The Right Receiving of Christ, Preface · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
The Poſitive Duty which muſt be performed of all that will receive Chriſt.
THe ſecond thing is the Poſitive Duty 2.to be done for the receiving of Chriſt. And the duty to be done is, To beleeve. To beleeve, is to receive Chriſt, and when wee doe beleeve, wee doe receive him, Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him, that is, to as many as beleeved in his name. So Joh. 5. 43, 44. Yee receive me not, how can yee beleeve? Therefore they received him not, becauſe they beleeved not. Then Chriſt is received when he dwells in our hearts, and he dwells in our hearts by faith, Eph. 3. 17. For the better underſtanding of this point, wee muſt know, that the receiving of Chriſt by faith, ſtands in ſetting faith on work in the ſeverall acts thereof. Now, faith is to be conſidered as the eye of the ſoule, and as the hand of the ſoule, and in receiving of Chriſt, it muſt be ſet on worke as both. There be falſe faiths in the world. Some faith is all eye, and no hand, it ſees and knowes not, it applyes, and apprehends nothing. Some faith is all hand, will be catching, and ſnatching at Chriſt, it is no eye. The firſt is a lame faith, the ſecond is a blind faith. 2 Sam. 5. 8. The blind, and the lame were hated of Davids ſoule, ſo is the Idoll faith, the lame and blinde faith of the world hated of Gods ſoule; and as it is there ſaid; The blinde, and the lame ſhall not come into the houſe, ſo neither ſhall they come into heaven, becauſe neither a lame nor a blinde faith doe receive Chriſt.
Firſt, then the faith that will receive 1.Chriſt, muſt be ſet on worke as the eye of the ſoule. A man that will receive Chriſt, muſt firſt ſee Chriſt, ſee his worth, excellency, beauty, and all-ſufficiency. He muſt ſo ſee him, that he may ſee him worth the receiving, worth the having. A man will never care to receive that, or once put out his hand to take that, in which he ſees no worth. But when a man ſees a thing offered wherein he ſees worth, the worth of it will make him reach out to receive it. Zacheus did receive Chriſt into his houſe, and into his heart, but the firſt ſtep to it was a deſire to ſee him, and he firſt gat up into the Sycamore tree to ſee him. The word, and the miniſtry of the Goſpel is the Sycamore tree, by ſtudious reading, and hearing the word, muſt men get up into the Sycamore, from whence they may ſee Chriſt. It is in this caſe as in Eves tentation. The Divell offers her the forbidden fruit, and ſhee receives it; ſhee ſhould not have received it, but ſee what moved her to receive it. Gen. 3. 6. And when ſhee ſaw that the tree was good for foode, that it was a deſire to the eyes, and a tree to be deſired to make one wiſe, ſhee tooke of the fruit, ſhee received it: ſhee lookt through falſe glaſſes, and was gulled with falſe apprehenſions, but yet thus much wee may ſee by it; that when wee ſee, and judge a thing offered to be of worth, precious, and deſireable, that that is the next way to make it receiveable. And thus is it in receiving Chriſt. As the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood, ſo is my beloved amongst the ſonnes; I ſate downe under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taſt, Cant. 2. 3. If ever wee would receive the fruit of this tree, wee muſt labour by the eye of faith to ſee the excellency of this tree, and the fruit of it. Wee muſt firſt ſee that Chriſt as farre excells all other things, as the Appletree doth excell all the ordinary and common trees of the wood, that there is delight under his ſhadow, that there is ſweetneſſe in his fruit, that it is a tree good for foode, that it is a deſire to the eyes, that it is a tree to be deſired to make one wiſe indeed, 1 Cor. 1. 30. He of God is made unto us wiſdome. And the excellencies of this tree once ſeene, would holily tempt us to receive the offered fruits thereof. We ſee Joh. 1. 11, 12. that the Diſciples, and the faithfull received Chriſt, when others received him not, His owne received him not, yet wee his Diſciples received him. But how came they to receive him? They did it by faith, verſ. 12. But marke what was the firſt act of faith in receiving him; That wee ſee verſ. 14. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the onelyonly begotten of the Father. Our faith pierced through the vaile, and covert of the fleſh. We ſaw him, and prized him as the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, and ſo by the eye of faith ſeeing the glory and excellency of Chriſt, wee received him. Looke how Paul ſpeakes in the caſe of Receiving Epaphroditus, Phil. 2. 29. Receive him therefore in the Lord, with all gladneſſe, and hold ſuch in reputation. Paul would have him be received, and received gladly, and therefore that they might the readilier doe that, wi…es them to have him in Reputation. Hee knew well enough, that if they did not prize him, if they had eſteemed him a fellow of little worth, that had nothing in him, that they would never receive him, at leaſt with no gladneſſe. But if they did but conſider that he was a man of worth, that he was a precious man, and ſo had him in reputation according to his deſert, that they would receive him with all gladneſſe. So is it in the receiving of Chriſt. Hold him once in reputation, and wee ſhall receive him with all gladneſſe. Labour by the eye of faith to ſee his precious excellencies, and wee cannot but hold him in Reputation.
