THE DIGNITY AND DVTY OF A CHRISTIAN.  
published AND SET FORTH TO COMfort and encourage all those which be truly Christs, to continue in him, and to be faithful to the death.  
By Mr. John ABERNET●●R, Bishop of CATHNES in Scotland.  
LONDON, Imprinted by F. K. for John Budge, and are to bee sold at the sign of the green Dragon, in Pauls Church-yard. 1620.   

TO THE RIGHT honourable and Religious Lady, Dame Margaret Stuart, Lady Ochiltrie, all happiness bee multiplied.  
AS many seem to themselves to bee something, when they are nothing, deceiving themselves in their own imagination: So many( out of an idle presumption, and bare profession) dream to themselves that they are Christs, when they are none of his, under the vail of hypocrisy, having onely a name that they are living, when they are dead. If they had any spark of a true desire of their own salvation, they should rather give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure, and carefully endeavour both to become, and to bee assured that they are Christs; which is mans highest happiness: And to testify the same, by crucifying of the flesh, with the affections and lusts; which is mans most thankful duty. This little Treatise serveth to give instruction herein, and to comfort and encourage all those that are truly Christs; to continue in him, and to be faithful to the death. I delivered it in one of my ordinary Sermons, whereof ( Madam) you were then one of my accustomend hearers. It was immediately penned, but it came not again into my hands till now. I haue thought it good to put it forth under your ladyships name, worthy to bee remembered. Your ladyship is the godly mother of many godly children: and in special, the mother of that worthy and truly religious daughter, Dame Anna, Lady Ferniherst, my faithful friend, who now rests in the Lord, and fully feeleth that shee was, and is Christs. Your ladyship hath been always to all, a mirror of sincere and constant godliness: and, for that respect was had of your true piety and gravity; your ladyship obtained once that honour, as the fittest Lady to attend our late gracious queen of worthy memory; and to haue under your hand this our most gracious Prince in his tender Infancy. But above all these, God hath honoured you by his special and saving grace: and given you this dignity with the rest of his Saints, to be verily one of Christs, that you may confidently say, and sing with the Church, My beloved is mine, and I am his. These considerations( amongst many other) haue moved me to dedicate this manuel unto you. If by perusing it, you reap any comfort, as once you did when you first heard it: and if it can benefit any other, it is all the gain that I expect for my pains. And so wishing your La. all happiness in Christ our saviour, I shall ever abide,  
Your La. very affectionate friend, I. B. of Cathnes.   

A CHRISTIAN, HIS DIGNITY and Duty.  Galat. 5.24. 
For they that are Christs, haue crucified the flesh, with the affections and the lusts.  

1. The dignity of a Christian.  
THe Apostle in these words persuadeth the Galatians, that there is no law against them that bring forth the fruits of the Spirit: because that such are Christs, who do crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. So that the fruitful in Christ the root, revel. 22.16. are saved; not for the fruits cause, but for the roots cause: For There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1.  
These words contain our greatest dignity; which is, to bee Christs. And our most necessary duty, to crucify the flesh, &c. This is the Christian dignity of those Excellent ones, 
The Christian dignity.  Psa. 16.3. who in Christ haue their privilege to become the sons of God, joh. 1.12. and a right to the three of life, revel. 22.14. and that because they are Christs. Wherein these things following are to bee considered.   

2. What is it to be Christs?  
THey that are Christs, 
A description of those that are Christs.  are not onely his in general, or by profession: but in special, by his saving grace, as elected in him, before the foundation of the world: and in his own time united to him by faith, into a most near fellowship, by the power of the holy Spirit: that they may bee so wholly his, and partakers of all his blessings, that they may appertain to him more than to all others, and that he may be also theirs, whereof they haue a comfortable sense and feeling in this life, and a full fruition in the life to come.  
This description doth spread itself into many branches, to bee explained as followeth.  
Some are Christs in general, some in special. For he hath given to him of his Father, power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given him, joh. 17.2. 
To be Christs in general by subiection.  They that are Christs in general, are his, as he is the Head of all principality and power, Col. 1.18. revel. 1.5. and 17.14. and 19.16. All power is giver to him both in heaven and in earth, Mat. 28.18. In all things he hath the pre-eminence, Colos. 1.18. He is exalted above all things. Eph. 1.20. Exalted highly above every name, Phil. 2.9. All things were created by him, and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things do consist, Col. 1.16, 17. joh. 1.3. Bearing up all things by his mighty word, Heb. 1.3. he is Lord over the quick and the dead: judge over all, Rom. 13.9, 10.  
So all men are Christs in general: and( with all other things) are put in subiection under his feet, Ephes. 1.20. Heb. 2.8. That at the name of Iesus, every knee should bow, Phil. 2.9, 10. To be Christs this way, 
All things are Christs in general.  is very common. All men are Christs, as he is their Lord. All reprobates and divels are Christs, as he is their judge. All the Regenerate are Christs, as he is their King. To be Christs after this manner, is not the Saints prerogative. We must therforegiue all diligence to go beyond the whole creatures, 
Admonition.  in appertaining to Christ, and become Christs in a nearer and more special manner.  
They that are Christs in special( here specially meant) are his: 
To bee Christs in special by grace.  as he is the Prince of their salvation, Heb. 1.10. The head of his body which is his Church, Ephes. 1.22. Col. 1.18. Ephes. 5.23. As a son, he is over his own house: whose house we are, Heb. 3.6. Their Redeemer, Ephes. 1.7. The saviour of his body, Ephes. 5.23. he hath bought them for a price, 1. Cor. 6.20. he hath purchased them with his own blood, Act. 20.28. He knits them to himself: he furnisheth them with his grace, and maketh thē increase with the increasing of God, Col. 2.19.  
Let us therfore haue a special care to become Christs in special. 
Admonition.  Many say, Who will show us any good? Psalm. 4.6. But here is of all good things the best, to be Christs. And as Peter said to Christ at his Transfiguration: It is good for us to bee here, Luk. 9.33. So wee may all say in our Regeneration, It is good to bee Christs. It is the most happy estate of man: there is no solid nor constant comfort, but in it, and as david said, I had rather bee a doorekeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickedness, Psal. 84.10.  
So every one should say, I had rather be the least of those that are Christs; than to be the heir of the greatest Monarch, without Christ, Gal. 3.29.   

3. Who are not Christs?  
AS Christ said, 
Many are not Christs.  he that is not with me, is against me, Math. 12.30. showing that there was many both against him, and not with him. So doth the Apostle here insinuate that all are not Christs. For all men haue not faith, 2. Thes. 3.2. neither do all crucify the flesh. It is therefore requisite that we know who are not Christs. The divels are not his: as that Legion cried, What haue I to do with thee, Iesus, the son of the most high God? Mark. 5.7. A Reprobate shall never become Christs. An Atheist, an Epicure, an Impenitent, a swinish and worldly Gadarene, Mark. 5.17. is not Christs.  
The Hypocrite is not his. 
Hypocrites are not Christs.  Profession maketh not one to be his; neither doth external Vocation, nor vulgar graces of the Spirit make any to be his. One may haue the show& form of godliness, 
The form of their hypocrisy.  2. Tim. 3.5. and yet not be his, because he wants the saving power of it. Many haue a name that they are alive, but in truth they are dead, Reu. 3.1. fruitless trees, shadowing onely with leaves: who haue the light of God, but not the life of God. A dead faith, without works: sorrowing for sin, but not sorrowing to repentance: mourning without amending. Their love of God is but general and mercenary: a zeal without knowledge: a servile fear: restraining sin, but not crucifying it: a taste of the heavenly gift, Heb. 6.4. frivolous and superficial motions: fantastical and fleeting comforts and joys. These things make not one to bee Christs. 
Admonition.  Let us therefore search our own hearts; let us examine ourselves, and prove ourselves whether wee haue faith or not: let us know ourselves, if Christ be in us, and wee his, except we be reprobates, 2. Cor. 13.5. that if as yet we be not truly Christs, wee may study by all means( in this acceptable time) to become his.   

