The Sound-Hearted Christian, Sermon 2
Believing lyeth under Command:
1 Joh. 3.23. And this is his Commandment, that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt, &c.
IN the Verſe before, the Apoſtle tells us the great intereſt that the Saints have in God, and the ground of it.
Their great intereſt in God is this, that whatſoever they ask, they receive of him; they have ſuch intereſt that God grants their Prayers whatever they ask.
And the ground of it is, becauſe they keep his Commandements, and do thoſe things that are pleaſing in his fight.
Now leaſt they might ſcruple what Commandements they were that he mean't, he tells them in the Verſe read of two eſpecially; and that is, That they believe, and that they love one another. There be three great Commandements in the Goſpel, Believing, Loving, and Repenting: Two you have here in the Verſe, the third in Acts 17.30. The Lord commands every man every where to repent; and theſe two of Loving, and Repenting, cannot be rightly performed without the firſt, Believing; Believing in the Son of God, for that love which is without faith, is but natural love, and that Repentance which is without faith in the Son of God, is but legal repentance; but that love and that repentance which ſprings from faith in the Son of God is ſpiritual love, and ſpiritual repentance.
The Apoſtle tells you in 1 Tim. 1.5. The end of the Commandement is charity, out of a Pure heart, and of a good Conſcience, and of faith unfeigned. If love dont come from faith unfeigned, it is not ſpiritual love.
In the words read, you have
Firſt, the Commander, in the word his.
Secondly, The thing commanded, Believing.
Thirdly, The object or perſon in whom they are to believe, or we are to believe, ſet out:
Firſt, by his Relation, the Son of God.
Secondly, by his Titles, Jeſus and Chriſt.
The Commander here is God, there is none greater than he, and therefore his Commands are of greateſt authority; if in the word of a King there be power, how much more in the word of the great and high God? and 'tis not a verbal Command onelyonly, but 'tis a written Command, that all may take notice of it, and may yield obedience unto it. The point that I ſhall commend unto you is this.
Doct. That believing in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is a duty under Command.
In Mark 1.15. ſaith he, Repent ye, and believe the Goſpel. Repentance is commanded, and believing the Goſpel is commanded; and a man cannot believe the Goſpel, unleſs he believe in the Son of God. I ſhall not multiply Scriptures to prove it, the Text is enough, This is his command, that we believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
Now I ſhall in the proſecution of this point, ſhew you what is imployed in Believing.
2. What's meant by the Name of the Son of God.
3. What believing in the name of the Son of God doth alſo imply.
And then anſwer ſome queſtions, and improve the point.
For the firſt, what is implyed in believing?
Firſt, Knowledge is implyed in it: 'tis a blind faith where there is no knowledge, the Papiſts believe as the Church believes, and ſuch a faith is a fancy rather than true faith, Paul ſaith, I know in whom I have believed, and in Joh. 17.3. knowledge there is put for faith, ſo eſſential is it to faith, that it is put for faith it ſelf, this is life eternal, that they might know thee the onelyonly true God. So that in believing there muſt be knowledge, and underſtanding, elſe it will be a blind believing, a blind faith.
Secondly, In believing there is implyed aſſent of the underſtanding to the truth that is propounded, truth is the object of the underſtanding; As, Chriſt came into the World to ſave ſinners, I muſt aſſent unto this truth; God is in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf. Such truths and Propoſitions as theſe there muſt be the aſſent of the underſtanding unto; and Papiſts will go thus far in the point of faith, and make the very formal nature of faith to lye in aſſent; 'tis a truth, there muſt be aſſent, but aſſent is not enough: They place it altogether in the underſtanding; and fix it there; but the Devils believe and tremble, and give aſſent unto truths; they ſaid Chriſt was the Son of God, they gave aſſent, yea the Devils believe and tremble; therefore this is not enough, though this is required and neceſſary; aſſent there muſt be, but there muſt be more than aſſent. But,
Thirdly, There muſt be Conſent, which brings in the heart and will, and looks at the goodneſs of the truth or perſon; ſome good that is in any truth propounded, or any perſon to be believed in Rom. 10.9, 10. If thou confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thine heart; Not in thine head, for with the heart man believeth unto Righteouſneſs; with the heart man believes: there muſt be the heart in believing, and not the head and underſtanding onelyonly; ſo that there muſt be conſent of the will and heart unto the thing believed.
Now this conſent muſt be free, and full, to have Chriſt, and whole Chriſt; to have Chriſt at the beſt, and have Chriſt at the worſt, whatever may fall out in true believing; there is ſuch a free and full conſent, that it will have Chriſt whatever it coſt.
Fourthly, Laſtly, in believing, there muſt be affiance, a confidence or truſt, and that you will find expreſs'd in Eph. 1.12. that we ſhould be to the praiſe of his glory, who firſt truſted in Chriſt, there muſt be truſting. After we know, and give aſſent and conſent, then we muſt truſt, and depend, and rely upon Chriſt. So in 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed; in your margin it is whom I have truſted; ſo that there is a truſt, a confidence, a relyance, a recumbency, a dependance upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, where there is a right believing: Thus you ſee what is implyed in believing.
Secondly, What's meant by the name of Jeſus Chriſt?
