COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (3)

In theſe laſt words, there is cloſely inſerted, an Anſwer unto the Father's End, in giving of his Elect to Jeſus Chriſt. The Father's End was, that they might come to him, & be ſaved by him; and that ſays the Son, ſhall be done; neither Sin nor Satan, neither Fleſh and World, neither Wiſdom nor Folly, ſhall hinder their coming to me. 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 ſuch a ſufficiency of all Grace, as ſhall effectually perform his Promiſe▪ They ſhall come: that is, he will cauſe them to

come, by infuſing of an effectual Bleſſing in to all the means that ſhall be uſed to that end. As was ſaid to the evil Spirit, that was ſeen to perſwade Ahab to go and fall a[gap] Ramoth G[gap]lead; Go, thou ſhalt perſwade him, and prevail alſo? go forth, and do ſo, 1 Kings 22.22. So will Jeſus Chriſt ſay, to the means than ſhall be uſed, for the bringing of thoſe to him that the Father hath given him. I ſay, he will bleſs it effectually to this very end▪ it ſhall perſwade them, and ſhall prevail alſo. Elſe, as I ſaid, the Father's end would be fruſtrate: For the Father's Will is, that, of all that he hath given him, he ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt Day, in order next unto himſelf, Christ the firſt Fruits, afterwards thoſe that are his, at his Coming, (1 Cor. 15.) But this cannot be done, if there ſhould fail to be a Work of Grace effectually wrought, though but in any one of them. But this ſhall not fail to be wrought in any one of them. But this ſhall not fail to be wrought in them, even in all that the Father hath given him to ſave. All that the Father hath given me ſhall come to me, &c. But to ſpeak more diſtinctly to the Words, They ſhall come; Two things I ſhould ſhew you from theſe Words.

Firſt, What it is to come to Chriſt.

Secondly, What force there is in this Promiſe, to make them come to him.

Firſt, I would ſhew you what it is to come to Chriſt. This word Come, muſt be underſtood Spiritually, not Carnally; for many came to him Carnally, or Bodily, that had no ſaving Advantage by him: Multitudes did thus come unto him in the days of his fleſh, yea, innumerable

Companies. There is alſo at this day a formal Cuſtomary coming to his Ordinances, and ways of Worſhip, which availeth not any thing; but with them I ſhall not now meddle; for they are net intended in the Text. The Coming then intended in the Text, is to be underſtood of the Coming of the Mind to him, even the moving of the Heart towards him, I ſay, the moving of the Heart towards him, from a ſound ſenſe of the abſolute want that a Man hath of Him for his Juſtification and Salvation.

This Deſcription of Coming to Chriſt, divideth it ſelf into Two Heads.

Firſt, That Coming to Chriſt, is a moving [gap] the Mind towards Him.

Secondly, That it is a moving of the Min[gap] towards Him, from a ſound Senſe of the abſolute want that a Man hath of Him for his Juſtification and Salvation.

To ſpeak to the firſt, That is a moving o[gap] the Mind towards him. This is evident, becauſe Coming hither or thither, if it be voluntary, is by an Act of the Mind or Will; [gap] Coming to Chriſt is, through the inclining▪ the Will, Thy People ſhall be willing, Pſal. 1[gap] [gap]. This willingneſs of heart is it which ſe[gap] the Mind a moving after, or towards Chriſt by the moving of her Bowels. My Belo[gap] put [gap] his Hand by the Hole of the Door, and [gap] Bowels were moved for him. Song 4 5. My Bo[gap] els; the Paſſion of my Mind and Affection[gap] which Paſſions of the Affections are expe[gap] by the yearning and ſounding of the Bo[gap] els, the yearning or paſſionate working [gap] them, the ſounding of them, or their makin[gap] noiſe for me, Gen. 43 30. 1 Kings 3 26. Iſa 16 [gap]

This then is the coming to Chriſt, even a moving towards him with the Mind. And it ſhall come to paſs, that every thing that liveth, which moveth whitherſoever the Water ſhall come, ſhall live, Ezek 47.9.

