Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...

SECT. V. Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect.

5. WE must believe on Jesus carrying on this great work of our salvation in a way of covenant. Many a time Satan comes and hurles in a temptation, What? Is it likely that God should enter into a covenant with thee? yea, sometimes he so rivets in this temptation, that he darkens all within, and there's no sight of comfort in the soul: O but now believe! now if ever is the season for faith to act; little evidence and much adherence speaks saith to purpose. We read of some who could stay themselves upon the Lord, whiles they walked in darkness upon the margin, and borders of a hundred deaths. David fears no evil, though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death; for his faith told him, that God was with him. Heman could say, thy wrath lieth hard upon me, thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves; sure he thought, God could do no more to drown him; not only a wave or two, but all Gods waves were on him, and over him; and yet he believes, Lord I have called daily upon thee. Hezekiahs comforts were at an hard pinch. Mine eyes fail with looking upwards: O Lord I am op∣pressed; yet praying argues believing, Lord undertake for me. Christs sense of com∣forts was ebbe and low, when he wept, and cryed, that he was forsaken of God; yet then his faith is doubled, as the cable of an Anchor is doubled when the storm is more than ordinary, my God, my God.

Poor soul! thou standest wondering at this great condescention of God; What? That God should enter into covenant with me? What? that God should make such great and preci∣ous promises with me? Surely these comforts, and these priviledges, are too high for me, or for any soul breathing. — It may be so; and yet be not discouraged, for God will magnifie his grace, and therefore he will do this great thing; all that thou hast to do, and all that God requires of thee, in this case, is onely to believe; indeed thou hast no part in Christ, no part in the covenant of grace, if thou wilt not believe; faith is the condition of the covenant of grace; and therefore either believe, or no covenant.

I know it is not easie to believe; nay, it is one of the hardest things under heaven to perswade a soul into faith: What? Will the great God of heaven make a Covenant with such a wretch as I am? I cannot believe it. Why, What's the matter? Ah my sins, my sins, my sins! God is a consuming fire against such, he cannot endure to behold iniquity: little hopes that ever God should enter into a covenant with me. But to help on, or to allure a soul in, consider, O thou soul, of these following passages.

1. Consider of the sweet and gracious nature of God: that which undoes broken hearts, and trembling souls, it is misconceivings of God: we have many times low, diminishing, ex enuating thoughts of Gods goodness; but we have large thoughts of his power and wrath: now to rectifie these misapprehensions, consider his name, and therein his nature, the Lord, the Lord, Merciful, and Gracious, Long-suffering, and abundant in Goodness, and Truth, keeping mercy for Thousands forgiving Iniquity, Transgressions, & Sins; and will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children, and upon the Childrens Children, unto the Third and Fourth Generation. O terrible Text! sayes the Soul, alas I am guilty of thousands of sins; and if this be his Name I am un∣done, woe to me and mine, unto the Third and Fourth Generation. But consider again, and in this description of God we shall find an Ocean of Mercy to a Drop of Wrath; a Sea of Oyl to an half drop of scalding Lead. For,—

1. God doth not begin, the Lord, the Lord, that will by no means clear the guilty; but, the Lord, the Lord, Merciful, and Gracious, Long-suffering; this is the first and greatest part of his Name; God is loath to speak in justice, and wrath; he keeps it to the last; m••rcy lies uppermost in Gods heart; if the sentence must come, it shall be the last day of the Assize.

2 Many words are used to speak his goodness: Merciful, Gracious, Long-suffering and abundant in Goodness, keeping Mercy for Thousands, forgiving Iniquity, Transgression and Sin; here be six several phrases, to shew the Riches of his Goodness, but when he speaks his wrath, what haste makes he over it? there's only two expressions of that; it was a Theam he took no delight in; Judgment is his Work, his strange Work; for he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men.

3. There's a difference in the expression; when God speaks of mercy, he expresseth it thus, abundant in Mercy; keeping Mercy for Thousands. But in visiting sins, it is not to thousands, but only to the Third or Fourth Generation. Surely Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment. God would shew Mercy to Thousands, rather than he would destroy three or four.

4. What if by no means God will clear the guilty? stubbornly guilty? yet never will he destroy humble souls that lye at his feet, and are willing to have mercy on his easie terms. How shall I give thee up Ephraim, how shall I deliver thee O Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together, I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not Man, the Holy One in the middest of ••••ee; O my soul! why standest thou at a distance with God? Why dost thou fancy a Lion in the way? O b••lieve in God, believe in Jesus! and believe thy portion in this Covenant of grace! have sweet and delightful thoughts of Gods nature, and thou wilt not, thou canst not sly from him: some are of opinion that a soul may fetch more encou∣ragements to believe, from the consideration of Gods gracious and merciful nature, than from the promise it self.

