said to Thomas Believe me for the very works sake what works were they why they were such as are almost incredible and to many seem impossible as giving sight to the blind strength to the weak health to the sick life to the dead c. but it would be tedious for me to relate all the miracles he did upon the bodies of men and women he did and doth effect greater things upon the Soul Luk. 4.18 for he enlightens darkned understandings heals broken hearts likewise there are his works for the good of his Church My Father saith Christ worketh hitherto and I work Joh. 5.17 Christ is continually working for the glory and happiness of his beloved ones for he protects them as the apple of his eye and sends his Spirit who conveys celestial treasure into their souls fills them with grace and conducts them over the raging waves of this tumultuous World to the haven of rest Joh. 16.13 14 15. and the land of eternal felicity Christs care is continual towards his Church and therefore he hath and doth and will work wonders for it Thus his divine works prove that he is more than a creature yea that he is the Creator Joh. 20.28 5th Argum. The fifth Argument to prove his Divinity is deduced ex honore Divino from the divine honour given to him God the Father saith I will not give mine honour to another i. e. Is 4.8 Joh. 5.23 any creature yet it is said of Christ Jesus That all men should honour the Son even in the same manner and in the same measure as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him He is not only to be honoured as a person designated to the office of Mediatorship but also as he is the true living God For as Christ said to Philip He that hath seen me hath seen the Father so that one said concerning the Trinity ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. I cannot think of one but presently I am invironed with the glory of three I cannot discern three but immediately I am carryed to adore the glorious Unity The Angels are said to adore and worship him Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth his first begotten into the world he saith let all the Angels of God worship him i. e. give divine honour to him Is 6.3 The Angels did cry holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Now the divine Apostle saith that it was the glory of the Lord Jesus that the Prophet did behold in that glorious Vision Joh. 12.41 When the Angels were thus magnifying and adoring him for they are but ministring Spirits in Rev. 5.12 13. we have the whole regiment of them celebrating his praise Heb. 1.14 as one worthy of divine honour 2ly Saints Militant do pay the tribute of divine honour to him who is their Lord and Saviour As 1 Faith this is accounted part of divine honour as a learned Divine hath defined it Cultus qui tendit in Deum anquam in bonum nostrum Ames Medull Theol. saith he it is a worship which extends to God as our present good Now that Faith is proper to Christ as part of divine worship I need not say much to prove because the scriptures are so clear in it as Joh. 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me i. e. believe that I am the second Person in the blessed Trinity therefore am able and faithful to perform what I have said and promised unto you Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Now we know that the Scripture saith it is sin to trust in man Act. 20.21 and a curse to them that rely on him for salvation nay to believe or depend upon Angels because they are but creatures Jer. 17.5 and it would derogate from the honour of God that we should believe for salvation from any but from him who is all-sufficient and all-mighty to save 2ly as Faith so Prayer which is part of divine worship is frequently made unto Christ Prayer as one saith is made up of two species or kinds Orationis species Duae sunt Petitio gratiarum actio Ames Phil. 4.6 scil Petition and giving of Thanks Be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God for he alone is the true object of all religious services as Christ told Satan It is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve But I suppose Mat. 4.10 this granted by all Oratio est voluntatis nostrae religiosa representatio coram Deo ut illa Deus quasi afficitur Ames Medul Theol. that Prayer is a religious Act. And thus that excellent Author defines it Prayer saith he is a religious representation of our will before God that he may as it were be affected with it My work then is to enquire whether this part of divine honour be given unto Christ Jesus as 1 Petition in the 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen so 2 Thess 3.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 2 Tim. 4.22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thee All which prove that petitions are made to Christ and that for the highest mercy scil grace and peace Tim. 1.2 Rom. 16.20 21. 