The Water in this Text, is the Grace of God in the Doctrine of it; the living things are the children of Men, to whom the Grace of God, by the Goſpel is preached. Now, ſaith he, every living thing which moveth whitherſoever the Waters ſhall come, ſhall live. And ſee how this Word (moveth) is expounded by Chriſt himſelf, in the Book of the Revelations; the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth ſay come, and let him that is athirſt, Come; and whoſoever will, that is willing let him take the Water of Life freely, R[gap] 22.17.

So that to move in thy Mind and Will after Chriſt, is to be coming to him. There are many poor Souls that are coming to Chriſt, that yet cannot tell how to believe it, becauſe they think that coming to him is ſome ſtrange and wonderful thing, and indeed ſo it is. But I mean, they overlook the Inclination of theſe Will, the moving of their Mind, & the ſounding of theſe Bowels after him; & count theſe none of this ſtrange & wonderful thing; when indeed it is a work of greateſt wonder in this World, to ſee a Man who was ſometimes dead in Sin, poſſ[gap]ſſed of the Devil, an Enemy to Chriſt, and to all things ſpiritually good: I ſay, to ſee this Man moving with his mind after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is one of the higheſt Wonders in the World.

Secondly, It is a moving of the mind towards him, from a ſound Senſe of the abſolute want that a Man hath of him for his Juſtification &

Salvation Indeed without this Senſe of a loſt Condition without him, there will be no moving of the mind towards him: A moving of their Mouth there may be; With their mouth they ſhew much Love, Ezek 33.31. Such a People as this will come as the true People cometh; that is, in ſhew and outward Appearance; and they will ſit before God's Miniſters, as his People ſit before them; and they will hear his Words too, but they will not do them; that is, will not come inwardly with their Minds; For with their Mouth they ſhew much Love, but their Heart (or Mind) goeth after their Covetouſneſs. Now all this is, becauſe they want an effectual ſenſe of the Miſery of their State by Nature; for not till they have that, will they in their Mind move oftner to him. Therefore thus it is ſaid concerning the true Comers. At that Day the Trumpet ſhall be blown, and they ſhall come that were ready to periſh in the land of Aſſyria, and the out-caſts of the land of Egypt, and ſhall worſhip the Lord in his holy Mountain at Jeruſalem, Iſa. 17.13. They are then, as you ſee, the Outcaſts, as thoſe that are ready to periſh: that have their Minds effectually moved to come to Jeſus Chriſt. This ſenſe of things was that which made the Three Thouſand come; that made Saul come; that made the Go[gap]ler come; and that indeed makes all others come, that come effectually, Acts 21.8.16.

Of the true coming to Chriſt, the three Lepers were a famous Semblance, of whom you read, Kings 7 3, &c. The Famine in thoſe days was ſore in the Land, there was no Bread for the People, and as for that Suſtenance tha[gap] was, which was Aſſes Freſh and Doves Dung,

that was only in Samaria; and of theſe the Lepers had no ſhare, for they were thruſt without the City. Well now they ſat in the Gate of the City, and Hunger was, as I may ſay, making his laſt Meal of them; & being therefore half dead already, what do they think of doing? Why, firſt they diſplay the diſmal Colours of Death before each others Faces, and then reſolve what to do, ſaying, If we ſay we will go into the City, then the Famine is in the City, and we ſhall dye there; if we ſit ſtill here, we dye alſo; now therefore come, let us fall into the Hoſt of the Syrians; if they ſave us alive we ſhall live; if they kill us, we ſhall but dye Here now was Neceſſity at Work, and this Neceſſity drove them to go thither for Life, whither elſe they would never have gone for it. Thus it is with them that in truth come to Jeſus Chriſt; Death is before them, they ſee it and feel it; he is feeding upon them, and will eat them quite up if they come not to Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore they come even of Neceſſity, being forced thereto by that ſenſe they have of their being utterly and everlaſtingly undone, if they find not ſafety in him.