Not the Letters, or Syllables, as many bow at the name of Jeſus; that is not the meaning, but Name is put for the Thing, or put for the perſon; Pſal. 34.3. Let us exalt his Name together; that is, God himſelf, let us exalt God himſelf; ſo, thou ſhalt reverence that dreadful name Jehovah, that's God himſelf; and when you read of Sanctifying the name of God in Scripture, that is, God himſelf. And ſo here, Rom. 10.13. you will find by Name is meant God himſelf; whoſoever ſhall call upon the Name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved; that is, ſhall call upon God himſelf. And Acts 4.12. There is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we muſt be ſaved; that is, there is no perſon but Jeſus whereby you can be ſaved. And Joh. 3.18. he that believeth on him is not Condemned, but he that believeth not is Condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the Name of the onelyonly begotten Son of God.
Now what is it to believe in his name; or in him?
Firſt, it implyes the receiving into our heads and hearts all things God hath revealed from Heaven concerning him.
As, that he is the Son of God, that God gave him for our good, that God ſent him to be bread and water of Life unto us, that we might live through him, God ſent him to be our Mediator, our Saviour, our Redeemer (and the like) we are to receive theſe truths that God hath revealed concerning Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, It is to take Chriſt for the foundation, and building, and top ſtone of our Salvation, 1 Cor. 3.11. Other foundations can no man lay, then that is lay'd, which is Jeſus Chriſt. To take the Lord Chriſt to be our Prophet, to be our King, to be our High Prieſt, to be all in all unto us.
Thirdly, It is to rely upon him, and truſt in him, for the removal of all our ſins, ſupply of all our wants, and inveſtment of us in his own Righteouſneſs; this is to believe in the Name, or in the Son, and to depend upon him for Redemption, for Sanctification, for Reconciliation, for Adoption, for Salvation: So then you ſee the point is, that believing lyes under a command, this is his Commandement, that we ſhould believe on the Name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
I ſhall now come to ſome queſtions, and the
Qu. Firſt is, Have we power to believe? can any do it? may they not as eaſily keep the Law as believe on the Son of God? is there any power in us to do it?
An. You know that there are in the world divers ſorts of people that do acknowledge power in us to do it.
But know, that man ſimply conſidered in himſelf, hath no power to believe in the Son of God, 2 Cor. 3.5. we are not ſufficient of our ſelves to think a good thought, but all our ſufficiency is from him; if we ben't ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing of our ſelves as good, but our ſufficiency is of God; ſurely we cannot believe then, which is ſo great a work, and glorious a work: and in Col. 2.12. Faith is ſaid to be the opperation of God, not of Man.
But for the further clearing of the point, know,
Firſt, that as God commandeth us to believe, ſo he hath promiſed to give us faith, Mat. 12.21. it's ſaid, in him ſhall the Gentiles truſt, here is a promiſe made to us that are Gentiles, that we ſhall truſt in the name of Chriſt; God will work that power in them that they ſhall truſt in Chriſt, and believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and Joh. 6.37. all that the father giveth me ſhall come to me, here's a promiſe, they ſhall come, that is, they ſhall believe, And faith is called the gift of God, Eph. 2.8. By grace are ye ſaved, through faith, and that not of our ſelves, it is the gift of God. None but God can give Chriſt, and none but God can give power to believe in Chriſt. As faith is the Command of God, ſo faith is likewiſe the work of God, Joh. 6.29. This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath ſent; that's the firſt anſwer.
Secondly, The Lord giveth the means whereby it is wrought, namely the Goſpel: The Goſpel is the means whereby faith is wrought, which he hath appointed and ordained for that very purpoſe, and therefore the Goſpel is called faith, Gal. 1.23. ſpeaking of Paul, that he which perſecuted us in times paſt, now preacheth the faith, which once he deſtroyed, preacheth the faith, that is, the Goſpel which works faith, and is the means that God uſes to work faith in the Souls of Men and Women. The brazen Serpent was appointed of God, to cure the ſtingings of the fiery Serpent, no other Serpent would do it, nor no other means would do it, if they had uſed all the Phyſitians in the world they could not have done it, but the brazen Serpent which God had appointed. So no other word will work it but the Goſpel, which he hath appointed to work faith; and therefore the Apoſtle tells you that faith comes by hearing, hearing of the Goſpel which is appointed by God for that very end.
Thirdly, The Lord he doth accompany his word with his ſpirit to make it effectual; the word without the ſpirit would not be effectual, and therefore God doth accompany his word with his ſpirit, that it may be effectual to work faith in the hearts of Men and Women. Hence it is that the ſpirit is called the ſpirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4.13. We having, faith the Apoſtle, the ſame ſpirit of faith; it's called the ſpirit of faith, becauſe by the Goſpel it doth work faith in the hearts of Merrand Women; and Gal. 3.2. This would I know of you ſaith the Apoſtle, received you the ſpirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? why, you heard the Doctrine of Faith, the Goſpel, and by the hearing of Faith you received the ſpirit: for the Goſpel is the Miniſtration of the ſpirit, and the Chariot of the ſpirit; and ſo God doth by the Goſpel convey the ſpirit into the hearts of men and women, and by the ſpirit works faith in their Souls.
