COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (5)

Seventhly, I read of ſome that are to follow [gap]hriſt in Chains: Thus ſaith the Lord, the Labour [gap] Egypt, and the Merchndize of Ae[gap]pi[gap], & the [gap]beans, Men of Stature, ſhall come over unto thee, [gap]d they ſhall be thine: They ſhall come after thee; in [gap]ains they ſhall come over, and they ſhall fall down un [gap]r thee, ſaying: They ſhall make Supplication unto them,

ſaying, Surely there is none elſe to ſave. Iſa. 4.14 Surely they that come after Chriſt in Chains, come to him in great D[gap]fficulty, becauſe thei[gap] Steps by the Chains are ſtraitned.

And what Chains ſo heavy, as thoſe that diſcourage thee? Thy Chain which is made up of Guilt & Filth, is heavy; it is a wretched Bond about thy Neck, by which thy Strength doth fail, Rom. 1.14. Ch 3 27 But come, though thou comeſt in Chains: 'Tis Glory to Chriſt that [gap] Sinner comes after him in Chains The chi[gap] ing of thy Chains, tho' troubleſome to thee are not, for can be any Obſtruction to thy Salvation: 'tis Chriſt's Work and Glory to ſave thee from thy Chains, to enlarge thy ſteps, and ſet thee at Liberty. The blin[gap] Man though called, ſurely could not com[gap] apace to Jeſus Chriſt: But Chriſt could ſtan[gap] ſtill, and ſtay for him. True, He rideth upon the Wings of the Wind: but yet he is long ſuffering, and his long ſuffering is Salvation [gap] him that cometh to him, Mat. 10.49. Pet. 3 9.

Eighthly, Hadſt thou ſeen thoſe that come t[gap] the Lord Jeſus in the day of his Fleſh, ho[gap] hoblingly they came unto him, by reaſon t[gap] their Infirmities, and alſo how friendly, & kindly, and graciouſly he received them, and gav[gap] them the deſire of their Hearts, thou would[gap] not, as thou doſt, make ſuch O[gap]jections againſ[gap] thy ſelf in coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

Object. 5. But ſay[gap] another, I fear I come t[gap] lat[gap]; I doubt I have ſtaid too long, I am afra[gap] the Door is ſhut.

Anſw Thou canſt never come too late to Jeſus Chriſt, if thou doſt come. This is manifeſt by two Inſtances.

Firſt, By the Man that came to him at th[gap] E [gap]eventh Hour. This Man was idle all the Day [gap]ong: He had a whole Goſpel day, to come in, and he play'd it all away ſave only the laſt Hour thereof; But at laſt at the Eleventh hour he came, and goes into the Vineyard to work along with the reſt of the Labourers, that had [gap]orn the Burthen and Heat of the Day. Well, [gap]ut how was he received of the Lord of the Vineyard; Why, when Pay-day came, he had even as much as the reſt, yea, had his Money firſt. True, the others murmured at him; but what did the Lord Jeſus anſwer them? Is thine [gap]e Evil, becauſe mine is good? I will give unto this [gap], even as unto thee, Mat. 20.

Secondly, The other Inſtance is, The Thief [gap] on the Croſs; he came late alſo, even at an [gap]our before his Death; yea, he ſtayed from [gap]ſus Chriſt as long as he had Liberty to be a [gap]hief, and longer too; for could he have de [gap]ded the Judges, and by his lying words eſca [gap]d his juſt Condemnation, for ought I know, [gap] had not come as yet to his Saviour: But be [gap]g convicted, and condemned to die; yea, ſaſt [gap]ed to the Croſs, that he might die like a Rogue [gap] he was in his Life; behold the Lord Jeſus, [gap]hen this wicked one, even now deſireth Mer [gap] at his Hands, tells him, and that without the [gap]ſt Reflection upon him for his former mif [gap]ent Life; To Day thou ſhalt be with me in Pa [gap]d[gap]ce, Luke 23.43.

Let no Man turn this Grace of God into Wantonneſs; my Deſign is now to encourage [gap]he coming Soul.

Obj. But is not the Door of Mercy ſhut againſt [gap] me before they die?

Anſw ▪ Yea, & God forbids that Prayer ſho[gap] be made to him for them, Jer. 7.16. Jude [gap]

Queſt. Then why may not I doubt that I [gap] he one of theſe?

