Catechistical Guide to Sinners and Babes in Christ, Part 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of God's Work of Government in ruling amongst Men by Jeſus Christ unto the end of the World; and in particular, of his Work for the ſaving of Men by Jeſus Chriſt, according to the New Covenant Promiſe, which here is diſcourſed of.
Q. YOu ſaid, That in God's Government, ſince the raiſing up of Chriſt, you were taught chiefly to mind; Firſt, The Work of God in raiſing up of Chriſt, of which we have now diſcourſed. Secondly, The Work of God in ruling among Men by Jeſus Chriſt unto the end of the World, concerning which we are now to diſcourſe: Tell me therefore, What you mean by this Work of God?
A. This Work of God, in ruling among Men by Jeſus Chriſt, unto the end of the World, does eſpecially conſiſt; 1. In his Work for ſaving of Men by Jeſus Chriſt. 2. In his Work of judging the World by Jeſus Chriſt.
Q. What mean you by that Work of God which is for the ſaving of Men by Jeſus Chriſt?
A. I mean that Work of God, and that Work of Jeſus the Chriſt of God, that Men may be ſaved, or be partakers of the Promiſe of God in Chriſt by the Goſpel.
[Joh. 3.17. God ſent not his Son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be ſaved. Joh. 12.47. I came not (ſaith Chriſt) to judg [condemn] the World, but to ſave the World. That which God and Chriſt do for the Salvation of Men, is often in the Scriptures (as here afterwards will appear) called the Work of God, and of Chriſt. This Work is, That Men may be partakers of the Promiſe of God in Chriſt by the Goſpel. Epheſ. 3.6. That the Gentiles ſhould be fellow-Heirs, and of the ſame Body, and partakers of his Promiſe in Chriſt by the Goſpel. That is, That the Gentiles may participate in the Promiſe of God with the Jews as Co-heirs; that is, by a common right, and as being of the ſame Body, that is, by equal right with them, and this by Chriſt, on the terms and conditions which the Goſpel makes known and requireth.]
Q. It will be convenient that firſt we diſcourſe of the End and Intent of the Work of God and Chriſt, and then of the Work it ſelf: Wherefore I ſhall ask you a few Queſtions concerning the Intent of this Work, and in the firſt place this: What are we to underſtand here by the Promiſe of God?
A. By the Promiſe of God we are here to underſtand that Promiſe, whereby God, according to his purpoſe, hath promiſed to give Eternal Life, in or by Jeſus Chriſt, unto all that believe in him, thorow his Son Jeſus Chriſt, that they may be to the praiſe of his Glory.
Q. For the ſetting forth of this Promiſe more diſtinctly, I ſhall query concerning the ſeveral parts of your Anſwer; as firſt, What is that eternal Life which God hath promiſed?
A. That Eternal Life which God hath promiſed, is that Salvation which is in Chriſt Jeſus with Eternal Glory.
[John 2.25. And this is the Promiſe that he hath promiſed us, even Eternal Life. This Matter of the Promiſe is often called Eternal or Everlaſting Life, alſo Life. Now this Eternal Life doth conſiſt in that Salvation that is in Chriſt Jeſus, and alſo in Eternal Glory, as we learn from 2 Tim. 2.10.
Q. But what is the Salvation that is in Chriſt Jeſus?
A. The Salvation that is in Chriſt Jeſus, is a deliverance from the Wrath to come, 1 Theſſ. 1.10.
Q. And what is this Eternal Glory?
A. This Eternal Glory, is a likeneſs to God, by ſeeing him as he is, 1 Joh. 3.2.
[Theſe two, Salvation and Eternal Glory, are in the Scriptures ſometimes noted by one of theſe names; as, by Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. and elſe-where. Alſo by Eternal Glory, as 1 Pet. 5.10. and Glory, as Rom. 9.23. The Glory of God, Rom. 5.2. and the like.]
Q. You ſaid, That God hath promiſed to give Eternal Life in or by Jeſus Chriſt, What mean you by this?
A. God giveth Eternal Life in or by Jeſus, in that Jeſus Chriſt is the Mediator between God and Men, in God's giving of Eternal Life unto them.
[Rom. 6.23. Eternal Life is the Gift of God through [in or by] Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. 1 Joh. 5.11. This is the Record, That God hath given us Eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son. 1 Tim. 2.4, 5, &c. Who (to wit, God our Saviour) will have all Men to be ſaved, and to come to the knowledg [acknowledgment] of the Truth: For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Men, the Man Chriſt Jeſus, who gave himſelf a Ranſom for all, &c. Joh. 14.6. Jeſus faith unto him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no Man cometh unto the Father but by me.]
