The Believer's Pocket Companion contd

6. WHY we should put on Christ

Why put on Christ? Truly, because without the enjoyment of him we cannot draw one comfortable breath, live one happy moment, nor take one delightful step in the road of life, towards certain death, and an eternal world. A real Christian, of all men is the most miserable—if his mind, memory, and conscience, do not possess his beloved Christ, his precious love, covenant grace, and finished salvation. Therefore consider, This text, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ," is a command to you, O believers. Though it is not under the form of a legal command, "Do this and live. Fulfill this and be saved." yet it is a command under the law of faith, by which all divine comfort is enjoyed, and all human boasting is excluded. It is a command of covenant grace and love, to you, believers, who are alive to God through Jesus Christ, and are already accepted, pardoned, justified, and saved in Christ. Inspired Paul gives this command from the Holy Spirit, the glorifier of Jesus, and the comforter of his members; that by constantly obeying it, we may be comfortable in our own souls. Therefore think not lightly of it. But ever consider yourself bound, by all the sacred ties of covenant grace and love, to obey this gospel command. As Aaron’s rod swallowed up all the rods of Pharaoh’s sorcerers, so does this command swallow up and include in it, all other commands. If love is the fulfilling of the whole law, putting on Christ is fulfilling the whole of the law, and of the gospel. The servants of Naaman said to him, "If the prophet had bid you do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather when he says to you, Wash and be clean?" So when the apostle says to you, O believer, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be happy in your mind, joyful in your memory, and peaceful in your conscience, will you not do it? O ever consider this as the one thing needful. The work is yours. The power is your Lord’s. For, Your daily experience preaches the necessity of putting on Christ. This command is suited to your fallen state, as you are a naked, indigent, hopeless, helpless, unholy sinner in yourself—as well as to your being a regenerate soul, a new creature, a believer in Christ. Some have got such vast high notions of believers, as though they were not still sinners. Therefore they cannot endure the phrase, believing sinners—saved sinners. But let experience determine this matter. I will venture to assert, that if you do not see yourself a sinner, from day to day, you are not a believer of the truth. No, more; if you do not see (as considered in yourself) that you are a naked, indigent, hopeless, helpless, unholy sinner too, you do not see yourself in the light of truth; you do not know yourself even as you are known. Where Christ is most precious—there sin is exceedingly sinful—and self is humbled and loathed!

"Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14. Yet, though sin dwells in us, it does not have dominion over us. It cannot; for we are not under the law, which only pronounces the curse of sin; but under the grace of Christ, which actually subdues the power of sin. Yet,

Though a believer in Christ, you are still a naked sinner in yourself. You have no righteousness of your own which you have wrought out, which can screen you from divine justice, answer all the demands of God’s law, and entitle you to his favor. Your own righteousness is no better than filthy rags, too ragged to hide your shame; too filthy to endure the piercing eye of God’s purity; but must be burnt up by the fire of his justice.

True, in Christ you have an infinitely perfect, and everlastingly glorious righteousness, to appear in before God. But it is as true, you can only enjoy the comfort of this, by putting on Christ in your mind, memory and conscience. And it is equally true, unless you see, notwithstanding all your works, duties and performances, the graces of the Spirit in you, and the fruits of righteousness produced by you, that you are still that naked sinner, who must be found in Christ, and clothed with his righteousness, or you cannot be justified before God—but must be eternally condemned for sin. Unless you see this you will see no need to put on Christ. But the Holy Spirit convinces us of sin, causes us to see that we are stripped of all by sin, and keeps up the sight of our nakedness, on purpose that we should put on Christ, that in the experience of faith we may say with those of old, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10. O then, bless the Spirit, for eyes to see your nakedness. Under every sight of it, put on Christ, that you may glory in him, who is the Lord Our Righteousness.

Again, Though a believer in Christ, yet you are indigent in yourself. There is not a more poor, needy, indigent thing in creation, than you are, and see yourself in the light of truth to be. You behold a total lack in yourself of everything that is good. You see what an infinite debt you owe to law and justice, and you have not one farthing to discharge it! No, nor ever will you have a farthing to pay. No, more; every day, you are running farther and farther in debt. You cannot but think a reckoning day must come. Under these views, fear and distress must haunt you. The dread of being eternally shut up in the prison of hell, must come upon you. What can you do under such circumstances? What—but put on your blessed surety, Christ! What—but answer every demand of law and justice, with his dying words, IT IS FINISHED, the debt is discharged, the creditor is satisfied! Record this afresh in your mind and memory, that conscience may take the comfort of it.

Away then with your dejected heart and gloomy countenance. Live up to your joyful privilege. Will you grovel in poverty, live in wretchedness, pine with need, grapple with misery, and be burdened with distress? What! when you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, who for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich? O then, under the sense of deepest indigence, put on Christ, in whom you have unsearchable riches. This is the humble teaching of faith—to know that in ourselves, we have nothing. This is the joyful experience of faith—to know that in Christ we possess all things. O rest not without the comfort of this. O love, and bless, and glory in your divine surety. And in the felt sense of your own weakness, be daily leaning upon your Beloved. So will you be safely, sweetly, and comfortably, coming up out of the wilderness of this world, singing,

How blessed am I, whose heart is set,
To find the way to Zion’s gate!
Christ is my strength, and thro’ the road
I’ll lean upon my helper, God.

Once more. You are in yourself a hopeless sinner, though a believer in Christ; therefore you should put on Christ, who is our hope, that your soul may be strong, lively, and joyful in hope. What! been in Christ so many years, and in self a hopeless sinner still? What! nothing in self to cast the anchor of hope upon? No! What! cast the anchor within the ship to hold it? Ridiculous! True, the grace of hope is in the heart. But the object of hope is Christ. The anchor of hope is cast into the wide ocean of God’s love to sinners in Christ. O the working of that nasty legal spirit, which is ever seeking the pride of self, wanting to entertain a good opinion of ourselves and to have something within ourselves to trust in, and in which to glory! This spirit opposes the glory of Christ, and keeps us from putting on Christ, as our only hope, and chief glory.

