Therefore the gospel unfolded is called ' the word of faith,' because it begets faith. God by it works faith ; and it is called the ' ministry of reconciliation,' 2 Cor. v. 18, because God by it publisheth reconciliation. As preaching goes before believing, so it is the blessed instrument, by reason of the Spirit accompanying of it, to work faith. In the ministry of the gospel there is not only an unfolding of the excellent things of Christ, but there is grace given by the Spirit to believe. And herein this publi- cation and proclamation differs from all other publications in the world. Men may publish and proclaim what they would have, but they cannot give hearts to believe it. But in the blessed promulgation and publishing of divine truths, there is the Spirit of God accompanying it, to work what it pubHsheth. It opens the riches of Christ, and offers Christ ; and Christ is given to the heart with it. It publisheth what is to be believed and known, and it alters our courses. Together with it there goes a power — the Spirit clothing the ordinance of preaching — to do all. Therefore it is called 'the ministry of the Spirit,' 2 Cor. iii. 8. Why? Because what is published in the preaching of the word, to those that belong to God, it
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hath the Spirit to convey it to the souls of God's people. Therefore he saith here, first preached and then beheved.
Therefore, those that are enemies to this ordinance of God, they arc enemies of the faith of God's people, and by consequent, enemies of the salvation of God's people. But the more the proud and haughty atheistical heart of man riseth against it, the more we should think there is some divine thing in it. It must needs be excellent, because the proud heart of man stomachs* it so much. We see here it is the means to work faith. Therefore, as we esteem faith and all the good we have by it, let us be stirred up highly to prize and esteem of this ordinance of God. So much for the coherence or connection, ' preached to the Gentiles,' and then
' Believed on in the world.'
For the words themselves, we see here, first, that Christ, as he must be unfolded in preaching, so he must be * believed on.'
Because the dispensation ministerial is not enough, unless there be an applying grace in the heart ; and that is a spirit of faith, whose property is, to make peculiar that that is offered. There is a virtue of application in this grace of faith. Where there is a giving there must be a receiving, or else the gift is ineffectual. Christ is the garment of the soul. He is the foundation and food, &c. As I said before, he is our husband. We must give our consent. ' Believing ' is a spiritual marriage. In marriage there must be a consent. This consent is faith. That makes up the bond between Christ and the believing soul. Therefore of necessity there must be faith ; all else, without believing in Christ, is nothing. Faith is the means of making Christ our own, and no other thing whatsoever.
The papists have ridiculous means, that they understand not themselves, nor anybody else. They make the sacrifice of the Mass a means to apply Christ, and other courses ; but the ministerial means to apply to Christ is the preaching of the gospel, and faith that is wrought by the ministry of the gospel ; and there is no other way of application, by the Mass, or any such thing. Christ without faith doth us no good ; in Heb. iv. 2, * The word that they heard did not profit them, because it was not mingled with faith.' The word of God, the gospel, it is the ' power of God to salvation ;' but it is to all that ' believe,' 1 Peter i. 5. Whatsoever good Christ doth to us, he doth it by faith. It is a rule in divinity, and it is to purpose in the deciding some controversies, that a spiritual benefit, not known and applied, is a nullity ; because God intends all, whatsoever we have, to be opened to us and applied, that he might have the glory, and we the com- fort. We see the excellency and necessary use of this grace of faith.
How is Christ to be believed on ?
1. We must rest upon no other thinr/, either in ourselves or out of ourselves, but Christ only. In popery they have many other things to rest on, and their faith being corrupt, all their obedience likewise is corrupt that springs from it. They dishonour Christ to join anything in the world with him. The apostle is wondrous zealous in this, to have nothing joined with Christ ; as in Gal. v. 2, ' If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing ;' only Christ must be believed on in matter of salvation. '■ 2. And n-hole Christ must he received. ' Believing ' is nothing but a taking or receiving of Christ as a Lord and as a Saviour ; as a priest, to redeem ns by his blood ; and Christ as a king, to govern us. We must take whole Christ.