quality of your sins can pose Christ There is not so much evil in all thy sins as there is fulness in Christ Mark 9. 23. Let thy sins be what they will pardon and salvation are possible if thou dost believe The Blood of Christ is sufficient to drown Mountains as well as Mole-hills If thou seest still more and more sins though legions of Lusts and Devils yet all shall not hinder thy salvation if they do not hinder thy coming to Christ Obj. Oh but my Sins are so many immumerable Evils compass me about that I am not able to dare to look up Ans What if thy sins are never so many if the love of Christ be much more Why should this hinder thy coming And this he hath declared Rom. 5. 20. Where sin abounded grace did much more abound If thy Sins be never so abundant if the Grace of Christ shall abound much more why should they hinder coming Isa 55. 7. Oh come Soul throw away all thy Doubts and come and the Lord will multiply to Pardon He will make his Pardons more thâ—â— thy Sins Oh away to Christ Obj. Oh but I am afraid it is too late If I had gone sooner I might have had mercy but now I fear it is too late Ans It is never too late whilst Christ calls And Christ calls thee after all this Jer. 3. 6 7. Judah there had multiplied her Abominations yet says the Lord I said after she had done all these things Turn unto me This is the Voice of the Lord Jesus to thee Ah Sinner thou halt multiplied thy Transgressions yet I say unto thee after all these Come unto me Ah poor Soul thou art going headlong to Destruction I pity thee my Bowels yearn towards thee come to me here is my Blood my Love my Grace my Glory my All come and I am thine and all mine are thine Dost thou not yet believe Oh dreadful Then thou makest God a Lyar 1 Joh. 5. 10. What make Christ a Lyar It is a plain case Christ saith Come and I will pardon love save thee Thou fay'st He will not you dare not believe him you dare not come But to plead a little further with thee O that thou would'st come come and â—ee come and try come and venture 1. Come The Designation of Christ is for thee Isa 61. 1 2 3. It is spoken of Christ He is anointed for this very end appointed of the Lord to bind up broken Hearts comfort mourning Souls to deliver poor Sinners from their captivity to Sin the Devil and Hell Mat. 9. 13. If thou were not a Sinner thou wert not such a one as Christ came to save for he came to save Sinners 2. Come The Invitation of Christ is to thee Art not thou distressed for a Christ Then be of good comfort Rise he calleth thee Mat. 11. 28. Art not thou a-thirst Dost thou not long for Christ Then be of good comfort Come he calls thee Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. It is every one that is burden'd it is every one that is a-thirst therefore thou 3. Come And the Promise is to thee Joh. 6. 37. Him that cometh I will in no wise cast out It is whosoever cometh therefore it is thou if thou comest thou shalt certainly be received by no means in the world rejected Joh. 3. 16. Whosoever believes in him shall have everlasting life Whosoever doth it therefore if you come the Promise is yours It is not said If you be not a great Sinner If you have not abundance of sins If you have not continued long in sin No No it is Whosoever cometh be he a great Sinner an old Sinner if he comes he shall have Eternal Life Come then and the Promise is to thee Christ is thine the Promise thine Eternal Life thine 4. Come The Heart of Christ is towards thee Hos 2. 14. I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her Postquam perduxero eam as Tremellius hath it God humbled the Fathers in the Wilderness and then brought them to Canaan Hath God humbled thee broke thy Heart for thy Sins Come to him and he will speak a word to thee that shall do thee good at heart He will tell thee His Christ is thine His Love is thine c. ver 19. I will betroth thee to me in righteousness and judgment and in loving-kindness and mercy The Scripture makes mention of Espousals and of Marriage to express the great Mystery of the Grace of God to Souls It is observable That this gracious Promise comes in after the mention of their great Wickedness ver 3. What doth all this speak to thee but as if God should say Thou hast been a vile Wretch and I might justly cast thee off for ever but I am merciful I am gracious come to me and if thou dost come as surely as thou comest to me I will marry thee As I am a Righteou God as I am a God of Faithfulness yea I will marry thee in loving-kindness my Bowels are in it I will I will I will I will betroth thee to me in Faithfulness and thou shalt be mine Soul Do'st yet Believe Wilt thou venture upon Jesus Christ 5. It is for his Interest to receive thee As Christ's Heart is upon the Work so his Interest is in it He will lose his Blood else as to you Isa 53. 11. His Soul is in travail for thee He will not be satisfied till thou comest Will not this Argument prevail with thee Oh go and satisfie Christ's Travail 6. Come for it is Christ's Office to receive those Souls that come and he is faithful Hebr. 2. 17. He is an Highpriest It is his Office to make Reconciliation for Sins and he is faithful Christ would not be faithful if he should refuse one Sinner that comes to him O what Encouragement is here for poor Sin-sick Souls that are distressed for a Christ Lay all these Things together Christ is appointed for thee Christ calls thee to come to him he promises to receive thee if thou comest his Heart is upon it it is for his Interest to receive thee he should not be faithful if he refuse thee O away away to Christ Cast away all thy Doubts and Fears venture again upon Christ Cast thy self upon him in the Promise and he is thine Beno more faithless but believing Will you not yet believe Will you not yet come If you do not 1. You lessen the Grace of Christ You make the Grace of Christ to be less than your Sins You want only a view of the Greatness Riches Infiniteness of the Grace of God in Christ Ephes 2. 6 7 8. Here is Grace Riches of Grace exceeding Riches of Grace in Christ 1 Tim. 1. 13 14 15. Lo the Gradations Grace Riches of Grace exceeding Riches of Grace exceeding abundant Grace Here is Grace abundantly exceeding all your Sins O let this Grace constrain you to believe Come to Jesus 2. You limit the Grace