4. Who are Christs?  
THe Apostle positively sets down, 
Some are Christs by Election onely.  that they who are Christs, haue crucified the flesh. Wee must therefore know who are Christs. Some are Christs onely in Gods prescience and secret Decree, and counsel: whereof some( as yet) are not born, some are Infants, and some( as yet) not called,& without Christ, and without God in the world, Ephes. 2.12.  
Some are Christs improperly, 
Some are Christs improperly.  onely in appearance. The gross Hypocrite is Christs, onely in the worlds appearance. The formal and temporising Hypocrite is Christs, both in the worlds, and in his own appearance, and no further.  
But some are Christs most properly, 
Some are Christs properly.  and truly to be counted his: as those that are united to him by a lively faith, who apprehended him, and are apprehended of him, Phil. 3.12.  
The Elect, who are regenerate, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and are to be glorified, Rom. 8.30. They are Christs in their own persuasion, and they are his also by profession before the world. They are his, both in appearance, and in effect, both by Election and Vocation effectual.  
But as there are many called, 
Admonition.  and few chosen, Mat. 22.14. so, many are not Christs, and very few are his: yet the Lord knoweth who are his: and let every one that calleth on the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, 2. Tim. 2.19.  
The question may be moved concerning Infants, 
How Infants are Christs.  if they be Christs when they die in their infancy.  
The answer is, If an Infant bee a reprobate, in that case( because of his natural pollution, whereof he is guilty) he is left to himself, and rejected eternally. But if the Infant bee a chosen child, he may bee Christs both externally in the iudgement of the Church, as one within the covenant of grace: and internally also he is Christs in a most secret and unspeakable manner; being insert in Christ by the Spirit of God, 1. Cor. 12.13. The Apostle in this place speaketh not of Infants; neither of their prerogative in Christ; but onely of those that are Christs, and that crucify the flesh; who are come to perfection of yeeres, and endeavour to bee perfect men in Christ. 
Admonition.  Bee not therefore so curious to know who are Christs; as careful, that thou thyself may be truly his; that thou mayst find the vigour and quickening life of him in thy heart, whereby thou mayst crucify the flesh, with the affections& lusts thereof: and that thou mayst confidently say with the Spouse in the Can. 7.10 I am my Well-beloueds,& his desire is towards me.   

5. How are we Christs?  
SIth that all are not Christs, and those that are his, are few. And sith none are his by nature, but by grace only; it is needful therefore to understand how wee are Christs.  
We are his in a true, 
Wee are Christs in a spiritual union.  pure, and spiritual union, by being one with him, Galat. 3.28. and build on him, Eph. 2.20. By the unity of faith, Ephes. 4.13. Wee abide in him, 1. joh. 2.27. He dwelleth in us, and wee in him, 1. joh. 4.13, 16.  
This union is not local, 
The manner of this union.  neither doth distance of place impair it: it is not visible nor bodily: it is not superficial nor fantastical: yet it is real and spiritual, joh. 17.20.  
They that are united to Christ, must bee first separated from the world, joh. 17.6. that is, from the condemnation and corruption that is in the world through lust, 2. Pet. 1.4.  
This union is wrought by the Application and Apprehension of Christ. In Christs application, the holy Spirit really exhibits& offers Christ unto us, 
joh. 17.6, 9. and 10.29.  and us again to Christ, and giveth either of us to other, This is called the communion of the Spirit, Philip. 2.1. whereby we are all baptized into one Spirit, 
1. Cor. 12.13. & are al made to drink into one Spirit.  
In Christs apprehension, the holy Spirit likewise is effectual. He moveth the heart of the believer, by a most secret and unspeakable power, to embrace and receive Christ: like as Christ receiveth and apprehendeth by the same holy Spirit the believer, Phil. 3.12. and so is united to him, joh. 1.12. Rom. 13.14. Gal. 3.27. Ephes. 3.20. and 1.19. Col. 2.6.  
To be Christs therefore is a work supernatural, divine, and from above; and who are once his, are ever his thereafter. His sheep shall never bee pulled out of his hands, joh. 10.28. and that because of that omnipotent Spirit, who linketh them together.  

Comfort.  hereupon ariseth that unspeakable comfort to all those that are Christs: so far, as it is an inseparable union that causeth them be so sure, and so eternally his, Rom. 8.38.   

6. Wherein are wee Christs?  
IF wee be Christs, 
The resemblance of our union and communion with Christ.  he must haue some kindly and near respect& relation to us, and wee to him. It is needful therefore to bee considered wherein we are Christs, and what is our communion with him.  
There is no union in this world so near, and so strong, as is our coniunction with Christ. Similitudes are borrowed, to resemble and represent unto us the same: and yet the union is stricter, and more near& sure, than they can declare, and is accompanied with a depending communion.  
he is our head, and wee are the members of his body, 1. Cor. 6.15. Ephes. 5.30. we get life and motion from him, as the members do from the head.  
We are Christs as a Spouse to the husband, Cant. 4.9. revel. 19.7. we are his love, Cant. 1.14. We are set on his heart as a seal, and as a Signet vpon his arm, Cant. 8.6.  
We are his brethren, and fellow-heirs with him, Heb. 1.12. Rom. 8.17. And he is the first begotten amongst many brethren, Rom. 8.29.  
Wee are Christs, as the branches of that holy and true Vine, joh. 15.1. We are engrafted in the Vine by grace. We are his, and are upholden by him, as the three doth bear the branch, not the branch the three. Wee get life and sap from this Vine, and wee must bear fruit, not of ourselves, but because we abide in the Vine: For without him wee can do nothing, joh. 15.4, 5.  
Wee are his sheep, and he our chief shepherd, 1. Pet. 5.4.  
Wee are his lively Stones, and he the chief Corner-stone, on whom we must be builded, and bee made his spiritual house, 1. Pet. 2.5, 6. Heb. 3.6.  
We are his, and are as dear to him as himself: he loved us, and gave himself for us, Gal. 2.20. He loved his Church, and gave himself for it, Ephes. 5.25. he that toucheth us, toucheth the apple of his eye. Zach. 2.8. Our troubles are his, Act. 9.4. his glory is ours, 2. Thes. 1.19. and he thinks himself vncomplete, if he want vs. Who would not strive now to become Christs? 
Admonition.  It is our greatest dignity, it is our final and full felicity to bee his. Christ entreats us to be his, he calleth vpon us: he careth not although we be black and bruised, Cant. 1.5. and with sins weary and laden, Math. 12.20. and 11.28. If so be we come to be eased and washed by him.  
he saith to every one of us, 
Admonition.  as he said to his Spouse in Cant. 2.10. Arise my love, my faire one, and come away: the winter is past, the rain is gone, the flowers appear, the birds do sing. His delight is to bee with the sons of men, Pro. 8.31. Say thou again to Christ, as david said to the Lord, What am I, O Lord, that thou hast brought me to this? 2. Sam. 7.18. And with Mephibosheth, say thou to Christ, as he said to david: What am I, that thou shouldst look on me a dead dog as I am? 2. Sa. 9. Behold, Lord, thou shalt haue me, above, beyond, and before all. For whom haue I in the heaven beside thee? Psal. 73.25. I shall count all things but dung for the vantage of Christ, Phil. 3.8. And he shall be to me both in life& death my onely vantage, Phil. 1.21.   

7. Who maketh us Christs?  
IF nature did make us to be Christs, then all should be Christs, and all should crucify the flesh: and to be Christs should bee both easy and common. 
The causes of our union with Christ.  But sith it is a matter divine, so high, and so holy, and proper onely for some; we must understand who do make us Christs.  
We are Gods workmanship, 
The Father  created in Christ Iesus unto good works, Ephes. 2.10. We are the children which God hath given to Christ, Heb. 2.13. And no man can come to Christ, except the Father draw him, joh. 6.44. Of God wee are in Christ Iesus, 1. Cor. 1.30. And he which stablisheth us in Christ,& hath anointed us, is God, 2. Cor. 1.21.  
Christ gave himself for us, 
The son.  that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purge us, to be a peculiar people to himself, Tit. 2.14.  
The Holy Spirit, 
The Spirit.  that anointing, as it taught you, ye shall abide in him, 1. joh. 2.27. And they shall be all taught of God, joh. 6.45. This is the communion of the Spirit, Phil. 2.1.  
As the Trinity doth work internally: 
The Word.  So the Word and ministry work externally. The weapons of the ministerial warfare do bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2. Cor. 10.5. 
The Sacraments.  By baptism we are all baptized into Christ, and haue put on Christ, Gal. 3.27.  
The ministry traveleth in birth as a 
The ministry  woman, till Christ bee formed in vs. Gal. 4.19. The Ministers and Preachers of the Word are given by Christ, for the repairing of the Saints, and edification of the body of Christ, Ephes. 4.12, 13.  
Wee see therefore how that both God and man do concur to make us Christs. 
Admonition.  Man with the letter of the Word without; God and Christ, by the Spirit within. we want no calling vpon; wee lack no labouring vpon. God calleth, and would haue all men to bee saved, 1. Tim. 2.4. Christ stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, to come in, revel. 3.20. Shall wee still resist the holy Spirit? Shall wee still pull back the shoulder and harden our harts? Shall wee still stop our ears, as the Serpent doth at the Enchanter? Shall wee both deprive ourselves of Christ, and bring vpon ourselves swift iudgement, and everlasting wrath? Far be that from us all: yea rather, let us lift up the ports of our soul, and let the King of glory enter in. Let us renounce ourselves, that we may be his: let us be lead( by the Word, and by the Spirit) captive to his obedience: let us be hearty content that he betrothe us; and most hearty suffer ourselves to bee cut off from the wild olive, that we may bee engraffed into the true Vine.   

