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
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
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
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
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
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
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 iâ— 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
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.