XL The object.
358 SERMONS UPON JOHN XIY, 1.
1. Much of the triumph of faith ariseth from its object : 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.' The strength of the ivy lieth in the oak or tree about which it claspeth. Much comfort dependeth upon the act of faith, as it seeth things that cannot otherwise be seen, maketh things absent present, raiseth the heart above its present condition ; but most of the strength of faith is in its object. Other graces, their strength is more in the subject wherein they are seated, but faith and hope derive their strength from the object; because their nature lieth in adherence and expectation, and if this have not bottom enough to support it, all is vain.
2. Here is a double object propounded. And so, before we go deeper into the argument, we have the more advantages than if it were single and alone, for two is more than one. So Gen. xli. 32, ' For that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.' The object is doubled, that faith may be more full. This double prop for our faith should give us double strength in believing, when we have God to trust in and Christ to trust in. We that have sinned with both hands earnestly have a double ground of comfort and hope, the infinite mercy and power of God, and the infinite righteousness and everlasting redemption of a mediator. God alone is enough for our happiness , there is in him abundantly more than enough to satisfy all the capa- cities of the creature ; but without a mediator, how shall we come to enjoy him ? Though there be a sufficiency in the object of our happi- ness, yet as to the means, something else besides this is requisite. If man had kept innocent, one object of faith had been enough, but to man fallen a mediator is necessary ; and it is an unspeakable mercy that God hath given us his Son, that by Jesus Christ we may come to him : John iv. 6, ' Jesus saitli unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.' And, on the other side, by the mediator Jesus Christ we come to the Father : John xii. 44, ' He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.'
3. Eespect to one of these objects is taken for granted, the other is expressly recommended to us. Why is faith in Christ especially required ? Partly upon a special, and partly upon a general reason.
[1.] The special reason was because their faith in Christ, as the promised Messiah, was not so well established as their faith in God, He was shortly to undergo ignominious sufferings, yea, death itself, which would tempt them to cast off the faith of his promises ; there- fore, to fortify them against the scandal of his sufferings, he saitb, ' Believe also in me.' They would be troubled if they looked only to appearance, and did not believe in him, or look upon him in that quality and relation in which God sent him and he came into the world: Luke xxiv. 21, 'We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Isi-ael.' It saveth a great deal of trouble to be esta- blished in the ]iresent truths, and to understand what God is a-doing in our time. We should fortify our faith where it is likely to be most assaulted.
[2.] More general. Besides a faith in God, a faith is necessary which
SEKMONS UPON JOHN XIV. 1. 359
closetli with and emLraceth Christ as mediator : John vi. 29, * This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom lie liath sent.' He is sent of his Father to do us good, and authorised by God to exercise that office for us, and to us. Yea, we cannot believe in God unless we believe in Christ, for the distance between God and us is so great, that we cannot immediately converse with him, nor trust in him for any benefit, without a mediator: 2 Cor. iii. 4, ' Sucli trust have we through Christ to God-ward.' So it is said, 1 Peter i. 21, ' Wiio by him do believe in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope may be in God.' God was offended with man, and is fully satisfied with the ransom paid for sinners by Jesus Christ; he is pacified towards all those that flee to him by Jesus Christ, so that poor penitent sinners may now come and rest upon him.
4. Faith seeth many grounds of comfort, yen, of complete and full satisfaction in this double object. What will content you if God and Christ will not content you ?
[1.] Here is God to satisfy us. There is an infinite latitude in the object of faith, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with all their powers and capacities to do us good. No pain so great but he can mitigate or remove it ; no danger so dreadful or so likely but he can prevent it ; no misery so dee}i but he can deliver us from it ; no enemies so strong but he can vanquish them ; no want that he cannot supply : Gen. xvii. 1, ' The Lord appeared to Abraham, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God ; walk before me, and be thou perfect.' When we have a Avant that God cannot supply, or a sickness that God cannot cure, or a danger that he cannot prevent, or a misery that he cannot remove, or can produce any enemies or creatures that are too hard for God, then we have leave to yield to trouble and despondency of heart. Choose God as your portion and chief happiness, and yon shall want nothing ; Ps. xxiii. 6, ' Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.' Surely could we more believe in God, our hearts would be more balanced and kept steady, not tossed up and down with various occurrences. Whatever falleth out, we have a God still to rejoice in and depend upon : Hab. iii. 18, ' Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I Avill joy in the God of my salvation.' He supposeth himself not only in some necessity, but in extremity ; not only kept bare, but reduced to nothing : 2 Cor. vi. 10, ' As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.' You have all things in him.