Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

1. Faith must directly go to Christ. Many poor souls humbled for sin, and taken off from their own bottom, they run immediately to the promise of pardon, and close with it, and rest on it, not seeking for, or closing with Christ in the promise; this is a common error among thousands; but we should observe, that the first promise that was given, was not a bare word simply promising pardon, peace, or any other benefit, which God would bestow; but it was a promise of Christ's Person, as overcoming Satan,¹ and purchasing those benefits, The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head. So, when the Promise was renewed to Abraham, it was not a bare promise of blessedness and forgiveness, but of that Seed, that is, Christ, Gal. 3.6. in whom that blessedness was conveyed;² In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. So that Abraham's Faith first closed with Christ in the Promise, and therefore he is said to see Christ's day, and to rejoice in embracing him. Christ in the first place, and more immediately, is every where made the thing which Faith embraceth to salvation, and whom it looks unto and respects,³ as it makes us righteous in the sight of God. God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, ⁴though he were dead, yet shall he live.— And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.—and, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.—And, To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. And hence it is that Faith is called the Faith of Christ, Gal. 2.16. Phil. 3.9. Because Christ is it whom Faith apprehends immediately; and as for the other promises they depend all on this,