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05800
             The Practical Use of Saving Knowledge

                     Warrants to Believe (1 of 4)

 For building our confidence upon this solid ground, these four
 Warrants and special Motives to believe in Christ may serve.

 The first is God's hearty invitation, held forth, Isa. 55:1-4.

    "1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he
    that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and
    milk without money and without price. 2  Wherefore do ye spend
    money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that
    which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye
    [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
    3  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall
    live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the
    sure mercies of David. 4  Behold, I have given him [for] a witness
    to the people, a leader and commander to the people."

 Here (after setting down the precious ransom of our redemption by the
 sufferings of Christ, and the rich blessings purchased to us by it,
 in the two former chapters) the Lord, in this chapter,

   1. Makes open offer of Christ and his grace, by proclamation of a
      free and gracious market of righteousness and salvation, to be
      had through Christ to every soul, without exception, that truly
      desires to be saved from sin and wrath: "Ho, every one that
      thirsteth".

   2. He invites all sinners, that for any reason stand at a distance
      from God, to come and take from him riches of grace, running in
      Christ as a river, to wash away sin, and to slacken wrath: "Come
      ye to the waters".

   3. Lest any should stand back in the sense of his own sinfulness or
      unworthiness, and inability to do any good, the Lord calls upon
      such persons in special, saying, "He that hath no money, come."

   4. He craves no more of his merchant, but that he be pleased with
      the wares offered, which are grace, and more grace; and that he
      heartily consent to, and embrace this offer of grace, that so he
      may close a bargain, and a formal covenant with God; "Come, buy
      without money, come, eat:"  that is, consent to have, and take
      to you all saving graces; make the wares your own, possess them,
      and make use of all blessings in Christ; whatever makes for your
      spiritual life and comfort, use and enjoy it freely, without
      paying anything for it: "Come, buy wine and milk without money,
      and without price".

   5. Because the Lord knows how much we are inclined to seek
      righteousness and life by our own performances and satisfaction,
      to have righteousness and life as it were by the way of works,
      and how loath we are to embrace Christ Jesus, and to take life
      by way of free grace through Jesus Christ, upon the terms
      whereupon it is offered to us; therefore the Lord lovingly calls
      us off this our crooked and unhappy way with a gentle and
      timeous admonition, giving us to understand, that we shall but
      lose our labour in this our way: "Wherefore do ye spend your
      money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that
      which satisfieth not?"

   6. The Lord promises to us solid satisfaction in the way of taking
      ourselves to the grace of Christ, even true contentment, and
      fulness of spiritual pleasure saying, "Hearken diligently unto
      me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight
      itself in fatness."

   7. Because faith comes by hearing, he calls for listening to the
      explanation of the offer, and calls for believing of, and
      listening to the truth, which is able to beget the application
      of saving faith, and to draw the soul to trust in God: "Incline
      your ear, and come unto me".  To which end, the Lord promises,
      that this offer being received, shall quicken the dead sinner;
      and that, upon the welcoming of this offer, he will close the
      covenant of grace with the man that shall consent to it, even an
      everlasting covenant of perpetual reconciliation and peace:
      "Hearken, and your soul shall live: and I will make an
      everlasting covenant with you."  Which covenant, he declares,
      shall be in substance the assigning, and the making over, of all
      the saving graces which David (who is Jesus Christ, Acts 13.34)
      has bought for us in the covenant of redemption: "I will make a
      covenant with you,  even the sure mercies of David." By sure
      mercies, he means saving graces, such as are righteousness,
      peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, adoption, sanctification, and
      glorification, and whatever belongs to godliness and life
      eternal.

   8. To confirm and assure us of the real grant of these saving
      mercies, and to persuade us of the reality of the covenant
      between God and the believer of this word, the Father has made a
      fourfold gift of his eternal and only begotten Son:

      8a) To be incarnate and born for our sake, of the seed of David
          his type; for which cause he is called here, and Acts 13.34,
          David, the true and everlasting King of Israel.  This is the
          great gift of God to man John 4.10.  And here "I have given
          him to be David," or born of David, "to the people."

