A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 17
Christ the VVay,
Joh. 14.6.
I am the Way, &c. No Man can come to the Father, but by me.
I Am the Way, &c. Way is taken properly or metaphorically. In the latter Sence divers things are so called: VIZ.
The Law or Word of God, Psal. 119.1.
The Doctrine of the Gospel, Acts 19.9.
The Secret Counsel of God, Rom. 11.33.
The Conversation of the Godly, Psal. 1.1.
The Works of God, Job 41.19.
And in this Text (and some others) Christ is so called.
Way is a common Word or Phrase, taken for the chief Means and Medium for the Attainment or Accomplishment of a Thing, and so is very comprehensive. As for example: The way to gain Honour, is to do some worthy and honourable Action; Honour is the End, the Person that seeks it is the Subject, the doing the worthy Action is the Way to attain it. Again, If a Man would go to such or such a City, he must travel that Road that leads thither; here also you have the End, the Subject, and the Means or Way of obtaining the End. So in like manner, if a Man would come to God, which is Happiness, his chief End, the Way is Jesus Christ: No Man can come unto the Father, but by me. Here Man is the Subject, God or Happiness the End, Christ the Way.
Metaphor.
I. A Way to attain to any Thing or Place that we greatly desire, and long after, is necessary, without which our End and Desire can never be accomplished.
II. A Way must be assigned by the Publick Legislators of a Kingdom, when it is wanting, and appears absolutely necessary.
III. A Way that is assigned must be also made known, or else how shall Men do to find it, and walk in it?
IV. A Way is useful upon divers accounts, indeed to all Enterprises, whether it be for the obtaining of Honour, Riches, Peace, Health, or Length of Days.
V. Ways lead from one Place or City to another.
VI. Ways are free for all; none are forbid to travel in such and such common Ways and Roads.
VII. Great Care was to be taken under the Law, that the Ways to the Cities of Refuge should be made smooth and plain; all Stumbling-Blocks and Impediments were to be removed, and they were to be thirty two Cubits broad. Ways ought not only to be laid open, and made known, but also made passable, and easy to travel in.
VIII. In a Way there ought to be suitable and necessary Accommodations for Travellers.
IX. There is no coming to such or such a City, unless we go the Way which leads thither.
X. Men are glad when they come to the End of a long Journey.
Parallel.
I. THere is an absolute Necessity of a Christ, for without him, Favour and Reconciliation with God the Father cannot be obtained. The Jews, Acts 4.12.who followed after Righteousness, attained it not, Rom. 9.31, 32.because they sought it not by Faith, they stumbled at that stumbling Stone.
II. Jesus Christ is assigned or appointed by the great Law-giver of Heaven and Earth, to be the Way to Happiness, who saw a Saviour was wanting, and such an one was necessary to bring Man to Glory.
III. Jesus Christ is made known by the Gospel, in which are plain Directions how to find the Way. God saw it necessary to send his Servants, to proclaim and make known Salvation: How shall they believe on him whom they have not heard? Rom. 10.14.and how shall they hear without a Preacher?
IV. Jesus Christ is useful and necessary to all Enterprizes, viz. 1. To Honour: To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God. 2. To Riches: Riches and Honour are with me, yea, durable Riches and Righteousness. 3. To Peace: He is our Peace, Eph▪ 2.14.who hath made both one, &c. In me ye shall have Peace. 4. He is Health, Strength, and Length of Days: He that believeth on me shall never die.
V. Christ, the spiritual Way, leads from Sin to Grace, out of Satan's Kingdom to his own Kingdom, from Egypt to Canaan.
VI. Christ is a Way free for all Sinners. The Partition-Wall is now broken down.Mat. 11.28, 29. Eph. 2.14. Jews and Gentiles, Rich and Poor, Young and Old, Male and Female, may freely walk in this Way. None are forbid to come to Christ, to believe in him, and to lead a holy Life.
VII. God, in his infinite Grace and Favour, hath taken care to remove all Impediments and Stumbling-Blocks out of the Sinner's Way. The Way is plain and easy to Men of Understanding;Isa. 57.14. Hos. 14.9. 'tis but a falling in Love with God and Goodness, and accepting of a Saviour on Gospel-Terms, which are not hard:Mat. 11.28, 29. My Yoke is easy, and my Burden is light. 'Tis possible for the greatest of Sinners to be saved. The Way is well-troden; the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and all the Godly, walked in this very Way. 'Tis made very smooth; the weakest Traveller may without stumbling or danger walk in it.
