COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (9)

Coming Sinner, What Promiſe thou finde[gap] the Word of Chriſt ſtrain is whither thou[gap] ſo thou doſt n[gap]t corrupt it, and his Blood [gap] Merits will anſwer all what the Word ſay[gap] any true C[gap]nſ[gap]q[gap]ence that is drawn there [gap] that we may ven[gap]u[gap]e upon: As here in the [gap] he ſays, [and him that cometh] indefinitely, [gap] out the leaſt intimation of the Rejecting of [gap] tho' never ſo great, if he be a coming Si[gap] Take it then for granted, That thou, wh[gap] thou art, if coming, art intended in theſe W[gap] neither ſhall it injure Chriſt at all, if, as [gap] dad's Servants ſerved Ahab, thou ſhall ca[gap]c[gap] at his Word. Now ſays the Text, the M[gap] diligently obſerve whether any thing [gap] come from him (to wit any word of Grace [gap] did haſtily, catch it. And it happen'd th[gap]

[gap] hab had called Benhadad his B[gap]o[gap]her. The [gap] replied therefore, Thy Brother Benhadad! [gap] ing him at his Word, 1 Kings 20 33. Si[gap] coming Sinner, ſerve Jeſus Chriſt thus, a[gap] will take it kindly at thy Hands. Whe[gap] in his Argument, called the Canaanitiſh [gap] man Dog, ſhe catch'd, him at it, and [gap] Truth, Lord, yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs th[gap] from their Maſters[gap]s Table. I ſay, ſhe catch'd [gap] thus in his Words, and he took it kindly, [gap] ing, O Woman, great is thy Faith, be it unto [gap] even as thou wilt, Mat. 15.26. Catch him, c[gap] Sinner; catch him in his Words, ſure[gap] will take it kindly, and will not be O[gap] at thee.

2dly, The other thing that I told you, [gap] ed from theſe Words, is this, The Wi[gap] neſs of Chriſt's Heart, to impute his [gap] cies for Life, to the great, if coming [gap]

[gap] him that cometh to Me, I will in no wiſe [gap] out.

The awakened coming Sinner, doth not ſo [gap]y Queſtion the Power of Chriſt, as his Wil [gap]neſs to ſave him; Lord, if thou w[gap]lt, thou [gap], ſaid one, Mark 1 40 He did not put the If [gap] his Power, but upon his Will. He con [gap]ed he could, but he was not fully perſwa [gap] that He would. But we have the ſame [gap]und to believe He will, as we have to believe [gap]an; and indeed Ground for both, is the [gap]rd of God. If he was not willing, why did [gap] Promiſe? Why did he ſay, He would re [gap] [gap]e the coming Sinner? Coming Sinner, take [gap]ce of this; we uſe to plead practiſes with [gap], and why not with God l[gap]kewiſe? I am [gap] we have no more Ground for one than [gap] other; for we have to plead the Promiſe [gap] fa[gap]thful God. Jacob took him the[gap]; Thou [gap] (ſaid he) I will ſurely do thee good, Gen. 32. [gap] For, from this Prom[gap]ſe he con[gap]ed that it [gap]wed in Reaſon, He muſt be willing.

[gap]he Text alſo gives ſome Ground for us to [gap] the ſame Concluſions; And him that com [gap] [gap]o me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Here is [gap]illingneſs aſſerted, as well as his Power; [gap]eſted. It's worth your Obſervation, that [gap]ham's Faith conſidered rather God's Power, [gap] his Willingneſs; that is he drew his Con [gap] [gap]on, I ſhall have a Child, from the Power [gap] was in God, to fulfi[gap] the Promiſe to him, [gap]e concluded he was willing to give him [gap] elſe He would not have promis'd one. He [gap]red not at the Promiſe of God through Unbelief, [gap]ns ſtrong in Faith, giving Glory to God; being [gap] perſwaded, that what he had promiſed, he was ab[gap]e

