The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Direction 7
DIRECTION VII
We are not to imagine that our hearts and lives must be changed from Sin to Holineſs in any meaſure, before we may ſafely venture to trust on Christ for the ſure Enjoyment of himſelf and his Salvation..
EXPLICATION.
WE are naturally ſo prone to ground our Salvation upon our own works, that if we cannot make them procuring Conditions and Cauſes of our Salvation by Chriſt, yet we ſhall endeavour at leaſt to make them neceſſary Preparatives to fit us for receiving Chriſt and his Salvation by Faith. And Men are eaſily perſwaded that this is not at all contrary to Salvation by Free-grace, becauſe all that is hereby aſcribed to our works or good Qualifications, is only that they put usin a ſit poſture to receive a Free gift. If we were to go to a Prince for a Free giſt, good Manners and due Reverence would teach us to trim our ſelves firſt and to change our ſlovenly Clothes as Joſeph did when he came out of the Dungeon into the preſence of Pharaoh. It ſeemeth to be an impudent ſlighting and contemning the Juſtice and Holineſs of God and Chriſt, and an inſufferable affront and indignity offer'd to the divine Majeſty, when any dare preſume to approach into his Preſence in the naſty pickle of his Sins, covered all over with putrifying Sores not at all clo'sd, boundeup or cleanſed; much more when they endeavour to receive the moſt holy One into ſuch an abominable ſtinking Kennel, as a Sinners heart is before it be at all reformed. The Parable concerning the Man that was to be bound hand and foot and caſt into outer Darkneſs for coming to the Royal Wedding without a Wedding garment, ſeemeth to be intended as a Warning againſt all ſuch Preſumption, Mat. 22.11, 13. Many that behold with terrour the abominable Filth of their own hearts are kept off from coming immediately to Chriſt by ſuch Imaginations which Satan ſtrongly maintaineth and increaſeth in them by his Suggeſtions, ſo that they can by no means be perſwaded out of them, until God teacheth them inwardly by the powerful Illumination of his Spirit; they delay the ſaving act of Faith, becauſe they account that they are not yet duly prepared and qualified for it. On the ſame Account many weak Believers delay coming to the Lord's Supper for many Years together, even as long as they live in this World, and would be as likely to delay their Baptiſm, if they had not been baptized in Infancy. Againſt all ſuch Imaginations I ſhall propoſe the following Conſiderations.
First, This Error is pernicious to the Practice of Holineſs, and to our whole Salvation, in the ſame manner with that treated of in the foregoing Direction, and may be confuted by the ſame Arguments, which are there produced; whether Holineſs be made a procuring Condition of our Salvation through Chriſt, or only a Condition neceſſary to qualifie us for the Reception of Chriſt, we are equally brought under thoſe Legal terms of doing firſt the Duties required in the Law, that ſo we may live. Therefore we are equally bereaved of the Aſſiſtance of thoſe means of Holineſs mentioned in the foregoing Directions, as Union and Fellowſhip with Chriſt, and the Enjoyment of all his ſanctifying Endowments by Faith, which ſhould go before the Practice of Holineſs, that they may enable us for it, and we are equally left to labour in vain for Holineſs while we are in our curſed natural State, whereby our ſinſul Corruption will be rather exaſperated than mortified, ſo that we ſhall never be duly prepared for the reception of Chriſt, as long as we live in the world. Thus while we endeavour to prepare our way to Chriſt by holy Qualifications, we do rather fill it with ſtumblingblocks and deep pits, whereby our Souls are hindered from ever attaining to the Salvation of Chriſt.
