Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	death_n	know_v	resurrection_n	1,580	5	9.6777	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77504	The mystical brasen serpent: with the magnetical vertue thereof. or, Christ exalted upon the cross, with the blessed end and fruit of that his exaltation, in drawing the elect world to himself, to believe on Him, and to be saved by Him. In two treatises, from John 3. 14, 15. 12. 32. Whereunto is added A treatise of the saints joint-membership each with other. As they were delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, by John Brinsley, minister of the gospel, and preacher to that incorporation. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy. July 30. 1652.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1653 (1653)	Wing B4719; Thomason E1249_1; ESTC R208891	155,986	284

the wounded Israelites did to their Brasen Serpent And to that end 1. Labour to feel the sting of sin 1. Feele the sting of sin to feele our soules wounded and mortally wounded by reason of sin that so we may be made sensible of the need we have of Jesus Christ Till the soule be brought to some sense and apprehension hereof it will never have recourse unto Christ for cure This being done then 2. Get an eye rightly affected 2. In the second place Labour to get an eye rightly affected and disposed as viz. 1. A discerning eye 2. A mournfull eye 3. A longing eye 4. A stedfast eye 1. A Discerning Eye 1. A Discerning eye Such must the Israelites eye be an eye that was able to behold and discern the Brasen Serpent And such an eye must they have who would have any benefit by Christ they must be able to behold Christ to behold him as he is revealed in the word they must have some degree and measure of distinct knowledge concerning Christ as to know what he was what he hath done what he hath suffered c. withall taking notice both of his ability and readinesse to cure all that come unto him His ability how mighty a Saviour Heb. 7.25 how able perfectly or for ever to save those that come unto God by him His willingnesse how tender and compassionate a Saviour being himselfe stung to death that he might know how to have compassion on them that are stung Heb. 4.15 We have not an high Priest saith the Apostle which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are How ready he is to receive all that come to him for cure Come unto me ye that labour c. Matth. 11.28 John 6.37 I will give you rest Matth. 11. Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out John 6. All these truths being clearly revealed in the word concerning Jesus Christ they must bee distinctly apprehended known and believed Here is the first requisite to the right disposing of the eye It must be a discerning eye 2. And secondly a mournfull eye 2. A mournful eye With such eyes I suppose did many of the Israelites look up unto their Brasen Serpent not without tears in them And with such eyes look we up unto ours They shall look upon him whom they have pierced John 19.37 saith the Prophet and they shal mourn Zach. 12.10 So did Mary Magdalene look upon her Saviour Luke 7.38 looking and weeping And so look we upon him mourning And that both for our selves and him In as much as by our sins we have pierced through both pierced our selves as Paul saith of covetous persons They pierce themselves through with many sorrowes 1 Tim. 6.10 So doth every sin more or lesse pierce the soule of the sinner And piercing our selves we have also pierced Christ crucifying him by our sins It is that which the Apostle saith of Apostates They crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 By them he is twice crucified by others once None of us but have had hands in bringing him to the Crosse who died for our sins Great cause to look up unto him with a mournfull eye 3. And thirdly with a longing eye 3. A Longing Eye With such eyes did the Israelites look up to their Brasen Serpent earnestly desiring to receive benefit by it And with such eyes look we up unto ours longing after Jesus Christ that we may be made partakers of his saving benefits I have longed for thy salvation saith David Psal 119.174 And thus let the soule of every poor penitent sinner go out after Jesus Christ in longing desires after him after union and communion with him desiring nothing so much as this This is the height of Pauls desire that he might know Jesus Christ Phil. 3.10 and the vertue of his Resurrection know him not only Contemplatively but Experimentally and Practically feeling the power of his Resurection in raising him first from the Death of sin to the Life of Grace and after from the Death of Nature to the Life of Glory And let it bee so with us let there be nothing so dear and precious in our eye as Christ desire we nothing so much as an Interest in him and Communion with him Look up unto him with a Longing eye 4. And in the fourth place 4. A stedfast eye with a Stedfast eye so did the Israelites look up to their Brasen Serpent fixing their eyes upon it till they were cured And so look we up unto ours fixing our eyes upon the Lord Jesus stedfastly looking upon him untill we have obtained what we look for Psal 123.2 As the eyes of Servants look up unto the hands of their Masters c. So do our eyes wait upon the Lord untill hee have mercy upon us So do wee look up to our Lord and Saviour by faith resting and waiting upon him untill hee have mercy upon us untill our souls be cured perfectly cured Quest But when will that be Answ Why not in this life