2. Consider of the sweet and gracious nature of Jesus Christ: our thoughts of God are necessarily more strange than of Jesus Christ, because of our infinite distance from the Godhead; but in Christ, God is come down into our nature, and so infinite goodness, and mercy is incarnate; art thou afraid, O my soul, at his name Jah, and Je∣hovah! O remember his name is Emanuel; the Lyon is here disrobed of his garment of terrour; his rough hair is turned into a soft wooll; see thy God disrobed of his terrible Majesty, see thy God is a man, and thy Judg is a Brother; mince Jehovah with Jesus, and the Serpent wi••l be a rod; O that Balsamy name, Jesus; that name that founds healing for every wound, settlement for every distraction, comfort for every sorrow: but here's the misery, souls in distress had rather be poring on hell than heaven; rather frighting themselves with the terrours of justice, than staying themselves with the fl••ggons of Mercy. O my soul, how canst thou more contradict the nature of Christ, and the Gospel-description of Christ, than to think him a destroyer of men? b••t wherein appears the gracious nature of Christ? I answer, in his being incarnate, O how could Jesus have manifested more willingness to save, than that the God-head should condescend to assume our nature? surely this is ten thousand times more condescention, than for the greatest King to become a sly, or a toad, to save such crea∣tures as toads and flyes. 2. In his tender dealing with all sorts of sinners, he professed th t he came into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He wept over Jerusalem, saying, O Jerusalem, Je••usalem, how

oft would I have gathered thee as an Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings? but ye would not. I would, but ye would not And when his Disciples would have had fire come down from Heaven to consume tho••e that refused him, he reproves them, and tells them, they know not of what spirits they were of. 3. In his care of his own; not caring what he suffered, so they might be saved. Alas, alas, that the Lord Jesus should pass through a life of misery, to a death more miserable, to manifest openly to the world the abun∣dance of his love; and yet that any soul should suspect him of cruelty, or unwillingness to shew mercy! Ah my soul, believe; never cry out, my sins, my sins, my sins; there is a gracious nature and inclination in Jesus Christ to pardon all.

3. Consider of that office of saving, and shewing mercy, which Christ hath set up; this is more than meerly a gracious inclination; Christ hath undertaken and set up an office to seek, and to save that which was lost; to bring home straying Souls to his Father, to be the great Peace-maker between God and Man, to reconcile God to man, and man to God, and so to be the Head and Husband of his People. Is not here a world of encouragement to believe in Jesus? what? to consider him as one who hath made it his office to heal, and relieve, and to restore, and to reconcile? Among Merchants I remember they have an office of security, that if you dare not adven∣ture on Seas, yet there you may be ensured, if you will but put in at that Office: in this manner Christ hath constituted and assumed the office of being a Mediator, the Redeemer, and the Saviour of men; he hath erected, and set up on purpose an office of meer love, and tender compassion, for the relief of all poor distressed sin∣ners: if they dare not venture otherwise, yet let them put in at this office. O what jealous hearts have we that will not trust Christ, that will not take the word of Christ without an office of security? surely Christ never so carried himself to any soul, that it need be jealous of his love and faithfulndess, yet this dear husband meets with many a jealous spouse: O my soul take heed of this! Satan hath no greater design upon thee than to perswade thee to entertain hard thoughts of Christ: believe! never say God will not take thee into Covenant, for to this purpose he hath erected an office to save and have mercy.