Q. You ſaid, That God hath promiſed to give Eternal Life to all that believe in him through Jeſus Chriſt: But who are they?
A. They that believe in God through Jeſus Chriſt are they, who ſo believe the Promiſe of God, as to hope in God, and live to him thorow Jeſus Chriſt, and that to the end.
[1 Pet. 1.20, 21. Who [which Chriſt] verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World, but was manifeſt in theſe laſt times for you, who by [thorow] him [Chriſt] do believe in God that raiſed him up from the Dead, and gave him Glory, that your Faith and Hope might be in God. Theſe Perſons in the Scriptures are ſet forth, ſometimes only by believing, as Gal. 3.22. The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin, that the Promiſe by Faith of Jeſus Chriſt might be given to them that believe. Sometimes by believing in the Father, as in Joh. 5.24. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, He that heareth my Word, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting Life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from Death unto Life. Sometimes by believing in Chriſt, as in Joh. 6.47. Verily, verily I ſay unto you, He that believeth on me bath Everlaſting Life.
Theſe, and many the like Expreſſions of the ſame ſignification, we meet with in the Holy Scripture. Now we are to underſtand, that whereſoever Eternal Life, in the poſſeſſion of it, is promiſed to Believing, there ſuch a Believing is intended that the Goſpel requires, which is an hoping in God, and living to him through Jeſus Chriſt, and that to the end: For meer Belief is not ſufficient; Jam. 2.14, &c. Joh. 2.23. & 8.30. & 12.42. Nor is any Faith ſufficient that laſteth not to the end, Heb. 10.38, &c.
Q. But what is it to hope in God thorow Jeſus Chriſt?
A. To hope in God thorow Jeſus Chriſt, is to hope or truſt unto the end, both in God and Chriſt for Eternal Life, as the Gift of God thorow Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and is ſuch a hope, that is laid up in Heaven, and as ſuch a Grace that is to be brought unto us at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt.
[We are ſaved by Hope, Rom. 8.24. This Hope muſt be an Hope in God, 1 Pet. 1.21. Act. 24.15. 1 Tim. 4.10. & 6.17. And in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.19. 1 Theſſ. 1.3. 1 Tim. 1.1. Rom. 15.12. Epheſ. 1.12, 13. That which by this Hope is to be looked for and expected, is eternal Life, Tit. 1.2. & 3.7. which eternal Life is the Gift of God thorow Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, Rom. 6.22. and of all Gifts the beſt; for it is the Hope, or Good hoped for, which is laid up in Heaven, Col. 1.6. and the bleſſed, or happy, that is happy making Hope, Tit. 2.13. and the laſt Gift, being the Gift which is to be brought at the Revelation [or coming] of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.13. It is alſo called Grace, becauſe a Gift that proceeds from the Grace of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.13. 2 Theſſ. 1.11, 12. Hence it appears that this future Good, muſt be ſought chiefly and humbly; and that all which is neceſſary for obtaining it, muſt alſo be hoped for from God thorow Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 6.33. Luk. 17.10. 1 Pet. 5.5. Joh. 16.23, 24.
And thus we muſt hope to the end, or conſtantly, 1 Pet. 1.13. Col. 1.23. Heb. 3.6.]
Q. And what is it to live to God thorow Jeſus Chriſt?
A. To live to God thorow Jeſus Chriſt, is, To live to God and Chriſt, in ſerving the God and Father of Jeſus Chriſt, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs before him, all the days of our Life; and in ſerving Jeſus Chriſt, as Lord of all, and as the Head and Huſand of Believers, who are his Church and Body.
[Rom. 6.11. Likewiſe reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto Sin, but alive [living] unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Gal. 2.19. For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God. 2 Cor. 5.15. And that he died for all, that they which live, ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, but unto him which died for them, and roſe again. 1 Theſſ. 1.9. Ye turned to God from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God, &c. Luk. 1.74, 75. That he [the Lord God of Iſrael] would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies, might ſerve him without fear, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs before him, all the days of our Life. See Mat. 4.10. Rom. 1.9. 2 Tim. 1.3. Heb. 9.14. & 12.28. Rom. 14.18. For he that in theſe things [Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt] ſerveth Chriſt, is acceptable to God, and approved of Men. See Joh. 12.26. Rom. 16.18. Rev. 1.1. In Eph. 5.22, &c. Wives ſubmit your ſelves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord: for the Huſband is the Head of the Wiſe, even as Chriſt is the Head of the Church, and he is the Saviour of the Body. Therefore as the Church is ſubject unto Chriſt; ſo let the Wives be unto their own Husbands in every thing. To ſerve God and Chriſt, is from Love to obey them, as having reſpect to the Authority of both, and aiming at the Glory of both. 1 Pet. 1.2. and v. 14. Heb. 5.9. Joh. 5.27. Mat. 28.18, &c. Rom. 16.27. Epheſ. 3.21. Phil. 1.11. 1 Cor. 10.31. Rom. 15.6. 2 Theſſ. 1.12. Thus to live, is to live, not to the Luſts of Men, but to the Will of God, 1 Pet. 4.2.]
