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were now quickened, and raised up, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ, and created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that were once far off, but were now made nigh by the blood of Christ, and that were no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and that were built together for a habitation of God, through the Spirit:" I say, the apostle, writing to these, tells them, "that he ceased not to pray for them, that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Christ; the eyes of their understanding being enlightened, that they might know, or experience, what was the exceeding greatness of God's power towards them that believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand, in the heavenly places." In this, the apostle has respect to the glorious power and work of God, in converting and renewing the soul, as is most plain by the sequel. So the apostle exhorts the same persons "to put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of their minds; and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

There is a sort of high affections that some have from time to time, that leave them without any manner of appearance of an abiding effect. They go off suddenly; so that from the very height of their emotion, and seeming rapture, they pass at once to be quite dead, and void of all sense and activity. It surely is not wont to be thus with high gracious affec

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tions; they leave a sweet savour and relish of divine things on the heart, and a stronger bent of soul towards God and holiness. As Moses' face not only shone while he was in the mount, extraordinarily conversing with God, but it continued to shine after he came down from the mount. When men have been

conversing with Christ in an extraordinary manner, there is a sensible effect of it remains upon them; there is something remarkable in their disposition and frame, which, if we take knowledge of, and trace to its cause, we shall find it is because they have been with Jesus.

CHAPTER VIII.

Truly gracious Affections differ from those that are false and delusive, in that they are attended with the lamb-like, dove-like spirit and temper of Jesus Christ; or, in other words, they naturally beget and promote such a spirit of love, meekness, quietness, forgiveness, and mercy, as appeared in Christ.

THE evidence of this in the Scripture is very abundant. If we judge of the nature of Christianity, and the proper spirit of the gospel, by the word of God, this spirit is what may, by way of eminency, be called the Christian spirit; and may be looked upon as the true and distinguishing disposition of the

* "Do you think the Holy Ghost comes on a man as on Balaam, by immediate acting, and then leaves him, and then he has nothing?"-Shepard's Parable, Part I. p. 126.

hearts of Christians, as Christians.-When some of the disciples of Christ said something, through inconsideration and infirmity, that was not agreeable to such a spirit, Christ told them, that "they knew not what manner of spirit they were of;" implying that this spirit that I am speaking of, is the proper spirit of his religion and kingdom. All that are truly godly, and real disciples of Christ, have this spirit in them; and not only so, but they are of this spirit: it is the spirit by which they are so possessed and governed, that it is their true and proper character. This is evident by what the wise man says, (having respect plainly to such a spirit as this): "A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit:" and by the particular description Christ gives of the qualities and temper of such as are truly blessed, that shall obtain and God's children and heirs: "Blessed

are

mercy, are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God." And that this spirit is the special character of the elect of God, is manifested by this scripture: "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another." And the apostle, speaking of that temper and disposition, which he speaks of as the most excellent and essential thing in Christianity, and that without which none are true Christians, and the most glorious profession and gifts are nothing, (calling this spirit by the name of charity,) he describes it thus: 66 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth

not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” And the same apostle, designedly declaring the distinguishing marks and fruits of true Christian grace, chiefly insists on the things that appertain to such a temper and spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." And so does the apostle James, in describing true grace, or that wisdom that is from above, with that declared design, that others who are of a contrary spirit may not deceive themselves, and lie against the truth, in professing to be Christians when they are not: "If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and But the wisdom that is from above every evil work. is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits."

per.

Every thing that appertains to holiness of heart, does indeed belong to the nature of true Christianity, and the character of Christians; but a spirit of holiness, as appearing in some particular graces, may more especially be called the Christian spirit or temThere are some amiable qualities and virtues, that more especially agree with the nature of the gospel constitution and Christian profession, because there is a special agreeableness in them, with those divine attributes which God has more remarkably manifested and glorified, in the work of redemption by Jesus Christ, that is the grand subject of the

Christian revelation; and also a special agreeableness with those virtues that were so wonderfully exercised by Jesus Christ towards us in that scheme, and the blessed example he hath therein set us; and likewise because they are peculiarly agreeable to the special drift and design of the work of redemption, and the benefits we thereby receive, and the relation into which it brings us to God and one another. And these virtues are such as humility, meekness, love, forgiveness, and mercy. These things, therefore, especially belong to the character of Christians.

These things are spoken of, as especially the character of Jesus Christ himself, the great head of the Christian church. They are so spoken of in the prophecies of the Old Testament: "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." So Christ himself speaks of them: "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." The same appears by the name by which Christ is so often called in Scripture, namely, "the Lamb." And as these things are especially the character of Christ, so they are also especially the character of Christians. Christians are Christ-like; none deserve the name of Christians that are not so in their prevailing character. "The new man is renewed, after the image of him that created him." All true Christians "behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image, by his Spirit." The elect are all "predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."-"As we have borne the image of the first man, that is earthly, so we must

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