to perform. Rom. 4.20, 21 But was not [gap] Faith exerciſed or tried, about his Willing [gap] too? No, there was no ſhew of Reaſon for [gap] becauſe he had promiſed it: Indeed, had he [gap] promis'd it, he might have lawfully doubted [gap] but ſince he had promis'd it, there was left [gap] ground at all for doubting, becauſe his Willneſs to give a Son, was demonſtrated in his [gap] miſing him a Son. Theſe words therefore [gap] ſufficient Ground to encourage any coming [gap] ner, that Chriſt is willing, to his power, r[gap] ceive him; and ſince he hath power alſo t[gap] what he will, there is no Ground at all le[gap] the coming Sinner, any more doubt, but to [gap] in full Hope of acceptance, and of being [gap] ved unto Grace and Mercy. And him that [gap] meth) He ſaith not, And him that is come, and him that cometh; That is, And him [gap] H[gap]art begins to move after me, who is a[gap] all for my ſake; Him, who is looking out, [gap] is on his Journey to me. We muſt the[gap] diſtinguiſh between coming, and being co[gap] Jeſus Chriſt. He that is come to him, bu[gap] tain'd of him more ſenſibly what he felt [gap] he wanted, than he has, that is but yet [gap] to him.

A Man that is come to Chriſt, hath th[gap] [gap] vantage of him that is but coming to hi[gap] that in Seven Things.

Firſt, He that is come to Chriſt, no[gap] [gap] him, than he that is but coming to him; [gap] that is but coming to him, is yet in ſome [gap] at a diſtance from him; as it is ſaid of [gap] ming Prodigal. And whole he was yet [gap] way of Luke 15. Now, that that is ne[gap] him has the beſt Sight of him, and ſo i[gap] [gap]

make the beſt Judgment of his moſt wonderful Grace and Beauty; as God ſays, Let them come ear, then let them ſpeak. And as the Apoſtle [gap]ohn ſays,; And we have ſeen, and do teſtify, that [gap]od ſent his Son to be a Saviour of the World, Iſai[gap] 1 1. 1 Joh 4 14. He that is not yet come, though [gap]e is coming, is not fit, not being indeed capa [gap]e to make that Judgment of the Worth and [gap]lory of the Grace of Chriſt, as he is that is [gap]me to him, and hath ſeen and beheld it▪ [gap]herefore, Sinner, ſuſpend thy Judgment till [gap]ou art come nearer.

Secondly, He that is come to Chriſt, has the [gap]dvantage of him that is but coming, in that he [gap]eaſed of his Burden, for he that is but coming, [gap] not eaſed of his Burden, Mat 11.28 He that [gap] come, hath caſt his Burden upon the Lord, [gap] Faith he hath ſeen himſelf releaſed thereof▪ [gap] he that is but coming, hath it yet, as to Senſ[gap] [gap] Feeling, upon his own Shoulders Come un [gap] me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, implies, [gap] their Burden, though they are coming, is [gap] upon them, and ſo will be, till indeed they [gap] come to Him.

Thirdly, He that is come to Chriſt, has the [gap]vantage of him that is but coming, in this [gap], namely, he hath drank of the ſweet & Soul [gap]eſhing Water of Life; but he that is but co [gap]g, hath not. If any man thirſt, let him come [gap] me and drink.

[gap]ack He muſt come to him before he drinks, [gap]rding to that of the Prophet, Ho? every one [gap] thirſteth, come ye to the Waters He drinketh [gap] as he cometh, but when he is come to [gap] Waters, Joh 7.34. Iſa 45.1.

[gap]ourthly, He that is come to Chriſt, as the

Advantage of him that as yet is but coming, [gap] this alſo, to wit, He is not terrified with [gap] Noiſe, and as I may call it, Hue and Cry wh[gap] the Avenger of Blood makes at the Heels [gap] him that is yet but coming to him. W[gap] the Slayer was upon the flight to the City of [gap] Refuge, he had the noiſe or fear of the Ave[gap] of Blood at his Heels; but when he was c[gap] to the City, and was entred thereinto; the N[gap] ceaſed. Even ſo it is with him that is com[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt: He heareth many a drea[gap] Sound in his Ear; ſounds of Death & D[gap] nation, which he that is come, is at pre[gap] freed from. Therefore He ſaith, Come, [gap] will give you [gap]eſt; and ſo he ſaith agin, [gap] that have believed, do enter into reſt, as he [gap] &c. Heb 4.

Fifthly, He therefore that is come to [gap] is not ſo ſubject to thoſe Dejections & [gap] mings down by reaſon of the Rage & Al[gap] of the evil One, as is the Man that is [gap] coming to Jeſus Chriſt, (tho' he has T[gap] tations too) and while he was yet com[gap] the Devil threw him down, and tore him, Lu[gap] 42. For he has (tho' Satan ſtill roareth [gap] him) thoſe experimental Comforts & Ref[gap] ments; to wit, in his Treaſury, to p[gap] himſelf with, in times of Temptation & Co[gap] which he that is but coming, has not.

