The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 3
SECT. III.
III. Fulness of Faith, in the room of Unbellef.
FOR 'tis not unknown how strongly this sin keeps every mans Palace, and that not Moses, but the Lord Jesus is the stumbling stone even of the Iews, the peculiar people of God. When men are at their last cast, that the Lord intends to wait to pity no more, at last the Son comes, and an unbelieving heart casts the Ballance and refuseth him. After that the Lord hath tried men by miraculous preservations, deliverances from Pharaohs, provision at Massah, then Canaan comes to be entred, and men cannot enter because of unbelief. This … stands in open view, and keeps the breach, when all other sins in appearance are beaten out of the field. Now there is a Spirit of Faith, which comes in the room of this unbelief, dispossesseth … soul of the power of it; for there may be some lighter stroaks of the Spirit, … are lighter Skirmishes with it, but yet it wins the field again; as in the stony ground, that believed, but unbelief got head again in time of persecution and temptation, and then they fell away.
What is this Faith,Quest. 1. or that fulnesse or full measure of it?
I shall not speak here of Historical or Miraculous Faith:Answ. The first of which is in the Devils, the second in some men only, that may perish afterward. Nor yet of that Faith which we call, of Assurance, we shall not come yet to that. But of that which we call justifying Faith, and that which doth first un…te to Christ, and justifie. Now this Faith is the coming of the soul to Christ. This is the general. For Adam had his life in himself, but now 'tis lo…t in us, but laid up in Christ, Col. 3. 3. Now hence they that would have this life, must go out of themselves to the Lord for it. Now the motion of the soul between these two extreams of emp…iness and death here, to life and fulness there, what is it but Faith? Which Adam had not, nor could have in that estate; and therefore none of the Sons of Adam naturally can share in it.
And that this is Faith it appears,
1. From Io… 6. 35. Lam the Bread of life, he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst.
2. Because unbelief is the departing of the soul from the God of life, Heb. 3. 1…. Not from a holy L…w, but from a living God.
3. Faith is the proper effect of Vocationi or rather the chief part thereof. Now look as ineffe…ual vocation is when the Lord calls, but the soul never comes; so effectual vocation is whereby the Lord calls, and the soul answers, and so comes. So that to …it still and see no…hing, and do nothing, is not Faith, but sloath. No, Christ cannot be in th…t soul that is yet in himself. Therefore Faith is not a passive possi…ility of the soul to receive Christ, though that may prepare for him, but the going out of a mans self unto Christ.
But may not a man come to Christ,Quest. 2. that never shall have mercy from Christ?
Yes,Answ. there m… be many lighter stroaks, as in temporary Believers. The world is at this day full of Faith▪ Every man thinks and saith he believes, though his Faith be weak. 'Tis mens Buckler against all means, they know these …ins, but as long as they believe all is well. And 'tis their comfort in all their troubles, though the Lord kills, yet they will believe. And I say, some men have departed indeed fro… the Lord▪ The Gospel hath been preached, and they have made out of the…selves to Christ, but missed of him. There is a Bramble-Faith that catcheth and … Christ, kisseth and betraies him. That coming to Christ therefore wh…ch none else have the full measure of, it appears in these particulars.
'Tis that work of the Spirit whereby a sinner, sensible of his extream nakedness, emptiness and wants, being called of God, his whole soul comes out of himself to Christ, for himself. I speak not of assurance, for if that were Faith, all … probates then we…e bound to believe an un…ruth, Viz. That God the Father …, and Christ hath died for them.
1. 'Tis a work of Gods Spirit, and hence 'tis called the Spirit of Faith, no… only because wrought by it; but because the Spirit is in an admirable maner fastned to it, and clasped to the soul, and the soul to Christ by it.
2. The Subject in which 'tis wrought: A s…nner sensible of his extream wants; for Faith springs out of the destruction of our own excellency, and ruines of it; like Christ, that did arise a root out of a dry ground; for the Lords gre…t plot, is to advance Christ and his rich grace. Now look as 'tis obscured by bringing any thing of our own to it, so 'tis advanced by fe…ching all from it; this can never be till the soul is sensible of his nakedness, emptiness and wants; let Christ be never so sweet, a full soul will lo…th him; and I … extream want. The Prodigal never comes home, till he dies for hunger: … is the fencelessness of men, and dislike of Christ, tha… extremities only drive them hither, as Iudges 5. 6. When the Midiani…s came, …hey ran …ike beasts to their den, and untill bread was taken from them, they cry not unto the Lord, but then they do: So men have neither hearts, or if so, no heads to come to Christ till now; and usually the Lord makes this the ground of the souls first motion towards Christ. I die here, and because of my wants I therefore come. Pardon …in, because great, Psal. 25. 11. Be marciful, bec…se 'tis a … …ople, Exod. 34. 9. That so when the Lord pardons, the soul may have nothing to boast off but misery, and now 'tis hard to beleeve. But this is not all.
