COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (6)

Firſt, They differ in their Terms. The Ab [gap]lute Promiſe ſays, I will and you ſhall a [gap] other, I will, if you will; or, Do this, [gap] thou ſhalt live, Jer. 38.31, 32, 33. Ezek. 36. [gap] 25. &c. Heb. 8.7, 8, 9. &c. Jer. 4.1. Ezek. 18.30, [gap] Mat 19 21.

Secondly, They differ in their way of com [gap]nicating good things to Men; the abſolute [gap]s communicate things freely, only of Grace; [gap] other, if there be that Qualification in us [gap] the Promiſe calls for, or not elſe.

Thirdly, The abſolute Promiſes therefore en [gap]e God, the other engages us, I mean God [gap]y, us only.

Fourthly, Abſolute Promiſes muſt be fulfil [gap] Conditional may, or may not be fulfilled.

The Abſolute o[gap]e m[gap]t be fulfi[gap]ed, becauſe of the Faithfulneſ[gap] of God; the othe[gap] may not, becauſe of the Un[gap]aithfulneſs [gap] Men.

Fifthly, Abſolute Promiſes have therefore ſufficiency in themſelves, to bring about the own Fulfillings; the Conditional have not [gap] The Abſolute Promiſe is therefore a big-belly Promiſe, becauſe i[gap] hath in it ſelf a Fulneſs all deſired things for us; and will when [gap] time of that Promiſe is come, yield to us M[gap] tal[gap], that which will verily ſave us; yea, & m[gap] tis capable of anſwering the Demands of [gap] Promiſe that is Conditional Wherefore thou[gap] there be a real, yea, an eternal D[gap]fference[gap] theſe things (wi[gap]h others) betwixt the Con[gap] tional & Abſolute Promiſe; yet again in o[gap] Reſpects, there is a bleſſed Harmony betw[gap] them; as may be ſeen in theſe Particulars.

Firſt, The Conditional Promiſe calls for [gap] pentance, the Abſolute gives it, Acts 5 30, 31

Secondly, The Conditional Promiſe calls▪ Faith, the Abſolute Promiſe gives it, Zep[gap] 12. Rom 15.12.

Thirdly, The Conditional Promiſe calls [gap] new Heart, the Abſolute Promiſe gives it; [gap]zek 36.

Fourthly, The Conditional Promiſe calleth Holy Obedience, the abſolute Promiſe giveth or cauſeth it, Ezek. 37.27.

And as they Harmoniouſly agree in this▪ again, the Conditional Promiſe bleſſeth the[gap] who by the abſolute Promiſe, is endued with Fruit, as for Inſtance;

Firſt, The abſolute Promiſe maketh Men right, and then the Conditional follows, ſa[gap]

Bleſſed are the Undefiled in the Way; that walketh in the Law of the Lord, Pſalm 119 1.

Secondly, The abſolute Promiſe giveth to this Man the Fear of the Lord and then the Conditional ſo loweth, ſaying. Bleſſed is every one that feareth the Lord, Pſa[gap]m 128 1.

Thirdly, The abſolute Promiſe giveth Faith, & then this Conditional follows, ſaying. Bleſſed is be that bel[gap]eveth, Ze[gap]h 3 12 Luke 1 45.

Fourthly, The abſolute Promiſe brings free Forgiveneſs of Sins; and th[gap] Condi[gap]ional ſays, Bleſſed are they whoſe Tranſgreſſions are forgiven, and whoſe ſin is covered, Rom 4 7.8

Fifthly, The abſolute Promiſe ſays, that God's Elect ſhall hold out to the End; then the Conditional follows with this Bleſſing; He that ſhall endure to the End, the ſame ſhall he ſaved, [gap] Pet. 1.4, 5, 6. Mat. 24.

Thus do the Promiſes gloriouſly ſerve one another and us, in this their Harmonious Agreement.

Now the Promiſe under Conſideration is [gap] abſolute Promiſe; All that the Father giveth [gap], ſhall come to Me.

This Promiſe therefore, is, as it is ſaid▪ a Big [gap]ly'd Promiſe, and hath in it ſelf all thoſe [gap]ngs to beſtow upon us, that the Conditional [gap]leth for at our Hands. They ſhall come! [gap]ll they come? yes, they ſhall come. But [gap]w if they want thoſe things, thoſe Graces, [gap]wer, and Heart, without which they cannot [gap]ne? Why, ſhall come anſwereth all this, & all [gap]ngs elſe that may in this Matter be objected. [gap]nd here I will take the Liberty amplify [gap]ngs.