Fourthly, The Lord commands things that are hard for us, yea impoſſible unto us, that ſo we may ſeek to him, to whom nothing is impoſſible, Luke 1.37. for with God nothing ſhall be impoſſible, no word is impoſſible to God, whatever he hath ſaid he is able to make it good; and you know in the Goſpel that blind Bartemeus, he ſeeks unto Chriſt for the Cure of his eyes: The blind man in Joh. 9. that was born blind, his eyes were opened; ſo we that were born blind, and born dead, ſtill-born, without grace, without faith, without ſpiritual life, the Lord commands us to believe, that we may look to him to convey life, and work grace and faith in our ſouls. But,
Fifthly, There is in the Goſpel the offer of Chriſt to ſinners, you ſhall ſee it clear in 13 Acts, that the offer of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is offered in the Goſpel, and tendered unto ſinners, v. 26. Men and Brethren, Children of the Stock of Abraham, and whoſoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this ſalvation ſent, to you it's ſent, and v. 38. Be it known unto you therefore, Men and Brethren, that through this man is Preached unto you the forgiveneſs of ſins, and in the 46. and 47. verſes, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and ſaid, it was neceſſary that the word of God ſhould firſt have been ſpoken to you; but ſeeing ye put it from you, and Judge your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting life, loe, we turn to the Gentiles; For ſo hath the Lord commanded us, ſaying, I have ſet thee to be a light to the Gentiles; ſo that Chriſt, and ſalvation, and all ſpiritual mercies, are offered and tendered in the Goſpel unto us, unto us Gentiles, unto us Sinners. And ſurely ſuch an offer is worthy of acceptation.
This very offer hath ſome efficacy and virtue in it to ſtir up ſouls to receive Chriſt, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave Sinners: O 'tis a faithful ſaying, and it's worthy of all acceptation whatſoever, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners: will not every poor creature ſay, why ſhould not I accept of Chriſt, and cloſe with Chriſt now, ſeeing he is offered unto me?
Sixthly, Laſtly, you know there are choice promiſes in the Goſpel, and theſe promiſes are load-ſtones to draw our Iron hearts to Chriſts Joh. 3.16. God ſo loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh but have everlaſting life. O what a load-ſtone is here to a poor ſinner? I am like to periſh, and to dye, but God hath ſo loved the world that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. So in Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witneſs, that through his Name, whoſoever believeth in him ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins. Here's another ſweet promiſe, that they ſhall receive remiſſion of their ſins whatever they be, that believe in him; ſo that the promiſes are load-ſtones to draw us to Chriſt. And ſo much for anſwer to that Queſtion.
Q. Another queſtion is this; Doth believing lye under a command? and is faith ſo neceſſary as that it muſt lye under a command? it ſeems there's a great neceſſity of believing, is there ſuch a neceſſity of believing?
A. Yes, 'tis not an Arbitrary thing, an indifferent thing, whether ye will believe, yea or no. But in four or five particulars, I ſhall ſhew you that there is a neceſſity of believing.
Firſt, Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. Before you have ſaith you are evil Trees, you are evil perſons; but when by ſaith we are engrafted into Chriſt, then out fruit will be good fruit, and we ſhall be good trees. Now if there be a neceſſity of pleaſing God, then there will be a neceſſity of believing.
Secondly, Is there any neceſſity you ſhould be Children of God? without faith you cannot be Children of God, you may be Children of nature, you may be Children of diſobedience, Children of darkneſs, Children of wrath, Children of death, but you cannot be Children of God without faith, Gal. 3.26. For ye are all the Children of God by faith in Chriſt Jeſus. If you han't faith in Jeſus Chriſt, you are not, you cannot be Children of God, and it's a ſad thing not to be a Child of God; if there be a neceſſity then to be a Child of God, there is a neceſſity of faith.
Thirdly, Is there a neceſſity of having your ſins forgiven you, would you not have your ſins forgiven you? yes ſurely, every man and woman, would have their ſins forgiven them, but without faith you cannot have your ſins forgiven, Rom. 3.25. whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his Righteouſneſs for the Remiſſion of ſins. There muſt be Faith in the blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, if ever you would have the remiſſion of your ſins; there's no forgiveneſs without faith; without ſhedding of blood there is no remiſſion, without faith in that blood ſhed you will never have remiſſion, Joh. 8.24. I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall dye in your ſins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall dye in your ſins; If perſons have not faith in the perſon of the L. Jeſus Chriſt, they muſt dye in their ſins, and have no remiſſion of them; therefore as there is a neceſſity of having our ſins forgiven, ſo there is a neceſſity of believing in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
You can never have any ſetled and ſolid comfort unleſs you have faith in the blood and death of Jeſus-Chriſt, your comforts will be unſetled; why? your ſins are not forgiven, & if you have aprehenſions, your ſins are not forgiven, where's your comfort? where's your peace? where's any ſettledneſs of ſpirit? it can never be; and that's the thing that ſhakes moſt Profeſſors, becauſe they are upon uncertainties, about the forgiveneſs of their ſins.
