Two Books, Treatise 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The Scope of the Text. The Phraſe of Receiving Chriſt, opened. Receiving denotes, 1 Paſſiveneſs. 2 A meanneſs of condition in the Receiver. 3 A taking that which before he had not. 4 A taking a thing with joy and gladneſs of heart. The Doctrine; Perſons that are Beleevers are Receivers; and to believe is to receive. This proved by three Arguments: 1. Faith is the appetite of the New Creature. 2. All other acts of Faith are ſubordinate to this of Receiving. 3. Nothing is done by Faith until ſuch time as it doth receive.
THeſe Words are an Argument to prove the Eternal God-head of eſus Chriſt, becauſe thoſe that do receive him, are made the Sons of God, and have ſuch a dignity and preheminence, or prerogative thereby, as none but duplicate page duplicate page God can beſtow. My intent in this Text is only to open the phraſe of receiving Chriſt, as it is Synonimous and made all one with beleeving on him. As many as received him, As many as believed on his name have this power, to become the Sons of God.
Firſt: In generall, Receiving notes paſſiveneſs, or being the ſubject of a thing. As cloth doth receive a color which is put upon it, and is not naturall or proper to it. And as the Earth receives the ſeed that is put into it by the hand of the Husbandman. There may be an act in receiving, yet Receiving doth principally note paſſiveneſs; becauſe that act is an order of nature, either after receiving, or elſe Receiving is the complement, or that unto which the ſame act tends. As a graft being put into a ſtock, the Stock cloſeth with the Graft by vertue from its ſelf: So we having the Grace of Faith infuſed, we alſo do adhere and cleave unto God. Or as in receiving mony, there is an acounting of it, but that accounting of it ſerves only to take it into poſſeſſion. So it is here alſo. There is ſomthing the ſoul doth in receiving, but it tends only to this end that it may be poſſeſſed of Jeſus Chriſt and of his merits.
Secondly: As there is a paſſiveneſs in Receiving to be noted; So in receiving there is a meanneſs and and lowneſs of condition. It was an Apotheg…e or uſuall ſpeech of our Lord (as it ſeems by the Apoſtle) To ſay. It is better to give than to receive Acts 20.35. That is better, more honorable, more commendable. He that gives the leaſt gift, hath more honor than he that receives the greateſt kindneſs. And as I ſhall ſhew you afterward. In regard of the profit of beleeving, it is very great, but in regard of the manner of beleeving it is an abaſement unto man, A denial even of his reaſon for the teſtimony ſake of Chriſt. But thoſe are not the things which I intend principally.
Thirdly: in Receiving there is a taking to ones ſelf that which before he had not. As a man receives mony which before was out of his hands; by being received it comes into his poſſeſſion, and is his own. And in this ſenſe you ſhal find the word [Received] uſed in the Scripture in Heb. 11.39. All theſe having obtained their good report through Faith, received not the promiſe. Received it not, that is, they ſaw not: they were not made actually partakers of the benefits of Chriſt being in the fleſh; Although that they had the advantage and profit of his undertaking for them with the Father: They Received it not, that is, they were not actually partakers.
Fourthly, Receiving notes the taking a thing with joy and gladneſs of heart. As the Text ſaith, in Heb. 13.2. There was ſome that did receive Angels unawares. It being (you know) a phraſe that is taken from thoſe men that do bid welcome their gueſts or friends. Acts 7.59.And ſo Stephen prays in that language, Lord Jeſus (ſaith he) receive my Spirit. He doth by his faith apprehend Jeſus Chriſt ſtanding in the door of Heaven (as Abraham ſtood in the door of the Tent) and praies him to be pleaſed and not paſs him by, but to receive him that he may ſit down and eat and drink in the kingdom of God.
Theſe two latter things are thoſe which principally I intend to ſpeak unto in this point. And if you look into the words of my Text, you ſhal find.
Firſt, that the perſons that are Receivers are Beleevers. For as many (ſaith the Text) as received him, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, even to as many as beleeve on his name. All they that received him, beleeved on him, and all they that beleeved, received Chriſt: They, and none elſe. They are the ſame perſons.
Doct Secondly, you may obſerve (which is the main thing I intend) that Beleevers and Receivers are not only one and the ſame perſons: But to beleeve is to receive, and to receive Chriſt is beleeve on his name. What in the beginning of the Text is called receiving of him, in the end of the Text is called beleeving on his name, the ſame perſons in the ſame act that in the beginning of the verſe are ſaid to receive, are in the latter end of the verſe ſaid to beleeve on his name. They muſt of neceſſity be but divers expreſſions of the ſame Act, for this reaſon: Becauſe otherwiſe, if you make them two diſtinct acts, a man may receive Chriſt, and yet not beleeve, and a man may beleeve on Chriſt, & yet not receive him. It is impoſſible that Chriſt ſhould be received but by Faith, and it is impoſſible a man ſhould beleeve on the name of Chriſt, and not receive him. The manner of ſpeech is ſuppoſed to be a Caldeiſme, or a propriety among the Caldees, who make it all one to beleeve and to truſt. And upon this now ſhall I faſten a little while.