of Christ As if it were enough for others such a Sinner and such a Sinner but not for you It was â— Brand upon the Israelites that they limited the Holy One of 〈◊〉 They spake against God What did they say Can God furnish a 〈◊〉 in the wilderness He clave the rock and the waters came Can â—e 〈◊〉 bread also Psal 78. 19 20 41. O the unreasonableness of Unbelâ—â—â—â— Certainly he that could turn the Rock into Water could if he pleaâ—â— turn it into Bread Is not this your Case As if you should 〈◊〉 He can pardon others but can he pardon me Can he over 〈◊〉 all my Sins This is to limit the Grace of Christ 3. You dishonour the Grace of God His Wisdom As if thâ— might a better way been found out His Love As if htere 〈◊〉 not enough for you His Power As if he was not able to pass 〈◊〉 so many Offences His Truth And so make him a Lyar. 〈◊〉 to deny him to be a God For if he be God he is Truth yea 〈◊〉 it self Abraham honoured him herein Rom. 4. 20. He 〈◊〉 not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith 〈◊〉 ving glory to God O it is a clear case it is your unbelief be 〈◊〉 of it 4. You displease God by your unbelief Luther lay under 〈◊〉 for a time but when he was lead to this that nothing was 〈◊〉 pleasing to God then to believe in his Son the Work was easie to 〈◊〉 Ah Soul thou dost not think how pleasing it is Thou can'st 〈◊〉 please God better then by believing in Jesus 5. You grieve Christ and his Spirit Psal 95. 10 11. 〈◊〉 years was I grieved with this generation and sware they should not 〈◊〉 into my rest Who were they that he was so grieved with 〈◊〉 may see if you compare it with Hebr. 3. 17 18 19. They 〈◊〉 those that believed not 6. You provoke God A Man is provoked when we will 〈◊〉 believe him Psal 95. 8. Harden not your hearts as in the 〈◊〉 What was the Provocation Psal 78. 22. Because they 〈◊〉 in God and trusted not in his salvation Therefore the Lord was 〈◊〉 a fire was kindlâ—d against Jacob and anger came up against Israel 〈◊〉 sweet Soul dread this unbelief 7. You lose all the sweet Sights and Tasts of Christ and Grace I shall say to thee as Christ to Martha John 11. 40. If thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God O the glorious Grace and Love you should see You should see Christ glorious in pardoning Love comforting Love saving Love Doubting Soul here is an open Door And wilt thou not enter O venture venture upon Christ As Esther 4. 16. If I perish I perish As the Lepers at the Gate of Samaria 2 Kings 7. 3 4. If they went into the City they died if they stayed there they died The Syrians were their Enemies they might expect death from them but being in this dilemma they ventur'd and had good Success Soul this is just thy case If thou stay in thy Sins thou dyest thou may'st look upon Christ as thine Enemy He may justly curse thee damn thee but thou must be damned if thou goest not to him Thou canst but perish therefore venture on him Go and believe and thou shalt certainly have good Success Never any perished in this way Believe and you exalt the Grace of Christ Christ is exalted Acts 5. 31. Grace is exalted Isa 30. 18. Are your Sins as great as the Mountains Are there Mountains of vileness and unworthiness in the way Grace is exalted above them all What is the great Mountain before Zerubbabel It shall be made a Plain and thou shall at last cry Grace Grace Zech. 4. 7. Use 5. 1. Consolat To all Believers both weak and strong O blessed are ye of the Lord ye are partakers of this matchless unparallel Love Christ loves you with a surpassing Love A Love that cannot be express'd a Love that cannot be comprehended We cannot express the Love that ye are loved with neither can ye conceive it Ye are loved even as Christ is John 17. 23. with a great with an infinite with an everlasting Love Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor heart conceived the things which God hath prepared for you 1 Cor. 2. 9. For Direction hearken to these Counsels 1. Admire this Love as Paul here doth Indeed you cannot sufficiently admire but be admiring Cry out as the Apostle Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and goodness of God! How unsearchable are his ways and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. O the height and depth and length and breadth of this Love of Christ Ephes 3. 18. Call in the Help of all the Beloved of Christ Help me all my Fellow-Disciples help me all ye Friends of the Bridegroom Join in this Choir all ye Angels and Archangels O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Nametogether 2. Labour to return Love for Love Doth Christ love you O dâ— you love him Are you dear to Christ O let Christ be dear to youâ— Say as the Spouse Cant. 5. 