CHAPTER II.

OF THE WORDS THEMSELVES IN GENERAL.

We come now to the words themselves, wherein Christ asserts that he is, 1, “the way;” 2, “the truth;” 3, “the life;” and, 4, “that no man cometh to the Father but by him.”

In them we learn these two things in general.

First, The misery of wretched man by nature.  This cannot be in a few words expressed.

These words will point out those particulars thereof, which we will but mention.

1.  That he is born an enemy to, and living at a distance from God, by virtue of the curse of the broken covenant of life made with Adam.

2.  That he neither can nor will return to God, of himself.  His way is not in himself; he hath need of another to be his way.

3.  That he is a blind, wandering creature, ready to by-ways and to wander; yea, he loveth to wander.  He goeth astray as soon as he is born, speaking lies.

4.  He cannot discern the true way, but is blinded with prejudice thereat, and full of mistakes.  He is nothing but a lump of error.

5.  He is dead legally and really:  how can he then come home?  How can he walk in the way, though it were pointed out to him?

6.  He, even when he entereth into the way, is subject to so many faintings, swoonings, upsittings, &c. that except he get new quickening, he must lie by the way and perish.

In a word, his misery is such as cannot be expressed; for as little as it is believed, and laid to heart; or seen and mourned for, and lamented.

Now, for a ground to our following discourse, I would press the solid, thorough and sensible apprehension of this, without which there will be no use-making or application of Christ; “for the whole need not the physician, but the sick;” and Christ is “not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” Matt. ix. 12.  Mark ii. 17.  Yea, believers themselves would live within the sight of this, and not forget their frailty; for though there be a change wrought in them, yet they are not perfect, but will have need of Christ as the way, the truth, and the life, till he bring them in, and set them down upon the throne, and crown them with the crown of life.  And, O happy they, who must not walk on foot without this guide leading them by the hand, or rather carrying them in his arms.  Let all them who would make use of Christ remember what they were, and what they are, and keep the sense of their frailty and misery fresh; that seeing their need of him, they may be in better case to look out to him for help and supply, and be more distinct in their application of him.

The second general is, that Christ is a complete mediator, thoroughly furnished for all our necessities.  Are we at a distance from the Father?  He is a way to bring us together.  Are we wandered out of the way?  He is the way to us.  Are we blind and ignorant?  He is the truth.  Are we dead?  He is the life.  Concerning this fulness and completeness of his, we would mark these things: