for he hath
all; he can desire no more; he can seek no more; for what can the man
want that is complete in him?
6. There is here that which will answer all the objections of a soul;
and these sometimes are not few. If they say they cannot know the way to
the Father, then he is the truth to instruct and teach them that, and so
to enter them into it. And if they say they cannot walk in that way, nor
advance in it one step, but will faint and sit up, succumb and fall by;
he answereth that he is the life, to put life and keep life in them, and
to cause them to walk, by putting a new principle of life in them, and
breathing of new on that principle.
O thrice happy they who have fled to him for refuge! It is easy for them
to answer all objections and cavils of Satan, and of a false heart. It
is easy for them to put Christ to answer all. And, on the other hand,
who can tell the misery of such as are strangers to Jesus? How shall
their wants be made up? How shall they answer challenges, accusations,
temptations, doubts, fears, objections, and discouragements, cast up in
their way?
Oh! should not this endear the way of the gospel to us, and make Christ
precious unto us! Is it not a wonder that such an all-sufficient
mediator, who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God
through him, should be so little regarded and sought unto; and that
there should be so few that embrace him, and take him as he is offered
in the gospel.
How can this be answered in the day of accounts? What excuse can
unbelievers now have? Is not all to be found in Christ that their case
calleth for? Is he not a complete mediator, thoroughly furnished with
all necessaries? Is not the riches of his fulness written on all his
dispensations? The mouths, then, of unbelievers, must be for ever
stopped.
CHAPTER III.
HOW CHRIST IS THE WAY IN GENERAL, "I AM THE WAY."
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, _first,_ Of
his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of
Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in
our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers
should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so
live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march
forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this
fulness of Christ in reference to unbelievers, as occasion offereth,
because this will he
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