Doct. The Eternal life that God hath given us, is laid up for us in Jesus Christ, John 11.25, 26. Col. 3.3. John 14.6.

Doct. THe Eternall life that God hath given us, is laid up for us in Jesus Christ, John 11.25, 26. Col. 3.3. John 14.6.

Quest. How is our life said to be laid up in him?

Answ. 1. Because he hath received it for us from God the Father to give unto us, John 5.21, 26. 1 Thes. 5.9, 10. He hath appointed us to salvation, ⟨p. 379⟩through Jesus Christ, that so whether we remain alive or die, yet we may live in Christ.

2. Christ hath purchased this life for us, 1 Thes. 5.9, 10. the Father hath not only appointed us life, but he hath appointed it through the death of Christ, John 10.10. I am come that my sheep may have life, and that they may have it in abundance, and this is by giving his life for us.

2. Christ hath purchased this life for us, 1 Thes. 5.9, 10. the Father hath not onely appointed us life, but he hath appointed it through the death of Christ, John 10.10. I am come that my sheep may have life, and that they may have it in abundance, and this is by giving his life for us.

3. Its laid up in Christ as one that prepares it for us, and us for it, Col. 1.12. its he that makes us meet to be made partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light, that whereas before we were unfit, now he hath adorned us, and made us fit Spouses for himself, which he doth by turning us from darkness to light, by giving us of his Spirit, by dispensing himself to us in his Sacraments, and Christian communion, wherein all the members receive nourishment from the head, Eph. 4.16. and as he thus prepares us for eternal life, so likewise he prepares a place for us, John 14.2, 3.

3. Its laid up in Christ as one that prepares it for us, and us for it, Col. 1.12. its he that makes us meet to be made partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light, that whereas before we were unfit, now he hath adorned us, and made us fit Spouses for himselfe, which he doth by turning us from darknesse to light, by giving us of his Spirit, by dispensing himselfe to us in his Sacraments, and Christian communion, wherein all the members receive nourishment from the head, Eph. 4.16. and as he thus prepares us for eternall life, so likewise he prepares a place for us, John 14.2, 3.

4. Its reserved for us principally in himself, notwithstanding the communication of it daily to us, Jude 1. we are said to be preserved in Jesus Christ to life, all our life of grace here, and of glory hereafter, is preserved in Christ.

4. Its reserved for us principally in himselfe, notwithstanding the communication of it dayly to us, Jude 1. we are said to be preserved in Jesus Christ to life, all our life of grace here, and of glory hereafter, is preserved in Christ.

First, Because all the claim of eternal life is laid up only in him, we neither desire nor beg any pardon of sin, or any grace, or comfort, or glory, but through Jesus Christ, the claim of eternal life is wholly in him; for though God hath promised all those kinds of life, its only in Christ.

First, Because all the claim of eternall life is laid up onely in him, we neither desire nor beg any pardon of sin, or any grace, or comfort, or glory, but through Jesus Christ, the claim of eternall life is wholly in him; for though God hath promised all those kindes of life, its onely in Christ.

Secondly, As he reserves the claim of it in his own hands, so he reserves the security of it in his own hand, even as a Father doubting how his son will spend his estate, he puts not into his hands the writings or evidences, but he keeps them in his own hands; so God saw the life he communicated to our first parents, they prodigally wasted it away, and therefore never since would he put it into our own hands, but reserved it in the hands of Christ, Rom. 4.16. Therefore it is faith that the promise might be sure. If our salvation had stood upon our own works, the promise had been sure only so long as we kept our obedience, but we are unsettled, sometimes enlarged, and sometimes straitened, so that we should have been at a stand oftentimes, not knowing whether we had life or no, therefore he hath laid it up in Christ, that it might be sure.

