cerity but the former is still questioned rather than the latter. When with David, we should" consider the days of old, the years of ancient times, and call to remembrance our songs in the night, and commune with our hearts in such a diligent search,” and remembrance of the mercies formerly received. ((Psal. lxxvii. 5, 6, 7.)

6. Lastly, The operations of man's soul are naturally so various, and from corruption are so confused and so dark, that we are ofttimes in amaze and at a loss, when we are most desirous to judge aright; and scarce know where, in so great disorder, to find any thing that we seek; and know it not when we find it: so that our hearts are almost as strange to themselves as to one another; and sometimes more confident of other men's sincerity than our own, where there is no more matter for our confidence.

Having thus shewed you the causes of our ignorance of our sanctification, I shall briefly tell you some reasons that should move you to seek to be acquainted with it, where it is.

1. The knowledge of God is the most excellent knowledge; and therefore the best sort of creature-knowledge is, that which hath the most of God in it. And undoubtedly there is more of God in holiness, which is his image, than in common things. Sins and wants have nothing of God in them; they must be fathered on the devil and yourselves. and therefore the knowledge of them is good but by accident, because the knowledge even of evil hath a tendency to good: and therefore it is commanded and made our duty, for the good which it tendeth to. It is the Divine nature and image within you, which hath the most of God; and therefore to know this is the high and noble knowledge. To know Christ within us, is our happiness on earth, in order to the knowledge of him in glory "face to face," which is the happiness of heaven. To "know God, though darkly through a glass," and but in part, (1 Cor. xiii. 12,) is far above all creature-knowledge. The knowledge of him raiseth, quickeneth, sanctifieth, enlargeth, and advanceth all our faculties. It is "life eternal to know God in Christ." (John xvii. 3.) Therefore where God appeareth most, there should our understandings be most diligently exercised in study and observation.

2. It is a most delightful felicitating knowledge, to know that Christ is in you. If it be delightful to the rich to see their wealth, their houses, and lands, and goods, and money and if it be delightful to the honourable to see their attendance, and hear their own commendations and applause; how delightful must it be to a true believer to find Christ within him, and to know his title to eternal life? If the knowledge of" full barns," and "much goods laid up for many years," can make a sensual worldling say, "Soul, take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry," (Luke xii. 19, 20,) methinks the knowledge of our interest in Christ and heaven, should make us say, "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased," (that is, more than corn and wine could put into theirs.) (Psal. iv. 7.) "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." (Psal. cxvi. 7.) If we say with David, "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee," (Psal. lxxxiv. 4,) much more may we say, Blessed are they in whom Christ dwelleth, and the Holy Ghost hath made his temple, they should be still praising thee. "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." (Psal. Ixv. 4.) But this is upon supposition, that he be first blessed by Christ's approach to him, and dwelling in him.

If you ask,How is it that Christ dwelleth in us;' I answer, 1. Objectively, as he is apprehended by our faith and love; as the things or persons that we think of, and love and delight in, are said to dwell in our minds or hearts. 2. By the Holy Ghost, who as a principle of new and heavenly life, is given by Christ the head, unto his members; and as the agent of Christ doth illuminate, sanctify, and guide the soul. "He that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 John iii. 24.) That of Ephes. iii. 17, may be taken in either, or both senses comprehensively, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith."

3. Did you know that Christ is in you by his Spirit, it might make every place and condition comfortable to you! If you are alone, it may rejoice you to think what company

dwelleth continually with you in your hearts. If you are wearied with evil company without, it may comfort you to think that you have better within: when you have communion with the saints, it is your joy to think that you have nearer communion with the Lord of saints. You may well say with David, (Psal. cxxxix. 18,) "When I awake I am still with thee." "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psal. xvi. 8.)

