The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 15
XV. Direction.
POwer thus to believe in Iesus Christ God-man, and by believing to accept and Apply him for thy Recovery (O Natural man) out of thy sinful and wretched state of Nature, thou hast none at all of thy self; But all thy sufficiency in this behalf is wholly of God: Nevertheless thou mayst, and oughtest to do some things for the furtherance of thy Faith in Christ.
I. That, of thyself thou hast no power or sufficiency at all to believe in Iesus Christ, to receive, and apply him effectually by believing, without the supernatural influence and assistance of God: Is plain. For,
1. The Testimony of Christ and his Apostles is clear for it. No man can come to me (i. e. by believing) Except the Father which hath sent me, draw him, Ioh. 6. 44. He cannot of himself, or by his own power come and believe: till God influence him and enable him. Again; Without me ye can do nothing. viz. nothing in fruit bearing; either of Faith, or any other good spiritual fruit, Ioh. 15. 5. That of the Apostles is punctual; By Grace are ye saved, through Faith and that not of your selve, it is the gift of God, Ephes. 2. 8.nSee, The large English Annotations on. Eph. 2. 8. and Mr. Paul Bayns in his Comment on Eph. 2. 8.
2. True saving Faith in Christ, and the acting of it unto the accepting and applying of Christ, is the special work of God and fruit of the spirit, of the Regenerating spirit of God. Compare and consider well, Ioh. 6. 44. Gal. 5. 22. with Ioh. 1. 12, 13.
3. Faith in Christ is the Life of the Soul from Christ, it is as the vital spirits from him, Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 1. 17. Now, can the Soul of natural man, which is dead in sins and trespasses, Eph. 2. …. quicken it self by believing.
Hence, then, these things must needs follow. 1. That, whosoever do believe in Christ truly, and by Faith apply him effectually and savingly, they owe all this wholly to the rich Grace and meer favour of God. And are to render unto him all the praise thereof. 2. That 'tis a piece of gross Ignorance and groundless Presumption, for any Natural man whatsoever, to think he can believe and accept Christ at his pleasure. This is impossible. 3. Let every natural man take heed he reject not the divine offers of Faith unto his Soul, nor resist the Spirits motions and operations inclining, drawing, and perswading the heart thereunto, 1 Thes. 5. 19. Act. 7. 51. Eph 4. Ioh. 6. 44. For, what if the Spirit of God draw and move the heart so no more? And without God, there's no believing.
II. Notwithstanding, Though the Natural man cannot of himself savingly believe in Christ, or apply him, by any self-sufficiency or power of his own, yet something towards it, and towards the furtherance thereof, he may and ought to do, Act. 8. 13. Luk. 8. 13. For, what a meer Natural man hath done heretofore, why may not a meer Natural man do again? Now then, O Natural man, though thou canst not of thy self believe in Christ, and apply him savingly, yet neglect not to do what thou canst do, in order to this believing in Christ, and applying of Christ to thine own soul.
Art thou grieved in thine heart thou canst not enough believe in him? Art thou desirous to believe in him alone for Recovery and Salvation? I would fain take this for granted. Let me then draw thee, thou poor trembling soul, a few steps further towards Christ. Make use of these few Helps and Furtherances unto Faith in Christ Jesus. For, this thou canst, and ought'st to do. viz.
1. Know, and Consider Jesus Christ well, both in his Person, Offices, and the effects or acquirements of his Offices, as all these are delineated in the Holy Scriptures. Ioh. 17. 3. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. Heb. 9. 12, 13, 14. and 10. 7. to 19. Rom. 5. 9, 10. And Assent fully to the Record, that God hath given of his Son in his Word, that eternal life is in his Son, 1 Joh. 5. 10, 11. Now, Knowledge, Heb. 11. 3. Isa. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. Assent, 1 Ioh. 5. 10, 11. And Application, Ioh. 1. 12. Gal. 2. 20. make up the Nature of true Faith.
2. Ponder often and earnestly upon the Promises of God touching Christ, and touching believing in him. As, That whosoever comes to him by believing, shall not in any case be cast out by Christ, Ioh. 6 35, 37. shall not be ashamed or confounded, Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. shall not perish, Joh. 3. 16. shall never hunger nor thirst more, Joh. 6. 35. Isa. 55. 1. shall find rest from Christ unto his soul, Mat. 11. 28, 29. shall live, though he were dead; yea, shall never die, Joh. 11. 25. yea, shall have eternal life, and be saved, Joh. 3. 16, 17. Mar. 10. 16. Now these and such like Promises, being Yea and Amen in Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 20. they are Fundamentum & Pabulum Fidei, The very foundation, whereupon Faith is bottomed and grounded; and the food, wherewith Faith is nourished. See Rom. 4. 17. to the end. Heb. 11. 11.
3. Consider well the Nature of God, the Promiser. For, this will greatly encourage Faith to embrace the Promises, and Christ in the Promises. For,
Gods Truth is such: he cannot lie, Tit. 1. 2. 'Tis impossible he should lie, Heb. 6. 10.
Gods Fidelity such: he cannot, will not deceive, Heb. 11. 11.
Gods Power such: he can fully perform what he hath promised, seem it never so improbable, impossible, incredible, Rom. 4. 20, 21.
His love and free grace such: in giving Christ for us, Ioh. 3. 16, 17. and offering Christ to us, Rom. 3. 21, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 18, &c. That with him he will freely give all things, Rom. 8. 32.
4. Be diligent and constant in attending upon Gods Ordinances, whereby Faith is bred and nourished. Especially be singularly careful and vigilant in hearing the Word faithfully and powerfully preached. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10. 14, 15, 17. The Word preached is the Seed of Faith and Regeneration, 1 Pet. 1. 23, 25.
5. Cherish and make much of every good motion, stirring, striving inclination, operation of the Spirit of God in thine heart and soul, tending to thine accepting and closing with Christ, 1 Thes. 5. 19. Eph. 4. 30. Act 7. 51. For Faith is the proper fruit o… the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22.
6. Forget not the exemplary instances of Believers, who, though great offendors, yet have received and apply'd Christ by Faith, and have been graciously accepted and entertained by him: and all this for the encouragement of thee, and of all that afterwards should believe. As, The Jaylor, Act. 16. 30, &c. Paul, 1 Tim. 1. 13. to 17. Act. 26. 9. 10, 11. The penitent Woman, Luk. 7. 37. to the end. The Thief on the Cross, Luk. 23. 42, 43. The 3000 Hearers of Peter, Act. 2. 36▪ 37. &c.
7. Ask, seek, knock importunately at the Throne of Grace, for this soul-saving Grace. The Spirit is promised to them that ask, Luk. 11. 13. Fly unto Christ the Author and finisher of Faith, Heb. 12. 2. And cry, Lord increase my Faith, Luk. 17. 5. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief, Mar. 9. 24.