Fourthly, you can never come to God as a Father without faith in the Son, Joh. 14.6. I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me: that is, by faith in me, by ſaith in me the mediator, by faith in me the Son of God, by faith in me that am Jeſus, by faith in me that am Chriſt, no coming to the Father but by him: If you think there be any neceſſity of your coming to God, and being ſav'd eternally, it muſt be by faith in the Son of God.
Fifthly, Laſtly, faith is neceſſary or elſe you muſt certainly periſh, certainly be damned, Joh. 3.18, 36. He that believeth on him, is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the name of the onelyonly begotten Son of God: whoever doth not believe on the name of the onelyonly begotten Son of God, is condemned already; O what a ſad thing to be a condemned man! and in the 36 v. he that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life, he that believeth not the Son ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him; a condemned man, a man that hath the wrath of God abiding upon him, a man that is in a periſhing condition: in Mark 16.16. He that believeth and is baptized ſhall be ſaved, but he that believeth not ſhall be damned. Here's the neceſſity of faith now, Damnation without it, Salvation with it; ſo then you ſee that queſtion anſwered.
I ſhall now come to the improvement, or Inferences that I ſhall draw from this point; that faith lyes under a command; and
Inf. 1. Firſt, I infer hence, that we are dull & backward of our ſelves to believe; when things lye under Commands, it's an argument there is an indiſpoſition and averſeneſs in the natures, and wills, and hearts of thoſe that are Commanded. God commanded Moſes to go and deliver his people out of Egypt, what excuſes had Moſes? and what a multitude of objections did he make, and yet God commanded him to go and do the ſervice; ſo when God doth put us upon believing by Command, it ſhews our natures are very dull and backward to believing, Luke 24.25. O fools and ſlow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have ſpoken: The Prophets have given out commands to believing as well as promiſes: And they were fools and ſlow of heart to believe all that the Prophets had ſpoken. So that we may take notice of our backwardneſs and dullneſs to this work of faith, ſeeing it lyes under a command.
Secondly, I infer from hence, the willingneſs of the Lord to have poor ſinners receive the benefit that is to be had by Jeſus Chriſt; becauſe he commands them to believe; will not you of your ſelves do it? then I command you, ſaith he, to believe; and what's the benefit? you may ſee in Joh. 3.16. whoſoever believes, ſhould not periſh: here's great benefit, to be kept out of Hell, to be kept from wrath to come, and to have everlaſting life. Now can you have greater benefit then to be delivered from all evil, and enjoy all good: God commands us therefore to believe, that we might partake of theſe benefits. God commands men to repent, he would have them repent and be ſaved, 2 Pet. 3.9. ſo here he commands them to believe, and he would have them come to the knowledge of the truth and be ſaved, 1 Tim. 2.4. God commands you to believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, that you might not periſh but be ſav'd; he is very willing, why will you dye? why do not you come to my Son and believe in him? I have lay'd help upon him that is mighty; why do you not look for help from him? God is willing that poor ſinners ſhould have the benefit that is to be had from Chriſt.
Thirdly, I infer from hence, a ſufficient anſwer to all Objections that a doubting Soul can make. Doubting ſouls are apt to make many Objections againſt believing, troubled ſouls are ready to raiſe Objections.
Object. I am not elected ſaith one, and therefore it is not for me to believe.
Anſw. What ſaith God here? dont thou look after thine election, that's a ſecret hidden thing, but here's a command that is viſible, and thy duty, and I command thee to believe on my Son Jeſus Chriſt.
Object. I am a great ſinner ſaith another, and God will not pardon my ſins.
Anſw. I but God commands thee to believe, that thou mayeſt have pardon of thy ſins, though they be very great.
Object. I have relapſed often into the ſame ſin, into paſſion, and wantonneſs, and covetouſneſs, and worldlineſs, and the like: I have a hard heart ſaith another, I have no qualifications and diſpoſitions: The promiſes dont belong to me ſaith another, I am not humbled enough, I am dead, and dull, and weak, and it's not for ſuch a one as I am to believe in Chriſt.
Anſw. Well know, there's nothing in us fits us to believe, and nothing ſhould hinder us from believing; why here's Gods command, and ſhall thy indiſpoſition, or thy ſins and fears croſs and null a command of the great God? whether ſhall prevail, Gods command, or thy fancy, thy ſins, indiſpoſitions, or want of qualifications? here's a command of the great God, that thou believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, ſtop therefore the mouth of every Objection, and ſay, well, here's my duty, God hath commanded me to believe; Moſes wrangles with God a great while, but he muſt go at laſt; ſo God hath commanded me to believe, and I will lay down all my Objections, and do my duty, I will believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: This concerns us all, that we ſhould not ſtick at any thing, but anſwer Death, Corruptions, Fleſh, and World with this, that he commands me to believe, and ſhall I not obey the voice of God? and when it is ſo for my good, and I ſhall have relief againſt all that troubles me, and burthens me, and the like.