and therefore let us still be looking up unto him Heb. 12.2 Let us run the Race set before us saith the Apostle looking unto Jesus Heb. 12. Whilst a Christian is running his race he must throughout his whole course fix his eye upon Christ The Israelites as long as they were in the Wildernesse being continually subject to the stinging of those fiery Serpents they had a continued use of the Brasen Serpent and therefore was it carried along with them and still lift up amongst them that upon all occasions they might look up unto it Thus fareth it with us as long as we are in this wilderness here upon earth we are stil subject to daily infirmities and sins and consequently have still need of a Saviour who by the daily application of his merit and communication of his Spirit may work daily cures for us And therefore in the sense of this continued need we have of Jesus Christ let our eyes be still towards him whom God in infinite goodnesse and mercy is pleased still to hold forth unto us in the Word and Sacraments there to be represented to us and lift up before our eyes Thus fixing our eyes upon him wee shall find him to us a perfect Saviour saving us from the guilt of sin that it shall not be imputed to us and delivering us from the power of sin so as though it abide in us yet it shall not rule and raign in us but daily grow weaker and weaker untill we come in the end to have a perfect cure wrought in us and upon us in a perfect deliverance from sinne and death with the full fruition of that blessed and glorious life which shall be the portion of all those who thus look up unto this true Brasen Serpent who thus beleeve on the Lord Jesus So was the Son of Man lift

Deprived of life that life which the Text speaketh of viz. Eternall life which is begun in Grace perfected in Glory of this life are all men naturally deprived Being destitute of the Life of Grace so saith S. Paul of the Gentiles before conversion Eph. 4 18. They were alienated estranged from the life of God That life whereby God liveth in his Saints the life of grace they were strangers to it they knew not what it meant destitute of this Spirituall life and shut out from the life of glory Rom. 3.23 All have sinned saith S. Paul speaking of the universality of man-kind and are deprived of the glory of God They come short of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deficiuntur they are cast behind A Metaphor saith Beza taken from runners in a Race Beza Gr. Ann. who through naturall weaknesse or by a fall or some like impediment are so far cast behind as that it is not possible they should ever fetch it up again so as to win the prize So fareth it with all men naturally through the fall of Adam in whose loyns then they were and through their own naturall weaknesse thereby contracted they are so far cast behind that do what they can improve the power of nature to the uttermost they can never of themselves come up to the goal so as to win the prize never attain eternal life All deprived of life And 2. All subjected unto death 2. Subjected unto death Gen. 3.17 and that by vertue of that first threatning The day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death Gen. 3. All subjected to a threefold death Temporall Spirituall and Eternall Temporall of the Body Spirituall of the Soul Eternall both of Soul and Body Being all inevitably subject to the first lying under the power of the second and under the sentence of the third Having their Bodies mortall their Souls dead Dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 Souls and Bodies bound over unto Eternall death which consisteth in an eternall separation from the presence of God in whose presence is life an eternall confinement to that place and state of torment prepared for the divel and his angels all which if need were might be made good in particulars And herein is the forlorn perishing state and condition of all men by nature that it is so it cannot be denyed But how cometh it to be so See the ground and cause of it in the Type This hath the Serpent done Reas This hath the Serpent done The Israelites being stung or bitten by those fiery serpents though both strong and healthfull before they were now but dead men carrying death in their bosomes and so fareth it with the sons of men however created in a blessed state and condition in a healthfull constitution as I may say with a posse non mori a possibility of being immortall yet upon the stinging of the serpent the old serpent fastning his sting in Adam through him transfusing his poyson the deadly poyson of sin to all his posterity hereby they are become so wretched so miserable all dead men in a perishing condition so the Apostle layeth it down clearly and plainly in that knowne Text Rom. 5.12 As by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all for that all have sinned Mark it Here is the head and spring of all that evill of sin and misery which hath broken in upon mankind Adam sinned and sinning died being thereupon subjected to that threefold death Now Adam thus dying and perishing all his posterity perished in him and with him even as it is with a tree the Root dying all the Branches die in it and with it So standeth the case betwixt Adam and his posterity Adam was the common Root of mankind all others of the sons of men were in him Tanquam in radice as Branches in the Root and so consequently he dying they all die in him and with him Thus briefly you see both the truth of this first Conclusion and the ground of it As briefly