Come & welcome to Jesus Christ, or, A plain and profitable discourse upon the sixth of John, 37 vers shewing the cause, truth and manner of the coming of a sinner to Jesus Christ, with his happy reception and blessed entertainment / written by J. Bunyan. Bunyan, John, 1628-1688. 1678 Approx. 357 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 152 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A30130 Wing B5495 ESTC R30257 11276324 ocm 11276324 47254 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A30130) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 47254) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1456:24) Come & welcome to Jesus Christ, or, A plain and profitable discourse upon the sixth of John, 37 vers shewing the cause, truth and manner of the coming of a sinner to Jesus Christ, with his happy reception and blessed entertainment / written by J. Bunyan. Bunyan, John, 1628-1688. 297, [1] p. Printed for B. Harris ..., London : 1678. Errata at end. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bible. -- N.T. -- John VI, 37 -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2005-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-04 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2005-04 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Come , & Welcome , TO JESUS CHRIST . OR , A plain and profitable Discourse upon the Sixth of John , 37 Vers. Shewing the Cause , Truth , and Manner of the Coming of a Sinner to Jesus Christ ; with his Happy Reception , and Blessed Entertainment . Written by J. Bunyan . And they shall come which were ready to Perish , Isa. 27. 13. LONDON , Printed for B. Harris at the Stationers Arms in Swithings Rents in Cornhil by the Royal Exchange , 1678. Come , & Welcome , TO JESUS CHRIST . John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me , shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . A Little before in this Chapter you may read , That the Lord JESUS walked on the Sea to go to Capernaum , having sent his Disciples before in a Ship : But the Winds was contrary , by which means the Ship was hindred in her Passage : Now about the fourth watch of the night , Jesus came Walking upon the Sea , and overtook them ; at the sight of whom they were afraid . Note , When Providences are black and terrible to Gods People , the Lord Jesus shews himself to them in wonderful manner , the which , somtimes they can as little bear , as they can the things that before were terrible to them . They were afraid of the Wind , and the Water ; they were also afraid of their Lord and Saviour , when He appeared to them in that State. But He said , be not afraid , it is I. Note , That the End of the appearing of the Lord Jesus unto his people , ( though the manner of his appearing be never so terrible ) is to alay their fears and perplexities . 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 people , they go on but slowly , and with great difficulty ; but when he joyneth himself unto them , Oh! how fast they stear their course , how soon are they at their Journies end ! The people now among whom he last preached , when they saw that both Jesus was gon , and his Disciples , they also took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus . And when they had found him , they wonderingly asked him , Rabbi , when camest thou hither ? But the Lord Jesus , slighting their complement , answered , Verily , Verily , ye seek me , not because ye saw the Miracles , but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled . Note , A People may follow Christ far , for base ends , as these went after him beyond - Sea for Loaves ; a 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 not feigning complements , but gracious intentions that crowns the work , in the eye of Christ : Or thus , It is not the toyl , and business of professors , but their love to him , that makes him approve of them . 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 Filled . Yet observe again , He doth not refuse to give , even to these , good counsel ; he bids them Labor for the meat that endureth to eternal Life . O how willingly would Jesus Christ have even those Professors that come to him with pretences only , come to him sincerely , that they may be saved . The Text , you will find , is after much more discourse with , and about this people ; and it is uttered by the Lord Jesus as the conclusion of the whole , and intimateth , that since they were Professors in pretence only ; and therefore such as his soul could not delight in as such , that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him . As who should say , I am not like to be Honoured in your Salvation ; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a people , and they shall come to me in Truth ; and in them will I be satisfied . The Text therefore may be called Christ's repose ; in the fulfilling whereof , he resteth himself content , after much Labor , and many Sermon spent , as it were , in vain . As he saith by the Prophet : I have Labored in vain , I have spent my strength for nought , and in vain , Isa. 49. 4. But as there he saith , my Judgment is with the Lord , and my work with my God : So in the Text , he saith , All the Father giveth me , shall come to me ; and them that cometh to me , I will in no wise 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 rest under the consideration of the little effect that his Ministry had even in Capernaum , Corazin and Bethsaida . I thank thee O Father , said he , Lord of Heaven and Earth , because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and hast revealed them to babes : even so Father , for so it seemed good in thy sight , Matt. 11. 25. Luke . 10. 21. The Text , in the general standeth of two parts , and hath special respect to the Father , and the Son : As also to their joynt management of the Salvation of their People . All that the Father giveth me , shall come to me ; and him that 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 . First , For the gift of the Father , there is this to be considered about it ; to wit , The gift it self , and that is a gift of certain persons 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 . 1. In his hearty acknowledgment of it , to be a gift : The Father giveth me . 2. In his taking notice , after a solemn manner , of All , and every part of the gift : All that the Father giveth me . 3. In his resolution to bring them to himself . All the Father giveth me , shall come to me . 4. And in his determining , that not any thing shall make him dislike them in their coming . And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . These things might be spoken to at large , as they are in this method presented to view ; but I shall chuse to speak to the words , 1. By way of Explication . 2. By way of Observation . First , By way of Explication . [ All ] that the Father giveth me . This word , All , is often used in Scripture ; and is to be taken more largely , or more strictly , even as the Truth , or 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 consider , that it is Limited , and Restrained , only to those that shall be Saved ; to wit , to those that shall come to Christ ; even to those that he will , in no wise cast out . Thus also the word All Israel , is sometimes to be taken ( though sometimes it is taken for the whole Family of Jacob. ) And so All Israel shall be saved , Rom. 11. By All Israel , here he intendeth , not All of Israel in the largest 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 are the Children of the flesh ; these are not the Children of God , but the Children of the promise are counted for the seed , Rom. 9. 6 , 7 , 8. This word , All , must therefore be limited , and enlarged , as the truth , and argument , for the sake of which it is used , will bare ; else we shall abuse Scriptures and Readers , & our selves , & All. And I , if I be lifted up from the earth , said Christ , 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 earth , he means , as he should seem , his being taken up into Heaven ; and if by drawing All men after him , he meant a drawing of them into that place of Glory : then must he mean , by All Men , Those , and only Those , that shall in truth be eternally Saved from the Wrath to Come . For God hath concluded them All in unbelief , that he might have mercy upon All , Rom. 11. 32. Those intended in this Text , are the Jews , 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 hath concluded them All in 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 to them only . But again : The word [ Giveth ] or hath given , must be restrained after the same manner , to the same limited number . All 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 Many given to him that shall never come unto him . Yea , many are given to him , that he will cast out . I 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 : 1. Because , then all the men , yea all the things in the World must be Saved . All things , saith 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 given 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 to him ; because , the Father hath given some , yea , many to him to be dashed in pieces by him . Ask of me , said the Father to him , and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance , and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ; But what must be done with them ? Must he Save them All ? No , Thou shalt brake them with a rod of iron , thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters 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 Justice and Severity , ( Rev. 2 ▪ 26 , 27. ) Yet , as you see , they are given to him . Therefore the gift intended in the Text , must be restrained to some ; to a gift that is given , by way of speciality , by the Father to the Son. In Psalm 18. he saith plainly , That some are given to him , that he might destroy them . Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies , that I might destroy them that hate me , ver . 40. These therefore cannot be of the number of those that are said to be given in the Text ; for those , even All of them shall come to him , and he will in no wise cast them out . 3ly . Some are given to Christ , that he by them might bring about some of his high and deep designes in the world . Thus Judas was given to Christ , to wit , that by him , even as was determined before , he might bring about His death , and so the Salvation of his Elect by his Blood. Yea , and Judas must so manage this business , as that he must lose himself for ever in the bringing of it to pass . Therefore the Lord Jesus , even in his losing of Judas , 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 Judas so to bring about his Masters death , as he might bring about his own eternal Damnation . Those , saith he , that thou gavest me , have I kept , and none of them is lost , but the Son of perdition , that the Scripture might be fulfilled , Joh. 17. 12. Let us then , grant that Judas was given to Christ , but not as others are given to him , to wit , not as those made mention of in the 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 I have mentioned before ; that is , he was given to Christ , that he by him might bring about his own death , as was before determined ; and that , in the overthrow of him that did it . Yea , he must bring about his Dying for us in the loss of the instrument that betrayed him , that he might even fulfill the Scripture in his destruction , as well as in the Salvation of the rest . And none of them is lost , but the Son of perdition , that the Scripture might be fulfilled . The gift therefore in the Text , must not be taken in the Largest sence , but even as the Words will bare ; to wit , for such a gift as he accepteth , and promiseth to be an Effectual means of their Eternal Salvation . All that the Father giveth me , shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Mark , They shall come , that are in special given to me , and they shall by no means be rejected . For this is the Substance of the Text. Those therefore intended , as the gift , in the Text , they are those that are given by Covenant to the Son ; those that in other places are called the Elect , the Chosen , the Sheep , and the Children of the promise , &c. These be they that the Father hath given to Christ to keep them ; those , that Christ hath promised Eternal 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 . This is the will of the Father that sent me , that of all that he hath given me , I should lose nothing , but should raise it up at the last 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 is Greater than All ; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers Hand . As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh , that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him . Thine they were , and thou gavest them me , and they have kept thy word . I pray for them , I pray not for the world , but for those that thou hast given me ; for they are thine . And all mine are thine , and thine are mine ; and I am glorified in them . Keep through thine own Name , those whom thou hast given me , that they may be one , as we are . Father , I will that those whom thou hast given me , may be with me where I am , that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me ; for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World , John , 6. 39. Chap. 10. 28. Chap. 17. 2 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 24. All these sentences are of the same import with the Text ; and the All 's , and Manies ; those , they , &c. in 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 before ) the word All , as also other words , must not be taken in such sort as our foolish fancies , or groundless opinions will prompt us to , but do admit of an 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 ; so shall we be better able to find out the mind of the Lord , in the Word which he has given us to know it by . All that the [ Father ] giveth . By this word [ Father ] Christ describeth 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 People . True , his acts , as to our Salvation , are divers from those of the Son , he was not capable of doing that , or those things for us as did the Son ; he Died not , he Spilt not Blood for our Redemption as the Son ; but yet he hath a hand , a great hand in our Salvation too . As Christ 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 a ransom for us . Hence he is called , The Father of Mercies , 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 chief hand in the Salvation of sinners . We ought to give thanks to the Father , who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light : for the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World , 1 Joh. 4. 14. Col. 1. 12. As also we see 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 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 sinner , but rather inclineth his heart to love , and be pleased with the remembrance of him . Hence Christ 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 familiarity 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 I can say but this word Father , it doth me more good , than when I call him by any other Scripture Name ; and 't is worth your Noting , that to call God by this relative Title , was rare among the Saints in Old Testament times ; seldom do you find him called by this name , no , sometimes not in three or four 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 Saints , and that taught them , both in their Discourses , their Prayers , and in their Writings , so much to use it ; it being more pleasing to , and discovering more plainly our interest in God , than any other Expression ; for by his one name we are 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 [ giveth . ] This word [ giveth ] is out of Christs ordinary Dialect , 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 hast given me ; Thou gavest them me ; and those which thou hast given me . Therefore of necessity this must be the first and chief sence of the Text. I mean of this word [ giveth ] : otherwise the Doctrine of Election , and of the Eternal Covenant which was made between the Father and the Son ( in which Covenant , this gift of the Father is most 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 signifie to us ; First , That though the act of giving , among men doth admit of the time past , or the time to come , and is to be only spoken of with 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 Christ : He calleth things that are not ( that is , to us ) as though they were ; and again , known unto God are all his works from the foundation of the world . All things to God are present , and so the gift of the Father to the Son , although to us it is an act that is past , Rom. 4. 17. Acts 15. 10. Secondly , Christ may Express himself thus , to shew , that the Father hath not only given him this portion in the Lump , before the world was ; but that those that he hath so given , he will give him again : that is , will bring them to him at the time of their conversion ; for 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 righteousness 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 , in marriage . And in this last sense , perhaps , the Text may have a meaning : that is , that all that the Father hath before the world was , given to Jesus Christ , he giveth them again to him , in the day of their espousals . Or , Thirdly , In that Christ saith [ giveth ] 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 war 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 him 't is always new . When the Lord spake of giving the Land of Canaan to the Israelites , 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 now , 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 side Jordane . 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 Son ; 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 Ghost , are one and the same Eternal God ; yet as to their personality are 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 , therefore a word about those two . The Giver and Receiver cannot be the same person , in a proper sence in the same act of giving and receiving . He that giveth , giveth not to himself but to an other ; the Father giveth not to the Father , to wit , to Himself , but to the Son ; the Son receiveth not of the Son , to wit , of Himself , 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 Me a Commandment , Joh. 12. 49. So again , I 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 affections , and to a reprobate mind . Now these he disposeth of in his Anger , for their destruction ( Acts. 7. 42 , Rom. 1. 24 , 26 , 28. ) that they may reap the fruit of their doings , 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 from these Judgments , and those are they that he will Pardon , as he saith , for I will pardon them whom I reserve , Jer. 50. 20. Now these he hath given to Jesus Christ by Will , as a Legaey . Hence the Lord Jesus sayes , This is the Fathers Will which hath sent me , that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing , but should raise it up again at the last day , Joh. 36 29. The Father therefore giving them to Him to save them , must 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. 7. 25. Hence he is said , To lay help upon me that is Mighty , Mighty to save : And hence it is again , that God did even of old promise to send his people a Saviour ; a great one , Psal. 89. 19. Isa. 63. 1. To save , is a great work , and calls for Almightyness in the Undertaker : hence 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 Destruction of the Grave ; he hath finished Sin , and made an end of it , as to its Damning effect upon the Persons that the Father hath given him . He hath vanquished the curse of the Law , Nailed it to his Cross , Triumphed over them upon his Cross , and made a shew of these things openly , 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 2. 14 , 15. Hos. 13. 14. Dan. 9. 24. Gal. 3. 13. Col. 2. 14 , 15. Yea , and even now , as a sign of his Triumph and Conquest , he is alive from the Dead , and hath the Keys of Hell and Death in his own keeping , Revel . 1. 18. 2ly . The Fathers giving of them to him to save them , declares unto us that he is , and will 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 Ghost himself , That he is faithful to him that appointed him ; that is , to this work of saving those that the Father hath given him , for that purpose ; as Moses was faithful in all his House : Yea , and more faithful too , for Moses 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 Moses , even upon this account , because more Faithful than he ; as well as because of the dignity of his person . Therefore in him , and in 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 . And of this , He , to wit the Son , hath already given a proof ; for when the time was come , that his Blood was by Divine Justice required for their Redemption , Washing , and Changing : he as freely poured it out of his He●●t , as if it had been Water out of a vessel ; not sticking to part with his own Life , that the life which was laid up for them in Heaven , might not fail to be bestowed upon them . And upon this account ( as well as upon any other ) it is , that God calleth him his righteous servant , Isa. 53. For his righteousness could never have been compleat , if he had not been to the uttermost faithful to the work 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 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 , guilt of sin , death , and the curse of the Law , but also by his peoples ignorance , unruliness falls , into sin , 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 since there was one of them in the world , we should be amazed at his Patience and gentle Carriages to them . It is said indeed , the Lord is very pitiful , slow to anger , and of great mercy : and indeed , if he had not 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 . Can a woman forget her sucking Child , that she should not have Compassion on the Son of her Womb ? yea they may forget , yet will I not forget thee , saith the Lord , Isa. 49. 15. God did once give Moses , as Christs Servant , an handful of this people to carry them in his bosom , but no further than from Egypt to Canaan ; and this Moses , as is said of him by the Holy Ghost , was the Meekest 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 meekness nor love hold out in this work ; he failed , and grew pationate even to the provoking of his God to Anger under this work that God had laid upon him . And Moses said unto the Lord , wherefore hast thou afflicted thy Servant ? But what was the affliction ? Why the Lord had said unto him , carry this people in thy bosom as a nursing father beareth the sucking child , unto the Land that he sware unto their fathers . Not I , sayes Moses , I am not able to bear all this people , because it is too heavy for me : if thou deal thus with me , kill me I pray thee out of hand , and let me not see my Wretchedness , Numb . 11. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. God gave them to Moses 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 gather his Lambs with his arm , shall carry them in his bosom , and shall gently lead them that are with young , Isa. 40. 10 , 11. Intimating , that this was one of the 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 us to be Wisdom , yea he is called 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 the people , had need be Wise , because their adversaries are subtile above any . Here they have to incounter with the Serpent , who for his Subtilty out-witted our Father and Mother when their wisdome was at highest ( Gen. 3. ) But if we talk of Wisdom , our Jesus is wise , wiser than Solomon , wiser than all men , wiser than all the Angels ; he is even the Wisdom of God. Christ the Wisdom of God ( 1 Col. 1. ) And hence it is , that he turneth sin , temptation , persecutions , falls , and all things , for 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. Huram 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 bestowed upon us , in that he hath given us to his Son , and also given his Son for us ? All that the Father giveth me [ shall come . ] In these last words , there is closely inserted an answer unto the Fathers end in giving of his Elect to Jesus Christ. The Fathers end was , that they might come to him , and be Saved by him ; and that , sayes the Son , shall be done : They shall 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 , by infusing of an effectual blessing into all the means that shall be used to that end . As was said to the evil Spirit , that was sent to perswade Ahab , to go and fall at Ramah Gilead . Go , Thou shalt perswade him , and prevail also ; go forth and do so , 1 King. 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 bless it effectually , to his very end it shall perswade them , 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 lose nothing , but should raise it up at the last day , in order next unto himself , Christ the first-fruits , afterwards those that are his at his Coming ( 1 Cor. 15 ) But this cannot be done , if there should fail to be a work of grace effectually wrought , though but in any one of them . But this shall not fail to be wrought in them , even in all that the Father hath given him to save ; All that the Father hath given me , shall come to me , &c. But to speak more distinctly to the words ; They shall come . Two things I would shew you from these words . First , What it 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 , must be understood spiritually , not carnally ; for many came to him carnally , or bodily , that had no saving advantage by him ; multitudes did thus come unto him in the days of his flesh , yea innumerable companies . There is also at this day a Formal , customary Coming to his Ordinances , and ways of Worship , which availeth not any thing : I shall not now medle , for they are not intended in the Text. The Coming then , intended in the Text , is to be understood of the Coming of the 〈◊〉 unto him , even the moving of the heart towards him . I say , the moving of the heart towards him , from a sound Sense of the absolute want that a man hath of him for his Justification and Salvation . This Description of Coming to Christ , divideth it self into two heads . First , That coming to Christ , is a moving of the mind towards him . Secondly , That it is a moving of the mind towards him from a Sound Sense of the absolute want that a man hath of him for his Justification and Salvation . 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. 3. 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 Christ , by the moving of her bowels : My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door , and my Bowels were moved for him Song . 5. 4. My bowels ; the passions of my mind and affections ; 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 , Gen. 43. 30. 1 King 3. 26. Isa. 16. 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 . Ezek. 47. 9. The water , in this Text , is the Grace of God , in the Doctrine of it : the living things , are the Children of men to whom this Grace of God , by the Gospel is preached : now saith he , Every living thing which moveth whithersoever the waters shall come , shall live . Now see how this word moveth is Expounded by Christ himself in the Book of the Revelations : The Spirit and the Bride say , come . And let him that heareth , say , come . And let him that is athirst , come . And whosever will , that is willing , let him take the water of life freely , Revel . 22. 17. So that , to move in thy mind and will after Christ , is to be coming to him . There are many poor souls that are coming to Christ , that yet cannot tell how to believe it ; because they think , that coming to him , is some strang and wonderfull thing : and indeed so it is ; but 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 is a work of greatest wonder in this world , to see a man who was sometimes dead in sin , possessed of the devil , an enemy to Christ , and to all things spiritually good . I say , to see this man moving with his minde after the Lord Jesus Christ , is one 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 Justification 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 Sit before them ; and they will hear his words too , but they will not do them : that is , will not come inwardly with their mindes ; for with their mouth they shew much love , but their heart ( or minde ) goeth after 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 Concerning the true Commers . At that day the great Trumpet shall be blown , and They shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Assyria , and the out-casts of the land of Egypt , and shall worship the Lord in his Holy Mountaine at Jerusalem , ( Isa. 27. 13. ) They are then you see , the out casts , and those that are ready to perish , that indeed have their mindes Effectually moved to come to Jesus Christ. This sense of things , was that which made the three thousand come , that made Saul come , that made the Jaylor come , and that indeed makes all others come , that come Effectually . Acts 2. Chap. 8 and 16. Of the true coming to Christ , the three Leapers were a famous Semblance , of whom you read in 2 King. 7. 3 , &c. The famine in those days was sore in the Land , there was no bread for the people ; and as for that Sustinence that was , which was Asses Flesh , and Doves Dung that was only in Samaria ; & of these the Leapers had no share , for they were thrust without the City . Well , now they sat in the Gate of the City ; and hunger was , as I may say , making his last Meal of them ; and being therefore half dead already , what do they think of doing ? why , first they display the dismal colours of death before each others faces , and then resolve what to do , saying , If we say we will go into the City , then the famine is in the City , and we shall die there ; if we sit sti here , we die also ; now therefore 〈◊〉 , and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians ; if they save us alive , we shall live ; if they kill us , we shall but die . Here now was necessity at work , and this necessity drove them to go thither for life , whether else they would never have gon for it . Thus it is with them that in truth come to Jesus Christ : Death is before them , they see it and feel it ; he is feeding upon them , and will eat them quite up , if they come not to Jesus Christ ; and therefore they come even of necessity , being forced thereto by that Sense they have of their being utterly and everlastingly undone , if they find not safety in him . These then are they that will come : indeed these are they that are invited to come . Come unto me all ye that Labor , and are Heavy Laden , and I will give you rest , Matt. 11. 28. Take two or three things to make this more plain , to wit , that coming to Christ , floweth from a sound sense of the absolute need that a Man hath of him , as afore . 1. They shall come with Weeping , & with Supplication will I lead them ; I will cause them to walk by the Rivers of Waters in a plain way , wherein they shall not stumble , Jer. 31. 9. Mind it , they come with Weeping and Supplication ; they come with Prayers , and Tears . Now Prayers , and Tears , are the effects of a right Sense of the need of Mercy . Thus a senseless Sinner cannot Come , he cannot Pray , he cannot Cry , he cannot come sensible of what he sees not , nor feels . In those Days , and at that time , the Children of Israel shall come ; they and the Children of Judah together , going & weeping : they shall seek the Lord their God : they shall ask the way to Zion with their Faces thitherward , saying , come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten , Jer. 50. 4 , 5. Secondly , This coming to Christ , it is called a running to him , as flying to him ; a flying from Wrath to come . By all which Termes , is set forth the sense of the man that comes , to wit , That he is affected with the sense of his sin , and the Death due thereto ; that he is sensible , that the avenger of Blood pursues him , and that therefore he is cut off , if he makes not speed to the Son of God for Life ; Mat. 3. 7. Psal. 143. 9. Flying is the last work of a man in danger , all that are in danger do not Fly ▪ No , not all that see themselves in danger : flying is the last work of a man in danger : all that hear of danger will will not fly . Men will consider if there be no other way of escape , before they Fly. Therefore , as I said , flying is the last thing . When all Refuge fails , and a man is made to see that there is nothing left him but Sin Death and Damnation , unless he flyes to Christ for Life : then he flies , and not till then . Thirdly , That the true coming is , from a sense of an absolute need of Jesus Christ to save , &c. is evident by the Out-cry that is made by them that come , even as they are coming to him ; Lord save or I perish ; Men and Brethren what shall we do ; Sirs what must I do to be saved , and the like . This Language doth sufficiently discover that the truly coming Souls , are Souls sensible of their need of Salvation by Jesus Christ ; and moreover , that there is nothing else that can help them but Christ. Fourthly , It is yet further evident , by these few things that follow , it is said that such are pricked in their Hearts , that is , with the sentence of Death by the Law , and the least prick in the Heart kills a Man , Acts 2. 37. such are said , as I said before , to Weep , to Tremble , and to be astonished in themselves at the evident and unavoidable danger that attends them , unless they fly to Jesus Christ , Acts 9 chap. 16. Fifthly , Coming to Christ is attended with an honest , and sincere forsaking of all for him . If any Man come to me , and hate not his Father , and Mother , and Wife , and Children , and Brethren , and Sisters , yea , and his own Life also , he cannot be my Disciple ; And whosoever doth not bear his Cross , and come after me , cannot be my Disciple , Luk. 14. 26 , 27. By these , and the like expressions elsewhere , Christ describeth the true Commer , or the man that indeed is coming to him ; he is one that casteth all behind his Back ; he leaveth all he forsaketh all , he hateth all things that would stand in his way to hinder his coming to Jesus Christ. There are a great many pretended Commers to Jesus Christ in the World. And they are much like to the man that you read of in ( Matt. 21. 30. ) that said at his Fathers bidding , I go Sir , and went not . I say , there are a great many such Commers to Jesus Christ ; they say , when Christ calls by his Gospel , I come Sir , but still they abide by their Pleasures , and carnal Delights . They come not at all , only they give him a Courtly Complement ; but he takes notice of it , and will not let it pass for any more than a Lie. He said , I go Sir , and went not , he dissembled and lied . Take heed of this , you that flatter your selves with your own deceivings words will not do with Jesus Christ : coming is coming , and nothing else will go for coming with him . Before I spake to the other Head , I shall answer some Objections that usually lie in the way of those that in Truth are coming to Jesus Christ. Objection I. Though I cannot deny , but my mind runs after Christ , and that too as being moved thereto from a sight , and consideration of my lost Condition ( For I see without him I perish ) : yet I fear my ends are not right in coming to him . Quest. Why ? what is thine end , in coming to Jesus Christ ? Answer , My end , is , that I might have Life , and be saved by Jesus Christ. This is thy Objection ; well , let me tell thee , that to come to Christ for Life , and to be saved : though at prethou hast no other end , is a lawful , and good coming to Jesus Christ. This is evident , because Christ propoundeth Life , as the only Argument to prevail with sinners to come to him , and also blameth them because they come not to him for Life . And ye will not Come to me that ye might have Life , Joh. 5. Besides , there are many other Scriptures whereby he allureth Sinners to come to him ▪ in which he propoundeth nothing to them but their safety . As , He that believeth in him , shall not perish ; he that believeth , is passed from Death to Life . He that believeth , shall be Saved . He that believeth on him is not condemned . And believing , & coming , are all one . So that you see , to Come to Christ for Life , is a lawful coming , and good . And let me add over and above , that for a man to come to Christ for Life , though he comes to him for nothing else but Life : he gives much honour to him . First , He Honoureth the Word of Christ , and consenteth to the Truth of it , and that in these two general Heads . 1. He Consenteth to the Truth of all those sayings , that Testifieth that Sin is most abominable in it Self , dishonourable to God , and damnable to the Soul of Man , Jer. 44. 4. Rom. 2. 23. Chap. 6. 23. 2 Thes. 2. 12. 2. In that he believeth , as the Word hath said , that there is in the Worlds best things , Righteousness and all , Nothing but Death and Damnation , Rom. 7. 24 , 25. Chap. 8. 2 , 3. 2 Cor. 3. 6 , 7 , 8. Secondly , He Honoureth Christs Person , in that he believeth , that there is Life in Him , and that he is able to Save him from Death , Hell , the Devil , and Damnation , Heb. 7. 24 , 25. Thirdly , He Honoreth him , in that he believeth that he is Authorized of the Father to give Life to those that come to him for it , ( Joh. 5. 11 , 12. Chap. 17. 1 , 2 , 3. ) Fourthly , He Honoureth the Priest-Hood of Jesus Christ. 1. In that he believeth , that he alone hath made Attonement for Sin , Rom. 5. 2. In that he believeth , that Christ hath more Power to Save from Sin by the Sacrifice that he hath Offered for it ▪ than hath all Law , Devils , Death , or Sin to Condemn , Acts 13. 38. Heb. 2. 14 , 15. Revel . 1. 17 , 18. Thirdly , In that he believeth that Christ , according to his office , will be most faithfull , and mercifull in the discharge of his office , 1 Joh. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Heb. 2. 17 , 18. Fourthly , Further , he that cometh to Jesus Christ for life , taketh part with him against Sin , and against all the ragged and imperfect righteousness of the world ; yea , and against false Christs , and damnable errors that set themselves against the worthiness of his merits and sufficiency . Fifthly , Therefore , as Noah , at Gods command , thou preparest this Ark , for the saving of thy self , by the which also thou condemnest the world , and art become Heir of the righteousness which is by faith , ( Heb. 11. 7. ) Wherefore coming sinner , be content ; he that cometh to Jesus Christ , believeth too that he his willing to shew mercy to , and to have Compassion upon him ( though unworthy ) that comes to him for life . And therefore thy Soul lieth not only under a special Invitation to come , but under a Promise too of being accepted and forgiven Mat 11. 