Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. How Christ is made use of for justification, as a Way.
WHat Christ hath done to purchase, procure & to bring about our justification before God, is mentioned already viz. That He stood in the room of sinners, engadging for them as their cautioner, undertaking, & at length paying down the ransome: becoming sin, or a sacrifice for sin, & a curse for them, and so laying downe his life a ransome to satisfie divine justice: and this he hath made known in the gospell, calling sinners to an accepting of him, as their only Mediator, and to a resting upon him for life & salvation; and withall working- up such, as belong to the election of grace, to an actuall closeing with him, upon the conditions of the covenant, & to an accepting of him, beleeving in him, & resting upon him, as satisfied with, and acquiesceing in that soveraigne way of salvation & justification, through a crucified mediator.
Now, for such as would make use of Christ as the way to the Father in the point of justification, those things are requisite; to which we shall only premit this word of caution; That we Judge not the want of these requisites a ground to exeem any, that heareth the gospell, from the obligation to believe & rest upon Christ, as He is offered in the gospell.
First▪ There must be a conviction of sin & miser…, a conviction of originall guilt, whereby we are banished out of God's presence & favour, & are in a state of enmity & death, are come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3: 23. becomeing dead or under the sentence of death, through the offence of one, Rom. 5: 15. being made sinners by one Mans disobedience vers, 19. and therefore under the reigneing power of death vers. 17. and under that judgement, which came upon all men to condemnation, vers. 18. And of originall innate wickednesse, whereby the heart is filled with enmity against God, and is a hater of Him & of all his wayes; standing in full opposition to him & to his holy lawes; loving to contradict and resist him in all his actings; despiseing and undervalueing all his condescensious of love; obstinately refuseing his goodnesse & offers of mercy; & perempto…ily persisting in rebellion & heart opposition; not only not accepting his kindnesses & offers of mercy; but contemning them, trampling them underfoot as imbittered against him. As also there must be a conviction of our actuall transgressions, whereby we have corrupted our wayes yet more, run further away from God, brought on more wrath upon our souls, according to that sentence of the law, cursed is every one that abideth not in all that is written in the law to do it. Deut. 27: 26. Gal. 3: 10. What way this conviction is begun & carryed on in the soul, and to what a measure it must come, I cannot now stand to explaine: only in short know, That upon whatsoever occasion it be begun, whether by a word carryed home to the heart by the finger of God, or by some sharpe & crossing dispensation, feare of approaching death, some hainous outbreaking, or the like, it is a reall thing, a heart reaching conviction, not generall & notionall, but particular, plaine, and pinching, affecting the heart with fear & terrour, making the soul seriously & really to minde this matter, to be taken up with the thoughts of it, and anxiously & earnestly to cry out, what shall I do to be saved, and finally will make the soul willing to hearken & hear what hopes of mercy there is in the gospell, and to imbrace the way of salvation, which is there laid downe: And the reason of this is, because Christ himself tells us, The whole needeth not the phisitian, but the sick, Mat. 9: 12. He is not come to call the righteous, that is, such as are righteous in their owne eyes, but sinners, that is, such as are no more now whole at the heart, as seeing no evill, no hazard or danger; but pricked & pierced with the sence of their lost condition, being under the heavy wrath & vengeance of the great God, because of sin; and seeing their owne vilenesse, cursednesse, wickednesse & desperat madnesse. Because naturally we hate God & Christ Iohn. 15: 23, 24, 25. and have a strong naturall antipathy at the way of salvation through Iesus; therefore, nothing but strong & inevitable necessity will drive us to a complyance with this gospell device of love.
2. There must be some measure of humiliation: under this conviction the man is bowed down, and made mute before God; no more boasting of his goodnesse & of his happy condition; no high or great thoughts of his righteousnesse; for all are now to be looked on as filthy rags, Esai 64: 6. what things were as gaine before to the soul, must now be counted losse, yea and as dung Phil. 3: 7, 8. The man must be cast downe, in himself, and far from high and conceity thoughts of himself, or of any thing he ever did, or can do: for the Lord resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, Jam 4: 6. 1 Pet. 5: 5. He reviveth the Spirit of the humble. Esa 57: 15. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, Mat. 18: 4. & 23: 12. Luk. 14: 11. & 18: 14.
3. There must be a despaireing of getting help or relief out of this condition, by our selves, or any thing we can do: a conviction of the unprofitablenesse of all things under the sun for our reliefe: No expectation of help from our supposed good heart, good purposes, good deeds; works of charity, many prayers, commendation of others, sober & harmlesse walking, or any thing else within us or without us, that is not Christ: for so long as we have the least hope or expectation of doing our owne businesse without Christ, we will never come to Him. Our heart hangeth so after the old way of salvation through works, that we cannot endure to hear of any other, nor can we yeeld to any other: could we but have heaven by the way of works; we would spare no paines, no coast, no labour, no expences; Nay we would put ourselves to much paine & torment by whippings, cuttings, fastings watchings, and the like; we would not spare our first borne; nay, we would dig our graves in a rock with our nailes, and cut our owne dayes, could we but get heaven by this meanes: such is our antipathy at the way of salvation through a crucified Christ, that we would choose any way▪ but that, cost what it would: therefore before we can heartyly close with Christ & accept of him, we must be put from those refuges of lies, and see that there is nothing but a disappointment written on them all, that all our prayers, fastings, cryes, dutyes, reformations, sufferings, good wishes, good deeds &c, are nothing in his eyes, but so many provocations to the eyes of his jealousie, and so, further causes of our misery.
