The Believer's Pocket Companion contd1

Fifthly, When in worldly TRIALS, and bodily AFFLICTIONS—put on Christ. These are our dear Lord’s precious legacies to all his beloved followers. Just before he left the world, he told us, "In the world you shall have trouble." But this will be very hard to endure, if we do not have Christ with us, in our trials and afflictions. But mind how tribulation is placed. It stands between peace and victory. Peace is in the front; victory brings up the rear. Blessed be his love: thus our dear Lord begins, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation." Blessed be his power: thus he ends, "But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Just as though he had said, In the midst of your tribulations, let them be of whatever kind, clothe your mind and memory with those things which I have spoken unto you, that you may have peace of conscience. Remember the peace I have made for you, by my blood on the cross. I am your peace. In me you shall find peace. Let none of your tribulations distress your conscience. For none of them shall destroy your souls; for I have overcome the world, and all the evils of it. My conquests are your victories. Therefore be of good cheer. When we believe this; when we put on Christ, and his precious words, we find and feel consolation in the midst of tribulation; "for this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. But how does faith overcome the world, and all the tribulations we meet with in it? By bringing Christ, his victories and his strength, into the heart, and by presenting to the mind the prospect of heaven and glory. O, then the world loses its hold of the heart, it sinks in the soul’s esteem, and is brought under the feet. And as to its tribulations, upon a just estimate, the believer says, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." O precious Christ, how inexpressibly precious is your presence to the soul, when in the furnace of affliction!

Pliny mentions certain trees which grow in the Red Sea, which, though they are covered with water, and beat upon by the waves—they stand like an immovable rock. They are bettered by the roughness of the sea. Just so, a Christian planted in the Red Sea of Christ’s blood, is armored against all the waves of troubles; is improved by afflictions; yes, the more he is beat upon, and though overwhelmed with the billows of distress and trouble—the better he thrives, and the more his soul flourishes in spiritual grace! For this is the loving design of our Lord in all our troubles and afflictions—to wean us from the world, and to endear himself to us! Every affliction has its commission from him. It comes with the impress of his love upon it. Its contents runs thus: "Your Lord sees that through too much ease and prosperity in this world, you are prone to forget him; therefore he calls on you by this, to put him on more ardently, that you may enjoy him and his love more comfortably, in your mind, memory, and conscience." See to it then, that this blessed end be answered.

I have often found by experience, and confessed with joy, that a sick bed has proved like a hotbed to my soul. It has drawn up warm desires, and longing affections to Christ. And I have sweetly found the Sun of Righteousness arising upon me, reviving, cheering and comforting my soul. It is only Christ put on in the mind, memory and conscience, that can support under trials, yield patience and comfort in afflictions, and sanctify all of them to the soul’s profit. When afflictions are most heavy, Christ’s presence makes the world and its troubles most light.

It is your wisdom to see the rod of chastisement in the hand of your loving heavenly Father. But God is only a Father to us in Christ. We are his children by faith in Christ, Galatians 3:26. Therefore, we can only see, know, and rejoice in him, and submit to him as our Father, by putting on Christ our Elder Brother. Take Jesus with you in all your sufferings, and you shall find that as sufferings abound in you, consolations from him shall also abound to you.

It is your glory to see that all your afflictions are chastenings from the Lord; that they are all in love; that in all, he deals with you as with a son in whom he delights, and whom he designs to profit. He does not punish you with vindictive wrath—he is not taking vengeance of you for your sins. But how can you see this, except you put on Christ, in whom God had received full satisfaction for all your sins; has freely forgiven you all for Christ’s sake; and has fully justified you from all in him? So that, strictly speaking, God, your Father, is not so much punishing you for your sins, as from your sins. That is, in all his chastisements he intends your spiritual good, that you should be more and more a partaker of Christ and his holiness; that sin may be more exceedingly sinful; yourself more vile in your own eyes, and more humbled before him, and your Savior more inestimably precious to your soul. So that all affliction, is a rod of love to whip you from the world, self and sin--into Christ, that you should more love and enjoy Him, who is your righteousness, life and salvation. "The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently." Proverbs 13:24

Then in and under all, so put on Christ in your mind, memory and conscience, that you may say with Job, "Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him." Job 13:15. For I know him; I know that he is my Redeemer; that he ever lives to pray for me, to support me, and to save me to the very uttermost. If Christ is with us in all, all will be well with us. Could Caesar say to the trembling mariner, in a violent storm, "Be not afraid, for you carry Caesar?" O well may you say to your soul, in every storm of affliction, be not afraid, for you carry Jesus the Savior! He says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters (of affliction) I will be with you; and through the rivers (many and great troubles) they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire (fierce and scorching temptations and distresses) you shall not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon you." Now, why all this safety, in times of fiercest troubles and greatest dangers? Hear and rejoice. You are the claim of Jesus. He has redeemed, and called you. He challenges you as his own. And that you may claim him he says, "For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, YOUR SAVIOR." Isaiah 43:2-3. Then put on Christ your Savior; clothe your mind, memory and conscience in all your troubles, with all that is contained in that precious, soul-comforting word, YOUR SAVIOR.

