If the great end of Christ's coming is to bring us to God : 1 Peter iii. 18, 'For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God ; ' John xiv. 6, * Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by me ;' and Heb. vii. 25, ' Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,' — I say, if this be the end of Christ's coming, to bring us to God — that is, to turn us in heart and life to him from whom we had fallen, surely love to God is the great end of the christian religion ; and therefore faith, which is to receive and improve it, is the means to this end.
Again, if heaven and eternal blessedness be but perfect love, then the end of the gospel is love; for the gospel is appointed to make us everlastingly happy. Therefore was it written, therefore did the Son of God come to bring us to this perfect estate. But now heaven is but the love of God, and perfection in holiness; and to be blessed in heaven is to be happy in the perfect love of God, to see him as he is, and to be like him. A perfect love to God is maintained by perfect vision, and on our part a perfect receiving his love to us. Then surely that is the end, and faith is the means, to take notice of, and be per- suaded of the love of God that shineth to us so gloriously in Christ.
Well now. how can the end of the gospel be obtained, which is to love God, and be beloved of him, if either we have no faith, and do not believe this wonderful demonstration of God's love in Christ ; or but a dead faith, and do but slightly reflect upon it, with cold and narrow
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thoughts ? surely, thougli the gospel be such a notable institution to teach us the art of loving God, and so sovereign a remedy against our corrupt self-love, yet it will not profit unless it be mixed with faith in the hearing
2. With respect to Christ, who in the gospel is represented as clothed with the office of a mediator between God and us, which he executeth in that three-fold function of a prophet, priest, and king. Now the great duty of the gospel is to own him in all these, and to submit to him, that they may have their perfect effect upon us. To hear him as a prophet: Mat. xvii, 5, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.' To receive him as lord and king: Col. ii. 6, ' As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.' Consider him as a priest : Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and higli- priest of our profession, Jesus Christ.' Now, how can any of this be done without faith, or a sound belief that he is the Son of God, that Cometh in all these qualities to us ? Can we learn of him whom we take to be a deceiver ? or obey him whom we believe not to be our true and rightful Lord ? and if we believe not his merits and sacrifice as a priest, can we be comforted with his glorious promises and covenant, and come to God with the more boldness and hope of mercy upon that account, especially in a dying hour ? Surely Christ must lie by, and the fruits of his offices be neglected, unless we believe that he is authorised and fitted for all these things ; that he is the teacher sent from God to show us the way of life ; that his sacrifice offered through the eternal Spirit is of full merit and value tO' expiate our sins ; and that he is lord of life and glory, and able to protect us till he hatli brought us to heaven : 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and 1 am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' We must be ])ersuaded of his authority, sufficiency, readiness, willingness to do us good, befoie we can trust ourselves and our eternal interests in his hands. Who will take physic of a physician that he trusteth not ? or go to sea with a pilot whose skill he questioneth? Surely before we can heartily consent, or re- solvedly put ourselves into his hands, to be reconciled to God, and saved from sin and punishment, and finally brought to perfect happiness and glory, we must be peivsuaded what he is, and that he is able to do all this for us : Mat. ix. 28, ' Believe ye then that I am able to do this? ' Christ puts the question to the blind men ; they answer, 'Yea, Lord.' So when you consider of Christ's glorious offices, and the blessed effects of them, think you that he is able to do these things. Pose your hearts, will he indeed show me the way to heaven ? hath he paid such a ransom for my captive soul ? will he protect me so powerfully in the way of salvation ? let faith work such a thorough persuasion of his ability and fidelity, as may extort a full resignation from you of yourselves into his hands, that by his own methods he may lead you to everlasting glory.