bring we it home by way of Application and so passe to the other Conclusions which are here more expresly layd down in the Text. 1. By way of Conviction Vse 1. Conviction See this to be our state Is this the state of all men by nature Be we then convinced that this is our estate in particular An easie matter it is to beleeve confesse and acknowledge this truth in the gross in the generall that all men by nature are in a perishing state lost men and women children of perdition to bring it home to a mans selfe in particular to be convinced and made sensible that this is my estate thy estate here is a difficulty a thing which few do or endeavour to do and hence it is that men being in the state of nature are so little or nothing affected with the dangerousnesse of that condition They can lie and continue in that estate wherein they were born and yet never be troubled at it never affected with it What is the reason hereof Why they look upon this truth only in the grosse in the generall notion of it Now Generalities doe not affect Genera nec agunt nec patiuntur Certainly were men but once throughly convinced and perswaded that this is their estate in particular they would not so quietly and contentedly sit downe in it they would never be at rest untill they have got some evidence some assurance unto their own souls that they are gotten out of that estate brought out of this state of nature into a state of grace And therefore in the fear of God as many of you as were never yet throughly convinced of the truth hereof now let it into your souls and do not suffer vain thoughts to lodge within you as viz. that you shall do as well as others so you may and yet be miserable enough or that whatever become of others yet it shall go well with you what saith our Saviour to the Jews flattering themselves with the like thoughts viz. That however the judgements of God might light upon others yet they should escape Not so saith he Except ye repent Luke 13.3 ye shall all likewise perish Let it be spoken to every secure sinner that stands before me this day that lieth sleeping in his naturall state and condition flattering himselfe with a selfe conceited apprehension that he is not as some others as the Pharisee said of himself no Swearer no Drunkard no profane no scandalous person and hereupon speaks peace to his own soul promising to himself immunity from that wrath of God which shall fall upon others I tell you nay but except ye repent except ye be renewed changed brought out of that estate of nature and brought home unto God by Christ ye shall likewise perish Your estate being for the present that estate wherein you were born it is a perishing state a state of perdition so as living

him that is willing to follow not so but the clean contrary it is the difference as I have told you betwixt Drawing and Leading a man that is willing is led a man unwilling is drawn And such are all men before Christ comes to overpower their wills So as Grotius might well have spared his gloss upon the Text I will draw all men Sed eos intellige qui non reluctantur Grot. Annot. in Text. that is saith he Eos qui non reluctantur Such as are willing to follow But where are they I shall not dwell upon that More usefully for our selves Vse 2. The glory of Conversion to be given to Christ As many of us as have tasted of this grace of God in the great work of our Conversion in bringing us home unto Christ learn we hence whither to give the praise and glory of it Not unto our selves but unto Jesus Christ not unto our willing or running but unto his drawing It is not of him that willeth Rom. 9.16 nor of him that runneth saith the Apostle Alas of our selves we could neither run nor yet will to run before conversion being dead in trespasses and sins we could not so much as move towards Heaven no nor yet will to move no more then a dead man can will his own resurrection even this will is of God It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 Had not Christ drawn us we had never come unto him And therefore not unto us not to the goodnesse of our natures not to the tractablenesse of our tempers the ingenuity and sequaciousnesse of our dispositions nor yet to the benefit of our education or what ever else but only to the free grace of God in Christ bee all the praise and glory of this work Vse 3. Be convinced of natural Impotency and Reluctancy For others who are as yet strangers to this work who never yet felt this attractive power working upon their souls let them be convinced of the truth of what hath been now delivered viz. that they cannot come unto Christ of themselves they cannot come except Christ himselfe draw them Whence is it that many neglect seeking after Christ and after faith in Christ and put off the work of their conversion from day to day why there is a false principle in their hearts They think that to beleeve is the easiest thing in the world that they can come unto Christ when they list Not so except Christ himself draw thee there is no coming unto him It is not in man to bring himself nay it is not in all the Men and Angels in the world that can draw a soul to Christ Except Christ himselfe put to his hand it neither can nor will come to him Be convinced of this And being convinced hereof now take heed of drawing back Vse 4. Take heed of drawing back when we feel Christ beginning to draw Our coming unto Christ depends upon his drawing And therefore doth he beginne to draw take heed how we hold off How know we whether ever hee will draw again