COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (10)

Firſt, Becauſe the Text makes no Exception [gap]gainſt thee: It doth not ſay, And any Him [gap]ut a Backſlider, any him but him. The Text [gap]oes not thus object, but indefinitely opens [gap]ide its golden Arms to every coming Soul [gap]ithout the leaſt Exception, therefore thou [gap]ayſt come. And take heed that thou ſhut [gap]ot that Door of Unbelief which God has [gap]pen'd by his Grace.

Secondly, Nay the Text is ſo far from Ex [gap]epting againſt thy coming, that it ſtrongly ſug [gap]eſteth, that thou art one of the Souls intended. [gap] thou coming Backſlider; elſe what need that [gap]lauſes have been ſo inſerted, I will in no wiſe [gap]ſt out? As who ſhould ſay, Though thoſe that [gap]ome now, are ſuch as were formerly Back-[gap]dden, I will in no wiſe caſt away the Fornicator,

the Covetous, the Rule[gap], the Drunkar[gap] or other common Sinners, nor yet the Backſli[gap] neither.

Thirdly, That the Backſlider is intended, [gap] evident.

Firſt, For that he is ſent to by Name, Go[gap] has D[gap]ſciples, and Peter, Mark. 16.7. But Peter [gap] a godly Man. True but he was alſo a Bac[gap] ſlider, yea, a deſperate Backſlider. He had a[gap] med his Maſter once, twice, thrice, curſing [gap] ſwearing that he knew him not. If this was [gap] Backſliding, if this was not an high & emine[gap] Backſliding, yea a higher Backſliding than th[gap] art capable of, I have thought amiſs.

Again, When David had Backſlidden, & h[gap] committed Adultery and Murther in his Bac[gap] ſliding, he muſt be ſent to by Name And ſ[gap] the Text, The Lord ſent Nathan to David, and [gap] ſent him to [gap] him after he had brought hi[gap] to unfeigned acknowledgment; The Lord h[gap] alſo put away or forgiven thy Sin; 2 Sam. 1 1.

This Man alſo was far gone. He took [gap] Man's Wife, and kill'd her Husband, & endeavoured to cover all with wicked Diſſimulation [gap] He did this, I ſay, after God had exalted him [gap] and ſhewed him great Favour; wherefore [gap] Tranſgreſſions was greatned alſo by the Prophe[gap] with mighty Aggravations; yet he was accep[gap] ed, and that with gladneſs, at the firſt ſtep [gap] took in this returning to Chriſt. For the fir[gap] ſtep of the Backſlider's return, is to ſay ſenſibl[gap] and unfeignedly, I have ſinned. But he had [gap] ſooner ſaid thus, but a Pardon was produc[gap] yea, thruſt into his Boſome. And Nathan ſ[gap] unto David, The Lord hath alſo put away thy Sin.

Secondly, As the Perſon of the Backſlider [gap]

[gap]ention'd by Name, ſo alſo as the Sin; that if [gap]oſſible, the Objections againſt thy returning to [gap]irſt may be taken out of the way: I ſay, thy [gap]n alſo mention'd by Name and mixed, as [gap]ention'd with Words of Grace and Favour, [gap]ill heal their Backſl[gap]ding, and love them freely, [gap]ſ. 14 4. What ſayeſt now Backſlider?

Thirdly, Nay farther, thou are not only men [gap]ned by Name, and thy Sin by the Nature of [gap] but thou thy ſelf, who art a Returning [gap]ckſl[gap]de[gap], put

Firſt, Amongſt God's Iſrael: Return, O back [gap]ding Iſrael ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe my [gap]ger to fall upon you; for I am merciful▪ ſaith the [gap]rd, and will not keep anger for ever, Jer. 3 12.

Secondly, Thou art put among his Children, [gap]ong his Children to whom he is Married: [gap]n O backſliding Children, for I an Married [gap]o you; Verſe 14, 15.

Thirdly, Yea, after all this, as if his Heart [gap]s ſo full of Grace for them, that he was [gap]ſſed until he had utter'd it before them: He [gap]s, Return ye backſliding Children, and I will [gap] your backſliding.

