VOL. XII. u
306 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXXIX.
God's favour, and made capable of happiness ; therefore all the heirs of promise are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, or to God appearing in their nature.
2. Because they are all called after Clirist's name, christians from Christ. Now all that are called after Christ's name should be framed after his image, otherwise they will be called christians to the disgrace of Christ. The apostles never transferred their names to their disciples. They were of several factions, that said, one, I am of Paul ; another, I am of ApoUos ; another, I am of Cephas ; and I, of Christ, 1 Cor. i. 12. No, we are all of Christ, and called christians because we par- take of his purity and holiness. Surely, then, we ought to transcribe Christ's life, and live as if another Jesus Christ were come into the world — ' Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity,' 2 Tim. ii. 19. He that nameth the name of Christ, that calleth himself by Christ's name, or undertaketh the profession of the faith of Christ, must depart from iniquity, as Christ did.
3. Because all that are elected by God and redeemed by Christ are sealed by the Spirit. And what is the seal of the Spirit, but conformity to the image of Christ ? It is often spoken of in scripture : Eph. i. 15, 'Ye are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise ;' and Eph. iv. 30, ' And grieve not the Holy Spiiit, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemp- tion ; ' 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit.' What is it, birt the image of Christ impressed upon the soul by his Spirit ? A seal prints upon the wax that which is engraven upon itself; princes stamp their own image on their coin; so doth the Holy Ghost form Christ in us, or imprint the image of God upon our souls. Now they that are thus sealed have God's mark, and are his peculiar treasure, and the first-fruits of his creatures ; chosen out from others to be a people to serve, please, glorify, and enjoy God ; so that if a man be to examine and judge his own estate, this is that which he is to look after, whether he be conformed to the image of Christ, yea, or no : 2 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith ; prove yourselves ; know ye not your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ? ' That is it your observation and search must fix upon, whether Jesus Christ be in you or no.
[1.] Christ may be in you objectively, as he is apprehended and em- braced by faith and love ; the object is in the faculty. Things we often think of and love are in our minds and hearts ; that is not it, or not all you seek after.
[2.] Again, Christ is in you effectively, as a principle of a new and heavenly life by his Spirit : Gal. ii. 20, ' Christ liveth in me.' That indeed is more.
[3.] Christ is in you representatively, or by way of conformity : Gal. iv. 19, ' Till Christ be formed in you.' Whether his nature and graces be there, whether you do resemble him in nature and life, this is that you seek after, as the fruit of the former.
4. Because Christ was an example ; this hath great force. I take it for granted that it is a great advantage not only to have a rule, but a pattern and example ; because man is so prone to imitate, an example in our nature maketh it the more operative ; therefore Christ came to be an example of holiness and patience and happiness to us.
VeR. 29.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 307
[1.] By this example our pattern is the more complete. There are some graces wherein we cannot be said to resemble God, as in humility, patience, obedience ; these things imply inferiority and subjection, and God is inferior to none. But there are other graces, as knowledge, wisdom, justice, mercy, purity, wherein we resemble God. But in the other we have pattern from Christ : humility. Mat. xi. 29 ; obedience, Heb. v. 8 ; patience, 1 Peter i. 21. These are hard duties, go against the bent and hair ; but when the Son of God will submit to them, and give us the example, shall we refuse to live in that manner and by those laws the Son of God chose to live by ? Besides, it is the more likely he will pity and help us, because he knoweth what it is to obey in these cases.
[2.] This example showeth that a holy life is possible to those who are renewed by grace. Christ hath humbled himself, and obeyed God in our nature, and so had the interests of flesh and blood to gratify as well as others ; therefore all these things may be done by those that have not divested themselves of flesh and blood. To assure us the more of this, Christ chose a life that might minister instruction to all men ; rich and poor, bond and free, may imitate him, persons retired and solitary, and those that live abroad in the world, learned and unlearned. Had he lived deliciously, and conquered kingdoms, and acted as a free monarch and potentate, the jjoor might have been dis- heartened ; but the meanest may learn of him ; and the others need not be discouraged if they have a heart to subordinate all to God ; Christ sanctifieth a free life.