Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. Or, A plain and profitable discourse on John VI. verse xxxvii. Shewing, the cause, truth and manner of the coming of a sinner to Jesus Christ; with his happy reception, and blessed entertainment. / Written by John Bunyan, author of the Pilgrim's progress. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]

COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST.

JOHN VI. xxxvii.

All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me, I will in no will wise cast out.

A Little before in this Chapter, you may read. That the Lord Jesus walked on the Sea, to go to Capernaum, having sent his Disciples before in a Ship, •• but the Wind was contrary, by which means the Ship was hindred in her Passage. Now, a|bout the fourth watch of the Night▪ Jesus came walking upon the Sea, and overtok them▪ at the sight of whom they were afraid,

Note, When Providences are black and terri|ble to God's People, the Lord Jesus shews him|self to them in a wonderful Manner; which sometimes they can as little bear, as they can the things that were before terrible to them. They were afraid of the Wind & Water; they we••e also afraid of their Lord & Saviour, when he appeared to them in that state.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 he said, Be not afraid, it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Note, That the End of the appearing of the Lord Jesus unto his People, (though the manner of his appearing be never so terrible) is to al|lay their Fears and Perplexities.

Then they received him into the Ship, & im|mediately the Ship was at Land whither it went.

Note, When Christ is absent from his People, they go on but slowly & with great difficulty; but when he joineth himself unto them; Oh! how fast they steer their Course; how soon are they at their Journeys end.

The People now, among whom he last Preach|ed, when they saw that both Jesus was gone & his Disciples, they also took Shipping, & came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him, they wondringly ask'd him, Rab|bi, When camest thou hither? But the Lord Jesus slighting their Complement, answer'd, Verily, ve|rily, ye seek me not, because ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat of the Loaves, and were filled.

Note, A People may follow Christ far, for base Ends, as these went after him beyond Sea for Loaves: A Man's Belly may carry him a great way in Religion; yea, a Man's Belly will make him venture far for Christ.

Note again, They are not feigning Comple|ments, but gracious Intentions, that crown the Work in the Eye of Christ: Or thus, It is not the Toil & Business of Professors, but their Love to him, that makes him approve of them.

Note again, When Men shall look for friend|ly Entertainment at Christ's Hand, (if their Hearts be rotten) even then will they mee•• with a Check and Rebuke, Ye seek me not becaus•• ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat of th•• ••oaves and were filled.

Yet observe again, he doth not refuse to giv•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these, good Counsel; he bids them Labou•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Meat that endureth to eternal Life. O 〈…〉〈…〉 would Jesus Christ have even those Pro+fessor

that come to him with Pretences only, come to him sincerely, that they may be saved.

The Text, you will find, is after much more Discourse with, & about this People; and it is uttered by the Lord Jesus, at the Conclusion of the whole; & intimateth, that since they were Professors in Patience only, & therefore such as his Soul could not delght in, as such, that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As if he should say, I am not like to be honour'd in your Salvation; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a Peeple, & they shall come to me in Truth, & in them will I be satisfy'd. The Text before may be called Christ's Repose; in the fulfilling whereof he rested himself content, after much Labour, and many Sermons spent, as i•• were in vain. As he saith by the Prophet, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for n••ught, and in vain, Isa. 49.4.

But as he saith there, My Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work with my God: So in the Text he saith; All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise c•••••• out. By these Words therefore, the Lord Jes•••• comforteth himself under the Consideration of the Dissimulation of some of his Followers. He also thus betook himself to rest under the Con|sideration of the little effect that his Ministry ••ad in Capernaum, Corazin & Bet••sa••da▪ I thank once, O Father, said he, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hid these things from the Wise are Prudent, and hast revealed them to Babes, even so, Fa|ther, for so it seemed good in thy fight. Mat. 11.25. Luke 10.31.

The Text, in the general standeth of two parts

and hath special respect to the Father and the Son; as also to their joynt Management of the Salvation of the People. All that the Father gi|veth me, shall come to me; and he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

The first part of the Text (as is evident) respecteth the Father, & his Gift; the other part, the Son, and the Reception of his Gift.

First, For the Gift of the Father, there is this to be Considered; to wit,

The Gift it self; and that is a Gift of cer|tain Persons to the Son. The Father giveth, and that Gift shall come: And him that co|meth: The Gift then is of Persons; The Fa|ther giveth Persons to Jesus Christ.

Secondly Next you have the Son's Reception of this Gift, and that it sheweth it self in these Particulars.

1. In the hearty Acknowledgment of it to be a Gift: The Father giveth me.

2. In his Resolution to bring them to Him|self; All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me.

3. And in his determining, that not any thing shall make him dislike them in their coming: And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

These things might be spoken to at large, as they are in this Method presented to view; but I shall choose to speak to these Words;

1. By way of Explication.

2. By way of Observation.

First, By way of Explication; (All) that the Father giveth me. This Word All is often used in Scripture, and is to be taken more largely, or more strictly, even as the Truth or Argu|ment, for the sake of which it is made use for, will bear: Wherefore, that we may the better

understand the mind of Christ in the use of i•• here, we must consider, that it is limited & re+strained only to those that shall be saved, to wit, to those that shall come to Christ, even to thos•• whom he will in no wise cast out. Thus also th•• Words All Israel is sometimes to be taken; (tho' sometimes it is taken for the whole Family of Jacob) And so All Israel shall be saved. Rom. 11. By All Israel here he intendeth not All of Israel in the largest sense; for they are not All Isra•••• which are of Israel, neither because they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Seed of Abraham, are they all Children; B•• in Isaac shall thy Seed be called; that is, they wh•••• are the Children of the Flesh, these are not th•• Children of God, but the Children of the Pro+mise are counted for the Seed. Rom. 9 6, 7,

The word (All) therefore, must be limited enlarged, as the Truth & Argument, for the sak•• of which it is used, will bear; else we shall a|buse Scriptures, and Readers, & our Selves, and All. And I, if I be lifted up from the Earth, sai•• Christ, will draw All Men after Me. John 12.3•• Can any Man imagine that by all, in this place he should mean all and every individual Ma•• in the World; and that not rather that all i•• consonant to the scope of the Place? And if b•• being lift up from the Earth, he means as it should seem his being taken up into Heaven; & if, by drawing all Men after Him, he meant a drawing them into that Place of Glory: then must be mean by all Men, those & only those that shall in Truth be eternally Saved from the Wrath to come: For God hath concluded them all in Unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon all, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11.52. Hence again you have all and all, two alls; but yet a great desparity between the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

made mention of in the first place, and that all made mention of in the second. Those intend|ed in this Text are the Jews, even all of them, by the S•••••• (all) that you find in the Words. The second all doth also intend the same Peo|ple; but yet only so many of them as God will have Mercy upon. He hath concluded them all in Unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon all. The all also in the Text is likewise to be limi|ted and restrained to the Saved, and to them only. But again.

The Word (giveth) or hath given, must be re|strained after the same manner, to the same li|mited Number. All that the Father giventh Me; ••o•• all that are seven. If you take the Gift of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Father to the Son in the largest sense; for •• that sense, there are many given to him, ••ot shall never come unto him; yea, many we given unto him, that he will cast out. I ••all therefore first shew you the Truth of ••is, and then in what sense the Gift of the Text must be taken.

First, T•••••• all things are given to Christ, if o•• take the Gift of the Father to him in the ••rgest sense, cannot be intended in the Text, •• evident.

1. Because then all the Men, yea, all the things in the World must be saved All things, Faith he, are delivered unto me by the Father, Mat. 11.17. This I think, no rational Man in the World will conclude. Therefore the Gif••••••|••ended in the T••••s, must be restrained ••o some to a Gift that's given by way of speciality by the Father to the Son.

2. It must not be taken for all that, in any sense, are given by the Father to him; because

the Father hath given some, yea, many to him to be dash'd in pieces by him. Ask of me said the Father to him, and I will give thee the Hea|then for thine Inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession. But what must be done with them? Must he save them all? No, Thou shalt break them with a rod of Iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potter's Vessel, Psal. 2. This Method he useth not with them that he saveth by his Grace, but with those that Him|self and Saints shall rule over in Justice & Se|verity, Rev 2.26, 27. Yet, as you see, they are given to him. Therefore the Gift intended in the Text, must be restrained to some; to a Gift that is given by way of specialty by the Father to the Son.

In Psal 18 He saith plainly, that some are given to him, that he might destroy them; Thou hast given me the Necks of mine Enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me, ver. 40. These therefore cannot be of the Number of those that are said to be given in the Text; for those, even all of them, shall come to him, and he will in no wise cast them out.

3. Some are given to Christ, that he by them might bring about some of his high and deep Designs in the World. Thus Judas was given to Christ, viz That by him, even as he was de|termined before, he might bring about his Death, & so the Salvation of his Elect by his Blood. Yea, and Judas must so manage this Business, as that he may lose himself for ever in bringing it so to pass: Therefore the Lord Je|sus, even in his losing of Judas, applies himself to the Judgment of his Father, if he had not in that thing done that which was right, even

in ••••••••ring Judas so to bring about his Masters D••••ch, as that he might by so doing bring a|bout his own eternal Damnation.

Those said he, that thou gavest me have I kept, and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, John 17.12. Let us then grant that Judas was given to Christ, but not as others are given to him; nor of those made mention of in the Text; for then he should have failed to have been so received by Christ, and kept to eternal Life. Indeed he was given to Christ, but he was given to him to lose him in the way that I have mentioned be|fore; he was given to Christ, that he by him might bring about his own death, as was before determin'd, & that in the overthrow of him that did it. Yea, he must bring about his own Death, as was before determin'd; and that in the overthrow of him that did it: Yea, he must bring about his Dying for us, in the loss of the Instrument that betray'd him; that he might even fulfil the Scripture in his Destruction, as well as in the Salvation of the rest. And none of them is lost, but the Son of Perdi••••on▪ that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

The Gift therefore in the Text must not be taken in the largest Sense, but even as the Words will bear, viz. For such a Gift as he accepteth, and promiseth to be an effectual means of E|ternal Salvation to. All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out. Mark! They shall come that are in special given to Me; and they shall by no means be rejected; For this is the Sub|stance of the Text.

Those therefore intended, as the Gift in the

Text, are those that are given by Covenant to the Son; those that in other places are called the Elect, the Chosen, and the Sheep, and the Children of the Promise, &c.

These be they that the Father hath given to Christ to keep them; those that Christ hath pro|mised eternal Life unto; those to whom he hath given his Word, and that he will have with him in hi•• Kingdom, to behold his Glory.

This is the Wall of the Faather that hath sent me, that of those that he hath given me, I should lose no|thing, but should raise it up at the last Day, and I give unto them eternal Life, and they shall never Pe|rish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my Hand. My Father that gave them me, is greater than all; and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers Hand. As thou hast given him pow|er over all Flesh, that he should give eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy Word: I Pray for them: I Pray not for the World, but for those that thou hast given me, for they are thine; and all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am Glorified in them.

Keep through thine own Name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are Father, I will that those wh••r•• thou hast given me▪ may be with me where I am; that they may be, hold my Glory which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World, Joh. 6.39 Chap. 10 28. Chap. 17.26 9 10 24.

All these Sentences are of the same in port with the Text; and the Alls and Manys. These They, &c in these their several Sayings of Christ, are the same with all the Given in the Text. All that the Father giveth.

So that (as I said before) the Word all, as also other Words, must not be taken in such sort as our foolish Fancies, or groundless. Opinions will prompt us to; but do admit of an Enlargement, or Restriction, according to the true Meaning and Intent of the Text. We must therefore diligently consult the mean|ing of the Text, by comparing it with other the Sayings of God; so shall we be better a|ble to find out the Mind of the Lord in the Word which he hath given us to know it by.

As that the (Father) giveth.

By this word (Father) Christ describeth the Person giving; by which we may learn se|veral useful things: 1. That the Lord God & Fa|ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, is concerned with the Son, in the Salvation of his People. True, his Acts, as to our Salvation, are di|verse from those of the Son; he was not capable of doing that, or those things for us, as did the Son; he Died not, ••e spilt not his Blood for our Redemption, as the Son; but yet he hath a Hand, a great Hand in our Salvation too. As Christ saith, The F••|ther himself loveth you, and his love is ma|nifest in chusing of us, in giving us to his Son; yea, and in giving his Son also to be a Ransom for us. Hence he is called, The Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comforts▪ For here even the Father hath himself found out and made way for his Grace to come to us, th•••• the Sides and the Heart's Blood of his well belo|ved Son, Col. 1.12. The Father therefore is to be remembred and adored, as one having a chief Hand in the Salvation of Sinners: we ought to give Thanks to the Father, who

hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light; for the Fa|ther sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World, 1 John 4.14. Col. 1.2. As also we see in the Text, the Father giveth the Sinner to save him.

Secondly, Christ Jesus the Lord, by this word Father, would familiarize this Giver to us; Naturally the Name of God is dreadful to us, especially when he is discovered to us by these Names that declare his Justice, Holi|ness, Power, and Glory: But now this word Father, is a familiar Word, it frighteth not the Sinner, but rather inclineth his Heart to Love, & be pleased with the Remembrance of him Hence Christ also when he would have us to pray with godly Boldness, puts this word Father into our Mouths; saying. Our Father which art in Heaven; concluding thereby, that by the Familiarity that by such a Word is intima|ted, the Children of God may take more Bold|ness to pray for, & to ask great Things. I my self have often found, that when I can say, but this word Father it doth me more good, than when I call him by any other Scripture Name. 'Tis worth your noting, that to call God by his Re|lative Title, was rare among the Saints in Old Testament Times; seldom do you find him called by this Name; no sometimes not in three or four Books; but now in New Testament Times, he is ca••led by no Name so often as this, both by the Lord Jesus himself, and by the Apostles afterwards. Indeed the Lord Jesus was the first that made this Name common a|mong the Sun's, and that taught them both in their Discourses, their Prayers, & in their Wri|tings,

so much to use it; it being more plea|sing to, and discovering more plainly our Inte|rest in God, than any other Expression; for by this one Name we are made to understand, th•• all our Mercies are the Off-spring of God, and that we also that are called, are his Children by Adoption.

All that the Father (giveth)

This Word (giveth) is out of Christ's Ordi|nary Dialect; and seemeth to intimate at the first sound, as if the Father's Gift to the Son was not an Act that is past, but one that is present and continuing; when indeed this Gift was bestowed upon Christ, when the Covenant, the eternal Covenant was made between them before all Worlds. Wherefore in those other places, when this Gift is mentioned, it is still spoken of as an Act that is pass: As, All that he hath given me? To as many as thou hast given me: Thou gavest them me, and these which thou hast given me. Therefore of necessity this must be the first and chief sense of the T••xt. I mean of this (gi|veth) otherwise the Doctrine of Election, & of the eternal Covenant which was made between the Father and the Son (in which Covenant this Gift of the Father is most certainly com|prized) will be sh••ken, or at leastwise questionable by erroneous and wicked Men: For they may say, That the Father gave not all those to Christ that shall be saved before the World was made; or that this Act of giving is an Act of Continuation.

But again, this word (giveth) is not to be re|jected; for it hath its proper Use, and may signifie to us;

First, That though the Act of Giving among

Men doth admit of the Time past, or the Time to come, and is to be spoken of with Reference to such Time; yet with God it is not so. Things past, or things to come, are always present with God, & with his Son Jesus Christ: He calleth things that are not, (that is to us) as though they were. And again, Known unto God are all his Works from the Foundation of the World. All things to God are present, and so the Gift of the Father to the Son, although to us, as is mani|fest by the Word, it is an Act that is past, Rom. 4.17. Acts 15.10.

Secondly, Christ may express himself thus, to shew that the Father hath not only given him this Portion in the Lump, before the World was; but that those he had so given, he will give him again, that he will bring them to him at the time of their Conversion; for the Father bringeth them to Christ, John 6.44.

As it is said, She shall be brought unto the King in Raiment of Needle-work; that is, in the Righte|ousness of Christ; For it is God that imputeth that to those that are saved, Psal. 45.14. 1 Cor. 1.

A Man giveth his Daughter to such a Man first in order to Marriage, and this respects the time past, and he giveth her again at the Day appointed in Marriage: And in this last Sense, perhaps the Text may have a meaning; That is, That all that the Father hath (before the World was) given to Jesus Christ, he giveth ••hem them again to him, in the Day of their Espousals.

Things that are given among Men are oft-times, best at first, to wit, when they are new; and th•• reason is▪ because all earthly Things wax o••d; but with Christ it is not so: This

Gift of the Father is not old nor deformed, and unpleasant in his Eyes; and therefore to him 'tis always new. When the Lord spake of gi|ving the Land of Canaan to the Israelites, he saith not that he had give, or would give it them •• but thus, The Lord thy God giveth thee this good Land, Deut. 9 6. Not but that he had given it to them while they were in the Loins of their Fathers, Hundreds of Years before. Yet he saith now, he giveth it to them: as if they were now also in the very Act of taking Pos|session, when as yet they were on the other side Jordan. What then should be the meaning? Why, I take it to be this: That the Land should be to them always as new, as new; as if they were taking Possession thereof but now. And so is the Gift of the Father mentioned in the Text, to the Son; it is always new, as if it were always new.

All that the Father giveth (Me)

In these Words you find mention made of Two Persons, the Father and the Son; the Father giving, and the Son receiving, or ac|cepting of this Gift. This then in the first place, clearly demonstrateth, That the Father and the Son, tho' they, with the Holy Ghost are One and the same Eternal God; yet as their Personality are distinct. The Father is One, the Son is One, and the Holy Spirit as One. But because there is in this Text mention made but of Two of the Three, therefore •• word about these Two The Giver and Re|ceiver cannot be the same Person in a proper sense, in the same Act of Giving and Recei|ving He that giveth, giveth not to himself, but to another; the Father giveth no••

not to the Father, to w••t, to himself; but to the Son: So when the Father gi|veth Commandment, he giveth it not to himself, but to another; as Christ saith, He that giveth me Commandment, John 12.49 So again, I am one that beareth Witness of my self and the Father that sent me beareth Witness of me, John 10 18.

Further, Here is something implied that is not expressed, to wit, that the Father hath not given all Men to Christ; that is, in the sense as is intended in the Text; tho' in a larger, as was before, He hath given him every one of them; for then all should be saved: He hath therefore disposed of some another way. He gives some up to Idolatry; he gives some up to Unclean|ness, to vile Affections, and to a Reprobate Mind. Now these he disposeth of in his Anger, for their Destruction; (Acts 3.42. Rom. 1.24.26.28) That they may reap the Fruits of their Doings, and be filled with the Reward of their own Ways. But neithet hath he thus disposed of all Men; he hath even of Mercy reserved some from these Judgments, and those are they that he will par|don; as he saith, For I will pardon them whom I reserve, Jer. 50.20. Now these he hath given to Jesus Christ by Will as a Legacy and Portion. Hence the Lord Jesus says, This is the Father's Will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise is up again at the last Day, John 36 29.

The Father therefore, in giving of them to him to save them, must needs declare unto us these following Things:

1. That he is able to answer this Design of God, viz. To save them to the uttermost Sin, the uttermost Temptation, &c. Heb. 7.25. Hence

he is said to lay help upon one that is mighty migh|ty to save: And hence it is again, That God did even of old promise to send his People a Saviour, a great one, Psal. 9.16. Isa 63 1. To save is a great Work, and calls for Almightiness in the Under|taker: Hence he is called, The mighty God, the wonderful Counsell••r, &c. Sin is strong, Satan is also strong, Death and the Grave are strong, & so is the Curse of the Law; therefore it fol|lows, that this Jesus must needs be by God the Father accounted Almighty, in that he hath given his Elect to him to save them, & deliver them from these, and that an despite of all their Force and Power.

And he gave us Testimony of this his Might, when he was employed in that part of our De|liverance, that called for a Declaration of it. He abolished Death; he destroyed him that had the Power of Death; he was the Destruction of the Grave; he hath finished Sin, and made an end of it, as to its damning Effects upon the Persons that the Father hath given him; he hath vanquished the Curse of the Law, nailed it to his Cross, triumphed over them upon his Cross, and made a shew of these things openly, 2 Tim 1 10. Heb 2 14 15 Hos 13.14. Dan 9 24. Gal. •• 13 Co••. •• 15, 19 Yea, and even now, as a sign of his Triumph and Conquest. He is alive from the Dead, and hath the Keys of Hell and Death on his own keeping. Rev. 1.18.

The Father's giving of them to him to save them, declares unto us, that he is, and will be faithful in his Office of a Mediator▪ & that threfore they shall be secured from the Fruit & Wages of their Sins, which is eternal Damnation, by his faithful Execution of it. And indeed it is

said, even by the Holy Ghost himself, That he is faithful to him that appointed him, that is to this Work of saving those that the Father hath gi|ven him for that purpose; as Moses was faithful in all his House; yea, and more faithful too: for Moses was faithful in God's House, but as a Servant; but Christ as a Son, over his own House, Heb 3.

And therefore this Man is counted worthy of more Glory than Moses, even upon this ac|count, because more faithful than he, as well as because of the Dignity of his Person. There|fore in him and in his Truth and Faithfulness, God rested well pleased, and hath put all the Government of his People upon his shoulders. Knowing that nothing shall be wanting in him, that may any way perfect this Design. And of this He, to wit, the Son hath already given a proof; for when the time was come, that his Blood was, by Divine Justice required for their Redemption, Washing and Cleansing, He as freely poured out of his Heart, as if it had been Water out of a Vessel; not sticking to part with his own Life, that the Life which was laid up for his People in Heaven, might not fail to be bestowed upon them And upon this Account (as well as upon any other) it is that God calleth him his Righteous Servant, Isa. 53. for his Righteousness could never have been compleat, if he had not been to the uttermost faithful to the Work he undertook: It is also, because he is faithful and true, that in Righte|ousness he doth judge, and make Work for his People's Deliverance He will faithfully per|form this trust reposed in him: The Father knows this, and hath therefore given his Elect, unto him.

Thirdly. The Father's giving of them to His to save them, declares that he is, and will be gentle and patient towards them, under all the•••• Provocations and Miscarriages. It is not to •• imagined the Tryals and Provocations that t•••• Son of God hath all along had with these Peo|ple, that have been given to him that save them: Indeed he is said to be a tried Stone for He has been tried, not only by the De|vil, Guilt of Sin, Death, and the Curse of the Law, but also by his People's Ignorance, Unru|liness, falls into Sin, and declining to Errors in Life and Doctrine. Were we but capable of seeing how the Lord Jesus has been Tried, even by his People, ever since there was one of them in the World, we should be amazed at his pati|ence and gentle Carriages to them. It is said indeed, The Lord is very Pitiful, slow to Anger, and and of great Mercy: And indeed if He had not been so, He could never have endured their Manners as he has done▪ from Adam hitherto. Therefore is his Pity and Bowels towards his Church, preferred above the Pity and Bowels of a Mother towards her Child. Can a Wom•••• forget her sucking Child, that she should not have com|passi••n on the Son of her Womb? Yea, they may for|get; yet I will not forget thee, siaith the Lord, Isa. 49 15

God did once give Moses, as Christ's Servant, an Handful of his People, to carry them in his Bosom, but no farther than from Egypt to Ca|naan; and this Moses, as it is said of him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Holy Ghost, was the merkest Man that was then to be f••und on the Earth; yea, & he loved the People at a very great R••••••, yet neither would his Meckness nor Love hold out in this Work;

he failed and grew passionate, even to provo|king his God to Anger under this Work. And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou Af|flicted thy Servant? But what was the Affliction? Why the Lord had said unto him, Carry this Peo|ple in thy B••som, as a musing Father beareth the sucking Child, unto the Land that he sware unto their Fathers. And how then? Not I, says Moses; I am not able to bear all this People, because it is too heavy for me: If thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, and let me not see my wretch|edness, Num. ••1 11, 12, 13, 14. God gave them Moses, to carry them in his Bosom, that he might shew gentlen••ss and patience towards them, un|der all the Provocations wherewith they would provoke him from that time, till he had brought them to their Land: But he failed in the work, he could nor exercise it, because he not the suf|ficiency of Patience towards them: But now it is said of the Person speaking in the Text. That he shall gather his Lambs with his Arms; shall carry them in his Bosom; and shall gently lead them that are with young. Isa. 40 10 11. Intimating, that this was one of the Qual••fications that God look+ed for, and knew was in him, when he gave his E••ect to him to save them.

Fourthly. The Father giving of him to save them; declares, that he hath a S••fficiency of Wisdom, to wage with all those D••ffic••lties that would attend him in bringing of his Sons and Daughters unto Glory, 1 Cor. 1 30. He hath made him to us to be Wisdom; yea, he is called Wisdom it self, And God saith moreover, That he shall deal prudently, Isa. 52.13. And indeed, he that shall take upon him to be the Saviour of the People, had need to be wise, because their

Adversaries are subtile above any. Here they are to encounter with the Serpent, who for his Subtilty, outwitted our Father and Mother, when their Wisdom was at highest, Gen. 3. But if we talk of Wisdom, our Jesus is wise, Wiser than Solomon, Wiser than all Men, Wiser than all An|gels; He is even the Wisdom of God. Christ the Wisdom of God, (Col. 1.1.) And hence it is He turneth Sins, Temptations, Perscutions, Falls, and all things for good unto his People, (Rom 8

Now these things thus concluded on, do shew us also the great and wonderful Love of the Father, in that He should chose out one, every way so well prepared for the Work of Man's Salvation.

Here indeed perceive we the Love of God. Hiram gathered, That God loved Israel▪ because he had given them such a King as Solomon, (2 Chron. 2.11.) But how much more may we be|hold the Love that God hath bestowed upon us, in that he hath given us to his Son, & also his Son for us.

All that the Father giveth me (shall come.)

In these last words, there is closely inserted, an Answer unto the Father's End, in giving of his Elect to Jesus Christ. The Father's End was, that they might come to him, & be saved by him; and that says the Son, shall be done; neither Sin nor Satan, neither Flesh and World, neither Wisdom nor Folly, shall hinder their coming to me. They shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

Here therefore the Lord Jesus positively de|termineth, to put forth such a sufficiency of all Grace, as shall effectually perform his Promise▪ They shall come: that is, he will cause them to

come, by infusing of an effectual Blessing in to all the means that shall be used to that end. As was said to the evil Spirit, that was seen to perswade Ahab to go and fall a•• Ramoth G••lead; Go, thou shalt perswade him, and prevail also? go forth, and do so, 1 Kings 22.22. So will Jesus Christ say, to the means than shall be used, for the bringing of those to him that the Father hath given him. I say, he will bless it effectually to this very end▪ it shall perswade them, and shall prevail al|so. Else, as I said, the Father's end would be frustrate: For the Father's Will is, that, of all that he hath given him, he should lose no|thing, but should raise it up at the last Day, in order next unto himself, Christ the first Fruits, afterwards those that are his, at his Coming, (1 Cor. 15.) But this cannot be done, if there should fail to be a Work of Grace effec|tually wrought, though but in any one of them. But this shall not fail to be wrought in any one of them. But this shall not fail to be wrought in them, even in all that the Father hath given him to save. All that the Father hath given me shall come to me, &c. But to speak more distinctly to the Words, They shall come; Two things I should shew you from these Words.

First, What it is to come to Christ.

Secondly, What force there is in this Promise, to make them come to him.

First, I would shew you what it is to come to Christ. This word Come, must be understood Spiritually, not Carnally; for many came to him Carnally, or Bodily, that had no saving Advantage by him: Multitudes did thus come unto him in the days of his flesh, yea, innume|rable

Companies. There is also at this day a formal Customary coming to his Ordinances, and ways of Worship, which availeth not any thing; but with them I shall not now meddle; for they are net intended in the Text. The Coming then intended in the Text, is to be un|derstood of the Coming of the Mind to him, even the moving of the Heart towards him, I say, the moving of the Heart towards him, from a sound sense of the absolute want that a Man hath of Him for his Justification and Salvation.

This Description of Coming to Christ, divi|deth it self into Two Heads.

First, That Coming to Christ, is a moving 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Mind towards Him.

Secondly, That it is a moving of the Min•• towards Him, from a sound Sense of the abso|lute want that a Man hath of Him for his Jus|tification and Salvation.

To speak to the first, That is a moving o•• the Mind towards him. This is evident, be|cause Coming hither or thither, if it be volun|tary, is by an Act of the Mind or Will; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Coming to Christ is, through the inclining▪ the Will, Thy People shall be willing, Psal. 1•• ••. This willingness of heart is it which se•• the Mind a moving after, or towards Christ by the moving of her Bowels. My Belo•••• put 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Hand by the Hole of the Door, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bowels were moved for him. Song 4 5. My Bo••+els; the Passion of my Mind and Affection•• which Passions of the Affections are expe•••• by the yearning and sounding of the Bo••+els, the yearning or passionate working •• them, the sounding of them, or their makin•• noise for me, Gen. 43 30. 1 Kings 3 26. Isa 16 ••

This then is the coming to Christ, even a moving towards him with the Mind. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth whithersoever the Water shall come, shall live, Ezek 47.9.

The Water in this Text, is the Grace of God in the Doctrine of it; the living things are the children of Men, to whom the Grace of God, by the Gospel is preached. Now, saith he, every living thing which moveth whithersoever the Waters shall come, shall live. And see how this Word (moveth) is expounded by Christ himself, in the Book of the Revelations; the Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say come, and let him that is athirst, Come; and whosoever will, that is willing let him take the Water of Life freely, R•• 22.17.

So that to move in thy Mind and Will after Christ, is to be coming to him. There are ma|ny poor Souls that are coming to Christ, that yet cannot tell how to believe it, because they think that coming to him is some strange and wonderful thing, and indeed so it is. But I mean, they overlook the Inclination of these Will, the moving of their Mind, & the sound|ing of these Bowels after him; & count these none of this strange & wonderful thing; when indeed it is a work of greatest wonder in this World, to see a Man who was sometimes dead in Sin, poss••ssed of the Devil, an Enemy to Christ, and to all things spiritually good: I say, to see this Man moving with his mind af|ter the Lord Jesus Christ, is one of the highest Wonders in the World.

Secondly, It is a moving of the mind towards him, from a sound Sense of the absolute want that a Man hath of him for his Justification &

Salvation Indeed without this Sense of a lost Condition without him, there will be no mo|ving of the mind towards him: A moving of their Mouth there may be; With their mouth they shew much Love, Ezek 33.31. Such a People as this will come as the true People cometh; that is, in shew and outward Appearance; and they will sit before God's Ministers, as his People sit before them; and they will hear his Words too, but they will not do them; that is, will not come inwardly with their Minds; For with their Mouth they shew much Love, but their Heart (or Mind) goeth after their Cove|tousness. Now all this is, because they want an effectual sense of the Misery of their State by Nature; for not till they have that, will they in their Mind move oftner to him. There|fore thus it is said concerning the true Comers. At that Day the Trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come that were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the out-casts of the land of Egypt, and shall wor|ship the Lord in his holy Mountain at Jerusalem, Isa. 17.13. They are then, as you see, the Outcasts, as those that are ready to perish: that have their Minds effectually moved to come to Je|sus Christ. This sense of things was that which made the Three Thousand come; that made Saul come; that made the Go••ler come; and that indeed makes all others come, that come effec|tually, Acts 21.8.16.

Of the true coming to Christ, the three Le|pers were a famous Semblance, of whom you read, Kings 7 3, &c. The Famine in those days was sore in the Land, there was no Bread for the People, and as for that Sustenance tha•• was, which was Asses Fresh and Doves Dung,

that was only in Samaria; and of these the Lepers had no share, for they were thrust with|out the City. Well now they sat in the Gate of the City, and Hunger was, as I may say, ma|king his last Meal of them; & being therefore half dead already, what do they think of do|ing? Why, first they display the dismal Co|lours of Death before each others Faces, and then resolve what to do, saying, If we say we will go into the City, then the Famine is in the City, and we shall dye there; if we sit still here, we dye also; now therefore come, let us fall into the Host of the Syrians; if they save us alive we shall live; if they kill us, we shall but dye Here now was Necessity at Work, and this Necessity drove them to go thither for Life, whither else they would never have gone 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 are they that will come; indeed these are they that are invited to come. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Mat. 11.28

Take two or three things to make this more plain; to wit, that coming to Christ floweth from a deep 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 & Tear•• Now Prayers & Tears are the effects of ••e ••ig•••• Sense of the Need of Mercy. Thus a sensele•••• Sinner cannot come, he cannot pray, he canno•• cry, he cannot come sensible of that he see not, nor feels. In those days, and at that time the Children of Israel shall come; they and th•• Child of Judah together, going & weeping •• they shall seek the Lord their God; they shall ask th•• way to Zion, with their Faces thitherward, saying •• Come, and let us join our selves to the Lord on a per+petual Covenant that shall not be forgotten, Jer 50.4.

Secondly, This coming to Christ, it is called •• Running to him; as flying to him; a flying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him from the Wrath to come. By all whic•• Terms, is set forth the sense of the Man th•••• comes, to wit, That he is affected with the sens•• of his Sins, and the Death due thereto; that he is sensible that the avenger of Blood pursue•• 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 o•• a Man in Danger, all that are in danger, do not ••••y; no, not all that see themselves in danger; flying is the last work of a man in danger; all that hear of danger will not fly. Men will consider, if there be no other way to escape be|fore they fly. Therefore, as I said, flying is the last thing. When all Refuge fails, & a Man is made to see that there is nothing left him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sin, Death and Damnation, unless he flies 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ for Life, then he flies, & not till them

Thirdly, That the true Coming is from a sen•••• of an absolute need of Jesus Christ to save, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i•• 〈…〉〈…〉 the outcry that is made by the ••

to come, even as they are coming to him, Mat. 14.30. Acts 2.37. Acts 16.30. Lord, save, or I pe|rish. Men and Brethren, what shall we do? Sirs, What must I do to be saved? and the like. This Lan|guage doth sufficiently discover, that the truly coming Souls, are Souls sensible of their need of Salvation by Jesus Christ.

Fourthly, It is yet farther evident, by these few things that follow: It is said that such are Pricked in their Hearts, that is, with the Sen|tence of Death by the Law; & 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 & unavoidable Danger that attends them, unless they fly to Jesus Christ▪ A••ts 9.16.

Fifthly, Coming to Christ is attended with an honest and sincere forsaking all for him. If any Man cometh unto me, and hateth not his Father, ••nd Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Brethren, and Sisters, yea, and his own Life also, he cannot ••e my Disciple; and whosoever▪ doth not bear his Cross, and come after me, cannot be my Disciple, Luke 14 26, 27.

By these and the like Expressions else where, Christ describeth the true Comer, or the Man ••hat indeed is coming to him: He is one that ••hat cast••••h off all, he hateth all things that would stand in his Way to hinder his coming to Je|••us Christ. There▪ are a great many pretended ••omers to Jesus Christ in the World; & they ••re much like to that Man that you read of in Mat. 21.30. that said to this Father bidding, I go Sir, and went not. I say there are a great ma|ny such Comers to Jesus Christ; they say when Christ calls by his Gospel, I come Sir; but

still they abide by their Pleasure and carnal Delights They come not at all, only they give him a courtly Compliment; but he takes no|tice of it, and well not let it pass for more than a Lie. He said, I go Sir, and went not; He Dis+sembled and Lied. Take heed of this you tha•• flatter your selves with your own Deceivings▪ Words will not do with Jesus Christ: Coming is coming, and nothing else will go for Co|ming with him.

Before I speak to the other Head, I shall an|swer some Objections that usually lie in the Way of those that in truth are coming to Jesus Christ.

