Remember, when you feel the natural union dissolving, that this mystical union can never be dissolved : the pangs of death cannot break this tye. And as there is a peculiar excellency in the believer's life, so there is a singular support, and pecidiar comfort in his death ; " To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Phil, i. 21.
* Agesilaus Mas wont to say, That he very much wondered, that those were not reckoned up in the number of sacrilegious persons, who injured those who made supplication to God, or worshipped him : By which he signified, that not only those should be reckoned injurious, who robbed the gods themselves, or their temples, but even these chiefly who affronted their servants or heralds. sEmt/L Frob.
f To say that the temple of God, in which the Spirit of the Father dwells, the members of Christ, shall not partake of salvation, but be brought into perdition ? what is it but the greatest. blasphemy ? Iren. lib. 5.
48 THE METHOD OF GRACE. BE EM. II.
Inf. 8. If there be such an union betwixt Christ and believers, How doth it concern every man to try and examine his state, whe- ther he is really united with Christ or not, by the natural and pro- per effects which always flow from this union ? As,
First, The real communication of Christ's holiness to the soul. We cannot be united with this root, and not partake of the vital sap of sanctifi cation from him ; all that are planted into him, are planted into the likeness of his death, and of his resurrection, Rom. vi. 5, 6. viz. by mortification and vivifi cation.
Secondly, They that are so nearly united to him, as members to the head, cannot but love him and value him above their own lives ; as we see in nature, the hand and arm will interpose to save the head. The nearer the union, the stronger always is the affection.
Thirdly, The members are subject to the head. Dominion in the head must needs infer subjection in the members, Eph. v. 24. In vain do we claim union with Christ as our head, whilst we are governed by our own wills, and our lusts give us law.
Fourthly, All that are united to Christ do bear fruit to God, Rom. vii. 4. Fruitfulness is the next end of our union ; there are no barren branches growing upon this fruitful root.
Inf. 9. Lastly, How much are believers engaged to walk as the members of Christ, in the visible exercises of all those graces and duties, which the consideration of their near relation to him exacts from them. As,
First, How contented and well pleased should we be with our outward lot, however providence hath cast it for us in this world ? O do not repine, God hath dealt bountifully with you ; upon others he hath bestowed the good things of this world ; upon you, Jiimself in Christ.
Secondly, How humble and lowly in spirit should you be under your great advancement ! It is true, God hath magnified you greatly by this union, but yet do not swell. " You bear not the " root, but the root you," Rom. xi. 18. You shine, but it is as the stars, with a borrowed light.
Thirdly, How zealous should you be to honour Christ, who hath put so much honour upou ! Be willing to give glory to Christ, though his glory should rise out of your shame. Never reckon that glory that goes to Christ, to be lost to you : when you lie at his feet, in the most particular heart-breaking confessions of sin, yet let this please you, that therein you have given him glory.
Fourthly, How exact and circumspect should you be in all your ways, remembering whose you are, and whom you represent ! Shall it be said, that a member of Christ was convicted of unrigh- teousness and unholy actions ! God forbid. " If wre say, we have " fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie," 1 John i. 6.
SERM. III. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 49
" And he that saith he abideth in him, ought also himself to walk " even as he also walked,11 1 John ii. 6.
Fifthly, How studious should you be of peace among yourselves, who are so nearly united to such a Head, and thereby are made fellow-members of the same body ! The Heathen world was never acquainted with such an argument as the apostle urges for unity, in Eph. iv. 8, 4.
Sixthly, and lastly, How joyful and comfortable should you be, to whom Christ, with all his treasures and benefits, is effectually applied in this blessed union of your souls with him ! This brings him into your possession : O how great ! how glorious a person do these little weak arms of your faith embrace !
Thanhs be to God for Jesus Christ.
Of the Nature and Use of the Gospel-ministry, as an exter- nal Mean of applying Christ.
Now then, ice are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did be- seech you by us: we pray you in Christ s stead, be ye reconciled to God,
1 HE effectual application of Christ principally consists in our union with him ; but, ordinarily, there can be no union with- out a gospel-tender, and an overture of him to our souls ; for, " How shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard ? " and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they " preach, except they be sent?" Rom. x. 14.
If God be upon a design of espousing poor sinners to his Son, there must be a treaty in order to it ; that treaty requires interlo- cution betwixt both the parties concerned in it ; but such is our frailty, that, should God speak immediately to us himself, it would confound and overwhelm us : God therefore graciously condescends and accommodates himself to our infirmity, in treating with us in order to our union with Christ, by his ambassadors, and these not angels, whose converses we cannot bear, but men like ourselves, who are commissionated for the effecting of this great business be- twixt Christ and us. " Now then, we are ambassadors for God.'1 drc. In which words you have,
First, Christ's ambassadors commissioned.
Secondly, Their commission opened.
50 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SEEM. III.