of God Rom. 8.35 But sin makes us hateful to and hated of God Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of Iniquity No affliction can hinder our Salvation Lazarus was exceeding poor he begged his bread and was full of noysom sores yet his Soul was carryed by the Angel into Abraham's bosom but sin will hinder the Salvation of our Souls Now we flee from the Sword and Pestilence and other Judgments and shall we not much more flee from sin which is a greater evil than all these 2. Sin is a greater evil than Hell it self for God made Hell but sin is the work of the Devil And therefore sin which is the work of the Devil must needs be worse than Hell which is the work of God Hell sets forth the glory of Gods Justice but sin wholly dishonours God and therefore sin is worse than Hell Now we are very desirous to be delivered from Hell and why shall we not be willing to leave our sins which are worse than Hell 3. There is nothing in the world doth us so much hurt and mischief as sin doth Sin separates us from God the chiefest good Isa 59.2 What poyson is to the body that sin is to the Soul the Souls poyson Rom. 3.13 The poyson of asps is under their lips Sin wars against our Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 And will be the Death of our Souls if we do not forsake it Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death We flee from Death and those things that bring Death VVhen there was a deadly herb in the pottage the Sons of the Prophets would not eat thereof but cryed out O thou man of God there is death in the pot and they would not eat thereof 2. King 4.40 I may say the like to impenitent sinners O thou sinner there is Death in thy sins O thou Drunkard there is Death in thy Cup O thou Unclean Person there is Death in the Harlots house and to the unrighteous man there is Death in thy false weights and false measures and deceitful-balances And shall not this make us willing to leave our sins that there is Death in our sins 4. If no consideration will encline your hearts to a willingness to forsake your sins look up to Christ that he would put forth his grace and divine power upon your Souls to make you willing to forsake your sins and willing to serve and obey him Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power 5. See what it is which makes you so unwilling to leave your sins and get those cords cut in sunder whereby your wills and affections are hold intangled in your sins VVhen men are unwilling to leave their sins it is usually from one of these two causes either from the delight and pleasures they have in their sins or from the gain and profit they have by them Most men are very unwilling to part with their sinful gain Act 16.19 20 22. Act. 19.24 25 27. And with their sinful pleasures in so much that they love their pleasures more than they love God 2 Tim. 3.5 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God I shall endeavour the removal of both these §. Arg. To perswade us to be willing to part with our most delightful and pleasing sins 1. God parted with his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased for us and delivered him up to death for us Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And shall not we part with our beloved and pleasing sins for him and deliver them up unto Death They that take most pleasure in their sins and have the greatest love for them will or ought to be ashamed to say they love their sins and are pleased with their sins as much as God loved Christ and was pleased with Christ and therefore they should also be ashamed to spare their sins and not deliver them up to Death for the enjoyment of Christ 2. God will give thee better pleasures than ever thou foundest in thy sins if thou wilt part with thy sins he will give thee better pleasures in this life Job 36.10 11. He commandeth that they return from iniquitie If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures There are better pleasures to be found in Christ and in the ways and ordinances of Christ than are to be found in sin Prov 3.17 Her ways are wayes of pleasantness Ps 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures The comforts of the Holy Ghost are infinitely better than the pleasures of sin Now if you forsake your sins and walk in the fear of God you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Besides the pleasures that God giveth you in this life if you will leave your pleasing sins God will give you the pleasures of Heaven where you shall live in fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Ps 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore 3. Pleasing sins are like poyson in sweet wine What wise man will be allured to drink a draught of poyson because 't is put into sweet VVine though it be sweet in the mouth it will torment and rack a man exceedingly Job 20.12 13 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though he hide it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still in his mouth Yet his meat in his bowels is turned it is the gall of asps within him The poyson of asps is the most deadly poyson Those sins in which men find most pleasure will one day torture and torment their Consciences as much as the most deadly poyson doth their Bowels Mens pleasing sins will be like the little book the Angel gave the Apostle which was in his Mouth sweet as hony but made his Belly hitter Rev. 10.9 10. Sweet sins will be bittterness in the latter end Take an instance in two sorts of sins in which men find pleasure Uncleanness and Drunkenness Prov. 5.3 4. The lips of a strange woman drop as an hony comb and her mouth is smoother than Oyl but her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged Sword Prov. 23.31 32. Look not upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder 4. The pleasures of sin will cost a man dear without Repentance for they shall be punished with the pains and torments of Hell for ever And from the first day that a man comes into the torments of Hell all the pleasures of sin will vanish away for ever The Rich man that had
not good Eph. 4.19 3. If we find in our selves the grace of God as well as the remainders of Corruption we may conclude that notwithstanding our infirmities we are born again As for instance if we find that God hath given us hearts to love himself and to love one another this love is a grace of God and a manifest token that we are born again 1 Joh. 4.7 Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God 5. Crucifying the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof is a good evidence of a saving interest Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts For the understanding of this Scripture we must enquire what is meant by Flesh what by the affections of the flesh what by the lusts and what by Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts By the flesh is not meant the body but the corruption of our natures the works of the flesh spoken of ver 19.20 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance c. They that are Christs Crucifie these works of the flesh By the affections are meant sinfull affections when we set our affections on things unlawfull and when we set our affections inordinately on things that are lawfull all inordinate affections are to be mortified Col. 3.5 Mortifie your Members which are on the earth inordinate affections As for natural affections when kept in due bounds they are not to be Crucified for it is no virtue but a great degree of degeneracy to be without natural affection