T O | JESUS CHRIST.

OR, A plain and profitable Discourse upon the Sixth of John, 37 Yer/. Shewing the Cause, Truth, and Manner of the Coming of a Sinner to Fesus Christ, with his Happy Reception, and: Blefsed Entertainment.

Written by *F. Bunyan.

And they shall come which were ready to Perish, Ta. 27. 13.

LONDO N,

Printed for Z. Earris at the Stationers Arms in Swithings Rents in Cornhil by the Royal Exchange, 1678.

Come, & Welcome,

T © | JESUS CHRIST.

All that the Father giveth me, shall

come to me; and him that cometh to me, 1 will in no wise taft ont.

| Little before in this Chapter

you may read, That the Lord

TE SUS walked on the

vl Sea to go to Capernaun, having sent his Disciples before in a Ship :

But the Winds was contrary, by which

means the Ship was hindred in ber Passage: Now about the fourth watch of

the night, Jesus. carne Walking upoi

the Sea, and overtook them ; at the fight of whom they were afraid,

4 Come, & welcome, Note, When Providences are black, and terrible to Gods People, the Lord Fesus shews himself to them m. wonderful man ner, the which, .somitimes. they can-as little bear, as they can the things that before were terrible .to them, They were afraid of the-Wimd, and the Water ; they were also afraid of their Lord and Saviour, when He appeared to them in that State... 1 | | But He said, be not afraid, it is I, Note, That the Cnd of the appearing of the Lord Fesus unto his people, (though the manner of his- appearing be never so terrible) ts to alay their fears \and perplexities. % De,

\Then they received him into the Ship, and immediately the Ship was at the Land whether it went.

Note, When Christ is absent from. his peopte, they £007 but lowly, and® with great difficulty; but when he qoyneth himself unto them, Oh! how fast they Stear their course, how soon are they" at their Fournies end} :

The people now among whom the last

preached, when they saw that both Je- Tus was gon, and his Disciples, they alfo took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jefus. And when hy they

they had found. him, . they wonderingly asked him, Kabbi,” when camest thou hither? But the Lord Jesus, sighting their - complement, . answered, Yeily, Verily, ye seck 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” 'hins beyond Sea for Loaves; a mans belly will carry him a great way in Religion - yea, a mans belly will make him venture far for Christ. : | |

Note again, They are mot feigning complements, but gracious intentiotis that crowns the work, in the eye of Christ: Or thus, It zs not the toyl, and business of professors, but their love to him, that makes him approve of - then.

Note again, When men shall look, for friendly entertainment at Christ's Hand (if their hearts be rotten) even then will they meet with a check, and rebuke: Ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat 'of the Loaves, and were Filed. whe Yet observe again, He doth not 'reuse to' give, even ro'these, good counsel; he bids them' Labor for the meat that enaureth to eternal Life; O how willing-

Coy i, 2

ty would Jesus Christ have eyen those Profeffors that come _to him with pre- ' tences only, come to him sincerely, that they may be saved. | The Text, you will find, is after much more discourse with, and about this people; and it is uttered by the Lord - Jesus as the conclusion of the whole, and intimateth, that fince the were Professors. in pretence only; nel therefore such as his soul could not delight in as such, thathe would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As who should say, Tam not like to be Honoured mm your Salvation; but the Father hath bestowed up- 072 wit a people, and trey shall come to me in Truth, 'and in them will I be satisfied, The'Text therefore may be called Chr:/?'s repose; in the fulfilling whereof, he refteth himself content, after much Labor, and many Sermon;spent, as it were, in vain... As he saith by the Prophet: 7 have Labored in van, 1 have spent my ftrength for nought, and in vain, Ia. 49. 4. , .. But as there he saith, . y 7udgment zs with, the Lord, . and.my work, with my God: Soin the Text, he saith, All the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and chem that cometh to me, 1 will in no wise

Cafe

cast out, By these words therefore, the Lord Jesus comforteth himself under the consideration of the dissimulation of some of his followers.

He also thus betook himself to ze under the consideration of the /:rtle effett that his Ministry had even in Capernaum, Corazin and Bethsaida. I thank thee O Father, aid: he, Lord of Heaven and Earth, beeanse thon hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes: even so Father, for soit seemed good mm thy fight, Matt, 11. 25. Luke, 10. 21. |

The Text, in the general ttandeth of two parts, and hath special respect to the Father, and the Son: As also to their joynt —_—_— of the Salvation of their People. Al! that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me; and him ts cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out,

The first part of the Text, as is evident, respecteth the Father and his gift; the other part, the Son and his reception of that gift.

A 4 Cer-

8 Come, 8: welcome, certain persors.to the Son. The Father giveth, and that. gift shall come; And Him that cometh... The gift then. is of Persons ; the Father giveth Persons to Jesus Christ.” ; | |

Secondly, Next, you have the Sons reception of this gift, and that sheweth it- self in these” particulars. td ' 3, In his hearty jacknowledgment of it, to be a gift: The Father giveth. me, 171

2, In his taking. notice; after. a solemn manner, of Alt, and. every part of the gift : All that the Father giveth Ne. | | 3. In his resolution to bring them to himself, Al! the Father giveth me, shall Comme 0 CE,

4. And in his determining, that not any thing shall make 'him dislike them in their coming. And him that cometh zo me, 1 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 chuse to speak to the words, 2,

1. By way of Explication,

First, By way of Explication.”..[Al] that the Father giveth me, This me F p p

to Jesus Christ, 9

All, is often used in Scripture; and is to be taken more largely, or more stri& ly, even as the Truth, or- argument for the sake of which it is made use of, will bare: wherefore, that we may the better. understand the mind of Christ, in the use of it here, we must confider, that it is Limited, and Restrained, only to those that shall be Saved; to wit, to those that shall come ro Christ; even to those that he will, zz o wise cast out, Thus also theword All 1/-ae!, is sometimes to be taken (though sometimes it is taken for the whole Family of Facob.) And so All Isracl shall be saved, Rom. 11. By All 7/rael, here he intendeth, not Ail of 7jrael in the largest sence: For they are not All Israel which are of Israel; neither because they are the Seed of Abraham are they All Children, but in Isaac shall thy seed be called: That is, they which ave the Children of the flesh; these are not the Children of God, but the Chilaren of the promise are counted for the seed, Rom. 9. GG % &.

This word, All, must therefore be lijmited, and enlarged, as the truth, and argument,” for the sake of * which it is used, will bare; else we shall abu'e | 90: a Scriptures

zo Come, & welcome,

Scriptures and Readers, 6 our selves, & All. 4nd 1, if I be lifted up from the earth, said Chrift, will draw All men after me, Joh. 12. 32, Can any man imagine, that by All, in this place, he should mean All, and every individual man'in the World; and not rather, That All, that is consonant to the scope of the place? And if by being lift up from the carth, he means, as he should seem, his being taken up into Heaven; and if by drawing Ail men after him, he meant a drawing of them into that place of Glory: then must he mean, by All 27en, Those, and only Thofe, that shaly in truth be eternally Saved from the Wrath to Come, For. God hath Conc luded them All in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon All, Rom. 11. 32, Those intended in this Text, are the Fews, even All of them, by the first [ALl,] that you find in the words, The second All doth also intend the same People; but yet only so many of them as God will have Mercy upon. He bath concluded them All n unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon All. The All also in the Text, is also to be limited, and restrained to the Saved, and tg them only, But again;

The

to Jesus Chriff, x

The word [ Gfbeth] or hath given, must be restrained after the fame manner, to the same limited number, .4/ that the Father giveth me, Not all that are given, if you take the gift of the Father to the Son, in the largest sence. For in that sence, there are Mary given to him that shall never come unto him. Yea, many are giver to him, that he will cast out. 1 shall therefore first, shew you the truth of.this, and then, in what sence the gift, in the Text, must be taken,

First, That All that are given to Christ, if you take the Gift of the Father to him, in the largest sence, cannot be intended in the Text; is evident :

I, Because, then all the men, yea all the things in the World must be Saved, All things, sauth he, are delivered unto Me of my Father, Mat. 11. v. 27. This I think, no rational man in the world, will conclude. Therefore, the - Gift intended in the Text, must be restrained to some, to a Gift that is giver by way of speciality by the Father to the Son, |

2. It must not be taken for All, that in any sence are given by the Father fo him; because, be Father hath given

some, yea, many-to him to be dashed-in

Pieces by him. Ak, of me, said the Father to him, and I will give thee the

- Heathen. fer thine inheritance, and the

uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos.

session ; But what must be done with

them ? Must he Save them All? No,

Thou shalt brake them with @ rod of iron,

thou fhalt dash them in pieces like a potzers vessel, Psal, 2. This method he useth

not with them that he saveth by his

Grace, but with'those, that Himself and

Saints shall rule over in Juftice and Seve.

rity,(Rev.2,26,27.) Yet, as you see, they

are given to him, Therefore the gist

intended in the Text, must be restrained

to some; to a gift that is given, by wa

In Psalfz 18. he faith plainly, That

some are given to him, that he. might

deftroy them. Thou bast given me the

necks of mine. enemies, that 1 might destroy them that. hate me, ver, 40. These

therefore cannot be of the number of

thofe that are said to be given in the

Text ; for those, even All of them shall

come ta him, and be will-in no wise cast

them out. |

* 3ly. Some are given to Christ, that

he by them might bring about some of

_to-Jefus Chiitf; 3

his high and deep defignes.in the world. Thus Judas was given ta Christ, to-wit, that by' him, even: as' was determined before, he:might bring about: death, and so the. Salvation of his Elect by his Blood. Yea, and 7Fudas must so manage this business, as that he:mult lose himself for ever in the bringing of it to ass. + Therefore the Lord. Jesus, even in his losing of Fuda:, applies himself to the Judgment of his Father, if he had not ' in that thing, done- the thing that was right, even in suffering of.7#d44 sa to bring about his Masters death, as he might 'bring about his own. eternal Damnation. 20" 238+ Those, faith he, that thon gavest me, have. I kept, aud none of. them ts lost, but the Son of perdition, that the Soripture might be fulfilled, Joh, 17. 12. Letus then,grant that Fdas was given to Christ, but not as others are given'to him, to wit, not as those made mention' of inthe Text; for then he should not have failed to have been received/by Christ, & kept to Eternal life. Indeed: he -was- given to Christ, but he was given-to him to lose him, in the way that: have mentioned before; that is, he- was. given to Christ,”"that. he by hint mjght bring | about

T4 Come; & welcome, about his own death, as was before determined;- and that, in the over: throw of him that did it. Yea, he must bring about his Dying for us in the loss of the.in{trument that be. trayed him, that he might even fulkill the Scripture in his destruction, as well as in the Salvation of the rest, 4d none of them 1s lost, but the Son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfill. ed. | |

The gift therefore in the Text, must not be taken in the Largest fence, but even as the Words will bare z to wit, | for such a gift as he accepteth; and pro- | mifeth to be an Effcctual :means of

their Eternal Salvation. . Al! that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and bim 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 reje&ed. For this is the Substance of the Text, |

Those therefore intended, as the gift,

in the Text, they arc those that are given by Covenant to the Son ; those that in other places are called the Elec, the

Chosen, the Sheep, and the Children

of the promise, cc. |

These be they that the Father hath

to Jesus Christ, 5 viven to Christ to keep them; those, that -Christ - hath promised Eterral Life unto, those to whom he hath given his Word, and that he will have with him in his Kingdom to behold his Glory, as these Scriptures declare, Thes 4s the will of the Father that sent me, that of all that ht hath given mie, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up at the lasf day. And I give unto them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my Hand, my Father that gave them me 1s Greater than All; and no man is able to pluck them out of. my Fathers Hand, As tho hast given him Power over all Flesh, that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given tim, 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 _ 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 whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, that they may beholdmy Glory which thou hast given me 5;

for

All these sentences are. of the same import with the Text; and the. Alls; and Pantes; thofe, they, &c. 'jn- these several sayings of Christ, are the same with All the given in the Text. All That the Father giveth,

So that, (as I said befoxe) the word | All, as aiso other words, must not be | taken in fuch sort as our foolish fan- | cies, or groundlefs opinions will prompt vs to, .but do.admit of an enlargment or a restriction, according to. the true meaning and -intendment in the Text, We must therefore diligently consult the meaning of. the Text-by. compareing it with other the Sayings of God; fo shall we be better able -to. find out the mind of the Lord, in the Word _ he has given us to know it, All chat the [Father] giveth.

By this word [Father] Christ descri- -beth the person giving, by which we may learn several useful things:_ 1. That the Lord God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is equally concerned with the Son in the Salvation of his _ rue,

to Jesus Chrift, / 7

True, his acts, as to our Salvation.are divers from those of the Son, he was not capable of doing rhar, or those things for us as did the Son; he Died not, he Spilt not Blood for out Redemprion as:the Son; but yet he hath a hand, a great hand in our Salvation too, As Chrilt saith, The Father himself loveth you, and his love is manifest in chusing of us, in giving of us to his Son, yea, and in giving his Son also to be aransom for us. Hence he is called, The Father of Meicies, and the God of all comfort. For here even the Father, hath himself found out, and made way for his grace to come to us through the sides, and the heart Blood of his well beloved Son, Col. 1. 12, The father therefore is to be remembred and adored as one having a chicf hand in the Salvation of sinners, IWe ought to pive thanks to the Father,who bath ade us meet to be partakers of the inherttance of the Saints in light: for the Father sent the Sun to be the Saviour of tre World, 1 70h. 4, 14. Col, 1.12. As also we sce in the Text, the Father giveth the sinner to Christ to save him;

Secondly, Christ Jesus the Lord by this word Father, would familiarize this given to us. Naturally the Name of

God is dreadful to us, specially when B he

he is discovered to us by those names that declare his Justice, Holiness, Power, and Glory: but now this word Father, is a familiar word, it frighteth not the siner, but rather inclineth his heart to love, and be pleased with the remembrance of him. Hence Chrisk also when he would have us pray with Godly boldness, puts this word Father into our mouths; Saying, when ye pray, say Our Father which art in Heaven; concluding thereby, that by the familiar:ty that by such a word is intimated, the. Children of God may. take more boldness to pray for; and ask great things. I my self. have often found, that when | can say but this word Father, it doth me more good, than when [ call him by any other Scripture Name; and *?tis worth your Noting, that to call God by' this relative Title, was rare among the Saints m Old-Testament times; seldom do you find him called by- this name, no, sometimes not in three,or four whole books: but now, in New-Testament times, he is called by no name so often as this, both by the Lord Jesus himself, and by the Apostles afterwards. Indeed the Lord Jesus was he that first made this name common among the

to Jests Chrift, 19

the Saints, and that taught them, both in their Discourses, their Prayers, and in their Writings, so much to use it; it being more plealing. to, and discovering more plainly our interelt inGod, than any other Expreshon; for by his one name weare made to understand that 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 TH giveth. ]

This word [ giveth] is "out of Christs ordinary DialcA, and seemeth to intimate, at the first sound, as if the Fathers 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 of an act that is past. As, All that He hath given me; to as many as thou bhaff 2:- ven me; Thou' gavest them me; and those which thou hast given me. There- * fore of necessity this must be the firsk and chief sence of the Text, [ mean of this word [giveth]: otherwise the Do- Ctrine of EleQtion, and of the Eternal Covenant which was made between the B 2 Father

Father and the Son (in which Covenant, this gift of the Father is molt certainly comprized) will be shaken, or at leastwise questionable by erronious and wicked men, |

But again, this word [giveth ] is not to be rejected, for it, hath its proper use, and my fignifie 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 only spoken of witff reference to the time: yet, with 'God it is not so, Things past, or things to come, are alwayes present with God, and with his Son Jesus Chrilt: He calleth things that are net (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 ug it is an act that is past, Rom. 4. I7. Aits 15. 10.

Secondly, Christ may Express himfelf thus, to shew, that the Father hath - not only given, him this portion in the Eump, before the world was; but that those that: he hath so given, he will give himagain: that is, will bring them to him at the time of their conversion ; for the

to Jesus Christ, 2

the Father bringeth them to Christ (Joh, 6. 44+)

As it is said, She shall be brought unto the King, in raiment of needle work, That is, in the rightcousness of Christ, for it is God that imputeth that to these 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, fn marriage, Andin this last sense, perhaps, the Text may have a meaning: that 1s, that all that the Father hath before the world was, given to Jesus Christ, he giveth them again to him, in the day of their espousals. Or,

Thirdly, In that Chrift saith [ giverb] instead of hath given, he may do it to shew, that this gift of the Father, to him, is now as new, as sweet, as pleasant and desirable, as if it had never bin given before, |

Things that are given among men, are oft-times best at first, to wit, when they are new; and the reason is, because, all earthly things wax old; but with Christ it is not so: this gift of the Father. is not old, and deformed, and unpleasant in his eyes; and therefore to s 3 him

him' *tis always new. When the Lord spake of giving the Land of Canaar to the 1sracl:tes, he saith not, that he had given, or would give it to 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 their Fathers, Hundreds of Years before. Yet he saith mow, he giveth it to them, as if they were now also in the very act of taking possession, when as yet, they were on the other fide Fordane,” What then should be the meaning? Why, I take it to be this: That the Land should be to them alway 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 alwayes giving. All that the Father giveth [| Me. ]

In- those words, you find mention made of two persons, the Father and the So; the Father giving, and the Son receiving, or accepting of his Gift. This then in the first place, clearly demonstrateth, that the Father and the Son, though they, with the Holy Gholt, are one and the same Eternal God; yet a5 to their personality are dito Jesus Christ, 23

distinct. The Father is one, the Son is one, the Holy Spirit is one, But because there is in this Text, mention made but of two of the three}” there - fore a word about those two, The Giver and Receiver cannot be the same person, in a proper sence, in the same at of giving and receiving. He that giveth, giveth not to himself but to an other;z. the Father giveth not to the Father, to wit, to #:ms:lf, but to the Son; the Son receiveth not of the Son, to wit, of Him/clf, but of the Father: so when the Father giveth Commandment, he giveth it not to himself but to another; as Christ saith, He hath given M2 a Commandment, Foh. 12, 4g. So again, 1 am one that beareth witness of my self, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Jo. 10. 18, Further, here is something implyed that is not expressed, to wit, that the Father hath not given all Men to Christ; that is, in that sence as is intended in this Text, For then all should be saved: ' He hath therefore disposed of Satan another way. He gives some up to Idolatry, He gives some up to uncleanness, to vile affetions, and to a

reprobate mind, Now these he dispo- B 4 seth

seth of in his Anger, for their destruCt;. on (Afts. 7. 42, Rom. 1. 24, 26, 28,) that they may rcap the fruit of their doinzs,” and (be filled with the reward of their own ways: But neither hath He thus disposed of all men; he hath even of Mercy reserved some fro: these Jadgments, and those are they that he will Pardon, as he saith, for / will par- Aon them whom I reserve, Jer. 50. 20. Now these he hath given to Jesus Christ by Will; as a Legacy. Hence the Loyd Jesus sayes, This is the Fathers Will which hath sunt e,- that of all which he hath grver me T shauld lose nothing, but should raise it up. az2ain,at the last day, Joh, 36. 29.

\ The Father therefore g:217g taem to Him to save them,mulst needs by so doing declare unto us these following things.

1. That: he is Able, to answer this designe of God, to wit, to save them to the uttermost Sin, the uttermost temptation, &c. Heb. 9. 25. Hence he is said, To lay help upon me that 1s Atrghty, Aichty to save And hence it is again, that God did even of old promise to send h;s people a Saviour; a great one, Psal, 8g. 19. T1[a. 63. 1. To save, is a great work, an{calls for Almighty-

F-5 ness

to Jesus Christ, ag

ness in the Undertaker:. henee he is _ called the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counseller, &c. Sin is strong, Satan is also strong, Death and the Grave are strong, and so is the Curse of the Law; therefore it follows, that this Jesus must needs be by God the Father, accounted Almighty, in that he have given his Elect to him, to save them, and to deliver them from! these, and that in despite of all their Force, and Power,

Yea, he gave us Testimony of this his Might, when he was imployed in that part of our deliverance, that called for a Declaration of it. He abolished Death: He destroyed him that had the power of Death; he was the Destrution of the Grave; he hath finished Sin, 'and' made an end of it, as to its Damning effec 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, IF. Hof. 13. 14. Dan.g. 24. Gal.- 3, 13. Col. 2. 14, 15: | Yea,/and even now, as a sign of his Triumgh and Conquest, he is alive

from

from the Dead, and bath the Keys of Hell and Death in his own keeping, Revel, 1. 18.

21ly. The Fathers giving of them to him to fave them, dcclares unto us that he zs, and w:/! be faithful in his Office, and that therefore they shall be secured from the fruit, or wages of their Sins, which is Eternal Damnation. And indeed it is said, even by the Holy Gholt himself, That he is faithful to bim thit appointed him ; that 1s, to this . work of saving those that the Father hath given him, for that purpose ; as Moses was faithful im all his House: Yea, and more faithful too, for ses was faithful in Gods 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 /oses, even upon this account, because more

Faithful than he; as well as because _ of the dignity of his person. Therefore in him, and ip his truth and faithfulness, God rested wel - pleased, and hath put all the government of this People upon his shoulders. Knowing, that nothing shall be wanting in him, that may any way perfect this design; _ 0

to Jesus Christ, 27

of this, He, to wit the Son, hath already given a proot; for when the time was come, that his Blood was by Divine Juslice required for their Redemption, Washing,. and Changing: he as freely pourec it out of his Hfht, as if it had been Water out 'of a vcsscl; not sticking to part with his own Life, that the life which was laid up for them in Heaven, might not fail to be beltowed upon them. And upon this account {as well as upon any other) it is, that God calleth him his r:ghtcons servair, Isa, 53, For his righteousness could never have been compleat, if he had not been to the uttermost faithful to the work which he undertook; It is also, because he is faithful, and true, that in Righteousness he doth Judge and make Work for his peoples deliverance. He will faithfully perform this trust reposed in him: The Father knows this, and hath therefore given his Elect unto him.

Thirdly, The Fathers giving of them to Him to save them, declares unto us that he is, and will be gentle and patient towards them under all their provocations and miscarriages, It is not to be imagined, the tryals and provocations that the Son of God hath all along

long had with these people that have been given to him to save them: indeed he is said to be a tryed stone, for he has been tryed, -not only by the devil, Suilt of fin, death, and the curse of the Law, but also® nis peoples ignorance, unruliness falls, into fin, and declining to errors, in life, in Doctrine. Were we but capable of seeing how this Lord Jesus has been tryed, even by this people, ever fince there was one of them in the world, we should be amazed ar his Patience and gentle Carriages to them. It is said indeed, the Lords very pitiful, slow to anger, and of great merx and Near if he had = so been, he could-never have indured their manners, as he has done from Adam hitherto. Therefore is his pitty and bowels towards his Church, preferred above the Pitty and bowels of a mother towards her Child. Car a woman forget her sucking Child, that fhe should not have Compajfiot on the Son of her Womb? yea they may forget, yet will ] not forget thee, faith the Lord, Isa. 49. 15.

God did once give Moses, as Christs Servant, an handful of tnis people to carry them in his bosom, but no further than from E-ype to Canaan; and this

Gs Aofes,

to Jesus Christ, 29

Moses, as is said of him by the Holy Ghost, was the Meckelt man that was \ then to be found in the Earth: yea, and he loved the people at a very great rate, yet neither would his mcekness nor love hold out in this work; he failed, and orew pationate even to the provoking of his God to Anger under this work that God had laid upon him. And Meses said unto the Lord, wherefore hast thuu affifted rhy Servant? But what was the affliction? Why the Lord had said unto him, carry this people un thy bosom as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the Land that be sware unto their fathers. Not 1, sayes Moses, 1 am not able to bear all 1915 people, be= cause it is too heavy for me: if thou deal thus with me, kill me 1 pray thee out of hand, and lt me not see my Vretchedness, Numb. 11. 11, 12,13, 14. God gave them to /1oses that he might carry them in his bosom that is, that he might shew gentleness and patience towards them; but he failed in the work, he could not exercise, because he had not that sufficiency of patience towards them: But now, it is said of the person speaking in the Text, That he shall eather his Lambs with his arm, shall carry

carry them in his bosom, and (hall gently lead them that are with young, Isa,

one of the qualifications that God looked for, and knew was in him, when he gave his Elect to him to save them,

Fourthly, The fathers giving of them to him to save them, declares to us that he hath a Sufficiency of wisdom to wage with all those difficulties that would attend him in his bringing of his Sons and Daughters unto glory; He hath made him to ws to be Wisdom, yea he is calted Wisdom it self; and God saith moreover, that he shall deal prudently. And indeed, he that shall take upon him to be the Saviour of tke people, had need be Wise, because their adversaries are subtile avove any. Here they have to incounter with the Serpent, who for his Subtilty ovt-witted our Father and Mother when their wisdome was at highest (Ger. 3.) But if we talk of Wisdom, our Jesus is wisc, wisex-than Solomon, wiser than all men, wiser than all the Angels; he is even the Wisdom of God. Christ the Wi/- dom of God (1 Col. 1.) And hence it is, that he turneth fin, temptation, pfrsecutions, falls, and all things, for good

good unto this 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 chuse out one every way so well prepared for the work of mans Salvation, Herein indeed perceive we the love of God. Hwram gathered, that God loved Israel, because he had given them such a King as Solomon, (2 Chro. 2, 11.) But how much more may we behold the love that God hath beitowed upon us, in that he hath given us to his Son, and also given his Son for us?

All that the Father grveth me [ shalt come. ] .

In these last words, there is closely inserted an answer unto the Fathers _

in giving of his Elect to Jesus Christ — The Fathers end was, that they\

might cozze to him, and be Saved by him ; and that, sayes the Son, shall be done : They hall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out,

Here therefore the Lord Jesus positively determineth to put forth a sufficiency of all Grace: that shall Effectually perform this promise, They shall come. That is, he will cause them to come

come, by infusing of an effeQtual blef. sing into all the means that hall be used to that end, As was said to the evil Spirit, that was sent to perswade Abab, to go and fall at Ramah Glead, Go, Thou (halt perswade him, ana prevail also; go forth and do so, 1King. 22. 22, So will Jesus Christ say to the means that shall be used for the bringing of those to him that the Father hath given him. I say, he will blessit effectually, to his very end it shall perswade tnem, and shall prevail also. Else, as I said, the Fathers end would be frustrate. For the Fathers will is, that of all that he hath given him he should lofe nothing, but should raise it up at the last day, in order next unto himself, Chrilt the farlt-fruits, afterwards those that are his at his Coming (1 Cor. 15 ) Butthis cannot be done, if there should fail to be a work of grace effectually wrought, though but inany 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 di: s{tinetly to the words; They shall come, Two things I would fthew you from thefe words, ITE First,

to Jesas-Chrift,' 33 ' First, What t is come to Christ.

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

First, I would. shew you first -what it is.to come to Christ: This word come, mult be understood spiritually, not _carnally; for many came to him carnally, or bodily, that had no faving advantage by him; multitudes did thus come unto him in the days of his flesh, yea innumerable companies. Chere is also at this day a Formal, customary Coming to ' his Ordinances, and ways of Worship, which availeth not any thing: 1 shall not now medle, for they are not in-

' tended in the Text. The Coming then,

intended in the Text, is to be understood of the Commg of the mind: u7::0 him, ecen the. movi'g of the heart towards him, I say, the moving of the heart towards him, from a scund Sense of the absolute waut that a man hath cf him for his Justification and Salvats- 0n,

This Description of Coming to Chrilt, - divideth it self into two heacs.

First, That coming to Christ, ts 4 movin( of the mind towards hi, : Secondly, That :t is a moving of the mind towaras him from a Sound Serfe of the

34 Come, 8. welcome, the absclute want that a man hath 6 him for his Fustification and Salvati- 01. To speak to the, first, That it is a moving of the mind towards him. This is evident, because coming hither or thither, if it be voluntary, is by an act of the will ; so coming to Christ, is through the inclining of the will. Thy people shall be willing, Psal. 110. Jo This willingness of heart, is it, which sets the mind a moving after, or towards him. The Church expresseth this moving of her mind towards Chriit, by the moving of her bowels: My beloved put in his band by the hole of the door, and my Bowel: were moved for him Song. 5. 4. My bowels; the passions of my mind and affeCQtions; Which passions of the affections, are expressed by the yerning, and sounding of the bowels. The yerning or passionate working of them, the Sounding of them, or their making an Noise for him, Ger. 43. 30. 1 King 3. 26. 1sa. I6.11,

This then is the coming to Christ, even a moving towards him with the minde. And it shall 'come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth whithersoever the water shall come, shall live, Ezck. 47. 9. The

to Jesus Christ. 25

The water, in this Text, is the Grace bf God, in the'DoEtrine* of it; the living things, are the Childreri of men to whom this Grace vf God, by the Gos+ pel is preached: now saith be, Every zvmg thing which moveth whithersotver "the waterz sball come, shatl lyve, Now' fee how this word moveth js Expounded by Christ himself jn, the-Book of the Revelations: [he Spirit ana the Braae say, come. And let him that heareth, say, come. * And let him that 1s athirst, come, And whesever will, that 1s willing, let him taks the water of life freely, Revel, 22, 17, |

| Sothat, ro mi6ve in thy mind and will after Christ, 1s to: be coming to him. There are many poor souls that are coming to Chritt, thar yet cannot tell how to. believe it; because they think, that coming to him, is some!trang and wonderfull thing: and indeed fo it is; bur I mean, they overlook the inclination of their will; the moving of their mind, and the sounding of their bowels after him: and count these none of this strang and wonderful thing: when indeed it rs a work of greatest wonder in this world, ko see a man who was:sometimes dead "1 fin, poffefsed of the devil, un enemy C2 to

236 Come, & welcome, to, Christ, and. to all things spiritually good. I say, tosee this man moving wirh his minde after the Lord Jesus Christ, 15.,0ne of the highest wonders in the world. Secondly, It is a moving of the minde . towards him, from. a Sound Sense of the absolute. want that a man hath of him for his Fustification and Salvation. Indeed, without this Sense of a lost condition, without him there will be no moving of the mind towards him: a' moving of their mouth there may be, with 'their mouth they shew much love, Ezek. 32. Such a people as this will come; as the true people cometh; that is in shew, and outward appearance : and they. will sit before Gods Ministers, as his people Sir. before them; and they will hear h:s words too, but they will not do them : that js, will not come inwardly with their mindes; for with their mouth. they shew much love, but their heart (or minde) goeth afier their Covetousness, 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 minde move after.him, Therefore, thus it is said Con: cerning the true Commers, At that aay t/2e