2dly, Any the leaſt change of our hearts and lives from Sin to Holineſs before our receiving of Chriſt and his Salvation by Faith, is not at all neceſſary according to the Terms of the Goſpel, nor required by any one Syllable in the Word of God. Chriſt would have the vileſt Sinners come to him for Salvation immediately without delaying the time to prepare themſelves for him. When the wicked Jaylor enquired, what he muſt do to be ſaved, Paul directed him forthwith to believe on Chriſt, with a Promiſe that in ſo doing he ſhould be ſaved, and ſtraitway he and all his were baptized, Acts 16.30, 33. Paul doth not tell him that he muſt reform his heart and life firſt, though he was in a very naſty pickle at that time, having but a little before faſtened Paul and Silas in the Stocks, and newly attempted an horrid wilful ſelfmurder. Thoſe three thouſand Jews that were converted by Peter's Preaching, and added the ſame day to the Church by Baptiſm, Acts 2.41. ſeemed to have as much need of ſome conſiderable time to prepare themſelves for receiving of Chriſt as others, becauſe they had but lately polluted themſelves with the Murder of Chriſt himſelf, v. 23. Chriſt commands his Servants to go out quickly into the Streets and Lanes of the City and to bring in to his Feaſt, the poor and the maimed, and the halt and the blind, yea to go out into the high ways and to compel them to come in, without allowing them to tarry away until they had cleanſed the ſores and ſhifted off their filthy rags and ſwarms of lice. Chriſt would have us to believe on him that juſtifieth the ungodly, and therefore he doth not require us to be godly before we believe, Rom. 4.5. He came as a Phyſician for the Sick, and doth not expect that they ſhould recover their Health in the leaſt degree before they come to him, Mat. 9.12. The vileſt Sinners are fitly prepared and qualified for this Deſign, which is to ſhew forth the exceeding riches of Grace, pardoning our ſins and ſaving us freely, Eph. 2.5. 7. For this end the Law of Moſes entered, that the offence might abound, that ſo where ſin abounded grace might much more abound, Rom. 5.20. He loved us in our moſt loathſom ſinful Pollution, ſo as to die for us, and much more will he love us in it, ſo as to receive us when we come to him for the purchaſed Salvation. He hath given full ſatisfaction to the Juſtice of God for ſinners, that they might have all Righteouſneſs, and Holineſs, and all Salvation only by Fellowſhip with him through Faith; therefore it is no affront to Chriſt, or ſlighting and contemning of the Juſtice and Holineſs of God to come to Chriſt, while we are polluted ſinners; but rather it is an affronting and contemning of the Saving-grace, Merit and Fulneſs of Chriſt, if we endeavour to make our ſelves righteous and holy before we receive Chriſt himſelf, and all Righteouſneſs and Holineſs in him by Faith. Chriſt loathed not to touch a Leper, and condeſcended to waſh the feet of his Diſciples, and did not expect that they ſhould be waſhed and perfumed before hand, as ſome great ones of the World are ſaid to do, when they waſh the feet of Poor-men in imitating of Chriſt.
Thirdly, Thoſe that receive Chriſt with an unfeigned Faith, ſhall never want a wedding garment to adorn them in the ſight of God. Faith it ſelf is very precious in the ſight of God and moſt holy, 2 Pet. 1.1. Jude 20. God loveth it becauſe it giveth the glory of our Salvation only to the Free-grace of God in Chriſt, Rom. 4.16. and renounceth all dependance on any conditions that we can perform to procure a Right to Chriſt, or to make our ſelves acceptable to him. It containeth in it an hearty Love to Chriſt as Saviour, and an hungring and thirſting Appetite for his Salvation: and it is the Mouth whereby the Soul feedeth hungrily upon him. What Wedding garment can ſinners bring with them more delightful than this to their bountiful God, whoſe great Deſign is to manifeſt the abundant riches of his glorious Grace and Bounty in this Wedding feaſt? The Father himſelf loveth them, becauſe they love Chriſt, and believe that he came out from God, Jo. 16.27. But yet we ſee that the Excellency of Faith lyeth in this that it accounteth not it ſelf or any other work of ours, a ſufficient Ornament to make us acceptable in the ſight of God. It will not be our Wedding-garment it ſelf, but it buyeth of Chriſt white raiment that we may be clothed, and that the ſhame of our nakedneſs may not appear, Rev. 3.18. Tho' it loveth and deſireth the Free-gift of Holineſs, yet it abandons all thoughts of practiſing Holineſs immediately before we come to Chriſt for an holy nature. It putteth on Chriſt himſelf, and in him all things that pertain to life and godlineſs. Thus every true Believer is clothed with the Sun, Rev. 12.1. even with the Sun of Righteouſneſs the Lord Jeſus, who is pleaſed to be himſelf both our Wedding-garment and Feaſt, and all our ſpiritual and eternal Happineſs. For the more full Satisfaction and Conſolation of thoſe diſtreſſed Souls that lye under the terrible apprehenſions of their own ſinfulneſs and the wrath of God, and dare not venture to truſt ſtedfaſtly on Chriſt, for their Salvation, until they can find in themſelves ſome change from Sin to Holineſs. I ſhall mention particularly ſeveral of thoſe things that ſuch would find in themſelves, and I ſhall ſhew that if ſome of them be not partly comprehended in Faith it ſelf, they are fruits and conſequences of Faith, and therefore they cannot be rationally expected before we truſt on Chriſt for our Salvation.
