All promises fulfilled in heaven.
Love the most characteristic grace of a Christian.
Four objections answered.
Directions for growing in the love of God.
Notes. .....
Paoe 163
163 164 167 167 170 170 174 176 177 179 181 182 190 191 192 193 195 200
THE EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL ABOVE THE LAW.
What is meant by Spirit.
How Christ hath and giveth the Spirit.
Spirit given in greatest measure after Christ's resurrection
Uses. ......
Why Christians are so dark- spirited.
The Spirit the soul of the soul.
Directions how to get the Spirit.
Spiritual liberty and bondage.
How the Spirit worketh liberty.
All whom Christ redeems he frees.
No benefit by Christ without union.
Sanctificatiou springs from justification.
Christians rule their lusts.
Four rules concerning the freedom of the Spirit.
Liberty of the gospel.
Uses. ......
Signs of Spiritual Liberty.
Three degrees in the way to heaven.
How the Spirit is grieved.
Three differences between the Law and the Gospel.
Four excellencies in the covenant of grace.
The grace and free mercy of God his glory.
Glory of God greatest in the gospel.
Uses. .....
Christ's mind discovered in the gospel. The sacraments glasses to see God's love in Christ. Faith compared to sight in four particulars. Hindrances to our beholding Christ.
205 205 209 210 212 213 214 216 217 218 219 221 222 225 227 229 230 233 236 238 239 240 241 242 246 249 250 261
VUl CONTENTS.
Page
We have boldness in the gospel. ....
253
How to read the life of Christ in the gospel.
263
How to become like Christ. ....
264
Three comfortable sights seen in the glass of the gospel. .
270
Four degrees of the glory of a Christian.
273
Why the world despiseth those that are gracious.
276
Grace and glory go both under one name.
280
Degrees in the glory of a Christian.
287
Christians compared to the best things.
290
Marks whereby we know that we have the Spirit.
298
Notes. ......
804
EXPOSITION OF 2D COEINTHIANS CHAPTEK IV.,
806
Notes. .......
485
THE CHUECH'S EICHES.
Epistle Dedicatory. ......
491
To the Keader. ......
493
Notes. .......
626
A CHRISTIAN'S PORTION
OR,
THE CHRISTIAN'S CHARTER.
VOL. IV.
A CHRISTIAN'S PORTION ; OR, THE CHRISTIAN'S CHARTER.
NOTE.
' Tho Christian's Portion' was pnhlislicd ori-inally in 1637, and forms a tiny vohime of 07 pages. It is very imporfocit. Its title-page is given below.'* ilns, tho first edition, was superseded in the following year, by a much ' enlarged and 'corrected' one, from evidently fuller and more accurate 'notes. I he latter is followed in our reprint. Its title-page will also be found below.t Prefixed to it is Marshall's smaller portrait of Sibbes. ^'
« The Christians Portion. Wherein is unfolded the unsearchable Riches he hath by his interest in Christ. Whom in- joying hec posscsscth all things else.
By R. Sibhs D.D. and Preacher
to the Honorable Society of Grayes-
Inne, and Master of Catherine
Hall in Cambridge.
Published by T. G. and P. N.
London.
Printed by John Norton
for John Rothwell, and
are to be sold at the Sunne in Pauls
Churchyard. 1637.
t The Christians Portion, or. The Charter of a Christian, (so stiled by the Eeverend Author.) Wherein are laide open those unsearchable riches and priviledges, he hath hy his inter- est in Christ : ivhoni enjoying, he possesseth all things else.
By the Eeverend Divine R. Sibbs, D.D. and Preacher to the Honourable society of
Graies Inne, and Master of Kathei-ine Hall in Cambridge.
Corrected and enlarged.
Published by T. G. and P. N.
Christ is all in all.
LONDON.
Printed by J. 0. for John Rothwell,
and are to be sold at the Sunne in
Paules Church-yard. 1038.
*,..■••• The T. G. and P. N. on both of those title-pages were Dr Thomas Goodwin an<i Philip Nye. Cf. Vol. II., page 8, but for Hanburg read Hanbury. G.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Good Reader ! didst thou ever yet read over thy own heart and life, and mend in some degi'ee what was amiss in both "? If not, what comfort can this treatise aflbrd thee ? If so, what comfort can it not ? This short discourse lays open a great matter. It is a counterpane of a Christian's charter. The author himself styles it ' The Christian's Charter.'
If thy life be good, thy tenure is large ; yea, larger than that of the Corinthians. The apostles, as Paul, ApoUos,* and Cephas were theirs ; so they are thine. And besides them, all that have succeeded them, the faithful ministers of the gospel, and all their studies and writings. The reverend author of this treatise is thine, and this book is thine ; thine to shew thee how much is thine. Let me be thine also to commend this w^ork to thee, and to pray for thee, that as the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha's man to see the mountain full of horses and chariots, and more with them than against them, 2 Kings vi. 17, so he would open thine, to see thy great riches and privileges in Jesus Christ. The want of sight makes us think we want. Post over the two great volumes of heaven and earth, and thou shalt find thyself wealthy.
Man hath this excellency above all inferior creatures, to know what he is and what he hath above others. The brute beasts are better than plants, but they know it not ; and so plants are more excellent than the elements, &c. They have worth, but understand it not. Man hath this added to his dignity, to know it. And this is given him, as a schoolman saith, that he may rejoice in that he hath, and him that gave it («). The sun rejoices not in its own beauty, because it knows it not. As there is if/)wti nnUa cupido, so nulla delectatio. We can as little delight in what we know not, as desire it.