Object. 1. Tho' I cannot deny but my mind suit after Christ, and that too as being moved thereto from a sight and consideration of my lost Condition, (for •• see without Him I perish) yet I fear my ends an•• not right in coming to him.

Quest. Why, what is thine End in coming to Christ?

Answ. My End is, that I might have Life, and be saved by Jesus Christ.

This is the Objection. Well let me tell thee, that to come to Christ for Life, & to be saved, although at present thou hast no other end, is a lawful and good coming to Jesus Christ. This is evident, because Christ propoundeth Life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the only Argument to prevail with Sinners t•• come to him, and so also blameth the•• because they come not to him for Life. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will not come to me that ye might have Life, Joh. 5 3. 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 be|lieveth on him, is not condemned. And believing and coming are all one. So that you see to come to Christ for Life, is a lawful coming, & good.

1. In that he believeth that he alone hath made Attonement for Sin, Rom. 2.

And let me add over and above, that for a Man to come to Christ for Life, tho' he come to him for nothing else but Life, is to give much Honour to Him.

First, He honoureth the Word of Christ, & consenteth to the Truth of it; and that in these two general Heads.

1. He consenteth to the truth of all those Sayings that testifie that Sin is most abomi|nable in it self, dishonourable to God▪ and damnable to the Soul of man For thus saith ••he Man that cometh to Jesus Christ, Jer. 44.4. Rom. 2.23. Chap. 6.23. 2 Thes. 2.12.

2. In that he believeth, as the Word hath ••aid, that there is in the World's best things, Righteousness and all, nothing but Death and Damnation; for so also says the Man that ••omes to Jesus Christ for Life, Ro. 7.24, 25. chap. •• 2.3. 2 Cor. 6 7, 8.

Secondly, He honoureth Christ's Person, in ••hat he believeth that there is Life in him. & ••hat he is able to ••ave him from Death, Hell, ••he Devil and Damnation; for unless a Man ••elieve this, he will not come to Christ for ••••fe. Heb. 7 24, 25.

Thirdly, He honoureth him, in that he be|••••••veth that he is Authorized of the Father, •• give Life to those that come to him for •• Joh. 5.11, 12. chap. 17.1, 2, 3.

Fourthly, He honoureth the Priesthood •• Jesus Christ.

2. In that he believeth that Christ hath n•• Power to save from Sin, by the Sacrifice tha•• hath offered for it, than hath all the Law, ••••+vils, Death, or Sin to condemn. He that ••••+lieves not this, will not come to Jesus C•• for Life, Acts 13 38. Heb. 2 14, 15 Rev 1.17 18

Thirdly, In that h•• believes, that Christ acc••••+ing to his Office, will be most faithful & m••••+ciful in the Discharge of his Office. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be included in the faith of him that comes •• life to Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 2.1, •• 3. Heb. 2.17, 1••

Fourthly, Farther, he that cometh to J•• Christ for life, taketh part with him against •• & against the ragged & unperfect Righteous•• of th•• World; yea, & against false Christs, •• damnable Errors, that set themselves against •• Worthiness of his Merits & Sufficiency: Th•• evident, for that such a Soul singleth Christ •• from them all, as the only One that can sav••

Fifthly, Therefore, as Noah at Gods Comma•• thou preparedst this Ark for the saving of •• self, by the which also thou condemnest •• World, & art become Heir of the Righte••••••+ness, which is by Faith, Heb. 11.17. Wh••••••+fore, coming Sinner, be content, he that co•••• to Jesus Christ, believeth too that he is will to shew Mercy too, and have Compassion t•• him (though unworthy) that comes to him life: And therefore thy Soul lieth not only ••••+der a special Invitation to come, but unde•• Promise too, of being accepted and forgiv•• Mat. 11.28,

All these particular Parts and Qualitie•• Faith are in that Soul that comes to J••

••••••••st For Life, as is evident to any dif|••••••••nt Judgment.

••or, will he that believeth not the Testimony Christ, concerning the Baseness of Sin, & the ••••fficiency of the Righteousness of the world, ••e to Christ for Life? No.

••e that believeth not the Testimony of the ••rd, comes not. He that believes that there ••ife any where else, comes not He that ques|••••••••s whether the Father hath given Christ ••ver to forgive, comes not: He that thinketh •• there is mor•• in Sin, in the Law, in Death, ••he Devil to destroy than there is in Christ to ••e, comes not. He also that Questions his faith|•• management of his Priesthood, for the Sal|••••••ion of Sinners, comes not.

Thou then that art indeed the coming Sin|••••••, believest all this? True, perhaps thou dost •• believe with that full Assurance, nor •• thou leisure to take notice of thy Faith as ••hese distinct Acts of it; but yet all this Faith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him coming to Christ for Life. And the ••th that thus worketh, is the Faith of the best •• purest kind: Because this Man comes alone •• Sinner, & as seeing that life is to be had on|•• in Jesus Christ.

Before I conclude my Answer to this Objection ••e into thy Consideration these Two Things.

First, That the Cities of Refuge were erected •• those that were dead in the Law, & that yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 live by Grace, even for those that were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hither for Life from the Avenger of Blood 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pursueth after them. And it is worth your ••ing, that those that were upon their flight ••ther▪ are in a peculiar manner, called the Peo|•••••• of God. Cast ye up, cast ye up, saith

God, prepare ye the way: Take up the stu••+bling-block out of the way of my peopl•• Isa. 57.14 This is meant of preparing the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the City of Refuge, that the Slayers mi•••• escape thither; which flying Slayers are he by way of specialty called the People of God even those of them that escaped thither for Lif••

Secondly, Consider that of Ahab when Benha••+ad sent to him for Life, saying; Thus saith t•••• Son Benhadad, I pray thee, let me Live Thou•••• Benhadad had sought the Crown & Kingdom, ye•• and also the Life of Ahab; yet how effectual•••• doth Benhadad prevail with him. Is Benhadad y•••• alive? said Ahab. He is my Brother; yea, •• ye bring him to me. So he made him Ride •• his Chariot, 1 Kings 20.

Coming Sinner, What thinkest thou? If ••••+sus Christ had as little Goodness in him as Ah•••• he might grant an humble Benhadad Life. Th•••• neither beggest of him his Crown and Digni•••• Life, eternal Life will serve thy turn. H•••• much more then, shalt thou have it, since t•••• hast to deal with him who is Goodness & Me•• it self! yea, since thou art called upon, y•••• greatly encouraged by a promise of Life, •• come unto him for Life? Read also these Scr••••+tures, Numb. 35.11. Joshua 20.1.2. Heb. 6. ••

Object. 2. When I say, I only seek my se•••• mean I do not find that I do design God's G•••• in mine own Salvation by Christ, & that m•• me fear I do not come aright.

Answ. Where doth Christ Jesus require s•• Qualification of those that are coming to •• for Life? Come thou for Life, and tr•••• not thy Head with such Objections against •• self; and let Christ and God alone to Gl••••

themselves in the Salvation of such a Worm as thou art. The Father saith to the Son, Thou art my Son, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. God pronounceth Life to Sinners, as the Argu|ment to prevail with them to come to him for life; and Christ says plainly, I am come that ye might have Life, John 12.10. He hath no need of thy Designs, though thou hast need of his Eternal Life. Pardon of Sin, & Deliverance from Wrath to come, Christ propounds to thee, these be the things that thou hast need of: Be|sides God will be gracious & merciful to Worth|less, Undeserving Wretches; Come then as such an one, and lay no stumbling blocks in the Way to him, but come to him for Life, and live John 5.24. Ch. 3.36. Mat. 1.21. Pro 8.36, 37 •• Thes. 11. John 11.25.26.

When the G••a••er said, Sits, what must I do to ••e saved? Paul did not so much as once ask him ••hat is your End in this Question? Do you de|••ign the Glory of God, in the Salvation of your ••oul? He had more wit: He knew that such ••uestions as these, would have been but as Fools ••a••bles, instead of a sufficient S••lve to so weigh|•••• a Question as this. Wherefore since this poor Wretch lacked Salvation by Jesus Christ, I mean 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saved from Hell & Death, which he knew •• now) was due to him for the Sins that he ••••d committed; Paul bids him like a poor con|••emned Sinner▪ as he was, to proceed still in •• is way of Self-seeking. Believe on the Lord Jesus ••••rist, and thou shalt be saved, Acts 16 30 31, 32. I ••now, that afterwards thou wilt desire to glo|••••fie Christ, by walking in the way of his ••ecepts; but at present thou wantest Life; ••••e Avenger of Blood is behind thee, and the

Devil like a roaring Lion is behind thee. Well come now, and obtain Life from these; and when thou hast obtained some comfortable Perswasion that thou are made a Partaker of Life by Christ, then, and not till then, tho•• wilt say, Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name. Bless the Lor•• O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits; wh•• forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all th•• Diseases; who redeemeth thy Life from Destruction and crowneth thee with loving Kindnesses, and te••+der Mercies, Psal. 103.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Object. 3. But I cannot believe that I a•• come to Christ aright, because sometimes I at apt to question his very Being & Office to sav••

Thus to do is horrible; but mayest th•••• not judge amiss in this matter.

How can I judge amiss, when I judge •• I feel? Poor Soul! Thou mayst judge ami•••• for all that. Why, saith the Sinner, I thi•• that these Questions come from my Heart.

Answ. Let me answer: That which com•• from thy Heart, comes from thy Will •• Affections, from thy Understanding, Judgm•••••• and Conscience, for these must acquiesce•• thy questioning; if thy questioning be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy Heart. And how say'st thou (for to n•• no more) dost thou with thy Affection •• Conscience, thus question?

Answ. No my Conscience trembles w•• such Thoughts come into my Mind; & •• Affections are otherwise inclined.

Then I conclude, that these things ar•• ••+ther suddenly injected by the Devil, or •• are the Fruits of that Body of Sin & D•• ••••at y•••• dwells within thee, or perhaps •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 together.

If they come wholly from the Devil, as they seem, because thy Conscience and Af|fections are against them; or if they come from the Body of Death that is in thee, (and be not thou curious in enquiring from whe|ther 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 que|ry with thee about this matter.

First, Dost thou like these wicked Blasphe|mies;

Answ. No, no, their presence and working kills me.

Secondly, Dost thou mourn for them, pray a|gainst 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 aff••cted, & taken with the things that are best, most Heavenly and Holy.

Answ. With all my Heart, and Death the next Hour (if it were God's Will) rather than thus to Sin against him.

Well then, thy not liking of them, thy mourn|ing for them, thy praying against them, & thy loathing thy self because of them, with thy sin|cere chusing of those Thoughts, for thy Delce|tation, that are Heavenly and Holy, clearly de|clares, that these things are not countenanc'd either with thy Will, Affections, Understanding, Judgement, or Conscience; and so, that thy Heart is not in them, but that rather they come immediately from the Devil, of arise from the

Body of Death that is in thy Flesh; of which thou oughtest thus to say, now then it's no more I that do it, but Sin that dwells in me Rom. 7.16, 17.

I will give thee a pertinent Instance: I•• Deut. 22. thou mayest read of a betrothed Dam|sel, one betrothed to her Beloved, one that ha•• given him her Heart and Mouth, as thou has•• given thy self to Christ; yet she was met with as she walked in the Field, by one that force•• her, because he was stronger than she. Well, what Judgment now doth God, the righteou•• Judge pass upon the Damsel for this? The Ma•• only that lay with her, saith God shall die; bu•• unto the Damsel thou shalt do nothing; the•••• is in the Damsel no Sin worthy of Death. F•••• as when a Man riseth against his Neighbour, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 slayeth him, even so is this matter; he foun•• her in the F••eld, & the betrothed Damsel crie•• and there was none to save her, Deut. 22.27, 29▪

Thou art this Damsel the Man that forc•• thee with these Blasphemous thoughts is t•••• Devil; and he lighteth upon thee in a fit plac•• even in the Fields, as thou art wandring aft•••• Jesus Christ; but thou cryedst out, and by t•••• cry, didst shew that thou abhotrest such wick•••• Lewdness Well, the Judge of all the Earth wi•••• do right: he will not lay the Sin at thy Do•••• but at his that offered thee Violence: & for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Comfort, take this into Consideration, that •• came to heal them that were oppressed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Devil, Acts 10.38.

Obj 4. But saith another, I am so heartless, •• slow, and as I think, so indifferent in my comin•• that, to spea•• truth, I know not whether makin•• of coming ought to be called a coming to Chri••••

Answ. You know that I told you at first, that coming to Christ is a moving of the Heart and Aff••ctions towards him.

But saith the Soul, my Dulness and Indifferency in all holy Duties, demonstrate my heartlessness in Co|ming; and to come, and not with the Heart, signifies nothing at all.

Answ. The moving the Heart after Christ is not to be discerned (at all times) by the sen|sible affectionate Performance of Duties; but rather by those secret Groanings & Complaints which thy Soul makes to God against that Sloth that attends thee in Duties

Secondly, But grant it be even as thou say'st it ••s, that thou comest so slowly, &c. yet since Christ bids them come that comes not at all, ••urely they may be accepted that come, though ••ttended with those Infirmities, which thou at ••resent groanest under. He saith, And him that ••ometh: He saith not, if they come sensible, so ••••st. But, and him that cometh to me, I will in no ••ise cast out. He saith also in the Eight of the ••••overbs, As for him that wanteth Understanding, •• that is, an Heart; for oftentimes the Under|••••anding is taken for the Heart) Come eat of my ••read, and drink of the Wine that I have mingled.

Thirdly, Thou may'st be vehement in thy Spi|••it in Coming to Jesus Christ, & yet be plagued ••ith sensible Sloth. So was the Church, when ••e cried, Draw me, we will after thee; •• Pa••••, ••hen he said, When I would do good, evil is present ••ith m••, (Song 14. Rom 7. Gal. 5.19) The Works, ••truglings & Oppositions of the Flesh, are more ••anifest than are the Works of the Spirit in our ••••arts, and so are sooner felt than they. What ••hen, let us not be discouraged at the sight of

our own infirmities, but run the faster to J••su•• Christ for Salvation,

Fourthly, Get thy Heart warmed with the swe•• Promise of Christ's Acceptance of the Comin•• Sinner, and that will make thee make more hast•• unto him. Discouraging Thoughts, they a•• like to cold Water, they benumb the Senses, a•• make us go ungainly about our busi••ess; b•• the sweet and warm Gledes of Promise, are lik•• the comfortable Beams of the Sun, which en••+veneth and refresheth. You see how little ta•• Bee and Fly do play in the Winter, Why, th•• Cold hinde••s them from it; but when the Win•• and Sun is warm, who so busie as they.

Fifthly, But again, he that comes to Christ flie•• for his Life. Now there is no Man that fl•• for his Life, that thinks he speeds fast enoug•• on his Journey; no, could he, he would w••••|+lingly take a mile at a step O my slothful •• heartless Soul•• ••ay'st thou, Oh that I had W•• like a Dove, for then would I flie away, and be •• rest! I would hasten my escape from the windy Si•• and Tempest, Psalm 65, 6, 8

Poor coming Soul, thou art like the Man th•• would ride full Gallop, whose Horse will har••+ly Trot; now the desire of his Mind is not •• be judged by the sl••w pace of the dul•• J••de b•• rides on, but by the Hitching, and Kicking, •• Spurring, as he sits on his Back. Thy F••esh is li•••• this dull Jude, it will not gallop after Christ •• it will be backward, though thy Soul & Heaven ••i•• at Stake: But be of good Comfort, Christ judgeth not according to the fierceness of ou••+ward Motion, Mark 10.17. but according to the•••• Sincerity of the He•••••• and inward Parts, John •• 47. Psal. 5.1. Mat. 20.41.

Sixthly Z••ba, in appearance came to David much faster than did Mephibosheth; but yet his H••art was not so upright in him to David, as was his. 'Tis true, Mephibosheth had a Check f••o••n David; for said he Why we••rest not thou with me, Mephibosh••••h? But when David came to remember Mephibosheth was lame (for that was his Plea) Thy Servant is lame, 2 Sam 2.10. he was content, & concluded he would have c••me after him faster than he did: And Meph••bosheth appealed to David, who was in those Days as an Angel of God to know all things that are done in the E••••th If he did not believe that the rea|son of his ba••kwardness lay in his lameness, and not in his Mind. Why, poor coming Sinner, thou canst not come to Christ with that out|ward Swiftness of Career, as many others do? But doth the reason of thy Backwardness lie in in thy M••nd or Will, or in the Sl••ggishness of the Flesh? Canst thou say sincerely. The Spirit ••••uly is willing, but the Flesh is weak, Mat 26.41. Yea canst thou appeal to the Lord Jesus, who ••noweth perfectly the very inmost thoughts of ••hy Heart, that this is true? Then take this for ••hy Comfort: He hath said, I will assemble her ••••at halteth, I will make her that halteth a Remnant, ••nd I will save her that halteth, M••ch. 4 6 Z••ph 3.

What canst thou have more from the ••weet Lips of the Son of God? But,

Seventhly, I read of some that are to follow ••hrist in Chains: Thus saith the Lord, the Labour •• Egypt, and the Merchndize of Ae••••••••pi••, & the ••••beans, Men of Stature, shall come over unto thee, ••d they shall be thine: They shall come after thee; in ••ains they shall come over, and they shall fall down un|••••r thee, saying: They shall make Supplication unto them,

saying, Surely there is none else to save. Isa. 4.14 Surely they that come after Christ in Chains, come to him in great D••fficulty, because thei•• Steps by the Chains are straitned.

And what Chains so heavy, as those that dis|courage thee? Thy Chain which is made up of Guilt & Filth, is heavy; it is a wretched Bond about thy Neck, by which thy Strength doth fail, Rom. 1.14. Ch 3 27 But come, though thou comest in Chains: 'Tis Glory to Christ that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sinner comes after him in Chains The chi••|ing of thy Chains, tho' troublesome to thee are not, for can be any Obstruction to thy Salvation: 'tis Christ's Work and Glory to save thee from thy Chains, to enlarge thy steps, and set thee at Liberty. The blin•• Man though called, surely could not com•• apace to Jesus Christ: But Christ could stan•• still, and stay for him. True, He rideth upon the Wings of the Wind: but yet he is long suffering, and his long suffering is Salvation •• him that cometh to him, Mat. 10.49. Pet. 3 9.

Eighthly, Hadst thou seen those that come t•• the Lord Jesus in the day of his Flesh, ho•• hoblingly they came unto him, by reason t•• their Infirmities, and also how friendly, & kind+ly, and graciously he received them, and gav•• them the desire of their Hearts, thou would•• not, as thou dost, make such O••jections agains•• thy self in coming to Jesus Christ.

Object. 5. But say•• another, I fear I come t•• lat••; I doubt I have staid too long, I am afra•••• the Door is shut.

Answ Thou canst never come too late to Je+sus Christ, if thou dost come. This is mani+fest by two Instances.

First, By the Man that came to him at th•• E|••eventh Hour. This Man was idle all the Day ••ong: He had a whole Gospel day, to come in, and he play'd it all away save only the last Hour thereof; But at last at the Eleventh hour he came, and goes into the Vineyard to work along with the rest of the Labourers, that had ••orn the Burthen and Heat of the Day. Well, ••ut how was he received of the Lord of the Vineyard; Why, when Pay-day came, he had even as much as the rest, yea, had his Money first. True, the others murmured at him; but what did the Lord Jesus answer them? Is thine ••e Evil, because mine is good? I will give unto this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, even as unto thee, Mat. 20.

Secondly, The other Instance is, The Thief •• on the Cross; he came late also, even at an ••our before his Death; yea, he stayed from ••••sus Christ as long as he had Liberty to be a ••hief, and longer too; for could he have de|••••ded the Judges, and by his lying words esca|••••d his just Condemnation, for ought I know, •• had not come as yet to his Saviour: But be|••••g convicted, and condemned to die; yea, sast|••••ed to the Cross, that he might die like a Rogue •• he was in his Life; behold the Lord Jesus, ••hen this wicked one, even now desireth Mer|•••• at his Hands, tells him, and that without the ••••st Reflection upon him for his former mif|••••ent Life; To Day thou shalt be with me in Pa|••d••ce, Luke 23.43.

Let no Man turn this Grace of God into Wantonness; my Design is now to encourage ••he coming Soul.

Obj. But is not the Door of Mercy shut against •• me before they die?

Answ▪ Yea, & God forbids that Prayer sho•• be made to him for them, Jer. 7.16. Jude ••

Quest. Then why may not I doubt that I •• he one of these?

Answ By no means, if thou art coming to ••••+sus Christ; because when God shuts the D•• upon Men, he gives them no Heart to com•• Jesus Christ. None comes but those to w•• it is given of the Father: But thou co•• therefore it is given to thee of the Father.

Be sure therefore, if the Father hath •• thee an Heart to come to Jesus Christ, the •• of Mercy yet stands open to thee: For it s•• not with the Wisdom of God to give stre•• to come to the Birth, and yet to shut •• Womb Isa. 66.9. To give Grace to com•• Jesus Christ, and yet shut up the Doo•• his Mercy upon thee. Incline thine Ear, •• he, and come unto me; hear, and your Soul•• live: and I will make an everlasting Covenant you, even the sure Mercies of David, Isa. 52.

Obj. But it is said that some Knocked wh•• Door was shut.

Ans. Yes But the Text in which these K••+ers are mentioned, are to be referr'd unto day of Judgment▪ and not to the coming the Sinner to Christ in this Life. See the •• Mat. 25.11 Luke 13 24, 25

These therefore concern thee nothing at that art coming to Jesus Christ, thou art co•• now, Now is the accepted time, behold now •• Day of Salvation, 2 Cor 6.2 Now God is upo•• Mercy seat, now Christ Jesus si•••• by, con••••+ly pleading the Victory of his Blood for ••+ners; and now even as long as this W•• lasts, this Word of the Text shall be still ••

•• fully fulfilled, and him that cometh to Me, ••ll in no wise cast out.

••inner, the greater Sinner thou art, the great|•• ••eed of Mercy thou hast, and the more will ••st be glorified thereby: Come then, come •• try: Come taste & see how good the Lord ••o an undeserving Sinner.

Obj. But says another, I am fallen since I be|•• •• to come to Christ; therefore I fear I did not •• aright, and so consequently, that Christ will •• receive me.

••nsw Falls are dangerous, for they Disho|••r Christ, wound the Conscience & cause •• Enemies of God to speak reproachfully. •• it is no good Argument, I am fallen, there|•• I was not coming aright to Jesus Christ David and Solomon, and Peter had thus objec|•• against themselves, they had added to their ••efs; and yet at least as much cause as thou. •• Man whose Steps are ordered by the Lord, •• whose goings the Lord delight in, m••y yet ••vertaken in a Temptation that may cause •• to fall, Psal 37 23, 24 Did not Aaron fall; •• and Moses himself? What shall we say of ••ekiah and Jeh••shaphat? There are therefore ••s and Falls: Falls pardonable, and Falls ••ardonable: Falls unpardonable are Falls a|•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Light, from the Faith to the despising of •• trampling upon Jesus Christ, and his bles|•• Undertakings, (Heb 6.2.3.4, 5 Ch 10 28, 29.) ••w as for such there remains no more Sacri|•• for Sin: Indeed, they have no Heart, no ••nd, no Desire to come to Jesus Christ for ••e, therefore they must perish. Nay, says •• Holy Ghost, 'Tis impossible that they should be ••newed again unto Repentance. Therefore these

God hath no compassion for, neither ought w•• but for other Falls, though they be dread•• (and God will Chastise his People for then •• they do not prove thee a Graceless Man, •• not come to Jesus Christ for Life.

It is said of the C••ild in the Gospel, T•••• while he was yet a coming•• the Devil thr•••• him down, and tore him, Luke 9.4.

Dejected Sinner, it is no wonder that t•• hast got a Fall in coming to Jesus Christ; •• not rather to be wondred at, that thou hast •• had before this, a Thousand times a Thous•• Falls? Considering,

1. What Fools we are by Nature,

2. What Weaknesses are in us.

3. What mighty Powers, the Fallen An•• •• our implacable Enemies are.

4. Considering also, how often the Con•• Man is benighted in his Journey, & also •• Stumbling-blacks do lye in his way.

5. ••••so his Familiars (that were so bes•• now watch for his Halting, and seek by •• means they may, to cause him to Fall by •• Hand of their strong Ones.

What then? Must we, because of these Te••+tations, encline to Fall? No; must we •• fear Falls? Yea, let him that thinketh be stan•• take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor 10 12. Yet let •• not utterly be cast down: The Lord upo••+eth all that Fall, and raiseth up those tha•• bowed down. Make not light of Falls: •• hast thou fallen? Ye have, said Samuel, don•• this Wickedness; yet turn not aside from ••+lowing the Lord; but serve him with a ••+fect Heart, and turn not aside, for the •• will not forsake his People, (and he co••••

••he Coming Sinner one of them) because ••t hath pleased the Lord to make you his Peo|ple, (1 Sam. 12.20.)

(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 confi|ned 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 ••••fore. Mark! They shall come: Who? Those that are given: They come then, because they were given. Thine they were, and thou gavest them 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Now this is indeed a singular Com••ort to them that are coming in truth to Christ, •• think 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the reason why they come, is, beca••se they ••••re given of the Father before to him. Thus ••••••n may the coming Soul reason with himself ••he comes. Am I coming indeed to Jesus ••••rist? This coming of mine is not to be attri|••••ted to me, or my Goodness, but to the Grace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gift of God to Christ; God gave fi••st my ••son to Him, and therefore hath now given •• a Heart to come.

••econdly, This Word (shall come) make thy ••••ming, not only the Fruit of the Gif•• of the ••••••her, but also the Purpose of the Son; for ••se words are a divine Purpose; they shew us •• Heavenly Determination of the Son. The ••••••her hath given them to me, and they shall,

yea, they shall come to Me. Christ is as full an his Resolution to save those given to him as is the Father in giving of them. Christ pri|zed the Gift of his Father, He will lose nothing of it; he is resolved to save it every whit by his Blood, and to raise it up again at the la•••• Day; and thus He fulfils his Father's Will, •• accomplisheth his own Desires, John 6 30.

Thirdly, These Words (shall come) maketh thy coming to be also the Effect of an absolute Pro|mise; coming Sinner, thou art concluded in •• Promise; thy coming is the Fruit of the Faith+fulness of an absolute Promise. 'Twas this Pro+mise, by the virtue of which thou at first rece••+vedst strength to come: And this is the Pr••+mise, by the Virtue of which thou shalt be ••••+fectually brought to him. It was said to Ab••••+ham, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall be •• a Son. This Son was Isaac. Mark! Sarah sha•••• have a Son: There is the Promise; and S•• had a Son: There was the fulfilling of the P••••+mise: And therefore was Isaac called the Ch•• of the Promise, Gen. 17.19, ch. 18.10 Rom. 9 9.

Sarah shall have a Son: But how if Sarah be p•• Age? Why still the Promise continues to •• Sarah shall have a Son. But how if Sarah •• Barren? Why still the Promise says, Sarah •• have a Son But Abraham's Body is now de•• why the Promise is still the ••am••▪ Sarah •• have a Son. Thus you see what Virtue ther•• an absolute Promise: It carrieth enough •• its own Bowels to accomplish the thing proc••••+sed, whether there be means or no to effect •• Wherefore this Promise in the Text being •• absolute Promise, by Virtue of it, not by •• ••n•• of our selves, or by our own Induceme••••

do we come to Jesus Christ, for so are the Words of the Text; All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me.

Therefore is every sincere Come•• to Jesus Christ called also the Child of the Promises. Now my Brethren, as Isaac was, so are we the Children of the Promise, Gal. 4.28. That is, we are the Children that God hath promised to Jesus Christ, and given to him; yea, the Children that Jesus Christ hath promised shall come to him. All that the Father giveth me shall come.

Fourthly, This Word (shall come) engageth Christ to communicate all manner of Grace to those thus given him, to make them ef|fectually come to him, They shall come; that ••s, not if they will, but if Grace, all Grace, ••f Power, Wisdom, a new Heart, and the Holy Spirit, and all joyning together, can make them come. I say this Word (shall come) being absolute hath no Dependance upon our own Will, or Power, or Goodness; But it en|••••geth for us, even God himself, Christ him|••elf, the Spirit himself. When God had made ••••at absolute Promise to Abraham that Sarah ••hould have a Son, Abraham did not at all look ••t any Qualifications in himself, because the ••romise looked at none; but as God had, by ••he Promise absolutely promised him a Son, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 considered now, not his own Body now ••ead, nor yet the Barrenness of Sarah's Womb. ••e staggered not at the Promise of God through ••nbelief, but was strong in Faith, giving Glory to ••od, being fully perswaded, that what he had pro|••••sed, he was able to perform, Rom. 4. He had ••romised, and had promised absolutely Sarah

shall have a Son: therefore Abraham looks th•••• He, to wit, God, must fulfil the Condition •• it. Neither is this Expectation of Abraham d•• approved by the Holy Ghost, but account•• good and laudable; it being that by which •• gives Glory to God. The Father also hath g••+ven to Christ a certain number of Souls •• him to save; and he himself hath said, •• shall come to him. Let the Church of God th•• live in a joyful Expectation of the utm•• Accomplishment of this Promise; for assure••+ly it shall be fulfilled, and not one Tho••••+sandth part of a Tittle thereof shall f•• They shall come to Me.

And now before I go any farther, I •• more particularly enquire into the Nature •• an Absolute Promise.

First, We call that an absolute Promi•• that is made without any Condition: or m•• fully, thus; that is an absolute Promise •• God, or of Christ, which maketh over •• this or that Man any saving spiritual I sing, without a Condition to be done on part, for the obtaining thereof. And this have in hand is such an one. Let the •• Master of Arts on Earth shew me, if he •• any Condition in this Text, depending •• any Qualification in us, which is not •• same Promise concluded, shall be by •• Lord Jesus effected in us.

Secondly, An absolute Promise therefore as we say, without if, or and; that is requireth nothing of us that it self might accomplish'd. It saith not, They shall, [if] will; but, They shall: not, They shall, if •• use the means; but, They shall. You ••

see that a Will, and the use of the Means, is supposed, though not expressed. But I answer, No, by no Means, that is as a Condition of this Promise, if they be at all included in the Pro|mise, they are included there, as the Fruit of the absolute Promise, not as if it expected the Qua|lification to arise from us. Thy People shall be wil|ling in the Day of thy Power, Psal. 110.3. This is another absolute Promise: But doth that Pro|mise suppose a Willingness in us, as a Conditi|on of God's making us willing? They shall be willing, if they are willing; or they shall be Willing if they will be willing. This is ridi|culous; there is nothing of this supposed. The Promise is absolute as to us, all that it engageth for its own accomplishment, is the mighty power of Christ, and his Faithfulness to ac|complish.

The difference, therefore, betwixt the ab|••••lute and conditional Promise is this;

First, They differ in their Terms. The Ab|••••lute Promise says, I will and you shall a •• other, I will, if you will; or, Do this, •• thou shalt live, Jer. 38.31, 32, 33. Ezek. 36. •• 25. &c. Heb. 8.7, 8, 9. &c. Jer. 4.1. Ezek. 18.30, •• Mat 19 21.

Secondly, They differ in their way of com|••••nicating good things to Men; the absolute ••s communicate things freely, only of Grace; •• other, if there be that Qualification in us •• the Promise calls for, or not else.

Thirdly, The absolute Promises therefore en|••e God, the other engages us, I mean God ••y, us only.

Fourthly, Absolute Promises must be fulfil|•• Conditional may, or may not be fulfil|led.

The Absolute o••e m••••t be fulfi••••ed, be+cause of the Faithfulnes•• of God; the othe•• may not, because of the Un••aithfulness •• Men.

Fifthly, Absolute Promises have therefore sufficiency in themselves, to bring about the own Fulfillings; the Conditional have not •• The Absolute Promise is therefore a big-belly Promise, because i•• hath in it self a Fulness all desired things for us; and will when •• time of that Promise is come, yield to us M••+tal••, that which will verily save us; yea, & m••+tis capable of answering the Demands of •• Promise that is Conditional Wherefore thou•• there be a real, yea, an eternal D••fference•• these things (wi••h others) betwixt the Con••••|tional & Absolute Promise; yet again in o•• Respects, there is a blessed Harmony betw•••••• them; as may be seen in these Particulars.

First, The Conditional Promise calls for ••••+pentance, the Absolute gives it, Acts 5 30, 31

Secondly, The Conditional Promise calls▪ Faith, the Absolute Promise gives it, Zep•• 12. Rom 15.12.

Thirdly, The Conditional Promise calls •• new Heart, the Absolute Promise gives it; ••zek 36.

Fourthly, The Conditional Promise calleth Holy Obedience, the absolute Promise giveth or causeth it, Ezek. 37.27.

And as they Harmoniously agree in this▪ again, the Conditional Promise blesseth the•• who by the absolute Promise, is endued with Fruit, as for Instance;

First, The absolute Promise maketh Men right, and then the Conditional follows, sa••

Blessed are the Undefiled in the Way; that walketh in the Law of the Lord, Psalm 119 1.

Secondly, The absolute Promise giveth to this Man the Fear of the Lord and then the Condi|tional so loweth, saying. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, Psa••m 128 1.

Thirdly, The absolute Promise giveth Faith, & then this Conditional follows, saying. Blessed is be that bel••eveth, Ze••h 3 12 Luke 1 45.

Fourthly, The absolute Promise brings free Forgiveness of Sins; and th•• Condi••ional says, Blessed are they whose Transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is covered, Rom 4 7.8

Fifthly, The absolute Promise says, that God's Elect shall hold out to the End; then the Con|ditional follows with this Blessing; He that shall endure to the End, the same shall he saved, •• Pet. 1.4, 5, 6. Mat. 24.

Thus do the Promises gloriously serve one another and us, in this their Harmonious A|greement.

Now the Promise under Consideration is •• absolute Promise; All that the Father giveth ••, shall come to Me.

This Promise therefore, is, as it is said▪ a Big ••ly'd Promise, and hath in it self all those ••ngs to bestow upon us, that the Conditional ••leth for at our Hands. They shall come! ••ll they come? yes, they shall come. But ••w if they want those things, those Graces, ••wer, and Heart, without which they cannot ••ne? Why, shall come answereth all this, & all ••ngs else that may in this Matter be objected. ••nd here I will take the Liberty amplify ••ngs.

Obj. 1. But they are dead, dead in Trespasses and ••; how shall they then come?

Answ Why shall-come can raise them frot•• this Death. The Hour is coming, and now is, th•• the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God; •• they that hear shall live. Thus therefore is th•• Impediment by Shall-come removed out of t•• way? They shall hear, they shall live.

Obj. 2. But they are Satan's Captives; he to them Captives at his Will, and he is stronger t•• they: How can they come?

Ans, Why, Shall come hath also provided •• help for this. Satan hath bound that Daugh•• of Abraham so, that she could by no means 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up her se••f; but yet Shall come sit her fo•• both in Body and Soul. Christ will have th•• turned from the Power of Satan unto God. •• what must it be, if they turn themselves, o•• something to merit of him to turn them? •• he will do it freely, of his own good Wil. A•• Man, whose Soul is p••ss••ssed with the Devil, turned whithersoever the Governour listeth▪ taken Captive by him, notwithstanding its? ••••+tural Powers, at his Will; but what will •• do? Will he hold him when Shall-come •• forth it self, (will he then let him) for com•• to Jesus Christ? No, that cannot be; his Po•• is but the Power of a Fallen Angel, but S•• come is the Word of God; therefore Shall co•• must be fulfilled, and the Gates of Hell •• not prevail against it.

