by George Swinnock
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CHRISTIAN READER,—There are two things which should be of highest regard with us, a serviceable life, and a comfortable death; and they are both so inseparably conjoined, that in vain do we hope for the one without the other. Which of these is to be preferred, was a doubt which put the apostle to an anxious disquisition. On the one side there was service, on the other side there was gain. If he lived, he should preach Christ, if he died, he should enjoy Christ, and remain with him for ever; therefore Paul was at a stand, and knew not what to determine. Surely he had a holy heart that could thus set duty against enjoyment, and think his service worthy to come into competition with his spiritual and eternal interests! That which made Paul so indifferent and incurious as to the means, was the resolved fixing of his scope—his end and scope was Christ's glory. Now, it was all one to him how God would use him to such a purpose; as a man that is resolved upon a journey, taketh the way as he findeth it, fair or foul; it is enough that it leadeth him to his journey's end; so Christ might be glorified, either by his ministry, or by martyrdom, Paul was indifferent; it was enough that Christ should be glorified. None have such an unfeigned respect to Christ's glory but those that live in the communion of his life. Men's tendency is according to the principle by which they are acted; carnal men, that act by their own life, and live upon their own root, bring forth fruit to themselves. Water riseth no higher than its fountain; but those that have life from Christ, use it for him; to them to live is Christ; as they live in him, and by him, so they live for him, and to him. We need then to take all occasions to press men to get into Christ, that they may live in the communion of his life, and in the strength and influence of it be carried out to his glory. This is that which will make life serviceable, and death sweet; and to this we need to be pressed by all kind of arguments both those which are taken from God's relation to us, as also those which are taken from our expectations from him, Rom. 14:8. We are all the Lord's by every kind of right and title, and therefore owe all manner of service to him, even though nothing should come of it; but they that do the Lord's work will not want his wages; though he might require our service out of mere sovereignty, yet he condescendeth to propound a reward, and that so full and ample, that it should ravish our hearts every time we think of it. These considerations, which I have here loosely discoursed of, are notably improved in the ensuing treatise, which being communicated to me by a friend of the author, I could not but return it with this character, that it is a discourse grave and judicious, and yet quickened with such warmth and vigour of illustration, as that it may be of great use to awaken men unto more seriousness in the great concernments of their souls, among which nothing can be more momentous than our living in Christ, that we may live to him, and then with him for evermore. This being signified, I leave thee to the work itself, which I cannot but judge to proceed from one both of a good head and heart, and profess myself
Thine in the service of the gospel,
THO. MANTON.
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Table of Contents
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
TOTHE READER
PREFACE
I. The division of the chapter, and interpretation of the text
II. The doctrine, That such as have Christ for their life, gain by death, with the explication of the phrase, 'To me to live is Christ'
III. What privative gain the Christian hath by death
IV. What positive gain a Christian hath by death
V. The difference betwixt a sinner and a saint at death
VI. The sinner's privative misery at death
VII. The positive part of a sinner's misery at death
VIII. A second use of trial, with motives to enforce it
IX. The marks of a true Christian from the text
X. Other marks of saints
XI. The third use—viz., Exhortation to mind spiritual life
XII. The life in Christ must be minded speedily, with the grounds of it
XIII. This life in Christ must be minded diligently, with some motions to it
XIV. The first direction for the attaining a spiritual life, Illumination
XV. The second help to a spiritual life, Humiliation
XVI. The third help to a spiritual life, Application of, or affiance on, Jesus Christ
XVII. The fourth help, Dedication to God
XVIII. Two other helps, The word and prayer
XIX. Motives to mind this spiritual life: It is the most honourable, most comfortable, most profitable life
XX. Comfort to true Christians
XXI. Comfort against the world's fury, and Satan's rage
XXII. Comfort against our own corruptions, our own or other believers' dissolution
XXIII. The excellency of heaven
XXIV. The certainty that saints shall obtain heaven
XXV. The eternity of the saints' happiness in heaven