Faith firſt ſhewes to the ſoule the precious excellencies, and glories of Chriſt, it repreſents him exceeding precious to the ſoule, as the eye it lets in the excellency of Chriſt into the underſtanding upon which the affections are raiſed, and ſtirred up to the receiving of him. Wee ſhall ſee it made good in two Texts. One is that, Mat. 13. 45, 46. The Kingdome of heaven is like unto a Merchant man ſeeking goodly pearles, who when he hath found one pearle of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought it. He ſells all you ſee to receive that pearle, what moves him to it? Hee found one pearle of great price. Here is then the firſt thing that ſets all the reſt on worke, he ſaw it was a pearle of price, of great price, of great worth, he ſaw it was worth the receiving, worth the having. He that ever will receive this bleſſed pearle that is offered in the Goſpel, muſt firſt have the eye of faith to ſee the price, value, and worth of it. Another place is that, Cant. 6. 1. Whither is thy beloved gone? whither is thy beloved turned aſide, that wee may ſeeke him with thee? as if they had ſaid, wee have a great deſire to receive Chriſt. But how was this deſire raiſed? That wee may ſee, Chap. 5. verſ. 9, 10. and ſo to the end. The Church had ſpoken of her beloved, of her Chriſt, ver. 8. Thereupon others aske her what this beloved is, and this Chriſt is, with whom ſhee makes ſo much adoe. Shee therefore deſcribes and ſets him forth in all his excellencies, beauties, and glories; and tells them, ver. 16. That he is altogether lovely, altogether deſires, or wholly deſirable things. Now when upon this deſcription and relation of hers, they ſee the invaluable worth, and excellency of Chriſt, when they ſee him to be wholly deſires, then are their deſires wholly to receive him; Then they cry out, Whither is thy beloved gone, that wee may ſeeke him with thee? So that the eye of faith is the firſt in-let of Chriſt into the ſoule, and this act of faith in ſeeing Chriſts excellencies, is the firſt in receiving Chriſt. And therefore when the Apoſtle gives us the ſum of the Goſpel, Chriſt crucified for ſinnes, marke how he ſpeakes, 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithfull ſaying, and ſayes not which ought to bee received of all. That's true, this Chriſt and this Doctrine concerning him, is to be received: But he addes withall, a ſecret argument to perſwade men to receive it. It is worthy to be received of all. Thereby ſhewing that before men will receive the Goſpel, and receive Chriſt, they muſt ſee Chriſt to be worthy of all acceptation, and that when they ſee Chriſt worthy of all acceptation, then they will ſet upon the receiving of him. This is then the firſt thing in receiving Chriſt, an high prizing of him, and his excellencies, which makes way to the actual! receiving of him; For the underſtanding being throughly and truly convinced of his excellencies, the affections neceſſarily follow, and ſtirre up proportionable endeavours for the receiving of him. And what is the cauſe that men doe not receive Chriſt, but the ignorance of his worth? Joh. 4. 10. If thou kneweſt the gift of God, and who it is that ſayes to thee, Give mee to drinke, thou wouldeſt have asked of him. Rom. 10. 3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſſe, have not ſubmitted themſelves unto the righteouſneſſe of God. Mens ignorance of Chriſt, breeds in them a low prizing, and a baſe undervaluing of him, and therefore every vile thing is preferred before him. It was a vile ſin which is complained of, Amos 2. 6. That they ſold the righteous for ſilver, and the poore for a paire of ſhooes. A vile ſinne that Joel complaines of, Joel 3. 