28. All these particular parts , and qualities of faith , are in that Soul that comes to Jesus Christ for Life , as is evident to any indifferent Judgment . For , will he that Believeth not the Testimony of Christ concerning the baseness of Sin , & the insufficiency of the Righteousness of the World , come to Christ for Life ? No. He that believeth not this Testimony of the word , comes not : He that believeth that there is Life any where else , comes not : He that questions whether the Father hath given Christ power to forgive , comes not : He that thinketh that there is more in Sin , in the Law , in Death , and the Devil , to Destroy , than there is in Christ to Save , comes not : He also that questions his faithful Management of his Office of Priesthood for the salvation of sinners , comes not . Thou then that art indeed the comeing Sinner , believest all this . True , perhaps thou dost not believe with that full Assurance : nor hast thou leisure to take Notice of thy Faith as to these Distinct acts of it : But yet all this Faith is in him that cometh to Christ for Life . And the Faith that thus Worketh , is the Faith of the best and purest kind ; because this Man comes alone as a Sinner , and as seeing that Life is , and is to be had , only in Jesus Christ. Before I conclude my Answer to this Objection , take into thy consideration these two things . First , That the Cities of Refuge , were Erected for their sakes that were dead in Law , and that yet would live by grace ; even for those that were to fly thither for life from the avenger of blood that pursued after them . And it is worth your Noting , that those that were upon their flight thither , are in a peculiar manner called the people of God. Cast ye up , Cast ye up , saith God , prepare ye the way , take up the stumbling blocks out of the Way of My people , Isa. 57. 14. This is meant of preparing the way to the City of refuge , that the slayers might escape thither , and live ; which slayers are here by way of speciality called the people of God : even those of them that escaped thither for life . Secondly , Consider that of Ahab , when Benhadad sent to him for life , saying , Thus saith thy Son Benhadad , I pray thee let me live . Though Benhadad had sought the Crown Kingdom , yea and also the life of Ahab ; yet how effectually doth Benhadad prevaile with him . Is Benhadad yet alive ? said Ahab , he is my brother ; yea , go , ye , bring him to me : so he made him ride in his Chariot 1 King. 20 chap. Coming Sinner what thinkest thou ? if Jesus Christ , had as little Goodness in him as Ahab , he might grant an humble Benhadad life ; thou neither beggest of him his Crown or Dignity : Life , eternal life will serve thy turn : how much more then shalt thou have it , since thou hast to deal with him who is goodness and mercy it self ; yea since thou art also called upon , yea greatly encourraged by a promise of life , to come to him for Life . Read also these Scriptures , Numb . 35. 11 , 14 , 15. Josh. 20. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Heb. 6. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Objection 2. When , I say , I only seek my self , I mean , I do not find that I do design Gods Glory in mine own Salvation by Christ , and that makes me fear , I do not come aright . Answer , Where doth Christ Jesus require such a Qualification , of those that are coming to him for Life ? come thou for Life , and trouble not thy head with such Objections against thy Self , and let God and Christ alone to Glorify themselves in the Salvation of such a worm as thou art . The Father saith to the Son , Thou art my Servant , O Israel , in whom I will be Gloryfied . God , propoundeth Life to Sinners , as the argument to prevail with them to come to him for Life ; and Christ sayes plainly , I am come , that ye might have Life , John 10. 10. He hath no need of thy designes , though thou hast need of his . Eternal Life , pardon of Sin , and Deliverance from Wrath to come , Christ propounds to thee , and these be the things that thou hast need of ; besides , God will be gracious , and merciful to worthless , undeserving wretches ; come then as such an one . Therefore lay no stumbling blocks in thy way to him , but come to him for life , & live , Joh. 5. 34. Chap. 10. 10. Chap. 3. 36. Mat. 1. 21. Prov. 8. 36 , 37. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joh. 11. 25 , 26. The Jayler was only for knowing at first , what he should do to be Saved : But Paul did not so much as once ask him , what is your End , in this Question ; do you design the Glory of of God in the Salvation of your Soul ? He had more wit ; he knew that such Questions as these would have bin but Fools bables about , instead of a sufficient salve , to so weighty a Question , as this was . Wherefore since this poor wretch lacked Salvation by Christ ; I mean , to be saved from Hell and Death , which he knew ( now ) was due to him for the sins that he had committed : Paul bids him , like a poor condemned sinner as he was , to proceed still in this his way of self-seeking : saying , Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved . Acts 16. 30 , 31 , 32. I know , that afterwards , thou wilt desire to glorifie Christ , by walking in the way of his precepts ; but at present thou wantest life ; the avenger of blood is behind thee , and the devil like a Lyon is roaring against thee : well , come now , and obtain life from these ; and when thou hast obtained some comfortable perswasion that thou art made partaker of life by Christ , then , and not tell then , thou wilt say , Bless the Lord O my Soul , and all that is within me bless his holy name . Bless the Lord O my Soul , and forget not all his benefits . Who forgiveth all thine iniquities , and healeth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy life from distruction , and Crowneth thee with loving kindness , and tender mercies . Psal. 103. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Objection . 3. But I cannot believe that I come to Christ aright , because , sometimes , I am apt to question his very Being , and Office to save . Thus to do is horrible : but may'st thou not Judge amiss in this matters ? How can I Judge amiss , when I Judge as I feel ? Poor Soul ! thou maist Judge amiss for all that . Why , I think that these questionings come from my Heart . Answ. Let me answer . That which comes from thy heart , comes from thy will and affections , from thy understanding , Judgement and Conscience . For these must acquiess in thy questioning , if thy questioning be with thy heart . And how say'st thou , ( for to name no more ) dost thou with thy Affection and Conscience thus question ? Answ. No , my Conscience trembles when such thoughts come in to my mind , and my affections are otherwise inclined . Then I conclude , that these things are either suddenly injected by the devil , or else are the fruits of that body of sin and death that yet dwels in thee , or perhaps from both together . If they come wholly from the devil , as they seem , because thy Conscience and affections are against them ; or if they come from that body of death , that is in thee ( and be not thou curious in enquiring from whether of them they come , the safest way is to lay enough at thy own door ) nothing of this should hinder thy coming , nor make thee conclude thou comest not aright . And before I leave thee , let me a little query with thee farther about this matter . First , Doest thou like these wicked blasphemies ? Answ. No , no : their presence and working kills me . Secondly , Doest thou mourn for them , pray against them , and hate thy self because of them ? Answ. Yes , yes : but that which afflicts me , is , I do not prevail against them . Thirdly , Dost thou sincerely chuse , ( mightest thou have thy choice ) that thy heart might be affected and taken with the things that are best , most heavenly , and holy ? Answ. With all my heart , and death the next hour , ( if it were Gods will ) rather than thus to sin against him . Well then , thy not liking of them , thy mourning for them , thy praying against them , and thy loathing of thy self because of them , with thy sincere chusing of those thoughts for thy delectation that are heavenly , and holy : clearly declares that these things are not countenanced either with thy Will , Affections , Understanding , Judgement or Conscience ; and so , that thy heart is not in them , but that rather they come immediatly from the devil ▪ or arise from the body of death that is in thy flesh : of which thou oughtest thus to Say , Now then , it is no more I that doth it , but sin that dwells in me . Rom 7. 16 , 17. I will give thee a pertinent instance . In Deut. 22. Thou mayest read of a betrothed damsel , one betrothed to her beloved ; one that hath given him her heart and mouth , as thou hast given thy self to Christ ; yet she was met with as she walked in the field , by one that forced her , because he was stronger than she . Well , what judgment now doth God the righteous judge pass upon the damsel for this ? The man only , that lay with her , saith God , shall die ; but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing ; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death . For as when a man riseth against his Neighbor , and slayeth him , even so is this matter : he found her in the field , and the betrothed damsel cryed , and there was none to save her . Deut. 22. 25 , 26 , 27. Thou art this damsel , the man that forceth thee with these blasphemous thoughts , is the devil ; and he lighteth upon thee in a fit place , even in the field , as thou art wandering after Jesus Christ ; but thou cryest out , and by thy cry , did'st shew that thou abhorrest such wicked leudness . Well , the Judge of all the earth will do right , he will not lay the Sin at thy door , but at his that offered the violence : and for thy comfort , take this into consideration also , That he came to heal them that are oppressed with the devil , Acts 10. 38. Objection . 4. But saith another , I am so heartless , so slow , and , as I think , so indifferent in my coming , that , to speak truth , I know not whether my kind of coming , ought to be called a coming to Christ. Answ. You know that I told you at first , that coming to Christ , is a moving of the heart , and affections towards him . But , saith the Soul , my dulness , and indifferency in all holy Duties , demonstrate my heartlesness in coming : and to come , and not with the heart , signifies nothing at all . Answ. The moving of the heart after Christ , is not to be discerned ( at all times ) by thy sensible , affectionate performing of duties ; but rather by those secret groanings , and complaints which thy soul makes to God against that sloth that attends thee in Duties . Secondly , But grant it to be even as thou say'st it is , that thou comest so slowly , &c. yet since Christ bids them come , that comes not at all ; surely they may be accepted that come , though attended with those infirmities , which thou at present groanest under . He saith , And him that cometh : he saith not , if they come sensibly so fast : But , And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out . He saith also in the Eighth of the Proverbs , As for him that wanteth understanding ; that is , an heart , for oft-times the understanding is taken for the heart . Come , eat of my bread , and drink of the wine that I have Mingled . Thirdly , Thou may'st be vehement in thy spirit , in coming to Jesus Christ , and yet be plagued with sensible sloth . So was the Church , when she cryed , Draw me , we will run after thee . And Paul , when he said , When I would do good , evil is present with me ( Song 1. 4. Rom. 7. ) The works , strugglings and oppositions of the Flesh , are more manifest , than are the works of the Spirit in our hearts , and so are sooner felt , than they . What then , let us not be discouraged at the sight , and feeling of our own infirmities , but run the faster to Jesus Christ for Salvation . Fourthly , Get thy heart warmed with the sweet promise of Christs acceptance , of the coming sinner , and that will make thee make more hast unto him . Discouraging thoughts , they are like unto cold weather , they benumb the senses , and make us go ungainly about our business ; but the sweet and warm gleads of the promise , are like the comfortable beams of the Sun , which liven and refresh . You see how little the Bee and Flye do play in the Air in Winter ; why , the cold hinders them from doing of it ; but when the Wind and Sun is warm , who so busie as they ? Fifthly , But again , he that comes to Christ , flyes for his life : now there is no man that Flyes for his life , that thinks he speeds fast enough on his Journey ; no , could he , he would willingly take a mile at a step . Oh I come not fast enough , say'st thou : Oh my sloth and heartlesness , say'st thou . O that I had wings like a dove , for then would I flee away , and be at rest — I would hasten mine escape from the windy storme and tempest , Psal. 55. 6 , 8. Poor coming Soul , thou art like the man that would ride full gallop , whose horse will hardly trot : now the desire of his minde , is not to be judged of , by the slow pace of the dull jade he rides on ; but by the hitching and kicking and Spurring , as he sits on his back . Thy flesh is like this dull Jade , it will not Gallop , after Christ. It will be backward , though thy soul and heaven lies at stake ; but be of good comfort , Christ judgeth not according to the fierceness of outward motion ( Mark 10. 17. ) but according to the sincerity of the heart , and inward parts . Joh. 1. 47. Psal. 51. 6. Mat. 26. 41. Sixthly , Ziba in appearance came to David much faster than did Mephibosheth : but yet his heart was not so upright in him to David as was his . T is true , Mephibosheth had a Check from David , Why wentest thou not with me Mephibosheth , said he ; 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 all things that are done in the earth , if he did not believe that the reason of his backwardness lay in his Lameness , not his mind . 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 sluggishness of the flesh ? canst thou say sincerely , The Spirit truly is willing , but the flesh is weak ? Mat. 26. 41. yea , canst thou appeal to the Lord Jesus , who knoweth perfectly the very inmost thought of thy heart ; that this is true , then take this for thy comfort , he hath said , I will assemble her that halteth , I will make her that halteth a remnant , and I will save her that halteth ( Mich. 4. 6 , 7. Zeph. 3. 19. ) what canst thou have more from the sweet lips of the Son of God ? But. Seventhly , I read of some that are to follow Christ in Chains ; I say , to come after him in Chaines , Thus saith the Lord , the labor of Egypt , and the Merchandize of Ethiopia , and the Sabeans , men of stature , shall come over unto thee , and they shall be thine : They shall come after thee ; in Chaines shall they come over , and they shall fall down unto thee , they shall make Supplication unto thee ; saying , surely there is none else to save . Isa. 45 , 14. Surely they that come after Christ in Chaines , come to him in great difficulty , because their steps , by their 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 thy neck , by which thy strength doth fail ( Lam. 1. 14. chap. 3. 17. ) But come , though thou comest in chaines , 't is 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 long Suffering , and his long Suffering is Salvation to him that cometh to him . Mark. 10. 49. 2 Pet 3. 9. Eighthly , Hadest thou seen those that came to the Lord Jesus in the days of his flesh , how slowly , how hobblingly they come to him by reason of their infirmities ; and also how friendly , and kindly , and graciously he received them , and gave them the desire of their hearts , thou wouldest not , as thou dost , make such Objections against thy self , in thy coming to Jesus Christ. Objection 5. But ( sayes another ) I fear I come too late , I doubt I have stayed too long , I am afraid the Door is Shut . Answ. Thou canst never come too late to Jesus Christ , if 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 the 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 others Murmured at him , but what did the Lord Jesus Answer them ? Is thine Eye Evil because mine is Good ? I will give to this last even as unto thee , Mat. 20. Secondly , The other instance is , The Thief upon the Cross : He came late also , even as at an Hour before his Death ; yea , he stayed from Jesus Christ , as long as he had liberty to be a Theif , and longer too ; for could he have deluded the Judge , and by lying words , have escaped his Just Condemnation ; for ought I know , he had not come as yet , to his Saviour : but being Convicted , and Condemned to Die ; yea , fastned to the Cross , that he might Die like a Rogue , as he was in his Life ; behold the Lord Jesus , when this wicked one , even now , desireth Mercy at his Hands , tells him , and that without the least reflexion upon him , for his 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 against some before they Die ? Answ. Yes . And God forbids that Prayers should be made to him for them , Jer. 7. 16. Jud. 22. Quest. Then , why may not I doubt that I may be one of these ? Answ. By no means , if thou art coming to Jesus Christ ; because when God Shuts the Door upon Men , he gives them no heart , to come to Jesus Christ. None comes , but those to whom it is given of the Father : But thou comest , therefore it is given to thee of the Father . But sure therefore , if the Father hath given thee an Heart to come to Jesus Christ , the Gate of Mercy yet stands Open to thee : For it stands not with the Wisdom of God , To give strength to come to the Birth , and yet to Shut up the Womb , Isa. 66. 9. to give grace to thee to come to Jesus Christ , and yet Shut up the Door of his Mercy upon thee . Encline your Ear , saith he , come unto me , hear , and your Souls shall Live ; And I will make an Everlasting covenant with you , even the sure Mercies of David , Isa. 55. 3. Object . But it is said that some knocked when the Door was Shut . Answ. Yes , But the Texts in which these Knockers are Mentioned , are to be referred unto the day of Judgment , and not to the coming of the Sinner to Christ in this Life . ( See the Texts , Mat. 25. 11. Luke 13. 24 , 25. ) These therefore concern thee nothing at all ; that art coming to Jesus Christ , thou art coming Now ! Now is the acceptable time , behold now is the day of Salvation , 2 Cor. 6. 2. now God is upon the Mercy-Seat , now Christ Jesus Sits by continually pleading the Virtue of his Blood for Sinners : and now , even as long as this World lasts , this word of the Text shall still be free , and fully fulfilled . And him that cometh to Me , I will in no wise cast out . Sinner ! the greater Sinner thou art , the greater need of Mercy thou hast , and the more will Christ be gloryfied thereby : come then , come and try , come tast , and see how good the Lord is to an Undeserving Worthless Sinner . Objection 6. But ( sayes another ) I am fallen since I began to come to Christ , therefore I fear I did not come aright , and so - consequently that Christ will not receive me . Answ. Falls are dangerous , for they dishonour Christ , wound the conscience , and cause the Enemies of God to speak reproachfully . But it is no good argument , I am fallen , therefore I was not coming aright to Jesus Christ. If David , and Solomon , and Peter had thus objected against themselves , they had added to their griefs , and yet they had at least , as much cause to do it , as thou . A Man whose steps are ordered by the Lord , and whose goings the Lord delights in , may yet be over-taken with a Temptation , that may cause him to fall , Psal. 37. 23 , 24. Did not Aaron fall , yea Moses himself ? what shall we say of Hezekiah , and Jehosaphat ? There are therefore falls , and falls ; falls pardonable , and falls unpardonable ; falls unpardonable are falls against Light , from the Faith to the despising of , and trampling upon Jesus Christ , and his blessed undertakings , ( Heb. ● . 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Chap. 10. 28 , 29. ) Now as for such , there remaines no more Sacrifice for sin : Indeed , they have no heart , no mind , no desire to come to Jesus Christ for life , therefore they must perish ; nay , sayes the Holy Ghost , 't is impossible that they should be renewed again unto repentance . Therefore , these God hath no Compassion for , neither ought we ; but for other falls , though they be dreadfull ( and God will Chastise his people for them ) they do not prove thee a graceless man , one not Coming to Jesus Christ for life . It is said of the Child in the Gospel , That while he was yet a-coming , the Devil threw him down , and tore him , Luk. 9. 42. Dejected Sinner , is it a wonder that thou hast caught a fall in thy Coming to Jesus Christ ! Is it not rather to be wondred at , that thou hast not caught before this , a thousand times a thousand falls ! Considering , First , What fools we are by nature . Secondly , What weaknesses are in us . Thirdly , What mighty powers , the fallen Angels , our implacable Enemies , are . Fourthly , Considering also how often the Coming-man is be-nighted in his Journey , and also what stumbling-blocks do lie in his way . Fifthly , Also his familiers ( that were so before ) now watch for his haulting , and seek by what means they may , to cause him to fall by the hand of their strong ones . What then ? must we , because of these Temptations , incline to fall ? No. Must we not fear falls ? yes . Let him that thinketh he standeth , take heed lest he fall . Yet let him not be utterly cast down . The Lord upholdeth all that fall , and raiseth up all those that are bowed down . Make not light of falls : yet hast thou fallen ? ye have , said Samuel , done all this wickedness , yet turn not aside from following the Lord , but serve him with a perfect heart , and turn not aside , for the Lord will not forsake his people ( and he counteth the coming sinner one of them ) because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people , 1 Sam. 12. 20 , 21 , 22. Shall come to me . Now we come to shew , what force there is in this Promise to make them come to him . All that the father giveth me shall come to me . I will Speak to this promise , First . In general . Secondly , In particular . In general . This word [ shall ] is confined to these [ all ] that are given to Christ. All that the father giveth me , shall come to me . Hence I conclude , First , That coming to Jesus Christ aright , is an effect of their being ( of God ) given to Christ before . Mark , they shall come ! Who ? those that are given ; they come then , because they were given . Thine they were , and thou gavest them me . Now this is indeed a Singular comfort to them that are coming in truth to Christ. Thus then may the coming Soul reason with himself as he comes . Am I coming indeed to Jesus Christ ? this coming of mine is not to be attributed to me , or my goodness , but to the grace and gift of God to Christ : God gave first my Person to him , and therefore hath now given me a heart to come to him . Secondly , This word , shall come , maketh thy coming , not only the fruit of the gift of the Father , but also of the purpose of the Son ; for these words are a divine purpose , they shew us the Heavenly determination of the Son. The Father hath given them to me , and they shall , yea , they shall come to me . Christ is as full in his resolution to save those given to him , as is the Father in the giving of them . Thirdly , These words , shall come , make thy coming to be also the effect of an absolute Promise . Coming sinner , thou art concluded in a Promise ; thy coming is the fruit of the faithfulness of the Promise , of the faithfulness of an absolute Promise . 'T was this promise , by the vertue of which thou at first received'st strength to come : And this is the Promise , by the vertue of which thou shalt be effectually brought to him . It was said to Abraham , At this time , will I come , and Sarah shall have a Son : this Son was Isaac . Mark , Sarah shall have a Son ; There is 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. 9. 9. Sarah shall have a Son , but how if Sarah be past age ? why still 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 . It carrieth enough in its own bowels to accomplish the thing promised , whether there be means or no in us to effect 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 Text. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me . Therefore is every sincere commer to Jesus Christ , called also a Child of the promise . Now we brethren , as Isaac was , are the Children of the promise , Sal. 4. 28. That is , we are the Children that God hath promised to Jesus Christ , and given to him ; yea , the Children that Jesus Christ hath promised shall come to him . All that the Father giveth me , shall come . Fourthly , This word [ shall-come ] engageth Christ to Communicate all manner of Grace to those thus given him , to make them effectually to come to him . They shall come ; that is , not if they will , but if grace , all grace , if power , wisdom , a new heart and the holy spirit , and all Joyning together , can make them come . I say , this word [ shall-come ] being absolute , hath no dependance upon our 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 dead , nor yet the barrenness of Sarah's Womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief , but was strong in faith , giving glory to God , being fully perswaded that what He had promised , He was able to perform , Rom. 4. He had promised , and had promised absolutely , Sarah shall have a Son. Therefore Abraham looks that He , to wit , God must fulfill the condition of it . Neither is this Expectation of Abraham , disapproved by the Holy Ghost , but accounted good and laudable , it being that by which he gave Glory to God. The Father also hath given to Christ , a certain number of Souls for him to save , 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 assuredly it shall be fulfilled , and not one thousandth part of a Tittle thereof shall fail . And now , before I go any further , I will more particularly enquire into the nature of an Absolute Promise . First , We call that an Absolute promise , that is made without any condition ; or more fully thus . That is an absolute promise of God , or of Christ , which maketh over to this or that man , any Saving Spiritual blessing , without a condition to be done on our part for 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 . It saith not , They shall if 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 , is supposed , though not expressed . But I answer ; No , by no means ; that is , as a condition of this promise : If they be at all included in the promise , they are included there as the fruit of the Absolute promise , not as if it expected the qualification to arise from us . Thy people shall be willing in the day of 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 us willing ? they shall be willing , if they are willing ; or they shall be willing , if they will 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 accomplishment , is the mighty power of Christ. The difference therefore betwixt the absolute , and the conditional promise , is this . First , They differ in their terms . The absolute promises say , I will , and you shall : the other , I will , if you will ; or do this , and thou shalt live ; Jer. 31. 31 , 32 , 33. Ezek. 36. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33. Heb. 8. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Jer. 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 else . Thirdly , The absolute promises therefore ingage God , the other ingage us : I mean God only , us only . Fourthly , Absolute promises must be fulfilled ; Conditional may , or may not be fulfilled . The absolute ones must be fulfilled , because of the faithfulness of God ; the other may not , because of the unfaithfulness of men . Fifthly , Absolute promises have therefore a sufficiency in themselves to 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 fulness of all desired things for us ; and will , when the time of that promise is come , yeild to us mortals , that which will veryly save us : yea , and make us capable of answering of the demands , of the promise 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 , Acts 5. 30 , 31. Secondly , The Conditional promise calls for faith , the absolute promise gives it , Zeph 3. 12. Rom. 15. 12. Thirdly , The Conditional promise calls 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 maketh men upright , and then the Conditional follows saying , Blessed 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 one that feareth the Lord , Psal. 128. 1. Thirdly , The absolute promise giveth saith , and then this Conditional follows saying , Blessed is she that believeth , Zeph. 3. 12. Luk. 1. 45. Fourthly , The Absolute promise brings free forgiveness of Sins ; and then says the Conditional , Blessed are they , whose Transgressions are forgiven , and whose sin is covered , Rom. 4. 7 , 8. Fifthly , The Absolute promise says , that Gods elect shall hold out to the end ; then the Conditional follows with his blessing , He that shall endure to the end , the same shall be saved , 1 Pet 1. 4 , 5 , 6. Mat. 24. Thus do the promises gloriously serve one another , and us , in this their harmonious agreement . Now the promise under consideration , is an absolute promise ; All that the Father giveth me , shall come to me . This promise therefore is a big-bellied promise , and hath in it self all those things to bestow upon us , that the conditional calleth for at our hands . They shall come ! Shall they come ? yes , They shall come . But how if they want those things , those Graces , Power and Heart , without which they cannot come ? Why , Shall come answereth all this , and all things else that may in this manner be objected . And here I will take the liberty a little to amplifie things . Object . But they are dead , dead in Trespasses and Sins , how shall they then come ? Answ. Why ? Shall-come , can raise them from this Death . The hour is coming , and now is , That the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God , and they that hear , shall Live. Thus therefore is this impediment , by shall-come , swallowed up , or quite removed out of the way . Object . 2. But they are Satans Captives , he takes them Captive at his Will , and he is stronger than they ; How then can they come ? Answ. Why ? Shall-come , hath also provided an help for this . Satan had bound that Daughter of Abraham so , that she could by no means lift up her self ; but yet , shall-come , set her free in Body and Soul both . Christ will have them turned from the Power of Satan to God. But what ! Must it be , if they turn themselves , or do something to Merit of him to turn them ! No , he will do it freely of his own good Will. Alas ! Man whose Soul is possessed by the Devil , is turned whither soever That Governor listeth ; is taken Captive by him , notwithstanding his natural Powers , at his Will ; but what will he do ? will he hold him , when shall-come puts forth it self ( will he then let him ) for comeing to Jesus Christ ? No : that cannot be , his Power is but the Power of a fallen Angel ; but shall-come , is the Word of God : therefore shall-come must be fulfilled , And the Gates of Hell Shall not prevail against it . There was Seven Devils in Mary Magdalen , too many for her to get from under the Power of ; but when the time was come , that shall-come was to be fulfilled upon her , they give place , fly from her , and she comes [ indeed ] to Jesus Christ. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me . The Man that was possessed with a Legien ( Mark 5. ) was too much , by them , captivated , for him by humane force ; yea , had he had ( to boot ) all the men under Heaven to help him , had he that said , he shall-come , with-held his mighty power : but when this promise was to be fulfilled upon him , then he comes , nor could all their power hinder his coming . It was also this shall-come , that preserved him from death , when by these evil spirits he was hurled hither and thither ; and 't was by the vertue of shall-come , that at last he was set at liberty from them , and inabled indeed to come to Christ. All that the father giveth me shall come to me . Object . 3. They shall ( you say ) but how if they will not ! man cannot come without his will : but if he will not , he will not ; and if so , then what can shall-come , do ? Answ. True there are some men say , we are Lords , we will come no more unto thee , Jer. 2. 31. But as God says in another case ( if they are Concerned in shall-come to me ) They shall know whose word shall stand , mine or theirs , Jer. 44. 28. Here then is the case , we must now see who will be the liar , he that saith , I will not , or he that saith , he shall come to me . You shall come , sayes God. I will not come sayes the sinner . Now as sure as he is concerned in this shall-come , God will make that man eat his own words : for I will not , is but the unadvised Conclusion of a Crazy-headed sinner : but shall-come , was spoken by him that is of power to perform his word . Son , go work to day in my vineyard , said the Father : but he answered and said , I will not . What now ? Will he be able to stand to his refusal , will he pursue his desperate denial ! No : He afterwards repented , and went. But how came he by that repentance ? Why it was wrapped up , for him , in the absolute promise ; and therefore not withstanding he said , I will not , he afterwards repented and went. By this parable , Jesus Christ sets forth the obstinacy of the sinners of the world , as touching their coming to him ; they will not come , though threatned , yea though life be offered them upon condition of coming . But now when , shall-come , the absolute promise of God , comes to be fulfilled upon them , then they come ; because by that promise is provided against the rebellion of their will ; Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power , Psal. 110. 3. He that had seen Paul in the midst of his out-rage against Christ , his Gospel , and people : would hardly have thought that he would ever have been a follower of Jesus Christ , specially since he went not against his Conscience in his persecuting of them . He thought verily that he ought to do what he did . But we may see , what shall-come can do , when it comes to be fulfilled upon the Soul of a rebellious sinner he was a Chosen vessel , given by the Father to the Son ; and now the time being come , that shall-come , was to take him in hand , behold he is over-mastered , astonished , and with trembling , and reverence , in a Moment becomes willing to be obedient to the Heavenly call , Acts 9. And were not they far gone ( that you read of in Acts the second ) who had their hands and hearts in the Murder of the Son of God ; and to shew their resolvedness never to repent of that horrid fact , said , His Blood be on us and our Children ? But must their obstinacy rule , must they be bound to their own ruin by the rebellion of their Stubborn wills ? No : not those of these that the Father gave to Christ , wherefore at the times appointed , shall-come Brakes in amongthem ; the absolute promise takes them in hand , and then they come indeed , crying out to Peter , and the rest of the Apostles , Men and brethren , what shall we do ? No Stubborness of mans will can stand , when God hath absolutely said the contrary , shall-come , can make them come as doves to their windows . The Lord spake unto Manasseth , and to his people ( by the Prophets ) but he would not hear , no , he would not : but shall Manasseth come off thus ? no , he shall not . Therefore , he being also one of those whom the Father had given to the Son , and so falling within the bounds and reach of shall-come : At last he comes indeed . He comes Bowing , and Bending ; He humbled himself greatly , and made Supplication to the Lord , and prayed unto him , and he was intreated of him , and had mercy upon him , 2 Chro. 33. The Thief upon the Cross , at first , did rail , with his fellow , upon Jesus Christ ; but he was one that the Father had given to him , and therefore shall-come , must handle him , and his rebellious will. And behold , so soon as he is dealt with all , by vertue of that absolute promise , how soon he buckleth , leaves his railing , falls to Supplicating of the Son of God for mercy ; Lord , saith he , remember me , when thou comest into thy Kingdome , Mat. 27. 44. Luk. 23. 40 , 41 , 42. Object . 4. They shall come , say you , but how if they be blind , and see not the way ; for same are kept off from Christ , not only by the obstinacy of their will , but by the blindness of their minde : now if they be blind , how shall they come . Answ. The question is not , Are they blind ? but , are they with in the reach , and power of shall come ; if so , That Christ , that said they shall-come , will find them eyes , or a guide , or both , to bring them to himself . If they shall-come , they shall-come : no impediment shall hinder . The Thessalonians darkness did not hinder them from being the Children of Light : I am come , said Christ that they that see not , might see . And if he saith , See ye blind , that have eyes , who shall hinder it ? Ephes. 5. 8. Joh. 9. 39. Isa. 29. 18. Chap. 43. 8. This promise therefore , is , as I said , abig-bellied promise , having in the bowels of it , all things that shall accur to the compleat fulfilling of it self . They shall-come . But 't is objected that they are blind : well , shall-come , is still the same , and continueth to say , they shall-come to me . Therefore he saith again , I will bring the blind by a way that they know not , I will lead them in paths that they have not known . I will make darkness light before them , and Crooked things straight , these things will I do unto them , and not forsake them , Isa. 42. 16. Mark , I will bring them though they be blind , I will bring them by a way they know not ; I will , I will , and therefore they shall-come to me . Object . 5. But how if they have exceeded many in sin , and so made themselves far more abominable ? They are the Ring-leading Sinners in the County , the Town or Family . Answ. What then ? Shall that hinder the execution of shall-come ? It is not Transgressions , nor Sins , nor all their Transgressions , in all their sins ( if they by the Father are given to Christ to save them ) that shall hinder this promise , that it should not be fulfilled upon them . In those days , and at that time , saith the Lord , the iniquities of Israel shall be fought for , and there shall be none , and the sins of Judah , and they shall not be found , Jer. 32. 