A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

A. 1. Do you find an inward longing after Christ in every ordinance, that nothing will satisfy your soul but Christ, he is a sweet savour to you; as an hungry man, give him silver and gold never so much, he is not satisfied unless he have meat? It was an argument of life in the Spouse, that she sought Christ diligently in every ordinance, and her soul was grieved because she found him not. If a man therefore come to the ordinances, and it never troubles him though he go home without Christ, this man feeds not on Christ.

A. 1. Doe you finde an inward longing after Christ in every ordinance, that nothing will satisfie your soul but Christ, he is a sweet savour to you; as an hungry man, give him silver and gold never so much, he is not satisfied unlesse he have meat? It was an argument of life in the Spouse, that she sought Christ diligently in every ordinance, and her soul was grieved because she found him not. If a man therefore come to the ordinances, and it never troubles him though he goe home without Christ, this man feeds not on Christ.

2. Feeding implies a finding of sweetness and relish in our meat: So consider, how do you find Christ, is he a sweet savour to you? Do you find comfort and strength in him, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. Why, its a sign of life that you relish your meat well; nay, its a sign of health, for a sick man cannot relish his meat; and if a Christian find no relish in the ordinances, he complains of it as his sickness, and looks up to God for help against it.

2. Feeding implies a finding of sweetnesse and relish in our meat: So consider, how doe you finde Christ, is he a sweet savour to you? Doe you finde comfort and strength in him, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. Why, its a signe of life that you relish your meat well; nay, its a signe of health, for a sick man cannot relish his meat; and if a Christian finde no relish in the ordinances, he complains of it as his sicknesse, and looks up to God for help against it.

3. In all feeding there is a taking of the meat down, we do not spit it out, and when it is down it must continue there, we must not cast it out: So, if Gods Word abide in us, and we hide it in our souls by a wise applying of it to our souls, Psal. 119.11. and therefore give up your selves to be guarded by it, this is a sign of life and strength.

3. In all feeding there is a taking of the meat down, we doe not spit it out, and when it is down it must continue there, we must not cast it out: So, if Gods Word abide in us, and we hide it in our souls by a wise applying of it to our souls, Psal. 119.11. and therefore give up your selves to be guarded by it, this is a signe of life and strength.

A third effect of spiritual life is growth, that which lives grows, until it comes to full maturity, and then it either stands at a stay, or begins to decay; but a spiritual life grows up to full perfection, and then it continues in that perfect estate for ever in heaven, 1 Pet. 2.2. & 3.18. Eph. 4.11, 12. Col. 2.19. If a Christian grows, he lives.

A third effect of spirituall life is growth, that which lives grows, untill it comes to full maturity, and then it either stands at a stay, or begins to decay; but a spirituall life grows up to full perfection, and then it continues in that perfect estate for ever in heaven, 1 Pet. 2.2. & 3.18. Eph. 4.11, 12. Col. 2.19. If a Christian grows, he lives.

Obj. Doth not many a Christian stand at a stay, or oft-times go back, and lose his first love and fruitfulness?

Obj. Doth not many a Christian stand at a stay, or oft-times go back, and lose his first love and fruitfulnesse?

Answ. True, for a time he may, as a living man by sickness may lose his strength and vigour, and be made unfit for any employment, but if he strive to recover himself, its a sign of life: so a Christian by some corrupt lusts may wast his best graces, like a thief in a candle, but if he be a living Christian, he strives against them, and prays with David, O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen! If he find a decay, he considers from whence he is fallen, and he recovers himself, and doth his first works, Rev. 2.4. Repentance is the purge of the soul, it expels out evil lusts, and then we do more at last then at first, Rev. 2.17. So then, a Christian is continually a growing, if not in the bulk of grace, yet in more sweetness, and mellowness; as apples at their full bulk, yet grow more ripe and sweet; so a Christian, though he grow not to more tallness, yet he may grow to more rootedness in Christ.