Sixthly, I would just hint, that as we are to put on Christ in our heaviest and worst frames, we are also to put him on in our BEST and most lively frames; and this for one and the very same reason, because we are commanded to glory of him alone, and to rejoice in him always. But we are prone to be elated with pride at our good frames—and dejected to distress at our bad ones. But if we find ourselves in a good frame, surely we think we have then put on Christ. This is much to be doubted: yes, it is greatly to be suspected, that we too often let go Christ, and cleave to our good frames, and fine feelings.

What do you think of Peter? Was he not in a fine frame and comfortable feeling, when he so boldly declared to his Lord, "Though all others should deny you, yet will I never deny you! I am ready to go with you into prison, and to death!" Can we doubt but that he was clothed with self-confidence, instead of putting on Christ his strength, and crying to him, as he did in his sinking frame, ’’Lord save me—or I perish!" But after Satan had sifted Peter, we hear him no more boasting of his zeal for, and love to, his Lord. It was then, "Lord, you know whether I love you, and how much I love you." He had now done with talking about his great love, and his perfect love to Christ—and was more taken up with the great and perfect love of Christ to him.

Paul was in danger of being exalted above measure, through the abundance of revelations which were given to him. As Satan sifted Peter out of his vain confidence, so he buffeted Paul. This drove him to his right place at the feet of Christ, to clothe his mind with the right object—Christ, and to cause his heart to trust in, and depend alone upon the grace which is in Christ, and not to be exalted at what he had been favored with, and with what he found and felt in himself. Thus the church of old is charged by the Lord; "You trusted in your own beauty—and played the harlot because of your renown." Now, how did she come by her beauty, and to be renowned for her beauty? "It was perfect, through the loveliness which I had put upon you—says the Lord God." Ezekiel 16:14-15.

What a monster of pride is man! How full of that cursed venom is human nature! We cannot receive any grace or blessing from the Lord—but corrupt nature is prone to be proud of it, to trust in it, and to boast in it. No one is exempt from this. I appeal to your hearts. I refer to your experience. When your heart has been enlarged in prayer; when your soul has been carried out in humblings, meltings, longings, aspirings, etc.—when you have heard the Word with warm affections and heavenly joy—when your tongue has with sweetness and liberty talked of Christ to others—when your hand has been stretched forth to do any good work— ow in all these have you not found pride very busy? Have not you been ready to stroke yourself with pleasure, and to reflect with delight: "Well, now the Lord loves me indeed; surely he loves me better—now that I find myself so holy, and feel myself so heavenly." If you have not found it thus with you, I certainly have found this with myself! Shame on us for this. God be merciful to us! But where is our precious Christ all this while? Not put on in our mind, memory, and conscience. No! But we have looked at ourselves until we have lost sight of him. We have been admiring our vile selves for our graces—instead of being in raptures with Christ, who is altogether lovely, in whom all fullness of grace dwells, and out of whose fullness we receive, grace for grace! We forget that we stand by faith, and so become high-minded; we get into a high opinion of ourselves—what we are in ourselves, and what we can do for ourselves, and towards our own salvation. This is the spirit the Galatian church fell into. This is a spirit which much prevails in this day. Hence our full and final justification by Christ is opposed, and our justification at the last day is insisted on to be by our works, by what is found in us, or done by us.

O then put on Christ in opposition to all this. Ever remember, your standing and acceptance is alone in him; that God views you, loves you, delights in you, rejoices over you, and blesses you, with all spiritual blessings IN CHRIST, according as he has chosen you in him, before the foundation of the world. This is the faith you are to live and walk by. If you do not live and walk by the faith of this, you grieve the Spirit, the witness for Christ, and no marvel that you so soon loose your sweet, elevated, joyful frames. For, if we in any sense trust in them, and value ourselves upon them, they rival the Savior, and counteract our faith. And when faith has lost sight of Christ, its proper object—it is no wonder, that our comfortable frame is gone, and our minds sink into dejection and distress. Would we keep our good frames? Let us look through them to Christ, in and from whom we receive them. While we feel ourselves happy, let us put on Christ in our mind and memory, who obtained peace for us by his blood, and believing in whom, we are filled with joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Seventhly, In the view of DEATH, put on Christ. Well, Christian! All hail! I congratulate you. You have but one step more to take, before you will be at home with your Lord. Then you shall forever put on your Jesus in glory, and immortality. For truly, there is but a step between you and death. Soon, very soon you must put your foot into Jordan’s cold stream, and must pass through the river death, to your promised inheritance. What then? Do you shudder at the thought? Why should you? For,

"Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death.
Death’s terror, is the mountain faith removes.
’Tis faith disarms destruction; and absolves,
From every clamorous charge, the guiltless tomb."

