CHAP. III. Concerning the Promise of the Bles∣sing in Jesus Christ.

GOd promised to Abraham, that in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed, and that out of his Seed, even of Isaac, Christ should be born; and yet withal God commanded him to slay and offer up this his Son Isaak Abraham was obedient to the Divine Command; and, notwithstanding all Ob∣jections, crowding in upon him, firmly believ'd Gods Promise, without the least staggering, or being sollicitous, how the Promise could be fulfilled, if he should slay his Son Isaak in his youth; but cast all his care upon God, not doubting, but he would know how to make good his own Word, and perform his Promise: O what a gracious Promise was this? what a strong and unquestionable assurance, and what a gracious, paternal Perfor∣mance and Accomplishment? What God then promised, he hath since made good and performed: for we have seen Page  147his Glory (saith St. John chap. 1.14.) the Glo∣ry as of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. Who could be more sure to perform this for us, than he who is Truth it self? And who besides, is bound to us in such an intimate Tye of the highest Love, that he rather chose to die for us, than that we should fail, or fall short of the least of his Fathers Pro∣mises? Wherefore it is impossible for thee to believe in Christ, but that at the same time thou must be Blessed of God; for Heaven and Earth may pass away, but the Word of God abides for ever. Alas! What is it that blinds us, poor wret∣ched Creatures? We pretend to believe, That God is become Man, and yet doubt of the performance of the Blessing an∣next to it by God himself. What grea∣ter Affront can we put upon Eternal Truth? Or what greater Ingratitude can we express to the unutterable Love of God? It is not enough therefore for us to believe, that God is become Man; but we must also believe, that it was done for our Good and Benefit, and that by his Incarnation he has put us in possessi∣on of whatsoever has been promis'd to Page  148us. Neither may we desire or look for our Salvation, Blessing, Grace and Mercy from any one, but from him alone, and besides him, take in no other comfort whatsoever. This is it truly and indeed to believe in Christ, which is only youch∣safed to Gods blessed ones. Herein Christi∣ans must daily exercise themselves, try themselves and view themselves, and in case they find themselves doubtful in any thing, they must cry to God for the strengthning and increasing of their Faith. For these two things to believe, and earnestly to desire it, are very near of kin to each other. But because we have no strong desire to believe, there∣fore neither do we pray heartily for it. And thus he who is yet weak in Faith may take comfort from the fervent desire he hath to believe, which alone will ap∣prove him before God. In a word, be∣lieve in Christ, or at least desire firmly to believe in him, and then doubt no further, but that thou art blessed by him, and in him.