A Conciliatory Discourse Upon Crisps Sermons, Head 9
Head 9.
Faith is not an Aſſurance or Inward Perſuaſion that Chriſt is ours, and that our Sins are Pardon'd; But it is Accepting, Receiving and Reſting upon Chriſt alone for Juſtification.
Conciliation. That Faith is a Grace of a moſt large and ſpreading Nature and Action, as it is repreſented to us in the Word of God, can be by no one, that conſiders it, denyed. So that there may be many Excellent and Profitable Diſcourſes upon it, that may look very diſtantly one upon another, and yet meet in the iame Center: Yet Faith as it reſpects Pardon of Sin, and Juſtification, cannot have a fairer and fuller Propoſition given it, than that ſaying, Worthy of both Belief or full Aſſent of the Judgment, and Acceptation of the Will, viz. that Chriſt came to ſave the chief of Sinners, 1 Tim. 1, 15. Now this Propoſition every one is to particularize to himſelf, as the Apoſtles, in believing; and ſo it differs nothing from Aſſurance, in the Root at leaſt; And that, Aſſurance is every way moſt Connatural to it, is evident by the Apoſtles ſpeaking of the full Aſſurance of Knowledge, Col. 2. 2. As Faith is an Intellectual Aſſent to Divine Revelation; The full Aſſurance of Faith, as it is an Application for Pardon to the Blood of Chriſt, ſprinkling the Heart from an evil Conſcience, Heb. 10. 22. and the full Aſſurance of Hope, Heb. 6. 11. as Faith concerning our preſent Intereſts in Chriſt not yet appearing fully, or in future Glory; aides it ſelf againſt preſent low Appearances of its pardon'd juſtify'd State, or its future Glory. Thus a Plerophory or full Aſſurance in relation to Faith, cannot merit any Indignation, as againſt an Error; And indeed it is ſo eſſential to Faith, that there never was nor can be any true Faith without the Root, and Seed of it; and the Letting it down in the Deſcriptions and Diſcourſes of it from this full Aſſurance is in compaſſion to the low State; Tempted, Deſerted, Afflicted, Doubting State, of ſincere Chriſtians; It was the general Doctrin of the firſt Reformers, when the Light was pureſt and quickeſt.
And it is very ſuſpitionable, the Letting it down lower may have had its Ill, as well as its good Effects; For if Chriſtians aim'd in all their ways at full Aſſurance, it would engage them to higher Aims in Holyneſs, and cloſer Walking; It being impoſſible even in the Judgment of Natural Light and Reaſon to ſeparate Holyneſs from ſuch Aſſurance; or that receiving Chriſt, as Lord and King, ſhould be made to part from it, but that it would flow out into all Expreſſions of the Warmeſt and Indearedſt Love to him. Whereas Chriſtians Reſting and thinking it a piece of Modeſty and Humility (it were well, if it were not allyed to that Voluntary Humility ſpoken of, Col. 2. 18.) to be in doubt, and only flatly and deadly to hope well in general, They find not theſe pungent Arguments to move Accurate and Univerſal Obedience; but poize the one to the other, their Obedience to their Meaſure of Aſſurance. For a rude Preſumption or bold Saying, Chriſt is ours, and our Sins are pardon'd in the midſt of Licentions, and looſe Living, is worthy only to be exploded, and Hiſſed off the very Profeſſion of Chriſtianity; and cannot obtain the leaſt Credit, either with others or even the Rational Conſcience in themſelves. So that were it not in Tenderneſs to the Weakneſs of Chriſtians in general; Preaching Faith ſo, as to include Aſſurance in it, would be undoubtedly the beſt; and even that taken care of, as well, as it may be; I know not whether it might not be much to the Intereſt and Glory of Chriſtianity, to wind it up in the moſt ſtated Diſcourſes of Faith to the Apoſtles Plerophory; or full A…urance of Knowledge, Faith and Hope; from which Exceptions might be made, and Allowances for the Weakneſs of Chriſtians in particular Exigencies. This ſure would more ennoble Chriſtianity. It was the Illuſtrious State of the very Primitive Chriſtianity, which we read of in that moſt admirable part of Church Hiſtory, the five firſt Chapters of the Acts of the Apoſtles; To this I doubt not, it will be reſtor'd within few Years, when in the Succeſſion of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and by the Proclaiming, The Kingdoms of this World are the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, Rev. 11. 15. The Servants of God ſhall appear on Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Fathers Name, not Sealed under Reſerve, as yet it is; but Written in Capital Letters, in ſplendid Characters on their Foreheads. It is the dark and foul place of the Apoſtacy, 2 Pet 1. 19. in which we are (the Beaſts forty two Months, being though near, yet not fully expired) Rev. 13. 5. that brings ſo low the Doctrin of Faith, as being not Aſſurance.
And becauſe in the Reformation begun Chriſt appear'd, making his Challenge of his Kingdom, and the ſeven Thunders of higheſt Goſpel Doctrin uttered their Voices, Rev. 10. (A Chapter, on purpoſe, to give us the Prophetick Landskip of the Reformation.) There was the high Doctrin of Faith, as Aſſurance; Yet theſe Thunders being ſcal'd, (now near again to be unſeal'd) It flatted again, as now we ſee: And this is the Reaſon, the Diſcourſes of Aſſurance, as ſo eſſential to Faith, are almoſt as Portentous, as the Doctrin of the Kingdom of Chriſt in ſuch a near appearing Glory, and any Aſpiring to it, as preſumptuous.