COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (11)

[gap]e meaſured, n[gap] the Foundations of the Earth ſear [gap]hed out beneath; h[gap]s Covenant is alſo with Day [gap]nd Night; and he hath appointed the Ordinan [gap]es of Heaven; therefore he will not caſt away the [gap]ed of Jacob, w[gap]o [gap]ne the coming Ones; b[gap] will [gap]ertainly ſave them from the dreadful Wrath to [gap]me, Jer. 33 24 26. ch 50 4.5. By this therefore [gap]is manifeſt, that it was not the greatneſs of [gap]in, nor the [gap]ong continuance in it, no nor yet [gap] B[gap]ckſl[gap]ing, not the Pollution of the Na [gap]ure, that can put a B[gap] in againſt, or be an [gap]in[gap]rance of the Salvation or the coming Sin [gap]er. For, if indeed this could be, then would [gap] moſt ſolemn and abſolute Determination [gap]f the Lor[gap] J[gap]ſus, of it ſelf fall to the Ground, [gap]nd be made of none effect: But his Counſel [gap]ha[gap]l ſtand and he will do this Pleaſure; that [gap], his Pleaſure in this; for all Promiſe, this [gap] reverſible concluſion ariſeth of his Pleaſure; [gap]e will ſtand to it, and will fulfil it, becauſe [gap] is his Pleaſure.

Suppoſe that One Man had the Sins, or as [gap]any Sins as an Hundred; and another ſhould [gap]ve an hundred times as many as he; yet if [gap]ey come; this Word I will in no wiſe caſt out, [gap] cures them both alike.

Suppoſe a Man hath a deſire to be ſaved, and [gap] that purpoſe is coming in truth to Jeſus [gap]riſt, but he, by his debauch'd Life, has Damn [gap] many in Hell; Why, the Door of Hope is [gap] theſe Words for as open for him, as it is for [gap]n that hath not the Thouſandth part of his [gap]anſgreſſions: And him that cometh to me, I [gap] in no wiſe caſt out.

Suppoſe a Man is coming to Chriſt to be Sa [gap], and hath nothing but Sin, and an ill ſpent

Life to to bring with him; why, let him com[gap] and welcome to Jeſus Chriſt; and he will m[gap]ſ[gap] cast him out, Luke 7 41. Is not this Love that p[gap] ſeth knowledge? Is not this Love the Wonderment[gap] Angels? And is not this Love worthy of all accept[gap] tion at the Hands and Hearts of all coming Sinners.

2dly, That which is implied in this Word▪

Firſt, The coming Souls have thoſe that continually lie at Jeſus Chriſt, to caſt them off

2dly, The coming Souls are afraid, that tha[gap] will prevail with Chriſt to caſt them off

For theſe Words are ſpoken to ſatisfie us [gap] to ſtay up our Spirits againſt theſe two Da[gap] gers; I will in no wiſe caſt out

Firſt, For the Firſt Coming Souls have tho[gap] that continually lye at Jeſus Chriſt to caſt 'e[gap] off.

And there are Three things that thus [gap]en[gap] themſelves againſt the coming Sinner.

Firſt, There is the Devil, the Accuſer of t[gap] Brethren, that accuſes them before God Day [gap] Night, Rev. 12.10. This Prince of Darkneſs, [gap] unwearied in this Work; He doth it, as ye[gap] ſee, Day and Night; that is, without ceaſing He continually puts in his Caveats againſt the[gap] if ſo be, he may prevail. How did he ply [gap] againſt that good Man Job, if poſſible he mig[gap] have obtained his Deſtruction in Hell-fire? [gap] ob[gap]ected againſt him that he ſerved not God for nou[gap] and tempted God to put forth his Hand againſt hi[gap] urging, that if he did it, he would Curſe him t[gap] Face; and all this as God witneſſeth, he did with[gap] Cauſe, Job 19, 13▪ 14. ch. 2 4, 5. How did he ply [gap] with Chriſt, againſt Joſhua the High Prie[gap] And he ſhowed me Joſhua ſaid the Prophet the [gap] Prieſt, ſtanding before the Angel of the Lord, [gap]

[gap]tan ſtanding at his Right hand to reſist him, Zech.

To reſiſt him; that is, to prevail with the [gap]ord Jeſus Chriſt to reſiſt him; objecting the [gap]ncleanneſs and unlawful Marriage of his Sons [gap]ith the Gentiles; for that was the time that [gap]tan laid againſt them, Ez[gap]a 10.18. Yea, and [gap]r ought I know, Joſhua was alſo guilty of the [gap]ct; but if not of that, of Crimes no whit in [gap]riour; for he was cloathed with fi[gap]thy Garments, as [gap] ſtood before the An[gap]el: Neither had he one word [gap] ſay in vindication of himſelf againſt all that this [gap]cked One had to lay againſt hi[gap] But notwithstan [gap]ng all that, he came off very w[gap]ll, but he might [gap]ank a good Lord Jeſus for it, becauſe he did not [gap]ſi[gap]t him; but contrariwiſe, took up his Cauſe, [gap]eading againſt the Devil▪ excuſing his Infir [gap]ity, and put Juſtifying Robes upon him be [gap]re his Adverſaries Face.

