Then, in the next place, let them know they have an everlasting gain, that will comfort us for ever and ever. In the last place, such as have won CJirist, they have such a gain as maJccs them that have him truly rich, and noble, and good. Other riches without grace do corrupt us. The image of God is the true and intrinsecal worth. Let this encourage us to labour to get Christ, to attend the means that lay his riches open ; and thereby shall our love be so stirred up, and our judgment so sanctified, as we shall be of St Paul's mind, to account all other things loss in regard of
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 9. 93
him ; and therefore it is no wonder that those that have not the benefit of the means want this esteem.
VEESE 9.
And he found in him.
Some read the .words actively, that I may find Christ ; but the phrase in the original varying from the former, therefore it is better translated as we have it, passively (p). But when is it that St Paul desireth to be found in Christ ? Ever, no doubt, but especially at the hour of death and day of judgment.
The phrase implies, first, that there is an estate in Christ ; secondly, an abiding in it ; and thirdly, to be found abiding in him. For the handling whereof, we will first explain the phrase ; secondly, we will shew what doctrines it doth clear ; then wo will come to some instructions arising therefrom. The phrase, ' to be in Christ,' is taken from plants which are grafted into stocks, or from the branches, which are said to be in the tree. Thus are we in the vine. It is Christ's own comparison. And of this union with Christ there are three degrees.
First, We are in Christ and in God, first loving us ; and so we were in him before we were. He chose us from all eternity.
Secondly, When Christ died, then we were in him as a public person.
Thirdly, We are said most properly to be in him now when we believe in him ; and thus principally is the sense understood in this place. And thus we are in Christ, not as the manhood is in Christ, but mystically ; not as friends in one another by love, but by faith we are engrafted ; as truly as the branches are in the vine, so are we one.
Ohj. But Christ is in heaven, we are on earth; how can we be united to him that is so far distant from us ?
Ans. I answer. If a tree did reach to heaven, and have its root in the earth, doth this hinder that the branches and the root are not united ? In nowise. So Christ he is in heaven, and we on earth, yet are we united to him by his Spirit, and receiving inlluence from him of all grace and goodness.
Now let us see what doctrines are cleared hereby : first, it clears the point oi justification by Christ. For if the question be, How we are saved by Christ's righteousness ? I answer, Christ and we are both one. Doth not the eye see for the body ? Are not the riches of the husband and wife all one ? Yes. And even also whatsoever Christ hath is ours ; he is our husband ; he is our head. In the second place, it clears the matter of the sacrament. The papists would have the bread transubstantiated into the body of Christ, that it may be united to us. I answer, how is the foot in the head ? Is it not by spiritual vigour passing to and fro through the body, but chiefly in the head. It is not therefore necessary that there should be any corporal union. Nay, Christ comforted his disciples more by his Spirit when he departed from them than he did by his corporal pre- sence. We say also, that the mystical body of Christ is invisible, because the Spirit whereby we are made one is invisible.
This should comfort us at cdl times and in all estates. Before we were in Christ we were in an estate of horror, in an estate of damnation. Now to be reduced to Christ (what comfort is it to be one of a politic body ? It is but for life. Or to be in any man's favour ? It is but at will) ; this is a
94 EXPOSITION OF
most excellent, glorious, and eternal being; tliat'man's nature should be so highly advanced as to bo united to the Godhead. Yea, our persons are mystically united to Christ. Secondl}', in all crosnes or losses. What though wc lose other states, here is a state cannot bo shaken. Thirdly, in the hour of death ire are in Christ ; and blessed are they that die in the Lord. Death, that separates the soul from the body, cannot separate either from Christ. Fourthly, after death. Can it go hard with me that am in Christ, that am his spouse ? I am in him in whom is fulness of comfort. Fifthly, in all xvants here I have him to supply all. He will give what is necessary. If we should have fulness of gi'ace here we should not desire to be in heaven hereafter. Sixthly, in persecution all my hurt redounds to him : ' Saul, Saul, why persecutcst thou me ? ' Acts ix. 4. That which thou dost to my members thou dost to me ?