Fourthly, We may ſee here alſo, what is the right and beſt courſe for a troubled ſoul to take, being wounded with ſin, and wearied with its ſins: We uſually take the wrong courſe, and the wrong way; when we have ſin'd and offended God, we pray, we mourn, we groan, we reform, and labour to walk more exactly; theſe things are not to be condemned: I but it is not the right courſe to have the ſoul healed, and therefore all comes to little of this nature. Many have thoughts by ſuch courſes to pleaſe God, and to make God ſome amends for their ſins; but this will never do it, the right way is to hearken unto God here, I command you to believe; ſaith he, 1 Joh. 2.1. I write unto you that ye ſin not; yea, but we ſhall ſin; well, If any do ſin, what then? We have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous, and he is the propitiation for our ſins; we are to go preſently to Jeſus Chriſt, who is our Advocate, and propitiation for our ſins, and to believe this; well, Jeſus Chriſt is my Advocate and propitiation for my ſin which I have fallen into through infirmity, or temptation, or incogitancy, or any occaſion whatſoever, this is the way. Did not Nathan deal thus with David when he had ſinned? he tells him, the Lord hath forgiven thy ſins; and David comes to his penetential Pſalms after his belief, that his ſin was forgiven; and that's the true repentance that flows from the apprehenſion of Gods mercy towards us in the forgiveneſs of ſins: When the ſoul hath ſinned (obſerve it) it muſt be ſetled upon that which can take away ſin, and upon a righteouſneſs that is not its own; but is far beyond its own; now who is that can do this, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt?
For the firſt, the ſoul muſt be ſetled upon him that can take away ſin, 1 Joh. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the ſin of the world; Behold him, and look upon him that takes away the ſin of the world, he ſhall take away your ſin, the guilt of it, the trouble of it, and the vexation of it; it muſt be the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 'tis not your Prayers nor repentance, nor any thing comes from you can do it; no, 'tis the Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone that takes away ſin, Heb. 1.3. When he had by himſelf purged our ſins; 'tis the Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone that purges away ſins; Chriſt being without ſin, comes to take away ſin, and to purge away ſin; ſo that he condemns ſin in the fleſh, Rom. 8.3. and our old man was Crucified with him, Rom. 6.6. ſo that now there is nothing man can do that tends to the taking away of ſin; there's nothing left for any man or woman in the world to do to take away ſin, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he hath taken away ſin; and I am to believe on the Son of God who hath taken away ſin, and doth take away the ſins of his people, that they commit daily.
And if you will ſay, as 'tis in the 16 Prov. 6. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged. By mercy and truth, what's the meaning of that? that is, by Gods promiſe in ſending Jeſus Chriſt, and his truth in performing his promiſe; iniquity is purged by Jeſus Chriſt whom he ſent, and fulfilled, and made good the promiſe; ſo that ſin is purged by Jeſus Chriſt, and by none elſe: Therefore when we have ſinned, we are to look to Chriſt, and to Chriſt alone.
Secondly, So for righteouſneſs, it is Chriſt's muſt ſtand us in ſtead, not our own; as there is no ſin to be ſatisfied for now, but all is ſatisfied for in and by Jeſus Chriſt; ſo there is no new righteouſneſs to be wrought now by any for ſalvation, but what Chriſt hath already wrought; Chriſts righteouſneſs is everlaſting righteouſneſs, perfect righteouſneſs; he hath brought in everlaſting and perfect righteouſneſs, and 2 Cor. 5. laſt, he was made ſin for us who knew no ſin, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him; made the righteouſneſs, how come we to be made? why by faith in him, Phil. 3.9. and be found in him, not having mine own Righteouſneſs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the Righteouſneſs which is of God through faith: So that the way for a ſoul that's troubled with ſin, and guilt of ſin (and the like) is to believe in the Lord Jeſus, and to reſt upon him who takes away ſin, and brought in a righteouſneſs that is ſufficient for us.
Fifthly, if we muſt believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and can never be truly ſetled in our comforts, and peace, without faith in him; then let us fetch our comforts, our peace, our aſſurance from Chriſt by believing, and not from any thing of our own, not from our repentance, and obedience, and Sanctification, for theſe are mixt with imperfections, theſe are defiled with our corruptions, theſe are ebbing and flowing; ſo will your comforts, and peace, and aſſurance be, ſo long as you feed them from theſe, theſe do not make us righteous before God; it may be before men, or in our own eyes may make us righteous, our repentance, our obedience, our holineſs; but they do not make us ſo before God; if we raiſe our comforts, and peace, and aſſurance from theſe, it is from our own actings, and this ſavours too much of a legal ſpirit; if we believe in Chriſt, and fetch all from him, it will be certain, and laſting, and ſolid, and will be unſhaken, Iſa. 45.24. It's a Propheſie of the Goſpel times, Verily ſhall one ſay, in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. I have none in my ſelf, and I can draw none from what ſelf doth; but in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. There is ſufficient righteouſneſs, and there is ſufficient ſtrength to bear up my peace, and comfort, and aſſurance; ſo that the way to have ſolid comfort, peace, and aſſurance, is to believe in the Lord Jeſus, and to fetch all from him.
Sixthly, If believing in the Son of God do lye under a command, then I infer from hence, that it will be our duty to enquire whether we have obeyed this command, and do believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and believe the right way, for there is ſome kind of faith in Chriſt, which is not a right faith; the Goſpel tells us of ſome that believed, yet afterwards fell off from Chriſt.
Now how ſhall we come to know whether we do believe aright in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God or no? this may be of uſe unto us. I ſhall anſwer it in ſeveral particulars.
