escape them and in conclusion come to him There are a company of shall-comes in the Bible that doth secure them Not but that they may be assaulted by them yea and also for the time intangled and detained by them from the Bishop of their Souls but these Shall-comes will break those Chains and Fetters that those given to Christ are intangled in and they shall-come because he hath said they shall-come to him Indeed errors are like that whore of whom you read in the Proverbs that sitteth in her seat on the High-places of the City To call Passingers who go right on their way Pro. 9. 13 14 15 16. But the persons as I said that by the Father are given to the Son to save them are at one time or other secured by Shall-come to me And therefore of such it is said God will guide them with his eye with his counsels by his spirit and that in the way of peace by the springs of water and into all truth Psal. 32. 8. Psal. 73. 24. Joh. 16. 13. Luk. 1. 79. Isa. 47. 10. So then he that hath such a guide and all that the Father giveth to Christ shall have it he shall escape those dangers he shall not Err in the way yea though he be a fool he shall not Err therein Isa 35. for of every such an one it is said Thine cars shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left Isa 30. 21. There were Thieves and Robbers before Christs coming as there are also now But saith he The sheep did not hear them And why did they not hear them but because they were under the power of shall come that absolute promise that had that grace in it self to bestow upon them as could make them able rightly to distinguish of voices My sheep hear my voice But how came they to hear it why to them it is given to know and to hear and that distinguishingly Joh. 10. 8 16. Chap. 5. 25. Eph. 5. 14. Further the very plain Sentence of the Text makes provision against all these things for saith it All that the Father giveth me shall come to me that is shall not be stopped or be allured to take up any where short of Me nor shall they turn aside to abide with any besides Me. Shall Come to me To me By these words there is further insinuated though not expressed a double cause of their coming to him First There is in Christ a fulness of Al-sufficiency of that even of all that which is needfull to make us happy Secondly Those that indeed come to him do therefore come to him that they may receive it at his hand For the first of these There is in Christ a fulness of all Sufficiency of all that even of all that which is needfull to make us happy Hence it is said For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell And again Of his fullness all we have received and grace for grace Colos. 1. 19. Joh. 1. 16. It is also said of him that his riches is unsearchable The unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes. 3. 8. Hear what he saith of himself Riches and honour are with Me even durable riches and righteousness my fruit is better than Gold yea than sine Gold and My revenue than Choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgement that I may cause them that love Me to inherit Substance And I will fill their treasures Prov. 8. 18. 19 20. 21. This in general but more particularly First There is that Light in Christ that is Sufficient to lead them out of and from all that darkness in the midst of which all others but them that come to him stumble and fall and perish I am the light of the world saith he he that followeth me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the Light of Life Joh. 8. 12. Man by nature is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knows not whither he goes for darkness hath blinded his eyes neither can any thing but Jesus Christ lead men out of this darkness Natural Conscience cannot do it the Ten Commandments though in the heart of man cannot do it this prerogative belongs only to Jesus Christ. Secondly There is that life in Christ that is to be found no where else Joh. 5. 40. Life as a principle in the Soul by which it shall be acted and enabled to do that which through him is pleasing to God He that believeth in or cometh to me saith he as the Scriptures have said out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water Joh. 7. 38. Without this life a man is dead whether he be bad or whether he be good that is good in his own and other mens esteem There is no true and Eternal life but what is in the Me that speaketh in the Text. There is also life for those that come to him to be had by faith in his flesh and blood He that eateth Me even he shall live by Me Joh. 6. 57. And this is a life against that Death that comes by the guilt of sin and the curse of the Law under which all men are and forever must be unlesse they eat the Me that speaks in the Text. Whoso findeth Me saith he findeth life deliverance from that everlasting death and destruction that without Me he shall be devoured by Prov. 8. Nothing is more desirable than life to him that hath in himself the Sentence of Condemnation and here only is life to be found This life to wit Eternal life this life is in his Son That is in him that saith in the Text All that the Father hath given Me shall come to Me 1 Joh. 5. 10. Thirdly The person speaking in the Text is he alone by whom poor sinners have Admittance with and Acceptance to the Father because of the Glory of his righteousness by and in which he presenteth them amiable and spotless in his sight neither is there any way besides him so to come to the Father I am the way sayes he the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by Me Joh. 14. 6. All other ways to God are dead and damnable the destroying Cherubins stand with flaming swords turning every way to keep all others from his presence Gen. 3. 24. I say all others but them that come by him I am the door by Me saith he if any man enter in he shall be saued Joh. 10. 1 2. The person speaking in the Text is He and only He that can give stable and everlasting peace therefore saith he My peace I give unto you My peace which is a peace with God peace of Conscience and that of an everlasting duration My peace peace that cannot be Matched net as the world gived give I unto you for the worlds peace is but Carnal and Transitory but mine is Divine and
were not coming to him Once to think him such an one Do not think said he that I will accuse you to the Father Joh. 5. 45. These as I said were such that as yet were not coming to him For he saith of them a little before And ye will not come to me For the Respect they had to the Honour of Men kept them back Yet I say Jesus Christ gives them to understand that though he might Justly reject them yet he would not but bids them not Once to think that he would accuse them to the Father Now not to Accuse with Christ is to Plead for For Christ in these things stands not Neuter between the Father and Sinners So then If Jesus Christ would not have them think that Yet will not come to him that he will Accuse them then he would not that they should think so that in truth are coming to him And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Secondly When the Woman taken in Adultery even in the very Act was brought before Jesus Christ So he carryed it both by Words and Actions that he evidently enough made it manifest that Condemning and Casting-out were such Things for the Doing of which he came not into the World Wherefore when they had set her before him and had laid to her charge her Heinous Fact he stooped down and with his Finger wrote upon the Ground as though he heard them not Now What did he do by this his Cariage but testify plainly That he was not for Receiving Accusations against poor Sinners who-ever accused by And observe Though they continued asking thinking at last to force him to Condemn her yet then he so answered as that he drove all Condemning Persons from her And then he adds for her Encouragement to come to him Neither do I Condemn thee go and Sin no more Joh. 8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Not but that he indeed abhorred the Fact but he would not Condemn the Woman for the Sin because that was not his Office He was not sent into the World to condemn the World but that the World through Him might be saved Joh. 3. 