Hence it is, our hearts so often sink, and our comforts forsake us. For hope in self will soon give up the spirit. It may live just while the sunshine of a warm frame of mind lasts. But let the north wind blow, let but a cloud arise in the mind, a fresh sense of sin spring up in the memory, or a little storm of corruption rage in the conscience—and hope in self will wither like Jonah’s gourd. Hence we see so many professors so fluctuating and wavering. Now they are all light, joy and peace. Then they are all darkness, distress and terror. Do not you experience something of this at times? Why is it? because you inclined to something in yourself as your hope, and decline from Christ, who is emphatically called "our hope." 1 Timothy 1:1. Therefore he is to be constantly put on—and wholly lived upon—as the only hope of us hopeless sinners!

Brethren, consider your calling. It is with faithful Abraham, who "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed." For all in nature and self, is hopeless. Yes, there is nothing but despair in us. We have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves. Sin, death and despair are written upon all we are—and upon all we do. We find one indwelling sin, lust and corruption after another—rise in us. Just as with David; first a bear attacks him, then a lion, next a giant; and then a king, and then the Philistines war against him. Why all this? to exercise his arms, and call forth his hope in his Lord.

Why are such powerful enemies—such as brutish lusts, raging corruptions, gigantic unbelief, potent carnal reasonings—left in us after conversion? All are to put us out of a high esteem of ourselves, to drive us out of all hope in ourselves, and to cause us to put on Christ, our hope. Thus, "Experience works hope." Romans 5:4. We are always to be fighting and conflicting with hopeless self. Therefore we have continual need to put on Christ, that we may be lively and comfortable in the sweet experience of Christ in us the hope of glory.

Farther; though you are a believer in Christ, yet you are a helpless sinner in yourself. "What!" say some, "a converted person, a believer, a child of God—and yet a helpless sinner?" Yes! Infancy itself is not more helpless in natural things, than a believer is in spiritual things. Where then is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever? Essentially in this. The latter is insensible of his own weakness, therefore proudly trusts in, and vainly glories of his own strength. He is under this malediction, "Cursed is the man who makes flesh his arm," Jeremiah 17:5, "his heart departs from the Lord." But the believer knows and feels, that he is not of himself sufficient to think or do anything holy. He sees constant need of being strengthened by the Spirit’s might in the inner man. For blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord; whose hope the Lord is. But do we not grow stronger in ourselves, and find more help and power from ourselves, to withstand our enemies, to fight our good fight, to run our race, and to perfect holiness? No! If we think so, it is plain that we are not growing up into Christ—but growing down into self. If the Lord has given me to know anything of this matter, after being upwards of twenty years in precious Christ, I sincerely declare, that I find myself to be, just that weak, helpless sinner I was when I first came to Jesus with, "Lord help me! Lord save me—or I perish!" Yes, I find myself more helpless now—than I thought myself then. I see more constant need to put on Christ, and to say, truly in the Lord (not in myself) I have strength.

I am very sure, I never more firmly believed than now, this truth of my Lord, "Without me you can do nothing." John 15:5. Never, never did I see less cause to trust in my own strength; never so much need to hear and obey my Lord when he says, "Let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth." Jeremiah 9:24. O to understand and know this exercise of the loving-kindness of my Lord, to me—a weak, helpless, vile sinner, is the glory and rejoicing of my soul. Well—but here is the poor helpless sinner, surrounded with enemies on every side—without and within—called to fight the Lord’s battles against the world, the flesh, and the devil—called to perform duties—to exercise graces—to bear his Lord’s cross, and to follow him in the regeneration, can he do all this in his own strength? Certainly not! And blessed be our covenant God—we are not left to our helpless selves! He has put precious faith in our hearts. As Jesus is its author, so he is its object. As faith comes from him, it leads the soul out of nature and self—to the infinite Creator. Therefore this is the exercise of the believing soul, "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help." Here is the experience of faith. "My help comes from the Lord, who has made heaven and earth." Psalms 121:1-2. O my soul, what Lord made heaven and earth? Truly, that Jehovah-Jesus, whom you are called upon to put on. John expressly tells us so: "ALL THINGS were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3.

Eternal praise to you, O blessed Spirit, for this your witness, to our Immanuel’s eternal power and godhead. Eternal thanks to you, O loving Father, that you have laid help upon one who is mighty, for those who have no might in themselves; and has exalted one chosen out of the people, to be the help of those sinners who find no help in themselves. Eternal blessings be on you, O Son of God, for, though we have destroyed ourselves, yet you have lovingly assured us, "in ME is your help found." Hosea 13:9. O gracious Spirit, enable me to make it my daily work, constant duty, chief privilege, and grand concern—to clothe my mind, memory, and conscience, with this joyful truth—that Christ is my help and my shield, against the face of every enemy! In the faith of this, well may I bid defiance to all my foes, smile at their number, defy their power, shout "victory!" in every attack, and in triumph cry out, "I am more than conqueror through Christ who has loved me!" When Alexander came against a people who dwelt on the rocks, they laughed at his approach, and bid defiance to his power, boldly saying, unless your soldiers can fly in the air, we fear you not; we are safe; our defense is impregnable. So, O my soul, dwelling in Christ the rock of your salvation, you are safe and secure from every foe. "For you dwell on high, and your defense shall be the munitions of rocks." Isaiah 33:16.