4. There must be a rational, deliberate, & resolute relinquishing of all those things in our selves, on which our heart is ready to dote. The Man being convinced of the vanity of all things, by which he hath been hopeing for salvation, must now purpose to loose his grips off them, to turn his back upon them, to quite them with purpose of heart, & say to them, get you hence, as Esa. 30: 22. This is to deny our selves, which we must do, ere we become his disciples Mat. 16. 24. This is to forsake our Fathers house Psal. 45: 10. and to pluck out our right eye, & to cut off our right arme. Mat. 5: 29, 30. This abandoning of all our former false props & subterfuges must be resolute, over the belly of much opposition within, from the carnall & naturall inclinations of the heart; and of much opposition without, from Satan's insnareing suggestions, & deceitfull temptations: It must be a real, rational act of the Soul, upon solide and through conviction of their unprofitablenesse; yea of their dangerousnesse & destructivenesse.
5. There must be some knowledge of the nature of the gospell covenant, and of the way, which now God hath chosen, whereby to glorifie his grace in the salvation of poor sinners. That God, Father, Son, & Holy ghost thought good, for the glory of free grace, and wisdome, in a way of Justice & mercy, to send Jesus Christ to assume mans nature, and so become God & man in two distinct natures, & one person for ever; & to become under the law, to undergoe the curse thereof, and to die the cursed death of the crosse, to satisfie Iustice, and to pay the ransome for the redemption of the elect. In which undertaking our Lord was a servant Esa. 42: 1. & 49: 6. & 52: 13. & 53: 11. Zech. 3: 8. Matth. 12: 18. and had furniture from God for all his undertaking Esai. 42: 1. & …1: 1, 2. Mat. 12: 18. and had a promise of seeing his seed, & of prolonging his dayes &c. Esa. 53: 10. 11. Thus there was a covenant of Redemption betwixt God & the Mediator: and the Mediator undertaking was obliged to performe all that he undertook, and accordingly did so: for as the Lord laid on him, or caused to meet together on him, the iniquitie of us all Esa. 53: 6. So in due time He bear our griefs and carryed our sorrowes: He was wounded for our transgressions & bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him: He was cut off out of the land of the living, and stricken for the transgression of his people. He made his soul an offering for sin, & bear the iniquities of his people. Pouring out his soul unto death; he beare the sin of many, & made intercession for the transgressours Esa. 53: 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12. So that what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his owne Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh, for sin, (or by a sacrifice for sin) condemned sin in the flesh Rom. 8: 3. that the righteousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us vers. 4. Thus he made him sin, (or a sacrifice for sin) that we might become righteous 2 Cor. 5: 20. and he was once offered to beare the sinnes of many Heb. 9: 28. and he through the eternall spirit offered himself without spot to God. vers. 14. and his owne self bear our sins in his owne body on the tree 1 Pet. 2: 24. There must, I say, be some knowledge of, and acquantance with this great mysterie of the gospell, wherein is declared the manifold wisdome of God Ephes. 3: 10. and with the noble designe of God in sending his Son after this manner, to die the death, that condemned sinners might live, and returne to the bosome of God, as redeemed not with gold or silver or corruptible things; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish & without spot 1 …et. 1: 18. and being so redeemed by blood, to become kings & priests unto God, 1 Pet. 2: 2, Revel 5: 9, 10. The man must not be ignorant of this, else all will be in vaine. I do not determine, how destinct and full this knowledge must be; but sure, there must be so much knowledg of it, as will give the soul ground of hope; and, in exspectation of salvation by this way, cause it turne its back upon all other wayes, and to account it self happy, if it could once win here.
6. There must be a perswasion of the sufficiency, compleatnesse & satisfactorynesse of the way of salvation, through this crucified Mediator; el…e the soul will not be induced to leave its other courses, and betake it self to this alone. He must be sure, that salvation is only to be had this way; And that undoubtedly it will be had this way; that so with confidence he may cast himself over on this way, and sweetly sing in hope of a noble outgate. And therefore he must beleeve, that Christ is really God as well as Man, and a true Man, as well as God; that he is fully furnished for the work of Redemption, having the spirit given to him without measure; and endued fully and richly with all qualifications, fitting him for all our necessiries, & inabling him to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, Heb. 7. 25; that He is made of God to us wisdome, righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption, 1 …. 1: 30. That all power in heaven & earth is given unto Him. Mat. 28: 18. That all things are put under his feet, and that He is given to be the head over all things to the Church Ephes. 1: 22. That in him dwelleth all fulnesse Col. 1: 19. That in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge. Col. 2: 3, yea, that in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the god-head bodyly: so that we are compleat in him, who is the head of all principality & power vers. 9, 10.