which if he do not wee are men without hope But of this more hereafter in the next point to which I now come The second thing held forth to us in the Text is The effectuall working of Jesus Christ in bringing his Elect home to himselfe Observ 2. The effectuall work of Christ in bringing men home to himselfe I will draw them to me Those who in themselves are both unable and unwilling to come Christ over-powreth and causeth to come to himselfe A truth excellently shadowed out in that known parable of the lost sheep Luke 15.5 which the shepherd having found he layeth it upon his shoulders and bringeth it home This Shepherd is Christ the chiefe Shepherd the Shepherd and Bishop of souls 1 Pet. 5.4 1 Pet. 2.25 as Saint Peter cals him The lost sheep are his Elect before conversion who in regard of Gods Election are sheep Matth. 15.24 in regard of their naturall condition are lost sheep wandring in the pathes of sin and death having no disposition of themselves to returne to the fold These sheep this great Shepherd seeketh Luke 19.10 The Son of man is come to seeke that which was lost And seeking he findeth them and finding them he bringeth them home causing them to return to the Shepherd and Bishop of their soules 1 Pet. 2.25 For the opening and illustrating Illustrat of this usefull truth viz. Christs drawing of poor sinners to himselfe give me leave to propound and resolve these two or three Questions 1. Whence they are drawn 2. Whither they are drawn 3. By what means Christ draweth them For the two former more briefly Whence and Whither they are drawn In drawing as in every motion there are two terms A quo and Ad quem Whence and Whither whatever is drawn is drawn from one place or thing to another Quest Whence Christ draweth men Qu 1. First then Whence doth Christ draw his Elect Answ In generall Out of the state of nature An. To this we might answer in the general Hee draweth them out of the state of nature which is a state of sin and death In this estate do all men naturally lie in a state of sin The whole world lieth in wickednesse 1 Joh. 5.19 And consequently in a state of death Death passed upon all for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Now out of this estate Christ draweth his Elect as so many Lots out of Sodom so many Lazaruses out of the grave Bringing them out of that state of sin and death into a state opposite to it a state of righteousnesse and life More particularly More particularly Christ draweth men 1. Out of Darknesse 1. Out of darknesse Jer. 38.9 12 13 Even as Jeremy was drawn by Ebedmelech out of the Dungeon where he was like to perish So are poor sinners drawn by Christ out of the Dungeon of ignorance In this Dungeon do all men naturally ly They all sit in darknesse Luke 1.19 and in the shadow of death being by nature no better then darkness it self Ye were somtimes darkness Ephes 5.8 destitute of heavenly light wholly ignorant of what belongs to their eternall peace and happinesse Now out of this dungeon doth Christ draw his Elect calling them out of darkness That you should shew forth the vertues of him who hath called you out of darknesse 1 Pet. 2.9 And this he doth by causing a light to shine forth unto them Luke 1.79 Matth. 11.25 Giving light to them that sit in darknesse revealing unto them those supernaturall mysteries which are hid from the wise and prudent of the world 2. He draweth them from under the power of Satan 2. From the power of Satan Acts 26.18 Under this power do all men naturally lie possessed and held captive by Satan Now from under this power Christ draweth his

it If so here are comfortable evidences that Christ hath begun to put forth an effectuall power in and upon our soules 2. But secondly Enquire how our hearts stand affected towards Jesus Christ 2. Enquire touching the affections of the heart towards Jesus Christ This is Christs drawing of men to himselfe viz. the drawing of their hearts and affections to him These are the feet of the soule whereby a man cometh unto Christ Non pedibus sed affectibus Now are these drawn to Christ How stand our hearts affected towards him Make this enquiry in three or four particulars 1. In respect of our affiance 1. Affiance in him Can we say that we rest upon him and him alone Have we cast our souls upon him as upon an alone all-sufficient Saviour Have wee committed them to him 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have beleeved or trusted saith Paul and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him Thus stood Paul affected towards Jesus Christ so as he durst trust him nay he had trusted him and that with his best Jewel with his precious soul or with his Crown which he had committed to him deposited with him And thus doth the soul that is truly drawn to Christ it le ts go all other things and betakes it selfe wholly and alonely unto Jesus Christ as unto an alone Saviour leaning upon him that is the Churches posture Cant. 8.5 Who is this that cometh up from the wildernesse leaning upon her beloved Imbracing and resting upon him Now are we thus drawn to Christ Do wee find our souls thus coming out of the wildernesse of this world and clasping and imbracing Jesus Christ leaning and resting upon him fixing all our affiance and confidence upon him so as we can say that we have none other in heaven or earth but him if so certainly the heart which thus leaneth upon Christ is drawn to him 2. In respect of Love 2. Love Eph. 6. last Can we say that we do unfainedly love the Lord Jesus Love him in sincerity