16. This is my beloved this is my friend Love him with a Love of desire Love him with a Love of 〈◊〉 light Love him with a Love of admiration Love him with 〈◊〉 Love of Satisfaction Love him with the Love of Adhaesion 〈◊〉 you cannot say you are sick of Love be sick that you can 〈◊〉 him no more 3. Take heed O take heed of abusing this Love What a 〈◊〉 thing will it be to abuse this Love Is this thy Kindness to 〈◊〉 Friend may Christ say Quest When do we abuse this Love Answ 1. When we indulge our selves in Sin Every Beloved 〈◊〉 Christ should say as Joseph Gen. 39. 9. How shall I do this great wiâ—â—edness and sin against Christ 2. When we grow remiss in Duty 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. O 〈◊〉 Love of Christ should constrain to be more humble holy activâ— diligent careful to please fearful to offend live at a higher 〈◊〉 for Heaven 3. When we doubt and question his Love Give way to 〈◊〉 giving Thoughts the Unbelievings of our own Hearts Christ 〈◊〉 needs take this very ill at our Hands when he hath given 〈◊〉 demonstrations of his Love that greater cannot be given John 〈◊〉 13. Rom. 5. 8. Herein God commended his Love as if a great 〈◊〉 Testimony could not be given Walk answerably to this Love Oh how should a People so 〈◊〉 loved walk How earnestly doth the Apostle press this Ephes 4. 〈◊〉 He beseeches them to walk worthy So Colos 1. 10. That ye may 〈◊〉 worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Believers Be ye Humble 〈◊〉 Heavenly Spiritual Zealous of Good Works Tit. 2. 14. Be Zeal 〈◊〉 for Christ's Honour Zealous for his Glory Lovers can never 〈◊〉 they do enough for one another are tender of one another 〈◊〉 tender of Christ's Name and Interest study his Love endeavâ—â—â— to exalt his Name his Love his Honour and Glory Oh 〈◊〉 manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and â—â—â—liness 2 Pet. 3. 11. Make this the Care and Business of your 〈◊〉 love Christ live Christ glorifie Christ And when Christ who 〈◊〉 your Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Gloâ—â— FINIS
try their Love Whether they can love God when he strips them Oh this is a sweet frame for a Soul to experience Well let God deal with me as he please I will love him still To try their Submission to the Divine Will and Pleasure I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinn'd against him Mich. 7. 9. Yea and I will bear it willingly patiently thankfully It is a Sick-Bed it might have been a Bed of Flames It is a sharp Providence but it might have been Fire and Brimstone And I will wait patiently too the Lord 's Wise and Gracious Disposal For he will bring me forth to the Light and I shall behold his Righteousness Here take this Note Note If thou Child of God art enabled to put forth but one Act of Grace in an Affliction and Trouble thou art partaker of an infinite Benefit and Advantage which thou hast cause to bless God for ever for For there is more good in one Act of Grace then there is evil in all the Afflictions and Troubles of the World And the Reason is evident for that Evil is but temporary but this Good is eternal Every Act of Grace shall have an eternal Reward an exceeding and eternal weight of Glory O what great Mistakes not only the World but the Children of God themselves lie under by reason of God's dealings with his here The Wicked are ready to bless themselves in their evil Ways harden themselves against God's holy and blessed Ways censure the People of God and the Children of God are ready to be discouraged and give up all their hopes But you see precious Souls that these things are not matter of desponding to you but rejoycing Here you may learn what that of the Apostle means Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoyce And that Rom. 5. 3. We glory in tribulation 3. It is to better them To better their Hearts their Duties their Graces their Comforts their Experiences their Evidences they are to humble them to wean them to win them Psal 37. 37. Let the way be never so uncomfortable the End shall be blessed There are Four Times precious Believers have cause infinitely to admire and adore their God and Father for 1. A time of more than ordinary Enjoyment of Christ's special Presence God often makes Times of Trouble Times of special Enjoyments that some of his People have been sometimes ready to wish for such a Trouble again Indeed we need not matter where we are so we have God with us nor what Condition we are in if we have Christ's Presence Which made Luther say He had rather be in Hell with Christ than in Heaven without him Christ's Presence makes every Place and every Condition an Heaven Sickness an Heaven Poverty an Heaven a Prison an Heaven And this is that Christ vouchsafes to his in all Conditions ordinarily the greater their Trouble the more of his presence Isa 43. 2. By Fire and Flouds of Water we are to understand great Troubles And in these they have God's presence Isa 63. 9. In all their afflictions he is afflicted and the angel of his presence saves them in his love and pity he redeems and bears and carries them Have not Saints cause to admire God in all this Is not this Love 2. A Time of greater Conveyance of Divine Grace God makes Times of Trouble Times of encreasing the Saint's Graces strengthning their Faith inflaming their love raising their Joys 1 Pet. 1. 