30. Not that they had none , ( for they abounded in Transgression , 2 Chron. 33. 9. Ezek . 16. ●8 . ) but God would pardon , cover , hide , and put them away , by vertue of his absolute promise , by which they are given to Christ to save them . And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity , whereby they have sinned against me ; and I will pardon all their iniquity , whereby they have Transgressed against me . And it shall be to me for a name of joy , a praise , and an honour before all the Nations of the Earth , which shall hear of all the good that I do unto them ; and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness , and all the prosperity that I procure to it , Jer. 33. 8 , 9. Object 6. But how if they have not Faith and Repentance ? how shall they come then ? Answ. Why ? he that saith they shall-come , shall he not make it good ? If they shall-come , they shall-come ; and he that hath said , they shall-come , if faith and repentance be the way to come , as indeed they are , then faith and repentance shall be given to them : for shall-come , must be fulfilled on them . First , Faith shall be given them ; I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted , and poor people , and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. There shall be a Root of Jesse , and he shall rise to raign over the Gentiles ; and in him shall the Gentiles trust , Zeph. 3. 12. Rom. 15. 12. Secondly , They shall have repentance : He is exalted to give repentance ; They shall come weeping and seeking the Lord their God. And again , with Weeping and Supplication will I lead them , Acts 5. 30 , 31. Jer. 31. 9. Chap. 50. 5. I told you before , that an absolute promise , hath all conditional ones in the belly of it , and also provision to answer all those qualifications that they propound to him that seeketh for their benefit : And it must be so , for if shall-come be an absolute promise , as indeed it is , then it must be fulfilled upon every of those . concerned therein . I say , it must be fulfilled , if God can by Grace , & his absolute Will , fulfil it . Besides , since Coming , and Believing is all one ( according to Joh. 6. 35. ) He that cometh to me shall never hunger , and he that believeth in me shall never thirst . Then , when he saith , they shall come , 't is as much as to say , they shall believe , and consequently repent to the saving of the Soul. So then the present want of faith and repentance , cannot make this promise of God of none effect ; because that this promise hath in it to give , what others call for and expect . I will give them an heart , I will give them my spirit , I will give them repentance , I will give them faith . Mark these words , If any man be in Christ , he is a new Creature . But how came he to be a new Creature , since none can Create but God ? why , God indeed doth make them new Creatures . Behold , saith he , I make all things new . And hence it follows , even after he had said , they are new Creatures ; And all things are of God : that is , all this new Creation standeth in the several operations , and special workings of the Spirit of grace , who is God , 2 Cor. 5. 17 , 18. Object . 7. But how shall they escape all those dangerous , and damnable opinions , that like rocks , and quick ▪ sands , are in the way in which they are going ? Answ. Indeed this age , is an age of errors , if ever there was an age of errors in the world ; but yet the gift of the Father , laid claim to by the Son in the Text , must needs escape them , and in conclusion come to him . There are a 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 given 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 Proverbs , that sitteth in her seat on the High-places of the City , To call Passingers who go right on their way , ( Pro. 9. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16. ) But the persons , as I said , that by the Father are 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 his eye , with his counsels , by his spirit , and that in the way of peace ; by the springs of water , and into all truth , Psal. 32. 8. Psal. 73. 24. Joh. 16. 13. Luk. 1. 79. Isa. 47. 10. So then , he that hath such a guide ( 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 , he shall not Err therein ( Isa 35. ) for of every such an one it is said , Thine cars shall hear a word behind thee , saying ; This is the way , walk in it , when ye turn to the right hand , and when ye turn to the left , Isa 30. 21. There were Thieves and Robbers before Christs coming , as there are also now : But , saith he , The sheep did not hear them . And why did they not hear them , but because they were under the power of shall come : that absolute promise , that had that grace in it self to bestow upon them , as could make them able rightly to distinguish of voices . My sheep hear my voice . But how came they to hear it ? why , to them it is given to know and to hear , and that distinguishingly , Joh. 10. 8 , 16. Chap. 5. 25. Eph. 5. 14. Further , the very plain Sentence of the Text makes provision against all these things ; for , saith it , All that the Father giveth me , shall come to me ; that is , shall not be stopped , or be allured to take up any where short of Me ; nor shall they turn aside , to abide , with any besides Me. Shall Come [ to me . ] To me ! ] By these words there is further insinuated ( though not expressed ) a double cause of their coming to him . First , There is in Christ , a fulness of Al-sufficiency of that , even of all that which is needfull to make us happy . Secondly , Those that indeed come to him , do therefore come to him that they may receive it at his hand . For the first of these , There is in Christ a fulness of all Sufficiency of all that , even of all that which is needfull to make us happy . Hence it is said , For it pleased the Father , that in him should all fulness dwell . And again , Of his fullness , all we have received , and grace for grace , Colos. 1. 19. Joh. 1. 16. It is also said of him , that his riches is unsearchable , The unsearchable riches of Christ , Ephes. 3. 8. Hear what he saith of himself , Riches and honour are with Me , even durable riches and righteousness ; my fruit is better than Gold , yea than sine Gold ; and My revenue than Choice silver : I lead in the way of Righteousness , in the midst of the paths of Judgement , that I may cause them that love Me to inherit Substance . And I will fill their treasures , Prov. 8. 18. 19 , 20. 21. This in general , but more particularly . First , There is that Light in Christ , that is Sufficient to lead them out of ▪ and from all that darkness , in the midst of which all others , but them that come to him , stumble , and fall , and perish : I am the light of the world , saith he ; he that followeth me shall not abide in darkness , but shall have the Light 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 do it ; the Ten Commandments , though in the heart of man , cannot do it : this prerogative belongs only to Jesus Christ. Secondly ▪ There is that life in Christ , that is to be found no where else , Joh. 5. 40. Life as a principle in the Soul , by which it shall be acted and enabled to do that which through him is pleasing to God. He that believeth in , or cometh , to me , saith he , as the Scriptures have said , out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water , Joh. 7. 38. Without this life a man is dead , whether he be bad , or whether he be good , that is good in his own , and other mens esteem . There is no true and Eternal life , but what is in the Me that speaketh in the Text. There is also life for those , that come to him , to be had by faith in his flesh , and blood . He that eateth Me , even he shall live by Me , Joh. 6. 57. And this is a life against that Death , that comes by the guilt of sin , and the curse of the Law , under which all men are , and forever must be , unlesse they eat the Me , that speaks in the Text. Whoso findeth Me , saith he , findeth life ; deliverance from that everlasting death , and destruction , that without Me he shall be devoured by , Prov. 8. Nothing is more desirable than life , to him that hath in himself the Sentence of Condemnation ; and here only is life to be found . This life , to wit , Eternal life ▪ this life is in his Son. That is , in him that saith in the Text , All that the Father hath given Me shall come to Me , 1 Joh. 5. 10. Thirdly , The person speaking in the Text , is he alone by whom poor sinners have Admittance with , and Acceptance to the Father , because of the Glory of his righteousness , by and in which he presenteth them amiable , and spotless in his sight ; neither is there any way besides him , so to come to the Father ; I am the way , sayes he , the truth , and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by Me , Joh. 14. 6. All other ways to God , are dead and damnable , the destroying Cherubins , stand with flaming swords turning every way to keep all others from his presence , ( Gen. 3. 24. ) I say , all others but them that come by him . I am the door , by Me , saith he , if any man enter in , he shall be saued , Joh. 10. 1 , 2. The person speaking in the Text , is He , and only He , that can give stable , and everlasting peace ; therefore , saith he , My peace I give unto you . My peace , which is a peace with God , peace of Conscience , and that of an everlasting duration . My peace , peace that cannot be Matched , net as the world gived give I unto you ; for the worlds peace is but Carnal , and Transitory ; but mine is Divine and Eternal . Hence it is called , the peace of God , and That passeth all understanding . Fourthly , The person speaking in the Text , hath enough of all things truly Spiritually good , to satisfie the desires of every longing Soul. And Jesus stood , and Cried , saying , If any man thirst , let him come unto me , and drink . And to him that is athirst , I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely , Joh. 7. 37. Rev. 21. 6. Fifthly , With the person speaking in the Text , is power to perfect and defend , and deliver those that come to him for safegard . All power , saith he , in heaven , and earth , is given unto Me , Mat. 28. 18. Thus might I multiply instances of this nature in abundance . But Secondly , they that in truth , do come to him , do therefore come to him , that they may receive it at his hand . They come for light , they come for life , they come for reconciliation with God ; they also come for peace , they come that their Soul may be satisfied with Spiritual good , and that they may be protected by him against all Spiritual and Eternal damnation ; and he alone is able to give them all this , to the filling of their joy to the full , as they also find , when come to him . This is evident , First , From the plain declaration of those that already are come to him . Being Justified by faith , we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom also we have access with boldness into this grace , wherein we stand , and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God , Rom. 5. Secondly , 'T is evident also , in that while they keep their eyes upon him , they never desire to change him for another , or to add to themselves , some other thing , together with him to make up their Spiritual Joy. God forbid , said Paul , that I should Glory , save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yea and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord , for whom I have suffered the loss of all things ; and do count them but dung , that I may win Christ , and be found in him ; not having mine own Righteousness , which is of the Law , but that which is thorough the faith of Christ , the righteousness which is of God by faith , Philipians 3. 7 , 8 , 9. Thirdly , 'T is evident also by their earnest desires , that others might be made partakers of their blessedness . Brethren , said Paul , my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is , that they might be saved , that is , that way that he expected to be saved himself , as he saith also to the Galatians . Brethren , saith he , I beseech you , be as I am , for I am as ye are . That is , I am a sinner as you are ; now I beseech you seek for life , as I am seeking of it : as who should say , For there is a sufficiency in the Lord Jesus both for me and you . Fourthly , 'T is evident also , by the Triumph that such men make over all their enemies , both Bodily , and Ghostly : Now , thanks be to God , said Paul , who causeth us always to triumph in Jesus Christ. And who shall separate us from the Love of Christ our Lord. And again , O death where is thy sting ! O Grave , where is thy victory ! The sting of death is Sin , and the strength of sin , is the Law ; but thanks be to God , who giveth us the victory thorow our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 55 , 56. Fifthly , 'T is evident also , for that they are made , by the Glory of that which they have found in him , to suffer , and endure what the Devil and Hell it self hath or could invent , as a means to separate them from him . Again , Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ ? Shall tribulation , or distress , or persecution , or famine , or nakedness , or peril , or Sword ( as it is written , for thy sake we are killed all the day long , we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter ) ? Nay , in all these things we are more than Conquerors , through him that loved us . For I am perswaded , that neither death , nor life , nor Angels , nor principalities , nor powers , nor things present , nor things to come , nor height , nor depth , nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God , which is in Christ Jesus , Rom 8. Shall come [ to Me. ] O the heart attracting glory that is in Jesus Christ , ( when he is discovered ) to draw those to him that are given to him of the Father . Therefore , those that come of old rendered this , as the cause of their coming to him . And we beheld his glory , as of the only begotten of the Father , Joh. 1. 14. And the reason why others come not , but perish in their sins , is for want of a sight of his glory . If our Gospel be hid , it is hid to them that are lost , in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not , lest the Glorious Light of the Gospel of Christ , who is the image of God , should shine unto them , 2 Cor. 4. 3. 4. There is therefore heart-pulling glory in Jesus Christ , which , when discovered , draws the man to him ; wherefore , by , shall-come to Me , Christ may mean ; when his glory is discovered , then they must come , then they shall-come to Me. Therefore , as the True Comers come with Weeping and Relenting , as being sensible of their own Vileness ; so again it is said , That the Ransomed of the Lord shall return , and come to Zion , with Singing and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads ; they shall obtain Joy and Gladness , and Sorrow and Sighing shall flye away : That is , at the Sight of the Glory of that Grace , that shews it self to them now , in the Face of our Lord Jesus Christ , and in the Hopes that they now have of being with Him in the Heavenly Tabernacles . Therefore , it saith again ; With Gladness and Rejoycing shall they be brought ; they shall enter into the King's Palace , Isa. 35. 10. Chap. 51. 11. Psal. 45. 15. There is therefore Heart-attracting Glory in the Lord Jesus Christ ; which , when discovered , subjects the Heart to the Word , and Makes us Come to him . 'T is said of Abraham , That when he dwelt in Mesopotamia , the God of Glory appeared unto him , ( Act. 7. 2. ) saying , Get thee out of thy Country . And what then ? why , away he went from his House and Friends , and all the World could not stay him . Now , as the Psalmist sayes , Who is the King of Glory ? He answers . The Lord mighty in Battle : And who was that , but He that spoiled Principalities and Powers , when he did Hang upon the Tree , Tryumphing over them thereon ? And who was that , but Jesus Christ , even the Person speaking in the Text ? Therefore , he said of Abraham , He saw his Day ; Yea , saith he to the Jews , Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day ; and he saw it , and was Glad , Psal. 24. 8. Col. 2. 14 , 15. Jam. 1. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Indeed , the Carnal Man sayes ( at least ) in his Heart , There is no Form or Comliness in Christ ; and when he shall see him , there is no Beauty that he should desire him ; But he lies : This he speaks , as having never seen him . But they that stand in his House , and looks upon him through the Glass of his Word , by the Help of his Holy Spirit , they will tell you other things . But we , say they , all with open Face beholding , as in a Glass , the Glory of the Lord , are changed into the same Image , from Glory to Glory , 2 Cor. 3. 17 , 18. They see Glory in his Person , Glory in his Undertakings , Glory in the Merit of his Blood , and Glory in the Perfection of 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 , and pull their Hearts unto him . Moses was the Adopted Son of Pharoah's Daughter ; and , for ought I know , had bin King at last , had he now conformed to the present Vanities that was there at Court ; but he could not , he would not do it : Why ? what was the matter ? Why ? he saw more in the worst of Christ , ( bear with the Expression ) than he saw in the best of all the Treasures of the Land of Egypt . He refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter ; choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God , than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season : Esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches , than the Treasures in Egypt ; for he had respect to the Recompence of Reward . He forsook Egypt , not fearing the Wrath of the King : But what emboldened him thus to do ? Why ? he endured ; for he had a Sight of the Person speaking in the Text : He endured , as seeing Him who is Invisible . But , I say , would a Sight of Jesus have thus taken away Moses'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 , Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26. Therefore , when he saith , Shall come to 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 consequently was able , being a Man of that Wisdom and Opportunity as he was , to make the best Judgement of the Things , and of the Goodness of them that was before him in the Land of Egypt . But he , even he it was , that set that low Esteem upon the Glory of Egypt , as to count it not worth the medling with , when he had a Sight of 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 Lord Jesus , and have left All to follow Him : As Abel , Seth , Enoch , Noah , Abraham , Isaac ; Jacob , Moses , Samuel , David , Solomon ; and who not , that had either Wit or Grace to savour 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 no wise cast out . By these Words , our Lord Jesus doth set forth ( yet more amply ) the great Goodness of his Nature towards the Coming Sinner . Before he said , They Shall come ; and here he declareth , That with Heart and Affections he will receive them . But by the way , let me speak one Word or two , to the Conditionality of this Promise , with which now I have to do . And him that cometh to Me , I will not cast out : Where it is evident ( may some say ) , That Christ's Receiving us to Mercy , depends upon our Coming ; and so our Salvation by Christ is Conditional : If we Come , we shall be Received ; if not , we shall not : for that is fully intimated by the Words . The Promise of Reception is only to him that Cometh : And him that cometh . I Answer ; That the Coming in these Words mentioned , as a Condition of being Received to Life , is , that which is promised , yea , concluded to be effected in us by the Promise going before . In those latter Words , Coming to Christ is implicitly required of us ; and in the Words before , that Grace is positively promised to us . It is , as if he should say ; All that the Father giveth Me , shall come to Heaven ; and him that cometh to Heaven , I will in no wise cast out thence . We come to Christ , because it is said , We Shall come ; because it is given to us to Come : So that , the Condition which is expressed by Christ in these later Words , is absolutely promised in the Words before . And indeed , the Coming here intended , is nothing else but the Effect of , 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 Jesus Christ doth build upon it ; that since the Father gave his People to him , they shall be enabled to Come unto him . And him that cometh : As who should say ; I know , that since they are Given to Me , they shall be enabled to Come unto Me. He saith not , If they come , or I Suppose they will Come ; but , And him that cometh . By these Words therefore he shews us , that he addresseth himself to the Receiving of them whom the Father gave to him , to save them : By which , as I said , he concludeth or buildeth upon it , that they shall indeed Come to Him. Secondly , Christ also suggesteth by these Words , That he very well knoweth who are given to him ; not by their Coming to him , but by their being Given to him . All that the Father giveth Me , shall come to Me : And him that cometh , &c. This Him he knoweth to be one of them , that the Father hath Given him ; and therefore , he Receiveth him , even because the Father hath Given him to Him. I know my Sheep , saith he : Not only those , that already have Knowledge of him ; but those too , that yet are ignorant of him . Other Sheep have I ( said he ) which are not of this Fold : Not of the Jewish - Church ; but those that lie in their Sins , even the Rude and Barbarous Gentiles . Therefore , when Paul was afraid to stay at Corinth , from a Supposition , that some Mischief might befal him there : Be not afraid ( said the Lord Jesus to him ) but speak ; and hold not thy peace , for I 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 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 effectually work out their Souls , to the causing them to Come ; who was also ready with Heart and Soul , to 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 Him in this place , is one of the All , that by Christ , was mentioned before . All that the Father giveth Me , shall come to Me ; and every Him , of that All , I will in no wise cast out . This the Apostle insinuateth , where he saith ; He gave some Apostles , and some Prophets , and some Evangelists , and some Pastors and Teachers , for the perfecting of the Saints , for the work of the Ministry , for the edifying of the Body of Christ : Till we All come in the Unity of the Faith , and of the Knowledge of the Son of God , unto a Perfect Man , unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ , Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. Mark , As in the Text , so here , he speaketh of All ; Untill we All come . We All ! All who ? Doubtless , All that the Father giveth to Christ. This is further insinuated , because he calleth this All , The Body of Christ , the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ : By which he means , the Universal 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 suggesteth , 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 Christ's Love in Receiving , 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 , Mat. 11. 25. Luk. 10 , 21. But , Secondly , and more particularly . 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 left 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 , Joh. 6. 39. And him . ] Christ Jesus also , by his thus dividing the Gift of his Father into Hims ▪ and by his speaking of them in the Singular Number , shews , what a 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 , Isa. 27. 12. He shews also hereby , That no Lineage , Kindred , or Relation , can at all be profited by any Outward or Carnal Union , with the Person that the Father hath given to Christ. 'T is only Him , 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 Jesus 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 , since those that are given to him , are in some sense so divers ; 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. 27. 9 , 10. There is many a sad Wretch given by the Father to Jesus Christ ; but not one of them all is despised , or slighted by him . It is said of those that the Father hath given to Christ , 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 Ezekiel , 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 do any of the Things there mentioned unto it , or to have Compassion upon it : No Eye , but his that speaketh in the Text. And Him. ] Let him be as red as Blood , let him be as red as Crimson : Some men are blood-Red sinners , Crimson sinners , Sinners of a double die ; dipt , and dipt again before they come to Jesus Christ. Art thou that readest these Lines , such an one ? speak out man , Art thou such 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 ; for as much as this thy coming betokeneth , that thou art of the number of them , that the Father hath given 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 shall 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 any away . Speaking unto them of the Kingdom of God , and Healing such as had need of healing , Luk. 9. 11. Chap. 4. 40. 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 say , that not one of them , what ever they have been , what ever they have done , should be rejected , or set by , But admitted to a share in his saving grace . 'T is said in Luke , that the people wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth , Luk. 4. 22. Now , this is one of his gracious words ; these words are like drops of honey , as it is said ; Pleasant words are as an honey-Comb , sweet to the Soul , and health to 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 sinfull him , that is coming to Jesus Christ. And that his word is certain , hear how himself confines it : Heaven and Earth , saith he , shall pass away ; but my word shall not pass away , Isa. 63. 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 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Mat. 21. 21. Luk. 15. Chap. and Chap. 23. 41 , 42. Mark. 19. 9. Chap. 5. 1 , 2 , 3 , to 9. 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 coming , sinners . First , This shews us the greatness of the Merits of Christ ; for it must not be supposed , that his words are bigger than his worthyness . He is Strong to execute his word ; he can Do , as well as Speak . He can do exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think , even to the uttermost , and out side of his word , ( Ephes. 3. 20. ) Now then , since he concludeth Any Coming Him : it must be concluded , that he can save to the uttermost Sin , Any coming ▪ Him. He speaketh in Righteousness , in very faithfulness , when he began to build this blessed Gospel Fabrick , the Text : It was for that , he had first 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 looking after , this is a Christ worth coming to . This then , should learn us diligently to consider the Natural force of every word of God : and to judge of Christ's ability to save ; not by our sins , 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 benefit of his word , and needlesly fright our selves into many Discouragements , 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 sinner , of the Efficacy of his Blood , of the perfection 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 out . In no wise , that is , for no Sin : Judge therefore by his word , how able he is to save thee ? It is said of Gods Sayings to the Children of Israel ; There failed not ought of any good thing , which the Lord had 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 , spoke concerning you all are come to pass unto you ; and not one thing hath failed thereof , Josh. 21. 45. Chap. 23. 14. Coming sinner , what promise thou findest in the word of Christ , strain it whether thou canst , so thou dost not corrupt it , and his Blood and Merits will answer all , what the word saith , or any true Consequence that is drawn there-from , that we may boldly venture upon ; As here in the Text , he saith ; And Him that cometh ; indefinitetively ; without the least intimation of the rejection of any , though never so great , if he be a coming-sinner . 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 . Now , saith the Text , The Men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him ; to wit , any word of grace ; and did hastily catch it : And it happened , that Ahab called Benhadad , his brother . The men replyed therefore , Thy brother Benhadad ? catching him at his word , 1 King 20. 33. Sinner , coming sinner , serve Jesus Christ thus , and he will take it kindly at thy hands . When he in his argument called the Canaanitish woman , Dog , she catcht him at it , and said ; Truth Lord , yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs that fall from their Masters Table . I 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 , The other thing that I told you , is shewed us from these words , is this ; The willingness of Christ's heart , to impute his merits for Life to the great , if coming , sinner . And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . The awakned coming sinner , doth not so easily question the power of Christ , as his willingness to save him . Lord , if thou wilt , thou canst , said one , Mar. 1. 40. He did not put the If upon his power , but upon his will : he concluded , he could ; but he was not as fully of perswasion , that he would . But we have the same ground to believe , he will , as we have to believe he can ; and indeed , ground for both , is the Word of God. If he was not willing , why did he promise ? why did he say , he would receive the coming sinner ? Jacob took him there ; Thou saidst , says he , I will surely do thee Good , Gen. 32. 12. For , from this promise he concluded , that it followed in reason , He must be willing . The Text also gives some ground for us , to draw the same conclusion . And him that cometh to me , I Will in no wise cast out . Here is his willingness asserted , as well as his power suggested . It is worth your observation , that Abraham's Faith considered rather his power , than his willingness ; that is , he drew this Conclusion , I shall have a Child , from the Power that was in God to fulfill the Promise to him : 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 , giving glory to God ; being fully perswaded , that what he had promised , he was able to perform , Rom. 4. 20 , 21. But was not his faith exercised , or tryed , about his willingness too ? No , there was no shew of reason for that , because he had promised it ; indeed , had he not promised it , he might Lawfully have doubted it ; but since 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 , are sufficient ground to incourage any coming sinner , that Christ is willing to his power , to receive him ; and since he hath power also to do what he will , there is no ground at all left to the coming sinner , any more to doubt ; but to come in full hope of acceptance , and of being received unto grace and mercy . And him that [ cometh . ] He saith not , And him that is Come ; but , and him that Cometh ; that is , and him , whose heart begins to move after me , who is leaving all for my sake ; him , who is looking out , who is on his Journey to me . We must therefore distinguish betwixt coming , and being come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to him , has attained of him more sensibly , what he felt before he wanted ; than he has , that but yet is coming to him . A Man that is come to Christ , hath the advantage of him that is but coming to him ; and that in seven things . First , He that is come to Christ , is nearer to him , than he that is but coming to him ; for he that is but coming to him , is yet , in some sense , at a distance from him ; as it is said of the coming prodigal ; And while he was yet a great way off , Luk. 15. Now , he that is nearer to him , hath the best sight of him ; and so , is able to make the best Judgement of his wonderful grace & beauty , as God saith ; Let them come near , then let them speak . And as the Apostle John saith ; And we have seen , and do testifie , that God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world , Isa. 41. 1. 1 Joh. 4. 14. He that is not yet come , though he is a-coming , is not fit ▪ not being indeed capable , to make that Judgement of the worth and glory of the Grace of Christ , as he is that is come to him , and hath seen and beheld it . Secondly , He that is come to Christ , has the advantage of him that is but coming , in that he is eased of his burden ; for he that is but coming , is not , Mat. 11. 28. He that is come , has cast his burden upon the Lord ; by Faith he hath seen himself released thereof : but he that is but coming , hath it yet , as to sense , and feeling , upon his own shoulders . Come unto me , all ye that Labor , and are heavy Laden , implies , that their burden , though they are coming , is yet upon them ; and so will be , till indeed they are come to him . Thirdly , He that is come to Christ , has the advantage of him that is but coming : in this also , namely ; He hath drank of the Sweet , and Soul-refreshing Water of Life ; but he that is but coming , hath not : If any man thirst , let him Come unto me and drink . Mark , he must Come to him , before he drinks ; according to that of the Prophet : Ho every one that thirsteth , Come ye to the Waters . He drinketh not as he cometh , but when he is come to the Waters , Joh. 7. 37. Isa. 45. 1. Fourthly , He that is come to Christ , hath the advantage of him , that as yet is but coming : in this also , to wit , He is not so terrified with the noise , and , as I may call it , Hue and Cry ; which the Avenger of blood makes at the heels of him , that yet , is but coming to him . When the Slayer was upon his flight to the City of his refuge , he had the noise or fear of the Avenger of blood at his heels ; but when he was come to the City , and was entred there-into , that noise ceased : Even so it is with him , that is but coming to Jesus Christ ; he heareth many a dreadful Sound in his ears ; sounds of death and damnation ; which he that is come , is at present freed from . Therefore he saith ; Come , and I will give you rest : And so he saith again ; We that have believed , do enter into rest , as he said , &c. Now the believing there intended , is a believing on Christ ; as come unto him for rest , is only found in him , by them that are Come to him . Fifthly , He therefore that is come to Christ , is not so subject to those dejections , and castings down , by reason of the rage and assaults of the evil one ; as is the man , that is but coming to Jesus Christ ( tho he has Temptations too . ) [ And while he was yet a coming , the Devil threw him down , and Lore him , Luk. 9. 42. ] For he has , though Satan still Roareth upon him , those experimental comforts , and refreshments ( to wit ) in his treasury , to present himself with , in times of Temptation and Conflict ; which he that is but coming , has not . Sixthly , He that is come to Christ , has the advantage of him that is but coming to him : in this also , to wit , He hath upon him the Wedding Garment , &c. But he that is coming , has not . The Prodigal , when coming home to his Father , was cloathed with nothing but Rags , and was tormented with an empty belly : but when he was come , the best Robe is brought out ; also , the Gold Ring , and the shooes ; yea , they are put upon him , to his great rejoycing . The fatted Calf was killed for him ; the musick was struck up , to make him merry : and thus also the Father himself Sang of him ; This my Son was dead , and is alive again ; was lost , and is found , Luk. 15. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24. Seventhly , In a word , he that is come to Christ , his groans , and tears , his doubts , and fears , are turned into Songs and Praises ; for that he hath now received the atonement , and the earnest of his inheritance : But he that is but yet a coming , hath not those Praises , nor Songs of deliverance with him ; nor has he as yet , received the atonement , and earnest of his Inheritance , which is , the Sealing testimony of the Holy Ghost , through the sprinkling of the Blood of Christ upon his Conscience ; for he is not come : Rom. 5. 11. Ephes. 1. 13. Heb. 12. 22 , 23 , 24. And him that [ Cometh ] There is further to be gathered from this word [ Cometh , ] these following particulars . First , That Jesus Christ hath his Eye upon , and takes notice of the First Moving of the Heart of a Sinner after himself : Coming-Sinner , thou . canst not move with Desires after Christ , but he sees the Working of those Desires in thy Heart . All my Desires , said David , are before thee , and my Groanings are not hid from thee , Psal. 38. 9. This he spake , as he was coming ( after he had back sliden ) to the Lord Jesus Christ. ' Tis-said of the Prodigal , That while he was yet a great way off , his Father saw him , had his Eye upon him , and upon the going out of his Heart after him , Luk. 15. 20. When Nathaniel was come to Jesus Christ , the Lord said unto them that stood before him ; Behold , an Israelite indeed , in whom there is no Guile . But Nathaniel answered him , Whence knowest thou me . Jesus answered , Before that Philip called thee , when thou wast under the Fig-Tree , I saw thee . There , I suppose , Nathaniel was pouring out of his Soul to God for Mercy , or that he would give him good Understanding about the Messias to come : And Jesus saw all the Workings of his honest Heart at that time , Joh. 1. 47 , 48. Zacheus also had some secret Movings of Heart , such as they was , towards Jesus Christ ; when he ran before , and climbed up the Tree to see him ; and the Lord Jesus Christ had his Eye upon him : Therefore , when he was come to the Place , he looked up to him , bids him come down ; For to Day ( said he ) I must abide at thy House : To wit , in order to the further Compleating the Work of Grace in his Soul , Luk. 19. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Remember this , Coming-Sinner ! Secondly , As Jesus Christ has his Eye upon ; so he hath his Heart open , to receive the Coming Sinner . This is verified by the Text : And him that cometh to Me , I will in no wise cast out . This is also discovered by his preparing of the Way , in his making of it Easie ( as may be ) to the Coming-Sinner ; which Preparation is manifest by them Blessed Words , I will in no wise cast out : Of which , more when we come to the Place . And while he was yet a great way off , his Father saw him , and had Compassion on him ; and ran , and fell on his Neck , and kissed him ( Luk. 15. 