8. How far are we Christs?  
THe body is for the Lord, 
What part of us is Christs, viz. our Body.  1. Cor. 6.13. It is a member of his body, Ibid. It is his in the grave; and is never destitute of his Spirit, Rom. 8.11. It waiteth for the Adoption, even the redemption of the body, Rom. 8.23. he shall change it( though never so vile) that it may bee fashioned like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3.21.  
The soul is Christs: 
Our soul.  it hath salvation of him, 1. Pet. 1.9. he is the shepherd and Bishop of our souls, 1. Pet. 2.25.  
Both body and soul are his; he suffered for both; he ransomed both; he sanctifieth both, 1. Thes. 5.23. and shall glorify both.  
Our sins and debts are his, 
Our sins.  by imputation; as he is a sufferer and satisfier for them. he did bear our sins in his body on the three, 1. Pet. 2.24. He suffered for our sins, the just, for the unjust, 1. Pet. 3.18. he is the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, joh. 1.29. The Lord laid vpon him the iniquities of us all, Isa. 59.6. He made him sin for us, 2. Cor. 5.21.  
Our good works are Christs, 
Our good works.  as he is the first author and worker of them in our hearts. For Without him we can do nothing, joh. 15.5. We are Gods workmanship, created in Iesus Christ, unto good works, Ephes. 2.10.  
he is also an accepter of our good works, as if they were all done to him. A cup of could water, given to one of his little ones, he accounts the same as given to him, Math. 10.42. he claims the service of all our actions, as done to himself, Ephes. 6.5, 6. And whatsoever wee do, wee must do it hearty, as unto the Lord, Col. 3.23.  
Our sufferings are Christs, 
Our sufferings.  in that he is a Sympathizer with us, Act. 9.4. He that toucheth us, toucheth the Apple of his eye, Zach. 2.8.  
he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, 
Our infirmities.  Hebr. 4.15. So all that wee are, is his; and all that wee haue, is his. Of all our evils he doth ease, and empty us: with all his good he doth fill vs. He is ours, as our all, in all things: so every one of us is his all, in all respects. But in what degree wee are Christs, 
In what degree we are Christs.  in the degree of Election: or in what degree wee are Christs, in Gods present acceptation and estimation: or in what degree we are to be Christs, in the life to come, it is very hard to discuss; and more curious then profitable to inquire. It may very well content, even the best of us, to bee a dore-keeper in the house of God, Psal. 84.10.  
Yet we should know in what degree wee are Christs, 
Admonition.  in our apprehension of him by faith: For according as is the measure of our faith, more or less; a weak faith, or a strong faith: so, in that same measure wee find and feel ourselves to bee Christs: and according to that same degree of our faith and feeling, wee do crucify the flesh more or less. It is our part, more to know the measure and degrees of our faith, than to know in what measure and degree we are his. It may suffice us very well, that now we are the sons and daughters of God; although as yet it bee not manifest what wee shall be, 1. joh. 3.2.  
Let us strive to grow in grace and faith: let us stir up our gifts: and forget that which is behind; and endeavour our selves unto that which is before us, and follow hard toward the mache, for the prise of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus, Phil. 3.13, 14. until wee all mere together unto a perfect man; and unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ, Ephes. 4.13. And that we may daily increase with the increasing of God, Colos. 2.19.   

9. Whereto are wee Christs?  
THis so great a Dignity to bee Christs, 
The ends wherefore we must be Christs.  with so great a task following thereupon, to crucify the flesh; must haue some special ends and purposes, unto the which, and for the which, we are made Christs. And what bee those?  
That wee may bee Gods, 1. Cor. 3.22, 23. and be made partakers of the divine nature, 2. Pet. 1  
That through Christ, wee may haue an entrance to the Father, by one Spirit, Ephes. 2.18.  
That wee may be no more strangers and foreigners, but Citizens with the Saints and household of God, Eph. 2.18, 19.  
That wee may obtain this prerogative, to be the sons of God, joh 1.12. Gal. 3.27. and 4.6, 7. The heires of God, and annexed heires with Christ, Rō. 8.17. and be made unto God Kings and Priests, revel. 1.6.  
That wee may get in him redemption through his blood, Colos. 1.14. even reconciliation by the blood of that his cross, Col. 1.20.  
That we may eschew condemnation, Rom. 8.1. and bee delivered from the power of darkness, Colos. 1.13. and that principalities may bee spoyled, Col. 2.15.  
That we may obtain mercy and peace, Gal. 5.16. and the remission of our sins, Col. 1.14. and that the obligation of our debts may bee rent, Col. 2.14. 1. Cor. 1.31.  
That we may become new creatures, Gal. 6.15 2. Cor. 5.17.  
That in him we may be complete, circumcised with his circumcision; butted with him, quickened and raised, Col. 2.10, 11, 12, 13.  
That wee may walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, Rom. 8.  
That all other things in this world may bee ours, that is, for our benefit, 1. Cor. 3.22. Rom. 8.28.  
That wee may live and die to the Lord, Rom. 13.8.  
That whether wee wake or sleep, we may live together with him, 1. Thes. 5.10.  
That we may get participation of the Saints inheritance, and may bee translated unto his own glorious kingdom, Col. 1.12, 13.  
To conclude this point, the whole world do spend their life, and whole actions, vpon purposes& ends whereat they continually aim. Some intend their famed, some their gain, and some their delights. But what are all these? But shadows of far much more, even of spiritual and eternal blessings in heavenly things,& places, that those get, that are Christs.  
What can thy heart desire or need, 
Comfort.  but if thou bee Christs, thou shalt haue it, even that same very thing thou crauest, or else a far better thing? For if God spared not his own son, but gave him for us to death; how shall he not with him give us all things also? Rom. 8.32.   

10. Wee are Christs, and no others.  
but fith wee must be Christs, 
Wee are Christs, and the whole Trinities.  wee should be his alone, and no others, Math. 10.37, 38, 39.  
To be Christs, doth not hinder us to bee his Fathers, but furthers us: neither doth it stay us from being the holy Spirits. For whosoever are Christs, they do appertain to the whole Trinity. By Christ wee are the temple of God, and of the Spirit, 1. Cor. 3.16. and 6.19.  
If we be Christs, 
We are not our own.  wee are no more our own, for we are bought with a price, 1. Cor. 6.19, 20. Wee must forsake ourselves,& follow Christ, Math. 16.25. We must no longer employ our body and soul to the use of sensuality and vanity, or of fond fashions of the world; neither to walk in our own ways.  
Wee may belong to no others any more, 
We belong to no other, unless they be subordinate to Christ.  unless they bee subordinate to Christ. Yea rather, ere wee bee not Christs, wee ought to leave father, mother, sons and daughters, and the whole world, Math. 10.37. Wee may belong to father, mother, brethren, or children, so far as they hinder us not from Christ: but if they would presume to draw us from Christ, in that case wee should forsake them, although they were never so dear to vs.  
We may belong to none that are merely contrary, 
And not contrary to Christ.  or opposite to Christ.  
We may be the subiects of ungodly and vnchristian tyrants, and the sons and daughters of ungodly parents, and the feruants of wicked masters; wee are bound to serve them, and obey them in all things lawful, and in God, 1. Pet. 2.18. Eph. 6.5, 6, 7. These are not merely opposite to Christ; and the things wherein wee should obey them, do stand with the will of Christ.  
Wee should not belong to sin, 
Wee must not be sins, nor Satans, nor the worlds.  neither to Satan; because these are merely opposite to Christ. If we be Christs, wee must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, that wee should obey it in the lusts therof Neither should wee give our members as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin, Rom. 6.12. We may not walk according to the course of the world, and after the prince that ruleth in the air, Ephes. 2.2. We must not make the divell our father, in doing his lusts, joh. 8.44. For all these sin within us, 
Because they are directly opposite to Christ.  which is our corruption; and sin without us, which is the wicked course of the world; and Satan, with all his circumuentions& methodicke stratagems, Ephes. 6.11. wherewith he goeth about to snare us, are merely& directly opposite to Christ: so that none can both serve Christ, and Belial, 2. Cor. 6.15.  
Wherefore it is our special dignity and selicity to be Christs truly; 
Admonition.  and his above all others: prefer none to him; adequate none with him; join none to him, that is contrary to him: whatsoever estate thou art in, study to bee Christs. If thy estate bee high in the world, to bee Christs, will sanctify and bless that estate to thee. If thy estate bee low and abject, to bee Christs, honours thy poor estate, and makes thee joyfully and hearty content therewith.  
press not to bee Christs,& Satans too: serve not two opposite masters, Math. 6.24. be not double-harted, Iam. 4.8. Carry not two faces; but be Christs sincerely, thoroughly, and constantly.   

