VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 233
promises, but commands, conditions, and articles of the covenant, which are no less to be received than the promises. First, receive the commandment concerning repentance and conversion, with a resolution to cast thyself on Christ ; and then be of good confidence, thy sins shall be forgiven thee. There is in faith not only an assent, but consent ; assent to the truth of (rod, consent to the articles of tlio covenant ; assent to the truth of tlio contract, consent to the terms, and affiance or confident waiting for ihe promise; all these are in faith. Hypocrites are said ' to receive the word with joy,^ Luke viii. 13 ; but they received only the word of promise witli joy. It is pleasing to the conscience to hear of pardon of sins. Men may have vanishing fleeting joys. A carnal man would have God's grace, but he would have none of his counsel.
4. This must be received with all the heart. The work of faith is not confined to the acts of the understanding ; there are some motions of the heart. Philip puts the eunuch to this trial, Acts viii. 37, ' Be- lievest thou with all thy heart? and he said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' God is as careful of the duty of the gospel as of the duty of the law ; he that required that we should love him with all our hearts hath also required that we should believe in him with all our hearts ; he required the whole heart in love, and he ex- pecteth the whole lieart in faith.
Now, because this is the critical difference between true faith and counterfeit, I shall apply this receiving to both the objects of faith, the word and the person of Christ, because the doctrine concerning both is of near affinity, and the one is opened by the other. In re- ceiving the person of Christ, there is the same method of the acts of faith as there is in receiving the Avord of God. (1.) There is an offer. Faith receiving, presupposeth an offering ; we do not snatch at Christ, but receive him. Sinners snatch at Christ sometimes, when God's hand is not open to give him. (2.) We must look at this offering as made by God himself. Faith taketh Christ out of his Father's hands. (3.) We must take whole Christ, as Lord and Saviour ; and (4.) We must take him with our whole hearts.
Therefore I shall explain this receiving with the whole heart in reference to both objects, the word and Christ.
First, What is it to receive the word with our whole hearts ? There is nothing so difficult as to draw the acts of faith into a method.
1. It implieth an act of the will ; there must not only be knowledge and acknowledgment that the doctrine is true, but an actual choice and a willing acceptation. Faith apprehendeth the covenant made in Christ, not only as true, but good ; and so answerably there is not only a believing with the mind, but a believing with the heart : Kom. x. 10, ' With the heart man believeth.' The faculty answereth the object : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying,' inaTO'i 6 X670?, and then, 7Tdar]<i a'7ToSoyf]<i a^io<;, ' worthy of all acceptation,' &c. So that there is required some motion of the heart, besides intellectual assent.
2. This act of the will is accompanied with some sensible affection : Heb. xi. 13, da-TraadfievoL Ta<? iirajyeXlaf;, ' they embraced the pro- mises;' they hugged and clasped about, and embraced the promises. All acts of faith do necessarily imply answerable affections. The
234 SKRMONs UPON JOHN- XVII. [Ser. XI.
children of God embrace the promises witli deh'ght, receive the threat- ening^s with trembhng and reverence, and the commandments with all cheerfuhiess : Acts ii. 41, 'Then they that received tlie word ghidly,' u(T/jievco^, not as a people that are overcome receive laws from the con- queror, or as Zipporah circumcised her child, with grudging and discontent, but with hearty and cheerful consent. I confess there is, and ever will be, an opposition of the flesh : a man doth not receive the whole word as a thirsty man receiveth sweet drink, but as a sick man, or one that is thirsty after health receiveth physic, or a bitter potion, with an earnest serious desire, though his appetite loatheth it. There is a hearty consent to God's terms, because they know it will be for their welfare ; as Laban, when he heard Jacob's proposals, ' What shall I give thee ? the speckled and spotted among the flocks.' Gen. XXX. 34. Laban said, ' Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.' Oh ! would to God that this were my share, that God would take Tip the quarrel between himself and me !
3. This affection is accompanied with a pursuit, or serious making after those hopes. There is a care and anxiousness of obedience, or taking the next course to speed, that we may find him, and feel him in our consciences : ' They received the word gladly, and were bap- tized,' Acts ii. 41. In every contract where the parties are agreed there is a signing and sealing ; so ' they received the word/ and ' were bap- tized ; ' that was the next course to come under these hopes. A con- tract lietli void and dead if there be consent yet no performance. So ' faith without works is dead.' Faith is a consent to God's covenant, yet because there is no answerable obedience, this consent is void, and to no effect. Now this is the utmost extension of the will, in motions and addresses towards Christ. Faith is expressed by coming to Christ, qui se dat in viam. A man putteth himself into the way of salvation, upon a search and inquiry after Christ. We know not what will come of it, but we will continue seeking : ' 1 will go to my father.'