7. The soul must know, that He is not only an able & alsufficient mediator; but that also he is willing and ready, to redeem & save all that will come: for all the preceeding particulars will but increase his sorrow, and torment him more, so long as he supposeth▪ through ignorance, & the suggestion of Satan, that he hath no part in that redemption, no accesse to it, no ground of hope of salvation by it. Therefore it is necessary, that the soul conceive not only a possibility; but also a probability of helpe this way; and that the dispensation of the gospell of grace, and the promulgation and offer of those good newes to him, speake out so much; that the patience of God waiting long, and his goodnesse renewing the offers, confirmeth this; that his serious pressing, his strong motives on the one hand, and his sharpe threatnings on the other; his reiterated comands, his ingeminated obtestations; his expressed sorrow & grief over such as would not come to him, his upbraidings & objurgations of such▪ as do obstinately refuse, and the like, put his willingnesse to save such as will come to him, out of all question: yea… his obviating of objections, and takeing all excuses out of their mouth, make… the case plaine and manifest; so that such as will no… come, are left without excuse, and have no impediment lying in the way, but their owne unwillingnesse.
8. The man must know upon what tearmes & conditions Christ offereth himself in the gospell▪ viz. upon condition of accepting of Him, beleeving in him and resting upon him; and that no other way can we be made partakers of the good things purchased by Christ, but by accepting of Him, as he is offered in the gospell, that is to say, freely▪ without price or money Esa. 55: 1. absolutely without reservation: wholly, & for all ends &c. for till this be known there will be no closeing with Christ; and till there be a closeing with Christ, there is no advantage to be had by him, The soul must be marryed to him as an husband; fixed to him as the branches to the tree; united to him as the members to the head; become one with him, one Spirit. 1. Cor. 6. 17. See Iohn. 15: 5. Ephes. 5: 30. The soul must close with him for all things; adhere to him upon all hazards; take him and the sharpest crosse that followeth him: now I say, the soul must be acquanted with these conditions: for it must act deliberatly & rationally here: Covenanting with Christ is a grave businesse & requireth deliberation, posednesse of soul, rationall resolution, full purpose of heart, & satisfaction of soul; and therefore the man must be acquanted with the conditions of the new covenant.
9. There must be a satisfaction with the tearmes of the gospel, and the heart must actually close with Christ, as h…s offered in the gospel. The heart must open to him, and take him in, Revel 3: 20. The soul must imbrace and receive him Ioh. 1: 12. The man must take him, as his Lord and Master King, Priest & Prophet; must give up himself to him as his Leader and Commander, and resolve to follow him in all things, and thus close a bargain with him: for till this be done there is no union with Christ; and till there be an union with Christ, there is no partaking of the frutes of his redemption, as to Iustification▪ no pardon, no acceptance, no accesse to the favour of God, nor peace, nor joy in the holy ghost, no getting of the conscience sprinkled, nor no intimation of love or favour from God. &c.
10. There must be a leanning to, and resting upon him and on his perfect sacrifice. The soul must sit downe here as satisfied, and acquiesce in this compleat mediation of his. This is to beleeve on him, to rest on him Ioan. 3: 18. 1 Pet. 2: 6. as an alsufficient help. This is to cast the burden of a brocken covenant, of a guilty conscience, of deserved wrath, of the curse of the law &c. upon Him, that He may bear away those evills from us. This is to put on the Lord Iesus (in part) Rom. 1…: 14▪ to cover ourselves with his righteousnesse from the face of justice, to stand in this armour of proof against the accusations of Law, Satan, and an evill conscience: This is to flee to him as to our city of refuge, that we may be saife from the avenger of blood: This is to make him, our refuge from the strome of Gods anger, and, a shadow from th… heat of his wrath Esa. 25. 4. and our hideing place from the winde, and a covert from the tempest, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land Esai. 32: 2. When we hide ourselves in him as the compleat cautioner, that hath fully satisfied justice, and desire to be found in him alone, not having our owne righteousnesse, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousnesse which is of God by faith, Phil. 3: 9. This is to lay our hand on the head of the sacrifice, when we rest on this sacrifice, and exsp…ct salvation through it alone. This is to cast our selves in Christs armes, as peremptorily resolving to goe no other way to the Father, and to plead no other …ighteousnesse before Gods barr, but Christs. That is faith, yea the lively acting of Iustifying faith.
Thus then is Christ made use of, as the way to the Father, in the point of Iustification, when the poor w…kened sinner, convinced of his sin and misery, of his owne inability to help himself, of the insufficiency of all meanes beside Christ; of Christs alsufficiency▪ readinesse, and willingnesse to helpe, of the equitie and reasonabln…sse of the conditions on which he is offered, and life through him, is now content, and fully satisfied with this way, actually renunceing all other wayes whatsomever, and doth with heart, and hand imbrace Iesus Christ, & take him as he is offered in the gospell, to make use of him for all things, to leane to him, and rest upon him in all hazards; and particularly to refuge it self … his wings, and to rest there with complacency, satisfaction, & delight; and hide it self from the wrath of God, & all accusations.
