DIVINE HONOUR UNTO THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 63 He that honoured) the Son, he therein hououreth the type of all spiritual and eternal mercies, ,Exod. xx. Father also. Hence it appears what is that especial acting offaith on the person of Christ which we intend, and which in the scripture is given in charge unto us, as indispensa- bly necessaryunto our salvation. And there- are three things to be considered in it. (1.) That his divine nature is the proper formal ob- ject of this faith, on tite consideration whereof alone, i is fixed on him. If you ask a reason why I believe on the Son of God; if you intend what cause I have forit, what motives unto it: I shall answer, it is because of whathe hath done for Inc, whereof afterwards; so Both the apostle, Gal. ii. 24. But ifyou intend, what is the formal reason, ground and warrant whereon I thus be- lieve in him, or place my trust and confidence in him, I say it is only this, that he is over all God blessed for ever; and were he not so, I could not believe in him. For to believe in any, is to expect from him that to be done for me, which none but God cando. (2.) That the entire person of Christ as -God and man, is the immediateobject of our fitith herein. The divine nature is the reasonof it; but his divine person is the object of it. "In placing our faith on him, consider him as God and man in one and the same person. We believe in him becausehe is God; but we believe in him as he is God and man in one person. And this consideration of the personof Christ, name- ly, as he is God and man, in our acting of faith on him is that which renders it peculiar, and limits or deter- mines it unto his person; becausehe only is so, the Fa- ther is not, nor the HolySpirit. That faith which bath the person of God and man for its object, is peculiarly and distinctly placed on Christ. (3.) The motives unto this distinct acting of faith on his person, are always to be considered, as those also which render this faith peculiar. For the things which Christ bath done for us, which are the motives of our faith in him, werepeculiar unto him alone, as in the place before quoted, Gal. ii. 20. Such are all theworks of his mediation, with all the fruitsof them whereof we are made partakers. So God in the first command, wherein he requires all faith, love and obedience from the church, enforced it with the consideration of a signal benefit which it had received, and therein a 23. Hence two things areevident, which olearlystate this matter. I. That faith which we place upon, and the honour which we give thereby unto the person of Christ, is e- qually placed on, andisonour equally given thereby unto the other persona of the Father, and the Holy Spirit, with respect unto that nature which is the formal reason and cause of it. But it is peculiarly fixed on Christ, with respect unto his person as God and man, and the motives unto it, in the acts and benefits of his media- tion. 2. All of Christ is considered and glorified in this actingof faith on him. His divine nature as the formal cause of it; his divine entire person God and man, as its proper object; and the benefits of his mediation, as the especial motives thereunto. This faith in the person of Christ is the spring and fountain of our spiritual life. We live by the faith of the Son of God. In and by the actings hereof is it preserved, increased, and strengthened; " For he is our life," Col. ii. 4. And all supplies of it are deriv- ed from him by the actings of faith in him. We receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified, to by the faith that is in him," Acts xxvi. 18. Hereby do we abide in him, without which we can do nothing, John xv. S. Hereby is our peace with God maintained; " for he is our peace," Fph. ii. 14. and inhim we have peace, accordingto his promise, John xvi. SS. All strength for the mortificationof sin, for the conquest of temptations, all our increase and growth in grace, depend on the constant actings ofthis faith in him. The way and method of this faith is that, which we have described. A due apprehension of the love of Christ, with the effects of it in his wholemediatory work on our behalf, especially in his giving himself for us, and our redemption by his blood, is the great motive thereunto. They whose hearts are not deeply affected herewith, can never believe in him in a due manner. I live, saith the apostle, by the faith of the Son of God, who lovedme, andgave himself for me. Unless a sense hereof be firmly implanted in our souls; unless we are deeplyaffected with it,, our faith in him would be weak and wavering, or rather none at all. The due reinem-
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