Answ. True, for a time he may, as a living man by sicknesse may lose his strength and vigour, and be made unfit for any employment, but if he strive to recover himselfe, its a signe of life: so a Christian by some corrupt lusts may wast his best graces, like a thiefe in a candle, but if he be a living Christian, he strives against them, and prays with David, O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen! If he find a decay, he considers from whence he is faln, and he recovers himselfe, and doth his first works, Rev. 2.4. Repentance is the purge of the soul, it expells out evill lusts, and then we doe more at last then at first, Rev. 2.17. So then, a Christian is continually a growing, if not in the bulk of grace, yet in more sweetnesse, and mellownesse; as apples at their full bulk, yet grow more ripe and sweet; so a Christian, though he grow not to more tallnesse, yet he may grow to more rootednesse in Christ.

2. In more sweetness of spirit, that is, in more love to his Brethren, and care of Gods glory.

2. In more sweetnesse of spirit, that is, in more love to his Brethren, and care of Gods glory.

A fourth effect of life is this, life hath an expulsive power to expel that which is noisome and dangerous to it, it will cast it out either by purging, or sweat, or vomit, any noisome humour is burdensome to nature; so if grace be living, there is a power to expel every thing that is superfluous, much more what is noisome and hurtful, nature keeps nothing but what it converts to its own nourishment; so a Christian cuts away every superfluity, if it be a thing of no purpose, or no use to his calling, though it may to others, this he abandons, James 1.21. But that knowledge which may be either necessary or expedient for him, that a Christian retains, a Christian casts out that chiefly which is contrary to grace.

A fourth effect of life is this, life hath an expulsive power to expell that which is noysome and dangerous to it, it will cast it out either by purging, or sweat, or vomit, any noysome humour is burdensome to nature; so if grace be living, there is a power to expell every thing that is superfluous, much more what is noysome and hurtfull, nature keeps nothing but what it converts to its own nourishment; so a Christian cuts away every superfluity, if it be a thing of no purpose, or no use to his calling, though it may to others, this he abandons, James 1.21. But that knowledge which may be either necessary or expedient for him, that a Christian retains, a Christian casts out that chiefly which is contrary to grace.

1. Doubtings, for that is contrary to the life of grace. 2. It casts away all presumption, and self-dependence, perfect love casts out fear, and patience strives against frowardness, and every grace against its contrary, so that he may grow up to full holiness; the life of grace casts out the life of the world, so much of the world as is cumbersome to his spirit, so much a Christian lays down.

1. Doubtings, for that is contrary to the life of grace. 2. It casts away all presumption, and selfe-dependance, perfect love casts out fear, and patience strives against frowardnesse, and every grace against its contrary, so that he may grow up to full holinesse; the life of grace casts out the life of the world, so much of the world as is cumbersome to his spirit, so much a Christian lays down.

A fifth act of life is the begetting of his kind: nature grows up to this ability, though at first it be but weak; so grace no sooner moves, or grows, or feeds in any measure, but it hath a mind to beget others; as soon as ever the woman of Samaria began to be acquainted with Christ, she ran to all her neighbours, and tells them she had met with one that told her all that ever she had done, Is not this the Christ? John 4.29. This is the nature of spiritual life, as soon as they are well begot themselves, they are ready to beget others. ⟨p. 404⟩Indeed, a Christian may hide himself a while, but as soon as he is assured of life himself, he propagates the same to others, John 1.41, to 46. When one Disciple was called, he goes and calls another to come and see. Psal. 51.10, 11, 12, 13. David professeth that if God will but assure him of mercy, and establish him therein, then he will teach others Gods ways, and sinners shall be converted unto him, he that is once converted himself, his care is to convert others to God.

A fifth act of life is the begetting of his kind: nature grows up to this ability, though at first it be but weak; so grace no sooner moves, or grows, or feeds in any measure, but it hath a minde to beget others; as soon as ever the woman of Samaria began to be acquainted with Christ, she ran to all her neighbors, and tells them she had met with one that told her all that ever she had done, Is not this the Christ? John 4.29. This is the nature of spirituall life, as soon as they are well begot themselves, they are ready to beget others. ⟨p. 404⟩Indeed, a Christian may hide himselfe a while, but as soon as he is assured of life himselfe, he propagates the same to others, John 1.41, to 46. When one Disciple was called, he goes and calls another to come and see.