17. Now if Christ though urged to it would not Condemn the Guilty Woman though she was far at present from coming to him he would not that they should Once think that he will cast them out that in truth are coming to him And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Thirdly Christ plainly bids the Turning Sinner Come and forbids him to Entertain any such Thought as that He will cast him out Let the Wicked forsake his Ways and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him Turn unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon Isa. 55. 7. The Lord by bidding the Unrighteous forsake his Thoughts doth in special forbid as I have said to wit those Thoughts that hinder the Coming-Man in his Progress to Jesus Christ His Unbelieving Thoughts Therefore he bids him not only forsake his Ways but his Thoughts Let the Wicked forsake his Ways and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts 'T is not enough to forsake one if thou wilt come to Jesus Christ because the other will keep thee from him Suppose a Man forsakes his wicked Wayes his debauched and filthy Life yet if these Thoughts That Jesus Christ will not Receive him be entertained and nourished in his heart them Thoughts will keep him from coming to Jesus Christ. Sinner Coming-Sinner Art thou for coming to Jesus Christ Yes sayes the Sinner Forsake thy wicked Wayes then So I do sayes the Sinner Why comest thou then so slowly Because I am hindred What hinders Has God forbidden thee No. Art thou not willing to come faster Yes Yet I cannot Well prethee be plain with me and tell me the Reason and Ground of thy Discouragement Why saith the Sinner though God forbids me not and though I am willing to come faster yet there naturally ariseth this and that and the other Thought in my Heart that hinders my Speed to Jesus Christ. Sometimes I think I am not Chosen sometimes I think I am not Called sometimes I think I come too late and sometimes I think I know not what it is to Come Also One while I think I have no Grace and then again that I cannot Pray and then again I think that I am a very Hypocrite And these Things keep me from coming to Jesus Christ. Look ye now Did not I tell you so There are Thoughts yet remaining in the Heart even of those that have forsaken their wicked Wayes and with those Thoughts they are more plagued than with any thing else because they hinder their Coming to Jesus Christ For the Sin of Unbelief which is the Original of all these Thoughts is that which besets a Coming-Sinner more easily than doth his Wayes Heb. 12. 1 2 3 4. But now since Jesus Christ commands thee to forsake these Thoughts forsake them Coming-sinner And if thou forsake them not thou Trangressest the Commands of Christ and abidest thine own Tormentor and keepest thy self from Establishment in Grace If ye will not Believe ye shall not be Established Isa. 7. 9. Thus you see how Jesus Christ setteth himself against such Thoughts that any way discourage the Coming-Sinner and thereby truly vindicates the Doctrine we have in hand To wit That Jesus Christ would not have them that in truth are coming to him Once think that he will cast them out And him that cometh to me I will in No wise cast out I come now to the Reasons of the Observation 1. IF Jesus Christ should allow thee Once to think that he will Cast thee out he must allow thee to think that he will falsify his Word For he hath said I will in no wise cast out But Christ would not that thou shouldst count him as One that will falsify his Word For he saith of himself I am the Truth Therefore he would not that any that in Truth are coming to him should Once think that he will cast them out Secondly If Jesus Christ should allow the Sinner that in Truth is coming to him Once to think that he will cast him out Then he must allow and so countenance the first Appearance of Unbelief the which he counteth his greatest Enemy and against which he has bent even his Holy Gospel Therefore Jesus Christ would not that they that in Truth are coming to him should Once think that he will cast them out See Mat. 14. 31. chap 21. 21. Mark 11. 23. Luk. 24. 25. Thirdly If Jesus Christ should allow the Coming-Sinner Once to think that he will cast him out then he must allow him to make a Question Whether he is willing to Receive his Father's Gift For the Coming-Sinner is his Father's Gift as also sayes the Text But he testifeth All that the Father giveth him shall come to him and him that cometh
Come Welcome TO JESUS CHRIST OR A plain and profitable Discourse upon the Sixth of John 37 Vers. Shewing the Cause Truth and Manner of the Coming of a Sinner to Jesus Christ with his Happy Reception and Blessed Entertainment Written by J. Bunyan And they shall come which were ready to Perish Isa. 27. 13. LONDON Printed for B. Harris at the Stationers Arms in Swithings Rents in Cornhil by the Royal Exchange 1678. Come Welcome TO JESUS CHRIST John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out A Little before in this Chapter you may read That the Lord JESUS walked on the Sea to go to Capernaum having sent his Disciples before in a Ship But the Winds was contrary by which means the Ship was hindred in her Passage Now about the fourth watch of the night Jesus came Walking upon the Sea and overtook them at the sight of whom they were afraid Note When Providences are black and terrible to Gods People the Lord Jesus shews himself to them in wonderful manner the which somtimes they can as little bear as they can the things that before were terrible to them They were afraid of the Wind and the Water they were also afraid of their Lord and Saviour when He appeared to them in that State But He said be not afraid it is I. Note That the End of the appearing of the Lord Jesus unto his people though the manner of his appearing be never so terrible is to alay their fears and perplexities Then they received him into the Ship and immediately the Ship was at the Land whether it went Note When Christ is absent from his people they go on but slowly and with great difficulty but when he joyneth himself unto them Oh! how fast they stear their course how soon are they at their Journies end The people now among whom he last preached when they saw that both Jesus was gon and his Disciples they also took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus And when they had found him they wonderingly asked him Rabbi when camest thou hither But the Lord Jesus slighting their complement answered Verily Verily ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled Note A People may follow Christ far for base ends as these went after him beyond Sea for Loaves a mans belly will carry him a great way in Religion yea a mans belly will make him venture far for Christ. Note again They are not feigning complements but gracious intentions that crowns the work in the eye of Christ Or thus It is not the toyl and business of professors but their love to him that makes him approve of them Note again When men shall look for friendly entertainment at Christ's Hand if their hearts be rotten even then will they meet with a check and rebuke Ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were Filled Yet observe again He doth not refuse to give even to these good counsel he bids them Labor for the meat that endureth to eternal Life O how willingly would Jesus Christ have even those Professors that come to him with pretences only come to him sincerely that they may be saved The Text you will find is after much more discourse with and about this people and it is uttered by the Lord Jesus as the conclusion of the whole and intimateth that since they were Professors in pretence only and therefore such as his soul could not delight in as such that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him As who should say I am not like to be Honoured in your Salvation but the Father hath bestowed upon me a people and they shall come to me in Truth and in them will I be satisfied The Text therefore may be called Christ's repose in the fulfilling whereof he resteth himself content after much Labor and many Sermon spent as it were in vain As he saith by the Prophet I have Labored in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Isa. 49. 