And now having unfolded this threefold Life which the faithful have in Christ, we may further take notice of three attributes or properties of this life, both to humble and to secure us; and they are all couched in one word of the Apostle, your life is hid with Christ in God. 1It is in Christs keeping, as in the hands of a faithful depositary, and it is a Life in God, a full Life, a derivation from the Fountain of Life, where it is surer and sweeter then in any Cistern. Here then are three properties of a Christians Life in Christ; first, Obscurity; secondly, Plenty; thirdly, safety or Eternity. First it is an obscure life, a secret a•d mysterious life; so the Apostle calleth aGodliness a Mystery. As there is a mystery of iniquity, and the hidden things of uncleanness: so there is a Mystery of Godliness, and the bhidden man of the heart. The Life of Grace first is hidden totally from the wicked. cA stranger doth not intermeddle with a righteous ⟨p. 433⟩mans joy; dThe natural man knoweth not any things of Gods spirit; Saint Peter gives the reason, because he is cblind, and cannot see a far off. Now the things of God are deep things, and high things, upwardf they have too much brightness, and downward they have too much darkness for purblind eyes to apprehend. Secondly, It is hid in some sort from the faithful themselves. First, under the prevalence of their corruptions, and adherencie of concupiscence, as Corn under a heap of chaff, or a wall under the Ivy, or metal under the rust which overgrows it. Secondly, under the winnowings and temptations of Satan. As in sifting of Corn the bran being lightest gets upmost, so when Satan disquiets the heart, that which is finest, and should most comfort, will sink and be out of sight. Thirdly, under spiritual desertions, and trials; as in an Eclipse, when the face of the Sun is intercepted, the Moon looseth her light: so when God, who is our light, hideth his Countenance from us, no marvel if we can discover no good nor comfort in our selves.
And now having unfolded this threefold Life which the faithfull have in Christ, wee may further take notice of three attributes or properties of this life, both to humble and to secure us; and they are all couched in one word of the Apostle, your life is hid with Christ in God. 1It is in Christs keeping, as in the hands of a faithfull depositary, and it is a Life in God, a full Life, a derivation from the Fountaine of Life, where it is surer and sweeter then in any Cisterne. Here then are three properties of a Christians Life in Christ; first, Obscuritie; secondly, Plentie; thirdly, safetie or Eternitie. First it is an obscure life, a secret a•d mysterious life; so the Apostle calleth aGodlynesse a Mysterie. As there is a mysterie of iniquitie, and the hidden things of uncleannesse: so there is a Mysterie of Godlynesse, and the bhidden man of the heart. The Life of Grace first is hidden totally from the wicked. cA stranger doth not intermeddle with a righteous ⟨p. 433⟩mans joy; dThe naturall man knoweth not any things of Gods spirit; Saint Peter gives the reason, because he is cblinde, and cannot see a farre off. Now the things of God are deepe things, and high things, upwardf they have too much brightnesse, and downeward they have too much darknesse for purblinde eyes to apprehend. Secondly, It is hid in some sort from the faithfull themselves. First, under the prevalencie of their corruptions, and adherencie of concupiscence, as Corne under a heape of chaffe, or a wall under the Ivie, or mettall under the rust which overgrowes it. Secondly, under the winnowings and temptations of Satan. As in sifting of Corne the branne being lightest gets upmost, so when Satan disquiets the heart, that which is finest, and should most comfort, will sinke and bee out of sight. Thirdly, under spirituall desertions, and trials; as in an Eclipse, when the face of the Sunne is intercepted, the Moone looseth her light: so when God, who is our light, hideth his Countenance from us, no marvell if we can discover no good nor comfort in our selves.
- 1Col. 3. 3. Psal. 36. 9.
- a1. Tim. 3. 6.
- b1. Pet. 3. 4.
- cProv. 14. 10.
- d1. Cor. 2. 14.
- c2. Pet. 1. 9.
- f1 Cor. 2. 10.
