A Saving Interest in Christ.
QUESTION. What is the great business a man has to do in the world? ANSWER. To make sure a saving interest in Christ Jesus, and to walk suitably thereto. Q. Have not all the members of the visible church a saving interest in Christ? A. No, verily; yea, but a few of them have it. Q. How shall I know when I have a saving interest in him? A. Ordinarily the Lord prepares his own way in the soul by a work of humiliation, and discovers a man's sin and misery to him, and exercises him so therewith, that he longs for the physician Christ Jesus. Q. How shall I know if I have got a competent discovery of my sin and misery? A. A competent sight of it makes a man take salvation to heart above anything in this world: it makes him disclaim all relief in himself, even in his best things; it makes Christ, who is the Redeemer, very precious to the soul: it makes a man stand in awe of sin afterward, and makes him content to be saved upon any terms God pleases. Q. By what other ways may I discern a saving interest in him? A. By the going out of my heart seriously and affectionately toward him, as he is held out in the gospel; and this is faith or believing. Q. How shall I know if my heart goes out after him aright, and if my faith be true saving faith? A. Where the heart goes out aright after him in true and saving faith, the soul is pleased with Christ alone above all things, and is pleased with him in all his three offices, to rule and instruct as well as to save; and is content to cleave unto him, whatever inconveniences may follow. Q. What other marks of a saving interest in Christ can you give me? A. He that is in Christ savingly is a new creature; he is graciously changed and renewed, in some measure, in the whole man, and in all his ways pointing toward all the known commands of God. Q. What if I find sin now and then prevailing over me? A. If you be afflicted for your failings, confess them with shame of face unto God, resolving to strive against them honestly henceforth, and flee unto Christ for pardon, you shall obtain mercy, and your interest stands sure. Q. What shall the man do who cannot lay claim to Christ Jesus, nor any of those marks spoken of? A. Let him not take rest until he make sure to himself a saving interest in Christ. Q. In what way can a man make sure an interest in Christ, who never had a saving interest in him hitherto? A. He must take his sins to heart, and his great hazard thereby, and he must take to heart God's offer of pardon and peace through Christ Jesus, and heartily close with God's offer, by betaking himself unto Christ the blessed refuge. Q. What if my sins be singularly heinous, and great beyond ordinary? A. Whatever thy sins be, if thou wilt close with Jesus Christ by faith, thou shalt never enter into condemnation. Q. Is faith in Christ alone required of men? A. Faith is the only condition upon which God offers peace and pardon unto men; but be assured, faith, if it be true and saving, will not be alone in the soul, but will be attended with true repentance, and a thankful study of conformity to God's image. Q. How shall I be sure that my heart accepts of God's offer, and closes with Christ Jesus? A. Go make a covenant expressly, and by word speak the thing unto God. Q. What way shall I do that? A. Set apart some portion of time, and, having considered your own lost estate, and the remedy offered by Christ Jesus, work up your heart to be pleased with, and close with that offer, and say unto God expressly, that you accept of that offer, and of him to be your God in Christ; and do give up yourself to him to be saved in his way, without reservation or exception in any case: and that you henceforth will wait for salvation in the way he has appointed. Q. What if I break with God afterwards? A. You must resolve in his strength not to break, and watch over your own way, and put your heart in his hand to keep it; and if you break, you must confess it unto God, and judge yourself for it, and flee to the Advocate for pardon, and resolve to do no more so: and this you must do so often as you fail. Q. How shall I come to full assurance of my interest in Christ, so that it may be above controversy? A. Learn to lay your weight upon the blood of Christ, and study purity and holiness in all manner of conversation; and pray for the witness of God's Spirit, and his testimony will establish you in the faith of an interest in Christ. Q. What is the consequence of such closing with God in Christ by heart and mouth? A. Union and communion with God, all good here, and his blessed fellowship in heaven forever afterward. Q. What if I slight all these things, and do not lay them to heart to put them in practice? A. The Lord cometh with his angels, in flaming fire, to render vengeance to them who obey not this gospel; and thy judgment shall be greater than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.