-to Jesus Christ, 57 the great Trumpet shall be blown,” and They shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Affsyria,- and the outcasts of the land of Egypt, and shall wor- (hp the Lord in his Holy ' Mountaine at Jerusalem, (Ifa. 27. 13.) They are then you see, the out-casts, and those that are. ready to perish,” that indeed have their 'mindes EffeAually moved tocome to Jesus Christ. "This stnse of things, was that which made+the three thousand come, that made” Sax! come;'that made the:Jaylor come; #nd- that indeed makes 'al}- others come, that come' Ef: fectually. © As 12; 'Chap. Fand 16.'----

Of the trove. 'commg'- to Chriit; 'the three Leapers were''a? famous Seniz blarice, of whom you read in 2:King; 7. 3, &<" The fainin© ih those day#Was sore” in the Land, "there '-was-no- bread for the people;/and as for'that'Sustinerice that was,” which was *Afes Flesh; arid Doves Dung that was'only iti Samariaz & of these the Leapers had no share, *for they were” thrust without the City. Wel, now they fat in-the Gate of the City; and hunger was; *as {may fay, making his last Meal of' them; and being therefore half dead already,” what do they think of doing?- why, first they C3} display

difplay- the dismal colours of death be.

fore each others faces, and then resolve what.to | do, saying, Jf we. say we. will go into the City, then the famine is in the:Cuty, ard,we shall die there; if we st-fts.4 chere,, we die also;, now: therefore Conc, 'nd-let us fall into the Host of the $yr1ens 2, if, they save us alive, we shall tive y rf they kill us, we fhall but ate. Here: now was necessity at work,' and this-/neccssity drove them to, po thither for life, whether else they would neyer have gon for-.it... Thus (it 'is with them. that in truth come-to Fesus. Christ; Death is before them, -they. sce''it and feel it;- he is; feeding upon them; and will cat theny quite-up, if they come not. to Jesus Chrift; angd-therefore- they come eyen+ of necelsity, - being, forced thereto. by that. Sense | they//have-. of their. ' being ntterly and; - euerlastingly padone, if they find not safety in him. : These then; ate-they that will icame; indeed- these. ate! they - that are: inyited to come. {Come unto me all ye that Labor, and are Hravy Laden, and 1 will give you ref, Matt. 11. 28. ' Take two or three things to make this more plain, to wit, that coming to Christ, foweth from a sound sense of the yy

ute

to Jesus Christ, 39 lute necd that a Man hath of him, as afore.

1. They fall come with Weeping, & with Supplication will I lead them ;, 1 will cause them to walk vy the Rivers of Waters in 4 plain way, wherein they shall not siumsble, Jer. 31. 9. Mind it, they come with Weeping and Suyplication; they come with Prayers, and Tears. Now Prayers, and Tears, are the effects of a right Sense of the need of Mercy, Thus a senseless Sinner - cannot Come, he can- .not Pray, he. cannot Cry, he cannot come sensible of what he fees not, norfeels. In those Days, and at that time, the Children of Israel shall come; they and the Children of Judah together, going & weeping : they shall seek the Lord their God: they shall ak, the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward, saying, come and let us joyn our selves tothe Lord in a perpetrial Covenant that shall not be forgotten, Jer. 50. 4, 5. nk Secondly, This coming to Chrift, it is called a running to-him, as flying to him ; aflying from Wrath to come. By all which Termes, is set forth the sense of the man that comes, to wit, That he is affected with the sense of his sin, and the Death due thereto ; that he is sensi-

40 Come, '8-welcome,

ble, that the avenger-of Blood pursues him, and that therefore he is cut off, if he makes not' speed to the Son of - God for Life; Mat: 3.7. Fsal. 143.9, Flying is the Ja work of a man in danger, all that are in danger, do not Fly; - No, not all that see themselves in danger: flying is the lai work of a man in danger;' all that hear of danger. will will,not fly. Men will consider if there be no ather way of escape, before they Fly, Therefore, as 1 said, flying is the last thing. Whn all Refuge fails, and a man is made-to see that there is nothing left him but Sin Death and Damnation, unless he flyes to Christ for Life.: then he flies, = not till then, . T:zrdly, That. the true coming. is, from a sense -of an absolute need of Jesus Christ to save, Cc. is evident *by the Our: .cry that. is made by them that come, even as they are coming. to him: Lord save or I perish, _ Men 42d' Brethren what shall we do; Sirs what 2st T do tobe saved, and the like.. This Language doth safficiently discover that the truly coming Souls, are Sonls senable of their need of Salvation by Jesus Christ; and moreover,. that there is nothing else that can help them but Christ, F ourthly,

.to Jesus Christ. 4

Fourthly, It is yet further evident, by these few things that follow, it is said that such are prucked 3n their Hearts, that

is,with the septence of Death by the Law,

and the least prick in the Heart kills a Man, A&ffs 2. 37. such are said, as, I said before, to Weep, to Tremble, and to bs astonished in themselyes at the evident and unavoidable danger that attends them, unless they, fly to Jcsus Christ, As g. chap. 16.

Fifthly, Coming to Christ is attended with an honest, . and fincere forsaking of all for him. Jf any Man come tome, and hate not his Father, and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Brethren, and Sisters, yea, and his own Life also, he cannot be my Disciple, And whosoever doth not bear his Cross, and

comg after me, cannot be my Disciple, Luk,

By these, and the like expressions elsewhere, Christ describeth the true Commer, or the man that indeed is coming tohim; he is one that casterh all behind bis Back; he leayeth all. he forsaketh all, ke hateth all things that would stand in his way to hinder his coming to Jesus Christ, There are a great many pretended Commers to Jesus Christ in the E World,

-

42 Come, & welcome; World. And they are much like to the man that you read of in ( Marr, 21. 30.) that faid at his Fathers bidding, / go Srr, and weut not. I say, there are agreat many such Commers to Jesus Chrilt ; they say, when Chrilt calls by his Goft, I come Sir; but still they abide by their Pleasures, and carnal Delights. They come not at all, only they pive him a Courtly Complement ; but he takes notice of it, and will not let it pass for any, more than a Lie. ' He said, T go Sir, and went not, he Gdiflembled and lied, Take heed of this, you that fatter your selves with your own deceivings , words wilt not do with Jesus Christ: coming is coming,. and nothing else will go for coming with him.

Though Icainot deny, but my mind runs after chri, and that too as being moved thereto from a sight, and consideration of my lost Condition ( For I see without him

[ perish): yet 1 fear my ends are wr uest,

#2 coming to him,

to. Jesus Christ, 43

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

Answer, My end, is, that I, might have Life, and be saved by Jesus Christ. | This is-thy Qbjection; well, let me tell thee, that to come to Chrilt for Life, 4nd to be saved: though at prethou hast no other end, is ja lawful, and good coming to, Jesus Christ. This is evident, because Chriit propoundeth Lsfe,. as the only Argument to preyail with Goners: to come. to him, and: also- blameth them because they come not to him:;:for Life. 4nd ye will nos Come to me' that ye might have Tafe, Joh. 5. Besides, there are many other Scriptures" whereby he allureth. Sinners to come to him, in.:which he propoundethinothing to them but their satety. As, He hat beligveth in him{[hall not perish; be that belzeverh, 65 passed fromDeath to Life, He that believeth, (hall be Saved. He that belitveth gn bim is not condemned, And believing; & coming, are all one. So that you see, toCome to Christ for Life, is a lawful coming; and: good. |

And let me add over gnd above, that for a man to come to Ghrist for Life, though he comes to him for nothing clse

but

44 Come, & Welcome, - bat Life: he gives much honour to kim. : First, He Honoureth the Word of Christ, and consenteth to the: Truth of ir, . and that in these two general Heads, 1, He Confenteth to the Truth of all those sayings, that Testifeth that Sin'is most abominable in it Self, difhononrable to God, and damnable to the Soul of Man, Fer. 44. 4. Rom. 2, 23. Chap. 6. 23. 2'Thes. 2. 12. 2, In that he beljeveth, as the

Word hath fiid, that there is in the.

© Secondly, He Honoureth Christs Per- |

son, in 'that he believeth, that there is Life 'in Him, and that he is 'able to Save him from Death, Hell, the Devil, and Damnation, Heb. 7. 24, 2. Thirdly, He Honoreth him,- in - that he believeth that he is Authorized of the Father to give Life to those that come to him for it, (Fob, 5, 11, 12, Chap. 17. 1, 2, 3.) Fourthly, He Honoureth' the Priest: Foun of Jesus Christ. . In that he believeth, that he alone

lone hath - made Attonement for Sin, Rom. F.

' 2. In that he believeth, that Christ hath more Power to Save from Sin b the Sacrifice that he hath Offered for it, than hath all Law, Devils, Death, or

Thirdly, In that he believeth that Christ, according to his office, will be most faithfull, and mercifull in the discharge of his office, 1 Foh. 2. 1, 2, 3. &#. 2. I7, 18,

Fourthly, Further, he that cometh to Jesus Christ for life, taketh part with bim against Sin, and against all the ragged and imperfeRt righteousness of the world; yea, and againlit false Christs, and damnable errors that fet themselves against the worthiness of his merits and sufficiency.

Fifthly, Therefore, as Noah, at Gods command, thou preparest this Ark, for the saving of thy self, by the which also thou condemnest the world, and art become Heir of the righteousness which is by faith, (Hb. 11, 7.) Wherefore coming sinner, be content; he that cometh to Jesus Christ, believerh too that he his willing to (hew mercy to, and 9

to have Compassion upon him (though unworthy) that comes to him for lite, And therefore thy Soul lieth not only under a special Invitation to come, but under a Promise too of being accepred and forgiven Mat. 11, 28.

All these particular parts, and qualities of faith, are in that Soul that comes to Jesus Christ for Life, as is evident to any indifferent Judgment. |

For, will he that Beheve:h not the Teitimony of Christ concerning the

baseness of Sin, & the insufficiency of the

Righteousness of the World, come to Chritt for Life? No,

He that believeth not this Testimony of the word, comes nor; He that believeth that there is Life any where else, comes not: He that questions whether the Father hath given Christ power tq forgive, comes not: He that thinketh that there is more m Sin, in the Law, in Death, and the Devil, to Destroy, than there is in Chril to Save, Comes not: He also that questions his faithful Management of his Otfice of Priesthood'for the salvation of {m- 'ners, comes not. -

Thou then that art indeed the come- #7g Sinner, believest all this. True,

perhaps thou dost not believe y that

to Jesus Christ, 47 that full Assurance: nor hast thou leg. sure to take Notice of thy Faith as to these Distint acts of it: But yet all this Faith is in him that cometh to Christ for Life. And the Faith ' that thus Worketh, is.the Faith of the best and purest kind; because this Man comes alone as a Sinner, and as seeing that Lite is, and is to be had, only in Jesus Christ.

Before I conclude my Answer to this Objetion, take into thy consideration these two things.

First, That the Cities of Refuge, -were Erected for their sakes that were dead in Law, and that yet would live by grace; even for those that were to fly thither for life from the avcnger of blood that pursued after them, And itis worth your Noting, that those that. vere upon their flight thither, are in a peculiar manner called the pcople of God, Cast ye up, Cast ye up, saity Goa, prepare ye the way, take up the fiumbling blocks out of the Way of yp people, Isa. 57. 14. This 1s meant of preparing the way to the City of refuge, that the layers might escape thither,” and live; which layers are here | by way of speciality called the people

4$ to Jelus Christ, of God :; even those of them that ef. caped thither for life.

Secondly, Consider that of Ahab, when Beibadad sent to him for life, TH saying, Thus saith thy Son Benhadad, | ' 1 pray thee let me live, Though Benha. dad had sought the Crown Kingdom,

yea and also the life of Ahab; yer how |

cffcually doth Benhadad prevaile with him. Is Benhadad yet alive? said Ahab, he is my brother; yea, go, - ye, bring him to me: so he made. him ride in his Chariot 1 K:2g. 20 chap. | Coming Sinner what thinkest thou? if Tesus Christ, had as little.Goodness in him as Ahab, he might grant an humble Benhadad life; rhou neither beggest of him his Crown or Dignity:* Life, eternal life will ferve thy turn: how much more then shalt thou have it, since thoy hast to deal with him who is goodness | and mercy it self; -yea fince thou art also called upon, yea greatly encourraged by a promise of life, to come to - him for Life, Read also these Scriptures, Numb. 35. 11, 14, 15. Fosh. 20.

Objefi- TH

. | Fe: ” TY 3 : " Y { : \ - . F £3 % - 4 p = 4 / | v. F, | { ' bs - 4 4 i \ —_ \ p 'v. _ : | in; - & C we / % A 4 o: * *, bo] S 'P - 4 4 | m '4 ”

When, "4, say; .1 only seek my self, 1

trart, | # do':nets find that I do desupn

Gads Glory in 7ne own Salvation Pp:

Christ, and,; that ' makes - me fear, 1; do

- $t:com arent <.:1c Go EO

Answer ; Where doth Christ Jesus .

require: such a-Qualification, - of those

- that-are. coming/ts,; hitn:for Life ? come

thou for” Life, and. trouble not-thy head

- and let God and Christ. alone to Glo-

_ sach'a worm as;thou art, The Father

, faith. to. the Son, Thow; art, xy Servant, O Israel, 5n whom (I will be Gloryfied. God, propoundeth. Life - to Sin-

'ners,. as the! argument to! prevail with

' them to come to -him-for Life; and -

Christ sayes: plainly, 7-47 come, that. ye

. might bave' Life, John 10. 10. He hath ++

no. need of \ thy designes,. though thou

| hast need of his... Eternal Life, . pardon

of Sin, and Deliverance from Wrath

to.come, Christ:propounds;/to thee, and

'tnese be'the things that thou hast ngcd of ;

belides, God. will be gracious, and met-

_ ul to worthless, undeservingwretches;z

50 Com B+ wittome; come then ach an one.' Therefore hy no tumbling -blocks in"thy way to him but come to him for life, & live,70b.5.34, Chap. 10,10, Chap:” 3. 36; \AMat. 1, a 1;” Prov.8. 36,37. 1 wrt oe Foh.11 dre The 'Jayler \was 'only "for | kno at- first, __ he should Ns t6 be Sai But Paul did-not so much''as once” ah " him} what "is (your Bad, in \ this , Queltion; .do''yoh deltgn IneGlory I: 1 of on God in! the Salvation of your Soul? - | He had more wit; | he knew-that such | I 3s these would have bin. Fosls-bubles -abbur;” inffead of 1x | fofficientfatve, ts so'weighty' #/ Quelti- / Of,' as ths was,” Wherefore since this' poor wretch lacked Salvation-by Christ ;- F, mean; to 'be-saved from Hell and: Death, which he: ktiew- (now Wes:

due” to' him! for "the fins that 'he had: |

_ _ eafidemned* Tinner as' he was, to + pro:

ceed MU is this his way Of self-feeking 2 saying, Believe on. the ord Fesus Chris |. and Mov? frat be* faved;* AEs"16. 39 305" J2, ©

I khow; that- atrerwaits;. tho wi |

abst" 6 16 plogifie Crist; by: walking in | the! wiy of- his precopts; but af pre |

"ye you wantelt kfe z the avenger- ofblood. i

jth t60d7is behind "thee, and the devil like | _ af Lyon is" roating "against thee: well,

| <6me'now, and*odtain tife from these”;

- ahid'when' thoy'hast'6brained some comfortable perfwalion that thoy-art made

- | partaker of life by Christ, © then, and

-not tet then thoy wilt say, Bless the'Lbrd 4 0'-my Sol, and all” that is within me * bless his holy name, "Bless the Lord'O + Aura and" forget not" all his benefits.

ho Hargioeth” atl thine imiquaties, and

+. bratetb "all - thy "Aifeases;, who redeemeth PP Sthy life from 4 and - Crowneth

Yee weth loving ktnanss, and tender mer-

'

Chrift aright;. betaiise, - sometimes,” I am "to question his -very Being, and Offee to, save. "IO0" <1 02

* Thus to do is horrible: but may*lt

| | 1Bat -Fcarinot believe that” F come to

.