Faith! Why faith? Faith of itself, is but as an empty hand. How then can faith effect all this? O it brings its author and object Jesus—into the heart. By putting on Christ; by clothing the mind, memory, and conscience with the victories of Christ; we become triumphant conquerors over death and the grace. Thus faith does all, through Jesus, who is all in all. Long before our Almighty Conqueror assumed our flesh, with dauntless resolution he says, "O death, I will be your plague! O grave, I will be your destruction!" Hosea 13:14. He has fulfilled his word to the uttermost. "He has abolished death." 2 Timothy 1:10. He has annulled, destroyed and repealed it. As to all his redeemed, death is not a penal evil. For Christ has taken away its sting, removed its curse, and changed it into the precious blessing of SLEEP. They only "sleep in Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 4:14. Then believe this—put on Christ; and put off your fears of death, and joyfully sing, "O death, where is your sting?" It is taken out by Christ! "O grave, where is your victory?" You are conquered by Christ! Thanks, thanks, eternal thanks be to God who gives us the victory over death, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith receives the victory, puts it on and wears it.

But, if death is conquered, yet you dread dying; for you say, death has not lost its power to hurt you. Yes—but it has! For Jesus has destroyed him who "had the power of death; that is the devil." So that death is not only conquered—but the power of death and the devil is destroyed. How did Christ effect this? Why, "the sting of death is sin." This, he bore in his own body on the tree! This, he washed away by his own body upon the cross! This, he has forever taken away, and justified us from, by his resurrection from the dead. So that divine justice itself says, "Deliver the sinner, for I have found a ransom!" Job 33:24. "The strength of sin is the law." The strength of every curse of the law—Christ has fully sustained and suffered. The strength of every command of the law—Jesus perfectly obeyed and fulfilled. Thus death is disarmed both of his strength and sting. O then put on Christ’s atonement for your sins, and Christ’s obedience unto death, for your justification, in your mind, memory and conscience, so you will have living comforts in dying hours; your heart will rejoice in Jesus; and you will sing victory in death.

If Jesus is with you, you will say with David, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." And with Paul, you will take up this triumphant challenge, "Who shall separate me from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:35. "Shall death?" No! For says he, "Death is yours!" 1 Corinthians 3:22, your conquered enemy. Christian! Death cannot hurt you! Death is your best friend, who is commissioned by Christ to summon you from the world of vanity and woe, and from a body of sin and death--to the blissful regions of glory and immortality, to meet your Lord, and to be forever with him! "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true—Death has been swallowed up in victory!" 1 Corinthians 15:54 In the Marian persecution, a godly woman was brought before bloody Bonner, bishop of London, on account of her faith in Christ. The bishop threatened he would take her husband from her. Said she, "Christ is my husband!" Said he, "I will take away your child." She replied, "Christ is better to me than ten sons!" Said he, "I will strip you of all your comforts!" Said she, "Christ is mine, and you cannot strip me of Him! Take away what you will, you cannot take away my Christ from me!" Just so, death may threaten to take all from you. But you may boldly put death at defiance, as she did Satan’s bishop. Having Christ in your heart, you will take a smiling leave of the world, and (as good old Simeon, with Christ in his arms) say, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation!" Luke 2:29-30.

Christ the pearl of great price What a pearl of glory lies,
Hid in the gospel field!
What a jewel of great price,
Is in the word revealed! Who can set its virtues forth,
How exquisite its glories are!
Its inestimable worth,
What mortal can declare? When this goodly pearl I wear,
And put this jewel on,
I shall covet nothing here,
But tread these trifles down:

Then my heart will be above;
My joy and treasure will be there.
I shall walk in light and love,
And with my Lord appear.

8. Of the blessed EFFECTS, and happy CONSEQUENCES of thus putting on Christ When Alexander set out on his great exploit of conquering the world, before he left Macedonia, he divided among his captains and friends all that he had. For which one of his friends reproved him, for being so profuse as to reserve nothing for himself. Alexander replied, "I have reserved much for myself; for I am full of hope, of being the monarch of the whole world, which, by the help of my captains and nobles, I expect to gain." Was he content to set out with nothing but the possession of this hope? O Christian, what is this hope, compared to yours? A hope full of immortality. Though with Alexander you part with all things, yet putting on Christ—you possess all in him! O the infinite blessedness of this, "Christ in you the hope of glory!" Though you do not hope to be the monarch of the world, yet you have infinitely greater honor—in being an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ Jesus. So that when this world, and all things in it, shall be burnt up, you shall live and reign with Christ to all eternity. Most glorious effects of putting on Christ! Yes—but before we arrive to the heavenly mansions, we shall experience, even in this life, the blessed effects and happy consequences of putting on Christ. For,