What though you find and feel, from hour to hour, that you have "no power of yourself to help yourself," in forcing any enemy, in subduing one sin, in mortifying one lust, in exercising one grace, or in performing one duty; and though you see this is to be your constant work and way in which you are to go on—yet be not discouraged. Holy Paul was just as helpless in himself as you are, yet he said, "I can do all things." So may you, by the very same means as he did, "through Christ who strengthens me." Php 4:13. To begin well, is to end well. Begin with Christ; put him on as your strength, so shall you end every work to his glory. O this is sweet and pleasant walking, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone." Psalms 71:16.

Put on Christ—for though a justified, sanctified believer in him, yet, in yourself, you are an unholy sinner; a lump of sin and impurity. Your nature is earthly, your desires are sensual, and your tempers are devilish. In your flesh dwells no good thing. Out of it proceeds all manner of evil. Therefore you have no holiness—but what you have in Christ, and derive from him. And this is the decree of heaven, "Without holiness—personal holiness of heart, lip and life—no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14. But this is the declaration of covenant grace, "Christ is made unto us (sinners) sanctification." 1 Corinthians 1:30. See the glory of gospel grace. You are not left to labor to get holiness to sanctify you—but you are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and are to put him on, for the subduing your lusts, mortifying your corruptions, softening and sweetening your tempers—so will you comfortably go on, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. For while vital union to Christ, and holy communion with him, is sensibly maintained in the mind, memory and conscience—we shall keep chaste to him; we shall not commit fornication against him; we shall possess our vessel in sanctification to the honor of him; and though sin be not dead in us—yet we shall be dead to sin. It will lose all its mighty charms. We shall detest the very appearance of evil. And all the pleasures of sense, will be under our feet. Clothed with Christ the new man, we shall put off the old man with his deeds: and our one chief aim will be—to please Christ in all things. O study this point deeply. To be holy is to be like God. The more Christ is put on, the more holiness in life and walk; the more holiness, the more enjoyment of God, the more assurance of being a child of God, and of eternally enjoying the presence of God. You will ever find this true in experience, that when Christ is put on within, as the peace, comfort and joy of the heart—all that is contrary to holiness will be put off in the life.

Put on Christ—because we are called by our Lord to deny ourselves, and to follow him. But if Christ is not put on within, we shall have little heart, and little power, to follow him in the life. "Adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." Titus 2:10. Never was the gospel more adorned than it is in our day—if fine clothing and mirthful dress may be said to adorn it! Scarcely ever had Christ more followers than now—if professors may be said to follow him, who can gratify themselves in the vain pleasures and fashionable diversions of a sinful age. Alas! Such things tend to deprave the mind, manifest its vanity, drive Christ from the memory, and are quite opposite to all self-denial and holy obedience. Besides, how sadly is money lavished away in these things—while many of Christ’s saints are in need of common necessaries! O how can such answer for it to their Lord! A beggar asked alms of an honorable and pious lady. She gave him six-pence, saying, "That is more than ever God gave me." "O" said the beggar, "say not so, Madam, for you have great wealth, and God gave you all." "No," replied she, "I speak the truth. God has not given—but lent me what I have, that I might bestow it on such as you. I am only the Lord’s steward." O that this was more considered.

One can just as soon think that a devil can be happy in the flames of hell—as that a child of God can seek for and find happiness at the play-house, the card-table, or any carnal diversions—while the love of Christ is warm upon his mind, the sorrows and sufferings of Christ are fresh in his memory, the sprinkling of the blood of Christ is felt upon his conscience, and the peace of God is ruling in his soul. No! Those who can give up themselves to such vain things have never known the power and comfort of Christ’s love enjoyed within. If they have, they must in a sense, have put off Christ, lost the feeling conviction of sin, of abstaining from the very appearance of evil, and of the absolute necessity of following him. For if their minds were exercised in putting on Christ, the vanity and foppery of dress would fall off like leaves in autumn, their thirst after foolish pleasures would be quenched by Christ, the living water, and holy fellowship with Christ would cause them to put off their former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

O then put on Christ, and you will deny yourself, and follow your Lord. You will be armored against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Instead of your mind going out after lying vanities and deceitful pleasures, you will be swallowed up in God. Your memory will be taken up with the things which are freely given us of God. Your conscience will be peaceful in the love of your covenant God in Christ. Your life will be devoted to the glory of God your Father; and your study will be, not to live to the lusts of men—but to the will of God. For if Christ is in your mind and memory, your conscience will be tender; it will fear and abhor the very appearance of evil, and excite you to all self-denied obedience. Here appears the essential difference between professing and possessing Christ. The former will leave a man alive to self, and dead to Christ. The latter will make him dead to self, and alive to Christ.

Hence it is, in opposition to living after the flesh, and making provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof, Paul does not teach like a heathen philosopher, or like our dry modern, dry moral preachers, to put on such a virtue, and to put off such a vice. No! But, says he, there is but this one way to put on all virtues, and to put off all vices. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." Christ is the one thing needful. Let it be your one business, to put him on more and more. When Pompeii, by all his arguments and persuasions, could not keep his soldiers from going out of the camp, he laid himself down in the narrow passage which led out of it, saying, "Now go out if you will; but if you do, you shall trample upon your general." This overcame them. Not one would stir. We cannot go out of the camp of Christ into unlawful pleasures and sensual diversions, without, as it were, trampling underfoot the Son of God. O think of this! The Rabbis used to tell their pupils that sin made God’s head ache. This we are sure of, sin pained the Son of God to the very soul. When you think of your sin—of the love, and sufferings of Christ for your sins—and you put on Christ your Savior, it will cause you most powerfully to hate sin, most cheerfully to deny yourself, and to follow Christ.

