The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation

3. Christ is our life, Col. 3.4. When Christ who is our life shall appear. Life is sweet; life makes every thing comfortable. In this the Devil said true, Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2.3. A man will cast the plate and jewels overboard to save his life; he will lose a leg or an arm, to preserve the vital parts—Ut serves vitam ferrum patieris, & ignem.—Is life lovely, and is not Christ who is our life lovely? He was typified by the the tree of life in the Garden, Gen. 2.9. That tree was Symbolical (as Austin saith) it was a pledge and sign of life, if man had continued in obedience. It was certainly a lovely tree, but it was only a type of Christ, who is called [Greek or Hebrew], The tree of life, Rev. ⟨p. 369⟩2.7. This tree of life the Lord Jesus is a better tree than that which grew in Paradise; Adams tree in Paradise might preserve life, but it could not prevent death; there was dying for all that; but this tree of life, Jesus Christ, prevents death, John 11.26. Whosoever believeth in me shall never die; that is, not die the second death, Rev. 2.14. This blessed tree is an antidote against death. If there were a tree to be found in the world that could preserve men from dying, how far would they go on pilgrimage? What vast sums of money would they give for one leaf of that tree? such a tree is Christ, he will keep you from dying, and is not this tree very lovely? In particular, there is a threefold life flows from Jesus Christ. 1. The life of grace, Joh. 1.16. Of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace. This life is gemma aeternitatis; a bud of eternity, tis a life purchased for us by Christs death. ⟨p. 370⟩