First, We shall not only be alive to God—but lively in our own souls, and lively in the work and service of Christ. We shall not be sluggish, and move on heavily in the ways of God; but we shall walk with pleasure, yes, run with delight, in the way of his commandments. For we shall find this blessed promise fulfilled, "We shall renew our strength; we shall mount up with wings as eagles; we shall run and not be weary; we shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. Whatever we do, we shall do it heartily as unto the Lord. We shall ardently strive against sin, resolutely resist Satan, and sweetly go on perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.

Thus we shall bring much honor to the gospel, adorn its doctrines, manifest the glory of grace, and glorify the God of our salvation. While at the same time we shall reprove, if not improve, that race of dull, heavy, sleepy professors, who seem to have neither life nor spirit in the ways of God. Though in the visible church they have a name to live—yet, alas, they appear to be as dead, to any life of communion with Christ, liveliness of spirit from Christ, and cheerful devotedness of heart, lip and life, to the glory of Christ—as the carnally dead in sin! So that what the poet says in a natural sense, may justly be applied to such in a spiritual one:

"He soundly slept the night away,
And just did—nothing all the day."

It is a usual recommendation of a horse, that he is sound of mind and limb. I have often thought, it cannot be said so of many professors; for though their mind may be sound, to talk of the doctrines of the gospel, yet they are not sound in limb—they tire in the ways of God; they do not run the heavenly race. Such must stand reproved, by the spiritual liveliness of warm-hearted Christians, and the evidence which they give of their inward enjoyment of Christ’s love; rich experience of his presence and power with their souls, that they are feeding upon him in their hearts, and growing up into him in all things, who is the chief object of their affections, and the only desire of their souls. But O how little of this is to be found among professors! More, to insist too much on this, will sometimes draw forth, from a sleeping professor, an evidence that he is not quite dead. For, he will just open his eyes, look upon you with contempt, and yawn out, "Ah, this is mere enthusiasm—a young thing on the mount, in its first love." So that it really seems by such, that it is to the honor of old Christians, that they have left their first love. Ah—but it is poor profession, without the affections. They are sorry professors--whose heads are furnished only with cold theological notions--while their hearts are destitute of warm love to Christ! What shall we say of such? that they are in Christ, and do put him on? It is to be questioned. Yes, they question it themselves. Are they alive to Christ? It is to be doubted. Yes, they doubt it themselves. They live in dreadful suspense. At times, when conscience is a little roused, they complain of doubts, and express their fears, whether they have an interest in Christ or not. O see then the blessed effect of putting on Christ, in having your spirit lively, your affections warm, and your soul ardently pressing "towards the mark of the prize of your high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Secondly, You will live in the joyful experience of this truth, "GOD IS LOVE." He will shed his love abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your heart and mind through Jesus Christ; and the Spirit himself will bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. For, says our dear Lord, "If a man loves me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23. What a blessed word is this! What a wonderful mystery does it hold forth to us! What a fund of comfort is contained in it! Here is first, A full proof of the trinity of persons in the Godhead, Secondly, The condescending grace, and covenant love of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, not only in coming to—but dwelling in, and taking up their abode in the hearts of poor sinners. O marvelous mystery of love. Thirdly, The persons who are thus highly honored, even those "who love Christ and keep his words." That is, those who put him on, who live under the influence of the words of his grace, the doctrines he taught, the precepts he gave, and the ordinances he appointed. But now, is not this witness of the Spirit, of the Father’s love to us, and of our interest in Christ’s salvation, the common privilege of all believers? Doubtless it is. Yet, without breach of love, it may be asserted, the greatest part of professors rest short of it. Some are quite easy and contented without it. Others, for lack of it, are at times, in perplexing doubts, dejecting fears, and racking uncertainties, concerning their state, whether they are the children of God, and have redemption in the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of their sins, or not. But, why is it thus? It cannot be for lack of encouragement from the word of our Lord. For thus runs his munificent charter, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. Again, "Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24. Fathers, "If you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Luke 11:13. That our Lord here speaks to his converted disciples is plain. That he speaks of the Spirit of adoption, in filling their souls with fullness of joy, by bearing witness with their Spirits, that they are the children of God—is not to be doubted. That without this assurance, their joy cannot be full, must be granted; and that he here means to stir up and urge ALL his disciples, to ask and plead for this most comfortable blessing, cannot be denied. Why then is not this inestimable privilege, which is common to all believers, enjoyed? Our Lord very plainly suggests the reason. There is a condition expressed, upon which the blessing is suspended. This condition not being complied with—the comfort is not enjoyed. Mind how our Lord’s words run: "IF you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you." Mind this, IF.