There were seven Devils in Mary Magda•• too many for her to get from under the p•• of; but when the time was come, that •• come was to be fulfilled upon her, they •• place; fly from her; and she comes (in••e•• to Jesus Christ: According as it is written, •• that the Father giveth me, shall come to me.

The Man that was poss••ss••d with a Legion, ••ark 5. was too much by them captivated, for ••m, by Humane Force, to come; yea, had he ••d (to boot) all the Men under Heaven to ••p him; had he that said, he shall come, with|••••ld his mighty Power: But when this Pro|••ise was to be fulfilled upon him, then he comes; ••r could all their power hinder him from ••o|••ng. It was also this Shall come that preser|••••d him from Death, when by these evil Spi|•• he was hurled hither and thither; ••d it was by the virtue of Shall come, that at •• he was set at Liberty from them, & enabled ••deed) to come to Christ. All that the Father ••eth me shall come to me.

Obj. 3. They shall, (you say;) but how if they •• not? And if so, then what can Shall come do?

Answ. True, there are some Men say, We are ••ds, we will come no more under thee, Jer. 2.31. •• as God says in another case (if they are ••concerned in Shall come to me) They shall know ••se Word shall stand, mine or theirs, Jer. 44.28. ••e then is the case, we must now see who •• be the Liar; he that saith, I will not; or ••hat saith, he shall come to me. You shall ••he, says God: I will nor come saith the ••er. Now, as sure as he is concerned in this •• come, God will make that Man eat his own ••rds; for I will not is the unadvised Con|••••••••ion of a crazy headed Sinner, but shall come •• spoken by him, that is of Power to perform •• word. Son, go work to day in my Vineyard; said •• Father; but he answered and said, I will not ••e. What now, will he be able to stand to •• Refusal? Will he pursue his desperate De|••? No; he afterwards repented and went. But

how came he by that Repentance? Wh•• was wrapped up for him in the absolute ••••••+mise; and therefore, notwithstanding he s•• will not, he afterwards repented and went •• this Parable Jesus Christ sets forth the O••+cy of the Sinners of the World, as to •• their coming to him; they will not come threatned, yea, though Life be offered •• upon condition of coming.

But now, when shall come, the abs••lute ••••••+mise of God, comes to be fulfilled upon •• then they come; because by that Prom•• Cure is provided against the Rebellion of Wills: Thy people shall be willing in the D••y Power, Psal. 110.3. Thy People, What Poeple? •• the People that thy Father hath given •• The Obstinacy and Plague that is in the •• of that People, shall be taken away, & th•• be made wiling; Shall come will make the•• ••+ling to come to thee.

He that had seen Paul in the midst •• Outrages against Christ, his Gospel, and •• would hardly have thought that he woul•• have been a Follower of Jesus Christ, esp•• since he went not against his Conscie•• persecuting of them. He thought veril•• he ought to do what he did. But we m•• what Shall come can do▪ when it comes •• fulfilled upon the Soul of a Rebellious S•• he was a chosen V••ssel, given by the Fa•• the Son; and now the time being com•• Shall come was to take him in hand, behol•• over mastered, astonished, and, with trea•• and reverence in a Moment become will be obedient to the Heavenly Call, Acts 9.

And were they not far gone (that yo••

Acts 2.) who had their hands and Hearts •• the Murder of the Son of God; and ••ew their resolvedness never to repent of •• horrid Fact, said, His Blood be on us and our ••en? But must their Obstinacy rule? Must •• be bound to their own Ruin, by the Re|••••on of their stubborn Wills: No, not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of these the Father gave to Christ; before at the times appointed shall come ••s in among them; the absolute Pro|•• takes them in hand; and then they come ••deed, crying out▪ Peter, and the rest of the ••postles, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? No ••ornness of Man's Will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stand, when •• hath absolutely said the contrary; shall •• can make them come as Doves to their ••dows, that had afore resolved never to •• to him.

••he Lord spake unto Manasseh, and to his ••le, (by the Prophets) but world he hear? He would not: But shall Manasseh come off ••? No, he shall not. Therefore, he being •• of those whom the Father had given to the •• and also falling within the bounds & reach ••all come; at last shall come takes him in hand, then he comes indeed: He comes bowing ••pending; he humbles himself greatly, and •• Supplications to the Lord, and prayed •• him; and he was intreated of him, and had •• upon him, 2 Chron. 3.33.

••he Thief upon the Cross, at first did rail •• his Fellow upon Jesus Christ; but he was •• that the Father had given to Him, & there|•• ••hall come must must handle him, and his ••ious Will. And behold, so soon as he is •• withal, by Virtue of that Absolute Pro|mise,

how soon he buckleth; leaves his rail•• falls to Supplicating of the Son of God •• Mercy, Lord, saith he, Remember me when th•• most into thy Kingdom, Mat. 27.44. Luke 23.40.

Objt 4. They shall come, say you; but how if •• be blind, and see not the way? For some are •• off from Christ, not only by the Obstinacy of •• Will, but by the Blindness of their Minds. N•• they be blind, how shall they come?

Answ. This Question it not, Are they b•• But, are they within the Reach and Powe•• shall come? if so, that Christ that said, They come, will find them Eyes, or a Guide, or •• to bring them to himself. Must is for the •• If they shall come, they shall come, no ••+diment shall hinder.

The Thessalonians Darkness did not •• them from being the Children of Light; •• come, said Christ, that they that see not, migh•• And if he saith, See ye blind that have eyes; •• shall hinder it? Eph. 5.8. John 9.39. Isa. 3•• chap. 43.8.

This Promise therefore is, as I said, a •• belly'd Promise, having in the Bowels of •• things that shall occur to the compleat •• ••+ling of it self; they shall come. But 'ti•• ••+jected, that they are Blind: Well, Shall •• still the same, and continueth to say, Th•• come to me: Therefore he saith again, •• bring the Blind by a way that they know •• I will lead them in Paths that they know •• I will make Darkness Light before them •• crooked things streight: These things •• do unto them, and not forsake them, Isa. ••

Mark! I will bring them, though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blind; I will bring them by a Way th••••

•• now not; I will; I will; and therefore they ••hall come to me.

Obj. 5. But how if they have exceeded many •• Sin, and so made themselves far more abomina|••? They are the Ring-leading Sinners in the ••ountry, the Town or Family.

Answ. What then? Shall that hinder the ••xecution of Shall-come? It is not Transgres|••••ons, nor Sins, nor all their Transgressions •• all their Sins, (if they by the Father are ••ven to Christ, to save them) that shall hin|••••r this Promise, that is should not be fulfil|••••d upon them: In those days, and at that time, ••••th the Lord, the Iniquities of Israel shall be ••••ght for, and not be found, Jer. 31 30. Not that ••••ey had none; (for they bounded in Trans|••••essions, 2 Chron. 39 9 Ezek. 16.48.) but God ••••ould pardon, cover, hide, and put them a|•• ••y by Virtue of his absolute Promise, by ••••ich they are given to Christ to save them: ••••d I will cleanse them from all their Ini|••••ity whereby they have sinned against me; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I will pardon all their Iniquity, whereby ••y have transgressed against me. And it ••ll be to me for a Name of Joy, a Praise, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an Honour before all the Nations of the ••rth, which shall hear of all the good I do ••o them; and they shall fear and tremble •• all the Goodness, and all the Prosperity •• I procure to it, Jer. ••••.8, 9.

Obj 6 But how if they have not Faith and ••••pentance? How shall they come then?

Answ. Why, he that saith, they shall come, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he not make it out? If they shall come, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall come; and he that hath said, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come, if Faith and Repentance be the

way to come, as indeed they are, then Fa•• and Repentance shall be given to them; •• Shall-come must be fulfilled on them.

First, Faith shall be given them; I will so leave in the midst of thee an afflicted •• poor People, and they shall trust in the Na•••• of the Lord. There shall be a Root of J•• and He shall rise to reign over the Gent•• and in Him shall the Gentiles trust, Zaph. 3. •• Rom. 15.12.

Secondly, They shall have Repentance: is exalted to give Repentance; They shall •• weeping and seeking the Lord their God. •• again, With Weeping and Supplication will l•• them, Acts 5.30, 31. Jer. 31.9.

I told you before that an absolute P•• hath all conditional Ones in the Belly •• and also Provision to answer all those ••+lification•• that they propound to him th•• ••+eth for their Benefit: And it must be •• for if shall-come be an absolute Promise, •• ••+deed it is, then it must be fulfilled o•• very of those concerned therein. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must be fulfilled, if God can by Grac•• his absolute Will fulfil it: Besides, sin•• ••+ming and believing is all one, (accor•• John 6.3) He that cometh to me shall net•• ••+ger, and he that believeth in me shall never th••

Then when he saith, they shall com•• as much as to say, they shall believ•• consequently repent, to the saving of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 So then the present want of Faith a ••••+pentance cannot make this Promise •• of none effect, because that this Promis•• in it, to give what others call for & •• I will give them all Heart; I will gi••••

my Spirit••; I will give them Repentance; I will give them Faith. Mark these Words! If my man be in Christ, he is a new Creature. But ••ow came he to be a new Creature, since none ••an create but God? God indeed doth make ••hem new Creatures. Behold saith he, I will make all things new. And hence then it follows, even after he had said they are new Creatures; And all things are of God; that is, all this new Crea|••ion standeth in the several Operations, & spe|cial Workings of the Spirit of Grace, who is God, 2 Cor. 5 17 18.

Obj 7. But how shall they escape all those dange|••ous and damnable Opinions, that like Rocks & Quick|••••nds, are in the way in which they are going?

Answ. Indeed, this Age is an Age of Errors, if ••ver there was an Age of Errors in the World, ••ut yet the Gift of the Father, said claim to, by ••he Son in the Text, must needs escape them▪ & •• Conclusion come to him. There are a com|••any of shall comes in the Bible that doth secure ••hem. Not but that they may be assaulted by ••hem; yea, and also for the time, entangled & ••etained by them from the Bishop of their Souls; ••ut these Shall comes will break those Chains & ••etters, that those given to Christ are entangled 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and they shall come, because He hath said, ••hey shal•• come to Him.

Indeed, Errors are like that Whore of whom 〈…〉〈…〉 of in the Proverbs, that sitteth in her sea••, •• ••••e High Places of the City, to call Passengers, why •• right in their Way, (Prov 9 13, 14.) But the 〈…〉〈…〉, that by the Father are given ••o the Son to save them, are sit one time or ••the••, to be se••u••ed by shall come to me.

And therefore of such it is said, God will

guide them with his Eye, with his Counsel, his Spirit, and that in the way of Peace; by Springs of Water, and into all Truth, Isal. 8. Psal. 73.24. Joh. 16.13 Luk 1.79. Isa. 47 10, then, He that hath such a Guide, (and all▪ the Father giveth to Christ shall have it) shall escape those Dangers, he shall not e•••• the way; yea, though he be a Fool, he •• not err therein. (Isa 35.) for of every such one it is said, Thine ears shall hear a Word b•• thee, saying, This is the Way, walk in it, when ye t•••• the Right Hand, and when ye turn to the Left, Isa 3••

There were Thieves & Robbers before Ch•• Coming, as there are also now; But sait•• the Sheep did net hear them.

And why did they not hear them; But be •• they were under the Power of Shall come; •• absolute Promise, that had the Grace in i•• to bestow upon them, as could make the•••• rightly to distinguish his Voice, My Sh•••••• my Vioce: But how came they to hear it? •• to them it is given to know & to hear, & distinguishly, Joh. 10.8, 16. ch. 5.25 Eph. 5.14.

Father] The very plain Sentence of the makes Provision against all these things; saith it, All that the Father giveth me, shall to me; that is, shall not be stopped, or be red to take up any where short of me; nor they turn aside to abide with any besides m••

Shall come (to me.)

To me.] By these Words there is farther ••+nuated (though not expressed) a double •• of their coming to him.

First, There is in Christ a Fulness of All ••+ficiency of all that, even of all that which is ••+ful to make us happy.

Secondly, Those that indeed come to him, do ••••erefore come to him, that they may receive it •• his Hand.

For the first of these, There is in Christ a ••ulness of All-sufficiency of all that even of all ••••at which is needful to make us happy Hence •• is said, For it pleased the Father, that in him ••••uld all Fulness dwell. And again, Of his Fulness •• have all received, and Grace for Grace, Col. 1.19. ••••h 1.16. It is also said of him, that his Riches ••••e unsearchable; The unsearchable riches of Christ, ••oh. 3.8. Hear what he saith of Himself; Riches ••••d Honour are with me, even durable Riches and ••••ghteousness: My Fruit is better than Gold; yea, ••••an fine Gold, and my revenue than cho••ce Silver: I ••••d in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the ••••••ht of Judgment, that I may cause them that love •• to inherit substance. And I will fill their cre••|••••••es, Prov. 18.19.

This in General. But more particularly.

First, There is that Light in Christ, that is ••••fficient to lead them out of, and from all that ••arkness in the midst of which all others, but ••••em that come to him stumble, and fall, and ••••rish; I am the Word sai••h he; He that fol|••••weth me, shall not abide in Darkness, but ••••all have the light of life, Joh. 8 12 Man by Na|••••re is in Darkness, and walketh in Darkness, & ••••o••eth not whither he goes, for Darkness hath ••••i••ded his eyes; neither can any thing, but ••••sus Christ, lead Men out of this Darkness: ••atural Conscience cannot do it; the Ten ••ommandments, though in the Heart of Man, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••o it. This Prerogative belongs only 〈◊〉〈◊〉 J••sus Christ.

Secondly, There is Life in Christ, that is to be

found no where else, Joh. 5.40 Life is a Princi|ple in the Soul, by which it shall be acted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enabled to do that, which thro' Him is ple•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to God; He that believes in, o•• cometh to me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 He, (as the Scriptures have said) out of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall flow rivers of living water. Jon 7 38. With this Life a man is dead, whether he be bad, whether he is good; that is good in his own •• other men's esteem. There is no true & eter•••••• Life, but what is in thee (Me) that speaketh •• the Text.

There is Life for those that come to him, •• he had by Faith in his F••esh and Blood; •• that eateth me, shall live by me, Joh. 4.57.

And this is a Life against that Death 〈◊〉〈◊〉 comes by the Guilt of Sin, and the Curse of t•••• Law, under which all men are, and for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must be, unless they eat (me) that spe•••• the Text; Whoso findeth me, saith he, findeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Deliverance from that everlasting Death a•• Destruction, that without me he shall be de|voured by, Prov. 8.

Nothing is more desirable than Life, to him that hath in himself the Sentence of Condem|nation; and h••re only is Life to be found: This Life, to wit, Eternal Life, This Life is in the Son: that is, in Him that faith in the Text, All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me, 1 John v. 10.

Thirdly, The Person speaking in the Text. i•• He alone, by whom poor Sinners have Admit|tance to, and Acceptance with the Father, be|cause of the Glory of his Righteousness, by, and in which He presenteth them amiable and spot+less in his sight, neither is there any way b••+sides Him, so to come to the Father; I am 〈◊〉〈◊〉

••y, (saith he,) the Truth and the Life; no Man ••••eth to the Father, but by Me, John 14.6. All ••••her ways to God are dead and damnable; the ••estroying Cherubims stand with flaming Swords, ••••rn,ng every Way to keep all others from his ••resence▪ (Gen 3.34) I say all others, but them ••••at come by Him.

I am the Door; by me, saith he, if any man enter •• he shall be saved; John 10.9

The Person speaking in the Text is He, and ••ly He, That can give stable and everlasting ••eace; therefore, (saith he.) My Peace I give ••••to you: My Peace, which is a Peace with ••OD, Peace of Conscience, and that of an e|••erlasting Duration. My Peace, Peace that ••••nnot be matched. Not as the world giveth, give ••nto you; for the World's Peace is but carnal •• transitory, but mine is Divine & Eternal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is called the Peace of God, that passeth Understanding.

••••urthly, The Person speaking in the Text •• enough of all things truly spiritually good, ••••tisfie the desire of every longing Soul; ••esus stood, and cried, saying,, If any man thirst, •• come unto me and drink. And to him that i•• •• I will give of the Fountain of the Water▪ of ••••ely, John 7.37. Rev. 21.6.

••••••••ly, With the Person speaking in the Text, ••ver to perfect, defend and deliver thos•• •• come to him for Safeguard. All Power, •• He, in Heaven and Earth are given to Me, •• 28.18.

••hus might I multiply Instances in this Na|••••••e in abundance. But,

••ixthly, They that in truth do come to Him, •• therefore come to Him, that they may re|ceive

it at his Hand; they come for Light, •• come for Eight, they come for Life, they •• for Reconciliation with God; they also •• for Peace, they come that their Souls may •• satisfied with spiritual Goods, & that they •• be protected by him against all spiritual •• eternal Damnation; & he alone is able to •• them all this, to the filling of their joy •• full, as they also find when they come to ••

This is evident;

First, From the plain Declaration of those •• already are come to him; Being justified by •• we have Peace with God through ••ur Lord Jesus C•• by whom also we have access with Boldness un•••• Grace wherein we stand, and rejo••ce in the Hope •• Glory of God, Rom 5.

Secondly, 'Tis evident also, in that while •• keep their Eyes upon him, they never desi•••• change him for another, or to add to thems•••••••• some other thing, together with him, to ma•••• t••eir spiritual Joy; God forbid, said Pa••l. •• ••••ould glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus C•• Yea, and I account all things but loss, for the E••••••••+lency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord▪ ••hom I have suffered the loss of a••l thin••s, a••+count then but Dung, that I may w••n Christ, an•• found in him, not having m••ne own Righteous•••••••• which is of the law; but that which is through •• ••aith of Chr••st the Righteousness which is of G•••• ••aith, Phil 3.7.8.9.

Thirdly, 'Tis evident also, by their earnest •• sa••es, that others might be made Partakers •• their Bl••ss••dness Brethren, said Paul, my He•• Desire, and Prayer to God for Israel is that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he saved. That ••ay that he expected to be ••+••ed himself. As he saith also to the Galatia••

••••ethren, saith he, I beseech you be as I am, for I am ••e are; that is, I am a Sinner as ye are. Now ••eseech you seek for Life, as I am seeking of •• as who should say. For there is a Sufficiency •• the Lord Jesus, both for me and you.

Fourthly, 'Tis evident also, by the Triumph ••t such men make over all their Enemies, ••••••h bodily and ghostly: Now thanks be to God, •• Paul, who causest us always to triumph in Jesus ••, who shall separate us from the Love of Christ •• Lord: And again, O Death, where is thy Sting? •• Grave, where is thy Victory? The Sting of Death ••in, and the strength of Sin is the Law, but thank•• ••••to God, who giveth us the Victory through our •• ••••••us Christ, 1 Cor. 2.14. Rom. 8.35. 1 Cor. 5.5••

Fifthly, 'Tis evident also, for that they are ••••de by the Glory of that which they have found •• him to suffer and endure what the Devil and ••ll it self hath, or could invent, as a means to ••••••arate them from him. Again, Who shall fe••a|••••••e us from the Love of Christ? Shall Tribulation, •• Distress, or Persecution, or Famine, or Nakedness. •• Peril, or Sword? (As it is written, For they sak•• •• are killed all the day long; we are accounted as ••eep for the slaughter) Nay, in all these things we •• more than Conquerors, thro' Him that loved us. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perswaded, that neither Death nor Life, nor ••••el••, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things •• ••ut, nor things to come, nor Height, nor Depth, 〈…〉〈…〉 other Creature shall be able to separate 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8.

Then come (to me) O! the Heart attracting ••••ry that is in Jesus Christ, (when He is ••••••••vered) to draw those to Him that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Him of the Father! Therefore those

that came of old render'd this as the cause their coming to him. And we beheld the G•••• of the only begotten of the Father, John 1.14. the reason why others come not, but peri•••• their Sins, is for want of a sight of his G•••• of your Gospel be hid, it is hid to them th•• l••st; ••n whom the God of this World hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the M••nds of them that believe not, lest the ••+rious Light of the Gospel of Christ, who is ••+mage of God, should shine unto them, 2 Cor. ••

There is therefore heart-pulling Glory ••••+sus Christ, which when discovered draw•• man to him; wherefore by shall come to •• Christ may mean, when his Glory is disc••+••••n they must come, then shall they com•• me. Treasure as the true Comers come •• weeping & relenting, as being sensible of •• own Vileness; so again it is said, that the •• som••d of the Lord shall return & come to •• with Singing and everlasting Joy upon •• Heads; they shall obtain Joy and Gladness▪ Sorrow, and Sighing shall fly away: That •• the sight of the Glory of that Grace, that •• it self to them now, in the Face of our Lord ••••+sus Christ, and the Hopes that they may •• have of being with him in the Heavenly ••••+bernacles. Therefore it saith again, With ••+ness and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sha••l they be brought; the•• enter into the Kings Palace, Isa. 35 10. ch 5. Psal. 14 15.

There is therefore, Heart attracting G•••• the Lord Jesus Christ, which when dis•• subjects th•• Heart to the Word, and ma•• come to Him.

'Tis said of Abraham, that when he dwel•• Mesopotamia, the God of Glory appeared ••

〈◊〉〈◊〉, (Acts 7.2) saying, Get thee out of thy ••ntry. And what then? Why, away he ••t from his House and Friends, & all the ••••rld could not stay him. Now as the Psal. •• says, Who is the King of Glory? He ••••••wers, The Lord mighty in Battel. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was that but He that spoiled Principalities •• Powers, when he did hang on the Tree, ••mphing over them thereon? And who was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but Jesus Christ, even the Person speaking ••he Text, Therefore he saith of Abraham, He •• his Day; Yea saith he to the Je••••s, your Fa|•••••••• Abraham rejoyced to see my day, and he saw it, •• was glad, Psal. 24 8 Col 2 14 Ja. ••.8 J••h 8 56. ••ndeed the carnal man says (at least) in his ••••••rt, Isa 53 2. there is no form or comeliness •• Christ; and when we shall see him, there is •• Beauty that we should desire him: But he ••; this he speaks, as having never seen him, •• they that stand in his Word, by the he••p of •• holy Spirit, they will tell you other things. •• we, say they, all with open face, beholding •• a Glass, the Glory of the Lord, are chan|•• in the same Image, from glory to glory, ••. 3 18 They see glory in his Person, glory ••is Undertakings, glory in the Merit or his ••od, and glory in the Perfection of his Righ|••••••usness; yea, heart affecting, heart sweetning, •• heart changing glory

••ndeed his Glory is vail'd, & cannot be seen, •• as discover'd by the Father, Mat. 11.27 It ••a••l'd with Flesh, with meanness of Descent ••n the Flesh, and with that Ignominy and •• we that attended him in the Flesh, but they •• can, in God's Light, see thro' these things, •• shall see glory in him, yea, such glory

as will draw and pull their Hearts unto ••

Moses was the adopted Son of Pharoah's D••••••••+ter, and for ought I know, had been Kin•• last, had he then conformed to the present ••+nities that was there at Court; but he •• not, he would not do it. Why, what wa•• matter? Why, he saw more in the wo•••• Christ, (bear with the Expression) than h•• in the best of all the Treasures of the La•••• Egypt. He refused to be called the Son o•• ••••+roah's Daughter; chusing rather to suffer ••+tion with the People of God, than to enjo•• Pleasures of Sin for a season; esteemin•• reproach of Christ greater riches than the ••+sures of Egypt: For he had respect to th•• ••+compence of Reward. He forsook Egyp•• fearing the wrath of the King. But wha•• boldened him thus to do? Why, he e•••• (for he had a fight of the Person speak•• the Text) he endured, as seeing him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 invisible. But I say, would a sight of •• have thus taken away Moses's Heart fo•• Crown, a Kingdom, had he not by that •• seen more in him, than was to be se•••• them? Heb 11.24.

Therefore when he saith, Shall come •• he means they shall have a discovery •• Glory of the Grace that is in him; •• Beauty and Glory of that, is of such •• that it constrains and forces with that •• Violence, the Hearts of those that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him.

Moses of whom we spake before, was n•••• when he was thus taken with the be•• Glory of his Lord; he was Forty Years •• so consequently was able, being a Man ••

••isdom and O••portunity as he was, to make ••••e best judgment of the things, & of the Good|••••ss of them that was before him in the Land of ••••ypt. But he, even he it was, that set that low ••eem upon the Glory of Egypt as to count it ••t worth the m••dling with, when he had a ••ht of this Lord Jesus Christ. This wicked ••orld thinks, that the Fancies of a Heaven, and Happiness hereafter, may serve well enough •• take the Heart of such as either have not the ••orld's good things to delight in; or that are ••••ols, and know not how to delight themselves ••••rein: But let them know again, that we have •• Men of all Ranks, and Qualities, that have ••n taken with the Glory of the Lord Jesus, & ••e left all to follow him: As Abel, Seth, Enoch, ••h, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, David, ••mon, and who not, that had either Wit •• Grace to favour heavenly things? Indeed, ••e stand off from Him, nor any longer ••••d out against Him, to whom he reveals •• glory of his Grace.

And him that cometh to me, (I will in no wise cast out.)

••y these Words, our Lord Jesus doth see ••h yet more amply, his great Goodness of •• Nature towards the coming Sinner. Be|•• he said, They shall come; and he declares •• with Heart and Affections he will re|••e them. But by the way, let me sp••ak •• Word or two to the seeming Conditio|•• •• of this Promise, wi••h ••hich I have •• to do. [And h••m tha•• cometh ••o me, I ••an no wise cast out] Where it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 evident, ••y some say) that Christ's receiving us ••••orcy depends upon our coming, and so

our Salvation by Christ is conditional. If •• come, we shall be received; if not, we sh•••••• not; so that is fully intimated by the word•• The Promise of Reception is only to hi•• that cometh. And him that cometh I answe•• that the Coming in these words mention'd, •• a condition of being received to life, is t•• which is promised, yea, concluded to be ••••+fected in us by the Promise going befor•• In those latter Words, coming to Christ, •• implicitly requir'd of us; and in the Wor•• before, that Grace that can make them co•••• is positively promised to us [All that •• Father giveth me, shall come to me, and •• that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out] He•• we come to Christ, because it is said, We 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come; because it is given us to come So •• the Condition which is expr••ss••d by Chri•••• these latter Words, is absolutely promised •• the Words before. And indeed, the co•••• here intended, is nothing else but the effect •• Shall come to me. They shall c••me, and I •• not cast them out.

(And him that come••h)

He saith not, and him that is come, but •• that cometh.

To speak to these Words,

• 1. In General.
• 2 More Particularly.

In General: They suggest unto us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Four things:

F••rst, Th•••• Jesus Christ doth build up•••• that since the Father gave his People to •• 〈…〉〈…〉 be enabled to come unto him. •• 〈…〉〈…〉 cometh: As who should say, I 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••nce they are given to Me, they sh••••

enabled to come unto Me. He saith not, if they come, or I suppose they will come; but, and him that cometh. By these words therefore he shews us that he address••th himself to the receiving of th••m whom the Father gave to hims to save them: I say, He addresseth him|self or prepareth himself to receive them: By which, as I said, He concludeth or buddeth ••pon it, that they shall indeed come to Him. He looketh that the Father should bring them ••nto his Bosom, and so stands ready to em|••race them

Secondly, Christ also suggesteth by these words, ••hat He very well knoweth who are given to ••im, not by their coming to Him, but by their ••••ing gives to Him. All that the Father giveth ••e, shall come to me; and him that cometh, &c. ••his (Him) He knoweth to be one of them ••••at the Father hath given Him; & therefore ••e receiveth him even because the Father hath ••ven him to him. J••h 10 I know my Sheep, saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Not only those that already have know|••••••ge of Him; but those too that yet are igno|••••••t of Him. Other Sheep have I, said He, that •• not of this Fold: Not of the Jew••sh Church; ••t th••se that lie in their Sons, even the rude & ••••••barous Gentiles. Therefore, when Paul was ••s afraid to stay at Corinth, from a supposi••i|•••• that some mischief might befal him there; •• not afraid, (saith the Lord Jesus to Him.) •• speak, and bold not thy Peace, for I have much ••••le in this City, Joh. 10.16. Acts 18 9, 10. The ••ple that the Lord here speaks of, were not ••his time accounted his, by reason of a work •• Conversion that had already passed upon ••n, by virtue of the Gift of the Father, for

He had given them unto Him; therefore •• Paul to stay here, to speak the word of •• Lord to them, that by his speaking, the H•• Ghost might effectually work over the Souls, •• the ca••sing them to come to him, who was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ready with Heart and Soul to receive them.

Thirdly, Christ by these Words also suggeste•• That no more come unto Him than indeed •• given Him of the Father; for the Him in •• place is one of the (All) that by Canst •• mentioned before. All that the Father giveth •• shall come to me; and every Him of that •• I will in no wise cast out. This the Apostle s••••uate••h, where He saith, He gave some A••+tles, & some Prophets, & some Evangelists, & •• Pastors, & Teachers for the perfecting of •• Saints, for the Work of the Ministry, for the e••+ing of the Body of Christ; 'till we come i•• Unity of Faith, & in the Knowledge of the So•• God, unto a perfect Men unto the Measu•••• the S••ature of the Fulness of Christ, Eph. 4

Mark! as in the Text, so here he speake•• (all;) Until we a I come: We (all!) All •• Doubtless all that the Father giveth unto C•• This is farther insi••ua••ed, because He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this all, the Body of Christ, ••h•• M••asure o•• Stature of the Fulness of Christ: By which •• means, the universal N••mber given, to wit•• true elect Church; which is said to be his •• and Fulness, Eph 1.22 23.

Fourthly, Christ Jesus by these Words •• suggesteth, that He is well content with th•• of the Father to Him, All that the Father •• me, shall come to me; & him that cometh •• I will in no wise cast out. I will heartily, w•• ••+ly, & with a great content of mind receive••

They shew us also, that Christ's Love in re|ceiving, is as large as the Father's Love in giv|••ng, and no larger. Hence He thanks Him for his Gift; & also thanks Him for hiding of him & his things from the rest of the Wicked, Mat 9.25 Luk. 10.21.

But Secondly, & more particularly, And (him) that cometh And (Him!) This Word (Him;) ••y it Christ looketh back to the Gift of the Fa|••her, not only in the lump and whole of the Gift, but to the very him of that Lump. As who should say, I do not only accept of the ••ift of my Father in general, but have a spe|••••al regard to every of them in particular; and ••••ill scare not only some of the greatest part, ••••t every him, every dost: Not an hoof of •• All) shall be lost, or left behind. And, in|deed, in this He consenteth to the Father's ••ill; which is, That of (All) that He hath ••ven Him, He shou'd lose nothing, Joh. 6 39.

And h••m) Christ Jesus also, by his thus divi|••••ng the Gift of the Father into (him••) & by •• speaking of them in the singular Number, ••ews what a particular Work shall be wrought •• each one, at the time appointed of the Fa|••••er. And it shall come to pass in that Day, ••••th the Prophet, that the Lord shall beat off from •• Channel of the River, to the Streams of Egypt; •• ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye Children of ••el. Here are the (Hims) one by one to be ••hered to Him by the Father Isa. 35 ••••.

He shews also hereby, that, that no Lineage, ••••tired, or Relation, can at all be profited ••••y •• Outward or Carnal Union with the Pe••••••n •• the Father hath given to Christ▪ 'Tis only •• he given him, the coming him, that the

intends absolutely to secure. M•••• make •• great ado with the Children of Believers! •• O the Children of Believers! But if the Chi•••• of the Believer is not the Him concerned •• the absolute Promise, it is not these Men •• great Cry, nor yet what the Parent or Chi•••• can do, that can interest him in the Prom•••••• of the Lord Christ; this absolute Promise.

And him ••) There are divers sorts of Pe••+sons that the Father hath given to Je•••••• Christ; they are not all of one Ra••k, of •• Q••ality. Some are High, some Low; so•••• are Wise, some F••ols; some are m••re ci•• and complying with the Law, some are m•• and averse to him and his G••spel. N••w si•• those that are given to him▪ are in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sense to diverse; and again▪ since he yet s•• And him that cometh, &c He by that doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us to understand, that he is not as Men, •• picking and c••••sing, to take a B••st & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Worst; but he is for him that the F•••• hath given him, and that cometh to him, will not alter nor change it; a Good f•••• Bad, or a Bad for a Good, (Lev 27.9) •• will take him as he is, and well save his ••

There is many a sad Wretch given by •• Father to Jesus Christ; but not one of th•• all in despised, or fl••ghted by Him

It is said of those that the Father hath •• to Christ, That they have done worse that •• Heathen: That they were Murtherers, Thie•• Drunkards, unclean Persons; and what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But he has received them, washed them, •• saved them. A fit Emblem of this sort is •• wretched Instance mentioned in the Sixte•••• of the ••••iel, that was cast out in a stinking ••

••ion, that no E••e p••tied, to do any of the ••ngs there mentioned unto it, or to have ••mpassion upon it: No Eye, but his that ••ak••••h in the Text.

And him) Let him be as red as Blood, let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be as ••e•• as C••imson. Some Men are ••••d••red Sinners, Sinners of a double Dye, ••••p'd and dip'd again, before they come to ••••••us Christ, A•••• thou tha•• ••eadest these Lines ••n an one? Speak o••t Man, are thou such •• one? And a•••• thou now coming to Jesus ••••••ist for the Mercy of Justification, that thou ••••gh••est be made Whi••e in his Blood, and be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his Righteousness? Fear not; for •• much as this thy coming betokeneth▪ that thou •• of the Number of them that the Father hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Christ, so he w••ll an no wise cast thee •• Come now, saith Christ, and let us reason •• them; though your Sins he as sca••let, they shall ••s white as snow; though they be as red as ••••••son, they shall be as Wool Isa 1 18.

And him) There was many a strange him ••e to Jesus Christ, in the Day of his Fresh, ••he received them all, without turning any ••y. Speaking unto them of the Kingdom of ••, & healing such as had need of healing, •• 9.11 ch. 4 40 These words a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, are ••efore words to be wondred at. That not •• of them, who by virtue of the Father's •• and Drawing, are coming to Jesus Christ; ••, that not one of them, whatever they have ••, should be rejected, or set by, but admit|•• ••o a Share in his saving Grace. 'Tis said ••••k••, That the People wondred at the gracious •• that proceeded out of his Mouth. Luke 4 12. •• this is one of his gracious Words; These

Words are like Drops 〈◊〉〈◊〉 H••ney, as it is •• Prov. 16.24. Pleasant Words are as an Honey •• sweet to the Soul, and health to the Bones T•• ••••e gracious Words indeed, even as full •• ••••ithfu•• ••igh Priest could speak them. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith, When Christ speaketh, he hath a Mou•••• made a•• Heaven and Earth. That is, to speak •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Encouragement of every sinful •• 〈…〉〈…〉 coming to J••sus Christ. And that •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is certain, hear how himself confi••m•• •• ••eaven and Earth (saith He) shall pa••s 〈…〉〈…〉 ••nd shall not pass away, Isa ••3 1 Mat. ••••

It is also confirmed by the Testimony e•• ••ou•• Evangel••sts, who gave faithful Relatio•• his loving Reception of all so••••s ••f coming ••+••ers whether they were Publicans, Hariots, Th•• possessed of Devils B••••ll••••••s, and what not? •• ••9.••. Mat. 21.21. Luk 15. & ch. 23.4. Mark •• chap. •• 1.

