It is good to secure this first Ground of Evangelical Faith, that the Lord Christ as vested with his Offices and in the exercise of them, is able to save us. Salvation is that which all sinners, who have fallen under any Convictions, do seek after. And it is from God they look for it; he alone they know can save them; and unless he do so, they cannot be saved. And that he can do so they seem for a while to make no Question, although they greatly doubt whether he will or no. Here under these general apprehensions of the Power of God, they cannot long abide, but must proceed to enquire into the Way whereby he will save them, if every they be saved. And this the whole Scripture testifieth to be no otherwise but by Jesus Christ. For there is no salvation in any other; neither is there any other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they must be saved; Act. 4. 12. When their thoughts are thus limited unto Christ alone, their next enquiry is, how shall this man save us? And hereon are they directed unto his Offices, especially his Priesthood whereby he undertakes to deliver them from the Guilt of their sins, and to bring them into favour with God. Is it not therefore highly incumbent on them, to satisfy themselves herein that Christ is able to save them in the exercise of this Office? For if he be not, there is no salvation to be obtained. And when men are come thus far, as that they will not Question in general but that the Lord Christ in the discharge of his Sacerdotal Office, is able to save sinners in general, yet unbelief will keep them off from acquiescing in this Power of his as so limited, for their own salvation. As Naaman had thoughts in general that Elisha could cure men of their Leprosy, yet he would not believe that he could cure them in the way and by the means he prescribed. He thought he would have taken another course with him more suited unto his apprehensions, as a means for his Recovery. Hereon he turns away in a Rage, which if he had not by good advice been recalled from, he had lived and died under the Plague of his Leprosy, 2 King. 5. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. When Persons are reduced to look for salvation only by Christ, and do apprehend in general that he can save sinners, yet oft-times when they come to inquire into the way and manner of it by the Exercise of his Priestly Office, they cannot close with it.
It is good to secure this first Ground of Evangelical Faith, that the Lord Christ as vested with his Offices and in the exercise of them, is able to save us. Salvation is that which all sinners, who have fallen under any Convictions, do seek after. And it is from God they look for it; he alone they know can save them; and unless he do so, they cannot be saved. And that he can do so they seem for a while to make no Question, although they greatly doubt whether he will or no. Here under these general apprehensions of the Power of God, they cannot long abide, but must proceed to enquire into the Way whereby he will save them, if every they be saved. And this the whole Scripture testifieth to be no otherwise but by Jesus Christ. For there is no salvation in any other; neither is there any other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they must be saved; Act. 4. 12. When their thoughts are thus limited unto Christ alone, their next enquiry is, how shall this man save us? And hereon are they directed unto his Offices, especially his Priesthood whereby he undertakes to deliver them from the Guilt of their sins, and to bring them into favour with God. Is it not therefore highly incumbent on them, to satisfie themselves herein that Christ is able to save them in the exercise of this Office? For if he be not, there is no salvation to be obtained. And when men are come thus far, as that they will not Question in general but that the Lord Christ in the discharge of his Sacerdotal Office, is able to save sinners in general, yet unbelief will keep them off from acquiescing in this Power of his as so limited, for their own salvation. As Naaman had thoughts in general that Elisha could cure men of their Leprosie, yet he would not believe that he could cure them in the way and by the means he prescribed. He thought he would have taken another course with him more suited unto his apprehensions, as a means for his Recovery. Hereon he turns away in a Rage, which if he had not by good advice been recalled from, he had lived and died under the Plague of his Leprosie, 2 King. 5. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. When Persons are reduced to look for salvation only by Christ, and do apprehend in general that he can save sinners, yet oft-times when they come to inquire into the way and manner of it by the Exercise of his Priestly Office, they cannot close with it.
