Ans. 2. Again, If we live to Christ, we are sure we are his ; if we do not live to Christ we are not his. If Christ be ours, as the life which we live is his, so our course of living will be to him. We shall direct all our courses to him, making him our last end ; and therefore, if we will know whether we be Christ's, what is the scope of our lives ? what is our aim ? If so be that Christ may be glorified by me, I am content to part with anything, with life itself, I may know that I am Christ's. ' He that will not deny all, that hateth not father and mother for my sake, is not worthy of me,' Mat. X. 37. Self-denial, and hatred of all things in comparison of Christ, argueth an interest in him. Therefore it is a great deal of grace, and the soul is much subdued before it can say, ' I am Christ's, and Christ is mine.'
For when sin and other withdrawings from Christ are to be deserted, first, there is much ado in the understanding.
Have I reason to do this ? Well, if my judgment say it is good, yet my will saith it is better to have my will than to yield to God, though I hazard the ruin of myself. Oh this is a fatal, naughty disposition, and a sign of ruin ; yet the reputed happiness of many men consisteth in their chief misery.
Again, Good things first coming to the judgment are there repulsed. But if they come to the will, there they be more opposed. And then the affec- tions make a stir and bustle, love and hatred, and engagements to worldly things, and all to hinder our claim and interest to Christ. But he must be set up in place of self-love, before he can say, ' Christ is mine, and I am Christ's,' and that is an hard matter. Therefore let us consider what our aim and scope is.
820 THE christian's end.
In a word, if \vc bo Christ's, uncloubtedly \vc will side with Christ. ' "Who is on my side '? who ?' saith Jehu, 2 Iviii^s ix. 32. In ill and doul)tful times Christ's calls arc for a party, and calltth out. Where is my party ? who Btandeth for me ? who owncth Christ and his truth and doctrine and good •ways, honesty, and religion ? AVho is on my side ? saith Christ. Why, I am for the Lord, as in the prophet Isaiah, saith the soul that can own Christ. Ay, Christ will own us, we shall own him ; if we he ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us at the day of judgment.
They that for hope of preferment and to be somebody in the world can cross their own consciences, and Christ in their consciences, by doing that which by his Spirit he tcllcth them is naught ;'■ are they Christ's when they set up self as an idol above Christ, and side with the world and the flesh against Christ ?
ij. A^ain, He that can say in truth of heart Christ is his, and he is Christ's, he will solace himself, delight himself, and live upon this comfort. It is a rich claim, and there will be spiritual wisdom where there is this interest to implead and improve it. It is not given to lie dormant, but grace is given with it to improve it, and live upon it. All that is Christ's will please him that hath Christ. His truth is sweet to him ; the Lord's day, the Lord's work, the Lord's servants, the Lord's ordinances, whatsoever hath the stamp of the Lord, it is sweet to him, because he is the Lord's, and the Lord is his.
This is contrary to the disposition of that generation that can cunningly despise persons and causes, if they see anything in them opposite to their own base courses and lusts.
But above all, where Christ is any man's in truth, the Spirit of Christ is in that man's heart, a witnessing Spirit and a sanctifying Spirit. The Spirit will witness an interest, and fit and sanctify the soul, as a gracious vessel for Christ's service here, and for glory hereafter. And though the Spirit witness not so loud that he is Christ's, yet he may know by the work of the Spirit that Christ is his ; for the Spirit frameth him to a connatural disposition to Christ, and all that is Christ's. They love his ways and government. A gracious man would not be under another government than Christ's, if he were to choose. He hath made his choice indeed ; but if he were to choose he would have Christ's government, because he tindeth a sweetness in it, and a suitableness to the dignity of it. A man never fiudeth himself more himself than when he is most gracious.
Carnal men, though they submit to outward means, yet they cast away the bond of Christ, they cannot endure the yoke ; but they that are Christ's have a connatural disposition to the government of Christ. And they complain to Christ of other lords, ' Other lords rule me,' Isa. xxvi. 13. This lust reigns in me: Lord, subdue it; claim thine own interest; let nothincf rule in me but thy Spirit. I am weary of my inclinations to this and that lust. And so there is a conflict ever maintained.