This then shews us,

1st The greatness of the M••••••••s of Ch••i••••

2dly, The w••llingness of his Heart to im•• them for Life to the great, if coming Sinne••

3. This shews us the greatness of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Christ; for it must not be supposed, th•• wo••ds are bigger then his worthiness. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strong to execute. He can Do as well as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 He can do c••••ceding abundantly more than 〈…〉〈…〉 or think, even to the uttermost and outside 〈…〉〈…〉, Eph. •• 20.

Now then, since he concludeth any com•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, at must be concluded, that he can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that uttermost sin, any coming to him.

Do you think, I say, that the Lord Jesu•• 〈…〉〈…〉 before he spake? He speaks 〈…〉〈…〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉

••e to judge how mighty be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to save. Isa 6•• 1. •• He speaketh in Righteousness, in very Fa••th|••••lness, when he organ to build his bless••d G••s|••••l Fabrick, the TEXT; it was for that he had ••••st sat down and counted the Cost; & f•••• ••••at •• knew he was able to finish What, Lord, any ••m! Any him that cometh to Thee! This is •• Christ worth looking after; This is a Christ ••orth coming to

This then should learn us diligently to consi|•••••• the natural force of every Word of God; & •• judge of Christ's Ability to Save, not by our ••••ns, or our shallow Apprehensions of his Grace, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by his word which is the true Measure of ••ace. And if we do not judge thus, we shall ••horour his Grace; lose the Benefit of his Word, ••••d needlesly fright out s••ves into many Discou|••••gements through coming to Jesus Christ Him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him that cometh, hath sufficient from this ••ord of Christ to feed himself with Hopes of ••••••vation. As thou art therefore coming, Oh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coming Sinner, judge thou whether Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 save thee, by the true Sense of his Words: ••••••ge, coming Sinner, of the Efficacy of his ••nd, of the Perfection of his Righteousness, & •• the Prevalency of his Intercession by his Word, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, saith he that cometh to me, I will in •• w••se cast out. In no wise that is for no Sin; ••ge therefore by his Wor••, how able he is to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is said of God's Saying to the ••••••ldren of Israel, There failed not ought of any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing which the Lord had spoken to the House of 〈◊〉〈◊〉; ah came to ••ass And again. Not one thing •• failed of all the good thins which the Lord your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spoke concerning you; all are come to pass; and •• one thing has sailed thereof, Josh. 21.••5. ch 23.

Coming Sinner, What Promise thou finde•••• the Word of Christ strain is whither thou•••• so thou dost n••t corrupt it, and his Blood •• Merits will answer all what the Word say•• any true C••ns••q••ence that is drawn there •• that we may ven••u••e upon: As here in the •• he says, [and him that cometh] indefinitely, •• out the least intimation of the Rejecting of •• tho' never so great, if he be a coming Si•• Take it then for granted, That thou, wh•• thou art, if coming, art intended in these W•• neither shall it injure Christ at all, if, as ••+dad's Servants served Ahab, thou shall ca••c•••• at his Word. Now says the Text, the M•• diligently observe whether any thing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come from him (to wit any word of Grace •• did hastily, catch it. And it happen'd th•• ••+hab had called Benhadad his B••o••her. The •• replied therefore, Thy Brother Benhadad! ••+ing him at his Word, 1 Kings 20 33. Si•• coming Sinner, serve Jesus Christ thus, a•• will take it kindly at thy Hands. Whe•• in his Argument, called the Canaanitish •• man Dog, she catch'd, him at it, and •• Truth, Lord, yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs th•• from their Masters••••s Table. I say, she catch'd •• thus in his Words, and he took it kindly, ••+ing, O Woman, great is thy Faith, be it unto •• even as thou wilt, Mat. 15.26. Catch him, c•• Sinner; catch him in his Words, sure•••• will take it kindly, and will not be O•••• at thee.

2dly, The other thing that I told you, ••+ed from these Words, is this, The Wi••+ness of Christ's Heart, to impute his ••+cies for Life, to the great, if coming 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•• him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise •• out.

The awakened coming Sinner, doth not so ••y Question the Power of Christ, as his Wil|••ness to save him; Lord, if thou w••lt, thou ••, said one, Mark 1 40 He did not put the If 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Power, but upon his Will. He con|••ed he could, but he was not fully perswa|•• that He would. But we have the same ••und to believe He will, as we have to believe ••an; and indeed Ground for both, is the ••rd of God. If he was not willing, why did •• Promise? Why did he say, He would re|•• ••e the coming Sinner? Coming Sinner, take ••ce of this; we use to plead practises with ••, and why not with God l••kewise? I am •• we have no more Ground for one than •• other; for we have to plead the Promise •• fa••thful God. Jacob took him the••••; Thou •• (said he) I will surely do thee good, Gen. 32. •• For, from this Prom••se he con••••••••ed that it ••wed in Reason, He must be willing.

••he Text also gives some Ground for us to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same Conclusions; And him that com|•• ••o me, I will in no wise cast out. Here is ••illingness asserted, as well as his Power; ••ested. It's worth your Observation, that ••ham's Faith considered rather God's Power, •• his Willingness; that is he drew his Con|•• ••on, I shall have a Child, from the Power •• was in God, to fulfi•• the Promise to him, ••e concluded he was willing to give him •• else He would not have promis'd one. He ••red not at the Promise of God through Unbelief, ••ns strong in Faith, giving Glory to God; being •• perswaded, that what he had promised, he was a|b••e

to perform. Rom. 4.20, 21 But was not •• Faith exercised or tried, about his Willing •• too? No, there was no shew of Reason for •• because he had promised it: Indeed, had he •• promis'd it, he might have lawfully doubted •• but since he had promis'd it, there was left •• ground at all for doubting, because his Will+ness to give a Son, was demonstrated in his ••+mising him a Son. These words therefore •• sufficient Ground to encourage any coming ••+ner, that Christ is willing, to his power, r••+ceive him; and since he hath power also t•• what he will, there is no Ground at all le•••• the coming Sinner, any more doubt, but to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in full Hope of acceptance, and of being ••••+ved unto Grace and Mercy. And him that ••••+meth) He saith not, And him that is come, and him that cometh; That is, And him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 H••art begins to move after me, who is a•• all for my sake; Him, who is looking out, •• is on his Journey to me. We must the•• distinguish between coming, and being co•••• Jesus Christ. He that is come to him, bu•• tain'd of him more sensibly what he felt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he wanted, than he has, that is but yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him.

A Man that is come to Christ, hath th•• ••+vantage of him that is but coming to hi•• that in Seven Things.

First, He that is come to Christ, no•• •• him, than he that is but coming to him; •• that is but coming to him, is yet in some •• at a distance from him; as it is said of ••••+ming Prodigal. And whole he was yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way of Luke 15. Now, that that is ne•••• him has the best Sight of him, and so i•• ••

make the best Judgment of his most wonderful Grace and Beauty; as God says, Let them come ear, then let them speak. And as the Apostle ••ohn says,; And we have seen, and do testify, that ••od sent his Son to be a Saviour of the World, Isai•• 1 1. 1 Joh 4 14. He that is not yet come, though ••e is coming, is not fit, not being indeed capa|••••e to make that Judgment of the Worth and ••lory of the Grace of Christ, as he is that is ••••me to him, and hath seen and beheld it▪ ••herefore, Sinner, suspend thy Judgment till ••••ou art come nearer.

Secondly, He that is come to Christ, has the ••dvantage of him that is but coming, in that he ••eased of his Burden, for he that is but coming, •• not eased of his Burden, Mat 11.28 He that •• come, hath cast his Burden upon the Lord, •• Faith he hath seen himself released thereof▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he that is but coming, hath it yet, as to Sens•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Feeling, upon his own Shoulders Come un|•••• me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, implies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Burden, though they are coming, is •• upon them, and so will be, till indeed they •• come to Him.

Thirdly, He that is come to Christ, has the ••••vantage of him that is but coming, in this ••, namely, he hath drank of the sweet & Soul|••eshing Water of Life; but he that is but co|••••••g, hath not. If any man thirst, let him come •• me and drink.

••ack He must come to him before he drinks, ••••••••rding to that of the Prophet, Ho? every one •• thirsteth, come ye to the Waters He drinketh •• as he cometh, but when he is come to •• Waters, Joh 7.34. Isa 45.1.

••ourthly, He that is come to Christ, as the

Advantage of him that as yet is but coming, •• this also, to wit, He is not terrified with •• Noise, and as I may call it, Hue and Cry wh•• the Avenger of Blood makes at the Heels •• him that is yet but coming to him. W•••• the Slayer was upon the flight to the City of •• Refuge, he had the noise or fear of the Ave•• of Blood at his Heels; but when he was c•••• to the City, and was entred thereinto; the N•• ceased. Even so it is with him that is com•• to Jesus Christ: He heareth many a drea•• Sound in his Ear; sounds of Death & D••••••+nation, which he that is come, is at pre•• freed from. Therefore He saith, Come, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will give you ••est; and so he saith agin, •• that have believed, do enter into rest, as he •• &c. Heb 4.

Fifthly, He therefore that is come to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is not so subject to those Dejections & ••••+mings down by reason of the Rage & Al•• of the evil One, as is the Man that is •• coming to Jesus Christ, (tho' he has T••••••+tations too) and while he was yet com•• the Devil threw him down, and tore him, Lu•••• 42. For he has (tho' Satan still roareth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him) those experimental Comforts & Ref••••••+ments; to wit, in his Treasury, to p•••• himself with, in times of Temptation & Co•••• which he that is but coming, has not.

Sixthly. He that is come to Christ, h•• ••dvantage of him that is but coming 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this also, to wit, he hath upon hi•• Wedding Garment; but he that is comi•••• not. The Prodigal, when coming home to ••+ther, was cloathed with nothing but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were tormented with an empty Belly,

••hen he was come, the best Robe is brought ••ut; also the Gold Ring, and the Shoes, yea, ••••ey are put upon him to his great rejoycing. The fatted Calf was killed for him; the Musick ••as struck up to make him merry: And thus To the Father himself sung of him. This my ••n was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and •• found, Luk 15.18.

Seventhly, In a ••o••d, he that is come to Christ, ••s Groans and Tears, his Doubts and Fears are ••••rned into Sings and Praises; for that he hath ••ow received the Atonement, and the Earnest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Inheritance; but he that is but yet com|••••g, hath not these Praises, nor Songs of Deli|••••rance with him, nor has he as yet received ••••e Atonement and Earnest of his Inheritance, ••hich is the sealing Testimony of the Holy ••ost, through the Sprinkling of the Blood of ••hrist upon his Conscience; for he is not come, ••••m 5 11. Eph 1.13. Heb 12.22

And him that (cometh.)

There is farther to be gather'd from thi•• ••ord (cometh) these following Particulars.

First, That Jesus Christ hath his Eye upon, & ••••kes notice of the first moving of the Heart of •• Sinner after him. Coming Sinner, thou canst ••t move with desire after Christ, but he sees ••e work of those Desires in thy Heart. All my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said David, are before thee, and my groanings 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not hid from thee, Psal 38 9. This he spake, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 w•• coming, (after he had back-slidden,) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••e Lord Jesus Christ. 'Tis said of the Prodi|••••l, that while he was yet a great way off, his ••••ther saw him, had his Eye upon him, and ••••on the going out of his Heart after him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 15.20.

When Nathaniel was come to J••sus Christ, th•• Lord said to them that stood before him, b••+hold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guilt •• But Nathaniel answered him, Whence knowest th•• me? Jesus answered, before that Philip cal•• thee, when thou wast under the Fig-tree, I j•• thee. There I suppose, Nathaniel was pouri•••• out his Soul to God for Mercy, or that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would give him good Understanding abo•••• the Messias to come. And Jesus saw all t•••• workings of his honest Heart at that th•• John 1.47.

Zacheus also had some secret movings 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Heart, such as they were towards Jesus Chri•••• when he ran before and climbed up the T•••• to see him; and the Lord Jesus Christ b•• his Eye upon him. Therefore when he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come to the place, he looked up to him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him come down; For to day said he, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ide at thy House. To wit, in order to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••rther compleating the Work of Grace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••is Soul, Luke 19.1, &c. Rememember th•• coming Sinner.

Secondly, As Jesus Christ hath his Eye up•••• so he hath his Heart open to receive the ••••+ming Sinner: This is verified by the T•••• [And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise •• out.] This is also discovered by his prepari•••• the Way, in his miking of it easie (as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be) to the coming Sinner, which preparation •• manifest by them blessed Words, I will in •• wise cast out. Of which more when we ca•• to the p••ace. And while he was yet a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion •• him; and ran and fell on his Neck and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, Luke 15.20. All these Expressions 〈◊〉〈◊〉

strongly prove, that the Heart of Christ is open to receive the coming Sinner.

Thirdly, As Jesus Christ has his Eyes upon, & 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 has abode in them, shall by any means prevail with Jesus Christ to reject him. Co|ming Sinner, thou art coming to a loving Lord Jesus.

Fourthly, These Words are therefore drop'd from his blessed Mouth, on purpose that the co|ming Sinner might take Encouragement to con|tinue on his Journey, till he come indeed to Je|sus Christ. It was doubtless a great Encou|ragement to blind Bartimeus, that Jesus Christ stood still and called him, when he was crying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have me••cy upon me! Therefore 'tis said, He cast away his Garment, ••ose up, and came to Jesus, Mark 10 46, &c. Now, ••f a Call to come hath such Encouragement in ••t, what is a Promise of receiving such, but an Encouragement much more? And observe it, ••ho' 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; & sure|••y since he calls me, he will grant me my De|••ire. Ah but coming Sinner, thou hast no need to ••o so far about, as to draw (in this matter con|sequences) 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 ••ne can desire. For suppose thou wert submit|••ed to make a Promise thy self, & Christ should attest that he would fulfil it upon the Sinner

that cometh to him; couldst thou make a b••••+ter Promise? Could thou invent a more fo•• free, or larger Promise? A Promise that loo•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first moving of the Heart after Jes•••• Christ! A Promise that declares, yea that eng••+ges Christ Jesus to open his Heart to receive 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coming Sinner: Yea farther, a Promise t•• demonstrates that the Lord Jesus is resolv•• freely to receive, and will in no wise cast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor means to reject the Soul of the coming S••••+ner. For all this has, fully in his Promise, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 does naturally flow therefrom Here th•••• needest not make use of far fetch'd Conseque••+ces, nor strain thy Wits, to force encouragi•••• Arguments from the Text. Coming Sinner, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Words are plain. [And him that cometh unto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 It will in no wise cast out.]

(And him that cometh)

There are two sorts of Sinners that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coming to Jesus Christ.

First, Him that hath never, till of late, •• all began to come.

Secondly, Him that came formerly, & aft•••• that went back, but hath since bethought him+self, and is now coming again.

Both these sorts of Sinners are intended 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Him in the Text, as is evident; beca•••• both are now the coming Sinners.

And him that cometh

For the first of these; The Sinner that hath mover, while of late began to come; his W•••••• is more easie; I do not say, more plain & ope•• to come to Christ, than is the other, (those la•••• having the ••log of a guilty Conscience for the Sin of ••ac••sli••••ing hanging to their Heels 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But all the Encouragement of the Gospel, with

••hat Invitations are therein contained to co|••ing Sinners, are as free and as open to the ••he as to other; so that they may with the ••••me Freedom and Liberty as from the Word, ••oth alike claim Interest in the Promise. All ••••ings are ready. All things for the coming ••acksliders, as well for the orders. Come to the Wedding. And let him that is athirst come, Mat. 2 1, 2. Rev 22 17

B••t having spoken to the fi••st of these alrea|••••, I shall here pass it by; and shall speak a Word or two to him that is coming, after Back-••••••ding, to Jes••s Christ for Life.

Thy way, O thou Sinner of a double Die, ••ny Way is open to come to Jesus Christ. I ••ean thee, whose Heart after long Backsliding, ••oes think of turning to him again. Thy way, •• say, is open to him, as is the way of the other ••••rt of Comers, as appears by what follows.

First, Because the Text makes no Exception ••gainst thee: It doth not say, And any Him ••ut a Backslider, any him but him. The Text ••oes not thus object, but indefinitely opens ••ide its golden Arms to every coming Soul ••ithout the least Exception, therefore thou ••ayst come. And take heed that thou shut ••ot that Door of Unbelief which God has ••pen'd by his Grace.

Secondly, Nay the Text is so far from Ex|••epting against thy coming, that it strongly sug|••esteth, that thou art one of the Souls intended. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou coming Backslider; else what need that ••lauses have been so inserted, I will in no wise ••••st out? As who should say, Though those that ••ome now, are such as were formerly Back-••••dden, I will in no wise cast away the Forni|cator,

the Covetous, the Rule••, the Drunkar•• or other common Sinners, nor yet the Backsli•••••• neither.

Thirdly, That the Backslider is intended, •• evident.

First, For that he is sent to by Name, Go•• has D••sciples, and Peter, Mark. 16.7. But Peter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a godly Man. True but he was also a Bac••|slider, yea, a desperate Backslider. He had a••+med his Master once, twice, thrice, cursing •• swearing that he knew him not. If this was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Backsliding, if this was not an high & emine•••• Backsliding, yea a higher Backsliding than th•• art capable of, I have thought amiss.

Again, When David had Backslidden, & h•• committed Adultery and Murther in his Bac••+sliding, he must be sent to by Name And s•••• the Text, The Lord sent Nathan to David, and •• sent him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him after he had brought hi•• to unfeigned acknowledgment; The Lord h•••• also put away or forgiven thy Sin; 2 Sam. 1 1.

This Man also was far gone. He took •• Man's Wife, and kill'd her Husband, & endea+voured to cover all with wicked Dissimulation •• He did this, I say, after God had exalted him •• and shewed him great Favour; wherefore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Transgressions was greatned also by the Prophe•• with mighty Aggravations; yet he was accep••+ed, and that with gladness, at the first step 〈◊〉〈◊〉 took in this returning to Christ. For the fir•••• step of the Backslider's return, is to say sensibl•• and unfeignedly, I have sinned. But he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sooner said thus, but a Pardon was produc•••• yea, thrust into his Bosome. And Nathan s•••• unto David, The Lord hath also put away thy Sin.

Secondly, As the Person of the Backslider 〈◊〉〈◊〉

••ention'd by Name, so also as the Sin; that if ••ossible, the Objections against thy returning to ••irst may be taken out of the way: I say, thy ••n also mention'd by Name and mixed, as ••ention'd with Words of Grace and Favour, ••ill heal their Backsl••ding, and love them freely, ••s. 14 4. What sayest now Backslider?

Thirdly, Nay farther, thou are not only men|••••••ned by Name, and thy Sin by the Nature of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but thou thy self, who art a Returning ••••cksl••de••, put

First, Amongst God's Israel: Return, O back|••••••ding Israel saith the Lord, and I will not cause my ••••ger to fall upon you; for I am merciful▪ saith the ••••rd, and will not keep anger for ever, Jer. 3 12.

Secondly, Thou art put among his Children, ••••ong his Children to whom he is Married: ••n O backsliding Children, for I an Married ••o you; Verse 14, 15.

Thirdly, Yea, after all this, as if his Heart ••s so full of Grace for them, that he was ••••ssed until he had utter'd it before them: He ••s, Return ye backsliding Children, and I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your backsliding.

Fourthly, Nay further, The Lord hath con|••••••ered, that the shame of thy Sin hath stopped •• Mouth, and made thee almost a Prayerless ••••n; and therefore he saith unto thee, Take ••h you words, and turn unto the Lord, and say ••o him, Take away all Iniquity, and receive us ••ciously See his Grace, that himself should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Words of Encouragement into the Heart of ••ackslider; as he saith in another place, I ••••ght Ephraim to go, taking him by the Arms, •• is i•• teaching him to go indeed, to hold him •• by the Arm, by the Chin, as saith Hosea 14. •• ch. 11.3.

From what hath been said, I conclude, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as I said before, That the Him in the Text •• Him that cometh, includeth hoth these for •• Sinners, and therfore both should freely 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Quest. But where doth Jesus Christ, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Worde of the New Testament, expresly speak 〈◊〉〈◊〉 returning Backslider with words of G••ace & Po•• For what you have urged as yet, from the •• Testament, is nothing but Consequences drawn •• the Text. Indeed, It is a fall Text for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ignorant Sinners, that come; but to me, •• am a Backslider, it yieldeth but little Relief▪

Answer First. How! but little Incour••••••+ment from the Text, when it is said, I wi•••• no wise cast out. What more could have •• said? What is here omitted, that might •• been inserted, to make the Promise more •• and free? Nay, take all the Promises 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bible; all the free Promises: with all th•• ••+riety of Expressions of what Nature or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whatsoever, and they can but amount t•••• Expressions of this very Promise, I will i•• wise cast out: I will for nothing, by no m•••• upon no Account, however they have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 however they have backslidden, however •• have provoked, Cast out the coming Si•• But,

Secondly, Thou say'st, Where doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, in all the Words of the New Testa•••••••• speak in a returning Backslider with we•••• Grace and Peace? That is under the Name •• Backslider.

Answer, Where there is such plenty of ••••••+ples in receiving Backsliders, there is t•••• need of express words to that intent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Promise, as the Text is with the Exi••

•• are annexed, are instead of many Promises. •• besides I reckon that the act of receiving •• as much, if not of more Incouragment, than ••••are Promise to receive; for Receving is as ••romised and the Fulfilling of it too. So that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Old Testament thou hast the Promise and ••••e New, the fulfilling of it; and that in ••••s Examples.

••••••st, In Peter, Peter Denied his Master, once, ••e, thrice, and that with an open Oath; yet ••st received him again, without any the least ••tation or stick. Yea, he slips, stumbles, •• again in down tight Dissimulation, & that ••he Hurt and Fall of many others; but ••••er of this does Christ make a Bar to his ••••••••ion, but receives him again at his return, ••he knew nothing of the fault, Gal. 2.

••••condly, The rest of the Disciples, even all ••••em Backslide, and leave the Lord Jesus in •• greatest Straits. Then all the Disciples ••••ok him and fled; They returned (as he ••oretold) every One to his Own, and left •• alone: But this also he passes over as a ve|•• ••••ght Matter; not that it was so indeed in •• ••f, but the abundance of Grace that was in •• did lightly roll it away; for after his Re|••••••••••ction, when at first He appear'd unto 'em, •• gives 'em not the least Check for their per|••••••s Dealing with Him, but salutes them •• Words of Grace, saying, All Hail, be ••fraid, Peace be to you: All Power in ••en and Earth is given unto me. True, ••ebuk'd them for their Unbelief; for the •• which, thou deservest the same; for it's ••elief that alone puts Christ and his Benefits 〈…〉〈…〉, Mat 26.56. Joh. 16.52. Mat. ••8.9, 10, 18. •• ••6.99. Mark 16.14.

Thirdly, The Man that▪ after a large Pa••+sion, lay with his Father's Wife, come •• a high Transgression, even such an one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Day was not heard of; no not amon•• Gentiles, Wherefore this was a desperate ••+sliding; yet at his Return, he was received •• accepted again to Mercy, 1 Cor. 5.1, 2. 2 Cor. 2. ••

Fourthly, The Thief that stole, was bi•••• steal no more; Not at all doubting, but •• Christ was ready to forgive him this Ac•• Backsliding, Eph. 4 28.

Now all these Examples are particular ••••+stances of Christ's readiness to receive the ••+sliders to Mercy; and observe it, Examples •• Proofs that He hath done so, are to our ••••+lieving Hearts stronger Encouragements •• bare Promises, that so he will do▪ But again•••• Lord Jesus hath added to these, for the ••••+couragement of returning Backsliders to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Him.

First, A Call to come, and He will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, Rev. 2.1, 2 &c. chap. 3.1, 2 &c. When •• New Testament Backsliders have encourageme•••• come.

Secondly, A Declaration of readiness to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them that come, as here in the Text, a•• many other places, is plain: Therefo•••• up these Marks, make thee these High 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (of the Golden Grace of the Gospel) set •• Heart toward the High-Way, even the •• that thou wentest (when thou didst bac•••• turn again O Virgin of Israel; turn a•••• these thy Cities, Jer 31.21.

And Him that (cometh) He saith not •• him that taketh, that professeth, that no•• shew, a Noise, or the like; but Hi••

••••eth. Christ will take leave to judge, who a|••ong the many that make a Noise, they be that ••••aced are coming to Him. It is not him that ••ith he cometh; but him that Christ himself •• all say doth come; that is concern'd in the ••ext. When the Woman that had the Bloody ••sue came to him for Cure, there were others •• well as she, that made a great Bustle about ••••m, that touched, yea thronged him; ah, but ••hrist could distinguish this Woman from them 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And he looked round about upon them all, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 see her that had done this thing, Mar. 25.26. ••c.

He was not concern'd with the thronging, •• touching of the rest; for theirs were but ••••cidental, or at best void of that which made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Touch acceptable. Wherefore Christ must •• Judge who they be that in Truth are co|••ing to Him. Every man's way it right in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the Spirits: •• standeth therefore every one in hand to be ••••rtain of their coming to Jesus Christ; for •• thy Coming is, so shall thy Salvation be: •• thou comest indeed, thy Salvation shall be ••••deed: But if thou comest but in outward ••ppearance, so shall thy Salvation be. But •• Coming, see before, as also afterwards in ••••e Use and Application.

And him that cometh (to Me.)

These Words (to me) are also to be well ••eded: For by them; as he secureth those ••••r come to him, so also he shews himself •• concerned with those that in their coming •• short to turn aside to others: For you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 know that every one that comes, comes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Jesus Christ. Some that come, come

to Moses and to his Law, and then take up•••• Life; with these Christ is not concerned; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with these, this Promise hath nothing to as •• Christ is become of none effect unto you •• Whoso of you are justified by the Law, ye ar•• fallen from Grace, Gal. 5 3 4. Again, some tha•• came, came no farther than the Gospel Ordi+nances, and there stay; they came not throug•• them to Christ: With these neither is He con+cerned; nor will the Lord! Lord! avail the•• them any thing in the great and dismal D•••• A Man may come to, and also go from t•••• Place and Ordinances of Worship, and yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be remembred by Christ. So I saw the Wic••+ed buried, (says Solomon) who had come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gone from the Place of the Holy, & they wi•••• forgotten in the City, where they had so d••••. •• This is also vanity, Eccl 8.10.

(To me) These Words therefore are by ••••+sus Christ very varily put in, and serve for ••••+tion and encouragement: For Caution, lest •• take up in our coming any thing short of Chr•••••• and for Incouragement to those that shall •• their coming, come past all, tiil they co•••• to Jesus Christ. And him that cometh to me •• will in no wise cast out.

Reader, If thou lovest thy Soul, take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Caution kindly at the Hands of Jesus Ch•••••• Thou seest thy Sickness, thy Wound, thy ••••+cessity of Salvation: Well, go not to Kin•• ••••+cob, for he cannot Heal thee, nor cure th•••• thy Wounds, Hos. 5.13. Take the Caution •• I••st Christ, instead of being a Saviour unto •• becomes a Lion, a young Lion to tea•• •• and go away, Verse 4.

There is a coming, but not to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

High: There is a coming, but not with the Heart; but as it were feignedly: Therefore take the Caution kindly, Jer 30.10 Hos. 7.16.

And him that cometh (to me) Christ as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Saviour, will stand alone, because his own Arm alone hath brought Salvation unto Him: He will not be joined with Moses, nor suffer John Baptist to be Tabernacled by Him; I say they must vanish, for Christ will stand alone, Luke 9.28 36) Yea, God the Farther will have it so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore they must be parted from him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Voice from Heaven must come to bid the Dis|ciples hear, only the beloved Son. Christ will not suffer any Law, Ordinance, Statute, or Judg|ment, to be Partners in the Sinner to come; I say, not to be Partners in 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 & free Pro|mises, such as this Text, are not the Saviour of the World; for that is Christ himself, Christ himself only. The Promises therefor•• are but to encourage the coming Sinner to come to Jesus Christ, and not to rest in 'em short of Salvation by him.

And him that (cometh to Me) the Man there|fore that comes aright, casts all things behind his Back, and looked at (nor hath his Expe|ctation from ought but) the Son of God a|lone, as David said, My Soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him: He only is my Rock, and Salvation; He is my De|fence, I shall not be moved, Psal. 92 5. His Eye is to Christ, his Heart is to Christ, and his Expectation is from him only. Therefore the Man that comes to Christ, is one that hath

had deep Considerations of his own 〈◊〉〈◊〉 slighting Thoughts of his own Righteous•••••••• and high Thoughts of the Blood and Right••+ousness of Jesus Christ; yea, he sees, as I h•••• said more Virtue in the Blood of Christ, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, than there is in all his Sins to Damn h•••• He therefore setteth Christ before his Ey•• there is nothing in Heaven or Earth he kno•• that can save his Soul, and secure him from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wrath of God, but Christ; that is, nothing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Personal Righteousness, and Blood.

And him that cometh to Me, I will (in no wise) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out. In no wise: By these Words, there is som•• thing expressed, and something implied; Th•••• which is expressed, is Christ Jesus; his uncha••+geable Resolution to save the coming Sinner; •• will in no wise reject him, or deny him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Benefit of my Death and Righteousness. Th•••• Word is therefore like that which he speaks •• the everlasting Damnation of the Sinners •• Hell Fire, he shall by no means depart thenc•• that is, Never! Never come out again! 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not to all Eternity! Mat 5.25 ch 25.46. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as he that is condemned into Hell sire, hath •• ground of Hope for his Deliverance thence; •• him that comes to Christ, hath no ground 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fear that he shall ever be cast in thither.

Thus saith the Lord, if Heaven above can •• measur'd, and the Foundations of the Earth s••+ched out beneath, I will also cast off all the •• of Israel, for all that they have done, saith •• Lord, Jer 31 37.

Thus saith the Lord, If my Covenant be •• with Day and Night, and if I have not appoi•••• the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth, then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cast away the Seed of Jacob. But Heaven c••••

••••e measured, n•••• the Foundations of the Earth sear|••hed out beneath; h••s Covenant is also with Day ••nd Night; and he hath appointed the Ordinan|••es of Heaven; therefore he will not cast away the ••••ed of Jacob, w••o ••ne the coming Ones; b•••• will ••ertainly save them from the dreadful Wrath to ••••me, Jer. 33 24 26. ch 50 4.5. By this therefore ••is manifest, that it was not the greatness of ••in, nor the ••ong continuance in it, no nor yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 B••cksl••••ing, not the Pollution of the Na|••ure, that can put a B•••• in against, or be an ••in••rance of the Salvation or the coming Sin|••er. For, if indeed this could be, then would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most solemn and absolute Determination ••f the Lor•• J••sus, of it self fall to the Ground, ••nd be made of none effect: But his Counsel ••ha••l stand and he will do this Pleasure; that ••, his Pleasure in this; for all Promise, this •• reversible conclusion ariseth of his Pleasure; ••e will stand to it, and will fulfil it, because •• is his Pleasure.

Suppose that One Man had the Sins, or as ••any Sins as an Hundred; and another should ••••ve an hundred times as many as he; yet if ••••ey come; this Word I will in no wise cast out, •• cures them both alike.

Suppose a Man hath a desire to be saved, and •• that purpose is coming in truth to Jesus ••••rist, but he, by his debauch'd Life, has Damn|•• many in Hell; Why, the Door of Hope is •• these Words for as open for him, as it is for ••n that hath not the Thousandth part of his ••••ansgressions: And him that cometh to me, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in no wise cast out.

Suppose a Man is coming to Christ to be Sa|••••, and hath nothing but Sin, and an ill spent

Life to to bring with him; why, let him com•• and welcome to Jesus Christ; and he will m••s•• cast him out, Luke 7 41. Is not this Love that p••••+seth knowledge? Is not this Love the Wonderment•• Angels? And is not this Love worthy of all accept••+tion at the Hands and Hearts of all coming Sinners.

2dly, That which is implied in this Word▪

First, The coming Souls have those that con+tinually lie at Jesus Christ, to cast them off

2dly, The coming Souls are afraid, that tha•• will prevail with Christ to cast them off

For these Words are spoken to satisfie us •• to stay up our Spirits against these two Da••+gers; I will in no wise cast out

First, For the First Coming Souls have tho•• that continually lye at Jesus Christ to cast 'e•• off.

And there are Three things that thus ••en•• themselves against the coming Sinner.

First, There is the Devil, the Accuser of t•• Brethren, that accuses them before God Day •• Night, Rev. 12.10. This Prince of Darkness, •• unwearied in this Work; He doth it, as ye•• see, Day and Night; that is, without ceasing He continually puts in his Caveats against the•• if so be, he may prevail. How did he ply •• against that good Man Job, if possible he mig•••• have obtained his Destruction in Hell-fire? •• ob••ected against him that he served not God for nou•••• and tempted God to put forth his Hand against hi•• urging, that if he did it, he would Curse him t•• Face; and all this as God witnesseth, he did with•••• Cause, Job 19, 13▪ 14. ch. 2 4, 5. How did he ply •• with Christ, against Joshua the High Prie•••• And he showed me Joshua said the Prophet the •• Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, ••

••tan standing at his Right hand to resist him, Zech.

To resist him; that is, to prevail with the ••ord Jesus Christ to resist him; objecting the ••ncleanness and unlawful Marriage of his Sons ••ith the Gentiles; for that was the time that ••••tan laid against them, Ez••a 10.18. Yea, and ••r ought I know, Joshua was also guilty of the ••ct; but if not of that, of Crimes no whit in|••••riour; for he was cloathed with fi••thy Garments, as •• stood before the An••el: Neither had he one word •• say in vindication of himself against all that this ••••cked One had to lay against hi•• But notwithstan|••••ng all that, he came off very w••ll, but he might ••••ank a good Lord Jesus for it, because he did not ••si••t him; but contrariwise, took up his Cause, ••eading against the Devil▪ excusing his Infir|••ity, and put Justifying Robes upon him be|••••re his Adversaries Face.

And the Lord said unto ••acan. The Lord rebuke thee, •• Satan even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem, ••uke thee. Is not this a Brand pluck'd out of the ••? And he answered, and spake to those that stood ••e him, saying. Take away the fi••thy Garment from ••; and to him he sa••d, Behold I have caused thine ••••uities to pass from thee, and I will cloath thee •• change of Raim••nt.

••gain. How did Satan ply it against Peter, •• ••n he desired to have him that he might sift •• as Wheat. That is, if posible, to sever all ••ce from his Heart, and leave him nothing •• Flesh and Filth, to the end he might make •• Lord Jesus loath and abhor him. Simon, ••on (says Christ) Satan hath desired to have •• that he might sift you as Wheat. But did ••revail against him? No; but I have Prayed •• thee, that thy Faith fail not. As who

should ••••y; Simon, Satan has desire me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would give thee up to him and n••t only 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but all the rest of thy Brethren (for that •• word You, imp••••••s) but I will not leave thee •• his Hand, I have prayed for thee, thy Fa•• shall not fail; I will secure thee to the heave•• Inheritance, L••ke 22.30 31, 32.

Secondly. As Satan so every Sin, of the c••••+ing Sinner, comes in with a Voice against hi•• if, pa••••••ps they may prevail with Christ to ca•••• off the Soul. When I••real was coming out Egypt to Canaan, h••w many Times had t•• Sins thrown them out of the mercy of G•• has not Moses as a Type of Christ, stood in •• Breach, to turn away his Wra••h from the •• Psal. 106.23 Our I••••quities testifie against •• and would ce••tainly prevail against us, to •• utter R••jection and Damnation, had we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Adv••ca••e with the Father, Jesus Christ •• righteous, 1 John 2.1, 2.

