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. LEt us believe in Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Life. Ma∣ny Souls stand aloof, not daring to make a particular application of Christ, and his Life to themselves; but herein is the property of Faith, it brings all home, and makes use of whatsoever Christ is or does, for himself. To ponder Christ's actions du∣ring his Life, and the influence of his actions to all that are his, what is this to me, unless I believe my own part in all this? Oh I dare not believe (cries many a poor soul) is it credible that Jesus Christ the Son of God, the brightness of his Fathers Glory, the ex∣press Image of his Fathers Person, should be incarnate for me, and lead such a life upon Earth for my soul? What! to be baptized, to be tempted, to manifest himself in the form of man, to whip the Buyers and Sellers out of his Temple, to preach up and down the Gospel of the Kingdom, to work miracles among men, to send abroad his Apostles with a commis∣sion to preach, to invite sinners, to ease the burden of duties, and in a word, to publish the righteousness of his Nature and Life; and all this, and a thousand times more than all this, for my soul? O what am I, or what is my Fathers House? If God should let me live one year in Heaven, it were infinite mercy; but that the God of Heaven should live so many years on Earth, and that all that while he should empty himself, in watching, fasting, praying, preaching for my sake; Oh the depth! Oh the depth! I cannot believe.

Sweet Soul, be not faithless, but believing; I know it is an hard and difficult thing; but to help on a trembling soul, I shall first direct, and then encourage.

First for direction, let souls be acquainted how to act their Faith on Christ in respect of his Life. The manner of its proceedings I suppose is thus:—

1. Faith must directly go to Christ. Many poor souls humbled for sin, and taken off from their own bottom, they run immediately to the promise of pardon, and close with it, and rest on it, not seeking for, or closing with Christ in the promise; this is a common error among thousands; but we should observe, that the first promise that was given, was not a bare word simply promising pardon, peace, or any other benefit, which God would bestow; but it was a promise of Christ's Person, as overcoming Sa∣tan, and purchasing those benefits, The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head. So, when the Promise was renewed to Abraham, it was not a bare promise of blessedness and forgivness, but of that Seed, that is, Christ, Gal. 3.6. in whom that blessed∣ness was conveyed; In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. So that Abraham's Faith first closed with Christ in the Promise, and therefore he is said to see Christ's day, and to rejoyce in embracing him. Christ in the first place, and more imme∣diately, is every where made the thing which Faith embraceth to salvation, and whom it looks unto and respects, as it makes us righteous in the sight of God. God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.— And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.—and, Be∣lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.—And, To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remissi∣on of sins. And hence it is that Faith is called the Faith of Christ, Gal. 2.16. Phil. 3.9. Because Christ is it whom Faith apprehends immediately; and as for the other promises they depend all on this, Whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins: and he that believeth on the Son of God shall have life everlasting; verily, verily I say unto you,

he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. O remember this in the first place, Faith must go unto Christ; and yet I mean not to Christ, as abstractly and nakedly conside∣red; but to Christ as compass'd with all his Promises, Priviledges, Benefits.

2. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh. Some make this the difference of Faiths acting betwixt Believers of the New and Old Testament: Under the Old Testa∣ment, when Christ was but in the Promise, and not as then come in the flesh, their Faith had a more usual recourse unto God himself; as for Christ (God-man, man-God) they had not so distinct, but only a confused knowledge of him; and therefore we read not so frequently and usually of their recourse unto him, but only unto God. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? we know not what to do, but our eyes are upon thee— and, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established.—and, The Lord heard this, and was wrath—because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation. But now under the New Testament, be∣cause Christ as Mediator, who was promised, is come, our Faith more usually and im∣mediately addresseth it self unto Christ, as God in the flesh, God dwelling in our na∣ture is made more familiar to our Faith, than the person of the Father, who is meerly God: God in the flesh is more distinctly set forth in the New Testament, and so he is more distinctly to be apprehended by the Faith of all Believers: Ye be∣lieve in God (sayes Christ to his Disciples, whose faith and opinion of the Messiah was till Christ's Resurrection of the same Elevation with that of the Old-Testament-Believers) Ye be∣lieve in God; but he rests not there, believe also in me, make me the object of your trust and salvation, as well as the Father, believe also in me, not only so, but believe in the first place on me. One sweetly observes, that when Faith and Repentance came more narrowly to be distinguished by their more immediate objects, it is laid down thus, Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; not but that God and Christ are objects of both; but that Christ is more immediately the object of Faith, and God i•• more immediately the object of Repentance; so that we believe in God through believing in Christ first; and we turn to Christ by turning to God first. O remember this! Le•• our Faith in the more direct and immediate exercise of it be pitch upon Christ as God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the flesh.