Fourthly, Nay further, The Lord hath con [gap]ered, that the ſhame of thy Sin hath ſtopped [gap] Mouth, and made thee almoſt a Prayerleſs [gap]n; and therefore he ſaith unto thee, Take [gap]h you words, and turn unto the Lord, and ſay [gap]o him, Take away all Iniquity, and receive us [gap]ciouſly See his Grace, that himſelf ſhould [gap] Words of Encouragement into the Heart of [gap]ackſlider; as he ſaith in another place, I [gap]ght Ephraim to go, taking him by the Arms, [gap] is i[gap] teaching him to go indeed, to hold him [gap] by the Arm, by the Chin, as ſaith Hoſea 14. [gap] ch. 11.3.

From what hath been ſaid, I conclude, [gap] as I ſaid before, That the Him in the Text [gap] Him that cometh, includeth hoth theſe for [gap] Sinners, and therfore both ſhould freely [gap]

Queſt. But where doth Jeſus Chriſt, in [gap] Worde of the New Teſtament, expreſly ſpeak [gap] returning Backſlider with words of G[gap]ace & Po[gap] For what you have urged as yet, from the [gap] Teſtament, is nothing but Conſequences drawn [gap] the Text. Indeed, It is a fall Text for [gap] ignorant Sinners, that come; but to me, [gap] am a Backſlider, it yieldeth but little Relief▪

Anſwer Firſt. How! but little Incour[gap] ment from the Text, when it is ſaid, I wi[gap] no wiſe caſt out. What more could have [gap] ſaid? What is here omitted, that might [gap] been inſerted, to make the Promiſe more [gap] and free? Nay, take all the Promiſes [gap] Bible; all the free Promiſes: with all th[gap] [gap] riety of Expreſſions of what Nature or [gap] whatſoever, and they can but amount t[gap] Expreſſions of this very Promiſe, I will i[gap] wiſe caſt out: I will for nothing, by no m[gap] upon no Account, however they have [gap] however they have backſlidden, however [gap] have provoked, Caſt out the coming Si[gap] But,

Secondly, Thou ſay'ſt, Where doth [gap] Chriſt, in all the Words of the New Teſta[gap] ſpeak in a returning Backſlider with we[gap] Grace and Peace? That is under the Name [gap] Backſlider.

Anſwer, Where there is ſuch plenty of [gap] ples in receiving Backſliders, there is t[gap] need of expreſs words to that intent [gap] Promiſe, as the Text is with the Exi[gap]

[gap] are annexed, are inſtead of many Promiſes. [gap] beſides I reckon that the act of receiving [gap] as much, if not of more Incouragment, than [gap]are Promiſe to receive; for Receving is as [gap]romiſed and the Fulfilling of it too. So that [gap] Old Teſtament thou haſt the Promiſe and [gap]e New, the fulfilling of it; and that in [gap]s Examples.

[gap]ſt, In Peter, Peter Denied his Maſter, once, [gap]e, thrice, and that with an open Oath; yet [gap]ſt received him again, without any the leaſt [gap]tation or ſtick. Yea, he ſlips, ſtumbles, [gap] again in down tight Diſſimulation, & that [gap]he Hurt and Fall of many others; but [gap]er of this does Chriſt make a Bar to his [gap]ion, but receives him again at his return, [gap]he knew nothing of the fault, Gal. 2.

[gap]condly, The reſt of the Diſciples, even all [gap]em Backſlide, and leave the Lord Jeſus in [gap] greateſt Straits. Then all the Diſciples [gap]ok him and fled; They returned (as he [gap]oretold) every One to his Own, and left [gap] alone: But this alſo he paſſes over as a ve [gap] [gap]ght Matter; not that it was ſo indeed in [gap] [gap]f, but the abundance of Grace that was in [gap] did lightly roll it away; for after his Re [gap]ction, when at firſt He appear'd unto 'em, [gap] gives 'em not the leaſt Check for their per [gap]s Dealing with Him, but ſalutes them [gap] Words of Grace, ſaying, All Hail, be [gap]fraid, Peace be to you: All Power in [gap]en and Earth is given unto me. True, [gap]ebuk'd them for their Unbelief; for the [gap] which, thou deſerveſt the ſame; for it's [gap]elief that alone puts Chriſt and his Benefits [gap], Mat 26.56. Joh. 16.52. Mat. [gap]8.9, 10, 18. [gap] [gap]6.99. Mark 16.14.