The Sins of the old World, cryed them d•• to Hell; the S••ns of So••om fetch'd upon th•• Fire from H••aven, which devouted them; •• Sins of the Egyptians ca••ried them down to•• because they came not to Jesus Christ for L•• Coming Sinner, thy Sins are no what less t•• any. Nay, perhaps, they are as big as all the•• Why is it then, that thou livest when they •• Dead; and that thou hast a Promise of Pard•••• when they had not? Why, thou art co•• to Jesus Christ, and therefore Sin shall n•• thy Ruin.

Thirdly, As Satan and Sin, so the Law•• Moses, as it is a perfect holy Law, hath a V•• against you before the Face of God. The•• one that accuseth you, even Moses's Law, •• 5. Yea, it accuseth all Men of Transgres••

••at have sinned against it; for as long as Sin is ••, there will be a Law to accuse for Sin: But ••is Accusation shall not prevail against the ••••ming Sinner, because 'tis Christ that dyed, & ••t ever lives to make Intercession for them that come •• him by him, Rom. 8 Heb 7 25.

These things I say, do accuse us before Christ ••••sus; yea, and all to our own Faces, if per|••••ps they might prevail against us. But these ••ords. I will in no wife cast out, secure the com|••••g Sinner from them all.

The coming Sinner is not saved, because there •• none that comes in against him; but because •• Lord Jesus will not hear their Accusations; ••ll not cast out the coming Sinner,

When Shimei came down to meet King Da|••••••, and to ask Pardon for his Rebellion, up ••rts Abishai, and puts in his Caveat, saying; ••ll not Shimei Die for this? This is the Case •• him that comes to Christ: He hath his Abi|••••••i, and that Abishai, that presently steps in a|••••inst him, saying, Shall not this Rebel's Sin de|•••• him in Hell? Read farther; But David an|••••ered, What have I to do with you, ye Sons of Zer|••••h, that you should this Day be Adversaries to me? ••ll there any Man be put to Death this Day in Is|••••? For do not I know, that I am King this •• over Israel? 2 Sam. 19 16, 17, 18 &c.

This is Christ's Answer by the Text, to all •• accuse the coming Shimei's. What have I to ••ith you, that Accuse the coming Sinners to me? ••••unt you Adversaries that are against my shewing ••••cy to them. Do not I know that I am exalted •• Day to be King of Righteousness, and King of ••ce? I will in no wise cast them out.

Secondly, But again, These Words do closely

imply, that the coming Souls are afrai•• these Accusers will prevail against the•• is evident, because the Text is spoken their Relief and Succour. For that need be, if they that are coming, were not s•• to Fear, and Despond on this account. A•• there is a Guilt, and the Curse lies upo•• Conscience of the coming Sinner.

Besides: he is conscious to himself, w•• Villain, what a Wretch he hath been ag•• God and Christ. Also he now knows by ••+ful Experience, how he has been at S•• B••ck, and at the motion of every Lust▪ his now new Thoughts of the Holiness, •• Justice of God. Also he feels, that he •• not fo••bear sinning against him For the ••+tions of Sin, which are by the Law, do•••• Work in his Members, to bring for•••• unto Death. Rom 7. But n••ne of this ne•• sin••e we have so good, so tender Hearted •• so faithful a Jesus to come to; who wi•••• ••+ther overthrow Heaven and Earth, than s•• Tittle of this Text to fail: And him th•• ••+meth to Me, I will in no wise cast out.

Now we have yet to enquire into two •• that lye in the Words, to which there ha•• nothing said: As,

1. What it is to Cast out?

2. How it appears that Christ hath Power •• or Cast out?

For the first of these, What it is to •• To this I will speak,

1. More generally.

2. More particularly.

More generally.

First. To Cast out, is to slight or des••

••emn; as is said of Saul's Shield, It was vile|•• ••st away: that is slighted and contemned. ••s it is with the Sinners that come not to ••s Christ. He flights. despises, & contemns

That is, Casts them away, 2 Sam 1 2.

••••condly, Things Cast away, are reputed as ••struous Gloaths, & as the Dirt of the street, •• 22. Psal. ••8 42. Mat. 5 13. ch. 15.17 And •• it shall be with the Men that come not to •• Christ; they shall be accounted as men. ••us, and as the Dirt in the Streets.

••••irdly, To be Cast out or off, is to be abhor|•• not to be pitied; but to be put to a perpe|•• shame, Psal 49 9 Psal 89 38. Amos 1 1••.

••ut more particularly, to come to the T••xt, •• Casting out here mentioned, is not limited ••his or the other Evil; therefore it must be ••nded to the most extream and utmost Mi|•• Or thus:

•• that cometh to Christ, shall not want any ••g that may make him Gospelly happy in •• World, or that which is to come; nor •• he want any thing that cometh not, that •• make him spiritually and eternally Misera|••

••t further, As it is to be generally taken, so •• ••pecteth Things that shall be hereafter.

••or the Things that are now, they are either,

•• More General.

•• Or more Particular.

••••st, More General Thus,

•• is to be cast out of the Presence & Favour •• God.

••ins was Cain cast out, Thou hast driven (or •• ••••me out this Day, from thy Face, (that is, ••m thy Favour) shall I be hid. A dreadful

Complaint! but the Effect of a more dre•• Judgment! Therefore here is the Mercy of •• that cometh to Christ, He shall not be le•••• wander at Uncertainties. The Lord Jesus C•• will keep him as a Shepherd doth his S•• Psal. 23. Him that cometh to Me, I will i•• wise Cast out.

Thirdly, To be Cast out, is to be deni•• place in God's House, and to be left as Fugi•• and Vagabonds, to pass a little Time awa•• this miserable Life, and after that to go •• to the Dead, Gal 4.30. Gen. 4.13, 14, •• 21:10. Therefore here is the Benefit of •• that cometh to Christ, He shall not be deni•• place in God's House. They shall not be left •• Vagabonds in the World. Him that com•• me, I will in no wise cast out, See Prov. •• Isa. 56.3, 4. Ephes. 2.19, 20. 1 Cor. 3.1••, 22

Fourthly, In a Word, to be cast out, is •• Rejected as are the fallen Angels: For •• eternal Damnation began at their being down from Heaven to Hell. So then not cast out, is to have a Place, a House, and ••+tation there; and to have a share in the •• ledges of elect Angels.

These Words therefore, I will not cast •• will prove great Words one Day, to the•• come to Jesus Christ, 2. Peter 2.4. John •• Luke 20.35.

Secondly. And more Particularly.

First, Christ hath everlasting Right•• to cloath them with, that come to him, •• shall be covered with it as with a Garm•• the rest shall be found in the filthy Rags •• own stinking Pollutions, and shall be w•••• in them as in a Winding Sheet, and so be••

••ame before the Lord, and also before the An|••••ls, Dan. 2.24 Isa. 57. 2. Rev. 3 4, 18 ch. 15.16.

••hirdly. Christ hath precious Blood, that like •• open Fountain, stands free for him to wash in, ••at comes to him for Life. And he will in no ••se cast him out. But they that come not to ••m, are rejected from a share therein, and are ••t to ireful Vengeance for their Sins, Zech. 13 •• 1 Pet. 1.11, 19 John 13 8 chap. 3, 36.

Fourthly, Christ hath precious Promises, and ••ey shall have a share in them that come to ••m for Life. For he will in no wise cast them ••t: but they that come not, can have no share •• them, because they are true only in him: For •• him, and only in him, all the Promises are ••ea and Amen. Wherefore they that come ••t to him are no whit the better for them, Psal. •• 16. 2 Cor. 1.20, 21.

Fifthly, Christ hath also fulness of Grace in ••mself, for them that come unto him for Life. ••d he will in no wise cast them out. But those •• come not unto him, are left in their grace|•• State, & as Christ leaves them, Death, Hell▪ •• Judgment finds them. He that findeth Me, ••ith Christ) findeth Life, and shall obtain •• our of the Lord. But he that Sins against Me, ••ngeth his own Soul. All that hate Me, ••e Death, Prov. 8.33, 34, 36.

••ixthly, Christ is an Intercessor, and ever ••eth to make Intercession for them that come •• God by him. But their Sorrows shall be ••••iplied, that hasten after another (or other) ••s, (their Sins and Lusts.) Their Drink-Of|•• ••••s will he not offer, nor take up their Names •• his Lips, ••sal. 16 4. Heb. 7.25.

••eventhly. Christ hath wonderful Love, Bow|els,

and Compassion for those that come to him: For he will in no wise cast them out. By the rest will find him a Lyon rampant; b•••• will one Day tear them in pieces. Now co••+sider this (saith he) ye that forget God, lest •• tear you in pieces, and there be none to del••t•• you, Psal 50.22.

Eighthly, Christ is known by, & for who •• sake, those that come to him, have their Pe••+sons and Performances accepted of the F••+ther: And he will in no wise cast them out B•••• the rest must fly to the Rocks & Mountai•• for shelter, but all in vain, to hide them fro•• his Face and Wrath, Rev. 6.15.

But again, These Words (cast out) have •• special Look to what will be hereafter eve•••• at the Day of Judgment For then, and no•• till then, will be the great Anathema a•• Casting out, made manifest, even manifest •• Execution. Therefore here to speak as •• this, and that under these two Heads. As,

1. Or the casting out it self.

2. Of the Pla•••••• into which they shall •• cast, that shall then be cast out.

First, The Casting out it self standeth •• Two Things.

1. In a Preparatory Work.

2. In the Manner of executing the Act

The Preparatory Work standeth in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Three Things.

First, It standeth in their Separation •• have not come to him, from them that •• at that Day. Or thus: At the Day of •• great Casting out, those that have not •• come to him, shall be separated from •• that have; for them that have, he will ••

cast out When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory, and all the Holy Angels with him then ••e ••hall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Throne of his Glory, and before him shall ••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nations, and he shall se|••••rate them 〈…〉〈…〉 another, at the Shepherd di|••ideth the Sh••••p 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Goats, Mat 25.31, 32.

This dreadful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on therefore shall then ••e made betwix•• them that (now) come to Christ, and them that come not. And good Reason; for since they would not with us, •• one to him, now they have Time; why should they stand with us, when Judg|ment is come

Secondly, They shall be placed before him according to their Condition; they that have come to him in great dignity, even at the Right Hand, for He will in no wise cast 'em ••ut: But the rest shall be set at his Left ••and; the place of Disgrace and Shame; for ••hey did not come to him for Life.

Distinguish'd also shall they be by fit Terms. ••hose that come to him he calleth Sheep, but ••e rest are frowish Goats. And he shall se|••arate them one from another, as the Shepherd ••••videth the Sheep from the Goats; and the ••heep will be set on his Right Hand (next ••eaven Gate, for they came to him) but the ••oats on the Left, to go from him into Hell, ••ecause they are not of his Sheep

Thirdly, Then will Christ proceed to Con|••••••ion of those that came not unto him; and ••ill say, I was a Stranger, and ye took me not in, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not come unto me. Their Excuse of them|••••••ves▪ he will slight as Dirt, and proceed to ••••eir final Judgment Now, when these wretch|•••• Rejecters of Christ, shall thus be set before

him, and Convicted; this is the Preparat•••••• Work, upon which follows the Manner of e••+curing the Act, which will be done.

First, In the Presence of all his Holy Ange••

Secondly, In the presence of all them that their Life time came to him, by saying un•••• them, Depart ye Cursed, into everlasting F•••• prepared for the Devil and his Angels, with a Reason annexed to it: For you were cruel•••• me and mine, particularly discovered in the Words; For I was an Hungred, and ye gave •• no Meat: Thirsty, and ye gave me no Drink, was a Stranger, and ye took me not in; Nak•••• and Cloathed me not; Sick and in Prison, and •• visited not me, Mat 25, 41, 42 &c.

Lastly, Now it remains that we speak of •• Place into which these shall be cast, which •• the General, you have heard already, to •• the Fire prepared for the Devil and his Ange•• But in Particular, it is thus described.

First, I•• is called T••phet; For Tophet is orde••+ed of old, yea, for the King (the Lucifer) it prepared, he hath made it deep & large, the P•• thereof is Fire and much Wood, and the Brea•••• of the Lord, like a stream of Brimstone do•• kindle it, Isa. 30.32.

Secondly, It is called Hell. It is better for th•••• to enter into Life, halt or lame, than having two F•••• to be cast into Hell. Mark 9 45

Thirdly, It is called the Wine Press of •• Wrath of God: and the Angel thrust in •• Sickle into the Earth and gathered the Vi•••• the Earth (that is them that did not come •• Christ) and Cast them into the great Wi•••• Press of the Wrath of God, Rev. 14.19.

Fourthly, It is called a Lake of Fire: ••

whosover was not found Written in the Book of Life, was cast into the Lake of Fire, Rev. 10.15.

Fifthly, It is called a Pit. Thou hast said in thy Heart I will ascend into Heaven, I will ••ealt my Throne above the Stars of God, I will it also upon the Mount of the Congregation, in ••he sides of the North. — Yet thou shalt be ••rought to Hell to the sides of the Pit, Isa, 14. ••3.14, 15.

Sixthly, It is called a Bottomless Pit, out of which the Sm••ak and the Locust came, and into which the Dragon was cast; and it is called Bottomless, to shew the Endlesness of the fall ••hat they will have in it, that come not in the ••cceptable time to Jesus Christ Revelations 9.11. Chap 10.3.

Seventhly, It is called Outer Darkness: Bind ••im Hand and Foot, and ••••st him into Outer Darkness, and cast ye the Unprofitable Servant ••nto utter Darkness, there shall be Weeping ••nd Gnashing of Teeth, Mat. 22.••3. ch. 15.13.

E••ghthly, It is called a Furnace of Fire. At ••••erefore the Tares are gathered and burned in ••••e Fire, so shall it be in the end of the World▪ ••he Son of Man shall send forth has Angels, and he ••ll gather out of his K••ngdom all things that offend, ••d them that do Iniquity, and shall cast them into a ••••rnace of Fire there sha••l be w••••ling and gnashing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 teeth: And again, So shall ••t be in the End of ••••e World▪ the Angels sh••ll come forth, and s••ver the ••icked from the J••st, and shall ••ast them into a Fur|••••ce of Fire; there shall be wa••ling and gnashing of ••••eth, Mat. 13 41, 42, 43 4•• 4•• 5••.

Lastly, It may not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if in the Conclu|••••on of this, I shew in a few Words to what •• things that Torment them in this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are

compared. Indeed some of them have been occasionally mentioned already; as, That they are compared.

First, To Wood that burneth.

Secondly, To Fire.

Thirdly, To Fire and Brimstone. But,

Fourthly, It is compared to a Worm, a gnaw|ing Worm, a never dying Gnawing Worm They are cast into Hell, where their Wo••••+dieth not, Mark 9.44.

Fifthly, It is called Unquenchable Fire: H•• will gather his Wheat into his Garner; But will bur•• up the Chaff with Unquenchable Fire, Mat. 3 1•• Luke 3.17.

Sixthly, It is called everlasting Destructions •• The Lord Jesus shall descend from Heaven with h•• mighty Angels in flaming Fire, taking Vengea••ce o•• them that know not God; and they that obey not th•• Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punishe•• wit everlasting Destruction from the Presence of th•• Lord and from the Glory of his Power, 2 Thes. 1 7, 8, ••

Seventhly, It is called Wrath with out mi••+ture, and is given them in the Cap of his Indig+nation. If any man worship the Beast, and his Imag•• and receive his Mark in his Forehead, or in h••s han•• the same shall drink of the Wrath of God, which i•• poured out without mixture in the Cup of his Indig+nation; he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimston•• In the presence of the holy Angels, and in the Pre+sence of the Lamb, Rev. 14 19

Eighthly, It is called the second Death. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire, th•• is the second Death Blessed and holy i•• be that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 part in the first Resurrection, on such the second D•••• hath no power, Rev 12.1••. ch ••.6.

Ninthly, It is called Eternal Damnation. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•• that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, •• never Forgiveness, but is in danger of e|••••••nal Damnation.

••a! These Three Words!

••verlasting Punishment!

••••ernal Damnation!

••nd for Ever and Ever!

••ow they will Gnaw and Eat up all the Ex|••ation of the End of the Misery of the Cast|•• ••y Sinners. And the Smoke of their Torment of|•• ••d up for ever and ever, and they have no rest ••o•• night, &c. Rev 11 11.

Their Behaviour in Hell is set forth by Four ••gs, a I know of.

•• By calling for help and relief in vain.

•• By Weeping.

••. By Wailing.

•• By G••••shing of Teeth.

••nd now we come to the second thing that •• be enquired into; namely,

••ow it appears that Christ hath power to •• or to cast out: For by these Words. I will ••o wise cast out, he declareth that he hath ••r to do both.

••ow this Enquiry admits us to search into •• things.

How it appears that he hath power to save.

How it appears that he hath power to cast 〈◊〉〈◊〉

••hat he hath Power to save, appears by that •• follows.

••••rst, To speak only of him as he is Media|•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was Authorized to this blessed Work, •• ••ather before the World began. Hence ••postle said, He hath chosen us in him, before ••••dation of the World, with all those things

that effectuall, will produce our Salvatio••

Read the same Chaptre, with 2 T••m 19.

Secondly, He was promised to our first ••••+rents, that he should in the Fulness of T•••• Bruise the Serpent's Head; & as Paul expo•••• it, redeem them that were under the Law. He•••• since that time, he hath been reckoned as s•• for our Sins; by which means all the Fat•••• under the first Testament were secured from •• Wrath to come; hence He is called. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 1•• Gen 3 15 Gal 4 4, 5.

Thirdly, Moses gave Testimony of Him •• the Types and Shadows, and bloody Sacrif•••••• that he commanded from the Mouth of G•••• to be in use to the Supporters of his Peop•••• Faith, unt••l the time of Reformation; whe•• was the time of Jesus his Death, Hebrews 9.•• Chapters.

Fourthly, At the time of his Birth, 't•••• testified of Him by the Angel, That He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 save his People from their Sins, Mat. 1 20.

Fifthly, It is Testified of Him in the Day •• his Fresh, that he had power on Earth to •• give Sins, Acts 30 31.

Sixthly, In a Word, This is every w•• Testified of Him, both in the Old Testam•••••• and the New,

And good reason that he should be ackn••••+ledged and trusted in as a Saviour.

1. He came down from Heaven to •• Saviour, John 6 38, 39.

2. He was anointed when on Earth to •• Saviour, Luke 3.22.

3 He did the Works of a Saviour: A••, ••

First, He fulfilled the Law, and becam••

•• of it for Righteousness, for them that be|•••• in him, Rev 10 3, 4.

••econdly, He laid down his Life as a Savi|••••••; He gave his Life at a Ransom for many, •• 20.28. Mark 10 45 1 Tim 2.6.

Thirdly, He hath abolished Death, destroyed •• Devil, put away Sin, got the Keys of Hell •• Death, is ascended into Heaven; is there ••epted of God, and bid to sit at the Right ••••d as a Saviour; and that because his Sa|••••••••ice for Sins pleased God, 2 Tim 1.10. Heb. 2▪ •• Eph. 4 7. Joh 16.10. Acts 15.30, 31. Heb 10.12.

Fourthly God hath sent out and Proclaimed ••n as a Saviour; & tells the World, that •• have Redemption thro' his Blood, that he ••ll justifie us, if we believe in his Blood, ••d that he can faithfully and justly do it. ••, God doth beseech us to be reconciled to •• by his Son; which could not be, if he ••e not appointed by him to this very end, •• also if his Works & Undertakings were •• accepted of him, as considered a Savi|••••••, Rom. 3.2 4, 25. 2 Cor. 5.18.19, 20, 21.

••ifthly, God hath already received Millions •• Souls into his Paradice, because they have ••ived this Jesus for a Saviour; & is resolved ••••ut them off, and to cast them out of his ••sence, that will not take him for a Savi|••••••▪ Heb 12.22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 intend brevity here; therefore a Word to •• second, and so I conclude.

How it appears that he hath power to cast 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

••his appears also by what follows.

••••st, The Father, (for the Service that he •• done him at a Saviour) hath made him

Lord of all, even Lord of Quick and •• For to this end Christ both died, and arose•• revived that he might be Lord both of the •• and Living, Rom 14 9.

Secondly, The Father hath left it with •• to quicken whom he will, viz. with s•• Grace, and to cast out whom he will, for •• Rebellion against him, Joh. 5 21.

Thirdly, The Father hath made him •• of Quick and Dead, hath committed all Ju•••• to the Son, and appointed that all should honou•• Son, even as they honour the Father, Joh. 22 5.

Fourthly, God will Judge the World by •• Man; the day is appointed for Judgment, •• he is appointed for Judge. He hath appoin•• day in the which he will Judge the world with ••+teousness by that Man, Acts 17 31, 32.

Therefore we must all appear before the Judg•• Seat of Christ: that every one may receive fo•• things done in the Body, according to what they •• done. If they have closed with him, Heave•• Salvation; if they have not, Hell and Da••|tion.

And for these Reasons he must be Judge.

First, Because of his Humiliation, becaus•• his Father's Word he humbled himself, an•• became obedient unto Death, even the D•• of the Cross; Therefore God hath highly •• alted him, and given him a Name above e•• Name, that at the Name of Jesus every •• shall bow; both of things in Heaven & •• on Earth, and things under the Earth; •• every Tongue should confess, Jesus Christ •• Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

This hath respect to his being Judge, and •• sitting in Judgment upon Angels and▪ •• Phil. 2.7, 8.

••••condly, That all Men might honour the •• as they honour the Father, for the Father ••eth no Man, but hath commit••ed all Judg|•••••••• unto the Son; that all Men should ho|•••••••• the Son, even as they honour the Father, •• 5.22, 23.

••hirdly, Because of his Righteous Judgment, •• Work is fit for no Creature; it is only fit •• the Son of God. For he will reward every •• according to his ways, Rev. 2.2.

••••urthly, Because he is the Son of Man, He •• given him Authority to execute Judgment •• because he is the Son of Man, Job. 5.27.

••hus have I in brief passed through this Text ••way of Explication; my next Work is to •• to it by way of Observation? But shall ••lso as b••••••f in that, as the nature of the ••g will admit.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Father giveth me, shall come to •• and him that cometh to me, I will in no •• cast out, Joh. 6 37.

••ow come to some Observations, & a little ••ly to speak to them, and then conclude •• whole.

••e words thus explained, afford us many; •• of which are these.

••••••st, That God the Father, and Christ his •• are two distinct Persons in the God. Head.

••••••••ndly. That by them (not excluding the •• Ghost) is contrived and determined the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of fallen Mankind.

••••••••dly, That this Contrivance, resolved it ••nto a Covenant between these Persons in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Head, which standeth in giving, on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••er's Part; and receiving on the Sons. •• the Father giveth me, &c.

Fourthly, That every one that the Father •• given to Christ (according to the Mind of •• in the Text) shall certainly come to him.

Fifthly, That coming to Jesus Christ is th••••••+fore not by the Will, Wisdom; or Powe•• Man: but by the Gift, Promise, and dra•• of the Father. (All that the Father givet•• shall come).

Sixthly, That Jesus Christ will be care•• receive▪ and will not in any wise reject •• that come, or are coming to him. And him •• cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out.

There are beside these some other Truth ••+plyed in the Words As,

Seventhly, They that are coming to •• Christ are oftimes▪ heartily afraid he will •• receive them.

Eighthly, Jesus Christ would not have t•• that in truth are coming to him, once •• that he will cast them out.

These Observations lie all of them in •• words, and are plentifully confirmed by •• Scriptures of Truth; but I shall not at •• time speak to them all, but shall pass by •• first, second, third, fourth and sixth part, be •• I design brevity, and partly because they •• touch'd upon, in the Explicatory part o•• Text. I shall therefore begin with the •• Observation, and so make that the first i••+der, in the following Discourse.

First then, coming to Christ is not •• Will, Wisdom or Power of Man, but •• Gift, Promise, and drawing of the Father •• Observation consisteth of two Parts.

First, That coming to Christ is not •• Will, Wisdom, or power of Man.

Secondly, But by the Gilt, Promise, and draw|••••g of the Father.

That the Text carrieth this Truth in its Bo|••, you will find it if you look into the Expli|••••••ion of the first part thereof before. I shall ••refore here follow the method propounded, •• shew, tha First coming to Christ it not by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Wisdom, or Power of Man: This is true, ••••••ause the Word doth positively say, it is not.

First, It denieth it to be holy by the Will of ••n. Not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh, •• of the will of man. Again, it is not of •• that willeth nor of him that runneth, •• 1.13. Rom 9.10.

••econdly, It denieth it to be the Wisdom of ••n, is manifest from these Considerations.

First, In the Wisdom of God it pleased him, ••t the World by Wisdom would not know •• Now if by their Wisdom they cannot know •• it follows by that Wisdom, that they can|•• come unto him; for coming to him is not ••••ore, but after some knowledge of him, 1 Cor. 1. •• Acts 13.2. Psal. 9 10.

Secondly, The Wisdom of Man, in God's ••ount, as to the Knowledge of Christ is reck|•• Foolishness: Hath not God made foolish •• Wisdom of this World And again, The ••dom of this World, is Foolishness with God •• God hath made Foolish the Wisdom of •• World; and again, If the Wisdom of this ••ld is foolishness with him, then verily it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ely, that by that, a sinner should become ••r••dent as to come to Jesus Christ; especially, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consider,

••••••••dly, That the Doctrine of a crucified •• and so of Salvation by him, is the very

thing that is counted Foolishness by the Wisdo•• of the World. Now if the very Doctrine of •• crucified Christ be counted Foolishness by th•• Wisdom of this World it cannot be▪ that by th•• Wisdom a Man should be drawn out in his Sou•• that comes to him, 1 Cor. 1.20. Chap. 2.••. Chap. 3.19. Chap 1.28, 29.

Fourthly, God counted the Wisdom of th•• World one of the greatest enemies, therefore •• that Wisdom no Man can come to Jesus Chri•••• For it is not likely that one of God's great•••••• Enemies, should draw a Man to that which b•• of all pleaseth God, as coming to Christ do •• Now that God counteth the Wisdom of t•••• World one of his greatest Enemies, is evide••••

First, For that it casteth the greatest conten•• upon his Son's Undertaking, as afore is prov•• In that he counts his Crucifixion Foolishne•••• Tho' that be one of the highest Demonstratio•• of divine Wisdom, Eph. 1.7, 8.

Secondly, Because God hath threatned to ••••+stroy it, and bring it to nought, & cause th•• to close with Jesus Christ. Isa. 29 14 Cor 1.19.

Thirdly, He hath rejected it from helping •• the Ministry of his Word, as a fruitless ••••|+ness, and a thing that cometh to no•••• 1 Cor. 2.4, 12.

Fourthly, Because it causeth to perish, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that seek it, and pursue it, 1 Cor 2.18.

Fifthly, And God has proclaimed, that i•• •• Man will be wise in this World, he mu•••• fool in the Wisdom of this World, and th•••• way to be wise in the wisdom of God. •• man will be wise in this world, let him become •• that he may be wise, for the wisdom of this •• is foolishness with God, 1 Cor. 3.18.

Sixthly, Coming to Christ is not by the Pow|er of man This is evident, partly

First, From that which goeth before For man's Power in the putting forth of it in this matter, is either stirred up by Love, or sense of Neces|sity; but the Wisdom of this World neither gives man Love to, or a Sense of a Need of J••sus Christ, therefore his Power lie•• still, as from that.

Secondly, What Power has he that is dead, (as every natural man is) even spiritually dead in Trespasses and Sins; dead, even as dead to God's New Testament things, as he that is in his Grave, dead to the things of this world; what Power hath he then where|by to come to Jesus Christ? Joh. 5.25. Eph. ••. 1. Col. 2.13.

Thirdly, God forbids the mighty man's Glo|ry in his Strength, & says positively, by strength shall no man prevail; and again Not by might, nor by power but my Spirit, saith the Lord▪ Jer. 9.23, 24. 1 Sam. 2.2. Zech 4, 6. 1 Cor 27 28.

Fourthly, Paul acknowledges, that Man, na•• converted Man, of himself, has not a suffi|ciency of Power in himself, to think a good thought if not to do that which is least; for to think it less than to come, then no man by his own power can come to Je|sus Christ, 2 Cor. 3.5.

Fifthly, Hence we are said to be made wi|lling to come by the Power of God, to be rain'd from a state of Sin, to a state of Grace, by the Power of God; and to believe, that is, to even through the exceeding Workings of his migh|ty Power, Psal. 11.1 Col. 2.11. Eph. 1.18, 20 ••ee also Job. 49.14.

But this needed not, of either Men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Power or Will to come; or so much as ••••••+ciously to think of being willing to co•••• (of themselves) to Jesus Christ.

I should now come to the Proof of •• second part of the Observation, but that •• occasionally done already, in the Explicat•••• Part of the Text, to which I refer the R••••|der; for I shall here only give thee a T•• or two more to the same Purpose, and •• come to the Use and Application.

First, It is expresly said, No, man can come •• me, except the Father which has sent me draw 〈◊〉〈◊〉 In this Text there is not only insi••ua••e•• that in Man is want of Power, but a so W•• to come to Jesus Christ; they must be draw •• they come not, if they be not drawn. A•• observe it is not Man, no nor all the A••+gels in Heaven that can draw one Sinner •• Jesus Christ. No man cometh to me, except •• Father which has sent me draw him, Joh. 44.

2dly, Again: No man can come to me, excep•• it be given him of the Father, Joh. 6.65. It i•• an heavenly Gift that maketh man come •• Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, Again, it is written in the Pro+phets, They shall be all taught of God, every o•• therefore that hath heard, and learned of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the••, cometh to me, John 6.45.

I shall not enlarge, but make some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Application, and so come to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Observation.

First Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Chri•••• not by the Will, Wisdom, or Power of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but by the Gift, Promise, and drawing of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Father? Then they are to blame that 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Will, Wisdom, and power of Man, ••••ngs sufficient to bring Men to Christ.

There are some Men who think they may ••ot be contradicted when they plead for the Will, Wisdom, and Power of Man in Refe|••ence to the things that are of the Kingdom ••f Christ: But I will say to such a man, he ••ever yet came to understand that himself is ••hat 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 a one that hath set up God's Enemy in Opposition to him, and that continueth in such Acts of Defiance; and what his End without a New Birth will be, the Scriptures teach also: But we will pass this.

Secondly, Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Christ, by the Gift, Promise, and drawing of the Fa|ther, then let Saints here learn to ascribe their coming to Christ, to the Gift, Promise & draw|ing of the Father. Christian Man, bless God who hath given thee to Jesus Christ, by Pro|mise; and again, bless God for that he hath drawn thee to him. And why is it thee? Why not another? O that the Glory of Electing Love should rest upon thy Head, and that the Glory of the Exceeding Grace of God should ••ake hold of thy Heart, and bring thee to Jesus Christ

Thirdly, Is it so? That coming to Christ is by the Father as afore said? Then this should teach us to set a high esteem upon them th•••• are indeed coming to Jesus Christ; I say no ••ign esteem on them for the sake of him, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of whose Grace they are made to come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jesus Christ.

We see, that when Men by the help of h••+mane Abilities do arrive at the knowledge of, •• bring to pass that which when done, is a Won+der to the World; how he that did it is esteem+ed and commended. Yea, how are his wit•• and industry, and unweariedness in all admi+red; & yet the Man, as to this is but of th•• World, and his Work the effect of natur•• Ability: The things also attained by hi•• and in Vanity and Vexation of Spirit Farthe•• Perhaps in the pursuit of these his Atchieve+ments, he sins against God, wastes his ti•••• vainly, and at long run, loses his Soul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neglecting better things: Yet he is admir'd •• But I say, If this Man's Parts, Labour, Dili+gence, and the like, will bring him to suc•• Applause and esteem in the World, what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esteem should we have of such an one that i•• by the Gift, Promise, and Power of Go•• coming to Jesus Christ?

First, This is a Man with whom God is, i•• whom God works and walks; a Man, whose motion is govern'd and steer'd by the might•• Hand of God, and the effectual working of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Power; Here's a Man.

Secondly, This Man by the Power of God•• Might, which worketh in him, is able to cast •• whole World behind him, with all the Lusts •• Pleasures of it; and to charge through all •• difficulties that Men and Devils can set agai•••••• him. Here's a Man!

Thirdly, This Man is Travelling to Mo•••••• Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem; the City of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, and to an innumerable Company of Angels; •• the ••pirits or Just Men made perfect, to God the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and to Jesus. Here's a Man!

••••urthly, This Man can look upon Death •• Comfort. can laugh at Destruction when ••meth; and long to hear the sound of the Trumpet, and to see the Judge coming in Clouds of Heaven; Here's a Man!

••et Christians then esteem each other as such. •• know you do, but do it more. And that you ••, consider these two or three things.

••irst, These are the Objects of Christ's Esteem, ••.12.48. chap. 25 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Luke ••.

Secondly, These are the Objects of the Esteem •• Angels, Dan. 9.12. Chap. 10.11. Chap 12 •• Heb. 1.14.

Thirdly, These have been the Objects of the esteem •• Heathens, when convinced about them, Dan 5 10. •• 5.15. 1 Cor. 14.24.

Let each of you then esteem each other better than •• selves, Phil 2.2.

Fourthly, Again, Is it so, That no man comes •• Jesus Christ, by the Will, Wisdom, & Power •• man; but by the Gift, Power & Drawing of •• Father? Then this shews us how horrible ••o••ent of this such are, who make the Man ••o is coming to Christ, the Object of their Contempt and Rage, These are also unreasonable •• wicked men, in whom is no Faith. 1 Thes. 3 2.

Sinners, did you but know what a blessed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is to come to Jesus Christ, and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •• help and drawing of the Father, they do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come to him, you would hang and burn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a thousand Years, before you would •• our Spirits as you do, against him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drawing to Jesus Christ, and also against God that draws him.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 faithless Sinners, let us a little expostu|late

the matter. What hath this Man done ag•• thee that is coming to Jesus Christ? Why dost •• make him the Object of thy Scorn? Doth his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Jesus Christ offend thee? Doth his forsaking Sins and Pleasures offend thee?

Poor coming Man! Thou sacrificest •• Abominations of the Egyptians before •• Eyes, and will they not stone thee? Exo••

But I say, why offended at this? Is he •• the worse, for coming to Jesus Christ, or his loving and serving of Jesus Christ? O•• he ever more a Fool, for flying from that which drown thee in Hell Fire, and so seeking eternal 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Besides, pray Sirs consider it, this he does 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself, but by the drawing of the Father. C•• let me tell thee in thine Ear, thou that will not •• to him thy self; and him that would, thou hinder

First, Thou shall be judged for one that h•• Hared, Maligned and Reproached Jesus Chr•••••• to whom this poor Sinner is coming.

Secondly, Thou shal•• be judged too, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that hath hated the Father, by whose power drawing the Sinner doth come.

Thirdly, Thou shalt be taken and judge •• one that has done despite to the Spirit of Cr•••• in him that is, by its help, coming to Jes•••• Christ. What say'st thou now; Wilt thou st•••• by thy doings? Wilt thou continue to con•••• and reproach the Living God? thinkest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that thou shalt weather it out well enough 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Day of Judgment? Can thy Heart endure o•• thy hands be strong, in the days that I •• deal with thee, saith the Lord? Jo•••• ••••, 19. &c Jude 11.16 1 Thes. 4 Ezek 21.

