COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (4)

Fourthly, Farther, he that cometh to J[gap] Chriſt for life, taketh part with him againſt [gap] & againſt the ragged & unperfect Righteouſ[gap] of th[gap] World; yea, & againſt falſe Chriſts, [gap] damnable Errors, that ſet themſelves againſt [gap] Worthineſs of his Merits & Sufficiency: Th[gap] evident, for that ſuch a Soul ſingleth Chriſt [gap] from them all, as the only One that can ſav[gap]

Fifthly, Therefore, as Noah at Gods Comma[gap] thou preparedſt this Ark for the ſaving of [gap] ſelf, by the which alſo thou condemneſt [gap] World, & art become Heir of the Righte[gap] neſs, which is by Faith, Heb. 11.17. Wh[gap] fore, coming Sinner, be content, he that co[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt, believeth too that he is will to ſhew Mercy too, and have Compaſſion t[gap] him (though unworthy) that comes to him life: And therefore thy Soul lieth not only [gap] der a ſpecial Invitation to come, but unde[gap] Promiſe too, of being accepted and forgiv[gap] Mat. 11.28,

All theſe particular Parts and Qualitie[gap] Faith are in that Soul that comes to J[gap]

[gap]ſt For Life, as is evident to any dif [gap]nt Judgment.

[gap]or, will he that believeth not the Teſtimony Chriſt, concerning the Baſeneſs of Sin, & the [gap]fficiency of the Righteouſneſs of the world, [gap]e to Chriſt for Life? No.

[gap]e that believeth not the Teſtimony of the [gap]rd, comes not. He that believes that there [gap]ife any where elſe, comes not He that queſ [gap]s whether the Father hath given Chriſt [gap]ver to forgive, comes not: He that thinketh [gap] there is mor[gap] in Sin, in the Law, in Death, [gap]he Devil to deſtroy than there is in Chriſt to [gap]e, comes not. He alſo that Queſtions his faith [gap] management of his Prieſthood, for the Sal [gap]ion of Sinners, comes not.

Thou then that art indeed the coming Sin [gap], believeſt all this? True, perhaps thou doſt [gap] believe with that full Aſſurance, nor [gap] thou leiſure to take notice of thy Faith as [gap]heſe diſtinct Acts of it; but yet all this Faith [gap] him coming to Chriſt for Life. And the [gap]th that thus worketh, is the Faith of the beſt [gap] pureſt kind: Becauſe this Man comes alone [gap] Sinner, & as ſeeing that life is to be had on [gap] in Jeſus Chriſt.

Before I conclude my Anſwer to this Objection [gap]e into thy Conſideration theſe Two Things.

Firſt, That the Cities of Refuge were erected [gap] thoſe that were dead in the Law, & that yet [gap] live by Grace, even for thoſe that were [gap] hither for Life from the Avenger of Blood [gap] purſueth after them. And it is worth your [gap]ing, that thoſe that were upon their flight [gap]ther▪ are in a peculiar manner, called the Peo [gap] of God. Caſt ye up, caſt ye up, ſaith

God, prepare ye the way: Take up the ſtu[gap] bling-block out of the way of my peopl[gap] Iſa. 57.14 This is meant of preparing the [gap] to the City of Refuge, that the Slayers mi[gap] eſcape thither; which flying Slayers are he by way of ſpecialty called the People of God even thoſe of them that eſcaped thither for Lif[gap]

Secondly, Conſider that of Ahab when Benha[gap] ad ſent to him for Life, ſaying; Thus ſaith t[gap] Son Benhadad, I pray thee, let me Live Thou[gap] Benhadad had ſought the Crown & Kingdom, ye[gap] and alſo the Life of Ahab; yet how effectual[gap] doth Benhadad prevail with him. Is Benhadad y[gap] alive? ſaid Ahab. He is my Brother; yea, [gap] ye bring him to me. So he made him Ride [gap] his Chariot, 1 Kings 20.

Coming Sinner, What thinkeſt thou? If [gap] ſus Chriſt had as little Goodneſs in him as Ah[gap] he might grant an humble Benhadad Life. Th[gap] neither beggeſt of him his Crown and Digni[gap] Life, eternal Life will ſerve thy turn. H[gap] much more then, ſhalt thou have it, ſince t[gap] haſt to deal with him who is Goodneſs & Me[gap] it ſelf! yea, ſince thou art called upon, y[gap] greatly encouraged by a promiſe of Life, [gap] come unto him for Life? Read alſo theſe Scr[gap] tures, Numb. 35.11. Joſhua 20.1.2. Heb. 6. [gap]

Object. 2. When I ſay, I only ſeek my ſe[gap] mean I do not find that I do deſign God's G[gap] in mine own Salvation by Chriſt, & that m[gap] me fear I do not come aright.