11. When, and where are we Christs?  
WEE were once not Christs, when wee were unwise, disobedient, deceived, serving lusts, &c. Tit. 3.3. when wee were dead in trespasses and sins, Ephes. 2.1. Colos. 2.13. Gentiles in the flesh; once far off, without Christ, Ephes. 2.11.  
We are then Christs evidently, 
Wee are Christs when we are called.  when we are effectually called. Some he taketh to himself sooner, some later: he hath his own time in his own hand, in making us to become his own, when, and where, and how it pleaseth him.  
When we are made Christs, 
Wee are Christs in life, and after death.  then we are his in life, in death, and after death, Rom. 13.8.  
Our bodies cease not to be his when wee are dead: he esteemeth thē his own, although they bee resolved into dust and ashes, Rom. 8.11. Our souls are his when wee are dead; which maketh his Saints desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, Phil. 1.23. and in their death to commend their spirit into his hands, Act. 7.59.  
Wee are Christs now, but as yet it doth not appear what wee shall be, 1. joh. 3.2. Here in this life we are his by grace; hereafter we shal bee his in glory. here we are Christs, and wee must crucify the flesh: hereafter wee shall bee his, and he shall glorify our flesh.  
Let us not therefore bee any longer Satans vassals, sins slaves, 
Admonition.  nor the worlds drudges. But into whatsoever estate God hath cast thy lot, bee thou Christs above all; give him thy heart above all; that thou mayst haue this prerogative, to be his above all. Delay no longer to become his: come out of sodom: look not back with Lots wife: strive to be his quickly: put not off till death; death giveth no warning. Become his before thou die, and thou shalt be his eternally.   

12. How is Christ ours?  
but sith that wee are Christs by a certain relation, and by a mutual union, as is specified before: wee cannot be his, unless he bee as truly ours. It would bee therefore known how he is ours.  
Christ is ours, 
How Christ is ours.  as the Spouse doth make her claim, saying, I am my Well-beloueds, and my Well-beloued is mine, Cant. 6.2.  
he is ours, and our onely and chief vantage, both in life and in death, Phil. 1.21.  
He is our Head, that quickeneth all the body, Ephes. 5.30.  
he is our Husband, most loving to his Spouse, Reu. 19.7.  
he is our Cornerstone, on whom wee are all builded, 1. Pet. 2.6.  
He is that true Vine, into the which wee are over-reached to bring forth fruit, joh. 15.1.  
he is our Food, to nourish our hungry souls. His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed, joh. 6.55.  
He is our garment, to bee put on to cover us, that our filthy nakedness do not appear, Gal. 3.2. Rom. 1.3, 14. revel. 3.  
He is our eldest Brother, yea, the first begotten amongst many brethren, Rom. 8.29.  
He is our chief shepherd, to rule and feed his wandring flock, joh. 11.14. Heb. 13.20. 1. Pet. 2.25. and 5.4.  
His God-head is ours, 
All that Christ is, is ours.  that wee may be partakers of the divine nature, 2. Pet. 1.4.  
His Humanity is ours, that he might be like us, in all things except sin, Heb. 2.17. and 4.15.  
His death is ours, to ransom us, 1. Tim. 2.6.  
His merits are ours, to justify us, 1. Cor. 1.30. Rom. 3.24. and 5.9.  
His life is ours, to quicken us, Colos. 3.3, 4.  
His Spirit is ours, to comfort us, joh. 14.16. and 15.26.  
His kingdom is ours, to glorify us, joh. 17.22.  
he is our saviour, 1. Tim. 4.10. our mediator, 1. Tim. 2.5. our advocate, 1. joh. 2.1. our Redeemer, Col. 1.14. That we all may be one, as the Father is in him, and he in the Father, that wee may bee all one in them; Christ in us, and the Father in Christ, that we may bee made perfect in one, that wee may bee there even where he is; that wee may behold that his glory, joh. 17.21, 23, 24.  
he is our All in all things, Ephes. 1.23. and 4.10. Col. 3.11.  
He is all these things to us, because his Father hath given him to us, Rom. 8.32. And he is ours also out of his own superabundant kindness, and unspeakable love, Tit. 2.14.  
He had no need that wee should be his; wee had great need that he should be ours. Wee are his by debt; he is ours by gift, joh. 4.10. He makes us his; we are not able to make him ours.  
If Christ bee thine, 
Admonition.  say with thyself, I haue the greatest gift, the gift of all gifts; and a greater gift God cannot give: for the which cause I shall bee his again, and none but Christ shall haue me.   

13. To know that we are Christs, and that he is ours.  
TO bee Christs, and Christ to be thine, thou mayst think the comfort of all comforts: and that it would not onely give thee sound peace and contentment of heart; but also move thee very much to crucify the flesh: if so be thou wert persuaded of the same, and haue the certainty of it in thy heart. How shall it therefore bee known certainly that one is Christs?  
There is no doubt but the Lord knoweth who are his, 2. Timoth. 2.19. Rom. 8.  
There is also no doubt but one may know his neighbour to be Christs, by a charitable construction, beholding his good works.  
And most necessary it is, that we all prove ourselves, if Christ bee in us, except wee be reprobates, 2. Cor. 13.5.  
But how shall one know within himself if he bee Christs? It is known by the persuasion of faith, and by the effects and fruits therof. They that are Christs, 
Testimonies to know that we are Christs.  haue their own warrant within them.  
As Christ set a mark on the fore-heads of the mourners for sin, Ezech. 9.4. So God hath sealed those that are Christs, and given thē the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts, 2. Cor. 1.22.  
That as the seruants of God are said to bee marked in the forehead, with the sign of the living God, revel. 7.2. So in Christ they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise; which is the earnest of their inheritance unto the day of Redemption, Ephes. 1.13, 14. and 4.30.  
They haue received a new name that no man knoweth, but they who haue received it, Reu. 3.12  
The Spirit of God giveth them this certificate, 
The Spirit.  that they are both Christs, and the sons of God, Rom. 8.16. And if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his, Rom. 8.9. Hereby wee know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit, 1. joh 4.13.  
The fruits of the Spirit are also certificates to us that wee are Christs, 
Fruits of the Spirit.  if wee haue the spirit of prayer& deprecation, 2. Tim. 2.19. If the same mind be in us, that was in Christ Iesus: to wit, that same mind of modesty, humility, patience, and of other Christian virtues, Phil. 2.5. whereby we do walk in the Spirit, Rom. 8.1.  
If wee depart from iniquity, 2. Tim. 2.19. and do crucify the flesh. If thou haue these fruits in any true measure, and do therein continue and grow; thou mayst bee persuaded that thou art his. Of this persuasion that thou art Christs, thou mayst make great use. Hereby thou mayst bee daily stirred and provoked to thankfulness of 
Admonition.  hart, to crucify the flesh and mortify sin at the root. Thou mayst also reap matter of unspeakable comfort and ioy, and rejoice in the Lord alway, Phil. 4.4. Thou mayst say, Who shall condemn me? Christ, whose I am, is dead for me; or rather, risen again for me; who is at the right hand of God, and maketh request for me. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? No creature shall bee able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord, Rom. 8.34, 35, 39.   

14. The estate of those that are not Christs.  
AS the godly know, 
They that are not Christs, are miserable.  that they themselves are of God; so they understand likewise, that the rest of the whole world lieth in wickedness, 1. joh. 5.19. because they are not Christs, they are dead in sins; the children of disobedience: the divell possesseth and ruleth them: the worlds fashions& course doth guide them: and as they never once think of the crucifying of the flesh: so they ever fulfil the will of the flesh, Eph. 2.1.  
They are strangers from the covenant of grace; they haue no hope, and are without God in the world, Eph. 2.12. They are by nature the children of wrath.  
And when the Lord Iesus shall show himself from the heauens with his mighty Angels, 
A threatening.  in flaming fire, he shall render vengeance unto them, 2. Thes. 1.7, 8. Psal. 110.   