Why should we put on Christ? Because it is the will of God our Father. "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9. And thus it is manifest, that we are the obedient children of God, by believing, receiving, putting on and living upon the Son of God. For to the praise of the glory of God’s grace, he has made us accepted in his beloved Son. Ephesians 1:6. O believer, consider this. Let your heart rejoice in this. Let your mind dwell on this. Ever record this in your memory, that your conscience may be ever peaceful, happy and comfortable in the view of this, that though a sinner in yourself, yet you are ever entirely acceptable to God, and perfectly accepted by him, in Christ your elder brother, God’s beloved Son, and this to the glory of God’s rich, free, and abundant grace. It pleased the Father that in Christ all fullness should dwell. To what purpose? Even this joyful one, that out of his fullness we should receive grace upon grace—until grace is swallowed up in glory!

O then, attend constantly to the voice of your heavenly Father. He calls in most tender love and affection to us, "Behold my elect, in whom my soul delights." Isaiah 42:1. And again, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, HEAR HIM." Matthew 17:5. Now, what is implied in this call to behold Christ, and to hear him? It is as though our heavenly Father said thus to us, My dear children, whom I love with an everlasting love, I would have you to be both holy and happy. For this end I gave my beloved Son to you. He is the one and only object, I would have you to fix your constant attention upon. Let the eye of your mind be turned away from all other objects to him. Behold him as the Lord your Righteousness. Let the ear of your soul ever attend his pleasing voice. Hear him, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. So behold, so hear him, as to clothe your minds, memories and consciences, with the perfect atonement, which he has made for your sins—the perfect obedience which he has yielded to my law, and the infinitely glorious righteousness which he has thereby wrought out for your justification—and with the glorious work which he has finished for your salvation. Put on my beloved Son as your priest, who died to atone for your sins, and ever lives to pray for you—as your mediator to bless you—your righteousness to justify you—your holiness to sanctify you—your redemption to glorify you—and until you get to glory, as your king to reign in you, and to conquer for you! For I have given him a covenant for you. In and from him you shall receive all the blessings of my everlasting love. In him you shall enjoy my peace which passes all understanding; this shall keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of me, and in sweet communion and fellowship with me, and with my beloved Son Jesus Christ."

O let us then obey our loving Father, by beholding, hearing, and putting on his beloved Son, as his most free and inestimably precious gift to us poor sinners. For our Lord says, "the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me." John 16:27.

We should put on Christ, for this is his blessed will concerning us. He gave himself for us, that he might be all in all to us—our food to nourish us, and our drink to refresh us. He says, "My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." He lived to be our righteousness to clothe us. He died to save us. He lives again to comfort us. Therefore he says, "abide in me." "Continue in my love." John 15:4, John 15:9. What does he mean? Surely, that we should always clothe our minds with his precious love, ever remember it, and ever exercise our conscience upon the wonders of his free, unmerited, unchangeable love to us. Thus let us ever abide in him, cleave to him, exercise our faith upon him, so as to derive fresh power, peace and joy from him, that we may be constantly bringing forth fruit to his honor and glory. For Christ is continually calling to us, "Hear and your souls shall live." Isaiah 55:3. Live by his word of grace and truth—live upon his blood and righteousness, in the comfort of a pardoned, justified, sanctified state—live in a peaceful frame of mind—live in the joyful memory of his love and salvation—live, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience by his blood—and live upon all the fullness of grace which is in him, receiving out of his fullness grace upon grace, until grace on earth is swallowed up in glory in heaven! But are our minds at any time distressed with a sense of our sins, lusts and corruptions? Are our memories burdened, and our consciences heavy laden with these? What are we to do in this case? Put on Christ again. Clothe our minds, memories and consciences afresh with the exceeding great and precious promises, which so freely flow from his gracious lips. Hear his loving call, "Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden." Rejoice at his precious promise, "I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

"Sweet Savior! what! come to you, with all the burden of our sins, lusts and corruptions? Lord! how are your thoughts above our thoughts! O when we are sorely burdened with the weight of our sins, lusts and corruptions, we are ready to flee from you, and think you will have nothing to do with us—but will spurn us from your presence, if we presume to come to you. But, Lord, will you indeed refresh us, and give rest to us? O Lord, it is high treason against you to question you! Lord, increase our faith. Lord, pardon our unbelief. Lord, help us to believe you, and to cleave to you. For this your blessed word ever holds good—According to your faith be it unto you." Matthew 9:29.

It is the will of God the Holy Spirit that we should put on Christ. He at first convinced our minds of sin, made us sensible that we have no righteousness in ourselves, and caused our consciences to tremble under a sense of guilt. Why did he do this? Because he is the glorifier of Christ, and the comforter of all his beloved members. Therefore he would drive us out of our naked selves—to the fullness of Christ. He showed us the corrupt judgment we naturally have of ourselves, and of sin, and of righteousness, that we might take shelter in nothing but the wounds of Jesus for our sins, clothe our minds with his righteousness, and that we should ever remember that all our salvation is in Christ, so that we might find in and from him, peace of conscience, joy of soul, and holiness of heart and life. The Spirit still constantly bears witness to Christ, to the truth as it is in him, and takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to us. Why? Truly that we might receive, apply and appropriate them, so as to enjoy them in our mind, memory and conscience, for all the blessed purposes of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us a new birth into Christ, breathes into us desires after Christ, and keeps those desires alive in our souls. All the exhortations in the word, to quicken us in looking to Christ, believing in Christ, and putting on Christ, are given by his inspiration. Yes, and let us always remember that it is through his gracious aid, that we do put on Christ. For the Spirit lovingly helps our infirmities. He enables us, from day to day, to look to Christ for salvation, to lean on Christ for strength, to put on Christ as our righteousness, to cleave to Christ to enjoy fellowship with him, and to long for the coming of Christ, that we may be forever glorified with him!