First, They think it neceſſary to repent before they believe on Chriſt for their Salvation, becauſe Repentance is abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation, Luke 13.3. Except ye repent ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh; and Chriſt placeth the Duty of Repentance before Faith, Mar. 1.15. Repent and believe the Goſpel; but we are to know that Chriſt requireth Repentance firſt as the end to be aimed at, and Faith in the next place, as the only means of attaining to it; and tho' the end be firſt in intention, yet the means are firſt in Practice and Execution, tho' both be abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation. For what is Repentance, but an hearty turning from ſin to God and his Service? and what way is there to turn to God, but through Chriſt? who is the way, the truth and the life, without whom none cometh to the Father, Joh. 14.6. And what way is there of coming to Chriſt, but by Faith? therefore if we would turn to God in the right way, we muſt firſt come to Chriſt by Faith, and Faith muſt go before Repentance, as the great Inſtrument afforded us by the Grace of God for the effectual Performance of it. Repentance is indeed a Duty which ſinners owe naturally to God; but the great Queſtion is, how ſhall ſinners be able to perform it? This Queſtion is reſolved only by the Goſpel of Chriſt, Repent and believe. The way to repent is to begin with believing. Therefore the great Doctrine of John in his Baptiſm of Repentance was, That they ſhould believe on him that ſhould come after him, that is, on Chriſt Jeſus, Acts 19.4.
2dly Regeneration alſo is neceſſary to Salvation, Joh. 3 3. and therefore many would find it wrought in themſelves, before they truſt on Chriſt for Salvation; but conſider what Regeneration is, It is a new begetting or creating us in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 4.15. Eph. 2.10. in whom we are Partakers of a divine nature far different from that which we received from the firſt Adam. Now Faith is the uniting Grace whereby Chriſt dwelleth in us, and we in him, as hath been ſhewed, and therefore it is the firſt Grace wrought in our Regeneration and the means of all the reſt; when you truly believe, you are regenerated and not till then. Thoſe that receive Chriſt by believing, and thoſe only are the Sons of God, which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.12, 13.