2 Thes 1.2 which comprehend most spiritual blessings and seeing the Apostle prays for these things it proves that he is a divine Person from whom he requests them or else he could never give such mercies for who can give grace but God alone who is the fountain of grace Eph. 2.13 14 16. now grace peace flow from the Lord Jesus to poor sinners for he has made peace by the blood of his Cross it is he that has purchased peace for believers with his Father and grace in an abundant measure Joh. 1.16 I am come that they might have life that they might have it more abundantly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratiam super gratiam life is put here for grace other spiritual blessings for it is out of his fulness we all receive and grace for grace There is a fulness of redundancy that dwells in the Lord Jesus and well it may for there dwells in him the fulness of the God-head Bodily Col. 2.9 Rom. 9.5 Therefore the servants and true worshippers of God make their petitions to the Lord Jesus for Grace who is God over all Blessed for ever Secondly The other part which is thanksgiving and praise is by the Apostle Ascribed to him 2 Tim. 4.18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me 2 Tim. 4 18. unto his heavenly Kingdom unto whom be glory for ever and ever Amen The context makes it evident that it is applyed to the Lord Jesus Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth his first
is nothing but perpetual Commotions and distractions but when this Legion is ejected and cast out and the Soul hath bathed it self in the tears of Repentance and is made pure by the Blood of the Lord Jesus O then what inward sedateness and tranquility is there Sin whilst a Man remains in an impenitent State and condition like a Mad-man rageth in the Soul but when Christ brings the Soul to himself by the weeping-cross of Repentance he then saith to it as he did to the Sea Peace be still or as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled and Vers 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you let not your Hearts be troubled The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 and Eph. 6.15 Because it proclaimeth Peace and speaks peace from God and Christ unto poor wounded and distressed Consciences the Blood of Christ is the only sanctifying Medicine which the Gospel holds forth to cure wounded consciences Thus I have finished the first particular I come now to the second particular grace by which a person may know that he is come to Christ and it is this the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Faith in the Soul for it is by Faith the Soul apprehends and lays hold upon the Lord Jesus Although there are four kinds of Faith yet there is but one true Evangelick and saving Faith and my business must be to acquaint you how you may discern this from the others which will never end in salvation and I shall do it with as much brevity as may be for the discussing so great a question as this is how may I know that I have saving Faith I answer it may be known these four ways 1. By the Author or Efficient 2. By the Objects 3. By the Nature of it and 4. By the effects 1. By the Author and he is the Spirit of God for no Man can work Faith in his own Heart or can believe by his own Power it is a supernatural and Divine work Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is the work of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit are Love Peace Joy Goodness Faith If the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hath not been at work upon thy Soul never conceit thy self to have any Grace we find this work once attributed to Christ Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith but this must be understood Agit filius per spiritum sanctum Ursin * that Christ doth it by his holy Spirit and the Spirit works powerfully and with the irresistable efficacy he makes the Soul believe those things now which all Men or Angels could never have done if they had Preached Millions of years it now believes unseen things an unseen Jesus and an invissible glory 1 Pet. 1.8 If you have no more Faith then what your own reason or judgment helps you to or the teachings of men hath principled you with do not conclude it to be saving but Sinful the Spirit is the Efficiently and works instrumentally by the word of God by which he brings the Soul to believe in and close with Jesus Christ 2ly It is known by the objects of it 1. The Word of God that is an object of true Faith the Soul is brought to believe the verity and certainty of it therefore it believes not because Man saith so and so you must believe but because the word of the Living God saith it as the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy to which ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place Materia quae objecti rationem habet communiter quidem Dei verbum est propriae vero gratuitae promissiones in Christo fundatae Wol. de fide salvis until the day dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts Shee believes the reports of men no farther than they concur with the clear and evident truth of the word of God for as the Prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 2ly Faith eyes the promises therein contained which relate unto and are founded in Christ as one saith the material cause of saving faith which may be termed an object is commonly the Word of God but properly the gracious promises founded in Christ It is said 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in him i. e. in Christ Saith God by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 43.25 I will blot out thy transgressions for my one name sake and will not remember