3. There will be likeness to Christ. Christ as surely liveth in believers now, as he once lived upon the earth in his own ])erson. And you know three things were eminent in the person of Christ when on earth: — Obedience to his Father : he often ])rofesseth that he came to do the will of his Father : John iv. 34, ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.' But Ave drink iu iniquity like water ; our meat and drink is to sin against the
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Father. That is the meaning of that phrase before mentioned, Job XV. 16. Then for his humility : 'Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart/ Mat. xi. 29. He could have given the world another pattern : Learn of me, for I made the world ; I can do wonders. But Christ would teach this lesson, Not as I am mighty, but meek : Phil, ii. 5, ' Let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ.' What was that ? A humble mind, as you may see in the context. And then usefulness : that was eminent in him ; he went about doing good. Laziness and selfishness were aJjhorred by him. If Christ would make Christians more useful, he would still act according to his old copy, and live over his life in their hearts again. Search then ; is the living God a dead thing to you ?
Use 3. For reproof to the people of God, that do not draw out this lifeof Christ. Believers, Christ should not only live in heaven, but he should live in you also : ' Not I, but Christ that liveth in me,' Gal. ii. 20. Christians are to blame especially in their conflicts with sin, and the difficulties of duty, and the hardships of the world, and they faint under miseries, as if there were not a living Christ, whence they might fetch comfort. A Christian should say. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my Rock. You should make his power useful in your worst condition ; your lives should be nothing else but a dis- covery of the life of Christ in yourselves : 2 Cor. iv. 10, the apostle saith that he suffered terrible things with a courageous heart, ' That the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body." Noble actings of grace hold forth the life of Christ, as effects discover the cause. And by your conversations it should appear there is one liveth in heaven.
Use 4. Is consolation in all conditions. Is it sin that is grievous to you ? doth it leave a wound upon the soul ? There is one that liveth in heaven ; that prays for the binding up of your souls, and for the healing of the wounded spirit ; he is negotiating the matter with God for you. Is it death ? Christ liveth, though you die ; and though you were dead, yet shall you live : Hosea vi. 2, ' After two days he will revive us ; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.' Are friends dead ? Remember your Friend in heaven liveth for ever. Are your hopes dead as Sarah's womb and Abraham's body ? Yet Christ is alive still. Succours may miscarry, supports may fail, violence may cut off your comforts ; but no hand of iniquity can reach Jesus Christ. He liveth for ever with God in glory.
Use 5. Is exhortation to believers : —
1. To wait for the like privileges. Oh, who shall count your generation when you shall come to share with Christ ? You know the longings of Christ's heart towards you, and that you shall behold his glory : John xvii. 24, ' Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be where I am, that they may behold my glory.' You are to enjoy the same endless life of bliss and glory. Oh, groan and wait for the consolation of the saints in heaven. For the present you have rich privileges, but alas ! this is nothing : ' It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is,' 1 John iii. 2.
2. Possess your souls of this life of Christ, and by faith see your-
3G2 A TRACTICxVL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LI 1 1. 9.
selves in hiiu : Rora. vi. 10, ' Reckon ye also yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God.' Dead finst in his death, then raised in his resurrection, and at last glorified in his glory. All these acts of tlie Mediator must pass out into your souls ; first I was dead to the law, dead to sin, dead to the curse ; but then, shall live and die no more.
3. Strive to be conformed to your head. He is to die no more ; do not you die any more in sin. There is in every action of Christ influence and matter of imitation: influence, of which you must possess youselves ; but matter of imitation is that to which you must be conformed. Oh, strive to keep in the same condition witli your dear Lord and Saviour. If death hatli no more dominion over him, ' let not sin reign in your mortal bodies,' Rom. vi. 12. From the same enforcement the apostle urgeth it ; and indeed for a motive you can have no better than what the subject offereth. Christ would not only suffer for you for a time, but lives for your sake for ever. Christ S2)endeth all his time to do you good.