A Saint or a Brute, Part 1 · Doctrine 1
DOct. 1. One thing is Needful: It is one thing only that is abſolutely Neceſſary; but many things that men buſie themſelves about, that neglect this one.
In handling this, I muſt ſhew you, 1. In what reſpect it is that this Needful thing is ſaid to be but One.
2. How it is that the troubleſom matters of the world, are called many.
3. Whereto and how far this one thing is neceſſary.
4. Whether the reſt are indeed unneceſſary.
5. I ſhall aſſiſt you in the application of it to your ſelves, that it may reach the end to which I do intend it.
I. In what reſpect is the Needful thing but One?
Which will be the eaſier underſtood, when you know what the One thing Needful is: And it is, moſt directly, that which is our End, To be ſaved, and to Pleaſe the Lord, or to Glorifie God and enjoy him in Glory for ever: Which comprehendeth or implyeth the neceſſary means.
And this bleſſed ſtate is One, conſidered 1. Objectively: It is One God that we have to pleaſe, and to behold, and love, and praiſe for ever. 2. It is One formally: that is, It is only the ſouls fruition of this One God that is our End and Bleſſedneſs. And thus the End being principally meant, it is ſaid that One thing is neceſſary; though the Means may be more then One that are neceſſary to obtain it.
And yet even with reſpect unto the means, it may be ſaid that One thing is neceſſary, by a General Comprehenſive ſpeech, as One containeth many parts: As to cure a ſickneſs may be ſaid to be the One thing needful to preſerve a mans life; when yet that cure muſt be done by many acts and means: The means are but One thing as denominated from their End; even our everlaſting happineſs. And they are but One as denominated from their Original, they being all but the Will of God revealed in his Word for mans direction to ſalvation. And they are all One in the principal ſtock that proceedeth from this Original or root: and that is, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, who is therefore eminently called the way; becauſe there is no other way or means, but what ſtandeth in a due ſubordination to the Redeemer as the chief means, as well as to the pure God-head as the End.
Alſo as all the means of Gods appointment, have a union of Nature or ſimilitude with the End: And as Gods Image is One in all his children, ſo is it, in their kind and meaſure, in all his Ordinances and Means: They alſo in their kind and place are partakers of the Divine nature: The name of God is as it were written upon them, and his bleſſed nature legible in them.
Alſo the means are all but One, as all are parts of One holy frame, which moſt harmoniouſly concurr to the doing of one work: As all the wheels and other parts are but One Coach which carryeth us to our journeys end. As Chriſt and his Church are one Body, 1 Cor. 12. 12. So Chriſt and all ſubordinate means for the recovery and ſalvation of his own, are one Kingdom of God, and one way to the Father, and one ſalvation: I ſhall fullyer open it under the next head.
And now for the Negative, you may diſcern by what is ſaid, 1. That here is no ſuch unity as even in the end muſt confound God and man, or his glory and our ſalvation.
2. Nor is here any ſuch Unity as doth confound the End and Means: no not the God-head with the man-hood of the Redeemer, much leſs with the inferiour kind of beings.
3. Nor is there any ſuch Unity as doth confound all the means among themſelves, and make all one; or exclude the reſt by exalting one; but rather each one doth ſuppoſe the reſt, to conſtitute the perfect frame. Chriſt doth not exclude Faith; nor Faith …xclude Repentance; nor Faith and Repentance exclude Obedi…nce; nor doth the office of one of theſe exclude the uſe and …ffice of the reſt. Publike duties exclude not private; nor do …rivate exclude publike: One part excludeth not another: …eading excludeth not preaching, nor both of them praying; …ut their nature and uſe beſpeaketh a conjunction; The whole …ody is not an eye or hand; nor doth the Unity exclude but in…lude even the ſmalleſt members.
4. Nor is there ſuch a Unity as excludeth difference of Degrees: …or one means may be more neceſſary and excellent then another: …nd the ſame perſon by growing doth differ from himſelf as he …as before: and one will hereafter excell another in Glory, …s now they do in holineſs and faithful improvement of their …alents.