thy Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 The Apostle tells us God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them So that we see what God promiseth in one place to do for his own name-sake in the other we find made good in Christ promises of Peace Pardon Grace and Glory upon the account of Christ are the objects of a saving Faith For indeed it is by laying the mouth of Faith to the brest of the promises that the Soul sucks and draws nourishment by which it grows in grace for had not Faith a promise of such and such mercys benefits and Priviledges to go to at all times it would grow languid and decay it would pine away The promises by the assistance of the holy Spirit keep Faith alive and active vigorous and strong as it is said of Abraham that Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.15.20 He staggered or doubted not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God But how came he to be so strong but by Eying the Promise and the power of that God that made it vers 21. And being fully perswaded or knowing most certainly that what he had promised he was able certainly to perform It was the apprehention of the promise that held his head above water so I say if thy Faith be of a salvific and evangelic kind it hath an Eye to the promises of God which contain those spiritual Blessings made over through Christ to the Soul 3ly And that principally it hath Christ for an object Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ He is the foundation for Faith to build upon as 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ The Gospel throughout directs the Eye of Faith unto the Lord Jesus Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Joh. 3.16 God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not Perish but have everlasting Life That is no saving Faith which hath not an Eye to the Lord Jesus But having spoken more fully to this before I shall pass it over and come to the third particular by which it may more evidently be discover'd 3ly The nature and propertys of
a slave to men well but come unto him and he will exalt thee even to his own throne Rev. 3.21 8. Motive To excite poor Creatures to come unto Christ who invites them is this consider what you shall have if you come unto him but hear I may say with the Apostle in another case Who is sufficient for these things I want understanding to conceive it 1 Cor. 2.9 and words to express it For as the Apostle saith Eye hath not seen Ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him I may as well think to number the days of eternity as Imagin to declare all the Immunities Priviledges and Benefits those will Partake of who come unto the Lord Jesus Christ they shall know more fully when they come to glory but I will lay some of them before thee 1. If thou comest unto Christ thou shalt have Pardon for thy Sins Act. 13.38 39. Through this man is Preached the Forgiveness of Sin That is through the man Christ Jesus vers 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things O Sinner here is pardon and justification if thou wilt but come to and believe in him and how desirable is a pardon to a condemned Malefactor thou art undon for ever if thou art not pardoned now it is alone by Christ Exod. 34.6 and upon his account that thou caust expect to obtain it the Lord is a sin-pardoning God but there is no man can come to the Father for this Pardon but in and through Christ Jo. 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 2ly Thou shalt have peace for thy Conscience not such peace as the World gives but the peace of God God is called The God of Peace 2 Cor. 13.11 Because he gives peace to his People thou shalt be at peace with God at peace with thine own Conscience and what would a wounded Conscience give for this peace but it is too pretious to purchase for Silver or Gold My peace saith Christ I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Jo. 14.27 The World can afford no such fruit for it is brought forth by the Spirit in the heart of the believer Gal. 6.22 This peace is permanent Isa 26.3 I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayd upon me now Worldly peace is deceitful it is uncertain but this is true and abiding because rt is from God at peace with God upon the account of the Lord Jesus But I intend not to be large in these particulars only my great desire is Sinner that I might induce thee to come unto Christ 3. Thou shalt have Grace in abundance and what can be more desireable or what dost thou need more on this side Eternity it will beautify and make thee lovely in the sight of God Virtus clara aeternaque habetur Salust Angels and Saints Thy Soul is deformed by Sin but this will make thee comly Grace will inrich thee with a Divine treasure as Christ said to the Church of Smyrna Rev. 2.9 Virtus intaminatis fulget honoribus Hor. Thou art Rich Rich in Grace although poor in worldly Treasure as Jam. 2.5 Poor in the world yet rich in faith now these riches come from the fulness of Christ Joh. 1.16 Out of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates It will establish the Soul in shaking times Heb. 13.