Sixthly. He that is come to Chriſt, h[gap] [gap]dvantage of him that is but coming [gap] in this alſo, to wit, he hath upon hi[gap] Wedding Garment; but he that is comi[gap] not. The Prodigal, when coming home to [gap] ther, was cloathed with nothing but [gap] were tormented with an empty Belly,

[gap]hen he was come, the beſt Robe is brought [gap]ut; alſo the Gold Ring, and the Shoes, yea, [gap]ey are put upon him to his great rejoycing. The fatted Calf was killed for him; the Muſick [gap]as ſtruck up to make him merry: And thus To the Father himſelf ſung of him. This my [gap]n was dead, and is alive again, was loſt, and [gap] found, Luk 15.18.

Seventhly, In a [gap]o[gap]d, he that is come to Chriſt, [gap]s Groans and Tears, his Doubts and Fears are [gap]rned into Sings and Praiſes; for that he hath [gap]ow received the Atonement, and the Earneſt [gap] his Inheritance; but he that is but yet com [gap]g, hath not theſe Praiſes, nor Songs of Deli [gap]rance with him, nor has he as yet received [gap]e Atonement and Earneſt of his Inheritance, [gap]hich is the ſealing Teſtimony of the Holy [gap]oſt, through the Sprinkling of the Blood of [gap]hriſt upon his Conſcience; for he is not come, [gap]m 5 11. Eph 1.13. Heb 12.22

And him that (cometh.)

There is farther to be gather'd from thi[gap] [gap]ord (cometh) theſe following Particulars.

Firſt, That Jeſus Chriſt hath his Eye upon, & [gap]kes notice of the firſt moving of the Heart of [gap] Sinner after him. Coming Sinner, thou canſt [gap]t move with deſire after Chriſt, but he ſees [gap]e work of thoſe Deſires in thy Heart. All my [gap] ſaid David, are before thee, and my groanings [gap] not hid from thee, Pſal 38 9. This he ſpake, as [gap] w[gap] coming, (after he had back-ſlidden,) [gap] [gap]e Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 'Tis ſaid of the Prodi [gap]l, that while he was yet a great way off, his [gap]ther ſaw him, had his Eye upon him, and [gap]on the going out of his Heart after him, [gap] 15.20.

When Nathaniel was come to J[gap]ſus Chriſt, th[gap] Lord ſaid to them that ſtood before him, b[gap] hold an Iſraelite indeed, in whom there is no guilt [gap] But Nathaniel anſwered him, Whence knowest th[gap] me? Jeſus anſwered, before that Philip cal[gap] thee, when thou waſt under the Fig-tree, I j[gap] thee. There I ſuppoſe, Nathaniel was pouri[gap] out his Soul to God for Mercy, or that [gap] would give him good Underſtanding abo[gap] the Meſſias to come. And Jeſus ſaw all t[gap] workings of his honeſt Heart at that th[gap] John 1.47.

Zacheus alſo had ſome ſecret movings [gap] Heart, ſuch as they were towards Jeſus Chri[gap] when he ran before and climbed up the T[gap] to ſee him; and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt b[gap] his Eye upon him. Therefore when he [gap] come to the place, he looked up to him, [gap] him come down; For to day ſaid he, I [gap] [gap]ide at thy Houſe. To wit, in order to [gap] [gap]rther compleating the Work of Grace [gap] [gap]is Soul, Luke 19.1, &c. Rememember th[gap] coming Sinner.

Secondly, As Jeſus Chriſt hath his Eye up[gap] ſo he hath his Heart open to receive the [gap] ming Sinner: This is verified by the T[gap] [And him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe [gap] out.] This is alſo diſcovered by his prepari[gap] the Way, in his miking of it eaſie (as it [gap] be) to the coming Sinner, which preparation [gap] manifeſt by them bleſſed Words, I will in [gap] wiſe caſt out. Of which more when we ca[gap] to the p[gap]ace. And while he was yet a [gap] way off, his Father ſaw him, and had compaſſion [gap] him; and ran and fell on his Neck and [gap] him, Luke 15.20. All theſe Expreſſions [gap]

ſtrongly prove, that the Heart of Chriſt is open to receive the coming Sinner.