Now, Though salvation is absolutely sure, and infallibly certain to every believer, by the immutable decree of God, through the redemption of Christ; yet the comfortable knowledge and assurance or interest in it, can only be enjoyed by abiding in Christ; or as our Lord explains himself, "IF my words abide in you." That is, if the doctrines of my grace and love, and the truths of my salvation, are rooted in your mind, fixed in your memory, and established in your conscience, so as that you are living and feeding upon them, holding fast the steady profession of them, steadfastly abiding by them, and living under the influence of them, than "ask what you will, and it shall be done to you." Your Father will give his Holy Spirit to you, to bear witness with your spirit, that you are his children—thus your joy shall be full—you shall be filled with all joy and peace in believing.

Therefore it is most plain, that assurance by the witness of the Spirit, can only be enjoyed by putting on Christ, and steadfastly cleaving to him in heart, hope and affection. For lack of this, many go on heavily, without the witness of the Spirit. They do not put on the Lord Jesus in the whole affection of their soul; they do not enough honor him by the faith of their hearts; they do not keep his words, nor abide in him; they do not clothe their minds with his precious truths, nor record his wonderful love in their memory, nor live enough upon his finished salvation in their conscience, and so are not wholly given up to Christ’s glory, in their lives and conversations. But, instead hereof, spiritual sloth, worldly-mindedness, and carnality of affection prevail in their hearts—so that they do not give all diligence to make their election sure. In one word, some cursed thing there is, which rivals Christ in the heart, and which grieves the Holy Spirit; therefore he withholds his comforting witness from their spirits. Hence the edge of prayer is blunted: they have not boldness at the throne of grace to ask with power, plead with importunity, and wrestle with vehemence, like Jacob, saying, "I will not let you go—unless you bless me."

See then the unspeakable blessedness of putting on Christ, in the happy enjoyment of the Spirit’s witness. For, hereby you will be able to say with the church, "My beloved is mine, and I am his," Song of Solomon 2:16, and with Paul, "Christ loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Thus you will enjoy, not only the reviving consolation of the safety of your present state; but also of your certain perseverance unto eternal glory. You will not merely take up with the notion—once in grace, and always in grace—but you will live in the comfort of this Christ-endearing truth, "Having loved his own, he loved them to the end." John 13:1.

Thirdly, By putting on Christ, you will put off the love of this world—you will live above the world, while you live in it. If Christ is in the heart, the world will be in its proper place. If you are clothed with the sun, the moon (all sublunary things) will be under your feet. O what blessedness to have our heart in heaven; to have our affections set on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God! It was a custom in Rome, when the emperor went on some grand day, in all his imperial pomp and splendor, to have an officer go before him, with smoking flax, "So passes away the glory of the world!" This was to remind him that all his honor and grandeur passed away, just like the nimble smoke and burning flax. But putting on Christ most effectually does this. Supreme love to Christ, will burn up the love of the world in our hearts; and our affections will sit loose to all its vain pomps, and glittering vanities; we shall die to the world, before we die out of it. We shall live and walk with God, and be dead to it, before we die in it. We shall be dead to the men of this world, their vain conversations, and sinful pleasures. We shall daily put off the old man with his deeds.

Alexander the Great, when young, being asked to run in a race among the common multitude, replied, "Being a prince—I must keep such company as is suited to my noble birth and royal dignity." What a reproof is this to many of God’s children, who choose for their companions, the children of the devil! But possessing Christ, you will act up to your new birth and heavenly dignity. You will not, you cannot so degrade yourself, as to choose the ungodly for your companions, their ways as your delight, nor their pastimes for your entertainment. For your soul will delight in the holy company, and heavenly conversation of the saints, who know the precious love of Christ, walk in his holy ways, and can, from heart-felt experience, testify of his rich grace and glorious salvation. O how much comfort! how many spiritual blessings has my soul reaped from this! More and more are yet to come from the presence of Christ, and with the communion of saints; yes, a whole eternity is to be spent in this blessed company. We enter upon it now by faith; and the more we put on and possess Christ, the more we enjoy heaven upon earth, and taste the bliss of eternity in a world of woe.

Fourthly, Putting on Christ, we shall find growing delight in searching the scriptures. For, says our dear Lord, "They testify of me." John 5:39. That is the joy of our souls, to find the witness they bear to our Beloved. Those who are destitute of Christ, are ready to say of the scriptures, as the king of Israel said of Micaiah, "I hate them, for they do not prophecy good concerning me—but evil." But we find that they prophesy good, and nothing but good, even the good will and free love of God to us in Christ. Do we meet with a curse in scripture? We may write under it, "This fell upon my dear Savior! He suffered all the wrath of it; he drank up all the deadly poison in it." "He was made a curse for us." Galatians 3:13. Now, says Paul, I declare unto you the gospel, by which you are saved, if you keep in memory, or hold fast Christ and his salvation as the joyful news of the gospel. Thus, by the holy scriptures we are taught the preciousness of Christ, the greatness of his love, and the fullness of his salvation. Putting on Christ, as revealed in the scriptures, makes the scriptures precious to our believing hearts.