:

thou 'not Judge amifs in this matr- ” How'can TH Flldre aniss, when 1 Fudge as 7 feel' Poor Soul! thou maist Judge amiss for all that. Why, 1 think that / [Athese questjonings come” from- my Heatt. | ay" _— Wt”, 247) 1.75 ; D 2 — Arfw.

$52 Comne-*-wielcome, TH

- Ansm..Let me answer; - That which: |

6: comes from, thy; heart, comes.fromthy. * |.

__', wilt and, affetiiovs, frem| thy understans, |

ding, , Fudgement and; Conscience.',, For," |

these, mult, acquiess; in, thy questioning,;

if, cby questionibg ; be; with thy hears,

And:how: say*st thou, (for- to name- no /

Ansy, Nog my. Gonserence | rrembles.

whep - {ch rhoughts \coma. in_ to' ny |

mind, and my. affectzaus are orherwih.

- .. Then 1.corclude,,. tt, are

. | either suddenly- injeted by the; devil,” |

"- 'or else are the fruits pf” that body of TH

fin. and death that perils in thee,

--or- perhaps from both together. ;< -

. + If. theycome wholly from the, devil; |

as they secin,. because thy. Conscience

they .come' from 'that body. of death, |

.. * that is in-thee. (and be not thou: cyrzous'

- . smecnquiring from whether of them they '

come, the safest way is to lay enopn

_ atithy own: door) nothyng of this shopld

hinder /thy,. coming,; nor make thee cons,

... <clude/thou;comett not. aright.. "HS

| P/ And before. [- leave.' thee, let mea 7

little query *with thee farther about

this: matter, - First,

rclude, that these things are

1 :Farft, Doell thou like these wicked | Vasp emies 7

i Answ. No, no: "thely presence and working kills me. /

(Secondly, Doest thoy! motirn for hep, ' pray against them, and hate- thy self be- " *tavse of them? ja

1% Answ,' Yes; yes: but that which afics me, is, T do not prove my | then. ' i 208 "Thirdly, Dot thou [cord {mightel thou have'thy. choice): Fw the heart, might-' be affeted afidi taken with the things thas ate best, molt WAVAGe, andiholy? ©!

| Sfp, With. at oy Ry and death - | ithernenrthour, Gf ir- were Gods: it)

ty morning, forthem, thy-praying 2-:

them;:%and' thy* loathing, of thy elf because \of thera, with thy -Tincere

vlearly declares that these things: are not

Ceomtenianced either with thy: "Will Af-.

. -Confeicfiee ; ard fo; that thy Nog is not

inithem, but that rather they come im- | _—_ from the devil. orarise fromthe

D3 body

body. of: death. that. is in, th 0 pt wen thus to Foo” then, . bt. 45-0 amore. I that. avth it, 200. 4. BHS Sha dwells: mm me, Rom-: 7 16, Foy... TC — I will ive thee: a pertinent. in

'X Ry fn Dt 22; Thoy mayes” read:of;a ---// > * betrothed-damsel, one betroghied ko += beloved; one that hath given -him_ her Bo heart, and, ,aouthy as thou: hast giyfn > - - thy self to Christ; yet. she-- Wag met © 33%s ies the-waskedigno the field, by: Se that; rg her, because he was rot ED pi I pony mY oW-; S

Up4 wg damsel for this? ' The: EY Ee, ry faith God, THoalkdir

—

FM a hed TO by hs > | Was ens. to: save - her, Deue: 23,"athz E | 26,27-. | 21:c3baTH.c $267 os Thou; art. this darasel,” the- CIEP [10's | ES, eas: with. -these | E455 -

blasphemous. _ og gs Pas and (he bg -] | ACEz;:.EVEN- th: | field, as: het art DR after Jest Cools, but thou ates owt, and by.thy

. cry,

| did shew that thou abhorrest fuch. | wicked teudnefs.; Weil, the. Judge. of 4 al;the: carth will: do right; he' will -not | Hythe Sip-atthy: door, but: at his that offered the violethee and for-thy. comfort, take this into-cophderation: also, } That: hercame ta beal them that 'are. op 1 Mo with cd Hewily, ne. Os 38.

1G Glen. 4

"Zur saith ater, hs F7 hl 'fo how and, #4: 1 think, Jo indifferem: in my commyg., that, te speak; truth. kyow not

4 whether mychivd. of. vomings ought, robe

called! 4, comme £0; Chrift.

| F Answ.' You-know that I told you at k

st thar caming to-Chrilt; is. 2 moying clog the - heart; and affections I

2Butz faith; a "Soul, mn aanlne ss and and

angesfer cy 19 a(l holy Dunes, _

tmyeheartlesnese.:i coming : andyjo- come,

9 not with the hearty th st. er1fies nothing at 'Y

h.yafinsw. The. moying of the heart after Christ, is not_to. be. discerned; (at all times). by - 1h. sensible; efte-3onate- performing- of dutics3 but rather

I by those secret proanings, and complaints

D 4 which

;5 @viiie) welrome, | which *thy soul makes to- God'--apaint ' TH that sloth that.attends thee:in:Duties.,”* |. * ,* "Secondly, But! prontitto, bes evenias: TH thou fay*f& it is, .that-thoutvmef so: sow. | .* ty, *&c." yet since Chrift: bids themcome, TH

_ that comes'not at all zisurely they.may TH| be accepted 'that come,: though atten--

ded -withithsfe/infiemities; which-thoy . |"

at present groanest under, He faith, Aid him that conievh>\hesaith not, 'if -TH they come sensibly so fast: But, And him | that cometh /to me \ I. will: in 10 wise raft TH ur He faiths alfo in\the Eighth of the” } Proverbs, \As_for lym \that wanteth' am | derffandiif;- that js,//an heart, for'bftc | _ times the understanding is taken for the. heart Come, cat of my bread, and drink, | of tht wine that I-have' Mingled;! \3' + Thirdly, Thou may be vehement in thy spirit, in coming to Jesus Christ, and yet be-iplagued with sensible sloth; "So / was the"Church, whenshe eryed,; Dyay; me, we'll" run after thee.” nd Pail, when hefaid,” When 7 would ds 200d," e..

positions\ of 'the Flesh," Fe more manifest than are. the works of the Spirit in, our hearts, aid (6 areTooner- felt; than they! ' | What ten; et us not*'be [discouraged 'F <7 9 \ at

7. *' The works,” strigplings and” *op-

W? Jisus Christ.” =

| #the fight, and feeling of 'our own: in- Ii ities,-:but 'ron the faster to Jesus |

- Chrift for 'Salvation; ©

+ Fourthly,*Get thy heart. warmed with Fe sweet promiseof Christs acceptance, " of the coming finher, and that will make | " thee'make more -haft unto him. : Dif- | - couraging thoughts, they /are'like nnts

1 ' Foy weather,' they benymb the senses, |

and make. us/go- ungainly:; about- aut

* business; but 'the; sweet .4nd-warm gleads \ ofithe projuise; are like'; the /comforta- _ ble beams: of the, Sun, which liven and + refresh.” You see-how little-the [Bee and

$ . Flye do play inthe Air in Winter ; why,

the. cold-. hinders.them from” doing of it; but when--the- Wind and! Sun is

._ warm} who.so bbfie as they 2:7 ef: i "if thly,” But again, he that comes to, - Chrift;! fiyes for his life: 'now there-is

3 nv man” that: Flyes for his life, that

thinks he- speeds fast enough on; his Journey 3- no could he, he: would: wit- - lingly taken thileat-astep. Oh 1-come not fast enough; say'ft thou. ..Oh py sloth. Wings * like'a dove; for then. would

" anay; and" beat \ rest---T wanlg haste mine efcape© from the ny forme or

Poor

Poor comirig Soul, thou. art like: the man that would: ride full gallop, whose horse will hardly trot: now the desire of his mjnde, is not to be judged of, by the flow pace of the dull: jade he rides on; but by the hitching and kick. Mg: and 'Spurring, as he fits on his back. Thy fleth is like this dll Jade, it will not Gallop, after Christ. lt will be backward, though thy soul and heaven lies at stake; but be of good comfort, Christ judgeth not according to the ferceness. of outward motion ( ark, 10. 17.:) but according. to the fincerity of the - heart, and inward parts. Foh, I. 49. Psal. 51. 6. Mat. 26. 41.

Sixthly, Ziba tn appearance came to David much faster than did Afephibosheth: but yet his heart was not so up- ' right in him to David as was his. Tis

true, Mephibosheth had. a Check from David, Why wentest thou not with mr MMephibosherh, said 'he 3 but: when David come to Remember that Mephibosheth was Lame (for. that was his plea) Thy Servant is Lame, 2.Sam. 19, he was content, and concluded he -would have come after him faster than he did: And Mephibosheth appealed to David, who

was in those days as an Angel of God to | know

to Jesus Christ, 59

know all things that are done in the carth, if he did not believe that the reason of his backwardness lay in his Lameness, not his find, - Why poor coming sinner, thou canst not come to Christ with that outward fierceness of Carrear, as many others do; but doth the reason of thy backwardness lie in thy mind,. and will, or in the luggishness of the flesh? canit thou say sincerefy, The Spirit truly zs willing, but the fiesh is weak? Mat, 26. 41. yea, canst thou appeal to the Lord Jesus, who know- ' eth perfectly the very inmost thought of thy heart; that this 1s true, then take this for thy comfort, he hath said, 7 will assemble ber that hatte:h, 1 will make her that halteth a renmant, aud I will save ber that hatteth (Mich. 4. 6, 7. Zeph. 3. 19,) what canit thou have more from the sweet lips of the Son of Gotl? But. -*

Seventhly, | read of some that are:to - follow Christ im Chains; I say, to come after him in Chazzes, Thus saith the Lord, the labor of Egypt, and the Merchan: aize off Ethiopia, and the Sabtans, mer of statare, shall come over wato thee, and they (hall be thine + They shall come af< ter thee , tm Chaines (hall they come over,

and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall

shall makg Suppl:cation unto thee ;, saying,

sarely there 45 none else to save. Ia, ag, 14. Surely they that come after Christ in Chaines, come' to him in great difficuity, because their steps, by heir chaines, are, straightened.

And what Chaines so heavy, as those that discourage thee; thy Chain which is made up of guilt and filth is heavy; it is a wretched bond about th neck, by which thy strength doth faff (Lam. 1. 14. Chap. 3. 17.) But come, though thou comelt in chaines, *tis glory to Christ that a sinner come after him in Chaines, The blind man, though called, surely could not come apace to Jesus Christ, but Christ could stand still, and stay for him. True, he rideth upon the Wings of the Wind: But yet he is Jong Suffering, and his long Suffering is Salvation. to- him that cometh to him, Mark, 10. 49.'2 Pct. 3.9, |

Erghthly, Hadest thou seen those that |

came to the Lord Jcsus in the days of his flesh, how slowly, how- hobblingly they come to him by reason of their infirmiticsz and also how friendly, and kindly, and gracioully he received them,

and gave them the desire of their hearts, |

thou wouldest not, as thou dost, make suck

to Jesus Christ, 61

such Objections against thy self, in thy coming to Jesus Christ. | Objettion 5

But (sayes another) 1'fcar T come too late, I doubt I kave stayed too long, I am afraid the Door is Shut, :

A*sw. -l hou canit never come too late' ts Jesus Chrilt, :f Thou dost come, This is manifest, by two instances.

First, By the Man that came to him at the Eleventh Hour. This Man was Idle all the day long: 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 tne Eleventh Hour he came, and goes into the Vineyard to Work with the rest of the Labourers, , that had born the Burden, and heat of the day. Well, but 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 mony first, True, the 0thers Murmured at him, but what did the Lord Jefus Answer them? 71s thine Eye Evil, because mine is Good? I will owe to this last even as unto thee, Mat, 20.

Secondly, The other instance 1s, The Thief upon the &@ress: He came late also, even as at an Hour before his Death ;

Death; yea, he stayed from Tefus Christ, as long as he had Iiberty to be 'a Theif, and Jonser too; for could he have celnded the Judge, and by lying words, have escaped his Just Condemnations for ought 1 know, he had not

come as yet, to his Saviour: but being Convicted, and Condemned to Dies yea, faftned to the Crofs, that he might *

Die like a Rogue, as he was in his Life; behold the Lord Jefus, when this wicked one, ecvezz now, defireth Mercy at his Hands, tells him, and that without the least rcflcxion upon him, for hig

former Mis-spent Life, To Day thou shalt +

be with me in Paradice, Luke 23. 43. | Let no Man turn this Grace of God into Wantonness; my design is now to encourage the coming Soul.

Object. But is not the Door of Mercy Shut againft some before they Die?

Answ. Yes. And God forbids that

Prayers should be made to him for them, Ter. 7. 16, fra. 22. Quest. Then, why may nt I doubt that I may be one of these? | Answ. By no means, if thou art coming to Jesus Christ; because when God Shuts the Door upon Men, he gives

them no heart, to come to Jesus Christ. None

to Jesus Christ, 63

None comes, but those to whom it is £1ven of the Father: But thou comett, thereforeit is given to thee of the Father.

Be sure therefore, if the Father hath given thee an Heart to come to Jesus Christ, the Gate of Mercy yet stands Open to thee: For it stands not with the Wisdom of- God, To give strength 10 come to the Birth, and yet to Shut up the Womb, Ia, 66. g. to give grace: to thee to come to Jesus Chriit, and yet Shut up the Door of his Mercy upon thee. | Encline your Ear, saith he, come unto me, bear, and your Souls shall Live; And I will make an ' Everlasting covenant, with you, even the sure Mercies of David, Isa, 55. 3.

Objeg&t, But tt 2s faid that fome knacked when the Door was Shut,

Answ. Yes, But the Texts in which these Knockers are Mentioned, are to be referred unto the day of Judgment, and not to the coming of the Sinner to Christ in this Life. (See the Texts, ar. 25. 11.: Lake 13; 24, 25.) | These therefore concern thee nothing

at all; that art coming to Jefus'Christ, thou art coming Now! "Now 45. the acceptable time, behold now is the day of Sabuation, 2 Cor. 6, 2. now God ts

- upon.

upon the Mercy-Seat, now Christ Je. sus Sits by continually pleading the Vir. tue of his Blood for Sinners; and now, even as long as this World lasts, this word of the Text shall still be free, and: fully fulfilled. 47d him that cometh to Ade, I will ix no wise cast out,

- Sinner !- the greater Sinner thou art, the greater need of Mercy thou hast, and the more will Christ be gloryhed thereby : come then, come and try, came [talt, and see how good the Lord is to anUndeserving Worthless -Sinner,

But (fayes another) I am fallen since JT began to come to Christ, thercfofe* I fear I did not come arignt, and [o censequently that Christ will not recetue me.

