Of Christ's judgment in us, and his victory: what it is

WE come to the third part, the constant progress of Christ’s gracious power, until he hath set up such an absolute government in us which shall prevail over all corruptions. It is said here, he will cherish his beginnings of grace in us, until he bring forth judgment unto victory. By judgment here is meant the kingdom of grace in us, that government whereby Christ sets up a throne in our hearts. Governors among the Jews were first called judges, then kings : whence this inward:rule is called judgment ; as likewise, because it agrees unto the judgment of the word, which the psalmist oft calleth judgment, Psalm Ixxii. 1, 2, because it agreeth to God's judgment: men may read their doom in God’s word, what it judgeth of them God judgeth of them. By this judgment set up in us, good is discerned, allowed, and performed; sin is judged, condemned, and executed. Our spirit being under the spirit of Christ, is governed by him, and so far as it is governed by Christ it governs us graciously.

Christ and we are of one judgment and of one will ; he hath his will in us, and his judgments are so invested into us, as that they are turned into our judgment, we carrying his law in our hearts, written by his Spirit, Jer. xxxi. 33: the law in the inner man and the law written answer as counterpanes each other.

The meaning then is, that the gracious frame of holiness set up in our hearts by the spirit of Christ, shall go forward until all contrary power be brought under. The spirit of judgment will be a spirit of burning, Isaiah iv. 4, to consume whatsoever opposed corruption like rust eats into, the soul. If God’s builders fall into errors, and build stubble upon a good foundation, God’s spirit as a spiritual fire will reveal this in time, 1 Cor. iii. 13, and waste it: they shall by a spirit of judgment condemn their own errors and courses. The whole work of grace in us is set out under the name of judgment, and sometimes wisdom, because judgment is the chief and leading part in grace; whereupon that gracious work of repentance is called a change of the mind, and an afterwisdom. As on the other side, in the learned languages, the words that do express wisdom imply likewise the general relish and savour of the whole soul: and rather more the judgment of taste, than of sight, or any other sense, because taste is the most necessary sense, and requireth the nearest application of the object of all other senses. So in spiritual life, it is most necessary that the spirit should alter the taste of the soul, so as that it might savour.the things of the spirit so deeply, that all other things should be out of relish, And as it is true of every particular Christian, that Christ's judgment in him shall be victorious, so likewise of the whole body of Christians, the Church. The government of Christ, and his truth, whereby he ruleth as by a sceptre, shall at length be victorious in spite of Satan, Antichrist, and all enemies. Christ riding on his white horse, Rev. vi. 2, hath a bow, and goeth forth conquering, Rev. xix. 11, in the ministry, that he may overcome either to conversion or to confusion. But yet I take judgment for Christ’s kingdom and government within us principally. 1. Besides God especially requireth the subjection of the soul and conscience as his proper throne. 2. Because if judgment should prevail in all other about us and not in our own hearts, it would not yield comfort to us; hereupon it is the first thing that we desire when we pray, Thy kingdom come, that Christ would come and rule in our hearts: the kingdom of Christ in his ordinances serves but to bring Christ home into his own place, our hearts.

The words being thus explained, that judgment here includeth the government of both mind, will, and affections, there are divers conclusions that naturally do spring from them.