these two general Heads 1. He Consenteth to the Truth of all those sayings that Testifieth that Sin is most abominable in it Self dishonourable to God and damnable to the Soul of Man Jer. 44. 4. Rom. 2. 23. Chap. 6. 23. 2 Thes. 2. 12. 2. In that he believeth as the Word hath said that there is in the Worlds best things Righteousness and all Nothing but Death and Damnation Rom. 7. 24 25. Chap. 8. 2 3. 2 Cor. 3. 6 7 8. Secondly He Honoureth Christs Person in that he believeth that there is Life in Him and that he is able to Save him from Death Hell the Devil and Damnation Heb. 7. 24 25. Thirdly He Honoreth him in that he believeth that he is Authorized of the Father to give Life to those that come to him for it Joh. 5. 11 12. Chap. 17. 1 2 3. Fourthly He Honoureth the Priest-Hood of Jesus Christ. 1. In that he believeth that he alone hath made Attonement for Sin Rom. 5. 2. In that he believeth that Christ hath more Power to Save from Sin by the Sacrifice that he hath Offered for it than hath all Law Devils Death or Sin to Condemn Acts 13. 38. Heb. 2. 14 15. Revel 1. 17 18. Thirdly In that he believeth that Christ according to his office will be most faithfull and mercifull in the discharge of his office 1 Joh. 2. 1 2 3. Heb. 2. 17 18. Fourthly Further he that cometh to Jesus Christ for life taketh part with him against Sin and against all the ragged and imperfect righteousness of the world yea and against false Christs and damnable errors that set themselves against the worthiness of his merits and sufficiency Fifthly Therefore as Noah at Gods command thou preparest this Ark for the saving of thy self by the which also thou condemnest the world and art become Heir of the righteousness which is by faith Heb. 11. 7. Wherefore coming sinner be content he that cometh to Jesus Christ believeth too that he his willing to shew mercy to and to have Compassion upon him though unworthy that comes to him for life And therefore thy Soul lieth not only under a special Invitation to come but under a Promise too of being accepted and forgiven Mat 11. 28. All these particular parts and qualities of faith are in that Soul that comes to Jesus Christ for Life as is evident to any indifferent Judgment For will he that Believeth not the Testimony of Christ concerning the baseness of Sin the insufficiency of the Righteousness of the World come to Christ for Life No. He that believeth not this Testimony of the word comes not He that believeth that there is Life any where else comes not He that questions whether the Father hath given Christ power to forgive comes not He that thinketh that there is more in Sin in the Law in Death and the Devil to Destroy than there is in Christ to Save comes not He also that questions his faithful Management of his Office of Priesthood for the salvation of sinners comes not Thou then that art indeed the comeing Sinner believest all this True perhaps thou dost not believe with that full Assurance nor hast thou leisure to take Notice of thy Faith as to these Distinct acts of it But yet all this Faith is in him that cometh to Christ for Life And the Faith that thus Worketh is the Faith of the best and purest kind because this Man comes alone as a Sinner and as seeing that Life is and is to be had only in Jesus Christ. Before I conclude my Answer to this Objection take into thy consideration these two things First That the Cities of Refuge were Erected for their sakes that were dead in Law and that yet would live by grace even for those that were to fly thither for life from the avenger of blood that pursued after them And it is worth your Noting that those that were upon their flight thither are in a peculiar manner called the people of God Cast ye up Cast ye up saith God prepare ye the way take up the stumbling blocks out of the Way of My people Isa. 57. 14. This is meant of preparing the way to the City of refuge that the slayers might escape thither and live which slayers are here by way of speciality called the people of God even those of them that escaped thither for life Secondly Consider that of Ahab when Benhadad sent to him for life saying Thus saith thy Son Benhadad I pray thee let me live Though Benhadad had sought the Crown Kingdom yea and also the life of Ahab yet how effectually doth Benhadad prevaile with him Is Benhadad yet alive said Ahab he is my brother yea go ye bring him to me so he made him ride in his Chariot 1 King 20 chap. Coming Sinner what thinkest thou if Jesus Christ had as little Goodness in him as Ahab he might grant an humble Benhadad life thou neither beggest of him his Crown or Dignity Life eternal life will serve thy turn how much more then shalt thou have it since thou hast to deal with him who is goodness and mercy it self yea since thou art also called upon yea greatly encourraged by a promise of life to come to him for Life Read also these Scriptures Numb 35. 11 14 15. Josh. 20. 1 2 3 4 5. Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19 20. Objection 2. When I say I only seek my self I mean I do not find that I do design Gods Glory in mine own Salvation by Christ and that makes me fear I do not come aright Answer Where doth Christ Jesus require such a Qualification of those that are coming to him for Life come thou for Life and trouble not thy head with such Objections against thy Self and let God and Christ alone to Glorify themselves in the Salvation of such a worm as thou art The Father saith to the Son Thou art my Servant O Israel in whom I will be Gloryfied God propoundeth Life to Sinners as the argument to prevail with them to come to him for Life and Christ sayes plainly I am come that ye might have Life John 10. 10. He hath no need of thy designes though thou hast need of his Eternal Life pardon of Sin and Deliverance from Wrath to come Christ propounds to thee and these be the things that thou hast need of besides God will be gracious and merciful to worthless undeserving wretches come then as such an one Therefore lay no stumbling blocks in thy way to him but come to him for life live Joh. 5. 34. Chap. 10. 10. Chap. 3. 36. Mat. 1. 21. Prov. 8. 36 37. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joh. 11. 25 26. The Jayler was only for knowing at first what he should do to be Saved But Paul did not so much as once ask him what is your End in this Question do you design the Glory of of God in the Salvation of your Soul He had more wit he knew that such Questions as these would have
admit of such Objections to the discouraging of their own Souls For this VVord in no wise cutteth the Throat of all Objections and it was dropt by the Lord Jesus for that very end and to help the Faith that is mixed with Unbelief And it is as it were the sum of all Promises neither can any Objection be made upon the unworthyness that thou findest in thee that this Promise will not asoile But I am a great sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am an old sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am a hard hearted sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am a back-sliding sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have served Satan all my dayes sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have sinned against Light sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have sinned against mercy sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with me say'st thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. Thus I might go on to the end of things and shew you that still this promise was provided to answer Objections And doth answer them But I say what need it be if they that are coming to Jesus Christ are not sometimes yea oft-times heartily afraid that Jesus Christ will cast them out I will give you now two instances that seem to imply the truth of this observation In the Nineth of Matthew at the Second Verse you read of a man that was sick of the Palsie and he was coming to Jesus Christ being born upon a bed by his Friends He also was coming himself and that upon another account than any of his friends was aware of even for the pardon of sins and the Salvation of his Soul Now so soon as ever he was come into the presence of Christ Christ bids him be of good chear it seems then his heart was fainting but what was the cause of this fainting but the guilt and burden of his sins therefore he proceeds Be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee I say Christ saw him sinking in his mind about how it would go with his most Noble part and therefore first he applies himself to him upon that account For though his friends had Faith enough as to the cure of the Body yet he himself had little enough as to the Cure of his Soul Therefore Christ takes him up as a man falling down saying Son be of good Cheer thy Sins are forgiven thee That about the Prodigal seemes pertinent also to this matter When he was come to himself he said how many hired Servants of my Father have Bred enough and to spare and I perish for Hunger I will arise now and go to my Father Heartily spoken But how did he perform his Promise I think not so well as he promised to do And my ground for my Thoughts is because his Father so soon as he was come at him fell upon his Neck and Kist him Implying methinks as if the Prodegal by this time was dejected in his mind and therefore his Father gives him the most sudden and familiar token of Reconciliation And Kisses were of old time often used to remove Doubts and Fears Thus Laban and Esau Kiss Jacob. Thus Joseph Kissed his Brethren and thus also David Kissed Absolom Gen. 31. 55. chap. 33. 1 2 3 4 5 6. chap. 48. 9 10. 2 Sam. 14. 33. 'T is true as I said at first setting out he spake heartily as sometimes Sinners also do in their beginning to come to Jesus Christ But might not he yea in all probability he had between the first step he took and the last by which he accomplished that journey many a thought both this way and that as whether his Father would receive him or no As thus I said I would go to my Father but how if when I come at him he should ask me Where I have all this while bin VVhat must I say then Also if he asks me What is become of the portion of Goods that he gave me VVhat shall I say then If he asks me Who have bin my Companions VVhat shall I say then If he also shall ask me What hath bin my Preferment in all the time of mine absence from him VVhat shall I say then Yea and if he ask me Why I came home no sooner What shall I say then Thus I say might he reason with himself And being Conscious to himself that he could give but a bad Answer to any of these Interogatories no marvel if he stood in need first of all of a Kiss from his Fathers Lips For had he answered the first in Truth he must say I have bin a haunter of Taverns and Alehouses and as for my Portion I spent it in Riotous Living my Companions were Whores and Drabs As for my preferment the highest was that I became a Hoggard and as for my not coming home till now Could I have made shift to have staid abroad any longer I had not lain at thy Feet for Mercy now I say these things considered and considering again how prone poor man is to give way when truly awakned to despondings and heart-misgiveings no marvel if he sink in his mind between the time of his first setting out and that of his coming to his Father 3. But Thirdly methinks I have for the confirmation of this Truth the consent of all the Saints that are under Heaven to witt That they that are Coming to Jesus Christ are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them Quest. But what should be the Reason I will Answer to this Question thus First It is not for want of the revealed VVill of God that manifesteth grounds for the Contrary for that there is a sufficiency of yea the Text it self hath laid a sufficient Foundation for incouragement for them that are Coming to Jesus Christ. And him that Cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Secondly It is not for want of an Invitation to Come for that is full and plain Come unto me all ye that Labor and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest Mat. 11. 28. Thirdly Neither is it for want of a manifestation of Christs willingness to receive as those Texts above named with that which follows declareth If any man Thirst let him come unto me and drink Joh. 7. 37. Fourthly It is not for want of exceeding great and precious Promises to receive them that Come Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Fifthly It is not for want of Solemn Oath and Ingagement to save them that
come For because he could swear by no Greater he swore by Himself That by Two Immutable Things in which it was impossible that God should Lie we might have a strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before us Heb. 6. 15 16 17 18. Sixthly Neither is it for want of great Examples of God's Mercy that have come to Jesus Christ of which we Read most plentifully in the Word Therefore it must be concluded It is for want of that which follows First It is for want of the Knowledge of Christ Thou knowest but little of the Grace and Kindness that is in the Heart of Christ Thou knowest but little of the Vertue and Merit of his Blood Thou knowest but little of the Willingness that is in his Heart to save thee And this is the reason of the Fear that ariseth in thy Heart and that causeth thee to doubt that Christ will not receive thee Unbelief is the Daughter of Ignorance Therefore Christ saith O Fools and slow of Heart to Believe Luk. 24. 25. Slowness of Heart to believe flows from thy Foolishness in the Things of Christ This is evident to all that are acquainted with themselves and that are seeking after Jesus Christ The more Ignorance the more Unbelief the more Knowledge of Christ the more Faith They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee Psal. 9. 10. He therefore that began to come to Christ but the other day and hath yet but little Knowledge of him he fears that Christ will not receive him But he that hath been longer acquainted with him he is Strong and hath over-come the Wicked One 1 Joh. 2. VVhen Joseph's Brethren came into Egypt to buy Corn it is said Joseph knew his Brethren but his Brethren knew not him What follows Why great Mistrust of Heart about their speeding well specially if Joseph did but answer them Roughly calling them Spies and questioning their Truth and the like And observe it So long as their Ignorance about their Brother remained with them whatsoever Joseph did still they put the worst Sense upon it For instance Joseph upon a time bids the Steward of his House bring them Home to Dine with him to Dine even in Joseph's House And how is this resented by them Why they were afraid And the men were afraid because they were brought into their Brother Joseph's House And they said He seeketh occasion against us and will fall upon us and take us for Bond-men and our Asses Gen. 42. Chap. 43. What! Afraid to go to Joseph's House He was their Brother He intended to Feast them to Feast them and Feast with them Ah! but they were ignorant That he was their Brother And so long as their Ignorance lasted so long their Fear terrifyed them Just thus it is with the Sinner that but of late is coming to Jesus Christ He is ignorant of the Love and Pity that is in Christ to Coming-Sinners Therefore he doubts therefore he fears therefore his Heart mis-gives him Coming-Sinner Christ inviteth thee to Dine and Sup with him He inviteth thee to a Banquet of Wine yea to come into his Wine-Cellar and his Banner over thee shall be Love Revel 3. 20. Song 2. Chap. 5. But I doubt it sayes the Sinner But 't is answer'd He calls thee invites thee to his Banquet to his Flaggons Apples to his Wine and to the Juyce of his Pomgranate O I fear I doubt I mistrust I tremble in Expectation of the contrary Come out of the Man thou Dastardly Ignorance Be not afraid Sinner only Believe He that cometh to Christ he will in no wise cast out Let the Coming Sinner therefore seek after more of the good Knowledge of Jesus Christ Press after it Seek it as Silver and dig for it as for hid Knowledge This will embolden thee This will make thee wax Stronger and Stronger I know whom I have Believed I know him said Paul And what follows Why And I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day 2 Tim. What had Paul committed to Jesus Christ The Answer is He had committed to him his Soul But why did he Commit his Soul to him Why because he knew him He knew him to be Faithful to be Kind He knew he would not fail him nor forsake him And therefore he laid his Soul down at his Feet and committed it to him to keep against that Day But Secondly Thy Fears that Christ will not receive thee may be also a Consequent of thy earnest and strong Desires after thy Salvation by him For this I observe That strong Desires to have are attended with strong Fears of missing What a Man most sets his Heart upon and what his Desires are most after he oft-times most fears he shall not obtain So the Man the Ruler of the Synagogue had a great desire that his Daughter should live and that Desire was attended with Fear that she should not Wherefore Christ saith unto him Be not afraid Mark 5. 36. Suppose a Young Man should have his Heart much set upon a Virgin to have her to Wife If ever he Fears he shall not Obtain it is when he begins to love now thinks he some body will step in betwixt my Love and the Object of it either they will find Fault with my Person my Estate my Conditions or somthing Now thoughts begin to work she doth not like me or something And thus it is with the Soul at first Coming to Jesus Christ thou lovest him and thy love produceth Jealousy and that Jealousy oft-times beget Fears Now thou fearest the Sins of thy Youth the Sins of thine old Age the Sins of thy Calling the Sins of thy Christian Duties the Sins of thy Heart or somthing thou thinkest somthing or other will alienate the Heart and Affections of Jesus Christ from thee thou thinkest he sees somthing in thee for the sake of which he will refuse thy Soul But be content a little more Knowledge of him will make thee take better heart thy earnest desires shall not be attended with such burning Fears Thou shalt hereafter say This is mine Infirmity Psal. 77. Thou art Sick of Love a very sweet Disease and yet every Disease has some weakness attending of it yet I wish this Distemper if it be lawful to call it so was more Epidemical Dye of this Disease I would gladly do 't is better than Life it self though it be attended with Fears But thou cryest I cannot obtain Well be not too hasty in making Conclusions If Jesus Christ had not put his Finger in at the Hole of the Lock thy Bowels would not have been troubled for him Song 5. Mark how the Prophet hath it They shall walk after the Lord he shall Roar like a Lyon When he shall Roar the Children shall Tremble from the East They shall Tremble like a Bird out of Egypt and as a Dove out of the Land of Assyria