Faith, I ſay, it is a receiving of Chriſt. As many as received him. There is ſomthing to be received for beleeving. In 1 Pet. 1.9. Receiving the end of your Faith, the ſalvation of your Souls. A man ſhal be ſaved for his faith, as well as rewarded for his ſufferings or any other act of obedience and obſervance unto God, a man ſhal be as well rewarded at the laſt becauſe he hath much of God, as becauſe he hath done much for God, indeed he doth moſt for God, that receivs moſt from God. He that goes on truſt with Chriſt, and receivs any thing of him, ſhall be rewarded for his receiving, rewarded for his gain and for his getting. Of his fulneſs have we received Grace for Grace, John, 1.16. For Grace that is, becauſe we have one Grace, we ſhall have another until we come to be full. That word foreign, tranſlated [for] is as much in the Scripture, as [Becauſe] in Eph. 5.31. For this cauſe foreign, ſhall a man leave his Father and Mother and ſhall be joyned unto his Wife. The ſame word may be rendred, For this cauſe, Becauſe God hath given us one degree, he will give us another: Becauſe he hath ſhewed us one kindneſs, he will with-hold nothing that is good from us. Among men, he that takes upon truſt, binds himſelf to make return and to pay again: But he that truſts God makes God a Debtor to him. It may be that thou accounteſt it a preſumption, that thou beleeveſt; But God accompts it ſervice: And of all ſervices it ſhall not be unrewarded, but have the fulleſt and largeſt meaſure, becauſe of all ſervices it is that which is moſt humbling and ſelf-denying of the Creature. But of that by the way.
As there is a receiving ſomthing for beleeving, ſo there is a receiving in beleeving. Faith it ſelf is a receiving, as eating is a taking of what may nouriſh: And buying or poſſeſſion is a receiving an inheritance. So you ſhall find that Faith is compared in John 6.53. to eating and drinking. And to buying in Eſa. 55.1. Somtimes its an hand that laies hold, and wil not let go the thing which it hath; and to the being poſſeſſed of an inheritance. Chriſt receives all from the Father, and Faith receives all from Chriſt. All comes from the Father into Chriſt as into a Fountain, and Faith fetchech all from that Fountain into us as into leſſer meaſures or ciſterns. Jeſus Chriſt is the Treaſury and Faith tels out of him what the Soul hath need of; as Chriſt is made between us and God, ſo faith is given to this end that Chriſt may be made whatſoever he is unto us. That the thing I aim at may yet be more fully and plainly known to you.
Faith indeed in the Scripture is ſomtimes expreſſed by Working but the Text ſaith, It works by love. Gal. 5.6. that is, It doth ſet love on a flame and makes a man to have an indeared eſteem of God, and an undervaluing of himſelf, and every thing which he hath for his ſake. Faith doth work, but it is by the hand of love. But now look on Faith in it ſelf, And ſo its a receiving. I ſay it is a receiving. Its a having and craving grace, which will alwaies be getting and wil never have enough. When it is filled, it is hungry, and like the barren Womb, and the earth, and the grave, it ſtil cries, Give, Give. And for this you ſhall find the Scripture very cleer. John 1.11. He came to his own, and his own received him not, that is, they did not apply him unto themſelves as the author of their ſalvation, as the Meſſiah which was promiſed. In 2 Cor. 6.1. the Apoſtle cals beleeving, the receiving of the Grace of God. When he would ſet forth the unbelief that is in men naturally, he ſaith, the naturall man receives not the things of God, in 1 Cor. 2.14. As you have received Chriſt Jeſus, ſo walk in him. Col. 2.6. that is, anſwer your Faith with works, let your life be anſwerable to your hopes, and to the ſtate you are brought into by beleeving. I may quote many other expreſſions to ſhew that Faith is a receiving. But theſe ſhall ſerve. I wil only give a three fold Argument or Demonſtration of it.
