A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 119 (Question 31 cont.)
SERMON CXIX.
We have been conſidering how the Spirit applies himſelf to the Underſtanding, by way of Conviction, and that both of Sin and Miſery, in the the Preparitory Work. It follows to obſerve,
2. THAT be inwardly applies himſelf to the Underſtanding by way of ſaving Illumination. He enlightens it in the knowledge of Chriſt. The Spirit of God is a free Agent, and comes in to the Soul at his pleaſure: but becauſe he treats with the man, according to his nature, he uſually firſt begins with the former Conviction, in which, having brought him into diſtreſs, and put him upon inquiring, he now comes and re…eals Chriſt unto him, as the only Remedy againſt the miſery, which by ſin he is brought into. Not as it by the former work there were any ſaving Change wrought in the Soul, or any Obligation by it laid upon him to proceed to the producing of the ſaving Change. He may leave the man there; and if he doth, he ſtill is a f…ra get to the life of Chirſt. However it may be ſaid of ſuch an one, who is under ſuch Convictions, that he is not for from the Kingdom of Heaven; as having been under the Law, which is car Schoolmaſter to Chriſt. This Work of ſaving Illumination wrought by the Spirit on the Soul in pa…tive Coverſion, is a ſecret and myſterious Work, and better know by the Perſon who hath received it, the capable of being deſcribed by words. And many times the muſt that ſuch a perſon can ſay of himſelf is. That I know, that whereas once I was blind, n… I ſee. Give me leave however to make ſo …e eſſay, to ſtammer out a little about it. Let us then obſerve theſe Concluſions.
1. THAT the table body of ſ…n…ſying and ſaving Graces are at once ingen…ed in poſſive Converſion. There is not a ſucceſſion in this Work, but it is at once and inſtaneous. Theſe Graces are many, and ſome of them belong to the Underſtanding, others to the Will and Aftertions, but yet they all of them go in together to conſtitute the new Natute in as; the whole of them therefore is for that reaſon called the new Man, which is put on in our Renovation, Eth 4.22.24. And this is called the new Creature or Covertion, 2 Cor 3.17. Now Creation is in an it ſtant. If God ſay. Let ſuch a thing be, it forthwith ſtands forth in its entire Being It is called the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. As having its original from God, and being a Conformity to his Image. And there is no Grace but what belongs to it; for the new Man is perfect, and bath no member wanting, J…m. 1.4.
2. THAT there is a diſtinction and order of theſe Graces in themſelevs, and caught to be ſo in our Conſideration of them. They are diſtinct in themſelves; for though they all proceed from the ſame principles of infuſed Holineſs, yet they are ſo many direcſ… Members going in to make up that one Body in us. As therefore the hand is not the fort, though both … of the Body, ſo neither is one Grace another; Faith is not Love, Patience is not Joy &c. though all belong to the new Nature. They are alſo diſtinguiſhed in the ſubject of them: there are ſome of them ſeated in the Underſtanding which is re…ewed by them, Col. 3.10. and are uſually called intellectual; others are in the Will and Affections, Eph. 4.24. and are called moral. There is alſo an order between them, one is before another, though not in Being, for ſo they are together, yet with reſpect to Operation, one working by and from another, Gal. 5.6. Of which more anon. And this diſtinction and order is to be obſerved by us, in our conſidering of them; and that not meerly from the neceſſity of our manner of Conception, but alſo from the nature of the things themſelves. In our Contemplation of the Divine Perſections, we are nececeſſitated to take them aſunder, though in God they are but that one abſolute & ſimple Being, elſe we could know nothing of him; but the Graces in us have the foundation of this diſtinct and orderly conſideration in them, being created Perfections in us, and aſſigned to their ſeveral uſes.
