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…

Use 4. To condemn the Church of Rome, that think by nature men have free will to lay hold on Christ; but I would ask them, when they lay hold on Christ, whether they have Christ or no before; why, before they have received him, they have him not, and if they have him not, they are but dead men, and how shall dead men lay hold on Christ? If they do lay […] it's an act of life, if we be either able or willing to do any good, it proceeds from the grace of Christ, Phil. 1.12, 13.

Ʋse 4. To condemne the Church of Rome, that think by nature men have free will to lay hold on Christ; but I would ask them, when they lay hold on Christ, whether they have Christ or no before; why, before they have received him, they have him not, and if they have him not, they are but dead men, and how shall dead men lay hold on Christ? If they do lay 〈…〉 it's an act of life, if we be either able or willing to do any good, it proceeds from the grace of Christ, Phil. 1.12, 13.

Use 5, Let it teach us all, if we yet be without Christ, let us not give rest to our eyes, nor slumber to our eye-lids, till we have procured Christ to our selves and ours. What if a man have wealth, and honour, and beauty, if he hath not Christ, he hath not life. Therefore labour for Christ, that having him thou mayst have life.

Ʋse 5, Let it teach us all, if we yet be without Christ, let us not give rest to our eyes, nor slumber to our eye-lids, till we have procured Christ to our selves and ours. What if a man have wealth, and honour, and beauty, if he hath not Christ, he hath not life. Therefore labour for Christ, that having him thou mayst have life.

Motives.

2 Consider, if we have Christ we have life, and that in abundance. If you have all the promises, for in him they are yea and a men, 2 G••. 1.20. All the blessings of God are yours, both spiritual, Ephes. 1.3. and temporal, 1 Tim. 4.8. 1 Cor. 3.2. last vers. If you have Christ, the world is yours, all the dealings and carriages shall be serviceable to you, whatever you want, peace, or comforts, or outward things, if you have Christ, you have all things, Rom. 8.32.

2 Consider, if we have Christ we have life, and that in abundance. If you have all the promises, for in him they are yea and a men, 2 G••. 1.20. All the blessings of God are yours, both spirituall, Ephes. 1.3. and temporal, 1 Tim. 4.8. 1 Cor. 3.2. last vers. If you have Christ, the world is yours, all the dealings and carriages shall be serviceable to you, whatever you want, peace, or comforts, or outward things, if you have Christ, you have all things, Rom. 8.32.

Q. But what shall we do to get Christ? Are we not by nature unable and unwilling to receive Christ? To what end then is this your exhortation?

Answ. Though this be our sinful distemper, yet our exhortations be not in vain, for God by his Word oft-times conveys a power whereby we are enabled to lay hold on Christ Peter spake to a lame man to walk. Acts 3.6, 7. Would you not think it was a vain word? No, because he conveyed strength withal, whereby he was enabled to rise up and walk.

Answ. Though this be our sinfull distemper, yet our exhortations be not in vain, for God by his Word oft-times conveys a power whereby we are enabled to lay hold on Christ Peter spake to a lame man to walk. Acts 3.6, 7. Would you not think it was a vain word? No, because he conveyed strength withall, whereby he was enabled to rise up and walk.

Means to help us to get life i• Christ.

1 Consider how de•d and lost thou are by nature. Christ came to call such as feel themselves lost, Luke 19.10. Mat. 9.12, 13.

2 If thou knowest any fin•lly thy self, •id thy hands of it, cast them such thee. Many a man lives in sin, which if he would but renounces God would receive him to mercy, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. Isa. 1.16, 17, […] •f the Passover, except they put away •••en, Exod 12.19, So if […] the old leave•, we shall become a new […], 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Is•. 55.6, 7.

2 If thou knowest any fin•lly thy self, •id thy hands of it, cast them such thee. Many a man lives in sin, which if he would but renounces God would receive him to mercy, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. Isa. 1.16, 17, 〈…〉 •f the Passover, except they put away •••en, Exod 12.19, So if 〈…〉 the old leave•, we shall become a new 〈…〉, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Is•. 55.6, 7.

3 Seek the Lord whilst he may be found, Isa. 55.6. Do but seen him, and he will be found.

3 Seek the Lord whilest he may be found, Isa. 55.6. Do but seen him, and he will be found.

And how is this done?

1 By longing and thirsting after him.

2 Seek him in all the means. Hear diligently and your souls shall […], Isa. 55.13. It's a notable promise, Prov. 8.35, 36. Therefore men should be willing to straitened themselves a little in their worldly businesses, to loy• and hear Gods Word.

2 Seek him in all the means. Heare diligently and your souls shall 〈…〉, Isa. 55.13. It's a notable promise, Prov. 8.35, 36. Therefore men should be willing to straighted themselves a little in their worldly businesse•, to loy• and hear Gods Word.

3 Seek him in prayer, Isa. 55.6.

Use 6. To teach every soul that hath Christ, and yet complains of the deadness and dullness of his heart; if thou findest a decay of life, seek Christ again, get faster hold of him, and thou shalt increase thy life; exercise your faith, live daily by faith, and you shall not want life.

Ʋse 6. To teach every soul that hath Christ, and yet complai•s of the deadnesse and dulnesse of his heart; if thou findest a decay of life, seek Christ again, get faster hold of him, and thou shalt increase thy life; exercise your faith, live dayly by faith, and you shall not want life.