406 EVIDENCES OF THE
This is that which we are to explain and prove.
Saving faith is our " believing the record that God hath given us of his Son," 1 John v. 10. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son," verse 11. This is the testimony which God gives, that great and sacred truth which he himself bears witness unto, — namely, that he hath freely prepared eternal life for them that believe, or provided a way of salvation for them. And what God so prepares he is said to give, because of the certainty of its communication. So grace was promised and given to the elect in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. i. 9 ; Tit. i. 2. And that is so to be communicated unto them, in and by the mediation of his Son Jesus Christ, that it is the only way where- by God will give eternal life unto any ; which is therefore wholly in him, and by him to be obtained, and from him to be received. Upon our acquiescency in this testimony, on our approbation of this way of saving sinners, or our refusal of it, our eternal safety or ruin doth absolutely depend. » And it is reasonable that it should be so : for, in our receiving of this testimony of God, we " set to our seal that God is true," John iii. 33 ; we ascribe unto him the glory of his truth, and therein of all the other holy properties of his nature, — the most eminent duty whereof we are capable in this world ; and by a refusal of it, what lieth in us, we make him a liar, as in this place, 1 John v. 10, which is virtually to renounce his being.
And the solemnity wherewith this testimony is entered is very remarkable, verse 7, " There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." The trinity of divine persons, acting distinctly in the unity of the same divine nature, do give this testimony: and they do so by those distinct operations whereby they act in this way and work of God's saving sinners by Jesus Christ; which are at large declared in the gospel. And there is added hereunto a testimony that is im- mediately applicatory unto the souls of believers, of this sovereign testimony of the holy Trinity; and this is the witness of grace and all sacred ordinances: "There are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one,'" verse 8. They are not all essentially the same in one and the same nature, as are the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost, yet they all absolutely agree in the same testimony ; and they do it by that espe- cial efficacy which they have on the souls of believers to assure them of this truth. In this record, so solemnly, so gloriously given and proposed, life and death are set before us. The receiving and em- bracing of this testimony, with an approbation of the way of salva- tion testified unto, is that work of faith which secures us of eternal life. On these terms there is reconciliation and agreement made and
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established between God and men; without which men must perish for ever.
So our blessed Saviour affirms, " This is life eternal, that they may know thee" (the Father) " the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent," John svii. 3. To know the Father as the only true God, to know him as he hath sent Jesus Christ to be the only way and means of the salvation of sinners, and to know Jesus Christ as sent by him for that end, is that grace and duty which instates us in a right to eternal life, and initiates us in the possession of it: and this includes that choice and approbation of the way of God for the saving of sinners Avhereof we speak.
But these things must be more distinctly opened : —
1. The great fundamental difference in religion is concerning the way and means whereby sinners may be saved. From men's diffe- rent apprehensions hereof arise all other differences about religion; and the first thing that engageth men really into any concernment in religion, is an inquiry in their minds how sinners may be saved, or what they shall do themselves to be saved: " What shall we do? what shall we do to be saved?" " "What is the way of acceptance with God?" is that inquiry which gives men their first initiation into religion. See Acts ii. 37, x\i. 30; Micah vi. 6-8.
This question being once raised in the conscience, an answer must be returned unto it. " I will consider," saith the prophet, " what I shall answer when I am reproved," Hab. ii. 1. And there is all the reason in the world that men consider well of a good answer here- unto, without which they must perish for ever; for if they cannot answer themselves here, how do they hope to answer God hereafter? Wherefore, without a sufficient answer always in readiness unto this inquiry, no man can have any hopes of a blessed eternity.