The Doctrine of Justification By Faith, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Faith alone.
THe Truth which we plead hath two Parts. (1.) That the Righteousness of God imputed to us, unto the Justification of Life, is the Righteousness of Christ, by whose Obedience we are made Righteous. (2.) That it is Faith alone, which on our Part is required to interest us in that Righteousness, or whereby we comply with Gods Grant and Communication of it, or receive it unto our Use and Benefit. For although this Faith is in it self the radical Principle of all Obedience, and whatever is not so, which cannot, which doth not on all occasions, evidence, prove, shew or manifest it self by Works, is not of the same kind with it, yet as we are justified by it, its act and Duty is such, or of that nature, as that no other Grace, Duty or Work can be associated with it, or be of any Consideration. And both these are evidently confirmed in that Description which is given us in the Scripture of the Nature of Faith and believing unto the Justification of life.
I know that many Expressions used in the Declaration of the Nature and Work of Faith herein, are Metaphorical, at least are generally esteemed so to be. But they are such as the Holy Ghost in his Infinite Wisdom thought meet to make use of, for the Instruction and Edification of the Church. And I cannot but say, that those who understand not how effectually the light of knowledg is communicated unto the minds of them that believe by them, and a sense of the things intended unto their Spiritual Experience, seem not to have taken a due consideration of them. Neither whatever Skill we pretend unto, do we know always what expressions of Spiritual things are Metaphorical. Those oftentimes may seem so to be, which are most proper. However it is most safe for us to adhere unto the Expressions of the Holy Spirit, and not to embrace such senses of things as are inconsistent with them, and opposite unto them. Wherefore,
1. That Faith whereby we are justified, is most frequently in the New Testament expressed by receiving. This notion of Faith hath been before spoken unto, in our general Enquiry into the use of it in our Justification. It shall not therefore be here much again insisted on. Two things we may observe concerning it. (1.) That it is so expressed with respect unto the whole Object of Faith, or unto all that doth any way concur unto our Justification. For (1.) We are said to receive Christ himself. Ʋnto as many as have received him, he gave power to become the Sons of God, Joh. 1.12. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, Col. 2.6. In Opposition hereunto Unbelief is exprest by not receiving of him, Joh. 11.1. Chap. 3.11. Chap. 12.48. Chap. 14.17. And it is a receiving of Christ, as he is the Lord our Righteousness, as of God he is made Righteousness unto us. And as no Grace, no Duty can have any co-operation with Faith herein, this Reception of Christ not belonging unto their Nature, nor comprized in their Exercise; so it excludes any other Righteousness from our Justification but that of Christ alone. For we are justified by Faith; Faith alone receiveth Christ, and what it receives is the Cause of our Justification, whereon we become the Sons of God. So we receive the Atonement, made by the blood of Christ, Rom. 5.11. For God hath set him forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood. And this receiving of the Atonement, includeth the Souls Approbation of the way of Salvation by the blood of Christ, and and the Appropriation of the Atonement made thereby unto our own Souls. For thereby also we receive the forgiveness of Sins; That they may receive the forgiveness of Sin, through the Faith that is in me, Acts 26.18. In receiving Christ we receive the Atonement, and in the Atonement we receive the forgiveness of Sins. But moreover, the Grace of God, and Righteousness it self, as the Efficient and Material Cause of our Justification are received also; even the Abundance of Grace, and the Gift of Righteousness, Rom. 5.17. So that Faith with the respect unto all the Causes of Justification is expressed by receiving. For it also receiveth the Promise, the Instrumental Cause on the Part of God thereof, Acts 2.41. Heb. 9.15. (2.) That the Nature of Faith and its acting with respect unto all the Causes of Justification consisting in receiving, that which is the Object of it must be offered, tendred, and given unto us, as that which is not our own, but is made our own by that giving and receiving; This is evident in the general Nature of receiving. And herein as was observed, as no other Grace or Duty can concur with it, so the Righteousness whereby we are justified can be none of our own, antecedent unto this Reception, nor at any time inherent in us. Hence we argue, That if the Work of Faith in our Justification be receiving of what is freely granted, given, communicated and imputed unto us, that is, of Christ, of the Attonement, of the Gift of Righteousness, of the forgiveness of Sins, than have our other Graces, our Obedience, Duties, Works, no influence into our Justification, nor are any Causes or Conditions thereof. For they are neither that which doth receive, nor that which is received, which alone concur thereunto.