Arsw, Falls are dangerous, for they dishonour Christ, wound the conscience; and cause the Enemies of God to speak reproachfully. Eut it is no good argument, 1 am fallen, therefore I was nat commg aright to Fesus Christ, If Da v4d, and Solomon, and Peter had thus objected against themselves, they had added to their grie's, and yet they. had at Izalt, as much cause todo it, as thou,

to Jelus Christ, 6&5

A Man whose steps are ordered by the Lord, and whose goings the Lord delights in, may yet be over-taken with a Temptation, that may cause him to fall, Psal, 37. 23, 24. Did not Aaron fall, yea Moses himself? what shall we say of Fezekiah, and Fehosaphat? There are therefore falls, and falls, falls pardonable, and falis unpardonable; falls unpardonable are falls against Light, from the Faith to the despising of, and trampling upon Jesus Christ, and his blessed undertakings, ( Heb. 6. 2, 3,4, 5. Chap. 10. 28, 29.) Now as for such, ttereremaines no more Sacrifice for fin: Indeed, they have no heart, no mind, no dclire to come to Jesus Christ for life, therefore they must perish; nay, sayes the Holy Ghost, *tis impossible that they should be renewed again unto repentance, Therefore, these Go hath no Compasshon for, neither ought we; but for other falls, thouph they be dread: full (and God will Chaltise his people for them) they do not prove thee a graceless man, one not Coming to Jesus Christ for life,

It is said of the Child in the Gospel, That while he was yet a-coming, the Devil threw him down, and tore him,

Luk, 0, 42, E Dejcct-

Dejected Sinner, is it a wonder that thou hast caught a fall in thy Coming to Jesus Christ! Is it not rather to be wondred at, that thou hat not caught before this, a thousand times a thousand falls! Considering,

First, What fools we are by nature.

Secondly, What weaknesses are in Us. Thirdly, What mighty powers, the fallen Angels, our implacable Enemies, are.

Fourthly, Considering also how often the Coming-man is be-nighted in his Journey, and also what stumbling-blocks do lie in- his way.

Fifthly, Also his familiers (that were so before) now watch for his haulting, and seek by what means they may, to cause him to fall by the hand of their strong ones.

What then? must we, because of these Temptations, incline to fall? No. Muft we not fear falls? yes, Ler him that thinketh he sfandeth, take heed lest he fall, Yet let him not be utterly cat down. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and ra:seth ap all those that are bowed down, Make not light of falls: yet hast thou

to Jesus Christ, 67

fallen? ye have, said Samuel, done all this wic\edness, yet tnrn not aside from following the Lord, but serve him with a perfett heart, and turn not aside, for the Lord will not forsake his people (and he counteth the coming sinner one of them) because it bath pleased the: Lord to make you his people, 1 Sam: 12, 20, 21, 22,

Shall come to me,

Now we come to shew, what force there is in this Promise to make them come to him, All that the father giveth me shall come to me,

[ will Speak to this promise,

First. In general. Secondly, In particular,

In general. This word [ shall] is conhned to these [all] that are given to Christ, All that the father giveth me, hall come to me, Hencel conclude,

First, That coming to Jesus Chrift aripht, is an effect of their being (oi God) given to Cyr;j# before. Mari, they shall come! Who? rhose that are given; they come then, because they were. grven, Thine they were, and thi pavest;hem me. Now this is indeed a Singular comfor; to them that are "coming E 2 Th

in truth to Christ, Thus then may the coming Soul reason with himself as he comes. Am I coming indeed to Jesus Christ? this coming of mine is not to be attribured to me, or my goodness, bur to, the grace and gift of God to Christ: God gave first my Person to him, and thercfore hath now given me a heart to come to him.

Secondly, This word, soall.come, makcth thy coming, not only the fruit of the gift of the Father, but also of the purpose of the Son; for these words are a divine purpose, they shew us the Heavenly determination of the Son, The Father hath given them to me, and they shall, yea, chey shall come to me. Christ is as full in his resolution to fave those given to him, as is the Father in the Siving of them,

Thirdly, These words, (hall come, make thy coming to be also the effect of an absolure Promise, Coming finner, thou art concluded jn a Promise; thy coming is the fruit of the faithfulness of the Promise, of the faithfulness of an abso-. lute Promise. *Twas this promise, by the vertue of which thou at first received*st strength to come: And this is the

Promise, by the vertue of which thou shalt

to Jesus Christ, 69

shalt be effectually brought to him, Tt was said to Abraham, At this rime, will ] come, and Sarah shall have a Son: this Son was Isaac, Mark, Sarah shall have @ Son; There 1s the promise: and Sarah had a Son, there was the fullfilling of the promise. And therefore was Isaac called the child of the promise, Gen. 17. 19. Chap. 18. 10, Rom, g,'g. Sarah (gail have a Son, but how if Sarah be past age? why til] the promise continues, to say, Sarah shall have a Son. But Abrahams body is now dead; why, the promise is still the same; Sarah shall have a Son, Thus you see what vertue there is in an absolute promise, [t carrieth enough in its own bowels to accomplish the thing promised, whether there be means or ro in us to cfeect it: wherefore this promise, in the Text, being an absolute promise; by vertue of it, not by vertue of our selves, or our own enducements, do we come to Jesus Christ: for so are the words of the Texr. All that the Father giveth me 41 come to MC, | Therefore is every finccre commer to Jesus ChriR, called also a Child of the promise, Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the Children of the promise, Sal. 4, | E 3 28,

238, 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. Al! that the Father giveth me, . fhall come.

Fourthly, This word [. snall-come?] en- S2geth Christ ro Communicate al] manner of Grace to those thus given him, to make them effcctually to come to him. They shall come; that is, not-if they will, bur if grace, all grace, if powcr, wisdom, a new heart and the holy spirit, and all Joyning together, can make them come. 1 say, this word | shall-come ] being absolute, hath no dependance upon our will, or power, or goodness; but it ingageth for us even God himself, Christ himself, the Spirit himself, When God had made that Absolute promise to Abraham, that Sarah should have a Son, Abraham did not at all look at any qualification in himself, because the promise looked at none, but as God had by the promise absolutely promised him a Son; so he considered not his own body now dcad, nor yet the barrenness of Sara's Womb. He fiaggered not at the promise of God through uabelicf, but was strong in faith, giving | | glory

fo Jesus Christ, 7r

glory to God, being fully perswaded that what Be had promised, We was able to perform, Rom.'4. He had promised, and had promised absolutely, Sar shall have a Son, Therefore Avraham looks that Pr, to wit, God must fulfill the condition of it. Neither is this Expectation of Abraham, disapproved by the Holy Ghoit, but accounted good and laudable, it being that by which he gave Glory to God, The Father alfo hath given to Christ, a certain number of Souls for him to fave, and he himself hath said, They shall come to him, Let the Church of God then live in a Joyful Expectation of the utmost accomplishment of this promise, for afsuredly it shall be fulfilled, and not one thousandth part of a Tittle thereof shall fail,

And now, before I go any turther, | will more particularly cnquire into the nature of an Ab/olure Promise,

First, We call that an Absolute promise, that is made without any conditson; or more fully thus, That is an absolute promise of God, or of Chrift, which maketh over to this or that man, any Saving Spiritual blessing, without a condition to be done on our part for FE 4 the

the obtaining thereof.

Secondly, An Absolute. promise therefore is, as we say, without if, or and; that is, it requireth nothing of us, that it self might be accomplisht, Ir saith not, They thall:f they will; but they shall: not they shall, if they use the means; but they shall. You may say, that a will, and the use of the means, 1s supposed, though not expressed, But I an- {wer; No, by no means; that is, as a condition of this promise: If they be at all included in the promise, they are included there as the fruit of the Absolute promise, not as if it expected the qualification to arise from us. Thy peeple shall be willing in the day cf thy power, Psal. 110, 3. That is another absolute promise: But 'doth that Promise suppose a willingness in us, as a condition of Gods making of vs willing? they shall be willing, if they arc willing; or they shall be willing, if they wi be willing. This is ridiculous, there is nothing of this supposed, The promise is absolute, as to us; all that it ingageth for its one ac- - + is the mighty power of Chrilt,

The difference therefore betwjxt the

absolute, and the conditional promise, is this, ; First,

to Jesus Christ, #73

First, They differ in their terms, The absolute promises say, / wil, and you shall: the other, I will, if you will; or do this, and thou shalt live; Fer. 31, 31, 32, 33. Ezek. 36. 24 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 33. Heb. 8. 7,8, g, 10, 11, 12, fer. 4+ 1. Ezek, 18, 30, 31, 32, Mat. 19. 21.

Secondly, They differ in their way of Communicating of good things to men ; the absolute ones Communicate things freely, only of Grace the other, if there be that qualification in us, that the promise calls for, not elle,

Thirdly, The absolute promises therefore ingage God, the other ingage us: | mean God only, us only. ' Feurthly, Absolute promises must be fulfilled; Conditional may, or may not * be fulfilled. The absolute ones must be fulfilled, because of the faithfulness @f God; the other may not, because of the unfaithfulness of men.

Fifthly, Absolute promises have therefore a sufficiency in themselves ro bring about their own fulfilling; the Conditional have not so. The absolute promise, is therefore a big-bellied promise, because it hath in it self a ivIness of all geared things for us; and will, when the

the time of that promise 1s come, yeild to us mortals, that which will very. ly save us: yea, and make us capabse of answering of the demands, of the pro. mise that is conditional. Wherefore, though there be a real, yea an eternal difference in these things ( with others) betwixt the conditional and absolute promise: yet again in other respects there is a blessed Harmony betwixt them, as may be seen in these particulars.

First, The Conditional promise calls for Repentance, and the absolute promise gives it, Ads 5. 30, 31.

Secondly, The Conditional promise calls for faith, the absolute promise grve; zt, Zeph 3. 12. Rom. 15. 12.

Thirdly, The Conditional pronuse cal for a new heart, the absolute promise gives it, Ezek. 36.

' Fourthly, The Conditional promise calleth for Holy Obedience, the absolute promise giveth, or causeth it, Ezek, 36, 27. |

And as they Harmoniously agree in this; so again the Conditional promise blesseth the man, who by the absolute promise is endued with its fruit : As for instance,

First, The absolute promise maketi men

to Jesus Christ, 75

men upright, and then the Conditional follows saying, Klefsed are the undefiled in the way, who walk, in the Law of the Lord, Psal. 119. 1.

Secondly, The absolute promise giveth to this man, the fear of the Lord; and then the Conditional followeth saying, Blessed is every ore that feareth the Lord, Psal, 1258. 1. |

Thirdly, The absolute promise giveth faith, and then this Conditional follows saying, Blessed 2s she that belicueth; Zeph. 3, 12, Luk. 1.45.

Fourthly, The Absolute promise brings free forgiveness of Sins; and then says the Conditional, Blefsed are they, whose Trarsoressions ave forgiven, and whose fin is covered, ROM. 4., Fy O. ; |

Fifthly, The Absolute promise says, that Gods elect shail hold out to the end; then the Conditional follows with his blefling, He that shall endure to the ead, the fame shall be faved, 1 Pet 1, 4, 5. 6. Mat. 24,

Thus do the promises gioriously serve one another, and us, in this their harmonious agreement,

Now the promise under conlideration, 'S an absolute promise; Al! that the Father giveth me, (RU come to: me.

This

This promise therefore is a big-bellieg, promise, and hath in it self all those thingy to bestow upon us, that the conditional calleth for at our hands. They shall come! Shall they come? yes, They shall cone, But how if they want those things, those Graces, Power and Heart, without which they cannot come? Why, Shall cone answereth all this, and all things else that may in this manner be objected, And here I will take the liberty a little to amplifie things.

Objet. Burt they are dead, dead in Trespasses and Sins, how (ball they then come £ nsw, Why? Shall-come, can raise them from this Death, The hour i coming, and now is, That the dead ual bear the Voice of the Son of God, amd they that hear, shall Live, Thus therefore is this impediment, by shall-come, swallowed up, or quite removed out of the way.

Obje&. 2. But they are Satans Capzzves, he takes them Captive at his Wil, and he ts stronger than they; How then can they come?

Answ. Why? Shall-come, hath allo provided an help for this, Satan had bound that Daughter of Abraham o,

that she could by no means lift wp bs ell;

to Jesas Christ. 77

self; but yet, shail-come, set her sree in Body and Soul both. Chrilt will have them turned from the Power of Satan to God. But what! Must it be, if they turn themselves, or do fomething to Merit of him to turn them! No, he will do it freely of his own good Will. Alas! Man whose Soul is possefled by the Devil, is turned whither soever That Governor listethz is taken Captive by him, notwithstanding his natural Fowers, at his Will; but what will he do? will he ho!d him, when sha/-come puts forth itself (will he then let him) for comeing to Jesus Christ? No: that cannot be, his Power 1s but the Power of a fallen Angel; but shall-come, is the Word of God: therefore shall-come must be fulfilled, And the Gates of Hell Shall not prevail against it.

There was Seven Devils in Aary Magdalen, too many for her to get from under the Power of ; but when the tne was come, that shal/-come was to be fulfilled upon her, they give place, fly from her, and she comes [indeed] to Jesus Christ, Ai that the Father giveth me shall come to me,

The Man that was possessed with a Legien ( Mark 5.) was too much, by them,

them, captivated, for him by. humane force; yea, had he had { to boot) all the men under Heaven to help him, had he that said, he shall-come, with-held his mighty power: but when this pro mise was to be fulfilled upon him, then he comes, nor could all their power hinder his coming. It was also this shalcome, that preserved him from death, when by these evil spirits he was hurled hither and thither; and *twas by tke vertue of shall-core, that at last he was set at liberty from them, and inabled indeed to come to Christ, A! that the father giveth me shall come to me,

Objeft. 3. They shall (you say) buf

how if they will not | man cannot cont without his will: but if be wall not, h will not; aiid if so, then what ca Wall cone, do?

Answ. True there are some me say, we are Lords, we will come no mot unto thee, Jer. 2. 31. But as God fay in another case (if they are Concerned in shall-come to me) They (hall kan whose word shall stand,mine or theirs, Jer 44 28, Here then is the case, we must non see who will be the liar, he that aith,!

will aot, or he that saith, he shall con

to Jesus Christ, 79

to me, You shall come, sayes God. [ will not come sayes the sinner, Now as sure as he 1s concerned in this shallcome, God will make that man eat his own words: for I wil! not, is but the unadvised Conclusion of a Crazy-headed sinner: but shall-come, was spoken by him that is of power to perform his word, Son, 90 work to day 1 my vints

yard, said the Father : but he answered

and said, 7 will mor, What now? Will he be able to stand to his refusal, will he pursue his desperate denial! No: He afterwaras repented, and went, But how came he by that repentance? Why it was wrapped up, for him, in the ab/olute promise; and therefore not withstanding he said, 7 will nor, he afterwards repented and went, By this parable, Jesus Christ sets forth the obstinacy of the sinners of the world, as touching taeir coming to him; they will not come, though threatned, yea though life be offered them vpon condition of comng.

But now when, (hall-come, the absolute promise of God, comes to be fulfiled upon them, then they come; because by that promise is provided aaint the rebellion of their will; Th people

$80 Come, & welcome, people shall be willing in the day of thy

He that had seen Paul! in the midst of his out-rage againlit Christ, his Gos.- peh, and pcople: would hardly have thought that he would ever have been a foilower of Jesus Chritt, specially since he went not again{t his Conscience in his persecuting of them, He tnought verily that he ought to do what he did, But we may see, what svall-come can do, when it comes to be fulfilled upon the Soul of a rebellious sinner - he was a Choscn vessel, given by the Father to the Son; and now the time being come,

that shall-come, was to take himin hand, |

behold he is over-mastercd, astonished, and with trembliag, and reverence, in a Moment becomes w:/{:7 to be obedient to tie Heavenly call, Acts 9g.