VIII. In Christ, the spiritual Way, are all things necessary provided: There is Bread and Water of Life, sweet Repose, and precious Grace ready to defray all Expences, for every willing and faithful Traveller.
IX. There is no coming to God but by Christ:Acts 4.12. There is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved. Whoever refuse Christ, and Life through him, let their Confidence be never so great, it will deceive them, and their Hope will prove like the Spider's Web.
X. Poor Sinners greatly rejoyce, when through Christ they are brought home to the Father; but what Joy will it be to them, when they come to the End of their Journey, the Salvation of their Souls!
Quest. In what respect is Christ called the Way, or said to be the Way to the Father?
Ans. As he is Mediator between God and Man.
1. As a Priest, he aton'd and made Peace by his own Blood, and thereby he is a blessed Way for us to the Father, and as he is a Priest to intercede for us in Heaven. See Advocate.
2. He is the Way, as a King to appoint Laws for us, and to subdue Sin, and other Enemies, in us, and for us.
3. He is the Way, as a Prophet to teach and instruct us by his Word and Spirit, how to receive that glorious Atonement he hath made, and to walk in those Ordinances he hath appointed.
4. He is the Way by that holy Example he hath left for us.
Quest. What kind of Way is Christ?
Ans. 1. He is the only Way to the Father, and eternal Life. (1.) The Patriarchs of old knew no other Way: Abraham rejoyced to see my Day, &c.Joh. 8.56. (2.) The Prophets knew no other Way. (3.) The Apostles knew no other Way. (4.) There is no other Way revealed to Mankind. (5.) There is a Curse denounced to such as shall preach any other Way.
2. Christ is a new Way: The old Way of Access to God was barred and chained up by the Fall; his Blood is called the Blood of the new Covenant. — By a new and living Way, &c.Heb. 10.20
3. Christ is a sure and certain Way; no Man ever missed Heaven, that rightly sought it in this Way.
4. Christ is a safe Way; there is Protection, Guidance, and safe Direction in him.
4. Christ is an easy Way; his Yoke is easy, his Commands are easy.Mat. 11.30 There is Strength, and Supplies of all things necessary, afforded to all that walk in him.
6. Christ is a comfortable Way. There is sweet Company, all Friends and Brethren, and no Enemy walks in this Way; besides, there are excellent Accommodations.
7. Christ is a plain Way, a Way prepared, cast up, and all Stumbling-Blocks removed.
8. He is a holy Way, all other Ways are unclean and filthy; none but holy Persons can walk in this Way.
9. 'Tis a Way of God's devising and finding out.
10. 'Tis a costly Way: It is a cheap Way to us, but dear to God; it cost Him the parting with his own beloved Son, and Christ the Price of his precious Blood.
Metaphor.
I. OTher Ways lead only to external Places and Privileges.
II. Other Ways lead to a Place, but they are not that Place to which they lead.
III. Other Ways are sometimes out of Repair, and unfit for Travellers.
IV. Other Ways have no Life in them, nor can't preserve the Traveller from Death and Danger.
Disparity.
I. CHrist leads to the blessed, immortal, and eternal God, Heaven, and lasting Happiness.
II. Christ and the Father are one; He is the End of a Saints Journey,Joh. 14.11. 1 Joh. 5.7. as well as the Father.
III. But Christ is a Way never out of Repair, nor unfit for Sinners to walk in.
IV. Christ is a living Way; He is a speaking, directing, animating,Heb. 10.2… and quickning Way; He preserves from Death and Danger.
Inferences.
1. BLess God for this Way. O what infinite Grace is here, that the Almighty should be so kind and merciful to us poor Sinners, as when we had barr'd up our Way to him, he should find out another for us, and be at such great charge as to send his own Son to be the Way it self.
2. We may infer from hence, that the Salvation of the Elect is one and the same,Jude 3. hence called common Salvation.
3. It shews us, that there is no Salvation but by Christ.
4. It holds forth the great Necessity of the Gospel, and the Ministry thereof.
5. What a miserable Condition are all those in that reject Christ!
6. It reprehends those who hope or think to find other Ways to Heaven. The Papists think to get thither by their own Merits, the Quakers by the Light within, &c.
7. Labour to see a Necessity of Christ.
8. Prize Christ, O value Christ; He is All in All, He is every thing to Believers; you can never over-value precious Jesus.