Anſw. Where doth Chriſt Jeſus require ſ[gap] Qualification of thoſe that are coming to [gap] for Life? Come thou for Life, and tr[gap] not thy Head with ſuch Objections againſt [gap] ſelf; and let Chriſt and God alone to Gl[gap]

themſelves in the Salvation of ſuch a Worm as thou art. The Father ſaith to the Son, Thou art my Son, O Iſrael, in whom I will be glorified. God pronounceth Life to Sinners, as the Argument to prevail with them to come to him for life; and Chriſt ſays plainly, I am come that ye might have Life, John 12.10. He hath no need of thy Deſigns, though thou haſt need of his Eternal Life. Pardon of Sin, & Deliverance from Wrath to come, Chriſt propounds to thee, theſe be the things that thou haſt need of: Beſides God will be gracious & merciful to Worthleſs, Undeſerving Wretches; Come then as ſuch an one, and lay no ſtumbling blocks in the Way to him, but come to him for Life, and live John 5.24. Ch. 3.36. Mat. 1.21. Pro 8.36, 37 [gap] Theſ. 11. John 11.25.26.

When the G[gap]a[gap]er ſaid, Sits, what muſt I do to [gap]e ſaved? Paul did not ſo much as once ask him [gap]hat is your End in this Queſtion? Do you de [gap]ign the Glory of God, in the Salvation of your [gap]oul? He had more wit: He knew that ſuch [gap]ueſtions as theſe, would have been but as Fools [gap]a[gap]bles, inſtead of a ſufficient S[gap]lve to ſo weigh [gap] a Queſtion as this. Wherefore ſince this poor Wretch lacked Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, I mean [gap] ſaved from Hell & Death, which he knew [gap] now) was due to him for the Sins that he [gap]d committed; Paul bids him like a poor con [gap]emned Sinner▪ as he was, to proceed ſtill in [gap] is way of Self-ſeeking. Believe on the Lord Jeſus [gap]riſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, Acts 16 30 31, 32. I [gap]now, that afterwards thou wilt deſire to glo [gap]fie Chriſt, by walking in the way of his [gap]ecepts; but at preſent thou wanteſt Life; [gap]e Avenger of Blood is behind thee, and the

Devil like a roaring Lion is behind thee. Well come now, and obtain Life from theſe; and when thou haſt obtained ſome comfortable Perſwaſion that thou are made a Partaker of Life by Chriſt, then, and not till then, tho[gap] wilt ſay, Bleſs the Lord O my ſoul, and all that is within me, bleſs his holy Name. Bleſs the Lor[gap] O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits; wh[gap] forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all th[gap] Diſeaſes; who redeemeth thy Life from Deſtruction and crowneth thee with loving Kindneſſes, and te[gap] der Mercies, Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Object. 3. But I cannot believe that I a[gap] come to Chriſt aright, becauſe ſometimes I at apt to queſtion his very Being & Office to ſav[gap]

Thus to do is horrible; but mayeſt th[gap] not judge amiſs in this matter.

How can I judge amiſs, when I judge [gap] I feel? Poor Soul! Thou mayſt judge ami[gap] for all that. Why, ſaith the Sinner, I thi[gap] that theſe Queſtions come from my Heart.

Anſw. Let me anſwer: That which com[gap] from thy Heart, comes from thy Will [gap] Affections, from thy Underſtanding, Judgm[gap] and Conſcience, for theſe muſt acquieſce[gap] thy queſtioning; if thy queſtioning be [gap] thy Heart. And how ſay'ſt thou (for to n[gap] no more) doſt thou with thy Affection [gap] Conſcience, thus queſtion?

Anſw. No my Conſcience trembles w[gap] ſuch Thoughts come into my Mind; & [gap] Affections are otherwiſe inclined.

Then I conclude, that theſe things ar[gap] [gap] ther ſuddenly injected by the Devil, or [gap] are the Fruits of that Body of Sin & D[gap]

[gap]at y[gap] dwells within thee, or perhaps [gap] [gap] together.