Thus the holy, blessed and glorious Trinity agree in one mind, to bear record of the man Christ Jesus to us, of our salvation in him, and that therefore we should put him on continually, as the glory of our minds, the joy of our memories, and for the peace and comfort of our consciences. For it has pleased the Three-One God, that all the promises, which are given to us, should be in Christ Jesus. Therefore,

We should put on Christ. O believer, this is a most sweet word, enough to refresh your soul, and to make your heart leap for joy. "Unto us are given exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:4. Yes, says one—but when I look at the precious promises of God, and look at myself, I see in me, so much vileness, so much unworthiness of any one promise, so much unfitness for it, and so much unsuitableness to the nature of it—that I stagger at the promise through unbelief, and never can think it belongs to me. Very true. There is not one promise, in all the book of God, that you are worthy of, or that belongs to you, considered in yourself, as out of Christ, a fallen sinner from God. It would be the highest presumption in you, in me, or in any sinner, yes, or the most righteous man upon earth to think so. But this is the glory of us poor sinners, "All the promises of God are in Christ Jesus, and in him they are yes and amen, (sure and certain to be fulfilled to us) unto the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20. Therefore if you do not put on Christ, you can enjoy no comfort from the sweet declarations and precious promises of God. Take, for instance, this blessed word: "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers." 1 Peter 3:12. Now you see yourself to be a poor sinner—How then can you apply this to yourself, or take any comfort from it? You cannot, unless you put on Christ. For you are not righteous in yourself—but only in him; being clothed with his righteousness.

Again, It is promised, "God will keep the feet of his saints," 1 Samuel 2:9, that "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," Psalms 116:15, and that "Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints." 2 Thessalonians 1:10. Now you and I see ourselves sinners. We are ready to think, how can such precious declarations belong to us? We must ask—who is a saint? One who has received mercy. That is the proper idea of a saint. How is the mercy of God bestowed on sinners? Only IN Christ. For God loved us, chose us, justifies us, and sanctifies us—in Christ! We are saints in him. So that all the precious promises being in him, are ours.

O then, putting on Christ, we may joyfully take up Paul’s words, "All things are ours!" All the promises of this life, as well as all those of that which is to come. "All are ours." Why? because we are Christ’s. 1 Corinthians 3:23. We are blessed, and shall be blessed, with all spiritual, and all temporal blessings in Christ, by God the Father, according as he has chosen us in him. Ephesians 1:3. How sweet then to range through the sacred pages, and to take up one precious promise after another, and to claim them all as my own in Christ, to the glory of God. There is no presumption in this; nothing of the pride of the self-righteous Pharisee, who says, "this and the other promise belongs to me, because I am righteous, and holy, and good in myself." No! But seeing the promises all in Christ, and putting on Christ that we may enjoy the comforts of the promises, we rejoice in Christ, though we have no confidence in the flesh.

Rejoice, because there is not one word of God, concerning our being in this life, and our eternal state in that life which is to come—but what flows from the loving heart of a covenant God in Christ; and all shall be fulfilled, and made good to us, to the glory of the truth of the ever-blessed Promiser. O then, let us put on Christ, and no longer stagger at any of the promises through unbelief. For our hope of eternal life is secure. For, God who cannot lie, promised it in and to Christ, before the world began. Titus 1:1.

Lastly, we should put on Christ, because he is appointed to be our judge. What! is that very Jesus, who so loved us, as to hang and expire in blood and anguish upon the accursed tree, a sacrifice for our sins—to judge our souls! O joyful truth! What can bring such relief to our mind, such joy to our memory, such peace to our conscience—as this! O believer! how much below your privilege, do you live and act, if you are in continual dread and terror of soul, about the judgment day! True, it is most dreadful, it is most tremendous—to think of appearing before the Judge of the living and dead, to hear the solemn, the irreversible sentence of, "Come you blessed," or "Go you cursed." But always remember who it is who will pronounce this solemn doom. It is your loving Savior, and gracious justifier. It is that dear Christ, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree—who has put away our sins, by the sacrifice of himself—who has forever made an end of sins, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in an everlasting righteousness, perfectly and forever to justify us; so that this is the irreversible doom of justice itself, "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Nor will there be any condemnation brought against them, nor sentenced upon them, by their Judge in that solemn day. For they will be found in him. He well knows he redeemed them by his own blood; he justified them in his own righteousness; he sanctified them by his own Spirit; and therefore, he will call them, "Come you who are blessed, inherit my glory!"

O then put on Christ, and put off your fears. Yes, put on Christ, and be filled with boldness, peace and joy, when you think on the judgment-day. For look, it is your loving and beloved bridegroom, who comes openly to espouse you to himself, in the presence of God, angels, and men; and this in consequence of your present personal espousal to him, by the Spirit, through faith. For have you chosen Christ? do you look to him, and come to him, as your only Savior? Do you flee to him as your only refuge? Do you cry to him to save you from your sins now, as well as from the wrath to come? Who gave you this heart and this faith? Truly, he who loved you, and died for you! And will he, can he—reject your soul, and sentence you, the object of his love, the purchase of his blood, the subject of his grace, the member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones—to eternal wrath and destruction? Impossible! For "Behold, he shall come (O hear and rejoice!) to be glorified and to be admired." How? "To be glorified IN his saints; and to be admired IN all those who believe, in that day." 2 Thessalonians 1:10. O how will our Savior’s glory shine forth, with the most resplendent luster, in his loving, calling, justifying, sanctifying, and preserving all his dear people unto eternal life! O how will he be admired in his saints, and by his saints—in his glorious person, in his precious offices, in his everlasting love to them, and in his everlasting salvation of them! Angels, archangels, and all the heavenly multitude, will then be struck with the greatest admiration, at beholding the full display of these things, which now they desire to look into. And O you saints, what admiration, wonder and joy, will fill your enraptured souls—on seeing the glory which will then shine IN you from your glorified head! "For when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear." Where? At his left hand, with terror, shame and confusion? O, no! But we shall appear WITH HIM IN GLORY. Colossians 3:4. And "so shall we be ever with the Lord." Well might Paul add, "Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18. Soul, from what do you seek comfort? Beware of your feelings. They often arise from a heated imagination, and lead to the worst kind of enthusiasm. I have known those who have been engaged in pursuits, not at all befitting their profession, and yet have said they have felt and enjoyed much of the presence and love of God in them. Truly, if you find comfort in any other way, than from the words and doctrines which are revealed, and which testify of Christ, in the end you will find yourself awfully deceived, and woefully disappointed.