3. It must be called of God, for else the soul though never so sensible of misery, could not, would not, du…st not come; but it would either sink under its burden, or plead against all means: It shall presume, as Iudas that had no look of Christ (as Peter had) h…ngs himself: And hence I…r. 3. 23. Come unto me, Their heart answered, We come. For this is usually the Objection of the soul when it sees the riches of mercy, What have I to do with it, that am so vile, and have fallen so oft, and rejected the Lord, and am like to do so; I shall sin the more by this means. No, the command of the Gospel comes, oh come, notwithstanding all this, nay because of this, for I will heal you of them. Now this call hath two things in it. 1. 'Tis particular, for general invitations to beleeve and come in, are made particular to the Elect, who else would not come in; And hence I…ai. 43. 1. I have … thee by nam…. For we shall finde that the hearts of men when they see a promise, cannot think it concerns them; all that hunger shall be satisfied, but shall I? And hence shew them 'tis as particular as the Law, they cannot think it is to them; and hence they say sometime the word All, is not put in. Now that is the mighty power of unbelief, a word spoken to all is regarded by none, till the Lord make it particular; and hence Isai. 2. Christ is said to judge the Nations, now when Judges ride their Circuits, they do not make Laws, but only apply Laws. One man is brought before them to be condemned, he hopes …, but he is so; now he trembles: Another to be acquitted, …e …, being … accused, he is freed; and now he rejoyceth. 2. 'Tis a living call, or powerful call, Iohn 5. 25. And hence a man may live under the calls of the Minister long, and never come, because 'tis not made living from the Lord of life; and …ence no… irresist…ble.
4. Upon this call the whole soul comes out of it self to Christ; for if a man could climbe the clouds, and unlock the doors of heaven, and come Elias like in his body to Christ, he might miss of Christ, as well as those that came and followed Christ for a time with their bodies while he lived on the earth; a man may come to Christ with half his soul or heart, there may be some hope, and some d…res, some love, and some cleaving to him, and choice of him really, inwardly, and yet not savingly, because the whole soul is no… here come, but half of it, Iames 1. 7, 8. Now the whole soul then comes, when all the affections and will take their flight to the Lord, and fasten there. When all the affections are gathered from all other things and changed, and so they come to, and embr…ce the Lord; so that hope wait… only here, when will the Lord pitty me? Desires that were set on a thousand things before, all long after him, love only taste…h him; the Lord letting in some sight of the freeness of mercy, hope looks out hither; the Lord shewing the want, but the way to it, desire breaks down stone-walls, and all means, and the difficulty of them, to have him: The Lord letting the soul tast the sweetness of Jesus and his grace, the soul joys, and love imbraceth, and the will fosters; a carnal heart desires, loves, joyes in other things, and the Lord also, and so hath a false heart. But the whole heart comes hither▪ and when 'tis here, thinks one heart too little, nay one life, one soul, and when any part of the affections are le…t any where else, then the soul mourns, hates that bondage, is ashamed of it, &c. So that the stream of the whole soul runs now hither, Psal. 119. 2. Ier. 3. 10. Psal. 45. 10. So 'tis with the soul, as with them when they were to come out of Egyp…, they would not leave childe, nor hoof behinde, lest there should be any occasion of return; it is with the soul departed from the body, it only minds the Lord, it hath taken leave of all; so by Faith the whole soul leaves all, and comes to the Lord; otherwise the soul is not come to Christ, but reacheth after Christ; like men that waded after the Ark, but perished in the waters: Their arms are not long enough, their desires and love are not long enough to reach Christ, the … and stream of the soul is set and runs here. Tis with the soul, as 'tis with two Rivers, both run with all their strength to the Sea, but the great River is bigger, and runs faster, yet the others stream is wholly carried thither. So some men may be more full of Faith then others, yet both run to the Sea, and as Rivers, they run in their Circles, this way and that way, and are sometimes dammed up, ye… end there: So the souls of all Saints run to this and the other creature, yet they end in the Lord at last. As Peter and Iohn that ran to the S…pulchre, though one out-ran the other, yet they came both to the Lord at last; when both of them had for a time forsook him, though all the world draw the soul back, it cannot live without the Lord; nay, though the Lord beat away the soul from him, yet it follows after him.
5. 'Tis to the Lord for himself, for Iohn 6. some came to Christ for loaves, and could have been glad if Christ had been King for it, but did not care for himself: And hence vers. 27. he points and turns them to himself; some came to him for higher ends, therefore were his Disciples, that is, for life from him. But when he told them, There is no life, unless you have the Son, And eat and drink his flesh and blood, or else you die, it was a hard saying, they could not understand nor see what that meant, and hence forsook him, but when they come and receive him himself; now life is indeed theirs.