15. The happy estate of them that are Christs.  
IF thou bee Christs, 
Excellency.  thou art for excellency and dignity above all others in the world: like a lily among the thorns, Cant. 2.1. Psal. 16.3. He hath made thee unto God one of his Kings and Priests, revel. 1.6.  
Thou art very comely in his sight, 
comeliness.  as one of the fairest among women, Cant. 1.8. made beautiful by his merits and spirit, without spot or wrinkle, Eph. 5.27. And with the ioy of the bridegroom toward the Bride, shall thy God rejoice over thee, Isa. 62.5. All other beauty shall fade, but thine shal increase with the increasing of God, Col. 2.19. And daily shalt thou look forth as the morning, faire as the moon, pure as the Sun, Cant. 6.9.  
The savour of the garments of thy conversation is most delicate, 
Acceptable conversation.  as the savour of Lebanon, Cant. 4.11. And all thy walkings are acceptable before God: Thou art in his eyes, as one that finds peace, Can. 8.10  
Thou art as a Garden enclosed, 
Protection.  as a spring shut up, and a fountain sealed up, Cant. 4.12.  
He shall protect thee from outward injuries, and preserve thee from secret corruptions. His love is spread into thy heart, which is like a banner over thee, Cant. 2.4. to draw thee, to direct thee, and protect thee.  
And because thou art dearly beloved; 
Comforts.  and art as a seal on his heart, and as a Signet on his arm, Cant. 8.6. in all thy fears, troubles and terrors, thou shalt delight under the shadow of his presence. Cant. 2.3. In the sense of thy wants, his presence shall support thee: he will stay thee with the flagons of his promises; and comfort thee with the apple of his graces, Cant. 2.5.  
At the last Day thou shalt arise like a pillar of smoke, 
Glorification.  perfumed with the Myrrha and Incense, and with all the chief spices of the graces of perfect sanctification, Cant. 3.6. and shalt bee quickened and raised together with Christ. Ephes. 2.5. as one of the Congregation of the first born, Heb. 12.29. unto that eternal glory, where thou shalt rest in a bed better than Salomons, Cant. 3.7. and shalt perfectly enjoy all those things that God hath prepared for them that love him. Which things eye hath not seen, no ear heard, neither haue entred into the mind of man, 1. Cor. 2.9.    

THE CHRISTIAN DVTIE.  
To crucify the flesh.  

16. The Christian dignity and duty are inseparable.  
HItherto is set down the great dignity of those excellent& stately ones That are Christs. It is not an idle prerogative. It is that greatest benefit, that bindeth all in an obligation of all duty. There is one duty here made mention of: but many more are understood by a necessary consequent, as  
In Christ to become new creatures, 
Duties of Christians.  2. Cor. 5.17. Gal. 5.14, 15.  
To walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, Rom. 8.1.  
To abstain from fornication, 1. Cor. 6.13, 15  
To rise with Christ, and seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, Colos. 3.1.  
To glorify God in body and spirit, sith we are not our own, but Christs, 1. Cor. 6.20.  
All these things do they that haue crucified the flesh, 
To crucify the flesh, what a work.  with the affections and lusts. A task indeed great, and hard. Only proper to those that are Christs, and to none others: and they only fit for it, which no other, but themselves can perform. A work both necessary& comfortable: most displeasant to us, and impossible, by nature: yet by grace made easy and delightful: and to God in Christ very acceptable.  
The matter of this work is threefold: 1. The flesh. 2. The affections. 3. The lusts.  
The form of the work, is to crucify.   

17 The flesh visible.  
THe flesh is either visible or invisible.  
The visible flesh is that which is subject to senses, and may be felt and seen: this is our body. Man is called flesh, Genesis 6.12. 
Why man and his life are called Flesh.  And this present life is called flesh, 1. Cor. 7.28.  
To resemble the life of man, as it is indeed ever in a flowing. Our flesh is ever flowing in by nourishment, and flowing out by wasting and evaporation: that what of it is emptied by this, if it be not restored with the other, it must needs perish. Three notable things within ourselves do continually warn us, that our lives are changeable, that we be every moment ready to lay it down.  
Our waking& sleeping again, for restoring of our animal spirits: Our continual beating of heart and arteries by Systole and Diastole, for repairing of our vital spirits, and our voiding, filling and feeding, for repairing of our natural spirits, and sustaining of this mass of our flesh; do show unto us, that wee all must flit, and that this house of day wherein we live, some one day will fall down about our ears.  
Flesh in the holy Scriptures, 
Diuers significations of flesh.  is often taken for that outward part of our person, the body, 2. Cor. 7.1. Sometimes again it is taken for our mortality, imbecility, and misery, 1. Tim. 3.16. 2. Cor. 10.2. Phil. 1.24. compared with Isa. 31.3.  
It is taken other times for our whole humanity, and is attributed to Christ, joh. 6.51. Act. 2.30. 1. Pet. 3.8.  
Here by this visible and external flesh, is understood our body, our bodily part of our person, which must bee crucified; not with hands of man, but by the hand of the holy Spirit: as shall hereafter be mentioned, Sect. 27.   

18. The flesh invisible.  
THe invisible flesh is not subject to the eye of the body, 
Our corruption is called flesh, and why.  but to the eye of the soul, Rom. 8.24. It is our natural corruption in sin, which is called very often flesh: but improperly, and Metonymically: not so much for that it is propagated through the flesh, or that it is nourished in the flesh; or executed by the flesh, or increased with baiting of fleshly objects. As for that, the chief end that this our corruption aimeth at, in all motions and actions, is, the sensual delights of the flesh and body. For what do the whole unregenerate in the world respect, in their sinful honors, profits, or pleasures, 1. joh. 2.16. but only the body, and such things as concern the same? never a true thought, nor care, haue they of the poor soul, nor of the immortality and salvation thereof: They mind alway earthly things, Phil. 3.19. Their wisdom is sensual and fleshly, Iam. 3.15.  
This is that flesh wherein dwelleth no good, 
The invisible flesh described by other places of Scripture.  Rom. 7.18.  
This is the law in our members, rebelling against the law of our mind: and leading us captive unto the law of sin, Rom. 7.23.  
This flesh maketh men to savour the things of the flesh, Rom. 8.5.  
This flesh is that body of sin, Rom. 6.6. That wisdom of the flesh, which is death and enmity against God, Rom. 8.6, 7.  
They that are in this flesh, cannot please God, Rom. 8.8.  
The whole world by nature are poisoned with this Sinning sin. 
Why this flesh should be crucified.  It causeth every one to become an avowed enemy against God. It is the fountain of all wickedness: It tieth men to the earth, and maketh thē slaves to their own sensuality: And finally brings every one to everlasting perdition. And therefore most needful it is that it be crucified.   

19. Affections holy.  
AFfections, 
Affections three-fold.  as they are merely natural, wee cannot want them. As they are holy, wee must needs haue them. As they are unholy, we must needs crucify them. 
Holy affections.   
As for Affections that are holy: they are always rightly moved: they exceed neither in matter, nor in measure: they are stirred by their right and proper objects: they intend ever a godly end: they are ruled by the Word, and sanctified by the Spirit. They are onely moved by that Good, that God calleth Good: and by that evil that God calleth evil.  
They embrace nothing but Good.  
They reject nothing but evil.  
They are good seruants to the soul: and burning sparks of grace to kindle piety.   

20. Affections unholy.  
unholy affections are to bee crucified. 
unholy affections what they are.  These are the affections of sins, Rom. 7.5.  
And those ungodly commotions of the soul, accompanied ever with pleasure or with pain. The soul of man is full of evil motions. For the imaginations of the thoughts of his heart are evil continually, Gen. 6.5.  
They are perturbations, and passions, stirred by our corruption, that do tyramnize over the soul, to make it slavishly serve sensuality.  
They are motions that move the soul to perpetrate sin: They haue strange force in our members; that is, 
The force of wicked affections.  amongst our faculties, Rom. 7.5. whereby the soul is moved to swell with ambition, to rise with presumption, to be dejected with desperation, to pine with envy, to fret with anger, to rage with malice, to faint in doubt, to bee puffed up with prosperity, cast down with adversity, oppressed by battels, betwixt ioy and sorrow, hope and despair, fear and care, love and hatred, and pity and rage. And ouerhaled in one instant with a tempest,& contrary tide, in a sudden change of excessive passions: as of ioy in a moment turned to sorrow: of love to hatred: and of confidence to fear, &c.  
The most part of those that do profess themselves to be Christs, 
The evil of wicked affections.  haue their souls disquieted with affections, their wit is defaced, grace is extinguished: they prove at last fools before the world: enemies to themselves: and culpable before God. That unless they will most willingly run from Christ, to their own perdition: it behoveth them of necessity to crucify their affections.   

21. Lusts spiritual.  
LVsts are either spiritual, natural, 
spiritual lusts what they are.  or sinful.  
Lusts spiritual are such as are contrary to the flesh: as the flesh lusts against them, Gal. 5.17.  
They are sanctified desires. They are engendered by the Holy Spirit. They are agreeable to Gods will. They are conversant about heavenly and holy objects. They are not to be crucified, but entertained.  
By them we haue our conversation in heaven. By them we walk not after the flesh: but after the Spirit. And by them we haue our intestine battels and victories against the lusts of the flesh.   

22. Lusts natural.  
LVsts natural, 
Lusts natural what they are.  are such as are common to all, both to those that are Christs, and to those that are not Christs. And are such as merely nature prescribeth,( nature I understand in so far as it is not vitiate) as the lusting for things lawful, necessary, moderate, they are more to be called natural desires then lusts: and are in themselves indifferent. As those lusts are that concern the lawful use of meate and drink, and such things as appertain to the necessity and honesty of this life. These lusts are not to be crucified, but moderate.   