Such as are without natural affection are not reckoned among the Saints but among the chief of Sinners Rom. 1.31 Without understanding Covenant breakers without natural affection By lusts understand the inclinations of the heart unto evil things 1 Cor. 10.6 Now these are our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted Now to Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts is to mortifie our corrupt natures with the works that proceed from it and not only to mortifie the works of the flesh but all inordinate affections and all lustings after evil things it is opposed to living after the flesh which will bring eternal death and is inconsistent with the grace of God and an interest in Christ Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live To Crucifie the flesh with the lusts and affectious is to dye to sin to put all our sins to Death a Metaphor taken from the Jews putting Christ to Death let us therefore consider what the Jews did to Christ when they Crucified him and see whether we have done the like to our sins and thereby we shall know whether we have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 1. When the Jews Crucified Christ they found him out and had a token given to them whereby they should know him Joh 18.2 Judas which betrayed him knew the place Mat. 26.48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he hold him fast So they that have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections have gotten the knowledge of their sins they know the plague of their hearts They can say as the Jews Isa 58.12 As for our iniquities we know them This is one step towards Reformation to discover what is amiss in our hearts and ways Psal 119.59 I thought on my ways and I turned my feet unto thy Testimony But if a man go no farther than the getting the knowledge of our sins and do not forsake them this will make us the greater Sinners by sinning against light 2. When the Jews had found out Christ they went with him to Caiaphas the high Priest and took counsel against Christ to put him to death Matth. 26.56 27.1 So they that have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when they have found out their sins they ask counsel of God how they may put them to death how and by what means they may be delivered from their sins Rom. 7.24 Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death 3. When the Jews had taken counsel to put Christ to death they carry him to Pontius Pilate and there they accuse him and cry out to have him crucified Mark 15.3 The chief Priest accused him of many things ver 13. They cryed out crucifie him So they that have crucified the flesh and the lusts and affections accuse themselves before God for their sinful hearts and their vile affections and corrupt lusts Isa 64.6 We all are as an unclean thing Job 40.4 Behold I am vile And they cry out to God to Crucifie their lusts and to deliver them from all their Transgressions Psal 39.8 Deliver me from all my Transgressions 4. They judged and condemned Christ before Pilate and said that by their Law he ought to dye and would not let Pilate rest till he had condemned him and delivered him up to be crucified Joh. 19.7 We have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye Mark 14.64 They all condemned him to be guilty of death Luk. 23.24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required So they that have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts judge and condemn themselves in the presence of God as worthy to dye eternally And they judge and condemn their sins they are satisfied in their judgements that according to the Law of God they ought to put their sin to death and they will give God no rest till he hath sent his Spirit into their hearts to Crucifie the flesh with the lusts and affections 5. The Jews after Christ was Condemned hung him up on the Cross and made him fast with Nails to the Cross and would not suffer him to be taken down till he had given up the Ghost So they that have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts do lay hold on Christ Crucified for the Crucifying their flesh with all its corrupt lusts And it is the sixed purpose of their hearts by the help of Christ to suppress all sinfull lusts and inordinate affections and to refrain from all sinfull speeches and practices Thus David was carefull to suppress and keep down Pride in his heart Psal 131.1 Lord my heart is not haughty And to suppress the frowardness and discontent of his heart Psal 101.4 A froward heart shall depart from me If frowardness got into his heart under the disorders and crosses that were in his family he would not suffer it to abide with him it should quickly depart from him he was carefull also to suppress inordinate affections to the World Psal 119.36 Encline my heart to thy Testimonies and not unto Covetousness And all
the most dangerous most destructive temptations and containeth both inward lusts whereby the heart is as it were set on fire and fiery tryals which are sharpest to the outward man now these are all quenched by the shield of Faith Let me shew you how you should use this shield how you should exercise your Faith when you meet with fiery tryals 1. Have Faith in Gods presence believe that God is and will be with you according to his promise when you pass through the fire and through the waters Isa 43.2 For Faith in Gods presence will carry us comfortably through our greatest tryals Act. 2.25.26 I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is at my right hand that I should not be moved therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad To confirm your Faith that you shall have Gods presence with you in your persecutions see such Scriptures as these 2 Cor. 4.9 Persecuted but not forsaken Jer. 20.11 Joh. 16.32 2 Tim. 4.17 18. 2. Have Faith in Gods assistance Believe that God according to his promise for Christs sake will help strengthen and uphold you Isa 41.10 The believing that we shall have Gods help will put great courage into our Souls Isa 50.7 For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed 3. Have Faith in that glorious and unspeakable recompence of reward which God will give you if you continue faithfull unto the death in a suffering day Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crown of Life 2 Tim. 2.11 12. It is a faithfull saying If we suffer we shall also reign with him The believing and looking at our eternal glory which we shall have after we have suffered for Christ will keep us from fainting under the Cross 2 Cor. 4.16 18. For which cause we faint not while we look at the things which are not seen which are Eternal 2. As you should get and exercise Faith so you should exercise patience also For patience is a very usefull and necessary grace in times of persecution Heb. 10.32 36. Ye endured a great sight of afflictions ye have need of patience Luk. 21.12 19. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake In your patience possess ye your Souls If any say it is true Patience is needfull and usefull in a suffering day But how shall we attain to patience in times of great persecution A. 1. Consider the patience of our Lord Jesus Christ in all his sufferings that will learn us patience in all our distresses Heb. 12.1 2 3. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking to Jesus Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself least ye be wearied and faint in your minds The looking to Jesus and considering the dignity of his person the greatness of his sufferings and the patience with which he endured the pain and the shame of the Cross and the contradiction of sinners against himself will help us to run our race with Patience and keep us from being wearied and fainting in our minds An instance of the patience of Christ under his sufferings which all things considered were greater than the sufferings of any of the Martyrs We have Isa 53.7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth And as the example of Christ so also the example of the Prophets and other Saints and Servants of God may cause us to be patient under our persecutions It hath been the lot of the best men that ever lived even of the Prophets to be persecuted for Righteousness sake Mat. 5.12 So persecuted they the Prophets Luk. 13.34 O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee Jam. 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and patience 2. Consider the desert of sin They which suffer most in this Life suffer far less than their sins deserve How great were Jobs afflictions of all sorts yet they were less than his sins Job 11.6 Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth Ezra 9.14 compared with Lam. 1.12 No sorrows like what the Jews met with yet were they punished less than their sins deserved This should silence all complaints Lam. 3.39 Our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death The second as well as the first death Shall we not patiently suffer any Torments in this Life for Righteousness sake seeing our sins have deserved the Torments of Hell for ever 5. The blood of Christ and the word of God and preferring the glory of God above our lives are great helps to a chearfull bearing and overcoming all persecutions When the Dragon makes war with the Saints we may see by what means they overcome him Rev. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Here are 3 means by which they overcame the accuser of the brethren 1. By the blood of the Lamb that is by the blood of Christ who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Now the blood of Christ helps us to overcome 1. As it justifieth us and takes away all our guilt and reconciles us to God Rom. 5.9 10. Joh. 1.7 For when sin is pardoned there is comfort in the greatest sufferings Mat. 9.2 And when God is reconciled there is a Triumphing over all enemies Rom. 8.31 2. As it hath purchased for us victory over all the adversaries of our Salvation Col. 2.15 3. As it gives us solid grounds to hope with boldness to enter into Eternal Life Heb. 10.19 4. As he hath left us an example to suffer for him who suffered for us 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Pet. 4.1 2. By the word of their Testimony that is the word of God which they had owned professed gave Testimony unto in the worst of times Now the word helps us to overcome 1. As it comforts us in all our conflicts Psal 119.49 50 94 161 162. 2. As it reveals and promiseth glorious rewards to them that overcome Rev. Ch. 2. Ch. 3. Ch. 21.7 CHAP. III. An Exhortation to such as are in a Christless condition to seek after an interest in Christ Directions Motives and Helps in order to the getting an Interest in Christ Hinderances removed SEeing it is thus that an interest in Christ is a ground of strong Consolation under
enter into Life blind and halt and maimed than to reserve the occasions of offence and stumbling and to be cast into Hell Fire Mark 9.43 to the 48. ver 2. If the work seem hard and difficult which Christ sets us about yet the wages he gives are exceeding great which he gives to them that serve him and obey him He gives no less Reward to all his Servants than a Kingdom Luk 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom He gives his Servants the same Glorious Kingdom which he himself hath Joh. 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my Servant be He gives an Eternal Kingdom to them that obey his Commandements Heb. 5.9 Joh. 12.50 I know that his Commandment is Life Everlasting This may reconcile our hearts to the Commandments of the Gospel there is no Commandment of Christ but it is in order to our obtaining Everlasting Life Now this consideration that Christ will give us a Kingdom an Everlasting Kingdom that cannot be removed should make us willing to engage in any difficult service for Christ and desirous to do him all the service we can and to serve him in a gracious and acceptable manner Heb. 12.28 Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear 3. You have a long time served and obeyed the lusts of your own heart And sin is a most cruel Master a Master that kills and murders all his Servants that do not forsake his service The wages that sin gives all his Servants is Death Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is Death And will you rather serve a Murderer a cruel Master that will kill than serve and obey Jesus Christ who is the Lord of Life and Glory who saves all his Servants from Eternal Misery 4. Though some duties of the Gospel seem hard to Flesh and Blood yet they bring rest to the Soul Math. 11.29 Take my Yoak upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your Souls Rest is a desireable thing especially rest for our Souls Issachar underwent great burdens for the obtaining of rest Gen. 49.14 15. Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens and he saw that rest was good and the Land that it was pleasant and bowed his shoulders to bear and became a servant to tribute But rest for the Soul is much more desireable than outward rest and therefore we should be willing to submit to any burden that our Lord Jesus layeth upon us seeing he will give us rest for our Souls 5. Though Christs Yoak may seem hard and his burden heavy to Flesh and Blood yet in truth and reality it is easy and light Mat. 11.29 30. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy und my burden is light Now Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light in several respects 1. Because he requireth nothing of us but what he by his Spirit will enable us to do Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes 2. Because he writes his laws in our hearts and when the law is written in the heart it makes the hardest service easy and delightfull Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart This will spoken of here was God's will concerning Christ that he should offer up himself a Sacrifice for our sins as appears from Heb. 10.6 7 8 9 10. which though it was difficult service Christ did with delight having the Law of God in his heart 3. Love to Christ makes all difficulties easie and his service delightful Joh. 5.3 This is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 4. His Yoke is easie because it is sweetned with the comforts of the Holy Ghost Our Lord Jesus sends the Spirit the Comforter into their hearts that keep his Commandments that dwell and abide with them for ever John 14 15 16 17. If you love me keep my Commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth and by virtue of these comforts which they have from the Spirit of God they can go on singing in the ways of the Lord. Ps 138.5 Yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord. 5. His Yoke is easie and burden light compared with the burden of the Law and the burden of sin The Law was a Yoak which was very hard to be born Act. 15.10 And the burden of sin is heavier than the burden of the Law it was such as David complained was too heavy for him Ps 38.4 §. 