so as our souls do cleave unto him Thus will it be with the soul that if truly drawn unto Christ it will close with him and be exceedingly affected with him Thus was it with Peter Peter lovest thou me Lord Joh. 21.15 Luk. 7.47 thou knowest that I love thee Thus was it with Mary Magdalene She loved much because much was forgiven her Cant. 5.8 The Church in the Canticles is sick of love And thus will it be with the soul that is truly brought to Christ it will be inamored with him Apprehending the intire and infinite love of Christ towards it it cannot but be inflamed with love towards him again and this love it expresseth by a high prising of him 3. Which may serve for a third enquiry 3. Appretiation What price do we set upon Jesus Christ The soul that is truly drawn to Christ is drawn to an high estimation of him so as it prefers him before all other things accounting meanly and basely of all other things in comparison of him I account all things loss and dung saith Paul so that I may win Christ c. Phil. 3.9 4. 4. Willingness to part with al for Christ And this estimation it expresseth by a willingnesse and readinesse to part with all for Christ which may be a fourth Enquiry Are we so taken with Jesus Christ as rather then part with him we are resolved to part with all So was Paul affected towards him hee accounts all dung and he willingly maketh losse of all for Christ and so will the soul do that is truly drawn to Christ it will let go all what ever it is that stands betwixt Christ and it Riches and Honours and Pleasures and Ease and Credit and Life Even as Peter and Andrew when Christ had called them They straightway left their nets and followed him Mat. 4.20 Thus where Christ drawes the soul effectually it leaves all parts with all viz. in purpose and resolution In case any thing comes to stand in competition with Christ the resolution of such a soul is rather to part with it then Christ 5. And hereby it expresseth an earnest and Longing Desire after Christ 5. Longing desires after Christ which may yet be another Enquiry Can we say that our souls do go out in earnest desires after Jesus Christ after nearer union and more full communion with him Such affection the Spouse in the Canticles frequently expresseth towards her Well beloved complaining of his estranging and withdrawing himselfe from her how doth shee seek after him earnestly desiring to enjoy him and to be enjoyed of him And truly so will it be with the soul that is truly drawn unto Christ it will affectionately long after him earnestly desiring to be more nearly united to him to have a more full communion with him to injoy the presence of his grace here and glory hereafter The Spirit and the Bride say Rev. 22.17 20 Come Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly 6. To name but one more in the sixth place as touching our Submission to Jesus Christ Can we say that we have taken him as our Lord that we have given up our souls unto him and that we are not only contented but desirous to be ruled and governed by him that we are as willing to be ruled as to be saved by him If so finding our hearts standing thus affected towards Jesus Christ in respect of our affiance in him love to him High-prizing of him readinesse to part withall for him earnest desires after him willingnesse to be governed by him now may we conclude it to our comfort that we are in the number of those who have felt the effectuall power of Jesus Christ put forth and exercised in and upon us in drawing us to himselfe Otherwise having no such affections towards him our hearts not resting upon him not closing with him preferring other things it may be every base lust before him not willing to part with any thing much lesse with all for him having no desires after him not submitting unto him certainly wee never yet knew what this effectuall work meant Upon this Triall thus made two sorts of Vse 2. persons come now to be dealt with 1. To such as are thus drawn Such as shall find themselves thus in measure wrought upon Let them 1. 1. Comfort from their interest in Christ Take unto themselves the comfort of this blessed worke Having by experience felt in themselves this fruit of Christs death let them be assured that all the merits and benefits of his death belong unto them Those whom Christ thus draweth he draweth not onely to union but communion with himself being thus drawn to Christ to receive him believe on him submit unto him now all that is Christs is theirs The merit of his death is theirs for their Justification The vertue of his death and

resurrection is theirs for their vivification resurrection first and second The benefit of his Intercession is theirs for their perseverance and continuance in grace and for bringing them through grace to glory Being drawn to Christ in his Kingdome of grace they shall be drawn up to him in his Kingdome of glory where they shall participate of that happinesse and blessednesse which himselfe as their Redeemer hath merited for them and as their Head hath already in their names taken and keepeth possession of 2. Exhortation to seek to feele more of this attractive power 2. In the second place Being thus drawn unto Christ let them labour to find this effectuall working in them more and more This let every of us do who have had any experience of this attractive power in our selves Let our desire still be that we may be drawn nearer unto Christ Whilest we are here below still there will be a distance betwixt us and him And therefore finding our