First, That the Scripture doth not only say, Christ is in a believer, but he liveth in him: As Paul, Gal. 2.20. And this denoteth, That Christs presence in us is operative and active; for as life in a man quoad actum primum, doth always more or less sensibly put forth life, quoad actum secundum; Thus it is with Christ, he is in the soul, not as he was once in the ship, asleep, and so ceasing from any action, but he liveth in us; for even as God in respect of the creatures doth still work by Conservation, as at first by Creation, so that if he did but for a moment with-draw his influence, this whole fabric would fall into nothing. Thus it is also in respect of Grace, As Christ did at first put supernatural life into us, so did he not continually act and enliven us, we should quickly become dead in our sins, but Christ liveth in us: And if you say, How then comes it about, that so many times Christ seemeth to be gone from the soul, that he hath left his habitation, that no life or workings of Christ appear? That may be answered afterwards; Only for the present know, That Christ is the Sun of Righteousness, Mal. 4.2. which ariseth with healing in his wings; and he is the Tree of Life; yea he calls himself in the abstract, I am the life, John 11.25. And therefore if thy heart be dead, dull, formal, the defect is not from Christ living, but by sinful obstructions, by sin in thee: Even as it is said of Christs Country, He could do no miracles there, because of their unbelief, Mark 6.6. But as Christ is said to live in believers, so to abide in them, and that denoteth more then living; for Christ (were it not for the Covenant of Grace made sure in his blood) might have lived in the godly, but his life in us might have passed away, as our life, and like a shadow; As God for a long while was with the people of Israel, in a Tabernacle, that moved up and down, before he was in a Temple fixed. Thus God was graciously present in Adam, in the Apostate Angels; but this presence was ambulatory, only now through Christ, he hath fixed his abode with us; he comes, and so dwells with us, that he will never go from us: When therefore Christ hath once begun to live in thee, he will always abide so; Christ is always in thy soul, though thou mayest not perceive it; yea the Scripture doth not only say, Christ abideth in us, but that he dwelleth in us, Ephes. 3.17.
First, That the Scripture doth not only say, Christ is in a believer, but he liveth in him: As Paul, Gal. 2.20. And this denoteth, That Christs presence in us is operative and active; for as life in a man quoad actum primum, doth alwayes more or lesse sensibly put forth life, quoad actum secundum; Thus it is with Christ, he is in the soul, not as he was once in the ship, asleep, and so ceasing from any action, but he liveth in us; for even as God in respect of the creatures doth still work by Conservation, as at first by Creation, so that if he did but for a moment with-draw his influence, this whole fabrick would fall into nothing. Thus it is also in respect of Grace, As Christ did at first put supernatural life into us, so did he not continually act and enliven us, we should quickly become dead in our sinnes, but Christ liveth in us: And if you say, How then comes it about, that so many times Christ seemeth to be gone from the soul, that he hath left his habitation, that no life or workings of Christ appear? That may be answered afterwards; Onely for the present know, That Christ is the Sunne of Righteousnesse, Mal. 4.2. which ariseth with healing in his wings; and he is the Tree of Life; yea he cals himself in the abstract, I am the life, John 11.25. And therefore if thy heart be dead, dull, formal, the defect is not from Christ living, but by sinfull obstructions, by sinne in thee: Even as it is said of Christs Countrey, He could doe no miracles there, because of their unbelief, Mark 6.6. But as Christ is said to live in believers, so to abide in them, and that denoteth more then living; for Christ (were it not for the Covenant of Grace made sure in his blood) might have lived in the godly, but his life in us might have passed away, as our life, and like a shadow; As God for a long while was with the people of Israel, in a Tabernacle, that moved up and down, before he was in a Temple fixed. Thus God was graciously present in Adam, in the Apostate Angels; but this presence was ambulatory, onely now through Christ, he hath fixed his abode with us; he comes, and so dwels with us, that he will never go from us: When therefore Christ hath once begun to live in thee, he will alwayes abide so; Christ is alwayes in thy soul, though thou mayest not perceive it; yea the Scripture doth not onely say, Christ abideth in us, but that he dwelleth in us, Ephes. 3.17.
