As I observed before, so I tell you again, the faith which we preach is not a dead, but a lively active faith wrought in the soul, working a thorough change, by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the whole man: and unless CHRIST be thus in you, notwithstanding you may be orthodox as to the foregoing principles, notwithstanding you may have good desires, and attend constantly on the means of grace; yet, in St. _Paul_’s opinion, you are out of a state of salvation. “Know you not, (says that Apostle to the _Corinthians_, a church famous for its gifts above any church under heaven) that CHRIST is in you, (by his Spirit) unless you are reprobates?”
For CHRIST came not only to save us from the guilt, but from the power of our sins: till he has done this, however he may be a Saviour to others, we can have no assurance or well-grounded hope, that he has saved us: for it is by receiving his blessed Spirit into our hearts, and feeling him witnessing with our spirits, that we are the sons of GOD, that we can be certified of our being sealed to the day of redemption.
This is a great mystery; but I speak of CHRIST and the new-birth. Marvel not at my asking you, what you think about CHRIST being formed within you? For either GOD must change his nature, or we ours. For as in _Adam_ we all have spiritually died, so all that are effectually saved by CHRIST, must in CHRIST be spiritually made alive. His only end in dying and rising again, and interceding for us now in heaven, is to redeem us from the misery of our fallen nature, and, by the operation of his blessed Spirit, to make us meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light. None but those that thus are changed by his grace here, shall appear with him in glory hereafter.
Examine yourselves, therefore, my brethren, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves; and think it not sufficient to say in your creed, I believe in JESUS CHRIST: many say so, who do not believe, who are reprobates, and yet in a state of death. You take GOD’s name in vain, when you call him Father, and your prayers are turned into sin, unless you believe in CHRIST, so as to have your life hid with him in GOD, and to receive life and nourishment from him, as branches do from the vine.
I know, indeed, the men of this generation deny there is any such thing as feeling CHRIST within them; but alas! to what a dreadful condition would such reduce us, even to the state of the abandoned heathen, who, St. _Paul_ tells us, “were past feeling.” The Apostle prays, that the _Ephesians_ may abound in all knowledge and spiritual understanding, or as it might be rendered, spiritual sensation. And in the office for the visitation of the sick, the minister prays, that the LORD may make the sick person know and feel, that there is no other name under heaven given unto men, in whom and through whom they may receive health and salvation, but only the name of our LORD JESUS. For there is a spiritual, as well as a corporeal feeling; and though this is not communicated to us in a sensible manner, as outward objects affect our senses, yet it is as real as any sensible or visible sensation, and may be as truly felt and discerned by the soul, as any impression from without can be felt by the body. All who are born again of GOD, know that I lie not.
What think you, Sirs, did _Naaman_ feel, when he was cured of his leprosy? Did the woman feel virtue coming out of JESUS CHRIST, when she touched the hem of his garment, and was cured of her bloody issue? So surely mayst thou feel, O believer, when JESUS CHRIST dwelleth in thy heart. I pray GOD to make you all know and feel this, ere you depart hence.