5. Loving and preferring other things above Christ and hindrance of our being partakers of Christ This Obstacle removed 5. Another hindrance of our receiving and accepting Christ is when there is something or other that lyeth nearer our heart than Christ which we love and prefer above Christ and are not willing to part with for Christ Now to such I would say these things 1. You can have no part in Christ unless you love and prefer him above all things in the world and be willing to forsake all things for him Math. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Our Parents and our Children may and ought to be loved but not more than Christ for if we love the dearest Relations we have in the world more than Christ we shall not be partakers of Christ Luk. 14.33 Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my Disciple For if a man love any things or persons more than Christ when those things or persons come in competition with Christ he will forsake Christ rather than those things or persons which he loves above Christ 2. A man may go far in the profession and practice of Religious duties and may prefer Christ above many things and yet may have some one thingly nearer his heart than Christ and rather than part with that one thing he may chuse to part with Jesus Christ An example of this we have in the young man that came to Christ to enquire how he might obtain Eternal Life He spoke respectfully affectionately and understandingly to Christ Matth. 19.17 Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have Eternal Life He shewed his respect to Christ in calling him Master his affection in calling him good Master his understanding in that he came to Christ about the weightiest matter in the whole world Eternal Life and his good inclinations that he desired to know what good thing he should do to have Eternal Life Moreover he had from his youth up addicted himself
poor and the lame and the blind and the halt were called to the Marriage Supper Persons of the lowest condition such as are in by-lanes high-ways and hedges and such as are most despicable in the eye of the world the maimed and the blind are to be called and entreated with all earnestness to come to Christ Luk. 14.21 23. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and compell them to come in We see here all sorts of sinners even such as are most despicable in their own eyes and the eyes of the world the poor the maimed the halt the blind sinners in all places the High-ways Hedges Streets Lanes all are called and that with such importunity as if they were compelled for this compelling is to be understood of earnest entreaties and using prevailing arguments As Luk. 24.29 3. Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ is offered freely to the greatest and chiefest of sinners if they will accept of him and repent of their sins 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth und forsaketh shall find Mercy Adam all circumstances considered was one of the chiefest of sinners for he was the cause of the death of all the men that ever lived 1 Cor. 15.22 In Adam all dye He brought sin into the World and death and by his disobedience made all men sinners and corrupted all Mankind Rom. 5. By one man sin entered into the World and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ver 19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners Yet Christ and Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam in that promise The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent's head Gen. 3.15 It may be some are in a despairing way because they have not only been sinners themselves but they have corrupted and made others sinners and have not only made others sinners but have been the occasion of the death of many persons Though this be a wofull case yet not desperate By Adam's disobedience many were made sinners Hundreds Thousands yea all Mankind Christ only excepted And Adam was the cause of the death of Hundreds Thousands Millions of Men Women and Children yea in Adam all dye yet Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam 4. Christ Jesus with his saving benefits is offered to children and old men bond and free male and female He is willing that little Children should come unto him for Life and Salvation Mar. 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God The giving of the Spirit which is one of the saving benefits of Christ is promised to all sorts of persons Young and Old Male and Female Bond and Free Men-servants and Maid-servants Joel 2.28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your Old Men shall dream Dreams your Young Men shall see Visions And also upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit By dreaming Dreams seeing Visions and Prophesying we may understand that God in the days of the Gospel would reveal his mind and will to all sorts of Persons by his Word and Spirit as he did in old times to some peculiar Persons by Dreams and Visions 5. Jesus Christ offers himself and all his saving benefits even to such as have for a long time neglected and rejected the offers of grace made to them in the Gospel and notwithstanding all former neglects and refusals if now they will come in they shall be accepted Rom. 10.21 But to Israel he saith all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a rebellious and gain-saying people The stretching forth the hands signifie the offers of grace made in the Gospel the offer of Pardon and Salvation upon their Faith and Repentance and this offer was made and continued from time to time to a rebellious and gain-saying people To the Jews that had refused Christ and preferred a Murderer before him yea and had not only refused but killed him that came to save their lives there is a promise of forgiveness of their sins upon their Repentance Acts 3.14 19. Ye denyed the holy one and the just and desired a Murderer to be granted to you and killed the Prince of Life Repent ye and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Another instance of Christ's offering himself and his saving benefits to such as have neglected former offers of grace We have Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he with me This is part of the Epistle sent to the Church of Laodicea where there were many luke-warm persons that deserved to be spued out of Christ's Mouth ver 15. And many self-conceited persons that thought their Estate good when they were in a most miserable condition ver 17. And notwithstanding their luke-warmness and self-conceitedness he makes a gracious offer of himself to them Behold I stand at the door and knock The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Praeter-perfect Tense which is used for the Present I have stood and I am not gone though neglected though the door be kept shut I stand there still and knock and call if any man hear my voice One paraphraseth thus on the words Siquis qualiscunque fuerit peccator hypocrita qui diu obstitit Evangelio c. What manner of man soever he hath been though he hath been a vile sinner though he hath been a hypocrite though one that hath long rejected the offers of grace in the Gospel If any man hear my voice and open the door that is accept of the offers of grace in the Gospel consent to receive me on the terms of the Gospel no former neglects or refusals of Christ shall hinder such a man's Salvation for it follows I will come into him and sup with him and he with me that is I will bestow my self and all my saving benefits upon any man that openeth unto me whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath formerly been or done against me 6. Remission of sins and Salvation are offered by Christ to backsliding revolting sinners upon their Repentance though they have beakslidden often and done very heinous things after their backsliding from God Jer. 3.1.5 22. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings But some may say I once had the offer of Salvation by Christ but I did not embrace it I fear now it is too late and