Yet it would be knowne, that this act of faith, whereby the soul goeth out to Christ, and accepteth of and leaneth to him, is not alike in all: for▪
1. In Some it way be more lively, strong & active, like the centurious faith, that could a…gue syllogistically. Matth. 8: 8, &c. which Christ looked upon as a great faith, a greater whereof he had not found, no not in Israel vers. 10. and like the faith of the woman of Canaan Mat. 15: 21. &c. that would take no nay say, but of seeming refu…eals did make arguments, which Christ commended as a great faith vers. 28. But in others, it may be more weak, and fainting, not able to reason a…ight for its owne comfort and strength, as Mat. 6: 30. …ut is mixed with much feare, as Math. 8: 26. yea and with much faithlesnesse, so that the soul must cry, Lord helpe my unbeleef Mark 9▪ 24.
2. In some, the acts and actings of this faith may be more clear, and discerneable, both by themselves, and by spirituall on-lookers: In others so covered over with an heape of doubts, unbeleef, jealousie, & other corruption, that the actings of it can hardly, or not at all, be perceived by themselvs or others, so that nothing shall be heard but complaints, feares, doubtings, and objections.
3. In some, this faith may have strong, and perceptible actings, wreastling thorow much discouragment and opposition, and many difficulties; as in that woman of Canaan Matth. 15. runing tho…ow with peremptory resolutenesse; saying with Iob. Cap. 13. 15. though he stay me, yet will I trust in him; and thus taking the kingdome of heaven with violence. In others it may be so weak, that the least opposition or discouragement may be sufficient to make the soul give over hope, & almost dispaire of overcomeing and wining thorow: & be as a bruised reed, or a smoaking flax.
4. In some, though it appeare not strong, & violent or wilfull (in a manner) in its actings; yet it may be firme, fixed, & resolute, in staying upon Him, Esa. 26: 3, 4. and trusting in Him. Psal. 125. 1. resolving to hing there, and if it perish It perisheth. In others weak, & bashful.
5. In some, it may be yet weaker, going out in strong & vehement hungerings, Mat. 5: 6. The man dar not say, that he doth beleeve, or that he doth adhere to Christ, and stay upon him; yet he dar say, he longeth for him, and panteth after Him, as ever the hart doth after the wa…ter brooks Psal. 42: 1, 2. he hungereth and thirsteth for him, and cannot be satisfied with any thing without him.
6. in some, it may be that weak, that the soul can only perceive the heart looking out after Him: upon little more ground, than a may be it shall be helped Esai. 45: 22. They look to Him for salvation, being convinced that there is no other way, and resolved to follow no other way, they resolve to lye at his door, waiting and looking for à sight of the kings face, and to lye there waiting till they die, if no better may be.
7. In some, it may be so weak, that nothing more can be perceived, but a satisfaction with the tearmes of the covenant, a willingnesse to accept of the bargane, and an heart consenting thereunto, though they dar not say, that they actually close therewith, yea nor dar say, that they shall be welcome Revel. 22: 17.
8. In some, it may be so weak and low, that they cannot say, that they have any right hunger or desire after Him, nor that their heart doth rightly and really consent to the covenant of grace; yet they would faine be at it, and cry out oh for a willing heart. O for ardent desires! O for a right hunger! and they are dissatisfied and can not be reconciled with their hearts, for not desireing more, hungering more, consenting more; so that if they had this, they would think themselvs happy and upmade. And thus we see their faith is so low, that it appeareth in nothing, more manifestly, than in their complainings of the want of it.
So then the poor weak beleever needeth not be so far discouraged, as to dispaire and give over the matter as hopelesse & lost: let him hang on, depend, and waite; a week faith to day may become stronger within a short time. He that laid the foundation, can and will finish the building, for all his Works are perfect. And a weak faith, when true, will prove saving, and lay hold on a saving strong Mediator.
Moreover, as to the acting of faith on Christ's death and sacrifice; for stopping the mouth of Conscience, Law, Satan, and for opposeing to the pursueing Justice of God because of sin. It may some times be strong, distinct, clear and resolute. At other times againe be weak, mixed, or accompanyed with much feare, perplexity doubting, and distrust, because of their owne seen unworthinesse, many failings, doubtings of the sincerity of their repentance, and the like.
This is a maine businesse, and of great concearnment, yet many are not much troubled about it, nor exercised at the heart hereabout, as they ought, deceiving themselves with foolish imaginations; for
1. They think, they were beleevers all their dayes, they never doubted of Gods grace and goodwill, they had alwayes a good heart for God, though they never knew what a wakened conscience, or sense of the wrath of God meaned.
2. Or they think, because God is mercifull, he will not be so severe, as to stand upon all those things, that Ministers require; forgetting that He is a just God, and a God of truth, that wil do according to what He hath said.