4. But as there he saith my Judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God So in the Text he saith All the Father giveth me shall come to me and them that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out By these words therefore the Lord Jesus comforteth himself under the consideration of the dissimulation of some of his followers He also thus betook himself to rest under the consideration of the little effect that his Ministry had even in Capernaum Corazin and Bethsaida I thank thee O Father said he Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Matt. 11. 25. Luke 10. 21. The Text in the general standeth of two parts and hath special respect to the Father and the Son As also to their joynt management of the Salvation of their People All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out The first part of the Text as is evident respecteth the Father and his gift the other part the Son and his reception of that gift First For the gift of the Father there is this to be considered about it to wit The gift it self and that is a gift of certain persons to the Son The Father giveth and that gift shall come And Him that cometh The gift then is of Persons the Father giveth Persons to Jesus Christ. Secondly Next you have the Sons reception of this gift and that sheweth it self in these particulars 1. In his hearty acknowledgment of it to be a gift The Father giveth me 2. In his taking notice after a solemn manner of All and every part of the gift All that the Father giveth me 3. In his resolution to bring them to himself All the Father giveth me shall come to me 4. And in his determining that not any thing shall make him dislike them in their coming And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out These things might be spoken to at large as they are in this method presented to view but I shall chuse to speak to the words 1. By way of Explication 2. By way of Observation First By way of Explication All that the Father giveth me This word All is often used in Scripture and is to be taken more largely or more strictly even as the Truth or argument for the sake of which it is made use of will bare wherefore that we may the better understand the mind of Christ in the use of it here we must consider that it is Limited and Restrained only to those that shall be Saved to wit to those that shall come to Christ even to
those that he will in no wise cast out Thus also the word All Israel is sometimes to be taken though sometimes it is taken for the whole Family of Jacob. And so All Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. By All Israel here he intendeth not All of Israel in the largest sence For they are not All Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the Seed of Abraham are they All Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they which are the Children of the flesh these are not the Children of God but the Children of the promise are counted for the seed Rom. 9. 6 7 8. This word All must therefore be limited and enlarged as the truth and argument for the sake of which it is used will bare else we shall abuse Scriptures and Readers our selves All. And I if I be lifted up from the earth said Christ will draw All men after me Joh. 12. 32. Can any man imagine that by All in this place he should mean All and every individual man in the World and not rather That All that is consonant to the scope of the place And if by being lift up from the earth he means as he should seem his being taken up into Heaven and if by drawing All men after him he meant a drawing of them into that place of Glory then must he mean by All Men Those and only Those that shall in truth be eternally Saved from the Wrath to Come For God hath concluded them All in unbelief that he might have mercy upon All Rom. 11. 32. Those intended in this Text are the Jews even All of them by the first All that you find in the words The second All doth also intend the same People but yet only so many of them as God will have Mercy upon He hath concluded them All in unbelief that he might have Mercy upon All. The All also in the Text is also to be limited and restrained to the Saved and to them only But again The word Giveth or hath given must be restrained after the same manner to the same limited number All that the Father giveth me Not all that are given if you take the gift of the Father to the Son in the largest sence For in that sence there are Many given to him that shall never come unto him Yea many are given to him that he will cast out I shall therefore first shew you the truth of this and then in what sence the gift in the Text must be taken First That All that are given to Christ if you take the Gift of the Father to him in the largest sence cannot be intended in the Text is evident 1. Because then all the men yea all the things in the World must be Saved All things saith he are delivered unto Me of my Father Mat. 11. V. 27. This I think no rational man in the world will conclude Therefore the Gift intended in the Text must be restrained to some to a Gift that is given by way of speciality by the Father to the Son 2. It must not be taken for All that in any sence are given by the Father to him because the Father hath given some yea many to him to be dashed in pieces by him Ask of me said the Father to him and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession But what must be done with them Must he Save them All No Thou shalt brake them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Psal. 2. This method he useth not with them that he saveth by his Grace but with those that Himself and Saints shall rule over in Justice and Severity Rev. 2 26 27. Yet as you see they are given to him Therefore the gift intended in the Text must be restrained to some to a gift that is given by way of speciality by the Father to the Son In Psalm 18. he saith plainly That some are given to him that he might destroy them Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies that I might destroy them that hate me ver 40. These therefore cannot be of the number of those that are said to be given in the Text for those even All of them shall come to him and he will in no wise cast them out 3ly Some are given to Christ that he by them might bring about some of his high and deep designes in the world Thus Judas was given to Christ to wit that by him even as was determined before he might bring about His death and so the Salvation of his Elect by his Blood Yea and Judas must so manage this business as that he must lose himself for ever in the bringing of it to pass Therefore the Lord Jesus even in his losing of Judas applies himself to the Judgment of his Father if he had not in that thing done the thing that was right even in suffering of Judas so to bring about his Masters death as he might bring about his own eternal Damnation Those saith he that thou gavest me have I kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled Joh. 17. 