Obj. 1. But they are dead, dead in Treſpaſſes and [gap]; how ſhall they then come?

Anſw Why ſhall-come can raiſe them frot[gap] this Death. The Hour is coming, and now is, th[gap] the Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God; [gap] they that hear ſhall live. Thus therefore is th[gap] Impediment by Shall-come removed out of t[gap] way? They ſhall hear, they ſhall live.

Obj. 2. But they are Satan's Captives; he to them Captives at his Will, and he is ſtronger t[gap] they: How can they come?

Anſ, Why, Shall come hath alſo provided [gap] help for this. Satan hath bound that Daugh[gap] of Abraham ſo, that ſhe could by no means [gap] up her ſe[gap]f; but yet Shall come ſit her fo[gap] both in Body and Soul. Chriſt will have th[gap] turned from the Power of Satan unto God. [gap] what muſt it be, if they turn themſelves, o[gap] ſomething to merit of him to turn them? [gap] he will do it freely, of his own good Wil. A[gap] Man, whoſe Soul is p[gap]ſſ[gap]ſſed with the Devil, turned whitherſoever the Governour liſteth▪ taken Captive by him, notwithſtanding its? [gap] tural Powers, at his Will; but what will [gap] do? Will he hold him when Shall-come [gap] forth it ſelf, (will he then let him) for com[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt? No, that cannot be; his Po[gap] is but the Power of a Fallen Angel, but S[gap] come is the Word of God; therefore Shall co[gap] muſt be fulfilled, and the Gates of Hell [gap] not prevail againſt it.

There were ſeven Devils in Mary Magda[gap] too many for her to get from under the p[gap] of; but when the time was come, that [gap] come was to be fulfilled upon her, they [gap] place; fly from her; and ſhe comes (in[gap]e[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt: According as it is written, [gap] that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me.

The Man that was poſſ[gap]ſſ[gap]d with a Legion, [gap]ark 5. was too much by them captivated, for [gap]m, by Humane Force, to come; yea, had he [gap]d (to boot) all the Men under Heaven to [gap]p him; had he that ſaid, he ſhall come, with [gap]ld his mighty Power: But when this Pro [gap]iſe was to be fulfilled upon him, then he comes; [gap]r could all their power hinder him from [gap]o [gap]ng. It was alſo this Shall come that preſer [gap]d him from Death, when by theſe evil Spi [gap] he was hurled hither and thither; [gap]d it was by the virtue of Shall come, that at [gap] he was ſet at Liberty from them, & enabled [gap]deed) to come to Chriſt. All that the Father [gap]eth me ſhall come to me.

Obj. 3. They ſhall, (you ſay;) but how if they [gap] not? And if ſo, then what can Shall come do?

Anſw. True, there are ſome Men ſay, We are [gap]ds, we will come no more under thee, Jer. 2.31. [gap] as God ſays in another caſe (if they are [gap]concerned in Shall come to me) They ſhall know [gap]ſe Word ſhall ſtand, mine or theirs, Jer. 44.28. [gap]e then is the caſe, we muſt now ſee who [gap] be the Liar; he that ſaith, I will not; or [gap]hat ſaith, he ſhall come to me. You ſhall [gap]he, ſays God: I will nor come ſaith the [gap]er. Now, as ſure as he is concerned in this [gap] come, God will make that Man eat his own [gap]rds; for I will not is the unadviſed Con [gap]ion of a crazy headed Sinner, but ſhall come [gap] ſpoken by him, that is of Power to perform [gap] word. Son, go work to day in my Vineyard; ſaid [gap] Father; but he anſwered and ſaid, I will not [gap]e. What now, will he be able to ſtand to [gap] Refuſal? Will he purſue his deſperate De [gap]? No; he afterwards repented and went. But

how came he by that Repentance? Wh[gap] was wrapped up for him in the abſolute [gap] miſe; and therefore, notwithſtanding he ſ[gap] will not, he afterwards repented and went [gap] this Parable Jeſus Chriſt ſets forth the O[gap] cy of the Sinners of the World, as to [gap] their coming to him; they will not come threatned, yea, though Life be offered [gap] upon condition of coming.

But now, when ſhall come, the abſ[gap]lute [gap] miſe of God, comes to be fulfilled upon [gap] then they come; becauſe by that Prom[gap] Cure is provided againſt the Rebellion of Wills: Thy people ſhall be willing in the D[gap]y Power, Pſal. 110.3. Thy People, What Poeple? [gap] the People that thy Father hath given [gap] The Obſtinacy and Plague that is in the [gap] of that People, ſhall be taken away, & th[gap] be made wiling; Shall come will make the[gap] [gap] ling to come to thee.