If they come wholly from the Devil, as they ſeem, becauſe thy Conſcience and Affections are againſt them; or if they come from the Body of Death that is in thee, (and be not thou curious in enquiring from whether of them they come, the ſafeſt way is, to lay enough at thy own Door) nothing of this ſhould hinder thy coming, nor make thee conclude, thou comeſt not aright.

And before I leave thee, let me a little query with thee about this matter.

Firſt, Doſt thou like theſe wicked Blaſphemies;

Anſw. No, no, their preſence and working kills me.

Secondly, Doſt thou mourn for them, pray againſt them, and hate thy ſelf becauſe of them?

Anſw. Yes, yes, but that which afflicts me is, I do not prevail againſt them.

Thirdly, Doſt thou ſincerely chuſe (mighteſt thou have thy choice) that thy Heart might be aff[gap]cted, & taken with the things that are beſt, moſt Heavenly and Holy.

Anſw. With all my Heart, and Death the next Hour (if it were God's Will) rather than thus to Sin againſt him.

Well then, thy not liking of them, thy mourning for them, thy praying againſt them, & thy loathing thy ſelf becauſe of them, with thy ſincere chuſing of thoſe Thoughts, for thy Delcetation, that are Heavenly and Holy, clearly declares, that theſe things are not countenanc'd either with thy Will, Affections, Underſtanding, Judgement, or Conſcience; and ſo, that thy Heart is not in them, but that rather they come immediately from the Devil, of ariſe from the

Body of Death that is in thy Fleſh; of which thou oughteſt thus to ſay, now then it's no more I that do it, but Sin that dwells in me Rom. 7.16, 17.

I will give thee a pertinent Inſtance: I[gap] Deut. 22. thou mayeſt read of a betrothed Damſel, one betrothed to her Beloved, one that ha[gap] given him her Heart and Mouth, as thou haſ[gap] given thy ſelf to Chriſt; yet ſhe was met with as ſhe walked in the Field, by one that force[gap] her, becauſe he was ſtronger than ſhe. Well, what Judgment now doth God, the righteou[gap] Judge paſs upon the Damſel for this? The Ma[gap] only that lay with her, ſaith God ſhall die; bu[gap] unto the Damſel thou ſhalt do nothing; the[gap] is in the Damſel no Sin worthy of Death. F[gap] as when a Man riſeth againſt his Neighbour, [gap] ſlayeth him, even ſo is this matter; he foun[gap] her in the F[gap]eld, & the betrothed Damſel crie[gap] and there was none to ſave her, Deut. 22.27, 29▪

Thou art this Damſel the Man that forc[gap] thee with theſe Blaſphemous thoughts is t[gap] Devil; and he lighteth upon thee in a fit plac[gap] even in the Fields, as thou art wandring aft[gap] Jeſus Chriſt; but thou cryedſt out, and by t[gap] cry, didſt ſhew that thou abhotreſt ſuch wick[gap] Lewdneſs Well, the Judge of all the Earth wi[gap] do right: he will not lay the Sin at thy Do[gap] but at his that offered thee Violence: & for [gap] Comfort, take this into Conſideration, that [gap] came to heal them that were oppreſſed with [gap] Devil, Acts 10.38.

Obj 4. But ſaith another, I am ſo heartleſs, [gap] ſlow, and as I think, ſo indifferent in my comin[gap] that, to ſpea[gap] truth, I know not whether makin[gap] of coming ought to be called a coming to Chri[gap]

Anſw. You know that I told you at firſt, that coming to Chriſt is a moving of the Heart and Aff[gap]ctions towards him.

But ſaith the Soul, my Dulneſs and Indifferency in all holy Duties, demonſtrate my heartleſsneſs in Coming; and to come, and not with the Heart, ſignifies nothing at all.

Anſw. The moving the Heart after Chriſt is not to be diſcerned (at all times) by the ſenſible affectionate Performance of Duties; but rather by thoſe ſecret Groanings & Complaints which thy Soul makes to God againſt that Sloth that attends thee in Duties

Secondly, But grant it be even as thou ſay'ſt it [gap]s, that thou comeſt ſo ſlowly, &c. yet ſince Chriſt bids them come that comes not at all, [gap]urely they may be accepted that come, though [gap]ttended with thoſe Infirmities, which thou at [gap]reſent groaneſt under. He ſaith, And him that [gap]ometh: He ſaith not, if they come ſenſible, ſo [gap]ſt. But, and him that cometh to me, I will in no [gap]iſe caſt out. He ſaith alſo in the Eight of the [gap]overbs, As for him that wanteth Underſtanding, [gap] that is, an Heart; for oftentimes the Under [gap]anding is taken for the Heart) Come eat of my [gap]read, and drink of the Wine that I have mingled.