12. Let us then grant that Judas was given to Christ but not as others are given to him to wit not as those made mention of in the Text for then he should not have failed to have been received by Christ kept to Eternal life Indeed he was given to Christ but he was given to him to lose him in the way that I have mentioned before that is he was given to Christ that he by him might bring about his own death as was before determined and that in the overthrow of him that did it Yea he must bring about his Dying for us in the loss of the instrument that betrayed him that he might even fulfill the Scripture in his destruction as well as in the Salvation of the rest And none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled The gift therefore in the Text must not be taken in the Largest sence but even as the Words will bare to wit for such a gift as he accepteth and promiseth to be an Effectual means of their Eternal Salvation All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Mark They shall come that are in special given to me and they shall by no means be rejected For this is the Substance of the Text. Those therefore intended as the gift in the Text they are those that are given by Covenant to the Son those that in other places are called the Elect the Chosen the Sheep and the Children of the promise c. These be they that the Father hath given to Christ to keep them those that Christ hath promised Eternal Life unto those to whom he hath given his Word
Heb. 3. And therefore this Man is counted worthy of more glory than Moses even upon this account because more Faithful than he as well as because of the dignity of his person Therefore in him and in his truth and faithfulness God rested wel pleased and hath put all the government of this People upon his shoulders Knowing that nothing shall be wanting in him that may any way perfect this design And of this He to wit the Son hath already given a proof for when the time was come that his Blood was by Divine Justice required for their Redemption Washing and Changing he as freely poured it out of his Heâ—â—t as if it had been Water out of a vessel not sticking to part with his own Life that the life which was laid up for them in Heaven might not fail to be bestowed upon them And upon this account as well as upon any other it is that God calleth him his righteous servant Isa. 53. For his righteousness could never have been compleat if he had not been to the uttermost faithful to the work which he undertook It is also because he is faithful and true that in Righteousness he doth Judge and make Work for his peoples deliverance He will faithfully perform this trust reposed in him The Father knows this and hath therefore given his Elect unto him Thirdly The Fathers giving of them to Him to save them declares unto us that he is and will be gentle and patient towards them under all their provocations and miscarriages It is not to be imagined the tryals and provocations that the Son of God hath all along had with these people that have been given to him to save them indeed he is said to be a tryed stone for he has been tryed not only by the devil guilt of sin death and the curse of the Law but also by his peoples ignorance unruliness falls into sin and declining to errors in life in Doctrine Were we but capable of seeing how this Lord Jesus has been tryed even by this people ever since there was one of them in the world we should be amazed at his Patience and gentle Carriages to them It is said indeed the Lord is very pitiful slow to anger and of great mercy and indeed if he had not so been he could never have indured their manners as he has done from Adam hitherto Therefore is his pitty and bowels towards his Church preferred above the pitty and bowels of a mother towards her Child Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have Compassion on the Son of her Womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord Isa. 49. 15. God did once give Moses as Christs Servant an handful of this people to carry them in his bosom but no further than from Egypt to Canaan and this Moses as is said of him by the Holy Ghost was the Meekest man that was then to be found in the Earth yea and he loved the people at a very great rate yet neither would his meekness nor love hold out in this work he failed and grew pationate even to the provoking of his God to Anger under this work that God had laid upon him And Moses said unto the Lord wherefore hast thou afflicted thy Servant But what was the affliction Why the Lord had said unto him carry this people in thy bosom as a nursing father beareth the sucking child unto the Land that he sware unto their fathers Not I sayes Moses I am not able to bear all this people because it is too heavy for me if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee out of hand and let me not see my Wretchedness Numb 11. 11 12 13 14. God gave them to Moses that he might carry them in his bosom that is that he might shew gentleness and patience towards them but he failed in the work he could not exercise because he had not that sufficiency of patience towards them But now it is said of the person speaking in the Text That he shall gather his Lambs with his arm shall carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead them that are with young Isa. 40. 10 11. Intimating that this was one of the qualifications that God looked for and knew was in him when he gave his Elect to him to save them Fourthly The fathers giving of them to him to save them declares to us that he hath a Sufficiency of wisdom to wage with all those difficulties that would attend him in his bringing of his Sons and Daughters unto glory He hath made him to us to be Wisdom yea he is called Wisdom it self and God saith moreover that he shall deal prudently And indeed he that shall take upon him to be the Saviour of the people had need be Wise because their adversaries are subtile above any Here they have to incounter with the Serpent who for his Subtilty out-witted our Father and Mother when their wisdome was at highest Gen. 3. But if we talk of Wisdom our Jesus is wise wiser than Solomon wiser than all men wiser than all the Angels he is even the Wisdom of God Christ the Wisdom of God 1 Col. 1. And hence it is that he turneth sin temptation persecutions falls and all things for good unto this people Rom. 8. Now these things thus concluded on do shew us also the great and wonderful love of the Father in that he should chuse out one every way so well prepared for the work of mans Salvation Herein indeed perceive we the love of God Huram gathered that God loved Israel because he had given them such a King as Solomon 2 Chro. 2. 11. But how much more may we behold the love that God hath bestowed upon us in that he hath given us to his Son and also given his Son for us All that the Father giveth me shall come In these last words there is closely inserted an answer unto the Fathers end in giving of his Elect to Jesus Christ. The Fathers end was that they might come to him and be Saved by him and that sayes the Son shall be done They shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Here therefore the Lord Jesus positively determineth to put forth a sufficiency of all Grace that shall Effectually perform this promise They shall come That is he will cause them to come by infusing of an effectual blessing into all the means that shall be used to that end As was said to the evil Spirit that was sent to perswade Ahab to go and fall at Ramah Gilead Go Thou shalt perswade him and prevail also go forth and do so 1 King 22. 22. So will Jesus Christ say to the means that shall be used for the bringing of those to him that the Father hath given him I say he will bless it effectually to his very end it shall perswade them and shall prevail also Else as I said the