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an excellent and good thing to have the heart established with Grace I should burthen you and prevent my self if I should here treat of the Excellencies of the graces as faith love hope patience and all the other graces which are the golden Chains and Pearls which adorn the Soul of a Believer only consider this that all grace is from God through Christ by the Spirit conveyed and wrought in the Soul 4. If thou comest to Christ thou shalt have life so saith Christ I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly Life naturally is much desirable but how much more life spiritual and life eternal Thou art spiritually dead Eph. 2.5 and it is from him thou must receive quickning Joh. 11.25 Jesus saith unto her I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Vers 26. And he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die Here Soul is spiritual and eternal life for thee and wilt thou not come unto Christ for this what dost thou not reguard life life everlasting Mat. 25.46 the righteous shall go into life everlasting O let the consideration of this excite and stir up thy Soul to come unto Christ for all those that come unto him shall obtain this blessed priviledge of living for evermore Our days here are but a shaddow Vita ipsa qua fruimur brevis est Salust Pulvis umbra sumus we soon pass away into Eternity and is not life eternal much more to be esteemed of then to be everlastly in a dying state of misery and yet never die 5ly Thou shalt have joy Rom. 15.13 Act. 16 25. The God of peace fill you with all joy in believing In the midst of outward troubles and afflictions this joy will keep thee company as it did Paul and Silas in Fetters they Sung praises to God this joy will be strength to thee Neh. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is our strength It is not like the worldlings joy which is transient and momentary but it is everlasting joy Isa 35.10 The Ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Indeed after thou dost come to Christ Psal 42.5 and hast tasted of this joy whilest thou art here Sinning God may for a time hide his Face but when thou dost return again by repentance and humiliation he will again lift up the light of his countenance upon thee and put more gladness into thy Soul then all sublimary consolations can Psal 4.6.7 and when thou dost come above the Clouds thou shalt then rejoice for ever Psal 16.11 In thy presence is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satietas laetitiarum fullness of joys or as the Word sinifies fullness to Satiety Thou wilt have it in abundance then therefore defer not thy coming to Christ 6ly If thou comest unto him thou shalt have a Crown and Kingdom Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Christ has prepared the Kingdom for you and by your coming to him he prepares you for the Kingdom I say from the word of God thou shalt have a Kingdome
tremble but he sends him away with this I will call for thee when I have a convenient season And how many such Felix's have we in our days They pretend to Love the Letter but cannot indure the power of the Gospel though it is the power not the Letter that must save their Souls Paul praised God for the power of the Gospel among the Thessalonians For we give thanks to God always for you because our Gospel came not to you in word only but in power 1 Thess 1.2.5 But how many turn their backs upon Christ his Ministers and his word because the power of the Gospel will not let them sleep in sin and go quietly to Hell with deluded ungrounded hopes of Heaven If John Baptist will preach and let Herod peaceably injoy his Herodias he will gladly hear him rejoice in him but if he preach powerfully Mat. 14. and reprove him because of his Herodias then through him into prison behead him rather than I will be seperated from my Herodias It is said Heb. 4.12 The word of God is powerful sharper than a Two-edged sword But sinners cannot endure the Keenness of it when it comes to dissect and lay open the Interiors those cursed principles of lust and wickedness which lodge within the soul they will then bid Adeiu unto Christ not considering that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 Therefore this would be but a weak bulwork to keep the soul from coming to Christ if sin and Satan did not delude the soul 4ly There is this in the Doctrine of Christ which is an obstacle hindrance to sinners it condemns and casts away all selfe Righteousness in point of salvation and directs the sinner to Christ alone for it Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be yee saved Some of the Papists confess we are justified by the imputation of Christs righteousness Nos imputatione Christi meriti justificamur Tapper Tom. 2. art Cap. 36. all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else which as I have proved before is spoken of Christ Acts. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is no other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved The Scripture holds forth Christ as the only way to salvation Christ and his Apostles preached up this Doctrine God hath so loved the world that he hath given his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life So Christ is the way when the Jailor was convinced in his Conscience and cryed out What shall I do to be saved The answer was not become more righteous leave thy sins although that he must do but believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved and thy house Acts. 16.30 31. This is the Doctrine of the Whole Assembly of the Apostles and Churches of Believers in Jerusalem We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus we shall be saved even as they Acts. 15.5 The Apostle Paul would be saved no other way Phil. 3.8.9 He would not be found in his own Righteousness but in the Righteousness of Christ But yet how many Thousand Souls have split and do daily split themselves upon this Rock They have stumbled at the stumbling stone Rom. 9.32 The Jews did so of old they would not with the Apostle Paul renounce their Pharisaical Righteousness They sought a Righteousness but not â—hat of faith therefore the Gentiles obtain it and they miss of it vers 30.31 Jesus Christ bids them come unto him without mony and without price but these will not come unto him unless their hands be full both of mony and price Propter incertitudinem propriae justitiae periculum inanis gloriae tutissimum est totam fiduciam in Sola Dei misericordia benignitate reponere De Justific l. 5. So it is and has been with the Papists and Quakers they have no need of a Christ and his Righteousness whilest they live but when they come to a death bed and conscience is a little awakened they will with that great Goliah Bellarmine who stifly contended for relyance on good works say * that because of the uncertainty of Mans own righteousness and the danger of vain glory it is the safest way for men to place their whole confidence in the mercy and goodness of God alone The Gospel exalts Christ but they debase him and set up themselves with their imperfect Righteousness rather than they will come to him in whome they may be compleat Col. 2.10 5ly The Doctrine of the Gospel ascribes the whole of our Salvation to free grace Eph. 2.5 By grace ye are saved and gives God all the Glory now the Arminians Quarrel at this and will have the grace of God no further free than we are free and have a power to accept of it therefore this keeps them from coming fully to Christ although they do pretend to believe in him because they will not quite renounce self for it is no true coming to Christ unless we come as lost condemned Wretches and not being able to help our selves in the work of our Salvation all is done by a free act of grace of the Father electing the Son redeeming and the blessed Spirit converting and leading the Sinner to the Lord Jesus for it is God who doth work all our works in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. 2.13 and because of the Doctrine of election and the free grace of God many refuse to come unto Christ 6ly And lastly it is an hindrance because the Gospel commands all works of Righteousness yet none to be relyed upon 1 Cor. 15.34 Awake to Righteousness and sin not It is not sufficient that we avoide sin but we must also do good worke righteousness yet when we have done all to say we are unprofitable servants We have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 The Gospel commands to love enemies at well as friends Mat. 5.44 Now these precepts will not well digest with those who are of a persecuting spirit Also the Gospel commands to love our Brethren 1 Jo. 3.54 to be charitable to be full of good works to be Zealous for God and the Gospel and it requires obedience to all the institutions of the Lord Jesus Tit. 2.14 but this the sin cannot away with to bring his neck under Christs yoke notwithstanding his yoke is easy and his burden is light Mat. 11.29 He loves to be at liberty that he may sin with freedome which is indeed the greatest slavery Now this stumbles the sinner that he must do that which is Righteous and holy and that at all times and to flee from the appearance of sin and fear nothing so much as it as Chrysostome said Nihil timeo nisi peccatum So that he looks upon it the greatest servitude imaginable to yield up himself unto Christ Then thinks he there is no meriting by what I
Christ was he that should save them therefore they rejected him for it was through ignorance as the Apostle Peter asserts in Acts 3.17 And the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 2.7 They were ignorant of his deity therefore doubted whether they might go unto him for Salvation 3. Quid aternis minorem consiliis animum fatigas Hor. By raising doubts concerning Election and this is a great let to many so that they totally neglect Christ and their salvation but why as the Heathen said dost thou vex thy Soul with the eternal Councels and wilt not seek unto him because Satan tells thee thou art not elected Observe here the subtilties of Satan to stave off poor souls from coming unto Christ when ever this objection comes in thy way conclude it is from the Devil for Election is a secret belongs to God and although he hath chosen a certain number thou may'st be one of them The Gospel doth not say if you are elected you shall be saved although that is true But if you believe you shall be saved Prudens futuri temporis exitum caliginosa nocte premit deus idem Joh. 3.16.36 Now if thou hast true saving faith * Act. 15.9 heart-purifying and a * Jo. 5.4 world conquering faith then conclude thou art elected inquire