Doct. That faith in Christ and brotherly love are things intimately conjoined, and must always go together.
1. I shall speak of the nature of these two graces or duties apart.
2. Show how intimately they are and must be conjoined ; and there speak — (1.) Of the inseparable connection between faith and love ; (2.) The order, how the one groweth out of the other, as the effect out of the cause ; first faith, then love.
I. I shall speak distinctly of the graces and duties ; and there — First, Of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. A subject necessary to bo treated ofj because the scripture is so full in assuring pardon and lifu
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to believers, and because christians do so often ask us what that saving faith is by which they may assure their title and interest ; and because a mistake in this point is of a dangerous nature. Therefore to open to you the faith by which the just do live cannot be unpleasing to you. I shall do it in these considerations or propositions.
1. That faith in Christ and in his word is reckoned distinct from believing in God : John xiv. 1, ' Ye believe in God, believe also in me.' We believe in God as an all-sufficient fountain of grace, and in Christ as an all-sufficient mediator, whom he "hath sent to recover the lost world : John xvii. 3, ' And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' To know God as the only supreme being to be worshipped, obeyed and enjoyed, and the Lord Jesus as our Eedeemer, and the Holy Spirit as our guide, to bring us home to God, and to procure for us the benefits of pardon and life, which life is to be begun here and perfected in heaven.
2. That Christ executeth the office of mediator as king, priest, and prophet ; for he is not only said to be sent, but anointed : Acts x. 38, ' God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.' As priests, prophets, and kings were used to be anointed, so was Jesus Christ anointed, thence called both Christ and Messiah, which signifieth anointed: John xx. 31, 'That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ;' and Acts ii. 36, ' God hath made that Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ.' Now one of these offices concerneth his mediation Avith God, the other his mediation with men. His priesthood iraplieth all that good which he procureth for us by his mediation with the Father. His prophetical and kingly office concerns his mediation with us, to bring us to be partakers, and interested in these things ; both must be considered by faith : Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ.' Though his prophetical office be there only mentioned, yet his regal must not be excluded ; for all truths are not laid down in one place. Both are mentioned, Isa. Iv. 4, ' Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people,' i.e., prophet and king. Now we must not so reflect upon his mediation with God as to overlook his mediation with men ; for a mediator is not of one, but must deal with both parties ; and therefore Jesus is a saviour, not only as our ransomer and surety, but also as our teacher and king. Therefore they deceive you, and under- stand not the nature of faith, that make it conversant about one office only, as those do that confine it to the death and righteousness of Christ, and pardon of sin, and promise of pardon ; as if faith only served to com- fort them with the assurance of God's love, and were but a claim and application of privileges: this is to mangle Christ and the gospel, to reflect upon his mediation with God only, and not with man. Or if there be any consideration of his mediation with man, they rend his prophetical office from his kingly, while they look only to the privileges of the covenant, do not receive Christ Jesus as the Lord, that they may be ruled by his authority, and live by his laws. Nay, in his prophetical, they abstract privileges from duties, and promises from precepts, and so do not follow the order prescribed in his word and teaching, but take up a Christ according to their own fancy, and mis-
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take a dream for faith. No ; the Christ; represented to us as an object of faith is a priest who died for us, and representeth his death and merit by his constant intercession, and, as the great prophet of the church, hath taught us the way of life, and as a king hath required obedience at our hands, under the promise of eternal life and the punishment of eternal death, binding us to do all that he hath required, that we may obtain the effect of his promises.
3. That the great business of the Mediator in the discharge of these offices is to recover us to God, which is done both by redemption and salvation. By redemption : 1 Peter iii. 18, ' For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.' Salvation : John xiv. 6, ' Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by me.' Now this is either begun or perfected ; begun by regeneration and reconcilia- tion. By regeneration : Titus iii. 5, ' Not by works of lighteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.' By reconciliation : 2 Cor. v. 19, ' To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.' And perfected in heaven, which is our complete salvation, or salvation to the uttermost : 1 Tim. i. 15, 16, ' This is a true and faithful saying, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life.' Then a full and mutual complacence : we delight in God, and God in us ; we love him, and God loves us ; we love him perfectly, and we have the perfect reception of his love to us, and the benefits flowing thence.