thee up these Marks make thee these high heaps of the golden Grace of the Gospel set thine heart towards the high-way even the way that thou wentest when thou didst backslide turn again O Virgin of Israel turn again to these thy Cities Jer. 31. 21. And him that Cometh He saith not And him that talketh that professeth that maketh a shew a noise or the like but him that Cometh Christ will take leave to judge who among the many that make a Noise they be that indeed are coming to him It is not him that saith he comes nor him of whom others affirm that he comes but him that Christ himself shall say doth Come that is concern'd in this Text. When the Woman that had the bloody Issue came to him for Cure there were others as well as she that made a great bussle about him that touched yea thronged him Ah but Christ could distinguish this woman from them all And he looked round about upon them all to see her that had done this thing Mar. 25. 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. He was not concerned with the thronging or touchings of the rest for theirs were but accidental or at best void of that which made her touch acceptable Wherefore Christ must be Judg who they be that in Truth are coming to him Every mans way is right in his own Eyes but the Lord weigheth the Spirits It standeth therefore every one in hand to be certain of their coming to Jesus Christ for as thy coming is so shall thy Salvation be If thou comest indeed thy Salvation shall be indeed but if thou comest but in outward appearance so shall thy Salvation be But of coming see before as also afterwards in the Use and Application And him that cometh to me These words to me are also well to be heeded for by them as he secureth those that come to him so also he shews himself unconcerned with those that in their coming rest short or turn aside to others For you must know that every one that comes comes not to Jesus Christ some that come came to Moses and to his Law and then take up for Life with these Christ is not concerned with these this Promise hath not to do Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are falen from grace Gal. 5. 3 4. Again some that came come no farther than to Gospel Ordinances and there stay they come not through them to Christ with these neither is he concerned nor will their Lord Lord avail them any thing in the great and dismal day A man may come too and also go from the place and Ordinances of Worship and yet not be remembred by Christ. So I saw the wicked buried said Solomon who had come and gone from the place of the Holy and they were forgotten in the City when they had so done this is also Vanity Eccles. 8. 10. To me These words therefore are by Jesus Christ very warily put in and serve for caution and incouragement for caution lest we take up in our coming any where short of Christ and for incouragement to those that shall in their coming come past all till they come to Jesus Christ And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Reader If thou lovest thy Soul take this Caution kindly at the hands of Jesus Christ. Thou seest thy Sickness thy Wound thy necessity of Salvation well go not to King Jareb for he cannot Heal thee nor Cure thee of thy Wound Hos. 5. 13. Take the Caution I say lest Christ insteed of being a Saviour to thee becomes a Lion a young Lion to tare thee and go away vers 14. There is a coming but not to the most High there is a coming but not with the whole Heart but as it were feignedly therefore take the Caution kindly Jer. 3. 10. Hos. 7. 16. And him that cometh To me Christ as a Saviour will stand alone because his own Arm above hath brought Salvation unto him He will not be joyned with Moses nor suffer John Baptist to be tabernacled by him I say they must vanish for Christ will stand alone Luk 9. 28 36. yea God the Father will have it so therefore they must be parted from him and a Voice from Heaven must come to bid the Disciples hear only the beloved Son Christ will not suffer any Law Ordinance Statute or Judgement to be partners with him in the salvation of the Sinner Nay he saith not And him that cometh to my Word but And him that cometh to me The words of Christ even his most blessed and free Promises such as this in the Text are not the Saviour of the World for that is Christ himself Christ himself only The Promises therefore are but to incourage the coming sinner to come to Jesus Christ and not to rest in them short of Salvation by him And him that cometh To me The man therefore that comes aright casts all things behind his back and looketh at nor hath his expectation from ought but the Son of God alone as David said My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him He only is my Rock and my Salvation he is my Defence I shall not be moved Psal. 62. 5. His Eye is to Christ his Heart is to Christ and his expectation is from him from him only Therefore the man that comes to Christ is one that hath had deep Considerations of his own sins slighting thoughts of his own Righteousness and high thoughts of the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ yea he sees as I have said more vertue in the Blood of Christ to save him than there is in all his sins to damn him He therefore setteth Christ before his Eyes there is nothing in Heaven or Earth he knows that can save his Soul and secure him from the Wrath of God but Christ that is nothing but his personal Righteousness and Blood And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out In no wise By these words there is somthing expressed and somthing implyed That which is expressed is Christ Jesus his unchangable Resolution to Save the Coming sinner I will in no wise reject him or deny him the benefit of my Death and Righteousness This word therefore is like that which he speaks of the everlasting damnation of the sinner in Hell-fire He shall by no means depart thence that is never never never come out again no not to all Eternity Mat. 5. 25. chap. 25. 46. So that as he that is condemned into Hell-fire hath no ground of hope for his deliverance thence so him that cometh to Christ hath no ground to fear he shall ever be cast in thither Thus saith the Lord If Heaven above can be measured or the Foundation of the Earth searched out beneath I will also cast away all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord Jer. 31. 37. Thus saith the Lord
was Anointed when on Earth to be a Saviour Luk. 3. 22. 3. He did the Works of a Saviour As First He Fulfilled the Law and became the End of it for Righteousness for them that believe in him Rom. 10. 3 4. Secondly He laid down his Life as a Saviour He gave his Life as a Saviour He gave his Life as a Ransom for many Mat. 20. 28. Mar. 10. 45. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Thirdly He hath Abolished Death Destroyed the Devil put away Sin got the Keys of Hell and Death is Ascended into Heaven is there accepted of God exalted of God and bid Sit at his Right Hand as Saviour and that because his Sacrifice for our Sins pleased God 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 2. 14 15. Ephes. 4. 7 8. Joh. 16. 10 11. Acts 5. 30 31. Heb. 10. 12 13. Fourthly God hath sent out and proclaimed him as Saviour and tells the World that we have redemption through his Blood that he will Justifie us if we believe in his Blood and that he can Faithfully and Justly do it Yea God doth beseech us to be reconciled to him by his Son which could not be if he were not Anointed by him to this very End and also if his Works and undertakings were not accepted of him as considered a Saviour Rom. 3. 24 25. 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20 21. Fifthly God hath received already Millions of Souls into his Paradice because they have received this Jesus for a Saviour and is resolved to cut him off and to cast him out of his presence that will not take him for a Saviour Heb. 12. 