Thirdly, As Jeſus Chriſt has his Eyes upon, & his Heart open to receive, ſo he hath reſolved already that nothing ſhall alienate his Heart from receiving the coming Sinner. No Sins of the coming Sinner, nor the length of the Time that he has abode in them, ſhall by any means prevail with Jeſus Chriſt to reject him. Coming Sinner, thou art coming to a loving Lord Jeſus.

Fourthly, Theſe Words are therefore drop'd from his bleſſed Mouth, on purpoſe that the coming Sinner might take Encouragement to continue on his Journey, till he come indeed to Jeſus Chriſt. It was doubtleſs a great Encouragement to blind Bartimeus, that Jeſus Chriſt ſtood ſtill and called him, when he was crying, Jeſus, thou Son of David, have me[gap]cy upon me! Therefore 'tis ſaid, He caſt away his Garment, [gap]oſe up, and came to Jeſus, Mark 10 46, &c. Now, [gap]f a Call to come hath ſuch Encouragement in [gap]t, what is a Promiſe of receiving ſuch, but an Encouragement much more? And obſerve it, [gap]ho' he had a Call to come, yet not having a Promiſe, his Faith was forced to work upon a meer Conſequence, ſaying, He calls me; & ſure [gap]y ſince he calls me, he will grant me my De [gap]ire. Ah but coming Sinner, thou haſt no need to [gap]o ſo far about, as to draw (in this matter conſequences) becauſe thou haſt plain Promiſes; And him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out▪ Here is full, plain, yea what Encouragement [gap]ne can deſire. For ſuppoſe thou wert ſubmit [gap]ed to make a Promiſe thy ſelf, & Chriſt ſhould atteſt that he would fulfil it upon the Sinner

that cometh to him; couldſt thou make a b[gap] ter Promiſe? Could thou invent a more fo[gap] free, or larger Promiſe? A Promiſe that loo[gap] [gap] the firſt moving of the Heart after Jeſ[gap] Chriſt! A Promiſe that declares, yea that eng[gap] ges Chriſt Jeſus to open his Heart to receive [gap] coming Sinner: Yea farther, a Promiſe t[gap] demonſtrates that the Lord Jeſus is reſolv[gap] freely to receive, and will in no wiſe caſt [gap] nor means to reject the Soul of the coming S[gap] ner. For all this has, fully in his Promiſe, [gap] does naturally flow therefrom Here th[gap] needeſt not make uſe of far fetch'd Conſeque[gap] ces, nor ſtrain thy Wits, to force encouragi[gap] Arguments from the Text. Coming Sinner, [gap] Words are plain. [And him that cometh unto [gap] It will in no wiſe caſt out.]

(And him that cometh)

There are two ſorts of Sinners that [gap] coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

Firſt, Him that hath never, till of late, [gap] all began to come.

Secondly, Him that came formerly, & aft[gap] that went back, but hath ſince bethought himſelf, and is now coming again.

Both theſe ſorts of Sinners are intended [gap] the Him in the Text, as is evident; beca[gap] both are now the coming Sinners.

And him that cometh

For the firſt of theſe; The Sinner that hath mover, while of late began to come; his W[gap] is more eaſie; I do not ſay, more plain & ope[gap] to come to Chriſt, than is the other, (thoſe la[gap] having the [gap]log of a guilty Conſcience for the Sin of [gap]ac[gap]ſli[gap]ing hanging to their Heels [gap] But all the Encouragement of the Goſpel, with

[gap]hat Invitations are therein contained to co [gap]ing Sinners, are as free and as open to the [gap]he as to other; ſo that they may with the [gap]me Freedom and Liberty as from the Word, [gap]oth alike claim Intereſt in the Promiſe. All [gap]ings are ready. All things for the coming [gap]ackſliders, as well for the orders. Come to the Wedding. And let him that is athirſt come, Mat. 2 1, 2. Rev 22 17

B[gap]t having ſpoken to the fi[gap]ſt of theſe alrea [gap], I ſhall here paſs it by; and ſhall ſpeak a Word or two to him that is coming, after Back-[gap]ding, to Jeſ[gap]s Chriſt for Life.

Thy way, O thou Sinner of a double Die, [gap]ny Way is open to come to Jeſus Chriſt. I [gap]ean thee, whoſe Heart after long Backſliding, [gap]oes think of turning to him again. Thy way, [gap] ſay, is open to him, as is the way of the other [gap]rt of Comers, as appears by what follows.