They that be enemies to God's people for religion, either in the profes- sion or practice of it, as upbraiding them with their loose practice, and their false opinion, they are not so much enemies of men as of Christ. And if Christ were on the earth, they that persecute anything for Christ's sake will persecute him more. If Christ were on the earth he should find like enter- tainment, as amongst the Jews ; for the wicked would devise this and that pretence to put him to death.
This is a terrible consideration to wicked men ; he that hateth good in any degree, because it is good, hateth the best good most of all. And he that hateth good men as good men, will hate him that is the head of all good men, Christ himself. And they that be malicious against good men, and carry matters cunningly, they would do the same to Christ, and much more. He that hateth any thing as it is such a thing, he hates it most of all ; and he that hateth goodness as goodness, hateth it most of all where it is to be had in the fountain.
What can such people therefore look for, that be enemies to God's people, and cause, and religion, as far as they dare, when they would use him as ill, if he were upon the face of the earth ? For if they malign and hate them for Christ's sake, surely they would more malign and hate Christ if he were here. But I have not much occasion to press this point. I only open it, hoping there will not be much need of pressing it in this place ; but you ma}' use it to help your judgments, how malice is dangerous, and how it is interpreted by Christ himself, what colour soever the world sets upon it.
* That is, ' morally" = in their ' good name,' character. — G.
2 CORINTHIANS CUAP. IV, VER. 11. 431
Now what is the event of this delivery to death ? What is the issue and fruit of it in God's intendment ? What is the event ? Now God's intendment is, ' that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.'
The life of Jesus I spake of in the former verse, and some things lately. I will add some things, and so go on.
' The life of Jesus is manifested to our mortal flesh.' The life of Jesus is not only his glorious life, that he liveth in heaven himself, and that he liveth here on earth with a gracious person ; but the life of Jesus is that quickening power that cometli from Christ our head, whereby he doth en- liven and quicken all his members, and that with a double life.
First, A hnhitual and constant life, by reason of the constant dwelling of the Spirit in us.
And besides this, there is a quickenincf poircr, continually to act and draw forth this life of grace upon all occasions. But of this I have spoken largely heretofore.
I am willing to add something for the further clearing of this point, that you may better understand what the life of Jesus is.
Now, beloved, if we would know whether the life of Jesus be in us or no, I give you some evidences. And that I desire you specially at this time to take notice of is this : Observe the heatinfi of the puhe ; that is, hoh/ desires to heavenly thinr/s. Where this life is, that is the lowest thing in this life of Jesus, that there be holy desires, which are the pulse. As, beatinfr of the pulse is the liveliest life ; where they beat there is hope of life ; and then there is breath to take in fresh air, and to send out that that is taken in. So where there is grace there is breathing, receiving of new air, new strength from Christ, and sending out by contempt all that is naught. There is some little suitableness between the life of nature and the life of Jesus. And then there is spiritual sense, whereby we are able to feel, and taste, and see, and discern spiritual things in another manner than before; and answerable to spiritual sense there is spiritual motions to the things we are sensible of, and motion is always where senses are. For we have sense but to discover what is good or evil, and upon discovery of good or evil, power to move from what is evil to good ; else senses were rather fit to torment us than anything. Therefore there is likewise a power to move in natural life. So in spiritual life, whereby we are enabled to taste and relish heavenly things, there is a power to move them, and carry the soul to them, and to remove from what is spiritually evil. And therefore together with the pulse, and breathing, and sense, and motion, usually there be sympathies and antipathies to what is suitable or contrary to their being. As spiritual hfe hath antipathy to sin, as the bane and the poison of it ; and works it out by little and Httle, being like the poison of nature, that when poison enters it works against the poison as much as it can to cast it up ; so where there is spiritual life, it works against the sinfulness of corrupt nature, and whatsoever is opposite to it, and works it out by little and little, as a counter-poison to it. For this spiritual life is opposite, and contrarious every way to sin. And therefore they that cherish cor- ruption by occasion, company, and objects, which they should mortify, alas ! where is the life of gi-ace in them ?