      8b) He has made a gift of Christ to be a witness to the people,
          both of the sure and saving mercies granted to the redeemed
          in the covenant of redemption; and also of the Father's
          willingness and purpose to apply them, and to make them fast
          in the covenant of reconciliation made with such as embrace
          the offer: "I have given him to be a witness to the people."
          And truly he is a sufficient witness in this matter in many
          respects:

          8b1) Because he is one of the blessed Trinity, and
               party-contractor for us, in the covenant of redemption,
               before the world was.
          8b2) He is by office, as Mediator, the Messenger of the
               covenant, and has received a commission to reveal it.
          8b3) He began actually to reveal in paradise, where he
               promised, that the seed of the woman should bruise the
               head of the serpent.
          8b4) He set forth his own death and sufferings, and the
               great benefits that should come thereby to us, in the
               type and figures of sacrifices and ceremonies before
               his coming.
          8b5) He gave more and more light about this covenant,
               speaking by his Spirit, from age to age, in the holy
               prophets.
          8b6) He came himself, in the fulness of time, and did bear
               witness of all things belonging to this covenant, and
               of God's willing mind to take believers into it;
               partly, by uniting our nature in one person with the
               divine nature; partly, by preaching the good tidings of
               the covenant with his own mouth; partly, by paying the
               price of redemption on the cross; and partly by dealing
               still with the people, from the beginning to this day,
               to draw in, and to hold in the redeemed in this
               covenant.

      8c) God has made a gift of Christ, as a leader to the people, to
          bring us through all difficulties, all afflictions and
          temptations, to life, by this covenant: and he it is, and
          no other, who does indeed lead his own to the covenant;
          and, in the covenant, all the way on to salvation:

          8c1) By the direction of his word and Spirit.
          8c2) By the example of this own life, in faith and
               obedience, even to the death of the cross.
          8c3) By his powerful working, bearing his redeemed ones in
               his arms, and causing them to lean on him, while they
               go up through the wilderness.

      8d) God has made a gift of Christ to his people, as a
          commander: which office he faithfully exercises, by giving
          to his church and people laws and ordinances, pastors and
          elders, and all necessary officers; by keeping courts and
          assemblies among them, to see that his laws are obeyed;
          subduing, by his word, Spirit, and discipline, his people's
          corruptions; and, by his wisdom and power, guarding them
          against all their enemies whatever.

      Hence he who has closed bargain with God may strengthen his
      faith, by reasoning after this manner:

        "Whoever heartily receives the offer of free grace, made here
      to sinners, thirsting for righteousness and salvation: to him,
      by an everlasting covenant, belongs Christ, the true David, with
      all his sure and saving mercies:"
         "But I (may the weak believer say) do heartily receive the
      offer of free grace made here to sinners, thirsting for
      righteousness and salvation:"
         "Therefore to me, by an everlasting covenant, belongs Christ
      Jesus, with all his sure and saving mercies."
05801
                The Practical Use of Saving Knowledge

                         Warrants to Believe                     2 of 4

 The second Warrant and special Motive to embrace Christ, and believe
 in him, is the "earnest request" that God makes to us to be
 reconciled to him in Christ; held forth, 2 Cor. 5.19-21

    "19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
    himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has
    committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20  Now then we are
    ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we
    pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21  For he
    has made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
    made the righteousness of God in him."

   Wherein the apostle teaches us these nine doctrines.

   1. That the elect world, or world of redeemed souls, are by nature
      in the estate of enmity against God: this is presupposed in the
      word reconciliation; for reconciliation, or renewing of
      friendship, cannot be, except between those that have been at
      enmity.

   2. That in all the time past, since the fall of Adam, Christ Jesus,
      the eternal Son of God, as Mediator, and the Father in him, has
      been about the making friendship (by his work and Spirit)
      between himself and the elect world: "God was in Christ
      reconciling the world to himself."

   3. That the way of reconciliation was in all ages one and the same
      in substance, that is, by forgiving the sons of them who do
      acknowledge their sins and their enmity against God, and do seek
      reconciliation and remission of sins in Christ: "For God was in
      Christ reconciling the world unto himself," by way of, "not
      imputing their trespasses unto them."