3. Or they suppose, it is an easie matter to beleeve, & not such a difficult thing as it is called: not considering or beleeving, that no lesse power, than that, which raised Christ againe from the dead, will worke up the heart unto faith.
4. Or they resolve that they will do it afterward, at some more convenient season; not perceiving the cunning slight of Satan in this, nor considering that faith is not in their power, but the gift of God; and that if they lay not hold on the call of God, but harden their heart in their day, God may judicially blinde them, so that these things shall be hid from their eyes; and so that occasion, they pretend to waite for, never come.
Oh if such, whom this mainely concearneth, could be induced to enter into this way, considering.
1 That except they enter into this way, they cannot be false the wrath of God will pursue them, the avenger of blood will overtake them; no Salvation but here.
2 That in this way is certaine Salvation; this way will infallibly lead to the Father; for he keepeth in the way and bringeth saife home Exod. 23: 20.
2 Its the old path▪ and the good way, Ier. 6: 16. all the saints have the experience of this, who are already come to glory: and.
4. It is a high way, and a way of righteousnesse, wherein if very fools walk, they shall not wand…r, Esai. 35: 8, 9 and if the weak walk in it, they shall not fainte Esai. 40: 31.
5. That except this be done, there is no advantage to be had by Him, His death & all his sufferings, as to those persons that will not beleeve and enter into him as the way to the Father, are in vaine.
6. Yea, such as will not beleeve in Him, say in effect, either that Christ hath not died nor consecrated away through the veile of his flesh: or that all that He hath done & suffered is not sufficient for bringing a soul home to God: or that they can do their owne businesse without him▪ and that it was a foolish and vaine thing for Christ to die the death for that end: or lastly that they care not for salvation, they are indifferent whether they perish, or be saved:
7. That, as to them, the whole gospel is in vaine, all the ordinances, all the administration of ordinances, all the paines of Ministers are in vaine.
8. That, as to them, all Christs intreaties, motives, allurements, patience and long suffering, his standing at the door and knocking, till his locks be wet with the dew &c. are in vaine: yea, they are contemptuously rejected, despised, slighted, & undervalued.
9. That all the great promises are by such rejected as untrue, or as not worthy the seeking or having: and that all the threatnings on the other hand, are not to be regairded or feared.
10. In a word. That heaven, and the fellowshipe of God is not worth the seeking; and that hell and the fellowshipe of devils is not worth the fearing. Or that there is neither a heaven, nor a hell: and that all are but fictions: and that there is no such thing as the wrath of God against sinners, o… that it is not much to be feared.
If it be asked, what warrand have poor sinners to lay hold on Christ, and grippe to him, as made of God righteousnesse?
I answere, Our absolute necessity of him, is a ground to presse us to go and seek help and reliefe: we see we are gone in ourselves, and therefore are we allowed to seek out for help elsewhere.
2 Christ's alsufficient furniture, whereby he is a qualified mediator, fitted with all necessaries for our case & condition, having laid downe a price to the satisfaction of justice, is a sufficient invitation for us to look toward him for helpe, and to waite at that door.
3. His being appointed of the Father, to be mediator of the covenant, and particularly to lay down his life a ransome for sin; and Christs undertaking all his offices, and performeing all the duties thereof, conforme to the covenant of redemption, is a strong encouragement to poor sinners to come to Him; because He cannot deny himself, and he will be true to his trust.
4. The Fathers offering of him to us in the gospell, and Christs inviteing us, who are weary, and heavy loaden; yea calling and commanding such to come to him, in his owne, and in his Fathers name, under the paine of his and his Fathers wrath and everlasting displeasure; exhorting further and requesting upon tearms of love, pressing earnestly by many motives, sending out his ambassadours to beseech, in his stead, poor sinners to be reconciled, and to turne in to him for life and salvation: yea upbraiding such as will not come to him: all these are a sufficient warrant for a poor necessitous sinner to lay hold on his offer.
And further, to encourage poor souls to come unto him, all things are so well ordered in the gospel as that nothing occurreth, that can in the least prove a stumbling block, or a just ground of excuse, for their forbearing to beleeve, and to accept of his offer: all objections possible are obviated to such, as are but willing? the way is cast up; and all stones of stumbling cast out of it; so that such as will not come can pretend no excuse. They cannot object the greatnesse of their sins: for the greater their sins be, they have the greater need of one who is sent to take away sin, and whose blood purgeth from all sin, 1 Joh: 1: 7. what great sinner did he ever refuse, that came to him, and was willing to be saved by him▪ Is ther any clause in all the gospel exclud…ing great sinners? Nor need they object, their great unworthinesse: for …e doth all freely for the glory of his free grace: … ▪ got any good of him for their worth: for no man ever had any worth. Nor need they object their long refuseing, and resisting many calls: for he will make such as are willing welcome at the Eleventh houre. Him that cometh he will in no case put away Ioh. 6: 37. Nor can they object their changeablenesse, that they will not stand to the bargan, but break and returne with the dog to the vomite: for Christ hath engadged to bring all thorow that come to him, He will raise them up at the last day, Joh. 6: 40. He will present them▪ to himself holy and without spote or wrinckle, or any such thing▪ Ephes. 5. The covenant is fully provided with promises to stoppe the mouth of that objection. Nor can they object the difficulty, or impossibility of beleeving: for that is Christ's work also. He is the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12: 1. Can they not with confidence cast themselvs upon him; yet if they can hunger and thirst for him, and look to him, he will accept of that: look to me (sayes he) and be saved Esa. 45: 22. If they cannot look to him, nor hunger & thirst for him; yet if they be willing, all is well: are they willing that Christ save them in his way, and therefore willingly give themselves over to him, and are willing and content, that Christ by his spirit work more hunger in them, and a more lively faith, and work both to will and to do according to his owne good pleasure. it is well.