Firſt, that faith which is a true and right faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it follows conviction of unbelief, Joh. 16.8, 9. When he is come, he will reprove, or as it is in your Margins, Convince the world of ſin, becauſe they believe not on me, that's the Son. The ſpirit of God when it comes, convinces men and women of their unbelief, convinces them of the evil, of the greatneſs of this ſin above all ſins; you think it may be other ſins are very great and grievous ſins, Drunkenneſs, Whordom, Idolatry (and the like) yea, but unbelief is the great ſin of all, that's the ſoul damning ſin, and when faith comes, all other ſins are taken away; but if you be unbelievers, the guilt of all your other ſins are bound upon you; ſo that it convinces the ſoul of unlelief; now have you had any conviction of what unbelieving hearts you have naturally? how backward you are to believe? how you put away promiſes and motions of the ſpirit? well, if you have a right faith, it follows conviction of unbelief.
Secondly, if you would know whether your faith be right or no in the Son of God, then anſwer how you came by your faith: How came you by your faith? is it from your ſelves, wrought by your own fancies, from your reaſonings? is it a fillogiſtical faith only; as thus, he that believes ſhall be ſaved; I believe, and therefore I ſhall be ſaved? this now is but a work of your own reaſoning; but the faith that is right is wrought by the power of God, and is the gift of God, Col. 2.12. Buried with him in Baptiſm, wherein you are riſen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raiſed him from the dead. There was the operation of God in raiſing Chriſt from the dead, and the ſame operation of God is put forth in the hearts of thoſe that do believe; and the Epheſians they could witneſs unto it, Eph. 1.19. And what (ſaith he) is the exceeding greatneſs of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Chriſt, when he raiſed him from the dead, and ſet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Why there was power, and greatneſs, and exceeding greatneſs of power towards us who do believe, yea, according to the working of his mighty power; the power that raiſed Chriſt from the dead, even that mighty power was put forth in our ſouls to raiſe us out of the grave of unbelief, to believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſo that in the 1 Theſſ. 1.5. our Goſpel, ſaith he, came not unto you in word onelyonly, but alſo in power, and in the Holy-Ghoſt. The power of the Holy-Ghoſt was put forth in working faith in the Theſſalonians, and ſo the power of God, and his ſpirit is put forth in the working faith in any ſoul; and uſually ſome promiſe, or ſome Goſpel truth is ſet upon the heart in power where there is a right faith wrought; as, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt; and God ſo loved the world, as he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whoever believes in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life; and whoever will, let him come without money, and without price, &c. Gal. 4.28, 29. Now we, Brethren, as Iſaac was, are the Children of promiſe, Children that are born of the promiſe, But as then, he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, &c. ſo then they are born after the ſpirit, the ſpirit ſets on ſome promiſe, ſome word of God which is a ſeed of faith, and of grace, and life in the ſoul; and ſo you come by your faith that way.
Thirdly, That faith which is right in the Son of God, excludes all boaſting, Rom. 3.27. where is boaſting then? 'tis excluded; by what Law, of works? nay, but by the Law of faith; 'tis faith that excludes boaſting, and Rom. 4.2. If Abraham were juſtified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. So the ſoul now, if it were juſtified by its own actings, it hath cauſe to boaſt; but he that is juſtified in Chriſt, he hath no cauſe to boaſt; the ſoul ſees it could never come to Chriſt except the Father had drawn it; it ſees that Chriſt hath done all for it, taken away its ſin, and put upon it his righteouſneſs; ſo that the ſoul ſees no cauſe to boaſt at all.
Fourthly, Where there is true faith in the Son of God, that ſoul ſees a luſtre in holineſs, in grace and glory, in the perſon, in the life, in the ſufferings, in the doctrine, in the ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt; others ſee no beauty, nor worth in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 1.14. The word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us; and we beheld his glory, (the glory as of the onelyonly begtoten of the Father) what a glory did we behold in the perſon of Chriſt? though he was cloathed with fleſh, and had put on our Sack-cloth, yet we beheld a glory in him, even the glory of the Father, full of grace, and full of truth; a believing ſoul ſees a luſtre in Jeſus Chriſt, more glorious than the Sun; and ſo in his Life, what a glorious ſin-leſs life he liv'd and lead; and ſo in his ſufferings, glorying in the Croſs; God forbid, ſaith Paul, that I ſhould glory ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſo in the Doctrine of Chriſt, what a glorious Doctrine is it? 2 Cor. 3. laſt; but we all with open face beholding as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, (that's in the Goſpel) are changed into tho ſame Image from glory to glory; In the Doctrine of the Goſpel there is a glory, a marvellous glory. 'Tis called marvellous light in Peter; ſo in all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, there is a luſtre, a glory in every thing of Jeſus Chriſt, he hath ſtamp'd ſomething of his own Image, and glory, and excellency upon it. In 5 Cant. ſay the daughters of Jeruſalem, What is thy beloved more than anothers beloved? they ſaw no great matter in him, O my beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, ſhe ſaw a glory which they could not ſee.
