Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

First it implies, that such as have Christ in truth, and so having him,¹ have life by him; they do not rest in having any of the benefits of Christ, though they be spiritual, but they chiefly affect to have himself, not so much his benefits as himself; he doth not say, he that hath such and such spiritual gifts hath the Son; no, though you have never so many gifts, and they such as do accompany salvation, ⟨p. 47⟩but that which he principally commends to us is himself; you shall read of a company of Professors that had Christ, and affected to have him so far as they, might have Loaves from him, Joh. 6.26, 27. but our blessed Saviour bids them in seeking Christ, seek not for loaves that perish, but labour for the meat which endureth to eternal life; and that is only the Lord Jesus Christ himself: Labour not for any loaves, whatsoever you might find in your pursuit after Christ. It was this by which Peter did discover the hypocrisy of Simon Magus, he desired the gift of the Holy Ghost, but for Christ himself, his heart was not set upon him, but he only desired that in which lay most profit; for had it been in his power, that upon the laying on of his hands upon any, Tongues might have been given, and Sicknesses healed, he might have grown mighty in the world by that trade, Act 8.18, 19. And Balaam he was somewhat more upright in his desire then Simon Magus was, one would think that he had sought after Christ, for he wished not for any temporal thing in this world, only that he might have a comfortable end, he would feather his nest with Immortality, and invest himself with the Robes of incorruption, and such kind of other glory, as the Saints in light do partake of, but it was no more his desire then the other, to desire Christ for himself, but only a blessed end, that he might be translated into immortality and glory, and so might be kept from fellowship with those Devils, and evil Spirits he had been acquainted with all his life long, that he might not have fellowship with them when he departed hence;

First it implyes, that such as have Christ in truth, and so having him,¹ have life by him; they do not rest in having any of the benefits of Christ, though they be spirituall, but they cheifely affect to have himselfe, not so much his benefits as himselfe; he doth not say, hee that hath such and such spirituall gifts hath the Son; no, though you have never so many gifts, and they such as doe accompany salvation,