S. JOH. XV. 4.

Abide in Me, and I in you.

Here is,

N Exhortation or Command; Abide in me.

I. Awhat is it to abide in Chrift?

1. Chrift is the true Vine.

1. Small in outward Appearance, Isa. liii. 3. 2. Spending itself for others.

3. Refreshing the Hearts of People, Pfal. civ. 15.

4. Trod in the Wine-prefs of GOD's Anger, Ifa. Ixiii. 2, 3.

5. The Root and Stock from whence all Influence comes into the Branches, S. Joh.

XV. 5.

2. The Father is the Husbandman,

1. Who planted this Vine, even appointed
Christ for our Saviour, Act. ii. 23.
2. Engrafts the Branches, S. Joh. vi. 44. Rom.
xi. 23.

3. Prunes and purges them, Ifa. v. 1, 2. S.Joh.

XV. 2.

3. All Profeffors are Branches of this Vine. 1. As having no Subfiftence in themselves, but only in the Stock, Chrift Jefus. 2. And therefore, it is as neceflary for them to be united to Him, as it is for Branches to be in the Tree, S. Joh. xv. 5. 4. All these Branches are not of one Sort, for fome are in Him,

1. Only by external Profession, and bear no Fruit, S. Joh. xv. 2.

2. Others

2. Others by real Union, bearing Fruit, Verses 2, 5.

This Union to Chrift is,

1. Spiritual, Ephef. v. 32.

2. Real, S. Joh. xv. 1. and 6. 55.

3. Immediate, A&t. ix. 4. 1 Cor. xii. 12.
4. Neceflary, Phil. iii. 8, 9.

5. Effectual, S. Joh. xv. 2.

5. Believers fhould abide in Christ. Reasons,

1. Because of the neceffary Dependence of our Fruitfulness, upon our abiding in Chrift; for we can bear no Fruit without Him, ver. 4.

1. We can do nothing accceptable with-
out Him, Prov. xv. 8. becaufe,

2. We can do nothing, in itself Good,
without Him, S. Joh. vi. 44. 2 Cor.
iii. 5. Phil. ii. 13.
For without Him,

1. Our Understandings are dark, Ephef.
v. 8. I Cor. ii. 14.

2. Our Wills perverse, Rom. i. 24. Fer.
xvii. 9.

But in Him we may abound in Fruit, ver. 5.
because if we be in Him, His Spirit
will diffuse itself into us;

1. Clearing our Apprehenfions, Ephef.
v. 8.

2. Reforming our Judgments, Ifa. v.

20.

3. Awakening our Confciences, A&t.

xxiv. 16.

4. Cleansing our Hearts, A&t. xv. 9.
5. Rectifying our Wills, Pfal. cxix. 36.
6. Ordering our Affections, Coloff. iii. 2.
1. Fear,

:

1. Fear, Prov. xxiii. 17.
2. Love, S. Matt. xxii. 37.
3. Grief, 2 Cor. vii. 19.
4. Joy, Phil. iv. 4.

5. Truft, Prov. iii. 5, 26.

7. Regulating our Lives and Actions Pfal. 1. 23.

So as,

1. They be grounded on GOD's Word, Ifa. i. 12.

2. Directed to His Glory, I Cor. X. 31. 2. Reason.

If we abide not in Him, we shall be caft
out, ver. 6. for, without abiding in
Christ,
1. Our Sins cannot be pardon'd, Ephef.

i. 7.

2. Nor our Lufts fubdu'd, S. Matt. i. 21. 3. Nor GOD's Wrath appeas'd, I S. Joh. ii. I.

3. Reafon.

If we do abide in Him, our Prayers shall be granted; for,

1. He will give us His Spirit to direct us what we fhould pray for, Rom. viii. 26, 27. S. Joh. xvi. 26.

2. In Him we are interested in the Promia fes, 2 Cor. i. 20.

3. He will make Interceffion for us, Hebr vii. 25. S. Joh. xv. 26, 27.

USES.

1. Examine whether you be in Christ. If you be in Him,

1. You must needs believe, Ephef. iii. 17

2. - love Him, S. Luk. xiv. 26.

3. You must needs prize Him above all other Things, Phil. iii. 8, 9.

be new Creatures, 2 Cor. v. 17. walk according to His Laws, Rom. viii. 1. S. Joh. xiv. 15. 1 S. Joh. v. 3.

2. Exhortation; Abide in Chrift. 1. The Means thereunto;

1. Reading of His Word, S. Joh. xv. 7. 2. Hearing it, Rom. X. 17.

3. Praying to Him, S. Jam. i. 5. S. Matt. vii. 7.

4. Receiving His Sacraments.

5. Meditation on Him, Coloff. iii. 1, 2. Phil.

iii. 20.

1. His Perfon, 1 Tim. ii. 5.
2. His Actions, Act. x. 38.
3. His Paffion, Ifa. liii. 5.
4. His Merit, Act. xx. 18.

5. His Interceffion, Hebr. vii. 25.

2. The Motives; If you abide in Him;
1. Your Sins fhall be pardon'd, Ifa̸. liii.

6, II.

2. There fhall be no Condemnation to you, Rom. viii. 1.

3. He will adorn your Souls with all His Graces, Hebr. i. 9.

4.

keep you from Temptations, or ftrengthen you under them, S. Luk. xxii. 31, 32.

5. If you abide in Him now, you shall abide with Him for ever, S. Job.

xvii. 24.

6. If you abide in Him, He will abide in you. Which is,

II. The Promife, or Encouragement. Abide in me, and I will abide in you.

How

How will He abide in us? 1. Negatively.

1. Not perfonally, as if there were any Confusion of Beings.

2. Not bodily, Coloff. iii. 1.

3. Not formally, as if He was the Form of our Souls, Coloff. ii. 20.

2. Pofitively.

1. Invisibly, yet really, S. Joh. vi. 55, 56.
2. Spiritually, Gal. ii. 20. Ephef. iii. 17.
3. Myftically, S. Joh. xiv. 20, 21. Ephef. v.32.
Sacramentally, 1 Cor x. 16.

4.

5. Operatively, Coloff. iii. 11. Phil. iv. 13.
S. Job. xv. 5. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. by His Spi-
rit, I S. Joh. iv. 13. which is,

1. An illuminating, Ephef. i. 17, 18, 19.
Pfal. cxix. 18.
cleanfing.

2.

3.

4.

5.

USE.

fanctifying, Ezek. xxxvi. 27.
guiding, Rom. viii. 14.

fealing Spirit, Rom. viii. 15, 16.

Strive to have Chrift abiding in you; for if fo, then all Good abides in you, and you fhall abide with Him.