Consider of those tenders and offers of Christ, those intreaties and beseechings to accept of Christ, which are made in the Gospel. What is the Gospel? or what is the sum of all the Gospel, but this? O take Christ, and life in Christ, that thou may'st be saved: what mean these free offers, Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters, and whosoever will, let him take of the Waters of Life freely: and God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. God is the first suitor and solicitor, he first prayes the Soul to take Christ. Hark at the door! who is it that knocks there? who is it that calls now, even now? open unto me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Ʋnde∣filed, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night? See him through the windows, this can be none but Christ: his sweet language of Sister, Love, and Dove, bespeaks him Christ; his suffering language, that his head is filled with dew, and his locks wih the drops of the Night? bespeaks him Christ; But harken the motion he makes to thy Soul; Soul! consider what price I have given to save thee; this my body was crucified, my hands and feet nailed, my heart pierced, and through anguish I was forced to cry, my soul is heavy, heavy unto death, and now what remains for thee but onely to believe? See all things ready on my part, remission, justification, sanctification, salvation; I will be thy God and thou shalt be of the number of my People; I offer now my self and merits, and benefits flowing there-from, and I intreat thee accept of this offer. O take Christ, and Life, and Salvation in Christ What is this the voice of my beloved? are these the intreaties of Jesus? and O my soul, wilt thou not believe? wilt thou not accept of this Gracious offer of Christ? O consider who is this that proclaimeth, inviteth, beseecheth? if a poor man should offer thee moun∣tains of gold thou mightest doubt of performance, because he is not of that Power; if a covetous rich man should offer thee thousands of silver, thou mightest doubt of performance, because it is contrary to his nature; but Christ is neither poor, nor covetous; as he is able, so his Name is gracious, and his nature is to be faithful in performance; his Covenant is sealed with his blood, and confirmed by his oath, that all shall have pardon that will but come in, and believe: O then let these words of Christ (whose lips like lillies are dropping down pure myrrhe) prevail with thy soul, say Amen to his offer, I believe, Lord help my unbelief.

5. Consider of those Commands of Christ, which notwithstanding all thy excuses and pretences, he fastens on thee to believe: And this is his Commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Surely this Command should infinitely out∣weigh and prevail against all other Countermands of Flesh and Blood, of Satan, Na∣ture, Reason, Sense, and all the World. Why this Command is thy very ground and warrant, against which the very Gates of Hell can never possibly prevail: when Abra∣ham had a command too kill his own only dear Son, with his own hand, though it was matter of as great grief as could possibly pierce his heart; yet he would readily and willingly submit to it; how much more shouldst thou obey, when God commands no more, but that thou shouldest belive on the name of his Son Jesus Christ? There's no evil in this Command; no, no, it comprehends in it all good Imaginable; have Christ, and thou hast with him the excellency and variety of all blessings both of heaven and earth; have Christ, and thou hast with him a discharge of all those endless and easless torments of Hell; have Christ, and thou hast with him the glorious Deity it self, to be enjoyed through him to all Eternity. O then believe in Jesus! suffer not the Devils cavils, and the groundless exceptions of thine own heart to prevail with thee against the direct Com∣mandment of Almighty God.

6. Consider of these Messages of Christ, which he daily sends by the hands of his Gos∣pel-Ministers. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christs stead, be ye Reconciled unto God. What a wonder is here! Would not an earthly Prince disdain and hold it in foul scorn to send unto his inferiour re∣bellious slaves for reconcilement? It is otherwise with Christ; he is content to put up at our hands all indignities and affronts; he is glad to sue to us first, and to send his Am∣bassadors day after day, beseeching us to be reconciled unto him: O incomprehensible depth of unspeakable Mercy, and Incouragement to come to Christ! That I may digress a little, say thou that readest, wilt thou take Christ to thy Bridegroom, and forsake all others? This is the Message which God hath bid me (unworthy Ambassadour) to deli∣ver to thee: the Lord Jesus expects an answer from thee; and I should be glad at heart to return a fit answer to him that sent me; say then, dost thou like well of the Match? wilt thou have Christ for thy Husband? wilt thou enter into Covenant with him? wilt thou surrender up thy Soul to thy God? wilt thou rely on Christ, and apply Christs merits particularly to thy self? wilt thou believe? for that is it I mean by taking, and receiving, and marrying of Christ: Oh happy if I could but Joyn Christ and thy Soul to∣gether this day! Oh happy thou, if thou wouldst this day be perswaded by a poor Am∣bassadour of Christ! Blame me not if I am an importunate Messenger; if ever I hear from thee, let me hear some good News, that I may return it to Heaven, and give God the Glory. Come, say on; art thou willing to have Christ? wouldst thou have thy name enrolled in the Covenant of Grace? shall God be thy God, and Christ thy Christ? wilt thou have the Person of Christ, and all those priviledges flowing from the Blood of Christ? sure thou art willing, art thou not? stay then; thou must take Christ on these terms; thou must believe on him (i e.) Thou must take him as thy Saviour and Lord, thou must take him, and forsake all others for him. This is the true Faith, the condition of the Covenant: O believe in Jesus, and the Match is made, the hands are struck, the Co∣venant established, and all doubts removed.

Notes

• Psal. 23.4. Ps. 88.7.
• ver. 9.
• Isa. 39.14.
• Mat. 27.46.
• Exod. 34.6, 7
• Isa. 28.22.
• Lam. 3.33.
• Jam. 2.13.
• Hos. 11.8, 9.
• Mat. 23.37▪
• Cant. 5.2
• 2 Cor. 5, 20.