Fourthly, Is it so, that no Man comes to •• Christ, by the Will, Wisdom and Power 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•• by the Gift, Promise, and Drawing of the ••ther? Then this sheweth us, how it comes to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that weak means are so powerful as to ••g Men out of their Sins, to a heavy pur|•• after Jesus Christ: When God bid Moses ••••k to the people, he said, I will speak 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee Exod. 19 When God speaks, when ••d works, who can let it? None, none. ••en the work goes on. Elias threw the Mantle ••n the shoulders of Elisha: And what a wonderful ••k followed! When Jesus fell in with the crowing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cook, what work was there! O when God is in •• ••leans, (be it never so neak and contemptable in self) it works wonders, 1 King. 19 10. Mat. 26.74, •• Mat 14.71. Luke 2.60.

The World understand not nor believe that ••e Walls of Jericho will full at the sound of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Horns. But when God will speak, the ••ans must be effectual. A word weakly ••••ken, spoken with difficulty, in the Tempta|••••••n, and in the midst of great contempt and ••en works wonders: If the Lord thy God ••ll say so too.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 it so? Doth no man come to Jesus Christ, •• the Will, Wisdom and power of Man; but •• the Gift, Promise, and Drawing of the Fa|••••••r? Then there is room for Christians to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and wonder at the effectual working of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Providences, that he hath made use of, as ••eans to bring them to Jesus Christ.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 although Men are drawn to Christ by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Father; yet that Power putteth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it self in the use of Means; and tha•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is diverse; sometimes this, sometimes •• for God is at Liberty to work, by which, ••••en, and how he will; but let the means be

what it will, and as contemptible as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yet God that commanded the Light to •• out of Darkness; and that out of weakne•••• make strong: can, nay doth oft-times 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of very unlikely means to bring abo•••• Conversion and Salvation of his People ••+fore you that are come to Christ (and •• likely means) s••ay your selves and wonde•• ••••••ndering, magnifie Almighty Power, •• work of which, the means hath been effec•• bring you to Jesus Chaist

What was the Providence that God •• use of as means, either more remote or •• near, to bring thee to Jesus Christ? Wit•• Removing of thy Habitation, the Cha•••• thy Condition; the Loss of Relations, •• or the like? Was it the casting of this •• upon some good Book; the hearing •• Neighbours talk of Heavenly things, th•• holding of God's Judgmen••s as executed •• others, or thine own Deliverance from •• or thy being strangely cast under the M•• of some Godly Man? O take notice 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Providence or Providences! They were fe•• managed by mighty Power to do that •• God himself I say hath joined himself •• Chariot: Yea, and so blessed it, that it •• not to accomplish the thing for which •• it.

God blesseth not to every one his Pre•••• in this manner: How many Thousa•••• there in this World, that pass every d•• the same Providences? But God is not •• to do that Work by them as he hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy poor Soul, by his effectual workin•• •• them. O that Jesus Christ should me•• ••

••rovidence, that Dispensation or the other ••••••nces! This is Grace indeed! At this ••ere, it will be thy Wisdom to admire, and •• to bless God.

••e me leave to give you a taste of some of •• Providences that have been effectual, thro•• ••anagement of God, to bring Salvation to ••••uls of his People.

••st: The first shall be that of the Woman ••••ari••. It must happen that she must needs ••t of the City to draw Water (not before ••fter, but) just when Jesus her Saviour was •• from far and set to rest him (being wea|•• upon the Well: What a blessed Providence •• this: Even a Providence managed by the ••ighty Wisdom and Almighty Power; to •• Conversion and Salvation of this p••or Crea|•• which her Saviour brought about; that •• blessed work might be fulfilled upon the ••an, according to the Purpose afore deter|•• •• by the Father, John 4.

••••condly, What a Providence was it, that •• should be a Tree in the way for Zacheus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thereby to give Jesus Opportunity to •• that Chief of the Publicans home to himself •• before he came down therefrom Luk. 19.

••••irdly, Was it not also wonderful, that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which you read of in the Gospel, should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Providence of God be cast into Prison, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 condemned, even at that Sessions that •• himself was to die; nay, & that it should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to, that they must be han••ed together, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thief might be in Hearing & observing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his last Words, that he might be ••ed by him before his Death. Luke 23.

••••••rthly, What a strange Providence was it,

and a•• strangely managed by God, that O+mus, when he was run away from his Ma•• should be taken, and I think cast into that •• Prison, where Paul lay bound for the Wo•••• the Gospel, that he might be by him conver•••• then sent home again to his Master Phile•••• Behold all th••ngs work together for good, to them •• love God; to them who are the called accordin•• his Purpose. Rom. 8

Nay, I have my self known some that •• been made to go hear the Word preached ••+gainst their wills; others have gone not to b•• but to see & be seen; nay to jeer & flout oth•••• as also to catch and carp at things. Some •• to feed their Adulterous Eyes with the sigh•• beautiful Objects, and yet God hath made •• of even these things, and even of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and sinful Proposals of Sinners, to bring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 under the Grace that might save their Sou••

Doth no Man come to Jesus Christ, but •• the Drawing of the Father? Then let me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 caution those poor Sinners, that are Spect•••• of the change that God hath wrought on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that are coming to Jesus Christ, not to attri•••••• this work and change to other things & c••••

There are some poor Sinners in the W•• that plainly see a Change, a mighty Chang•• their Neighbours and Relations, that a ••••+ming to Jesus Christ: But as I said, they •• ignorant, and not knowing whence it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor whither i•• goes; for so is every one that •• of the Spirit, John 3.8

Therefore they attribute this Change to •• Causes: As,

• 1. Melancholly.
• 2. To sitting alone.
• ...

• ••. To overmuch Reading.
• ••. To their going to too many Sermons.
• ••. Too much studying and musing on what •• hear.

••lso they conclude on the other side,

••irst. That it is for want of merry Company.

••econdly, For want of Physick, and therefore •• advise them to leave off Reading, going to ••mons, the C••mpany of sober People; and ••e merry go a Gossipping, to busie them|••••••••es in the things of this World, not to sit ••ing alone, &c.

••ut come poor ignorant Sinner, let me deal ••h thee; It seems thou art turn'd Counsellor •• Satan. I tell thee, thou knowest not what ••u doest. Take heed of spending thy Judg|••••nt after this manner; thou judgest foolish|•• And sayest in this, To every one that passeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 art a Fool.

What! count Convictions for Sin, Mourning •• Sin, and Repentance for sin, Melancholly▪ ••t is like those, that on the other side said, •• Men are drunk with New Wine, &c. O•• as that said, Paul was mad, Acts 2 23. ch 26.24. ••••or ignorant Sinner, canst thou j••dge no ••er. What! Is sitting alone; pensive under ••'s Hand; Reading the Scriptures, and ••••ing of Sermons, &c. the way to be un|••? The Lord open thine Eyes, & make •• to see thine Eoror; Thou hast set thy •• against God, thou hast despised the Ope|•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his Hand, thou attemptest to mur|•• souls. What, canst thou give no better ••••sel touching those whom God hath woun|•• than to send them to the Ordinances of •• for Help? Thou bidst them busie them|selves

in the things of this World; but o•• thou not know, that the Lord bids, Seek •• the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness th•• of? Mat. 3:36.

Poor, Ignorant Sinner, hear the Counsel •• God to such, and learn thy self to be wis•• Is any afflicted? let him pray; Is any merry? •• him sing Psalms. Blessed is he that heareth •• and heareth for time to come. Save your s•• from this untoward Generation. Search the S••••••+tures, give attendance to Reading. It is better 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the House of Mourning. Jam. 5.13. Prov. 8▪ 33. Acts 2 40. Joh. 3 39, Tim 4.13 Eccl. 7.1, 2, 3.

And wilt thou Judge him that doth thu•• Art thou almost like E••ymas the Sorcerer, t•• sought to turn the Deputy from the Fait•• Thou seekest to pervert the right ways of •• Lord: take heed lest some heavy Judgment ••+vertake thee, Acts 14.8, 9.

What? Teach Men to quench Convicti•••• to ••ake Men off from a serious considerat•••••• of the evil of Sin, of the Terrors of •• World to come, and how they shall esc•• thee same. What! Teach Men to put Go•• his Word out of their Minds, by running •• merry Company; by running to the We•• by Gossiipping, &c. This is as much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bid them say to God, Depart from us, for •• desire not the knowledge of thy ways; Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or, •• profit have we, if we keep his ways? Here •• Devil in grain! What, bid Men walk a ••+ing to the course of this world, according to •• Prince of the power of the Air; the Spirit •• now worketh in the Children of Disobedience, ••

Obj. But do we not know that such are 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•• Jesus Christ: Truly we wonder at them, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they are Fools.

Answ. First, Do you not know that they •• coming to Jesus Christ? Then they may •• coming to Him for ought you know? ••d why will you be worse than the Brute, •• speak evil of the things you know not? ••hat? are ye made to be taken and destoy|•• Must ye utterly perish in your Corrup|••••••ns? 2 Pet 2.1.

Secondly, Do you not know them? Let ••m alone then. If you cannot speak good •• them, speak not bad. Refrain from these ••n, and let them alone▪ for if this Counsel, or ••s Work, be of Men, it will come to nought; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest ••ly ye be found even to fight against God, Acts •• 38, 39.

Thirdly, But why do you wonder at a ••ork of Conviction and Conversion? Know •• not that this is the Judgment of God ••en you, ye Despisers, To behold, and wonder, •• perish? Acts 15.30

Fourthly, But why wonder and think they •• Fools? Is the way of the Just an Abo|••••nation to you? See that passage, and be ••amed; He that is upright in the way, is an ••mination to the wicked, Prov. 29.27.

Fifthly, Your wondring at them, argues •• you are strangers to your selves, to Con|••••••••ion for sin, and to hearty desi••es to be fa|•• •• as also to coming to Jesus Christ.

Obj But how shall we know that such Men are, ••ing to Jesus Christ.

Answ. Who can make them see, that Christ •• made blind, (John 23.9.) Nevertheless

because I endeavoured by Conviction, Cov•••• on and Salvation? Consider,

1. Do they cry out of Sin, being burthe•• with it, as of an exceeding bitter thing?

2 Do they fly from it as from the Face •• deadly serpent?

3. Do they cry out of the Insufficiency •• their own Righteousness, as to Justification •• the sight of God.

4. Do they cry out after the Lord Jesus •• save them?

5. Do they see more Worth and Merit in •• drop of Christ's Blood to save them, than in •• the Sins of the World to damn them?

6. Are they tender of sinning against ••••+sus Christ?

7 Is the Name, Person, and Undertak•••• more precious to them than the Glory •• the World?

8. Is the Word more dear unto them?

9. Is Faith in Christ (of which they •• convinced by God's Spirit of the want of, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that without it they can never close w•• Christ) precious to them?

10. Do they favour Christ in his Word •• do they leave all the World for his sake. A•• are they willing (God helping them) to •• Hazzards for his Name, for the Love they b•• to him?

11. Are his Saints precious to them?

If these things be so, whether thou feest •• or no, these Men are coming to Jesus Chri•••• Rom. 7.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Psal. 38.3.4.5, 6, 7, 8. •• 6.18, 14.20. Isa 64 6. Phil. 3.7, 8 Psal 45.1. Ps. •• 21. Acts 16 30. Psal. 51.7, 8 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Rom•• 24. 2 Cor. 5.2. Acts 5.41. James 2.7. Phil 3.7, 8. ••

•• 10.11, 12, 13, 14 15 Psal 1 19 John 13.35. 1 John •• 7 chap 3 14. Job. 16 9 Rom 14.23. Heb. 11.6. Ps. •• 10.11 Jer 17 16. Heb. 11 24 25, 26, 27. Acts 29. •• 23, 24. chap 21.13. Tit. 3.15. 2 John 1. Eph. 4 16. ••••il 7. 1 Cor. 16.24.

The second Observation.

I came now to the second Observation pro|••ounded to be spoken to; to wit,

That they that are coming to Jesus Christ, ••re oft-times heartily afraid that Jesus Christ ••ill not receive them.

I told you that this Observation is implied in ••he Text, and I gather it from the largeness & ••••••penness of the Promise, (I will in no wise cast ••ut) For had there not been a proneness in us, to ••ew casting out, Christ needed not to have, as it •• were, way laid our fear, as he doth by this ••reat and strange Expression, In no wise. And ••im that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. There needed not, as I may say, such a Pro|mise to be invented by the Wisdom of Heaven, ••orded at such a ra••e, as it were on purpose to ••ash in pieces at one blow all the Objections of ••oming Sinners; if they were not prone to ad|mit of such Objections to the discouraging of ••heir own souls; for these words In no wise, ••ut the throats of all Objections; & they were ••ropp'd by the Lord Jesus for that very ••••d▪ ••nd to help the Faith that is mixed with ••nbelief.

And it is as it were the Sum of all Promises▪ ••either can any Objection be made upon the ••nworthiness that thou findest in thee, that this ••romise will not assail.

But I am a sinner, say'st thou. I will in no wise cast ••ut says Christ.

But I am an old sinner, say'st thou. I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. But I am a Backsliding sinner, say••st thou. I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. But I am an hard hearted sinner, say'st tho•• I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. But I have served Satan all my Days say•• thou. I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. But I have sinned against Light, say'st th•• I will in no wise cast out, sa••s Christ. But I have sinned against Mercy, say'st tho•• I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with m•• say'st thou. I will in no wise cast out, says Christ.

Thus I might go on to the end of things, an•• shew you that still this Promise was provided •• answer all Objections, and doth answer them▪ But, I say, What need it be, if they that are coming to Jesus Christ, are not sometimes, yea▪ oftentimes 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 Ninth 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 borne upon a Bed by his F••iends. He also was co|ming himself, and that upon another Account than any of his Friends were aware of even for the Pardon of sins, and the Salvation of his Soul. Now, so soon as even he was come into the Presence of Christ▪ Christ bids him be of good Cheer. It seems then his Heart was ••••inting: But what was the cause of hi••

••••inting? Not his bodily Infirmity, for the ••re of which his Friends did bring him to ••••rist, but the Guilt and Burden of his sins; •• the pardon of which, himself did come to ••n; therefore he proceeds Be of good Cheer, thy •• be forgiven thee.

I say, Christ saw him sinking in his Mind, ••ut how it would go with his most noble ••rt; And therefore first he applies himself to ••m on that account. For, though his Friends ••d Faith enough as to the Cure of his Body, ••t he himself had little enough, as to the cure ••f his Soul. Therefore Christ takes him up as •• Man falling down, saying, Son be of good chear, ••y sins be forgiven thee.

That about the Prodigal, seems pertinent also •• this matter, when he was come to himself, ••e said, How many hired Servants of my Father have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enough, and to spare, and I perish for Hunger? •• will arise now, and go to my Father. Heartily ••poken. But how did he perform his Promi|••••s; I think not so well as he promised to do: ••nd my ground for my thoughts is, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Father, so soon as he was come to him, fell ••pon his Neck, and kissed him; implying, me|••hinks, as if the P••digal by this time was de|••••cted in his mind; and therefore his Father ••ves him the most sudden and familiar Token ••f Reconciliation.

And Kisses were of Old Time often used to •• move Doubts and Fears. Thus Laban & Esai▪ ••••st Jacob; thus Joseph kissed his Brethren; and •• was also David kissed Absalom. Gen. 31.55. Chap. ••.1, 2, 3.4, 5, 6. Chap. 48.9, 10. 2 Sam. 14.33.

'Tis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as I said, at first setting out, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heartily, as sometimes Sinners also do in

their beginning to come to Jesus Christ: •• might not he, yea, in all probability he •• (between the first S••ep he took, and the last▪ which he accomplished that Journey) many Thought, both this way and that, as whet•• his Father would receive him or no? As th•• I said, I would go to my Father; But how, •• when I come at him he should ask me, Whe•• have all this while been? What must I say th•• Also if he ask me what is become of the Portio•• Goods that he gave me? What shall I say then, if •• ask me, who have been my C••mpanions? What sha•••• say then; if he also sh••uld ask me, what hath been •• Preferment ••n all the time if my absence from hi•• What shall I say th••••; Yea, and ••f he ask, why •• came home no s••oner? What shall I say then? Th•• I say, might he reason with himself; & be•••• conscious to himself, that he could give bu•• bad Answer to any of these Interrogatories, •• marvel if he stood in need first of all, of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from his Father's Lips. For had he answere•• the first in Truth, he must say, I have been •• Haunter of Taverns, and Ale houses: and f•••• my Portion, I spent it in Riotous Living; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 companions were Whores and Drabs: As fo•• my Preferment, the highest was, that I becam•• a H••g Herd; & as for my not coming hom•• till now, Could I have made shift to stay abro•••• any longer, I had not lain at thy Feet for mer+cy now.

I say these things considered, and considerin•• again, how prone poor Man is to give wa•• truly awakened ••o Despondings, to give wa•• misgivings; no marvel if he did sink in •• Mind, between the time of his first setting 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and that of his coming to his Father.

But Thirdly, Methinks I have, for the Con|••••••mation of this Truth, the Consent of all the ••ints that are under Heaven, to wit, That they •• are coming to Jesus Christ, are oft-times ••••artily afraid that he will not leave them.

Quest. But what should be the Reason?

I will answer to this Question thus.

First, It is not for want of the revealed Will of ••od, that manifested Grounds for the contra|••; for of that there was a Sufficiency; yea, the ••ext it self hath lain a sufficient Foundation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Encouragement for them that are coming to ••esus Christ.

And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast ••ut.

Secondly, It is not for want of an Invitation ••o come, for that is full and plain, Come unto ••e all ye that Labour, and are heavy laden, and I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you rest, Mat. 11 28.

Thirdly, It is not for want of a solemn Oath ••nd Ingagement to save them that come; For ••ecause he could swear by no greater, He swore ••y himself. That by two immutable things, in which ••t was impossibble that God should lye, we might have ••trong Consolation, who have fled▪ for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us, Heb 6.15, 16, 17, 19.

Fourthly, Neither is it for want of great Ex|amples of God's Mercy, that have come to Je|sus Christ, of which we read most plentifully in the word.

Therefore it must be concluded, it was for want of that which follows.

First, It is for want of Knowledge in Christ. Thou knowest but little of the Grace & Kind|ness that is in the Heart of Christ Thou knowest but little of the Merit and Virtue of his Blood.

Thou knowest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 little of the Willingness th•••• is in his heart to save thee: And this is t•• reason of the Fear that ariseth in thy Heart, •• causeth th••e to doubt▪ that Christ will not r••+ceive thee Unbelief is the Daughter of Ign••+rance: Therefore Christ saith, O Fools and slow •• Heart to believe Luke 24 25.

Slowness of Heart to believe flows from th•• Foolishness in the things of Christ; This •• evident to all that are acquainted with the••+selves, and are seeking after Jesus Christ: T•• more Ignorance, the more Unbelief; the mo•••• Knowledge of Christ, the more faith. They th•• know thy Name, will put their trust in thee, Psal. •• 10. He therefore that began to come to Chri•••• the other Day, and hath yet but little Know+ledge of him, he fears that Christ will not r••+ceive him. But he that hath been longer ••••+quainted with him, he is strong, and hath ow•• come the wicked one, 1 John 2.

When Joseph's Brethren came into Egypt t•• buy Corn it is said, Joseph knew his Brethren▪ but his Brethren knew not him. What follows? Why, great mistrust of Heart about their speed|ing well; especialy if Joseph did but answe•• them roughly, calling them Spies, and question+ing the Truth and the like And observe it s•• long as their Ignorance about their Brother re|mained, with them, whatsoever Joseph did they put the worst Sense upon it: For Instance, Jo|seph upon a time, bids the Steward of the House to bring them home to Dine with him, to Din•• even Joseph's House: And how is this resent|ed by them? Why they are afraid: And tha•• Men were afraid, because they were brought un|to (their Brother) Joseph's House. And they

••d, He seeketh occasion against us & will fall ••on, us, and take us for Bond Men, and our ••ses, Gen 4••. and Chap. 43. What afraid to go •• Joseph's House? He was their Brother; He ••ended to Feast them, and Feast with them •• but they were ignorant that he was their ••rther: And so long as their Ignorance lasted, ••long their Fear terrified them Just thus it •• with the Sinner, that but of late is coming to ••us Christ. He is ignorant of the Love and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is in Christ to coming Sinners. There|••••••e he doubts, therefore he Fears, therefore his ••eart misgives him.

Coming Sinner, Christ inviteth thee to Dine ••d Sup with him: He inviteth thee to a Ban|••et of Wine, yea to come into his Wine-celler; •• his Banner over the shall be Love, Rev. 30.20. ••t. 2. Chap. 5. But I doubt it, says the Sinner' 〈◊〉〈◊〉 its answer'd, He calls thee, invites thee to •• Banquet: Flaggons, Apples, to his Wine, & •• the Juice of his Pomegrana••e. O I fear, I ••••ubt, I mistrust, I tremble in expection of the ••••ntrary! Come out of the Man thou dastardly ••gnorance. Be not afraid, Sinner, only beleive, •• that cometh to Christ, He will ••n no wise cast out▪ Let the Coming Sinner, ••herefore seek after •• ••re of the good Knowledge of Jesus Christ: ••ess after it, seek it as Silver, and Dig for it as •• hid Treasure: This will embolden thee; •• is will make thee wa•• Stronger and Stronger. •• now when I have believed, I know him said 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And what follows? Why, and I am per|••••••••ed, that he is able to keep that which I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commited to him against that Day. 2▪ •• 19 13.

What had Paul committed to Jesus Christ?

The Answer is, he had committed to him b•• Soul But why did he commit to him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Soul? Why, because he knew him: He kne•• him to be Faithful, to be kind: He knew •• would not fail him, nor forsake him, & the••••+fore he laid his Soul down at his feet, and co••+mitted to him to keep against that Day. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Secondly, Thy Fears that Christ will not ••••+ceive thee may be also a Consequent of •• earnest and strong Desires after thy Salvati•••• by him, For this I observe that strong Desi•••• to have, are attended with strong fears of ••+sing. What man most sets his Heart upon, •• what his Desires are most after, (he oft-time•• most fears he shall not obtain. So the M•••• Ruler of the Synagogue had a great Desire th•••• his Daughter should live; and that Desire •• attended with fear that she would not; Wh••••••+fore Christ saith unto him, Be not afraid, M•••• 5.36,

Suppose a Young Man should have his He•• much set upon a Virgin to have her to Wife, ever he fears he shall not obtain, it is when •• begins to Love. Now, thinks he some bo•••• will step in betwixt my Love and the Obje•••• of it; either they will find fault with my P••••+son, my Estate, my Condition, or somethin••

Now Thoughts begin to Work, he doth •• like me, or something. And thus it is with •• Soul, at first coming to Jesus Christ; Thou it •• him, and thy Love produceth Jealousie, and •• Jealousie oft times beget Fears.

Now thou fearest the Sins of thy Youth▪ Sins of thine Old Age, the Sins of thy Call•••• the Sins of thy Christian Duties, the Sins o•• Heart or something, thou thinkest somethin••

••er will alienate the Heart and Affections of ••••sus Christ from thee, thou thinkest he sees ••••••ething in thee, for the sake of which he will •• use thy Soul.

But be content, a little more Knowledge of •• will make thee take better Heart; thy ear|••••••t Desiers shall not be attended with such burn|•• Fears; thou shalt hereafter say, This is my ••mity, Psal. 77.

Thou art sick of Love; a very sweet Disease, and •• every Disease has some weakness attending •• yet I wish this Distemper (if it be lawful to •• it so) was more Epidemical. I would glad|•• die of this Disease; 'tis better than Life it ••f, though it be attended with Fears. But thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out, I cannot obtain it. Well, be not too ••sty in making Conclusions: If Jesus Christ had ••t put his Finger in at the Hole of the Lock •• Bowels would not have been troubled for him •• Song 5.) Ma••k how the Prophet hath it. They ••l walk after the Lord, He shall roar like a Lion: ••hen he shall roar, the Children shall tremble from the ••, they shall tremble like a Bird out of of Egypt, and ••n Dove out of the Land of Assyria, Hos 11 10 11. When God roars (as oft times the coming ••l hears him roar) What Man, that is com|••••g can do otherwise but tremble? (Amos 3.8.) ••t trembling he comes, He sprang in, and came ••mbling and fell down before Paul and Silas Acts 16 ••hould you ask him that we mentioned but ••, How long is it, since you began to fear you ••ld miss of this Damsel you love so? The An|•• will be Ever since I began to love her. But •• you not fear it before? No nor should I fear •• but that I most vehemently love Her. Come ••r, let us apply it; How long is it since thou be|gan'st

to fear, that Jesus Christ will n••t recei•••• thee? thy answer is, ever since I began to desi•••• Christ? then I began to come. And the m•••• my Heart burns in desires after him, the more •• feel my heart fear, I shall nor be saved by him

See now did I not tell thee that thy Fea•• were but the Consequence•• of strong D••sire•• Well, fear not. Coming Sinner, Thousands •• Coming Souls are in thy condition; and •• they will get safe into Christ's Bosome. •• (saith Christ) to them that are of a fearful Hea•••• Be strong, fear not; Your God will come a•• save you, Isa. 35. 4 Chap. 63.

Thirdly, thy fear that Christ will not rece•••••• thee, may arise from a fence of thine own •• worthiness. Thou seest what a poor, so•••• wretched, worthless Creature thou art! A•• seeing this, thou fearest Christ will not rec•••••• thee: Alas, sayest thou, I'm the V••l••st of all M•••• A Town Sinner! A Ring-leading Sinner! I a•• not only a Sinner my se••f, but have made oth•••• two-fold ••••rse the Children of Hell also! •• side, now I am undersome Awakening & stirri•••• of Mind after Salvation, even now I find my h•••• Rebellious, Carnal, Hard, Treacherous. Desp••+rate prone to Unbelief & Despair: It forgette•• the Word; it wa••••••e••eth, it runneth to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Earth. There is not (I am perswade•• one in all the World, hath such a desperate ••••+ked Heart us mine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 My soul is careless to •• Good, but none m••••e earnest to do that which is ••

Can such a man as I am live in Glory i•• an Holy, a Just, and a Righteous GOD, •• think (with Honour to his Name) of sa•••• such a Vile Creature as I am? Truly I se•••• Will he shew Wonder to such a Dead D•• am? I doubt it.

•• am cast out to the lo••••hing of my Person, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, •• hath my self, I stink in mine Nostrils. How can 〈…〉〈…〉 accepted us a Holy & Sin abhorring Gods ••l 38 5 67. Ez••k ••. Chap. ••0 42 43 44 Saved I would 〈…〉〈…〉 who is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would not, were they in •• Condi••ion? Indeed I wonder at the Madness & ••ully of others, when I see them leap and skip s•• ••re•• sl•••• about the Mourn of Hell! Behold Sinner, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 da••est thou tempt God▪ by laughing at the ••reach of his holy Law 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But alas! they are not so ••nd one way, but I am worse another▪ I wish my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were any Body but my self▪ And yet here again •• know not what to wish. When I see such I be|••••eve are coming to Jesus Christ▪ I b••ess them; but •• am confounded in my self to see how unlike (as •• think) I am to every good Man in the World: They can hear, read, pray, remember, repent, be ••umble, and do every thing better than so Vile a Wretch as I.

I Vile Wretch! Am good for nothing but to burn ••n Hell fire; and when I think of that, I am con|••ounded too.

Thus the sense of Unworthiness creates & heigh••-•• Fears in the Hearts of them that are coming to ••••esus Christ; but indeed it should not, for who ••••eds the Physician, but the Sick? Or, who did Christ come into the World to save, but the Chief •• Sinners? (Mat 1 17. 1 Tim 1 15) Wherefore, th•• ••ore thou seest thy Sins, the faste•• fly thou to Jesus Christ; and let the sense of thine own unworthiness, ••revail 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 thi••es of his broken Arm, and ••s he feels the Pain and Anguish, he hastens his pace ••o the Man. And if Satan meets thee, and asketh, Whither goest thou? Tell him, Thou art maimed; and art going to the Lord Jesus. If he Objects thine ••wn Unworthiness, tell him, That even as the Sick ••••ke In the Physician, as he that hath broken Bone•• ••••••ks him that can set them, so thou art going to Jesus Christ for Care & Healing for thy sick Soul.

But it oft times happeneth to him that flies •• his Life, he despairs of escaping, and therefore d••+vers himself up into the hand of the Pursuer. •• up, up Sinner; be of good Cheer▪ Christ came •• save the unworthy One. Be not faithless but ••••+lieve. Come away Man, the Lord Jesus calleth saying, And him that co••••eth to me, I will in wise cast out

Fourthly. Thy Fear that Christ will not rece•••••• thee, may arise from a sense of the exceeding Me•• of being saved. Sometimes Salvation is in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of him that desires so great, so huge: So wonde•• a thing▪ that the very Thoughts of the Excelle•••• of it, ingenders unbelief about obtaining it, in •• Heart of those that unfeignedly desire it. Serm•••• it to you (saith David) a light thing to be the Kin•• Son in Law 1 1 Sam 18.23 So the Thoughts of •• Greatness and Glory of the Thing propounded, •• Heaven, Eternal Life, Eternal Glory; to be •• God and Christ, & Angels: These are great th•••• things too good (saith the Soul that is little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own Eyes.) Things too Rich (saith the Soul the •• truly poor in spirit) for me.

Besides, The Holy Ghost hath a way to great •• Heavenly Things to the Understanding of t•••• Coming Sinner; yea and at the same time •• greaten too the Sin and Unworthiness of that Si••+ner. Now the Soul staggeringly wonders, sa••+ing, What, to be made like Angels, like Christ •• for Angels, & for them that can walk like Angels.

And it is a Wonder then to see a Soul that •• drowned in the sense of Glory, and a sense of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own Nothingness, to be confounded in it self, an•• to fear that the Glory apprehended, is too grea•• too good, and too rich for such an one.

That thing, Heaven and eternal Glory, it •• great, and I that would have it so small, so sor•• a Creature, that the Thoughts of obtaining it co••+founds me.

Thus I say, doth the greatness of the things •• fired, quite dash and overthrow the Minds of th•• desire: Oh, it is too big! it is too big! it is •• ••reat a Mercy,

But, Coming Sinner, let me reason with thee▪ Thou-say'st it is too big, too great. Well, will ••hings that are less satisfie thy Soul; will a less ••hing than Heaven, than Glory and eternal Life, ••nswer thy Desires? No, nothing less, yet I fear ••hey are too big and too good for me ever to ob|••ain. Well as big and as good as they are, God gi|••eth them to such as thou; they are not too big for God to give. No not too big for God to give ••reely, be content, let God give like Himself; He •• that Eternal God, & 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 ••hings did A••••anah, as a King gave unto David, 1 Sam. ••5 2 Sam 24. Now God is a great King, let him give like a King, nay let him give himself, and do ••hou receive like thy self. He hath all, & thou hast nothing God told his People of old▪ that he would save them in Truth and Righteousness, & that they ••hould return to, and enjoy the Land, which before for their Sins had spued them out. And then adds under a Supposition of their counting the Mercy too ••••ood or too big. Is it he marvell••us in the Eyes of the Remnant of this People in these Days, should it also be marvellous in mine Eyes? saith the Lord of H••sts, Zech. 8 9,

As who should say, They are now in Captivity, and li••t••e in their own E••es, therefore they think the Mercy too marvellously big for them to enjoy, but if it be so in their Eyes, it is not so in mine. I will do for them like God, if they all but receive my Bounty like Sinners.

Coming Sinner, God can give his heavenly Cana|an, and the Glory of it to thee: yea none ever had them, but as a Gift, a free Gift. He has given us his Son, How shall he not them, with him freely give us all things?

It was not the worthiness of Abraham, Moses, or David, or Peter, or Paul, but the Mercy of God that made them Inheritors of Heaven. If God thinks thee worthy, ••••dge not thy self unworthy, bu•• take it, and be thankful. And it is a good sign

he intends to give thee, if he has drawn out t•••• heart to ask. O Lord, thou hast heard the desi•••• of the humble, thou wilt prepare their hearts, th•• wilt incline thine Ear, Psal. 10.17.

When God is said to incline his Ear, it implies •• Intention to bestow the Mercy desired. Take •• therefore, thy Wisdom will be to receive, not sti••••+ing at thy own unworthiness. It is said, He raise•• up the Poor out of the Dust, and lifteth up the Be••+gar out of the Dunghill, to set them among Prin•••• and to make them inherit the Throne of Glo•••• Again, he raiseth up the poor out of the Dust. •• lifteth some Needy out of the Dunghil that he •• set him with Princes, even with the Princes of •• People. Sam 4 28. Psal. 113 7, 8.

You see also, when God made a Wedding •• his Son, he called not the Great, nor the Rich, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Mighty▪ but the Poor▪ the Maimed▪ the Halt▪ •• the Blind, Mat. 22 Luke 14

Fifthly, Thy Fears that Christ will not recei•••• thee, may arise f••om the hideous Roaring of th•• Devil, who pursues thee, He that hearts him rou•••• must be a mighty Christian if he can at that tim•• deliver himself from Fear. He is called a roa••i•••• Lion; and then to allude to that in Isaiah, If on•• look into them, they have Darkn••ss, and Sorro•• and the Light is Darkness to their▪ very Heav•••• a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3.8 Isa. ••.30.

There are two things among many, that Satan useth to roar out after them that are coming 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jesus Christ.

1. That they are not Elected, Or,

2. That they have▪ sinned the Sin against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Holy Ghost.

To both these I answer briefly.

Touching Election, out of which thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou art excluded. Why, coming Sinner, even •• Text it self affordeth thee help against this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and that by a double Argument.

First, That coming to Christ, is by Virt•••• •• the Gift, Promise, and Drawing of the Father; In thou act a coming, therefore God hath given that

••ised thee, and is a Drawing thee to Jesus Christ. ••ing Sinner, hold to this, and when Satan begins our again, answer But I feel my heart moving af|•• ••••sus Christ. But that would not be if it were not •• by Promise, and Drawing to Christ by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Father

••••condly, Jesus Christ hath Promised, That him •• cometh to him, he will in no wise cast out, •• if he hath said it, will he not make it good. I •• even thy Salvation? For as I have said al|•• ••y, not to cast out, is to receive and admit to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fit of Salvation. If then the Father has ••n thee, as is manifested by thy coming and if ••••••ist will receive thee▪ thou coming Soul, as 'tis ••in he w••ll, be cause he hath said. He well in no ••e cast thee out. Then be confident▪ & let those ••••nclusions that as naturally flow from the ••••ne, •• Light from the Sun, or Water from the Foun|••••n stay thee.

If Satan therefore objecteth, But thou art not ••ected; answer, But I am coming, Satan, I am ••ming; and that I could not be, but that the ••ther draws; and I am coming to such a Lord ••••sus as will in no wise cast me out. Farther, ••••tan, were I not the Elect, the Father would not ••••w me; nor would the Son so graciously open ••s Bosome to me. I am persawded that not ••e of the Non-elect shall ever be able to say ••••o not in the Day of Judgment) I did sincerely ••ome to Jesus Christ, Come they may, feignedly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Judas and S••mon Magus did; but that is not ••ur Question. Therefore O thou honest-hearted ••••ming Sinner! be not afraid, but come.

As to the second Part of the Objection about ••••ing that Sin against the Holy Ghost; the ••••e Argument also overthrows that also. But •• will argue thus.