But it will be said, that the tearmes and conditions, on which he offereth himself, are hard Ans. I grant the tearmes are hard to flesh and blood, and to proud unmortified nature, but to such as are willing to be saved, so as God way be most glorified, the tearmes are easie, most rationall and satisfying: for▪
1. We are required to take Him only for our mediator, and to joyne none with him, and to mix nothing with him. Corrupt nature is averse from this, and would at least mix something of self with him, and not rest on Christ only: corrupt nature would not have the man wholly denying himself, and following Christ only: and hence many lose themselves and lose all; because with the Gallatians they would mix the law and the gospel together; do something themselvs for satisfaction of justice, & take Christ for the rest that remaines. Now the Lord will have all the glory, as good reason is, & will have none to share with him. He will give of his glory to none. And is not this rationall and easy? What can be objected against this?
2. We are required to take him Wholly, that He may be a compleat Mediator to us, as a Prophet to teach, as a King to subdue our l…sts, to cause us walk in his wayes, as well as a Priest to satisfie justice for us, to die & in…ercede for us. Is it not reason, that we take him as God hath made him for us? Is there any thing in him to be refused? And is there any thing in Him which we have no need of? Is there not all the reason then in the world for this, that we take Him wholly? and what stumbling block is here?
3. We are required to take Him Freely, without money and without price Esa. 55: 1▪ for He, will not b… bough… any m…nner of way: th…t free grace may be free grace, therefore he will give all freely. True enough it is, corruption would be at buying, though it have nothing to lay out: Pride will not stoup to a free gift. But can any say the tearms are hard, when all is offered freely?
4. We are required to take him absolutely, without any reversion or mentall reservation. Some would willingly quite all, but one or two lusts, that they cannot think to twinne with: and they would deny themselvs in many things, but they would still most willingly keep a back door open to some beloved lust, or other. And who seeth not what double dealing is here? And what reason can plead for this double dealing? Corruption, it is true, will think this hard, but no man can rationally say, that this is a just ground of discouragment, to any; or a sufficient ground to warrand them to stay away from Christ▪ seing they cannot be supposed sincerely to desire redemption from any sin, who would not desire redemption from every sin. He who loveth any known lust, and would not willingly be delivered therefrom, hath no re…ll hatred at any lust, as such▪ nor desire to be saved; for one such lust would be his death.
5. It is required, that we accept of Him really and cordially, with our heart and soul, and not by a meer externall verbal profession: and is there not all the reason in the world for this? He offereth Himself really to us, and shall we not be reall in accepting of Him? what, I pray, can justly be excepted against this? or what reall discouragement can any gather from this?
6. We are to take Him for all necessities, that i…, with a resolution to make use of Him as our alsufficient Mediator. And is not this most reasonable? Ought we not to take Him for all the ends and purposes, for which God hath appointed Him, and set Him forth, and offered Him to us? What then can any suppose to lie here, which should scarre a soul from laying hold upon Him? Nay should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement? And should we not blesse the Lord, that hath provided such a compleet and alsufficient Mediator?
7. We are to take Him, and all the crosses, that may attend our taking or following of Him: we must take up our crosse, be it what it will be, that He thinketh good to appoint for us, and follow Him. Matth. 16: 24▪ Mark. 8: 34. for he that taketh not up his crosse, and followeth not after Him, is not worthy of Him. Mat. 10: 38. I know, flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying; but they, that consider, that Christ will beare the heavyest end of the crosse, yea all of it, and so support, them by his Spirit, while they are under it, that they shall have no just cause to compleane; and how He will suffer none to goe his errand, upon their owne charges, but will be with them, when they goe through fire and watter, Esai. 43: 2. so that they shall suffer no losse, neither shall the watters over flow them; nor the fire kindle upon them: and that he who loseth his life, for Christ's sake, & the gospels, shall save it. Mark. 8: 35. yea, that they shall receive an hundered fold for all th… losses Matth. 19: 29. and that even with persecution, Mark. 10. 30. and in the world to come eternall life. They, I say, who consider this, will see no discouragement here, nor ground of complaint; nay, they will account it their glory to suffer any losse for Christ's sake.