3. They have cast lots upon my people, and have given a boy for an harlot, and ſold a girle for wine, that they might drinke. It was a vile ſinne in Judas, that he ſold, and prized Chriſt at thirty pieces: A goodly price that I was prized at of them. Zech. 11. 13. It was the price at which ſlaves were prized. Exod. 21. 32. Now if ſo baſe a thing in the Iſraelites, to prize the righteous and the poore ſo baſely, as to ſell them for old ſhooes, to ſell a boy for an harlot, if in Judas to prize Chriſt but at thirty pieces, what is it then to prize Chriſt under old ſhooes, to ſell him for an harlot, for wine, for uncleane and drunken luſts? And yet thus is Chriſt prized by men, men will ſell him for old ſhooes, for an harlot, for a pot, for a penny. So baſely is the precious Lord of Glory viliprized by ſinfull men. And becauſe men ſo wofully undervalue him, and eſteeme ſo baſely of him, therefore it is they receive him not; for who would trouble himſelfe to be at that paines that is required in the receiving of Chriſt, that doth not prize him above thirty pieces, above an harlot, above wine, above old ſhooes? Now, as this baſe under-prizing of Chriſt makes men neglect the receiving of him, ſo certainly when men once have the eye of faith to ſee the due worth, and the true excellencies of Chriſt, then will they beſtirre themſelves for the receiving of him. See Mat. 14. 35, 36. And when the men of the place had knowledge of him, they ſent out into all the Countrey round about, and brought unto him all that were diſeaſed, and beſought him that they might onelyonly touch the hem of his garment. So, had men now but the knowledge of Chriſt, and knew how rich, how precious a Chriſt he were, they would flocke thicke and threefold after him, and be earneſt ſutors that they might receive him. It is Chriſts preciouſneſſe well viewed by faith that fetches men in unto him. 1 Pet. 2. 4. As therefore wee would frame our ſoules to the receiving of Chriſt, ſo ſtudy Chriſt, ſtudy his excellencies, view his beauties. It is a noble ſtudy to ſtudy Chriſt: The Angels in Heaven are ſtudents in this Divinity, they deſire to looke into, to pry into theſe things. 1 Pet. 1. 12. It is the ſame word that is uſed of Johns looking into Chriſts grave, Joh. 20. 5. And he ſtooped downe and looked in, becauſe he would throughly ſee how things were, hee ſtooped downe to looke wiſhly and narrowly; with ſuch earneſtneſſe, with ſuch deſire looke the bleſſed Angels into the myſteries of the Goſpel, they ſtoop down, and look into them. They do not onelyonly ſtudy, but wondrous hard doe they ſtudy the unſearchable riches of Chriſt; If the Angels have benefit by Chriſt, yet what is their benefit to ours? Chriſt came for us, was Incarnate, and crucified for us, how much more concernes it us to looke into theſe things then the Angels? The looking into the Arke coſt them full deare, 1 Sam. 6. 19. It is our undoing that now wee doe not look into the Arke. It was death for the Kohathites that were Levites to look into the Sanctuary, and ſee the holy things. Numb. 4. 4. 20. But now it is otherwiſe, God now under the Goſpel hath unveyled all the holy things, and the very Arke which was in the holy of holies, is to be ſeene, Apoc. 11. 19. It is our ſin, and it is our death not to pry now into the Arke. 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that periſh. Pry therefore into the Arke, and there ſee the treaſures of all grace, and good laid up, ſo fixe thine eye upon theſe treaſures, as thou mayeſt be ſtirred up to an holy covetouſneſſe, and greedineſſe of receiving them.
Secondly, The faith that will receive Chriſt, muſt worke as an hand: And it 2.muſt doe a double worke of the hand.