Secondly, As he reserves the claim of it in his own hands, so he reserves the security of it in his own hand, even as a Father doubting how his son will spend his estate, he puts not into his hands the writings or evidences, but he keeps them in his own hands; so God saw the life he communicated to our first parents, they prodigally wasted it away, and therefore never since would he put it into our own hands, but reserved it in the hands of Christ, Rom. 4.16. Therefore it is faith that the promise might be sure. If our salvation had stood upon our own works, the promise had been sure onely so long as we kept our obedience, but we are unsetled, sometimes inlarged, and sometimes straightned, so that we should have been at a stand oftentimes, not knowing whether we had life or no, therefore he hath laid it up in Christ, that it might be sure.

Thirdly, The possession of this life is reserved for us in Christ, our justification is complete in Christ here, never increased, though the sense of it may; the first day we are regenerate, we are fully justified; the justification of all Christians is equal, though their sanctification be not alike; our life of justification is complete, but yet our life of holiness is but imperfect, We know but in part, and believe but in part, but its fully laid up in Christ: so for the life of consolation, we have some beginnings of it here, Phil. 4.7. 1 Pet. 1.8. But sometimes all our comforts are lost, and where then lies it but in Christ; as the sap doth in the root in winter time, so that in him we rejoice always, Phil. 4.4. and so our eternal life is reserved in him, John 14.2, 3. Eph. 2.5.

Thirdly, The possession of this life is reserved for us in Christ, our justification is complete in Christ here, never increased, though the sence of it may; the first day we are regenerate, we are fully justified; the justification of all Christians is equall, though their sanctification be not alike; our life of justification is compleat, but yet our life of holinesse is but imperfect, We know but in part, and believe but in part, but its fully laid up in Christ: so for the life of consolation, we have some beginnings of it here, Phil. 4.7. 1 Pet. 1.8. But sometimes all our comforts are lost, and where then lies it but in Christ; as the sap doth in the root in winter time, so that in him we rejoyce alwayes, Phil. 4.4. and so our eternall life is reserved in him, John 14.2, 3. Eph. 2.5.

Fourthly, In regard of the glorious manifestation of this life at the last day, 2 Thes. 1.10. when he shall come to be admired of all his Saints, this life is now laid up for his Saints, which at that day he will dispense to his servants, to the admiration of all men.

Quest. Why hath God laid up this life in his Son?

Reas. From the impossibility of laying up life for us in the law, or in the first Adam, Gal. 3.21. If the Law could have given us life, verily righteousness had been given us by the law; No, the law that Adam had given him in Paradise could not have secured our life, but that we might forfeit it by our own fall, nor could Adam himself give us this life, for in Adam all dyed, 1 Cor. 15.22. and therefore its Christ alone that hath restored as to life and glory.

Reas. From the impossibility of laying up life for us in the law, or in the first Adam, Gal. 3.21. If the Law could have given us life, verily righteousnesse had been given us by the law; No, the law that Adam had given him in Paradise could not have secured our life, but that we might forfeit it by our own fall, nor could Adam himselfe give us this life, for in Adam all dyed, 1 Cor. 15.22. and therefore its Christ alone that hath restored as to life and glory.

Use 1. Hence learn the order of all that life, and grace, and salvation, that is derived to us, God did not first give us life, and then provide Christ to maintain it in us, but he first appointed Christ, that in him we might have life, Eph. 1.3, 4. He hath chosen us in Christ, Christ is the first fruits of all that life that we enjoy, he loved Christ, and in him loved us, he first gave him eternal life that he might give it to whom he would, John 5.26. he poured this life first on his head, and from him this life runs down to the lowest skirt of his garment, to the meanest member that belongs to him, he poured on him the oil of grace, and from him it drops down upon us; he first crowned him with glory, that he might glorify us.

Ʋse 1. Hence learn the order of all that life, and grace, and salvation, that is derived to us, God did not first give us life, and then provide Christ to maintain it in us, but he first appointed Christ, that in him we might have life, Eph. 1.3, 4. He hath chosen us in Christ, Christ is the first fruites of all that life that we enjoy, he loved Christ, and in him loved us, he first gave him eternall life that he might give it to whom he would, John 5.26. he poured this life first on his head, and from him this life runs down to the lowest skirt of his garment, to the meanest member that belongs to him, he poured on him the oyl of grace, and from him it drops down upon us; he first crowned him with glory, that he might glorifie us.