Here then, see the proper work of faith, and the peculiar office of the Holy Spirit, and how they unite and concur in comforting our souls. The Holy Spirit is a witness, as well as a comforter. He testifies of Jesus in the word: and he comforts the soul only by the belief of the word. Hence it is I have dwelt so largely on this head, WHY we should put on the Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in the word. For, is Christ to be our judge hereafter? Then put him on now! "By one offering he has perfected forever, those who are sanctified." Hebrews 10:14. That is, as expressed most fully in the communion service of the Church of England, "Christ made upon the cross, (by the one oblation of himself once offered), a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for our sins." Nothing needs, nor nothing can be added to it. The work by which we are forever perfected, is completely finished, and forever done. He has perfectly fulfilled the law for us—perfectly atoned justice in our stead—perfectly expiated our sins—obtained full pardon for them, and complete redemption from the curse of them—and has perfectly justified us from all condemnation for them. Thus we are hereby perfected forever!

Who—us? Why, all who are sanctified—that is,

1. Separated and set apart by the choice of God the Father, from eternity—to partake of the perfect salvation of his beloved Son.

2. Sanctified, or separated by the Holy Spirit in time, from all our corrupt notions, self-righteous dependences, unholy ways, and sinful practices, to partake of and enjoy the perfect love, and perfect salvation of the Son of God, by a holy faith. How simple is faith in its nature? It is neither more nor less than the belief of the truth. How glorious is faith, in its effects? Faith brings the fullness of the perfection of Christ’s glorious work and salvation, into the soul. Thus the very purpose of God’s election is answered upon us: for, "God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." 2 Thessalonians 2:13. Thus are we brought into a state of peace with God. And while we put on Christ as our dear friend, beloved bridegroom, and precious Savior—we shall rejoice to think of his appearing as our Judge—to sentence us to the kingdom prepared for us, and which he has made us fit to enjoy.

If close to the Lord you would cleave,
Depend on his promise alone.
His righteousness would you receive?
Then learn to renounce all your own. The faith of a Christian indeed,
Is more than mere notion or whim:
United to Jesus our head,
We draw life and virtue from him. This God is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable friend;
Whose love is as large as his power,
And neither knows measure nor end.

’Tis Jesus the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that’s to come!

7. WHEN we should put on Christ

When? God’s time is best. "Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." Procrastination is the thief of time; and here it is the murderer of comfort. Behold, NOW you are called upon to put on Christ. It was the pride and boast of Seneca, that wherever he went—he bore Demetrius with him. Surely it should be our boast and our glory, wherever we go—to carry Christ with us, in our minds, memories and consciences, in the remembrance of his love to us, the record of his mercy, the miracle of his grace in converting us to himself, the miseries he endured, the sorrows he sustained for our salvation, the perfection of his atonement and righteousness, the victory of his cross, the triumphs of his resurrection, the prevalence of his intercession, and the comfort and joy of his coming again to receive us to himself, that where he is, there we shall eternally be. O if these things dwell constantly in us, we shall not only be alive—but lively in the work of faith, the labor of love, and the patience of hope; while we shall be dead to sin, and to all the pomps and vanities of a sinful world; and sweetly sing, "Wherever I turn, wherever I rove,
I meet the object of my love"

I have read of a godly man who was once very dissolute. When converted, his former companions sought to bring him back to his former wicked courses. But he told them, "I am deeply engaged in meditating on a little book, which contains only three pages; so at present I have no time for other business."

Sometime after, being asked if he had finished his book, he replied, "No; for though it contains only three pages, yet there is so much comprised in them, that I have devoted myself to read therein, all the days of my life. The first leaf is red. Here I mediate on the sufferings of my Lord and Savior, His shedding His precious blood, as an atonement for my sins, and a ransom for my soul, without which I must have been a damned sinner in hell, to all eternity! The second leaf is white. This cheers my heart with the wonderful consideration of the unspeakable joys of heaven obtained for me by Christ--and of being forever with Him! The third leaf is black. Here I think of the horrible state of the damned--and the perpetual torments they are suffering in hell. O this excites thankfulness to my Savior, for His wonderful love and rich grace, in snatching me as a brand out of hell-fire, and saving me from eternal destructions!"

Here is a good man, a good book, and a good example for you and I. "Let us go and do likewise." Constantly meditate upon Christ; upon the wrath He has saved us from--and the glory He has saved us to! But I shall mention some peculiar times and seasons, in which we must put on Christ.

First, When we approach the THRONE OF GRACE. This, if we are alive to God, we shall do constantly. "Praying always," is the Christian’s motto.

One can just as well imagine a living man, entirely destitute of all fears, passions, hopes, affections, desires, etc., yes, of breath also—as of a regenerate soul living without constant prayer to God. Prayer is the spiritual breathing of a quickened soul. At a throne of grace he pours out his hopes, fears, affections and desires, etc. But if his mind, memory and conscience are not clothed with Christ as his high priest, mediator and advocate, before the throne of God above, he will find but little comfort in drawing near to a throne of grace below. No, more, he will not draw near to God at all. Though he may find words, yet they will be without heart and hope. Prayer will be only a task to satisfy conscience. It will be begun without confidence, performed without spirit, and ended without joy. But if our minds are clothed with this comfortable truth, that we have a great high priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God—then we shall see our heavenly Father seated on a throne of grace, with smiles of approbation and acceptance; and we shall come boldly to it, that we may obtain mercy as miserable sinners, and find grace to supply our wants as needy creatures. For it is only "through Jesus we have acceptance, by one Spirit, unto the Father." Ephesians 2:18. It is only "in Christ that we have boldness, and access with confidence by the faith of him," Ephesians 3:12. O believer, consider well these, your inestimable privileges. Here is access, which is a liberty to approach God as a Father. Boldness, which is a freedom of speech in delivering our whole heart and mind to God in prayer. Confidence, which is a well-grounded persuasion that our persons and performances shall find acceptance to God through Christ. When a cause is to be tried its court, parties concerned are very busy. So is Satan in times of prayer. He acts as plaintiff and accuser. When he sees us on our knees, he will inject accusations into our minds, such as, "What! does such a vile sinner as you expect be heard by a holy God? Look back on your past conduct—no, think of what you did a little while ago—and look at yourself now—see what vain and wandering thoughts are in you—how cold, how dead, how distracted are all your prayers—can you think God will hear and accept you, and such prayers as yours?"