If our hearts are at any time warmed with love, and burn with joy, it is because our Lord does by us, as he did by his first disciples after his resurrection, open the scriptures to us, and open our understanding to understand the scriptures. Warm hearts, and burning affections, which are not caused by the scriptures of truth, and a solid, rational understanding of them—are greatly to be suspected as wild rant, and enthusiastic delusion. As they spring not from Christ’s truths, they promote not his glory.

Again, Do we find any blessing pronounced? We may write under it, "This is ours; it comes to us from our loving God, through our beloved Savior!" For, "blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 1:3. There is not one blessing that we can desire, or that a God of infinite love can bestow—but what is ours in Christ, and which we are sure to partake of. Do we read a sweet and precious promise in the scriptures? We may safely claim it as belonging to us. Let us never draw back, or stagger at the promise through unbelief. For, having Christ, all the promises are in him, and all are ours in him; and all shall be fulfilled in us and to us, to the honor and glory of God by him. "For if God spared not his own Son—but delivered him up for us all—how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. Now look earnestly at this blessed text. Though every word is replete with love, and big with joy, yet, in transcribing it, these two words, WITH HIM, struck me greatly. Please be mindful of them. Christ is God’s free gift to his people: he is given to be a covenant to them, a head of influence over them, a Savior to the uttermost of them, and as the bread of life for them to feed upon, that they may be thereby nourished up to eternal life.

Now have you received this precious bounty, this free gift of the father’s love, his own beloved Son? Have you put on Christ? Then ask and consider, "after such a rich, free, and wonderful gift to us, from the loving heart of a gracious God—how is it possible for him to withhold any blessing from us?" Surely God’s own Son, was the greatest gift God could bestow. How then, shall he not WITH HIM ALSO, FREELY give us ALL THINGS? ALL temporal good things; ALL spiritual blessings; yes, eternal glory also. ALL are secured to us in the covenant, promised to us in the scriptures, and shall most certainly be enjoyed by us, in and with Christ, to the glory of our God, and for our present and eternal welfare. O then, with Christ take the holy scriptures, which are all given by inspiration of God, and claim them as the charter of your Father’s heavenly love, and as the deeds of your rich patrimony.

Fifthly, Putting on Christ, you will humbly submit to all God’s dispensations in providence, and cheerfully acquiesce in all the sovereign purposes of his grace. For you will see the wise hand of a God, and the loving heart of a Father in both. Paul exhorts, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." Here is: spiritual joy—opposed to all kind of sorrow; prayer—opposed to every need and distress; and giving thanks—opposed to all murmuring and complaining in times of adversity. Notice the blessed reason Paul adds for so doing: "For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17. The will of God in Christ. Then may the Christ-clothed sinner say, "This is the will of my covenant God and loving Father in Christ concerning me. He loves me in Christ—he chose me in Christ—he delights in me in Christ—he rejoices over me in Christ—he ever rests in his love to me in Christ. He can intend nothing but good to me in Christ—therefore I will constantly rejoice in my God, ever pray to him, and cease not to give him thanks—for I see nothing but grace in his will, wisdom in his ways, and love in his heart towards me. I cannot, I dare not, reply against the sovereign will of my gracious God, or say to my loving Father, what are you doing? For my Lord has told me, and I record this soul-satisfying truth in my mind, memory and conscience, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7.

Therefore, instead of vainly attempting to unravel the mazes of providences, to comprehend the deep mysteries of grace, and to explain all the hidden arena of the one, and to justify the methods of God in the other, I will humbly fall down and silently adore, simply believing this joyful truth; "For we know ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. O what cause have I to rejoice in my God, and to give thanks to him, for that he has called me according to his purpose; for his blessed purpose is answered upon me; I have come to, do believe in, and put on his beloved Son, as the joy of my mind, the glory of my memory, and the triumph of my conscience. Now God and I are one in Christ; his will is mine; and I desire my will to be wholly conformed to, and entirely swallowed up in his. O how sweet thus to find our strong reasonings cast down, and every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!

Sixthly, Your conversation will be in heaven. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever, will be the end of your conversation. For, out of the abundance of what is in your mind, memory and conscience, concerning your Beloved—your tongue will speak to his glory—your conversation will be seasoned with the favor of his love and grace. But, O how little spiritual, experimental discourse is to be heard! A conversation too much prevails among professors, which is as trifling, and to as little edification, as though they were to tell of the exploits of Robin Hood and Jack the Giant-killer.

