The Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer by Thomas Watson.

§. I. Shewing that Knowledge is requi∣site to faith.

The first is Knowledge. Faith is an [ 1] intelligent grace; though there may be knowledge without faith, yet there can be no faith without know∣ledge: They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. Philo calls it, fides oculata, quick-sighted faith. Knowledge must carry the Torch before faith: 2 Tim. 1.12. For I know whom I have believed. As faith without works is dead, so faith without knowledge is blind. De∣vout ignorance damnes: which con∣demns the Church of Rome, that think it a piece of their religion to be kept in ignorance; these set up an Altar to an unknown God: they say, Ignorance is the mother of devotion; but sure, where the Sun is set in the understanding, there must needs be

night in the affections. So necessary is knowledge to the being of faith, that the Scripture doth sometimes baptize faith with the Name of knowledge; Isa. 53.11. By his know∣ledge shall my righteous servant justi∣fie many; knowledge is put there for faith. Now this knowledge of Christ which goes before faith, or rather is the embrio and first matter of which faith is formed, consists in four things: The soul through this optick glasse of knowledge, sees

1. A preciousnesse in Christ, he is [ 1] the chief of ten thousand, the pearl of price. Christ was never poor but when he had on our rags: there is nothing in Christ but what is pre∣cious; he is precious in his Name, in his Nature, in his Influences; he is called a precious stone * 1.1; he must needs be a precious stone, who hath made us living stones.

2. A fulnesse in Christ; the fulness [ 2] of the Godhead, Col. 2.9. all fulnesse,

Col. 1.19. a fulnesse of merit; his blood able to satisfie his Fathers wrath: a fullnesse of Spirit; his grace able to supply our wants; by the one he doth absolve us, by the other he doth adorn us.

[ 3] 3. A suitablenesse in Christ; that which is good, if it be not adae∣quatum, suitable, it is not sa∣tisfactory: If a man be hungry, bring him fine flowers, this is not suitable, he desires food: if he be sick, bring him musick, this is not suitable, he desires Physick: in this sense there is a suitablenesse in Christ to the soule; he is quicquid appetibile, as Origen speaks, whatever we can desire. If we hunger and thirst, he is pabulum animae, the food of the soul; therefore he is called the bread of life. If we are sick unto death, his blood is a sacred balm: he may be compared to the trees of the Sanctuary * 1.2, which were both for meat, and for medicine.

4. A Propensenesse and readinesse in [ 4] Christ to give out his fulnesse: Isa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no mony, buy and not, &c. Behold here, at what a low price doth God set his heavenly blessings! it is but thirsting, bring but desires. Be∣hold the Propensenesse in Christ to ••••spense and give out his fulnesse: buy without money; a strange kind of buying! there's bounty in Christ as well as beauty. As he is all ful∣nesse, so he is all sweetnesse, of a noble and generous disposition; he doth not only invite us, but charge us upon pain of death to come in and believe: he threatens us if we will not lay hold of mercy: he waits to be gracious * 1.3: This is the lenoci∣nium, and enticer of the affections: this draws the eyes and heart of a sinner after him: what are the bles∣sed Promises but Christs golden Scepter held forth? what are the

motions of the Spirit, but Jesus Christ coming a wooing? and such a knowledge and sight of Christ is necessary to usher in faith: now the soul begins to move towards him; he sees all this variety of excellency in Christ, and withall sees a possi∣bility, nay, a probability of mercy: there is nothing that hinders him, God doth not exclude him unlesse he exclude himself: Then he thinks thus, What is it keeps me off from Christ? is it my unworthinesse? behold, there is merit in Christ: is it my wants? there is enough in the fountain, and Jesus Christ doth not expect that I should carry any thing to him, but rather that I should bring something from him: he doth not expect that I should carry water to the well, only an empty vessel: why then should not this fulnesse in Christ be for me as well as others? While he is thus parlying with him∣self, the Spirit works a kind of per∣swasion,

that Christ is willing that he in particular should taste of this mercy; then follows the second act which faith puts forth, and that is consent; Well, I will have Christ whatever it cost me.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isa. 28.16
• * 1.2

  Ezek. 47 12.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 30.18