So that its Christs person that this Faith first pitcheth on, as 'tis in Marriage, and those that come for this, were never sent away. Now the soul is truly come to him for himself: 1. When himself gives rest to the soul in the want of all things, …. 4. 3. If friends, protection, strength, life, glory be wanting, yet having him, in him I have all these; when all is sold away, not the treasure only, but the Field contents him: For it looks on this, as better then heaven, then glory, it comforts the soul that the Lord himself should be mine. 2. The soul that taketh him, 'tis not only to make boast of him, as … had him, nor to cover sloth, and sin, and delusion by him: I have Christ, and I have no more to care for, &c. but to live on him, Iohn 6. 57. He that ea…eth me, shall live by me. Phil. 3. 9, 10. A man takes not Christ as Medicine to ease him; nor as stately hanging… to adom him, but as bread to receive life from him. For many receive Christ, … they do upon him, and rest they say in him, but they do not suck any good from him, nay before they had any Christ or assurance of him they were better than now. You have nothing to do with the Lord Jesus, you are our of your place. As in I…hams par…ble, the Olive and Vine would not be pulled out of their places, to be set on the top… of other trees, as Kings; lest they lose their farness and sweetness: So since you have closed with Christ, you have lost your fa…ness and sweetness that once you had, you are now out of your place, go to your horrors and sorrows again, till the Lord so give himself to you as that you may receive life from him.
But must all come thus to Christ with their whole soul,Quest. 3. will not part of the price serve?
No,Answ. the whole soul must come, and cannot but come.
1. In regard of the Jealousie of God; who is like a jealous Husband, can bear with many weaknesses, but will have the whole heart; and they that do not, shall be destroyed for spiritual Whoredom, Psal. 73. 27. He should dishonour Christ else, to sell him so cheap.
2. In regard of the excellency of Christ: The Lord draws the soul by the revelation of him, Rom. 1. 16, 17. Isa. 55. 3, 4. Now look as men in this world, when they see a seeming good, their whole soul is over-powered to be drawn after it. So here, when such an Object is seen, especially the Soul having been at his Sepulcher weeping, as Iron never stirs till the Loadstone comes, and then it makes to that only, not to things toucht with it: For as we love him because he loved us first, so Christ loving the soul with all his heart, and his whole heart set upon him, the whole soul is … contra set on Christ.
3. In regard else a man can receive nothing from the Lord, Ier. 29. 12, 13. As 'tis with Conduit-Pipes, let them be laid, but not reach the Conduit head, no water can come to that Family; so here: And this is the reason why men live, and pray, and receive nothing, their hearts reach not hither: Mens hearts reach but half way to Christ: Tell me else, did you ever not receive?
4. Because else 'tis indeed no coming to him, but a leaning on him or toward him. So as 'tis with trees, if not cut off quite, or not pulled up quite by the roots, they cannot be set in another Orchard, if the tree be left with never so little twigs in the ground, so here: Nay the Lord accounts this worse than if a man had not come at all, Ier. 3. 10. The Lord abhors a double heart, that Iudas -like forsakes all for the Lord, but then loves the Lord and the Bag too. You are not the Lords. As it was with that man that quarrelled about the tree, it leaned over the Pales, but the root being found to be there, his it was: So though he lean on Christ, he is none of his.
But do all Saints come to this measure?Quest. 4.
Ponder these grounds else.Answ.
Object. But are not our hearts partly carnal, and so close with the Creature?
Answ. True, but yet,
1. So far as 'tis carnal 'tis lamented heavily; so that they grow not there, but are dying, withering dayly, Ier. 31. 18, 19. When a mans affections grow out of the world, and there is no fear nor sorrow, in this respect now, no Christ is there.
2. The Bent and Byas of the Soul carries the whole Soul hither. For I would not judge of this so much by sudden pa…gs, as by an inward bent; for the whole Soul in affectionate expressions and actions may be carried unto Christ, but being without this bent and change of affections, it's unsound. As in Gideon, they would on a hurry make him King: He would not: He knew it was a sudden pang which would die. And the reason is, the true turn of the whole Soul is not by turning old affections upon another Object, but changing them first by this bent, and so turning them. For a carnal heart may have the first, as the same eye may see the Sun and a Dunghill, and the eye not changed; So here. Now when the whole Soul is set here, it is never at rest till here.
But may not Hypocrites come to this?Quest. 5.
1. Then they may be blessed,Answ. Psal. 119. 2.
2. Then they shall never be cast off from Christ, Iohn 6. 37.
3. Then they may partake of that which the Lord only looks for. For why is the Lord angry? The heart is gone from him. Why is the Ministry ordained, but to win the whole heart to him? Iohn 3. 19, 20, 21. Oh therefore consider whether it hath been thus with you or no! If not, wo to you! Oh be very careful here! 'Tis a thousand to one if some part of your heart be not fixt elsewhere. If Christ were at Judgment, and should say, Come ye Blessed: How glad would ye be? Oh he saith now, Come and take my self▪