3. HENCE, For a clear apprehenſion of the work of Effectual Calling, we moſt conſider the ſaving Operation of the Spirit on the Underſtanding, and on the Will apart. That he doth influence them both with his Power in this Work is certain, and that becauſe he draws them with the cords of a ma… and they are brought to believe in Chriſt as Cauſes by counſel; they muſt therefore have both Eyes to ſee, and Ears to hear, and an Heart to embrace him. The act to Faith being a traſting ing on Chriſt as an Object ſuitable, and apprehended to be ſo, the power of Believing wro't in paſſive Convertion muſt needs correſpond hereto. Why we firſt treat of the renewing of the Underſtanding by Illumination, will appear in the Sequel. Concerning which let us obſerve,
1. THAT there is a literad … neceſſarily either …ecedect in, or … this ſaving … By a li… … ledge I and underſtand, a rational conception … the Truths of the Goſpel, which are … believed by us; to which alſo bel… … humane credit or hiſtorical faith of the … of them. Now the ſaving Illumination ways ſuppoſeth ſuch a knowledge on … either it finds it in the man, or brings … him. Without this knowledge the … man cannot be good. The want of … longs to that hiding of the Goſpel, of … 2 Cor. 4.3. But if our Goſpel be did, it i… … to them that are leſt. This therefore in … next and immediate deſign of the … miniſterial teaching appointed by God, … the ultimate aim of it is to bring man … ſaving acquaintance with Chriſt; the … having choſen ordinarily to convey this … fying light in this way. A deſe… is … knowledge is blamed by the Apoſtle in … Heb. 5.12. For when for the time ye … be teachers, ye have need that one read you … which be the firſt princip…es of the works of … and are b… me ſuch as have need of …pan… not of ſtrong near. And a negleſt of … ing the People in it, is ſeverely … thoſe Prieſts of old, Hof. 4.6. By … deſtroyed for luck of knowledge: … beſt rejected knownedge, I will alſo … that thou ſhall be no pricſt to me: … …ſt forgotten the law of thy Gol, I will of … get thy children.
2. THAT there may be a literal … and an hiſtorical Faith, where there is no … Illunination, Altho' the latter is not … the former, yet the former may be, … the latter is not. The one is but a … giſt, whereas the other is a ſaving … The Articles of Religion are delive… telligibly, accommodable to the … of humane reaſon, and may be ſo under… as the rules of other Arts, by him that … his mind to read, and hear, and … them. And there are no Truths hath … rational confirmations given to gain … credit, than thoſe of the Word of God, … though it be a great favour of God … men Orthodox in the points of Divinely and not leave them to a Spirit of error; yet … given to ſuch as never come to a … diſcerning. Chriſt ſuppoſeth that …pan… know their Lord's will, and not do it luk… And It is beyond queſtion, that there are ſome who have a very large portion of … ledge in Religion, who are yet enter … to the ſaving knowledge of Chriſt; who there are others whoſe knowledge of … things is more confuſed, who yet do … God and Chriſt, as is Eternal Life.
3. THAT there is a ſaving knowledge of Chriſt. wrought in Effectual Vec…, that … longs, & is eſſential unto Faith, To …pan… to the Underſtanding, and to dery it … rooting in the Underſtanding, are bath … to be avoided. Truly we have but little acquaintance with our own Sou…s, and the … thereof; but this we know in general, …b…ut the Underſtanding and Will in …s … in every act we perform as Cauſally CounSel, or that is properly humane. And hence, both theſe faculties muſt be … for the producing of gracious … but more particularly obſerve,
(1) THAT Chriſt as the Object on wh… the … …ine…es in Effectual Vocation. The … wrought in Effectual Calli…g is, We are … to believe in bract; We come is him on … Call, follow him upon his Invitation, … of … his Offer. He therefore is the Object p…p…ſed to us in the Goſpel, unto whom we …are to book that we may be ſaved. And this is the deſign of all the Invitations given us to before. The Preaching of the Goſpel is therefore called the Preaching of Christ. Act. …. 3. And Paul terminates his whole Preaching to the …inth…ans, upon this Subject, …. 2.2. When therefore we are truly bought home to Chriſt, then we are Called.
(2) THAT the Soul is drawn to Chriſt, after the …es of a reaſonable Creature. In the …ging the man actually to believe in Chriſt, which is the reſultancy of this call, we are … …ried by inſtinct, and a blind impulſe, … many pretend unto. This would be to …, not as men, but as brutes; but it is by Counſel. And indeed believing in Chriſt is a … deliberate act. The man conſiders and ſets reaſon for what he doth. Paul could …, 2 Tim 1.12. For I know whom I have …, and I am p…rſ…ded he is able to keep … which I have committed unto him againſt that …, For this reaſon it is that in the Goſpel-…, God not only b…ds men come to and … in Chriſt, but reaſons with them a…, and ſays all convincing Arguments … them, to ſhew them the Neceſſary of … in …rder to Salvation.