22 23 24 25 26. I intend brevity here therefore a word to the Second and so conculde How it appears that he hath Power to cast out This appears also by what follows First The Father for the service 〈◊〉 he hath done him as Saviour 〈◊〉 made him Lord of all even Lord 〈◊〉 Quick and Dead For to this 〈◊〉 Christ both Died and Rose and Revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living Rom. 14. 9. Secondly The Father hath left it with him to quicken whom he will to wit with saving Grace and to cast out whom he will for their Rebellion against Him Joh. 5. 21. Thirdly The Father hath made him Judge of Quick and Dead hath committed all Judgment unto the Son that all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22. Fourthly God will Judge the World by this Man the day is Appointed for Judgment and he is Appointed for Judge He hath Appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man Acts 17. 31 32. Therefore we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive for the things done in the Body according to what they have done If they have closed with Him Heaven and Salvation if they have not Hell and Damnation And for these Reasons he must be Judge First Because of his Humiliation because of his Fathers Word he humbled himself and he became Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Therefore God hath highly Exalted him and given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow both of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father This hath respect to his being Judge and his Sitting in Judgment upon Angels and Men Phil. 2. 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 14. 10 11. Secondly That all Men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father For the Father Judgeth no Man but hath Committed all Judgment unto the Son that all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Thirdly Because of his Righteous Judgment this work is fit for no Creature it is only fit for the Son of God For he will reward every Man according to his Ways Rev. 22. Fourthly Because he is the Son of Man He hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of Man Joh. 5. 27. Thus have I in brief passed through this Text by way of explication my next Work is to speak to it by way of Observation but I shall be also as brief in that as the Nature of the thing will admit All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. ANd now to come to some Observations and a little briefly to speak to them and then conclude the whole The words thus Explained affords us many some of which are these First That God the Father and Christ his Son are two Distinct Persons in the God-head Secondly That by them not Excluding the Holy Ghost is contrived and determined the Salvation of some of fallen Man kind Thirdly That this contrivance resolved it self into a Covenant between these Persons in the God-head which standeth in giving on the Fathers part and Receiving on the Sons All that the Father giveth me c. Fourthly That every one that the Father hath given to Christ according to the mind of God in the Text shall certainly come to him Fifthly That coming to Jesus Christ is therefore not by the will wisdom or power of man but by the gift promise and drawing of the Father All that the Father giveth me shall come Sixthly That Jesus Christ will be careful to receive and will not in any wife reject those that come or are coming to him And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out There are besides these some other Truths implyed in the Words As Seventhly They that are coming to Jesus Christ are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them Eightly Jesus Christ would not have them that in Truth are Coming to him once think that he will cast them out These Observations lie all of them in the Words and are plentifully confirmed by the Scriptures of Truth but I shall not at this time speak to them all but shall pass by the first second third fourth and sixth partly because I design brevity and partly because they are touched upon in the Explicatory part of the Text. I shall therefore begin with the Fifth Observation and so make that the first in order in the following discourse First Then Coming to Christ is not by the will wisdom or power of Man but by the gift promise and drawing of the Father This Observation standeth of two parts First that coming to Christ is not by the Will Wisdom or Power of Man Secondly But by the Gift Promise and Drawing of the Father That the Text carrieth this Truth in its bosom you will find if you look into the Explication of the first part thereof before I shall therefore here follow the Method propounded First That coming to Christ is not by the will wisdom or power of man this
admit of such Objections to the discouraging of their own Souls For this VVord in no wise cutteth the Throat of all Objections and it was dropt by the Lord Jesus for that very end and to help the Faith that is mixed with Unbelief And it is as it were the sum of all Promises neither can any Objection be made upon the unworthyness that thou findest in thee that this Promise will not asoile But I am a great sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am an old sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am a hard hearted sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I am a back-sliding sinner sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have served Satan all my dayes sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have sinned against Light sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have sinned against mercy sayst thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. But I have no good thing to bring with me say'st thou I will in no wise cast out sayes Christ. Thus I might go on to the end of things and shew you that still this promise was provided to answer Objections And doth answer them But I say what need it be if they that are coming to Jesus Christ are not sometimes yea oft-times heartily afraid that Jesus Christ will cast them out I will give you now two instances that seem to imply the truth of this observation In the Nineth of Matthew at the Second Verse you read of a man that was sick of the Palsie and he was coming to Jesus Christ being born upon a bed by his Friends He also was coming himself and that upon another account than any of his friends was aware of even for the pardon of sins and the Salvation of his Soul Now so soon as ever he was come into the presence of Christ Christ bids him be of good chear it seems then his heart was fainting but what was the cause of this fainting but the guilt and burden of his sins therefore he proceeds Be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee I say Christ saw him sinking in his mind about how it would go with his most Noble part and therefore first he applies himself to him upon that account For though his friends had Faith enough as to the cure of the Body yet he himself had little enough as to the Cure of his Soul Therefore Christ takes him up as a man falling down saying Son be of good Cheer thy Sins are forgiven thee That about the Prodigal seemes pertinent also to this matter When he was come to himself he said how many hired Servants of my Father have Bred enough and to spare and I perish for Hunger I will arise now and go to my Father Heartily spoken But how did he perform his Promise I think not so well as he promised to do And my ground for my Thoughts is because his Father so soon as he was come at him fell upon his Neck and Kist him Implying methinks as if the Prodegal by this time was dejected in his mind and therefore his Father gives him the most sudden and familiar token of Reconciliation And Kisses were of old time often used to remove Doubts and Fears Thus Laban and Esau Kiss Jacob. Thus Joseph Kissed his Brethren and thus also David Kissed Absolom Gen. 31. 