23. Lusts sinful.  
LVsts spiritual are proper to those that are Christs. Lusts sinful are proper to those that are not Christs.  
Lusts sinful, are those, that they that are Christs haue crucified.  
Lust is taken sometimes generally, 
sinful lust twofold.  for original sin and natural corruption; and then it is all one with the flesh. Sometimes it is taken more specially, for those sinful desires that do spring from our flesh and corruption; and are stirred up, and set forward by wicked affections; and are practised by the members of the body. james the Apostle, Epist. 1.14. sets down six particular points in the process of human temptations, 
The process of human temptations.  whereof Concupiscence is the ground; and is that same, that flesh is in this place. The drawing and baiting of the heart by alluring objects, are two sinful affections. The conceiving of sin, and traveling therewith, are the twofold rage of reigning lusts, and here are to bee understood, and by those that are Christs to be crucified. The finishing of sin, and bringing forth of death, are all those external evils both culpae& paenae that do fall, and follow vpon the flesh, the affections& lusts, if they be not in time crucified.   

24. The nature of these wicked lusts.  
THey are called the lusts of the flesh, 1. 
sinful lusts, what they are.  joh. 2.6. Eph. 2.3. Gal. 5.16. 1. Pet. 2.11.  
They are called the lusts of the world, Tit. 2.12. 2. Pet. 1.4.  
They are called mens own proper lusts, 2. Pet. 3.3. 2. Tim. 4.5.  
They are also called the lusts of vncleannes, 2. Pet. 2.10. the lusts of the eyes, 1. joh. 2.16. the lusts of corruption, 2. Pet. 1.4. the lusts of men, 1. Pet. 4.2. evil lusts, Colos. 3.5. deceiving lusts, Ephes. 4.22. 
The force of wicked lusts.   
These are the lusts which fight against the soul, 1. Pet. 2.11. A reprobate mind is given up to these lusts, Rom. 1.24. The wicked give obedience to these lusts, Rom. 6.12. and are lead with many noisome& foolish lusts, 1. Tim. 6.9.  
This doth declare in what danger they live and die in, that crucify not their lusts, and are not Christs.   

25. What is it to crucify the Flesh.  
TO crucify the flesh, and to mortify the flesh, 
Sanctification hath two parts.  are all one. It is the former part of our sanctification; as vivification or resurrection to a new life, is the other part thereof, Eph. 4.23. Tit. 2.12.  
To crucify the flesh, 
To crucify, what it is.  is a metaphorical phrase, alluding unto the crucifying of the body of any one that is condemned to die, by that form of death of malefactors: or because it must bee according to the similitude of Christs crucifying, Rom. 6.5. Or most of all, because it must be done by that virtue that is in the cross of Christ, and communicated to us by the Spirit. For if we be planted with him unto the similitude of his death: even so shall wee be unto the similitude of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth wee should not serve sin, Rom. 6.5, 6.  
The very proper meaning of this crucifying of the flesh is this, 
What is meant by crucifying.  according to the Apostles counsel.  
Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts therof, Rom. 6.12.  
Let not sin haue dominion over you, vers. 14. Let sin bee subdued and destroyed, vers. 6. serve sin no longer, vers. 16. Become free of sin, vers. 18. Cease from sin, 1. Pet. 4.1. and do all this by the onely virtue and power of Christs death& cross, Rom. 6.1, &c. and by a true conformity therewith, Phil. 3.10.  
This crucifying of the flesh importeth necessary the other part of our Sanctification, 
The crucifying of the flesh is inseparable from a new life.  to wit, a rising to a newness of life, without the which, the other cannot be a true& a right crucifying, Col. 3.9, 10. so as they that are Christs, haue crucified the flesh: even so likewise they haue risen to a newness of life, Rom. 6.5, 11, 18.   

26. How the internal flesh, affections and lusts, are to be crucified.  
THe crucifying of the flesh depends vpon our union with Christ: 
The crucifying of the flesh depends on Christs union with us:  our union with Christ, is by faith, Eph. 3.17. By faith he is ours, and we are his. By faith we apprehended in Christs death and cross, both merit and virtue. By the merit of his cross wee are justified: by the virtue of his cross we do crucify our flesh. 
And on the power of his cross.  The power of his cross is effectual in us, by the secret operation of his holy Spirit: so that our old man is crucified with Christ, Rom. 6.6. We are crucified with Christ, Gal. 2.20.  
The holy Spirit stirreth up the faith of those that are Christs, 
How Christs cross works in vs.  by a considering or judging with themselves, 2. Cor. 5.14 and conceiving a disdainfulness at sin; 
Hatred of sin, how wrought in vs.  and a thankfulness to Christ.  
A disdainfulness at sin, is conceived in the consideration of Christs cross: when as wee think earnestly vpon Christ, so innocent, and so great in dignity, &c. and vpon his cross so cursed, so shameful, and so painful; accompanied with the most horrible sense of Gods anger; we conceive a detestation and hatred at sin, being so infinite and great an evil in itself, that it could no otherwise bee expiated, but by the facred blood of the most High God, Act. 20.28. And hereupon wee are moved more and more, both to disdain it, and to dis-haunt it; yea, by time to kill it, and to bury it, that it haue no more power in us to reign in our mortal bodies.  
A great point of thankfulness to Christ is likewise conceived, 
thankfulness how wrought.  in the right meditation of Christs cross. Wee see in Christs cross the most excellent benefit of our redemption, the greatest beneficence of the greatest Benefactor: even that bountifulness of that love of God our saviour, Tit. 3.4. when wee were of no strength, he died for the ungodly, Rom. 5.6. He loved us,& washed us in his blood, from our sins, revel. 1.5. There is no greater love, than this his love, whereby he gave his life for us, joh. 15.13. It passeth all knowledge, Ephes. 3.19.  
It pleaseth God by his holy Spirit, to  shed abroad this love in our hearts, Rom. 5.5. which when wee feel, it constraineth us, 2. Cor. 5.14.  
That we henceforth live not unto ourselves, but unto him that died for us, and rose again, 2. Cor. 5.15.  
arraign therefore with expedition, 
An admonition alluding to the cross of Christ.  thy flesh, thy affections and lusts, unto the consistory of thy conscience: try and judge them by the Word: convince and condemn them most justly to be crucified with Christ.  
lead them forth without the camp of thy heart, unto the vilest Golgotha, there to suffer.  
Strip them naked of all their false external vestures of profit, pleasure and honour, with all their deceitfulness; that their filthy nakedness may appear, to their further detestation.  
crucify thy affections, and fix them by faith vpon the cross of Christ; who is that three of life, revel. 22. which giveth death unto sin, but life and health to his own.  
Curse them from thy heart, and hate them with a most deadly hatred.  
give them to drink the bitterest Aloes of a contrite heart.  
Cease not from crucifying, them till they bee fully dead.  
Then bury them with Christ, until they bee thoroughly wasted and consumed.  
At last lift up thy heart& head with ioy, unto thy Redeemer, and say confidently, Now I know that my Well-beloued is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies, Cant. 2.16. For I hate them that hate thee( chiefly sin and Satan) with an unfeigned hatred, as they were my utter enemies, Psalm. 139.22. and for thy sake I haue crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. And because I delight and rejoice in nothing so much as in thy cross: I am likewise crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to me. As the world despiseth me for thy cross sake; so by the virtue and power of that same cross, I despise the world, Galat. 4.16. yea, for thy sake I count my greatest vantage to bee loss, and do esteem all things but dung to gain thee, Phil. 3.8. And all ye that love the Lord, hate evil, Psalm. 97.10. And let us all walk worthy of the Lord, Colos. 1.10. and of that great vocation and estate wherein wee are called to bee his, Ephes. 4.1. And let us, with those ten thousand times ten thousand,& thousand thousand of Angels, say with our hearts, Worthy is the lamb that was killed, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and praise, revel. 5.11, 12, 13.   

