Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 546

 

7. I do also suppose that there is a faith that is wrought upon men through the influence of those gifts and abilities that God sometimes gives to those that are not His own by-election, though by creation; my meaning is, some men, finding that God hath given them very great gifts and abilities,—as to the gifts of preaching, praying, working miracles, or the like—I say, therefore do conclude that God is their Father, and they are His children; the ground of which confidence is still begotten, not by the glorious operation of the Spirit, but by a considering of the great gifts that God had bestowed upon them as to the things before-mentioned. Thus, (1.) the poor soul considers how ignorant it was, and now how knowing it is. (2.) Considering how vain it formerly was and now how civil it is, presently makes this conclusion—Surely God loves me, surely He hath made me one of His and will save me. This is now a wrong faith, as is evident, in that it is placed upon a lousy object; for mark, this faith is not placed assuredly on God's grace alone, through the blood and merits of Christ being discovered effectually to the soul, but upon God through those things that God hath given it, as of gifts, either to preach, or pray, or do great works, or the like, which will assuredly come to naught as sure as God is in Heaven, if no better faith and ground of faith be found out for thy soul savingly to rest upon.

As to the second clause of the objection, which runs to this effect, God loves men upon the account of their believing, I answer that God loves men before they believe; He loves them, He calls them and gives them faith to believe—"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us," when? when we believed, or before? "even when we were dead in sins," and so, far off from believers, "hath quickened us together with" Christ, "by grace ye are saved" (Eph 2:4,5).

Now, also, thou wilt say in thy heart, I would you would show us then what saving faith is, which thing I may touch upon a while hence, in the next thing that I am to speak unto. O they that have that are safe indeed!

SECOND. WHO AND HOW MEN ARE ACTUALLY BROUGHT INTO THE NEW COVENANT.

The SECOND thing that I am to speak to is this—WHO they are that are brought into this free and unchangeable grace, and also HOW they are brought in.

Answ. Indeed, now we come to the pinch of the whole discourse, and if God does but help me to run rightly through this, as I do verily believe He will, I may do thee, reader, good and bring glory to my God.

The question has two branches: FIRST, who are brought in, and SECOND, how they are brought in.

[FIRST. Who is brought in?] The first is quickly answered—"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," Jewish sinners, Gentile sinners, old sinners, young sinners, great sinners, the chiefest of sinners. Publicans and harlots—that is, whores, cheaters, and exactors—shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Tim 1:15; Rom 5:7-11; 1 Cor 6:9,11; Matt 21:31). "For I come not," saith Christ, "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17).

A sinner in the Scripture is described in general to be a transgressor of the law—"Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth the law; for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). But notably, they are described in a more particular way, as, 1. Such as in whom dwelleth the devil (Eph 2:2,3). 2. Such as will do the service of him (John 8:44). 3. Such as are enemies to God (Col 1:21) 4. Such as drunkards, whoremasters, liars, perjured persons, covetous, revilers, extortionists, fornicators, swearers, possessed with devils, thieves, idolaters, witches, sorcerers, conjurors, murderers, and the like (1 Cor 6:9,10; 2 Chron 33:1-13; Acts 2:36,37; 9:1-6; 19:9; 1 Tim 1:14-16). These are sinners, and such sinners that God hath prepared Heaven, happiness, pardon of sin, and an inheritance of God, with Christ, with saints, with angels, if they do come in and accept of grace, as I might prove at large; for God's grace is so great, that if they do come to Him by Christ, presently all is forgiven them; therefore never object that thy sins are too great to be pardoned; but come, taste and see how good the Lord is to any whosoever come unto Him.

[SECOND.] Second, How are these brought into this Everlasting Covenant of Grace?

Answ. When God doth in deed and in truth bring a sinner into this most blessed covenant, [Come to the Touchstone, sinner]. For so it is, He usually goes this way—