3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh, made under the Law: and hence it is that the Apostle joynes these together, God sent his Son made of a woman, made under the Law: If Christ had been out of the compass of the Law, his being incarnate, and made of a woman, had done us no good. Suppose one in debt, and danger of the Law, to have a Brother of the same flesh and blood, of the same Father and Mother; what will this avail, if that same Brother will not come under the Law (i.e.) become his Surety, and undertake for him? It is our case; we are debtors to God, and there is an hand-writing against us, and contrary to us: here is a Bond of the Law which we have forfeited; now what would Christ avail, if he had not come under the Law, if he had not been our Surety, and undertook for us? Our Faith therefore must go to Christ as made under the Law, not only taking our nature upon him, but our debt also; our na∣ture as men, and our debt as sinful men: He hath made himself to become sin for us who knew no sin, (i.e.) he made him to be handled as a sinner for us under the Law, though he knew no sin on his part, but continued in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them. If Faith be inquisitive, when was Christ made under the Law? I answer, even then when he was circumcised: Thus Paul protests, I testifie to every man that he that is circumcised, is a debtor to do the whole Law. Christ at his Circumcision entred into bond with us, and undertook for us; and therefore then, and not till then, he had his Name given him, Jesus a Saviour: and from that time he was a debtor to do the whole Law. Not only to suffer, but also to do; for he both satisfied the Curse, and fulfilled the Commandments. O remember this! as Christ, and as Christ in the flesh, so Christ in the flesh made under the Law, is principally to be in the eye of of our Faith. If we put all together, our first view of Faith is to look on Christ God in the flesh, made under the Law.

4. Faith going to Christ as God in the flesh, and as made under the Law, it is princi∣pally to look to the end and meaning of Christ, as being God in the flesh, and as fulfil∣ling the Law.

Now if we would know the meaning of Christ in all this, the Apostle tells us of a re∣mote, and of a more immediate end.

1. Of a remote end: God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law,

to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons. This was Christ's meaning, or the remote end of Christ. Alas! we were strangers from the Adoption, and we lay under the Law as men whom sentence had passed on: Now from this latter we are redeemed; he was under the Law, that we might be redeemed from un∣der the Law; nor is that all; but as we are redeemed, so are we adopted the Children of God: And this end I rather attribute to the Life of Christ, that we might receive the Adoption (i.e.) from the estate of Prisoners condemned, that we might be translated into the estate of children adopted. O the mercy of God! who ever heard of a condemn∣ed man to be afterwards adopted? would not a condemned Prisoner think himself hap∣py to escape with Life? But the zeal of the Lord of Hosts hath performed this; we are in Christ both pardoned and adopted; and by this means the joy and glory of Gods heavenly inheritance is estated upon us: O let our Faith look mainly to this design and plot of Christ! he was made under the Law, yea, and under the directive part of the Law by his life; he fulfilled every jot and title of the Law by his active obedience, that we might be entitled to glory; that we might be adopted to the inheritance of the Saints in glory.

2. For the more immediate end of Christ: the Apostle tells us Christ was made under the Law, or fulfilled all Righteousness, that the Law might be fulfilled in us. In Christ's life were we represented, and so this fulfilling of all righteousness is accounted ours; that the Law might be fulfilled in us. O my soul, look to this! Herein lies the pith and the marrow of thy Justification: of thy self thou canst do nothing that good is; but Christ fulfilled the Law in thy stead; and if now thou wilt but act, and exercise thy Faith, thou mayst thereby find and feel the vertue and efficacy of Christ's righteousness and actual obedience, flowing into thy own soul. But here is the question, how should I manage my Faith? or how should I act it to feel Christ's righteousness my righteous∣ness? I answer, 1. Thy way is to discover and discern this righteousness of Christ, this holy and perfect life of the Lord Jesus Christ in the whole, and in all the parts of it, as it is laid down in the written Word; Much hath been said of it in those four years of Christ's Ministry, but especially in the last year; I shall say more anon in our con∣formity unto Christ, whither also thou mayst have recourse. 2. Thy way is to believe and to receive this discovery as sacred and unqestionable in reference to thy own soul, as intended for thee, for thy use and benefit. 3. Thy way is to apprehend, apply, and to improve this discovery according to that judgment and proposal, to those uses, ends, and benefits to which thou believest they were designed. Yea, but there lies the questi∣on, how may that be done? I answer,—

1. Setting before thee that discovery (that perfect life of Christ in the whole, and all the parts of it) thou must first endeavour to be deeply humbled for thy great incon∣formity thereto in whole and in part.

1. Still keeping thy Spirit intent on the Pattern, thou must quicken, provoke and en∣crease thy sluggish and drowsie soul with renewed, redoubled vigilancy, and industry to come up higher towards it, and (if it were possible) compleatly to it.

3. Yet having the same discovery, rule and copy before thee, thou must exercise faith thereupon, as that which was performed, and is accepted on thy behalf. And so go to God, and there represent, offer, and tender Christ's holy life and active obedience unto him. And that first to fill up the defects of thy utmost endeavour: Secondly, to put a righteousness, price, value, and worth upon what thou dost and attainest to. Thirdly, to make Christ's righteousness thy own, that thou may'st say with the Psal∣mist in way of assurance, O God my righteousness. O my soul, if thou would'st thus live by Faith, or thus act thy Faith on Christ's Life, Christ's Righteousness, Christ's active obedience; what a blessed life would'st thou live? then mightst thou find and feel Christ's righteousness thy righteousness; I say thy Righteousness in respect of its effica∣cy, but not in respect of its formality; for so sinners would be their own Mediators. But of some of these Particulars I shall speak more largely in our conformity to Christ's holy Life.

2. For encouragements to bring on souls thus to believe on Christ, consider,—

1. The fulness of this Object; Christ's life is full, it is very comprehensive, it con∣tains holiness, and happiness, sanctification, and justification: if Christ's Garments were healing, how much more so main and essential a part of Christ, even the half of Christ as it were? for so is Christ's Life. It is vehemently to be suspected, that the true reason why so much is said of his Death, and so little in comparison of his Life, it is

either because we understand not the fulness of his life, or because we are carnal and selfish, affecting freedom from hell, more than holiness on earth; some benefit by Christ, more than conformity to Christ. O come! see the fulness of Christ's life: in reference to our sanctification, was it not an exact model of perfection? a most curious exem∣plification of Gods whole Word? an express Idea, Image, Representation of the whole mind of God? a full president for all others to walk by, to work by, to live by? and in reference to justification, is not Christ's life the object of Faith and justifying? nay, is not Christ's life the object of justifying faith, as well as Christ's death, resurrection, as∣cension, session, intercession? The assertors of Christ's active and passive obedience for us, can tell us of two things in the Law intended; one principal, viz. Obedience: and another secondary, viz. malediction upon supposition of disobedience; so that sin being once committed, there must be a double act to justification, the suffer∣ing of the Curse, and the fulfilling of Righteousness anew, the one is satisfaction for the injury we have done unto God as our Judge; and the other is a performance of a service which we owe unto God as our Maker. O then how large, and full, and com∣prehensive is this life of Christ?

2. Consider the excellency, the glory of this Object: Christ's life is glorious, and hence it is that the righteousness of Christ is the most glorious garment that ever the Saints of God did wear. It is Marlorat's saying, that the Church which puts on Christ and his righteousness, is more illustrious than the Ayr is by the Sun. John thus sets her out in his Vision; And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet. I take this to be a lofty Poetical description of Christ's imputed righteousness: imagine a garment were cut out of the Sun, and put upon us, how glorious should we be? O but the righteousness of Christ is much more glorious: No wonder if the Church cloathed with the Sun, tread the Moon under her feet (i.e.) if she trample on all sublunary things, which are uncertain and changeable as the Moon, I count all things but dung (saith Paul) that I may win Christ, and be found in him; not having my own righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by Faith. When Paul compares Christ's righteousness with the glory of the world, then is the world but dung. O the glory, O the excellency of the righteousness of Christ!

3. Consider the suitableness of this object; Christ's life, and the virtue of it, is most suitable to our condition. Thus I might apply Christ to every condition; if thou art sick, he is a Physitian; if thou fearest death, he is the way, the truth, and the life; if thou art hungry, he is the bread of Life; if thou art thirsty, he is the water of Life: But not to insist on these words. It is the daily complaint of the best of Saints, O my sins! I had thought these sins had been wholly subdued, but now I feel they return upon me again; now I feel the springs in the bottom fill up my soul again; Oh I am weary of my self, and weary of my life, Oh what will become of me? In this case now Christ's life is most sutable, his righteousness is a continual righteousness; it is not a Cistern, but Fountain open for thee to wash in; as sin abounds, so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more. Christ's life in this respect, is compared to changes of Garments: Thou criest, O what shall become of me? Oh I feel new sins, and old sins committed afresh; why but these changes of garments will hide all thy sins: if thou art but cloathed with the robes of Christ's righteousness, there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards thee of casting thee off, or of taking revenge upon any new occasion or fall into sin. Why here is the blessedness of all those that believe. Oh then believe! Say not, would Christ be incarnate for me? would he lead such a life on earth for my soul? Why yes, for thy soul: never speak of thy sins, as if they should be any hinderance of thy Faith. If the wicked that apply this righteousness presumptiously, can say, Let us sin that grace may abound, and so they make no other use of Grace, but to run in debt, and to sin with a licence; how much rather mayest thou say on good ground, Oh let me believe! Oh let me own my portion in this righteousness of Christ! that as my sins have abounded, so my love may abound; that as my sins have been exceeding great, so the Lord may be exceeding sweet; that as my sins continue and encrease, so my thankfulness to Christ, and glory in God, and triumph over sin, death, and the grave, may also encrease. Why thus be encouraged to believe thy part in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notes

• Gen. 3.15.
• Gen. 22.18.
• John 3.16. John 11.25.
• Acts 13.39. Acts 16.31. Acts 10.43.
• John 3.36. John 6.47.
• 2 Chron. 20.12, 20. Psal. 78.21, 22
• John 14.1.
• Acts 20.21.
• Gal. 4.4.
• Col. 2.14.
• 2 Cor. 5.21.
• Gal. 5.3.
• Luke 2.21.
• Gal. 4.4, 5.
• Rom. 8.4.
• Marlorat. Rev. 12.1.
• Phil. 3.8, 9.
• Zech. 13.1.
• Zech. 3.4.