37 38 39. 6. Paul came not until he saw himself lost and undone Acts 9. 3 4 5 6 7 8. 11. 7. Lastly Before the Jayler came he saw himself undone Acts 16. 29 30 31. And I tell thee It is an easier thing to perswade a Well-Man to go to the Physitian for Cure or a Man without Hurt to seek out for a Playster to Cure him than it is to perswade a Man that sees not his Soul-Disease to come to Jesus Christ. The Whole have No need of the Physitian Then Why should they go to him The full Pitcher can hold no more then Why should it go to the Fountain And if thou comest full thou comest not aright and be sure Christ will send thee Empty away But he healeth the Broken in Heart and bindeth up their Wounds Mar. 2. 17. Psal. 147. 3. Luk. 1. 53. Thirdly Art thou Coming to Jesus Christ Prethee tell me What seest thou in him to allure thee to forsake all the VVorld to come to him I say VVhat hast thou seen in him Men must see something in Jesus Christ else they will not come to him 1. VVhat Comlyness hast thou seen in his Person Thou comest not if thou seest no Form nor Comlyness in him Isa. 53. 1 2 3. 2. Until those mentioned in the Song were convinced that there was more Beauty Comlyness and Desirableness in Christ than in Ten-Thousand they did not so much as ask VVhere he was nor incline to turn aside after him Song 5. Chap. 6. There be many Things on this side Heaven that Can and Do carry away the Heart and so will do so long as thou Livest if thou shalt be kept blind and not be admitted to see the beauty of the Lord Jesus Fourthly Art thou come to the Lord Jesus what hast thou found in him since thou camest to him Peter found with him the words of eternal life Joh. 6. 68. They that Peter makes mention of found him a Living stone even such a living stone as Communicated life to them 1 Pet. 2. He saith himself they that come to him c. Shall find rest unto their Souls hast thou found rest in him for thy Soul Mat. 11. Let us go back to the times of the Old Testament First Abraham found that in him that made him Leave his Countrey for him and become for his sake a Pilgrim and stranger in the earth Gen. 12. Heb. 11. Secondly Moses found that in him that made him forsake a Crown and a Kingdome for him too Thirdly David found so much in him that he counted to be in his house one day was better than a Thousand yea to be a door keeper there-in was better in his esteem than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness Psal. 84. 10. Fourthly What did Daniel and the three Children find in him to make them run the hazzard of the Fiery Furnance and the Den of Lyons for his sake Dan. 3. chap. 6. Let 's come down to Martyrs First Stephen found that in him that made him Joyfully and quietly yeild up his life for his name Acts 7. Secondly Ignatius found that in him that made him Chuse to go through the Torments of the Devil and Hell it self rather than not to have him Acts and Mon. vol. 1. pag. 25. Thirdly What saw Romanus in Christ when he said to the rageing Emperor who threatned him with fearful Torments Thy Sentence O Emperor I Joyfully imbrace and refuse not to be Sacrificed by as Cruel Torments as thou canst invent pag. 116. Fourthly What saw Menas the Egyptian in Christ when he said under most Cruel Torments Ther eis nothing in my mind that can be compared to the Kingdome of Heaven neither is all the World if it was weighed in the ballance to be conferred with the price of one Soul who is able to separate us from the Love of Jesus Christ our Lord and I have Learned of my Lord and King not to fear them that kill the body c. pag. 117. Fifthly What did Eulalia see in Christ when she said as they was pulling her one Joynt from another Behold O Lord I will not forget thee what a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy Tryumphant Victories pag. 121. Sixthly What think you did Agnes see in Christ when rejoyceingly she went to meet the Souldier that was appointed to be her Executioner I will willingly said she receive into my Paps the length of his Sword and into my Breasts will draw the force thereof even to the hilts that thus I being married to Christ my Spouse may surmount and escape all the darkness of this World pag. 122. Seventhly What do you think did Julitta see in Christ when at the Emperors telling of her that except she would worship the Gods she should neither have Protection Laws Judgements nor life She replied Fare-well life Welcome Death Fare-well Riches Wel-come poverty All that I have if it were a Thousand times more would I rather lose than to speak one wicked and blasphemous word against my Creator pag. 123. Eightly What did Marcus Arethusius see in Christ when after his enemies had cut his flesh anointed it with honey and hanged him up in a basket for flies and bees to feed on he would not give to up-hold Idolatry one half penny to save his life pag. 129. Ninethly What did Constantine see in Christ when he used to kiss the wounds of them that suffered for him pag. 135. Tenthly But what need I give thus particular instances of words and smaller actions when by their lives their blood their induring hunger sword fire pulling a sunder and all Torments that the Devil and Hell could devise for the love they bare to Christ after they were come to him What hast thou found in him sinner What! come to Christ and find nothing in him when all things that are worth looking after are in him or if any thing yet not enough to wean thee from thy sinfull delights and fleshly lusts Away away thou art not come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found in him that as I said that is not to be found any where else As First He that is come to Christ hath found God in him reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses to them And so God is not to be found in Heaven and earth besides 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Secondly He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found in him a fountain of grace sufficient not only to pardon sin but to Sanctifie the Soul and to preserve it from falling in this evil World Thirdly He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found vertue in him That vertue that if he does but touch thee with his Word or thou him by Faith Life is forthwith conveyed into thy Soul It makes thee wake as one that is waked out of his sleep it awakes all the powers of thy Soul Psal. 30. 11 12. Song 6. 12. Fourthly Art thou come to Jesus Christ
kill us we shall but die Here now was necessity at work and this necessity drove them to go thither for life whether else they would never have gon for it Thus it is with them that in truth come to Jesus Christ Death is before them they see it and feel it he is feeding upon them and will eat them quite up if they come not to Jesus Christ and therefore they come even of necessity being forced thereto by that Sense they have of their being utterly and everlastingly undone if they find not safety in him These then are they that will come indeed these are they that are invited to come Come unto me all ye that Labor and are Heavy Laden and I will give you rest Matt. 11. 28. Take two or three things to make this more plain to wit that coming to Christ floweth from a sound sense of the absolute need that a Man hath of him as afore 1. They shall come with Weeping with Supplication will I lead them I will cause them to walk by the Rivers of Waters in a plain way wherein they shall not stumble Jer. 31. 9. Mind it they come with Weeping and Supplication they come with Prayers and Tears Now Prayers and Tears are the effects of a right Sense of the need of Mercy Thus a senseless Sinner cannot Come he cannot Pray he cannot Cry he cannot come sensible of what he sees not nor feels In those Days and at that time the Children of Israel shall come they and the Children of Judah together going weeping they shall seek the Lord their God they shall ask the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward saying come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50. 4 5. Secondly This coming to Christ it is called a running to him as flying to him a flying from Wrath to come By all which Termes is set forth the sense of the man that comes to wit That he is affected with the sense of his sin and the Death due thereto that he is sensible that the avenger of Blood pursues him and that therefore he is cut off if he makes not speed to the Son of God for Life Mat. 3. 7. Psal. 143. 9. Flying is the last work of a man in danger all that are in danger do not Fly No not all that see themselves in danger flying is the last work of a man in danger all that hear of danger will will not fly Men will consider if there be no other way of escape before they Fly Therefore as I said flying is the last thing When all Refuge fails and a man is made to see that there is nothing left him but Sin Death and Damnation unless he flyes to Christ for Life then he flies and not till then Thirdly That the true coming is from a sense of an absolute need of Jesus Christ to save c. is evident by the Out-cry that is made by them that come even as they are coming to him Lord save or I perish Men and Brethren what shall we do Sirs what must I do to be saved and the like This Language doth sufficiently discover that the truly coming Souls are Souls sensible of their need of Salvation by Jesus Christ and moreover that there is nothing else that can help them but Christ. Fourthly It is yet further evident by these few things that follow it is said that such are pricked in their Hearts that is with the sentence of Death by the Law and the least prick in the Heart kills a Man Acts 2. 37. such are said as I said before to Weep to Tremble and to be astonished in themselves at the evident and unavoidable danger that attends them unless they fly to Jesus Christ Acts 9 chap. 16. Fifthly Coming to Christ is attended with an honest and sincere forsaking of all for him If any Man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple Luk. 14. 26 27. By these and the like expressions elsewhere Christ describeth the true Commer or the man that indeed is coming to him he is one that casteth all behind his Back he leaveth all he forsaketh all he hateth all things that would stand in his way to hinder his coming to Jesus Christ. There are a great many pretended Commers to Jesus Christ in the World And they are much like to the man that you read of in Matt. 21. 30. that said at his Fathers bidding I go Sir and went not I say there are a great many such Commers to Jesus Christ they say when Christ calls by his Gospel I come Sir but still they abide by their Pleasures and carnal Delights They come not at all only they give him a Courtly Complement but he takes notice of it and will not let it pass for any more than a Lie He said I go Sir and went not he dissembled and lied Take heed of this you that flatter your selves with your own deceivings words will not do with Jesus Christ coming is coming and nothing else will go for coming with him Before I spake to the other Head I shall answer some Objections that usually lie in the way of those that in Truth are coming to Jesus Christ. Objection I. Though I cannot deny but my mind runs after Christ and that too as being moved thereto from a sight and consideration of my lost Condition For I see without him I perish yet I fear my ends are not right in coming to him Quest. Why what is thine end in coming to Jesus Christ Answer My end is that I might have Life and be saved by Jesus Christ. This is thy Objection well let me tell thee that to come to Christ for Life and to be saved though at prethou hast no other end is a lawful and good coming to Jesus Christ. This is evident because Christ propoundeth Life as the only Argument to prevail with sinners to come to him and also blameth them because they come not to him for Life And ye will not Come to me that ye might have Life Joh. 5. Besides there are many other Scriptures whereby he allureth Sinners to come to him in which he propoundeth nothing to them but their safety As He that believeth in him shall not perish he that believeth is passed from Death to Life He that believeth shall be Saved He that believeth on him is not condemned And believing coming are all one So that you see to Come to Christ for Life is a lawful coming and good And let me add over and above that for a man to come to Christ for Life though he comes to him for nothing else but Life he gives much honour to him First He Honoureth the Word of Christ and consenteth to the Truth of it and that in
bin but Fools bables about instead of a sufficient salve to so weighty a Question as this was Wherefore since this poor wretch lacked Salvation by Christ I mean to be saved from Hell and Death which he knew now was due to him for the sins that he had committed Paul bids him like a poor condemned sinner as he was to proceed still in this his way of self-seeking saying Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved Acts 16. 30 31 32. I know that afterwards thou wilt desire to glorifie Christ by walking in the way of his precepts but at present thou wantest life the avenger of blood is behind thee and the devil like a Lyon is roaring against thee well come now and obtain life from these and when thou hast obtained some comfortable perswasion that thou art made partaker of life by Christ then and not tell then thou wilt say Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his benefits Who forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from distruction and Crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies Psal. 103. 1 2 3 4 5. Objection 3. But I cannot believe that I come to Christ aright because sometimes I am apt to question his very Being and Office to save Thus to do is horrible but may'st thou not Judge amiss in this matters How can I Judge amiss when I Judge as I feel Poor Soul thou maist Judge amiss for all that Why I think that these questionings come from my Heart Answ. Let me answer That which comes from thy heart comes from thy will and affections from thy understanding Judgement and Conscience For these must acquiess in thy questioning if thy questioning be with thy heart And how say'st thou for to name no more dost thou with thy Affection and Conscience thus question Answ. No my Conscience trembles when such thoughts come in to my mind and my affections are otherwise inclined Then I conclude that these things are either suddenly injected by the devil or else are the fruits of that body of sin and death that yet dwels in thee or perhaps from both together If they come wholly from the devil as they seem because thy Conscience and affections are against them or if they come from that body of death that is in thee and be not thou curious in enquiring from whether of them they come the safest way is to lay enough at thy own door nothing of this should hinder thy coming nor make thee conclude thou comest not aright And before I leave thee let me a little query with thee farther about this matter First Doest thou like these wicked blasphemies Answ. No no their presence and working kills me Secondly Doest thou mourn for them pray against them and hate thy self because of them Answ. Yes yes but that which afflicts me is I do not prevail against them Thirdly Dost thou sincerely chuse mightest thou have thy choice that thy heart might be affected and taken with the things that are best most heavenly and holy Answ. With all my heart and death the next hour if it were Gods will rather than thus to sin against him Well then thy not liking of them thy mourning for them thy praying against them and thy loathing of thy self because of them with thy sincere chusing of those thoughts for thy delectation that are heavenly and holy clearly declares that these things are not countenanced either with thy Will Affections Understanding Judgement or Conscience and so that thy heart is not in them but that rather they come immediatly from the devil or arise from the body of death that is in thy flesh of which thou oughtest thus to Say Now then it is no more I that doth it but sin that dwells in me Rom 7. 16 17. I will give thee a pertinent instance In Deut. 22. Thou mayest read of a betrothed damsel one betrothed to her beloved one that hath given him her heart and mouth as thou hast given thy self to Christ yet she was met with as she walked in the field by one that forced her because he was stronger than she Well what judgment now doth God the righteous judge pass upon the damsel for this The man only that lay with her saith God shall die but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death For as when a man riseth against his Neighbor and slayeth him even so is this matter he found her in the field and the betrothed damsel cryed and there was none to save her Deut. 22. 25 26 27. Thou art this damsel the man that forceth thee with these blasphemous thoughts is the devil and he lighteth upon thee in a fit place even in the field as thou art wandering after Jesus Christ but thou cryest out and by thy cry did'st shew that thou abhorrest such wicked leudness Well the Judge of all the earth will do right he will not lay the Sin at thy door but at his that offered the violence and for thy comfort take this into consideration also That he came to heal them that are oppressed with the devil Acts 10. 38. Objection 4. But saith another I am so heartless so slow and as I think so indifferent in my coming that to speak truth I know not whether my kind of coming ought to be called a coming to Christ. Answ. You know that I told you at first that coming to Christ is a moving of the heart and affections towards him But saith the Soul my dulness and indifferency in all holy Duties demonstrate my heartlesness in coming and to come and not with the heart signifies nothing at all Answ. The moving of the heart after Christ is not to be discerned at all times by thy sensible affectionate performing of duties but rather by those secret groanings and complaints which thy soul makes to God against that sloth that attends thee in Duties Secondly But grant it to be even as thou say'st it is that thou comest so slowly c. yet since Christ bids them come that comes not at all surely they may be accepted that come though attended with those infirmities which thou at present groanest under He saith And him that cometh he saith not if they come sensibly so fast But And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out He saith also in the Eighth of the Proverbs As for him that wanteth understanding that is an heart for oft-times the understanding is taken for the heart Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine that I have Mingled Thirdly Thou may'st be vehement in thy spirit in coming to Jesus Christ and yet be plagued with sensible sloth So was the Church when she cryed Draw me we will run after thee And Paul when he said When I would do good evil is present with me Song 1.