2.10 Ye are compleat in him 5. Our imperfections shall not hinder us of the love of God here nor of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter Psal 73.22 23 24. Sect. 8. There is comfort in Christ for such as are under the hidings of Gods face and are troubled because they can't enjoy Communion with God It is the lot of some Christians to be under the hidings of God's face and to want Communion with God and that is a great trouble to them Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Now there is comfort for such in Christ and that in these respects 1. It was one great end of Christ's death to bring us to the enjoyment of God 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that we might be brought unto God The great obstacle to our Communion with God is our sins For 't is sin that separates between God and us Isa 59.2 Behold your iniquities have sepparated between you and your God Now Christ's death hath taken away this obstacle of our Communion with God for whereas our sins had put us far from God and caused God to stand afar off from us by the blood of Christ we are made nigh to God Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself was under the hidings of Gods face and that in time of great distress when he was upon the Cross when nigh unto death he cryed out Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But how doth this make for the comfort of a Soul under the hidings of Gods face that our Lord Jesus Christ himself was in a deserted condition A. 1. Hence we learn that the hidings of God's face is consistent with a state of adoption and the special love of God For Christ was the beloved Son of God in whom he was well pleased yet he was in a deserted condition in a time of trouble in a dying hour and therefore we should not question the Fatherly love of God because of the hidings of his face Isa 64.7 8. Thou hast hid thy face from us But now O Lord thou art our Father 2. Seeing our Lord Jesus hath been under the hidings of God's face he knoweth how to pity and succour those that are in this condition Heb. 2.18 3. We have gracious promises which are all yea and Amen in Christ Jesus that though the Lord be withdrawn from us yet if we return he for Christ's sake will return unto us 2 Chron. 30.9 The Lord your God is gracious and mercifull and will not turn away his face from you if ye return unto him Mal. 3.7 Even from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of Hosts Jam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and God will draw nigh to you 4. Though you want sensible influences from God yet if you be one that hath closed with Christ upon the terms of the Gospel God hath Communicated himself to you for your God and Father in Christ by Covenant and hath given you the priviledge to be one of his Sons Joh. 1.12 and that is a higher degree of Communion with God than the giving insensible influences to that you ought not to say you have no Communion with God because there is a suspension of influences when as the Lord hath given himself for your God by Covenant and hath taken you for his children Sect. 9. There is comfort in Christ for such as are troubled with fears of falling away What David said concerning Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul the like some Christians who have accepted Christ on the terms of the Gospel and have given themselves to Christ are ready to say in their hearts I shall one day fall away from Christ and perish for ever My heart is so treacherous and indwelling corruption so strong and Satan's Temptations so prevalent and the oppositions from the world may be so great that I fear I shall not hold out to the end but shall fall away and this is a great trouble to me Now there is comfort to be had from Christ against these fears of falling away and that on these grounds 1. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort to such Believers on Christ as are troubled with fears of fallingaway For he prayeth for us that our Faith may not fail Luk. 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not And he that prayed for Peter that his Faith might not fail he hath prayed for all that do and shall believe in him Joh 17.20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one c. And what Christ prayed for was alwayes granted Joh. 11.41 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwayes 2. The Members of Christ may be comforted against their fears of falling away from God's Everlasting Covenant For God is entered into an Everlasting Covenant with them that he will not turn away from them and that he will keep them from departing from him Jer. 32.40 And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me See Isa 54.10 3. The unchangeableness of Gods love is a good ground of comfort against fears of falling away Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own that were in the World loved them unto the end It is not said having loved his own that are in glory but that are in the world where they are liable to temptations and corruptions and troubles he loved them to the end Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus God's love being unchangeable we may rest satisfied that the same love which called us to the knowledge and Faith of Christ will keep us from departing from Christ seeing the gifts and the callings of God are without Repentance The same love that quickned us when we were dead in sins and trespasses will also preserve us unto Eternal Life 4. The attributes of God may comfort weak Christians against their fears of falling away The name of the Lord is our strong Tower whether we may run and be safe against these fears as for instance 1. The power of God that is engaged to keep and preserve
other evil inclinations of his heart Psal 141.4 Encline not my heart to any evil thing And as he was carefull to suppress evil lusts in his heart so to refrain from evil speeches and sinfull practise Psal 49.1 I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my Tongue I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle while the wicked is before me Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way They that seek by the help of Christ to suppress evil lusts and inordinate affections and refrain from sinfull speeches and practices have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections 6. The Jews having heard that after Christ was Crucified he would rise again put him into a Grave and rolled a great stone upon the mouth of the Grave and set a strict watch and did all that they could to prevent his rising again So they that have Crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections do what they can to prevent the rising of sin in their hearts and the breaking of it forth in their lives They set a watch over their lips and lives Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my Tongue Psal 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips Psal 18.23 I kept my self from mine iniquity Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life Obj. I am under doubtings whether I am Christs because it is said they that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Now