The Soules Possession of Christ

p. 1THE SOULES POSSESSION OF CHRIST.

[The Text.] Put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ, and take no thought, or make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it.

THE intendment of these words is to suggest into the hearts of the Romanes, [The intent of the words.] a saving meanes, whereby they might bee cheared up to the performance of such p. 2duties, as were required at their hands; and this the Apostle doth from the eleventh Verse to the end of the Chapter: He had told them before, that they ought to put off the old man, and that they should no longer walke in rioting and wantonnesse; but that they should put on the armour, and walke as Children of the light.

Now because the matter was difficult, either to get more grace, or to performe the duties required of them, oh, might some say, we know we should labour to subdue this sin, and it becomes Christians to walke comely, holily, p. 3agreeable to Gods will; but it is a hard matter to get grace to doe the same.

For answer hereunto the holy Apostle in this Verse suggests a double means, saying; 1. [A double meanes to subdue sin.] Put on Christ; 2. Put off all base occasions, and provide not for pride, and lust, and malice; by these you shall bee strengthened to performe whasoever duty the Lord requires at your hands, and to overcome any corruption.

In the first means there is, 1. The description of the party that must be put on, The Lord Iesus Christ. 2. The application of this party.

p. 4Now if any man aske what is meant by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ; [What is meant by putting on Christ.] I answere, to put on Christ, is to be conceived in a double sense.

1. Wee must put on Christ by faith, [1] in justification, when we beleeve in Christ, that our debts are laid upon his score, and his merits are applyed to us; but this is not meant here.

The Reason is, because this had beene spoken of long before, and it is presumed that these Romanes to whom hee wrote, had beleeved in Christ already.

2. To put on Christ is spoken in regard of p. 5sanctification, [2] as when we finde both many weaknesses, and much want of grace in us, and unfitnesse for duties, then wee put on Christ to overcome our corruptions, and to quicken up our hearts for the performance of such services as God requires of us. This is plaine, for St. Paul having enjoyned them to lay aside all sin, as pride, malice, riotous living, and all the workes of the old mā: he exhorts them to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, that they may the better overcome these sinnes and corruptions, and be quickened up to every needfull duty. Hence I observe this Doctrine.

p. 6They that have received Christ, and are neare to salvation, and that have good proofe from Gods word, that the night is past, and the day hath dawned in their hearts, even these I say, have daily need to fetch succour from Christ, and grace for the performāce of every spirituall service which God requires at their hands.

Our Saviour Christ must be put on; [Doct.] hee is to be conceived of, as of a garment, and that in two respects; as when a man puts on a garment, 1. he must have it fitted for him, and, 2. put it on and apply it to his body, so p. 7it is in this place. [Note.] The Lord Jesus Christ takes measure of all the infirmities of his children, and applyes sutable grace, according to every mans severall necessities, as in Psa. 21.5. [Psa. 21.5.] our Translation hath it, Glory and comely honour hast thou laid upon him; or, as it is in the Originall, Glory and honour thou hast fitted for him.

And againe, Christ not onely takes measure of our infirmities, but also he gives sutable grace fitting for our conditions; as in time of injury, hee gives patience, in time of persecution he gives courage to stand for his truth, and wisedome to carry p. 8themselves aright; yea, he shapes out mercy and seasonable helpe for every estate. The Lord gives not only a fit grace to his children, but also he gives a present aide & strength to apply that grace; as a man not onely makes his garment fit, but hee puts it on close to his body, and then he is ready for any employment: So it is here, when the grace is applyed, then a Christian is fit to walke with God in a holy course; as Luke 24.40. [Luke 24.40. Acts 2.3, 4. verses.] compared with the second of the Acts 3, 4. we shall see that the Lord gives a supply of seasonable grace according to our necessities: p. 9In Luke the Text saith, Stay you in Ierusalem till you be clad with the Spirit from above; and in the Acts, the Evangelist gives the meaning of the former place, and saith, The Spirit sate upon each of them; that is, GOD gave them abundance of grace to fit them for their workes; the Spirit spake in them, and they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Apostles had need of much wisedome and courage, and therefore GOD gave them abundance of spirituall assistance, as in that place is plaine.

p. 9The issue of the point is this, Those that are in p. 10the Lord Jesus Christ, have need every day to receive grace and quickening power from him, to enable them to discharge such duties as the Lord requires of them.

1. God is the Author of all grace, [Reas. 1.] and we have it not of our selves.

2. None of us can maintaine that grace which we have, [Reas. 2.] further than God will enable us.

3. Neither can any man put forth his grace further than GOD will stand by him: [Reas. 3.] So then, if the grace bee Gods gift, and if none can maintain and keep his grace when he hath it, further than God enables him, nor can p. 11exercise or put forth and use his grace aright without divine assistance, then it is needfull that wee depend upon God for what we have or doe: And if grace and aide to performe any duty, comes onely from the Lord Jesus, then it is very necessary, that wee have daily recourses to him for the same.