some before they Die Answ. Yes And God forbids that Prayers should be made to him for them Jer. 7. 16. Jud. 22. Quest. Then why may not I doubt that I may be one of these Answ. By no means if thou art coming to Jesus Christ because when God Shuts the Door upon Men he gives them no heart to come to Jesus Christ. None comes but those to whom it is given of the Father But thou comest therefore it is given to thee of the Father But sure therefore if the Father hath given thee an Heart to come to Jesus Christ the Gate of Mercy yet stands Open to thee For it stands not with the Wisdom of God To give strength to come to the Birth and yet to Shut up the Womb Isa. 66. 9. to give grace to thee to come to Jesus Christ and yet Shut up the Door of his Mercy upon thee Encline your Ear saith he come unto me hear and your Souls shall Live And I will make an Everlasting covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David Isa. 55. 3. Object But it is said that some knocked when the Door was Shut Answ. Yes But the Texts in which these Knockers are Mentioned are to be referred unto the day of Judgment and not to the coming of the Sinner to Christ in this Life See the Texts Mat. 25. 11. Luke 13. 24 25. These therefore concern thee nothing at all that art coming to Jesus Christ thou art coming Now Now is the acceptable time behold now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. now God is upon the Mercy-Seat now Christ Jesus Sits by continually pleading the Virtue of his Blood for Sinners and now even as long as this World lasts this word of the Text shall still be free and fully fulfilled And him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out Sinner the greater Sinner thou art the greater need of Mercy thou hast and the more will Christ be gloryfied thereby come then come and try come tast and see how good the Lord is to an Undeserving Worthless Sinner Objection 6. But sayes another I am fallen since I began to come to Christ therefore I fear I did not come aright and so consequently that Christ will not receive me Answ. Falls are dangerous for they dishonour Christ wound the conscience and cause the Enemies of God to speak reproachfully But it is no good argument I am fallen therefore I was not coming aright to Jesus Christ. If David and Solomon and Peter had thus objected against themselves they had added to their griefs and yet they had at least as much cause to do it as thou A Man whose steps are ordered by the Lord and whose goings the Lord delights in may yet be over-taken with a Temptation that may cause him to fall Psal. 37. 23 24. Did not Aaron fall yea Moses himself what shall we say of Hezekiah and Jehosaphat There are therefore falls and falls falls pardonable and falls unpardonable falls unpardonable are falls against Light from the Faith to the despising of and trampling upon Jesus Christ and his blessed undertakings Heb. â— 2 3 4 5. Chap. 10. 28 29. Now as for such there remaines no more Sacrifice for sin Indeed they have no heart no mind no desire to come to Jesus Christ for life therefore they must perish nay sayes the Holy Ghost 't is impossible that they should be renewed again unto repentance Therefore these God hath no Compassion for neither ought we but for other falls though they be dreadfull and God will Chastise his people for them they do not prove thee a graceless man one not Coming to Jesus Christ for life It is said of the Child in the Gospel That while he was yet a-coming the Devil threw him down and tore him Luk. 9. 42. Dejected Sinner is it a wonder that thou hast caught a fall in thy Coming to Jesus Christ Is it not rather to be wondred at that thou hast not caught before this a thousand times a thousand falls Considering First What fools we are by nature Secondly What weaknesses are in us Thirdly What mighty powers the fallen Angels our implacable Enemies are Fourthly Considering also how often the Coming-man is be-nighted in his Journey and also what stumbling-blocks do lie in his way Fifthly Also his familiers that were so before now watch for his haulting and seek by what means they may to cause him to fall by the hand of their strong ones What then must we because of these Temptations incline to fall No. Must we not fear falls yes Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Yet let him not be utterly cast down The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all those that are bowed down Make not light of falls yet hast thou fallen ye have said Samuel done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve him with a perfect heart and turn not aside for the Lord will not forsake his people and he counteth the coming sinner one of them because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 20 21 22. Shall come to me Now we come to shew what force there is in this Promise to make them come to him All that the father giveth me shall come to me I will Speak to this promise First In general Secondly In particular In general This word shall is confined to these all that are given to Christ. All that the father giveth me shall come to me Hence I conclude First That coming to Jesus Christ aright is an effect of their being of God given to Christ before Mark they shall come Who those that are given they come then because they were given Thine they were and thou gavest them me Now this is indeed a Singular comfort to them that are coming in truth to Christ. Thus then may the coming Soul reason with himself as he comes Am I coming indeed to Jesus Christ this coming of mine is not to be attributed to me or my goodness but to the grace and gift of God to Christ God gave first my Person to him and therefore hath now given me a heart to come to him Secondly This word shall come maketh thy coming not only the fruit of the gift of the Father but also of the purpose of the Son for these words are a divine purpose they shew us the Heavenly determination of the Son The Father hath given them to me and they shall yea they shall come to me Christ is as full in his resolution to save those given to him as is the Father in the giving of them Thirdly These words shall come make thy coming to be also the effect of an absolute Promise Coming sinner thou art concluded in a Promise thy coming is the fruit of the faithfulness of the Promise of the faithfulness of an absolute Promise 'T was this promise by the vertue of which thou at first received'st strength to come
Law of the Lord Psal. 119. 1. Secondly The absolute promise giveth to this man the fear of the Lord and then the Conditional followeth saying Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord Psal. 128. 1. Thirdly The absolute promise giveth saith and then this Conditional follows saying Blessed is she that believeth Zeph. 3. 12. Luk. 1. 45. Fourthly The Absolute promise brings free forgiveness of Sins and then says the Conditional Blessed are they whose Transgressions are forgiven and whose sin is covered Rom. 4. 7 8. Fifthly The Absolute promise says that Gods elect shall hold out to the end then the Conditional follows with his blessing He that shall endure to the end the same shall be saved 1 Pet 1. 4 5 6. Mat. 24. Thus do the promises gloriously serve one another and us in this their harmonious agreement Now the promise under consideration is an absolute promise All that the Father giveth me shall come to me This promise therefore is a big-bellied promise and hath in it self all those things to bestow upon us that the conditional calleth for at our hands They shall come Shall they come yes They shall come But how if they want those things those Graces Power and Heart without which they cannot come Why Shall come answereth all this and all things else that may in this manner be objected And here I will take the liberty a little to amplifie things Object But they are dead dead in Trespasses and Sins how shall they then come Answ. Why Shall-come can raise them from this Death The hour is coming and now is That the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall Live Thus therefore is this impediment by shall-come swallowed up or quite removed out of the way Object 2. But they are Satans Captives he takes them Captive at his Will and he is stronger than they How then can they come Answ. Why Shall-come hath also provided an help for this Satan had bound that Daughter of Abraham so that she could by no means lift up her self but yet shall-come set her free in Body and Soul both Christ will have them turned from the Power of Satan to God But what Must it be if they turn themselves or do something to Merit of him to turn them No he will do it freely of his own good Will Alas Man whose Soul is possessed by the Devil is turned whither soever That Governor listeth is taken Captive by him notwithstanding his natural Powers at his Will but what will he do will he hold him when shall-come puts forth it self will he then let him for comeing to Jesus Christ No that cannot be his Power is but the Power of a fallen Angel but shall-come is the Word of God therefore shall-come must be fulfilled And the Gates of Hell Shall not prevail against it There was Seven Devils in Mary Magdalen too many for her to get from under the Power of but when the time was come that shall-come was to be fulfilled upon her they give place fly from her and she comes indeed to Jesus Christ. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me The Man that was possessed with a Legien Mark 5. was too much by them captivated for him by humane force yea had he had to boot all the men under Heaven to help him had he that said he shall-come with-held his mighty power but when this promise was to be fulfilled upon him then he comes nor could all their power hinder his coming It was also this shall-come that preserved him from death when by these evil spirits he was hurled hither and thither and 't was by the vertue of shall-come that at last he was set at liberty from them and inabled indeed to come to Christ. All that the father giveth me shall come to me Object 3. They shall you say but how if they will not man cannot come without his will but if he will not he will not and if so then what can shall-come do Answ. True there are some men say we are Lords we will come no more unto thee Jer. 2. 31. But as God says in another case if they are Concerned in shall-come to me They shall know whose word shall stand mine or theirs Jer. 44. 28. Here then is the case we must now see who will be the liar he that saith I will not or he that saith he shall come to me You shall come sayes God I will not come sayes the sinner Now as sure as he is concerned in this shall-come God will make that man eat his own words for I will not is but the unadvised Conclusion of a Crazy-headed sinner but shall-come was spoken by him that is of power to perform his word Son go work to day in my vineyard said the Father but he answered and said I will not What now Will he be able to stand to his refusal will he pursue his desperate denial No He afterwards repented and went But how came he by that repentance Why it was wrapped up for him in the absolute promise and therefore not withstanding he said I will not he afterwards repented and went By this parable Jesus Christ sets forth the obstinacy of the sinners of the world as touching their coming to him they will not come though threatned yea though life be offered them upon condition of coming But now when shall-come the absolute promise of God comes to be fulfilled upon them then they come because by that promise is provided against the rebellion of their will Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Psal. 110. 3. He that had seen Paul in the midst of his out-rage against Christ his Gospel and people would hardly have thought that he would ever have been a follower of Jesus Christ specially since he went not against his Conscience in his persecuting of them He thought verily that he ought to do what he did But we may see what shall-come can do when it comes to be fulfilled upon the Soul of a rebellious sinner he was a Chosen vessel given by the Father to the Son and now the time being come that shall-come was to take him in hand behold he is over-mastered astonished and with trembling and reverence in a Moment becomes willing to be obedient to the Heavenly call Acts 9. And were not they far gone that you read of in Acts the second who had their hands and hearts in the Murder of the Son of God and to shew their resolvedness never to repent of that horrid fact said His Blood be on us and our Children But must their obstinacy rule must they be bound to their own ruin by the rebellion of their Stubborn wills No not those of these that the Father gave to Christ wherefore at the times appointed shall-come Brakes in amongthem the absolute promise takes them in hand and then they come indeed crying out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren
what shall we do No Stubborness of mans will can stand when God hath absolutely said the contrary shall-come can make them come as doves to their windows The Lord spake unto Manasseth and to his people by the Prophets but he would not hear no he would not but shall Manasseth come off thus no he shall not Therefore he being also one of those whom the Father had given to the Son and so falling within the bounds and reach of shall-come At last he comes indeed He comes Bowing and Bending He humbled himself greatly and made Supplication to the Lord and prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and had mercy upon him 2 Chro. 33. The Thief upon the Cross at first did rail with his fellow upon Jesus Christ but he was one that the Father had given to him and therefore shall-come must handle him and his rebellious will And behold so soon as he is dealt with all by vertue of that absolute promise how soon he buckleth leaves his railing falls to Supplicating of the Son of God for mercy Lord saith he remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome Mat. 27. 44. Luk. 23. 40 41 42. Object 4. They shall come say you but how if they be blind and see not the way for same are kept off from Christ not only by the obstinacy of their will but by the blindness of their minde now if they be blind how shall they come Answ. The question is not Are they blind but are they with in the reach and power of shall come if so That Christ that said they shall-come will find them eyes or a guide or both to bring them to himself If they shall-come they shall-come no impediment shall hinder The Thessalonians darkness did not hinder them from being the Children of Light I am come said Christ that they that see not might see And if he saith See ye blind that have eyes who shall hinder it Ephes. 5. 8. Joh. 9. 39. Isa. 29. 18. Chap. 43. 8. This promise therefore is as I said abig-bellied promise having in the bowels of it all things that shall accur to the compleat fulfilling of it self They shall-come But 't is objected that they are blind well shall-come is still the same and continueth to say they shall-come to me Therefore he saith again I will bring the blind by a way that they know not I will lead them in paths that they have not known I will make darkness light before them and Crooked things straight these things will I do unto them and not forsake them Isa. 42. 16. Mark I will bring them though they be blind I will bring them by a way they know not I will I will and therefore they shall-come to me Object 5. But how if they have exceeded many in sin and so made themselves far more abominable They are the Ring-leading Sinners in the County the Town or Family Answ. What then Shall that hinder the execution of shall-come It is not Transgressions nor Sins nor all their Transgressions in all their sins if they by the Father are given to Christ to save them that shall hinder this promise that it should not be fulfilled upon them In those days and at that time saith the Lord the iniquities of Israel shall be fought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found Jer. 32. 30. Not that they had none for they abounded in Transgression 2 Chron. 33. 9. Ezek 16. â—8 but God would pardon cover hide and put them away by vertue of his absolute promise by which they are given to Christ to save them And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have Transgressed against me And it shall be to me for a name of joy a praise and an honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear of all the good that I do unto them and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I procure to it Jer. 33. 8 9. Object 6. But how if they have not Faith and Repentance how shall they come then Answ. Why he that saith they shall-come shall he not make it good If they shall-come they shall-come and he that hath said they shall-come if faith and repentance be the way to come as indeed they are then faith and repentance shall be given to them for shall-come must be fulfilled on them First Faith shall be given them I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. There shall be a Root of Jesse and he shall rise to raign over the Gentiles and in him shall the Gentiles trust Zeph. 3. 12. Rom. 15. 12. Secondly They shall have repentance He is exalted to give repentance They shall come weeping and seeking the Lord their God And again with Weeping and Supplication will I lead them Acts 5. 30 31. Jer. 31. 9. Chap. 50. 5. I told you before that an absolute promise hath all conditional ones in the belly of it and also provision to answer all those qualifications that they propound to him that seeketh for their benefit And it must be so for if shall-come be an absolute promise as indeed it is then it must be fulfilled upon every of those concerned therein I say it must be fulfilled if God can by Grace his absolute Will fulfil it Besides since Coming and Believing is all one according to Joh. 6. 35. He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth in me shall never thirst Then when he saith they shall come 't is as much as to say they shall believe and consequently repent to the saving of the Soul So then the present want of faith and repentance cannot make this promise of God of none effect because that this promise hath in it to give what others call for and expect I will give them an heart I will give them my spirit I will give them repentance I will give them faith Mark these words If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature But how came he to be a new Creature since none can Create but God why God indeed doth make them new Creatures Behold saith he I make all things new And hence it follows even after he had said they are new Creatures And all things are of God that is all this new Creation standeth in the several operations and special workings of the Spirit of grace who is God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. Object 7. But how shall they escape all those dangerous and damnable opinions that like rocks and quick sands are in the way in which they are going Answ. Indeed this age is an age of errors if ever there was an age of errors in the world but yet the gift of the Father laid claim to by the Son in the Text must needs
