The next great Prerogative is, The Believer shall be with Christ in glory, Phil. 1.23. I desire [Greek or Hebrew], to be dissolved, or loosen anchor, and to be with Christ*. This is a privilege of the first magnitude: surely, we can be no losers by being with Christ. A graft or scion, though it be taken out of the tree, it doth not perish, but is set into a better stock: thus it is with a Christian; while he is here, ⟨p. 90⟩(even after Conversion) there is much of the wild Olive still in him; now when this scion, by death is cut off, he doth not perish, but is set into a more noble and generous stock, he is with Christ, which is far better: a state of perfection, is better then a state of imperfection. Our graces are our best jewels, but they are imperfect and do not give out their full lustre: they are like the Moon, which when it shines brightest, hath a dark spot. Our faith is mingled with unbelief, our humility is stained with pride; the flame of our graces is not so pure, but it hath some smoke; grace is but in its infancy and minority, it will never be of full growth till we are with Christ. This is the highest link in the chain of glory, we shall be with Christ. What is it the pious soul desires in this life? is it not to have the sweet ⟨p. 91⟩presence of Christ? he cares for nothing, but what hath aliquid Christi*, something of Christ in it▪ he loves duties, only as they are manuductions to Christ▪ why is prayer so sweet, but because the soul hath private conference with Christ? Why is the Word precious, but because it is a means to convey Christ? he comes down to us upon the wings of the Spirit; and we go up to him upon the wings of Faith: An ordinance without Christ, is but feeding upon the dish in stead of the meat. Why doth the wife •ove the Letter, but because it brings news of her husband? Here we enjoy Christ by letters, and that is sweet; but what will it be to enjoy his presence in glory? Here is that which may amaze us, we shall be with Christ, Christ is all that is desirable; nay, he is more then we can desire. A man that is thirsty, he desires only ⟨p. 62⟩a little water to quench his thirst; but bring him to the Sea, and here is more then he can desire. In Christ, there is not only a fullness of sufficiency, but a fullness of redundancy; it overflows all the banks:
THe next great Prerogative is, The Believer shall be with Christ in glory, Phil. 1.23. I desire 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, to be dissolved, or loosen anchor, and to be with Christ*. This is a priviledge of the first magnitude: surely, we can be no losers by being with Christ. A graft or scion, though it be taken out of the tree, it doth not perish, but is set into a better stock: thus it is with a Christian; while he is here, ⟨p. 90⟩(even after Conversion) there is much of the wilde Olive still in him; now when this scion, by death is cut off, he doth not perish, but is set into a more noble and generous stock, he is with Christ, which is farre better: a state of perfection, is better then a state of imperfection. Our graces are our best jewels, but they are imperfect and do not give out their full lustre: they are like the Moon, which when it shines brightest, hath a darke spot. Our faith is mingled with unbeliefe, our humility is stained with pride; the flame of our graces is not so pure, but it hath some smoake; grace is but in its infancy and minority, it will never be of full growth till we are with Christ. This is the highest link in the chaine of glory, we shall be with Christ. What is it the pious soule desires in this life? is it not to have the sweet ⟨p. 91⟩presence of Christ? he cares for nothing, but what hath aliquid Christi*, something of Christ in it▪ he loves duties, only as they are manuductions to Christ▪ why is prayer so sweet, but because the soul hath private conference with Christ? Why is the Word precious, but because it is a meanes to convey Christ? he comes down to us upon the wings of the Spirit; and we go up to him upon the wings of Faith: An ordinance without Christ, is but feeding upon the dish in stead of the meat. Why doth the wife •ove the Letter, but because it brings news of her husband? Here we enjoy Christ by letters, and that is sweet; but what will it be to enjoy his presence in glory? Here is that which may amaze us, we shall be with Christ, Christ is all that is desirable; nay, he is more then we can desire. A man that is thirsty, he desires onely ⟨p. 62⟩
- *Phil. 1.23
- *Bucer.