Anſw By no means, if thou art coming to [gap] ſus Chriſt; becauſe when God ſhuts the D[gap] upon Men, he gives them no Heart to com[gap] Jeſus Chriſt. None comes but thoſe to w[gap] it is given of the Father: But thou co[gap] therefore it is given to thee of the Father.

Be ſure therefore, if the Father hath [gap] thee an Heart to come to Jeſus Chriſt, the [gap] of Mercy yet ſtands open to thee: For it ſ[gap] not with the Wiſdom of God to give ſtre[gap] to come to the Birth, and yet to ſhut [gap] Womb Iſa. 66.9. To give Grace to com[gap] Jeſus Chriſt, and yet ſhut up the Doo[gap] his Mercy upon thee. Incline thine Ear, [gap] he, and come unto me; hear, and your Soul[gap] live: and I will make an everlaſting Covenant you, even the ſure Mercies of David, Iſa. 52.

Obj. But it is ſaid that ſome Knocked wh[gap] Door was ſhut.

Anſ. Yes But the Text in which theſe K[gap] ers are mentioned, are to be referr'd unto day of Judgment▪ and not to the coming the Sinner to Chriſt in this Life. See the [gap] Mat. 25.11 Luke 13 24, 25

Theſe therefore concern thee nothing at that art coming to Jeſus Chriſt, thou art co[gap] now, Now is the accepted time, behold now [gap] Day of Salvation, 2 Cor 6.2 Now God is upo[gap] Mercy ſeat, now Chriſt Jeſus ſi[gap] by, con[gap] ly pleading the Victory of his Blood for [gap] ners; and now even as long as this W[gap] laſts, this Word of the Text ſhall be ſtill [gap]

[gap] fully fulfilled, and him that cometh to Me, [gap]ll in no wiſe caſt out.

[gap]inner, the greater Sinner thou art, the great [gap] [gap]eed of Mercy thou haſt, and the more will [gap]ſt be glorified thereby: Come then, come [gap] try: Come taſte & ſee how good the Lord [gap]o an undeſerving Sinner.

Obj. But ſays another, I am fallen ſince I be [gap] [gap] to come to Chriſt; therefore I fear I did not [gap] aright, and ſo conſequently, that Christ will [gap] receive me.

[gap]nſw Falls are dangerous, for they Diſho [gap]r Chriſt, wound the Conſcience & cauſe [gap] Enemies of God to ſpeak reproachfully. [gap] it is no good Argument, I am fallen, there [gap] I was not coming aright to Jeſus Chriſt David and Solomon, and Peter had thus objec [gap] againſt themſelves, they had added to their [gap]efs; and yet at leaſt as much cauſe as thou. [gap] Man whoſe Steps are ordered by the Lord, [gap] whoſe goings the Lord delight in, m[gap]y yet [gap]vertaken in a Temptation that may cauſe [gap] to fall, Pſal 37 23, 24 Did not Aaron fall; [gap] and Moſes himſelf? What ſhall we ſay of [gap]ekiah and Jeh[gap]ſhaphat? There are therefore [gap]s and Falls: Falls pardonable, and Falls [gap]ardonable: Falls unpardonable are Falls a [gap] [gap] Light, from the Faith to the deſpiſing of [gap] trampling upon Jeſus Chriſt, and his bleſ [gap] Undertakings, (Heb 6.2.3.4, 5 Ch 10 28, 29.) [gap]w as for ſuch there remains no more Sacri [gap] for Sin: Indeed, they have no Heart, no [gap]nd, no Deſire to come to Jeſus Chriſt for [gap]e, therefore they muſt periſh. Nay, ſays [gap] Holy Ghoſt, 'Tis impoſſible that they ſhould be [gap]newed again unto Repentance. Therefore theſe

God hath no compaſſion for, neither ought w[gap] but for other Falls, though they be dread[gap] (and God will Chaſtiſe his People for then [gap] they do not prove thee a Graceleſs Man, [gap] not come to Jeſus Chriſt for Life.

It is ſaid of the C[gap]ild in the Goſpel, T[gap] while he was yet a coming[gap] the Devil thr[gap] him down, and tore him, Luke 9.4.

Dejected Sinner, it is no wonder that t[gap] haſt got a Fall in coming to Jeſus Chriſt; [gap] not rather to be wondred at, that thou haſt [gap] had before this, a Thouſand times a Thouſ[gap] Falls? Conſidering,

1. What Fools we are by Nature,

2. What Weakneſſes are in us.

3. What mighty Powers, the Fallen An[gap] [gap] our implacable Enemies are.

4. Conſidering alſo, how often the Con[gap] Man is benighted in his Journey, & alſo [gap] Stumbling-blacks do lye in his way.