(2) HENCE, There muſt be the Aſſent of the Underſtanding in order to the conſent of the … In Faith there is a truſting in Chriſt, which is properly a voluntary caſting our ſelves … him for Life, but to a rational doing …, there muſt be an acknowledging, of him to be an Object of Truſt; One that is to be conſided in, and that with ſafety, and this is properly an act of the Underſtanding. And this is, not only in order of Nature, but alſo of acting before the other, for though the Power of both, be at once infuſed in Re…tion, yet the order of exerting its … by a rational agent, is thus and no …wiſe, viz. He ſees that in Chriſt, which … him forth to be an Object every way …ble to be truſted in, and he firmly be… him to be ſuch as he is repreſented to …, and therefore he adventureth himſelf upon him, on his Invitation. It is therefore …ſed, that every one that hath truly be… on Chriſt, is able to give a reaſon of his …pe, 1 Pet. 3.1.5.
(4.) THAT in order to this Aſſent, the Mina muſt be ening…ned in the Knowledge of Chriſt. It muſt have the Light of it before it can improve it, and act by the direction and influence of it. There muſt be ſight in the Eye, elſe it cannot ſee. It therefore the Man be b…nd, …is Eye ſight be loſt, it muſt be reſtored to him again, before he can ſee, for there m…ſt be a principle, before there ca… he an Operation. Such is the preſent caſe; fot it is not a literal Knowledge, but a ſpiritual Diſcerning that is required to it. The Eye of Man's natural Underſtanding is not put our, he may therefore improve it to know Chriſt according to the fleſh. But his ſpiritual Eye ſight is gone, and muſt be reſtored; this is properly the Image of God on the Underſtanding, which is t… be rene…ed, Col. 3.10. The Aſſent of Faith, is a form Befi…ſ and Acknowledgement, that Chriſt is an Object on whom the Soul may ſecurely lean its whole repoſe for Eternity, and be happy in ſo doing. Which that it may be gained, we muſt have ſuch an effectual Diſcovery made of him in us, as fully convinceth us how and wherein he is ſo: And prevails over all doubts and jealonſies in us, whether he be ſo … no. This is the Divine Illumination which we are conſidering of. Here then there are two things to be taken notice of with reſpect to it, viz. the Matter and the Manner of it.
1. As to the Matter of it, it is the great Goſpel Truths concerning Chriſt, as he is made to be an Object ſailable for our Faith to build upon. I will not hered ſpure what Articles about Chriſt are neceſſary to be known, or what is the diſtinctneſs of the knowledge of them, that muſt be in that Knowledge that accompanies Salvation. A difference of Times, and Means, and Opportunities muſt here be acknowledged; and the Sovereignty of free Grace in the Communications of it ſelf is to be adored. But I ſhall offer to touch on theſe heads, which do principally belong to this Knowledge of Chriſt, for which we are to wait upon God in the uſe of all the Men …s appointed. And they are,
1. THE Truths which concern the Pe…ſon of Chriſt In Effectual Calling we believe on Chriſt for Salvation. We muſt therefore believe that he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, for which end, we muſt know how he came to be ſo; which we cannot know, without ſome acquaintance with his Perſon, viz. That he is the Eternal Son or God, according to his Divine Nature, and that he is the Son of Man according to his Humane Nature. That he is both God and Man in one Perſon; Hence we muſt know and believe that the ſecond Perſon in the bleſſed Trinity was Incarnate; that the Word was made fleſh, that he took our very Nature upon him, without which he could never have wrought out that Salvation for us, which we ſtood in need of. For except he had been Man, he could not have anſwered the demands of the Law for us, and ſtood as our Surety; and unleſs he had been God, he could not have compleated that Suretiſhip, by paying the full price of our Redemption.
2. THE Truths that diſcover the great Deſign of his being ſuch a Perſon; on the Reaſon why the Son of God took our Nature upon him, and appeared cloathed with our fleſh. All of which amount to that in fine, viz. That he might redeem and ſave us. Hence we muſt know that the Son of God, together with his being made a man, was alſo made under the Law, for the accompliſhing of this affair, Gal. 4.4, 5. But when the fulneſs of the time was come, God ſent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that at might receive the adoption of ſ…ns. It was that he might anſwer the demands of Juſtice for us; and by doing and dying for us, might lay in a compleat Righteouſneſs that might ſtand for our Juſtification, and make way for the mani…ellation of the free Grace of God in our Salvation. Hence that, 2 Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to be ſin for us, who known ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him. And that this deſign was contrived & fixed, in a firm agreement that paſt between his Father and him, on which the acceptance of him, in purſuit of it, doth depend. According to Zech. 6.13. Even he ſhall build the Temple of the Lord, and he ſhall hear the glory, and ſhall ſit and rule upon his threne, and be ſhall he a prieſt upon his throne, and the counſel of peace ſhall be between them both.