   4. That the end and scope of the gospel, and whole word of God, is
      threefold:

      4a) It serves to make people sensitive to their sins, and of
          their enmity against God, and of their danger, if they
          should stand out, and not fear God's displeasure.

      4b) The word of God serves to make men acquainted with the
          course which God has prepared for making friendship with
          them through Christ, That is, that if men shall acknowledge
          the enmity, and shall be content to enter into a covenant of
          friendship with God through Christ, then God will be content
          to be reconciled with them freely.

      4c) The word of God serves to teach men how to carry themselves
          toward God, as friends, after they are reconciled to him,
          that is, to be loath to sin against him, and to strive
          heartily to obey his commandments: and therefore the word of
          God here is called "the word of reconciliation", because it
          teaches us what need we have of reconciliation, and how to
          make it, and how to keep the reconciliation of friendship,
          being made with God through Christ.

   5. That albeit the hearing, believing, and obeying of this word,
      does belong to all those to whom this gospel comes; yet the
      office of preaching of it with authority belongs to none, but to
      such only as God calls to his ministry, and sends out with
      commission for this work.  This the apostle holds forth, Verse
      19. in these words, "He hath committed to us the word of
      reconciliation."

   6. That the ministers of the gospel should behave themselves as
      Christ's messengers, and should closely follow their commission
      set down in the word, Matt 28.19,20; and when they do so, they
      should be received by the people as ambassadors from God; for
      here the apostle, in all their names say, "We are ambassadors
      for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us."

   7. That ministers, in all earnestness of affections, should deal
      with people to acknowledge their sins, and their natural enmity
      against God, more and more seriously; and to consent to the
      covenant of grace and ambassador of Christ more and more
      heartily; and to evidence more and more clearly their
      reconciliation, by a holy carriage before God.  This he holds
      forth, when he says, "We pray you, be ye reconciled to God."

   8. That in the ministers' affectionate dealing with the people, the
      people should consider what they have to do with God and Christ,
      requesting them, by the ministers, to be reconciled.  Now, there
      cannot be a greater inducement to break a sinner's hard heart,
      than God's making a request to him for friendship; for when it
      became us, who have done so many wrongs to God, to seek
      friendship of God, he comes before us: and (O wonder of
      wonders!) he requests us to be content to be reconciled to him;
      and therefore most fearful wrath must abide on them who make
      light of this request, and do not yield when they hear ministers
      with commission, saying, " We are ambassadors for Christ, as
      though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead,
      be ye reconciled to God."

   9. To make it appear how it comes to pass that the covenant of
      reconciliation should be so easily made up between God and a
      humble sinner fleeing to Christ, the apostle leads us to the
      cause of it, held forth in the covenant of redemption, the sum
      whereof is this:

      "It is agreed between God and the Mediator Jesus Christ the Son
      of God, surety for the redeemed, as the parties of the contract,
      that the sins of the redeemed should be imputed to the innocent
      Christ, and he both condemned and put to death for them, upon
      this very condition, that whoever heartily consents to the
      covenant of reconciliation offered through Christ, shall, by the
      imputation of his obedience to them, be justified and held
      righteous before God; for God has made Christ, `who knew no sin,
      to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God
      in him.'"

    Hence may a weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from
 this ground after this manner:

    "He that, upon the loving request of God and Christ, made to him
 by the mouth of ministers, (having commission to that effect,) has
 embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and
 does purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled person, to strive
 against sin, and to serve God to his power constantly, may be as sure
 to have righteousness and eternal life given to him, for the
 obedience of Christ imputed to him, as it is sure that Christ was
 condemned and put to death for the sins of the redeemed imputed to
 him:"
    "But I (may the weak believer say) upon the loving request of God
 and Christ, made to me by the mouth of his ministers, have embraced
 the offer or perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and do purpose,
 by God's grace, as a reconciled person, to strive against sin, and to
 serve God to my power constantly:"
    "Therefore I may be as sure to have righteousness and eternal life
 given to me, for the obedience of Christ imputed to me, as it is sure
 that Christ was condemned and put to death for the sins of the redeemed
 imputed to him."
05802
                The Practical Use of Saving Knowledge