8. He spake before ver 6. of a Time of Heaviness I have known Souls experience this They have been at such Times so filled with Joy that they have rejoyced with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 11. We are deliver'd unto Death we are in deep Troubles that we may have more of Jesus And how then are we beholding to Jesus 3. A Time of clearer Revelation of Divine Love This is a Time Believers are to bless God for and this God often makes Times of Trouble to be 2 Hos 14. Therefore behold I will bring her into the wilderness and there will I allure her I will speak comfortably to her As if God had said I will bring such a Child of mine into a Wilderness-Condition a Wilderness of Trouble he shall not know which way to go what to do c. And what then Then I will speak comfortably to him Loquar ad cor as the Word signifies I will speak a Word to him that shall do him good at Heart revive him chear him rejoyce his Heart And observe how this is usher'd in Behold as if it were said Behold ye Children of God how ye are beholding to your God and Father for your Troubles Behold what cause ye have to bless him for them Behold what cause you have to admire him for them God often makes them as the King's Chamber to his People wherein he makes them glad and rejoyce in him to remember his Love more than Wine Cant. 1. 4 He makes them a Banquetting-house to his Children and his Banner over them is Love He stays them with Flagons He gives them not only sips tasts cups but Flagons of Love of the Wines of his Consolations Now are not Believers infinitely beholding to their God and Father for such a time as this Cant. 2. 4 5. 4. A Time of fuller manifestation of his Glory Acts 7. 54 55 56. when Stephen had the Storm of Stones coming about his Ears then he had the Vision of the Glory of God and Jesus at the Right-hand of God I knew a gracious Woman upon a sick Bed in violent Bodily Pains and also great Distress of Soul after a little time the Lord was pleased to break in upon her with such glorious Light as she express'd it as filled her with such Joy and Consolation that all her Bodily Pains were immediately gone and she felt not the least Bodily Grievance Another by reason of Bodily and Soul Distress together was become Bed-rid seemingly at the Gates of Death and upon a Minister's Praying with her she cried out He is come He is come He is come and she was filled with Joy unspeakable and Glorious Lay all these together and it will fully appear notwithstanding all Objections to the contrary that this Doctrine stands firm and invincible that the Love of Christ to Believers is a Surpassing Love Use 1. Then Oh! the Misery of those that have no part in this Love of Christ that are not taken with Christ notwithstanding this Love that preferr or seek after any thing more than this Love of Christ Oh ye vile Drunkards that preferr a Lust a Pot-Companion before this Christ Oh ye covetous Worldlings that preferr a good Bargain Corn and Wine and Oil before this Christ Oh ye voluptuous Ones that preferr vain empty Pleasures before this Christ so full of Love and Grace and Glory how will ye answer it at the Great Day how will ye look this Christ in the Face
at the Last Day Oh ye vain Temporizers that are for the Love and Favour of Men more then the Love of Christ Oh ye besotted blind secure Ones that are setled on your Lees see not your need of this Christ What will become of you Are there not many that see no Need of him no Beauty in him that they should desire him that say of him as the Daughters of Jerusalem to the Spouse What is thy beloved more than another beloved They see no such Excellency and Glory in him as hath been shewn We may say of them as is said of the Children of Israel Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt c. Psal 106. 7. Great and Wonderful Things the Lord did for them but they saw no Glory therein Wonderful Things have been spoken of the Love of Christs but they see no Glory in it Their Hearts are not taken with it Oh how shall we be able to lament their Misery that are not taken with this Love of Christ It was a Saying of one of the Fathers If all the World were turn'd into Tears they were not sufficient to lament the Misery of that Soul that sees not Excellency in Jesus Christ I may say here If all the World from the Earth to the Empyrean Heaven were full of Tears yea Tears of Blood they were not sufficient to lament the Misery of your Souls that have not an Interest in this lovely Jesus We are not able to express your Misery Words will not bear it the Tongue of Men and Angels cannot declare it If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha 1 Cor. 16. 22. Let him be accursed with the greatest Curses The dreadfullest Curses that Law or Gospel can denounce are the Portion of Unbelievers therefore when our Saviour would denounce the greatest Torments he saith Let them have their portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light c. Joh. 3. 19. Christ hath brought Light into the World the Light of Grace and Glory but the generality of Men love Darkness dark Company dark Practices Ways live in Darkness and this is the Condemnation The Condemnation What is that Oh! we are not able to express that how great Condemnation it is how dreadful Condemnation it is Oh that Sinners might dread it before they feel it 1. It is Dreadful because Wilful Sinners Wilfulness will add to the Dreadfulness of it Ye will not come to me that ye might have life Joh. 5. 40. Oh how will this torment I might have had Christ but would not Grace and Glory but would not I would not Pray I would not Mourn for my Sins I would not be Godly I would have my Lusts I would be Damn'd Oh! my Wilfulness hath brought me to this Place of Torment 2. Your Condemnation will be inexcusable and therefore dreadful Friend how camest thou hither without the wedding-garment And he was speechless Mat. 22. 