Fifthly, That faith which is right in the Son of God, it intereſts the whole heart in Chriſt, not a part, but the whole heart, Acts 8.37. Philip ſaid, if thou believeſt with all thine heart, and he anſwered and ſaid, I believe that Jeſus is the Son of God, my whole heart runs out to this; ſo that where faith in Chriſt is true, there the whole heart is intereſted in Chriſt, the underſtanding, the will, the affections, they are taken up with Chriſt, he is highly eſteemed in the underſtanding, he is fully cloſed with by the will, he is greatly loved and delighted in by the affections, the ſoul doth now love him, and joy in him; he is the exceeding joy of his heart: When a woman is married to a rich man, that is loving, and ſuitable every way, her whole heart is carried out to him; ſo when the ſoul is married to Chriſt, the whole heart is taken up with him, and runs out ſtrongly unto him.
Sixthly, The ſoul that doth believe in Chriſt, ſets up Chriſt, and all of Chriſt, and nothing but Chriſt. No King ſaid the Jews but Caeſar, ſo ſaith the ſoul, no King but Jeſus Chriſt, we have no King but Chriſt ſaith the believing ſoul, it ſets up the perſon of Chriſt, it ſets up the Laws of Chriſt, it ſets up the Ordinances of Chriſt, no Prophet but Chriſt, no High-Prieſt but Chriſt; ſo ſaith the ſoul that is rightly united to Chriſt by faith, & believes aright in him; yea, it ſets up the worſt of Chriſt, above the beſt of the world; whatever place, or profit, or honour the world affords, the ſoul that is rightly believing in Chriſt, ſets up the worſt of Chriſt above it all. Heb. 11.24 &c, By faith Moſes when he was come to years, refuſed to be called the Son of Pharoah's Danghten. What Moſes, will you refuſe to be Son to Pharoah's Daughter, to be Heir to the Crown, will you refuſe that? I, he refuſes to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter, chooſing rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; what will you refuſe the pleaſures of the Court, the choiceſt pleaſures that can be invented? I, let them go for the afflictions of Gods people; and mark in the 26. v. Eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches, than the Treaſures in Egypt. The reproach of Chriſt, or reproach for Chriſt; to be called a Phanatick, a Seditious fellow, a Schiſmatick, and the like; he did eſteem that more than all the treaſures in Egypt: So that the worſt of Chriſt, which is reproaching, and Perſecution, and Affliction, and Impriſonment, and Baniſhment, it eſteems all for Chriſt, and therefore ſaith Paul, Rom. 8.18. I reckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us. Alas, what's in theſe ſufferings to the glory that is to be had by Jeſus Chriſt.
Seventhly, The ſoul that doth rightly believe in Chriſt, doth bring its heart and will, to be one with the will of Chriſt. As Chriſt who had faith in God, and ſaid, My God, my God, he ſaid, Not my will, but thy will be done. So the Soul that believes in Chriſt rightly, ſaith, not my will, but thy will be done. It's brought over to the will of Chriſt, I live not, ſaith Paul, but Chriſt lives in me; Chriſt hath his will altogether, in me I have no will but Chriſts will: What do you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not to be bound onelyonly, but to dye for the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; he dyed for him, and laid down his life to fulfill the will of God; and Paul had the ſame will that he had, and we have the mind of Chriſt, ſaith he.
Eighthly, Laſtly, You have here one note in the Text, and that is Love, faith in the Son of God doth work love in the Soul: and therefore mind the connexion of theſe Commands; this is his Commandment, that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. And Love one another, as he gave us Commandment: The more ſaith you have in Chriſt, the more love you will have to others; for we do ſee in Chriſt, ſo much love to us that were ſo unworthy, ſo ſinful, in ſo damnable an eſtate and condition, that we will have love and pity towards the worſt, and thoſe are Godly, we ſhall have love to them becauſe they are in the ſame condition with our ſelves, we ſee that they are Brethren, they are Members of Chriſt, and they have the ſame precious faith with our ſelves, that they are glorious through the Robe of Chriſts Righteouſneſs put upon them, I, we ſee that they are Heirs together with our ſelves of the ſame grace, and in time ſhall be of the ſame Glory, that they are Heirs with Chriſt, and Co-heirs with him, and ſo upon this account they come to love them, and faith works by love. O the love that is in the Soul that hath a right ſaith in Jeſus Chriſt, it's full of love! Thus then you ſee now to know whether your faith be right in Jeſus Chriſt, being commanded to believe in him.
One thing more, and that is, if faith lye under a Command; let us all then be obedient to this Command, and labour to believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt more and more, if we have no faith let us do it; if we have faith let us do it more and more. I ſhall give you two or three motives, and anſwer a queſtion, and ſo conclude.
Firſt for Motives, know you can never truly love God till your ſins are forgiven you, you will think God is not your God, till your ſins are forgiven; but if you find that your ſins are forgiven you, you will love God then to purpoſe; you will love God then in truth, and in ſtrength; Mary loved much, why many ſins were forgiven her; now unleſs you believe in Jeſus Chriſt, you cannot have the forgiveneſs of your ſins; and ſo you will be queſtioning whether God love you, or whether he be not a hard God, and a hard Maſter, and dont pardon your ſins, and ſo you cannot love God truly, and love God with ſtrength. If therefore you would love God with truth, and ſtrength, believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, that you may know your ſins are forgiven.