I have often promised myself much pleasure and profit, from the company of professors, in hearing and speaking of the things of Christ; but have left them sadly grieved and disappointed. Indeed, by the appearance and conversation of some I have met with, I would not have known that they professed to know anything of our dear Savior’s love, had it not been whispered in my ear, that is a member of Dr.____’s church; and that a member of Mr.____’s church. One could wish the real members of Christ to give better evidence of their being such, by their conversation. O what a pity that that little member, the tongue, which is able to set on fire the conversation, and warm the heart with love, should be silent to precious Immanuel’s salvation and glory; while it can so glibly move—to talk of vanity and trifles! Ah—but when Christ is put on in the mind, memory and conscience, he will be uppermost on the tongue; the heart will be pained, if the tongue is restrained for speaking of him. We shall with David say, "My mouth shall show forth your righteousness, and your salvation all the day; for I know no end thereof." Psalms 71:15. "Come and hear all you who fear God—and I will declare what he has done for my soul." Psalms 66:16. When the heart truly believes unto righteousness, the tongue will be a ready member to make confession of it, to the glory of Christ and his salvation.

Lastly, You will be daily looking to, and joyfully longing for, the coming of your Lord. Christ cannot dwell in us by faith—but we shall find our hearts longing to be with him in glory. A taste of his wonderful love on earth—begets desires to enjoy its fullness in heaven. What precious words of my Lord are these! O my soul, clothe yourself more and more with them. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory." John 17:24. "I will come again to receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3. My fellow Christians, what are we about! Why are our heads at any time hanging down, and our hearts dejected? Why rather, are not our hearts all on fire at these words, and our souls ardently longing for our Lord’s coming again to receive us to himself, that we may be eternally with him, and forever behold his glory? Truly, it will be so—if Christ is put on, and our minds and memories are clothed with these his precious words, and our conscience finds peace in him. But what kills our present comforts? What deadens our joyful hope? What prevents our ardent longings after glory, immortality, and eternal life with Christ? Nothing but giving way to cursed unbelief, which gives the lie to the God of truth, and calls in question the sweet declarations and precious promises of the God of love. O beware then, of those who water and cultivate this degenerate plant, by teaching that Christ-dishonoring, soul-dejecting doctrine, that any of Christ’s sheep may so fall from grace, as never to be with Christ, to behold his glory. For this will prove like a dagger to the heart of your hope, and effectually kill your longing for the coming of your Lord. But, if Christ is put on, and his truths dwell in your mind and memory, you will honor his words, cast away such base suggestions against his love, and joyfully sing, The love divine that made me yours,
Shall keep me yours forever! And indeed, unless the mind is clothed with, the memory retains, and the conscience is living upon the word of Christ’s grace—the declarations of his love, the promises of his lips, and the unchangeable purposes of his heart, instead of longing for his coming, we shall tremble at the thought of his appearing. But to prevent this, our ever dear Lord, well knowing how foolish we are, and how slow of heart to believe, says, "I give to my sheep eternal life, they shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." John 10:25. Now, if you put on Christ’s truth, you will love his appearing. But if you receive the devil’s lie, that there is a possibility that you, a believer in Christ, may not enjoy eternal life—but may be plucked out of Christ’s hand, and perish everlastingly; then you will dread the very thought of Christ’s coming. Instead of obeying your Lord, when he bids you lift up your head with joy, for your redemption draws near, you will hang down your heard with sorrow—dreading, lest your damnation draws near.

Again, To encourage our longing for the coming of our Lord, he sweetly assures us, "Because I live, you shall live also." John 14:9. "No," says the father of lies, "though you may live a life of faith upon the Son of God for a season—yet you may fall short of eternal life and glory in the end." But that is impossible, unless Christ himself is dead. A godly woman being left a widow in great distress, with children crying for bread, the mother said, "Children be comforted—for God lives." But sometime after, one of the children seeing its mother weep, said to her, "What, is God dead now?" So, we may ask those who talk of saints falling from grace, so as to perish in hell, "What, is Christ their Savior dead?" No, he lives! "He ever lives to make intercession for, and to save to the UTTERMOST, ALL who come to God by him!" Hebrews 7:25. Therefore, "When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4. Having put on Christ, we shall uphold his inspired truths, to refute all conspired lies against his glory and our comfort. Thus shall we keep up our longings to be with him. Have we seen by the eye of faith, the ignominy, agonies, sorrows and sufferings, which Christ endured in the days of his flesh, for our sins, and for our salvation? Have we tasted and felt in the power of faith, the blessings and comforts of his humbling grace, dying love and risen power? Have we put on Christ as the glory of our mind, the joy of our memory, and the comfort of our conscience? And hence, do we not long and desire, to see that blessed head which was crowned with thorns for our sakes, crowned with glory and honor; and to be forever with that dear MAN in glory, who so dearly obtained eternal life and glory for us? Surely we must, "knowing in ourselves, that we have in heaven a far better, and an enduring substance." Hebrews 10:34. For, all on this side death is shadow: all beyond it is substance. "Knowing in ourselves," O it is this joyful knowledge, which sharpens the edge of our desire, and quickens our longing to be with Christ. And by putting on Christ, we have this blessed knowledge in ourselves, and assuredly know, that we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, and shall certainly enjoy the heavenly inheritance with him.