55. chap. 33. 1 2 3 4 5 6. chap. 48. 9 10. 2 Sam. 14. 33. 'T is true as I said at first setting out he spake heartily as sometimes Sinners also do in their beginning to come to Jesus Christ But might not he yea in all probability he had between the first step he took and the last by which he accomplished that journey many a thought both this way and that as whether his Father would receive him or no As thus I said I would go to my Father but how if when I come at him he should ask me Where I have all this while bin VVhat must I say then Also if he asks me What is become of the portion of Goods that he gave me VVhat shall I say then If he asks me Who have bin my Companions VVhat shall I say then If he also shall ask me What hath bin my Preferment in all the time of mine absence from him VVhat shall I say then Yea and if he ask me Why I came home no sooner What shall I say then Thus I say might he reason with himself And being Conscious to himself that he could give but a bad Answer to any of these Interogatories no marvel if he stood in need first of all of a Kiss from his Fathers Lips For had he answered the first in Truth he must say I have bin a haunter of Taverns and Alehouses and as for my Portion I spent it in Riotous Living my Companions were Whores and Drabs As for my preferment the highest was that I became a Hoggard and as for my not coming home till now Could I have made shift to have staid abroad any longer I had not lain at thy Feet for Mercy now I say these things considered and considering again how prone poor man is to give way when truly awakned to despondings and heart-misgiveings no marvel if he sink in his mind between the time of his first setting out and that of his coming to his Father 3. But Thirdly methinks I have for the confirmation of this Truth the consent of all the Saints that are under Heaven to witt That they that are Coming to Jesus Christ are oft-times heartily afraid that he will not receive them Quest. But what should be the Reason I will Answer to this Question thus First It is not for want of the revealed VVill of God that manifesteth grounds for the Contrary for that there is a sufficiency of yea the Text it self hath laid a sufficient Foundation for incouragement for them that are Coming to Jesus Christ. And him that Cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Secondly It is not for want of an Invitation to Come for that is full and plain Come unto me all ye that Labor and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest Mat. 11. 28. Thirdly Neither is it for want of a manifestation of Christs willingness to receive as those Texts above named with that which follows declareth If any man Thirst let him come unto me and drink Joh. 7. 37. Fourthly It is not for want of exceeding great and precious Promises to receive them that Come Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Fifthly It is not for want of Solemn Oath and Ingagement to save them that
he will in no wise cast out Therefore Jesus Christ would not have him that in Truth is coming to him Once to think that he will cast him out Fourthly If Jesus Christ should allow them Once to think that indeed are coming to him that he will cast him out he must allow them to think that he will despise and reject the Drawing of his Father For No Man can come to him but whom the Father draweth But it would be high Blasphemy and damnable Wickedness Once to imagine thus Therefore Jesus Christ would not have him that cometh Once think that he will cast him out Fifthly If Jesus Christ should allow those that indeed are coming to him Once to think that he will cast them out He must allow them to think that he will be Unfaithful to the Trust and Charge that his Father hath committed to him which is to Save and not to Lose any thing of that which he hath given him to Save Joh. 6. 36. But the Father hath given him a Charge to save the Coming-Sinner Therefore it cannot be that he should allow that such an one should Once think that he will cast him out Sixthly If Jesus Christ should allow that they should Once think that are coming to him that he will cast them out Then he must allow them to think that he will be unfaithful to his Office of Priest-hood For as by the first part of it he paid Price for and Ransomed Souls so by the Second Part thereof he continually maketh Intercession to God for them that come Heb. 7. 25. But he cannot allow us to question his Faithful Execution of his Priest-hood Therefore he cannot allow us Once to think that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out Seventhly If Jesus Christ should allow us Once to think that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out Then he must allow us to question his Will or Power or Merit to Save But he cannot allow us Once to question any of these Therefore not Once to think that the Coming-Sinner shall be cast out 1. He cannot allow them to question his Will For he saith in the Text I will in no wise cast out 2. He cannot allow us to question his Power For the Holy Ghost saith He is Able to save to the uttermost them that come 3. He cannot allow them to question the Efficacy of his Merit For the Blood of Christ cleanseth the Commer from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. Therefore he cannot allow that he that is coming to him should Once think that he will cast him out Eighthly If Jesus Christ should allow the coming sinner Once to think that he will cast him out he must allow him to give the lie to the manifest testimony of the Father Son and Spirit yea to the whole Gospel contained in Moses the Prophets the book of Psalms and that commonly called the New-Testament But he cannot allow of this therefore not that the coming sinner should Once think that he will cast him out Ninethly Lastly If Jesus Christ should allow him that is coming to him Once to think that he will cast him out He must allow him to question his Fathers Oath Which he in truth and Righteousness hath taken that they might have a strong Consolation who have fled for refuge to Jesus Christ But he cannot allow this therefore he cannot allow that the coming sinner should once think that he will cast him out Heb. 6. I come now to make some General Use and Application of the whole and so to draw towards a Conclusion THe First Use a Use of Information And it Informeth us That Men by Nature are far off from Christ. Let me a little improve this Use by speaking to these Three Questions 1. Where is he that is not coming to Jesus Christ 2. What is he that is not coming to Jesus Christ 3. Whether is he to go that cometh not to Jesus Christ First Where is he 1. Answ. He is far from God he is without him even alienate from him both in his Understanding Will Affections Judgment and Conscience Ephes. 2. 12. chap. 4. 18. 2. He is far from Jesus Christ who is the only Deliverer of Men from Hell-Fire Psal. 73. 27. 3. He is far from the Work of the Holy Ghost the Work of Regeneration and a Second Creation without which no Man shall see the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 3. 3. 4. He is far from Righteousness from that Righteousness that should make him Acceptable in God's Sight Isa. 46. 14. 5. He is under the Power and Dominion of Sin Sin reigneth in and over him it dwelleth in every Faculty of his Soul and Member of his Body So that from Head to Foot there is no place clean Isa. 1. 6. Rom. 3. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. 6. He is in the Pest-house with Uzziah and excluded the Camp of Israel with the Leapers 2 Chron. 26. 21. Numb 5. 2. 7. His Life is among the Unclean He is in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity Job 36. 14. Act. 8. 23. 