though I desire and endeavour to Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts yet I can't say I have attained to it Though I endeavour to suppress all evil lustings and all inordinate affections and to refrain from every evil way yet I still find the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the law in my members warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to the law of sin and death And therefore I fear I am none of Christs A. 1. Such as are united to Christ have Flesh as well as Spirit in them and do find the lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit and the warring of the law in their members against the law of their mind but they do not walk after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit The Apostle speaking of such as are in Christ Jesus saith not they have no flesh nothing of corruption in them that there is nothing but the Spirit of Grace in them but he saith of them they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit The Galatians were the children of God Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Yet they had in them the Flesh lusting against the Spirit whereby they were hindered that they could not do that good which they were willing and desirous to do Gal. 5.17 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would The Apostle Paul was Christs 2 Cor. 10.7 If any man trust to himself that he is Christs let him of himself think this again that as he is Christs even so we are Christs Yet this Apostle who if any man upon earth might be confident that he was Christs he would let him know that he was Christs also saw and complained of a law in his Members warring against the law of his Mind and leading him captive to the law of sin Rom. 7.23 But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity to the law of sin which is in my Members 2. They that heartily desire to have the flesh with the affections and lusts crucified they have already crucified their sins in their hearts What we are willing and desirous to do that the Scripture accounts as if it were already done As it is in the Commission what sins we desire to commit God accounts them to be committed in our hearts Matth. 5.28 Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already with her in his heart So it is with the crucifixion of sin when a man looks upon his sins and saith in the sincerity of his heart oh that my flesh with the affections and lusts were crucified he may be said to have crucified his flesh with the lusts and affections 3. They that are Christs have delivered up their corrupt natures with all the affections and lusts to be crucified We read of Christ that he was delivered to the Jews to be crucified Joh. 19.16 Then delivered he him to be crucified The hypocrite spares his sins and hides them and is unwilling to part with them Job 20.12 13. But it is not so with a true Christian to deliver up all his sins to be crucified and begs earnestly of God that he would not suffer any sin to have the dominion over him but that he may be delivered from all his transgressions Psal 119.133 Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me Psal 39.8 Deliver me from all my transgressions 4. We may be said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when we have begun to mortifie all our sins when we make it our daily care and endeavour to suppress evil lusts and inordinate affections and to refrain our feet from every evil way Crucifixion is a lingring death Our sins are crucified when they are dying though not fully dead Persons nayled to the Cross had many struglings before they gave up the ghost and yet they might be said to be crucified while they hung upon the Cross though not perfectly dead Paul saith I dye daily So a Christian makes it his daily business to dye to his sins And what we are truly and heartily endeavouring to do that the Lord esteemeth and accepts as if it were done Abraham in the sincerity of his heart endeavouring to offer up Isaac the Scripture speaks of it and accounts it as if it had been actually done Heb. 11.17 By faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up his son Isaac 5. Then we have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts when the reigning power and dominion of sin is taken away that we are no longer the servants of sin Rom. 6 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin The old man is all one with the flesh and the affections and lusts thereof now this old man is crucified when the power and strength of sin is so far destroyed as that we are not servants of sin when the dominion of sin is taken away from all that are in a state
from the evil of your doings yet ye have not harkned unto me Jer. 2.25 With hold thy feet but thou saidst no for I have loved strangers and after them I will go 3. Many men are so unwilling to leave their sins that none of God's judgments nor mercies will prevail with them to forsake their sins Great judgments will not do it Prov. 27.22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a Morter among Wheat with a Pestle yet will not his foolishness depart from him Isa 1.5 Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more Amos 4.6 to the 12th verse Neither will great mercies prevail with many men to leave their sins Isa 1.2 I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me Yea there is a very great unwillingness in most men to leave their sins now I shall lay down some arguments to perswade you to be willing to forsake all your sins in order to your being partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1. Either you must leave your sins or leave Christ You cannot have Christ and his saving benefits and continue in your sins Math. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other Ye cannot serve God and Mammon The like may be said of enjoying Christ ye cannot enjoy Christ and enjoy your sins too for either you will hate your sins and love Christ or you will hold to your sins and despise Christ And therefore what Christ said to the Jews concerning his Disciples Joh. 18.8 If ye seek me let these go their way That may I say to you concerning your sins if ye seek Christ and would have Christ ye must let these go away That we must part with our sins or part with Christ for ever is evident these ways 1. Because he requireth of all those that will become his Disciples and have Salvation by him that they depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Our Lord Jesus Christ will not own any one man for his that doth not depart from iniquity it is the immutable purpose of God that no man shall have Salvation by Christ that doth not depart from his sins Luk. 13.5 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish .. 2. Our iniquities separate between us and our God Isa 59.2 Your iniquities have seperated between you and your God And if we continue ever in our sins there will be an eternal separation between God and our Souls 3. At the great day of judgment he will not own one Man Woman or Child for his or admit any into his Kingdom that have been workers of iniquity but that would not depart from their sins shall depart from Christ for ever though they have prophesied in Christs name and cast out Devils and done many other wonderous works Math. 7.23 24. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name c. And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of Iniquitie Now is it not better parting with our sins than parting with Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven for ever What is there in sin that should make us more willing to part with Christ than to part with our sins 2. God makes great proffers and great promises of very great things that he will give to us and do for us if we will forsake our sins that he may perswade us to be willing to leave our sins If any ask why what will God do for us what will he give to us if we will forsake our sins A. 1. If we will forsake our sins God will receive us into his love and favour and will bestow himself upon us for our God and accept us for his people he will become our Father and own us for his Sons and Daughters Jer. 7.24 Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my people 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty 2. If we will forsake our sins the Lord will forgive us all our sins for ever and will not so much as mention any of our sins unto us Ezek. 33.15 16. When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dy if he turn from his sin None of his sins which he hath committed shall be mentioned to him he shall surely live Isa 1.16 17 18. Cease to do evil and learn to do well Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they have been red like crimson they shall be as wool Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and return unto the Lord for he will abundantly pardon 3. If we will leave our sins God will pour out his Holy Spirit upon us to dwell in us for ever to enlighten quicken sanctifie and comfort us under all our troubles Prov. 1.23 Turn ye at my reproos behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you Act. 2.38 Repent and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 4. If we will turn from our sins God will take us into covenant with himself and give us all the blessings of the new Covenant Isa 59.20 21. The Redeemer shall come to him and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. As for me this is my covenant with them See here with whom God makes his Covenant his Covenant is with them that turn from transgression in Jacob. And when he makes a Covenant with us his Covenant is to give us Grace and Glory and to withhold no good thing from us 5. If we will forsake our sins the Lord will save us from the torments of Hell for ever and give to us his Heavenly Kingdom Job 33 27 28. He looked upon me and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited me not He will deliver his Soul from going down into the pit and his life shall see the light What is there in sin that we should refuse all these great things rather than leave our sins 3. Consider that Sin is the greatest evil in the world that there is nothing doth us so much mischief and is so prejudicial to our wellfare as sin is and that may make us willing to forsake our sins See what an evil thing sin is 1. Sin is worse than any affliction as the Sword Pestilence Famine Poverty noysome Diseases c. For neither Sword nor Famine or any other affliction can separate us from the love
with Abraham and his Seed 430 years before the giving the law by Moses And therefore the law which given 430 years after God had revealed it to Abraham that he would justifie and save him and his Seed through Faith in Christ could not make void that way of righteousness and life which God had before confirmed by Covenant to Abraham and his Seed As you may see Gal. 3.6 7 8 9 11 16 17 18. 2. The law when given by Moses found man so weakned by the fall of Adam that it could not bring man to righteousness and life but notwithstanding the giving the law man would have perished Eternally had not God sent his Son Jesus Christ to dye for our sins Rom. 8.3 Gal. 3.21 But for what end then was the law given if not to a Covenant of life A. 1. To bring us to the knowledge of our sin and misery Rom. 3.20 By the law is the knowledge of sin Gal. 3.19 Wherefore then serveth the law It was added because of Transgressions 2. To be our School-Master to lead us to Christ that when we see we can't attain that Righteousness which the law requires we may seek for Justification and Salvation to Jesus Christ Gal. 3.24 The law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith 3. The law was given to be a Rule of our lives to direct us how to carry our selves towards God and towards all men Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a lamp and the law is light 3. Life and Righteousness is to be had in Christ and no where else but in and by Christ 1 Joh. 5.11 12. And this is the record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life And as Eternal Life is to be had in Christ so also is that Righteousness whereby we are justified and accepted in the sight of God to be had in Christ Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Jer. 23.6 This is the name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness For the better understanding of this that the Righteousness whereby we are justified and accepted before God is not any works of Righteousness which we have done in Conformity to the law but the righteousness which Christ hath wrought for us let us consider these 3 or 4 things 1. All our own righteousnesses are full of imperfections and therefore cannot justifie us in the sight of God who is a God of pure eyes that cannot behold iniquity Isa 64.8 VVe are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags The Holyest men that ever lived that have been full of good works have been afraid to appear before God in their own righteousness Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the law 2. We not being able to bring unto God a righteousness of our own whereby we might be justified and accepted God provided a righteousness for us in and by his Son Jesus Christ whereby we might be justified and accepted in his sight 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Righteousness 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 3. This righteousness of Christ by and upon the account of which we are accepted and justified in the sight of God is his Active and Passive Obedience His Active Obedience in fullfilling all that righteousness which the law required Rom. 5.19 As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made Righteous And his Passive Obedience whereby he suffered Death for our sins Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood It was by his being made a Sacrifice for our sins that we are made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.20 4. This righteousness of Christ consisting of his active and passive obedience is made over or imputed to all that believe on him Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for Righteousness to every one that believeth 4. A right understanding of the law would give us such a discovery of our sins and the imperfections of our best works as to take us off from resting in the works of the law for our justification before God Gal. 2.19 I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God I will mention two or three things concerning the law that may convince us there is no hope for any man whatever to at tain righteousness and life by the law 1. The law is Spiritual and forbids Spiritual sins and requireth Spiritual duties and that may convince the Holyest man on earth of much sin and make him cry out of himself that he is an undone sinner without the mercy of God and the mercies of Christ Rom. 7.14 We know that the law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under sin The Spirituality of the law convinceth the Apostle Paul that he had in himself much