It implieth likewise a duty of resifpiatioii to Chnnt in life and death, because we are not our own, and therefore are in all things to be at his disposing, to be led what way he plcaseth, and to pursue his dii-ections, though to the crossing of our corrupt nature, to be content to go to heaven as he will lead us, by fair ways or foul ways, by fair death or bloody death, ' if by any means we may attain to the resurrection of the dead,' as St Paul saith it, Philip, iii. 11.
Besides this, we must have a care to implead this and to improve it, as the apostle doth here, ' Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.' He will have care of us, and therefore we ought to serve him.
It is a special after-part to be able to make it good to God in all troubles and conditions whatsoever : ' I am thine. Lord, save me ; I am thine, Lord, teach me ; I am thine. Lord, protect me.'
Avouch and make it good against the temptations of Satan, urging thee to distrust, I am not mine own, I am God's and Christ's ; and there- fore if thou hast anything to say to me, go to him that hath paid my debt. Thus plead the goodness and graciousness of God.
Plead it against temptation to sin. I am not mine own, ' I am bought with a price,' 1 Cor. vi. 28. My body is not for uncleanness, but for the Lord.
Plead it against our own consciences in times of desertion ; search narrowly what we have of Christ's in us, and do not cavil against ourselves too much in times of temptation. If we have but desires of the soul to God, lose not anything that is good ; if I renounce my interest in Christ, I am where the devil would have me ; then he can do anything with us. And therefore plead it against our own distasteful* hearts in times of dark- ness. I give myself to him, and my desires are to him ; my faith is little, but yet something ; -my love is little, but yet I love the Lord. ' I beUeve, help my unbelief,' Mark ix. 24. We must take notice of anything Christ hath wrought in our spirits, that we may implead our interest on all occasions ; for if we yield to despairing hearts in times of temptations, we are gone. Therefore" say with Job, ' If thou kill me, I will trust thee,' Job xiii. 15. Lie at Christ's feet ; if thou wilt damn me, so it is, I will lie here, and wait here. For if I have not present audience, I shall have it. God waiteth to do them good that wait for him. He will try our spirits, whether we will take a seeming repulse ; therefore we must, as the woman of Samaria,t grow on Christ, and catch at his words. Mat. xv. ; and as the servants of Benhadad, who retorted on Ahab presently, ' Thy servant Benhadad,' 1 Kings xx. 33.
And as we must implead our interest, so we must improve it in the whole course of our life, and in all conditions whatsoever. If we have any loss or crosses, yet the soul can say, Christ is mine, and I am Christ's. Though a man taking a journey lose things of less value, yet if he hath a pearl left him, he is content, for he hath that that will make him a man. * Qu. ' distrustful ' ?— G. t Qu. ' Canaan ' '?— Ed.
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And therefore be not much disconsolate for anj' crosses. They cannot take away my Christ, my promises, the comforts of the Spirit. I have a Christ, and in him all that shall he for my good.
Improve it in all opposition of flesh and blood, hell and the instruments of hell, Satan and wicked men. They are mine enemies ; hut if Christ be my friend, it matters not. Christ can make our enemies our friends.
And all things are ours if we be Christ's. We have a general charter. Things to come are ours, life ours, death ours ; and therefore if we be Christ's, make use of him.
As it is baseness of spirit to rest in anything in the world but Christ, so it is baseness of spirit for us that are Christ's to be dejected for anything in the world. We have the treasure, we have the mine. We have the sun; what if we lose a beam ? We have a spring ; what if the stream be dried up ? If Christ giveth us himself, it is no matter what we lose. But wo are sure of him, ' for in life and death we are the Lord's.'
And therefore let us hence answer all objections. Oh that we should have such grounds of comfort and stability, and yet make no more use of them ! If these things were fresh in our thoughts, nothing would dis- courage us.
Quest. If you ask. How shall we know in particular that it is so indeed that we are Christ's ?
Ans. 1. I answer, If we have given ourselves to him by a contract of our own, if we be married to him. You know marriage must have consent of both parties. Those that give not themselves up to Christ to be his, they are not his. They that live under the power of any sin against con- science, as their Lord, that love anything better than Christ, and will not part with it for Christ's sake, Christ is not theirs, for they be engaged another way.