"Ah, but," says an enlightened soul, "I cannot long for Christ’s coming, because I see myself so vile, so full of sin, so prone to every evil, so backward to every good—so what title can I have to the kingdom of Christ?" As to your title, in and from yourself, you have as good a one, as any saint; yes, or any of the apostles, Paul, Peter, or John ever had—which is none at all. Yet, this did not prevent their longing, nor should it your longing for the coming of Christ; for he forbids our fears, and encourages our joy, with, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" Luke 12:32. So that you see our title to glory comes to us, by the promise of the free grace, free love, and free gift of our Father’s good pleasure. Faith claims our title to it, interest in it, and fitness for it in Jesus, his beloved Son. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:12. If you believe in Jesus, you are a son of God, an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. So that putting on Christ, we know in ourselves that we have in heaven an enduring substance. As to your feeling your vileness and sinfulness, it is an evidence of your fitness for, and of your being a blessed heir of Christ’s kingdom. For says he, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3. The deeper sense of our vileness, the more poverty of spirit—the more blessedness. Why so? Because hereby the soul is cut off from self-righteous pride, self-confidence, and self-glorying; and the Savior gets all the glory from the poor humble sinner’s heart. It learns more and more to put on Christ, to glory in and of him alone: seeing himself "in Christ Jesus, who is made unto him wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption; that (O it is blessed work indeed, when the soul is brought to this) according as it is written, he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. Hence it is that the soul looks and longs "for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Php 3:21.

Therefore, these feelings of our vileness and sinfulness, are what every saint in Christ experiences. Yes, Paul, and his brethren in Christ, found just same. Therefore he declares, "We are the true circumcision." Our hearts are cut off from our old, legal, self-righteous dependences for justification. We feel ourselves to be vile and sinful; therefore, "we have no confidence in the flesh." We have nothing in ourselves whereof to glory. "We rejoice in Christ Jesus." Php 3:3. We rejoice that we are complete in him. We rejoice that we are accepted in him. We rejoice that we are presented in him, without spot of sin unto salvation. We rejoice that when he shall appear, then shall we appear with him in glory. Hence, though we can see nothing in ourselves, to afford us the least spark of joy. Yet in Christ we have an inexhaustible spring of joy—a never-failing storehouse of joy. For, we are called upon to "Rejoice IN THE LORD ALWAYS; and again I say rejoice." Php 4:4. So that you see, by putting on Christ in your mind, memory and conscience, this spiritual joy in him, and longing for his coming, will be kept up, amidst all your sense and feeling of your own wickedness. For, "while in this tabernacle, we shall groan, being burdened." 2 Corinthians 5:4 : This ever was, now is, and ever will be the lot of all saints. But what do they groan under? What are they burdened with? Nothing less than a body of sin and death. That you groan under this, is a joyful proof that you are a saint; that you have a new nature, and are a new creature in Christ.

"O wretched man that I am," says the regenerate, believing, sanctified Paul. It is our new and holy nature which feels the weight, and groans under the burden of the old body of sin and death. "Who shall deliver us from this body of sin and death?" Thank God, through Jesus Christ there is deliverance. Now by faith we get relief, by looking to, and putting on the sin-bearing, sin-atoning Lamb of God, who takes away our sins. Soon, at his coming, we shall be perfectly and forever delivered. O you believing, Christ-clothed sinners, well may you say, Fly swiftly, you moments, until Jesus returns. Well may you be wishing, and looking, and longing for Christ’s coming forever to take you from the sins, groans, pains and sorrows, which you are the subjects of, while present in the body, and absent from the Lord. For, O what ineffable joy, and boundless glory, shall we enter into, when absent from the body, and present with the Lord! Come, take a fresh view of it. Let faith realize the prospect; let hope enter into that which is within the veil, and take fresh possession of it. View it as at hand, and yourself just entering into it. See your Lord in full possession of it for you. For Jesus our forerunner is FOR US entered. O that in the view of faith, in the joy of hope, and in the triumph of the love of Christ—we may be constantly crying, "Make haste my beloved! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!"