2. Faith is expressed by looking. Look unto me and be saved, Isa. 45.22. A man shall look to his Maker, and his Eyes shall have respect unto the Holy One of Israel, Chap. 17.1. They shall look on me whom they have pierced, Zech. 12.10. See Psal. 123.2. The nature hereof is expressed, Joh. 3.14, 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life. For so was he to be lifted up on the Cross in his Death, Joh. 8.28. Chap. 12.32. The Story is recorded Numb. 21.8, 9. I suppose none doubt but that the Stinging of the people by fiery Serpents, and the Death that ensued thereon, were Types of the guilt of Sin, and the Sentence of the fiery Law thereon. For these things happened unto them in Types, 1 Cor. 10.11. When any was so stung or bitten, if he betook himself unto any other Remedies, he dyed and perished. Only they that looked unto the Brazen Serpent that was lifted up, were healed and lived. For this was the Ordinance of God, this way of healing alone, had he appointed. And their healing was a Type of the Pardon of Sin with everlasting life. So by their looking, is the Nature of Faith expressed, as our Saviour plainly expounds it in this P]ace. So must the Son of man be lifted up, that he that believeth on him, that is as the Israelites looked unto the Serpent in the Wilderness. And although this Expression of the great Mystery of the Gospel by Christ himself, hath been by some derided, or as they call it exposed, yet is it really as instructive of the Nature of Faith, Justification and Salvation by Christ, as any passage in the Scripture. Now if Faith whereby we are justified, and in that exercise of it wherein we are so, be a looking unto Christ, under a sense of the guilt of Sin and our lost Condition thereby, for all, for our only Help and Relief, for Deliverance, Righteousness, and life, then is it therein exclusive of all other Graces and Duties whatever; for by them we neither look, nor are they the things which we look after. But so is the Nature and Exercise of Faith expressed by the Holy Ghost. And they who do believe, understand his mind. For whatever may be pretended of Metaphor in the Expression, Faith is that Act of the Soul whereby they who are hopeless, helpless, and lost in themselves, do in a way of expectancy and Trust seek for all help and relief in Christ alone, or there is not Truth in it. And this also sufficiently evinceth the Nature of our Justification by Christ.
3. It is in like manner frequently expressed by coming unto Christ. Come unto me all ye that labour, Mat. 11.28. See Joh. 6.35.37, 45, 65. Chap. 7.37. To come unto Christ for life and Salvation, is to believe on him unto the Justification of life. But no other Grace or Duty is a coming unto Christ, and therefore have they no place in Justification. He who hath been convinced of Sin, who hath been wearied with the Burthen of it, who hath really designed to fly from the Wrath to come, and hath heard the Voice of Christ in the Gospel, inviting him to come unto him for Help and Relief, will tell you that this coming unto Christ consisteth in a mans going out of himself, in a compleat Renunciation of all his own Duties and Righteousness, and betaking himself with all his Trust and Confidence unto Christ alone, and his Righteousness, for pardon of Sin, acceptation with God, and a right unto the Heavenly Inheritance. It may be some will say this is not believing, but canting; Be it so, we refer the Judgment of it to the Church of God.
4. It is expressed by flying for Refuge, Heb. 6.18. Who have fled for Refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us, Prov. 18.10. Hence some have defined Faith to be perfugium animae, the flight of the Soul unto Christ for Deliverance from Sin and Misery. And much light is given unto the Understanding of the thing intended thereby. For herein it is supposed, that he who believeth is antecedently thereunto convinced of his lost condition, and that if he abide therein he must perish eternally; that he hath nothing of himself whereby he may be delivered from it; that he must betake himself unto somewhat else for Relief; that unto this end he considereth Christ as set before him and proposed unto him in the Promise of the Gospel; that he judgeth this to be an holy, a safe way for his Deliverance and Acceptance with God, as that which hath the Characters of all Divine Excellencies upon it; hereon he flyeth unto it for Refuge, that is, with diligence and speed that he perish not in his present Condition, he betakes himself unto it by placing his whole Trust and Affiance thereon. And the whole Nature of our Justification by Christ is better declared hereby unto the supernatural Sense and Experience of Believers, than by an hundred Philosophical Disputations about it.
5. The Terms and Notions by which it is expressed under the Old Testament, are leaning on God, Micah 3.11. or Christ, Cant. 8.5. rolling, or casting our selves and our burthen on the Lord, Psal. 22.8. Psal. 37.5. The Wisdom of the Holy Ghost in which Expressions hath by some been prophanely derided. Resting on God, or in him, 2 Chron. 14.11. Psal. 37.7. Cleaving unto the Lord, Deut. 4.4. Acts 11.15. as also by Trusting, Hoping, and Waiting in Places innumerable. And it may be observed that those who acted Faith as it is thus expressed, do every where declare themselves to be lost, hopeless, helpless, desolate, poor, Orphans, whereon they place all their hope and expectation on God alone.
All that I would infer from these things, is, that the Faith whereby we believe unto the Justification of life, or which is required of us in a way of Duty that we may be justified, is such an Act of the whole Soul whereby convinced Sinners do wholly go out of themselves to rest upon God in Christ, for Mercy, Pardon, Life, Righteousness and Salvation, with an acquiescency of Heart therein, which is the whole of the Truth pleaded for.