20. ) All these Expressions do strongly prove , that the Heart of Christ is open to receive the Comming - Sinner . Thirdly , As Jesus Christ has his Eye upon , and his Heart open to receive ; so he hath resolved already , that nothing shall alienate his Heart from receiving the Coming-Sinner . No Sins of the Coming-Sinner , nor the Length of the Time that he hath abode in them , shall by any Means prevail with Jesus Christ to reject him . Coming - Sinner , thou art coming to a loving Lord Jesus ! Fourthly , These Words therefore are dropt from his Blessed Mouth , on purpose , that the Coming Sinner might take Encouragement to continue on his Journey , until he be come indeed to Jesus Christ. It was doubtless , a great Encouragement to Blind Bartlimeus , that Jesus Christ stood still , and called him , when he was crying ; Jesus , thou Son of David , have Mercy on me : Therefore , 't is said , He cast away his Garment , Rose up , and Came to Jesus , Mark 10. 46 , &c. Now , if a Call to come hath such Encouragement in it , what is a Promise of Receiving such , but an Encouragement much more ? And observe it , though he had a Call to come , yet not having a Promise , his Faith was forced to work upon a meer Consequence : Saying , He calls me ; and surely , since he calls me , he will grant me my Desire . Ah! but Coming-Sinner , thou hast no need to go so far about , as to draw ( in this Matter ) Consequences ; because thou hast plain Promises : And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Here is full , plain ; yea , what Encouragement one can desire : For , suppose thou was admitted to make a Promise thy self , and Christ should attest , that he would fulfil it upon the Sinner , that cometh to him ; Couldest thou make a better Promise ? Couldest thou invent a more full , free , or larger Promise ? A Promise , that looks at the first Moving of the Heart after Jesus Christ ! A Promise , that declares , yea , that ingageth Christ Jesus to open his Heart , to receive the Coming-Sinner : Yea , further ; A Promise , that Demonstrateth that the Lord Jesus is resolved freely to receive , & will in no wise cast out , nor means to reject the Soul of the Coming sinner . For all this lieth fully in this Promise , and doth naturally flow there-from . Here thou needest not make use of far-fetcht Consequences , nor strain thy Wits , to force encouraging Arguments from the Text. Comming-Sinner , the Words are plain ; And him that cometh to Me , I will in no wise cast out . And Him that [ Cometh . ] There are two Sorts of sinners that are coming to Jesus Christ. First , Him that hath never , while of late , at all , began to come . Secondly , Him that came formerly , and after that went back ; but hath since bethought himself , and is now coming again . Both these sorts of sinners are intended by the Him in the Text , as is evident ; because , Both are now the coming Sinners . And Him that cometh , &c. For the first of these ; the sinner that hath never , while of late , began to come , his way is more easie : I do not say , more plain , and open , to come to Christ , than is the other , ( those last not having the Clog of a guilty Conscience , for the sin of Back-sliding hanging at their Heels . ) But all the incouragement of the Gospel , ( with what invitations are therein contained ) to coming sinners , are as free , and as open to the one as to the other ; so that they may with the same freedom and liberty , as from the word , both alike claim interest in the promise . All things are ready : All things , for the coming back-sliders , as well as for the others : Come to the Wedding : And let him that is a thirst , come , Mat. 22. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Revel . 22. 17. But having spoken to the first of these already , I shall here pass it by ; and shall speak a word or two to him that is coming , after back-sliding , to Jesus Christ for life . Thy way , O thou sinner of a double dye , thy way is open to come to Jesus Christ : I mean , thee whose heart , after long back-sliding , doth think of turning to him again . Thy way , I say , is open to him , as is the way of the other sorts of Comers ; as appears by what follows . First , Because the Text makes no Exception against thee ; it doth not say , And any him ; But , a back-slider ; any him , But him : The Text doth not thus object , but indifinitively openeth wide its Golden Arms , to every coming soul , without the least Exception . Therefore thou maist come . Secondly , Nay , the Text is so far from excepting against thy coming , that it strongly suggesteth , that thou art one of the souls intended , O thou coming back-slider : Else , what need that Clause . have been so inserted , I will in no wise cast out : No , as who should say , though those that come now , are such as have formerly back-sliden . I will in No wise cast a way the Fornicator , the Covetous , the Railer , the Drunkard , or other common Sinners ; nor yet the Back-slider neither . Thirdly , That the Back-slider is intended , is evident , First , For that he is sent to By Name : Go , tell his Disciples , and Peter , Mark 16. 7. But Peter was a Godly Man : True ; but he was also a Back-slider : yea , a desperate Back-slider . He had Denyed his Master once , twice , thrice ; Cursing and Swearing , that he knew him not . If this was not Back-sliding ; if this was not an High and Eminent Back-sliding ; yea , a higher Back-sliding than thou art capable of , I have thought amiss . Again , When David had back-sliden , and had committed Adultery and Murder in his Back-sliding , he must be sent to by Name And , . saith the Text , the Lord sent Nathan to David . And he sent him to tell him , after he had brought him to unfeigned Acknowledgment of his Fact ; The Lord hath also put away , or forgiven Thy Sin , 2 Sam. 12. 1. This Man also was far gone ; He took a Man's Wife , and Kill'd her Husband ; and endeavoured to cover all with wicked dissimulation he did this , I say , after God had exalted him , and shewed him great favor , wherefore his Transgression was greatned also by the Prophet with mighty aggravations : yet , he was accepted , and that with gladness , at the first step he took in this returning to Christ ; for the first step of the back-sliders return , is to say sensibly , and unfeignedly , I have sinned : But he had no sooner said this , but a pardon was produced , yea thrust into his bosom . And Nathan said unto David , the Lord hath also put away Thy sin . Secondly , As the person of the back-slider is mentioned by Name , so also is his Sin , that if possible thy Objections against thy returning to Christ , may be taken out of thy way . I say it is mentioned , and mixed as mentioned with words of grace and favor . I will heal their backsliding , and love them freely , ( Hos. 14 , 4. ) . What sayest thou now back-slider ! Thirdly , Nay further , thou art not only mentioned by name , and thy sin by the nature of it , but thou thy self who art a returning back - slider , put First , Among Gods Israel Return O back-sliding . Israel , saith the Lord , and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you : For I am mercifull , saith the Lord , and will not keep anger for ever , Jer. 3. 12. Secondly , Thou art put among his Children , among his Children to whom he is married . Turn O back-sliding Children , for I am married unto you , vers . 14. Thirdly , Yea after all this , as if his heart was so full of Grace for them , that he was pressed untill he had uttered it before them , he adds , Return ye back-sliding Children , and I will heal your back-slidings . Fourthly , Nay further , the Lord hath considered , that the shame of thy sin hath stopped thy mouth , and made thee almost a prayer-less man ; and therefore he saith unto thee , Take with you words , and turn unto the Lord , and say unto him , take away all iniquity and receive us graciously : See his grace ! that himself should put words of incouragement into the heart of a back-slider : As he saith in another place , I taught Ephraim to go , taking him by the Arms. This is teaching him to go indeed , to put words into his mouth , to hold him up by the Arms , by the Chin , as we say , Hos. 14. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Chap. 11. 3. From what hath been said I conclude , even as I said before , that the Him in the Text , And him that cometh , includeth both these sorts of Sinners , and therefore both should freely come . Question , But where doth Jesus Christ , in all the words of the New - Testament , Expresly speak to a returning back-slider with words of Grace and Peace ? For what you have urged as yet , from the New Testament , is nothing but Consequences drawn from this Text. Indeed it is a full Text for carnal ignorant sinners that come , but to me who am a back-slider it yeeldeth but little relief . Answ. First , How ! but little incouragement from the Text , when it saith , I will in no wise cast out ? What more could have been said ? what is here omitted that might have been inserted , to make the promise more full and free ? Nay , take all the promises in the Bible , all the freest promises , with all the variety of expressions of what nature or extent soever , and they can but amount to the expressions of this very promise ; I will in no wise cast out : I will for nothing , by no means , upon no account , however they have sinned , however they have back-sliden , however they have provoked , cast out the coming sinner . But , Secondly , Thou sayst , where doth Jesus Christ in all the words of the New-Testament , speak to a returning backslider with words of Grace and Peace ? that is , under the name of a backslider . Answ. Where there is such plenty of examples in receiving back-sliders , there is the less need of Express words to that intent ; one promise , as the Text is , with those Examples that are annexed , are instead of many promises . And besides , I reckon that the Act of receiving , is of as much , if not of more incouragement , than is a bare promise to receive ; for receiving is as promise , and the fulfilling of it too : So that in the Old Testament thou hast the promise , and in the New , the fulfilling of it : and that in divers examples . 1 In Peter . Peter denyed his Master , once , twice , thrice , and that with open oath ; yet Christ receives him again without any the least hesitation or stick . Yea he slips , stumbles , falls again , in down right Dissimulation , and that to the hurt and fall of many others ; but neither of this doth Christ make a bar to his Salvation , but receives him again at his return , as if he knew nothing of the fault , Gal. 2. Secondly , The rest of the disciples , even all of them , backslide and leave the Lord Jesus in his greatest straights : Then all the Disciples forsook him and fled , they returned , ( as he had fore-told ) every one to his own , and left him alone ; but this also , he passes over as a very light matter ; not that it was so indeed , in it self , but the abundance of grace that was in him did lightly role it away ; for after his Resurrection , when at first he appeared unto them , he gives them not the least check for their perfidious dealing with them , but salutes them with words of Grace , saying ; All hail , be not afraid , Peace be to you ; All Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto me . True , he rebuked them for their unbelief , for the which thou also deservest the same ; for , 't is unbelief that alone puts Christ and his benefits from us , Mat. 26. 56. Joh. 16. 32. Mat. 28. 9 , 10 , 18. Luk. 24. 36. Mar. 16. 14. Thirdly , The man that after a large profession , lay with his Fathers Wife , committed a high Transgression , even such an one , that at that day was not heard of , no , not among the Gentiles . Wherefore this was a desperate . backsliding ; yet at his return , he was received , and accepted again to Mercy , 1 Cor. 5. 1 , 2. 2 Cor. 2. 6 , 7 , 8. Fourthly , The Thief that stole , was bid to steal no more ; not at all doubting but that Christ was ready to forgive him this Act of backsliding , Ephes. 4. 28. Now all these are Examples , particular instances of Christs readiness to receive the Backsliders to Mercy ; and observe it , examples and proofs that he hath done so , are to our unbelieving hearts , stronger incouragements , than bare Promises , that so he will do . But again , the Lord Jesus hath added to those for the incouragement of returning Backsliders , to come to him , First , A Call to come , and he will receive them , Revel . 2. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 21 , 22. Chap. 3. 1 , 2 , 3 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Wherefore , New Testament Backsliders have incouragement to come . Secondly , A Declaration of readiness to receive them that Come , as here in the Text , and in many other places is plain : Therefore , Set thee up these Marks , make thee these high heaps ( of the golden Grace of the Gospel , ) set thine heart towards the high-way , even the way that thou wentest ( when thou didst backslide ) turn again , O Virgin of Israel ; turn again to these thy Cities , Jer. 31. 21. And him that [ Cometh . ] He saith not , And him that talketh , that professeth , that maketh a shew , a noise , or the like , but him that Cometh . Christ will take leave to judge , who , among the many that make a Noise , they be that indeed are coming to him . It is not him that saith he comes , nor him of whom others affirm that he comes ; but him that Christ himself shall say doth Come ; that is concern'd in this Text. When the Woman that had the bloody Issue came to him for Cure , there were others as well as she , that made a great bussle about him , that touched , yea thronged him ; Ah , but Christ could distinguish this woman from them all . And he looked round about upon them all , to see her that had done this thing , Mar. 25. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32. He was not concerned with the thronging , or touchings of the rest ; for theirs were but accidental , or , at best , void of that which made her touch acceptable . Wherefore Christ must be Judg who they be that in Truth are coming to him ; Every mans way is right in his own Eyes , but the Lord weigheth the Spirits : It standeth therefore every one in hand to be certain of their coming to Jesus Christ ; for as thy coming is , so shall thy Salvation be : If thou comest indeed , thy Salvation shall be indeed ; but if thou comest but in outward appearance , so shall thy Salvation be : But of coming see before , as also afterwards in the Use and Application . And him that cometh [ to me . ] These words [ to me , ] are also well to be heeded ; for by them , as he secureth those that come to him , so also he shews himself unconcerned with those that in their coming rest short , or turn aside to others ; For you must know , that every one that comes , comes not to Jesus Christ ; some that come , came to Moses , and to his Law , and then take up for Life ; with these Christ is not concerned ; with these this Promise hath not to do . Christ is become of none effect unto you , whosoever of you are justified by the Law , ye are falen from grace , Gal. 5. 3 , 4. Again , some that came , come no farther than to Gospel Ordinances , and there stay , they come not through them to Christ ; with these neither is he concerned ; nor will their Lord , Lord , avail them any thing in the great and dismal day . A man may come too , and also go from the place and Ordinances of Worship , and yet not be remembred by Christ. So I saw the wicked buried , said Solomon , who had come and gone from the place of the Holy , and they were forgotten in the City ; when they had so done , this is also Vanity , Eccles. 8. 10. [ To me . ] These words therefore , are by Jesus Christ very warily put in , and serve for caution , and incouragement : for caution , lest we take up , in our coming , any where short of Christ ; and for incouragement to those that shall in their coming , come past all , till they come to Jesus Christ ; And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Reader , If thou lovest thy Soul , take this Caution kindly at the hands of Jesus Christ. Thou seest thy Sickness , thy Wound , thy necessity of Salvation ; well , go not to King Jareb , for he cannot Heal thee , nor Cure thee of thy Wound ( Hos. 5. 13. ) Take the Caution , I say , lest Christ , insteed of being a Saviour to thee , becomes a Lion , a young Lion to tare thee , and go away , vers . 14. There is a coming , but not to the most High ; there is a coming , but not with the whole Heart , but as it were feignedly ; therefore take the Caution kindly , Jer. 3. 10. Hos. 7. 16. And him that cometh [ To me . ] Christ , as a Saviour , will stand alone , because his own Arm above hath brought Salvation unto him ; He will not be joyned with Moses , nor suffer John Baptist to be tabernacled by him : I say , they must vanish , for Christ will stand alone , ( Luk 9. 28 , 36. ) yea , God the Father will have it so ; therefore , they must be parted from him , and a Voice from Heaven must come to bid the Disciples hear , only the beloved Son. Christ will not suffer any Law , Ordinance , Statute , or Judgement , to be partners with him in the salvation of the Sinner . Nay , he saith not , And him that cometh to my Word ; but , And him that cometh to me . The words of Christ , even his most blessed and free Promises , such as this in the Text , are not the Saviour of the World ; for that is Christ himself ; Christ himself only . The Promises therefore , are but to incourage the coming sinner to come to Jesus Christ , and not to rest in them short of Salvation by him . And him that cometh [ To me . ] The man therefore that comes aright , casts all things behind his back ; and looketh at , nor hath his expectation from ought but the Son of God alone , as David said ; My Soul , wait thou only upon God , for my expectation is from him : He only is my Rock , and my Salvation ; he is my Defence , I shall not be moved , Psal. 62. 5. His Eye is to Christ , his Heart is to Christ , and his expectation is from him , from him only . Therefore , the man that comes to Christ , is one that hath had deep Considerations of his own sins , slighting thoughts of his own Righteousness , and high thoughts of the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ ; yea he sees , as I have said , more vertue in the Blood of Christ to save him , than there is in all his sins to damn him . He therefore setteth Christ before his Eyes , there is nothing in Heaven or Earth , he knows , that can save his Soul , and secure him from the Wrath of God , but Christ ; that is , nothing but his personal Righteousness , and Blood. And him that cometh to me , I will [ in no wise ] cast out . In no wise : By these words there is somthing expressed , and somthing implyed . That which is expressed , is Christ Jesus his unchangable Resolution to Save the Coming sinner ; I will in no wise reject him , or deny him the benefit of my Death and Righteousness . This word therefore is like that which he speaks of the everlasting damnation of the sinner in Hell-fire , He shall by no means depart thence ; that is , never , never , never come out again ; no , not to all Eternity , Mat. 5. 25. chap. 25. 46. So that , as he that is condemned into Hell-fire , hath no ground of hope for his deliverance thence ; so him that cometh to Christ , hath no ground to fear he shall ever be cast in thither . Thus saith the Lord , If Heaven above can be measured , or the Foundation of the Earth searched out beneath , I will also cast away all the seed of Israel , for all that they have done , saith the Lord , Jer. 31. 37. Thus saith the Lord , if my Covenant be not with Day and Night , and if I have not appointed the Ordinances of Heaven , and Earth , then will I cast away the Seed of Jacob. But Heaven can not be measured , not the Foundations of the Earth searched out beneath ; his Covenant is also with day and night , and he hath appointed the Ordinances of Heaven ; therefore he will not cast away the Seed of Jacob , who are the coming ones ; but will certainly save them from the dreadful Wrath to come , Jer. 33. 25 , 26. chap. 50. 4 , 5. By this therefore it is manifest , that it is not the greatness of sin , nor thy long continuance in it , no , nor yet thy back-sliding , nor the pollution of thy Nature , that can put a bar in against , or be an hinderance of the Salvation of the coming sinner . For , if indeed this could be , then would this solemn and absolute Determination of the Lord Jesus , of its self fall to the ground , and be made of none effect : But his Counsel shall stand , and he will do all his pleasure . That is , his pleasure in this ; for this promise , this irreversible conclusion , ariseth of his Pleasure ; and he will stand to it , and will fulfil it , because it is his pleasure . Suppose that one man had the sins , or as many sins as an hundred , and another should have an hundred times as many as he ; yet if they come , this word , I will in no wise cast out , secures them both alike . Suppose a man hath a desire to be saved , and for that purpose is coming in truth to Jesus Christ , but he by his debauched Life , has damned many in hell : why , the dore of hope is by these words set as open for him , as it is for him that hath not the thousandth part of his Transgressions . And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Suppose a man is coming to Christ to be Saved , and hath nothing but sin , and an ill-spent life to bring with him ; Why , let him come , and welcome to Jesus Christ , And he will in no wise cast him out , Luk. 7. 41. Is not this Love that passeth knowledg ? is not this Love the wonderment of Angels ? and is not this Love worthy of all acceptation at the hands and hearts of coming sinners ? Secondly , That which is implyed in the words , is First , The coming Souls hath those that continually lie at Jesus Christ , to cast them Secondly , The coming Souls are afraid , that these will prevail with Christ to cast them off . For these words are spoken to satisfie us , and to stay up our Spirits against these two dangers : I will in no wise cast out . First , For the First , Coming Souls have those that continually lye at Jesus Christ to cast them off . And there are three things , that thus bend themselves against the coming sinner . First , There is the Devil , that Accuser of the brethren , that accuses them before God , day and night , Revel . 12. 10. This Prince of Darkness is unwearied in this work ; he doth it , as you see day and night , that is , without ceasing : He continually puts in his Caveats against thee , if so be he may prevail . How did he ply it against that good man Job , if possible he might have obtained his destruction in Hell fire ? He objected against him , that he served not God for nought , and tempted God to put forth his Hand against him ; urging , that if he did it , he would Curse him to his face ; and all this , as God witnesseth , He did without a Cause , Job 1. 9 , 10 , 11. chap. 2. 4. 5. How did he ply it with Christ against Joshua the high Priest ? And he shewed me Joshua , said the Prophet , the high Priest , standing before the Angel of the Lord , and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him , Zech. 3. To resist him ; that is , to prevail with the Lord Jesus Christ to resist him : Objecting , the uncleanness and unlawful Marriage of his Sons with the Gentiles ; for that was the Crime that Satan laid against them , Ezra 10. 18. Yea , and for ought I know , Joshua was also guilty of the fact ; but if not of that , of Crimes no whit inferior ; for he was Cloathed with filthy Garments , as he stood before the Angel : neither had he one word to say in vindication of himself , against all that this wicked one had to lay against him : But notwithstanding that , he came off well ; but he might for it , thank a good Lord Jesus , because he did not resist him ; but contrariwise took up his cause , pleaded against the Devil , excused his infirmity , and put justifying Robes upon him before his Adversaries Face . And the Lord said unto Satan , The Lord Rebuke thee , O Satan , even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem Rebuke thee . Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the Fire . And he answered and spake to those that stood before him , saying , Take away the filthy Garments from him ; and to him he said , Behold , I have caused thine iniquities to pass from thee , and will Cloath thee with chang of Raiment . Again , how did Satan ply it against Peter , when he desired to have him that he might sift him as Wheat ; that is , if possible , sever all Grace from his heart , and leave him nothing but flesh and filth , to the end he might make the Lord Jesus loath and abhor him ; Simon , Simon , said Christ , Satan hath desired to have you , that he might sift you as Wheat . But did he prevail against him ? No , But I have prayed for thee , that thy Faith fail not . As who should say , Simon , Satan hath desired me that I would give thee up to him , and not only thee , but all the rest of thy Brethren ( for that the word you , imports ) ; but I will not leave thee in his hand , I have prayed for thee , thy saith shall not sail : I will secure thee to the Heavenly Inheritance , Luk. 22. 30 , 31 , 32. Secondly , As Satan , so every sin , of the coming-sinner , comes in with a Voice against him , if perhaps they may prevail with Christ to cast off the Soul. When Israel was coming out of Egypt to Canaan , how many times had their sins thrown them out of the mercy of God , had not Moses as a Type of Christ , stood in the breach to turn away his VVrath from them , Psal. 106. 23. our Iniquities testify against us , and would certainly prevail against us , to our utter rejection and Damnation , had we not an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous , 1 Joh. 2. 1 , 2. The sins of the old World cryed them down to Hell , the sins of Sodom fetched upon them Fire from Heaven , which devoured them ; the sins of the Egyptians cryed them down to Hell , because they came not to Jesus Christ for Life . Coming-sinner , thy sins are no whit less than any ; Nay , perhaps , they are as big as all theirs : VVhy is it then that thou livest when they are dead , and that thou hast a promise of Pardon when they had not ? Why thou art coming to Jesus Christ , and therefore sin shall not be thy ruin . Thirdly , As Satan , and Sin ; so the Law of Moses , as it is a Perfect Holy Law , hath a Voice against thee before the Face of God : There is one that accuseth you ▪ even Moses's Law , Jo. 5. Yea , it accuseth all Men of Transgression , that have sinned against it ; for as long as Sin is Sin , there will be a Law to accuse for Sin : But this Accusation shall not prevail against the Coming-Sinner ; because 't is Christ that dyed , and that ever lives , to make Intercession for them that Come to God by him , Rom. 8. Heb. 7. 25. These things , I say , do accuse us before Christ Jesus ; yea , and also to our own Faces , if perhaps they might prevail against us . But these words , I will in no wise cast out , secureth the Coming-Sinner from them all . The Coming-Sinner is not saved because there is none comes in against him ; but because the Lord Jesus will not hear their Accusations ; will not cast out the Coming-Sinner . When Shimei came down to meet King David , and to ask for Pardon for his Rebellion ; up starts Abishai , and puts in his Caveat , saying ; Shall not Shimei dye for this ? This is the Case of him that comes to Christ ; He hath this Abishai , and that Abishai , that presently steps in against him , saying ; Shall not this Rebel's Sins destroy him in Hell ? Read further ; But David answered ; What have I to do with you , ye Sons of Zeruiah , that you should this day be Adversaries to me ? Shall there any Man be put to Death this Day in Israel ? for do not I know , that I am King this Day over Israel ? 2 Sam. 19. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. This is Christ's Answer by the Text , to all that accuse the Coming - Shimeis ; What have I to do with you , that accuse the Coming-Sinners to me ? I count you Adversaries , that are against my shewing Mercy to them . Do not I know , that I am Exalted this Day to be King of Righteousness , and King of Peace . I will in no wise cast them out . Secondly , But again ; These Words do closely imply , that the Coming-Souls are afraid , that these Accusers will prevail against them ; as is evident , because the Text is spoken for their Relief and Succour : For that need not be , if they that are coming , were not subject to fear , and despond upon this account . Alas ! there is Guilt , and the Curse lies upon the Conscience of the Coming-Sinner ! Besides , He is Conscious to himself , what a Villain , what a Wretch he hath been against God , and Christ. Also , he now knows , by woful Experience , how he hath been at Satan's Beck , and at the Motion of every Lust. He hath now also , new Thoughts of the Holyness , and Justice of God : Also , he feels , that he cannot forbear sinning against him ; For the Motions of Sin , which are by the Law , do work in his Members , to bring forth Fruit unto Death , ( Rom. 7. ) But none of this needs be , since we have so Good , so Tender-hearted , and so Faithful a Jesus to come to ; who will rather overthrow Heaven and Earth , than suffer a little of this Text to fail : And him that comes unto me , I will in no wise cast out . Now , We have yet to enquire into , two things that lie in the Words , to which there hath yet been nothing said : As , 1. What it is to cast out . 2. How it appears , that Christ hath Power to Save , or to Cast out . For the First of these , What it is to Cast out ; to this I will speak , 1. Generally . 2. More Particularly . More Generally ; First , To cast out , Is to Slight , and Despise , and Contemn ; as it is said of Saul's Shield , It was vilely cast away ; that is ; Slighted and Contemned . Thus it is with the Sinners , that come not to Jesus Christ ; He Slights , Despises , and Contemns them ; that is , Casts them away , 2 Sam. 1. 2. Secondly , Things cast away , are reputed as Menstruous Cloaths , and as the Dirt of the Street , Isa. 3. 22. Psal. 18. 42. Matth. 5. 13. Chap. 15. 17. And thus it shall be with the Men , that come not to Jesus Christ ; they shall be counted as Menstruous , and as the Dirt in the Streets . Thirdly , To be cast out , or off ; it is , To be abhorred , not to be pityed ; but to be put to perpetual Shame , Psal. 44. 9. Psal. 89. 38. Amos 1. 11. But more particularly , To come to the Text : The Casting-out here mentioned , is not limited to this , or the other Evil : Therefore , it must be extended to the most extream and utmost Misery ; Or thus : He that cometh to Christ , shall not want any thing , that may make him Gospelly Happy in this World , or that which is to come : Nor shall he want any thing , that cometh not , that may make him Spiritually and Eternally Miserable ! But further : As it is to be Generally taken , so it respecteth Things that are now ; and also , Things that shall be hereafter . For the Things that are now ; they are either , 1. More General ; 2. Or more Particular . First , More General , thus ▪ It is To be cast out of the Presence and Favour of God. Thus was Cain cast out : Thou hast driven ( or cast ) me out this Day from thy Presence ; and from thy Face ( that is , from thy Favour ) shall I be hid . A dreadful Complaint ! but the Effect of a more dreadful Judgement ! Gen. 4. 13 , 14. Jer. 23. 39. I Chron. 28. 9. Secondly , To be cast out , is to be cast out of God's Sight : God will look after them no more , care for them no more ; nor will he watch over them any more for Good , ( 2 King. 17. 20. Jer. 7. 15. ) Now , they that are so , are left like Blind Men , to wander , and fall into the Pit of Hell : This therefore , is also a sad Judgement ! Therefore , here is the Mercy of him that Cometh to Christ ; He shall not be left to wander at Uncertainties : The Lord Jesus Christ will keep him , as a Shepheard doth his Sheep , Psal. 23. Him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Thirdly , To be cast out , Is to be denyed a Place in God's House ; and to be left as Fugitives and Vagabonds , to pass a little time away in this Miserable Life ; and after that , to go down to the Dead , Gal. 4. 30. Gen. 4. 13 , 14. Chap. 21. 10. Therefore , here is the Benefit of him that Cometh to Christ ; He shall not be denyed a Place in God's House : They shall not be left , like Vagabonds in the World. Him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out ; See Prov. 14. 26. Isa. 56. 3 , 4 , 5. Ephes. 2. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. 1 Cor. 3. 21 , 22 , 23. Fourthly , In a word ; To be cast out , Is to be Rejected , as are the Fallen Angels : For , their Eternal Damnation began at their being cast down from Heaven to Hell. So then , Not to be cast out , Is to have a Place , a House , and Habitation there ; and to have a Share in the Priviledges of Elect Angels . These Words therefore , I will not cast out , will prove great Words one Day , to them that come to Jesus Christ , 2 Pet. 2. 4. Joh. 12. 31. Revel . 12. Luk. 20. 35. Secondly , and more Particularly . First , Christ hath Everlasting Life for him that cometh to him , and he shall never Perish ; For he will in no wise cast him out : But for the rest , they are Rejected , Cast out ; and must be Damned , Joh. 10. 27 , 28. Secondly , Christ hath Everlasting Righteousness , to cloath them with , that come to him ; and they shall be covered with it , as with a Garment : But the rest shall be found in the Filthy Rags of their own stinking Polutions , and shall be wrapt up in them , as in a Winding-sheet ; and so bear their Shame before the Lord , and also , before the Angels , Dan. 9. 24. Isa. 57. 2. Revel . 3. 4 , 18. Chap. 15. 16. Thirdly , Christ hath pretious Blood , that like an open Fountain , stands free for him to wash in , that comes to him for Life ; And he will in no wise cast him out : But they that come not to him , are Rejected from a Share therein , and are left to ireful Vengeance for their Sins , Zech. 13. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 18 , 19. Job . 13. 8. Chap 3. 36. Fourthly , Christ hath precious Promises ; and they shall have a Share in them , that come to him for Life : For he will in no wise cast them out . But they that come not , can have no Share in them ; because they are True only in him : For in Him , and only in Him , all the Promises are Yea , and Amen . Wherefore , they that come not to him , are no whit the better for them , Psal. 50. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 20 , 21. Fifthly , Christ hath all Fulness of Grace in himself , for them that come to him for Life ; And he will in no wise cast them out : But those that come not to him , are left in their Graceless State ; and as Christ leaves them , Death , Hell , and Judgement finds them . He that findeth me ( saith Christ ) findeth Life , and shall obtain Favour of the Lord ; but he that sins against me , wrongeth his own Soul : All that hate Me , love Death ▪ Prov. 8. 33 , 34 , 35 , 36. Sixthly , Christ is an Intercessor ; and ever liveth to make Intercession for them , that come to God by him : But their Sorrows shall be multiplyed , that hasten after another ( or other ) Gods , ( their Sins and Lusts ; ) Their Drink-Offerings will he not offer , nor take up their Names into his Lips , Psal. 16. 4. Heb. 7. 25. Seventhly , Christ hath wonderful Love , Bowels , and Compassions , for those that come to him ! For , He will in no wise cast them out . But the rest will find him a Lyon Rampant ; he will , one Day , tear them all to peices . Now , Consider this ( saith he ) ye that forget God ; lest I tare you in peices , and there be none to deliver you , Psal. 50. 22. Eighthly , Christ is He , by , and for whose sake , those that come to him , have their Persons and Performances accepted of the Father ; And he will in no wise cast them out : But the rest must flye to the Rocks and Mountains , for Shelter , but all in vain , to hide them from his Face , and Wrath , Revel . 6. 15 , 16 , 17. But again ; These Words [ Cast out ] have a special Look to what will be hereafter ; even at the Day of Judgement : For then , and not till then , will be the great Anathema , and Casting out , made manifest , even manifest by Execution . Therefore , here to speak to this , and that under these two Heads ; As , 1. Of the Casting out it self . 2. Of the Place into which they shall be cast , that shall then be cast out . First , The Casting out it self , standeth in two Things ; 1. In a Preparitory Work. 2. In the manner of Executing the Act. The Preparitory Work standeth in these three Things : First , It standeth in their Separation , that have not come to him , from them that have , at that Day : Or thus ; At the Day of the great Casting out , those that have not ( now ) come to him , shall be separated from them that have ; for them that have , He will not cast out . When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory , and all the Holy Angels with him , then he shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory ; and before him shall be gathered all Nations ; and he shall separate them one from another , as a Shepheard divideth the Sheep from the Goats , Matth. 25. 31 , 32. This dreadful Separation , therefore , shall then be made , betwixt them that ( now ) come to Christ , and them that come not : And good Reason ; for since they would not with us come to him , now they have time ; Why should they stand with us , when Judgement is come ? Secondly , They shall be placed before him according to their condition ; they that have come to him , in great Dignity , even at his right hand , For he will in no wise cast them out : but the rest shall be set at his left hand , the place of disgrace and shame ; for they did not come to him for Life . Distinguished also shall they be , by fit terms : Those that came to him , he calleth Sheep , but the rest are Frowish Goats . And he shall separate them one from another , as the Shepherd divideth the Sheep from the Goats ; and the Sheep will he set on the right hand ( next Heaven . Gate , for they came to him ) ; but the Goats on his left , to go from him into Hell , because they are not of his Sheep . Thirdly , Then will Christ proceed to conviction of those that came not unto him , and will say , I was a stranger , and ye took me not in , or did not come unto me . Their excuse of themselves , he will slight as dirt , and proceed to their final Judgment . Now when these wretched rejectors of Christ shall thus be set before him in their sins , and convicted , this is the preparitory work upon which follows the manner of Executing the Act which will be done . First , In the presence of the Holy Angels . Second . In the presence of all them that in their life-time came to him , by saying unto them . Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels ; with this Reason annexed to it ; For you were cruel to me and mine , particularly discovered in these words ; For I was an hungred , and ye gave me no meat ; thirsty , and ye gave me no drink ; I was a Stranger , and ye took me not in ; Naked , and ye Clothed me not ; Sick , and in Prison , and ye visited me not , Mat. 25. 41 , 42 , 43. Lastly , Now it remains , that we speak of the place into which these shall be cast , which in the general you have heard already , to wit , the Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels : but in particular , it is thus described . First , It is called Tophet : For Tophet is ordained of Old , yea , for the King ( the Lucifer ) It is prepared , he hath made it deep and large , the pile thereof i● Fire and much Wood , and the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it , Isa. 30. 32. Secondly , It is called Hell , It is better for thee to enter into Life halt , or lame , than having two feet to be cast into Hell , Mar. 9. 45. Thirdly , It is called the Wine-press of the Wrath of God. And the Angel thrust in his Sickle into the Earth , and gathered the Vine of the Earth ( that is them that did not come to Christ ) and cast them into the great Wine press of the Wrath of God , Rev. 14. 19. Fourthly , It is called a Lake of Fire . And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life , was cast into the Lake of Fire , Rev. 20. 15. Fifthly , It is called a Pitt . Thou hast said in thy Heart , I will Ascend into Heaven , I will Exalt my Throne above the Stars of God , I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation , in the sides of the North — Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell , to the sides of the Pitt , Jsa . 14. 13 , 14 , 15. Sixthly , It is called a bottomless Pit , out of which the smoak and the Locust came , and into which the great Dragon was cast ; and it is called Bottomless ; to shew the endlesness of the fall that they will have into it , that come not , in the acceptable time to Jesus Christ ; Rev. 9. 1 , 2. chap. 20 3. Seventhly , It is called Outer Darkness : Bind him hand and foot , and cast him into outer Darkness ; and cast ye the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness , there shall be Weeping , and Nashing of Teeth , Mat. 22. 13. chap. 25. 30. Eighthly , It is called a Furnace of Fire . As therefore the Tares are gathered and burned in the Fire , so shall it be in the end of this World : the Son of Man shall send forth his Angels , and they shall gather out of his Kingdom , all things that Offend , and them that do Iniquity ; and shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire , there shall be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth : And again , So shall it be in the end of the World , the Angels shall come forth , and sever the wicked from among the just , and shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire ; there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth , Matt. 13. 41 , 42 , 43 , 48 , 49 , 50. Lastly , It may not be amiss , if in the conclusion of this , I shew in few words , to what the things that torment them in this state , are compared . Indeed some of them have bin occasionally mentioned already ; as that they are compared , 1. To wood that burneth . 2. To Fire . 3. To Fire and Brimstone : But 4. It is compared to a Worm , a gnawing Worm , a never dying gnawing Worm : They are cast into Hell , where their Worm dieth not , Mar. 9. 44. Fifthly , It is called unquenchable Fire , He will gather his Wheat into his Garner : but will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire , Matt. 3. 12. Luk. 3. 17. Sixthly , It is called everlasting destruction . The Lord Jesus shall descend from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire , taking Vengance on them that know not God , and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; Who shall be punished with Everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord , and from the Glory of his Power , 2 Thes. 1. 7 , 8 , 9. Seventhly , It is called Wrath without mixture , and is given them in the Cup of his Indignation . If any man Worship the Beast , and his Image , and receive his mark in his forehead , or in his hand , the same shall drink of the Wine of the VVrath of God , which is powred out without mixture , in the Cup of his Indignation , and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels , and in the presence of the Lamb , Rev. 14. 9 , 10. Eighthly , It is called the second Death , And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire , this is the second Death . Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection , on such the second Death hath no Power , Rev. 20. 14. chap. 2. v. 6. Ninthly , It is called Eternal Damnation , But He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost , hath never forgiveness , but is in danger of Eternal Damnation . Oh These three Words ! Everlasting Punishment ! Eternal Damnation ! And for Ever and Ever ! How will they gnaw , and eat up all the expectation of the end of the misery of the Cast-away sinners . And the smoke of their Torment , ascended up for Ever , and Ever , and they have no rest Day nor Night , &c. Rev. 14. 11. Their behaviour in Hell , is set forth but by four things as I know of . 1. By calling for Help and Relief in Vain . 2. By Weeping . 3. By Wailing . 4. By gnashing of Teeth . And now we come to the second thing that is to be enquired into Namely , How it appears that Christ hath Power to save , or to Cast out : For by these words , I will in no wise cast out , he declareth that he hath power to do both . Now this enquiry admits us to search into two things . 1 How it appears that he hath power to save . 2 How it appears that he hath power to cast out . That he hath power to save , appears by that which follows . First , To speak only of him as he is Mediator : He was Authorized to this blessed work by his Father before the World began . Hence the Apostle saith , He hath chosen us in him , before the Foundation of the World ; that is , chosen us in him to be Saved by him , as Ephesians the first makes manifest . Hence it is again , that we are said to be Blessed in him before the Foundation of the World , with all those things that effectually will produce our Salvation . Read the same Chapter , with 2 Tim. 1. 9. Secondly , He was promised to our first Parents , that he should in the fulness of time , bruise the Serpents Head ; and as Paul expounds it , redeem them that were under the law : hence since that time , he hath bin reckoned as slain for our Sins , by which means all the Fathers under the first Testament were secured from the wrath to come ; hence he is called , The Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World. Rev. 13. 8. Gen. 3. 15. Gal. 4. 4 , 5. Thirdly , Moses gave Testimony of him by the Types and Shaddows , and Bloody Sacrifices , that he commanded from the Mouth of God , to be in use for the support of his peoples Faith , until the time of Reformation ; which was the time of this Jesus his Death . Heb. 9. and 10th . Chapters . Fourth , At the time of his Birth , it was Testified of him by the Angel , That he should Save his People from their Sins . Mat. 1. 20 , 21. Fifth , It is Testified of him in the days of his Flesh , that he had Power on Earth to forgive Sins . Mark 2. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Sixth , It is Testified also of him by the Apostle Peter ; that God hath exalted him with his own Right Hand to be a Prince , and a Saviour , to give Repentance to Israel , and forgiveness of Sins . Acts 5. 30 , 31. Seventh , In a word , This is every where Testified of him , both in the Old Testament and in the New. And good reason , that he should be acknowledged and trusted in , as a Saviour . 1. He came down from Heaven to be a Saviour , Joh. 6. 38 , 39 , 40. 2. He was Anointed , when on Earth to be a Saviour , Luk. 3. 22. 3. He did the Works of a Saviour . As First , He Fulfilled the Law , and became the End of it for Righteousness , for them that believe in him , Rom. 10. 3 , 4. Secondly , He laid down his Life as a Saviour , He gave his Life as a Saviour , He gave his Life as a Ransom for many , Mat. 20. 28. Mar. 10. 45. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Thirdly , He hath Abolished Death , Destroyed the Devil , put away Sin , got the Keys of Hell and Death , is Ascended into Heaven ; is there accepted of God , exalted of God , and bid Sit at his Right Hand as Saviour , and that because his Sacrifice for our Sins pleased God , 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 2. 14 , 15. Ephes. 4. 7 , 8. Joh. 16. 10 , 11. Acts 5. 30 , 31. Heb. 10. 12 , 13. Fourthly , God hath sent out , and proclaimed him as Saviour , and tells the World that we have redemption through his Blood , that he will Justifie us if we believe in his Blood , and that he can Faithfully , and Justly do it . Yea , God doth beseech us to be reconciled to him by his Son ; which could not be , if he were not Anointed by him to this very End , and also if his Works and undertakings were not accepted of him as considered a Saviour , Rom. 3. 24 , 25. 2 Cor. 5. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21. Fifthly , God hath received already Millions of Souls into his Paradice , because they have received this Jesus for a Saviour , and is resolved to cut him off , and to cast him out of his presence , that will not take him for a Saviour , Heb. 12. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. I intend brevity here ; therefore a word to the Second , and so conculde . How it appears that he hath Power to cast out . This appears also by what follows . First , The Father ( for the service 〈◊〉 he hath done him as Saviour ) 〈◊〉 made him Lord of all , even Lord 〈◊〉 Quick and Dead . For to this 〈◊〉 Christ both Died , and Rose , and Revived , that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living , Rom. 14. 9. Secondly , The Father hath left it with him , to quicken whom he will , to wit , with saving Grace , and to cast out whom he will , for their Rebellion against Him , Joh. 5. 21. Thirdly , The Father hath made him Judge of Quick and Dead , hath committed all Judgment unto the Son , that all Men should honour the Son , even as they honour the Father , Joh. 5. 22. Fourthly , God will Judge the World by this Man ; the day is Appointed for Judgment , and he is Appointed for Judge . He hath Appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man , Acts 17. 31 , 32. Therefore we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ , that every one may receive for the things done in the Body , according to what they have done . If they have closed with Him , Heaven and Salvation ; if they have not , Hell and Damnation . And for these Reasons he must be Judge . First , Because of his Humiliation , because of his Fathers Word he humbled himself , and he became Obedient unto Death ; even the Death of the Cross : Therefore God hath highly Exalted him , and given him a Name above every Name ; that at the Name of Jesus , every Knee should bow ; both of things in Heaven , and things on Earth , and things under the Earth ; and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the Glory of God the Father . This hath respect to his being Judge , and his Sitting in Judgment upon Angels and Men , Phil. 2. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. Rom. 14. 10 , 11. Secondly , That all Men might honour the Son , even as they honour the Father . For the Father Judgeth no Man , but hath Committed all Judgment unto the Son ; that all Men should honour the Son , even as they honour the Father , Joh. 5. 22 , 23. Thirdly , Because of his Righteous Judgment , this work is fit for no Creature ; it is only fit for the Son of God. For he will reward every Man according to his Ways , Rev. 22. Fourthly , Because he is the Son of Man. He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also , because he is the Son of Man , Joh. 5. 27. Thus have I in brief passed through this Text by way of explication ; my next Work is , to speak to it by way of Observation : but I shall be also as brief in that , as the Nature of the thing will admit . All that the Father giveth me shall come to me , and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out , Joh. 6. 37. ANd now to come to some Observations , and a little briefly to speak to them , and then conclude the whole . The words thus Explained , affords us many , some of which are these : First , That God the Father , and Christ his Son , are two Distinct Persons in the God-head . Secondly , That by them ( not Excluding the Holy Ghost ) is contrived , and determined , the Salvation of some of fallen Man - kind . Thirdly , That this contrivance , resolved it self into a Covenant between these Persons in the God-head , which standeth in giving , on the Fathers part ; and Receiving , on the Sons . All that the Father giveth me , &c. Fourthly , That every one that the Father hath given to Christ ( according to the mind of God in the Text ) shall certainly come to him . Fifthly , That coming to Jesus Christ , is therefore not by the will , wisdom , or power of man : but by the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father . [ All that the Father giveth me , shall come . ] Sixthly , That Jesus Christ will be careful to receive , and will not in any wife reject , those that come , or are coming to him . [ And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . ] There are besides these , some other Truths , implyed , in the Words : As Seventhly , They that are coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them . Eightly , Jesus Christ would not have them , that in Truth are Coming to him , once think , that he will cast them out . These Observations , lie , all of them in the Words , and are plentifully confirmed by the Scriptures of Truth ; but I shall not at this time speak to them all , but shall pass by the first , second , third , fourth , and sixth ; partly because , I design brevity , and partly because they are touched upon , in the Explicatory part of the Text. I shall therefore begin with the Fifth Observation , and so make that the first in order , in the following discourse . First , Then , Coming to Christ , is not by the will , wisdom , or power of Man , but by the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father . This Observation standeth of two parts . First , that coming to Christ , is not by the Will , Wisdom , or Power of Man. Secondly , But by the Gift , Promise , and Drawing of the Father . That the Text carrieth this Truth in its bosom , you will find , if you look into the Explication of the first part thereof , before ; I shall therefore here follow the Method propounded . First , That coming to Christ is not by the will , wisdom , or power of man : this is true , because the Word doth flatly deny it : First , It denyeth it to be by the Will of man. Not of blood , nor of the Will of the flesh , nor of the Will of man. And again , It is not of him that Willeth , nor of him that Runneth . Joh. 1. 13. Rom. 9. 16. Secondly , It denyeth it to be of the Wisdome of man , as is manifest from these considerations . First , In 〈◊〉 Wisdome of God it pleased him , that the World by Wisdome should not know him : Now if by their Wisdom they cannot know him , it follows , by that Wisdome , they cannot come unto him ; for coming to him , is not before , but after some knowledge of him , 1 Cor. 1. 21. Acts 13. 27. Psal. 9. 10. Secondly , The Wisdome of Man , in Gods Account , as to the Knowledge of Christ , is reckoned foolishness . Hath not God made Foolish the Wisdome of this World ? and again , the Wisdome of this World is Foolishness with God. If God has made Foolish , the Wisdome of this World ; and again , if the Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with Him : then verily it is not likely , that by that , a Sinner should become so Prudent , as to come to Jesus Christ : especially if you Consider , Thirdly , That the Doctrine of a Crucified Christ , and so of Salvation by him , is the very thing , that is counted foolishness , to the Wisdom of this World ; Now , if the very Doctrine of a Crucified Christ , be counted foolishness by the Wisdom of this World , it cannot be , that by that Wisdom , a man should be drawn out , in his Soul , to come to him , 1 Cor. ●● . 20. Chap. 2. 14. Chap. 3. 19. Chap. 1. 18 , 23. Fourthly , God counteth the Wisdom of this World , one of his greatest Enemies , therefore by that Wisdom no man can come to Jesus Christ. For it is not likely that one of Gods greatest Enemies , should draw a man to that which best of all pleaseth God , as coming to Christ doth . Now , that God counteth the Wisdom of this World , one of his greatest Enemies , is evident . First , For that it casteth the greatest contempt upon his Sons undertakings , as afore is proved , in that it counts his Crucifixion foolishness ; Though That be one of the Highest Demonstrations of Divine Wisdom , Ephes. 1. 7 , 8. Secondly , Because God hath threatned to destroy it , and bring it to naught , and cause it to perish ; Which surely he would not do , was it not an Enemy ; would it direct men to , and cause them to close with Jesus Christ. See Isa. 29. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 19. Thirdly , He hath rejected it from helping in the Ministry of his Word , as a fruitless business , and a thing that comes to naught . 1 Cor. 2. 4 , 6 , 12 , 13. Fourthly , Because it causeth to perrish , those that seek it , and pursue it , 1 Cor. 1. 18 , 19. Fifthly , And God has proclaimed , That if any man will be wise in this World , he must be a fool in the Wisdom of this World ; and that 's the way to be wise in the Wisdom of God , If any man will be wise in this World , let him become a fool , that he may be wise . For the Wisdom of this World is foolishness with God , 1 Cor. 3. 18 , 19 , 20. Thirdly , Coming to Christ , is not by the power of man. This is evident , partly , First , From that which goeth before : For mans power , in the puttings forth of it , in this matter , is either stirred up by Love , or sense of Necessity : but the Wisdom of this World , neither gives man love to , or sense of a need of Jesus Christ ; therefore his power lieth still , as from that . Secondly , What power has he , that is dead , as every natural man , spiritually , is ; Even dead in Trespasses and sinnes . Dead , even as dead to Gods New-Testament things ; as he that is in his Grave , is Dead to the things of this World. What power hath he then , whereby to come to Jesus Christ. Joh. 5. 25. Ephes. 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. Thirdly , God forbids the mighty man's glorying in his strength , and sayes positively , By strength shall no man prevaile : and again , Not by might , nor by power , but by my Spirit , saith the Lord , Jer. 9. 23 , 24. 1 Sam. 2 , 9. Zech. 4 , 6. 1 Cor. 1 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31. Fourthly , Paul acknowledgeth that man , nay , converted man of himself , hath not a Sufficiency of power in himself to think a good thought ; if not to do that which is least , for to think , is less than to come ; then no man by his own power can come to Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3. 5. Fifthly , Hence we are said to be made willing to come , by the power of God ; to be raised from a state of sin to a state of Grace , by the power of God ; and to believe , that is , to come , through the exceeding working of his mighty power , Psal. 110. 3. Col. 2 , 12. Ephes. 1. 18 , 20. See also Job 40. 6 — 14. But this needed not , if either man had power , or will , to come ; or so much , as graciously to think of , willing to come ( of themselves ) to Jesus Christ. I Should now come to the proof of the Second part of the Observation , but that is occasionally done already , in the Explicatory part of the Text ; To which I referr the Reader : For I shall here only , give thee a Text or two more to the same purpose , and so come to the use and application . First , It is Expresly said , No man can come to me , Except the Father which hath sent me , draw him . By this Text , there is not only insinuated , that in man is want of power , but also of will , to come to Jesus Christ , they must be drawn ; they come not , if they be not drawn : and observe , it is not man , no nor all the Angels in Heaven , that can draw one sinner to Jesus Christ. No man cometh to me , except the Father which hath sent to me , draw him . Joh. 6. 44. Secondly , Again , No man can come to me , except it were given him of my Father . Joh. 6. 65. It is an heavenly gift that maketh man come to Jesus Christ. Thirdly , Again , It is written in the Prophets , they shall be all Taught of God ; every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father , cometh to me . Joh. 6. 45. I shall not enlarge ; but shall make some use and application , and so come to the next Observation . First , Is it so ? Is coming to Jesus Christ , Not by the will , wisdom , or Power of man ; but by the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father ? Then they are to blame , that cry up the will , wisdom , and power of man , as things Sufficient to bring men to Christ. There are some men , who think they may not be Contradicted , when they plead for the will , wisdom , and power of man , in reference to the things that are of the Kingdom of Christ : But I will say to such a man , he never yet came to understand , that himself is , what the Scripture teacheth Concerning him : Neither did he ever know , what coming to Christ is , by the teaching , gift , and drawing of the Father . He is such an one that hath set up Gods Enemy in opposition to him , and that continueth in such acts of defiance ; and what his end , without a new birth , will be , the Scripture teacheth also : But we will pass this . Secondly , Is it so ? Is coming to Christ , by the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father ? then let Saints here learn , to ascribe their coming to Christ ; to the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father . Christian man , bless God , who hath given thee to Jesus Christ , by promise ; and again , bless God for that he hath drawn thee to him . And why is it thee ! Why not another ! O that the glory of Electing love , should rest upon thy head ; and that the glory of the Exceeding grace of God , should take hold of thy heart , and bring thee to Jesus Christ. Thirdly , Is it so ? that coming to Christ is by the Father , as aforesaid ; then this should teach us to set an high esteem upon them that indeed are coming to Jesus Christ : I say , an high esteem on Them , for the sake of him , by vertue of whose grace , they are made to come to Jesus Christ. We see , that when men , by the help of humane abilities , do arrive to the Knowledge of , and bring to pass , that which , when done , is a wonder to the World : how he that did it , is esteem'd and commended . Yea , how are his wits , parts , industry , and unweariedness in all , admired ; and yet the man , as to this , is but of the World , and his work , the effect of natural ability : The things also attained by him , end in vanity , and vexation of Spirit . Further , perhaps in the pursute of this his Accheivement , he sins against God , wasts his time vainly , and at long run loses his Soul , by neglecting of better things : Yet he is admired ! But , I say , if this mans parts , labor , diligence , and the like , will bring him to such applause , and esteem in the World ; what esteem should we have , of such an one that is by the Gift , promise , and power , of God , coming to Jesus Christ. First , This is a man , with whom God is , in whom God works and walks ; a man whose motion is Governed & Steared by the mighty hand of God , and the effectual working of his power . Hear 's a Man ! Secondly , This man by the power of Gods might , which worketh in him , is able to cast a whole World behind him , with all the lusts , and pleasures of it ; and to Charge through all the difficulties that Men and Devils can set against him . Hear 's a Man ! Thirdly , This man is Travelling to Mount Zion , the Heavenly Jerusalem : The City of the living God ; And to an innumerable company of Angels ; And the Spirits of Just men made Perfect ; to God the Judge of all , and to Jesus . Hear 's a Man ! Fourthly , This man can look upon death with comfort , can laugh at destruction , when it cometh ; and longs to hear the Sound of the last Trump ; And to see his Judge coming in the Clouds of Heaven . Hear 's a Man indeed ! Let Christians then esteem each other as such : I know you do it ; but do it more , and more . And that you may , consider these two or three things : First , These are the Objects of Christs esteem . Mat. 12. 48. chap. 15. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Luk. 7. 9. Secondly , These are the Objects , of the esteem of Angels . Dan. 9. 22. chap. 10 , 11. chap. 12. 4. Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly , These have been the Objects of the esteem of Heathens , when but convinced about them . Dan. 5. 10. Acts 5. 13. 1 Cor. 14. 24 , 25. Let each of you , then , esteem other better than themselves , Philip. 3. 2. Fourthly , Again , Is it so ? that no man comes to Jesus Christ , by the will , wisdom , and power of man ; But by the Gift , Promise , and Drawing of the Father . Then this shews us how horribly ignorant of this such are , who make the man that is coming to Christ , the Object of their contempt and rage . These are also unreasonable , and wicked men , men in whom is no faith , 1 Thes. 3 , 2. Sinners , did you but know what a blessed thing it is , to come to Jesus Christ , and that by the help , and drawing of the Father , they do indeed come to him ; You would Hang and Burn in Hell , a Thousand years , before you would turn your spirit , as you do , against him that God is drawing to Jesus Christ , and also against the God that draws him . But faithless Sinners , let us a little Expostulate the matter . What hath this man done against thee , that is coming to Jesus Christ ? why dost thou make him the Object of thy scorn ; doth his coming to Jesus Christ offend thee ? Doth his pursuing of his own Salvation offend thee ? Doth his forsaking of his sins , and pleasures offend thee ? Poor Coming man ! Thou Sacrificest the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes ; and will they not stone thee ? Exod. 8. 26. But I say , why offended at this ? is he ever the worse , for coming to Jesus Christ , or for his loving , and serving of Jesus Christ ? Or is he ever the more a fool , for flying from that which will dround thee in Hell fire , and for seeking Eternal life ? Besides , pray Sirs , consider it , this he doth , not of himself , but by the drawing of the Father . Come , let me tell thee in thine ear , thou that will not , come to him thy self , and him that would , thou hindrest . First , Thou shalt be judged for one , that hath hated , maligned , and reproached Jesus Christ , to whom this poor sinner is coming . Secondly , Thou shalt be judged too , for one that hath hated the Father , by whose powerful drawing , this sinner doth come . Thirdly , Thou shalt be taken , and judged for one that has done despite to the Spirit of Grace , in him , that is by its help , coming to Jesus Christ. What sayst thou now ? Wilt thou stand by thy doings , wilt thou continue to contemn , and reproach the living God ? Thinkest thou , that thou shalt weather it out well enough , at the day of Judgement . Can thy heart indure , or can thine hands be strong in the day , that I shall deal with thee , saith the Lord. Joh. 15. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26. Jude 14. 14 , 15. 1 Thes. 4. 8. Ezek. 22. 14. Fifthly , Is it so ? That no man comes to Jesus Christ by the will , Wisdome and power of man , but by the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father : Then this sheweth us , how it comes to pass , that weak means is so powerful as to bring men out of their sins , to a hearty pursute after Jesus Christ : When God bid Moses speak to the people , he said , I will speak with thee , Exod. 19. When God speaks , when God works , Who can let it ? None , none . Then the work goes on . Elias threw his Mantle upon the Shoulders of Elisha : and what a wonderful work followed . When Jesus fell in with the crowing of a Cock , what work was there ! O when God is in the Means , then shall that Means , ( be it never so weak , and contemptible in it self ) work wonders , 1 Kings 19. 19. Matt. 26. 74 , 75. Mar. 14. 71 , 72. Luk. 22. 60 , 61 , 62. The World understand not , nor believe that the walls of Jerico shall fall at the Sound of Rams Horns ; but when God will Work , the means must be effectual . A word weakly spoken , spoken with difficulty , in Temptation , and in the midst of great contempt and scorn , works Wonders ; If the Lord thy God will say so too . Sixthly , Is it so ? doth no Man come to Jesus Christ , by the Will , Wisdom , or Power of Man ; but by the Gift , Promise , and Drawing of the Father : Then here is room for Christians to stand and admire , to stand and wonder , at the effectual working of Gods Providences , that he hath made use of , as means to bring them to Jesus Christ. For although Men are drawn to Christ by the Power of the Father : yet that Power putteth forth it self in the use of means ; and that means , is Divers ; somtimes this , somtimes that : for God is at liberty to work , by which , and when , and how he will ; but let the means be what it will , and as Contemptible as may be ; yet God that Commanded the Light to Shine out of Darkness , and that out of Weakness , can make Strong ; can , nay , doth oft-times make use of very unlikely means , to bring about the Conversion and Salvation of his People . Therefore , you that are come to Christ , ( and that by unlikely means , ) stay your selves , and wonder ; and wondering , magnifie all mighty Power , by the working of which , the Means hath bin made effectual to bring you to Jesus Christ. What was the providence , that God made use of , as a Means either more remote , or more near , to bring thee to Jesus Christ ? Was it the Removing of thy Habitation , the change of thy Condition , the Loss of Relations , Estate , or the like ? was it thy casting of thine Eye upon some good Book , thy hearing of thy Neighbours talk of Heavenly Things , the beholding of Gods Judgments , as executed upon others , or thine own Deliverance from them ; or thy being strangly cast under the Ministry of some Godly Man ? O take notice of such providence , or providences ! They were sent and managed by mighty Power , to do thee good . God himself , I say , hath Joyned himself unto this Chariot : Yea , and so blessed it , that it failed not to accomplish the thing for which he sent it . God blesseth not every one his Providences in this manner : How many Thousands are there in this world , that pass every day under the same Providences ? but God is not in them , to do that work by them , as he hath done for thy poor Soul , by his effectual working with them . O! That Jesus Christ should meet thee in this Providence , that Dispensation , or the other Ordinance ! This is Grace indeed ! At this , therefore , it will be thy Wisdom to admire , and for this to bless God. Give me leave , to give you a tast of some of those Providences , that have been effectual , through the Management of God , to bring Salvation to the Souls of his People . First , The first shall be , That of the Woman of Samaria . It must happen , that she must needs go out of the City to draw Water ( not before , nor after , but ) just when Jesus Christ her Saviour was come from far , and set to rest him ( being weary ) upon the Well : What a blessed Providence was this ? Even a Providence Managed by Almighty Wisdom , and Almighty Power , to the Conversion and Salvation of this poor Creature . For by this Providence , was this Poor Creature , and her Saviour , brought together ; that that blessed Work might be fulfilled upon the Woman , according to the purpose afore determined by the Father , Joh 4. Secondly , What a Providence was it , that there should between a Tree in the way , for Zachus to climb , thereby to give Jesus an opportunity to call that , Chief of the Publicans , home to himself , even before he came down there-from ? Luk. 19. Thirdly , was it not also wonderfull , that the Thief , which you read of in the Gospel , should by the providence of God be cast into prison , to be condemned , even at that Sessions that Christ himself was to die ; Nay , and that it should happen too , that they must be hanged together , that the Thief might be in hearing and observing of Jesus in his last words , that he might be converted by him before his death ? Luk. 23. Fourthly , What a strang providence was it , and as strangly managed by God , that Onesimus , when he was run away from his Master , should be taken , and , as I think , cast into that very prison , where Paul lay bound for the word of the Gospel ; that he might there be by him converted , and then sent home again to his Master , Philem. Behold , all things work together for Good ; to them that love God ; to them , who are the called according to his purpose , Rom. 8. Nay , I have , my self , known some that have been made to go to hear the Word preached , against their wills : others have gone , not to hear ; but to see , and be seen ; nay , to jear and flout others ; again , to catch and carp at things . Some also to feed their adulterous eyes , with the sight of beautifull Objects , and yet God hath made use , even of these things , even of the wicked , and sinfull proposals of sinners , to bring them under that grace , that might save their souls . Seventhly , Doth no man come to Jesus Christ , but by the drawing , &c. of the Father ? then let me here caution those poor sinners , that are spectators of the change , that God hath wrought in them that are coming to Jesus Christ , not to attribute this work and change , to other things and causes . There are some poor sinners in the VVorld , that plainly see a change , a mighty change in their Neighbors , and Relations , that are coming to Jesus Christ : But as I said , they being ignorant , and not knowing whence it comes , and whither it goes ( For so is every one that is Born of the Spirit , John , 3. 8. ) Therefore , they Attribute this Change to other Causes ; as , 1. To Melancholy . 2. To sitting alone . 3. To overmuch Reading . 4. To their going to too many Sermons . 5. To too much studying , and musing on what they hear . Also , they conclude on the other side ; First , That it is for want of merry company . Secondly , For want of Physick , and therefore they advise them to leave off Reading , going to Sermons , the company of sober People , and to be merry , to go a Gossipping , to busie themselves in the things of this VVorld , not to sit musing alone , &c. But come poor ignorant sinner , let me deal with thee , it seemes thou art turned Counsellor for Satan : I tell thee , thou knowest not what thou dost . Take heed of spending thy judgment after this manner ; thou judgest foolishly , And saist in this , to every one that passeth by , that thou art a Fool. VVhat ! count Convictions for sin , mournings for sin , and Repentance for sin , Melancholy ! This is like those that on the otherside , said , These men are Drunk with new Wine , &c. as he that said , Paul was Mad , Acts 2. 13. chap. 26. 24. Poor ignorant sinner , canst thou judge better . VVhat ! Is sitting alone , pensive under Gods Hand ; Reading the Scriptures , and hearing of Sermons , &c. the way to be undone ! The Lord open thine Eyes , and make thee to see thine Error : Thou hast set thy self against God , thou hast despised the Operation of his Hands , thou attemptest to Murther Souls . VVhat ! canst thou give no better Counsel touching those whom God hath VVounded , than to send them to the Ordinances of Hell for help ; thou biddest them be merry and lightsome : but dost thou not know that The heart of Fools is in the House of Laughter , Eccles. 7. 4. Thou bidest them shun the hearing of Thundring Preachers ; But is it not better to hear the Rebuke of the wise , than for a man to hear the Song of Fools . verse 5. Thou bidst them busy themselves in the things of this VVorld : but dost thou not know that the Lord bids , First seek the Kingdom of God , and the Righteousness thereof ? Matt. 6. 36. Poor ignorant sinner , hear the Counsel of God to such , and learn , thy self , to be wiser . If any be afflicted , let him Pray , is any merry let him sing Psalms . Blessed is he that heareth me , and hear for time to come : Save your selves from this untoward Generation ; search the Scripture , give attendance to Reading . It is better to go to the House of Mourning , than to the House of Feasting , Jam. 5. 13. Prov. 8. 32 , 33. Acts 2. 40. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Tim. 4. 13. Eccles. 7. 1 , 2 , 3. And wilt thou judg him that doth thus , art thou almost like Elemas the Sorcerer , that sought to turn the Deputy from the Faith , thou seekest to pervert the right ways of the Lord ; take heed , lest some heavy judgment overtake thee , Acts 13. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. What! Teach men to quench convictions ; take men off from a serious consideration of the evil of sin , of the Terrors of the world to come , and of how they shall escape the same ! VVhat ! Teach men to put God and his VVord out of their minds by running to merry Company , by running to the VVorld , by Gossipping , &c. This is as much as to bid them say to God , Depart from us , for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways ; Or , what 's the Almighty that we should serve Him ! Or , what profit have we , if we keep his Ways ? Here 's a Devil in Grain ! What : bid men walk according to the course of this world , according to the Prince of the Power of the Air , the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience , Ephes. 2. Object . But we do not know , that such are comming to Jesus Christ , truly we wonder at them , and think they are Fools . Answ. First , Do you not know that they are coming to Jesus Christ ? then they may be coming to him for ought you know , and why will you be worse than the Brute , to speak evil of the things ye know not ? What! are ye made to be taken and destroyed , must ye utterly Perish in your own Corruptions ? 2 Pet. 2. 12. Secondly , Do you not know them ? let them alone then . If you cannot speak good of them , speak not bad . Refrain from these Men , and let them alone ; for if this Council , or this Work , be of men , it will come to nought ; but if it be of God , ye cannot overthrow it , lest haply ye be found , even to fight against God. Acts 5. 38 39. Thirdly , But why do you wonder at a work of Conviction , and Conversion ; know you not , that this is the Judgment of God upon you , ye despisers ? To behold , and wonder , and perish . Acts. 13. 