And the Lord ſaid unto [gap]acan. The Lord rebuke thee, [gap] Satan even the Lord that has choſen Jeruſalem, [gap]uke thee. Is not this a Brand pluck'd out of the [gap]? And he anſwered, and ſpake to thoſe that ſtood [gap]e him, ſaying. Take away the fi[gap]thy Garment from [gap]; and to him he ſa[gap]d, Behold I have cauſed thine [gap]uities to paſs from thee, and I will cloath thee [gap] change of Raim[gap]nt.

[gap]gain. How did Satan ply it againſt Peter, [gap] [gap]n he deſired to have him that he might ſift [gap] as Wheat. That is, if poſible, to ſever all [gap]ce from his Heart, and leave him nothing [gap] Fleſh and Filth, to the end he might make [gap] Lord Jeſus loath and abhor him. Simon, [gap]on (ſays Chriſt) Satan hath deſired to have [gap] that he might ſift you as Wheat. But did [gap]revail againſt him? No; but I have Prayed [gap] thee, that thy Faith fail not. As who

ſhould [gap]y; Simon, Satan has deſire me [gap] would give thee up to him and n[gap]t only [gap] but all the reſt of thy Brethren (for that [gap] word You, imp[gap]s) but I will not leave thee [gap] his Hand, I have prayed for thee, thy Fa[gap] ſhall not fail; I will ſecure thee to the heave[gap] Inheritance, L[gap]ke 22.30 31, 32.

Secondly. As Satan ſo every Sin, of the c[gap] ing Sinner, comes in with a Voice againſt hi[gap] if, pa[gap]ps they may prevail with Chriſt to ca[gap] off the Soul. When I[gap]real was coming out Egypt to Canaan, h[gap]w many Times had t[gap] Sins thrown them out of the mercy of G[gap] has not Moſes as a Type of Chriſt, ſtood in [gap] Breach, to turn away his Wra[gap]h from the [gap] Pſal. 106.23 Our I[gap]quities teſtifie againſt [gap] and would ce[gap]tainly prevail againſt us, to [gap] utter R[gap]jection and Damnation, had we [gap] Adv[gap]ca[gap]e with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt [gap] righteous, 1 John 2.1, 2.

The Sins of the old World, cryed them d[gap] to Hell; the S[gap]ns of So[gap]om fetch'd upon th[gap] Fire from H[gap]aven, which devouted them; [gap] Sins of the Egyptians ca[gap]ried them down to[gap] becauſe they came not to Jeſus Chriſt for L[gap] Coming Sinner, thy Sins are no what leſs t[gap] any. Nay, perhaps, they are as big as all the[gap] Why is it then, that thou liveſt when they [gap] Dead; and that thou haſt a Promiſe of Pard[gap] when they had not? Why, thou art co[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore Sin ſhall n[gap] thy Ruin.

Thirdly, As Satan and Sin, ſo the Law[gap] Moſes, as it is a perfect holy Law, hath a V[gap] againſt you before the Face of God. The[gap] one that accuſeth you, even Moſes's Law, [gap] 5. Yea, it accuſeth all Men of Tranſgreſ[gap]

[gap]at have ſinned againſt it; for as long as Sin is [gap], there will be a Law to accuſe for Sin: But [gap]is Accuſation ſhall not prevail againſt the [gap]ming Sinner, becauſe 'tis Chriſt that dyed, & [gap]t ever lives to make Interceſſion for them that come [gap] him by him, Rom. 8 Heb 7 25.

Theſe things I ſay, do accuſe us before Chriſt [gap]ſus; yea, and all to our own Faces, if per [gap]ps they might prevail againſt us. But theſe [gap]ords. I will in no wife caſt out, ſecure the com [gap]g Sinner from them all.

The coming Sinner is not ſaved, becauſe there [gap] none that comes in againſt him; but becauſe [gap] Lord Jeſus will not hear their Accuſations; [gap]ll not caſt out the coming Sinner,

When Shimei came down to meet King Da [gap], and to ask Pardon for his Rebellion, up [gap]rts Abiſhai, and puts in his Caveat, ſaying; [gap]ll not Shimei Die for this? This is the Caſe [gap] him that comes to Chriſt: He hath his Abi [gap]i, and that Abiſhai, that preſently ſteps in a [gap]inſt him, ſaying, Shall not this Rebel's Sin de [gap] him in Hell? Read farther; But David an [gap]ered, What have I to do with you, ye Sons of Zer [gap]h, that you ſhould this Day be Adverſaries to me? [gap]ll there any Man be put to Death this Day in Iſ [gap]? For do not I know, that I am King this [gap] over Iſrael? 2 Sam. 19 16, 17, 18 &c.