8. He is in Sin in the Flesh in Death in the Snare of the Devil and is taken Captive by him at his Will 1 Cor. 15. 17. Rom. 8. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 14. 2 Tim. 2. 26. 9. He is under the Curse of the Law and the Devil dwells in him and hath the Mastery of him Gal. 3. 13. Eph. 2. 2 3. Acts 36. 18 10. He is in Darkness and walketh in Darkness and knows not whither he goes for Darkness has blinded his Eyes 11. He is in the Broad-way that leadeth to Destruction and holding on he will assuredly go in at the Broad-gate and so down the Stairs to Hell Secondly What is he that cometh not to Jesus Christ 1. He is counted one of God's Enemies Luk. 19 14. Rom. 8. 7. 2. He is a Child of the Devil and of Hell for the Devil begat him as to his sinful Nature and Hell must swallow him at last because he cometh not to Jesus Christ Joh. 8. 44. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Mat. 23. 15. Psal. 9. 17. 3. He is a Child of Wrath an Heir of it 't is his Portion and God will repay it him to his Face Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. Job 21. 29 30 31. 4. He is a Self-Murder he wrongeth his own Soul and is one that loveth Death Prov. 1. 18. Chap. 8. 35 36. 5. He is a Companion for Devils and Damned Men Prov. 21. 16. Mat. 25. 41. Thirdly Whither is he like to go that cometh not to Jesus Christ 1. He that cometh not To him is like to go Further from him for every Sin is a Step further from Jesus Christ Hos. 11. 2. As he is in Darkness so he is like to go on in it For Christ is the Light of the World and he that comes not to him walketh in Darkness Joh. 8. 12. 3. He is like to be removed at last as far from God and Christ and Heaven and all Felicity as an Infinitie
thou hast found glory in him glory that Surmounts and goes beyond Thou art more glorious than the mountaines of pray Psal. 76. 4. Fifthly What shall I say thou hast found Righteousness in him Thou hast found rest peace delight Heaven glory and eternal life Sinner be advised Ask thy heart again saying Am I come to Jesus Christ For upon this one question Am I Come or am I Not Hangs Heaven and Hell as to thee If thou canst say I am come and God shall approve that saying Happy Happy Happy man art thou but if thou art not come what can make thee happy Yea what can make that man Happy that for his not coming to Jesus Christ for life must be damned in Hell The Third Use a Use of Encouragement COming Sinner I have now a word for thee be of good comfort He will in no wise cast out Of all men thou art the blessed of the Lord the the Father hath prepared his Son to be a Sacrifice for thee and Jesus Christ thy Lord is gone to prepare a place for thee Joh. 1. 29. Heb. 10. Joh. 14. What shall I say to thee thou comest to a full Christ thou canst not want any thing for Soul or body for this World or that to come but it is to be had in or by Jesus Christ As it is said of the Land that the Dannits went to possess So and with much more truth it may be said of Christ He is such an one with whom there is no want of any good thing that is in Heaven or earth A Full Christ is thy Christ. First He is full of Grace Grace is sometimes taken for love and take it so here He is full of love never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathans love went beyond the love of Women but the love of Christ passes knowledge It is beyond the love of all the Earth of all Creatures even of Men and Angels His love prevailed with him to lay aside his Glory to leave the Heavenly place to cloth himself with flesh to be born in a Stable to be laid in a Manger to live a poor life in the World to take upon him our sicknesses infirmities sins curse Death and the Wrath that was due to man And all this he did for a base undeserving unthankfull people yea for a people that was at Enmity with him For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Much more then being now justified we shall be saved by his life For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 6 7 8 9 10. Secondly He is full of Truth Full of grace and truth Truth that is faithfulness in keeping promise even this of the Text with all other I will in no wise cast out Hence it is said that his words be true and that he is the faithfull God that keepeth covenant And hence it is also that his promise is called Truth Thou wilt fulfill thy truth unto Jacob and thy mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our Fathers from the days of old Therefore it is said again that both himself and words are Truth I am the Truth the Scriptures of Truth thy Word is Truth thy Law is the Truth and my mouth aith he shall speak truth Joh. 14. 6. Dan. 10. 21. Joh. 17. 17. 2 Sam. 7. 28. Pro. 8. 7. Psal. 119. 142. Eccles. 12. 10. Isa. 25. 1. Mal. 2. 6. Acts 26. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 12 13. Now I say his word is truth and he is full of truth to fulfill his truth even to a Thousand Generations Coming sinner he will not deceive thee come boldly to Jesus Christ. Thirdly He is full of Wisdome He is made unto us of God Wisdome Wisdome to manage the affairs of his Church in general and the affairs of every coming sinner in particular And upon this account he is said to be head over all things 1 Cor. 1. Ephes. 1. Because he manages all things that are in the world by his Wisdom for the good of his Church all mens Actions all Satans Temptations all Gods Providences all Crosses Disappointments all things what ever are under the hand of Christ Who is the Wisdom of God and he ordereth them all for good to his Church And can Christ help it and be sure he can nothing shall happen or fall out in the world but it shall in despite of all opposition have a good tendency to his Church and people Fourthly He is full of the Spirit to communicate it to the coming Sinner he hath therefore received it without measure that he may communicate it to every member of his body according as every mans measure thereof is allotted him by the Father Wherefore he saith that he that comes to him Out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living water Joh. 3. 34. Tit. 3. 5 6. Acts 1. Joh. 7. 31 32 34 35 36 37 38. Fifthly He is indeed a store-house full of all the graces of the Spirit Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Here is more Faith more Love more Sincerity more Humility more of every Grace and of this even more of this he giveth to every Lowly Humble Penitent coming Sinner wherefore coming Soul thou comest not to a barren wilderness when thou comest to Jesus Christ John 1. 16. Sixthly He is full of Bowels and Compassion And they shall feel and find it so that come to him for Life He can bear with thy Weaknesses he can pity thy Ignorance he can be touched with the Feeling of thine Infirmities he can affectionately forgive thy Transgressions he can heal thy Back slidings and Love thee Freely His Compassions fail not And he will not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax He can pity them that no Eye pities and be afflicted in all thy Afflictions Mat. 26. 41. Heb. 5 2. Chap. 2. 18 19. Mat 9. 2. Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 5 6. Isa. 63. 9. Psal. 78. 38. Psal. 86. 15. Psal. 111. 4. Psal. 112. 4. Lam. 3. 22. Isa. 42. 3. Seventhly Coming Soul the Jesus that thou art coming to is full of Might and Terribleness for thy Advantage He can suppress all thine Enemies He is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth He can bow all Men's Designes for thy Help He can break all Snares laid for thee in the Way He can lift thee out of all Difficulties where-with thou may'st be surrounded He is Wise in Heart and Mighty in Power Every Life under Heaven is in his Hand yea the Faln Angels tremble before him And he will save thy Life Coming-Sinner 1 Cor. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 28. 18. Rev. 15.