Eternal Hence it is called the peace of God and That passeth all understanding Fourthly The person speaking in the Text hath enough of all things truly Spiritually good to satisfie the desires of every longing Soul And Jesus stood and Cried saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink And to him that is athirst I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely Joh. 7. 37. Rev. 21. 6. Fifthly With the person speaking in the Text is power to perfect and defend and deliver those that come to him for safegard All power saith he in heaven and earth is given unto Me Mat. 28. 18. Thus might I multiply instances of this nature in abundance But Secondly they that in truth do come to him do therefore come to him that they may receive it at his hand They come for light they come for life they come for reconciliation with God they also come for peace they come that their Soul may be satisfied with Spiritual good and that they may be protected by him against all Spiritual and Eternal damnation and he alone is able to give them all this to the filling of their joy to the full as they also find when come to him This is evident First From the plain declaration of those that already are come to him Being Justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access with boldness into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. Secondly 'T is evident also in that while they keep their eyes upon him they never desire to change him for another or to add to themselves some other thing together with him to make up their Spiritual Joy God forbid said Paul that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yea and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Philipians 3. 7 8 9. Thirdly 'T is evident also by their earnest desires that others might be made partakers of their blessedness Brethren said Paul my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved that is that way that he expected to be saved himself as he saith also to the Galatians Brethren saith he I beseech you be as I am for I am as ye are That is I am a sinner as you are now I beseech you seek for life as I am seeking of it as who should say For there is a sufficiency in the Lord Jesus both for me and you Fourthly 'T is evident also by the Triumph that such men make over all their enemies both Bodily and Ghostly Now thanks be to God said Paul who causeth us always to triumph in Jesus Christ. And who shall separate us from the Love of Christ our Lord. And again O death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory The sting of death is Sin and the strength of sin is the Law but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory thorow our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 55 56. Fifthly 'T is evident also for that they are made by the Glory of that which they have found in him to suffer and endure what the Devil and Hell it self hath or could invent as a means to separate them from him Again Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or Sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus Rom 8. Shall come to Me. O the heart attracting glory that is in Jesus Christ when he is discovered to draw those to him that are given to him of the Father Therefore those that come of old rendered this as the cause of their coming to him And we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father Joh. 1. 14. And the reason why others come not but perish in their sins is for want of a sight of his glory If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the Glorious Light of the Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3. 4. There is therefore heart-pulling glory in Jesus Christ which when discovered draws the man to him wherefore by shall-come to Me Christ may mean when his glory is discovered then they must come then they shall-come to Me. Therefore as the True Comers come with Weeping and Relenting as being sensible of their own Vileness so again it is said That the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Singing and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flye away That is at the Sight of the Glory of that Grace that shews it self to them now in the Face of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Hopes that they now have of being with Him in the Heavenly Tabernacles Therefore it saith again With Gladness and Rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the King's Palace Isa. 35. 10. Chap. 51. 11. Psal. 45. 15. There is therefore Heart-attracting Glory in the Lord Jesus Christ which when discovered subjects the Heart to the Word and Makes us Come to him 'T is said of Abraham That when he dwelt in Mesopotamia the God of Glory appeared unto him Act. 7. 2. saying Get thee out of thy Country And what then why away he went from his House and Friends and all the World could not stay him Now as the Psalmist sayes Who is the King of Glory He answers The Lord mighty in Battle And who was that but He that spoiled Principalities and Powers when he did Hang upon the Tree Tryumphing over them thereon And who was that but Jesus Christ even the Person speaking in the Text Therefore he said of Abraham He saw his Day Yea saith he to the Jews Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day and he saw it and was Glad Psal. 24. 8. Col. 2. 14 15. Jam. 1. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Indeed the Carnal Man sayes at least in his Heart There is no Form or Comliness in
And Jesus saw all the Workings of his honest Heart at that time Joh. 1. 47 48. Zacheus also had some secret Movings of Heart such as they was towards Jesus Christ when he ran before and climbed up the Tree to see him and the Lord Jesus Christ had his Eye upon him Therefore when he was come to the Place he looked up to him bids him come down For to Day said he I must abide at thy House To wit in order to the further Compleating the Work of Grace in his Soul Luk. 19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Remember this Coming-Sinner Secondly As Jesus Christ has his Eye upon so he hath his Heart open to receive the Coming Sinner This is verified by the Text And him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out This is also discovered by his preparing of the Way in his making of it Easie as may be to the Coming-Sinner which Preparation is manifest by them Blessed Words I will in no wise cast out Of which more when we come to the Place And while he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion on him and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him Luk. 15. 20. All these Expressions do strongly prove that the Heart of Christ is open to receive the Comming Sinner Thirdly As Jesus Christ has his Eye upon and his Heart open to receive so he hath resolved already that nothing shall alienate his Heart from receiving the Coming-Sinner No Sins of the Coming-Sinner nor the Length of the Time that he hath abode in them shall by any Means prevail with Jesus Christ to reject him Coming Sinner thou art coming to a loving Lord Jesus Fourthly These Words therefore are dropt from his Blessed Mouth on purpose that the Coming Sinner might take Encouragement to continue on his Journey until he be come indeed to Jesus Christ. It was doubtless a great Encouragement to Blind Bartlimeus that Jesus Christ stood still and called him when he was crying Jesus thou Son of David have Mercy on me Therefore 't is said He cast away his Garment Rose up and Came to Jesus Mark 10. 46 c. Now if a Call to come hath such Encouragement in it what is a Promise of Receiving such but an Encouragement much more And observe it though he had a Call to come yet not having a Promise his Faith was forced to work upon a meer Consequence Saying He calls me and surely since he calls me he will grant me my Desire Ah! but Coming-Sinner thou hast no need to go so far about as to draw in this Matter Consequences because thou hast plain Promises And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Here is full plain yea what Encouragement one can desire For suppose thou was admitted to make a Promise thy self and Christ should attest that he would fulfil it upon the Sinner that cometh to him Couldest thou make a better Promise Couldest thou invent a more full free or larger Promise A Promise that looks at the first Moving of the Heart after Jesus Christ A Promise that declares yea that ingageth Christ Jesus to open his Heart to receive the Coming-Sinner Yea further A Promise that Demonstrateth that the Lord Jesus is resolved freely to receive will in no wise cast out nor means to reject the Soul of the Coming sinner For all this lieth fully in this Promise and doth naturally flow there-from Here thou needest not make use of far-fetcht Consequences nor strain thy Wits to force encouraging Arguments from the Text. Comming-Sinner the Words are plain And him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out And Him that Cometh There are two Sorts of sinners that are coming to Jesus Christ. First Him that hath never while of late at all began to come Secondly Him that came formerly and after that went back but hath since bethought himself and is now coming again Both these sorts of sinners are intended by the Him in the Text as is evident because Both are now the coming Sinners And Him that cometh c. For the first of these the sinner that hath never while of late began to come his way is more easie I do not say more plain and open to come to Christ than is the other those last not having the Clog of a guilty Conscience for the sin of Back-sliding hanging at their Heels But all the incouragement of the Gospel with what invitations are therein contained to coming sinners are as free and as open to the one as to the other so that they may with the same freedom and liberty as from the word both alike claim interest in the promise All things are ready All things for the coming back-sliders as well as for the others Come to the Wedding And let him that is a thirst come Mat. 22. 1 2 3 4. Revel 22. 17. But having spoken to the first of these already I shall here pass it by and shall speak a word or two to him that is coming after back-sliding to Jesus Christ for life Thy way O thou sinner of a double dye thy way is open to come to Jesus Christ I mean thee whose heart after long back-sliding doth think of turning to him again Thy way I say is open to him as is the way of the other sorts of Comers as appears by what follows First Because the Text makes no Exception against thee it doth not say And any him But a back-slider any him But him The Text doth not thus object but indifinitively openeth wide its Golden Arms to every coming soul without the least Exception Therefore thou maist come Secondly Nay the Text is so far from excepting against thy coming that it strongly suggesteth that thou art one of the souls intended O thou coming back-slider Else what need that Clause have been so inserted I will in no wise cast out No as who should say though those that come now are such as have formerly back-sliden I will in No wise cast a way the Fornicator the Covetous the Railer the Drunkard or other common Sinners nor yet the Back-slider neither Thirdly That the Back-slider is intended is evident First For that he is sent to By Name Go tell his Disciples and Peter Mark 16. 7. But Peter was a Godly Man True but he was also a Back-slider yea a desperate Back-slider He had Denyed his Master once twice thrice Cursing and Swearing that he knew him not If this was not Back-sliding if this was not an High and Eminent Back-sliding yea a higher Back-sliding than thou art capable of I have thought amiss Again When David had back-sliden and had committed Adultery and Murder in his Back-sliding he must be sent to by Name And saith the Text the Lord sent Nathan to David And he sent him to tell him after he had brought him to unfeigned Acknowledgment of his Fact The Lord hath also put away or forgiven Thy Sin 2 Sam. 12. 1. This
thee up these Marks make thee these high heaps of the golden Grace of the Gospel set thine heart towards the high-way even the way that thou wentest when thou didst backslide turn again O Virgin of Israel turn again to these thy Cities Jer. 31. 21. And him that Cometh He saith not And him that talketh that professeth that maketh a shew a noise or the like but him that Cometh Christ will take leave to judge who among the many that make a Noise they be that indeed are coming to him It is not him that saith he comes nor him of whom others affirm that he comes but him that Christ himself shall say doth Come that is concern'd in this Text. When the Woman that had the bloody Issue came to him for Cure there were others as well as she that made a great bussle about him that touched yea thronged him Ah but Christ could distinguish this woman from them all And he looked round about upon them all to see her that had done this thing Mar. 25. 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. He was not concerned with the thronging or touchings of the rest for theirs were but accidental or at best void of that which made her touch acceptable Wherefore Christ must be Judg who they be that in Truth are coming to him Every mans way is right in his own Eyes but the Lord weigheth the Spirits It standeth therefore every one in hand to be certain of their coming to Jesus Christ for as thy coming is so shall thy Salvation be If thou comest indeed thy Salvation shall be indeed but if thou comest but in outward appearance so shall thy Salvation be But of coming see before as also afterwards in the Use and Application And him that cometh to me These words to me are also well to be heeded for by them as he secureth those that come to him so also he shews himself unconcerned with those that in their coming rest short or turn aside to others For you must know that every one that comes comes not to Jesus Christ some that come came to Moses and to his Law and then take up for Life with these Christ is not concerned with these this Promise hath not to do Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are falen from grace Gal. 5. 3 4. Again some that came come no farther than to Gospel Ordinances and there stay they come not through them to Christ with these neither is he concerned nor will their Lord Lord avail them any thing in the great and dismal day A man may come too and also go from the place and Ordinances of Worship and yet not be remembred by Christ. So I saw the wicked buried said Solomon who had come and gone from the place of the Holy and they were forgotten in the City when they had so done this is also Vanity Eccles. 8. 10. To me These words therefore are by Jesus Christ very warily put in and serve for caution and incouragement for caution lest we take up in our coming any where short of Christ and for incouragement to those that shall in their coming come past all till they come to Jesus Christ And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Reader If thou lovest thy Soul take this Caution kindly at the hands of Jesus Christ. Thou seest thy Sickness thy Wound thy necessity of Salvation well go not to King Jareb for he cannot Heal thee nor Cure thee of thy Wound Hos. 5. 13. Take the Caution I say lest Christ insteed of being a Saviour to thee becomes a Lion a young Lion to tare thee and go away vers 14. There is a coming but not to the most High there is a coming but not with the whole Heart but as it were feignedly therefore take the Caution kindly Jer. 3. 10. Hos. 7. 16. And him that cometh To me Christ as a Saviour will stand alone because his own Arm above hath brought Salvation unto him He will not be joyned with Moses nor suffer John Baptist to be tabernacled by him I say they must vanish for Christ will stand alone Luk 9. 28 36. yea God the Father will have it so therefore they must be parted from him and a Voice from Heaven must come to bid the Disciples hear only the beloved Son Christ will not suffer any Law Ordinance Statute or Judgement to be partners with him in the salvation of the Sinner Nay he saith not And him that cometh to my Word but And him that cometh to me The words of Christ even his most blessed and free Promises such as this in the Text are not the Saviour of the World for that is Christ himself Christ himself only The Promises therefore are but to incourage the coming sinner to come to Jesus Christ and not to rest in them short of Salvation by him And him that cometh To me The man therefore that comes aright casts all things behind his back and looketh at nor hath his expectation from ought but the Son of God alone as David said My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him He only is my Rock and my Salvation he is my Defence I shall not be moved Psal. 62. 5. His Eye is to Christ his Heart is to Christ and his expectation is from him from him only Therefore the man that comes to Christ is one that hath had deep Considerations of his own sins slighting thoughts of his own Righteousness and high thoughts of the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ yea he sees as I have said more vertue in the Blood of Christ to save him than there is in all his sins to damn him He therefore setteth Christ before his Eyes there is nothing in Heaven or Earth he knows that can save his Soul and secure him from the Wrath of God but Christ that is nothing but his personal Righteousness and Blood And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out In no wise By these words there is somthing expressed and somthing implyed That which is expressed is Christ Jesus his unchangable Resolution to Save the Coming sinner I will in no wise reject him or deny him the benefit of my Death and Righteousness This word therefore is like that which he speaks of the everlasting damnation of the sinner in Hell-fire He shall by no means depart thence that is never never never come out again no not to all Eternity Mat. 5. 25. chap. 25. 46. So that as he that is condemned into Hell-fire hath no ground of hope for his deliverance thence so him that cometh to Christ hath no ground to fear he shall ever be cast in thither Thus saith the Lord If Heaven above can be measured or the Foundation of the Earth searched out beneath I will also cast away all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord Jer. 31. 37. Thus saith the Lord
if my Covenant be not with Day and Night and if I have not appointed the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth then will I cast away the Seed of Jacob. But Heaven can not be measured not the Foundations of the Earth searched out beneath his Covenant is also with day and night and he hath appointed the Ordinances of Heaven therefore he will not cast away the Seed of Jacob who are the coming ones but will certainly save them from the dreadful Wrath to come Jer. 33. 25 26. chap. 50. 4 5. By this therefore it is manifest that it is not the greatness of sin nor thy long continuance in it no nor yet thy back-sliding nor the pollution of thy Nature that can put a bar in against or be an hinderance of the Salvation of the coming sinner For if indeed this could be then would this solemn and absolute Determination of the Lord Jesus of its self fall to the ground and be made of none effect But his Counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure That is his pleasure in this for this promise this irreversible conclusion ariseth of his Pleasure and he will stand to it and will fulfil it because it is his pleasure Suppose that one man had the sins or as many sins as an hundred and another should have an hundred times as many as he yet if they come this word I will in no wise cast out secures them both alike Suppose a man hath a desire to be saved and for that purpose is coming in truth to Jesus Christ but he by his debauched Life has damned many in hell why the dore of hope is by these words set as open for him as it is for him that hath not the thousandth part of his Transgressions And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Suppose a man is coming to Christ to be Saved and hath nothing but sin and an ill-spent life to bring with him Why let him come and welcome to Jesus Christ And he will in no wise cast him out Luk. 7. 41. Is not this Love that passeth knowledg is not this Love the wonderment of Angels and is not this Love worthy of all acceptation at the hands and hearts of coming sinners Secondly That which is implyed in the words is First The coming Souls hath those that continually lie at Jesus Christ to cast them Secondly The coming Souls are afraid that these will prevail with Christ to cast them off For these words are spoken to satisfie us and to stay up our Spirits against these two dangers I will in no wise cast out First For the First Coming Souls have those that continually lye at Jesus Christ to cast them off And there are three things that thus bend themselves against the coming sinner First There is the Devil that Accuser of the brethren that accuses them before God day and night Revel 12. 10. This Prince of Darkness is unwearied in this work he doth it as you see day and night that is without ceasing He continually puts in his Caveats against thee if so be he may prevail How did he ply it against that good man Job if possible he might have obtained his destruction in Hell fire He objected against him that he served not God for nought and tempted God to put forth his Hand against him urging that if he did it he would Curse him to his face and all this as God witnesseth He did without a Cause Job 1. 