                         Warrants to Believe                 Part 3 of 4


 The third warrant and special Motive to believe in Christ, is the
 straight and "awful command of God", charging all the hearers of the
 gospel to approach to Christ in the order set down by him, and to
 believe in him; as held forth,

    "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name
    of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us
    commandment." 1 John 3.23

   Wherein the apostle gives us to understand these five doctrines:

   1. That if any man shall not accept the sweet invitation of God, or
      the humble and loving request of God, made to him to be
      reconciled, he shall find he has to deal with the sovereign
      authority of the highest Majesty; for "this is his commandment,
      that we believe in him".

   2. That if any man look upon this commandment as he has looked
      hereto upon the neglected commandments of the law, he must
      consider that this is a command of the gospel, after the law,
      given for making use of the remedy of sins; which, if it be
      disobeyed, there is no other command to follow but this, "Go, ye
      cursed, into the everlasting fire of hell;" for "this is his
      commandment;" the obedience of which is most pleasant in his
      sight, Verse 22 and without which it is impossible to please
      him, Heb 11.6.

   3. That every one who hears the gospel, must make conscience of the
      duty of lively faith in Christ; the weak believer must not think
      it presumption to do what is commanded; the person inclined to
      desperation must take up himself, and think upon obedience to
      sweet and saving command; the strong believer must dip yet more
      in the sense of his need he has of Jesus Christ, and more and
      more grow in the obedience of this command, yes, the most
      impenitent, profane, and wicked person must not thrust out
      himself, or be thrust out by others, from orderly aiming at this
      duty, how desperate ever his condition seems to be; for he that
      commands all men to believe in Christ, does thereby command all
      men to believe that they are damned and lost without Christ: he
      thereby commands all men to acknowledge their sins, and their
      need of Christ, and in effect commands all men to repent, that
      they may believe in him. And whoever does refuse to repent of
      their past sins, are guilty of disobedience to this command
      given to all hearers, but especially to those that are within
      the visible church: for "this is his commandment, that we should
      believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ".

   4. That he who obeys this commandment has built his salvation on a
      solid ground: for,

      4a) He has found the promised Messiah, completely furnished with
          all perfections to the perfect execution of the offices of
          Prophet, Priest, and King; for he is that Christ in whom the
          man does believe.

      4b) He has embraced a Saviour, who is able to save to the
          uttermost, yes, who does effectually save every one that
          comes to God through him; for he is Jesus, the true Saviour
          of his people from their sins.

      4c) He that obeys this command has built his salvation on the
          Rock, that is, on the Son of God, to whom it is no robbery
          to be called equal to the Father, and who is worthy to be
          the object of saving faith, and of spiritual worship: for
          this is his command, that "we believe in the name of his Son
          Jesus Christ."

   5. That he who has believed on Jesus Christ, though he is freed
      from the curse of the law, is not freed from the command and
      obedience of the law, but tied to it by a new obligation, and a
      new command from Christ; which new command from Christ gives
      help to obey the command: to which command from Christ, the
      Father adds his authority and command also; for "this is his
      commandment that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,
      and love one another, as he has commanded us."  The first part
      of which command, enjoining belief in him, necessarily implies
      love to God, and so obedience to the first table; for believing
      in God, and loving God, are inseparable; and the second part of
      the command enjoins love to our neighbour, (especially to the
      household of faith,) and so obedience to the second table of the
      law.