8. Hence it followeth, that we are to take Him, so as to avouch Him, and his cause, and interest, on all hizards, stand to his truth, and not be ashamed of Him, in a day of tryall. Confession of Him must be made with the mouth, as with the heart we must beleeve Ro. 10: 9. Let corruption speak against this what it will, because it is alwayes desireous to keep the skinne whole: yet reason cannot but say, that it is equitable, especially, seing He hath said▪ that whosoever confesseth Him before men, He will confesse them before his Father which is in heaven. Mat. 10. 32. And that, if we suffer with Him, we shall also reigne with Him. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Is He our Lord and Master, and should we not owne and avouch Him? Should we be ashamed of him for any thing, that can befall us, upon that account? What Master would not take that ill at his servants hands?
Hence then we see, that there is nothing in all the conditions, on which He offereth Himself to us, that can give the least ground, in reason, why a poor soul should draw back, and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer, or think that the conditions are hard.
But there is one maine Objection, which may trouble some, and that is. They cannot beleeve: faith being the gift of God, it must be wrought in them▪ How then can they goe to God for this, and make use of Christ for this end, that their souls may be wrought up to a beleeving & consenting to the bargan and hearty accepting of the offer?
To this I would say these things.
1. It is true, that faith is the gift of God. Ephes. 2: 8. and that it is He alone who worketh in us, both to will & to do Phil. 1: 29, and none cometh to the son, but whom the father draweth Iohn. 6: 44. and it is a great matter, and no small advancement, to win to the reall faith, and through conviction of this our impotency: for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation, and of despaireing of salvation in it self, which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved.
2. Though faith be not in our power, yet it is our duty: Our impotency to performe our duty, doth not loose our obligation to the duty; so that our not beleeving is our sin; and for this God may justly condemne us. His wrath abideth on all, who beleeve not in his Son Jesus, and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified mediator. And though faith, as all other acts of grace, be efficiently the work of the Spirit, yet it is formally our work: we do beleeve; but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in us.
3. The ordinary way of the Spirit's working faith in us, is by pressing home the duty upon us, whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves and to a looking out to Him, whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul, for that necessary … and breathing, without, which the soul will not come.
4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith, to all the elect, as other graces necessary to their salvation: and it is promised and convenanted to Him; that He shal see his seed and shall see of the travell of his soull Esai. 53: 10, 11. and that by the knowledge of him, that is, the rationall and understanding act of the soul griping to and laying hold upon Him, as he is offered in the gospell, many shall be justified: Ibid. Hence he sayeth, that all, whom the father hath given to Him, shall come unto Him, Ioh. 6: 37. and the Apostle tels us, that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him, Ephes. 1: 3.
5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith, and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect; but God hath committed to Him the administration and actuall dispensation and outgiving of all those graces, which the redeemed stand in need of. Hence, He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinns Act. 5: 31. all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him. Mat. 28: 18: 19. Hence, He is called the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12: v. 2. and He telleth his disciples Iohn. 14▪ 13. 14. That whatever they shall ask in his name, He will do it. He is made Prince and a Saviour, having all judgment committed unto him. Iohn. 5: 22. and He is Lord of all Act. 10: 36. Rom. 14: 9.
6. Hereupon, the sinner being convinced of his lost condition, through sin and misery: of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death: of Christ's alsufficiency, and willingnesse to save all that will come to Him; and of its owne inability to beleeve or come to Him for life and salvation; or to lay hold on and leane to his merites and satisfaction, and so despaireing in himself, is to look out to Iesus the author of eternall salvation, the foundation and chiefe corner stone, the author and finisher of faith. I say, the sinner, being thus convinced, is thus to look out to Iesus; not that, that conviction is any proper qualification, prerequisite as necessary, either to prepare, dispose, and fit for faith, or, far lesse, to merite, any manner of way, or bring on faith; But because this is Christ's methode to bring a soul to faith by this conviction, to the glory of his grace. The soul naturally being averse from Christ, and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation, must be redacted to that straite, that it shal see, that it must either accept of this offer, or die: as the whole needeth not a physitian; so Christ is come to save only that which is lost: and his method is to convince the world of sin, in the first place, and then of righteousnesse Iohn. 16: 8, 9.
7. This looking out to Iesus for faith, comprehendeth those things 1. The Souls acknowledgement of the necessitie of faith, to the end it may partake of Christ, and of his merites. 2. The souls satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ; by a closeing with Him, and a resting upon Him, by faith 3. A sense and conviction of the unbeleefe and stubbornnesse of the heart; or a seeing of its own impotency, yea and unwillingnesse to beleeve 4. A persuasion that Christ can overmaster the infidelity, & wickednesse of the heart, and worke up the soul to a willing consent unto the bargane. 5. A hope, or a half hope (to speak so) that Christ, who is willing to save all poor sinners, that come to Him for salvation, and hath said, that He will put none away in any case, that cometh, will have pity upon him at length. 6. A resolution to lye at his door, till he come with life, till He quicken, till He unite the soul to Himself. 7. A lying open to the breathings of his Spirit, by guarding against every thing (so far as they can) that may grieve or provok Him, and waiting on Him in all the ordinances, He hath appointed, for begetting of faith; such as reading the scriptures, hearing the word, conference with godly persons, and prayer &c. 8. A waiting with patience on Him, who never said to the house of Iacob, seek me, in vaine, Esai. 45: 19. still crying, and looking to Him, who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him; and waiting for him, who waiteth to be gracious, Esai. 30: 18. remembering that they are all blessed that waite for him, Ibid. and that there is much good prepared for them, that waite for Him. Esai. 64: 4.