12. Sinners Tremble to think of this You will be speechless you will have no Excuse You cannot say Christ was not offer'd you Now we Ministers come to deal with you we offer you Christ we beseech you to come to him but you have many Excuses as Luk 14. 16 17 18. they were called to the Supper viz. Christ and his Benefits but they made their Excuses to the Servant But when the Lord himself comes to deal with you as Mat. 22. 11. Friend how camest thou hither without the wedding-garment How comest thou to be without a Christ Was he not offer'd thee Then he will call his Servants his Ministers and ask the Question Did not you offer Christ to this Man Then they will answer Yes Lord I was earnest with him I did beg of him as on my Knees and labour with all my might to bring him in but could not persuade him Oh then you will be speechless you will not have one word to say How will this torment 3. Your condemnation will be intolerable and therefore dreadful Luk. 13. 28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven and your selves thrust out There shall be gnashing of teeth it speaks their intolerable Torment Oh how will this torment to see the Husband taken into Heaven and the Wife shut out the Wife taken into Heaven and the Husband shut out the Child taken into Heaven and the Parent shut out the Servant taken into Heaven and the Master shut out your Neighbour taken into Heaven and your selves shut out This will cause gnashing of Teeth I had the same Means and Opportunities as they I had Christ offer'd me as well as they I sate under the same Sermons I had the same Calls but I would not come in The Refusals of Christ will make Damnation intolerable 4. Your Damnation will be Eternal therefore Dreadful Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire Oh Dreadful Fire the Lake of Fire Rev. 20. 15. and that for ever to be burning and ever burning where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched Mark 9. 44. The Christless Sinner shall burn and roar and roar and burn and that for ever after you have been as many thousands of millions and millions of thousands of Years Ages as as there are Hairs on your Head Piles of Grass on the Earth Stars in the Sky Sands in the Sea Drops in the Ocean you will be no nearer coming out than at the beginning O Eternity Eternity Eternity This will cut to the Heart Then you shall seek Death and shall not find it O Death whither art thou gone Oh come and end this doleful Life Oh that these Pains would break my Heart and end my Being Oh that I might once die Oh that I had been a Dog or Toad Oh that I had never had a Being Oh Sinner lay 〈◊〉 to heart Remember Everlasting Torment is dreadful Torment 〈◊〉 Time is almost gone Eternity is ready â—o swallow you up 〈◊〉 haste Make haste to the City of Refuge before the Avenger 〈◊〉 Blood overtake you Use 2. For Exhortation to come in to Christ Sinners Come lay in for a share in this Love Oh what infinite Pity it is that any poor Soul should miss of this Love 1. God is earnest for your Coming He would never have sent his Son else Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life God so loved it was so great a Love that we cannot express Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I take no pleasure in the death of sinners but that they turn and live Turn ye turn ye why will ye die The God of Truth swears it doubles the Call Turn ye turn ye expostulates the Case with you Why will ye die If you come not you
die I would not have you that if you die it is because you will die God is so earnest that he entreats you to come and live God offers Reconciliation in his Son and sends his Embassadors to beseech you to come and accept 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Oh how earnest is he You are Guilty Condemned Malefactors and will ye not accept of a Pardon You are under Wrath and will ye not accept of Free Love How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation 2. Christ is willing so willing that he took our Nature and died Heb. 10. 5 6 7. compared with Psal 40. 6 7 8. It is spoken of Christ Christ delighted in Dying and bearing the Wrath of God for poor Sinners lo I come and I delight in it lo I must take your Nature and I delight in it and if I take your Nature I must take your Sins too and I delight in it lo I must take your Curse and Wrath and I delight in it lo I must endure your Death and Hell and I delight in it I must have the Curse that you may have the Blessing I must have the Wrath that you may have the Love I must die that you may live I must have the Hell that you may have Heaven and I delight in it Oh how willing is Christ to save poor Sinners Ah Sinners do you not find your Hearts taken with this Love When Christ was in the World did he cast away any one that came to him for Bodily Healing He came to save Souls will he then refuse Souls that come to him He sate among Sinners he wept over Sinners When he was near the Cross he saith I have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Luk. 12. 50. He means his Passion as if Christ had said I must endure a bitter Agony in the Garden sweat Drops of Blood and how do I long I am to die a shameful painful cursed Death upon the Cross at Jerusalem and how do I long till it be accomplished When he was upon the Cross he pray'd for his Murdereâ—s when he was risen he sends his Apostles to preach the Gospel and offer the Benefits of his Death first at Jerusalem Act. 3. 