Research Log

The First Principles of the Doctrine of Christ; Together with Stronger Meat for them that are skil’d in the Word of Righteousness OR The Doctrine of living unto God, wherein the Body of Divinity Is Briefly and methodically handled by way of Question and Answer. continued:

Next of Application.

Quest. What is Application of Christ's Redemption?

Answ. Application of Christ's Redemption is the second part of mans recovery, whereby that which Christ hath done as a Mediator is applyed to those whom the Father hath elected, & made theirs effectually by the Spirit, and giveth common gifts to others, in which let us consider.

1. What is applyed - that which Christ hath done as a Mediator. 
1. That which he purchased by his humiliation.
2. And possesseth in his Exaltation for his, Eph. 1. 3, 7.



2. To whom is this Application of Redemption made it is applyed to those whom the Father hath elected.
1. The Father hath intended the salvation of a certain number of mankind, these are his by Election.
2. Those and those only he hath given to his Son, these are Christ's by donation from his Father, Joh. 6.37.
3. These Christ only intends to save, John. 17, 9, 10.
4. Hence no universal redemption, for either these elected he intends only to redeem, or others besides them, then it should be uncertain to God who shall be saved, which cannot be, Joh. 13.1 and if it depends meerly upon the liberty of mans will, it should be uncertain whether any shall be saved, yea, it would be certain then none could be saved, for none by nature is sincerely willing, Psal. 110.2.3 but the Lords foundation remaineth sure, he knoweth his own, 2 Tim. 2.19.

2. Yet it may be granted, that which Christ hath done.
1. Is of universal value - hath worth enough in it for the salvation of all. 
2. It is offered to all.
3. Man not knowing who are excluded out of, or included in Election, we ought to hope charitably, hence it followeth.

Herein appears Predestination, (namely) the Decree of God concerning the manifestation of his glory in the everlasting state of man, electing some, and reprobating others. 
1. Election.
1. He intends the glory of his mercy.
2. he chuseth some to be Vessels of his mercy, Rom. 9.23
3. Hence willeth the means.
1. permits their fall
2. Willeth their recovery by Redemption, and Application.

2. Reprobation.
1. The Lord intends the glory of his Justice.
1. Some appointed for that end, Jude 4.  Rom. 9.22
2 .Permitted them to sin and to continue hardened in sin t o their destruction. 

3. The Application it self, that which Christ hath done is made theirs effectually, for either it is made theirs by effectual Application to them, or it may be theirs before it is applyed to them, but that cannot be, for before Redemption be applyed to them, they are Children of wrath as others, Eph. 2.3. the wrath of God abideth on them. Joh. 3.36. they cannot be saved and damned at the same time, hence Election works no change in the person, doth not change his state before effectual Application.

4. By whom is this Application made, it is by the Spirit sent from the Father and the Son.  

1. As it requireth an almighty power, a divine power, so it is the work of all the three persons. 

2. As they co-operate according to their manner of Subsistence and order of working, it is of the Father firstly by his Son and Spirit.
2. It is of the Son as he works from the Father by the Spirit.
3. It is of Spirit as he worketh from the Father and the Son.

And hence salvation is of the Father intentionally in Election. 
2. Of the Son virtually, as he hath purchased salvation.
3. Of the Spirit effectually, as he is sent to apply this, Joh. 16. 9, 10. and giveth common gifts to others for the sake of his Elect, Psal. 68.18. Eph. 4..8, 12.

Quest. What are the parts of Application and the manner of applying those parts? 

Answ. The parts of Application are union to Christ, that is Oneness in relation to Christ, and Communion with Christ, that is having in common with Christ, the blessings he hath purchased, and the manner of Application of these is either internal, and mystical, this is proper to true believers, or external and visible, and this Hipocrites have in common with true believers. 

Applications may be considered either in the parts of it, or adjunct manners. 
1. The parts of it, that is such parts as doe constitute it, and of which it doth consist, union to Christ, Communion with Christ. 

1. Union to Christ - that is an Oneness in relation to Christ, whereby they are Christs, and Christ is theirs. 

1. Not an Essential Oneness, to be one in Essence with Christ, this is proper to the three persons thus to be one. 

2. Not a personal Oneness, this is proper to the humane nature of Christ to be one with his divine nature to subsist inseperably in the same person.

3. Such a relative oneness, so that the Lord Christ owneth the Soul, and the Soul owneth (--?--) and at truely one with Christ in a spiritual sense, as the bridegroom and the bride, Cant. 6.3. Revel. 22.17, 20. Eph. 1.11, 12, 13.

2. Communion with Christ, whereby we have in common with Christ the blessings he hath purchased.  Eph. 1.3. As a woman by marriage hath the benefits of a marriage relation in common with her husband. 