First, Coming to Christ is by virtue of a spe|•• Gift of the Father; but the Father giveth

no such Gift to them that have sinned that Si•• therefore thou that art coming hast not co••+mitted that Sin that the Father giveth no su•••• Gift to them that have sinned that Sin is evide••••

1. Because they have sinned themselves out •• God's Favour; they shall never have forgi••••+ness, Mat 12 32. But it is a special Favour •• God to give unto a Man, to come to Jes•••• Christ; because thereby he obtaineth Forgi••••+ness Therefore he that cometh, hath not ••+ned that Sin.

2. They that have sinned the Sin against •• H••ly G••ost, have sinned themselves out of •• interest in the sacrifice of Christ's Body & Blo•••• There remains for such no more sacrifice for S••••

But God giveth not G••ace to any of them •• c••me to Christ, that have no share in the S••+crifice of his B••dy and Blood; Therefore •• that art coming to him, hast not sinned th•• Sin, Heb. 19 26.

Secondly, Coming to Christ, is by the specia•• drawing of the Fa••her. No man cometh to M•• except the Father wh••ch hath sent me draw him. But the Father draweth not him to Christ fo•• whom he hath not allotted Forgiveness by hi•• Blood. Therefore, they that are coming to Je+sus Christ, have not sinned that Sin, because he hath allotted them Forgiveness by his Blood▪ John 6.44.

That the Father cannot draw them to Jesu•• Christ, for whom he hath not allotted Forgive+ness of Sin, is manifest to Sense; for that wou•••• be a plain Mockery, a Flam neither becomi•••• his Wisdom, Justice, Holiness, nor Goodness.

Thirdly, Coming to Jesus Christ, lays a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 under his Intercession: For he ever liveth ••

••••ke Intercession for them that come, Heb 7.25. ••herefore he that is coming to Jesus Christ, ••••nnot have sinned that Sin

Christ has forbidden the People to Pray for them ••••at have sinned that Sin, & therefore will not Pray ••••r them himself, but he prays for them that come.

Fourthly, He that hath sinned that Sin Christ is ••o him of no more Worth, than it a Man that is ••ead. For he hath crucified to him the Son of God▪ Yea, & hath also counted his precious Blood as an ••nholy thing Heb 6 10. Now he that hath this low ••steem of Christ, will never come to him for Life, ••ut the Coming Man has an high Esteem of his Per|••on, Blood and Merits. Therefore he that is coming has not committed that Sin.

Fifthly, 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 ••n another, I will in no wise cast out. Therefore that he may never have Forgiveness, he shall never have an Heart to come ••o 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 a|bout 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 the 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. Says one, if God be bringing of me to Jesus Christ, then will he load me with the Guilt of Sin, ••till he make me roar again.

2. If God be indeed bringing me home to Jesus Christ, then must I be assaulted with dreadful Temptations of the Devil.

3. If God be indeed a bringing me to Jesus

Christ then even when I come at ••ll n•••• I shall n•• wonderful Revelations of him.

This is the way that some Sinners appoint •• God. But perhaps he will not walk herein, et he •• b••ing the unto Jesus Christ. But now because t•• come not in the way of their own chalking o•• therefore they are at a loss. They look for a h••••+vy lord and burthen; but perhaps God gives th•• a sight of their lost Condition and addeth •• that heavy weight and burthen. They look for•• fearful Temptations of Satan but God sees t•• yet they are not fit for them? Nor is the •• come, that he should be honoured by them in •• a Condition. They look for Great and Glorio•••• Revelations of Christ, Grace, and Mercy. •• perhaps God only takes the Yoke from off the Jaws, and lays Meat before them. And now age they are at a Loss yet a coming to Christ: I dre•••• (saith God) with the Cords of a Man, with th•• Bands of Love: I took the Yoke from of thei•• Jaws, and said Meat unto them, Heb. 1.14.

Now I say, if God brings thee to Christ, and •• by the way that thou hast appointed, then th•••• art a loss; and for thy being at a loss thou may •• thank thy self, God hath more ways than tho•• knowest of, to bring a Sinner to Jesus Christ. Bu•• he will not give thee before hand an Account h•••• which he will bring thee to Christ, Isa. 40.12. Joh 43.13.

Sometimes he hath his Way in the Whirl wind, but sometimes the Lord is not there. Neh. 13. 1 Kin 10.11.

If God will deal more gently with thee, tha•• with others of his Children, grudge not at it▪ refus•• to the Waters of the Rivers▪ strong and many, ev•••• these two smoaking Fire Brands the D•••••• and Guilt of Sin▪ I••a 8 6 7.8 He saith to P••+ter follow me. And what Thunder did Zac••+••us hear or see? Zacheus Come down, said Christ •• he came town, (says Luke) and received H•• joyfully.

••••t had Peter or Zacheus made the Obi••cti|•••• ••ha•• thou hast made, and directed the Spirit ••e Lord, as thou hast done, they might have ••ed long enough, before they had found ••mselves coming to Jesus Christ.

•• sides, I will tell thee, that the greatness of ••f Sin, the hideous R••a••ing of the D••vil, •• and abundance of Revelations, will not ••re that God is bringing the Soul to J••sus ••••rist: As Balaam, Cain, Judas, and others can ••ness.

Farther, Consider, that what thou hast not of ••se things here thou may••st have another time, ••d that thy Destruction: Wherefore instead •• being Discontent, because thou art not in ••e Fire; because thou hearest not the Sound of ••e Trumpet, and Alarm of War; Pray that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enter not into Temptation; Yea, come ••dly to the Throne of Grace, & obtain Mer|•• & find Grace to help in that time of need? ••l. 88 15 Mat 40.41. Heb 4 16.

Poor Creature! Thou cry'st, if I were temp|••••d, I could come faster, and with more Confi|••••nce to Jesus Christ; Thou say'st thou know'st ••ot what. What says Job, Withdraw thy Hand ••n me, and let n••t thy Dread make me afraid; ••en call thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, ••••d answer thou me, J••b 11.31 It is not the ••ver ••••avy Load of Sin, but the Discovery of Mer|••••; not the Roaring of the Devil, but the ••awing of the Father, that makes a man come •• J••sus Christ, I my self know all these things •• True, sometimes (yea, most an end) they ••t come to Jesus Christ, come the way that ••m desi••est; the Loading, Tempted Way; ••t the Lord also leads some by the Waters of

Comfort. If I was to chuse, when to go a ••o•• Journey; to wit, Whether I would go it in •• Dead of Winter, or in the Pleasant Spri•• (though it was a very profitable Journey; •• that of coming to Christ is) I would chuse •• go through Fire and Water, before I would •• the Benefit. But I say, if I chuse the time, •• would chuse to go it in the pleasant Spring, ••••+cause the way would be more delightsome, •• Days longer and warmer, the Nights sho•• and no so cold. And it is observable, that th•• very Argument that thou usest, to weaken •• strength in the way, that very Argument Ch•• Jesus useth to encourage his beloved to come•• him: Arise (saith he) my Love, my fair One, •• come away; (Why) For lo, the Winter is past, •• Rain is over and gone, the Flowers appear or •• Earth, the time of the Singing of Birds is come, •• the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our land. •• Fig-tree putteth forth for green Fi••s, and the Vi•• with her tender Grapes, give a good smell: Arise•• Love, my fair One, and come away, Song 2.10.

Trouble not thy self, Coming Sinner, if th•• feest thy lost Condition by thy original & ac••••+al Sin. If thou seest thy need of the spoi•• Righteousness of Jesus Christ; If thou art ••+ling to be found in him, and to take up •• Cross and follow him, then Pray for a •• Wind and good Weather, and come a way. •• no longer in a Muse or Doubt about things •• come away to Jesus Christ: Do it, I say, •• thou tempt God to lay the Sorrows of a tra••••+ling Woman upon thee. Thy Folly in •• thing, makes him to do it. Mind what foll•••• The Sorrows of a travelling Women shall, •• upon him: Why? He is an unwise Son,

•• should not stay long in the breaking forth of ••••ildren, Hos. 13.13.

Seventhly, Thy Fears that Christ will not re|••••••ve thee, may rise from those Decays that ••••ou findest in thy Soul, even while thou art ••••••ing to Him: Some, even as they are com|••••g to Jesus Christ, do find themselves grow ••••rse and worse: And this is indeed, a fore ••••yal to the poor coming Sinner.

To explain my self; There is such an one a ••••ming to Jesus Christ; who, when at first he ••••gan to look out after him, was sensible, affecti|••nate, and broken in Spirit; But now is grown ••••rk, senseless, hard-harted; and inclining to ••eglect Spiritual Duties, &c. Besides he now ••ads in himself Inclinations to Unbelief, Atheism, ••lasphemy, and the like. Now he finds he can|••ot tremble at God's Word, his Judgments, nor •• the Apprehension of Hell-Fire: Neither can ••e, as he thinketh, be sorry for these things, Now ••••is is a sad Dispensation. The Man, under the ••ixth Head, complaineth for want of Tempta|••••ons, but thou hast enough of them; art thou ••lad of them, tempted, coming Sinner? They ••••at never were exercis'd with them, may think it •• fine thing to be within their Rage; but he that •• there, is ready to sweat blood for Sorrow of ••eart, and to howl for Vexation of Spirit.

This Man is in the Wilderness among Wild ••••asts; here he sees a Rear, there a Lyon, yonder •• Leopard, a Wolf, a Dragon; Devils of all sorts, ••oubts of all sorts; Fears of all sorts: haunt ••••d molest his Soul. Here he sees Smoke, yea feels ••re and Brimstone scatter'd upon his secret pla|••; he hears the sound of an horrible Tempest▪ •• O! my Friends, even the Lord Jesus, that

knew all things, even he saw no Pleasure i•• Temptations, nor did he desire to be with them Wherefore one Text saith, he was led; and ano+ther, he was driven of the Spirit into the Wil+derness, to be Tempted of the Devil, Mat. 4.••

But to return, Thus it happeneth sometim•• to them that are coming to Jesus Christ, A sad ha•• indeed: One would think, that he that is flyin•• from the Wrath to come, has little Ne••d of su•••• Clogs as these; And yet so it is, and woful Ex+perince proves it. The Church of old comp+lained, that her Enemies overtook her betwee•• the Straits; just between Hope and Fear, Hea+ven and Hell, Lam. 1.3.

This Men feeleth the Infirmity of his Flesh •• he findeth a proneness in himself to be Despe+rate: 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 crush+ing of him in pieces; yet he feeleth his Hear•• so hard that he can find, as he thinks no kin•• falling under any of his miscarriages. Now b•• is a Lump of confusion in his own Eyes, whos•• Spirit and Actions are without Order.

Temptations serve the Christian as the Shep+herds Dog serveth the silly Sheep; that is com+ing behind the Flock he runs upon it, pulls i•• down, worries it, wounds it, and grievou•• bedableth it with Dirt and Wet, in the lowe•• places of the Furrows of the Field, and n•••• leaving it until it's half Dead, not then neithe•• except God rebuke.

Here is room now for Fears of being cast a+way, Now I see I am lost, says the Sinner: Thi•• is not coming to Jesus Christ, says he; su•• a desperate hard, and wretched Heart, as mine ••

••annot be a Gracious one saith the Sinner. And ••id such an one be better, he says, I cannot, no •• cannot.

Que. But what will you say to a Soul in this Condition?

Answ. I will say, That Temptations have attended ••he best of God's People I will say, That Temp|tations come to do as Good▪ And I will say also, That there is a difference betwixt growing worse & worse, & thy seeing more clearly how bad thou art.

There is a Man of an ill favour'd Countenance, who hath too high a Conceit of his Beauty; and wanting the Benefit of a Glass, he still stands in his own Conceit▪ at last a Limner is sent unto him, who draweth his ill favoured Face to the Life; now looking on it▪ he begins to be convinc'd, that he is not half so Handsome as he thought he was. Co|ming Sinner, thy Temptations are these Painters, they have drawn out thy ill favour'd Heart to the Life, and have set it before thine Eyes, and now thou seest how ill favour'd thou art.

Hezekiah was a good Man, yet when he lay Sick (for ought I know) he had somewhat too good an Opinion of his Heart, and for ought I know also, the Lord might upon his Recovery, leave him to a Temptation, that he might better know all that was in his Heart. Compare, Isa. 38.1. Chron. 32 31.

Alas▪ We are sinful out of measure, but see it not to the full, until an Hour of Temptation comes, but when it comes it doth as the Painter doth, it draweth out our Heart to the Life. Yet the sight of what we are, should not keep us from coming to Jesus Christ.

There are two Ways by which God sets a Man into a sight of the Naughtiness of his Heart, one is, by the light of the Word and Spirit of God: & the other is, by the Temptations of the Devil. But by the first, we see our Naughtiness one way, and by the second, another. By the light of the Word, and Spirit of God, thou hast a sight of thy naughtiness, and by the Light of the Sun thou hast a sight of the

Spots and Defilements that are in thy House an•• Raiment, which Light gives thee to see a Necessi•••• of Cleansing, but maketh not the Blemishes •• spread more abominably. But when Satan com•• when he tempts he puts life end rage into our Si•• and turns them, as it were, into so many Dev•••• within us. Now, like Prisoners, they attempt •• break thro' the Prison of our Body, they will a••+tempt to get out at our Eyes, Mouth▪ Ears, a•• ways to the scandal of the Gospel, and Reproach•• Religion; to the darkning of our Evidences, •• damning of our Souls.

But I shall say as I said before▪ this hath o••ti•• been the Lot of God's People. And no Tempta••••+on hath overtaken thee, but such as is common •• Man, and God is faithful, who will not luster •• to be tempted above what thou art able, 1 Cor. •• 13. See the Book of Job. the Book of Psalms, •• that of the Lamentations. And remember farth•••• that Christ himself was tempted to Blesp••l••eme •• worship the Devil, and to murther himself Ma•• Luke 4. (Temptations worse than which thou ca•• be hardly overtaken with.) But he was Sensele•• that is true. And he is thy Saviour, and that it •• true. Yea, is as true also, that by his being temp••+ed, He became the Conqueror of the Tempter, a•• a Succourer of those that are tempted, Col. •• 14,

Quest. But what should be the Reason that so•• that are coming to Christ, should be so lamentab•• cast down, & buffered with Temptations?

Answ. It may be for several Causes.

First Some that are coming to Christ, cannot •• perswaded, until the Temptation comes, that th•• are so Vile as the Scripture saith they are, Tr•• they see so much of their Wretchedness as to de•• them to Christ: but there is an over and above •• Wickedness, which they see not. Peter little •• that he had Cursing, and Swearing, and Lying •• an inclination in his heart to Deny his Master, ••+fore the Temptation came. But when that ind•• came upon him, then he found it there to his ••+row John 13.36, &c.

Secondly. Som•• that are coming to Jesus Christ ••e too much affected with their own Graces, and ••o little taken with Christ's Person, wherefore God •• take them off from doathing on their own Jewels, ••o that they may look more to the Person, Un|••ertaking, and Merits of his Son, plunges them into ••e Ditch by Temptations and this I take to be ••he meaning of Job If I wash me (said he) with ••now Water, and make my self never so clean, yet ••ilt thou plunge me in the Ditch and mine own Cloaths shall abhor me, J••b 9 30. Job had been a little ••oo much tampering with his own Graces, & seeing ••is Excellencies a little too high, (as these Texts ••ake manifest Job 33 8.9 10, 11) But by that the •• Temptations were ended, you find him better •• a••ight.

Yea, God doth often times, even for this thing, as ••e were take our Graces from us and so leave us ••lmost quite to our selves and to the Tempter, that ••e may learn, not to love the Picture, more than ••he Person of his Son. See how he dealt with them ••n the 16th of Ezekiel, and the 2d of Hosea.

Thirdly Perhaps thou hast been given too much ••o judge th•• Brother, to condemn thy Brother, be|••ause a poor tempted Man: And God to bring ••own the pride of thy Heart, let••eth the Tempter ••oose upon thee that thou may'st also feel thy ••elf wealt, For Pride goeth before Destruction & an ••aughty Spirit before a Fall. Prov. 16 18.

Fourthly. It ma•• be thou hast d••alt too roughly with those that God hath wounded; not conside|••••ng thy self lest thou also be tempted; & therefore God hath suste••ed is to come unto thee, Gal. 6.7.

Fifthly, It m•••• be thou wast given to Slumber & Sleep, and therefo•••• ••hese Temptations were sent to ••waken thee. You know that Peter's Temptation came upon him after his Sleeping▪ then instead of Watching and Praying then he Denied, and De|nied, and Denied has Master, Mat ••0••

Sixthly, It may be thou hast Presumed too far, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stood too much in thine own S••rength; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••fore is a time of Temptation come upon thee.

Tho' all Men forsake thee, yet will not I. A•• That's the way to be tempted indeed, John 13.36.

Seventhly, It may be God intends to make th•• wise to speak a word in season to others that a•• afflicted; & therefore he suffered thee to be temp••+ed, Christ was tempted, that he might be able to su••+cour those that are tempted, Heh. 2.

Eighthly, It may be Satan hath dated God •• suffer him to tempt thee, promising himself, th•••• if he will but let him do it, thou wilt Curse him •• his Face. Thus he obtained leave against Jo•• Wherefore take heed, tempted Soul, lest thou p•••• vest the Devil's Sayings true, Job 1.2.

Ninthly, It may be thy Graces must be tried •• the Fire, that the Rust which cleaveth to them m•••••• be taken away, and themselves p••o••ed both befor•• Angels and Devil's, to be far better than of Go•• that perishes. It may be also that thy Graces a•• to receive special Praise and Honour, and Glory at the coming of the Lord Jesus (to Judgment) for all the Exploits that thou hast acted by them against Hell and its infernal Crew, in the Day •• thy Temptation, 1 Pet. 1.6.

Tenthly, It may be God would have others lear•• by the Sighs, Groans and Complaints under Tem|ptations, to beware of those Sins, for the sake o•• which, thou art at present delivered to the Tor|mentors.

To conclude this, put the worst to the worst, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 then things will be bad enough) suppose that thou art to this Day without the Grace of God, yes thou are but a miserable Creature, a Sinner that ••as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a blessed Saviour, and the Text presents 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with one, as good, and kind, as Heart can wit•• who also for thine Encouragement says, And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hat cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

To come therefore to a Word of Application.

IS it so, that they that are coming to Jesus Christ, are often heartily afraid that Jesus Christ will not receive t•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Then thi•• teach 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these Things.

First, That Faith and Doubting, may at the ••ne time have their Residence in the same ••••ul? O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst ••ou Doubt, Matthew 14.31. He says not Oh! ••ou of no Faith; but Oh! thou of little Faith; ••••cause He had a little Faith in the midst of his ••any Doubts. And the same is True, even of ••any that are coming to Jesus Christ. They ••••me and Fear they come not, and Doubt they ••ome not. When They look upon the Promise, •• a Word of Encouragement by Faith, then they ••ome; but when they look upon themselves, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 D••fficulties that lay before 'em, then they doubt. Bid me come, said Peter; Come, saith Christ So He went down out of the Ship to ••o to Jesus; but his Hap was to go to Him upon ••he Water; There was the Tryal, So it is with ••he poor, desiring Soul; Bid me come, says the ••innner. Come, says Christ, and I will in no wise ••ast thee out. So He comes, but his Hap is to ••ome upon the Water; upon Drowning Difficul|••ies: If therefore the Wind of Temptation blow, ••he Waves of Doubts and Fears will presently ••ife; and this coming Sinner will presently sink, ••f He has but little Faith.

But you shall find here, in Peter's little Faith •• Tow fold Act; to wit, Coming, and Crying: Little Faith cannot come all the way without Crying. So long as its holy boldness lasts, so ••ong it cannot come in Peace; but when 'its so, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 can come no farther; it will go the rest of ••he way with Crying. Peter went as far as his little Faith would carry him: He also cry'd ••s far as his little Faith would help, Lord Save me, I perish! And so with coming and Crying, ••e was kept from sinking, though he had but a little Faith Jesus streched forth his Hand, and

caught him, and said unto him, Oh! Thou little Faith wherefore didst thou doubt?

Secondly, Is it so▪ That they that are comin•• to Jesus Christ are oft times heartily afraid th•• Jesus Christ will not recieve them? Then th•••• shews us a reas••n of that Dejection, and tha•• casting down that ve••y oft 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••erceive to •• in them tha•• are c••m••ng 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jesus Christ Why •• is because they are a••••aid th•• Jesus Christ wi•••• not receive them. The poor World they mo•• us because we are a dejected People; I me•••• because we are sometimes so; but they do no•• know the cause of our Dejections. Could we b•• perswaded, even then, when we are dejected, th•• Jesus Christ would indeed receive us, it would make us fly over their Heads, & would put mo•• gladness into our Hearts, then in the time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which their Corn, Wine & Oyl increases. Psa. 46.7

Thirdly, Is it so. That they that are coming t•• Jesus Christ are oft times heartily afraid that h•• will not receive them? Then this shews, that they that are coming to Jesus Christ, are an awa|kened, sensible considering People: For Fe•••• cometh from Sense, & Consideration of things They are sensible of Sin, sensible of the Curs•• due thereto; they are also sensible of the glo|rious Majesty of God, and of what a blessed thing it is to be received of Jesus Christ: The Glory of Heaven, and the Evil of Sin; the•• things they consider, and are sensible of; Wh•• I remember, I am afraid; when I consider, I am •• afraid, Job 21.6.

These things dash their Spirits, being awake and sensible. Were th•••• Dead, like other Men. they would not be affl••cted with Fear as they are: f•• Dead Men fear not, ••eel not, care not, but the li|ving and sensible Man, he it is that is often heart••

afraid that Jesus Christ will not receive him. I •• the Dead and Senseless are not distressed. They same, they are groundlesly confident. Who so hold Wind Bayard? These indeed, should fear and be a|••d, because they are not coming to Jesus Christ, the Hell, the Fire, the Pit, the Wrath of God and ••••rments of Hell, that are prepar'd for poor ne|••••••cting Sinners! How shall we escape if we neglect great Salvation! Heb 2.3. But they want sense of ••••ings, and so cannot fear.

Fourthly, Is it so, That they that are coming to ••••sus Christ are often heartily afraid that he will ••ot receive them. Then this should teach old Chri|s••ians to pity and pray for young Comers! You now the Heart of a Stranger, for you your selves ••ere Strangers in the Land of Egypt. You know ••he Fears and Doubts and Terrors, that take hold ••f them; for that they sometimes took hold ••f you; wherefore pity them, pray for them, en|••ourage them, they need all that. Guilt hath ove|••••en them Perhaps they are within the fight 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ell-Fire, and the Fear of going thither, is burning ••ot within their Hearts. You may know how ••••rangely Satan is suggesting his Devilish Doubts ••nto them, if possible he may sink & drown them, with the multitude and weight of them. Old Chri|••tians mend up the Path for them, take the Stum|bling Blocks out of the way, lest that which is feeble 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weak be turned aside, but let it rather be healed.

I come now to the Observation, and shall speak a little to that; to wit,

THat Jesus Christ would not have them, that in •• Truth are coming to Him once think that He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cast them out.

The Text is full of this: For he saith, And him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Now ••he saith▪ I will not, He would not have us think, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will.

This is yet farther manifest by these Considera|••ion.

First, Christ Jesus did forbid even them. That as •• were not coming to him, Once to think him

such an One. Do not think (saith he) that accuse you to the Fathe•• John 5.45

These (as I saith) were su••h that as yet were coming to him: For he saith of them a little b•• and ye will not come to me. For the Respect •• had to the Honour of Men, kept them back, y•• say, Jesus Christ gives them to understand, •• though he might justly reject them, yet he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not, but bids them not once to think that he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accuse them to the Father. Now, not to are (with Christ) is to plead for: For Christian things, stands not Neuter between the Father •• Sinners. So then if Jesus Christ would not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them think that. Yet will not come to him, •• he will accuse them▪ then he would not that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should think so, that in Truth are coming to b•• And him that cometh to me, I will in no •• cast out.

Secondly, When the Woman taken in Adult•• (even in the very Act) was brought before Je•••••• Christ, so he carried it both by Words & A••ti•• that he evidently enough made it manifest, t•• Condemning and Casting out, were such things, •• the doing of which he came not into the World.

Wherefore, when they had set her before him, •• had laid to her Charge her hainous Fact he stoo•• down, and with his Finger wrote upon the Grou•• as though he heard them not. Now what did •• do by this his Carriage, but testifie plainly , that •• was not for receiving Accusations against poor S••••+ners, whoever accused by? And Observe, Th•••• they continue Asking, thinking at last to forth •• to Condemn her; yet when he so answer'd, as •• it drove all condemning Persons from her. And •• he ad•••• for her Encouragement to come to •• Neither do I Condemn thee? go and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more, John 8 7.

Not but that he indeed abhorred the Fact, •• because that was not his Office: He was not •• into the wo••ld to Condemn the world▪ but •• the world through him might be saved, John▪ Now, if Christ, though urged to it, would ••

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Guilty Woman, though she was far at •• from coming to him, he would not that they •• once think, that be will cast them out that ••th are coming to him. And him that cometh •• I will in no wise cast out.

••••••rdly. Christ plainly bids the turning Sinner ••e•• & for bids him to entertain any such tho't, ••e will cast him out. Let the wicked forsake ••ay, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and •• torn unto the Lord▪ and he will have mercy •• him; and to our God▪ for he will abundantly ••n, Isa. 54 7.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••o••d, by bidding the Unrighteous forsake •• ••••ghts, ••oth in special forbid, as I have said, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••se though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hat hinder the coming man in •• Prog••ess to Jesus Christ▪ his unbelieving Tho'ts. ••herefore he bids him not only to forsake his ••s, but his Thoughts: Let the wicked forsake his ••, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 'Tis •• enough to forsake one, if thou wilt come to Je|•••••• Christ; because the other will keep thee from •• Suppose a man forsakes his wicked ways, his ••ached and filthy Life; yet if these tho'ts that •• Christ will not receive him be entertained and ••ished in his Heart, them thoughts will keep •• from coming to Jesus Christ.

••inner Coming Sinner, art thou for coming to ••s Christ? Yes, sa••s the Sinner. Forsake thy ••ked ways then. So I do, says the Sinner. Why ••rst thou then so slowly? Because I am hindred? ••t hinders thee? Has God for hidden thee? No, •• thou not willing to come faster? Yes yet I ••ot. Well, p••ithe be plain with me, and tell me •• Reason and Ground of thy Discouragement: ••, (saith the Sinner) though God forbids me •• and though I am willing to come faster yet ••e naturally ariseth this, and that, and the other ••ght in my Heart, that hinders my speed to Je|•••••• Christ. Sometimes I think I am not Chosen; ••••••••times I think I am not Called▪ sometimes I ••••••••k I am come too Late▪ and sometimes I think, ••••w not what it is to come. Also one while I

think I have no Grace, and then again that I •• not Pray: and then again I think, that I am a •• Hypocrite. And these things keep me from ••+ming to Jesus Christ.

Look ye now! Did not I tell ye so? There •• Thoughts yet remaining in the Heart, even of th•• who have forsaken their wicked Ways: and •• those Thoughts they are more plagued, than •• any thing else? because they hinder their co•• to Jesus Christ. For the Sin of Unbelief, which •• the Original of all these Thoughts, is that •• besets a coming Sinner more easily than doth •• ways, Heb. 12.1, 2, 3 4.

But now, since Jesus Christ commands thee •• forsake these Thoughts▪ forsake them, coming ••+ner: and if thou forsake them not, thou transg•• lest the Commands of Christ▪ & abidest thine o•• Tormentor, and keepest thy self from the Es••••+blishment in Grace. If ye will not believe, ye •• not be established, Isa. 7.9.

Thus you see how Jesus Christ setteth himself ••+gainst such Thoughts, that any way discourage •• coming Sinner: and thereby truly vindicates •• Doctrine we have in Hand? to wit, That Je•••••• Christ would not have them that in Truth •• coming to him, once think, that He will cast th•• out. And him that cometh to me, I will in •• wise cast out.

I come now to the Reasons of the Observation.

1. IF Jesus Christ would allow thee Once •• Think, that he will cast thee out; •• must allow thee to think, that he will falsify •• Word: For he hath said, I will in no wise •• out. But Christ would not that thou should •• account him as one, that will falsify his W•• For he saith of himself, I am the Truth. Th••••••+fore he would not, that any that in Truth •• coming to him, should once think that he •• cast them out.

Secondly, If Jesus Christ should allow ••

••ner that in Truth is coming to him Once to ••nk, that he will cast him out; then he must ••ow, and so countenance the first appearance •• Unbelief; which he counteth his greatest Ene|••••, & against which he has bent even his Holy ••••spel. Therefore Jesus Christ would not, that ••ey that in Truth are coming to him should ••ce think, that he will cast them out: Sea ••••t. 14.31. Mark 11.13. Luke 24.25.

Thirdly, If Jesus Christ should allow the com|••••g Sinner once to think that he will cast him ••et; then he must allow him to make a Quest|••on, wether he is willing to recieve his Father's ••ift? For the coming Sinner is his Father's Gift: ••s also says the Text, but he testifieth. All that ••e Father giveth him, shall come to him; & ••m that cometh, he will in no wise cast out. •• Therefore Jesus Christ would not have him, that •• truth is coming to him, once to think that ••e will cast him out.

Fourthly, If Jesus Christ should allow them once to ••ink (that indeed are coming to him) that he will ••••st him out, he must allow them to think▪ that he ••ill despise and reject the Drawing of the Father. ••••r no man can come to him, but whom the Father Draweth. But it would be high Blasphemy & dam|••••ble Wickedness once to imagine thus. Therefore, ••esus Christ would not have him that cometh, once ••hink that he will cast him out.

Fifthly If Jesus Christ should allow those that in|••••ed are coming to him, once to think that he will ••ast them out, he must allow them to think, that he ••ill be unfaithful to the Trust and Charge that his ••••ther hath committed to him, which is to Save▪ & ••••t to Lose any thing of that which he hath give•• ••im to save▪ John 6.3••.

But the Father hath given him a charge to save ••he coming sinner: therefore it cannot be that he ••••ould all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that such should once think that the ••ll cast him out.

Sixthly. If Jesus Christ should allow, that t•• should once think, that are coming to him, that will cast them out, then he must allow them think, that he will be unfaithful to his Office Priesthood. For as by the first part of it he pai•• Price for, and ransomed Souls: So b•• the see•• part of it, he continually maketh Intercession to •• for them that come, Heb 7 21. But he cannot al•• us at all to scruple or question his faithful Execu••••+on of his Priesthood. Therefore he cannot all •• us once to think, that the coming Sinner shall •• cast out.

Sevently. If Jesus Christ should allow us once •• think, that the coming Sinner shall be cast out, th•• must allow us to Question his will or Power or ••+rit to Save, but he cannot allow us once to Quest•••••• any of those. Therefore not once to think, th•• the coming Sinner shall be cast out.

1. He cannot allow us to Question his Will; fo•• he saith in the Text, I will in no wise cast out

2. He cannot allow us to Question his Powe•• for the Holy Ghost saith, He is able to save to t•• utmost them that come.

3. He cannot allow us to Question the Efficacy •• his Merit. For the Blood of Christ cleanseth •• Comer from all Sin. 1 John 1. Therefore he cann•••• allow, that he that is coming to him, should on•••• think, that he will cast him out.

Eighthly. If Jesus Christ should allow the co••+ing Sinner once to think that he will him cast o•••• he must allow him to give the Life to the manife•••• Testimony of the Father▪ Son, and Spirit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the whole Gospel contain'd in Moses▪ the Proph•••• the Book of Psalms▪ and that commonly called •• New Testament. But he cannot allow of thi•• therefore not that the coming Sinner should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 think, that he will cast him out.

Ninthly. Lastly, If Jesus Christ should allow •• that is coming to him once to think that he •• cast him out, which he in Truth and Righteousn•••••• hath taken that they might have a strong Co••••••+••••tion, who have fled for refuge to Jesus Chr••••••

••••t he cannot allow th••••▪ therefore he cannot allow ••••at the coming Sinner should once think that he ••••ill cast him out, H••b 8.

I come now to make some General Use and Ap|plication of the whole, and so to draw towards a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 si••n.

THe fi••st Use A Use of information And it in|formeth us, Tha•• Men by Nature are far off from Christ.

Let me a little improve this Use, by speaking to ••hese three Questions.

1 Where is he that is coming to Jesus Christ?

2. What is he that is coming to Jesus Christ?

3 Whither is he to go that cometh not to Jesus Christ?

First, Where is he?

1. Answ He is far from God, he is without him, ••ven alienate from him, both in his Understanding, Will, Aff••••ctions Judgment & Conscience, Eph. 2.1••.

2. He is far from Jesus Christ, who is the only deliverer of Men from Hell-Fire, Psal. 37.27.

3. He is far from the work of the Holy Ghost▪ the ••o••k of Regeneration & a second Creation▪ without which no man shall see the Kingdom of Heaven Joh 3.3.

4. He is far from being Righteous from that Righteousness that should make him acceptable in 〈◊〉〈◊〉's sight Isa. 64 14

5. He is under the Power and Dominion of Sin, in reigneth in and over him; it dwelleth in every ••ac••lty of his Soul and member of his Body: So ••hat from Head to Foot there is no place clean, Isa. ••6 Cor 8 9 10 11 12, 13 14 &c.

6. He is the P••st House with Ʋz••iah and ex|••luded the Camp of Israel with the Lepers, 2 Chron. ••5.21 Numb. 5.2

7. His Life is among the unclean▪ He is in the ••••ill of Bitterness, and in the Bond of Iniquity, Joh. 3.••4 Acts 8 23.

8. He is in Sin, in the Flesh in Death, in th•• ••hare of the Devil and is taken Captive by him at •• will 1 Cor. 1••.17. Rom 8 8 1 Joh 3.14. 2 Tim. 2 ••8.

9. He is under the Curse of the Law, and the De|vil

dwells in him▪ and hath the mastery of him, Gal 3.13. Eph 2 2 ••.

10. He is Darkness▪ and walketh in Darkness, an•• know not whither he goes, for Darkness has blinde•• his Eyes.

11. He is in the broad way that leadeth to Destru+ction: and holding on, he will assuredly go in •• the broad Gate, and down the Stairs to Hell.

Secondly What is he that cometh to Jesus Christ

1. He is counted one of God's Enemies▪ Luk. 19 ••

2. He is a Child of the Devil and of Hell so th•• Devil begat him, as to his sinful Nature▪ and He•• must swallow him at last, because he cometh no•• to Jesus Christ John 8.44.

3. He is a Child or Wrath, an Heir of it, 'ti•• his Portion, and God will repay it him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Face, Eph. 2.1.

4. He is a Self murderer, he wrongeth his o•• Soul, and is one that loveth Death, Prov. 1.18.

5. He is a Companion of Devils, and damn|••d Men, Prov. 21.16.

Thirdly, Whither is he like to go, that comet•• not to Jesus Christ?

1. He that cometh not to him, is like to go far+ther from him. So every Sin is a step farther from Jesus Christ, Hosea 11.

2. As he is in Darkness, so is he like to go on i•• it. For Christ is the Light of the World, and b•• that comes not to him, walketh in Darkness John 18.82.

3. He is like to be removed at last, as far from God, and Christ, and Heaven, and all Felicity, •• an infinite God can move him, Mat. 12.41.

But Secondly, This Doctrine of coming to Chri•••• informeth us, Where poor destitute Sinners ma•• find Life for their Souls, and that is in Christ. Th•• Life is in his Son; he that hath the Son hath Li•••• And again, Whoso findeth me, findeth Life, a•• shall obtain favour of the Lord, Prov. 8.

