he Lord Jesus; for Christ must first take
possession of us by his Spirit before we have any true right to him, or
can willingly resign ourselves to him, and give him right over us. What
shall it profit us, my beloved, to be called Christians, and to esteem
ourselves so, if, really, we be none of Christ's? Shall it not heighten
our condemnation so much the more that we desire to pass for such and give
out ourselves so, and yet have no inward acquaintance and interest in him
whose name we love to bear? Are not the most part shadows and pictures of
true Christians, bodies without the soul of Christianity, that is, the
Spirit of Christ, whose hearts are treasures of wickedness and deceit, and
storehouses of iniquity and ignorance? It may be known what treasure fills
the heart by that which is the constant and common vent of it, as our
Saviour speaks, Matt. xv. 19; and xii. 34, 35, "Out of the abundance of
the heart the mouth speaketh," the feet walk, and the hand works.
Consider, then, if the Spirit of God dwelleth in such unclean habitations
and dark dungeons; certainly no uncleanness or darkness of the house can
hinder him to come in; but it is a sure argument and evidence that he is
not as yet come in, because the prince of darkness is not yet cast out of
many souls, nor yet the unclean spirits that lodge within; these haunt
your hearts, and are as familiar now as ever. Sure I am, many souls have
never yet changed their guests, and it is as sure that the first guest
that taketh up the soul is darkness and desperate wickedness, with
unparalleled deceitfulness. There is an accursed trinity, instead of that
blessed Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and when this
holy Trinity cometh in to dwell, that other of hell must go out. Now, my
beloved, do you think this a light matter, to be disowned by Jesus Christ?
Truly, the word of Christ, which is the character of all our evidences and
rights for heaven, disowns many as bastards and dead members, withered
branches, and, certainly, according to this word he will judge you, "the
word that I have spoken shall judge you in the last day." O that is a
heavy word! You have the very rule and method of proceeding laid down
before you now, which shall be punctually kept at that great day. Now, why
do you not read your ditty(197) and condemnatory sentence here registered?
If you do not read it now in your consciences, he will one day read it
before men and angels, and pronoun