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
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 Heâ—â—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
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
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
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
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.