3dly, They account it neceſſary to receive Chriſt as Lord and Law-giver by a ſincere Reſignation of themſelves to his Government, and a Reſolution to obey his Law, before they receive him as their Saviour. This is one principal Leſſon of the new Divinity, and ſuch a receiving Chriſt as Lord is made to be the great act of ſaving Faith, without which ſuch Faith as I have deſcribed, whereby we truſt on Chriſt for Salvation, is reckoned no better than groſs Preſumption. They teach that Chriſt will not beſtow his Salvation on thoſe that do not firſt yield their ſubjection to his Kingly Authority, but he calleth them his enemies, becauſe they would not that he ſhould reign over them, and requireth that they be brought and ſlain before him, Luke 19.27. And I own it as a certain truth, that Chriſt will ſave none but thoſe that are brought to reſign up themſelves ſincerely to the Obedience of his royal Authority and Laws. But yet we muſt obſerve that they are not brought to this holy Reſignation, or to any ſincere purpoſe and reſolution of Obedience before they receive his Salvation, but rather by receiving it. Men that were never throughly ſenſible of their natural death in ſin, do eaſily bring themſelves to reſolve univerſal Obedience to God when they are on their Death-beds, or in any eminent danger, or when they would prepare themſelves for the Lords Supper, that ſo they may make their Peace with God, and truſt ſecurely on Chriſt for his Salvation, but all Reſolutions of that kind are vain and hypocritical, ſooner broken than made. Thoſe that know the Plague of their own hearts, do find that their mind is enmity unto the Law of God and Chriſt and cannot be ſubject unto it, Rom. 8.7. and that they can as ſoon remove a mountain as give up themſelves ſincerely to Obedience before they truſt on Chriſt for his Salvation, and for the gift of a new heart, whereby they may be enabled both to will and to do any thing that is acceptable to God. We ſhould have been ſufficiently obliged to all obedient purpoſes, reſolutions and reſignations, if Chriſt had never come into the World to ſave us, but he knew that we could perform nothing holily, except he made us firſt Partakers of Salvation, and that we ſhall never obey him as Law-giver, until we receive him as Saviour. He is a ſaving Lord, truſt on him firſt to ſave you from the guilt and power of ſin… and dominion of Satan, and to give you a new ſpiritual Diſpoſition, then and not till then, the Love of Chriſt will conſtrain you to reſign up your ſelf heartily to live to him that died for you, 2 Cor. 5.14. and you will be able to ſay with an unfeigned Reſolution, O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant and the ſon of thy handmaid, thou hast looſed my bonds, Pſal. 116.16.
4thly, It ſeemeth to them evident, that ſome good works are neceſſary before we can truſt on Chriſt ſafely for the forgiveneſs of ſins; becauſe our Saviour teacheth us, that if we forgive not men their Treſpaſſes, neither will our heavenly Father forgive our Treſpaſſes, and directeth us to pray, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, Mat. 6.12, 15. Reſtitution alſo was to be made of things wrongfully gotten from others, before the Sacramental Atonement was made by the Treſpaſs offering, Lev. 6.5, 7. This is ſufficient to prove, that forgiving others, and Reſtitution according to our ability, or at leaſt a ſincere deſire and purpoſe ſo to do, are very cloſely joyned with the forgiveneſs of our ſins, and are very neceſſary to fit us for Prayer and for Sacramental Applications of pardoning Grace to our ſelves. A lively Faith cannot be without theſe Fruits, and therefore we cannot pray or partake of Sacraments in Faith without them, but yet if we ſtrive to do either of theſe before we truſt on Chriſt for our Pardon and Salvation, we ſhall do them ſlaviſhly and hypocritically, not in any holy acceptable manner. Our forgiving others will not be accompanied with any hearty Love to them as to our ſelves for the ſake of God; and our Reſtitution will be but a forced act, like Pharaoh's letting the Children of Iſrael go, or like Judas reſtoring the thirty pieces of Silver being compelled thereunto by terror of Spirit, and when the terror that forced us is removed, we ſhall be as ready to recal our Forgiveneſs and to wrong others again, as Pharaoh was to bring the Iſraelites again into bondage after he had let them go, Exod. 14.5. If you would forgive others heartily ſo as to love them again, you muſt firſt apprehend the love and mercy of God towards your ſelves by Faith in Chriſt, and then you will be able according to the Apoſtle's Inſtruction, to be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chriſt's ſake hath forgiven you, Epheſ. 4.32. The readineſs of Zaccheus to make Reſtitution, followed upon a diſcovery of Chriſt's love to him, and his joyful receiving Chriſt into his houſe, was fruit whereby he did evidence the Truth of that Faith that was already wrought in his heart.
