Obs. 3 3. Those words (which is our life) are not to be altogether passed over, they plainly affirm that Christ is our life,1 and this is an honour that the Lord challengeth to himself: and therefore as he would be acknowledged to be the way and the truth, so also he addeth, I am the lifea, and to this end he came, that men in him might have lifeb. And with great reason is Christ said to be our life, for he formed us at first when we were not, and quickened us when we were dead, and hath provided a better life for us, and doth preserve us unto eternal life, and daily renew life and power in the hearts of his people, and will raise our bodies at the last day.4 The consideration hereof may both teach us and try us; it may teach us, as to acknowledge that we have received life from Christ, so to dedicate what remaineth of our life to the honour and service of him, that is the author and sole Lord of our lives; and withal to run unto him for the daily preservation and renewing of life and loveliness in us. And it may try too: for till we can truly say out of feeling and experience, Christ is the life of our lives, we shall hardly find reason of comfortable hope in our appearance before him at the last day.5 And they only may truly profess that Christ is their life, that first can live by the faith of Christ, accounting themselves to have enough if they may see comfort in Gods promises made in Christ, and feel the joyful fruits of Christs favour and presence, howsoever §1it go with them for outward things. Secondly, that do continually sacrifice §2and devote unto Christ their best desires and endeavours, and that with resolution §3to cleave to his service all the days of their life. And thirdly, that can bewail his absence, or displeasure, as the most bitter cross: so as they could feel, and out of affection say of such times and such a condition, that the true life of their life was absent or removed from them.
Obs. 3 3. Those words (which is our life) are not to be altogether passed ouer, they plainly affirme that Christ is our life,1 and this is an honor that the Lord challengeth to himselfe: and therefore as hee would be acknowledged to be the way and the truth, so also he addeth, I am the lifea, and to this end he came, that men in him might haue lifeb. And with great reason is Christ said to be our life, for he formed vs at first when we were not, and quickened vs when wee were dead, and hath prouided a better life for vs, and doth preserue vs vnto eternall life, and daily renew life and power in the hearts of his people, and will raise our bodies at the last day.4 The consideration hereof may both teach vs and trie vs; it may teach vs, as to acknowledge that wee haue receiued life from Christ, so to dedicate what remaineth of our life to the honour and seruice of him, that is the author and sole Lord of our liues; and withall to runne vnto him for the daily preseruation and renewing of life and louelinesse in vs. And it may trie too: for till we can truly say out of feeling and experience, Christ is the life of our liues, we shall hardly finde reason of comfortable hope in our appearance before him at the last day.5 And they only may truly professe that Christ is their life, that first can liue by the faith of Christ, accounting themselues to haue enough if they may see comfort in Gods promises made in Christ, and feele the ioyfull fruits of Christs fauour and presence, howsoeuer §1it goe with them for outward things. Secondly, that doe continually sacrifice §2and deuote vnto Christ their best desires and endeuours, and that with resolution §3to cleaue to his seruice all the dayes of their life. And thirdly, that can bewaile his absence, or displeasure, as the most bitter crosse: so as they could feele, and out of affection say of such times and such a condition, that the true life of their life was absent or remoued from them.
- 1Christ is our life.
- aJoh. 14.6.Ioh. 14.6.
- bJoh. 10.10.
- 4Uses.Ʋses.
- 5Who may truly say and profess, that Christ is their life.Who may truly say and professe, that Christ is their life.