Now for farther enlargement, I will also h•• propound three more Questions.

• 1. What Life is in Christ?
• ...

• 2. Who may have it?
• 3. Upon what Terms?

First, What Life is in Jesus Christ?

1. There is Justifying Life in Christ: Man by ••n is Dead in Law, and Christ only can deliver ••em, by his Righteousness & Blood from this Death, ••nto a state of Life. For God sent his Son into the World, the•• we might live through him, 1 John 4. •• That is, thro' the Righteousness which he should accomplish, and the Death that he should Die.

2 There is Eternal Life in Christ, Life tha'ts ••ndless: and this Life is in his son▪ 1 John 5.

Now Justification eternal Salvation being both ••n Christ, and no where else to be had for Men, who would not come to Jesus Christ?

Secondly, Who may have this Life?

I answer, poor, helpless, miserable Sinners ••articularly.

1. Such as are willing to have it: Whosoever will let him take the Waters of Life, Rev. 22.17.

2 He that thirsteth for it let them take the Wa|••ers of Life f••eely; I will give to him that is a thirst of the Fountain of the Waters of Life. Rev. 21.6.

3, He that is weary of his Sins. This is the rest whereby you may cause the the weary to rest, ••nd this is the refreshing, Isa. 28 12

4 He that is poor and needy. He shall spare the ••oor & needy, & shall save the Souls of the needy

5. He that followeth after him▪ cryeth for Life: ••e that follows me, shall not walk in Darkness, ••••t shall have the Light of Life, John 8.12.

Thirdly, Upon what Terms may he have this Life;

Ans Freely, Sinner dost t••ou hear? Thou may'st ••ave it freely: I will give him of the Fountain •• the Water of Life Freely; And when they had no|••hing to pay, he frankly forgave them both Luk. 7.

Freely, without Money, or without Price. H••!

Eevery one that thirsteth, come ye to the Waters & that hath no Money, come, buy; & eat; Yea come buy Wine & Milk, without Money & without Price Is•• 55.1

Sinner, Art thou Thirsty? Art thou Weary? Art thou Willing? come then, & regard not your Stuff, for all the good that is in Christ, is offered to th•• Coming Sinner, without Money, & without Price He has Life to give away to such as want it, & that have not a Penny to Purchase it, & he will give it freely. Oh, what a blessed Condition •• the coming Sinner in.

But Thirdly, This Doctrine of Coming to Jesus Christ for Life, informeth us, That it is to be had no where else; might it be had any where else? the Text and him that spake it, would be but little set by; for what greater matter is there, in I will in no wise cast out, if another stood by that would receive them? But here appears the Glory of Christ, that none but he can save And here appears his Love, that though none can save but He, yet he is not Coy in Saving; But him that comes to me sayshel will in no wise cast him out

That none can save but Jesus Christ, is evident from Acts 4.12. Neither is there Salvation in any other; and he hath given us Eternal Life, & this Life is in his Son. If Life could have been had any where else it should have been in the Law, no man living shall be justified; and i•• not justified, then no Life.

Therefore Life is no where to be had but in Jesus Christ, Gal. 3.

Qu. But why would God so order it, that Life should be had no where else, but in Jesus Christ.

Ans. There is reason for it, and that with respect to God and us

First. With respect to God.

••irst, That it might be in way of Justice, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as Mercy. And in a way of Justice it could •• have been if it had not been by Christ, because •• and he only, was able to answer the Demand of •• Law; and give for Sin, what the Justice there|•• required. All Angels had been Crushed down •• Hell for ever, had that Curse been laid upon ••em for our Sins, which was laid upon Jesus ••hrist, but 'twas laid upon him, and he bare it, ••d answered the Penalty, and redeemed his Peo|••••e from under it with that satisfaction to Divine ••••stice, that God himself doth now proclaim, ••ut he is faithful and just to forgive us, if by ••aith we shall venture to Jesus, and trust to ••hat he has done for Life, Rom 3.24, 25, 26. Joh. ••.9.

Secondly, Life must be by Jesus Christ, that God might be adored and magnified, for finding ••ut the Way. This is the Lord's doings, that in ••ll things he might be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thirdly, It must be by Jesus Christ, that Life ••ight be at God's dispose who hath great Pity for ••he Poor, the Lowly, the Meek, the Broken in heart, ••nd for them that others care not for, Psal. 34 6.

Fourthly, Life must be in Christ to cut off Boas|••ing from the Lips of Men. This also is the Apo|stle's Reason, Rom 3.20, 27.

Fifthly, Life must be in Jesus Christ, with ••espect to us.

First, That we might have it upon the easiest Terms, to wit Freely; as a Gift, not as Wages: was it in Moses's hand, we should come hardly at it. Was it in the Pope's hand, we should pay soundly ••or it. But thanks be to God, it is in Christ laid ••p in him, and by him to be communicated to ••••••ners upon easie Terms, even so receiving, ac|••••pting▪ and embracing with Thanksgiving, as the Scripture plainly declare, Job. 1.11.

Secondly, Life is in Christ for us, that it might ••••at be upon so b••••ttle a Foundation, as indeed it ••ould, ••••d i•• been any where else. The Law it

self is weak, because of us to this; but Christ is tr••+ed Stone, a sure founda••ion one that will not fa•••• to bear thy Burthen, and to receive thy Soul, com+ing Sinner.

Thirdly, Life is in Christ, that it might be su•• to be the Seed. Alas! the best of us▪ was Life lef•• in our hands▪ to be sure we should forfeit it, over and over, and over. Or, was it in any other hand we should by our often Backsliding so offend him▪ that at last he would shut up his Bowels in ever|lasting Displeasure against us. But now it is in Christ it 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 wa••▪ with one that hath an heart to fetch us again when we are gone astray: with one that can Par|don without upbraiding. Blessed be God that Life is in Christ! For now 'tis 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 hin|drance to the coming Sinner▪ Doth the Text say, Come? Doth it say, And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out? Then what an Evil is 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 eastly, because it doth it with a Wile.

This Sin may be called, The White Devil, for it oftentimes in its mischievous doing in the Soul shews as it was an Angel of Light, yet it acteth like a Counsellor of Heaven. Therefore, a little to D••••|course of this Disease.

1. It is that Sin, above all others that hath some shew of Reasons in its Attempts. For it keeps the Soul from Christ, by pretending its present un|fitness and unpreparedness, as want of more sense of Sin, want of more Repentance, want of more Hu|••ility,

want of a more broken Heart.

2. It is the Sin that most suiteth with the Con|••••••ence. The Conscience of the coming sinner tells ••••••m, that he hath nothing Good; that he stands ••••••dictable for Ten thousand Talents; that he is a ••y ignorant, blind, and hard hearted Sinner, un|••orthy to be once taken notice of by Jesus Christ. ••nd will you (says Unbelief) in such a case as now ••ou are, presume to come to Jesus Christ.

3. It it the Sin that most suits with our Sense of feeling. The coming Sinner feels the Working of ••n▪ of all manner of Sin and Wretchedness in his ••lesh; he also feels the Wrath and Judgment of God due to sin▪ and oftimes staggers under it. Now, says 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.

4. It is sin above all others, that most suiteth the Wisdom of our Flesh. The Wisdom of our Flesh thinks it Prudence to question a while, to hearken to both sides a while, and not to be rash sudden, or unadvised, in too bold a presuming up|on Jesus Christ. And this Wisdom Unbelief falls in with.

5. It is the sin, above all others, that continually is whispering the Soul in the Ear with Mistrusts of the Faithfulness of God in keeping Promise to 'em that come to Jesus Christ for Life. It also suggests Mistrust about Christ's willingness to receive it. And no sin can do this so artificially as Unbelief.

6. 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, b•• some Exaction, Slight▪ Trick or Cavil, quickly wrest from him the Promise a|gain, and he shall have but little benefit of it.

7. It is that, above all other sins, that weakens our Prayers, one Faith, our Love, our Diligence,

our Hope and Expectations. It even taketh th•• Heart away from God in Duty.

8. La••tly This sin, as I have said, even now i•• appears in the Soul with so many sweet Pretences t•• safety and security, that it is, as it were, Counse•• sent from Heaven: bidding the Soul be wiser, wary•• considerate▪ well advised, and to make heed of to rash a venture upon Believing. Be sure first tha•• God loves you: take hold of no Promise, un•••••• you are forced by God unto it: neither be you sur•• of your Salvation doubt it still, though the Testi|mony of the Lord has often been confirmed i•• you? Live not by Faith but by Sense; and when you can neither see no•• feel, then fear and mistrust▪ then doubt and question all. This is the D••vilish Counsel of Unbelief which is to 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.

1. Faith believeth the Word of God, but Unbe|•• questioneth the Certainty ••f the same, Ps. 106 4.

•• Faith believeth the Word, because it is true; the Unbelief doubteth thereof, because it is true, 1 Tim. 3.4.

3 Faith sees more in a Promise of God to help, th•••• all other things to hinder: but Unbelief not|withstanding God's Promise, saith. How can these things be▪ Rom. 4.19 20, 21 2 King. 7.2.

4. 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 23. Numb. 3.2.

5 Faith will help the Soul to wait▪ though God desires to give? but Unbelief will take snuff and throw up all if God makes any carrying, Psal. 2••.••. Isa. 8 16. 2 King 6 33 Psal. 100.13.14

6 Faith will give Comfort in the midst of Bears▪ But Unbelief causeth Fears in the midst of

••••mfort, 2 Chron. 20, 21. Mat. 8.26 Luke. 24. •• 37.

•• Faith will suck Sweetness out of God's Rod; •• Unbelief can find no comfort in his greatest ••••••cies. Psalm 23 4.

•• Faith maketh great Burthens light; but Un|••••••••ef makethh light ones intolerable heavy, 2 Cor. •• 15 16, 17.18.

•• Faith helpeth us when we are down: but belief throws us down when we are up, Mich. •• 9 10.

10 Faith bringeth us near to God, when we are •• from him; but Unbelief puts us far f••om God, ••en we are near to him Heb. 10 22 ch, 3 12 13.

11. Where Faith reigns, it declareth Men to be •• Friends of God; but where Unbelief reigns •• declareth them to be his Enemies, Jam. 5 23. ••eb 3.18.

12 Faith putteth a man under Grace; but Un|••••lief holdeth him under wrath, Rom. 3 24.25, •• Chap. 14 16. Eph 2.8 John 3.39. 1 John •• 10 Heb 3.17 Mark 16.16.

13 Faith purifieth the Heart; but Unbelief ••epeth it polluted and impure. Acts 15▪ 9. ••t 1.15.16.

14. By Faith the Righteousness of Christ is ••puted to us; but by Unbelief, we are shut up ••der the Law to perish▪ Rom, 3.23, 24 Chap. •• 32 Gal 2 23.

15 Faith maketh our work acceptable to God ••rough Christ; but whatsoever is of Unbelief •• Sin; for without Faith it is impossible to ••ease him, Heb. 11.4. Rom. 14.2, 3 Heb. 11.6.

16. Faith gives us peace and comfort in our ••ouls, but Unbelief worketh trouble & tossings, ••ke the restless Waves of the Sea Rom 5 1 Ja 6.1

17 Faith makes us see preciousness in Christ; ••t Unbelief sees no Form, Beauty or Comli|ness

in him 1 Pet 2.7. Isa. 53.1, 3, 3.

18 By Faith we have our Life in Chri•••• Fulness •• ••ut by Unbelief we Starve and P•• away; Gal 2.20.

19 Faith gives us the Victory over the L•• Sin, Death, the Devil, and all Evils; but Un••••+lief layeth us obnoxious to them all, 1 Jo 5.••

20 Faith will shew us more Excellency things not seen, then in them that are; but ••••+belief sees more in things that are, than in th•• that will be hereafter, Cor. 4.18 Heb. 11. •• 25.26, 29. 1 Cor. 15.31.

21 Faith makes the ways of God pleasant •• admirable; but Unbelief maketh them heavy hard. Gal. 5 6. 1 Cor. 11.10 11. Jo. 6 60. Psa. ••

22. By Faith Abraham, Isaac and Jac•••• possessed the Land of Promise; but because Unblief, neither Aaron, nor Moses, nor Mi••i•• could get thither, Heb. 9. Chap. 3.10.

23. By Faith the Children of Israel passed throu•••• the Red Sea; but by U••belief the generality •• them perished in the Wilderness. Heb 11 ••9

24. By Faith Gideon did more with Th•• hundred Men and a few empty Pitchers, th•• all the twelve Tribes could do; because th•• believed not God, Judges 7.16.

25 By Faith Peter walked on the Water; •• by Unbelief he began to sink, Mat. 14 21.

Thus might many more be added, which •• brevity sake I omit; Beseeching every one, t•• thinketh he hath a Soul to save, or be damn to take heed of Unbelief; lest, seeing there i•• Promise left us of entering into his rest, any us by Unblief, should indeed come short of ••

The Second Use: of Examination.

WE come to a Use of Examination. Sin•• thou hast heard of the necessity of 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•• to Christ; also of the wil••ingness of Christ ••••ceive the coming Soul; together with the ••rofit ••hat they by him shal•• ha••••, tha•• indeed ••ne to him Put thy self now upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••rious ••quiry, Am I indeed come in Jesus Christ

Mo••ives plenty I might here 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to prevail ••h thee to a consciencious ••erformance of this ••y: As,

••. Thou art in Sin, in the Flesh, in Death, in •• Snare of the Devil, and under the Curse of •• Law, if you are not coming to Jesus Christ.

••. There is no way to be deliver'd from these •• by coming to Jesus Christ.

3. If thou comest, Jesus Christ will receive thee, ••d will in no wise cast thee out.

4. Thou wilt not repent it in the Day of ••dgment, if thou now comest to Jesus Christ.

5 But wil•• thou surely mourn at last, it now ••ou sha••t refuse to come: And,

Lastly, Now thou hast been invited to come; •• will thy Judgment o•• greater, and the Da••••|••••ion more fearful, if thou shalt yet re•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 thou hadst never heard of coming 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Obj•• But we ••ope we a••e come 〈…〉〈…〉

Answ 'Tis well if it pro••e 〈…〉〈…〉 ••uld'st speak without ground, 〈…〉〈…〉 int•• Hell F••••e; let us examine a 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Firs•• Art thou indeed a coming to Jesu•• C••••ist? 〈…〉〈…〉 thou left behind thee? 〈…〉〈…〉 thou 〈…〉〈…〉 away ••••••m in, thy coming to J••su•• Ch••••st.

Wh••n L•••••• come out of S••••••om, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉 behind him, Gen 19.

W••en Abraham came out of Cha••••••••, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 left •• kindred and Country behind him 〈…〉〈…〉

When Ruth c••me to put her trust 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he ••ngs of the Lord God of Israel; she left her ••er and Mother, her Gods and the Land of

her Nativity behind her, Ruth 1.15. &c.

When Peter came to Christ he left the N•• behind him, Matthew. ••.

When Matthew came to Christ, he left t•• Receipt of Custom behind him. Luke. 18.

When Paul came to Christ, he left his ow•• Righteousness behind him. Phil. 3.7, 8.

When those that used curious Arts came •• Jesus Christ, they took their curious Books 〈◊〉〈◊〉 burned them, tho' in another Man's Eye, th•• were counted worth fifty thousand Piece•• Silver, Acts 19.18, 19, 20.

What say'st thou, Man? Hast thou left th•• d••rling Sins, thy Sodomitish Pleasu••s, thy A••+quaintance, and vain Companions, thy unla••f•••• Gain, thy Idol Gods, thy Righteousness, & t•• unlawful curious Arts behind thee? If any •• these be with thee, & thou with them in thy Hea•••• & Life, thou art not yet come to Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Art thou come to Jesus Christ? P•••• ••••ee tell me what moved thee to come to Jes•••• Christ? Men do not usually come or •• to this or that Place, before we have a movi•••• cause▪ or rather, •• cause moving them theret•• No more do they come to Jesus Christ, (I do •• say) before they have a cause, but before th•• cause moveth them to come; What say'st tho•• Hast thou a cause moving thee to come? To •• at present in a state of Condemnation, is ca•• sufficient for Men to come to Jesus Ch•• ••o•• Life; but that will not do, except the Ca•• move them; the which it will never •• until their eyes be opened, to see themselves •• ••hat Condition. For it is not in Man's be•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wrath, but his seeing it, that moveth 〈…〉〈…〉 come to Jesus Christ: Alas! All Men by ••

are under Wrath; yet but few of them. All come to Jesus Christ; and the reason i••, because they do not see their Condition; who hath war|ned you to flee from the wrath to come, Mat 3.7. Until Men are warned, and also to receive the Warning, they will not come to Jesus Christ,.

Take three or Four Instances for this.

1. Adam and Eve came not to Jesus Christ, un|til they received the Alarm, the Conviction of the•••• 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.

3. Before the Publican came, he saw himself lost, and undone. Luke 18 13.

4. The Prodigal came not, until he saw Death a•• the Door ready to devou•• him Luke 15, 17, 18.

5 The Three Thousand came not, until they ••••ew not what to do to be saved, Acts 2 37 38 39.

6 Paul came not, until he saw himself lost and undone. Acts 9 3, 4 5 6 7.11.

7 Last•••• Before the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ame he saw himself 〈…〉〈…〉 Acts 1•• 29 30 31. And •• tell thee, it is, 〈…〉〈…〉 Man to go to 〈…〉〈…〉 a Man without 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 than i•• is to perswade▪ •• Man that sees not his Soul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to come to Jesus Christ; the whole have no need 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Physician. 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 b••••••eth the broken in heart, & bind|eth up their Wounds. Mark 2.17.

Thirdly, Art thou coming to Jesus Christ▪ Pri|••hee tell me, what seest thou in him to allure thee. to forsake all the World to come to him? I say, What hast thou seen in him? Men must see some|thing in J••sus Christ, ••••se they will not come to him.

1. What Comeliness hast thou seen in his Per|son?

Thou comest not if thou ••••••st no Form not Comeliness in him Isa 45, 1.2 3.

2. Until those mentioned in the Song, were con•• convinc'd that there was more Beaut••, Comeliness and D••si••••bleness in Christ, than in Ten Thou|sand I they did not so much as ask where he was no incline to turn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, Song 5 ch. 6.

T••••re be many things on this side Heaven, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and do carry away the Heart, and so will do so long as thou liv••st if thou shalt ••e kept Blind and not be admitted to see the Beauty of the Lord J••s••••

Fourthly, Art thou come to the Lord Jesus? what hast thou found in him since thou camest t•• him.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 found with him the Word of eternal Life J••hn 6.88.

They thet Peter make mention of, found him a living Stone even such a living Stone, as commu|nicate•• Life to them, 2 Pet. 2.

He saith ••mself, they that come to him &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 find rest unto their souls? Hast thou found re•••• in him for thy Soul? Mat. 11.

Let us go the times of the Old Testament.

First Abraham found that in him that made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leave his Country for him, and become for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Pilgrim and a Stranger in the Earth▪ G••. 12. Heb. ••

Secondly, Moses found that in him, that made h•• forsake a Crown, a Kingdom for him too.

Thirdly, David found so much in him that h•• counted to be in his House one Day, was better than a Thousand•• yea to be, a Door-keeper therein, wa•• better E••teem, than to dwell in the tents of wick|edness, Psal. 84 10.

Fourthly W••a•• did Daniel, and the three Chil+dren 〈…〉〈…〉 to make them run the Hazzard of 〈…〉〈…〉, and the D•••• of Lyons, for hi•• sake▪ D•••• 6 23.

L•••••• come down to the Martyrs.

1 Steph••n found that in him, that made him joy|ful, & quietly ••ield up his Life for his name. Act. 17

2. Ignatius found that to 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 Monuments▪ Vol 4 page 25.

3. What saw Roman•••• in Christ, when he said to the ••aging Emperor I joyfully embrace, and refuse not to be sacrificed By as cruel torments as thou canst invent, Page 16.

4. What saw Man as the Egyptian in Christ, when he said, under most cruel Torments, there is nothing in my Mind that can be compared to the Kingdom of Heaven▪ neither is all the wo••ld, if it was weighed in a Ballance, to be preferred with ••he p••ice of one soul. Who is able to separate us ••rom the Love of Jesus Christ our Lord, And I have learned of my Lord and King, not to fear 'em that ••••ll the Body &c. Page ••1 17.

5. What did E••laliah see in Christ▪ when she said when they were pulling her one joynt from another, Behold, O Lord, I will not forget thee. What a pleasure is it for them O Christ •• That remembreth thy triumphant victory, Page 1••••.

6. What think you did Agnus see in Christ, when ••ejoycingly she went to meet the ••oldier, that was •• pointed to be her Executioner. I will willingly ••••id she) receive into my Papa the length of him ••••rd, & into my Breast will draw the force there|•• even to the Hilt, that thus I being married to ••hrist, my spouse may surmount and escape all the ••arkness of this World, page 123.

7. What did you think did Justitia see in Christ, ••hen at the Emperor's telling of her, that except she would worship the Gods she should never have pro|••ection, Laws Judgments, nor Life, she replied Fare|wel Life, welcome Death; Farewel Riches, welcome ••overty. All that I have, if it were a thousand times ••ore, would I give, rather than to speak one wicked •• blasphemous Word against my Creator, pag. 123

8. What did Marcus Arethusius see in Christ, whe•• ••••ter his Enemies had cut his Flesh, anointed it ••th Honey, and hanged him up in a ••asket, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Bees to feed on, he would not give (to •• bold Idolatry) one Half-p••ny to save his Life,

9. Wha•• ••id Constantine see in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when she used to Kiss the Wounds of them that suffered for him? page 135.

20. But what need I give this particular Instance of Works & smaller Actions, when by these Laws, their Blood, their even en••u••ing Hunger. Sword, Fire, pulling asunder, and all Torments that the Devil and Hell can de••sie for the Love they bear 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 seeking for, are in him) or if any thing yet not enough to wean thee from thy sinful Delights & fleshly Lusts? Away, Thou art not come to Jesus C••rist.

He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found in him that as I said, that it is not to be found any where else. As,

1. He▪ that is come to Christ, hath found God in him, reconciling the World unto himself, not im|puting their Tresp••sses to them, and so God is not to be found in Hea••••n & Earth besides 2 Cor 5.19 20.

2. He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found in him a Fountain of Grace, sufficient not only to par|don Sin, but to sanctifie the Soul, and to preserve •• from falling in this evil World.

3. He that is come to Jesus Christ, hath found Vertue in him▪ that Vertue▪ that if be does but touch thee with his word, or thou him by Faith, Life in forthwith conveyed into thy Soul▪ It makes thee Wake, as one that is waked out of his Sleep. It a|wakes all the Powers of the Soul▪ Psal. 30.11, 12.

4. Art thou come to Jesus Christ? Thou hast found Glory in him, Glory that formmounts & goes beyond: Thou art more Glorious than the Moun|tains of Prey, Psal. 76.4.

5. What shall I say, Thou hast found Righteous|ness in him, thou hast found Rest, Peace, Delight, Heaven, Glory and Eternal Life.

Sinner, be advised; ask thy Heart again, saying Ar•• I come to Jesus Christ? For upon this one, Question, am I come, or am I not, hangs heaven &

Hell▪ as to 〈…〉〈…〉 I am come▪ & God ••••••ll a••prove o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s••yi••g Happy, happy M••n art ••hou 〈…〉〈…〉 what can make thee happy? Yea, what can make that Man happy, that ••or his not coming to Jesus Christ for Life, must ••e damned to 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 ••den▪ thou art the blessed of the Lord, the Father 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prepared his Son to be Sacrifice for thee, and ••••sus Christ the Lord, is gone to prepare a place for ••ee John 1.29 Heb. 10.

What shal•• •• say to thee? Thou comest to a full Christ, th•••• canst 〈…〉〈…〉 any thing for Soul, or ••ody, for ••is Work•• 〈…〉〈…〉 to come, but it is to ••e had in••o by Jesus Christ.

As it is said of the L••••nd that the Canaanites went to poss••ss•••• so & with much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 truth, it may be said of Christ. He is such an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with whom there ••s want of no good them that is in Heaven or Earth.

A full Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th•• Christ.

1. He is full of Grace. Grace is sometimes taken ••or Love▪ never 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Love like Jesus Christ. J••••a|••an's Love went beyond the Love of Women: but ••he Love of Christ passes Knowledge. It is beyond all ••he love of all the Earth, of all Creatures, even of ••en and Angels. His love prevailed with him to lay ••de his Glory, to leave the heavenly Place, to cloath ••imself with Flesh, to be born in a Stable, to be laid •• a Manger, to live a poor Life in the World, to ••ake upon him our Sickness, Infirmities Sins, Curse, ••eath, and the Wrath that was due to Man. And all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he did, for a base, undeserving unthankful Peo|••le: yea for a People that was at Enmity with him. ••or when we were yet without strength, in due time ••hrist died for the Ungodly. For scarely for a ••eligious Man will one die, yet peradventure for a ••od man some would even da••e to die. But God ••••mm••nded his love towards us, in that while we ••re yet Sinners, Christ died for us: much more ••an being now justified by his Blood, we shall be

saved o•• hi•• Life For i•• w••en•••• 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.

2. He is full of Truth, full of Grace and Truth. Truth, that is Fai••hfulness in keeping Promises, 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 Faithful God, that keepeth Co|venant. And hence it is also that his Promise is called Truth. Thou wilt fulfil thy Truth unto Ja|cob, and thy Mercy unto Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our Fathers from the Days of Old. Therefore it is said again, that both himself & words are Truth: I am the Truth, the Scriptures of Truth, thy Word is Truth thy Law is Tru••h & my Mouth saith he shall speak Truth, John 14 6, &c.

Now, I say, his Word is Truth, and he is full of Truth to fulfil his Truth, even to a Thousand Ge|nerations. Coming Sinner, he will not deceive thee, come Boldly to Jesus Christ

3. He is full of Wisdom? He is made unto us of God wisdom. Wisdom to manage the Affairs of his Church in general, and the Affairs of every co|ming Sinner in particular. And upon this account he is said to be Head above all things, 2 Cor. 1. Be|cause he manages all things that are in the World by his Wisdom, for the good of his Church, all Mens Actions, all Satan's Temptations, all God's Providences, and Crosses, and Disappointments, all things whatever 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.

4. 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 man's measure therefore 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, John 3.31. &c.

5. He is full of the Bowels of Compassion, & they shall feel and find it so▪ that come to him for Life. He can bear with thy Weakness he can pity thy Ig|norance, he can be touched with the feeling of thy Infirmities, he can affectionately forgive th•• Trans|gressions, he can head thy Backsliding, and love thee freely. His compassions f••ll not▪ And be will not break a bruised R••••d▪ no•• quench the smoaking flax. He can pity them that no Eyes pities, & be afflict|ed in all thy Affl••ctions▪ Mat ••6.41. Heb. 5.2.

6. Coming So••l the Jesus that thou art coming to, is full of Might and Terribleness, for thy Ad|vantage. He can suppress all thine Enemies. He is the Prince and King of the Earth▪ he can bow all Mens Designs for thy help. He can break all Snares laid for thee in the way. He can life thee out of all Difficulties, wherewith thou may'st be surrounded. He is Wise in Heart, and Mighty in Power. Every Life under Heaven is in his hand, yea the fallen An+gels trembled before him: And he will save thy Life, coming Sinner, Cor. 1.24.

7. Coming Sinner, the Jesus to whom thou art coming, is lowly in Heart, he despiseth not any. 'Tis not thy outward Meanness, not thy inward Weak|ness, 'tis not because thou art poor or base, or de|form'd, or a Fool, that he will despise thee. He hath chosen the foolish the base, and despised things of this World, to confound the wise and Mighty. He will bow his Ear to thy stammering Prayers. He will pick out the meaning in thy inexpressible groans, he will respect thy weakest Offering if there be in it but thy Heart, Mat. 11.20.

Now is not this a blessed Christ, coming Sinner▪ Art thou not like to fare well, when thou hast em|b••a••••d him, coming Sinner? But,

8. Thou hast yet another Advantage by Jesus Christ thou art coming to him, for he not only full but ••••ee He is not sparing of what he has: He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••pen ••earted and open handed. Let me in a ••ew Particulars shew thee this.

First This evident because he calls thee. He calls upon thee to come unto him, the which he would not do was he not free to give Yea, he bids thee Welcome ask seek, knock. And for thy En|couragement a••••e so every Command a Promise, seek and ye shall find ask and ye shall have▪ knock and it shall be opened unto you. If the Rich man should say thus to the Poor▪ would not he be reckoned a free hearted man? I say, should he say to the Poor, come to my door, ask at my door knock at my Door and you shall find and have, would he not he counted Liberal? Why thus doth Jesus Christ. Mind it coming Sinner, Isa 55.3

Secondly, He doth not only bid thee come, but tells thee he will heartily do thee good yea he will do it with rejoycing •• I will rejoice over them to do them good with my whole Heart, and with my whole Soul Jer. 52.41.

Thirdly, it appeareth that he it free, because he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without ••••••••ting. He giveth to all men libe|rally, and u••braideth not. Jam ••.3. There are some that will no•• deny to do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••oor a pleasure, ••••at they 〈…〉〈…〉 Merc•••••• wish so 〈…〉〈…〉, that the 〈…〉〈…〉 Chari|•• 〈…〉〈…〉 he will ••••me 〈…〉〈…〉 Isa. 38. ••••.

Fourthly. That Christ is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is manifest by the Complaints ••hat he makes against them that well not come to him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mercy. I say he complains, saying, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how of•• would I have gathered ••••y Children together▪ as a Hen ga|thereth her Chickens under he•• Wing••, & ye would not, Mat. 23.37. I say, he speaks it by way of Complaint. He saith also in another place▪ But thou hast not called upon me. O ••ac••••. Isa. 43 22. coming Sinner, see here the willingness of Christ to say See here how free he is to communicate Life and all good things, to such as 〈…〉〈…〉. He com|plains▪ if thou comest not, he is displeased if thou callest not upon him.

Hark, coming Sinner, once again▪ When Jeru|••••lem would not come to him for Safeguard. He •• held the City and wept over it, saying, If thou ••dst known, even thou at least in this thy Day, ••e things that belong to thy Peace, but now they ••e hid from thine eyes, Luke 19 81.

Fifthly, Lastly, He is open and free hearted to •• thee good, as is seen by the Joy and Rejoycing ••t he manifesteth at the coming home of poor ••••odigals. He receives the lost Sheep with rejoy|••••••g▪ the lost Groat with rejoycing Yea, when ••he Prodigal came home, what Joy and Mirth, what •• Musick and Dancing was in his Fathers House. Luk. 19

Sixthly, Coming Sinner, I will add another En|••ouragement for thy help.

First, God hath prepared a Mercy Seat, a Throne ••f Grace to fit on▪ that thou may'st come thither ••o him, and that he may from thence hear thee, ••nd receive thee. I will commune with thee (saith ••e) from above thy Mercy Seat, Exod. 2.22.

As who would say, Sinner, when thou comest •• me, thou shall find me upon the Mercy Seat ••here also I am always to be found of the Un|••one, coming Sinner. Thither I bring my Par|••on. Here I hear and receive their Petitions, & ••ccept them to my Favour.

Secondly, God hath also prepared a Golden ••ltar for thee, to offer thy Prayers and Tears ••pon. A Golden Altar, it is called a Golden ••ltar▪ to shew what worth it is or in God's Account. For this Golden Altar is Jesus Christ. This Altar sanctifies thy Gift, and makes thy Sacrifice acceptable. This Altar then makes thy Groans, golden Groans; thy Tears golden tears, ••nd thy Prayers golden Prayers, in the Eyes of ••hat God thou comest to, coming Sinner, Rev. 8.

Thirdly, God hath strewed all the way from ••he Grace of Hell, where thou wast, to the Gate ••f Heaven, whither thou art going with Flow|••ers out of his own Garden. Behold, how the Promises, Invitations, Calls, and Encourage|ments,

like 〈…〉〈…〉 ••o ••nd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee, (take heed thou dost not tread them under foot Sin|ner, with Promises did I say? Y••a, he hath mixt all these with his own Name, his Son's Name; also with the Name of Mercy, Good|ness, Compassion, Love, Pity, Grace, Forgive|ness, Pardon, and that not that may encou|rage the coming S••nner.

Fourthly, He hath also for thy encouragment laid up the Names, & set forth the Sons of those that have been saved: In his Book they are f••••tly written, that thou thro' Patience & Comfort of the Scripturs mightest H••pe.

1. In this Book is recorded Noah's Name and Sin, and ho•• God had Mercy on him.

2. In this Record is Fairly written the Name of Lot, and the nature of his Sin: and how the Lord ••nd Mercy on him.

3 I•• this Record thou hast also Fairly Written the Names of Moses, Aaron, Gideon, Sampson, David; Solomon, Peter and Paul, with the Na|ture of their Sins, and how God had Mercy up|on them, & all to Encourage thee, coming Sinner

4. I will add yet another Encouragement for the Man that is coming to Jesus Christ: Art thou a coming? Art thou coming indeed? Why?

1. Then this thy coming is, by Vir••ne of God's Call, thou art called: calling goes before com|ing: Coming is not of Work, but ••f ••im that Calleth. He went up into a Mountain & called to him whom he would, and they c••me to him Mark 3.13.

2. Art thou coming, This is by Virtue of ••••|mination: God has made thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and therefore thou art coming▪ Sol••••ng as them was•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dark|ness, thou lovedst Darkness, and could not abide

to come because thy deeds are evil: But now being Illuminated & made to see what & where thou art: & also, what and where thy Saviour is, now thou art coming to Jesus Christ. Blessed art thou Simon Ba••jona: for Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it (saith Christ) but my Father which is in Heaven. Mat. 1•• 15, 16.

Thirdly, Art thou coming? This is because God hath inclined thy Heart to come, and hath desired thee, nay God hath called thee: Illumina|ted thee: and inclined thine Heart to come, & therefore thou comest to Jesus Christ: it is God than worketh in thee to will & 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, Ps. 102.2. Bless God for staying the Enemy of thy mind, had he not done it, thou wouldst 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 matters of thy salvation, is the Gift of God. 'Tis God that worketh in thee both to will & to do, Phil 1 13. Not that God would wi••l to them, where he gives no P••wer; but that thou shouldest take notice the P••wer is an addition|al mercy. The Church saw Will & Power were two things when we cry'd, Draw me, we will run after thee. (Son•• 1.4) & so did David too, when he said, I will run the ways of by Commandments when thou shalt ••nlarge my Heart: Will to come, & Power to pursue thy Will is Double Mercy coming Sinner.

Fifthly, All thy strange, passionate, sudden Rushings forward after Jesus Christ (Coming Sinner know what I mean) they also are thy

helps from God: Perhaps thou feelest at some times more than at others, strong Stirrings up of Heart to fly to Jesus Christ? now thou hast i•• this time a ••weet and st••ff g••le 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 now and then had a Kiss of the sweet Lips of Jesus Christ? I mean, some blessed words dropping like a 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 glimpse of himself, though perhaps thou seest him not so long a time, as while you may tell Twenty.

Eighthly, Hast thou not sometimes, as it were the warmth of his Wings over shadowing the Face of thy Soul, that gives thee as it were, a load upon thy spirit as the bright Beams of the Sun do upon thy Body, when it suddenly breaks out of a Cloud, though presently all is gone away.

Well, all these things are the good Hand of thy God upon thee, & they are upon thee to constrain to provoke, and to make the will|ing and able to come (coming Sinner,) that thou mightest in the End be saved.

FINIS.