14 15 16. O Love indeed They who shed his Blood must have the first Offer of his Blood And when he was ascended he appears to John at Patmos and gave him Commission to write to the Churches Rev. 1. 11. And what does he write Even a Call to Sinners to come and partake of the Salvation he hath wrought out Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit and the Bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come And let him that is a-thirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely How earnest Christ is Come Sinners Come Come Come take me and my Benefits freely Christ is willing and art not thou willing Sinner consider how this will aggravate thy Damnation Oh that every Soul that hears or reads these lines may come 1. Labour tosee your Need of Him You have infinite Need of him whether you see it or no and your Misery is the greater that do not see it Christ is offer'd to you and to the greatest of Sinners but you must see your Need before you will come Let a Physician come to two Men the one well and the other sick the Well-Man doth not regard him the Whole need not a Physician but the Sick-Man is glad of him to have his Directions and follow his Prescriptions 2. Take heed of putting off this work of Believing any longer Delays are dangerous Come in to Christ speedily Make haste the Judge standeth behind the Door the Avenger of Blood is at your Heels If you will have a Christ take him now to Morrow may be too late This Night thy Soul may be required of thee Art thou Young Consider that Text Prov. 27. 1. that is the Young Man's Text Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Heb. 3. 7 8. To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts If you do not take him and take him to day it is the Hardness of your Heart Art thou an Old Man Consider that Text Hos 7. 9. 10. that is the Old Man's Text it is said of Ephraim Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there upon him and he knoweth not Yet they do not return to the Lord nor seek him for all this Oh this is a sad case What an Old Man and a Christless Man an Old Man and a Prayerless Man an Old Man and not turn to the Lord nor seek him for all this Many will be for putting off the Work till Sickness or Death Take heed of it then God may justly seal you up to Destruction Now Satan will say Repent at Death but then he will say It is too late There was a Man that in Sickness cried out When I was well I would not go to God but now I have no God to go to then the Devil bid me repent at death but now he tells me It is too late Take heed that this be not your Case 3. Consider the danger of neglecting this gracious Offer of a Christ If you go away and wallow in your Sins then Condemnation will come upon you to the uttermost Mat. 11. 22 to 24. Christ is there upbraiding the Cities where he had made the Offers of his Grace and they refused And see how dreadful he declares their Case to be how many Woes he pronounces against them he tells them It shall be worse with them then with Sodom at the Day of Judgment Worse than with Sodom certainly this must needs be a dreadful Condition indeed for Sodom must needs be a very wicked People We read Genesis 19. 24. That the Lord rained Brimstone and Fire from Heaven upon them Yet you that refuse Christ shall have a hotter Hell than they more dreadful Torments then Sodom and Gomorrah O tremble Sinners to think of missing of Christ Souls why should you be worse for Christ Christ that is the greatest Mercy that ever came into the World It will be the greatest Mercy that ever was to you if you get into him but if you miss of him you will be infinitely and eternally the worse for him In some Countries where they burn their Malefactors they pour Oil into the Flames to make them more grievous O fear and tremble to miss of Christ for this will be as Oil to the Flames Every Offer of Christ will be Oil to the Flames in Hell every Sermon will be as Oil to the Flames every Sabbath and Soul-opportunity will be as Oil to the Flames in Hell What say'st thou Sinner Dost thou find these things affect thee Dost thou find thy Heart coming O away to Christ go and cry for a Christ and wrestle for a Christ and be restless for
that art deluded about thy Love to Christ lay these things together and apply them faithfully and thou may'st find it Thou say'st thou lovest Christ that is his Benefits but as to his Person thou say'st as Isa 53. 2. There is no form nor comeliness no beauty that we should desire him You say you love Christ but his Ordinances are of no value to you You love Christ but you hate his People scoff at revile them 1 John 5. 1. That Text tells you That he that loves God loves him also that is begotten of him You say you love Christ but hate Holiness you cannot endure the power of Godliness Holy Duties Religious Exercises are not your heritage but your bondage not your liberty but your slavery Soul do not let Satan gull thee that love of thine is but a counterfeit Love which thou may'st go to Hell with 2. He loves all Christ above all things 1. Above all things on Earth 2. Above all things in Heaven Cant. 5. 10. Christ is the chief among ten thousand to him yea as verse last altogether lovely All desires 1. Above all things on Earth Mat. 10. 37. If any man love father or mother more then me he is not worthy of me Father and Mother are instanced as the chief of all worldly Objects Son and Daughter and Life Yet if Christ be not preferred above all these our Love is such as Christ will not own 2. Above all things in Heaven Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none in earth I desire in comparison of thee Soul apply this to your self Do you love Christ above all things Then it is a Love which Christ will own 3. A True Lover of Christ his Heart is taken up with Christ his Life is taken up with Christ 1. His Heart is taken up with Christ Christ is much in his Thoughts Desires Meditations Cant. 1. 13. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts Can you say you love Christ and he is little in your thoughts Lovers cannot but have their thoughts run upon one another The World is much in your thoughts vain Company Pleasures the Profits of the World much in your thoughts and Christ but little in your thoughts These things shew you have but little Love to Christ It is the Character of a Beloved of Christ Christ shall be as a bundle of myrrh to me Myrrh was of fragrant smell and delightful Christ shall be sweet unto my Thoughts Christ shall delight my Heart saith a gracious Soul 2. His Life is taken up with Christ 1. He speaks Christ much Psal 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous is as choice silver and his tongue talketh of judgment Lovers are much talking of one another Is Christ little in your Mouth It is a sign he is little and low in your Heart 2. He lives Christ Gal. 2. 20. The life that I live I live by the faith of the son of God His Care and Endeavour is to live a Christ-like Life a Gospel-life Do you love Christ and live in sin and wickedness in open rebellion against Christ You have not so learned Christ Ephes 4. 20. to 24. If you love Christ and have learned Christ you will put off the old Man with his corrupt Deeds and put on the new Man of Righteousness and True Holiness or else your Love to Christ is but a Fancy Object If this be a Character of a Beloved of Christ I am afraid I have not a dram of True Love to Christ O how little do I live Christ How contrary do I live to Christ This may be the Objection of a weak Believer Answ You must not judge of your self by the measure of Grace but by the truth of Grace Christ will not bring a pair of Balances to weigh your Graces but a Touchstone to try the Truth of them The best of Saints are far short of the Life they ought to iâ—e far short of the Pattern Christ hath set them You must not expect to attain it legally but evangelically not perfectly but sinâ—erely But is it your chief Care and Business Thus it is with every Beloved of Christ Can you in truth and sincerity say with David Psal 119. 5 6 7 112. The best of Saints are more in desires and endeavours then attainments Here is the Mercy we have to deal with God in a Covenant of Grace And this is the Glory of it That it accepts of sincerity for perfection According to the tenour of it a Christian is what he sincerely desires and endeavours to be 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Doubting Soul Are these the real Workings of thy Heart â— that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes O that there were such an Heart in me O that I could wholly live to God! O that I might never sin more O that I could come up to the whole Will of God that I could attain to the top of Holiness This according to the Covenant of Grace is living Christ And here thou hast an Evidence of true Love to Christ 4. A true Lover of Christ earnestly longs for a nearer conjunction to Christ fuller communion with Christ in Grace in Glory 1. In Grace Isa 26. 8 9. The desire of the Soul is to his Presence it cannot live without the Presence of Christ When it goes to a Duty it is the Presence of Christ it breaths after O 〈◊〉 wilt thou come unto me Psal 101. 2. O that I may have communion with thee Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth where thâ—â— feedest where thou meetest with thy flocks O let me not be of thâ—â— that turn aside Cant. 1. 7. My soul breaketh with longing c. Psal 119. 20. Doubting Soul Canst thou read these in thy Heart thou 〈◊〉 an Evidence of true Love to Christ But thou Soul that 〈◊〉 live without the Presence of Christ canst go all the Day all 〈◊〉 Week without his presence and be quiet company of 〈◊〉 worldly Enjoyments can content thee Thou hast cause to 〈◊〉 nay thou mayest conclude thou hast not a dram of Saving-love 〈◊〉 Christ in thy Soul 2. In Glory Psal 42. 1 2. O when shall I come and appear 〈◊〉 thee When shall I have the full Enjoyment of Thee These 〈◊〉 the workings of a gracious Soul I have had some glympses 〈◊〉 times Oh how glorious are they Oh when shall I see his 〈◊〉 Rev. 22. 4. We have some little Enjoyment of his Presence 〈◊〉 times some times solace our selves with Love and blessed be the Lord for them But how soon are they lost again Oh when will the time come when we shall enjoy him fully without cessation without intermission for ever and ever and ever when we shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. I desire to be dissolved
