v- SERMONS upon Serm.3. and Original of Eternal Life, than the Formality and Effence of it. It is not in this Eternal Life confifteth, but by thisMeans it is gotten and obtained. I. Partly, becaufe the word ytv,ewlty, which is here ufed, is proper to the Light of Faith ; and fo it is ufed, verf.7. They have known that all things whatfoever thou haft gi- ven me, are of thee ; and, red: f.8. They have known Jnrely that I came out from thee. Vi- lion is proper to the light of Glory : it is more ufually exprefi by feeing than knowing, var. 24. Father, I will that they elf whom thou haf given me, be with me where . I am, ïva êeesp&n, that they may behold my Glory. 2. Chrift is proving the Reafon, that unlefs he were glorified, he could not bellow Eternal Life; for there could be no Knowledgwithout his Afcenfion into Heaven, and effufion of the Gifts of the holy Ghoft, and fo by confequence no Eternal Life : fo that the words mutt be explained, This is Life Eternal ; that is, this is the way to Life Eter- nal, or Life Eternal begun, and in the Root and Foundation. [That they may know thee.] That mull be underftood by way of Appofition ; This is Life Eternal, to know thee : and Knowledg is here put for Faith, or Saving-Know- ledg. It is a known Rule, that words of Knowledg do imply fuitable Affe&ions, as t Thef 5. 12. We befeech you to know them, which labour among you ; that is, reverence them. Or more clearly to the prefent Cafe ; r John 2.4. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him. Our Saviour un- derflandeth not naked and una&ive Speculations concerning,God and Chrift, or a naked Map or Model of Divine Truths. Bare Knowledg cannra be fufficient to Salva- tion, but a lively and effe&ual Light. Faith is intended, as is clear by the mention of the double Obje &, God and Chrift: He that knoweth God in Chrift, knoweth him for Isis reconciled Father, and fo leaneth on him. And Affe&ions and Motions of Grace are intended; for it mutt be fuch a knowledg of God, as difcerneth him to be the chiefeft Good, and only Happinefs. They know not God, that do not cflufe him for their Portion. They that know thy Name, will pat their Traf in thee, Pfalm 9. to. Again, fuitable Pradtice and Converfation is implied; for furely St. John knew Chrift's meaning, I John 2. 3. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Command- ments. So that in Knowledg, all the genuine Effe &s of it are included, Affent, Affi- ance, Pra &ice, Choice, neceffary refpe& to God and Chrift. Literal Inftru &ion is not enoughto Eternal Life. A Carnal Man may know much of God and Chrift, and yet be miferable. In point of the Obje&, I know no difference between godly and car- nal Perfons ; all the difference is in the force and efficacy ; as fair Water and ftrong Water differ not in Colour, but only in Strength and Operation. I cgnfefs, in Matters Evangelical, Nature is moft blind ; but by reafon of common Gifts, they may havea great proportion of Knowledg, as to the Letter, more than many of God's Children. But of this elfewhere. [The only trae God.] 3- Móvov oa1u4.9rvóv ode. Much ado there hath been about this Claufe, I (hall endeavour to bring all to a fhort decifion. The Doubt is, How can the Father be faid to be the only true God, fince the Spirit and the Son do alfo com- municate in the Divine Effence ? (t.) Some, to Calve the matter, invert the order of the words, thus, To know thee, and Jefaa Chrifh, whom thou haft feet, to be the only trae God. But if the conflru&ion Would bear it, what provifion is there then made for the God -head of the Holy Spirit, which is alfo a fundamental Article ? (a.) Some fay, that the Father is not to be taken ftrillly and perfonally for the Firft Perfon, but eflentially for the whole God -head : But this feemeth not fo plaufible an Anfwer, for then Chrift mutt pray to himfelf. He prayeth here as God -man, and all along to the Father. For my part, I think the Expreffion is ufed for a twofold Reafon. s. To exclude the Idols and falfe Gods. 2. To note the Order and Oeconomy of Salvation. 1. To exclude the Idols of the Gentiles, foreign and falfe Gods, fuch as are extra- effential to the Father; and to note, That that God -head is only true, that is in the Fa- ther ; ni 3- Ntdvov át x,9rvóv ocie, thee the only, thee the trae God. The Son and the Holy Ghoft are not excluded, who are of the fame Effence with the Father. Chrift and the Spirit are true God, not without, but in the Father; John ro. 30. I and my Father are ;Otte. John 14. 30. I am in the Father, and the Father in me ; not divided in Effence, though
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=