Theſe are they that will come; indeed theſe are they that are invited to come. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt, Mat. 11.28

Take two or three things to make this more plain; to wit, that coming to Chriſt floweth from a deep Senſe of the abſolute need that a Man hath of him as afore.

1. They ſhall come with weeping & with Supplication will I lead them; I will cauſe them to walk by the Rivers of Waters, in a

plain way, wherein they ſhall not ſtumble, Jer 31.9, Mind it! They come with weeping and Supplication; they come with Prayers & Tear[gap] Now Prayers & Tears are the effects of [gap]e [gap]ig[gap] Senſe of the Need of Mercy. Thus a ſenſele[gap] Sinner cannot come, he cannot pray, he canno[gap] cry, he cannot come ſenſible of that he ſee not, nor feels. In thoſe days, and at that time the Children of Iſrael ſhall come; they and th[gap] Child of Judah together, going & weeping [gap] they ſhall ſeek the Lord their God; they ſhall ask th[gap] way to Zion, with their Faces thitherward, ſaying [gap] Come, and let us join our selves to the Lord on a perpetual Covenant that ſhall not be forgotten, Jer 50.4.

Secondly, This coming to Chriſt, it is called [gap] Running to him; as flying to him; a flying [gap] him from the Wrath to come. By all whic[gap] Terms, is ſet forth the ſenſe of the Man th[gap] comes, to wit, That he is affected with the ſenſ[gap] of his Sins, and the Death due thereto; that he is ſenſible that the avenger of Blood purſue[gap] him, and that therefore he is cut off, if he makes not ſpeed to the Son of God for Life Mat. 3.7. Pſal. 143 9 Flying is the laſt Work o[gap] a Man in Danger, all that are in danger, do not [gap]y; no, not all that ſee themſelves in danger; flying is the laſt work of a man in danger; all that hear of danger will not fly. Men will conſider, if there be no other way to eſcape before they fly. Therefore, as I ſaid, flying is the laſt thing. When all Refuge fails, & a Man is made to ſee that there is nothing left him [gap] Sin, Death and Damnation, unleſs he flies [gap] Chriſt for Life, then he flies, & not till them

Thirdly, That the true Coming is from a ſen[gap] of an abſolute need of Jeſus Chriſt to save, [gap] i[gap] [gap] the outcry that is made by the [gap]

to come, even as they are coming to him, Mat. 14.30. Acts 2.37. Acts 16.30. Lord, ſave, or I periſh. Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? Sirs, What muſt I do to be ſaved? and the like. This Language doth ſufficiently diſcover, that the truly coming Souls, are Souls ſenſible of their need of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt.

Fourthly, It is yet farther evident, by theſe few things that follow: It is ſaid that ſuch are Pricked in their Hearts, that is, with the Sentence of Death by the Law; & the leaſt prick in the Heart kills a Man. Acts 2.37. Such are ſaid, as I ſaid before, to weep, to tremble, and to be aſtoniſhed in themſelves at the evident & unavoidable Danger that attends them, unleſs they fly to Jeſus Chriſt▪ A[gap]ts 9.16.

Fifthly, Coming to Chriſt is attended with an honeſt and ſincere forſaking all for him. If any Man cometh unto me, and hateth not his Father, [gap]nd Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Brethren, and Siſters, yea, and his own Life alſo, he cannot [gap]e my Diſciple; and whoſoever▪ doth not bear his Croſs, and come after me, cannot be my Diſciple, Luke 14 26, 27.

By theſe and the like Expreſſions elſe where, Chriſt deſcribeth the true Comer, or the Man [gap]hat indeed is coming to him: He is one that [gap]hat caſt[gap]h off all, he hateth all things that would ſtand in his Way to hinder his coming to Je [gap]us Chriſt. There▪ are a great many pretended [gap]omers to Jeſus Chriſt in the World; & they [gap]re much like to that Man that you read of in Mat. 21.30. that ſaid to this Father bidding, I go Sir, and went not. I ſay there are a great many ſuch Comers to Jeſus Chriſt; they ſay when Chriſt calls by his Goſpel, I come Sir; but

ſtill they abide by their Pleaſure and carnal Delights They come not at all, only they give him a courtly Compliment; but he takes notice of it, and well not let it paſs for more than a Lie. He ſaid, I go Sir, and went not; He Diſſembled and Lied. Take heed of this you tha[gap] flatter your ſelves with your own Deceivings▪ Words will not do with Jeſus Chriſt: Coming is coming, and nothing elſe will go for Coming with him.