9 10 11. chap. 2. 4. 5. How did he ply it with Christ against Joshua the high Priest And he shewed me Joshua said the Prophet the high Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him Zech. 3. To resist him that is to prevail with the Lord Jesus Christ to resist him Objecting the uncleanness and unlawful Marriage of his Sons with the Gentiles for that was the Crime that Satan laid against them Ezra 10. 18. Yea and for ought I know Joshua was also guilty of the fact but if not of that of Crimes no whit inferior for he was Cloathed with filthy Garments as he stood before the Angel neither had he one word to say in vindication of himself against all that this wicked one had to lay against him But notwithstanding that he came off well but he might for it thank a good Lord Jesus because he did not resist him but contrariwise took up his cause pleaded against the Devil excused his infirmity and put justifying Robes upon him before his Adversaries Face And the Lord said unto Satan The Lord Rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem Rebuke thee Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the Fire And he answered and spake to those that stood before him saying Take away the filthy Garments from him and to him he said Behold I have caused thine iniquities to pass from thee and will Cloath thee with chang of Raiment Again how did Satan ply it against Peter when he desired to have him that he might sift him as Wheat that is if possible sever all Grace from his heart and leave him nothing but flesh and filth to the end he might make the Lord Jesus loath and abhor him Simon Simon said Christ Satan hath desired to have you that he might sift you as Wheat But did he prevail against him No But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not As who should say Simon Satan hath desired me that I would give thee up to him and not only thee but all the rest of thy Brethren for that the word you imports but I will not leave thee in his hand I have prayed for thee thy saith shall not sail I will secure thee to the Heavenly Inheritance Luk. 22. 30 31 32. Secondly As Satan so every sin of the coming-sinner comes in with a Voice against him if perhaps they may prevail with Christ to cast off the Soul When Israel was coming out of Egypt to Canaan how many times had their sins thrown them out of the mercy of God had not Moses as a Type of Christ stood in the breach to turn away his VVrath from them Psal. 106. 23. our Iniquities testify against us and would certainly prevail against us to our utter rejection and Damnation had we not an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. The sins of the old World cryed them down to Hell the sins of Sodom fetched upon them Fire from Heaven which devoured them the sins of the Egyptians cryed them down to Hell because they came not to Jesus Christ for Life Coming-sinner thy sins are no whit less than any Nay perhaps they are as big as all theirs VVhy is it then that thou livest when they are dead and that thou hast a promise of Pardon when they had not Why thou art coming to Jesus Christ and therefore sin shall not be thy ruin Thirdly As Satan and
was Anointed when on Earth to be a Saviour Luk. 3. 22. 3. He did the Works of a Saviour As First He Fulfilled the Law and became the End of it for Righteousness for them that believe in him Rom. 10. 3 4. Secondly He laid down his Life as a Saviour He gave his Life as a Saviour He gave his Life as a Ransom for many Mat. 20. 28. Mar. 10. 45. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Thirdly He hath Abolished Death Destroyed the Devil put away Sin got the Keys of Hell and Death is Ascended into Heaven is there accepted of God exalted of God and bid Sit at his Right Hand as Saviour and that because his Sacrifice for our Sins pleased God 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 2. 14 15. Ephes. 4. 7 8. Joh. 16. 10 11. Acts 5. 30 31. Heb. 10. 12 13. Fourthly God hath sent out and proclaimed him as Saviour and tells the World that we have redemption through his Blood that he will Justifie us if we believe in his Blood and that he can Faithfully and Justly do it Yea God doth beseech us to be reconciled to him by his Son which could not be if he were not Anointed by him to this very End and also if his Works and undertakings were not accepted of him as considered a Saviour Rom. 3. 24 25. 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20 21. Fifthly God hath received already Millions of Souls into his Paradice because they have received this Jesus for a Saviour and is resolved to cut him off and to cast him out of his presence that will not take him for a Saviour Heb. 12. 22 23 24 25 26. I intend brevity here therefore a word to the Second and so conculde How it appears that he hath Power to cast out This appears also by what follows First The Father for the service 〈◊〉 he hath done him as Saviour 〈◊〉 made him Lord of all even Lord 〈◊〉 Quick and Dead For to this 〈◊〉 Christ both Died and Rose and Revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living Rom. 14. 9. Secondly The Father hath left it with him to quicken whom he will to wit with saving Grace and to cast out whom he will for their Rebellion against Him Joh. 5. 21. Thirdly The Father hath made him Judge of Quick and Dead hath committed all Judgment unto the Son that all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22. Fourthly God will Judge the World by this Man the day is Appointed for Judgment and he is Appointed for Judge He hath Appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man Acts 17. 31 32. Therefore we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive for the things done in the Body according to what they have done If they have closed with Him Heaven and Salvation if they have not Hell and Damnation And for these Reasons he must be Judge First Because of his Humiliation because of his Fathers Word he humbled himself and he became Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Therefore God hath highly Exalted him and given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow both of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father This hath respect to his being Judge and his Sitting in Judgment upon Angels and Men Phil. 2. 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 14. 10 11. Secondly That all Men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father For the Father Judgeth no Man but hath Committed all Judgment unto the Son that all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Thirdly Because of his Righteous Judgment this work is fit for no Creature it is only fit for the Son of God For he will reward every Man according to his Ways Rev. 22. Fourthly Because he is the Son of Man He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of Man Joh. 5. 27. Thus have I in brief passed through this Text by way of explication my next Work is to speak to it by way of Observation but I shall be also as brief in that as the Nature of the thing will admit All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. ANd now to come to some Observations and a little briefly to speak to them and then conclude the whole The words thus Explained affords us many some of which are these First That God the Father and Christ his Son are two Distinct Persons in the God-head Secondly That by them not Excluding the Holy Ghost is contrived and determined the Salvation of some of fallen Man kind Thirdly That this contrivance resolved it self into a Covenant between these Persons in the God-head which standeth in giving on the Fathers part and Receiving on the Sons All that the Father giveth me c. Fourthly That every one that the Father hath given to Christ according to the mind of God in the Text shall certainly come to him Fifthly That coming to Jesus Christ is therefore not by the will wisdom or power of man but by the gift promise and drawing of the Father All that the Father giveth me shall come Sixthly That Jesus Christ will be careful to receive and will not in any wife reject those that come or are coming to him And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out There are besides these some other Truths implyed in the Words As Seventhly They that are coming to Jesus Christ are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them Eightly Jesus Christ would not have them that in Truth are Coming to him once think that he will cast them out These Observations lie all of them in the Words and are plentifully confirmed by the Scriptures of Truth but I shall not at this time speak to them all but shall pass by the first second third fourth and sixth partly because I design brevity and partly because they are touched upon in the Explicatory part of the Text. I shall therefore begin with the Fifth Observation and so make that the first in order in the following discourse First Then Coming to Christ is not by the will wisdom or power of Man but by the gift promise and drawing of the Father This Observation standeth of two parts First that coming to Christ is not by the Will Wisdom or Power of Man Secondly But by the Gift Promise and Drawing of the Father That the Text carrieth this Truth in its bosom you will find if you look into the Explication of the first part thereof before I shall therefore here follow the Method propounded First That coming to Christ is not by the will wisdom or power of man this
is true because the Word doth flatly deny it First It denyeth it to be by the Will of man Not of blood nor of the Will of the flesh nor of the Will of man And again It is not of him that Willeth nor of him that Runneth Joh. 1. 13. Rom. 9. 16. Secondly It denyeth it to be of the Wisdome of man as is manifest from these considerations First In 〈◊〉 Wisdome of God it pleased him that the World by Wisdome should not know him Now if by their Wisdom they cannot know him it follows by that Wisdome they cannot come unto him for coming to him is not before but after some knowledge of him 1 Cor. 1. 21. Acts 13. 27. Psal. 9. 10. Secondly The Wisdome of Man in Gods Account as to the Knowledge of Christ is reckoned foolishness Hath not God made Foolish the Wisdome of this World and again the Wisdome of this World is Foolishness with God If God has made Foolish the Wisdome of this World and again if the Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with Him then verily it is not likely that by that a Sinner should become so Prudent as to come to Jesus Christ especially if you Consider Thirdly That the Doctrine of a Crucified Christ and so of Salvation by him is the very thing that is counted foolishness to the Wisdom of this World Now if the very Doctrine of a Crucified Christ be counted foolishness by the Wisdom of this World it cannot be that by that Wisdom a man should be drawn out in his Soul to come to him 1 Cor. â—â— 20. Chap. 2. 14. Chap. 3. 19. Chap. 1. 18 23. Fourthly God counteth the Wisdom of this World one of his greatest Enemies therefore by that Wisdom no man can come to Jesus Christ. For it is not likely that one of Gods greatest Enemies should draw a man to that which best of all pleaseth God as coming to Christ doth Now that God counteth the Wisdom of this World one of his greatest Enemies is evident First For that it casteth the greatest contempt upon his Sons undertakings as afore is proved in that it counts his Crucifixion foolishness Though That be one of the Highest Demonstrations of Divine Wisdom Ephes. 1. 7 8. Secondly Because God hath threatned to destroy it and bring it to naught and cause it to perish Which surely he would not do was it not an Enemy would it direct men to and cause them to close with Jesus Christ. See Isa. 29. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 19. Thirdly He hath rejected it from helping in the Ministry of his Word as a fruitless business and a thing that comes to naught 1 Cor. 2. 4 6 12 13. Fourthly Because it causeth to perrish those that seek it and pursue it 1 Cor. 1. 18 19. Fifthly And God has proclaimed That if any man will be wise in this World he must be a fool in the Wisdom of this World and that 's the way to be wise in the Wisdom of God If any man will be wise in this World let him become a fool that he may be wise For the Wisdom of this World is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3. 18 19 20. Thirdly Coming to Christ is not by the power of man This is evident partly First From that which goeth before For mans power in the puttings forth of it in this matter is either stirred up by Love or sense of Necessity but the Wisdom of this World neither gives man love to or sense of a need of Jesus Christ therefore his power lieth still as from that Secondly What power has he that is dead as every natural man spiritually is Even dead in Trespasses and sinnes Dead even as dead to Gods New-Testament things as he that is in his Grave is Dead to the things of this World What power hath he then whereby to come to Jesus Christ. Joh. 5. 25. Ephes. 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. Thirdly God forbids the mighty man's glorying in his strength and sayes positively By strength shall no man prevaile and again Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord Jer. 9. 23 24. 1 Sam. 2 9. Zech. 4 6. 1 Cor. 1 27 28 29 30 31. Fourthly Paul acknowledgeth that man nay converted man of himself hath not a Sufficiency of power in himself to think a good thought if not to do that which is least for to think is less than to come then no man by his own power can come to Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3. 5. Fifthly Hence we are said to be made willing to come by the power of God to be raised from a state of sin to a state of Grace by the power of God and to believe that is to come through the exceeding working of his mighty power Psal. 110. 3. Col. 2 12. Ephes. 1. 18 20. See also Job 40. 6 14. But this needed not if either man had power or will to come or so much as graciously to think of willing to come of themselves to Jesus Christ. I Should now come to the proof of the Second part of the Observation but that is occasionally done already in the Explicatory part of the Text To which I referr the Reader For I shall here only give thee a Text or two more to the same purpose and so come to the use and application First It is Expresly said No man can come to me Except the Father which hath sent me draw him By this Text there is not only insinuated that in man is want of power but also of will to come to Jesus Christ they must be drawn they come not if they be not drawn and observe it is not man no nor all the Angels in Heaven that can draw one sinner to Jesus Christ. No man cometh to me except the Father which hath sent to me draw him Joh. 6. 44. Secondly Again No man can come to me except it were given him of my Father Joh. 6. 65. It is an heavenly gift that maketh man come to Jesus Christ. Thirdly Again It is written in the Prophets they shall be all Taught of God every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to me Joh. 6. 45. I shall not enlarge but shall make some use and application and so come to the next Observation First Is it so Is coming to Jesus Christ Not by the will wisdom or Power of man but by the gift promise and drawing of the Father Then they are to blame that cry up the will wisdom and power of man as things Sufficient to bring men to Christ. There are some men who think they may not be Contradicted when they plead for the will wisdom and power of man in reference to the things that are of the Kingdom of Christ But I will say to such a man he never yet came to understand that himself is what the Scripture teacheth Concerning him Neither did he ever know what coming to Christ is by the teaching gift and drawing of the Father He is such
Matt. 26. 74 75. Mar. 14. 71 72. Luk. 22. 60 61 62. The World understand not nor believe that the walls of Jerico shall fall at the Sound of Rams Horns but when God will Work the means must be effectual A word weakly spoken spoken with difficulty in Temptation and in the midst of great contempt and scorn works Wonders If the Lord thy God will say so too Sixthly Is it so doth no Man come to Jesus Christ by the Will Wisdom or Power of Man but by the Gift Promise and Drawing of the Father Then here is room for Christians to stand and admire to stand and wonder at the effectual working of Gods Providences that he hath made use of as means to bring them to Jesus Christ. For although Men are drawn to Christ by the Power of the Father yet that Power putteth forth it self in the use of means and that means is Divers somtimes this somtimes that for God is at liberty to work by which and when and how he will but let the means be what it will and as Contemptible as may be yet God that Commanded the Light to Shine out of Darkness and that out of Weakness can make Strong can nay doth oft-times make use of very unlikely means to bring about the Conversion and Salvation of his People Therefore you that are come to Christ and that by unlikely means stay your selves and wonder and wondering magnifie all mighty Power by the working of which the Means hath bin made effectual to bring you to Jesus Christ. What was the providence that God made use of as a Means either more remote or more near to bring thee to Jesus Christ Was it the Removing of thy Habitation the change of thy Condition the Loss of Relations Estate or the like was it thy casting of thine Eye upon some good Book thy hearing of thy Neighbours talk of Heavenly Things the beholding of Gods Judgments as executed upon others or thine own Deliverance from them or thy being strangly cast under the Ministry of some Godly Man O take notice of such providence or providences They were sent and managed by mighty Power to do thee good God himself I say hath Joyned himself unto this Chariot Yea and so blessed it that it failed not to accomplish the thing for which he sent it God blesseth not every one his Providences in this manner How many Thousands are there in this world that pass every day under the same Providences but God is not in them to do that work by them as he hath done for thy poor Soul by his effectual working with them O! That Jesus Christ should meet thee in this Providence that Dispensation or the other Ordinance This is Grace indeed At this therefore it will be thy Wisdom to admire and for this to bless God Give me leave to give you a tast of some of those Providences that have been effectual through the Management of God to bring Salvation to the Souls of his People First The first shall be That of the Woman of Samaria It must happen that she must needs go out of the City to draw Water not before nor after but just when Jesus Christ her Saviour was come from far and set to rest him being weary upon the Well What a blessed Providence was this Even a Providence Managed by Almighty Wisdom and Almighty Power to the Conversion and Salvation of this poor Creature For by this Providence was this Poor Creature and her Saviour brought together that that blessed Work might be fulfilled upon the Woman according to the purpose afore determined by the Father Joh 4. Secondly What a Providence was it that there should between a Tree in the way for Zachus to climb thereby to give Jesus an opportunity to call that Chief of the Publicans home to himself even before he came down there-from Luk. 19. Thirdly was it not also wonderfull that the Thief which you read of in the Gospel should by the providence of God be cast into prison to be condemned even at that Sessions that Christ himself was to die Nay and that it should happen too that they must be hanged together that the Thief might be in hearing and observing of Jesus in his last words that he might be converted by him before his death Luk. 23. Fourthly What a strang providence was it and as strangly managed by God that Onesimus when he was run away from his Master should be taken and as I think cast into that very prison where Paul lay bound for the word of the Gospel that he might there be by him converted and then sent home again to his Master Philem. Behold all things work together for Good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Rom. 8. Nay I have my self known some that have been made to go to hear the Word preached against their wills others have gone not to hear but to see and be seen nay to jear and flout others again to catch and carp at things Some also to feed their adulterous eyes with the sight of beautifull Objects and yet God hath made use even of these things even of the wicked and sinfull proposals of sinners to bring them under that grace that might save their souls Seventhly Doth no man come to Jesus Christ but by the drawing c. of the Father then let me here caution those poor sinners that are spectators of the change that God hath wrought in them that are coming to Jesus Christ not to attribute this work and change to other things and causes There are some poor sinners in the VVorld that plainly see a change a mighty change in their Neighbors and Relations that are coming to Jesus Christ But as I said they being ignorant and not knowing whence it comes and whither it goes For so is every one that is Born of the Spirit John 3. 8. Therefore they Attribute this Change to other Causes as 1. To Melancholy 2. To sitting alone 3. To overmuch Reading 4. To their going to too many Sermons 5. To too much studying and musing on what they hear Also they conclude on the other side First That it is for want of merry company Secondly For want of Physick and therefore they advise them to leave off Reading going to Sermons the company of sober People and to be merry to go a Gossipping to busie themselves in the things of this VVorld not to sit musing alone c. But come poor ignorant sinner let me deal with thee it seemes thou art turned Counsellor for Satan I tell thee thou knowest not what thou dost Take heed of spending thy judgment after this manner thou judgest foolishly And saist in this to every one that passeth by that thou art a Fool. VVhat count Convictions for sin mournings for sin and Repentance for sin Melancholy This is like those that on the otherside said These men are Drunk with new Wine c. as he that said Paul was Mad Acts