Try your selves by these signs.

Try your selves by these signes.

Do you find your selves moving a life of grace, growing up therein, feeding upon Christ, expelling the enemies of life, and drawing on others to the same life? these are evident signs of life; if you find it not thus, there is no true sign of the life of grace in you.

Doe you finde your selves moving a life of grace, growing up therein, feeding upon Christ, expelling the enemies of life, and drawing on others to the same life? these are evident signes of life; if you finde it not thus, there is no true signe of the life of grace in you.

3. This life may be discerned by the properties of it, by finding of which we may discern of our spiritual life. And there are three principal properties of life.

3. This life may be discerned by the properties of it, by finding of which we may discern of our spirituall life. And there are three principall properties of life.

1. Where ever life is, there is some warmth. When Elisha had stretched himself over the dead child, the flesh of the dead child began to wax warm, a sign of life, 2 Kings 4.34. So the presence of the Spirit united to the soul of man is the cause of all spiritual heat. Rom. 12.11. Fervent in spirit. Therefore the Spirit is compared to fire, Mat. 3.11. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. A sign that the Spirit is of a fervent nature. So 2 Tim. 1.6. I put thee in remembrance to blow up the graces of Gods Spirit. A Metaphor taken from blowing up the fire with bellows; all which imply, that the Spirit of Christ communicated to Christians is a fervent spirit. Where there is no warmth, there is no life. If our spirit begin to wax warm, its a sign of spiritual life; as the two Disciples that went to Emmaus said, (Luke 22.32.) Did not our hearts burn within us whilst he spake those things? Implying the Word hath a power to quicken, and warm, and heat the spirit of a Christian. This same warmth and heat is expressed divers ways.

1. Where ever life is, there is some warmth. When Elisha had stretched himselfe over the dead childe, the flesh of the dead childe began to wax warm, a signe of life, 2 Kings 4.34. So the presence of the Spirit united to the soul of man is the cause of all spiritual heat. Rom. 12.11. Fervent in spirit. Therefore the Spirit is compared to fire, Mat. 3.11. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. A signe that the Spirit is of a fervent nature. So

1. The very knowledge of a Christian is warm, whereas in all others the knowledge is cold, and merely speculative, without any life or power. There is a zeal according to knowledge, and there is a knowledge according to zeal. The zeal that is not according to knowledge is a rash vain zeal, Rom. 10.2. So, it is a cold empty knowledge that hath not zeal with it. John was a burning and a shining light, showing every several condition what they should do, but he burnt up the hypocrisy and lusts of the body, and inflamed their affections with zeal and warmth, as Herod heard him gladly. Where there is truth of light and knowledge, there is burning. The knowledge of a Christian makes him fruitful in a Christian course, 2 Pet. 1.8. So that whatever he knows either necessary or expedient for him to do, he will do it, and he will cause others to do their duties that belong unto him; such is the heat of his spirit, that he will not suffer his Brother to lie in sin, Lev. 19.17. Now another man knows many things, but doth them not, nor thinks he is bound to do them; but a Christians knowledge is of that nature that it will not suffer him or his Brother to lie in any sin. True Christians are thought oft-times to be more busy then needs.

1. The very knowledge of a Christian is warm, whereas in all others the knowledge is cold, and meerly speculative, without any life or power. There is a zeal according to knowledge, and there is a knowledge according to zeal. The zeal that is not according to knowledge is a rash vaine zeal, Rom. 10.2. So, it is a cold empty knowledge that hath not zeal with it. John was a burning and a shining light, shewing every severall condition what they should doe, but he burnt up the hypocrisie and lusts of the body, and inflamed their affections with zeal and warmth, as Herod heard him gladly. Where there is truth of light and knowledge, there is burning. The knowledge of a Christian makes him fruitfull in a Christian course, 2 Pet. 1.8. So that whatever he knows either necessary or expedient for him to doe, he will doe it, and he will cause others to doe their duties that belong unto him; such is the heat of his spirit, that he will not suffer his Brother to lie in sin,