Light from Heaven, Part 16
Beleeved on in the World.
For the word themselves, we see here first, that Christ,Christ must be beleeved on. as he must be unfolded in preaching, so he must be beleeved on.
Because the dispensation Ministeriall, is not enough, unlesse there be an applying grace in the heart; and that is a spirit of Faith, whose propertie is,Faith the grace of application. to make peculiar that that is offered: There is a vertue of application, in this grace of Faith; where there is a giving, there must be a receiving, or else the gift is uneffectuall. Christ is the Garment of the Soule, he is the foundation, and food, &c. As I said before, he is our Husband, we must give our consent; beleeving, is a spirituall marriage: in marriage, there must be a consent; this consent, is Faith; that makes up the Bond betweene Christ and the beleeving soule. Therefore, of necessitie there must be Faith; all else, without beleeving in Christ, is nothing. Faith is the meanes of making Christ our owne, and no other thing whatsoever.
The Papists have ridiculous meanes,Popish meanes of applying Christ, ridiculous. that they understand not themselves, nor any body else; they make the Sacrifice of the Masse, a meanes to apply Christ, and other courses: but the Ministeriall meanes to apply Christ, is the preaching of the Gospel, and Faith, that is wrought by the Ministerie of the Gospel; and there is no other way of application, by the Masse, or any such thing. Christ without Faith doth us no good; in Heb. 4.Heb. 4. The Word that they heard, did not profit them, because it was not mingled with Faith: The Word of God, the Gospel, it is the power of God to salvation; but it is to all that beleeve: whatso…ever good Christ doth to us, he doth it by Faith. It is a rule in Divinitie, and it is to purpose, in the deciding some controversies, that a spirituall benefit, not knowne and applyed, is a nullitie; because God intends all, whatsoever we have to be opened to us, and applyed, that he might have the glory, and we the comfort. We see the excellencie, and necessarie use of this Grace of Faith.
How is Christ to be beleeved on?Christ must be beleeved on.
We must rest upon no other thing, either in our selves,1OnelyOnly. or out of our selves, but Christ onelyonly. In Poperie they have many other things to rest on, & their Faith being corrupt, all their obedience likewise is corrupt, that springs from it. They dishonor Christ, to joyne any thing in the world with him. The Apostle is wondrous zealous in this, to have nothing joyned with Christ: as in Galat. 5.Galat 5. If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing: onelyonly Christ must be beleeved on, in matter of salvation.
2Wholly.And whole Christ must be received: beleeving is nothing but a taking or receiving of Christ, as a Lord and as a Saviour; as a Priest, to redeeme us by his blood; and Christ, as a King to governe us: we must take whole Christ.
W… see what manner of Faith is in most men; that snatch out of Christ what they lift, to serve their owne turne: as he dyed for their sinnes, so they are glad of him; but as he is a Lord, and King to rule and governe them, so they will have none of him; but, turne the grace of God into wantonnesse. But Christ, as we must rest and rely on him onelyonly, so we must receive him, and beleeve on him wholly.
Christ the maine object of Faith.Now Faith lookes upon Christ, as the maine object of it, as it justifieth, the same Faith, it looks upon the whole Word of God, as a Divine Truth revealed: but for the maine worke of it, it looks upon Christ;Simile. Christ is the Jewel, that this Ring of Faith doth inclose: and as the Ring hath the value from the Jewell, so hath Faith from Christ. In the maine point of justification, and comfort, Faith layes hold upon Christ, for merciemercy: for the distressed afflicted soule, it looks first of all, to comfort, and peace, and reconciliation: therefore it lookes first to him that wrought it, that is, Christ. Now, the same Faith that doth this, it beleeves all Divine Truths, the Threatnings, and Precepts, &c. Faith chuseth not its object, to beleeve what it lists; but it carryes the soule to all Divine Truths, revealed: but, when we speake of justifying Faith; then Christ, and the Promises, and the mercy of God in Christ, is the first thing that the soule lookes unto.
Christ is the first object of Faith, before any benefit or gift that we have from him; first, we must receive Christ, before we have any grace, or favour, or strength from him: And a sanctified soule lookes first to Christ, to the love of Christ, to the person of Christ, Faith lookes first on Christs person.and then to his goods and riches. As one that is marryed, she regards first the person of her Husband, and then lookes to the enjoyment of his goods, and inheritance, and Nobilities; or else it is no better then a Harlots love. So Faith lookes to the person first; it knits us to Christ, to be in love with, and to embrace Christ; and then, it lookes to all the good things we have by him: for he never comes alone, there is a world of good things in him; all that tends to grace and glory: yet it is the person of Christ, that the soule of a Christian principally lookes to; other Divine Truths are the object of Faith, to direct and sway our lives: yet notwithstanding they are not the object of Faith, when we looke for comfort, for forgivenesse of sinnes, and reconciliation with God; then, it lookes to Christ especially.
Christ chiefely to be preached and heard.Therefore, we that are Ministers of the Gospel of Christ, should especially looke to unfold the riches of Christ; and those that are Gods people, should especially desire to have Christ unfolded, and the riches of Gods love in Christ. The soule that ever found the sting of sinne, the conscience that ever was awakened, to feele the wrath of God, it accounts nothing so sweet, as Evangelicall Truths; those things that concerne his Husband, and Saviour. A carnall man loves to heare morall points wittily spoken of, as delightfull to his eare; but the soule that understands it selfe, what it is by nature, that ever felt in any degree the wrath of God for sinne, of all points, it desires most to heare of Christ, and him crucified. Therefore, we may judge our selves by our eares, of what temper our soules are; for, the eare tastes if speeches, as the mouth doth meats, as Iob sayth.