Hos. 11. 10 11. When God Roars as oft-times the Coming Soul hears him Roar what Man that is coming can do otherwise than Tremble Amos 3. 8. But Trembling he comes He sprang in and came Trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas Act. 16. Should you ask him that we mentioned but now How long is it since you began to fear you should miss of this Damosel you Love so The Answer would be Ever since I began to Love her But did you not fear it before No nor should I fear it now but that I vehemently Love her Come Sinner let us apply it How long is it since thou begannest to Fear that Jesus Christ will not Receive thee Thy Answer is Ever since I began to desire that he would save my Soul I began to Fear when I began to Come And the more my Heart burns in Desires after him the more I feel my Heart fear I shall not be Saved by him See now Did not I tell thee That thy Fears were but the Consequence of strong Desires Well fear not Coming-Sinner Thousands of Coming-Souls are in thy Condition and yet they will also get safe into Christ's Bosom Say sayes Christ to them that are of a fearful Heart Be strong fear not Your God will come and Save you Isa. 35. 4. Chap. 63 1. Thirdly Thy Fear that Christ will not Receive thee May arise from a Sense of thine own Unworthyness Thou seest what a poor sorry wretched worthless Creature thou art And seeing this thou fearest Christ will not Receive thee Alas say'st thou I am the Vilest of all Men a Town-Sinner a Ring-leading Sinner I am not only a Sinner my self but have made others two-fold worse the Children of Hell also Besides Now I am under some Awakenings and Stirrings of Mind after Salvation even now I find my heart Rebellious Carnal Hard Treacherous Desperate prone to Unbelief to Despair It forgetteth the Word it wandreth it runneth to the Ends of the Earth There is not I am perswaded one in all the World that hath such a desperate wicked Heart as mine is My Soul is careless to do Good but none more earnest to do that which is Evil Can such an one as I am Live in Glory Can an Holy a Just and Righteous God once think with Honour to his Name of Saving such a Vile Creature as I am I fear it Will he shew Wonders to such a dead Dog as I am I doubt it I am cast out to the loathing of my Person yea I loath my self I stink in mine own Nostrils How can I then be accepted by an Holy and Sin-abhorring God Psal. 38. 5 6 7. Ezek. 16. Chap. 20. 42 43 44. Saved I would be and Who is there that would not were they in my Condition Indeed I wonder at the Madness and Folly of others when I see them so Merry in their Chains while I see them Leap and Skip so carelesly about the Mouth of Hell Bold Sinner How darest thou tempt God by Laughing at the Breach of his Holy Law But Alas They are not so bad one way but I am worse another I wish my Self were any Body but my Self And yet here again I know not what to wish When I see such as I believe are coming to Jesus Christ O I bless them But am confounded in my self to see how unlike as I think I am to every good Man in the World They can Hear Read Pray Remember Repent be Humble and Do every thing better than so Vile a Wretch as I. I Vile Wretch am good for nothing but to burn in Hell-Fire and when I think of that I am confounded too Thus the Sense of Unworthyness creates and heightens Fears in the Hearts of them that are coming to Jesus Christ But indeed it should not For who needs the Physitian but the Sick Or who did Christ come into the World to Save but the Chief of Sinners Mar. 1. 17. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Wherefore the more thou feest thy Sins the faster fly thou to Jesus Christ. And let the Sense of thy own Unworthyness prevail with thee yet to go faster As it is with the Man that carrieth his broken Arm in a Sling to the Bone-setter still as he thinks of his broken Arm and as he feels the Pain and Anguish he hastens his Pace to the Man And if Satan meets thee and asketh Whether goest thou Tell him Thou art Maimed and art going to the Lord Jesus If he objects thine own Unworthiness Tell him That even as the Sick seeketh the Physitian and as he that hath broken Bones seeks him that can Set them So thou art going to Jesus Christ for Cure and Healing for thy Sin-sick-Soul But it oft times happeneth to the coming-Coming-Soul as it happeneth to him that flies for his Life He despairs of Escaping and therefore delivers up himself into the Hand of the Purfuer But up up Sinner be of good chear Christ came to Save the Unworthy Ones Be not Faithless but Believe Come away Man the Lord Jesus calls thee saying And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Fourthly Thy Fear that Christ will not Receive thee may arise from a Sense of the exceeding Mercy of being Saved Sometime Salvation is in the Eyes of him that desires it so great so huge so wonderful a thing that the very Thoughts of the Excellency of it ingenders Unbelief about obtaining it in the Heart of those that unfeignedly desire it Seemeth it to you said David a Light thing to be a King's Son-in-Law 1 Sam. 18. 23. So the Thoughts of the Greatness and Glory of the Thing propounded as Heaven Eternal Life Eternal Glory to be with God and Christ and Angels These are great Things Things too Good saith the Soul that is little in his own Eyes Things too Rich saith the Soul that is truly poor in Spirit for me Besides the Holy Ghost hath a way to greaten Heavenly things to the understanding of the coming sinner yea and at the same time to greaten too the sin and unworthiness of that sinner Now the Soul staggeringly wonders saying What! to be made like Angels like Christ To live in Eternal bliss joy and felicity This is for Angels and for them that can walk like Angels If a Prince a Duke or Earl should send by the Hand of his Servant to some poor sorry beggarly scrub to take her for his Master to wife and the Servant should come and say My Lord and Master such an one hath sent me to thee to take thee to him to wife he is rich beautiful and of excellent qualities he is Loving Meek Humble Well-spoken c. What now would this poor sorry beggarly Creature think what would she say or how would she frame an answer When King David sent to Abigail upon this account and though she was a rich woman yet she said Behold Let thine hand maid be a Servant to wash the feet of the Servants of my Lord. 1 Sam.
25. 40 41. She was confounded she could not well tell what to say the offer was so great beyond what could in reason be expected But suppose this great person should Second his Sute and send to this Sorry Creature again What would she say now Would she not say you Mock me But what if he affirms that he is in good earnest and that his Lord must have her to wife yea suppose he should prevail upon her to Credit his Message and to address her self for her Journey Yet behold every thought of her pedigree confounds her also her sense of want of beauty makes her ashamed and if she doth but think of being imbraced the unbelief that is mixed with that thought whirls her into tremblings And now she calls her self fool for believing the Messenger and thinks not to go If she thinks of being bold she Blushes and the least thought that she shall be rejected when she comes at him makes her look as if she would give up the Ghost And is it a wonder then to see a Soul that is drowned with the sense of glory and a sense of its own nothingness to be confounded in it self and to fear that the glory apprehended is too great too good and too rich for such an one That thing Heaven and Eternal Glory is so great and I that would have it so small so sorry a Creature that the thoughts of obtaining confounds me Thus I say doth the greatness of the things desired quite dash and overthrow the mind of the desirer O it is too bigg it is too big It is too great a mercy But coming sinner let me reason with thee Thou say'st it is too bigg too great Well will things that are less satisfie thy Soul will a less thing than Heaven than Glory and Eternal life answer thy desires No nothing less yet I fear they are too big and too good for me ever to obtain Well as big and as good as they are God giveth them to such as thou They are not too big for God to give No not too big to give freely be content let God give like Himself he is that Eternal God and he giveth like himself When Kings give they do not use to give as poor men do Hence it is said that Nabal made a feast in his house Like the feast of a King And again All these things did Araunah as a King give unto David 1 Sam. 25. 2 Sam. 24. Now God is a great King let him give like a King Nay let him give like himself and do thou receive like thy self He hath all and thou hast nothing God told his people of old that he would save them in truth and in righteousness and that they should return to and injoy the Land which before for their sins had spued them out and then adds under a supposition of their counting the mercy too good or too big If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days should it also be Marvellous in mine eyes saith the Lord of hosts Zech. 8. 6. As who should say they are now in Captivity and little in their own eyes therefore they think the mercy of returning to Canaan is a mercy too marvellously big for them to injoy but if it be so in their eyes it is not so in mine I will do for them like God if they will but receive my bounty like sinners Coming sinner God can give his heavenly Canaan and the glory of it unto thee yea none ever had them but as a gift a free gift He hath given us his Son how shall he not then with him also freely give us all things Rom 8. It was not the worthiness of Abraham or Moses or David or Peter or Paul But the mercy of God that made them inheritors of Heaven If God thinks thee worthy judge not thy self unworthy but take it and be thankfull And it is a good signe he intends to give thee if he hath drawn out thy heart to ask O Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt encline thine car Psal. 10. 17. When God is said to encline his ear it implies an intention to bestow the mercy desired Take it therefore thy Wisdom will be to receive not sticking at thine own unworthiness It is said He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the thrown of glory Again He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth some needy Out of the dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people 1 Sam. 2. 8. Psal. 113. 7 8. You see also when God made a Wedding for his Son he called not the great nor the rich nor the mighty but the poor the maimed the halt and the blind Mat. 22. Luk. 14. Fifthly Thy fears that Christ will not receive thee may arise from the hideous Roarings of the Devil who pursues thee He that hears him Roar must be a mighty Christian if he can at that time deliver himself from fear He is called a Roaring Lyon and then to alude to that in Isaiah if one look into them they have darkness and sorrow and the Light is darkned in their very Heaven 1 Pet. 5. 8. Isa. 5. 30. There are two things among many that Satan useth to Roar Out after them that are coming to Jesus Christ. 1. That they are not Elected Or 2. That they have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost To both these I answer briefly First Touching election out of which thou fearest thou art excluded Why coming sinner even the Text it self affordeth thee help against this doubt and that by a double argument First That coming to Christ is by vertue of the gift promise and drawing of the Father but thou art a coming therefore God hath given thee promised thee and is drawing thee to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner hold to this and when Satan beginneth to Roar again Answer but I feel my heart moving after Jesus Christ but that would not be if I were not given by promise and drawing to Christ by the power of the Father Secondly Jesus Christ hath promised that him that cometh to Him he will in no wise cast out And if he hath said it will he not make it good I mean even thy Salvation for as I have said already Not to cast out is to receive and admit to the benefit of Salvation if then the Father hath given thee as is manifest by thy coming and if Christ will receive thee thou coming Soul as 't is plain he will because he hath said he will in no wise cast thee out Then be confident and let those conclusions that as naturally flow from the Text as light from the Sun or water from the fountain stay thee If Satan therefore objecteth but thou art not elected Answer But I am coming Satan
I am coming and that I could not be but that the Father draws me and I am coming to such a Lord Jesus as will in no wise cast me out Further Satan were I not elect the Father would not draw me nor would the Son so graciously open his bosom to me I am perswaded that not one of the non-elect shall ever be able to say no not in the day of judgement I did sincerely come to Jesus Christ. Come they may feignedly as Judas and Magnus did But that is not our question Therefore O thou honest-hearted coming sinner be not afraid but come As to the Second part of the Objection about sinning the sin against the Holy Ghost The same argument overthrows that also But I will argue thus First Coming to Christ is by vertue of a special gift of the Father but the Father giveth no such gift to them that have sinned that sin therefore thou that art coming hast not committed that sin That the Father giveth no such gift to them that has sinned this sin Is evident 1. Because such have sinned themselves out of God's Favour They shall never have Forgiveness Matth. 12. 32. But it is a special Favour of God to give unto a Man to come to Jesus Christ because thereby he obtaineth Forgiveness Therefore he that cometh hath not sinned that Sin 2. They that have sinned the Sin against the Holy-Ghost have sinned themselves out of an Interest in the Sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood There remains for such no more Sacrifice for Sin But God giveth not Grace to any of them to come to Christ that have no share in the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood Therefore thou that art coming to him hast not sinned that Sin Heb. 10. 26. Secondly Coming to Christ is by the Special Drawing of the Father No Man cometh to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him But the Father draweth not him to Christ for whom he hath not alotted Forgiveness by his Blood Therefore they that are coming to Jesus Christ have not sinned that Sin because he hath alotted them Forgiveness by his Blood Joh. 6. 44. That the Father cannot draw them to Jesus Christ for whom he hath not alotted Forgiveness of Sins is manifest to Sense For that would be a plain Mockery a Flam neither becoming his Wisdom Justice Holyness nor Goodness Thirdly Coming to Jesus Christ lays a Man under the Promise of Forgiveness and Salvation But it is impossible that he that hath sinned that Sin should ever be put under a Promise of these Therefore he that hath sinned that Sin can never have Heart to come to Jesus Christ. Fourthly Coming to Jesus Christ lays a Man under his Intercession For he ever Liveth to make Intercession for them that come Heb. 7. 25. Therefore he that is coming to Jesus Christ cannot have sinned that Sin Christ has forbidden his People to pray for them that have sinned that Sin and therefore will not pray for them himself But he prays for them that come Fifthly He that hath sinned that Sin Christ is to him of no more Worth than is a Man that is Dead For he hath Crucified to himself the Son of God Yea and hath also counted his Precious Blood as the Blood of an Unholy Thing Heb. 6. chap. 10. Now he that hath this low Esteem of Christ will never come to him for Life But the Coming-Man has an high Esteem of his Person Blood and Merits Therefore he that is coming has not Committed that Sin Sixthly If he that hath sinned this Sin might yet come to Jesus Christ then must the Truth of God be overthrown which saith in one Place He hath never Forgiveness and in another I will in no wise cast him out Therefore that he may never have Forgiveness he shall never have Heart to come to Jesus Christ. It is impossible that such an one should be Renewed either to or by Repentance Heb. 6. Wherefore never trouble thy Head nor Heart about this Matter He that cometh to Jesus Christ cannot have sinned against the Holy Ghost Sixthly Thy Fears that Christ will not Receive thee may arise from thine own Folly in Inventing yea in thy Chalking out to God a way to bring thee Home to Jesus Christ. Some Souls that are coming to Jesus Christ are great Tormentors of themselves upon this account They conclude that if their Coming to Jesus Christ is right they must needs be brought Home thus and thus As to instance 1. Sayes one If God be bringing of me to Jesus Christ then will he load me with the Guilt of Sin till he makes me Roar again 2. If God be indeed a bringing of me home to Jesus Christ then must I be assaulted with dreadful Temptations of the Devil 3. If God be indeed a bringing of me to Jesus Christ then even when I come at him I shall have wonderful Revelations of him This is the way that some Sinners appoint for God But perhaps he will not walk therein yet will he bring them to Jesus Christ But now because they come not the Way of their own Chalking out therefore they are at a loss They look for Heavy Load and Burden but perhaps God gives them a Sight of their lost Condition and addeth not that heavy Weight and Burden They look for fearful Temptations of Satan but God sees that yet they are not fit for them Nor is the Time come that he should be Honoured by them in such à Condition They look for great and glorious Revelations of Christ Grace and Mercy But perhaps God only takes the Yoke from off their Jaws and lays Meat before them And now again they are at a loss yet a-coming to Jesus Christ I drew them saith God with the Cords of a Man with the Bands of Love I took the Yoke from off their Jaws and laid Meat unto them Hos. 11. 4. Now I say if God brings thee to Christ and not by the Way that thou hast appointed then thou art at a loss and for thy being at a loss Thou mayst thank thy self God hath more ways than thou knowst of to bring a Sinner to Jesus Christ But he will not give thee before-hand an Account by which of them he will bring thee to Christ Isa. 40. 13. Job 33. 13. Sometimes he hath his Way in the Whirlwind but sometimes the Lord is not there Nah. 13. 1 King 19. 11. If God will deal more gently with thee than with others of his Children grudge not at it Refuse not the Waters that go softly lest he bring upon thee the Waters of the Rivers strong and many even these two smoaking Fire-brands the Devil and Guilt of Sin Isa. 8. 6 7. He said to Peter Follow me And what Thunder did Zacheus hear or see Zacheus come down said Christ and he came down sayes Luke and Received him Joyfully But had Peter or Zacheus made the Objection that thou hast made and Directed the Spirit of the Lord as