Thirdly, Thou may'ſt be vehement in thy Spi [gap]it in Coming to Jeſus Chriſt, & yet be plagued [gap]ith ſenſible Sloth. So was the Church, when [gap]e cried, Draw me, we will after thee; [gap] Pa[gap], [gap]hen he ſaid, When I would do good, evil is preſent [gap]ith m[gap], (Song 14. Rom 7. Gal. 5.19) The Works, [gap]truglings & Oppoſitions of the Fleſh, are more [gap]anifeſt than are the Works of the Spirit in our [gap]arts, and ſo are ſooner felt than they. What [gap]hen, let us not be diſcouraged at the ſight of

our own infirmities, but run the faſter to J[gap]ſu[gap] Chriſt for Salvation,

Fourthly, Get thy Heart warmed with the ſwe[gap] Promiſe of Chriſt's Acceptance of the Comin[gap] Sinner, and that will make thee make more haſt[gap] unto him. Diſcouraging Thoughts, they a[gap] like to cold Water, they benumb the Senſes, a[gap] make us go ungainly about our buſi[gap]eſs; b[gap] the ſweet and warm Gledes of Promiſe, are lik[gap] the comfortable Beams of the Sun, which en[gap] veneth and refreſheth. You ſee how little ta[gap] Bee and Fly do play in the Winter, Why, th[gap] Cold hinde[gap]s them from it; but when the Win[gap] and Sun is warm, who ſo buſie as they.

Fifthly, But again, he that comes to Chriſt flie[gap] for his Life. Now there is no Man that fl[gap] for his Life, that thinks he ſpeeds faſt enoug[gap] on his Journey; no, could he, he would w[gap] lingly take a mile at a ſtep O my ſlothful [gap] heartleſs Soul[gap] [gap]ay'ſt thou, Oh that I had W[gap] like a Dove, for then would I flie away, and be [gap] reſt! I would haſten my eſcape from the windy Si[gap] and Tempeſt, Pſalm 65, 6, 8

Poor coming Soul, thou art like the Man th[gap] would ride full Gallop, whoſe Horſe will har[gap] ly Trot; now the deſire of his Mind is not [gap] be judged by the ſl[gap]w pace of the dul[gap] J[gap]de b[gap] rides on, but by the Hitching, and Kicking, [gap] Spurring, as he ſits on his Back. Thy F[gap]eſh is li[gap] this dull Jude, it will not gallop after Chriſt [gap] it will be backward, though thy Soul & Heaven [gap]i[gap] at Stake: But be of good Comfort, Chriſt judgeth not according to the fierceneſs of ou[gap] ward Motion, Mark 10.17. but according to the[gap] Sincerity of the He[gap] and inward Parts, John [gap] 47. Pſal. 5.1. Mat. 20.41.

Sixthly Z[gap]ba, in appearance came to David much faſter than did Mephiboſheth; but yet his H[gap]art was not ſo upright in him to David, as was his. 'Tis true, Mephiboſheth had a Check f[gap]o[gap]n David; for ſaid he Why we[gap]rest not thou with me, Mephiboſh[gap]h? But when David came to remember Mephiboſheth was lame (for that was his Plea) Thy Servant is lame, 2 Sam 2.10. he was content, & concluded he would have c[gap]me after him faſter than he did: And Meph[gap]boſheth appealed to David, who was in thoſe Days as an Angel of God to know all things that are done in the E[gap]th If he did not believe that the reaſon of his ba[gap]kwardneſs lay in his lameneſs, and not in his Mind. Why, poor coming Sinner, thou canſt not come to Chriſt with that outward Swiftneſs of Career, as many others do? But doth the reaſon of thy Backwardneſs lie in in thy M[gap]nd or Will, or in the Sl[gap]ggiſhneſs of the Fleſh? Canſt thou ſay ſincerely. The Spirit [gap]uly is willing, but the Fleſh is weak, Mat 26.41. Yea canſt thou appeal to the Lord Jeſus, who [gap]noweth perfectly the very inmoſt thoughts of [gap]hy Heart, that this is true? Then take this for [gap]hy Comfort: He hath ſaid, I will aſſemble her [gap]at halteth, I will make her that halteth a Remnant, [gap]nd I will ſave her that halteth, M[gap]ch. 4 6 Z[gap]ph 3.

What canſt thou have more from the [gap]weet Lips of the Son of God? But,