27. How the external flesh, and body is to be crucified?  
TO crucify the flesh, 
What it is to crucify the body.  is not to put violent hands into the body; as did Achitophel and Iudas. Neither is it, to plague it with needless and superstitious austerities; of watchings, fastings, nakedness, pilgrimages, scurgings, &c. As parts of that papistical penall-satisfaction for appeasing of divine wrath: which things haue indeed a show of wisdom, in a voluntary religion, and humbleness of mind, and in not sparing the body, Col. 2.23. But to crucify the bodily flesh, is to abstain from all things, so far as it may serve to obtain that incorruptible crown: To beat down the body, and to bring it to subiection, 1. Cor. 9.25, 27. If wee give the body too much, we feed a foe: if too little, wee kill a friend. The necessity of the body( not the superfluity) is to bee regarded. It must serve and not command: The seruant must not bee preferred to the Master. It is a shane to any to be a slave to his own body. every one should say with himself: Maior sum,& ad maiora genitus, quàm vt sim mancipium corporis mei, Senec. epist. 66. I am greater, and born to a greater estate, then I should become a slave to my body.  
Wee should always be conversant with our best and divine part: 
Admonition.  but with that querulous& fragill part, seldom: and onely vpon necessity. What needs the prisoner haue such care of his prison? whilst thou livest in the body, live not for the body: Hold it under obedience. If it be pampered, it will repined: delicately to entertain it, is to quench fire with gunpowder. By external abstinence and exercises, fit it for internal mortification.  
accustom thyself to command thy delights. Shun all that are unlawful In those that are lawful, keep a measure. sustain and abstain. give thy body nothing, that thy conscience bids withhold. Be not so like Martha, to the body, as like Mary, for the soul.   

28. To crucify the flesh, &c. is with difficulty and pain.  
THe word itself ( crucify) sheweth that this work cannot bee without difficulty and pain. And as it is not done in one moment, so it is not done with a wish. There must bee a labour, a business, a travell in the dolours of the new birth.  
Such two old entire friends, as is the Flesh, 
The crucifyng of the flesh beginneth at sorrow for sin.  and the Spirit, cannot part company, without tears. The old man cannot bee mortified, without the sorrow of a contrite spirit. The foreskin of our flesh cannot be circumcised, without some sense of secret grief.  
We cannot be delivered of our false conception of that body of sin, without some manifest dolour.  
If thou wouldest therfore rightly attempt the crucifying of the flesh, 
Admonition.  &c. thou must begin at a humbled heart: thou must sow in tears, that thou mayst reap in ioy: Psal. 126.5. Thou must not think to fly the wrestlings, without a wounded conscience. Thou must sorrow to Godward: and suffer some secret pangs of the sense of thy own sins, and Gods wrath: and of battels betwixt the flesh and the Spirit.  
Thou must lament before the Lord; that thou hast been so long in beginning to crucify the flesh. Thou wilt find many secret perplexities in parting with thy domestic gods, thy fond affections& lusts.  
whosoever haue not found within themselves, these secret terrors, dolours and battels, as yet they haue not known, nor felt what it is to crucify the flesh, &c.  
But here is thy comfort; 
Comfort.  If thou hast crucified that old man, thy sorrow shall be turned to ioy, thy battels to peace: and thy terrors to comforts, which are unspeakable and glorious.   

29. Who do crucify the flesh?  
SOme do cherish their flesh, 
Only they that are true Christians do crucify the flesh.  affections and lusts, as the Epicure. Some do cross a little their flesh& affections, as the Moralist. Some do curse them, as the desperate.  
The Hypocrite may cover or colour his flesh and affections, but he cannot crucify them. But none do crucify them, but they that are Christs.  
It is one thing to restrain or bridle the flesh and the lusts, and another thing to crucify them. Only a true Christian, who is Christs indeed, doth truly crucify his corruption and lusts. It may be said to him, as the angel said to Gedeon: The Lord is with thee, thou valiant man, judge. 6.12. The sword of the Lord and of Gedeon against jericho, judge. 7.20. So, The sword of the Spirit, and of a Christian against sin, to crucify the flesh and the lusts, &c.  
Many points of our fleshly corruption; many lusts and affections may lye long hide and sleeping within men; because they want occasion of objects and temptations to stir them and awake them. But this sleeping of affections, is not the crucifying of affections. Onely those that are Christs, do crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts.   

30. Who crucify them not? 
They that are not Christs cannot crucify the flesh.   
whosoever are not Christs they cannot crucify the flesh; they haue neither seeing eyes, nor feeling hearts, to perceive their flesh and affections. Without Christ, they can do nothing: without Christ, they are merely natural, sensual, carnal, and in great confederacy with their lusts and flesh. Their amity and wisdom, is enmity against God: the body cannot live without the head: the branch cannot bear fruit without the three: the house cannot stand without the cornerstone: no more can they that are without Christ, crucify their flesh, affections& lusts. They are enemies of Christs cross, whose end is damnation, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is to their shane; which mind earthly things, Phil. 3.19.  
They that are without Christ, 
To restrain sin, is not to crucify sin.  may hid sin and restrain sin: but cannot crucify sin. Many corruptions may bee lurking within them, and as yet not awaked. Many I haue seen walking, eating, drinking, going abroad, attending their affairs, their mirth,& their pastime: and yet having within their body with many secret sleeping obstructions, corruptions, shirrouses, malignities, ready to be impregnat and stirred up, and to become most painful, dangerous and deadly diseases. So may those that are without Christ haue their flesh, affections and lusts in many points, lying in a drowsiness, and brought asleep for a time: this is not to haue the flesh in any wise crucified.  
They may haue their flesh and affections restrained: their office, education, imitation, affection, fear, ingenuity of nature, infancy, age, sex, moral virtues, and the general and common repressing gifts of the Spirit, may bridle their flesh and lusts in many degrees: and yet never a whit truly crucified. 
Admonition.   
Let us not therefore think ourselves the more happy, or the more to be Christs: for all our simplo restraint of sin, conformity of Christian manners, stoping of grosser sins, civil or moral carriage, faire and seemly fashions, unless by the virtue of Christs cross we do mortify sin at the root: and except wee find sensible, that nothing in this whole world moves us more to crucify sin, and beate down any corruption or lust in us; as the special consideration of the power of Christs cross.   

31. How far can the flesh, &c. be crucified?  
THe body may most of all be easily crucified, 
It is easier to crucify the body, than the lusts: and the lusts, than the affections.  by beating it down, and holding it under some obedience of abstinence and austerity,& weening it from many delights.  
Lusts again are more easily crucified than affections; because they are more near the external body, and actions thereof: affections again hardlier are crucified than lusts. But the flesh itself, 
The internal flesh is most hardly crucified.  that body of death, and sin, most hardly of all: for it is the strong root, out of the which the rest doth spring up. And yet none of all these can be truly crucified, unless they al bee crucified in some true measure& degree.  
Many branches of our lusts haue been cut, and yet spring again: many quenched, yet kindled again: many affections subdued, yet rebelling again: because the root( the flesh) hath yet never been rightly rooted out.  
The flesh can never bee fully and perfectly crucified, 
The flesh cannot bee perfectly crucified.  so long as we are in this tabernacle of day. They that are Christs, must not bee tried by perfect sanctification. sin will remain, though not reign. Wee must see and feel our corruption, but not walk after it: yet while wee are disclaiming it, it will bee disquieting us; and while wee are mourning for it, it will still be marring vs.  
And although Sarah and Hagar bee dwelling in the house of Abraham, Hagar must bee subject to Sarah; or else both Hagar& her children must bee cast out, Gen. 16.6.   

32. When do we crucify the flesh,& c?  
IT is once truly begun, 
Our whole life should be a crucifying of sin.  but never in this life fully finished. For as the inward man is renewed daily, 2. Cor. 4.16. So the outward man( the flesh) is crucified daily. And although the Apostle useth the praeterit time, whereby he understandeth the true beginning of this work: yet so long as wee live, the continual practise of it remaines, and shall not bee finished until death.  
The mortified romans are still exhorted to mortify the lusts of the body, Rom. 8. The renewed Ephesians and Colossians are willed to do the same, Ephes. 4.22. Col. 3.8. We must still be doing this work, wee must crucify the flesh, and crucify it again. 
Admonition.  Let us be doing this ever without intermission. There will ever remain some parts of the root of sin; out of the which, some new& noisome branches will spring out, unless we be stil crucifying: until the time we see God face to face, we will ever see another law in our members, repugning against the law of our mind, Rom. 7.23. Against the which we must haue a continual battle; which also by the power of Gods Spirit wee must be still crucifying; and continually wee must endeavour, 
Our imperfection.  that as the flesh and the Spirit( our unregenerate and regenerate parts) are never fully sundered: they both concur in place and action: they are mixed through all, and in all our natural faculties and actions; whereby all our best works are imperfect. So I say, wee should endeavour so to crucify the flesh, that the Spirit may haue the pre-eminence in all things; although with some opposition, and contagion of the flesh, 1. joh. 5.45.  
Hereof it followeth, that both we, and all our best works are but imperfectly good; 
Our perfection.  yet wee are acceptable before God, through Iesus Christ, 1. Pet. 2.5. All our perfection is but either comparative, being compared with the ungodly; or imputative, being ours in Christ; or inchoatiue, being begun by the Spirit: or affectiue, more in the affection, than effective in action.   

