4 THE PERSONOF CHRIST THE ONLY OCR I the Son of man am?") yet he was not only so, but quired in all the disciples of' Christ; for with the h the Eternal Son of the living God. Of his office, that man believeth unto righteousness, andwith the mo be was the Christ, he whom God had anointed to be confession is made unto salvation, Rom. x. 10. the Saviour of the church, in the discharge of his king- The first thing which he speaksunto, is the fait) Iy, priestly, and prophetical power. Instances of the Peter, who made this confession; without this no like brief confessions we have elsewhere in the Scrip- ward confession is of any use or advantage. For e ture, Rom. x. g. as If thou shalt confess with thy the devils knew him to be the Holy One of God, Li mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart, iv. 34. yet would he not permit them to speak it, M. that God raised him from thedead, thon shalt be saved. i. 34. That which gives glory unto God in any cáß- 1 John iv. 2. " Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus fession, and which gives us an laterec: in the-truce' Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And everyspi- confessed is the believing of the heart, which is as rit thatconfesseth not that Jesus Christ income. in the righteousness. With respect hereunto, the Lord speo flesh, is not of God." And it is manifest, that all di- ver. 17. « And Jesus answered and said unto him, Ille. vine truths have such a concatenation among them- ed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hat selves, and do all of them so centre in the person of not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is i Christ, as vested with his offices towards- the church, heaven." that they are all virtually comprised in this confession. He commends and sets forthtj I-;ç ;' :f Peter, (; And they will be soaccounted unto all who destroy them From its eject; (2.) From its cázpse. Its effect is, that it not by contrary errors and imaginations inconsistent . made him blessed in whom it was. For it is not only with them; though it be the duty of all men to obtain _ a blessed thing to believe and know JËsus Christ, as it the express knowledge of them in particular, accord- is called life eternal, John xvii. 3.; but it is u >x e:4;ett ing unto the means thereof which they do enjoy. The gives an immediate interest in the blessed state ofadop ' danger.of men's souls lieth not, iota disability to attain don,justification, and acceptance with God, John i. 1{. a comprehension of longer or more subtle confessions of I (s.) The immediate cause of this faith is divine revel: faith, but in embracing things contrary unto, or in- tien. It is not the effect or product of our own abil consistent with this foundation thereof. Whatever it ties, the best of which are butfah and blood. Th be whereby men cease to' hold the head, how small faith which rendersthemblessed in whom it is, is wrong' soccer it seem, that alone is pernicious, Col. ii. 18, in them, by the power- of God revealing Christ un 19. their souls. Those who have more abilities of their ow This cofession, therefore, as containing the sum and unto this end than Peter had, we are not concerned ii substance of that faith, which they were called to give 2. He speaks unto the confession itself acquaintin testimony unto, end concerning which their trial was his disciples with the nature and use of it, which fret approaching, is approved by our Saviour: and not only the beginning he principally designed, ver. 1 S. And so, but eminent privileges are granted unto him that say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this roc made it, and in him unto the whole church, that should will/ buildmy church: and the gates ofhellshall notpre live in thesame faith and confession, ver. 17, 18. "And vail against it. - Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, From the speaking of these words unto Peter, then Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood bath not revealed is a controversy raised in the world, whether the Lori itunto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And Christ himself, or the Pope of Rome, be the rock where I say also unto thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock on the church is built. And unto that state are thous will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not come in religion among them that are called Christians prevail against it." that the greatest number is for the Pope, and against Two things doth our Saviour consider iu the answer Christ in this matter. And they have good reason for returned unto his inquiry. (1.) The faith of Peter in their choice. For if Christ be the rock whereon the this confession, the faithof him that made it. (2.) The church is built, whereas he is a living stone, those that nature and truthof the confession; both which are re- are laid and built on him must be lively stones also, as
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