and to be with Christ Moriar Domine ut te videam nolo vivere volo mori August Let me die Lord that I may see thee I will not live I will die Make haste my Beloved and be like to a roe or hart on the mountains of spices Cant. 8. ult Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Note Because I would not discourage the weakest Believer You may take notice That Love may be consider'd in the spark or in the flame and that this last Particular speaks Love rather in the flame 5. A true Lover of Christ thinks nothing too much to doe nothing too much to suffer for Christ 1. Nothing too much to doe for Christ Lovers think they can never doe too much for one another Gen. 29. 20. Jacob served seven Years for Rachel and they seemed but as a few Days for the Love he had to her A Beloved of Christ thinks he can never Pray too much Hear too much Doe too much in the Work of Christ Is it not otherwise with thee Thou think'st thou can'st never doe too much for the World Is not this thy Character we read of Eccles 4. 8 There is no end of all his labours for the World Plowing Sowing Riding Running Carking Caring for the World early and late thou never thinkest this too much but thou takest little Pains for Christ If one hour will not serve for the World thou wilt rise sooner But I appeal to thy own Heart when did'st thou an hour the earlier for Prayer to cry to God for a Christ Thou art soon weary of these and thinkest it more adoe than needs This speaks little Love to Christ 2. Nothing too much to suffer for Christ 1. He thinks not too much to suffer Reproaches for Christ Heb. 11. 26. He accounts them his Riches Glory 1 Pet. 4. 14. He thinks not too much to suffer Losses for Christ loss of Goods of Good Name Heb. 10. â—4 He believes he shall be no Loser by it Mat. 19. 29. He hath this Principle rooted in his Heart That he may lose much for Christ but shall never lose by Christ 3. He thinks it not too much to suffer Death for Christ Rev. 12. 11. They loved not their Lives unto the death Act. 21. 13. 6. A true Lover of Christ is exceedingly cast-down at the withdrawings of Christ and solaced with the returns of Christ 1. He is exceedingly cast-down at the withdrawings of Christ All his Peace and Comfort is gone when Christ is gone The Spouse lost Christ He withdrew himself And how was it with her Her Soul failed she was as swooning dying As Jacob's life was bound up in the Lad's life so is a Believer's life and all the comforts of it in Christ He saith as Absolon when shut out from his Father's Presence Let me die if I may not see his face so saith the Beloved of Christ And I have heard some Souls crying out most hideously under Divine Withdrawings Oh I cannot bear these Withdrawings I cannot live without God's Presence I had rather die a thousand Deaths than be in this Condition Woe Woe Woe is me I sojourn in Mesech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar Thou Soul that knowest not what these things mean can'st read these in thine Heart whatever thy Doubtings and Mis-givings of Heart may be about thy love to Christ thou may'st look upon them as Evidences of it let not Satan rob thee of thy peace and comfort be not faithless but believing and believing rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory But if thou that readest these lines art one that can endure distance from God you cannot bear distance from Friends and those you love but it is a great disquiet to you but you can be without God and it never troubles you let not Satan gull thee nor thy Heart deceive thee for I tell thee from the Lord That thou hast not the least spark of Saving Love to Christ 2. He is exceedingly revived rejoyced at the returns of Christ He saith as Mephibosheth Let him take all since my Lord is come back Let Worldlings take the World so I may have Christ Let Profane Ones take their Lusts so I may love Christ let Voluptuous Ones take their Pleasures so I may have Christ let Ambitious Ones take their Honours so I may have Christ I have enough The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Psal 16. 5 6. Return to thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116. 6 7. Use 4. What Encouragement is here for poor awakened Soulâ—â— that are distressed for a Christ Oh here is a Jesus full of love matchless love away to him He is all love to coming Souls he is all wrath to Unbelievers to Sinners that stand it out against him he saith Those mine Enemies that will not come bring hither and 〈◊〉 before me But he is all love to coming souls he stands with open Arms ready to receive them his Heart is full of love Hands full of love Come poor Sinners here is my Blood my Love my Purchases my Benefits all for thee away with all your doubts and fears do not dispute your selves out of Christ Obj. Oh but I am vile so vile I dare not come Ans What if thou art never so vile if Christ hath love enough to swallow up all thy vileness then this need not hinder thy coming to Christ his love is infinite boundless bottomless thy sin is but the sin of a finite Creature his love is the love of an Infinite God Jer. 3. 12 13 14. Go and proclaim these words and say Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee for I am merciful saith the Lord. God gives Commission to his Ministers to go and proclaim That if Sinners will come to him they shall have Mercy Soul this I have commission from the Lord to tell thee That if thou wilt come in to the Lord thou shalt have Mercy the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Obj. Oh but I am a great Sinner If I were not so great a Sinner I could hope Ans What if thy sins are never so great if the love of Christ be greater Isa 1. 18. Come saith the Lord and though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool As if he had said Let your Sins be never so great of never such a Crimson dye yet if you will but come you shall have Mercy Though thy sins have weaken'd the Law and made that unable to save thee yet it hath not weaken'd Christ Rom. 8. 3. Christ came to doe that which the Law could not doe Heb. â— 25. 26 That Text tells you That he is able to the uttermost to save those that come Christ is able to the uttermost of your sins to the uttermost of your doubts and fears neither quantity nor