Thirdly, The Man that▪ after a large Pa[gap] ſion, lay with his Father's Wife, come [gap] a high Tranſgreſſion, even ſuch an one [gap] that Day was not heard of; no not amon[gap] Gentiles, Wherefore this was a deſperate [gap] ſliding; yet at his Return, he was received [gap] accepted again to Mercy, 1 Cor. 5.1, 2. 2 Cor. 2. [gap]

Fourthly, The Thief that ſtole, was bi[gap] ſteal no more; Not at all doubting, but [gap] Chriſt was ready to forgive him this Ac[gap] Backſliding, Eph. 4 28.

Now all theſe Examples are particular [gap] ſtances of Chriſt's readineſs to receive the [gap] ſliders to Mercy; and obſerve it, Examples [gap] Proofs that He hath done ſo, are to our [gap] lieving Hearts ſtronger Encouragements [gap] bare Promiſes, that ſo he will do▪ But again[gap] Lord Jeſus hath added to theſe, for the [gap] couragement of returning Backſliders to [gap] to Him.

Firſt, A Call to come, and He will [gap] them, Rev. 2.1, 2 &c. chap. 3.1, 2 &c. When [gap] New Teſtament Backſliders have encourageme[gap] come.

Secondly, A Declaration of readineſs to [gap] them that come, as here in the Text, a[gap] many other places, is plain: Therefo[gap] up theſe Marks, make thee theſe High [gap] (of the Golden Grace of the Goſpel) ſet [gap] Heart toward the High-Way, even the [gap] that thou wenteſt (when thou didſt bac[gap] turn again O Virgin of Iſrael; turn a[gap] theſe thy Cities, Jer 31.21.

And Him that (cometh) He ſaith not [gap] him that taketh, that profeſſeth, that no[gap] ſhew, a Noiſe, or the like; but Hi[gap]

[gap]eth. Chriſt will take leave to judge, who a [gap]ong the many that make a Noiſe, they be that [gap]aced are coming to Him. It is not him that [gap]ith he cometh; but him that Chriſt himſelf [gap] all ſay doth come; that is concern'd in the [gap]ext. When the Woman that had the Bloody [gap]ſue came to him for Cure, there were others [gap] well as ſhe, that made a great Buſtle about [gap]m, that touched, yea thronged him; ah, but [gap]hriſt could diſtinguiſh this Woman from them [gap]. And he looked round about upon them all, [gap] ſee her that had done this thing, Mar. 25.26. [gap]c.

He was not concern'd with the thronging, [gap] touching of the reſt; for theirs were but [gap]cidental, or at beſt void of that which made [gap] Touch acceptable. Wherefore Chriſt muſt [gap] Judge who they be that in Truth are co [gap]ing to Him. Every man's way it right in [gap] own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the Spirits: [gap] ſtandeth therefore every one in hand to be [gap]rtain of their coming to Jeſus Chriſt; for [gap] thy Coming is, ſo ſhall thy Salvation be: [gap] thou comeſt indeed, thy Salvation ſhall be [gap]deed: But if thou comeſt but in outward [gap]ppearance, ſo ſhall thy Salvation be. But [gap] Coming, ſee before, as alſo afterwards in [gap]e Uſe and Application.

And him that cometh (to Me.)

Theſe Words (to me) are alſo to be well [gap]eded: For by them; as he ſecureth thoſe [gap]r come to him, ſo alſo he ſhews himſelf [gap] concerned with thoſe that in their coming [gap] ſhort to turn aſide to others: For you [gap] know that every one that comes, comes [gap] to Jeſus Chriſt. Some that come, come

to Moſes and to his Law, and then take up[gap] Life; with theſe Chriſt is not concerned; [gap] with theſe, this Promiſe hath nothing to as [gap] Chriſt is become of none effect unto you [gap] Whoſo of you are juſtified by the Law, ye ar[gap] fallen from Grace, Gal. 5 3 4. Again, ſome tha[gap] came, came no farther than the Goſpel Ordinances, and there ſtay; they came not throug[gap] them to Chriſt: With theſe neither is He concerned; nor will the Lord! Lord! avail the[gap] them any thing in the great and diſmal D[gap] A Man may come to, and alſo go from t[gap] Place and Ordinances of Worſhip, and yet [gap] be remembred by Chriſt. So I ſaw the Wic[gap] ed buried, (ſays Solomon) who had come [gap] gone from the Place of the Holy, & they wi[gap] forgotten in the City, where they had ſo d[gap]. [gap] This is alſo vanity, Eccl 8.10.