40 , 41. Fourthly , But why wonder , and think they are Fools ? Is the way of the just an abomination to you , see that passage and be ashamed , He that is upright in the way is an Abomination to the wicked , Pro. 29. 27. Fifthly , Your wondring at them , argues , that you are strangers to your selves , to conviction for sin , and to hearty desires to be saved : as also to coming to Jesus Christ. But how shall we know , that such men are coming to Jesus Christ ? Ans. Who can make them see that Christ has made blind ! ( Joh. 9. 39. ) Nevertheless , because I endeavor thy Conviction , Conversion , and Salvation , Consider , 1. Do they cry out of Sin , being burdened with it , as of an exceeding bitter thing ? 2. Do they fly from it , as from the Face of a deadly Serpent ? 3. Do they Cry out of the insufficiency of their own Righteousness , as to justification in the sight of God ? 4. Do they Cry out after the Lord Jesus , to save them ? 5. Do they see more Worth , and Merit , in one drop of Christs Blood to save them , than in all the sins of the VVorld to Damn them ? 6. Are they tender of sinning against Jesus Christ ? 7. Is his Name , Person , and Undertakings , more precious to them , than is the Glory of all the VVorld ? 8. Is his VVord most Dear unto them ? 9. Is Faith in Christ , ( of which they are convinced by Gods Spirit , of the want of ; and that without it , they can never close with Christ ; ) Precious to them ? 10. Do they savor Christ in his VVord , and do they leave all the VVorld for his Sake ; and are they willing ( God helping them ) to run all hazzards , for his Name , for the love they bear to him ? 11. Are his Saints precious to them ? If these things be so , whether thou seest them or no , these men are coming to Jesus Christ , Rom. 7. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. Psal. 38. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. Heb. 6. 18 , 19 , 20. Isa. 64. 6. Phil. 3. 7 , 8. Psal. 54. 1. Psal. 109. 26. Acts 16. 30. Psal. 51. 7 , 8. 1 Pet. 1. 18 , 19. Rom. 7. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 2. Acts. 5. 41. Jam. 2. 7. Phil. 3. 7 , 8. Song . 5. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Psal. 119. Joh. 13. 35. 1 Joh. 4. 7. chap. 3. 14. Joh. 16. 9. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6. Psal. 19. 10 , 11. Jer. 15. 16. Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. Acts. 20. 22 , 23 , 24. chap. 21. 13. Tit. 3. 15. 2 Joh. 1. Ephes. 4. 16. Phil. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 24. The Second Observation . I come now to the Second Observation propounded to be spoken to ; to witt , That they that are coming to Jesus Christ are oft-times heartily afraid , that Jesus Christ will not receive them . I told you , that this Observation is implyed in the Text , and I gather it from the largeness , and openness of the Promise [ I will in no wise cast out ] . For had there not been a proneness in us to fear Casting out , Christ needed not to have , as it were , way-laid our fear , as he doth , by this great and strange Expression , In no wise ; [ And him that Cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . ] There needed not , as I may say , such a Promise , be invented by the VVisdom of Heaven , VVorded at such a Rate , as it were , on purpose to dash in peeces at one blow , all the Objections of Coming Sinners ; if they were not prone to admit of such Objections , to the discouraging of their own Souls . For this VVord , in no wise ; cutteth the Throat of all Objections ; and it was dropt by the Lord Jesus , for that very end ; and to help the Faith that is mixed with Unbelief . And it is as it were , the sum of all Promises : neither can any Objection be made , upon the unworthyness that thou findest in thee , that this Promise will not asoile . But I am a great sinner , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I am an old sinner , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I am a hard hearted sinner , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I am a back-sliding sinner , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I have served Satan all my dayes , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I have sinned against Light , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I have sinned against mercy , sayst thou . I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with me , say'st thou : I will in no wise cast out , sayes Christ. Thus I might go on , to the end of things , and shew you , that still this promise was provided to answer Objections ; And doth answer them : But I say , what need it be , if they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are not sometimes , yea oft-times , heartily afraid , that Jesus Christ , will cast them out . I will give you , now , two instances , that seem to imply the truth of this observation . In the Nineth of Matthew , at the Second Verse , you read of a man , that was sick of the Palsie ; and he was coming to Jesus Christ , being born upon a bed by his Friends : He also was coming himself , and that upon another account than any of his friends was aware of ; even for the pardon of sins , and the Salvation of his Soul. Now so soon as ever he was come into the presence of Christ , Christ bids him be of good chear ; it seems then , his heart was fainting , but what was the cause of this fainting , but the guilt , and burden of his sins ; therefore he proceeds , Be of good chear , thy sins are forgiven thee . I say , Christ saw him sinking in his mind , about how it would go with his most Noble part ; and therefore , first , he applies himself to him , upon that account . For though his friends , had Faith enough as to the cure of the Body , yet he himself had little enough as to the Cure of his Soul : Therefore , Christ takes him up as a man falling down , saying , Son , be of good Cheer , thy Sins are forgiven thee . That about the Prodigal , seemes pertinent also to this matter ; When he was come to himself , he said , how many hired Servants of my Father have Bred enough , and to spare , and I perish for Hunger . I will arise now and go to my Father . Heartily spoken . But how did he perform his Promise ? I think , not so well as he promised to do : And my ground for my Thoughts is , because his Father , so soon as he was come at him , fell upon his Neck and Kist him : Implying methinks , as if the Prodegal by this time was dejected in his mind ; and therefore , his Father gives him the most sudden and familiar token of Reconciliation . And Kisses were of old time often used to remove Doubts and Fears . Thus Laban , and Esau , Kiss Jacob. Thus Joseph , Kissed his Brethren , and thus also David , Kissed Absolom , Gen. 31. 55. chap. 33. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. chap. 48. 9 , 10. 2 Sam. 14. 33. 'T is true , as I said , at first setting out , he spake heartily , as sometimes Sinners also do in their beginning to come to Jesus Christ : But might not he , yea , in all probability he had , ( between the first step he took , and the last , by which he accomplished that journey ) many a thought , both this way , and that ; as whether his Father would receive him , or no ? As thus ; I said , I would go to my Father : but how , if when I come at him , he should ask me , Where I have all this while bin ; VVhat must I say then ? Also , if he asks me , What is become of the portion of Goods that he gave me ; VVhat shall I say then ? If he asks me , Who have bin my Companions ; VVhat shall I say then ? If he also shall ask me , What hath bin my Preferment in all the time of mine absence from him ; VVhat shall I say then ? Yea , and if he ask me , Why I came home no sooner ; What shall I say then ? Thus , I say , might he reason with himself ; And being Conscious to himself , that he could give but a bad Answer to any of these Interogatories ; no marvel , if he stood in need first of all , of a Kiss from his Fathers Lips. For , had he answered the first , in Truth he must say , I have bin a haunter of Taverns , and Alehouses ; and as for my Portion , I spent it in Riotous Living ; my Companions , were Whores , and Drabs : As for my preferment , the highest was , that I became a Hoggard : and as for my not coming home till now , Could I have made shift to have staid abroad any longer , I had not lain at thy Feet for Mercy now . I say , these things considered , and considering again , how prone poor man is , to give way , when truly awakned , to despondings , and heart-misgiveings ; no marvel if he sink in his mind , between the time of his first setting out , and that of his coming to his Father . 3. But Thirdly , methinks I have for the confirmation of this Truth , the consent of all the Saints that are under Heaven , to witt , That they that are Coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them . Quest. But what should be the Reason ? I will Answer to this Question thus . First , It is not for want of the revealed VVill of God , that manifesteth grounds for the Contrary , for that there is a sufficiency of ; yea , the Text it self , hath laid a sufficient Foundation , for incouragement , for them that are Coming to Jesus Christ. And him that Cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Secondly , It is not for want of an Invitation to Come , for that is full , and plain , Come unto me , all ye that Labor , and are heavy Laden , and I will give you Rest , Mat. 11. 28. Thirdly , Neither is it , for want of a manifestation of Christs willingness to receive , as those Texts above named , with that which follows , declareth . If any man Thirst , let him come unto me and drink , Joh. 7. 37. Fourthly , It is not for want of exceeding great and precious Promises , to receive them that Come . Wherefore , come out from among them , and be ye separate , saith the Lord , and touch not the unclean thing , and I will receive you , and I will be a Father unto you , and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters , saith the Lord Almighty . 2 Cor. 6. 17 , 18. Fifthly , It is not for want of Solemn Oath , and Ingagement , to save them that come : For , because he could swear by no Greater , he swore by Himself ; — That by Two Immutable Things , in which it was impossible that God should Lie , we might have a strong Consolation , who have fled for Refuge , to lay hold on the Hope set before us , Heb. 6. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Sixthly , Neither is it for want of great Examples of God's Mercy , that have come to Jesus Christ , of which we Read most plentifully in the Word . Therefore , it must be concluded , It is for want of that which follows : First , It is for want of the Knowledge of Christ : Thou knowest but little of the Grace and Kindness that is in the Heart of Christ : Thou knowest but little of the Vertue and Merit of his Blood : Thou knowest but little of the Willingness , that is in his Heart to save thee ; And this is the reason of the Fear that ariseth in thy Heart , and that causeth thee to doubt , that Christ will not receive thee . Unbelief is the Daughter of Ignorance : Therefore , Christ saith ; O Fools , and slow of Heart to Believe , Luk. 24. 25. Slowness of Heart to believe , flows from thy Foolishness in the Things of Christ : This is evident to all that are acquainted with themselves , and that are seeking after Jesus Christ : The more Ignorance , the more Unbelief ; the more Knowledge of Christ , the more Faith. They that know thy Name , will put their Trust in thee , Psal. 9. 10. He therefore , that began to come to Christ but the other day , and hath yet but little Knowledge of him , he fears that Christ will not receive him : But he that hath been longer acquainted with him , he is Strong , and hath over-come the Wicked One , 1 Joh. 2. VVhen Joseph's Brethren came into Egypt to buy Corn , it is said ; Joseph knew his Brethren , but his Brethren knew not him . What follows ? Why , great Mistrust of Heart about their speeding well ; specially , if Joseph did but answer them Roughly ; calling them Spies , and questioning their Truth , and the like . And observe it ; So long as their Ignorance about their Brother remained with them , whatsoever Joseph did , still they put the worst Sense upon it : For instance ; Joseph upon a time , bids the Steward of his House bring them Home , to Dine with him , to Dine even in Joseph's House : And how is this resented by them ? Why , they were afraid : And the men were afraid , because they were brought into ( their Brother ) Joseph's House . And they said , He seeketh occasion against us , and will fall upon us , and take us for Bond-men , and our Asses , Gen. 42. Chap. 43. What! Afraid to go to Joseph's House ? He was their Brother ; He intended to Feast them ; to Feast them , and Feast with them . Ah! but they were ignorant , That he was their Brother : And so long as their Ignorance lasted , so long their Fear terrifyed them . Just thus it is with the Sinner , that but of late is coming to Jesus Christ : He is ignorant of the Love and Pity that is in Christ to Coming-Sinners : Therefore he doubts , therefore he fears , therefore his Heart mis-gives him . Coming-Sinner , Christ inviteth thee to Dine and Sup with him : He inviteth thee to a Banquet of Wine ; yea , to come into his Wine-Cellar , and his Banner over thee shall be Love , Revel . 3. 20. Song 2. Chap. 5. But I doubt it , sayes the Sinner : But 't is answer'd ; He calls thee , invites thee to his Banquet , to his Flaggons , Apples ; to his Wine , and to the Juyce of his Pomgranate . O I fear , I doubt , I mistrust ! I tremble in Expectation of the contrary ! Come out of the Man , thou Dastardly ▪ Ignorance ! Be not afraid Sinner , only Believe : He that cometh to Christ , he will in no wise cast out . Let the Coming - Sinner therefore seek after more of the good Knowledge of Jesus Christ : Press after it ; Seek it as Silver ; and dig for it , as for hid Knowledge . This will embolden thee : This will make thee wax Stronger and Stronger . I know , whom I have Believed ; I know him , said Paul : And what follows ? Why , And I am perswaded , that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him , against that Day , 2 Tim. What had Paul committed to Jesus Christ ? The Answer is , He had committed to him his Soul. But why did he Commit his Soul to him ? Why , because he knew him : He knew him to be Faithful , to be Kind : He knew , he would not fail him , nor forsake him ; And therefore , he laid his Soul down at his Feet ; and committed it to him , to keep against that Day . But , Secondly , Thy Fears , that Christ will not receive thee , may be also a Consequent of thy earnest , and strong Desires after thy Salvation by him . For this I observe ; That strong Desires to have , are attended with strong Fears of missing . What a Man most sets his Heart upon , and what his Desires are most after , he ( oft-times ) most fears , he shall not obtain . So the Man , the Ruler of the Synagogue , had a great desire , that his Daughter should live ; and that Desire was attended with Fear , that she should not : Wherefore , Christ saith unto him , Be not afraid , Mark 5. 36. Suppose a Young Man should have his Heart much set upon a Virgin , to have her to Wife : If ever he Fears he shall not Obtain , it is when he begins to love ; now , thinks he , some body will step in betwixt my Love , and the Object of it ; either they will find Fault with my Person , my Estate , my Conditions , or somthing . Now thoughts begin to work , she doth not like me , or something . And thus it is with the Soul at first Coming to Jesus Christ ; thou lovest him , and thy love produceth Jealousy , and that Jealousy , oft-times , beget Fears . Now thou fearest the Sins of thy Youth , the Sins of thine old Age , the Sins of thy Calling , the Sins of thy Christian Duties , the Sins of thy Heart , or somthing : thou thinkest somthing or other will alienate the Heart and Affections of Jesus Christ from thee ; thou thinkest he sees somthing in thee , for the sake of which he will refuse thy Soul. But be content , a little more Knowledge of him , will make thee take better heart , thy earnest desires shall not be attended with such burning Fears : Thou shalt hereafter say , This is mine Infirmity . ( Psal. 77. ) Thou art Sick of Love ; a very sweet Disease , and yet every Disease has some weakness attending of it ; yet I wish this Distemper ( if it be lawful to call it so ) was more Epidemical . Dye of this Disease , I would gladly do ; 't is better than Life it self , though it be attended with Fears . But thou cryest , I cannot obtain : Well , be not too hasty in making Conclusions : If Jesus Christ had not put his Finger in at the Hole of the Lock , thy Bowels would not have been troubled for him , ( Song 5. ) Mark how the Prophet hath it : They shall walk after the Lord ; he shall Roar like a Lyon : When he shall Roar , the Children shall Tremble from the East : They shall Tremble like a Bird out of Egypt , and as a Dove out of the Land of Assyria , Hos. 11. 10 , 11. When God Roars , ( as oft-times the Coming Soul hears him Roar ) what Man , that is coming , can do otherwise than Tremble ? ( Amos 3. 8. ) But Trembling he comes : He sprang in , and came Trembling , and fell down before Paul and Silas , Act. 16. Should you ask him that we mentioned but now ; How long is it , since you began to fear you should miss of this Damosel you Love so ? The Answer would be ; Ever since I began to Love her : But did you not fear it before ? No ; nor should I fear it now , but that I vehemently Love her . Come Sinner , let us apply it : How long is it since thou begannest to Fear , that Jesus Christ will not Receive thee ? Thy Answer is ; Ever since I began to desire , that he would save my Soul. I began to Fear , when I began to Come : And the more my Heart burns in Desires after him , the more I feel my Heart fear , I shall not be Saved by him . See now ; Did not I tell thee , That thy Fears were but the Consequence of strong Desires ? Well , fear not , Coming-Sinner ; Thousands of Coming-Souls are in thy Condition , and yet they will also get safe into Christ's Bosom . Say ( sayes Christ ) to them that are of a fearful Heart , Be strong , fear not ; — Your God will come and Save you , Isa. 35. 4. Chap. 63 ▪ 1. Thirdly , Thy Fear that Christ will not Receive thee , May arise from a Sense of thine own Unworthyness . Thou seest what a poor , sorry , wretched , worthless Creature thou art ; And seeing this , thou fearest Christ will not Receive thee . Alas , say'st thou , I am the Vilest of all Men ; a Town-Sinner , a Ring-leading Sinner ! I am not only a Sinner my self , but have made others two-fold worse the Children of Hell also . Besides , Now I am under some Awakenings , and Stirrings of Mind after Salvation ; even now I find my heart Rebellious , Carnal , Hard , Treacherous , Desperate , prone to Unbelief , to Despair : It forgetteth the Word ; it wandreth , it runneth to the Ends of the Earth . There is not ( I am perswaded ) one in all the World , that hath such a desperate wicked Heart , as mine is : My Soul is careless to do Good ; but none more earnest to do that which is Evil . Can such an one as I am , Live in Glory ? Can an Holy , a Just , and Righteous God , once think ( with Honour to his Name ) of Saving such a Vile Creature as I am ? I fear it . Will he shew Wonders to such a dead Dog as I am ? I doubt it . I am cast out , to the loathing of my Person ; yea , I loath my self : I stink in mine own Nostrils . How can I then be accepted by an Holy and Sin-abhorring God ? ( Psal. 38. 5 , 6 , 7. Ezek. 16. Chap. 20. 42 , 43 , 44. ) Saved I would be ; and , Who is there , that would not , were they in my Condition ? Indeed , I wonder at the Madness and Folly of others , when I see them so Merry in their Chains ; while I see them Leap and Skip so carelesly about the Mouth of Hell. Bold Sinner , How darest thou tempt God , by Laughing at the Breach of his Holy Law ? But Alas ! They are not so bad one way , but I am worse another : I wish , my Self were any Body but my Self : And yet here again , I know not what to wish . When I see such , as I believe , are coming to Jesus Christ ; O I bless them ! But am confounded in my self , to see how unlike ( as I think ) I am to every good Man in the World. They can Hear , Read , Pray , Remember , Repent ; be Humble , and Do every thing better than so Vile a Wretch as I. I , Vile Wretch , am good for nothing , but to burn in Hell-Fire ; and when I think of that , I am confounded too . Thus the Sense of Unworthyness , creates and heightens Fears in the Hearts of them that are coming to Jesus Christ ; But indeed , it should not : For , who needs the Physitian , but the Sick ? Or , who did Christ come into the World to Save , but the Chief of Sinners ? ( Mar. 1. 17. 1 Tim. 1. 15. ) Wherefore , the more thou feest thy Sins , the faster fly thou to Jesus Christ. And let the Sense of thy own Unworthyness , prevail with thee yet to go faster . As it is with the Man that carrieth his broken Arm in a Sling to the Bone-setter ; still as he thinks of his broken Arm , and as he feels the Pain and Anguish , he hastens his Pace to the Man : And if Satan meets thee , and asketh , Whether goest thou ? Tell him , Thou art Maimed , and art going to the Lord Jesus . If he objects thine own Unworthiness , Tell him ; That even as the Sick seeketh the Physitian , and as he that hath broken Bones , seeks him that can Set them : So thou art going to Jesus Christ for Cure and Healing , for thy Sin-sick-Soul . But it oft times happeneth to the Coming-Soul , as it happeneth to him that flies for his Life ; He despairs of Escaping , and therefore delivers up himself into the Hand of the Purfuer . But , up , up , Sinner ; be of good chear , Christ came to Save the Unworthy Ones : Be not Faithless , but Believe . Come away Man ; the Lord Jesus calls thee , saying ; And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Fourthly , Thy Fear that Christ will not Receive thee , may arise from a Sense of the exceeding Mercy of being Saved . Sometime Salvation is in the Eyes of him that desires it , so great , so huge , so wonderful a thing , that the very Thoughts of the Excellency of it , ingenders Unbelief about obtaining it , in the Heart of those that unfeignedly desire it . Seemeth it to you ( said David ) a Light thing , to be a King's Son-in-Law , 1 Sam. 18. 23. So the Thoughts of the Greatness and Glory of the Thing propounded ; as Heaven , Eternal Life , Eternal Glory , to be with God , and Christ , and Angels : These are great Things ; Things too Good , ( saith the Soul , that is little in his own Eyes : ) Things too Rich , ( saith the Soul , that is truly poor in Spirit ) for me . Besides , the Holy Ghost hath a way to greaten Heavenly things , to the understanding of the coming sinner ; yea , and at the same time to greaten too the sin , and unworthiness of that sinner . Now the Soul staggeringly wonders , saying ; What! to be made like Angels , like Christ ! To live in Eternal bliss , joy and felicity ! This is for Angels , and for them that can walk like Angels . If a Prince , a Duke , or Earl , should send ( by the Hand of his Servant ) to some poor , sorry , beggarly scrub , to take her for his Master , to wife ; and the Servant should come and say , My Lord and Master , such an one , hath sent me to thee , to take thee to him to wife ; he is rich , beautiful ; and of excellent qualities ; he is Loving , Meek , Humble , Well-spoken , &c. What now would this poor , sorry , beggarly Creature think ? what would she say , or how would she frame an answer ? When King David sent to Abigail upon this account , and though she was a rich woman , yet she said , Behold , Let thine hand maid be a Servant to wash the feet of the Servants of my Lord. ( 1 Sam. 25. 40 , 41. ) She was confounded , she could not well tell what to say , the offer was so great , beyond what could in reason be expected . But suppose this great person should Second his Sute , and send to this Sorry Creature again ; What would she say now ? Would she not say , you Mock me ? But what if he affirms that he is in good earnest , and that his Lord must have her to wife ; yea , suppose he should prevail upon her to Credit his Message , and to address her self for her Journey : Yet behold , every thought of her pedigree confounds her ; also her sense of want of beauty , makes her ashamed : and if she doth but think of being imbraced , the unbelief that is mixed with that thought , whirls her into tremblings : And now she calls her self fool for believing the Messenger , and thinks not to go : If she thinks of being bold , she Blushes , and the least thought that she shall be rejected , when she comes at him , makes her look as if she would give up the Ghost . And is it a wonder then , to see a Soul that is drowned with the sense of glory , and a sense of its own nothingness , to be confounded in it self , and to fear that the glory apprehended , is too great , too good , and too rich for such an one . That thing , Heaven and Eternal Glory , is so great ; and I that would have it , so small , so sorry a Creature , that the thoughts of obtaining , confounds me . Thus , I say , doth the greatness of the things desired , quite dash and overthrow the mind of the desirer : O it is too bigg , it is too big ! It is too great a mercy . But coming sinner , let me reason with thee , Thou say'st it is too bigg , too great . Well , will things that are less , satisfie thy Soul ? will a less thing than Heaven , than Glory , and Eternal life , answer thy desires ? No , nothing less : yet I fear they are too big , and too good for me , ever to obtain . Well , as big , and as good as they are , God giveth them to such as thou ; They are not too big for God to give . No , not too big to give freely : be content , let God give like Himself ; he is that Eternal God , and he giveth like himself . When Kings give , they do not use to give as poor men do . Hence it is said , that Nabal made a feast in his house , Like the feast of a King : And again , All these things did Araunah , as a King , give unto David , 1 Sam. 25. 2 Sam. 24. Now God is a great King , let him give like a King ; Nay , let him give like himself , and do thou receive like thy self : He hath all , and thou hast nothing . God told his people of old , that he would save them in truth , and in righteousness ; and that they should return to , and injoy the Land , which before , for their sins , had spued them out : and then adds , under a supposition of their counting the mercy too good , or too big : If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days , should it also be Marvellous in mine eyes , saith the Lord of hosts , Zech. 8. 6. As who should say , they are now in Captivity , and little in their own eyes ; therefore they think the mercy of returning to Canaan , is a mercy too marvellously big for them to injoy ; but if it be so in their eyes , it is not so in mine : I will do for them , like God , if they will but receive my bounty , like sinners . Coming sinner , God can give his heavenly Canaan , and the glory of it unto thee ; yea none ever had them , but as a gift , a free gift : He hath given us his Son , how shall he not then with him also freely give us all things ? Rom 8. It was not the worthiness of Abraham , or Moses , or David , or Peter , or Paul : But the mercy of God that made them inheritors of Heaven . If God thinks thee worthy , judge not thy self unworthy ; but take it , and be thankfull . And it is a good signe , he intends to give thee , if he hath drawn out thy heart to ask . O Lord , thou hast heard the desire of the humble , thou wilt prepare their heart , thou wilt encline thine car , ( Psal. 10. 17. ) When God is said to encline his ear , it implies an intention to bestow the mercy desired : Take it therefore , thy Wisdom will be to receive , not sticking at thine own unworthiness . It is said , He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill , to set them among Princes , and to make them inherit the thrown of glory . Again , He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , and lifteth some needy Out of the dunghill , that he may set him with Princes , even with the Princes of his people . 1 Sam. 2. 8. Psal. 113. 7 , 8. You see also , when God made a Wedding for his Son , he called not the great , nor the rich , nor the mighty , but the poor , the maimed , the halt , and the blind , ( Mat. 22. Luk. 14. ) Fifthly , Thy fears that Christ will not receive thee , may arise from the hideous Roarings of the Devil , who pursues thee . He that hears him Roar , must be a mighty Christian , if he can , at that time , deliver himself from fear . He is called a Roaring Lyon , and then , to alude to that in Isaiah , if one look into them , they have darkness and sorrow , and the Light is darkned in their very Heaven , 1 Pet. 5. 8. Isa. 5. 30. There are two things , among many , that Satan useth to Roar Out , after them , that are coming to Jesus Christ. 1. That they are not Elected . Or , 2. That they have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost . To both these I answer briefly . First , Touching election , out of which thou fearest thou art excluded : Why coming sinner , even the Text it self affordeth thee help against this doubt , and that by a double argument . First , That coming to Christ , is by vertue of the gift , promise , and drawing of the Father ; but thou art a coming , therefore God hath given thee , promised thee , and is drawing thee to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner , hold to this : and when Satan beginneth to Roar again , Answer : but I feel my heart moving after Jesus Christ ; but that would not be , if I were not given by promise , and drawing , to Christ by the power of the Father . Secondly , Jesus Christ hath promised , that him that cometh to Him , he will in no wise cast out : And if he hath said it , will he not make it good ; I mean , even thy Salvation ? for , as I have said already ; Not to cast out , is to receive , and admit to the benefit of Salvation : if then the Father hath given thee , as is manifest by thy coming ; and if Christ will receive thee , thou coming Soul ; as 't is plain he will , because he hath said , he will in no wise cast thee out : Then be confident , and let those conclusions , that as naturally flow from the Text , as light from the Sun , or water from the fountain , stay thee . If Satan therefore objecteth , but thou art not elected ; Answer . But I am coming ; Satan , I am coming ; and that I could not be , but that the Father draws me ; and I am coming to such a Lord Jesus , as will in no wise cast me out . Further , Satan , were I not elect , the Father would not draw me , nor would the Son so graciously open his bosom to me . I am perswaded , that not one of the non-elect , shall ever be able to say ( no , not in the day of judgement ) I did sincerely come to Jesus Christ. Come they may feignedly , as Judas and Magnus did ; But that is not our question : Therefore , O thou honest-hearted coming sinner , be not afraid , but come ! As to the Second part of the Objection , about sinning the sin against the Holy Ghost : The same argument overthrows that also . But I will argue thus . First , Coming to Christ , is by vertue of a special gift of the Father ; but the Father giveth no such gift to them that have sinned that sin ; therefore thou that art coming , hast not committed that sin . That the Father giveth no such gift to them that has sinned this sin ; Is evident , 1. Because such have sinned themselves out of God's Favour , They shall never have Forgiveness , Matth. 12. 32. But it is a special Favour of God to give unto a Man , to come to Jesus Christ ; because thereby he obtaineth Forgiveness : Therefore , he that cometh , hath not sinned that Sin. 2. They that have sinned the Sin against the Holy-Ghost , have sinned themselves out of an Interest in the Sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood ; There remains for such , no more Sacrifice for Sin : But God giveth not Grace to any of them to come to Christ , that have no share in the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood : Therefore , thou that art coming to him , hast not sinned that Sin ; Heb. 10. 26. Secondly , Coming to Christ , is by the Special Drawing of the Father : No Man cometh to me , except the Father which hath sent me , draw him : But the Father draweth not him to Christ , for whom he hath not alotted Forgiveness by his Blood. Therefore , they that are coming to Jesus Christ , have not sinned that Sin ; because he hath alotted them Forgiveness by his Blood , Joh. 6. 44. That the Father cannot draw them to Jesus Christ , for whom he hath not alotted Forgiveness of Sins , is manifest to Sense : For that would be a plain Mockery , a Flam ; neither becoming his Wisdom , Justice , Holyness , nor Goodness . Thirdly , Coming to Jesus Christ , lays a Man under the Promise of Forgiveness , and Salvation : But it is impossible , that he that hath sinned that Sin , should ever be put under a Promise of these . Therefore , he that hath sinned that Sin , can never have Heart to come to Jesus Christ. Fourthly , Coming to Jesus Christ , lays a Man under his Intercession ; For he ever Liveth to make Intercession for them that come , Heb. 7. 25. Therefore , he that is coming to Jesus Christ , cannot have sinned that Sin. Christ has forbidden his People , to pray for them that have sinned that Sin ; and therefore , will not pray for them himself : But he prays for them that come . Fifthly , He that hath sinned that Sin , Christ is to him of no more Worth , than is a Man that is Dead ; For he hath Crucified to himself , the Son of God : Yea , and hath also counted his Precious Blood , as the Blood of an Unholy Thing ; Heb. 6. chap. 10. Now , he that hath this low Esteem of Christ , will never come to him for Life : But the Coming-Man has an high Esteem of his Person , Blood , and Merits . Therefore , he that is coming , has not Committed that Sin. Sixthly , If he that hath sinned this Sin , might yet come to Jesus Christ ; then must the Truth of God be overthrown : which saith in one Place ; He hath never Forgiveness : and in another , I will in no wise cast him out : Therefore , that he may never have Forgiveness , he shall never have Heart to come to Jesus Christ. It is impossible , that such an one should be Renewed , either to , or by Repentance , Heb. 6. Wherefore , never trouble thy Head , nor Heart , about this Matter : He that cometh to Jesus Christ , cannot have sinned against the Holy Ghost . Sixthly , Thy Fears that Christ will not Receive thee , may arise from thine own Folly , in Inventing ; yea , in thy Chalking out to God a way to bring thee Home to Jesus Christ. Some Souls that are coming to Jesus Christ , are great Tormentors of themselves upon this account : They conclude , that if their Coming to Jesus Christ is right , they must needs be brought Home thus and thus : As to instance ; 1. Sayes one , If God be bringing of me to Jesus Christ , then will he load me with the Guilt of Sin , till he makes me Roar again . 2. If God be indeed a bringing of me home to Jesus Christ , then must I be assaulted with dreadful Temptations of the Devil . 3. If God be indeed a bringing of me to Jesus Christ ; then even when I come at him , I shall have wonderful Revelations of him . This is the way that some Sinners appoint for God : But , perhaps , he will not walk therein ; yet will he bring them to Jesus Christ : But now , because they come not the Way of their own Chalking out , therefore they are at a loss . They look for Heavy Load and Burden ; but , perhaps , God gives them a Sight of their lost Condition , and addeth not that heavy Weight and Burden . They look for fearful Temptations of Satan ; but God sees , that yet they are not fit for them : Nor is the Time come , that he should be Honoured by them in such à Condition . They look for great and glorious Revelations , of Christ , Grace and Mercy : But perhaps , God only takes the Yoke from off their Jaws , and lays Meat before them . And now again , they are at a loss , yet a-coming to Jesus Christ : I drew them ( saith God ) with the Cords of a Man , with the Bands of Love : I took the Yoke from off their Jaws , and laid Meat unto them , Hos. 11. 4. Now , I say , if God brings thee to Christ , and not by the Way that thou hast appointed , then thou art at a loss ; and for thy being at a loss , Thou mayst thank thy self . God hath more ways than thou knowst of , to bring a Sinner to Jesus Christ : But he will not give thee before-hand an Account , by which of them he will bring thee to Christ ; Isa. 40. 13. Job 33. 13. Sometimes , he hath his Way in the Whirlwind ; but sometimes the Lord is not there , Nah. 13. 1 King. 19. 11. If God will deal more gently with thee , than with others of his Children , grudge not at it : Refuse not the Waters that go softly , lest he bring upon thee the Waters of the Rivers , strong and many ; even these two smoaking Fire-brands , the Devil , and Guilt of Sin ; Isa. 8. 6 , 7. He said to Peter , Follow me : And what Thunder did Zacheus hear or see ? Zacheus , come down , said Christ ; and he came down ( sayes Luke ) and Received him Joyfully . But had Peter , or Zacheus , made the Objection that thou hast made ; and Directed the Spirit of the Lord , as thou hast done ; they might have looked long enough , before they had found themselves coming to Jesus Christ. Besides , I will tell thee ; That the greatness of Sense of Sin , the hideous Roarings of the Devil , yea , and abundance of Revelations , will not prove that God is bringing the Soul to Jesus Christ : As Balaam , Cain , Judas , and others can witness . Further ; Consider , that what thou hast not of these things now , thou mayst have another time , and that to thy Distraction : Wherefore , instead of being discontent , because thou art not in the Fire , because thou hearest not the Sound of the Trumpet , and Alarum of War ; Pray , that thou enter not into Temptation : Yea , come boldly to the Throne of Grace , and obtain Mercy , and find Grace to help in that time of need ; Psal. 88. 15. Matth. 26. 40 , 41. Heb. 4. 16. Poor Creature ! Thou criest , If I were Tempted , I could come faster , and with more Confidence to Jesus Christ : Thou sayest thou knowst not what . What sayes Job ? With-draw thy Hand from me , and let not thy Dread make me afraid : Then call thou , and I will answer ; or let me speak , and answer thou me , Job 13. 