Q. You ſaid, That God according to his purpoſe did thus promiſe, What mean you thereby?
A. I mean, That God having through his Grace ſo purpoſed before the World began, did at length bring to light this purpoſe of his, and that by Jeſus Chriſt.
[Tit. 1.1, 2, 3. Paul a Servant of God, and an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, according to the Faith of God's Elect, and the acknowledging of the Truth, which is after Godlineſs, in hope of eternal Life, which God, that cannot lie, promiſed [in purpoſe] before the World began: But hath in due time manifeſted his Word [Promiſe] through preaching [the publication of his purpoſe] which is committed unto me, &c. 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an Holy Calling, not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpoſe and Grace, [gracious Purpoſe] which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus before the World began; but is now made manifeſt by the appearing of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who hath aboliſhed Death, and hath brought Life and Immortality [an Immortal Life] to Light through the Goſpel.]
Q. You ſaid, That God hath thus promiſed to Believers, that they might be to the praiſe of his Glory: What is your meaning here?
A. I mean this, That God in thus promiſing had for his principal end therein, that the Glory of his Grace, Wiſdom, and Power, might be ſhewen forth on Believers, and praiſed by them. Epheſ. 1.12. & 2.7.
Q. Now tell me, What is it for Men to be partakers of this Promiſe of God?
A. Men are then ſaid to be partakers of this Promiſe, when they become Heirs of Eternal Life, and do at length poſſeſs it. Gal. 3.29. Tit. 3.7. Heb. 6.17. Jam. 2.5. 1 Pet. 3.7. Heb. 1.14. & 10.36.
Q. What is it to be partakers of this Promiſe by the Goſpel?
A. Men are ſaid to be Partakers of the Promiſe by the Goſpel, Becauſe Faith cometh by the Goſpel, and becauſe the Goſpel is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth. Rom. 10.17. Epheſ. 1.13. Rom. 1.16.
Q. But what do you mean by the Goſpel?
A. The Goſpel is that Revelation of the Myſtery concerning the Promiſe of Eternal Life, which began to be ſpoken by the Lord Jeſus.
[The word Goſpel is uſed to expreſs a word in Greek, which in general denotes any good and joyful Meſſage, or good and glad Tydings; and which in ſpecial, and by way of eminency, ſignifies that good and glad Tydings brought into the World by Jeſus Chriſt: in which ſenſe ſome would rather uſe the term Evangelie, than Goſpel, following therein moſt Nations, who retain in this ſenſe the Greek word, and that not unadviſedly.
That we call the Goſpel, is that Revelation, or diſcovery of the Myſtery concerning the Promiſe of Eternal Life, which firſt began to be ſpoken by Jeſus Chriſt. See Rom. 16.25. Epheſ. 3.3, &c. Joh. 1.17. Heb. 2.3. It is called the Revelation of the Myſtery concerning this Promiſe, becauſe this Promiſe was before the coming of Chriſt, contained in a Myſtery, that is, in Types and Figures, after an obſcure way and manner. But Chriſt hath expounded this Promiſe, making known the ſubſtance of the ſhadow, and bringing forth clearly the Spirit [that is, the meaning] of the Letter. Rom. 4.13, &c. and 9.8, 9. Heb. 6.13. Joh. 1.17. 2 Cor. 3.6. 2 Tim. 1.10.]
Q. Before we return, I have one Queſtion yet to ask you; namely, Whether nothing elſe but Eternal Life is in this Promiſe promiſed to Believers?
A. In the Promiſe of Eternal Life, all good things that muſt come from God, and are neceſſary for obtaining it, are neceſſarily included in this Promiſe.
[1 Tim. 4.8. Godlineſs is profitable unto all things, having the Promiſe of the Life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Touching the matter of this Anſwer, ſee in that which follows.]