   Hence may a weak believer strengthen himself, by reasoning from this
 ground after this manner:

   "Whoever, in the sense of his own sinfulness, and fear of God's
 wrath, at the command of God, is fled to Jesus Christ, the only
 remedy of sin and misery, and has engaged his heart to the obedience
 of the law of love, his faith is not presumptuous or dead, but true
 and saving faith:"
    "But I, (may the weak believer say,) in the sense of my own
 sinfulness, and fear of God's wrath, am fled to Jesus Christ, the
 only remedy of sin and misery, and have engaged my heart to the
 obedience of the law of love:"
    "Therefore my faith is not a presumptuous and dead faith, but true
 and saving faith."
05803
                  The Practical Use of Saving Knowledge

                            Warrants of Belief               Part 4 of 4

 The fourth Warrant and special Motive to believe in Christ, is "much
 assurance of life" given, in case men shall obey the command of
 believing; and a "fearful certification" of destruction, in case they
 obey not; as held forth,

    "35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his
     hand.  36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:
     and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
     wrath of God abideth on him." John 3.35,36

 Wherein are held forth to us these five following doctrines:

   1. That the Father is well satisfied with the undertakings of the
      Son, entered Redeemer and Surety, to pay the ransom of believers
      and to perfect them in holiness and salvation: "the Father
      loveth the Son,"; that is, as he stands as Mediator in our
      name, undertaking to perfect our redemption in all points:  The
      Father loves him, that is, does heartily accept his offer to do
      the work, and is well pleased with him: his soul delights in
      him, and rests upon him, and makes him, in this his office, the
      "receptacle of love, and grace, and good will," to be conveyed
      by him to believers in him.

   2. That, for fulfilling of the covenant of redemption, the Father
      has given to the Son (as he stands in the capacity of the
      Mediator, or as he is God incarnate, the Word made flesh) all
      authority in heaven and earth, all supply of the riches of
      grace, and of spirit and life, with all power and ability, which
      the union of the divine nature with the human, or which the
      fulness of the Godhead dwelling substantially in his human
      nature, or which the indivisible all-sufficiency and omnipotency
      of the inseparable, every where present Trinity does import, or
      the work of redemption can require: "the Father has given all
      things into the Son's hand," that is, for accomplishing his
      work.

   3. Great assurance of life is held forth to all who shall heartily
      receive Christ, and the offer of the covenant of grace and
      reconciliation through him: "He that believeth on the Son hath
      everlasting life;" for it is made certain to him,

      3a) In God's purpose and irrevocable decree, as the believer is
          a man elected to life.

      3b) By effectual calling of him to life by God, who, as he is
          faithful, so will do it.

      3c) By promise and everlasting covenant, sworn by God, to give
          the believer strong consolation in life and death, upon
          immutable grounds.

      3d) By the pledge and security under the great seal of the
          ordinance of the Lord's supper, so oft as the believer shall
          come to receive the symbols and pledges of life.

      3e) In Christ the fountain and head of life, who is entered in
          possession, as attorney for believers; in whom our life is
          so laid up, that it cannot be taken away.

      3f) By being in possession of spiritual life and regeneration,
          and a kingdom consisting in righteousness, peace, and joy in
          the Holy Spirit, erected within the believer, as the earnest
          of the full possession of everlasting life.

   4. A fearful warning is given, if a man receive not the doctrine
      concerning righteousness and eternal life to be had by Jesus
      Christ: "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life," that
      is, not so much as understand what it means.

   5. He further warns, that if a man receive not the doctrine of the
      Son of God, he shall be burdened twice with the wrath of God;
      once as a born rebel by nature, he shall bear the curse of the
      law, or the covenant of works; and next, he shall endure a
      greater condemnation, in respect that light being come into the
      world, and offered to him, he has rejected it, and loves
      darkness rather than light:  and this double wrath shall be
      fastened and fixed immovably upon him, so long as he remains in
      the condition of unbelief: "The wrath of God abideth on him".

 Hence may the weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from
 this ground after this manner:

   "Whosoever believes the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and
 finds himself partly drawn powerfully to believe in him, by the sight
 of life in him, and partly driven, by the fear of God's wrath, to
 adhere to him, may be sure of right and interest to eternal life
 through him:"
   "But sinful and unworthy I (may the weak believer say) do believe
 the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and do feel myself partly
 drawn powerfully to believe in him, by the sight of life in him, and
 partly driven, by the fear of God's wrath, to adhere to him:"
    "Therefore, I may be sure of my right and interest to eternal life
 through him."
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