21. It is not the over-heavy Load of Sin , but the Discovery of Mercy ; not the Roaring of the Devil , but the Drawing of the Father , that makes a Man come to Jesus Christ : I my self know all these Things . True , sometimes , yea , most an end ▪ they that come to Jesus Christ , come the Way that thou desirest ; the Loaden , Tempted Way : But the Lord also leads some by the Waters of Comfort . If I was to chuse , when to go a long Journey ; to wit , Whether I would go it in the Dead of Winter , or in the Pleasant Spring , ( though if it was a very profitable Journey , ( as that of coming to Christ is ) I would chuse to go it through Fire and Water , before I would lose the Benefit ) I would chuse to go it in the Pleasant Spring ; because the Way would be more Delightsome , the Dayes longer and Warmer , the Nights shorter , and not so Cold. And it is observable , that that very Argument that thou usest to weaken thy Strength in the Way , that very Argument Christ Jesus useth to incourage his Beloved to come to him : Arise ( saith he ) my Love , my Fair One , and come away ; ( Why ? ) For lo , the Winter is past , the Rain is over and gone , the Flowers appear in the Earth , the time of the Singing of Birds is come , and the Voyce of the Turtle is heard in our Land. The Fig-Tree putteth forth her Green Figs , and the Vine , with her tender Grapes , give a good Smell : Arise my Love , my Fair One , and come away , Song 2. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. Trouble not thy self therefore , Coming-Sinner . If thou seest thy lost Condition by Original and Actual Sin ; if thou seest thy Need of the spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ ; if thou art willing to be found in him , and to take up thy Cross and follow him : Then pray for a fair Wind , and good Weather , and come away . Stick no longer in a Muse and Doubt about Things , but come away to Jesus Christ : Do it , I say , lest thou tempt God to lay the Sorrows of a Travelling Woman upon thee . Thy Folly in this thing , may make him do it . Mind what follows : The Sorrows of a Travelling Woman shall come upon him : Why ? He is an unwise Son ; so he should not stay long in the Place of the breaking forth of Children , Hos. 13. 13. Seventhly , Thy Fears that Christ will not Receive thee , may arise from those Decayes that thou findest in thy Soul , even while thou art coming to him : Some , even as they are coming to Jesus Christ , do find themselves grow worse and worse ; And this is , indeed , a fore Tryal to the poor Coming-Sinner . To explain my self : There is such an one a coming to Jesus Christ ; who , when at first , he began to look out after him , was Sensible , Affectionate , and broken in Spirit : but now is grown Dark , Sensless , Hard-hearted , and inclining to neglect Spiritual Duties , &c. Besides , he now finds in himself , Inclinations to Unbelief , Atheisme , Blasphemy , and the like : Now he finds , he cannot Tremble at God's Word , his Judgements , nor at the Apprehensions of Hell-fire : Neither can he , as he thinketh , be sorry for these Things . Now , this is a sad Dispensation : The Man under the Sixth Head , complained for want of Temptations ; but thou hast enough of them : Art thou glad of them , Tempted , Coming-Sinner ? They that never were Exercised with them , may think it a fine thing to be within the Range ; but he that is there , is ready to sweat Blood for Sorrow of Heart , and to howl for Vexation of Spirit . This man is in the Wilderness , among the wild Beasts : here he sees a Bear , there a Lyon , Yonder a Leopard , a Wolf , a Dragon : Devils of all sorts , doubts of all sorts : Fears of all sorts Haunt and Molest his Soul. Here he sees smoak , yea , feels fire and brimstone , scattered upon his secret places ; he hears the sound of an Horrible Tempest . O! My friends , even the Lord Jesus that knew all things , even He , saw no pleasure in Temptations , nor did He desire to be in them : Wherefore one , Text saith , he was led ; and an other , he was driven of the Spirit into the wilderness , to be tempted of the Devil . Mat. 4. 1. Mar. 1. 12. But to return , Thus it happeneth sometimes to them that are coming to Jesus Christ. A sad hap indeed ; one would think , that he that is flying from Wrath to come , has little need of such Clogges as these ; And yet so it is , and wofull experience proves it : The Church of old Complained , that her enemies over-took her , between the straights . Just between hope and fear , Heaven and Hell , Lam. 1. This man feeleth the infirmity of his flesh ; he findeth a proneness in himself to be desperate : now he chides with God , Flings and Tumbles like a Wild Bull in a net , and still the guilt of all returns upon himself , to the Crushing of him to peices ; Yet he feeleth his heart so hard , that he can find , as he thinks , no kind falling under any of his Miscarriages . Now he is a lump of confusion in his own eyes , whose Spirit , and Actions are without order . Temptations serve the Christian , as the Shepheards dogs serveth the silly sheep , that is coming behind the flock ; he runs upon it , pulls it down , worry it , wound it , and grievously bedabbleth it with dirt and wet in the lowest places of the Furrows of the field : And not leaving it , untill it is half dead ; nor then neither , except God rebuke . Here is now room for fears of being cast away . Now I see I am lost , sayes the sinner ; This is not coming to Jesus Christ , sayes the sinner ; such a desperate hard , and wretched heart as mine is , cannot be a gracious one , saith the sinner : And bid such an one be Better ; he sayes , I cannot , no I cannot . Quest. But what will you say to a Soul in this condition ? Answ. I will say , that Temptations have attended the best of Gods people ; I will say , that Temptations come to do us good ; and I will say also , that there is a difference betwixt growing worse and worse , and thy seeing more clearly how bad thou art . There is a man of an ill-favoured countenance , who hath too high a conceit of his beauty ; and wanting the benefit of a glass , he still stands in his own conceit ; at last a Limner is sent unto him , who draweth his ill-favoured face to the life : now looking thereon , he begins to be convinc't that he is not half so handsome , as he thought he was . Coming sinner , thy Temptations are these painters , they have drawn out thy ill-favoured heart to the life , and have set it before thine eyes , and now thou seest how ill favoured thou art . Hezekiah was a good man , yet when he lay sick ( for ought I know ) he had some what too good an opinion of his heart ; and for ought I know also , the Lord might , upon his recovery , leave him to a Temptation , that he might better know All that was in his heart . Compare , Isa. 38. 1 , 2 , 3. with 2 Chron. 32. 31. Alas ! we are sinfull out of measure , but see it not to the full , untill an hour of Temptation comes : But when it comes , it doth as the Painter doth , it draweth out our heart to the life : Yet the sight of what we are , should not keep us from coming to Jesus Christ. There are two ways , by which God lets a man into a sight of the Naughtyness of his heart : One is , by the light of the Word , and spirit of God ; and the other is , by the Temptations of the Devil . But by the first , we see our naughtiness one way , and by the second , another . By the Light of the Word , and Spirit of God , thou hast a sight of thy naughtyness , as by the light of the Sun , thou hast a sight of the spots , and defilements that are in thy house or raiment . Which light gives thee to see a necessity of cleansing , but maketh not the blemishes to spread more abominably . But when Satan comes , when he tempts , he puts life and rage into our sins , and turnes them , as it were , into so many devils within us . Now like prisoners they attempt to brake through the prison of our body ; they will attempt to get out at our eyes , mouths , ears , any ways ; To the Scandal of the Gospel , and Reproach of Religion , to the darkning of our evidences , and damning of our souls . But I shall say , as I said before , this hath oft times been the Lot of Gods people . And , No Temptation hath over-taken thee , but such as is common to man ; and God is faithfull , who will not suffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able , 1 Cor. 10. 13. See the Book of Job , the Book of Psalms , and that of the Lamentations . And remember further , that Christ himself was tempted to blaspheme , to worship the devil , and to Murder himself . ( Mat 4. Luk. 4. ) Temptations , worse then which , thou canst hardly be over-taken with . But he was sinless . That is true . And he is thy Saviour , and that is as true : Yea , it is as true also , that by his being tempted , he became the Conqueror of the tempter , and a succourer of those that are tempted , Col. 2. 14 , 15. Heb. 2. 17. chap. 4. 15 , 16. Quest. But what should be the reason , that some that are coming to Christ , should be so Lamentably cast down , and buffetted with Temptations ? Answ. It may be for several causes . First , Some that are coming to Christ , cannot be perswaded , untill the Temptation comes , that they are so vile as the Scripture saith they are : True , they see so much of their wretchedness , as to drive them to Christ ; but there is an over , and above , of wickedness , which they see not . Peter little thought that he had had Cursing , and Swearing , and Lying , and an inclination in his heart to deny his Master , before the Temptation came : But when that indeed , came upon him , then he found it there to his sorrow . Joh. 13. 36 , 37 , 38. Mark. 14. 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72. Secondly , Some that are coming to Jesus Christ , are too much affected with their own graces , and too little taken with Christs person ; wherefore God , to take them off from doteing upon their own Jewels , and that they might look more to the person ; undertaking , and merits of his Son , plunges them into the ditch by Temptations . And this I take to be the meaning of Job . If I wash me , said he , with snow-water , and make my self never so clean , yet wilt thou plung me in the ditch , and mine own clothes shall abhor me , Job 9. 30 , 31. Job had been before a little too much Tampering with his own graces , and setting his excellencies a little too high ( as these Texts make manifest , Job 33. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. chap. 34. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. chap. 35. 2 , 3. chap. 38. 1 , 2. chap. 40. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. chap. 42. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. ) But by that the Temptation was ended , you find him better taught . Yea , God doth oft-times , even for this thing as it were , take our graces from us , and so leave us almost quite to our selves , and to the tempter , that we may learn not to love the Picture , more than the person of his Son. See how he dealt with them in the Sixteenth of Ezek , and the Second of Hosea . Thirdly , Perhaps thou hast been given too much , to Judge thy brother , to condemn thy brother , because a poor tempted man : And God , to bring down the pride of thy heart , letteth the tempter loose upon thee , that thou also mayest feel thy self weak . For pride goeth before destruction , and an haughty spirit before a fall . Pro. 16. 18. Fourthly , It may be thou hast dealt a little too roughly with those that God hath this way wounded ; not considering thy self , lest thou also be tempted : and therefore God hath suffered it to come unto thee , Gal. 6. 1. Fifthly , It may be thou wast given to slumber , and sleep , and therefore these Temptations were sent to awaken thee . You know that Peters Temptation came upon him , after his sleeping ; then , instead of watching and praying ; then he denyed , and denyed , and denyed his Master , Mat. 26. Sixthly , It may be thou hast presumed too far , and stood too much in thine own strength , and therefore is a time of Temptation come upon thee . This was also one cause , why it came upon Peter . Though all men forsake thee , yet will not I. Ah! that 's the way to be tempted indeed , Joh. 13. 36 , 37 , 38. Seventhly , It may be , God intends to make thee wise , to speak a word in season , to others that are afflicted ; and therefore he suffereth thee to be Tempted . Christ was tempted , that he might be able to succour them that are tempted . Heb. 2. 18. Eighthly , It may be Satan hath dared God , to suffer him to tempt thee ; promising , that if he will but let him do it , thou wilt curse him to his face . Thus he obtained leave against Job ; wherefore take heed , tempted soul , lest thou provest the devils sayings true . Job 1. chap. 2. Ninethly , It may be thy graces must be tryed in the fire , that that rust that cleaveth to them , may be taken away , and themselves proved , both before Angels and Devils , far better than of Gold that perisheth ; it may be also , that thy graces are to receive special Praises and Honour , and Glory , at the coming of the Lord Jesus ( to Judgement ) for all the exploits that thou hast Acted by them against Hell , and its infernal crue , in the day of thy Temptation , 1 Pet. 1. 6 , 7. Tenthly , It may be , God would have others learn by thy sighs , groans and complaints under Temptation , to beware of those sins ; for the sake of which , thou art at present delivered to the Tormentors . But to conclude this , put the worst to the worst , ( and then things will be bad enough ) suppose that thou art to this day without the grace of God , yet thou art but a miserable Creature , a sinner , that has need of a blessed Saviour ; and the Text presents thee with one as good , and kind , as heart can wish : who also for thy incouragement saith , And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . To come therefore to a word of Application . IS it so ? That they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid , that Jesus Christ will not receive them . Then this teacheth us these things : First , That faith , and doubting , may at the same time have their residence in the same soul. O Thou of little faith , wherefore didst thou doubt ? Mat. 14. 31. He saith not , O! Thou of No faith ; but O! Thou of Little faith . Because he had a little faith in the midest of his many doubts . The same is true , even of many that are coming to Jesus Christ : They come , and fear they come , and doubt . When they look upon the promise , or , a word of incouragement by faith , then they come ; but when they look upon themselves , or the difficulties that lie before them , then they doubt . Bid me Come , said Peter : Come , said Christ. So he went down out of the Ship to go to Jesus , but his hap was to go to him upon the water ; There was the Tryal . So it is with the poor desiring Soul. Bid me Come , sayes the sinner : Come , sayes Christ , and I will in no wise cast thee out . So he Comes , but his hap is to come upon the water , upon drowning difficulties ; if therefore the wind of Temptations blow , the waves of doubts and fears will presently arise , and this coming sinner will begin to sink , if he has but little faith . But you shall find here , in Peters little faith , a two fold act ; to wit , Coming , and Crying ; Little faith cannot come all the way without crying : So long as its holy boldness lasts , so long it can come with peace ; but when it , So , can come no farther , It will go the rest of the way with crying . Peter went as far as his little faith would carry him : he also cryed as loud as his little faith would help , Lord save me , I perish : And so with coming and crying , he was kept from sinking , though he had but a little faith . Jesus stretched forth his hand , and caught him , and said unto him : O! Thou of little faith , wherefore didst thou doubt ? Secondly , Is it so ? That they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid , that Jesus Christ will not receive them : Then this shews us a reason of that Dejection , and those castings down , that very often we perceive to be in them , that are coming to Jesus Christ : Why , it is because they are afraid that Jesus Christ will not receive them . The poor World , they Mock us , because , we are a dejected people ; I mean , because we are sometimes so : But they do not know the cause of our Dejections . Could we be perswaded , even then , when we are Dejected , that Jesus Christ , would indeed receive us : It would put more gladness into our hearts , than in the time in which their Corn , and Wine , and Oyl increases , Psal. 4. 6 , 7. But , Thirdly , Is it so ? That they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them . Then this shews , that they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are an awakned , sensible , considering people . For , fear cometh from sense , and consideration of things . They are sensible of sin , sensible of the Curse due thereto ; They are also sensible of the Glorious Majesty of God , and of what a blessed , blessed thing it is , to be received of Jesus Christ : The glory of Heaven , and evil of sin , these things they consider , and are sensible of . When I remember , I am afraid ; when I consider , I am afraid , Job 21. 6. chap. 36. 15. These things dash their spirits , being awake , and sensible ; Were they dead like other men , they would not be afflicted with fear , as they are ; For dead men , Fear not , Feel not , Care not ; but the living , and sensible man , he it is , that is oft times heartily afraid , that Jesus Christ will not receive him . I say , the dead , and senseless , are not distressed . They presume , they are groundlesly confident . Who so bold as blind Bayard . These indeed should fear , and be afraid , because they are not coming to Jesus Christ. O! The Hell , the Fire , the Pit , the Wrath of God , and Torments of Hell , that are prepared for poor neglecting sinners : How shall we escape , if we neglect so great Salvation ! ( Heb. 2. 3. ) But they want sense of things , and so cannot fear . Fourthly , Is it so ? That they that are coming to Jesus Christ , are oft-times heartily afraid , that he will not Receive them ; Then this should teach Old Christians to pity and pray for Young Comers : You know the Heart of a Stranger , for you your selves were Strangers in the Land of Egypt . You know the Fears , and Doubts , and Terrors , that take hold of them ; for that they sometimes took hold of you . Wherefore , pity them , pray for them , encourage them ; they need all this : Guilt hath overtaken them , Fears of the Wrath of God hath over-taken them : Perhaps , they are within the Sight of Hell-fire ; and the Fear of going thither , is burning-hot within their Hearts . You may know , how strangely Satan is suggesting his Devilish Doubts unto them , if possible , he may sinck , and drown'd them with the Multitude , and weight of them . Old Christians , mend up the Paths for them , take the Stumbling-blocks out of the way ; lest that which is Feeble and Weak be turned aside , but let it rather be Healed , Heb. 12. I come now to the next Observation , and shall speak a little to that ; to wit , THat Jesus Christ would Not have them , that in truth are coming to him , Once think , That he will cast them out . The Text is full for this : For , he saith ; And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Now , if he saith , I will not , he would not have us think , He will. This is yet further manifest by these Considerations : First , Christ Jesus did forbid even them , that as yet , were not coming to him , Once to think him such an one : Do not think ( said he ) that I will accuse you to the Father , Joh. 5. 45. These ( as I said ) were such , that as yet , were not coming to him : For he saith of them a little before ; And ye will not come to me : For the Respect they had to the Honour of Men , kept them back . Yet , I say , Jesus Christ gives them to understand , that though he might Justly reject them , yet he would not ; but bids them not Once to think , that he would accuse them to the Father . Now , not to Accuse ( with Christ ) , is to Plead for : For Christ in these things , stands not Neuter between the Father and Sinners . So then , If Jesus Christ would not have them think , that Yet will not come to him , that he will Accuse them ; then he would not that they should think so , that in truth are coming to him . And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Secondly , When the Woman taken in Adultery , ( even in the very Act ) was brought before Jesus Christ : So he carryed it , both by Words and Actions , that he evidently enough made it manifest , that Condemning , and Casting-out , were such Things ; for the Doing of which , he came not into the World. Wherefore , when they had set her before him , and had laid to her charge her Heinous Fact , he stooped down , and with his Finger wrote upon the Ground , as though he heard them not . Now , What did he do by this his Cariage , but testify plainly , That he was not for Receiving Accusations against poor Sinners , who-ever accused by ? And observe ; Though they continued asking , thinking at last to force him to Condemn her ; yet then he so answered , as that he drove all Condemning Persons from her . And then he adds , for her Encouragement to come to him ; Neither do I Condemn thee ; go , and Sin no more , Joh. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Not but that he indeed abhorred the Fact ; but he would not Condemn the Woman for the Sin , because that was not his Office : He was not sent into the World , to condemn the World , but that the World through Him might be saved , Joh. 3. 17. Now , if Christ , though urged to it , would not Condemn the Guilty Woman , though she was far at present from coming to him ; he would not that they should Once think , that he will cast them out , that in truth are coming to him : And him that cometh to me , I will in no wise cast out . Thirdly , Christ plainly bids the Turning Sinner , Come ; and forbids him to Entertain any such Thought , as that He will cast him out . Let the Wicked forsake his Ways , and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts ; and let him Turn unto the Lord , and he will have Mercy upon him ; and to our God , for he will abundantly Pardon , Isa. 55. 7. The Lord , by bidding the Unrighteous forsake his Thoughts ; doth in special forbid , as I have said , ( to wit ) those Thoughts , that hinder the Coming-Man in his Progress to Jesus Christ ; His Unbelieving Thoughts . Therefore , he bids him , not only forsake his Ways , but his Thoughts : Let the Wicked forsake his Ways , and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts . 'T is not enough to forsake one , if thou wilt come to Jesus Christ ; because the other will keep thee from him . Suppose a Man forsakes his wicked Wayes , his debauched and filthy Life ; yet if these Thoughts , That Jesus Christ will not Receive him , be entertained and nourished in his heart ; them Thoughts will keep him from coming to Jesus Christ. Sinner , Coming-Sinner ; Art thou for coming to Jesus Christ ? Yes , sayes the Sinner . Forsake thy wicked Wayes then . So I do , sayes the Sinner . Why comest thou then so slowly ? Because I am hindred . What hinders ? Has God forbidden thee ? No. Art thou not willing to come faster ? Yes : Yet I cannot . Well , prethee be plain with me , and tell me the Reason and Ground of thy Discouragement : Why ? ( saith the Sinner ) though God forbids me not , and though I am willing to come faster ; yet there naturally ariseth this , and that , and the other Thought in my Heart , that hinders my Speed to Jesus Christ. Sometimes , I think , I am not Chosen ; sometimes , I think , I am not Called ; sometimes , I think , I come too late ; and sometimes , I think , I know not what it is to Come . Also , One while I think , I have no Grace ; and then again , that I cannot Pray ; and then again , I think , that I am a very Hypocrite : And these Things keep me from coming to Jesus Christ. Look ye now ! Did not I tell you so ? There are Thoughts yet remaining in the Heart , even of those that have forsaken their wicked Wayes ; and with those Thoughts they are more plagued , than with any thing else ; because they hinder their Coming to Jesus Christ : For the Sin of Unbelief , ( which is the Original of all these Thoughts ) is that which besets a Coming-Sinner more easily , than doth his Wayes ; Heb. 12. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. But now , since Jesus Christ commands thee to forsake these Thoughts ; forsake them , Coming-sinner : And if thou forsake them not , thou Trangressest the Commands of Christ , and abidest thine own Tormentor , and keepest thy self from Establishment in Grace : If ye will not Believe , ye shall not be Established , Isa. 7. 9. Thus you see , how Jesus Christ setteth himself against such Thoughts , that any way discourage the Coming-Sinner ; and thereby , truly vindicates the Doctrine we have in hand ; To wit , That Jesus Christ would not have them , that in truth are coming to him , Once think , that he will cast them out . And him that cometh to me , I will in No wise cast out . I come now to the Reasons of the Observation . 1. IF Jesus Christ should allow thee Once to think , that he will Cast thee out ; he must allow thee to think , that he will falsify his Word : For he hath said , I will in no wise cast out . But Christ would not that thou shouldst count him as One , that will falsify his Word : For he saith of himself , I am the Truth ; Therefore , he would not , that any that in Truth are coming to him , should Once think , that he will cast them out . Secondly , If Jesus Christ should allow the Sinner , that in Truth is coming to him , Once to think , that he will cast him out : Then he must allow , and so countenance the first Appearance of Unbelief ; the which , he counteth his greatest Enemy ; and against which , he has bent even his Holy Gospel . Therefore , Jesus Christ would not , that they that in Truth are coming to him , should Once think , that he will cast them out : See Mat. 14. 31. chap 21. 21. Mark 11. 23. Luk. 24. 25. Thirdly , If Jesus Christ should allow the Coming-Sinner , Once to think , that he will cast him out ; then he must allow him to make a Question , Whether he is willing to Receive his Father's Gift ? For the Coming-Sinner is his Father's Gift ; as also sayes the Text : But he testifeth , All that the Father giveth him , shall come to him ; and him that cometh , he will in no wise cast out . Therefore , Jesus Christ would not have him , that in Truth is coming to him , Once to think , that he will cast him out . Fourthly , If Jesus Christ should allow them Once to think ( that indeed are coming to him ) that he will cast him out ; he must allow them to think , that he will despise and reject the Drawing of his Father : For No Man can come to him , but whom the Father draweth : But it would be high Blasphemy , and damnable Wickedness , Once to imagine thus . Therefore , Jesus Christ would not have him that cometh , Once think , that he will cast him out . Fifthly , If Jesus Christ should allow those , that indeed are coming to him , Once to think , that he will cast them out ; He must allow them to think , that he will be Unfaithful to the Trust , and Charge , that his Father hath committed to him ; which is to Save , and not to Lose , any thing of that which he hath given him to Save ; Joh. 6. 36. But the Father hath given him a Charge , to save the Coming-Sinner : Therefore , it cannot be , that he should allow , that such an one should Once think , that he will cast him out . Sixthly , If Jesus Christ should allow , that they should Once think , that are coming to him , that he will cast them out : Then he must allow them to think , that he will be unfaithful to his Office of Priest-hood : For , as by the first part of it , he paid Price for , and Ransomed Souls ; so by the Second Part thereof , he continually maketh Intercession to God for them that come , Heb. 7. 25. But he cannot allow us to question his Faithful Execution of his Priest-hood : Therefore , he cannot allow us Once to think , that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out . Seventhly , If Jesus Christ should allow us Once to think , that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out : Then he must allow us to question , his Will , or Power , or Merit to Save . But he cannot allow us Once to question any of these : Therefore , not Once to think , that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out . 1. He cannot allow them to question his Will : For he saith in the Text , I will in no wise cast out . 2. He cannot allow us to question his Power : For the Holy Ghost saith , He is Able to save to the uttermost , them that come . 3. He cannot allow them to question the Efficacy of his Merit : For the Blood of Christ cleanseth the Commer from all Sin ; 1 Joh. 1. Therefore , he cannot allow , that he that is coming to him , should Once think , that he will cast him out . Eighthly , If Jesus Christ should allow the coming sinner , Once to think , that he will cast him out ; he must allow him to give the lie , to the manifest testimony of the Father , Son , and Spirit : yea to the whole Gospel contained in Moses , the Prophets , the book of Psalms , and that commonly called the New-Testament : But he cannot allow of this , therefore , not that the coming sinner should Once think that he will cast him out . Ninethly , Lastly . If Jesus Christ should allow him that is coming to him , Once to think that he will cast him out : He must allow him to question his Fathers Oath ; Which he in truth , and Righteousness , hath taken ; that they might have a strong Consolation , who have fled for refuge to Jesus Christ : But he cannot allow this , therefore he cannot allow that the coming sinner should once think that he will cast him out , Heb. 6. I come now to make some General Use and Application of the whole , and so to draw towards a Conclusion . THe First Use , a Use of Information . And it Informeth us , That Men by Nature are far off from Christ. Let me a little improve this Use , by speaking to these Three Questions . 1. Where is he , that is not coming to Jesus Christ ? 2. What is he , that is not coming to Jesus Christ ? 3. Whether is he to go , that cometh not to Jesus Christ ? First , Where is he ? 1. Answ. He is far from God , he is without him ; even alienate from him , both in his Understanding , Will , Affections , Judgment , and Conscience ; Ephes. 2. 12. chap. 4. 18. 2. He is far from Jesus Christ , who is the only Deliverer of Men from Hell-Fire ; Psal. 73. 27. 3. He is far from the Work of the Holy Ghost , the Work of Regeneration , and a Second Creation ; without which , no Man shall see the Kingdom of Heaven ; Joh. 3. 3. 4. He is far from Righteousness , from that Righteousness that should make him Acceptable in God's Sight ; Isa. 46. 14. 5. He is under the Power and Dominion of Sin ; Sin reigneth in and over him ; it dwelleth in every Faculty of his Soul , and Member of his Body : So that , from Head to Foot , there is no place clean ; Isa. 1. 6. Rom. 3. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. 6. He is in the Pest-house , with Uzziah ; and excluded the Camp of Israel , with the Leapers ; 2 Chron. 26. 21. Numb . 5. 2. 7. His Life is among the Unclean ; He is in the Gall of Bitterness , and in the Bond of Iniquity , Job 36. 14. Act. 8. 23. 8. He is in Sin , in the Flesh , in Death , in the Snare of the Devil , and is taken Captive by him at his Will ; 1 Cor. 15. 17. Rom. 8. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 14. 2 Tim. 2. 26. 9. He is under the Curse of the Law ; and the Devil dwells in him , and hath the Mastery of him ; Gal. 3. 13. Eph. 2. 2 , 3. Acts 36. 18 10. He is in Darkness , and walketh in Darkness , and knows not whither he goes ; for Darkness has blinded his Eyes . 11. He is in the Broad-way , that leadeth to Destruction ; and holding on , he will assuredly go in at the Broad-gate , and so down the Stairs to Hell. Secondly , What is he , that cometh not to Jesus Christ ? 1. He is counted one of God's Enemies ; Luk. 19 14. . Rom. 8. 7. 2. He is a Child of the Devil , and of Hell ; for the Devil begat him , as to his sinful Nature ; and Hell must swallow him at last , because he cometh not to Jesus Christ ; Joh. 8. 44. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Mat. 23. 15. Psal. 9. 17. 3. He is a Child of Wrath , an Heir of it ; 't is his Portion , and God will repay it him to his Face ; Ephes. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. Job 21. 29 , 30 , 31. 4. He is a Self-Murder ; he wrongeth his own Soul , and is one that loveth Death ; Prov. 1. 18. Chap. 8. 35 , 36. 5. He is a Companion for Devils , and Damned Men ; Prov. 21. 16. Mat. 25. 41. Thirdly , Whither is he like to go , that cometh not to Jesus Christ ? 1. He that cometh not To him , is like to go Further from him ; for every Sin , is a Step further from Jesus Christ ; Hos. 11. 2. As he is in Darkness , so he is like to go on in it : For Christ is the Light of the World ; and he that comes not to him , walketh in Darkness , Joh. 8. 12. 3. He is like to be removed at last , as far from God , and Christ , and Heaven , and all Felicity , as an Infinitie God can remove him ; Mat. 12. 41. But , Secondly , This Doctrine of coming to Christ , informeth us , Where poor destitute Sinners may find Life for their Souls ; and that is in Christ : This Life is in his Son ; he that hath the Son , hath Life : And again ; Whoso findeth me , findeth Life , and shall obtain Favor of the Lord , Prov. 8. Now , for further Enlargement , I will also here propound three more Questions : 1. What Life is in Christ ? 2. Who may have it ? 3. Upon what Terms ? First , What Life is in Jesus Christ ? 1. There is Justifying Life in Christ. Man , by Sin , is Dead in Law ; and Christ only can deliver him by his Righteousness , and Blood , from this Death , into a State of Life : For God sent his Son into the World , That we might Live through him , 1 Joh. 4. 9. That is , through the Righteousness which ▪ he should accomplish , and the Death that he should dye . 2. There is Eternal Life in Christ : Life that 's endless ; Life for ever , and ever . He hath given us Eternal Life ; and this Life is in his Son , 1 Joh. 5. Now , Justification , and Eternal Salvation , being both in Christ , and no where else to be had for Men , Who would not come to Jesus Christ ? Secondly , Who may have this Life ? I answer ; Poor , Helpless , miserable Sinners : Particularly , 1. Such as are willing to have it ; Whosoever will , Let him take the Water of Life , Revel . 22. 17. 2. He that Thirsteth for it : I will give to him that is a Thirst , of the Fountain of the Water of Life , Revel . 21. 6. 3. He that is weary of his Sins . This is the Rest , whereby ye may cause the Weary to rest ; and this is the Refreshing , Isa. 28. 12. 4. He that is Poor and Needy . He shall spare the Poor and Needy , and shall save the Souls of the Needy . 5. He that followeth after him , crying for Life . He that follows me , shall not walk in Darkness , but shall have the Light of Life , Joh. 8. 12. Thirdly , Upon what Terms may he have this Life ? Answ. Freely : Sinner , Dost thou hear ? Thou may'st have it Freely . Let him take the Water of Life Freely : I will give him of the Fountain of the Water of Life Freely . And when they had nothing to pay , he Frankly forgave them both , Luk. 7. Freely , without Money , or without Price . Ho! Every one that Thirsteth , come ye to the Waters ; and he that hath no Money , Come ye , Buy and Eat : Yea , come , buy Wine and Milk , without Mony , and without Price , Isa. 55. 1. Sinner , Art thou Thirsty ? art thou Weary ? art thou Willing ? Come then , and regard not your Stuff ; for all the Good that is in Christ , is offered to the Coming-Sinner , without Mony , and without Price . He has Life to give away , to such as want it , and that have not a Penny to purchase it ; and he will give it Freely : Oh , What a blessed Condition is the Coming-Sinner in ! But , Thirdly , This Doctrine of Coming to Jesus Christ for Life ; Informeth us , That It is to be had no where else : Might it be had Any where else , the Text , and Him that spoke it , would be but little set-by : For , What great Matter is there in , I will in no wise cast out , if another stood by that could Received them ? But here appears the Glory of Christ , that none but He can Save ! And , here appears his Love , that though none can Save but He , yet he is not Coy in Saving ! But him that comes to me ( saith he ) I will in no wise cast out . That none can Save but Jesus Christ , is evident from Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other ; and he hath given us Eternal Life , and this Life is in his Son. If Life could have been had any where else , it should have been in the Law ; but it is not in the Law : For , by the Deeds of the Law , no Man living shall be Justifyed ; and if not Justifyed , then no Life . Therefore , Life is no where to be had , but in Jesus Christ ; Gal. 3. Quest. But why would God so order it , that Life should be had no where else , but in Jesus Christ ? Answ. There is Reason for it ; and that both with Respect to God , and to Us. First , With Respect to God. First , That it might be in a way of Justice , as well as Mercy : And in away of Justice it could not have been , if it had not been by Christ ; because He , and He only , was able to answer the Demand of the Law ; and give for Sin , what the Justice thereof required . All Angels had been Crushed down to Hell for ever , had that Curse been laid upon them for our Sins , which was laid upon Jesus Christ : But 't was laid upon Him , and He bare it ; and answered the Penalty , and Redeemed his People from under it , with that Satisfaction to Divine Justice , that God himself doth now proclaim ; That he is Faithful and Just to forgive us , if by Faith we shall venture on Jesus , and trust to what he has done for Life ; Rom. 3. 24 , 25 , 26. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Secondly , Life must be by Jesus Christ , that God might be Adored , and Magnifyed , for finding out this Way . This is the Lord's Doings , that in all Things he might be Glorifyed , through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thirdly , It must be by Jesus Christ , that Life might be at God's dispose ; who hath great Pity for the Poor , the Lowly , the Meek , the Broken in heart ; and for them that others care not for , Psal. 34. 6. Psal. 138. 6. Psal. 25. Psal. 51. 17. Psal. 147. 3. Fourthly , Life must be in Christ , to cut off boasting from the lips of men . This also is the Apostles reason , in Rom. 3. 26 , 27. And Ephes. 2. 8 , 9 , 10. Secondly , Life must be in Jesus Christ , with respect to us . First , That we might have it upon the easiest Termes , to wit , Freely , as a gift , not as wages ; was it in Moses hand , we should come hardly at it . Was it in the Popes hand , we should pay soundly for it : but thanks be to God , it is in Christ , laid up in him , and by him , to be communicated to sinners upon easie Termes , even for receiving , accepting and imbraceing with Thanksgiving . As the Scriptures plainly declare , Joh. 1. 11 , 12. 2 Cor. 11. 4. Heb. 11. 13. Col. 3. 