Christ Set Forth

4. It is a coming unto God by Christ [for Salvation.] Many a poor soul is apt to think that in coming to God by Faith it must not aim at it self, or its own Salvation: yes, it may, for that is here made the errand or business which faith hath with God in coming to him; or which it comes for, and this is secretly couched in these words: for the Apostle speaking of the very aim of the heart in coming, he therefore on purpose mentions Christs ability to save; [He is able to save.]

4. It is a comming unto God by Christ [for Salvation.] Many a poore soule is apt to thinke that in comming to God by Faith it must not aime at it selfe, or its own Salvation: yes, it may, for that is here made the errand or businesse which faith hath with God in comming to him; or which it comes for, and this is secretly couched in these words: for the Apostle speaking of the very aime of the heart in comming, he therefore on purpose mentions Christs ability to save; [He is able to save.]

Secondly, Here are many encouragements to such a Faith as is not yet grown up unto assurance of Salvation.

1. Here is the most suitable object propounded unto it, namely, Christ as Interceding; which work of Intercession because it remains for Christ as yet to do for a soul that is to be saved, and which he is every day a doing for us; therefore it is more peculiarly fitted unto a Recumbent's Faith. For when such a soul comes and casts it self upon Christ, That thing in Christ, which must needs most suit that kind of Act, is that which is yet to be done by Christ for that soul. Now for that soul to ⟨p. 197⟩come to Christ to die for it, and offer up himself a Sacrifice, (as Sinners did use to come to the High-Priest to sacrifice for them) this were bootless, for (as it is ver. 27.) he hath at once done that already. And as for what is already past and done, such a believers faith is oftentimes exceedingly puzzled, what manner of act to put forth towards Christ about it: as (for example) when it is about to come unto God, & it hears of an Election of some unto salvation from all eternity made by him; because this is an act already past by God, the soul knows it to be in vain to cast it self upon God for Election, or to come unto him to elect & choose it self. And so in like manner, when the soul looks upon Christs Death; because it is done and past, it knows not how to take it in in believing, when it wanteth assurance that Christ dyed for it, (though it should come to Christ to be saved by virtue of his death.) But there is this one work that remains still to be done by him for us, and which he is daily a doing; and that is, Interceding, for he lives ever to Intercede, or to pray for us in the strength and merit of that his Sacrifice once offered up. This therefore is more directly & peculiarly fitted unto a Faith of Recumbency, or, of Coming unto Christ: the proper act of such a Faith (as it is distinguished from Faith of Assurance) being a casting ones self upon Christ for some thing it would have done or wrought for one. Hence Intercession becomes a fit object for the aim and errand of such a Faith, in this its coming to Christ, as also [to be saved]