33. Why must the flesh, &c. be crucified?  
but what? may wee not be Christs, and do as we please? what need is there, to those that are Christs, to crucify the flesh? May we not turn the grace of God to wantonness? may wee not sin, that grace may abound? Is there such a necessity that wee must crucify the flesh?  
Truly a necessity lieth vpon us, 
To crucify the flesh, &c. a thing most necessary.  to crucify the flesh; for unless we kill sin, it will kill vs.  
The flesh lusts against the Spirit, Galat. 5.17. wee must crucify the flesh, that wee may live in the Spirit. They that are in the flesh, cannot please God, Rom. 8.8. carnal men walk as men in the works of the flesh, 1. Cor. 3.3. If we live after the flesh, we shall die. Rom. 8.13. Fleshly lusts do fight against the soul, 1. Pet. 2.  
They that sow to the flesh, of the flesh shall reap corruption, Gal. 6. And they that do not crucify the flesh,& the works thereof, shall not inherit the kingdom of God, Gal. 5.19, 21.  
It stands us therefore vpon the peril of condemnation, 
Admonition.  if we do not crucify truly the flesh. Who can live with a deadly foe, from whom they cannot fly, unless they make battle to overthrow him? Who can willingly keep a Scorpion in their bosom, and not kill it? Our flesh and affections and lusts, must either bring on us an eternal curse, or else we must in time crucify them. We must consume all those, which the Lord our God doth give us to consume: Deut. 7.16. compared with 13.6. And if our dearest friend( which is as our own soul) entice us secretly to sin, our eye should not pity him, but even kill him. This was an ordinance to the people of Israel, to save thē from offending of God. This same in effect should we do with our intestine enemies, the fleshly affections and lusts, our greatest seducers to offend God. Agag and the Amalekites of our flesh, even our affections, whom God commands to be killed, must not bee spared, 1. Sā. 15.3. Let us show herein our greatest obedience to God, and the most allowed zeal of Phineas, in killing and crucifying the vilest Zimri and Cozbi of our lusts, Numb. 25.   

34 A conclusion for those that are Christs.  
HEre is the dignity& duty of a Christian described. His dignity, is to bee Christs. His duty is, to crucify the flesh. 
Many sorts of false Christians.  As for the Christian dignity: Many carry the name of a Christian to their condemnation; because they will not be truly Christs to their own salvation. Many haue the face and the mouth of a Christian; but neither the heart nor hand of a Christian. Some are enemies to Christ, open or secret. Some are Christs, onely in show; but not in substance: in appearance onely, and not so in effect. Some are but almost his, with Agrippa, Act. 26.28. and not far from the kingdom of God, with the discreet Scribe, Mark. 12.34. Some intend to become Christs: and are onely his in a naked purpose, but not in practise. 
The false Christian described.  Some would be Christs, but not peremptorily: onely with reservations, and certain conditions: To crucify their flesh or to deny themselves, they would haue excepted: If, to forsake the worlds vanities, customs, abuses, and sinful fashions were permitted: and if to shun all crosses, and become a temporizer, were things tolerable and indifferent. They would be Christs, if the word, repentance, faith, conscience, and all piety, were subordinate to their humour; or might stand without prejudice of their fleshly affections, and lusts. All, almost will do violence to the kingdom of God, and will be Christs, until it come to the swine of their lusts, with the Gadarenes, Luke 8.37. then he must depart. The sacrilegious, the adulterers, the envious, ambitious, malicious, avaricious, &c. will bee Christs, they will serve two masters, erect two opposite kingdoms within them, Gods and Satans.  
They will haue their light to haue a communion with darkness: And Christ to bee in concord with Belial, 2. Cor. 6.14.  
But( alas) are not all these strongly deluded? They deceive themselves in their own imagination: thinking with themselves to be something, when they are nothing, and worse then nothing, Gal. 6.3. And many( if they had the occasion and means) with all the nerves of their hart, would aspire to become great in the world: But who doth take thought to attain to the greatest good, 
Very few are true Christians. & best greatness, to bee Christs? Wee see our calling, how that not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble( yet some) are called. But God hath chosen the worlds foolish, weak, vile, and naughty things, to confounded the wise, mighty, precious & worthy things thereof, 1. Cor. 1.26. Earthly prerogatives are in price: worldly dignities are hunted after. But who doth regard that most excellent prerogative; To be the sons of God, joh. 1.12? And that their right may bee in the three of life, revel. 22.14? The most part therefore see not their misery, and fear not that condemnation that hangeth above their heads.  
Let us above al things endeavour to become Christs truly and constantly. 
An exhortation that men may become true Christians.  Let us esteem it the highest dignity, the greatest felicity, the sweetest contentment, the surest peace, and the most unspeakable& glorious ioy to be Christs. Without him, thy blessings are curses; thy light is darknesses; thy glory is but shane; thy life is but a death; and all thy hope is perdition. But if thou be Christs, thou thyself and all that thou hast, is blessed: thy crosses are for thy good; all things are thine, and for thy comfort. With a cheerful heart( filled with the ioy of the holy Spirit) thou mayst look down to thy sins, as pardonned: look up to God, as reconciled: look into thyself, as the heir of God: and look up to heaven, as thy dwelling place and endless paradise: and finally, delight thyself more in this, that thou art Christs, thē in a thousandworlds beside. So hear, that thou mayst bee his: so strive, that thou mayst be his: so live, that thou may be his: and so die, that thou mayst be his.   

35. A conclusion for the crucifying the flesh, &c.  
AS for the duty of a Christian( the crucifying of the flesh) the most part are far from 
Impediments that stay the crucifying of the flesh.  this point. They are so sunk deep in rebellion, Isa. 31.6. so accustomend to evil, that they can do no good: they cannot change their Morian blackness, nor Leopard spots, jer. 13.23. They are past feeling,& senselessly do boil in their lusts& affections, Eph. 4.18. They are like the wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind by occasion at her pleasure, &c. jer. 2.24.  
Some do hid and cover their flesh, 
Diuerssorts of the false crucifying of the flesh, &c.  affections and lusts, under hypocrisy. Some do restrain them at times by some occasions and respects. Some do entertain them within, and keep them in, from breaking forth into capital& groser impieties: as into murder, adultery, incest, theft, &c. yet they permit them to haue a full vent unto lesser sins: as unto anger, envy, 
The flesh doth crucify us to our damnation.  contempt, backbiting, forged cavillation, private injuries, &c. We can suffer nothing that toucheth our name, our goods, or persons; no delightful objects are refrained; no temptations are resisted. It is a shane to see what slaves we are to ourselves, and what obedience wee give to sin unto death, Rom. 6.16.& how far the flesh, affections and lusts do crucify us, and wee not them. Beside that, our affections& lusts breed us many incurable and dangerous diseases, and make much disquietness to the mind; they produce the greatest wickednesses unnatural cruelties and vileness, and procure endless wrath to themselves: whose end is damnation, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is to their shane, which mind earthly things, 
An exhortation to crucify the flesh.  Phil. 3.19.  
If wee bee therefore Christs, or would become Christs: Let us condemn ourselves, that we haue walked so unworthy of him, and for that we haue preferred our flesh and lusts to him, and given too great a testimony that we are not Christs. If we be Christs, let us account him dear to us, as we are to him. Let us apply his death and cross to our harts; that as by the merit thereof wee get our sins pardonned; so by the virtue of the same wee may haue thē also mortified. Look vpon him whom thou hast pierced,& lament for him, as one mourneth for his onely son; and bee sorry for him, as one is for his first born, Zach. 12.10. And so detest sin to the death: fear Gods wrath, rejoice greatly in thy ransom, and in nothing more; and let this ioy stir up thy heart both to crucify thy flesh,& the world to thyself, and thyself to them, Gal. 6.14. Let his love sharpen thy love: Cos amoris amor, Pro. 8.17. His love is without paragon. It ever standeth in the Zenith. he loved us unto the death. Greater love than this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life on his friends, joh. 15.13. He is rich in mercy, Ephes. 2.4. His love passeth all knowledge, Eph. 3.19. It is everlasting, and inseparable from us,& we from it, jer. 31.3. Rom. 8.35. It is neither hide, neither treasured up only in his Word; but  shed abroad into our hearts by the Spirit, Rom. 5.5. Wee must know it, and sensibly feel it, Eph. 3.19. That by these cords of man, and bands of love, Hos. 11.4. he may draw us to himself, and that wee may come to him both weeping, jer. 31.9. and rejoicing with ioy unspeakable& glorious, 1. Pet. 1.8. even rejoicing in trembling, Psal. 2.11. because of that great consolation in Christ, and comfort of love, Phil. 3.1. And having our harts constrained by his love, 2. Cor. 5.14. that we may crucify these both his and our most deadly enemies. God of his superabundant mercy grant, that we may once truly become Christs,& that both in him,& by him, and for him, wee may crucify the flesh, the affections and lusts, Gal. 5.24.  
FINIS.