3. There must, moreover, be a way wherein we must walk with
God. God did at the beginning assign us a path to walk in with him, even
the path of innocence and exact holiness, in a covenant of works. This
path, by sin, is so filled with thorns and briers, so stopped up by curses
and wrath, that no flesh living can take one step in that path; a new
way for us to walk in must be found out, if ever we think to hold
communion with God. And this also lies upon the former account. It is hid
in Christ. All the world cannot, but by and in him, discover a
path that a man may walk one step with God in. And therefore the Holy
Ghost tells us that Christ hath consecrated, dedicated, and set apart for
that purpose, “a new and living way” into the holiest of all, Heb. x. 20; a new one, for the first,
old one was useless; a living one, for the other is dead: therefore, saith
he, verse 22, “Let us draw near;” having
a way to walk in, let us draw near. And this way that he hath prepared is
no other but himself, John xiv.
6. In answer to them who would go to the Father, and hold
communion with him, he tells them, “I am the way; and no man comes to the
Father but by me.” He is the medium of all communication between
God and us. In him we meet, in him we walk. All influences of love,
kindness, mercy, from God to us, are through him; all our returns of love,
delight, faith, obedience unto God, are all through him; — he being that
“one way” God so often promiseth his people: and it is a glorious way,
Isa. xxxv. 8, — a high way, a way of
holiness, a way that none can err in that once enter it; which is farther
set out, Isa. xlii. 16. All other ways, all
paths but this, go down to the chambers of death; they all lead to walk
contrary to God.