5. [gap]ſo his Familiars (that were ſo beſ[gap] now watch for his Halting, and ſeek by [gap] means they may, to cauſe him to Fall by [gap] Hand of their ſtrong Ones.

What then? Muſt we, becauſe of theſe Te[gap] tations, encline to Fall? No; muſt we [gap] fear Falls? Yea, let him that thinketh be ſtan[gap] take heed leſt he fall, 1 Cor 10 12. Yet let [gap] not utterly be caſt down: The Lord upo[gap] eth all that Fall, and raiſeth up thoſe tha[gap] bowed down. Make not light of Falls: [gap] haſt thou fallen? Ye have, ſaid Samuel, don[gap] this Wickedneſs; yet turn not aſide from [gap] lowing the Lord; but ſerve him with a [gap] fect Heart, and turn not aſide, for the [gap] will not forſake his People, (and he co[gap]

[gap]he Coming Sinner one of them) becauſe [gap]t hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his People, (1 Sam. 12.20.)

(Shall come to Me.)

Now we come to ſhew what Force there is in this Promiſe to make them come to him. All that the Father giveth Me, ſhall come to Me.

I will ſpeak to this Promiſe.

Firſt, In General.

Secondly, In Particular.

In General. This Word (ſhall) is confined to theſe (All) that are given to Chriſt. All that the Father giveth Me, ſhall come to Me. Hence I conclude,

Firſt, That coming to Jeſus Chriſt aright, is an effect of their being (of God) given to Chriſt [gap]fore. Mark! They ſhall come: Who? Thoſe that are given: They come then, becauſe they were given. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them [gap]. Now this is indeed a ſingular Com[gap]ort to them that are coming in truth to Chriſt, [gap] think [gap] the reaſon why they come, is, beca[gap]ſe they [gap]re given of the Father before to him. Thus [gap]n may the coming Soul reaſon with himſelf [gap]he comes. Am I coming indeed to Jeſus [gap]riſt? This coming of mine is not to be attri [gap]ted to me, or my Goodneſs, but to the Grace [gap] Gift of God to Chriſt; God gave fi[gap]ſt my [gap]ſon to Him, and therefore hath now given [gap] a Heart to come.

[gap]econdly, This Word (ſhall come) make thy [gap]ming, not only the Fruit of the Gif[gap] of the [gap]her, but alſo the Purpoſe of the Son; for [gap]ſe words are a divine Purpoſe; they ſhew us [gap] Heavenly Determination of the Son. The [gap]her hath given them to me, and they ſhall,

yea, they ſhall come to Me. Chriſt is as full an his Reſolution to ſave thoſe given to him as is the Father in giving of them. Chriſt prized the Gift of his Father, He will loſe nothing of it; he is reſolved to ſave it every whit by his Blood, and to raiſe it up again at the la[gap] Day; and thus He fulfils his Father's Will, [gap] accompliſheth his own Deſires, John 6 30.

Thirdly, Theſe Words (ſhall come) maketh thy coming to be alſo the Effect of an abſolute Promiſe; coming Sinner, thou art concluded in [gap] Promiſe; thy coming is the Fruit of the Faithfulneſs of an abſolute Promiſe. 'Twas this Promiſe, by the virtue of which thou at firſt rece[gap] vedſt ſtrength to come: And this is the Pr[gap] miſe, by the Virtue of which thou ſhalt be [gap] fectually brought to him. It was ſaid to Ab[gap] ham, At this time will I come, and Sarah ſhall be [gap] a Son. This Son was Iſaac. Mark! Sarah ſha[gap] have a Son: There is the Promiſe; and S[gap] had a Son: There was the fulfilling of the P[gap] miſe: And therefore was Iſaac called the Ch[gap] of the Promiſe, Gen. 17.19, ch. 18.10 Rom. 9 9.

Sarah ſhall have a Son: But how if Sarah be p[gap] Age? Why ſtill the Promiſe continues to [gap] Sarah ſhall have a Son. But how if Sarah [gap] Barren? Why ſtill the Promiſe ſays, Sarah [gap] have a Son But Abraham's Body is now de[gap] why the Promiſe is ſtill the [gap]am[gap] ▪ Sarah [gap] have a Son. Thus you ſee what Virtue ther[gap] an abſolute Promiſe: It carrieth enough [gap] its own Bowels to accompliſh the thing proc[gap] ſed, whether there be means or no to effect [gap] Wherefore this Promiſe in the Text being [gap] abſolute Promiſe, by Virtue of it, not by [gap] [gap]n[gap] of our ſelves, or by our own Induceme[gap]

do we come to Jeſus Chriſt, for ſo are the Words of the Text; All that the Father giveth Me, ſhall come to Me.