Carnality and by reason of the sad effects of Original Corruption he was not able to perform that Spiritual Obedience the law called for which is the meaning of that expression sold under sin 2. The law forbids all evil motions and sinfull inclinations of the heart The first motions of sin that arise in the heart and all evil lusts in the heart though not consented to though opposed are a Transgression of the law Rom. 7.7 I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said thou shalt not covet The Apostle did not understand the lustings and inordinate desires of the heart to be sin when not consented to till he considered that the first motions of sin were forbidden by the law and were Transgressions of that command thou shalt not covet If there be but a foolish thought in our minds though it be not allowed of though it be not suffered to lodge there it is a sin against the law of God Prov. 24.9 The thought of foolishness is sin 3. The least omission at any time of any duty that the law requireth and the commission of the least sin that the law forbids brings us under the curse of the law Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of tht law to do them If a man were able to keep the whole law and should offend but in one point he is guilty of Eternal Death by the law as well as if he had broken all the Commandments of God Jam. 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all So Grotius Non minus morte punitur quà m si omnia praecepta violasset And Capellus Aeque damnatur
that my day of grace is past and so there is no hope for my Soul that ever I should be made partaker of Christ A. No man ought to conclude his day of grace and Salvation to be past as long as he is in the Land of the living If Christ be not accepted before we dye then we shall miss of him for ever The day of grace and the day of Salvation is gone for ever if Christ be not embraced before Death comes But as long as we are in the land of the living there is a door of hope stands open to us Eccl. 9.5 To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope As long as we are under the Preaching of the Gospel which is the Ministry of Reconciliation it is an accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 5.20 Compared with 2 Cor. 6.2 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the Day of Salvation While God is treating with us by his Embassadors who do in Christ's stead pray us to be reconciled to God so long 't is an accepted time and a day of Salvation Upon the last day of the Feast when the people were to be dismissed and sent to their own home the Lord Jesus made an offer of himself to all that did thirst after him Joh 7.37 In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink This Feast was the Feast of Tabernacles ver 2. which Feast lasted many days Lev. 23.34 36. Their dwelling in Tabernacles while in the VVilderness till they came to Canaan was an Emblem of our Frailty whilst we remain in the Body which is called a Tabernacle 2 Cor. 5.1 2 Pet. 1.14 I must put of this my Tabernacle that is my body As our Lord Jesus offered himself to every one that was a thirst on the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles so he doth offer himself to us even to the last day of our continuance in our Earthly house of this Tabernacle The penitent thief who embraced Christ the last day of his being in this Earthly Tabernacle upon the day of his death was accepted of him But some may say again the weary and the thirsty and the heavy laden and such as are of a broken heart and are burdened with their sins are invited to come to Christ but I am not affected as I ought to be with my sin and misery I am not humbled for my sins but I have an hard dead insensible heart and therefore I am afraid Christ is not offered to me A. 1. Even such as are not affected with their sin and misery but have high thoughts of their own excellencies when as in truth they are wretched and miserable are invited to come to Christ for good and white rayment and eye Salve whereby they may have a true sight of their own state and be made sensible of their sin and misery Rev. 3.17 18. Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I counsel thee to buy of me Gold and white Rayment and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see VVe see the poorest and most miserable which are not affected as they ought with their sin and misery are called upon to repair to Christ and to be dealing with Christ for the choicest of his benefits Gold white Rayment eye salve that they might see and be made rich and have their nakedness covered 2. As Christ was sent to bind up and heal the broken in heart Isa 61.1 So he was exalted to give Repentance to hard hearted sinners Act. 5.31 And it is his work to take away the stony heart from those that have stony hearts and give them hearts of flesh For it is the Lords promise to take away the stony heart and to give an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 And it belongs to Christ as he is Mediator and surety of the new Covenant to see this as well as other promises of the Covenant fulfilled 3. Sleepy and secure sinners are called upon by the Gospel to awake out of their sleep and to look to Christ for light and life Eph. 5.14 Wherefore he saith awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 4. Though you do not find such an hunger and thirst such a weariness and burdened condition as others find yet if you are willing to have Christ on the terms of the Gospel willing to be ruled and saved by him in his own way you need not doubt but Christ with all his saving benefits is offered freely to you as freely as to any other person for he is offered freely to every one whosoever he be that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Sect. 9. Doubting of Christ's willingness to receive us an hinderance of our closing with Christ This doubt removed It may be some will say I am willing to accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel but I doubt whether Christ will accept of me because I have been such a vile and sinfull creature and still find in my self such an unsanctified heart and such a corrupt nature A. They that are willing to accept of Christ on the terms of the Gospel may lay aside all their doubts of Christ's accepting them of what nature soever they be And that on such grounds as these 1. We have Christ's own word and promise to assure that if we come to him he will in no wise cast us out Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Him without exception of any person or any sin him whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath done that cometh to me that is that believeth on me that receiveth me as I am offered in the Gospel that in the sense of his lost and perishing condition cometh to me to save him I will in no wise cast out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Negatives I will not I will not cast him out I will in no wise no accusation that Satan shall bring against him for the multitude or greatness of his sins or his long continuance in his sins or any other accusation shall prevail with me to cast him out I will in no wise cast him out that is I will graciously accept him Nonrepellam a me a societate mea communione bonorum I will bestow my self and all my benefits upon him I will not cast him out that is out of my Kingdom I will receive him to be with me where I am 2. Though we have been sinners yet if we be penitent sinners the Lord Jesus will receive us upon our coming to him 2