8. The sinner would essay this beleeving, and closeing with Christ, and set about it, as he can, seriously, heartily, & willingly, yea and resolutely over the belly of much opposition, and many discouragements, looking to Him, who must helpe, yea and worke the whole work: for God worketh in and with Man, as a rationall creature. The soul then would set the willingnesse it findeth on work, & waite for more; and as the Lord is pleased to commend, by his Spirit, the way of grace more unto the soul, and to warme the heart with love to it and a desire after it, strick the yron while it is hote; and looking to Him for help, gripe to Christ in the covenant: and so set to its seal, though with a tembling hand; and subscribe its name, though with fear and much doubting, remembring that He who worketh to will, must work the deed also Phil. 2: 13. and He that beginneth a good work will perfect it, Phil. 1: 6.
9. The soul essaying thus to beleeve, in Christ's strength, and to creep when it can not walk or run, would hold fast what it hath attained, and resolve never to recall any consent, or half consent, it hath given to the bargane, but still look forward, hold on, wreastle against unbeleefe, and unwillingnesse; intertaine every good motion of the Spirit for this end, and never admit of any thing, that may quench its longings, desires, or exspectation.
Nay 10. If the sinner be come this length, that with the bit willingnesse he hath, he consenteth to the bargane, & is not satisfied with any thing in himself, that draweth back, or consenteth not, & with the little skill or strength he hath is writing downe his name, and saying even so I take Him. and is holding at this, peremptorily resolving, never to goe bake, or unsay what he hath said; but on the contrare, is firmly purposed to adhere, &, as he groweth in strength, to grippe more firmly, and adhere to Him, he may conclude, that the bargan is closed already, and that he hath faith already: for, here ther is an accepting of Christ on his owne tearmes, a reall consenting unto the covenant of grace, though weak, and not so discernable, as the soul would wish. The soul dar not say, but it loveth the bargane, and is satisfied with it, and longeth for it, and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof, and enjoy Him whom it loveth, hungereth for, panteth after, or breatheth, as it is able, that it may live in Him, & be saved through Him.
But Some will say, If I had any evidence of God's approbation of this act of my soul, any testimony of his Spirit, I could then with confidence say, that I had beleeved & accepted of the covenant and of Christ offered therein: but so long as I perceive nothing of this; how can I suppose, that any motion of this kinde in my soul, is real faith?
For answere. 1. We would know, that our beleeving, and God's sealing to our sense are two distinct acts, and separable, and oft separated: our beleeving is one thing, and God's sealing with the holy Spirit of promise to our sense, is another thing; and this followeth though not inseparably the other Eph. 1: 13.—In whom also, after that yee beleeved, yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
And so, 2. We would know, that Many a man may beleeve, & yet not know that he doth beleeve; He may set to his seal, that God is true, in his offer of life through Iesus, and accept of that offer as a truth, and close with it; and yet live under darknesse & doubtings of his faith, long & many aday; partly through not discerning the true nature of faith; partly through the great sense and feeling of his owne corruption and unbeleefe; partly through a mistake of the operations of the spirit within, or the want of a clear & distinct uptaking of the motions of his owne soul; Partly because he findeth so much doubting and feare, as if there could be no faith, where there were doubting or fear, contrare to Mark. 9: 24. Mat. 8: 26. & 14: 31. Partly because he hath not that perswasion, that others have had, as if there were not various degrees of faith, as there is of other graces, & the like.
Therefore 3. We would know, that many may really beleeve, and yet misse this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be at: God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that, lest they forget themselves and become too proud; and to traine them up more to the life of faith, whereby He may be glorified; and for other holy ends, He may suspend the giving of this for a time.
4. Yet we would know, that all that beleeve, have the seal within them 1. Iohn. 5: 10. He that beleeveth on the Son of God, hath the witnesse in himself▪ that is, He hath that which really is a seal, though he see it not, nor perceive it not; even the work of God's spirit in his soul▪ inclining and determineing him unto the accepting of this bargan, & to a likeing of & endeavouring after holinesse: and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is, is a seal & confirmation of the businesse. So that the matter is sealed, and confirmed by the word, though the soul want those sensible breathings of the Spirit, sheding abroad his love in the heart, and filling the soul with a full assurance, by hushing all doubts and feares to the door; yea though they should be a stranger unto the Spirits witnessing thus with their spirits, that they are the children of God, and clearning up distinctly the reall wot… of grace within their soul, and so saying in effect, that they have in truth beleeved.
But enough of this, seing all this and much more is abundantly held forth and explained, inthat excellent & usefull treatise of Mr. Guthries intituled The Christians great interest.