2. This union to, and communion with Christ may be considered in respect of the manners of it, which we have the distribution of the subject from its adjuncts, and those considered, as proper or common, 

1. Proper to true Believers, and ariseth out of the special nature of application, is that internal and mystical sincere union to, and communion with Christ, which although it may be seen by him who hath it, and may be seen by others as to the Judgement of Charity, but cannot be seen by others as to the Judgement of verity and infallibility, and therefore may be called inward and mystical, Rom. 2.28. and this is proper to true believers. 

2. Or that which is common (namely) an external and visible union to, and Communion with Christ.
1. In words they speak as such.
2. In works outwardly they practice as such, who have union to Christ and communion with him.
3. And therefore to the Judgement of rational Charity appears to be such. 
4. And have really an external and visible union to Christ, as Christ is the head of his visible Church.
5. But this is that which hipocrites have in common with true believers, Rom. 2.28.

Let us begin with that which is internal and mystical union to Christ.

Quest. What is that internal animystical union to Christ?  

Answ. Internal and mystical union to Christ is that whereby the Spirit having wrought Faith in the heart causeth the foul to come to Christ for life, and is joyned to Christ as its spiritual head.

1. That whereby the spirit having wrought faith in the heart, 2 Co. 4.13, Rom. 6.17.
2. Causeth the soul to come to Christ, Cant. 1.4 (?) for life. Job 5.40.
3. And is joyned to Christ as its spiritual head. Eph. 1.22 and this internal and mystical, none knows but he that hath it, Rev. 2.17.      

Quest. In what manner doth the Spirit work Faith?

Answ. The Spirit doth work Faith by an unresistible power, he prepareth the heart by making it contrite and humble, and then infuseth Faith.

Concerning the working of Faith consider who worketh it, and how. 

1. Who worketh it] It is wrought by the unresistible power of the Spirit.   

1. Those who are dead cannot of themselves move, so are all by nature, Eph. 2.1.
2.  By nature a meer resistance against the Spirit, Acts 7.51. 
3. Hence the Soul at first is passive in this work, moves as moved.
4. The power at first put forth by the Spirit is exceeding great, more then at Creation, for then as there was nothing, so there was no resistance, but here is not a meer emptiness and nothingness, but worse, a Spirit of resistance against the work of Faith, Eph. I. 19. 

2.  How he worketh it by preparation and infusion of Faith.

1. So long as there is a resisting, there can be no receiving, consent and dissent cannot be in the same Subject, in the same part, respect and time. 
2. But to resist and not be subject is natural, Rom. 8.7.
3. Hence the power of resistance must be taken away before an infusion of Faith, a turning from sin and self, before there can be a turning unto Christ.

This preparation is in contrition and humiliation.

1. Contrition.

Quest. What is Contrition?

Answ. Contrition is that whereby a sinner being convinced of the evil of sin, and feeling the bitterness of it, is broken under the burthen of it, and broken off from the same with a hatred, sorrow, abomination, and fear of sin as the greatest evil.

Contrition consists of conviction and compunction.

1. Conviction, whereby a sinner is convicted of the evil of sin. John. 16.8, Jer. 2.19.
2. Compunction, a pricking of the heart, letting in a sense of the bitterness of sin into the heart, Act. 6.37. Zach. 12.10

The effect of this brokenness of heart, 
1. Under the burden of sin as too heavy to bear.
2. And off from sin as a most detestable foe; and this appears.

1. In respect of sins past and present, 
1.  Hatred
2. Sorrow
3. Abomination, 2 Cor. 7.11

2. In respect of the future, a fear, Psal. 51.17.

Quest.  What is Humiliation?

Answ. Humiliation is that whereby a sinner despairing of life in himself, and of any ability of himself to go to Christ, is content to be at the dispose of God, and is brought down to the foot of God, hence is poor in spirit and is cut off from self confidence and self-sovereignty.

1. Humiliation is that whereby a sinner despaireth of life in himself: for he sees himself to be naked and miserable, Rev. 3.17, 18.

2. And of any ability in himself to goe to Christ: that he is blind, maimed and halt, Luke 14.21.

3. Hence is content to be at the foot of God, at the Lords dispose: Acts 9.6, Isa. 41.2, hence poor in spirit, Mat. 5.3. And thus cut from self-confidence, and self-sovereignty.

1. From self-confidence: he feels its in vain for him to lean upon any thing that he hath or can doe.
2. From self-sovereignty, for he is weary of the yoke of sin, and he cannot rule himself, he is weary of himself and heavy laden. Job 7.20, Mat. 11.28, 29.