The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 14
Direct. XIIII.
OBserve diligently, O Natural man, that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature, is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone, Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38, 39. and 16. 30, 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27.
I. That, by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery, is evident several wayes. For,
1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ, principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel. Thus I have elsewhere described it; Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace, wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word; whereby they not only know, Assent to, and apply to themselves the Promises, Gospel, and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation; but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons. There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of FaithkIn my Treatise of Gods Covenants, Book 3. Chap 3. Aphorism 4. Quest. 1. p. 576. to 566.. So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ, stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises, who is the Kernel and Soul of them.
2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation, is one of the chief Acts of Faith,lSee all these explained. Ibid. which thus I illustrate;
The Acts of true Faith in Christ are
1 Direct. 2. Reflexive.
(1) Direct. and these of 2 Sorts.
1. Primary. As,
1. Knowing. Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3.
2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record, 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33.
3. Applying of the Promises, and of Christ, Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did, Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did, Ioh. 20. 8.
2. Secondary. As,
1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart, Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6, 7.
2. Purifying the heart, Act. 15. 9.
3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy, Rom. 5. 1, 2. and 15. 13.
4. Breaking forth into good works, 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11.
5. Working by Love, Gal. 5. 6.
6. Enlivening the Soul, Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20.
2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies. 1 Ioh. 3. 2, 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16.
(2) Reflexive. When Faith refle&ing upon its own acts sees it self believing, 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest. … or, All the Acts before the Applying ast, tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it: And all the Acts after it, result from the Applying Act especially, as genuine fruits and effects of it. Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest, as the Sun among the Planets, most illustrious.
3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all the Graces of the Spirit, in its property of Receiving and applying Iesus Christ, for Recovery and Salvation of Sinners, that it's set forth to us in Holy Scripture by sundry Emphatical Expressions and Comparisons. All pointing out the Applying Act of Faith. Faith is,
1. A looking upon Christ, as the Jews did upon the brazen Serpent, when stung. Ioh. 3. 15, 16. and 8. 56.
2. A coming to Christ. Ioh. 6. 35. Mat. 11. 28.
3. A Receiving of Christ. Ioh. 1. 11. 12.
4. An Embracing of the Promises, and so of Christ in the Promises. Heb. 11. 13. foreign properly notes, Lovingly-embracing, eagerly-apprehending, and thence signifies Saluting: Saluting being performed with embracing.
5. Eating of Christs flesh, drinking of his blood. Ioh. 6. 40. 53. 54.
6. Having of the Son. 1 Ioh. 5. 12.
7. Harbouring Christ so that he dwells in the heart by Faith. Eph. 3. 17.
4. The Doctrine of the Gospel reveales Recovery and Salvation of Sinners in and by Christ: but as Received and applied by Faith. Act. 10. 43. and 13. 38, 39. Rom. 3. 21. to the end; and 10. 9. &c.
5. Convinced Sinners enquiring how they may be saved, are directed to apply Christ by believing in him. Act. 16. 30, 31.
6. Recovery and Salvation of Sinners is Promised in and for Jesus Christ and his merit: but then Christ must be Received and applied by Faith. Faith is often expressed, alwayes to be understood as the Condition of the Promise. As, Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 3. 16. and 6. 40. 53, 54. Mark 16. 16. Act. 10. 43. Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Act. 16. 30, 31.
7. Without Faith in Christ there's no Salvation. None can be saved, that by believing apply not Christ for Recovery. Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Mark 16. 16. 2 Thes. 2. 12.
II. How is Iesus Christ to be Accepted and Applyed by Faith, in order to the Sinners Recovery and Salvation by him?
Answer. Jesus Christ is to be accepted and Applyed by Faith, in order to the Sinners Recovery by him, in such sort as he is offered in the Gospel. To accept and apply him otherwise, in any other notion, upon any other terms, &c. then God offers him: is to apply a Christ of our own, not the Lords Christ. Gods offer, must be the ground and Rule of our Acceptance.
Now the Gospel offers Christ unto the Sinner, for his Recovery by him; and to his Faith.
1. As that Messiah and Saviour of Sinners, which from the Fall of man was Promised, Prophecied of, and fore-typified; and in fulness of time was manifested in humane flesh, for lapsed man's Recovery out of Sin and misery. Gen. 3. 15. and 12. 3. and 22. 18. Gal. 3. 8. 16. with Act. 8. 10. 43. Ioh. 1. 41. 45. Gal. 4. 4, 5, 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19, 20.
2. As that only Messiah, Redeemer, and Saviour given among men, by whom alone Sinners can be saved, and by none other in the whole world. Act. 4. 11, 12. Ioh. 8. 24.
3. As an All-sufficient Saviour, able to save fully unto the Vttermost all that come unto God by him. Heb. 7. 24, 25, 26. and 9. 11, 12, 13, 14. and 10, 11. to 19. Ioh. 1. 14, 15. Col. 1. 19, 20.
4. As God-man, Mediator betwixt God and man, Ioh. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4, 5. 1 Tim. 3. 16. with 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6.
5. As man's Surety, Heb. 7. 22. who by his Obedience Active hath exactly fullfilled the Law of God, which we could not perform or keep, Gal. 4. 4. And by his obedience Passive, to the Death, even the death upon the Cross, hath endured the curse and penalty of the Law for our sakes, which we could neither have endured nor avoided: that so, satisfying Gods justice to the uttermost for our sins, we might be eternally released from sin and wrath, and be reconciled to God, justified and saved by Christs Obedience imputed to us through Faith. Rom. 5. 18, 19. and 8. 3, 4. Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8. Rom. 5. 9, 10. and 3. 25. Gal. 3. 10. 13, 14. Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 9. 12. 14. and 10. 10 to 19. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19, 20. Tit. 2. 14.
6. As the Sinners Perfect righteousness before God, …mputed by God unto him, through Faith. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 3. 21. 22. to the end. and 4. 11, 12. and 5. 18, 19. and 10. 6. 9. 10. For which all self-righteousness is to be denied, Phil. 3▪ 7, 8, 9, 10.
7. As Christ Jesus the LORD. The Gospel tenders him; As Christ or Messiah, i. e. Anointed by the Spirit above measure for his office, Psal. 45. 7. As Iesus, i. e. A Saviour Mat. 1. 21. Luk. 2. 20. This denotes his office. As the LORD, to rule and raign over us, in us, and for us, over all our enemies whatsoever. As he is a JESUS to save: so he will be a LORD to Rule. Thus we are to receive and apply him, as the Colossians did, Col. 2. 6.
8. As that Redeemer, for whom we are to deny ourselves, take up ou… Cross and follow him. Luk 9. 23.
III. What encouragement may a poor lapsed and lost Sinner have, to draw towards Iesus Christ, to accept and apply him for his Recovery and Salvation by believing in him.
Answ. Much every way. But especially upon these and like serious Considerations. viz.
1. Christ himself hath plainly declared that it is the great duty of the Sinner, to believe in Christ, and so to accept and apply him by Faith. This, the work, which God chiefly requires and accepts: to believe in Christ. Ioh. 6. 28, 29. 1 Ioh. 3. 23.
2. Christ most sweetly invites all distressed Sinners, and thirsty Souls, to come to him for relief, to believe in him. Mat. 11. 28, 29, 30. Ioh. 7. 37. with Isai. 55. 1, 2. Rev. 22. 17.
3. Christ holds forth the Golden-Scepter of most great and precious Promises, to encourage and allure Sinners to approach to him and to apply him by believing. Mat. 11. 28, 29. Mar. 16. 16. Ioh. 3. 16. 18. 36. and 6. 37. 40. 44. 51. 54. 57. Act. 10. 43. Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6.
4. Christ never did, never will, reject any poor Sinful Soul, that did but even creep to him by the feeblest Faith, Ioh. 6. 37. why then shouldst thou fear, that he will not accept and embrace thee?
5. Christ hath most readily, tenderly and compassionately received even greatest and most hainous offendors, upon their coming to him by Faith: And all these for Encouraging Patterns and Presidents to all that afterwards shall believe in him, 1 Tim. 1. 16. And why should he not in like sort entertain thee, notwithstanding all thy Sins, if thou canst believe in him? Remember the reception of the Prodigal, Luk. 15. 20. to the end: of Nicodemus. the ignorant Pharisee, Ioh. 3. 1, 2, 3. &c. of Mathew the griping Customer, Mat. 9. 9. of Zachaeus the oppressing Publican, Luk. 19. 5. to 11. Of the notorious Sinful woman that washed Christs feet with her Tears, &c. Luk. 7. 37. to the end of Saul, that was injurious, a Persecutor and a Blasphemer, Act. 26. 9, 10. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. 16. of the Thief upon the Cross, that even after his Crucifiction had railed upon Christ, Mat 27. 44. compared with Luk. 23. 40. to 44. Yea of those that were guilty of his Death and Blood: yet even some of them Christ washed from their Sins by the very blood which they shed,mQuis desperaret sibi donanda peccata, quando crimen occisi Christi reis d… nabatur? Conversi sunt ex ipso populo Iudaeorum: Conversi sunt, baptizati, sunt. Ad mensam Domini accesserunt: & sanguinem, quem saevientes fuderunt, credentes biberunt, Aug. de Temp. Serm. 74. p. 747. B. Tom. 10. Basil. 1569. Act. 2. 36, 37. to the end. Oh, miracles of Christs mercy and Compassion to lost Sinners! when Christ accepts such; who would not hopefully come to him? When Christ saves such; who have cause to despair, that desire truly to repent and believe in him?