And were not they far gone (that you read of in Ats the Second) who had their hands and hearts in the Murder of the Son of God; and to shew their

resolvedness never to repent of that hor- |

rid fact, said, His Blood be 6n us and our Children? But mult their obstinacy rule, must they be bound to their own ruin

by the rebellion of their Stubborn wills? |

No: not rzho/e of these that the Father

to Jesus Christ, 81

ave to Christ, wherefore at the times appointed, shall-come Brakes in amongthem; the absolute promise takes them in hand, and then they come indeed, crying out to Pere, and the reft of the Hpestles, Men and brethren, what shall we 40? No Stubborness of mans will can stand, when God hath absolutely” said the contrary, sall-come, can make them come as doves to their windows,

The Lord spake unto Z7Zarajjcth, and to his people (by the Prophets) but he would not hear, no, he would zor: but (hal Manassers come oft thus? no, he shall zor. Therefore, he bcing aiso one of those whom the Father had given to the Son, and fo falling within the bounds and reach of tiail-com2: Art latt he comes indeed. He comes Bowing, and Bending; He humbled himself greatly, and made Supplication to the Lord, and prayed unto him, and he was intreated of him, and had mercy upon him, 2 Chro, 34.

The Thief upon the Cross, at first, cid rail, with his fcllow, upon Jesus Chriit; but he was one that the Father had given to him, and therefore sh. - | come, mult handle him, and his rebTHelltcus will, And- bchold, so soon as he

is dealt with all, by vertue of that absolute promise, how foon he buckleth, leaves his railing, falls to Supplicating of the Son of God for mercy; Lord, faith he, remmwer me, when thou comest into thy Kingdome, Mat. 27. 44. Luk. 23. 40, 41, 42,

Odje-t, 4. They shall come, say you, but how if they be blind, and see not the way; for sume are hept off from Christ, rot only by the obstinacy of their will, bet by the blindness of their minde: now if they ve blind, how shall they come.

Answ. The question is not, Arc they bliad? but, are they with in the reach, an power of shall come; if so, That Chrilt, that faid they shall-come, will find racm eyes, or a guide, or both, to bring them to himself, If they shall-come, they Jhall-come: no impediment shall hinder.

The Thefsulonians darkness did not | hinder them from being the Children oi | Light: / am come, said Christ that they that see not, might sce, And if he saith, See ye blind, that have eyes, who shall hinder it? Ephes. 5. 8. Joh. g. 39. Ia. 29. 18. Chap. 43. 8. |

This promise therefore, is, as I said, abig-bellied promise, having in the bowels of it, all things that shall ones cnc

to Jesus Christ, 83

the compleat fulfilling of it self, They

shall-com:. But tis objected that they

are blind: well, sal cemncis still the same, and continueth. to say, they: shail-come ro me. Therefore he saith again, 7 will bring the blind by a way that they krow not, [ will lead them un paths that they have not known, will make dark light before them, and Crooked things straight, these things will I do unto them, and nat foi saks them, Ia. 42. 16.

Mark, 1 will bring them though they be blind, I will bring tkem by a way they know not 3 I will, I will, and therefore they (hall-come to me,

Ovject. 5. But how if they have exceeded many in fin, and so made themsselves far mire abominable? They are the Ring.lcading Suamers tn the Ceurty, the Tow or t amily.

Answ. What then? Shall that hinder the execution of s/:a%come? It is yot Transgreshons, nor Sins, nor all their Transpressions, in all their fins (it they by the Father are given to Chriit to save them) that shall hinder ttvus promise, that it should not be tu hlled upon them. 12 those Hays, and at that tum?, fauh the Lord, the iniquaties of Iirael jnall be fought for, and there (hall be

> none,

one, and the sens of Judah, and they hall mort be found, Jer. 32. 30. Not that they ha4 none, {for they abound. cd in Transg.cshon, 2 Chroz, 33. 9, Exk, 16, 5.) but God would pardon, cover, hide, and put them away, by vertue of his absolute promise, by which they are given to Christ to save them, flnd I will cleanse them from all thetr iniguity, whercby they have fiancd against me; aid I will paraon all tur miquety, where. by they have Trarnsercfsed against me, And it ail be to me for a name of joy, 4 praise, and an honour before all the WNations of the Earth, which shall hear cf all. the good that 1 ao nito them; and they shall fear and tremble for all the 2o0dnefs, and all the presperity that I Pr cure to it, JEr. 33. 0,9.

Obje 6. ut bow if they have not F aity anc Re pentance? how joall hey cornme then?

Ansiw. Why? he that saith they shall come, {hall he not make it geod? |t they snalFcome, they svali-come z and he that hath said, they fhall-corme, if faith and repentance be the way to come, as indeed they ate, then faith and rep*ntance skall be given to them: for shale come, must be tuiflled on them,

First, Faith fall be given. them; / Wl

to Jelus Christ, 8+

will also leave in the midst of thee an affitted, and poor people, and they (ail trust in the name of the Lord. There f15'1 be a Root of Jesse, ad he Czall rise toraign over the Gentiles, and in him Tail the Ge tiles trust, Zeph. 3. 12. Rom. 15. 12.

Secoraly, They stall have repentance: He 1s exalted to give repentance; They sha!! come weeping and se king the Lord their God. And again, with Weeping and Supplication will I lcad them, Acts 5. 30, 31. Jeremiah 31:9, Chap. 50. 5.

I told you before, that an absolute promise, hath all co-2d4:r:onal ones in the belly of it, and also provision to answer all those qualifications that rey propound to him that secketh for ther benchit: And it must be so, sor if sac: be an absolute promise, as imndecd it ts,then it mult be fulfilled upen every of those. cor.- cerned therein. - I say, it mus: be fujfilled, if God can by Grace, & his absolute Will, sultl it. Besides, fince Coming, and Belicving ts all one (according to 7.6. 25.) He that cometh go me shall never hunger, and be that believeth in me shall never thirst,

Then, when he faith, they jhal comr, tis as much as to say, they {hal b:licue, and consequently repent to the faving of the Soul. So then the present 2 want

want of faith and repentance, cannot make this promise of God of none cf. tet; because that this protnise hath in it to give, what others call for and cxpet, I will give them an heart, I will give them my spirit, I will give them repentance, i will give them faith. Mark these words, If any man be in Christ, he 1s a naw Creature, But how came he to be a rew Creature, since none can Create but God? why, God indeed doth make them new Creatures. Behold, saith he, I make al! things new, And hence it follows, even aftcr he had said, they are new Creatures; And ail things arc of God: that is, all this new Creation stardeth in the several opecrations, and special workings of the Spirit of grace, who is God, 2 Cor. 5, 17, 18,

Object. 7. But how shall they escape all those dangerous, aud damnable opunions, that like rocks, and quicks sands, are:n tie way im which they are going?

Answ. Indeed this age, is an age of errors, if cver there was an age of errors in the world; but yef the gift of tne Father, laid claim to by the Son in the Text, mult needs escape them, and in conciusion come to him, There are a ompany

to Jess Christ; 27

1 company of shall-comes in the Bible, that doth secure them. Not but. that | they may be assaulted by them ; yea, and also for the time, intangled and detained by them from the Bishop of their Souls : but these Shall-comes, will break those Chains and Fetters, that those oiven to Christ are intangled in, and they shall-come, because he hath said they shall-come to him,

Indeed, errors are like that whore, of whom you read in the Proveros, that fitteth in her seat on the High-places of the City, To call Passinecrs who go right on thetr way, (Pro. 9. 13, 14, 15, 16.) But the persons, as | said, that by the Father ate given to the Son to save them, are at one time or other, secured by, Shall come to me,

And therefore, of such it is said; God will guide them with hts eye, with his counfels, by his spirit, and that in the way of peace; by the springs oi water, and into all truth, Pal. 32. 8. Pal. 73. 24. Fob. 16. 13. Litk, 1. 79. 1/4. 47. 10, So then, he that hath /zcth a guid- (and all that the Father giveth to Christ, shall have it) he shall escape those dangers, he shall not Err in the way; yea, though he be a fool, ke thail not Err therein F 4 (1{a.

(Isa 25;) for of every such an one it

is said, Thine cars shall hear a ward

behind thee, saying ;, This is the way, walk

—

in it. 5 with ye turn to the right hand, aid |

when ye tun to the lift, Ifa 3O. 21. There were Thieves and Robbers before Christs coming,as there are also now: Bur, saith ne, The shecp did not hear them. And why di1 they not hear. them, but because they were under the power of jhall come: that absolute promise, that had that grace in 1t self to bestow upon them, as could make them able rightly to distinuish of voices, Aly [hee |

hear my Voice, wut how Caine they 0 hear it? why, to thcm it is given to know and to kear, and that distinguishingly, Feb. 10.8, 16. Chap. 5.25. Epb. 5.14. Further, the very plain Sentence of the Text makes provision againit all these things; for, saith it, All that the Father orveth ne, sha [l come to me; that is; shall not-be stopped, or be allured to take up any where short of MP2? ; nor shall they urn aside, to abide, with any besides We.

Shall Cum? [_/0 me. |

Fo me!) By these words there is |

further jnfinuated (though not exnressed)

a double cause of th:ir coming to him. / irft,

to Pelus Christ, $2

First, There is in Chrit, a fulness of Al.sufficiency of that, even of all that which is needfull tro make vs happy.

Seconaty, Those that indeed come to him, do therefore come to him that they may receive it at his hand.

For the firit of thesc, There 7s in Christ a fulness of all Sjjicicncy of all that, even of all that which is meusull to make 15 happy. Hence it is said, For ut plcased the Father, that in him {be uld all t -

ness awell. And again, Of ms fullncss, all we have receu ed, and grace for grace, Colof, 1. 19, Joh. 7. 16, It is also faid of him, that his riches is unsearchable, The uascarchable riches of - Chdisi, Epnes. 2. 8, Hear. what he saith of timfclf, Riches and hovour are with MIL, even ants rable riches and mgweonswess; my fra is better than Gold, yea tai F 2C Guld; and Mp revenue than Chiite "aprens I lead in the way of Righreousness, in the majt of the paths of Judgement, that I may caufe them that love Me ro wmnhorit Srostarce. And I wil! fill their treasrurcs, Prov. 8.

This in £enczal, but more particularly.

Firf, There is that L:p/zt in Chritt, that is Sufficient to Icad them out of, and from all that darkness, in tne midit of)

co Come, & kelcome,

of which all others, but them that come to him, stumble, and fall, and perish: 1 am the light of the world, faith he; he that followcth' me shall not abide in aargness, bat (hall have the Lizht of Life, Joh. 8. 12. Man. by nature is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knows not whither he goes, for darkness hath blinded his eyes; neither can any thing but jesus Christ, lead men out of this darkness; Natural Conscience cannot doit; the Ten Commandments, though in the heart of man, cannot do it: this prerogative bclongs only - to Jesus Chri#t.

Secondly, There is that life in Christ, that is to be found no where else, 7oh. 5. 40. Life as a principle in the $oul, by which it shall be aCted and cnablcd to do thas which through him is pleasing to God, Hl thar believet! in, or cometh, to me, saith he,as the Scriptures have said, out of his belly shall flow Kivers of Living Water, Joh. 75. 38. Without this life a man is dead, whether he be bad, or whether he be god, that 1s good in his own, and other mens esteem. There tis no true and Etcrnal life, but what is in the Pe zhat speakcth 4n the Texr,

cnn cnn mim ans oo ww ., =

to Jel8s Christ, 9

There is also life for those, that come to him, to be had by faith in his flesh, and blood, Fle that eateth Me,even be shall live by Me, Joh. 6. 57. |

And this is a life against that Death, that comes by the guilt of fin, and the curse of the Law, under which all men are, and forever mult be, unlcsse they eat the Me, that speaks in the Text. Whoso findeth Je, saith he, fiadeth life; deliveraace from that everlasting death, and destruction, that without Me he shall be devoured by, Prov. 8,

Nothing is more defirable than life, co him that hath in himself the Sentence of Condemnation; and here onlv is life to be found. This life, to wit, Eternal lifey this life ts in his Son, That is, in him that saith in the Text, A!/ that the Father hath gwcn Pe. shall 'come ro Mr, 1 Joh. 5. 10.

Thirdly, The person speaking 'in the Text, is he alone by whom poor finners have Admittance with,andAcceptance to the Father, because of the Glory of his righteousness, by and in which he presenteth'” them amiable, and spotless in his fight ; neither is there any way belides him, so to come to the Father ; / a the way, sayes he, the trmh, and the life ; (0

no man cometh to the Father but by Pe, Joh. 14. 6. All other ways to God, are dead anddamnable, the deltroying Chery. ins, stand with flaming swords turning every way to keep all others from his presence, (Ger. 3. 24.) I ay, all others but them that come by him.

1 am the avor, by D-:, faith he, if any man enter in, he shall ve saned, Joh, 10. 1, &.

The person speaking in the Text, is He, and only He, thar can give stable, and everlasting peace; thereforo,saith he, | Mp peace 1 give wiito you, M23 peace, | which 15 a peace with God, peace of | Conscience, and that of an eveilaiting duration. My peace, peace that cannot be | Matched, n:rt as the world gived vigg 1 ugto you; for the worlds peace 13 but Ci nal, and Tranfitory; but mine is Divine | and Eternal, Hence it ts called, the | peace of God, an4 That passeth all un- | deritanding.

Fourthly, Tie person speaking in the Text, haiti enough of all things truly Spiritually good, to satisfie the Gelires of every longing Soul. Ard Jesus stood, and Cried, saying, If any man thirst, le hin come unto mc, aud djinh, And to him that is athirst, I will give of the fountain

Tan ws.

to Jesus Christ, 93

tain of the water of life freely, 7h.

Fifchly, With the person speaking in the Text, is power to pericct and *desend, and deliver those that come to hym for safegard. 4! power, saith he, in per and earth, ts gen unto 9M, Mar. 28,

Thus might I multiply instances of this nature in abundance. But

Secondly, they that in truth, do come to him, do therefore come to him, that they may receive it at his hand. They come for light, they come for life, they come for reconciliation with God; they allo corge for peace, they come thar their Soul may be sacisfied with Spiritual good, and that they may be prote*- cd by him against all Spiritual, and E ternal damnatian; and he atone is ables to give them all this, to he filling of their joy to the full, as they also find, when come to him.

This is evident,

First, From the plain declaration of those that already arc come to him. Being Test ificd by faith, we have Peacre W119 God through our Lord Tefrs Cirt, by whom also we have access wit' beliefs tte t9 ti) Face, wWheorGcn we star: I, aid FOe-

94 Come, & welcome, jojce 12 hope of the glory of God, Rom.

: Secondly, *Tis evident also, in that while they keep their cycs upon him, they never desire to change him for another, or to add to themselves, some 0ther thing, together with him to make up their Spiritual Joy. God forb:a, said Fault, that 1 should Glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Fesus Christ, Yea and count all thiggs but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom [ have suffered the lols of all things; and do count them but dung, that, 1 may win Chritt, and be found in him; not having mine own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is thorough the faith of Christ, the righecousness which is of God by faith, F1:- lipians 3. 7, 8,9.