Satan is a mighty adversary to prayer. But put on Christ, and silence Satan. It is the joy of faith, that your audience and acceptance with God does not depend on what you are in yourself. But glory in this blessed truth, that to the praise of the glory of God’s grace, your person is accepted in his beloved Son; and through his much incense your prayers shall be received and answered. O put on this blessed truth, and cast away every discouragement, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated, through the veil; that is to say, his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith" that our God will hear and accept us. Joseph strictly commanded his brethren, if they would see his face with comfort—to bring his brother Benjamin with them. So if we expect any comfort from God’s throne of grace, we must put on our dear Brother Christ, and carry him in the arms of our faith, and plead his worth and worthiness alone for access and acceptance.

Secondly, Put on Christ in your mind, memory and conscience, when you go to his TABLE. If you live and walk as a believer in him, you cannot neglect this blessed institution of your dear Lord. If you do, depend on it, all is not right between our Savior and your heart. By your neglect of this you rob your precious soul of a blessed privilege, of much comfort, and your dear Lord of his glory. But does a sight and sense of your unworthiness deter you? You cannot be humbled too low on account of this. If you were to live to the age of Methuselah, you would have no worth, nor worthiness in yourself, for which Christ should receive you. Worthy is the Lamb. He is worthy of you, though you are not worthy of him. Put on Christ—clothe your mind with his precious love—your memory with his gracious promises—and your conscience with his glorious salvation. Go to his table, to commemorate his dying love; be constantly showing forth his death as your only hope until he comes. Be feeding on his flesh, and drinking his blood, until he receives you to himself. For, O precious words! "Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:54. The more you put on Christ and feed on Christ, the more abundantly will you experience that you have eternal life in him; and the more joyful assurance will you have of being raised up by him. For he adds, "He who eats me, even he shall live by me." John 6:57. Live a holy, happy, spiritual life—out of self; above nature; even a life of fellowship with Christ and his father, enjoying his peace and love, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, In seasons of HEAVINESS—put on Christ. Peter describes believers as very joyful souls. "Wherein you greatly rejoice." Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. We are called upon to "rejoice in the Lord always; and again to rejoice." Php 4:4. But in what do saints greatly rejoice? Peter tells us, in their being the elect of God—sanctified by the Spirit—sprinkled by the blood of Christ—begotten to a lively hope—and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. O believer! these are never-failing springs of consolation and joy! But he adds, "though now for a season (if need be) you are in heaviness through manifold temptations." 1 Peter 1:6 : Has that season come? There is a need be for it. Are you in heaviness through a sense of indwelling sin; pressed down under its weight, groaning under its burden, and distressed with manifold temptations? Why is all this permitted? He tells us, for the trial of our faith.

Now take heed to yourself. The Lord is testing your faith. Beware that you do not cast away your shield of faith, and see that you do not distrust Christ, by saying he neither loves you, nor cares for you; but has cast you off forever. Nay—but rather put on Christ, call to mind his free grace in undertaking your cause, his great love in dying for your sins, his rich mercy in calling you to himself, and his faithfulness and truth which are pledged for your salvation. Remember that he is anointed to give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3. Put him on; cleave to him; for the times of refreshing shall come from his presence. Christ is not only a friend while the warm sunshine of prosperity of soul lasts; but he is a friend who loves at all times, and a brother born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17.

Whatever we found him at the best,
He’s at the worst the same.

Jesus is not a ’summer bird’—who forsakes his people in the winter of adversity. No! He ever lives to save them to the very uttermost. Consider that this heaviness is not to destroy your confidence—but only to test your faith. See what the blessed end of it shall be. Your faith is much more precious than gold. Therefore not a grain shall be lost in the fire. But it shall be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. O let your mind, memory and conscience be clothed with this precious truth. For his anger endures but for a moment. In his favor is life; heaviness may endure for a night—but joy comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5.

Fourthly, In a season of DARKNESS and desertion of soul, put on Christ, who is the light of life. It is a sure mark of a regenerate soul, and a loving heart, that it is troubled, and mourns for its darkness, when the Lord hides his face. And it is the proper work of a renewed mind, to apply to Christ—a sanctified memory to retain Christ—and of a good conscience not to rest satisfied without Christ. "Truly you are a God who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior," Isaiah 49:15. But why does God hide his face, and leave any of his dear children to mourn in darkness? That is your proper work to look to, and inquire for yourself. Let the cause be what it may, the purpose is not to drive you from your God, nor to make you let go of your confidence in Christ. No; but quite the contrary; to make you the more to trust in him, and to stay your soul upon him. For remember, he is the God of Israel, and the Savior, though he hides his face. Examine your soul. Search your ways. See if some cursed lust, or Christ-dishonoring pride, some pleasure in sin, or vain confidence in yourself and your own righteousness, has not caused your Lord to hide away his face. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Be afflicted, and mourn and weep. Pour out your heart to the Lord. Confess your sin to him, and be ashamed of your folly before him. Tell him, "I cannot live without your light—cast out and banished from your sight." But O beware, while you loathe yourself, and bemoan your folly, that you do not dishonor your Lord by suspecting his everlasting love, questioning his precious truths, or neglecting his glorious salvation. Now, even now, put on your precious Christ afresh; mind and remember his sweet declaration to his Father, concerning all his people: "You have loved them, as you have loved me," John 17:23, even with the very same everlasting unchangeable love. Therefore, though in darkness and sorrow, be assured, God’s love is always the same, like himself, without variableness. Though he hides his face, still he rests in his love. For, God did not love you, choose you and call you, for any good he saw in you—but he loved you, and viewed you in Christ. And in Christ he is ever the same covenant God, and reconciled Father, whether he consoles with his love, or chastises with his rod; whether he lifts up the light of his countenance upon you, or hides away his face from you. Your sin and folly may cause him to change his conduct towards you—but he can never, never change his covenant, name and nature, For God is love.

