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.

Ʋse 1.

You see what Christ saith in the Text, That man that comes unto me shall drink. My drift in

this Application shall be to press this Invitation of Jesus Christ. Be it known unto you Men and Women, young men and old, and children, that are capable of knowledge, Know it, that Jesus Christ doth invite every one of you that stands before him in this Ordinance, to come unto him and draw water out of this Well of salvation. It is a strong invitation that whosoever comes to him shall drink of this water of life; Let me say unto you as Moses said unto the Children of Is∣rael, Deut. 32.46. And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the Words that I testify among you this day, Set your hearts to this Invitation of Jesus Christ, to the Word that is now sounding in your ears, for it is your life, Jesus Christ doth bring eternal life to your doors, to your hearts, do not look upon them as if they were words of course and wind, as if there were no truth or re∣ality in them.

Brethren, I suppose now, if a friend should in∣vite you to a Dinner or a Supper, you would be∣lieve that he were real, and you are ready to ac∣cept of his invitation, because you think he means, as he saith; Why so now, be it known unto you that Jesus Christ doth make an invitation to all here, every one in the Congregation this day, to come unto him, and you shall have a supply of this water of life. Suppose now, that Jesus Christ were here present speaking these words, as he did with his own mouth in the hearing of thousands, and suppose now, that if Jesus Christ were here in his bodily presence, do you not think you should believe? and give entertainment to what he spake? behold Jesus Christ now speaks in his

Word to all that are here present (as he spake to all that were present then) and makes proclama∣tion, saying, Is any man athirst? is there any that do desire this water of life? that do desire to have their sins pardoned and forgiven them? that do desire to be freed from condemnation, that do desire to be adopted Sons and Daughters of God, to have peace with God, to have comfort and consolation in life and death, and to have e∣verlasting, eternal glory, when life shall be no more? Know, Jesus Christ holds forth all this, whatsoever is requisite to eternal life, Jesus Christ doth invite you to this, and holds forth and pro∣miseth to give a full draught of it to all that ever will come to him; Therefore let no poor soul lay impediments and blocks in its own way to hinder him from coming unto Jesus Christ.