4. Did you know Christ within you, it would much help you in believing what is written of him in the Gospel. Though to the ungodly the mysteries of the kingdom of God do seem incredible, yet when you have experience of the power of it on your souls, and find the image of it on your hearts, and the same Christ within you, conforming you to what he commandeth in his word, this will work such a suitableness to the Gospel in your hearts, as will make the work of faith more easy. Saith the apostle, (1 John iv. 14, 16,) "We have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world;" (there is their outward experience;)" and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us: God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him:" (there is their faith confirmed by their inward evidence: no wonder if they that have God dwelling in them by holy love, do believe the love that God hath to them.) This is the great advantage that the sanctified have in the work of faith, above those that much excel them in disputing, and are furnished with more arguments for the Christian verity; Christ hath his witness abiding in them. "The fruits of the Spirit bear witness to the incorruptible seed, the word of God that liveth and abideth for ever," (1 Peter i. 23.) The impress on the heart bears witness to the seal that caused it. And it is not a weak and ineffectual argument for the truth of the Gospel, that believers use to fetch from within, when they plead the effects of it on their souls. Labour to know the truth of your sanctification, that you may be confirmed by it in the truth of the word that sanctifieth you," (John xvii. 17,) and may" rejoice in him that hath chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." (2 Thess. ii. 13.)

5. If you can come to the knowledge of Christ within you, it will be much the easier to you to trust upon him, and fly to him in all your particular necessities, and to make use of his mediatorship with holy confidence. When others fly from Christ with trembling, and know not whether he will speak for them, or help them, or have any regard to them, but look at him with strange and doubtful thoughts, it will be otherwise with you that have assurance of his continual love and presence. Nearness breedeth familiarity, and overcometh strangeness: familiarity breedeth confidence and boldness: when you find Christ so near you, as to dwell within you, and so particular and abundant is his love to you, as to have given you his Spirit, and all his graces, it will breed a sweet delightful boldness, and make you run to him as your help and refuge, in all your necessities. When you find the great promise fulfilled to yourselves, “I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more;" you will have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; by the new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. And having an high priest over the house of God, you may draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having your hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience," (or the conscience of evil) "as your bodies are washed" (in baptism) " with pure water." (Heb. x. 16-22.) "In Christ we may have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of him." (Ephes. iii. 12.) This intimate acquaintance with our great High Priest that is "passed into the heavens," and yet abideth and reigneth in our hearts, will encourage us to hold fast our profession, and to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. iv. 14. 16.) When by unfeigned love, we "know that we are of the truth, and may assure our hearts before him, and our heart condemneth us not, then we have confidence towards God; and whatever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." (1 John iii. 18-22.)

6. When once you know that you have Christ within you, you may cheerfully proceed in the way of life; when doubting Christians, that know not whether they are in the

way or not, are still looking behind them, and spend their time in perplexed fears, lest they are out of the way, and go on with heaviness and trouble, as uncertain whether they may not lose their labour; and are still questioning their groundwork, when the building should go on. It is an unspeakable mercy, when a believing soul is freed from these distracting, hindering doubts, and may boldly and cheerfully hold on his way, and be walking or working, when other men are fearing and inquiring of the way; and may with patience and comfort wait for the reward, the crown of life, when others are still questioning, whether they were ever regenerate, and whether their hopes have any ground. We may be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, when we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. xv. 58.) We may then "gird up the loins of the mind, and in sobriety hope unto the end, for the grace that is to be brought us, at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter i. 13.)

7. When you are assured that you have Christ within you, it may preserve you from those terrors of soul that affright them that have no such assurance. O! he that knoweth what it is to think of the intolerable wrath of God, and says, 'I fear I am the object of this wrath, and must bear this intolerable load everlastingly,' may know what a mercy it is to be assured of our escape. He that knows what it is to think of hell, and say, I know not but those endless flames may be my portion,' will know what a mercy it is to be assured of a deliverance, and to be able to say, "I know I am saved from the wrath to come;" (1 Thess. i. 10;) And that we" are not of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul;" (Heb. x. 39 ;) And that" God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him:" we may " comfort ourselves together, and edify one another," when we have this assurance. (1 Thess. v. 9--11.)

They that have felt the burden of a wounded spirit, and know what it is to feel the terrors of the Lord, and to see hell fire as it were before their eyes, and to be kept waking by the dreadful apprehensions of their danger, and to be pursued daily by an accusing conscience, setting their sins in order before them, and bringing the threatenings of God to