Secondly, This believing in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, makes our perſons very acceptable unto God. Eph. 1.6. he hath made us accepted in his Beloved. How are we made accepted, by faith in him? if we have not faith in him, we are not accepted; therefore the Apoſtles put us to do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, Col. 3.17. There's the acceptation of your perſons.
And ſo of your Prayers, our Prayers will never ſpeed in Heaven, and have gracious Returns, unleſs we believe in the Son of God; 'tis for Chriſts ſake that our Prayers are heard, as you may ſee in the verſe before the Text, and the Text together; whatſoever we ask we receive of him, becauſe we keep his Commandments. And what's one Command? That we belieive on the Name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt; why now our Prayers come to be heard, when we keep his Commandments.
Laſtly, It is that which doth exalt the grace of God, and honours him very much, to believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt. It's ſaid in 1 Joh. 5. He that believes not, hath made God a Lyar. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witneſs in himſelf. There's encouragement to believe in the Son of God; He that believeth not God, hath made him a Lyar, becauſe he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is one record, that God hath given us eternal life in him. And this is another, that he Commands us to believe in him, that we may have this eternal life: Now what a diſhonour is this to the God of truth, to make him a lyar; but now to believe in his Son doth exalt the free grace of God, God hath made all the promiſes to Jeſus Chriſt, and in Chriſt they are all yea, and Amen. And mark it, All the promiſes of God in him are Yea, and and in him Amen, unto the Glory of God by us, 2 Cor. 1.20. When we believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, in whom they are all concentred, in whom they are all yea, and Amen; but if you do not believe in the Son of God. They are not all to the honour of God; God hath not his glory in that way that he looks for, by Jeſus Chriſt. So that we ſhould believe in the Son of God, becauſe it doth exalt his honour, and his free grace, and promotes his Glory abundantly; and the contrary brings reproach, and diſhonour upon God. One queſtion more.
But happily ſome will ſay, I cannot believe; what ſhould I do?
To that Soul, and to all of us I would ſay thus much.
Firſt, attend diligently unto the means by which God works faith, Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, by the word of God. Attend now unto the means, the Goſpel eſpecially, which is the means that God hath appointed to work faith by, and doth work faith by, Eph. 1.13. In whom ye alſo truſted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Goſpel of your Salvation: When they heard the word of truth, the Goſpel of Salvation; then they came to truſt in him; So when people do attend unto the means of Grace, and attend ſeriouſly unto it; God doth work faith, and increaſe faith where it is, by the ſame means. You know Pipes dont give water, but water comes through Pipes; ſo the Goſpel is the Pipe through which God lets out this water of grace, and conveys it unto us, and will you ſee it performed? in Acts 13.48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. When they heard the Goſpel Preached, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, they attended upon the word, and the means of grace, and it was not in vain they believed.
Attend therefore upon the Goſpel, and the word Preached, as an Ordinance of God, appointted and deſigned of God purpoſely to work faith in your Souls, many perſons they come to hear the Word, they come only to hear a man what he can ſay, and what notions and new things there may be; but they come not to it as an ordinance of God appointed to work grace and faith in the ſoul, and ſo miſs of their expectation upon that account.
Secondly, Conſider how freely Jeſus Chriſt is offered in the Goſpel, and offered unto you, and at what a cheap rate Chriſt is to be had. In Iſa. 55, come without money, and without price, come and drink of the waters of life freely. Why the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is a free gift, Rom. 5.15. ſaith the Apoſtle, not as the offence, ſo alſo is the free gift. A free gift Jeſus Chriſt and grace is; and Joh. 4.10. If thou haddeſt known the gift of God; O Chriſt is the gift of God, and what is required now, but receiving of this gift? will you not receive a gift, and ſuch a gift as this is when it is tendred to you by God himſelf, and tendred to you in ſuch a glorious manner, and God doth put off this rich gift at a very low rate, if you will receive it, Rev. 3.20. I ſtand at the dore and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the dore, I will come into him; and Ch. 22.17. whoſoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely; here's Chriſt with the water of life, and bread of life, with his Righteouſneſs, with all that is uſeful for you for the preſent, and to eternity, here he is, receive him; O how great will our condemnation be if we dont receive him, when as he is offered ſo freely to us!
3. Laſtly, you cannot believe you ſay, and I believe you too; you cannot believe: I but pray unto God to inable you to believe. And that ſhould be one great requeſt of our ſoules dayly, that God would enable us to believe, and that he would work Faith in us: why? it's the gift of God; and he is a giving God, he gives liberally and upbraids not: he will not upbraid you with your unbelief: but if you will come and beg Faith in God, and power to work that grace in you, he is ready to do it; in the 17. of Luke, ſay the Diſciples, Lord we believe, encreaſe our faith; ſo ſay you, Lord work faith in my ſoul, I can never pleaſe thee, nor get any good unleſs thou work faith in me; and that in Joh. 6.45. Every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me; O hearken to the Fathers teaching in the Goſpel, the fathers revealing of Chriſt, and diſcoveries he hath made, and receive every truth he hath given out concerning Jeſus Chriſt; and then he that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto the Son: O pray unto the Father to ſpeak to your hearts, and to teach your ſouls, that ſo you may come to Jeſus Chriſt, and believe in the Son, and have all thoſe great things that are to be had by him.