He that had ſeen Paul in the midſt [gap] Outrages againſt Chriſt, his Goſpel, and [gap] would hardly have thought that he woul[gap] have been a Follower of Jeſus Chriſt, eſp[gap] ſince he went not againſt his Conſcie[gap] perſecuting of them. He thought veril[gap] he ought to do what he did. But we m[gap] what Shall come can do▪ when it comes [gap] fulfilled upon the Soul of a Rebellious S[gap] he was a choſen V[gap]ſſel, given by the Fa[gap] the Son; and now the time being com[gap] Shall come was to take him in hand, behol[gap] over maſtered, aſtoniſhed, and, with trea[gap] and reverence in a Moment become will be obedient to the Heavenly Call, Acts 9.

And were they not far gone (that yo[gap]

Acts 2.) who had their hands and Hearts [gap] the Murder of the Son of God; and [gap]ew their reſolvedneſs never to repent of [gap] horrid Fact, ſaid, His Blood be on us and our [gap]en? But muſt their Obſtinacy rule? Muſt [gap] be bound to their own Ruin, by the Re [gap]on of their ſtubborn Wills: No, not [gap] of theſe the Father gave to Chriſt; before at the times appointed ſhall come [gap]s in among them; the abſolute Pro [gap] takes them in hand; and then they come [gap]deed, crying out▪ Peter, and the reſt of the [gap]poſtles, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? No [gap]ornneſs of Man's Will [gap] ſtand, when [gap] hath abſolutely ſaid the contrary; ſhall [gap] can make them come as Doves to their [gap]dows, that had afore reſolved never to [gap] to him.

[gap]he Lord ſpake unto Manaſſeh, and to his [gap]le, (by the Prophets) but world he hear? He would not: But ſhall Manaſſeh come off [gap]? No, he ſhall not. Therefore, he being [gap] of thoſe whom the Father had given to the [gap] and alſo falling within the bounds & reach [gap]all come; at laſt ſhall come takes him in hand, then he comes indeed: He comes bowing [gap]pending; he humbles himſelf greatly, and [gap] Supplications to the Lord, and prayed [gap] him; and he was intreated of him, and had [gap] upon him, 2 Chron. 3.33.

[gap]he Thief upon the Croſs, at firſt did rail [gap] his Fellow upon Jeſus Chriſt; but he was [gap] that the Father had given to Him, & there [gap]

[gap]hall come muſt muſt handle him, and his [gap]ious Will. And behold, ſo ſoon as he is [gap] withal, by Virtue of that Abſolute Promiſe,

how ſoon he buckleth; leaves his rail[gap] falls to Supplicating of the Son of God [gap] Mercy, Lord, ſaith he, Remember me when th[gap] moſt into thy Kingdom, Mat. 27.44. Luke 23.40.

Objt 4. They ſhall come, ſay you; but how if [gap] be blind, and ſee not the way? For ſome are [gap] off from Chriſt, not only by the Obstinacy of [gap] Will, but by the Blindneſs of their Minds. N[gap] they be blind, how ſhall they come?

Anſw. This Queſtion it not, Are they b[gap] But, are they within the Reach and Powe[gap] ſhall come? if ſo, that Chriſt that ſaid, They come, will find them Eyes, or a Guide, or [gap] to bring them to himſelf. Muſt is for the [gap] If they ſhall come, they ſhall come, no [gap] diment ſhall hinder.

The Theſſalonians Darkneſs did not [gap] them from being the Children of Light; [gap] come, ſaid Chriſt, that they that ſee not, migh[gap] And if he ſaith, See ye blind that have eyes; [gap] ſhall hinder it? Eph. 5.8. John 9.39. Iſa. 3[gap] chap. 43.8.

This Promiſe therefore is, as I ſaid, a [gap] belly'd Promiſe, having in the Bowels of [gap] things that ſhall occur to the compleat [gap] [gap] ling of it ſelf; they ſhall come. But 'ti[gap] [gap] jected, that they are Blind: Well, Shall [gap] ſtill the ſame, and continueth to ſay, Th[gap] come to me: Therefore he ſaith again, [gap] bring the Blind by a way that they know [gap] I will lead them in Paths that they know [gap] I will make Darkneſs Light before them [gap] crooked things ſtreight: Theſe things [gap] do unto them, and not forſake them, Iſa. [gap]

Mark! I will bring them, though [gap] blind; I will bring them by a Way th[gap]

[gap] now not; I will; I will; and therefore they [gap]hall come to me.

