566 An Expofition upon Chap: i in fobriety, chaflity, charity, ?peace, concerneth them : and this they ought and meekneffe, which are contrary to doe, not for a day or two, or a unto thefe vices mentioned in, the for- few months, or a yèar, but conti: mer verfe. So then the meaning is, nually, all the time of their pilgri- that as the body with Jewels and mage, firiving how to abound in the outward Ornaments, fo our Chriftian works of the Spirit. For as we can- fouls fhould be beautified plentifully not have worldly riches all at once, fo. with fuch temperance, continency, fo- neither may we look to enjoy all ber and chafte living, purity of thought good gifts in a moment, or in a fhort and body,with t hat love and comfort as time, for we are full of imperfeai- cometh unto us from Chrift, and were ons, and have many temptations and hinderances to wreftle with therefore our whole life mutt be nothing bat a profiting and encreafing in fpirituall and Chriftian graces, a putting on of Chrift. Laffly,this exhortation being univer- fall, díreaed to all members of the Church, therefore Magifirates, Mini - fters, and people, old, young., learned, unlearned, men, women, muff make it their Rudy to follow and imitate Chrift, being daily more like hint in parts of honefly and holineffe.' For certain it is, that they never put on Chriff in Juftification,who labour not for the graces ofSan&ification. He hath not Chrifis death to forgiveneffe, who doth not tread in the ceps of C hrift his innocency and obedience. T i M. What it contained in the laft claufe, which is the clofing up of the exhor- tation ? S t L. it contains an anfwer to a clofeobjeaion.What then?(might fome fay) fhall we cart offall care ofour flea] and body, and wholly mìnde the furnifhing of the foul? To which he anfwereth, Not fo ; we may be pro- vident for the health and welfare of the in all abundance in the manhood of Chrift, whom the Scripture fetteth be- fore us as a pattern and fampler, to fol- low in thefe' and other graces, yob. so. 27. 2 Pet. 2. 21. I lob. 2. 6. T I M. What inftrultionr may we gather from hence ? - S I L. That all Chriftians that do endeavour themfelves more to refem- bie Chrift in thefe good works, theh they have done before, being more fludioús of . a temperate, peaceable, humble, and chafle behaviour, theydo fulfill this precept of putting on Chrift. Again, whereas thefe graces are called [ Chrift, j we are taught that we muff have Chrift himfelf, be- fore we can have any gift of grace. Whereas Origen faith, He that bath all, graces, bath Chrift, it were better to fay with Chryfoftome, He that hatb Chrii t, can lack no venues; for the treafure of all graces are in Chrift, and himfelf is given ere his benefits and graces can be gotten. Alto where Chrift is, there is the Spirit of Chrift, which is a Spirit of knowledge, of the fear of God, of chaftity and righteoufneffe, &c. More- over, here we are to . be admonifhed, body, which is the tabernacle and in- that as our appareil is feen, and makes flrument of the foul to dwell in, us known to them with whomwelive : and to work by, fo as we do not fo Chrift mutt appear in all our words forecaft to fulfill our finfull defires and works. We are to live as Chrift and affeaions by immoderate ufe of lived, that we may be known whole the bleflings and pleafures of life. ;A we are. lober ufe of earthly creatures and Furthermore, as they which put pleafures is allowed, fuch as may not on their appareil, put on one part as hinder but help, making us fitter well as another,.and with delight; in all pureneffe to ferve and honour fo Chriftians muff chearfully imitate God. Chrift in all his venues, as farre as CHAP.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=