Firſt, Faith muſt ſtretch out it ſelfe 1.and reach out it ſelfe to receive Chriſt. If a man would receive Chriſt, he muſt doe in this caſe, as Chriſt ſpake to him Mark. 3. 5. Stretch forth thine hand. This ſtretching forth of the hand, is upon the ſight of Chriſts excellencies, to ſtirre up in our hearts, ſtrong, vehement, reſtleſſe, and affectionate deſires after him. Cant. 8. 2. Oh that thou wert as my brother, that ſucked the breaſts of my mother! Oh that I had this precious Lord Chriſt! oh that he were mine, that I were poſſeſſed of him! This is the Lifting up of the doores and gates, Pſal. 24. 7. When the ſoule is lifted, and raiſed up after Chriſt in ſtrong deſires to enjoy him; theſe deſires are the reaching, and ſtretching forth of the hand to receive him. And ſuch a reaching out of the hand of the ſoule, ſhall not miſſe of receiving Chriſt. Mat. 5. Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſſe, for they ſhall be filled. Therefore they ſhall receive, or elſe how be filled? It is as if he had ſaid; Bleſſed are they that ſtretch out their hands, for they ſhall receive. Apoc. 22. 17. Let him that is athirſt come, and whoſoever will let him take the water of life freely. Thirſt will make a man reach and ſtretch forth the hand for water, and reaching helpes to receiving. The Law of God was, Deut. 24. 15. that a poore man ſhould receive his pay at his day: and ſee what is one reaſon for it. Becauſe he lifts up his ſoule unto it; that is, he ſets his heart upon it, with a ſtrong deſire to receive it, and therefore God would not have him diſappointed. Now ſurely God will not deale worſe with a poore ſoule, then he would have them deale with a poore man. If a poore man that hath lifted up his ſoule in deſires after his hyre, muſt not be diſappointed, but muſt receive his hyre, then ſurely when GOD ſees a poore ſoule lift up it ſelfe, and reaching out it ſelfe in its deſires after Chriſt, he will not have it diſappointed of receiving Chriſt. What compariſon betweene wages deſired, and Chriſt deſired? The LORD that will not in his goodneſſe have the deſires of poore men, will much leſſe ſuffer the deſires of poore ſoules after Chriſt be deceived.
Secondly, Faith as the hand, muſt lay hold upon, take, claſpe about, and faſten 2.upon Chriſt offered. Wee ſee Luk. 2. 26. that Simeon had it revealed unto him that he ſhould ſee the Lords Chriſt. And when Chriſt was brought into the Temple by his parents, he doth view him, and looks upon him; but yet that would not ſatisfie him, to ſee him; but verſ. 28. Then he took him up in his armes. Faith doth as Simeon did, It not onelyonly viewes, and ſees Chriſt, and his worth, but ſeeing him it reaches out after him, and takes him up in his Armes, claſpes about him, and holds him faſt for her owne. And hence is the phraſe of receiving Chriſt, Joh. 1. 12. And Receiving the promiſes, 1. Tim. 1. 15. And the phraſe of embracing the promiſes, Heb. 11. 13. And laying hold on eternall life, 1 Tim. 6. 12. And this act of faith in receiving Chriſt, is that, Cant. 8. 2. I would lead thee, and bring thee into thy mothers houſe. When God offers Chriſt in the Goſpel a Lord, and a Saviour, and wee take Chriſt for our Lord, and Saviour, then doe wee receive him. Behold, ſayes God, I offer you Chriſt to be your Lord and Saviour; Now then comes faith and hath a double act.
An Act of the underſtanding, by 1.which as the eye of the ſoule it ſees as the neceſſity, ſo the worth, and price of Chriſt. Here, ſayes faith, I ſee a very precious Chriſt, I ſee wonderfull worth, and excellency in him, I ſee he is well worth the looking after, well worth the having, and receiving.
An Act of the will. And that is twofold; 2.firſt, as the hand of the ſoule to reach and ſtretch out it ſelfe after Chriſt in vehement and ſtrong deſires after him. Here faith ſayes, oh that I had this precious Chriſt, oh that this precious Chriſt were mine! oh that upon any termes my Soule might enjoy him! Secondly, as the hand of the ſoule to lay hold upon, to apply, and take Chriſt offered. Here faith ſayes, This precious Chriſt I doe willingly and gladly receive, I lay hold upon him as my Lord, and Saviour. Behold Lord, as thou offereſt him unto me, ſo doe I receive, and take him, My Lord, and my God; Welcome Lord Chriſt, I claſpe about thee with both mine armes. And thus by theſe two Acts of faith is Chriſt received into the heart.