thou hast done they might have looked long enough before they had found themselves coming to Jesus Christ. Besides I will tell thee That the greatness of Sense of Sin the hideous Roarings of the Devil yea and abundance of Revelations will not prove that God is bringing the Soul to Jesus Christ As Balaam Cain Judas and others can witness Further Consider that what thou hast not of these things now thou mayst have another time and that to thy Distraction Wherefore instead of being discontent because thou art not in the Fire because thou hearest not the Sound of the Trumpet and Alarum of War Pray that thou enter not into Temptation Yea come boldly to the Throne of Grace and obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in that time of need Psal. 88. 15. Matth. 26. 40 41. Heb. 4. 16. Poor Creature Thou criest If I were Tempted I could come faster and with more Confidence to Jesus Christ Thou sayest thou knowst not what What sayes Job With-draw thy Hand from me and let not thy Dread make me afraid Then call thou and I will answer or let me speak and answer thou me Job 13. 21. It is not the over-heavy Load of Sin but the Discovery of Mercy not the Roaring of the Devil but the Drawing of the Father that makes a Man come to Jesus Christ I my self know all these Things True sometimes yea most an end they that come to Jesus Christ come the Way that thou desirest the Loaden Tempted Way But the Lord also leads some by the Waters of Comfort If I was to chuse when to go a long Journey to wit Whether I would go it in the Dead of Winter or in the Pleasant Spring though if it was a very profitable Journey as that of coming to Christ is I would chuse to go it through Fire and Water before I would lose the Benefit I would chuse to go it in the Pleasant Spring because the Way would be more Delightsome the Dayes longer and Warmer the Nights shorter and not so Cold. And it is observable that that very Argument that thou usest to weaken thy Strength in the Way that very Argument Christ Jesus useth to incourage his Beloved to come to him Arise saith he my Love my Fair One and come away Why For lo the Winter is past the Rain is over and gone the Flowers appear in the Earth the time of the Singing of Birds is come and the Voyce of the Turtle is heard in our Land The Fig-Tree putteth forth her Green Figs and the Vine with her tender Grapes give a good Smell Arise my Love my Fair One and come away Song 2. 10 11 12 13. Trouble not thy self therefore Coming-Sinner If thou seest thy lost Condition by Original and Actual Sin if thou seest thy Need of the spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ if thou art willing to be found in him and to take up thy Cross and follow him Then pray for a fair Wind and good Weather and come away Stick no longer in a Muse and Doubt about Things but come away to Jesus Christ Do it I say lest thou tempt God to lay the Sorrows of a Travelling Woman upon thee Thy Folly in this thing may make him do it Mind what follows The Sorrows of a Travelling Woman shall come upon him Why He is an unwise Son so he should not stay long in the Place of the breaking forth of Children Hos. 13. 13. Seventhly Thy Fears that Christ will not Receive thee may arise from those Decayes that thou findest in thy Soul even while thou art coming to him Some even as they are coming to Jesus Christ do find themselves grow worse and worse And this is indeed a fore Tryal to the poor Coming-Sinner To explain my self There is such an one a coming to Jesus Christ who when at first he began to look out after him was Sensible Affectionate and broken in Spirit but now is grown Dark Sensless Hard-hearted and inclining to neglect Spiritual Duties c. Besides he now finds in himself Inclinations to Unbelief Atheisme Blasphemy and the like Now he finds he cannot Tremble at God's Word his Judgements nor at the Apprehensions of Hell-fire Neither can he as he thinketh be sorry for these Things Now this is a sad Dispensation The Man under the Sixth Head complained for want of Temptations but thou hast enough of them Art thou glad of them Tempted Coming-Sinner They that never were Exercised with them may think it a fine thing to be within the Range but he that is there is ready to sweat Blood for Sorrow of Heart and to howl for Vexation of Spirit This man is in the Wilderness among the wild Beasts here he sees a Bear there a Lyon Yonder a Leopard a Wolf a Dragon Devils of all sorts doubts of all sorts Fears of all sorts Haunt and Molest his Soul Here he sees smoak yea feels fire and brimstone scattered upon his secret places he hears the sound of an Horrible Tempest O! My friends even the Lord Jesus that knew all things even He saw no pleasure in Temptations nor did He desire to be in them Wherefore one Text saith he was led and an other he was driven of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Mat. 4. 1. Mar. 1. 12. But to return Thus it happeneth sometimes to them that are coming to Jesus Christ. A sad hap indeed one would think that he that is flying from Wrath to come has little need of such Clogges as these And yet so it is and wofull experience proves it The Church of old Complained that her enemies over-took her between the straights Just between hope and fear Heaven and Hell Lam. 1. This man feeleth the infirmity of his flesh he findeth a proneness in himself to be desperate now he chides with God Flings and Tumbles like a Wild Bull in a net and still the guilt of all returns upon himself to the Crushing of him to peices Yet he feeleth his heart so hard that he can find as he thinks no kind falling under any of his Miscarriages Now he is a lump of confusion in his own eyes whose Spirit and Actions are without order Temptations serve the Christian as the Shepheards dogs serveth the silly sheep that is coming behind the flock he runs upon it pulls it down worry it wound it and grievously bedabbleth it with dirt and wet in the lowest places of the Furrows of the field And not leaving it untill it is half dead nor then neither except God rebuke Here is now room for fears of being cast away Now I see I am lost sayes the sinner This is not coming to Jesus Christ sayes the sinner such a desperate hard and wretched heart as mine is cannot be a gracious one saith the sinner And bid such an one be Better he sayes I cannot no I cannot Quest. But what will you say to a Soul in this condition Answ. I will say that Temptations have attended the best
is with one that can pity pray for pardon yea multiply pardons It is with one that can have Compassion upon us when we are out of the way with one that hath an heart to fetch us again when we are gone astray with one that can pardon without upbraiding Blessed be God that life is in Christ For Now 't is sure to all the seed But Fourthly This Doctrine of coming to Jesus Christ for life informs us of the evil of Unbelief that wicked thing that is the only or chief hindrance to the coming sinner Doth the Text say 〈◊〉 Doth it say And him that cometh I will in no wise cast out Then what an evil is that that keepeth sinners from coming to Jesus Christ And that evil is unbelief For by faith we come by Unbelief we keep away Therefore It is said to be that by which a Soul is said to depart from God because it was that which at first caused the world to go off from him and that also that keeps them from him to this day And it doth it the more easily because it doth it with a wile This sin may be called The White Devil for it often-times in its Mischievous doings in the Soul shews as if it was an Angel of Light Yea it Acteth like a Counsellor of Heaven Therefore a little to discourse of this evil disease First It is that sin above all others that hath some shew of reason in its attempts For it keeps the Soul from Christ by pretending its present unfitness and unpreparedness as want of more sense of sin want of more repentance want of more humility want of a more broken heart Secondly It is the sin that most Suiteth with the Conscience the Conscience of the coming sinner tells him that he hath nothing good that he stands inditable for Ten Thousand Tallents that he is a very ignorant blind and hard-hearted sinner unworthy to be once taken notice of by Jesus Christ And will you says Unbelief in such a case as you now are presume to come to Jesus Christ Thirdly It is the sin that most Suiteth with our Sense of feeling The coming sinner feels the workings of sin of all manner of sin and wretchedness in his flesh He also feels the Wrath and Judgement of God due to sin and oft-times staggers under it Now sayes unbelief you may see you have no grace for that which works in you is corruption You may also perceive that God doth not love you because the Sense of his Wrath abides upon you Therefore how can you bear the face to come to Jesus Christ Fourthly It is the sin above all others that most Suiteth with the Wisdom of our flesh the Wisdom of our flesh thinks it prudence to question a while to stand back a while to hearken to both sides a while and not to be rash sudden or unadvised in too bold a presuming upon Jesus Christ And this Wisdom Unbelief falls in with Fifthly It is that sin above all other that continually is whispering the Soul in the ear with mistrusts of the faithfulness of God in keeping promise to them that come to Jesus Christ for life It also suggesteth mistrust about Christs willingness to receive it and save it And no sin can do this so Artificiently as Unbelief Sixthly It is also that sin which is always at hand to enter an Objection against this or that Promise that by the Spirit of God is brought to our heart to comfort us and if the poor coming sinner is not aware of it it will by some evasion slite trick or cavil quickly wrest from him the Promise again and he shall have but little benefit of it Seventhly It is that above all other sins that weakens our Prayers our faith our love our diligence our hope and expectations It even taketh the heart away from God in duty Eightly Lastly This sin as I have said even now it appeareth in the Soul with so many sweet pretences to safety and security that it is as if it were Counsel sent from Heaven Biding the Soul be wise wary considerate well advised and to take heed of too rash a venture upon Believing Besure first that God loves you take hold of no promise untill you are forced by God unto it neither be you sure of your Salvation doubt it still though the testimony of the Lord has been often confirmed in you live not by faith but by sense and when you can neither see nor feel then fear and mistrust then doubt and question all This is the Devilish counsel of Unbelief which is so covered over with specious pretences that the wisest Christian can hardly shake off these reasonings But to be brief Let me here give thee Christian Reader a more particular description of the qualities of Unbelief by opposing Faith unto it in these Twenty five particulars First Faith believeth the word of God but Unbelief questioneth the certainly of the same Psal. 106. 24. Secondly Faith believeth the word because it is true but Unbelief doubteth thereof because it is true 1 Tim. 4. 3. Joh. 8. 45. Thirdly Faith sees more in a promise of God to help than in all other things to hinder But Unbelief notwithstanding Gods promise saith How can these things be Rom. 4. 19 20 21. 2 King 7. 2. Joh. 3. 4 12. Fourthly Fourthly Faith will make thee see love in the heart of Christ when with his mouth he giveth reproofs But Unbelief will imagine wrath in his heart when with his mouth and word he saith he loves us Mat. 15. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Numb 13. 2. chap. 14. 3. Fifthly Faith will help the Soul to wait though God deferres to give but Unbelief will take snuff and throw up all if God make any tarrying Psal. 25. 5. Isa. 8. 17. 2 King 6. 33. Psal. 106. 13 14. Sixthly Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears but Unbelief causeth fears in the midst of comfort 2 Chro. 20. 20 21. Mat. 8. 26. Luk. 24. 36 37. Seventhly Faith will suck sweetness out of Gods rod but Unbelief can find no comfort in his greatest mercies Psal. 23. 4. Numb 21. 5. Eighthly Faith maketh great burdens light but Unbelief maketh light ones intollerably heavy 2 Cor. 4. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Mal. 1. 2 13. Ninethly Faith helpeth us up when we are down but Unbelief throws us down when we are up Mich. 7. 8 9 10. Heb. 4. 11. Tenthly Faith bringeth us near to God when we are far from him but Unbelief puts us far from God when we are near to him Heb. 10 22. Chap. 3. 12 13. Eleventhly Where Faith reigns it declareth Men to be the Friends of God but where Unbelief reigns it declareth them to be his Enemies Jam. 5. 23. Heb. 3. 18. Rev. 21. 8. Twelfthly Faith putteth a Man under Grace but Unbelief holdeth him under Wrath Rom. 3. 24 25 26. Chap. 4 16. Ephes. 2. 8. Joh. 3. 36. 1 Joh. 5. 10. Heb. 3. 17. Mark 16.
16. Thirteenthly Faith purifieth the Heart but Unbelief keepeth it polluted and impure Acts 15. 9. Tit. 1. 15 16. Fourteenthly By Faith the Righteousness of Christ is imputed to us but by Unbelief we are shut up under the Law to Perish Rom. 4. 23 24. Chap. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 23. Fifteenthly Faith maketh our Work acceptable to God through Christ but whatsoever is of Unbelief is Sin For without Faith it is impossible to please him Heb. 11. 4. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6. Sixteenthly Faith giveth us Peace and Comfort in our Souls but Unbelief worketh Trouble and Tossings like the restless Waves of the Sea Rom. 5. 1. Jam. 1. 6. Seventeenthly Faith makes us see Preciousness in Christ but Unbelief sees no Form Beauty or Comlyness in him 1 Pet. 2. 7. Isa. 53. 1 2 3. Eighteenthly By Faith we have our Life in Christ's Fulness but by Unbelief we starve and pine away Gal. 2. 20. Nineteenthly Faith giveth us the Victory over the Law Sin Death the Devil and all Evils but Unbelief layeth us Obnoxious to them all 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. Luk. 12. 46. Twentyeth Faith will shew us more Excellency in Things not seen than in them that are but Unbelief sees more in Things that are here than in Things that will be here-after 2 Cor. 4. 18. Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Twenty-First Faith maketh the Ways of God pleasant and amiable but Unbelief maketh them heavy and hard Gal. 5. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 10 11. Joh. 6. 60. Psal. 2. 3. Twenty-Second By Faith Abraham Isaac and Jacob possessed the Land of Promise But because of Unbelief neither Aaron nor Moses nor Mirian could get thither Heb. 11. 9. Heb. 3. 19. Twenty-Third By Faith the Children of Israel passed through the Red Sea but by Unbelief the Generality of them perished in the Wilderness Heb. 11. 29. Jude 5. Twenty-Fourth By Faith Gidion did more with Three-hundred men and a few empty Pitchers than all the Twelve Tribes could do because they believed not God Judg. 7. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Numb 14. 11 44. Twenty-Fifth By Faith Peter walked on the Water but by Unbelief he began to sink Mat. 14. 21 22 23 24 Thus might many more be added which for brevity sake I omit Beseeching every one that thinketh he hath a Soul to Save or be Damned to take heed of Unbelief Lest seeing there is a Promise left us of Entering into his Rest any of us by Unbelief should indeed come short of it The Second Use a Use of Examination WE come now to a Use of Examination Sinner Thou hast heard of the Necessity of Coming to Christ also Of the Willingness of Christ to Receive the coming-Coming-Soul Together with the Benefit that They by him shall have that indeed come to Him Put thy self now upon this Serious Enquiry Am I indeed come to Jesus Christ Motives plenty I might here urge to prevail with thee to a Conscientious Performance of this Duty As 1. Thou art in Sin in the Flesh in Death in the Snare of the Devil and under the Curse of the Law if thou art not coming to Jesus Christ. 2. There is no way to be delivered from these but by coming to Jesus Christ. 3. If thou comest Jesus Christ will Receive thee and will in no wise cast thee out 4. Thou wilt not Repent it in the Day of Judgement if now thou comest to Jesus Christ. 5. But thou wilt surely Mourn at last if now thou shalt refuse to come And 6. Lastly Now thou hast been invited to come now will thy Judgment be greater and thy Damnation more fearful if thou shalt yet Refuse than if thou hadst never heard of Coming to Christ. Object But we hope we are come to Jesus Christ Answ. 'T is well if it proves so But lest thou should speak without Ground and so fall unawares into Hell Fire Let us Examine a little First Art thou indeed come to Jesus Christ What hast thou left behind thee What didst thou come away from in thy Coming to Jesus Christ When Lot came out of Sodom he left the Sodomites behind him Gen. 19. When Abraham came out of Chaldea he left his Country and Kindred behind him Gen. 12. Acts 7. When Ruth came to put her Trust under the Wings of the Lord God of Israel she left her Father and Mother her Gods and the Land of her Nativity behind her Ruth 1. 15 16 17. Chap. 2. 11 12. When Peter came to Christ he left his Nets behind him Mat. 4. 18. When Zacheus came to Christ he left the Receipt of Custom behind him Luk. 19. When Paul came to Christ he left his own Righteousness behind him Philip 3. 7 8. When those that used Curious Arts came to Jesus Christ they took their Curious Books and burned them though in another Man's Eye they were counted worth Fifty-Thousand Peices of Silver Acts 19. 18 19 20. What say'st thou Man Hast thou left thy Darling Sins thy Sodomitish Pleasures thy Acquaintance and vain Companions thy unlawful Gain thy Idol Gods and Righteousness and thy unlawful Curious Arts behind thee If any of these be with thee and thou with them in thy Heart and Life thou art not yet come to Jesus Christ. Secondly Art thou come to Jesus Christ Prethee tell me VVhat moved hee come to Jesus Christ Men do not usually come or go to this or that Place before they have a Moving Cause or rather a Cause moving them thereto No more do they come to Jesus Christ I do not say before they have a Cause but before that Cause moveth them to come What say'st thou Hast thou a Cause moving thee to come To be at present in a State of Condemnation is Cause sufficient for Men to come to Jesus Christ for Life But that will not do except that Cause move them the which it will never do until their Eyes be opened to see themselves in that Condition For it is not a Man's being under Wrath but his seeing it that moveth him to come to Jesus Christ. Alas All Men by Sin are under Wrath yet but few of that All came to Jesus Christ And the Reason is because they do not see their Condition Who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come Mat. 3. 7. Until Men are warned and also receive the VVarning they will not come to Jesus Christ. Take three or four Instances for this 1. Adam and Eve came not to Jesus Christ until they Received the Alarum the Conviction of their Undone State by Sin Gen. 3. 2. The Children of Israel cryed not out for a Mediator before they saw themselves in danger of Death by the Law Exod. 20. 18 19. 3. Before the Publican came he saw himself lost and undone Luk 18. 13. 4. The Prodigal came not until he saw Death at the Door ready to devour him Luk. 15. 17 18. 5. The Three-Thousand came not until they knew not what to do to be Saved Acts 2.