Before I ſpeak to the other Head, I ſhall anſwer ſome Objections that uſually lie in the Way of thoſe that in truth are coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

Object. 1. Tho' I cannot deny but my mind ſuit after Chriſt, and that too as being moved thereto from a ſight and conſideration of my loſt Condition, (for [gap] ſee without Him I periſh) yet I fear my ends an[gap] not right in coming to him.

Queſt. Why, what is thine End in coming to Chriſt?

Anſw. My End is, that I might have Life, and be ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt.

This is the Objection. Well let me tell thee, that to come to Chriſt for Life, & to be ſaved, although at preſent thou haſt no other end, is a lawful and good coming to Jeſus Chriſt. This is evident, becauſe Chriſt propoundeth Life [gap] the only Argument to prevail with Sinners t[gap] come to him, and ſo alſo blameth the[gap] becauſe they come not to him for Life. And [gap] will not come to me that ye might have Life, Joh. 5 3. Beſides there are many other Scriptures. whereby he allureth Sinners to come to him, in which he propoundeth nothing to them but their ſafety. As, he that believeth in him, ſhall

not periſh; he that believeth is paſſed from Death to Life. He that believeth ſhall be ſaved. He that believeth on him, is not condemned. And believing and coming are all one. So that you ſee to come to Chriſt for Life, is a lawful coming, & good.

1. In that he believeth that he alone hath made Attonement for Sin, Rom. 2.

And let me add over and above, that for a Man to come to Chriſt for Life, tho' he come to him for nothing elſe but Life, is to give much Honour to Him.

Firſt, He honoureth the Word of Chriſt, & conſenteth to the Truth of it; and that in theſe two general Heads.

1. He conſenteth to the truth of all thoſe Sayings that teſtifie that Sin is moſt abominable in it ſelf, diſhonourable to God▪ and damnable to the Soul of man For thus ſaith [gap]he Man that cometh to Jeſus Chriſt, Jer. 44.4. Rom. 2.23. Chap. 6.23. 2 Theſ. 2.12.

2. In that he believeth, as the Word hath [gap]aid, that there is in the World's beſt things, Righteouſneſs and all, nothing but Death and Damnation; for ſo alſo ſays the Man that [gap]omes to Jeſus Chriſt for Life, Ro. 7.24, 25. chap. [gap] 2.3. 2 Cor. 6 7, 8.

Secondly, He honoureth Chriſt's Perſon, in [gap]hat he believeth that there is Life in him. & [gap]hat he is able to [gap]ave him from Death, Hell, [gap]he Devil and Damnation; for unleſs a Man [gap]elieve this, he will not come to Chriſt for [gap]fe. Heb. 7 24, 25.

Thirdly, He honoureth him, in that he be [gap]veth that he is Authorized of the Father, [gap] give Life to thoſe that come to him for [gap] Joh. 5.11, 12. chap. 17.1, 2, 3.

Fourthly, He honoureth the Prieſthood [gap] Jeſus Chriſt.

2. In that he believeth that Chriſt hath n[gap] Power to ſave from Sin, by the Sacrifice tha[gap] hath offered for it, than hath all the Law, [gap] vils, Death, or Sin to condemn. He that [gap] lieves not this, will not come to Jeſus C[gap] for Life, Acts 13 38. Heb. 2 14, 15 Rev 1.17 18

Thirdly, In that h[gap] believes, that Chriſt acc[gap] ing to his Office, will be moſt faithful & m[gap] ciful in the Diſcharge of his Office. This [gap] be included in the faith of him that comes [gap] life to Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Joh. 2.1, [gap] 3. Heb. 2.17, 1[gap]