comforter, and we carry about in us the matter of our continual joy, confidence, and comfort ; and therefore we have greater obligations to love God and Christ : Kom. v. 4, 5, ' And patience, experience ; and experience, hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us.' Our particular interest is assured by experience, whether in ordi- nances or afflictions, either by the tastes of his love or the effects of his sanctifying grace.
4. The experimental knowledge of Christ doth more engage us to zeal and diligence in the heavenly life. Certainly reports and exhor- tations cannot do so much as experience. Partly —
[1.] Because when we have experience of the power of Christ's resurrection, it begetteth a new life within us, which inclineth us to God and heavenly things ; there is a principle to work upon. Indeed, in the tenders of the gospel there is a principle of reason to work upon, which, with a little common help of the Spirit, may convince us of the duty which we owe to God ; but when this life is begun, there is a principle of grace to work upon, an inward mover striving with 3?ou, and inclining you to perform this duty. And there is a great deal of difference between blowing to a dead coal and a live coal : ' If you live in the Spirit,' you will more easily be persuaded to ' walk in the Spirit,' Gal. v. 25. Where there is life, it is soon excited to action.
[2.] When this life is gratified with the rewards of obedience, such as are peace of conscience, the comforts of the Spirit, and some tastes of God's acceptance of us unto life by Christ, this is an argument of itself above all arguments to engage us to press on for more. As the Gauls, when once they tasted the Italian grape, could no longer be kept beyond the mountains, but they must get into that country where this plant did grow, or the liquor of it might be had. Or rather, let it be represented to you by a scriptural instance : There were some sent into the land of promise, to bring them the clusters of Canaan into the wilderness, to animate and encourage them to put in for the good land. So here ; God giveth us the Spirit, and sweet foretastes of life eternal, not only as an earnest, 1 Cor. i. 22, to show us how sure, but as the first-fruits, to show us how good, Rom. viii. 23. Now surely this experience is more than all motives without the soul, to engage it in this heavenly pursuit.
[3.] When this life is obstructed by our folly and sin, you find more of the displeasure of your Redeemer in your inward man than can possibly be represented to you in your outward condition, by the sus- pension of his comforts, by a wounded spirit, by the troubles of the sensible soul upon the neglects of his grace ; that it is worse to them than the loss of all temporal comforts when the grieved Spirit with- draAveth. You know the anger of your Redeemer for the abuse of his grace : Eph. iv. 30, ' And grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.' The soul is more awakened by the interruptions of the acts of love, and his wonted quickenings and comforts; yea, by a sore sense of God's wrath and displeasure; it is more than want of health, or loss of estate, or a breach upon our relations. Therefore experience of Christ's dealing with us is a notable part of Christ's spiritual government, and so a notable excitement to the heavenly life.
VER. 10.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 55
Use 1. To exhort us to get this experimental knowledge of Christ. An exhortation is discharged by motives and means.
Motives. Sometimes from the danger if you have it not, and the benefit you have had already.
1. If you have it not, you are in danger of atheism. To hear of such a mighty Christ, and feel nothing of the virtue of his death, or of the power of his resurrection, after so long a profession of his name, what is this but a temptation to us that Christianity is but an empty pretence ? We are told, 1 Cor. iv. 20, that ' the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.' It standeth not in notions, and proud boasts of knowledge, or empty discourses, but in the effectual force it hath upon the heart of man. There is a power, and an admirable virtue, which goeth along with the gospel for the changing of the heart. Now what a dangerous temptation is it when it cometh to you in word only ! You hear of great things, but they have not their effect upon your hearts You meet with nothing but words and notions ; nothing of this purifying and sanctifying virtue of the word by the Spirit of Christ. This must follow, either you settle in a cold form, which is practical atheism, and certainly produceth nothing of a divine spirit, or real inclination towards God and another world : 2 Tim. iii. 5, ' Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof ; ' or settle into an open denying of Christ and the excellency of his religion. The cold form may consist with the grossest sins, which is a practical denying of God ; or else you live in doubt and irresolution, and know not what to make of religion, which is a more secret denying of him.