But to leave these things, though they help our understanding in the mystery I speak of: the thing I would have you specially to discern in the spiritual life of Jesus is, that it leadeth a man higher than all other lives. It sets a man in a higher rank of creatures. It makes a man a
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Spiritual man, and it guidotli bis life by reason abovo nature, by reason above common course ; for it is called * the life of Jesus,' because it comes from Jesus, and as it comes from Jesus it leadetb to Jesus.
Now, tbcrcfore, a man may know be livctb tbe life of Jesus, tbat cometh from Cbrist, if be batb sucli a spirit as leads bim to Cbrist, tbat leads bim to bonour Cbrist. Tbougb not immediately in bis person, yet Cbrist bath in tbe world bis religion, bis cbildren, bis ordinances, and by tbese be is carried to Cbrist, and findetb Cbrist. So be tbat batb tbe life of Cbrist in him, be will relish Cbrist in all these, and in all tbese will be carried to Cbrist, and will honour Cbrist in all these, and will be a friend of the church, a friend of religion, a friend of all God's ordinances, not only as finding a relish in them, but be batb a life from Christ, tbat teaches us to refer all to him. And he will venture bis natural life to save bis spiritual life, because it is his best life. There is no man that is a sound Christian, and in a right frame as a Christian, but will adventure anything of his in- ferior life to maintain bis head. (As it is one point of the wisdom of tbe serpent to maintain his bead) he will maintain bis union and communion with Cbrist, religion, and tbe ordinances, whereby he preserveth his life, though with some prejudice of tbe outward life.
Lijfe is taken oftentimes not only for tbe life that cometh from the union with soul and body, but from the condition together with tbat, as to be rich, and poor, and in credit. So many, not only to maintain their natural life, but their life of condition ; that is, to maintain an honourable condition in tbe world, to be of high esteem ; they make tbe life of Jesus only to serve their turns. If they can keep their natures continually, and grow in favour with men, they think the life of Jesus is a hidden and secret thing, as in- deed it is, and they will not trouble themselves much about it. Ob, this is far from the disposition of a lively Christian that hath the life of Jesus, for he is ready to suffer in his natural life, in his condition of life whatso- ever it be, rather than prejudice bis best life, and he will consider and esteem of things, not so much as they further bis natural condition in tbe world, or natural life, but how it stands with his spiritual life. Nothing against religion, nothing against grace, nothing against the Spirit. This is such a thing for his bead, his religion ; then be will consider things as they tend to that, tbougb it be to the discredit of his person, though with loss of liberty^ with peril of tbe decays of natural life, though with prejudice in worldly things whatsoever they be, rather than be will endanger bis best life, the life of Jesus ; and be will esteem of things suitable to that, tbat shall be his glory, tbe life of Jesus. But whatsoever is between him and Jesus shall be lightly esteemed. Those tbat be in a true Christian frame of soul are thus disposed to God ; and there is good reason for it, for it is the best life of all, and it is that for which we have natural lives. Beloved, if we have not the life of Jesus, we had better have no life at all. As it was said of Judas, ' better we had never been born,' Mat. xxvi. 24 ; if we have not a new life besides what we have by nature we had better not be born at all. Therefore, let us not deceive ourselves, but labour to have something above nature.
I will not trouble you with farther evidence in the point, because I desire that what I have spoken may sink into your souls.
And to stir you up after this life of Jesus, this frame of grace, this quick- ening from our head Christ, it is that for which we live, it is tbat which our life is decreed unto. You know there be three degrees of life : a life in the womb, a life in this world, and a life in heaven ; tbe first for the
2 COEINTHIANS CHAP. IV, TEU. 11. 433
socond, the second for the third. The hfe in the womb is for civil hfe among men. The child hath not eyes and cars for that place where it is, for in that strait place it hath no use of eyes, or ears, or tongue, or any- thing. All the sense it hath there, is not for that life, but for a civil life amongst men, where there is use of eyes, and sense, and tongue, and all the members it hath. So high are a man's designs and large, vast things, that nothing will satisfy. When a man undcrstandcth, he desires more ; his affection is large, nothing will satisfy desire. There is large expecta- tion and love, that nothing here will satisfy, but fresh, fresh, still for desire. Hath God given them vast understanding, and this vast will, and vast affec- tions for that which will not remain with them ? They are for another life. The very frame of our soul sheweth it. As the frame of the infant in the womb sheweth that that frame is for the life in the world, so the life we live, in regard of the large capacity of our souls, is for another life in heaven.