(To me) Theſe Words therefore are by [gap] ſus Chriſt very varily put in, and ſerve for [gap] tion and encouragement: For Caution, leſt [gap] take up in our coming any thing ſhort of Chr[gap] and for Incouragement to thoſe that ſhall [gap] their coming, come paſt all, tiil they co[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt. And him that cometh to me [gap] will in no wiſe caſt out.

Reader, If thou loveſt thy Soul, take [gap] Caution kindly at the Hands of Jeſus Ch[gap] Thou ſeeſt thy Sickneſs, thy Wound, thy [gap] ceſſity of Salvation: Well, go not to Kin[gap]

[gap] cob, for he cannot Heal thee, nor cure th[gap] thy Wounds, Hoſ. 5.13. Take the Caution [gap] I[gap]ſt Chriſt, inſtead of being a Saviour unto [gap] becomes a Lion, a young Lion to tea[gap] [gap] and go away, Verſe 4.

There is a coming, but not to the [gap]

High: There is a coming, but not with the Heart; but as it were feignedly: Therefore take the Caution kindly, Jer 30.10 Hoſ. 7.16.

And him that cometh (to me) Chriſt as [gap] Saviour, will ſtand alone, becauſe his own Arm alone hath brought Salvation unto Him: He will not be joined with Moſes, nor ſuffer John Baptiſt to be Tabernacled by Him; I ſay they muſt vaniſh, for Chriſt will ſtand alone, Luke 9.28 36) Yea, God the Farther will have it ſo [gap] therefore they muſt be parted from him, and [gap] Voice from Heaven muſt come to bid the Diſciples hear, only the beloved Son. Chriſt will not ſuffer any Law, Ordinance, Statute, or Judgment, to be Partners in the Sinner to come; I ſay, not to be Partners in the Sinner. Nay, he ſaith not, And him that cometh to my Word but and him that cometh to Me. The Words of Chriſt, even his moſt bleſſed & free Promiſes, ſuch as this Text, are not the Saviour of the World; for that is Chriſt himſelf, Chriſt himſelf only. The Promiſes therefor[gap] are but to encourage the coming Sinner to come to Jeſus Chriſt, and not to reſt in 'em ſhort of Salvation by him.

And him that (cometh to Me) the Man therefore that comes aright, caſts all things behind his Back, and looked at (nor hath his Expectation from ought but) the Son of God alone, as David ſaid, My Soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him: He only is my Rock, and Salvation; He is my Defence, I ſhall not be moved, Pſal. 92 5. His Eye is to Chriſt, his Heart is to Chriſt, and his Expectation is from him only. Therefore the Man that comes to Chriſt, is one that hath

had deep Conſiderations of his own [gap] ſlighting Thoughts of his own Righteouſ[gap] and high Thoughts of the Blood and Right[gap] ouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; yea, he ſees, as I h[gap] ſaid more Virtue in the Blood of Chriſt, to [gap] him, than there is in all his Sins to Damn h[gap] He therefore ſetteth Chriſt before his Ey[gap] there is nothing in Heaven or Earth he kno[gap] that can ſave his Soul, and ſecure him from [gap] Wrath of God, but Chriſt; that is, nothing [gap] his Perſonal Righteouſneſs, and Blood.

And him that cometh to Me, I will (in no wiſe) [gap] out. In no wiſe: By theſe Words, there is ſom[gap] thing expreſſed, and ſomething implied; Th[gap] which is expreſſed, is Chriſt Jeſus; his uncha[gap] geable Reſolution to ſave the coming Sinner; [gap] will in no wiſe reject him, or deny him [gap] Benefit of my Death and Righteouſneſs. Th[gap] Word is therefore like that which he ſpeaks [gap] the everlaſting Damnation of the Sinners [gap] Hell Fire, he ſhall by no means depart thenc[gap] that is, Never! Never come out again! [gap] not to all Eternity! Mat 5.25 ch 25.46. So [gap] as he that is condemned into Hell ſire, hath [gap] ground of Hope for his Deliverance thence; [gap] him that comes to Chriſt, hath no ground [gap] fear that he ſhall ever be caſt in thither.

Thus ſaith the Lord, if Heaven above can [gap] meaſur'd, and the Foundations of the Earth ſ[gap] ched out beneath, I will alſo caſt off all the [gap] of Iſrael, for all that they have done, ſaith [gap] Lord, Jer 31 37.

Thus ſaith the Lord, If my Covenant be [gap] with Day and Night, and if I have not appoi[gap] the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth, then [gap] caſt away the Seed of Jacob. But Heaven c[gap]