Thirdly, "Tis evident also by their earnelt desires, that others might be made partakers of their blessedness. Brethren, said Paul, my hearts defire and prayer to God for Jsrael 1s, that they might be saved, that is, that way that he expected to be saved himself, as he saith also to the Galatians. &rethren, saith he, I beseech you, be as I am, for 1 amasye art, That is, 1 am a sinner as you are; _- [ beto Jesus Christ, 95

I beseech you seek forlife, as I am seeking of it: as who should say, For there is a sufficiency in the Lord Jesus both for me and yon.

Fourthly, *Tis evident also, by the Triumph that such men make over all their enemies, both Bodjly,and Gholtly: : Now, thanks be to God, said Paul, who causeth us always to triumph im Fesus Chrif. And who shall separate us frem the Love of Chrilt our Lord. And again, 0 death where us thy sting! O Grave, where 1s thy vittory | The ting of aeath is Sin, and the strength of fint, ws the Law; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the vitto ry thorow 01:7 Lond esis Christ, 2 Cor. =. 14. Rom. 8. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 55 50,

Fifthly, Tis evident also, for that they are made, by the Glory of that which they have found in him, to fuser, and endure what tne Devil and Hell jt feif hath or could invent, 45 4 Mcans to separate them from him. Again, Who jh,4i? separet ec 1s from the Lowe of C11 :ft 7 Sha!! nibulation, or ifiress, or perscention, or fe/nine, or nagcancss, or peril, or Sword (45 4 25 WHRLEE7, for thy fake we are kitled a'l the day, lows, wz are Acceunted as jnecp for the fanghrer) * Nay, :n ail thise things Wwe ait more tan "a4 07's, through how that

that loved us. For I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor princepalzties, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to Come, tor Height, nor aepth, nor any other Creature shall be abte to separate us from the Love of God, which 1s ia Christ” Fesus, Rom 8.

Shall come ['to Me.] O the heart attrafting glory rihat is in Jesus Christ, (when he is discovered) to draw those to him that are given to him of the Father. Therefore, those that come of old rendered this, as the cause of their coming to him. Ard we beheld his glory, as of the only begotteu of the Father, Joh, 1, 14. And the reason why others come not, but perish in their fins, is for want of a sight of his glory. If our Gospel be hid, ut ts hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lef the Glorious L1g1t of the Gospel of Christ, who zs the imaze of God, shunuld shine unro them, 2 Cor, 4. 3. 4:

There is therefore heart-pulling glory in Jesus Christ, which, when discovered, draws the man to him; wherefore, by, spall-come to thC, Chrilt may mean; whcn his glory is discovered, then they malr come, then they shall: come fo

fo Jesus Chrit, 59

t9P2. Therefore, as the True Comers come with Weeping and Relenting, as being sensible of. their own Vileness; so again it is faid, That the Ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Lion, with Singing and Everlafling Joy upon their Heads; they shall obtain Toy and Gladness, and Sorrow and Stghing shall flye away: That is, at the Sight of the Glory of that Grace, that shews it self to them zow, in the Face of our Lord Jesus Chrilt, and in the Hopes that they zow have of being with Him in the Heavenly Tabernacles. Therefore, it saith againz Wits Gladncss and Rejoycing shall they be brought;, they snall enter into the King's Palace, Ia. 35. 10. Chap. 51.11, Psal. 45. 15.

*Tis faid of Abraham, That when he awelt in Mesopotamia, 14e God of Glory appeared unto. him, ( Act, 7. 2.) saying, Get thee out of thy Couniry, And what then? why, away he went from his House and Friends, and all the World could not stay him, Nw, as the Psal-

G miit

mist sayes, Who # the King of Glory? He aniwers, -The Lord mighty in Battle: And who was that, but He that spoiled Principalities and Powers, when he did Hang upon the Tree, Tryumphing over them thereon? And who was that, but Jeius Christ, even the Person speaking in the Text? Therefore, he said of.A4braham, He saw his Day; Yea, saith he to the Fews, Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Diy; and he saw it, and was Glad, Psal. 24.8, Col.2. 14,15; Jam. 7. 1. Joh. 8. 56.

indeed, the Carnal Man sayes ( at least ) in his Heart, There is no Form or Comliness in Christ; and when he shall see him, there is no Beauty that he should defire him; But he lies: This he speaks, as having n:ver feen him.

But they that stand in his House, ani!

looks upon him® through the Glass of his Word, by the Help of his Holy

Spirit, they wil! tell you other things, |

But we, say they, all with open Face behelaing, as in a Glass, the Glery of the Lord, are coanged into the fame Image, from Glory to Glory, 2 Cor. 3. 17, 16. They sce Glory in his Person, Glory in his Undeftakings, Giory in the Merit of his Blood, and Glory in the Perfcction

to Jesus Christ, 99

ection ff his Righteousness; yea, Heart - affecting, Heart-changing Glory!

Indeed, his Glory is veiled, and cannot be seen, but as discovered by the Father ( Matth. 11.27.) It is veiled with Flesh, with Meanness of Descent from the Flesh, and with that Ignomy and Shame that attended him in the Flesh; but they that can, in God's Light, see through these things, they | shall see Glory in him; yea, such Glory, as will draw, atid pull their Hearts unto him, |

Moses was the Adopted Son of Phajah's Daughter; and, for ought know, had bin King at last, had he now conformed to the present Vanities that was there at Court; but he could nor, he would not doit: Why? what was the matter? Why? he saw more in the worst of Chrilt, (bear with the Expression } than he saw in the belt of all the Treasures of the Land. of Egypr. He refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter; choosing rather ro suffer Afiction 'wito the teople of God, than to enjay the Pleasures of Sin for 4 Season: Esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches, than the Treasures in E-

G2 gypt;

| Bypt; for he had respett to the Recoma " pence of Reward. He forsook Egypt, | not fearing the Wrath of the King: Bu what emboldened him thus to do * Why? he endured; for he had a Sight of the Person speaking in the Text: He en. dured, as seeing Him who us Invisible, But, I say, would a Sight of Jesus have | - thus taken away 44sses's Heart from | a Crown, and a Kingdom, &c, had he not by that Sight seen more. in Him, than was to be seen in them, Zeb, 11. 24, 25, 20, |

Therefore, when he saith, Shall come #0 Me, he means, They shall have a Discovery of the Glory of the Grace that is in Him; and the Beauty and Glory of that is of such Vertue, that it constraineth, and forceth, with a Blessed Violency, the Hearts of those that are given to Him,

Moses, of whom we spake before, was no Child, when he was thus taken with the Beauteous Glory of this Lord: He was Forty Years old, and so conseque:ly was able, being a Man of that Wisdom and Opportunity as he was, to make the best Judgement of the Thinps, and of the Goodness of them that was before him in the Land of E- &TH"

to Jesus Christ, 404

pt, But he, even he it was, that sct that low. Esteem upon the Glory of

| Foypt, as to count it not worth the

'"medling with, when he had a Sight of

F this Lord Jesus Christ. This wicked

World thinks, that the Fancies of a Heaven,' and a Happiness hereafter, may serve well enough to take the Heart of such, as either have not the Worlds good Things to delight in; or that are Fools, and know not how to delight themselves therein: But let them.know again, that we have had Men of all Ranks and Qualities, that have been taken with the Glory of our = Jesus, and have left All to follow

im: As Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abrabam, Isaac; Facob, Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon; and who not, that had either Wit or Grace to favour Heavenly things? Indeed, none can stand off from Him, nor any longer out against Him, to whom he Reveals the Glory of his Grace.

And him that cometh to Me, I will in 20 wise cast out, ]

By these Words, our Lord Fesus doth set forth {yet more amply) the great G 3 Good-

Coming Sinner,

that cometh,

Goodness of. his Nature towards the Before he said, They Shall come; and here he declareth, The with Heart and Affettions he will receine But by the way, let me speak one Word or two, to the Conditions lity of this Promise, with which noy And him that- cometh to Ate, I will not cast out: . Where it is cvident ( may some say ), That Christ's Receiving vs to Mercy, depends upon our Coming; and so our Salvation by Christ is Conditional: If we Come, we shall be Received; not: for taat is fully intimatcd by the Words. Fhe Promise of Reception on:y to him that Comecth: I Answer; That the Coming in these Words mentioned, as a Condition of being Received to Life, 15, that which is promised, yea, concluded to be cfrected in us b mise going before,

we shall

And him

the Pro-

In those latrer

Words, Coming to Christ is implicitly required of us; and in the Words before, that Grace is positively promised It is, as if he should say; All tat the Father giveth Me, shall come to Heaven ; Heaven, I will jn no wise c

and him that cometh to

ast. out thence,

to Jesas Christ, 103

thence, We come to Chri##, because it is said, We Shall come; because it

is given to us rs Come: So fhat, the

Condition which is exprefied by C-71i/#

in these later Words, is absolutely promised. in the Words before, And indeed, the Coming here intended, is nothing else but the Effect af, Shall come to Me,

And him that cometh, ]

To speak to these Words,

1. In general.

2, More particularly,

In general: They suggest unto us these four Things :

First, That Fesus Christ doth build upon it; that fince the Father gave his People to him, they shall be cnabled to Come unto him. And. him that cometh: As who should say; 1 know, that since they are Given to Me, they

' shall be enabled to Come unto Me, He

faith not, Jf chey com, or J @appase they will Come; but, And him that cometh, By these Words therefore he shews us, that he addresseth himself to the Receiving of them whom the Father gave to him, to save them: By G 4 which,

which, as I said, he concludeth or build. eth upon it, that they shall indeed Come to Him.

Secondly, Christ also suggesteth by.

these Words, That he very well know: eth who are given to him; not by their Cotning to him, but by their being

Given to him, Al that the Father gr

eth Me, snall come to Me: Ana him that

comeih, &c, This Him he knoweth to.

- be one of them, that the Father hath Given him; and therefore, he Receivcth him, even because the Father hath Given him to Him, 7 know my Sheep, saith he: Not only those, that already have Knowledge of him; but those too, that yet are ignorant of him, - Other

Sycep have T ( said he) which are not of

this Fill: Not of the Fewish - Church; but those that lic in their Sins, cven the Rude and Barbarous Gentiles, Therefore, when Paul was afraid to stay at Cerimin, from a Supposition, that some Mischief might befal him there: Be not afraid (aid the Lord Fesus to him) but speak; and hold not thy peace, for T have much People in this City, Joh, 10, 16, Act. 18. 9, 10. The People that the Lord here speaks of, were not at

this time accounted His, by reason of 2

f co Jesus Christ: x05

a Work of Conversion that already had passed upon them; but by Vertue of the Gift of the Father, for he had given them unto him: - Therefore, was Paul to stay here, to speak the Word of the Lord to them; that by his Speaking, the' Holy - Ghost might ef-

' fetually work out their Souls, to the

causing them to Come; who. was also ready with Heart and Soul, Fo receive. them, |

Thirdly, Christ by these Words also suggesteth, That no more came unto Him, than indeed was given him. of the Father: For the Zim in this place, is one of the Al, that by Christ, was mentioned before, All that the Father giveth Me, jhall come to Me;; and every Pim, of that All, 1 will in no wise calt out. This 'the Apostle infinuateth, where he saith; He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfetting of the Saints, fer the work. of the Munistry, for the edifying of the Body of, Christ: Till we All come in the Unity ef the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto # Perfe Man, wnto the Measure of the S7Aature

Stature of the Fulness of Christ, Ephef, W121, 13, 3.

Mark, As in the Text, so here, he speaketh of Al; Until we All come, We All! All who? Doubtiefss, Al that the Father giveth to Chrisf, This is further jnsinuated, because he calleth this All, The Body of Christ, the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ: By which he means, the Unjversal Number given, to wit, The true Elect Church; which is said to be his Body and Fulness, Ephes. 1. 22, 23.

Fourthly, And Christ Jesus by these Words further suggeiteth, That he is well content with this Gift of the Father to him. All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out, I will heartily, willingly, and with great

Content of Mind receive him. They |

shew us also, that Chr:/t's Love in Recciving, is as large as his Father's Love in Giving, and no larger. . Hence he thanks him for his Gift; and also thanks him for hiding of Him, and his Things, from the rest of the Wicked, at. 1. 25. Luk, 10, 21.

But, Secodly, and more particularly, And

| 'to Jesus Christ. 107

And (| him ] that cometh, And [ him! | This word Him; By it, Christ looketh back to the Gift of the Father; not only in the Lump, and whole of the Gift, but to every Him of that Lump, As who should say; I do not only -accept of the Gift of my Father in the General, but have a special Regard to every of them in Particular; and will secure not only some, or the greatest part; but Every Him, every Dust: Not an Hooff of all shall be lost, or lefr behind. And indeed, in this he consenteth to his Father's Will; which is, That of All that he hath given him, he should lose Nothing, Foh. 6. 39. ; | And him, ] Christ Fesus also, by his thus dividing the Gift of his Father into Hims;, and by his speaking of them | in the Smpular Number, 'shews, what 4 particular Work shall be wrought. in each one, at the time appointed of the Father. And it shall come to pass in that Day, saith the Prophet, that the Lord shall beat off from the Channel of the River, to the Stream of Egypt; and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye Children of Israel, Tsa. 27. 12, He shews also hereby, That no Lineage, Kindred, or Relation, can at all be profited by any

ny Outward or Carnal Union, with the Person that the Father hath given to Christ. 'Tis only 77, the Given Him, the Coming Him, that he intends absolutely to secure,

And him, ] There are divers sorts of Persons, that the Father hath given to Fesus Christ: They are not all of one Rank, of one Quality. Some are High, some Low; some are Wise, some Fools; some are more Civil, and Complying with the Law; some more Profane, and averse to Him, and his Gospel. Now, fince those that are given to him, are ini'some sense so di- - vers; and again, since he yet saith, And Him that cometh, &c, He by that doth give us to understand, that he is not, as Men, for picking and choosing, to take a Best, and leave a Worst; but he is for Him, that the Father hath |, given him; and that cometh to him, He will not alter nor change it; a Good for a Bad, or a Bad for a Good, Levit,

There is many a sad Wretch given by the Father to Fesus Chri/t ; but not one of them all is despised, or lighted by him,

to Jesus Christ, 109

It is said of those that the Father hath given to Chr:s#, That they have done worse than- the Heathen; That they were Murderers, Thieves, Drunkards, Unclean Persons, and what not? But he has Received them, Washed them, and Saved them. A fit Emblem of this Sort, is that wretched Instance mentioned in the Sixteenth of Exzekzel, that was cast out in a Stincking Condition, to the loathing of its Person in

the day that it was Born: A Creature in such.a | wretched - Condition, that no Eye pittied, to Co any of the Things there mentioned unto it, or to have Compassion upon jt: No Eye, but his that speaketh in the. Text.

And Him, Lethim be as red as Blood, let him be as red as Crimson: Some men are blood-Red finners, Crimson linners, Sinners of a double die; dipt, and dipt again before they come to Jesus Christ. Art thou that readest these Lines, fuch an one? speak out man, Art thou sach an one? and art thou now coming to Jesus Christ for the Mercy of Justification, that thou mightest be made white in his Blood, and be covevered with his Righteousness? Fear not z for as much as this thy coming betokeneth

neth, that thou arr of the number of _ them, that the Father hath piven to Christ; for he will in no wise cast thee out. Come now, saith Christ, and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be as Red as Crimson, they

all be as wooll, Isa, 1, 18.