thou hast found glory in him glory that Surmounts and goes beyond Thou art more glorious than the mountaines of pray Psal. 76. 4. Fifthly What shall I say thou hast found Righteousness in him Thou hast found rest peace delight Heaven glory and eternal life Sinner be advised Ask thy heart again saying Am I come to Jesus Christ For upon this one question Am I Come or am I Not Hangs Heaven and Hell as to thee If thou canst say I am come and God shall approve that saying Happy Happy Happy man art thou but if thou art not come what can make thee happy Yea what can make that man Happy that for his not coming to Jesus Christ for life must be damned in Hell The Third Use a Use of Encouragement COming Sinner I have now a word for thee be of good comfort He will in no wise cast out Of all men thou art the blessed of the Lord the the Father hath prepared his Son to be a Sacrifice for thee and Jesus Christ thy Lord is gone to prepare a place for thee Joh. 1. 29. Heb. 10. Joh. 14. What shall I say to thee thou comest to a full Christ thou canst not want any thing for Soul or body for this World or that to come but it is to be had in or by Jesus Christ As it is said of the Land that the Dannits went to possess So and with much more truth it may be said of Christ He is such an one with whom there is no want of any good thing that is in Heaven or earth A Full Christ is thy Christ. First He is full of Grace Grace is sometimes taken for love and take it so here He is full of love never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathans love went beyond the love of Women but the love of Christ passes knowledge It is beyond the love of all the Earth of all Creatures even of Men and Angels His love prevailed with him to lay aside his Glory to leave the Heavenly place to cloth himself with flesh to be born in a Stable to be laid in a Manger to live a poor life in the World to take upon him our sicknesses infirmities sins curse Death and the Wrath that was due to man And all this he did for a base undeserving unthankfull people yea for a people that was at Enmity with him For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Much more then being now justified we shall be saved by his life For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 6 7 8 9 10. Secondly He is full of Truth Full of grace and truth Truth that is faithfulness in keeping promise even this of the Text with all other I will in no wise cast out Hence it is said that his words be true and that he is the faithfull God that keepeth covenant And hence it is also that his promise is called Truth Thou wilt fulfill thy truth unto Jacob and thy mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our Fathers from the days of old Therefore it is said again that both himself and words are Truth I am the Truth the Scriptures of Truth thy Word is Truth thy Law is the Truth and my mouth aith he shall speak truth Joh. 14. 6. Dan. 10. 21. Joh. 17. 17. 2 Sam. 7. 28. Pro. 8. 7. Psal. 119. 142. Eccles. 12. 10. Isa. 25. 1. Mal. 2. 6. Acts 26. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 12 13. Now I say his word is truth and he is full of truth to fulfill his truth even to a Thousand Generations Coming sinner he will not deceive thee come boldly to Jesus Christ. Thirdly He is full of Wisdome He is made unto us of God Wisdome Wisdome to manage the affairs of his Church in general and the affairs of every coming sinner in particular And upon this account he is said to be head over all things 1 Cor. 1. Ephes. 1. Because he manages all things that are in the world by his Wisdom for the good of his Church all mens Actions all Satans Temptations all Gods Providences all Crosses Disappointments all things what ever are under the hand of Christ Who is the Wisdom of God and he ordereth them all for good to his Church And can Christ help it and be sure he can nothing shall happen or fall out in the world but it shall in despite of all opposition have a good tendency to his Church and people Fourthly He is full of the Spirit to communicate it to the coming Sinner he hath therefore received it without measure that he may communicate it to every member of his body according as every mans measure thereof is allotted him by the Father Wherefore he saith that he that comes to him Out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living water Joh. 3. 34. Tit. 3. 5 6. Acts 1. Joh. 7. 31 32 34 35 36 37 38. Fifthly He is indeed a store-house full of all the graces of the Spirit Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Here is more Faith more Love more Sincerity more Humility more of every Grace and of this even more of this he giveth to every Lowly Humble Penitent coming Sinner wherefore coming Soul thou comest not to a barren wilderness when thou comest to Jesus Christ John 1. 16. Sixthly He is full of Bowels and Compassion And they shall feel and find it so that come to him for Life He can bear with thy Weaknesses he can pity thy Ignorance he can be touched with the Feeling of thine Infirmities he can affectionately forgive thy Transgressions he can heal thy Back slidings and Love thee Freely His Compassions fail not And he will not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax He can pity them that no Eye pities and be afflicted in all thy Afflictions Mat. 26. 41. Heb. 5 2. Chap. 2. 18 19. Mat 9. 2. Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 5 6. Isa. 63. 9. Psal. 78. 38. Psal. 86. 15. Psal. 111. 4. Psal. 112. 4. Lam. 3. 22. Isa. 42. 3. Seventhly Coming Soul the Jesus that thou art coming to is full of Might and Terribleness for thy Advantage He can suppress all thine Enemies He is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth He can bow all Men's Designes for thy Help He can break all Snares laid for thee in the Way He can lift thee out of all Difficulties where-with thou may'st be surrounded He is Wise in Heart and Mighty in Power Every Life under Heaven is in his Hand yea the Faln Angels tremble before him And he will save thy Life Coming-Sinner 1 Cor. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 28. 18. Rev. 15.
abide to come because thy Deeds were Evil But being now Illuminated and made to see what and where thou art and also what and where thy Saviour is Now thou art coming to Jesus Christ. Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona for Flesh and Blood hath at Revealed it unto thee said Christ but my Father which is in Heaven Matth. 16. 15 16. Thirdly Art thou coming this is because God has Inclined thine heart to come God hath called thee illuminated thee and inclined thy heart to come and therefore thou comest to Jesus Christ. It is God that worketh in thee to Will and to come to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner bless God for that he hath given thee a Will to come to Jesus Christ. It is a Sign that thou belongest to Jesus Christ because God has made thee willing to come to him Psal. 110. 3. Bless God for slaying the enmity of thy mind had he not done it thou wouldest as yet have hated thine own Salvation Fourthly Art thou coming to Jesus Christ it is God that giveth thee Power power to pursue thy Will in the matters of thy Salvation is the gift of God 'T is God that worketh in you both to Will and to Do Phil. 2. 13. not that God worketh Will to come where he gives no power but thou shouldest take notice that power is an aditional Mercy The Church saw that will and power were two things when She cried Draw me we will run after thee Song 1. 4. and so did David too when he said I will run the ways of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart Will to come and power to pursue thy will is a double Mercy coming Sinner Fifthly All thy strange passionate sudden rushings forward after Jesus Christ coming Sinners know what I mean they also are thy helps from God Perhaps thou feelest at sometimes more than at others strong stirrings up of heart to fly to Jesus Christ now thou hast at this time a sweet and stiff gale of the Spirit of God filling thy sails with the fresh gales of his good Spirit and thou ridest at those times as upon the wings of the wind being carried out beyond thy self beyond the most of thy prayers and also above all thy fears and temptations Sixthly coming Sinner hast thou not now and then a kiss of the sweet lips of Jesus Christ I mean some blessed word droping like an Honey-Comb upon thy Soul to revive thee when thou art in the midst of thy dumps Seventhly Does not Jesus Christ sometimes give thee a glimps of himself though perhaps thou seest him not so long a time as while one may tell twenty Eighthly Hast thou not sometimes as it were the very warmth of his wings over-shadowing the face of thy Soul that gives thee as it were a gload upon thy Spirit as the bright beams of the Sun do upon thy body when it suddenly breaks out in the midst of a cloud though presently all is gone again Well all these things are the good hand of thy God upon thee and they are upon thee to constrain to provoke and to make thee willing and able to come coming Sinner that thou mightest in the end be Saved FINIS ERRATA PAge 17. Line 30. for given Read giver p 19. l. 6. f. his r. this p. 20. l 8. f. my r. may p. 22. l. 22. f. those r. these p. 23. l. 27. f. Satan r. some p. 24. l. 25. f. me r. one p. 27. l. 5. f. changing r. cleansing p 32. l 12. f. his r. this p 33. l. 1. after is add to p. 33 l. 15. after medle r. with these p. 43. l. 8. f. pre r. present p. 78. l 2. after force r. to come p. 116. l. 7. before give r. to p. 138. l. 13. f. above r. alone p. 183. l. 14. after not r. to p. 184. l. 19. f. between r. be p. 187. l. 22. after Judge r. no.
that Christ is willing to his power to receive him and since he hath power also to do what he will there is no ground at all left to the coming sinner any more to doubt but to come in full hope of acceptance and of being received unto grace and mercy And him that cometh He saith not And him that is Come but and him that Cometh that is and him whose heart begins to move after me who is leaving all for my sake him who is looking out who is on his Journey to me We must therefore distinguish betwixt coming and being come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to him has attained of him more sensibly what he felt before he wanted than he has that but yet is coming to him A Man that is come to Christ hath the advantage of him that is but coming to him and that in seven things First He that is come to Christ is nearer to him than he that is but coming to him for he that is but coming to him is yet in some sense at a distance from him as it is said of the coming prodigal And while he was yet a great way off Luk. 15. Now he that is nearer to him hath the best sight of him and so is able to make the best Judgement of his wonderful grace beauty as God saith Let them come near then let them speak And as the Apostle John saith And we have seen and do testifie that God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world Isa. 41. 1. 1 Joh. 4. 14. He that is not yet come though he is a-coming is not fit not being indeed capable to make that Judgement of the worth and glory of the Grace of Christ as he is that is come to him and hath seen and beheld it Secondly He that is come to Christ has the advantage of him that is but coming in that he is eased of his burden for he that is but coming is not Mat. 11. 28. He that is come has cast his burden upon the Lord by Faith he hath seen himself released thereof but he that is but coming hath it yet as to sense and feeling upon his own shoulders Come unto me all ye that Labor and are heavy Laden implies that their burden though they are coming is yet upon them and so will be till indeed they are come to him Thirdly He that is come to Christ has the advantage of him that is but coming in this also namely He hath drank of the Sweet and Soul-refreshing Water of Life but he that is but coming hath not If any man thirst let him Come unto me and drink Mark he must Come to him before he drinks according to that of the Prophet Ho every one that thirsteth Come ye to the Waters He drinketh not as he cometh but when he is come to the Waters Joh. 7. 37. Isa. 45. 1. Fourthly He that is come to Christ hath the advantage of him that as yet is but coming in this also to wit He is not so terrified with the noise and as I may call it Hue and Cry which the Avenger of blood makes at the heels of him that yet is but coming to him When the Slayer was upon his flight to the City of his refuge he had the noise or fear of the Avenger of blood at his heels but when he was come to the City and was entred there-into that noise ceased Even so it is with him that is but coming to Jesus Christ he heareth many a dreadful Sound in his ears sounds of death and damnation which he that is come is at present freed from Therefore he saith Come and I will give you rest And so he saith again We that have believed do enter into rest as he said c. Now the believing there intended is a believing on Christ as come unto him for rest is only found in him by them that are Come to him Fifthly He therefore that is come to Christ is not so subject to those dejections and castings down by reason of the rage and assaults of the evil one as is the man that is but coming to Jesus Christ tho he has Temptations too And while he was yet a coming the Devil threw him down and Lore him Luk. 9. 42. For he has though Satan still Roareth upon him those experimental comforts and refreshments to wit in his treasury to present himself with in times of Temptation and Conflict which he that is but coming has not Sixthly He that is come to Christ has the advantage of him that is but coming to him in this also to wit He hath upon him the Wedding Garment c. But he that is coming has not The Prodigal when coming home to his Father was cloathed with nothing but Rags and was tormented with an empty belly but when he was come the best Robe is brought out also the Gold Ring and the shooes yea they are put upon him to his great rejoycing The fatted Calf was killed for him the musick was struck up to make him merry and thus also the Father himself Sang of him This my Son was dead and is alive again was lost and is found Luk. 15. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. Seventhly In a word he that is come to Christ his groans and tears his doubts and fears are turned into Songs and Praises for that he hath now received the atonement and the earnest of his inheritance But he that is but yet a coming hath not those Praises nor Songs of deliverance with him nor has he as yet received the atonement and earnest of his Inheritance which is the Sealing testimony of the Holy Ghost through the sprinkling of the Blood of Christ upon his Conscience for he is not come Rom. 5. 11. Ephes. 1. 13. Heb. 12. 22 23 24. And him that Cometh There is further to be gathered from this word Cometh these following particulars First That Jesus Christ hath his Eye upon and takes notice of the First Moving of the Heart of a Sinner after himself Coming-Sinner thou canst not move with Desires after Christ but he sees the Working of those Desires in thy Heart All my Desires said David are before thee and my Groanings are not hid from thee Psal. 38. 9. This he spake as he was coming after he had back sliden to the Lord Jesus Christ. ' Tis-said of the Prodigal That while he was yet a great way off his Father saw him had his Eye upon him and upon the going out of his Heart after him Luk. 15. 20. When Nathaniel was come to Jesus Christ the Lord said unto them that stood before him Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no Guile But Nathaniel answered him Whence knowest thou me Jesus answered Before that Philip called thee when thou wast under the Fig-Tree I saw thee There I suppose Nathaniel was pouring out of his Soul to God for Mercy or that he would give him good Understanding about the Messias to come