hearts in measure drawn unto him still seek after a nearer union that we may be every day drawn more and more out of darknesse from under the power of Satan and the dominion of all sinfull lusts as also out of our selves and so may be more incorporated into him And being thus drawn unto him let our desires be that we may also be drawn after him Draw me and I will run after thee Cant. 1.3 saith the Church That we may follow him which we are not able to doe without his continued drawing Even as it is the same strength and force which at the first sets a bowle and after continueth it in its course It runs not further then the force of the Arme which threw it carries it Even so fareth it in the course of new obedience The same povver and strength which at the first puts a man into that way must still carry him on in it viz. the strength of Christ I am able to do all things Phil. 4.13 saith Paul But how Through Christ that strengtheneth me A regenerate person who hath a principle of new life put into his soul he is made willing and in some measure able as to come unto Christ by faith so to follow him in a way of obedience but all by the power and strength of Christ Gal. 2.20 It is Christ that liveth in him and moveth in him It is Christ that dravveth the soule to him and after him Both are wrought by the same povver and therefore having felt the first grace in bringing us unto Christ now seek vve after a second grace even the continuance of the same grace Having felt a Prevenient now seeke for a subsequent grace that being still dravvn nearer and nearer unto Christ vve may follow him throughout the whole course of our active and passive obedience untill vve shall be dravvne up unto him to partake with him in his Glory This for those who do find themselves in measure thus drawn unto Christ 2. Such as are strangers to this work let them not rest till they find Christ thus drawing them to himselfe 2. In the next place a word or two to those who are as yet strangers to this work who never yet felt this effectuall working in themselves Let them be exhorted never to give rest unto their soules untill they find and feele Jesus Christ thus drawing them to himselfe Beloved upon this depends our comfort here and salvation hereafter viz. upon our union with Christ By this may we be assured that we are within the compasse of Gods Election of grace that we are in the number of those whom God hath not ordained unto wrath but to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ By this may we know and be assured that we are given to Christ John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Those whom God the Father giveth to his Son before time in his Decree of Election the Son drawes them to himselfe in time by an effectuall vocation causing them to come unto him as unto a Saviour as unto a Lord to believe on him to submit unto him Let not any of us give rest to our soules till we find this blessed work begun in them And here take heed of that common deceit of resting our selves contented with an outward drawing Rest not in an outward drawing viz. that Christ hath been revealed and offered to us in the word that we have been invited to come unto him The parable in the Gospel tels us of many guests that were invited to the Marriage Supper Matth. 22. who yet never tasted of it So fareth it with many whom Christ by his Ministers invites to come partake in his merits his benefits offering himselfe to them who yet shall never be the better for him Nay better for them they had never known what any such offer or invitation meant And therefore rest we not here nor yet in that common work of the Spirit Nor yet in a common work of the Spirit in stirring up some velleities some good motions and inclinations drawing the soul towards Christ but seek after a thorow work to finde our hearts effectually perswaded to come out of the world to come out of our selves to come unto Jesus Christ to receive him as Saviour and Lord. To this end for the furthering of this work Means to further this drawing 1. Submit to the drawing Ordinance 1. Submit our selves to a conscionable attendance upon the Ordinance of Christ that Ordinance wherein and whereby Christ ordinarily putteth forth this power for the effectuall drawing of men to himself viz. the publike Ministery of the Word Ever begging a blessing from God upon it that through the secret work of his Spirit accompanying it it may be made effectual to us for this blessed end and purpose 2. Submitting to this Ordinance in the second place take heed of making resistance against Christ When Christ begins to draw take we heed of drawing back 2. Take heed of drawing back Take heed of opposing resisting quenching any good motions kindled in our hearts by the Spirit through the Word Such motions at sometime or other such as constantly sit under the Ministery of the Word shall feel in themselves And now doth Christ begin to draw Take we heed in this case of with-drawing drawing back which is a thing of dangerous consequence Heb. 10.38 If any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the phrase where less is said but more intended My soul shall have no pleasure in such a one that is I will hate I will abhorr him set my self against him Take we heed of all such rebellious and disloyall refusing to follow Christ beginning to draw Obj. Why but you may say what is our Resistance in this case Is not Christ able by his Grace to over-power the soul though never so rebellious never so obstinate Christ will not