Therefore, as God loves you in Christ, views you in Christ, has made you accepted in Christ, pardoned, justified and sanctified you in Christ, be ever looking to Christ, clothing your mind with Christ, remembering his loving-kindness, and pleading in your conscience the atonement he has made for your sins, the righteousness he has wrought out for your justification, the salvation he has finished for your soul. Though at present you do not see the light of comfort; though you do not feel the sunshine of joy, yet glory in the word of truth and grace as it is in Jesus. This ever abides with you, though comfort forsakes you. Give ear to, listen and attend, to that sweet voice of love which salutes your ears, and gives counsel to your soul. Are you mourning in darkness, and complaining in sadness, saying, "My Lord has forsaken me, my God has forgotten me?" Not so. Though your covenant God and Father hides his face, yet he has not forgotten you. For behold, he lovingly inquires after you, and sweetly gives advice to you.

Here is first, A blessed inquiry. "Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of his Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light?" Isaiah 50:10. Your character is here described, as plainly as though your very name was written in full length. You walk in darkness, under the hidings of God’s face. You have no light; the light of God’s countenance shining upon your soul. You are without spiritual joy and comfort of heart. This is your distress. Still, you fear the Lord. Therefore your jealous concern about the cause of your darkness; your sorrow for it; and your prayers and desires to be delivered from it. You obey Christ, who, as man, is the servant of God, by believing in him as the only Savior, and expecting salvation from him ALONE.

Now, what is the counsel the Lord gives you? What is his will concerning you? He has put you into the school of darkness, to learn to hear his voice, and obey his will, to exercise your graces upon him, and thereby to honor him. Peter, when on the Mount, was for building tabernacles for residence: but he must come down. So the Lord brings you down from the mount of joy, into the dark valley, that you should make him your only trust and stay, and your dwelling-place. Therefore,

Secondly, Hear and obey his sweet counsel. "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and rely upon his God." Here is trusting opposed to seeing. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it, and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. I have often been ready to wonder at this text. What has the man who is righteous in himself to fear? Why should he want a tower of defense? Why should he run into it for safety? It can only be understood of the poor, convicted, humble sinner, who sees his own righteousness as filthy rags, quits all confidence in it, flies from it, and runs to take shelter in the name of the Lord; even that blessed name of JESUS, which is above every other name. To him his pliant knee bows, his humbled heart submits, and his enlightened soul glories alone in that name, whereby Jesus is called "The Lord our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:6. Such is a righteous person in the sight of God.

Now you are called to TRUST in this name of the Lord. This is opposed to all other means and props whatever; to all comfortable sense of God’s love; to all sight of grace, any righteousness, any hope, you have in yourself. It is to put on Christ afresh as the Lord your righteousness, strength and salvation; to clothe your mind, memory and conscience, with Christ your only confidence, in the darkest seasons, and most distressing moments, even when all other trust and confidence forsake you. Now honor your God by the claim of your faith. With the church of old cry out in confidence, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song; and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2.

Again, the Lord now counsels you, "Let him rely upon his God." Perhaps you are now writing most bitter things against yourself. You are thinking, all is dark and disconsolate within. "I cannot see that I have a single grace to rely upon; it is not only dark—but tempestuous also; one wave of corruption rolls over another; the storms of justice are over my head; I fear vengeance is pursuing me; black clouds of unbelief hang heavy on me, while the enemy suggests within me, where is now your God? Alas! what will become of me? What must I, what shall I do, in this hour, and power of darkness?"

Behold, here is a cordial held forth to revive your drooping mind, and to support your sinking spirits. Hear and obey the voice of your WONDERFUL COUNSELOR; "Let him rely upon his God." Mind this. His God still, though he walks in darkness, and has no light. O clothe your mind with this; God in Christ is your God. Stay your soul upon this. Are you weak, weary, faint, and ready to fall? Then lean upon your Jesus for support and strength. "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5. Clothe your mind, memory and conscience with Christ, with God manifested in Christ reconciled to you—your covenant God and Father in Christ—with all the exceedingly great and precious promises which he has given you in Christ; and now take up the sweet claim of faith, and cry in the importunate prayer of your dear Lord, "MY God, MY God, why have you forsaken me."

O the happy privilege! O the precious counsel! O the cheering comfort! O the supporting strength contained in these words of the prophet Isaiah, to a child of God walking in darkness! "Spirit of all grace, help us to obey this precious word: to put on Christ who is the light of life, to trust in him, and to rely upon him, whenever we walk in darkness, and see no light." When that great emperor Julius Caesar was at any time sad and dejected in his mind, he used to say to himself, "Remember, that you are Caesar!" This thought revived his spirits. O soul, in your darkest seasons and heaviest frames, "remember that you are a Christian; Jesus is your Savior; God is your Father; the Holy Spirit is your Comforter!" Stay your mind upon this. Plead and wait for the light and comfort of this. "The Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all those who wait for him." Isaiah 30:18.