3. THE Truths that refer to the Offices he bare for the management of this deſign. It was requiſite that he ſhould be inveſted with Authority ſufficient for this affair. Hence his Inauguration. He therefore ſaith, Math. 28.18. And Jeſus came, and ſpake unto them, ſaying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Now for the compleating of our Salvation, there muſt be ſatisfaction made to the Juſtice of God for us; whence is his Prieſthood. And we muſt be guided into, and led in the way of Peace; to the former of which his Prephe…ical, and to the latter his Kingly Office refer. So that we muſt know him in theſe Offices, and therein, how ſuitable an one he is to engage in this great Work, as having to do by them both with God and man; and ſo being fit to be a Mediator between them: as he is for this reaſon called, 1 Tim. 2.5. For there is one God: and one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus.
4. THE Truths which diſcover his full Sufficiency to anſwer this deſign. For it is not enough for us to lean our weight on one that hath undertaken, unleſs he be alſo able to go through with his undertaking. And here we muſt know what he hath already done for this end, or that Redemption which he hath gone through, in his Life & Death; and how therein he anſwered all the demands of the Law, and that both for the ſatisfaction of revenging Juſtice for our offences, and the purchaſing of the Kingdom of Glory, and all the bleſſings referring to it for us. Whe… he hath made that a Truth, Heb. 10.14. Part one offering he hath perfected for ever … that are ſanctified. As alſo, that which ever remains to be done in bringing as … the full poſſeſſion of the purchaſed l…ber… by making us meet for it, is ſecured … According to, Heb. 7.25. And here … to be aquainted with the Doctrine … Humiliation and Exaltation.
5. THE Truths wherein we are oſſ…d, … he is ready & willing to receive all … to him, and ſave them. His Ability co… alone, is not ſufficient to our ſatisfaction … liance on them, tho' it have encourage … in it to ſeek him for Salvation. Many … fore ſtick here. They are afraid wh… … will accept of them, if they come, and … too apt to put themſelves out of … aggravating their miſery to bring … deſpair. This therefore muſt be … That Chriſt ſtands at the door, and … That he will caſt out none who are po… ed to come unto him: That he deligh… ſhewing mercy. That if weary & hei… … Sinners come to him, he will give th… … That ſcarlet and crimſon fins cannot … his ſhewing them mercy, if they co… … forſake them, and caſt themſelves upon … by Faith: That the glory of his … hereby exalted, and the very …. Redemption is obtained hereby.
2. AS for the manner of it; Or how … Illuminates them. And here,
1. HE lets in a divine light into the … ſtanding, by which it is renewed. He … put a new faculty into the man, but … the image of God to it. Hence it is … to the cauſing of the light to ſhine … darkneſs, in the firſt Creation, a Cor. 4. … is called the giving us an Underſtanding Joh. 5.20. It is called an opening of … &c. Act. 26.18. Intimating that they … before ſhut, and under the power of …. We are therefore told how it is … natural man in this regard, 1 Cor. 2. … the natural man receiveth not the things … Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs … neither can he know them, becauſe they … ritually diſcerned. Not only is there … lation of theſe truths in the Word, … which Natures light could have never … them our,) but there is a power put … man to ſee ſpiritual things with a … eyes. Moſes complains of them, D… … Yet the Lord hath not given you an hou… … ceive, and eyes to ſee, and cars to … this day. And yet he tells them they … ſeen them, ver. 2. And Moſes called … Iſrael, and ſaid unto them, Ye have … the Lord did before your eyes in the … Egypt, unto Pharoah, and unto all his ſ… … and unto all his land. So that it is a new … that is given them, and properly bel… the new Creature.