5thly, I ſhall reckon up together ſeveral other Qualifications, that diſtreſſed Souls would find in themſelves, that they may be duly prepared to truſt on Chriſt for their Salvation, and when they have laboured anxiouſly a long time and cannot get them, at laſt they lie down in ſorrowful Deſpondence, not daring to apply the Conſolations of the grace of God in Chriſt to their wounded Conſciences. Let perplexed Souls mark the particulars and obſerve whether the condition of their own Souls be reached in any of them, O thou afflicted, toſſed with tempeſts, and not comforted, what good Qualifications is it that thou wouldeſt have, that thou mayeſt be encouraged to lay hold on Chriſt for Salvation? It is likely thou wilt anſwer in the bitterneſs of thy Soul, O let me have firſt ſome love to God and Godlineſs in mine heart, and freedom from mine hateful heart-riſings againſt him and his Service. Let me have ſome good thoughts of God, his Juſtice, Mercy, Holineſs, that I may be able to juſtifie him tho' he damn me, and that I may not be filled with murmuring and helliſh Blaſphemies in my mind againſt him, let the raging of my luſts be abated, and the ſtinking kennel of my wicked heart a little cleanſed, let me have ſome holy reverential Fear of God, and not only a pannick tormenting horror. I would be more affected with the wrath of God, and not be of a ſlighting heedleſs Spirit. I would be more humbled for Sin, loath it and be aſhamed of it, and be ſorry for it with a godly Sorrow, not meerly becauſe of the Puniſhment, but becauſe it grieveth and vexeth the holy Spirit of God, I would be able to make a willing and ingenious Confeſſion of ſin, and to pour out my Soul to the Lord in lively affectionate Prayer for Forgiveneſs, and to praiſe and glorifie him heartily, and not to be like a lifeleſs ſtone in the duty of Prayer as I am. Are theſe the things thou deſireſt, O poor diſtreſſed Soul? The beſt Reply I can make for thy ſpeedy comfort, is to inform thee, that the things are good but thy deſires are not well timed, it is unreaſonable for thee to expect theſe holy Qualifications whilſt thou art in thy natural State under the guilt of Sin and the apprehenſion of the Wrath of God, before thou haſt received the Atonement, and the new Spiritual Life that is by Chriſt through Faith in his Name, thou doſt but exaſperate thy Corruptions, and harden thy Heart, and make thy wounds to ſtink the more becauſe of thy fooliſhneſs; ſuch good Qualifications are included in the Nature of Faith, and for the moſt part they follow after it, ſo that they cannot poſſibly be obtained before thou truſteſt in Chriſt for thy Salvation, as I ſhall ſhew concerning them particularly in their Order. A love to the Salvation of God, and to the free Gift of Holineſs is included in the Nature of Faith, ſo that it cannot be hearty without it. Act Faith firſt with this kind of Love, and the Apprehenſion of God's Love to thy Soul will ſweetly allure and conſtrain thee to love God and his Service univerſally: We love him becauſe he loved us firſt, 1 Joh. 4.19. We cannot be before-hand with God in love, and we muſt perceive it to make us love him, for if we look upon him as a God contrary to us that hateth us and will damn us, our own innate Self-love will breed hatred and heart-riſings againſt him, in ſpite of our Hearts, that love which is the end of the Law muſt flow from Faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5. And if Hatred work in thee more than Love, how canſt thou expect good thoughts of God, or any other than blaſpheming, or at leaſt murmuring thoughts of him, in this condition, ill-will never ſpeaketh or thinketh well. The firſt right holy Thoughts thou canſt have of God are thoughts of his Grace and Mercy to thy Soul in Chriſt, which are included in the Grace of Faith. Get theſe thoughts firſt by believing in Chriſt, and they will breed in thee love to God, and all good thoughts of him, and free thee from blaſphemous and murmuring Thoughts by degrees, for love thinks no evil, 