13 , 14 , 15. Secondly , Life is in Christ for us , that it might not be upon so brittle a foundation , as indeed it would , had it been any where else . The Law it self is weak because of us , as to this : But Christ is a tryed stone , a sure foundation , one that will not fail to bear thy burden , and to receive thy Soul ; coming sinner . Thirdly , Life is in Christ , that it might be sure to all the seed . Alas ! the best of us , was life left in our hands , to be sure , we should forfeit it , over , and over , and over : or was it in any other hand , we should by our often backslidings , so offend him , that at last he would shut up his bowels in everlasting displeasure against us . But now it is in Christ , it is with one that can pity , pray for , pardon , yea multiply pardons : It is with one that can have Compassion upon us , when we are out of the way ; with one that hath an heart to fetch us again , when we are gone astray ; with one that can pardon without upbraiding . Blessed be God , that life is in Christ ! For Now 't is sure , to all the seed . But Fourthly . This Doctrine of coming to Jesus Christ for life , informs us of the evil of Unbelief ; that wicked thing , that is the only , or chief hindrance to the coming sinner . Doth the Text say , 〈◊〉 ? Doth it say , And him that cometh , I will in no wise cast out ? Then what an evil is that , that keepeth sinners from coming to Jesus Christ ? And that evil is unbelief . For by faith we come , by Unbelief we keep away . Therefore It is said to be that , by which a Soul is said to depart from God ; because it was that , which at first caused the world to go off from him ; and that also that keeps them from him to this day . And it doth it the more easily , because it doth it with a wile . This sin may be called , The White Devil ; for it often-times in its Mischievous doings in the Soul , shews as if it was an Angel of Light. Yea , it Acteth like a Counsellor of Heaven : Therefore a little to discourse of this evil disease . First , It is that sin , above all others , that hath some shew of reason in its attempts . For it keeps the Soul from Christ , by pretending its present unfitness , and unpreparedness ; as want of more sense of sin , want of more repentance , want of more humility , want of a more broken heart . Secondly , It is the sin , that most Suiteth with the Conscience : the Conscience of the coming sinner , tells him that he hath nothing good , that he stands inditable for Ten Thousand Tallents ; that he is a very ignorant , blind , and hard-hearted sinner , unworthy to be once taken notice of by Jesus Christ : And will you ( says Unbelief ) in such a case as you now are , presume to come to Jesus Christ ? Thirdly , It is the sin that most Suiteth with our Sense of feeling . The coming sinner , feels the workings of sin , of all manner of sin , and wretchedness , in his flesh : He also feels the Wrath , and Judgement of God due to sin , and oft-times staggers under it : Now , sayes unbelief , you may see you have no grace , for that which works in you , is corruption ; You may also perceive , that God doth not love you , because the Sense of his Wrath abides upon you : Therefore how can you bear the face to come to Jesus Christ ? Fourthly , It is the sin , above all others , that most Suiteth with the Wisdom of our flesh : the Wisdom of our flesh , thinks it prudence to question a while , to stand back a while , to hearken to both sides a while , and not to be rash , sudden or unadvised , in too bold a presuming upon Jesus Christ : And this Wisdom Unbelief falls in with . Fifthly , It is that sin above all other , that continually is whispering the Soul in the ear , with mistrusts of the faithfulness of God , in keeping promise to them that come to Jesus Christ for life . It also suggesteth mistrust ▪ about Christs willingness to receive it , and save it . And no sin can do this so Artificiently as Unbelief . Sixthly , It is also that sin , which is always at hand , to enter an Objection against this or that Promise , that by the Spirit of God is brought to our heart , to comfort us ; and if the poor coming sinner , is not aware of it , it will by some evasion , slite , trick or cavil , quickly wrest from him the Promise again , and he shall have but little benefit of it . Seventhly , It is that above all other sins , that weakens our Prayers , our faith , our love , our diligence , our hope and expectations : It even taketh the heart away from God in duty . Eightly , Lastly . This sin , as I have said even now , it appeareth in the Soul with so many sweet pretences to safety , and security ; that it is , as if it were , Counsel sent from Heaven . Biding the Soul be wise , wary , considerate , well advised , and to take heed of too rash a venture upon Believing . Besure first , that God loves you ; take hold of no promise untill you are forced by God unto it ; neither be you sure of your Salvation , doubt it still , though the testimony of the Lord has been often confirmed in you : live not by faith , but by sense : and when you can neither see nor feel , then fear and mistrust , then doubt , and question all . This is the Devilish counsel of Unbelief , which is so covered over with specious pretences , that the wisest Christian can hardly shake off these reasonings . But to be brief : Let me here give thee , Christian Reader , a more particular description of the qualities of Unbelief , by opposing Faith unto it , in these Twenty five particulars . First . Faith , believeth the word of God , but Unbelief questioneth the certainly of the same , Psal. 106. 24. Secondly . Faith , believeth the word , because it is true ; but Unbelief doubteth thereof , because it is true , 1 Tim. 4. 3. Joh. 8. 45. Thirdly . Faith , sees more in a promise of God to help , than in all other things to hinder : But Unbelief , notwithstanding Gods promise , saith , How can these things be ? Rom. 4. 19 , 20 , 21. 2 King. 7. 2. Joh. 3. 4 , 12. Fourthly , Fourthly , Faith will make thee see love in the heart of Christ , when with his mouth he giveth reproofs : But Unbelief will imagine wrath in his heart , when with his mouth , and word , he saith he loves us , Mat. 15. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. Numb . 13. 2. chap. 14. 3. Fifthly , Faith will help the Soul to wait , though God deferres to give : but Unbelief will take snuff , and throw up all , if God make any tarrying , Psal. 25. 5. Isa. 8. 17. 2 King. 6. 33. Psal. 106. 13 , 14. Sixthly , Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears ; but Unbelief causeth fears in the midst of comfort , 2 Chro. 20. 20 , 21. Mat. 8. 26. Luk. 24. 36 , 37. Seventhly , Faith will suck sweetness out of Gods rod ; but Unbelief can find no comfort in his greatest mercies , Psal. 23. 4. Numb . 21. 5. Eighthly , Faith maketh great burdens light ; but Unbelief maketh light ones intollerably heavy , 2 Cor. 4. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18. Mal. 1. 2 , 13. Ninethly , Faith helpeth us up when we are down ; but Unbelief throws us down , when we are up , Mich. 7. 8 , 9 , 10. Heb. 4. 11. Tenthly , Faith bringeth us near to God , when we are far from him ; but Unbelief puts us far from God , when we are near to him : Heb. 10 22. Chap. 3. 12 , 13. Eleventhly , Where Faith reigns , it declareth Men to be the Friends of God ; but where Unbelief reigns , it declareth them to be his Enemies : Jam. 5. 23. Heb. 3. 18. Rev. 21. 8. Twelfthly , Faith putteth a Man under Grace ; but Unbelief holdeth him under Wrath : Rom. 3. 24 , 25 , 26. Chap. 4 16. Ephes. 2. 8. Joh. 3. 36. 1 Joh. 5. 10. Heb. 3. 17. Mark 16. 16. Thirteenthly , Faith purifieth the Heart ; but Unbelief keepeth it polluted and impure : Acts 15. 9. Tit. 1. 15 , 16. Fourteenthly , By Faith , the Righteousness of Christ is imputed to us ; but by Unbelief , we are shut up under the Law to Perish : Rom. 4. 23 , 24. Chap. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 23. Fifteenthly , Faith maketh our Work acceptable to God through Christ ; but whatsoever is of Unbelief , is Sin : For without Faith , it is impossible to please him ; Heb. 11. 4. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6. Sixteenthly , Faith giveth us Peace and Comfort in our Souls ; but Unbelief worketh Trouble and Tossings , like the restless Waves of the Sea : Rom. 5. 1. Jam. 1. 6. Seventeenthly , Faith makes us see Preciousness in Christ ; but Unbelief sees no Form , Beauty , or Comlyness in him : 1 Pet. 2. 7. Isa. 53. 1 , 2 , 3. Eighteenthly , By Faith we have our Life in Christ's Fulness ; but by Unbelief , we starve and pine away : Gal. 2. 20. Nineteenthly , Faith giveth us the Victory over the Law , Sin , Death , the Devil , and all Evils ; but Unbelief layeth us Obnoxious to them all : 1 Joh. 5. 4 , 5. Luk. 12. 46. Twentyeth , Faith will shew us more Excellency in Things not seen , than in them that are ; but Unbelief sees more in Things that are here , than in Things that will be here-after : 2 Cor. 4. 18. Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Twenty-First , Faith maketh the Ways of God pleasant , and amiable ; but Unbelief maketh them heavy , and hard : Gal. 5. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 10 , 11. Joh. 6. 60. Psal. 2. 3. Twenty-Second , By Faith , Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , possessed the Land of Promise ; But because of Unbelief , neither Aaron , nor Moses , nor Mirian , could get thither : Heb. 11. 9. Heb. 3. 19. Twenty-Third , By Faith , the Children of Israel passed through the Red Sea ; but by Unbelief , the Generality of them perished in the Wilderness : Heb. 11. 29. Jude 5. Twenty-Fourth , By Faith , Gidion did more with Three-hundred men , and a few empty Pitchers , than all the Twelve Tribes could do ; because they believed not God : Judg. 7. 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22. Numb . 14. 11 , 44. Twenty-Fifth , By Faith , Peter walked on the Water ; but by Unbelief , he began to sink : Mat. 14. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 Thus might many more be added , which , for brevity sake , I omit : Beseeching every one , that thinketh he hath a Soul to Save , or be Damned , to take heed of Unbelief . Lest , seeing there is a Promise left us of Entering into his Rest , any of us , by Unbelief , should indeed come short of it . The Second Use ; a Use of Examination . WE come now to a Use of Examination . Sinner , Thou hast heard of the Necessity of Coming to Christ ; also , Of the Willingness of Christ , to Receive the Coming-Soul : Together , with the Benefit , that They by him shall have , that indeed come to Him. Put thy self now upon this Serious Enquiry ; Am I , indeed , come to Jesus Christ ? Motives , plenty , I might here urge , to prevail with thee to a Conscientious Performance of this Duty : As , 1. Thou art in Sin , in the Flesh , in Death , in the Snare of the Devil , and under the Curse of the Law ; if thou art not coming to Jesus Christ. 2. There is no way to be delivered from these , but by coming to Jesus Christ. 3. If thou comest , Jesus Christ will Receive thee , and will in no wise cast thee out . 4. Thou wilt not Repent it in the Day of Judgement , if now thou comest to Jesus Christ. 5. But thou wilt surely Mourn at last , if now thou shalt refuse to come : And , 6. Lastly , Now thou hast been invited to come ; now will thy Judgment be greater , and thy Damnation more fearful , if thou shalt yet Refuse , than if thou hadst never heard of Coming to Christ. Object . But we hope , we are come to Jesus Christ ? Answ. 'T is well , if it proves so . But lest thou should speak without Ground , and so fall unawares into Hell Fire ; Let us Examine a little . First , Art thou , indeed , come to Jesus Christ ? What hast thou left behind thee ? What didst thou come away from , in thy Coming to Jesus Christ ? When Lot came out of Sodom , he left the Sodomites behind him ; Gen. 19. When Abraham came out of Chaldea , he left his Country and Kindred behind him ; Gen. 12. Acts 7. When Ruth came to put her Trust under the Wings of the Lord God of Israel ; she left her Father , and Mother ; her Gods , and the Land of her Nativity behind her ; Ruth 1. 15 , 16 , 17. Chap. 2. 11 , 12. When Peter came to Christ , he left his Nets behind him ; Mat. 4. 18. When Zacheus came to Christ , he left the Receipt of Custom behind him ; Luk. 19. When Paul came to Christ , he left his own Righteousness behind him ; Philip . 3. 7 , 8. When those that used Curious Arts came to Jesus Christ , they took their Curious Books , and burned them ; though in another Man's Eye , they were counted worth Fifty-Thousand Peices of Silver : Acts 19. 18 , 19 , 20. What say'st thou , Man ? Hast thou left thy Darling Sins , thy Sodomitish Pleasures , thy Acquaintance , and vain Companions ; thy unlawful Gain , thy Idol Gods , and Righteousness , and thy unlawful Curious Arts , behind thee ? If any of these be with thee , and thou with them , in thy Heart and Life , thou art not yet come to Jesus Christ. Secondly , Art thou come to Jesus Christ ? Prethee tell me , VVhat moved hee come to Jesus Christ ? Men do not usually come , or go , to this or that Place , before they have a Moving Cause ; or rather , a Cause moving them thereto : No more do they come to Jesus Christ , ( I do not say ) before they have a Cause ; but before that Cause moveth them to come : What say'st thou ? Hast thou a Cause moving thee to come ? To be at present , in a State of Condemnation , is Cause sufficient for Men to come to Jesus Christ for Life : But that will not do , except that Cause move them ; the which , it will never do , until their Eyes be opened , to see themselves in that Condition . For it is not a Man's being under Wrath , but his seeing it , that moveth him to come to Jesus Christ. Alas ! All Men by Sin. are under Wrath ; yet but few of that All , came to Jesus Christ : And the Reason is , because they do not see their Condition . Who hath warned you , to flee from the Wrath to come , Mat. 3. 7. Until Men are warned , and also , receive the VVarning , they will not come to Jesus Christ. Take three or four Instances for this : 1. Adam and Eve came not to Jesus Christ , until they Received the Alarum ; the Conviction of their Undone State by Sin : Gen. 3. 2. The Children of Israel cryed not out for a Mediator , before they saw themselves in danger of Death by the Law ; Exod. 20. 18 , 19. 3. Before the Publican came , he saw himself lost and undone ; Luk 18. 13. 4. The Prodigal came not , until he saw Death at the Door , ready to devour him : Luk. 15. 17 , 18. 5. The Three-Thousand came not , until they knew not what to do , to be Saved ; Acts 2. 37 , 38 , 39. 6. Paul came not , until he saw himself lost and undone ; Acts 9. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. 11. 7. Lastly , Before the Jayler came , he saw himself undone ; Acts 16. 29 , 30 , 31. And I tell thee , It is an easier thing to perswade a Well-Man to go to the Physitian for Cure , or a Man without Hurt , to seek out for a Playster to Cure him ; than it is to perswade a Man , that sees not his Soul-Disease , to come to Jesus Christ. The Whole have No need of the Physitian : Then , Why should they go to him ? The full Pitcher can hold no more ; then , Why should it go to the Fountain ? And , if thou comest full , thou comest not aright ; and be sure , Christ will send thee Empty away : But he healeth the Broken in Heart , and bindeth up their Wounds , Mar. 2. 17. Psal. 147. 3. Luk. 1. 53. Thirdly , Art thou Coming to Jesus Christ ? Prethee tell me , What seest thou in him , to allure thee to forsake all the VVorld , to come to him ? I say , VVhat hast thou seen in him ? Men must see something in Jesus Christ , else , they will not come to him . 1. VVhat Comlyness hast thou seen in his Person ? Thou comest not , if thou seest no Form , nor Comlyness in him ; Isa. 53. 1 , 2 , 3. 2. Until those mentioned in the Song , were convinced , that there was more Beauty , Comlyness , and Desirableness in Christ , than in Ten-Thousand ; they did not so much as ask , VVhere he was , nor incline to turn aside after him ; Song 5. Chap. 6. There be many Things on this side Heaven , that Can and Do , carry away the Heart ; and so will do , so long as thou Livest , if thou shalt be kept blind , and not be admitted to see the beauty of the Lord Jesus . Fourthly , Art thou come to the Lord Jesus ; what hast thou found in him , since thou camest to him ? Peter found with him the words of eternal life , Joh. 6. 68. They that Peter makes mention of , found him a Living stone , even such a living stone as Communicated life to them , 1 Pet. 2. He saith himself , they that come to him , &c. Shall find rest unto their Souls ; hast thou found rest in him , for thy Soul ? Mat. 11. Let us go back to the times of the Old Testament . First , Abraham found that in him , that made him Leave his Countrey for him , and become for his sake a Pilgrim , and stranger in the earth , Gen. 12. Heb. 11. Secondly , Moses found that in him , that made him forsake a Crown , and a Kingdome for him too . Thirdly , David found so much in him , that he counted , to be in his house one day , was better than a Thousand ; yea , to be a door keeper there-in , was better , in his esteem , than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness , Psal. 84. 10. Fourthly , What did Daniel , and the three Children find in him , to make them run the hazzard of the Fiery Furnance , and the Den of Lyons , for his sake , Dan. 3. chap. 6. Let 's come down to Martyrs . First , Stephen found that in him , that made him Joyfully and quietly , yeild up his life for his name , Acts 7. Secondly , Ignatius found that in him , that made him , Chuse to go through the Torments of the Devil , and Hell it self ; rather than not to have him , Acts and Mon. vol. 1. pag. 25. Thirdly , What saw Romanus in Christ , when he said to the rageing Emperor , who threatned him with fearful Torments ; Thy Sentence O Emperor , I Joyfully imbrace , and refuse not to be Sacrificed — by as Cruel Torments as thou canst invent , pag. 116. Fourthly , What saw Menas the Egyptian in Christ , when he said under most Cruel Torments ; Ther eis nothing in my mind , that can be compared to the Kingdome of Heaven ; neither is all the World , if it was weighed in the ballance , to be conferred with the price of one Soul ; who is able to separate us from the Love of Jesus Christ our Lord ; and I have Learned of my Lord , and King not to fear them , that kill the body , &c. pag. 117. Fifthly , What did Eulalia see in Christ , when she said , as they was pulling her one Joynt from another ; Behold O Lord , I will not forget thee : what a pleasure is it for them O Christ ! that remember thy Tryumphant Victories , pag. 121. Sixthly , What , think you , did Agnes see in Christ , when rejoyceingly she went to meet the Souldier , that was appointed to be her Executioner : I will willingly ( said she ) receive into my Paps , the length of his Sword , and into my Breasts will draw the force thereof even to the hilts ; that thus I , being married to Christ my Spouse , may surmount and escape all the darkness of this World , pag. 122. Seventhly , What do you think did Julitta , see in Christ , when , at the Emperors telling of her ; that , except she would worship the Gods , she should neither have Protection , Laws , Judgements , nor life : She replied , Fare-well life , Welcome Death : Fare-well Riches , Wel-come poverty . All that I have , if it were a Thousand times more , would I rather lose , than to speak one wicked and blasphemous word against my Creator , pag. 123. Eightly , What did Marcus Arethusius , see in Christ , when after his enemies had cut his flesh , anointed it with honey , and hanged him up in a basket , for flies and bees to feed on , he would not ( give to up-hold Idolatry ) one half penny to save his life , pag. 129. Ninethly , What did Constantine , see in Christ , when he used to kiss the wounds of them that suffered for him . pag. 135. Tenthly , But what need I give , thus , particular instances of words , and smaller actions , when by their lives their blood , their induring hunger , sword , fire , pulling a sunder , and all Torments that the Devil , and Hell could devise , for the love they bare to Christ , after they were come to him . What hast thou found in him sinner ? What! come to Christ , and find nothing in him ( when all things that are worth looking after , are in him ; or if any thing , yet not enough to wean thee from thy sinfull delights , and fleshly lusts : Away , away : thou art not come to Jesus Christ. He that is come to Jesus Christ , hath found in him , that , as I said , that is not to be found any where else . As , First , He that is come to Christ , hath found God in him reconciling the world unto himself , not imputing their trespasses to them : And so God is not to be found in Heaven and earth besides , 2 Cor. 5. 19 , 20. Secondly , He that is come to Jesus Christ , hath found in him a fountain of grace , sufficient , not only to pardon sin , but to Sanctifie the Soul , and to preserve it from falling in this evil World. Thirdly , He that is come to Jesus Christ , hath found vertue in him : That vertue , that if he does but touch thee with his Word ; or thou , him by Faith : Life is forthwith conveyed into thy Soul : It makes thee wake as one that is waked out of his sleep : it awakes all the powers of thy Soul. Psal. 30. 11 , 12. Song . 6. 12. Fourthly , Art thou come to Jesus Christ ? thou hast found glory in him , glory that Surmounts , and goes beyond : Thou art more glorious than the mountaines of pray , Psal. 76. 4. Fifthly , What shall I say ? thou hast found Righteousness in him ; Thou hast found rest , peace , delight , Heaven , glory and eternal life . Sinner , be advised , Ask thy heart again , saying ; Am I come to Jesus Christ ? For , upon this one question , Am I Come , or , am I Not , Hangs Heaven and Hell , as to thee . If thou canst say , I am come ; and God shall approve that saying ; Happy , Happy , Happy man art thou ! but if thou art not come , what can make thee happy : Yea what can make that man Happy , that for his not coming to Jesus Christ for life , must be damned in Hell ? The Third Use ; a Use of Encouragement . COming Sinner , I have now a word for thee ; be of good comfort , He will in no wise cast out . Of all men , thou art the blessed of the Lord ; the the Father hath prepared his Son to be a Sacrifice for thee ; and Jesus Christ thy Lord is gone to prepare a place for thee , Joh. 1. 29. Heb. 10. Joh. 14. What shall I say to thee ? thou comest to a full Christ , thou canst not want any thing , for Soul or body , for this World , or that to come , but it is to be had , in , or by Jesus Christ , As it is said of the Land , that the Dannits went to possess , So , and with much more truth , it may be said of Christ : He is such an one , with whom there is no want of any good thing that is in Heaven or earth . A Full Christ , is thy Christ. First , He is full of Grace . Grace is sometimes taken for love , and take it so here . He is full of love ; never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathans love went beyond the love of Women ; but the love of Christ passes knowledge . It is beyond the love of all the Earth , of all Creatures , even of Men and Angels . His love prevailed with him to lay aside his Glory , to leave the Heavenly place , to cloth himself with flesh , to be born in a Stable , to be laid in a Manger , to live a poor life in the World , to take upon him our sicknesses , infirmities , sins , curse , Death , and the Wrath that was due to man. And all this he did , for a base , undeserving , unthankfull people : yea , for a people that was at Enmity with him . For when we were yet without strength , in due time Christ died for the ungodly . For scarcely for a righteous man will one die , yet peradventure for a good man , some would even dare to die . But God commended his love towards us , in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us . Much more then being now justified , we shall be saved by his life . For if when we were Enemies , we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son : much more , being reconciled , we shall be saved by his life , Rom. 5. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Secondly , He is full of Truth . Full of grace , and truth . Truth , that is , faithfulness in keeping promise , even this of the Text , ( with all other ) I will in no wise cast out . Hence it is said , that his words be true , and that he is the faithfull God that keepeth covenant . And hence it is also that his promise is called Truth , Thou wilt fulfill thy truth unto Jacob , and thy mercy to Abraham , which thou hast sworn unto our Fathers , from the days of old . Therefore it is said again , that both himself , and words are Truth . I am the Truth , the Scriptures of Truth , thy Word is Truth , thy Law is the Truth , and my mouth , aith he , shall speak truth , Joh. 14. 6. Dan. 10. 21. Joh. 17. 17. 2 Sam. 7. 28. Pro. 8. 7. Psal. 119. 142. Eccles. 12. 10. Isa. 25. 1. Mal. 2. 6. Acts 26. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 12 , 13. Now I say , his word is truth , and he is full of truth , to fulfill his truth even to a Thousand Generations . Coming sinner , he will not deceive thee , come boldly to Jesus Christ. Thirdly , He is full of Wisdome , He is made unto us of God Wisdome , Wisdome to manage the affairs of his Church in general , and the affairs of every coming sinner , in particular . And upon this account he is said to be head over all things , 1 Cor. 1. Ephes. 1. Because he manages all things that are in the world by his Wisdom , for the good of his Church ; all mens Actions , all Satans Temptations , all Gods Providences , all Crosses , Disappointments ; all things what ever , are under the hand of Christ ( Who is the Wisdom of God , ) and he ordereth them all for good to his Church ; And can Christ help it , ( and be sure he can ) nothing shall happen , or fall out in the world , but it shall , in despite of all opposition , have a good tendency to his Church and people . Fourthly , He is full of the Spirit , to communicate it to the coming Sinner ; he hath therefore received it without measure , that he may communicate it to every member of his body , according as every mans measure thereof is allotted him by the Father . Wherefore he saith , that he that comes to him , Out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living water , Joh. 3. 34. Tit. 3. 5 , 6. Acts 1. Joh. 7. 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38. Fifthly , He is indeed a store-house , full of all the graces of the Spirit . Of his fulness have all we received , and grace for grace . Here is more Faith , more Love , more Sincerity , more Humility , more of every Grace ; and of this , even more of this he giveth to every Lowly , Humble , Penitent coming Sinner : wherefore coming Soul , thou comest not to a barren wilderness , when thou comest to Jesus Christ , John 1. 16. Sixthly , He is full of Bowels and Compassion ; And they shall feel , and find it so , that come to him for Life . He can bear with thy Weaknesses , he can pity thy Ignorance , he can be touched with the Feeling of thine Infirmities , he can affectionately forgive thy Transgressions , he can heal thy Back slidings , and Love thee Freely . His Compassions fail not : And he will not break a bruised Reed , nor quench the smoaking Flax : He can pity them , that no Eye pities , and be afflicted in all thy Afflictions ; Mat. 26. 41. Heb. 5 2. Chap. 2. 18 , 19. Mat 9. 2. Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 5 , 6. Isa. 63. 9. Psal. 78. 38. Psal. 86. 15. Psal. 111. 4. Psal. 112. 4. Lam. 3. 22. Isa. 42. 3. Seventhly , Coming Soul , the Jesus that thou art coming to , is full of Might , and Terribleness , for thy Advantage ; He can suppress all thine Enemies : He is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth ; He can bow all Men's Designes for thy Help : He can break all Snares laid for thee in the Way : He can lift thee out of all Difficulties , where-with thou may'st be surrounded . He is Wise in Heart , and Mighty in Power . Every Life under Heaven is in his Hand ; yea , the Faln Angels tremble before him : And he will save thy Life , Coming-Sinner ; 1 Cor. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 28. 18. Rev. 15. Psal. 19. 3. Psal. 27. 4 , 5 , 6. Job 9. 4. Joh. 17. 2. Mat. 8. 29. Luk 8. 28. Jam. 2. 19. Eighthly , Coming-Sinner , The Jesus to whom thou art coming , is Lowly in Heart ; He despiseth not any : 'T is not thy outward Meanness , nor thy inward Weakness ; 't is not because thou art Poor , or Base , or Deformed , or a Fool , that he will despise thee . He hath chosen the Foolish , the Base , and despised Things of this World , to confound the Wise , and Mighty . He will bow his Ear to thy Stammering Prayers ; he will pick out the Meaning of thy inexpressible Groans ; he will respect thy weakest Offering , if there be in it but thy Heart : Mat. 11. 29. Luk. 14. 21. Prov. 9. 4 , 5 , 6. Isa. 38. 14 , 15. Song 5. 16. Joh. 4. 27. Mark 12 33 , 34. Jam. 5. 11. Now , Is not this a Blessed Christ , Coming-Sinner ? Art thou not like to fair well , when thou hast Embraced him , Coming-Sinner ! But , Secondly Thou hast yet another Advantage by Jesus Christ , that art coming to him : For he is not only Full , but Free. He is not sparing of what he has ; he is open hearted , and open-handed . Let me in a few Particulars shew thee this : First , This is evident , because he calls thee ; He calls upon thee , to come unto him ; the which he would not do , was he not Free to give : Yea , he bids thee , when come ; Ask , Seek , Knock : And for thy Encouragement , adds to every Command , a Promise ; Seek , and ye shall find ; Ask , and ye shall have ; Knock , and it shall be opened unto you ▪ If the Rich Man should say thus to the Poor , would not he be reckoned a Free-hearted Man ? I say , Should he say to the Poor , Come to my Door , Ask at my Door , Knock at my Door , and you shall Find and Have ; Would he not be counted Liberal ? Why ? thus doth Jesus Christ : Mind it , Coming-Sinner ; Isa. 55. 3. Psal. 50. 15. Mat. 7. 7 , 8 , 9. Secondly , He doth not only bid thee Come , but tells thee , He will heartily do thee Good ; Yea , he will do it with Rejoycing : I will rejoyce over them to do them Good , with my whole Heart , and with my whole Soul , Jer. 32. 41. Thirdly , It appeareth that he is Free , because he giveth without Twitting : He gives to all men Liberally , and upbraideth not ; Jam. 1. 5. There are some , that will not deny to do the Poor a Pleasure , but they will mix their Mercies with so many Twitts , that the Persons on whom they bestow their Charity , shall find but little Sweetness in it . But Christ doth not do so , Coming-Sinner ; He casteth all thine Iniquities behind his Back ; Thy Sins and Iniquities he will remember no more : Isa. 38. 17. Heb 8. 12. Fourthly , That Christ is Free , is manifest by the Complaints that he makes against them , that will not come to him for Mercy : I say , he complains , saying ; O Jerusalem , Jerusalem ! How often would I have gathered thy Children together , as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings , and ye would not ? Matth. 23. 37. I say , he speaks it by way of Complaint . He saith also in another place ; But thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me , O Israel ; Isa. 43. 22. Coming-Sinner , See here the Willingness of Christ to Save ; See here , how Free he is to communicate Life , and all good Things , to such as thou art ? He complains , if thou comes not ; he is displeased , if thou callest not upon him . Hark , Coming-Sinner , once again ; When Jerusalem would not come to him for Safe-guard , He behold the City , and wept over it , saying ; If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in this thy day , the Things that belong to thy Peace ; but now they are hid from thine Eyes , Luk. 19. 41. Fifthly , Lastly , He is open and Free Hearted to do thee Good , as is seen by the Joy and Rejoycing , that he manifesteth at the coming home of poor Prodigals : He receives the lost Sheep with Rejoycing ; the lost Groat with Rejoycing : Yea , when the Prodigal came home , what Joy and Mirth , what Musick and Dancing , was in his Father's House ? Luk. 15. Thirdly , Coming-Sinner , I will add another Encouragement for thy Help . First , God hath prepared a Mercy-Seat , a Throne of Grace to Sit on ; that thou may'st come thither to him , and that he may from thence Hear thee , and Receive thee : I will Commune with thee ( saith he ) from above the Mercy-Seat , Exod. 25. 22. As who should say ; Sinner , When thou comest to me , thou shalt find me upon the Mercy Seat ; where also I am alwayes found of the Undone , Coming , Sinner : Thither I bring my Pardons ; there I Hear , and Receive their Petitions , and Accept them to my Favour . Secondly , God hath also prepared a Golden Altar for thee , to offer thy Prayers , and Tears upon : A Golden Altar ! It is called a Golden Altar , to shew what Worth it is of in God's Account : For this Golden Altar , is Jesus Christ ; This Altar sanctifies thy Gift , and makes thy Sacrifices acceptable . This Altar , then , makes thy Groans , Golden Groans ; thy Tears , Golden Tears ; and thy Prayers , Golden Prayers , in the Eye of that God thou comest to , Coming Sinner : Rev. 8. Mat. 23. 19. Heb. 10. 10 , 15. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Thirdly , God hath Strowed all the way ( from the Gate of Hell , where thou wast , to the Gate of Heaven , whither thou art going , ) with Flowers out of his own Garden : Behold ! How the Promises , Invitations , Calls , and Encouragements , like Lillies , lye round about thee ; ( Take heed , that thou doest not tread them under foot , Sinner ! ) With Promises , did I say ? Yea , he hath mixed all those with his Own Name , his Sons Name ; also , with the Name of Mercy , Goodness , Compassion , Love , Pity , Grace , Forgiveness , Pardon , and what not , that may encourage the coming Sinner . Fourthly , He hath also , for thy En-couragement , laid up the Names , and set forth the Sins , of those that have been Saved : In his Book they are fairly written , that thou through Patience , and Comfort of the Scriptures , mightst have Hope . 1. In this book is Recorded Noah's Name , and Sin ; and how God had Mercy upon him . 2. In this Record is fairly written the Name of Lot , and the Nature of his Sin ; and how the Lord had Mercy upon him . 3. In this Record , thou hast also fairly written , the Names of Moses , Aaron , Gidion , Sampson , David , Solomon , Peter , Paul ; with the Nature of their Sins , and how God had Mercy upon them : And all to Encourage thee , Coming-Sinner . Fourthly , I will add yet another Encouragement , for the Man that is coming to Jesus Christ. Art thou coming ? Art thou coming , indeed ? Why ? 1. Then this thy Coming , Is by Vertue of God's Call. Thou art Called ; Calling goes before Coming : Coming is not of Works , but of him that Calleth . He went up into a Mountain , and called to him whom he would , and They came to him , Mark 3. 13. Secondly , Art thou coming ? This is also by Vertue of Illumination . God has made thee see ; and therefore , thou art coming . So long as thou wast Darkness , thou lovedst Darkness ; and couldst not abide to come , because thy Deeds were Evil : But , being now Illuminated , and made to see , what , and where thou art ; and also , what , and where thy Saviour is : Now thou art coming to Jesus Christ. Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona ! for Flesh and Blood hath at Revealed it unto thee ( said Christ ) but my Father which is in Heaven ; Matth. 16. 15 , 16. Thirdly , Art thou coming , this is because God has Inclined thine heart to come ; God hath called thee , illuminated thee , and inclined thy heart to come , and therefore thou comest to Jesus Christ. It is God that worketh in thee to Will , and to come to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner , bless God , for that he hath given thee a Will , to come to Jesus Christ. It is a Sign that thou belongest to Jesus Christ , because God has made thee willing to come to him , ( Psal. 110. 3. ) Bless God for slaying the enmity of thy mind ; had he not done it , thou wouldest , as yet , have hated thine own Salvation . Fourthly , Art thou coming to Jesus Christ , it is God that giveth thee Power power ; to pursue thy Will in the matters of thy Salvation , is the gift of God. 'T is God that worketh in you both to Will and to Do , Phil. 2. 13. not that God worketh Will to come , where he gives no power ; but thou shouldest take notice , that power is an aditional Mercy . The Church saw that will and power were two things , when She cried , Draw me , we will run after thee , ( Song . 1. 4. ) : and so did David too , when he said , I will run the ways of thy Commandments , when thou shalt enlarge my Heart . Will to come , and power to pursue thy will , is a double Mercy , coming Sinner . Fifthly , All thy strange , passionate , sudden rushings forward after Jesus Christ , ( coming Sinners know what I mean ) they also are thy helps from God. Perhaps thou feelest at sometimes , more than at others , strong stirrings up of heart , to fly to Jesus Christ ; now thou hast at this time a sweet , and stiff gale of the Spirit of God filling thy sails with the fresh gales of his good Spirit ; and thou ridest at those times , as upon the wings of the wind , being carried out beyond thy self , beyond the most of thy prayers , and also above all thy fears and temptations . Sixthly , coming Sinner , hast thou not , now and then , a kiss of the sweet lips of Jesus Christ ? I mean , some blessed word droping like an Honey-Comb upon thy Soul to revive thee , when thou art in the midst of thy dumps . Seventhly , Does not Jesus Christ sometimes give thee a glimps of himself , though perhaps , thou seest him not so long a time as while one may tell twenty ? Eighthly , Hast thou not sometimes as it were the very warmth of his wings over-shadowing the face of thy Soul , that gives thee as it were a gload upon thy Spirit , as the bright beams of the Sun do upon thy body , when it suddenly breaks out in the midst of a cloud , though presently all is gone again ? Well , all these things are the good hand of thy God upon thee , and they are upon thee to constrain to provoke and to make thee willing , and able to come ( coming Sinner ) that thou mightest in the end be Saved . FINIS . ERRATA . PAge 17. Line 30. for given Read giver . p 19. l. 6. f. his r. this . p. 20. l 8. f. my r. may . p. 22. l. 22. f. those r. these . p. 23. l. 27. f. Satan r. some . p. 24. l. 25. f. me r. one . p. 27. l. 5. f. changing r. cleansing . p 32. l 12. f. his r. this . p 33. l. 1. after is add to . p. 33 l. 15. after medle r. with these . p. 43. l. 8. f. pre r. present . p. 78. l 2. after force r. to come . p. 116. l. 7. before give r. to . p. 138. l. 13. f. above r. alone . p. 183. l. 14. after not r. to . p. 184. l. 19. f. between r. be . p. 187. l. 22. after Judge r. no.