Sol. 2. Again, Christ may be veiy near, and dwell in us sometimes, and we see him not : because we may so dwell upon corruption, and be so full [of] grief in affliction, that we forget Christ ; as Mary, who, though Christ was near her, yet could not discern him, her eyes were so full of tears, John XX. 15 ; and as Hagar, who was so full of grief, that she could not see the fountain appear, Gen, xxi, IG, There may be, I say, in desertion of soul such grief for our other things, crosses, losses, fears, &c,, that a man may forget Christ, till he recover himself by meditation, prayer, and
408 THE MATCIILKSS LOVE AND IN13EING.
conference with others that are more skilful than himself, that can tell what is in him hy his pulses, discourse, and desires. Sometimes we must trust the judgment of others better than our own, to know what is in us. But I will not enlarge myself in this. Thus we may know that Christ is in us, which is a point of especial comfort.
Ohj. But the soul thinks. Is the Spirit of Christ in us ? Will such an Holy Spirit, as that we cannot conceive him in the height of his holiness and greatness, vouchsafe to dwell in such sinful spirits ? We cannot con- ceive how the Spirit of Christ should dwell in us, that are so corrupt as we are.
Sol. Indeed, I must needs say, it is an argument of wonderful love, that infinite holiness should be joined with such corruption, that greatness will be in such narrow straits, that glory will be in such an obscure place and habitation as our souls. Here is a wondrous condescending ; admirable mercy it must needs be. But let us not be discouraged ; Christ by his Spirit is in us, notwithstanding our corruption, because he cannot be a whit corrupted by it. The Spirit is an active thing, it suifers nothing. The spirit is as fire, which endures nothing : it is always doing, always in action, it is an active element. So the Spirit of Christ in us, though it be in us, yet it joins not with our corruptions. As the sunbeams are pure still, though they shine upon impure and filthy places, so Christ's Spirit, it is a working, fiery thing. As fire consumes dross, so the Spirit, being like fire, though it be where corruption is, yet it is there, as an enemy to it, opposing, consuming, and wasting it by little and little.
Quest. But why doth he not do it all at once ?
Sol. There are divers reasons : God^will have us to have matter of abase- ment here, to make us desire to be with him. Yet in the mean time Christ will be so in the Church his spouse, cleansing and fitting her for himself, as that by his Spirit dwelling in her she shall daily oppose, and by little and little subdue and bring under all corruption whatsoever, till at last she have gotten a full and perfect conquest and triumph over all. All the ima- ginations, desires, and lusts, that exalt themselves against the Spirit of Christ, shall be brought down at last ; the Spirit will subdue all. Stronger is the Spirit that is in us, than the spirit that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4, though it be in never so little a measure ; and therefore by little and little will conquer all. within us, without us, the devil and all at the last. Thus much to answer that doubt.
Use 1. That which further ariseth from hence, that Christ is in us, is not only matter of comfort, but likewise it shews and directs us how to look on other C'Inistians ; to look upon them as the temples and, houses where Christ dwells. Why should we not reverence and respect Christians for the guest that is in them, the Spirit of Christ ? If Christ vouchsafe to dwell in such a man, shall he not dwell in our love ? Shall not one place contain us here, that heaven must contain ere long ? We shall be all together in heaven, and shall we not be loving together here ? Thus considering that Christ is in all his, how should we respect Christians, that are the habita- tion of Christ, the second heaven ? For Christ hath but two heavens ; the heaven where he is, and the heart of a believing Christian, where Christ is, and rules in a comfortable measure, and will rule more and more. How should we value such ! Not as many cursed devilish spirits, that dis- grace and oppose Christ in his members. That which they do to his image in his children, that they would to him himself, if they had him in their power.
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Use 2. The last use sliall be an use of direction, Itow to keep Christ, and to preserve him, and the sense of his beiiig in us with co^nfort, seeing it is so comfortable an estate to have Christ in us, and that yet ofttimes we want the sweet comfort of his presence. In a word, mark here the dependence, ' I have manifested thy name, that thy love may be in them and I in them.' Christ is in us then, by manifesting of divine truth. He conveys himself into our hearts, by our understandings ; he manifests his truth, the means of salvation, by his ordinance ; he manifests divine truths to the under- standing by his Spirit, which goes together with his word. From the understanding he goes to the heart, and there he dwells ; for manifesting of divine truths, and Christ being in us, go together.