Quest. How shall we know whether Christ dwells in our hearts or not ?
Ans. We may know by the servants what master dwells in an house. If Christ be in the soul, there comes out of the house good speeches. And we watch the senses, so as there comes nothing into defile the soul, and disturb Christ, and nothing goes out to oflend God. When we hear men full of gracious sweet speeches, it is a sign Christ dwells there. If we hear the contrary, it shews Christ dwells not there. For Christ would move the whole man to do that which might edify and comfort.
Again, where Christ comes, assistance comes there. When Christ was born, all Jerusalem was in an uproar ; so, when Christ is bom in the soul, there is an uproar. Corraption arms itself against grace. There is a com- bat betwixt flesh and spirit. But Christ subdues the flesh by little and little. God's image is stamped upon the soul where Christ is ; and if we have opened unto the Lord of glory, he will make us glorious.
Christ hath never enough of us, nor we have never enough of him till we be in heaven ; and, therefore, we pray, ' Thy kingdom come.' And tiU Christ comes in his kingdom, he desires his kingdom should come to us. Open, saith he, stupenda dignatio, &c., as he cries out. It is a stupendous condescendence, when he that hath heaven to hold him, angels to attend him, those glorious creatures ; he that hath the command of every creature, that do yield presently homage when he commands, the frogs, and lice, and all the host of heaven are ready to do his will ! for him to condescend and to entreat us to be good to our own souls, and to beseech us to be recon- ciled to him, as if he had oflended us, who have done the wrong and not he, or as if that we had power and riches to do him good ; here greatness beseecheth meanness, riches poverty, all-sufficiency want, and life itself comes to dead, drowsy souls. What a wondrous condescending is this ! Yet, notwithstanding, Christ vouchsafes to make the heart of a sinful, sleepy man to be his house, his temple. He knocks, and knocks here, saying, ' Open to me,' &c.
Use 1. "This is useful many ways, as first, cherish all the good conceits* we can of Christ. Time will come that the devU will set upon us with sharp temptations, fiery darts, temptations to despair, and present Christ amiss, * That is, ' conceptions.' — G.
Cant. V. 2.] ' it is the voice of my beloved.' 65
as if Christ were not willing to receive us. Whenas you see lie knocks at our hearts to open to him, useth mercies and judgments, the ministry of his Spirit and conscience, and all. Will not he then entertain us, when we come to him, that seeks this entertainment at our hands ? Certainly he will. Therefore, let us labour to cherish good conceits of Christ. This is the finisher and beginning of the conversion of a poor sinful soul, even to consider the infinite love and condescendence of Christ Jesus for the good of our souls. We need not wonder at this his willingness to receive us, when we fii'st know that God became man, happiness became misery, and life itself came to die, and to be 'a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13. He hath done the greater, and will he not do the less ? Therefore, think not strange that he useth all these means, considering how low he descended into the womb of the virgin for us, Ephes. iv. 9.
Now such considerations as these, being mixed with the Spirit and set on by him, are effectual for the conversion of poor souls. Is there such love in God to become man, and to be a suitor to woo me for my love ? Surely, thinks the soul then, he desires my salvation and conversion. And to what kind of persons doth he come ? None can object imworthiness. I am poor : ' He comes to the poor,' Isa. xiv. 32 and xxix. 19. I am laden and wretched : ' Come unto me, all je that are weary and laden,' Mat. xi. 28. I have nothing : ' Come and buy honey, milk, and wine, though you have nothing,' Isa. Iv. 1. He takes away all objections. But I am stung with the sense of my sins : ' Blessed are they that hunger and thirst,' &c., Mat. v. 6. But I am empty of all : ' Blessed are the poor in spirit,' Mat. v. 3. You can object nothing, but it is taken away by the Holy Ghost, wisely preventing* all the objections of a sinful soul. This is the beginning of conversion, these very conceits. And when we are con- verted, these thoughts, entertained with admiration of Christ's condescend- ing, are eflectual to give Christ further entrance into the soul, whereby a more happy communion is wrought still more and more between Christ and the soul of a Christian.
Use 2. Oh, hut take heed that these make not any secure. For, if we give not entrance to Christ, all this will be a fm'ther aggravation of our damna- tion. How will this justify the sentence upon us hereafter, when Christ shall set us on the left hand, and say, ' Depart fi-om me,' Mat. xxv. 41, for I invited you to come to me, I knocked at the door of your hearts, and you would give me no entrance. Depart from us, said you ; therefore, now, Depart you from me. What do profane persons in the church but bid Christ depart from them, especially in the motions of his Spirit ? They entertain him in the outward room, the brain ; they know a little of Christ, but, in the heart, the secret room, he must not come there to rule. Is it not equal that he should bid us, ' Depart, ye cursed, I know you not' ? Mat. xxv. 41 ; you would not give entrance to me, I will not now to you, as to the foohsh virgins he speaks, Mat. xxv. 12, and Prov. i. 28. AVisdom knocks, and hath no entrance ; therefore, in times of danger, they call upon her, but she rejoiceth at their destruction. Where God magnifies his mercy in this kind, in sweet allurements, and inviting by judgments, mercies, minis- try, and Spirit, he will magnify his judgment after. Those that have neglected heaven with the prerogatives and advantages in this kind, they shall be cast into hell. ' Woe to thee, Chorazin,' &c.. Mat. xi. 21, as you know in the gospel. This is one thing that may humble us of this place and nation, that Christ hath no further entrance, nor better entertainment * That is, ' anticipating.' — G.