And him] There was' many a strange him came to Jesus Christ, in the days of his flesh; but he received them all, without turning dny away. Speaking unto them of the Kingdom of God, and Healing, such as had need of healing, Luk. 9. 11, Chap. 4. 4o. These words And him, are therefore words to be wondered at: That not one of them, who by vertue of the Fathers gift, and drawing, are coming to Jesus Christ; I fay, that not one of them, what ever they have been, what ever they have done, should be. rejected, or set by, WB 3t admitted to a fhare in his faving Scace. *Tis said in Luke, that the peo- _ ple wonadred at the gracious words that

proceeded out of his mouth, LuK. 4. 22. Now, this is one of tis gracious words these words are like drops of- honey, as it is said; Pleasant words are as an honey Com, sweet to the Soul, and health |

\ to Jesus Christ, 111

jo the bones. These are gracious words indeed, even as full as a faithful, and a merciful High Priest could speak them. Luther saith, When Christ speaketh, he hath a mouth as wide as Heaven and Earth: That is, to speak fully to the incouragement of every finfull h:-z, that

is coming to Jesus Christ, And that

his word is certain, hear how himself confines it: Heaven and Earth, faith he, ball pass away; but my word shall not pass away, Isa. 62. 1. Mat. 24, 35.

It is also confirmed by the testimony of the Four Evangelists, who gave faithful relation of his loving reception of

' all Sorts of coming sinners, whether they

were publicans, harlots, thieves possessed of Devils, Bedlams, and what not? Luk, 19,1,2, 33 445, 6, 7, 8. at, 21. 21, Luk. 15. Chap. and Chap. 23. 41, 42. Mark, 19.9, Chap. 5. 1,2, 3,to 9g. This then shews us, First, The greatness of the merits of Christ.

Secondly, The willingness of his heart to impute them for Life to the great, if comnyg, sinners,

First, This shews vs the greatness of the Merits of Christ ; for ic must not be supposed, that his words are biggerthan his worthyness, He is Strong to execute

execute' his word; he can Do, as well as Speak, He can do exceeding abundantly more than we ak, or think, even to the uttzrmost, and out fide of his word, (Ephes. 3. 20.)

He speaketh in Righteousness, in very faithfulness, when he began to build

this blessed Gospel Fabrick, the Text :

It was for that, he had firit sat down,

and counted the cost; and for that he

knew he was able to finish it. What |

Lord, Any him! Any him, that cometh

to thee! This is. a' Christ worth Iooking after, this is a Christ wo#ch coming

- This then, should learn us diligently

to consider the Natural force of evety.

word of God: and to judge of Chrilt's

- ability to save; not by our fins, or by

our shallow apprehensions of his Grace;

but by his word, which is the true

measure of Grace.

And if we do not judge thus, we

shall dishonor his Grace, lose the bene- | fit of his word, and. ncedlesly fright our |

selves into many Discouragements, though

-

p to Jesus- Christ, 113

though coming to Jesus Christ; Him, any him that cometh, hath from this

" word of Christ, to feed himself with

hopes of Salvation. As thou art therefore coming, O thou coming sinner, Judge thou, . whether Christ can savethee, by the true Sense of his words? Judge, coming finner, of the Efficacy of his Blood, of the perfeftion of his Righteousness, and of the

-

prevailancy of his intercession, by his

word, © And him, saith he, that cometh,

to me, I will in no wise cast our. Inno w/e, that is, for no Sin: Judge therefore by his word, how able he is to

\ fave thee? It is said of Gods Sayings

to the Children of 1srae!; There failed not ought of any good thing, which the Lord bad spoken to the house of Israel;.

' all came to pass, And again ; Not one thing

hath failed of, of all the. good things which the, Lord your God, fpoke concern= ing you all are come to Pass wito you; aid not one thing hath failed thereof, Josh, 21. 45. Chap. 23. 14.

Coming finner, what promife thou findest in the word of Christ, (train it whether thou cant, so thou dolt not

- corrupt it, and his Blood and Merits will answer all, what the word saith, or

any true Consequence that is drawn thcres

114 .Come, & welcome, there-from, that we may boldly ventyre upon ; As here in the Text, he saith ; And Dim that cometh ; indefinite- * tively; without the least intimatipn of the rejeCtion of any, though never so great, if he be a coming-smner. Take it then for granted, that thou, whoever thou art, if coming, art Intended in these words : - neither shall it injure Christ at all, if, as Benhadad's Servants served Ahab,thou shalt catch him at his word. Mow, faith the Text, The Men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, to wit, any word of grace ; and did bastily catch it : And it happened, that A-\ ' hab called Benhadad, his brother. The men replyed therefore, Thy brother Benhadad ? catching him at his word, 1 King ,20. 33. . Sinner, coming sinner, serve Fesus Christ thus, and he will take it kindly at thy hands. When he in his argument called the Canaantish woman, Doo, she catcht him at it,and said ; Trath Lord, yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs that fall from their Masters Table, 1 say, she /catcht him thus in his words, and he took it kindly; saying, O woman, great is thy faith! be it unto thee even as thou wilt, Mat. 15. 26. Catch him, coming sinner, catch him,

Secondly,

Secondly, The other thing that I told

u, is shewed us from these words, is this; The willmeness of ChrisP®s heart to invpure his merits for Life to the great, if rommag, simmer. And him that cometh to me, 1 will in no wise caft out,

The awakned coming sinner, doth not so easily question the power of Christ, as his willingness to fave him. Lord, if thou welt, thou canst, said one, Mar. 1, 40: He did not = the Af upon his power, but upon his will: he concluded, he cord; but he was not as fully of perfwaston,that he weld. Burt we have

4 the fame ground to believe, he wil, as we |

have to believe he ca7;and indeed,ground for both, is the Word of God. If he was hot willing, why did he promise? why did he say, he-would receive the coming finher? Facob took him there; T hou faidst,says he, 7 will surely do thee Good, Gen, 32. 12, For, from this promise he concluded, that it followed in reason, Hse mnst be willing.

The Text also gives some ground for us, to draw the same” conclusion. Hnd him that cometh to me, I Will a1 9 Wise cast out, Here 15 his willingness as- | ferted, as well as his power suggested. It is worth your observation, that 4brabam's Faith considered rather his power, than his willingness; that ' is, he drew this Conclukon, . 7 skal

have a, Child, from the Power that

was- in God' to fulfill the Promise to kim: 'for he concluded; he was willing give him one, else he would not have

promised one, He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but

was strong in faith, giwmg glory to God: "ae {ub, Loos e —— what he had promised, the was able to perform, Rom, 4. 20, 21, But was not his faith exerc:sed, or tryed, about his willingness too? No, there was no shew of reason for thar, because he had promised it; indeed, had he not promised it, he might Lawfully have doubted it; but fince he had promised it, there was left no ground at all for doubting; because his willingness

to-give a Son, was demonstrated in his

promising him a Son. These words therefore, arc sufficient ground to incourage any coming sinner, that Chrilt is willing to his power, to receive him; and fince he hath power also to do what he will, there is no ground at all left to the coming sinner, any more to doubt;* but to come in full hope of acceptance, and of being received unto '

grace

to Jesus Christ, 187

race and mercy. "And him. that [[com- - eth.JHe faith not, And him that is Come; | bot, and him that Cometh; that is, and him, whose heart begins to move after me, who is leaving all fox my sake; hin, who is looking out, who is on his Journey to me. We mult therefore distinguish betwixt coming, and being come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to him, has attained of him more sensi bly, what he felt before he wanted; than hehas, that but yet is coming to him, A Man that is come to Christ, hath the advantage of him that is but cozung to him; and that in seven things. First, He that is come to Christ, is, nearer to him, than he that is but come ing to_him; for he that is bat coming to him, is yet, in some senfe, at a distance from him; as it is said of the coming prodigal; And while he was yet a great way off, Luk, 15, Now, he that is nearer to him, hath the best sight of him; and so,is able to make the best Judgement of his wonderful grace & beauty, as God faith; Let them come near, then let them sozak, And as the Apostle Fobn. saith; And we have seen, and do testifie, that " | God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the porld, Isa, 41, 1; 1 Joh. 4. 14. * He 7 | H 3 that

' that is not yet come, though he is acoming, is not fit. not being indeed ca- ' pable, to make that Judgement of the worth and glory of the Grace of Christ,

as he is thas is come to him, and hathscen and beheld it, Secondly, He that is come to Christ,

has the advantage of him that is but coming, in that he is eased of his buxden; for he that is but coming, 1s not, Atat. 11.28. He that is core, has cast

his burden upon the Lord; by Faith he |

hath seen himself released. thereof:, but _ he that is but commrg, hath it yet, ag

to sense, and feeling, upon his own shoulders. \Come unto me, all ye that

Labor, and are heavy Laden, implies, that their burden, though they are coming, is yet upon them; and so will be, till indecd they are-come to him.

Thirdly, He that is come to Christ, has: the advantage of him that is 'but coming: in this also, namely.; He hath drank of the Sweet, and Soul-refreshing Water of Life; but he that is but coming, hath not: If any man thirst, let him Come nnto ms and drink,

: Mark, he must Come to him, before he drinks; according to that of the Prophet.: Ho every one that thirsteth,

_ Come

—

6 if fo Jesas Christ, 'V19

Come ye to the Waters, He drinketh nof ' as he cometh, but when he is come to the Waters, Fob. 7. 37. ja. 45. 1. Fourthly, He that is come to Christ, hath the advantage of him, that as yet © js but coming: in this also, to wit, He is not so terrified with the noise, and, as I may call it, Ze and Cry; which the Avenger of blood makes at the heels of him, that yet, is but coming to him. 'When the Slayer was upon his flight to the City of his refuge, he had the noise or fear of the Avenger of blood at his heels; but when he was come to the City, and was entred there-into, that noise ceased: Even so it is with him, that is but coming to Jesus Christ; he heareth many a dreadful Sound in ' hjs ears; | sounds of death and damnation; which he that is come, is at present freed from, Therefore he saith z Come, and 7 will give you rest: And so he saith again; Vethat have believed, do enter into rest, as he said, &c. Now the belicving there intended, is a believing on Chrift; as come - unto him for rest, is only found in him, by them that are Come to him. .' Fifthly, He therefqre that is come to Christ, is not so subjeRt to those dejections, and castings-down, by reason = 9 of

of the rage and affaults of the evil one; as is the man, that is but coming to Jesus Christ (tho ke has Temptations too.)

[-And while he was yet a-commg, the Des wil threw him down, and Wore him, Luk. 9. 42.] For he has, though Satan still Roareth vpon him, those experimental comforts, and refreshments (to ' wit) in his treasury, to present himself with, in times of Temptation and Con-

Ai; which he that is but commg,has not, .

Sixthly, He that 'is come to Christ, has the advantage - of him that is but coming to him: in this also, to wit, He hath upon him the Wedding Garment, £c. But: he that 1s commng, has not. The Prodigal, when coming home to his Father, was cloathed with nothing but Rags, and was tormented with an empty belly: but when he was co-e, the best Robe is brought out; also, the Gold Ring, and the shooes; yea, they are put upon him, to his great rejoycing. The fatted Calf was killed for him; the mufick was {truck up, to make him mer: ry: and. thus also the Father himself Sangof him; This my Son was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found, Luk. 15. 18,-19, 20, 21, 22,.23, 24 Seventhly, Ina word, he that is come to

Christ,

T to Jesus Chrif. +2;

Christ, his groans, and-tears, his doubts, and fears, are turned into Songs and Praises; for that he hath now received the atonement, and the earnest of his inheritance : But he that is but yet a coming, hath not those Praises, nor Songs of deliverance with him; nor has he as yet, received the atonement, and earnest of his Inheritance, which is,the Sealing testimony of the Hely Ghost, throughthe

fprinkling of the Blood of Christ upon his

Conscience ; for he 1s not come : Rom, 5,

"And him that | Cometh

' There is further to be ge from this word [ Cometh,] these following particulars, First, That Jesus Christ hath his Eye

upon, and takes notice of the First Mo. ving of the Heart of a Sinner after him. self: Coming-Sinner, thou.canst not move with Desires after Chr:i/#, but he sees the Working of. those Desires' in thy Heart, Al! my Desires, said David, are before thee, and amy Groanings are wot hid from thee, Psal. 35. 9. This he spake, as he was coming (after he had back-sliden) to the Lord 7esus Chy;st. 'Tis-said of the Prodigal, That white be Was yet a preat-way off, his Fatber saw him,

him, had his Eye upon him, and y

the going out of his Heart after him, |

Luk, 15, 20. When Nathaniel was come to Jesus

Cbrist, the Lord said umto them that stood before him; Behold, ar Ifsraclite. gndeed, in whom there 1s no Guile, But Nathaniel answered him, Whence know. est thou me, Fesus answered, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the' Fig-Tree, I saw thee, There, I suppose, Nathaniel was pouring out of his Soul to God: for Mercy, or that he would give him good Understanding about the essias to come: And Fesw saw all the Workings of his honest. Heart at that time, Foh. 1. 47, 48. Zacheus also had some secret Moving of Heart, such as chey was, towards Fesus Christ; when he ran before, and climbed yp the Tree to see him; and the Lord Fesus Christ had his Eye upon him: Therefore, when he was come to the Place, he looked up to him, bids him come down; For to Day (said he) 1 must abide at thy House: To wit, in order to the further Compleating the | Work of Grace in his Soul, Zuk. 19. I,:2, 3 4 5 6, 7, 8. , Remember this, Coming-Sinner! | 5% Secondly,

l to Jesus Christ. +23

Secondly, As Fesus Christ has his Eye

upon; fo he hath his Heart open, to 4 receive the Coming Sinner, | This is

verified by the Text; And him that cometh to Me, I will 1n no wise cast out, This is also discovered by his preparing of the Way, in his making of it Easfie (as may be) to the Coming-Sinner; which Preparation is manifest by them Blessed Words, I will in 10 wise cast out: Of which, more when we come to the Place. And while he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and bad Compassion on bim; and ran, and

fell on his Neck, and kissed. him ( Luk.

15. 20.) All these Expressions do strongly prove, that the Heart of Christ is open to receive the Comming - Sinner.

Thirdly, As Jesus Christ has his Eye upon, and his Heazt open ta receive; * so he hath resolved already, that nothing shall alienate his Heart from receiying the Coming-Sinner, No.Sins of the Coming-Sinner, nor the Length of the Time that he hath abode in them, shall by iny Means prevail with Jesus Christ to reject him. Coming - Sinner, thou: art coming to a loying Lord Jesus!

Fonrthly,

drotht from his Blefsed Mouth,on purpose, that the Coming Sinner might take Encouragement to continue on his Jour-' ney, until he be come indeed to Jesus Christ, It was doubtless, a great Encouragement ta Blind Barrlimeus, that Jesus Christ stood still, and called him, when he was crying; 7esus, thou Son of David, have Mercy on me - Therefore, *tis said, He cast away his Garment, "Rose up, and Came to Fefus, Mark 10. 46, &c. Now, if a Call to come hath such Encouragement in it, what is a Promise of Receiving such, but an Encouragement much more? And observe it, though he had a Call to come, yet not having a Promise, his Faith was forced to work upon a meer Consequence: Saying, He calls me; and | surely, fince he calls me, he will grant me my Defire. Ah! but Coming-Sinner,-thou hast no need to go so far a+ bout, as to draw (in this Matter) Confequences; because thou hast plain Promises: And him that cometh to me, 1 will in no wise caft out. Here is' full, plain; yea, what Encouragement one can desire: For, suppose thou was admitted to make a Promise thy wm - | Qhrilt |

x24 Come, & welcome, |

Fourthly, These Words therefore are |

a