2. HE brings this Object into the Underſtanding in its glorious lustre. The … before had a notion of the Truths concerning Chriſt, and could talk of them, and argue about them; but he ſaw no beauty not glory in them, nor in him whom they concerned, … might be ſaid of it as, Iſal. 53.2. He is now made to ſee the King in his Glory. He …s the truths upon the Underſtanding, ſo as …t Chriſt is made to appear the Chief of ten thouſands, and altegether lovely. The moſt beautiful & amiable Object even to aſtoniſhment and admiration; which tranſports the …d into an extaſy. And all things elſe, which ſometimes ſeemed to dazzle him, are …d… to appear vile compared with the excel… of Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. He cauſeth Chriſt to poſſeſs the Underſtanding, as the adequate …ect of it, Col. 1.1 18, 19.
3. HE brings in this light with a convincing … of the divine Teſtimony. He beats …ſe Truths upon the Underſtanding, with … …cacy that is irreſiſtable: he writes the law or them on the mind, and ſtamps … witneſs of God himſelf upon it, with …cing certainty; called a receiving of … Joh. 3.33. He that hath received his reſti…, hath ſet to his ſhal, that God is true. We … that the work of Faith is wrought … power, Eph. 1.19.1 Theſ. 1.11. He can …ger withſtand the efficacy of the Truth. … now aſtured that Chriſt is ſuch an Ob…, as be is repreſented to be Joh. 6.69. … believe, a… are ſure that thou art that … the Son of the living God. And be now …nguly perſuaded that Chriſt invites … come ſo him, and adventure upon …. He is made to hear the voice of the … of God, and feels in himſelf a ſtrong … …iſe and come away to Chriſt as the … of his Salvation.
4. HE parts a new Judgment into the Understanding. Judgment belongs to the prac… Underſtanding, by the exerciſe whereof it … its determinate advice to the Will, … fully concludes what is to be choſen, … to be refuſed. In order to which de…ion, the judgment muſt be ſettled. Now in order to this Faith on Chriſt, there muſt be ſuch a light let in, as may bring the judgment to a concluſion; for want whereof … the Knowledge that a natural man hath … Truths, never ſettles him upon it. There are two things.
(1.) HE makes him clearly to apprehend the … Excellency there is in Chriſt. … is the moſt eligible; that there is … the him, none to be compared with …. That there is none in Heaven or Earth …red in compariſon with him; that …arthy for whom all things are to be …, that we may enjoy him; that there … …te in the caſe, whether we ſhould … father and mother &c. to enjoy him; … thoſe are happy that put their truſt in … to loſe all, and gain Chriſt, is a good …ge, and will never repent him that ſo that, that to miſs of him is to be hope… undone. This is the ſpiritual Diſcerning or Apprehending of Chriſt, mentioned in the Goſpel.
(2.) HE hereby puts the Underſtarding in a readineſs to give in its full verdict for him, as an O…ect to be truſted in for Life & Happineſs. And this is the natural reſult of the forecited apprehenſion: For when the Judgment is enlightened in the premiſes, it is ſo fixedly prepared for the concluſion. When the Spirit of God hath thus cauſed the Underſtanding to know Chriſt, it cannot but declare for him.
USE. THIS conſideration may help …s in ext Trial of our Title …o Chriſt, and Lafe by him. And it will afford no ſmall relief to the Soul, that may poſſibly doubt about the truth of his cloſure with Chriſt by Faith. It is certain, that if Faith be in the Underſtanding, it is alſo in the Will: but we may have a more clear diſcerning of it in one faculty, than in the other. Now there is certainly a diſtinguiſhing light, let into the Soul in Effectual Calling, which is a vaſtly different thing from the cleareſt light that is in a natural man, which is the light of Faith; and it is of the ſame nature with, though of a far lower degree, than the light of Glory. It is a light which carries its own evidence with it; for light is of a manifeſting or evidencing nature. Ask your own Hearts then, what diſcoveries of Chriſt have been made to & in you? Hath the Spirit of God come into your Underſtandings, and given them a renovation? Do you ſee Chriſt with other Eyes than ſometimes you did? Hath the glorious Face of Chriſt been ſo repreſented to you, as to darken all the luſtre in every thing elſe, and make you deſpiſe what ſometimes you admited? Have you ſeen ſo much of Chriſt, as hath made him precious to you, 1 Pet. 2.7. Hath it drawn off your Eyes from all other Objects, ſo as to make you ſay as, Pſal. 73 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. And the more you gaze upon him, the more admiration you conceive of him? Be not diſcouraged, I may ſay to you, as Chriſt did once to his Diſciples, Bleſſed are your Eyes, for they ſee.
[APRIL 12. 1698.]