Therefore is every ſincere Come[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt called alſo the Child of the Promiſes. Now my Brethren, as Iſaac was, ſo are we the Children of the Promiſe, Gal. 4.28. That is, we are the Children that God hath promiſed to Jeſus Chriſt, and given to him; yea, the Children that Jeſus Chriſt hath promiſed ſhall come to him. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come.

Fourthly, This Word (ſhall come) engageth Chriſt to communicate all manner of Grace to thoſe thus given him, to make them effectually come to him, They ſhall come; that [gap]s, not if they will, but if Grace, all Grace, [gap]f Power, Wiſdom, a new Heart, and the Holy Spirit, and all joyning together, can make them come. I ſay this Word (ſhall come) being abſolute hath no Dependance upon our own Will, or Power, or Goodneſs; But it en [gap]geth for us, even God himſelf, Chriſt him [gap]elf, the Spirit himſelf. When God had made [gap]at abſolute Promiſe to Abraham that Sarah [gap]hould have a Son, Abraham did not at all look [gap]t any Qualifications in himſelf, becauſe the [gap]romiſe looked at none; but as God had, by [gap]he Promiſe abſolutely promiſed him a Son, ſo [gap] conſidered now, not his own Body now [gap]ead, nor yet the Barrenneſs of Sarah's Womb. [gap]e ſtaggered not at the Promiſe of God through [gap]nbelief, but was ſtrong in Faith, giving Glory to [gap]od, being fully perſwaded, that what he had pro [gap]ſed, he was able to perform, Rom. 4. He had [gap]romiſed, and had promiſed abſolutely Sarah

ſhall have a Son: therefore Abraham looks th[gap] He, to wit, God, muſt fulfil the Condition [gap] it. Neither is this Expectation of Abraham d[gap] approved by the Holy Ghoſt, but account[gap] good and laudable; it being that by which [gap] gives Glory to God. The Father alſo hath g[gap] ven to Chriſt a certain number of Souls [gap] him to ſave; and he himſelf hath ſaid, [gap] ſhall come to him. Let the Church of God th[gap] live in a joyful Expectation of the utm[gap] Accompliſhment of this Promiſe; for aſſure[gap] ly it ſhall be fulfilled, and not one Tho[gap] ſandth part of a Tittle thereof ſhall f[gap] They ſhall come to Me.

And now before I go any farther, I [gap] more particularly enquire into the Nature [gap] an Abſolute Promiſe.

Firſt, We call that an abſolute Promi[gap] that is made without any Condition: or m[gap] fully, thus; that is an abſolute Promiſe [gap] God, or of Chriſt, which maketh over [gap] this or that Man any ſaving ſpiritual I ſing, without a Condition to be done on part, for the obtaining thereof. And this have in hand is ſuch an one. Let the [gap] Maſter of Arts on Earth ſhew me, if he [gap] any Condition in this Text, depending [gap] any Qualification in us, which is not [gap] ſame Promiſe concluded, ſhall be by [gap] Lord Jeſus effected in us.

Secondly, An abſolute Promiſe therefore as we ſay, without if, or and; that is requireth nothing of us that it ſelf might accompliſh'd. It ſaith not, They ſhall, [if] will; but, They ſhall: not, They ſhall, if [gap] uſe the means; but, They ſhall. You [gap]

ſee that a Will, and the uſe of the Means, is ſuppoſed, though not expreſſed. But I anſwer, No, by no Means, that is as a Condition of this Promiſe, if they be at all included in the Promiſe, they are included there, as the Fruit of the abſolute Promiſe, not as if it expected the Qualification to ariſe from us. Thy People ſhall be willing in the Day of thy Power, Pſal. 110.3. This is another abſolute Promiſe: But doth that Promiſe ſuppoſe a Willingneſs in us, as a Condition of God's making us willing? They ſhall be willing, if they are willing; or they ſhall be Willing if they will be willing. This is ridiculous; there is nothing of this ſuppoſed. The Promiſe is abſolute as to us, all that it engageth for its own accompliſhment, is the mighty power of Chriſt, and his Faithfulneſs to accompliſh.

The difference, therefore, betwixt the ab [gap]lute and conditional Promiſe is this;