Obj. 5. But how if they have exceeded many [gap] Sin, and ſo made themſelves far more abomina [gap]? They are the Ring-leading Sinners in the [gap]ountry, the Town or Family.

Anſw. What then? Shall that hinder the [gap]xecution of Shall-come? It is not Tranſgreſ [gap]ons, nor Sins, nor all their Tranſgreſſions [gap] all their Sins, (if they by the Father are [gap]ven to Chriſt, to ſave them) that ſhall hin [gap]r this Promiſe, that is ſhould not be fulfil [gap]d upon them: In thoſe days, and at that time, [gap]th the Lord, the Iniquities of Iſrael ſhall be [gap]ght for, and not be found, Jer. 31 30. Not that [gap]ey had none; (for they bounded in Tranſ [gap]eſſions, 2 Chron. 39 9 Ezek. 16.48.) but God [gap]ould pardon, cover, hide, and put them a [gap] [gap]y by Virtue of his abſolute Promiſe, by [gap]ich they are given to Chriſt to ſave them: [gap]d I will cleanſe them from all their Ini [gap]ity whereby they have ſinned againſt me; [gap] I will pardon all their Iniquity, whereby [gap]y have tranſgreſſed againſt me. And it [gap]ll be to me for a Name of Joy, a Praiſe, [gap] an Honour before all the Nations of the [gap]rth, which ſhall hear of all the good I do [gap]o them; and they ſhall fear and tremble [gap] all the Goodneſs, and all the Proſperity [gap] I procure to it, Jer. [gap].8, 9.

Obj 6 But how if they have not Faith and [gap]pentance? How ſhall they come then?

Anſw. Why, he that ſaith, they ſhall come, [gap] he not make it out? If they ſhall come, [gap] ſhall come; and he that hath ſaid, they [gap] come, if Faith and Repentance be the

way to come, as indeed they are, then Fa[gap] and Repentance ſhall be given to them; [gap] Shall-come muſt be fulfilled on them.

Firſt, Faith ſhall be given them; I will ſo leave in the midſt of thee an afflicted [gap] poor People, and they ſhall truſt in the Na[gap] of the Lord. There ſhall be a Root of J[gap] and He ſhall riſe to reign over the Gent[gap] and in Him ſhall the Gentiles truſt, Zaph. 3. [gap] Rom. 15.12.

Secondly, They ſhall have Repentance: is exalted to give Repentance; They ſhall [gap] weeping and ſeeking the Lord their God. [gap] again, With Weeping and Supplication will l[gap] them, Acts 5.30, 31. Jer. 31.9.

I told you before that an abſolute P[gap] hath all conditional Ones in the Belly [gap] and alſo Proviſion to anſwer all thoſe [gap] lification[gap] that they propound to him th[gap]

[gap] eth for their Benefit: And it muſt be [gap] for if ſhall-come be an abſolute Promiſe, [gap] [gap] deed it is, then it muſt be fulfilled o[gap] very of thoſe concerned therein. I [gap] muſt be fulfilled, if God can by Grac[gap] his abſolute Will fulfil it: Beſides, ſin[gap] [gap] ming and believing is all one, (accor[gap] John 6.3) He that cometh to me ſhall net[gap] [gap] ger, and he that believeth in me ſhall never th[gap]

Then when he ſaith, they ſhall com[gap] as much as to ſay, they ſhall believ[gap] conſequently repent, to the ſaving of [gap] So then the preſent want of Faith a [gap] pentance cannot make this Promiſe [gap] of none effect, becauſe that this Promiſ[gap] in it, to give what others call for & [gap] I will give them all Heart; I will gi[gap]

my Spirit[gap]; I will give them Repentance; I will give them Faith. Mark theſe Words! If my man be in Christ, he is a new Creature. But [gap]ow came he to be a new Creature, ſince none [gap]an create but God? God indeed doth make [gap]hem new Creatures. Behold ſaith he, I will make all things new. And hence then it follows, even after he had ſaid they are new Creatures; And all things are of God; that is, all this new Crea [gap]ion ſtandeth in the ſeveral Operations, & ſpecial Workings of the Spirit of Grace, who is God, 2 Cor. 5 17 18.

Obj 7. But how ſhall they eſcape all thoſe dange [gap]ous and damnable Opinions, that like Rocks & Quick [gap]nds, are in the way in which they are going?