Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. No man cometh to the Father but by me.
THis being added for furder confirmation of what was formerly said, will pointe out unto us several necessary truthes: as
First. That it is most necessary, to be sound and cleare in this fundamental point, of coming to God, only in and through Christ: for
1. It is the whole marrow of the gospel.
2. It is the …inge of all our salvation, Christ is the chiefe cornerstone, Esa. 28: 16. 1 Pet. 1: 5, 6. and
3. The only ground of all our solide and true peace and comfort.
4. An errour, or a mistake here, is most dangerous, hazarding, if not ruineing, all
5. Satan endeavours mainely against this, raiseth up heresies, errours and false opinions, and prompteth some to vent perplexing doubts and objections, & all to darken this cardinal point▪ So doth he muster up all his temptations for this end, at length, to keep poor souls from acquantance with this way, and from making use of it, or entering into it.
6. Our corrupt hearts are most averse from it, and will close with any way, how troublesome, how expensive and costly so ever it may seem to be, rather than with this.
7. There are a multitude of false wayes, as we did shew above.
All which cleare up this necessity, and should teach us to be very diligent to win to acquantance with it▪ and to make sure that we are in it, and to hold it fast, and to keep it pure in our practise, without mixing any thing with it, or corrupting of it.
Secondly. That it is no small difficulty to get this truth beleeved and practised, that through Christ alone we come to the Father. Therefore is the same thing asserted and inculcated againe, upon the matter: for
1. Nature will not teach this way, it is far above nature.
2. Yea our natural inclination is much against it, opposing it, and fighting against it.
3. This way is altogether contrary to that high esteem, which naturally all of us have of ourselves.
4. And is opposite to that pride of heart, which naturally we are subject to.
5. Yea there is nothing in us by natur, that will willingly comply with this way: but, on the contrary, all is opposite thereunto.
6. And therefore it is the Christians first lesson, to deny himself.
The consideration of which should humble us, and make us very jealous of our own hearts and inclinations, and of all those courses, which they are inclineable to, and bent upon. And it should put us to try, if ever we have overcome this difficulty: and have now all our hopes and comforts founded on Him, and on nothing else: and are up or down in our peace and joy, according as we win in to Him, or are shut out from Him: and in all our approaches to God, upon whatsoever account, are leaning to Him and resting on Him alone, exspecting accesse, acceptance, and a hearing, only in Him; and are quieted under all our feares and temptations with this, that Christ is our way to the Father.
Thirdly. That even beleevers have need to have this truth inculcated often: for
1. Satan is busie pulling them off this ground, by all the wiles and temptations he can.
2. Their own corruption within, and the evil heart of unbeleefe, is alwayes opposeing this way, and drawing them off it.
3. Through the slight of Satan, and the power of corruption, they are oftimes declineing from this pure gospel way.
4. The experience of beleevers can tell, that when they a…e at their best, it is a great work and exercise to them, to keep their heart right in this matter.
5. Is it not too oft seen, that they are under the spiritual plague of formality, which stealeth them off their feet here?
6. And is it not found oftentimes, that they are too too ready to leane to some thing beside Christ?
How ought all to be convinced of this, and humbled under the sense of it? And see also how necessary it is to be oft preaching on this subject, and to be oft thinking upon and studying this fundamental truth.
Fourthly. It should be a strong motive and incitement to us to make use of Christ, as the way to the Father, That no man cometh to the Father but by Him: for this may be looked upon as an argument, enforceing their usemaking of Him, as the way.
Fiftly. It discovereth the ground of that truth, that there are but few that are saved; for none cometh to the Father but by Him: few, in respect of the whole world, once heare of Him▪ and of such as hear of Him, few have the true way of imploying and applying him, as the way to the Father, cleared up unto them: and againe▪ of such as have the truth, as it is in Jesus, preached unto them, O how few go to Him, and make use of Him according to the truth, and beleeve and practise the truth▪
Sixtly. That in and through Christ alone we must come.
1. To the Knowledge of the Father: for no man knoweth the Father but the son: and He alone, who came out of the bosome of the Father, revealeth Him.
2. To the Favour and Friendship of the Father: for He alone is our pea…e, and in Him alone is the Father well pleased.
4. To the Kingdome of the Father here: for He only is the door, Iohn. 10. and by his Spirit are we effectually called.
4. To the Kingdome of the Father above: for He alone hath opened that door, and is entered into the holiest of all, as our forerunner, and is gone to prepare a place for us.
5. Through Him alone must we addresse ourselves to the Father, in our supplications, Iohn. 16: 23. Revel. 8: 3. in our thanksgivings Rom. 1: 8▪ Col. 3: 17. and praise Heb. 13: 15. Ephes. 3: 21.
6. Through Him alone have we accesse, and an open door to the Father, Ephes. 2: 18. & 3: 21. Heb. 4: 16.
I shall only speak to one case here. viz.