Use 1. It is much for the comfort of them who do already believe. You may be sure you are one of those for whom Christ prayeth, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. Particulars are under their general. How do we prove John or Thomas to be children of wrath by nature ? All were so. So Christ prayeth for all those that shall believe, as much as if he had brought them forth, and set them before God by head and poll. And if Christ prayed for thee, why is not thy joy full ? Why did he speak these things in the world ? It is a copy of his interces- sion. Ciirist would show, a little before his departure, what he doth for us in heaven ; he sueth out his purchase, and pleadeth our right in court. It is a sign we have a room in his heart, because we have a name in his prayers. And what blessings doth he seek for ? Union with himself, communion with him, in grace here, in glory hereafter. It is a comfort against all temptations, doubts, dangers ; you are com- mended to the Father's care.
Use 2. It is an engagement to others to believe. If he had com- manded some great thing, ought we not. to h9.y6 done it ? This comfort cannot be made out to you till you have actual faith ; liowever it is with you in the purpose of God, yet you cannot apply this comfort till
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18 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXXIV.
you believe. If a man should make his will, wherein rich legacies should be left to all that can prove a claim, by being thus and thus qualified, would not every one put in for a share ? Believe, believe ; this is the condition.
Use 3. It showeth the excellency of faith. Those that have an interest in Christ's prayers are not described by their love, their obed- ience, or any other grace (though these are necessary in their place), but by their faith ; and the godly are elsewhere called ' of the house- hold of faith.' Wherever our implantation into Christ, or participation of the privileges of his death, or our spiritual communion in the church is spoken of, the condition is faith. It is a grace that sendeth us out of ourselves, to look for all in another. It is the mother of obedience. As all disobedience is by unbelief, so all obedience is by faith. First he said,"-' Ye shall not die ; ' and then, ' Ye shall be as gods.' First he seeketh to weaken their faith in the word ; they could not be proud and ambitious till they did disbelieve. Therefore, above all things let us labour after faith. Our hearts are taken up with the world, the honours and pleasures of it ; these cannot make us happy, but Christian privileges will ; all which are conveyed to us by faith.
But let us come to the second point.
Doct. 2. That, in the reckoning and sense of the gospel, they are believers that are wrought upon to believe in Christ through the word.
Here is the object, Christ ; the ground, warrant, and instrumental cause, and that is the word. The warrant must be distinguished from the object ; the warrant is the word, and the proper object of faith is Christ, as considered in his mediatory office. Sometimes the act of faith is terminated on the person of Christ, and sometimes on the promise, to show there is no closing with Christ without the promise, and no closing with the promise without Christ ; as in a contract there is not only a receiving of the lease or conveyance, but a receiving of lands by virtue of such a deed and conveyance. So there is a receiving of the word, and a receiving of Christ through the word ; the one maketh way for the other, the promise for our affiance in Christ. Faith that assents to the promise doth also accept of Christ ; there is an act terminated on his person. Faith is not assensus axiomati, a naked assent to the propositions of the word, but a consent to take Christ, that we may rely upon him, and obey him as an all-sufficient Saviour.
But now let us speak of these distinctly.
First, Of the object, that is, to believe in Christ. There is believing o/Christ, and believing in Christ. He doth not say, Those that believe me, but. Those that believe in me through their word. Believing Christ implieth a credulity and assent to the word ; and believing in Christ, confidence and reliance. Once more, believing in Christ is a notion distinct from believing in God: John xiv. 1, 'Ye believe in God, believe also in me.' Since the incarnation, and since Christ came to exercise the office of a mediator, there is a distinct faith required in him, because there are distinct grounds of confidence ; because in him we see God in our nature, we have a claim by justice as well as mercy, we have a mediator who partaketh of God's nature and ours, and so is fit to go between God and us.
VeR. 20.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 19
Briefly to open this believing in Christ, it may be opened by the implicit or explicit acts of it.