more after that than thy election for that is the way unto salvation by coming to and believing on the Lord Jesus If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 If thou art so thy condition is safe 4. He keeps them from coming to Christ by representing Christ unable to save sinners but this is another of his lyes for he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through him Heb. Isa 9.6 7.25 Isa 63.1 He is mighty to save and well he may for he is the Mighty God and he is the Lord Jehovah Jer. 23.6 but by this subtilty of his he hath kept thousands of Souls from coming unto Christ and makes them set up false Christs and Competitors with him as though he could not do the work alone thus the Papists have done all along they have exalted and magnified other Christs as Charity this hath usurped the place of Christ Good works Prayers Masses works of super-erogation a vain proud lye as though Man could do more than God required and these must help on the work of our salvation or else it cannot be perfected moreover there is the Intercession of Saints and Virgin Mary must do more than Christ can in their apprehension therefore they implore them ten times for once that they seek unto the Lord Jesus For if they did look upon Christ as an able Saviour they would never thus set up new Saviours but these people are like the heathens who worshiped many Gods and relyed upon them for succor and salvation as their Jupiter Apollo The Athenians had an Alter with this inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercury and Minerva and many more because they were ignorant of the true God and his Almightiness to save So these because perswaded by Satan of the inability of the Lord Jesus to save alone therefore they come not unto him but Christ Jesus is infinite in regard of his diety and therefore able omnipotent therefore sufficient to save all those who relye upon him for salvation Rev. 1.8 5. By representing Christ unwilling to save this is another of his falsities for Christ saith Jo. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out There are two negatives in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not not which declare Christ's abundant willingness to imbrace sinners and the certainty of their acceptance with him Jo. 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life Which implyes Christ's willingness to give life if they would but come but by this subtil argueing of Satan he impedes and hinders poor sinners they conclude from his instigation and suggestion that Christ is unwilling therefore it is in vain for them to come to him for he has no mercy for them no love to extend to their souls although they are willing yet Christ they know is unwilling Thus the Devil possesseth the Sinner with hard thoughts of the Lord Jesus without any reason for if he had not been willing to save he would never have been willing to dye if he was not willing to receive returning Sinners he would never call after them nor invite them as in the text Come unto me For Christ is faithfullness it selfe he is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 3.14 But the Devil is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wicked one and a Lyer Jo. 8.4 Then come sinners for Christ is willing to accept of and imbrace thee 6. He impedes them by perswading them the evil day is far off i. e. the day of death saith Satan there is time enough yet you are young and strong there is no fear of death yet and what need you look unto Christ so soon and how many especially young ones doth he hold with this argument let a Minister or godly Christian exhort them to repent and make hast to get into Christ their reply is Time enough yet thus the Devil deceives them in that which their own sences dayly confutes the folly of for they see that where one lives to be old five dye in youth but all this will not convince them of the weakness of this Argument which Satan produces Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas carpe diem quam minimum credula postero Hor. for the Spirit of God never suggests such things he says To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3.13.15 The Spirit of God will not allow of a Morrow for the sinners to come to Christ for the present time is only theirs to morrow may be denyed as a Heathen could say therefore do not defer upon this account for who knows whether God will add one day more to thy life We are but dust and a shaddow and who knows whether the Celestial powers will add to morrow to the sum of this days hours Pulvis umbra sumus quis scitan adjiciant hodiernae crastina summae tempora Dii superis Idem O hasten out of this snare of Satan and come to the Lord Jesus 7. By promising peace to them in his service but trouble and perplexity in the ways of God He is always ready to promise that he can never perform this is one of his wiles to keep sinners back from Christ O saith he if you will but serve me follow me you shall have peace on every side thy ungodly relations will be at peace with thee thy wicked neighbours will keep correspondence with thee nay the greatest part of Mankind will be at amity with thee but if thou goest to Christ nothing but trouble both without and within 2 Cor. 4.8 9 10. and 11. chap. from