1 Cor. 13.9. Then wilt thou be able to account God juſt and merciful if he had damned thee and extended his Grace to others; and thou wilt be able to think well of his Holineſs, and of his Decrees which many cannot endure to hear of. The way to get rid of thy raging Luſts is by Faith, that purifieth the Heart and worketh by Love, Act. 15.9. Gal. 5.6. The Soul muſt be brought to take pleaſure in God and Chriſt by Faith, or elſe it will luſt after fleſhly and worldly Pleaſures; and the more you ſtrive againſt Luſts without Faith, the more they are ſtirred up, though you prevail ſo far as to reſtrain the fulfilling of them: beg a holy Fear of God, with fear of coming ſhort of the promiſed Reſt through unbelief, Heb. 4.1. Such a Fear is an Ingredient of Faith, and it will breed in us a reverential, yea, a Child-like fear of God and his Goodneſs, Heb. 12.28. Hoſ. 3.5. We muſt have Grace whereby we may ſerve God with Reverence, &c. It is in the Margent we muſt have or hold faſt Grace, and there is no other way to hold faſt Grace but by Faith, and this will quickly calm all pannick and tormenting Horror. And if you would be free from careleſneſs and ſlightning the Wrath of God, your way is firſt to avoid diſpairing by believing; for People grow careleſs by diſpairing, and for their own quiet they will endeavour to ſlight Evils which they have no hope to prevent, according to the Proverb, Let us eat and drink for to morrow we ſhall die, 1 Cor. 15.32. True Humiliation for Sin is either a part or fruit of Faith, for on our believing we ſhall remember our own evil ways and doings that were not good, and ſhall loath our ſelves in our own ſight for all our Abominations, Ezek. 36.31. We ſhall alſo then willingly renounce our own Righteouſneſs, and account it but dung, that we may win Chriſt by Faith, Phil. 3.7, 8. But Beggars will make the moſt of all their naſty Rags, till they be furniſhed with better Cloaths; and Cripples will not caſt away their Crutches until they have a better ſupport to lean on. Godly Sorrow for Sin is wrought in us by believing the pardoning Grace of God, as it is found by experience, that a Pardon from a Prince will ſometimes ſooner draw tears from a ſtubborn Malefactor than the fear of a Halter will; thus the ſinful Woman was brought to waſh Chriſt's Feet with her Tears, Luke 7.37, 38. We are not like to be ſorry for grieving God with our Sins while we look upon him, as an enemy that will eaſe himſelf well enough of his burthen, and right himſelf upon us by our everlaſting deſtruction. The belief of God's pardoning and accepting Grace is a neceſſary means to bring us to an ingenuous Confeſſion of Sins. The People freely confeſſed their ſins when they were baptized of John in Jordan for the remiſſion of ſins, Mark 1.4, 5. The Confeſſion of Deſpairers is forced, like the extorted Confeſſions and Cryings out of Malefactors upon the Rack. A Pardon ſooner openeth the Mouth to an ingenuous Confeſſion, than confeſs and be hanged, or confeſs and be damned; therefore if you would freely confeſs your ſins, believe firſt that God is faithful and juſt to forgive your ſins through Chriſt, 1 Joh. 1.9. And if you would pray to God, or praiſe him with lively Affections, you muſt firſt believe that God will hear you, and give you what is beſt for you for Chriſt's ſake, Joh. 16.23, 24. otherwiſe your praying will be only from the Teeth outward, for how ſhall you call on him on whom you have not believed, Rom. 10.14. You muſt come firſt to Chriſt, the Altar by Faith, that by him you may offer the Sacrifice of Praiſe to God continually, Heb. 13.10, 15.
Finally, to paſs from Particulars to the general Aſſertion laid down in the Direction, if you ask, What ſhall we do that we may work the Works of God, or get any ſaving Qualifications? I muſt direct you firſt to Faith, as the Work of Works, and the great ſaving Preparatory to all good Qualifications, by anſwering in our Saviour's words, This is the Work of God, that ye believe in him whom he hath ſent, Joh. 6.28, 29.