Friſt, All that have Faith in any degree, have deſires and longings after Jeſus Chriſt, and the things of him. Faith its an appetite in the new Creature whereby it craves and hungers after Jeſus Chriſt and his benefits, and therefore you ſhall find expreſly, that Faith and praying unto God or deſiring after him are made all one. Rom. 10.11, 12, 13. In verſe 11. the Scripture ſaith, Whoever beleeveth on him ſhall not be aſhamed. For marke it, There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, for the ſame Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whoſoever ſhal call upon the name of the Lord ſhall beſaved. I ſay if you compare verſe 11. with ver. 12 and 13. Faith and calling on the name of the Lord are al one. For the Apoſtle proves that there is no man that doth beleeve, but he ſhal be ſaved, by this; That there is no man that cals on the name of the Lord but he ſhall be ſaved. Thoſe that have attained unto the greateſt degrees of Faith their mouths are fulleſt of complaints, & their Souls fulleſt of ſighings becauſe of their wants. Their praiers are Lord increaſe out Faith. And not only ſo, Luke 17.5but when they have prayed, they cannot be quiet until ſuch time as they find it encreaſed and the fruits of it in them. In Acts, 26.7. it's ſaid that the Patriarchs hoping to come to Heaven, did inſtantly ſerve God: That word tranſlated Inſtantly, is in the Greek foreign, that is, they did as one doth who ſtretches out himſelf to get a thing which he hath much ado to lay hold on, but had rather have, than any thing that he hath in his hands. Such a kind of deſire was in the Patriarchs after Glory. In Rom. 8.19. the Apoſtle tells you of an earneſt expectation that is in the Creation for the manifeſtation of the Sons of God, that they may be freed from their imperfections, and be like their Head Jeſus Chriſt. Paul profeſſeth that he deſires to be with Chriſt Jeſus; that is, he profeſſeth it as one that muſt either have his mind, or muſt die. Thoſe that have the leaſt degree of Faith, are alwaies craving after Jeſus Chriſt; they are never well but when they are receiving. Paul in Acts 9.11. is ſaid to pray; Go (ſaith God to Ananias) unto Paul, Behold he prayes. He did other things beſides prayer; he was ſenſible of his ſin, and afflicted in his conſcience for going againſt Jeſus Chriſt; but the Text mentions nothing but this, That he praies; becauſe that was it that al the bitterneſs of ſin was a means unto, and that which he was eminent in. And all that Paul deſired was, That God would give him Chriſt although he had done what he could to crucifie him again in his members. As the love of the world makes a man to be ſcraping and gathering together by any means, although it be never ſo vile. It's no matter what the thing be, ſo it brings in gain to a worldly man. So it is the proper work of Faith to make a man look for Jeſus Chriſt in all Ordinances and Duties. That is the penny which it ſweeps the houſe for, and ſearcheth every duty for. Now this deſire, it comes from Faith. For what makes any man deſire, but hope, and the knowledge of the excellency of the things hoped for: Both which comes through believing. That is the firſt thing. All that have Faith deſire to receive Jeſus Chriſt and his benefits, and therefore the Act of receiving is the principal act of Faith.
Secondly, All other Acts of Faith are ſubordinate to this Act of receiving, and done in reference to receiying. You have heard that Faith hath divers Acts. It takes Gods word, and receives his Teſtimony, even when it fees no reaſon to expound the thing that is ſpoken of; but the End is, that it may receive. I know whom I have truſted, and that he is able at that day to give unto me what I have committed to him. As a man takes the word of a man to this end, that he may be ſure not to miſs what is due to him: So this man takes the word of God and the Teſtimony of God only in order to be made a receiver of the things promiſed. Faith that doth unite, Chriſt dwels in our hearts by faith, but that very act of union is to this end, that ſo all Chriſt may be ours, Eph. 3.17. We do but touch him, that ſo vertue may come out from him into us. Faith makes a man dependant and hanging upon God, but it is only that ſo a man may ingage the Lord to give, and he may receive. As a man comes to one and ſaith, I will truſt to you for ſuch a debt at ſuch a time, that ſo he may ſee that he doth not only expect it, but that he doth him double injury if he doth not give it him. Faith attracts and draws, but that is only that the ſoul may receive. That is the ſecond Reaſon. Faith is a receiving Grace, becauſe al the Acts and Operations of it are in order to receiving.
Thirdly,: Until this act of Faith be done, Faith can do nothing. Nothing can be done by Faith untill ſuch time as it doth receive. Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. It makes the whol converſation lively. We do live by the Faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. It makes a man overcome the world, and all the corruptions that are in the world and the evill one to boot, 1 John, 5.4. This is the victory wherby ye overcome the world, even your faith. He that is born of God overcomes the wicked one. But mark it, As water is firſt put into the Ciſtern before it flows forth, And as the earth firſt receives the ſeed before it brings forth meat for him by whom it is dreſſed: Heb. 6.7. And as the Diſciplesare firſt bid to attend the Paſſover, and then to receive the Holy Ghoſt, and then to go abroad and to diſtribute unto the Nations the knowledge of Chriſt: So Faith firſt receives from Chriſt, and according as it receives from him, So it ſtirs up every Grace and Faculty to its work. I ſay Faith receives firſt, In Col. 2.6. As ye have received the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſo walk in him. As, foreign, that is ſuitably to our receiving of Chriſt. We beleeve, therefore have we ſpoken, 2 Cor. 4.13. Now that which is ſaid concerning faiths opening the mouths of the Apoſtles to declare for certain the truth of that Doctrine which they were experienced in: So I may ſay concerning any other Duty. When as Faith hath received the certainty of the word of God, then it cals upon the underſtanding not to diſpute. When as Faith hath received Jeſus Chriſt then it cals upon the will, and ſaith, forſake all other things and cleave unto him, for you have enough in him; He is a Mine and a Field wherein there is a Treaſure, and you ſhal need nothing while you have him. And from this three-fold Demonſtration, I ſuppoſe it will appear that Faith is a receiving. And beloved, think not much that I ſtand long upon this for it is not rivited in our thoughts. We live not as if it were ſo.