The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.

Answer.

To open this a little. This same coming to Christ (I would speak it as plainly as possibly I could, and not as a riddle, or fancy, or notion) 'Tis an hearkening to Christ in a Word of Pro∣mise, and the soul is therein to venture it self, and rely on or upon him in that Word which he holds

forth, and when the soul doth venture and close with all, this is now a coming unto Christ; when the Lord gives out an invitation, a gracious Pro∣mise, which holds out mercy and eternal life, and in the hearing of it the Lord perswades the soul of the truth and reality of it, it is perswaded to trust in it, to rely upon it, and to expect an accom∣plishment and performance of it. And because I would not speak it as mine own words alone, I speak it as the Virgin Mary did when the Angel came to her, Luke 1.38. Then said Mary, Be∣hold the Servant of the Lord, be it unto me accord∣ing to thy Word: This was now a believing, a trusting, and a relying on the Word of the Lord, she was a Virgin, and the Angel answered her in that, as she had no more to say, but to rely up∣on the Word of Promise, Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word; whence was it? it was from this speech, the holy confidence and expectation of the fulfilling of that promise to her. And so, effectual calling is an hearkening unto the Lords call, the soul be∣ing perswaded to receive the Word, closing with, returning answer to the Word, then the soul is effectually called. So also there is an ineffectual Call, unto which the soul doth not answer, but looks upon the Word of the Lord by his Servants, as words of wind, and words of course, but as this same accepting of this gracious invitation, and promise which he holds forth, is effectual calling, why so, the neglecting of these, I say, is a refusing to hear him that speaks from Heaven. Take heed that you do not refuse him that speaks from Heaven, that is, now when the Lord

speaks in his invitation by gifts and outward call∣ing; this invitation being propounded and made, and men make light of, it is an ineffectual calling; so now when upon the invitation of the call of the Lord in his promise, there is an yielding obe∣dience unto that call in faith, it's called the obe∣dience of Faith, Rom. 16.26. When the soul doth yield unto the Lord in the voice of the Promise, close withal, and receive and embrace it, looking upon it as worthy of all acceptation, receiving it with both hands, as it were; when the soul doth thus venture to rely upon the Word, venturing it self upon the Lord in his Promise, that if I perish, I will perish there, I will venture my self upon the Lords Word and Faithfulness. This is effectual Calling, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know, saith Paul, in whom I have belie∣ved, and I am perswaded, that he will keep that good thing which I have committed unto him against that day; I have committed my soul concern∣ments unto him, and I trust them in his armes. When the soul doth venture thus upon the gracious Word of invitation, doth receive it, and committeth it self unto the Lord in it, this is a closing with Christ, and the anwer of the heart unto the Lords call; and this is a coming unto Christ. So that when you ven∣ture upon the Lord in his Word, you close with him in it, it is soon said, yea soon done, the soul may come, and close with Christ in the Promise, and that soon too, so pass from death unto life: Therefore ask your own hearts in the Presence of the Lord, seeing Jesus Christ doth make such a gracious Invi∣tation

for to come unto him, and venture upon him in his Word, whether it can be free and ready to say, now Lord let it be according to thy Word to me: say in this manner, as in the pre∣sence of the Lord, Lord, upon this gracious invitation of thine in the Gospel, I desire to rest and hope upon the faithfulness of thy Word, and to accept thereof, and trust in it; Can you say it in the presence of the Lord, you, who∣soever you are that seem to be afar off, though possibly you might have had some glimmering hopes, hoping sometimes, that the Lord would be merciful to you, and presently fearing your eternal condition. Well, I speak it to you that are old men and women, and possibly old sinners, that have lived in sin all your lives long, and possibly are even hopeless in your selves, and ready to cast out words of despair, and so in a hopeless condition in your selves, to you the Lord this day calls to come in unto him, and to hearken to this invitation, and if you now come unto him, you shall have of the water of life. And you young Men and Maids, (I would leave out none, who are capable of partaking of this water of life) consider the Question again, Are you willing to be saved? Let your hearts speak it out between the Lord and your own souls, upon this Word of thy grace unto which thou hast invited me, this gra∣cious Promise, I do now commit my soul to thee, and rely upon this thy Word of Grace, and rely upon thy faithfulness to accomplish it to me; and have your souls thus answered unto the Lord? let it be unto me according

to thy Word: let me say it in the name of the Lord unto you, This day is salvation come unto thy soul, this day hath Jesus Christ given eternal life unto thy soul, this day the Lord hath ta∣ken thee into Covenant with himself, and hath vouchsafed thee to be his. And I speak it in the authority which Jesus Christ hath given me in his word, even every one that thus comes to Christ, accepting of this his gracious pro∣mise, I say it, thy sins are forgiven thee, re∣lying upon him in the Faithfulness of his Word, and Promise, I say, the Lord Jesus Christ hath forgiven thy sins, and you may go home, and record it for a Memorial, that this day, at such a time, the Lord hath drawn out my soul, to make a close with himself; and now eternal life is come unto thee, the Lord hath forgiven thy sins, and now thou art passed from death to life. Let me make the offer again unto such poor sinners as have held out all this time, and have not laid hold upon this gracious invitation, made by Jesus Christ, that will yet venture the Lord, perswading your hearts, though possibly you have been enemies, and opposers, and possibly might come to oppose and catch, and though never so far off, and lost in your selves, yet notwithstanding hearken to this invita∣tion, that if the Lord doth perswade your hearts to say solemnly and seriously, Lord, upon this Word of thy gracious Promise and Invitation, I do now desire to trust and to venture upon thy Word, and do expect the performance and accomplishment of thy Word,

that now it may be given out to thee, that so you also might be brought in unto Christ, to partake of this water of life.