This is Chriſt's Anſwer by the Text, to all [gap] accuſe the coming Shimei's. What have I to [gap]ith you, that Accuſe the coming Sinners to me? [gap]unt you Adverſaries that are againſt my ſhewing [gap]cy to them. Do not I know that I am exalted [gap] Day to be King of Righteouſneſs, and King of [gap]ce? I will in no wiſe caſt them out.

Secondly, But again, Theſe Words do cloſely

imply, that the coming Souls are afrai[gap] theſe Accuſers will prevail againſt the[gap] is evident, becauſe the Text is ſpoken their Relief and Succour. For that need be, if they that are coming, were not ſ[gap] to Fear, and Deſpond on this account. A[gap] there is a Guilt, and the Curſe lies upo[gap] Conſcience of the coming Sinner.

Beſides: he is conſcious to himſelf, w[gap] Villain, what a Wretch he hath been ag[gap] God and Chriſt. Alſo he now knows by [gap] ful Experience, how he has been at S[gap] B[gap]ck, and at the motion of every Luſt▪ his now new Thoughts of the Holineſs, [gap] Juſtice of God. Alſo he feels, that he [gap] not fo[gap]bear ſinning againſt him For the [gap] tions of Sin, which are by the Law, do[gap] Work in his Members, to bring for[gap] unto Death. Rom 7. But n[gap]ne of this ne[gap] ſin[gap]e we have ſo good, ſo tender Hearted [gap] ſo faithful a Jeſus to come to; who wi[gap] [gap] ther overthrow Heaven and Earth, than ſ[gap] Tittle of this Text to fail: And him th[gap] [gap] meth to Me, I will in no wiſe caſt out.

Now we have yet to enquire into two [gap] that lye in the Words, to which there ha[gap] nothing ſaid: As,

1. What it is to Caſt out?

2. How it appears that Chriſt hath Power [gap] or Caſt out?

For the firſt of theſe, What it is to [gap] To this I will ſpeak,

1. More generally.

2. More particularly.

More generally.

Firſt. To Caſt out, is to ſlight or deſ[gap]

[gap]emn; as is ſaid of Saul's Shield, It was vile [gap] [gap]ſt away: that is ſlighted and contemned. [gap]s it is with the Sinners that come not to [gap]s Chriſt. He flights. deſpiſes, & contemns

That is, Caſts them away, 2 Sam 1 2.

[gap]condly, Things Caſt away, are reputed as [gap]ſtruous Gloaths, & as the Dirt of the ſtreet, [gap] 22. Pſal. [gap]8 42. Mat. 5 13. ch. 15.17 And [gap] it ſhall be with the Men that come not to [gap] Chriſt; they ſhall be accounted as men. [gap]us, and as the Dirt in the Streets.

[gap]irdly, To be Caſt out or off, is to be abhor [gap] not to be pitied; but to be put to a perpe [gap] ſhame, Pſal 49 9 Pſal 89 38. Amos 1 1[gap].

[gap]ut more particularly, to come to the T[gap]xt, [gap] Caſting out here mentioned, is not limited [gap]his or the other Evil; therefore it muſt be [gap]nded to the moſt extream and utmoſt Mi [gap] Or thus:

[gap] that cometh to Chriſt, ſhall not want any [gap]g that may make him Goſpelly happy in [gap] World, or that which is to come; nor [gap] he want any thing that cometh not, that [gap] make him ſpiritually and eternally Miſera [gap]

[gap]t further, As it is to be generally taken, ſo [gap] [gap]pecteth Things that ſhall be hereafter.

[gap]or the Things that are now, they are either,

[gap] More General.

[gap] Or more Particular.

[gap]ſt, More General Thus,

[gap] is to be caſt out of the Preſence & Favour [gap] God.

[gap]ins was Cain caſt out, Thou haſt driven (or [gap]

[gap]me out this Day, from thy Face, (that is, [gap]m thy Favour) ſhall I be hid. A dreadful

Complaint! but the Effect of a more dre[gap] Judgment! Therefore here is the Mercy of [gap] that cometh to Chriſt, He ſhall not be le[gap] wander at Uncertainties. The Lord Jeſus C[gap] will keep him as a Shepherd doth his S[gap] Pſal. 23. Him that cometh to Me, I will i[gap] wiſe Caſt out.

Thirdly, To be Caſt out, is to be deni[gap] place in God's Houſe, and to be left as Fugi[gap] and Vagabonds, to paſs a little Time awa[gap] this miſerable Life, and after that to go [gap] to the Dead, Gal 4.30. Gen. 4.13, 14, [gap] 21:10. Therefore here is the Benefit of [gap] that cometh to Chriſt, He ſhall not be deni[gap] place in God's Houſe. They ſhall not be left [gap] Vagabonds in the World. Him that com[gap] me, I will in no wiſe caſt out, See Prov. [gap] Iſa. 56.3, 4. Epheſ. 2.19, 20. 1 Cor. 3.1[gap], 22

Fourthly, In a Word, to be caſt out, is [gap] Rejected as are the fallen Angels: For [gap] eternal Damnation began at their being down from Heaven to Hell. So then not caſt out, is to have a Place, a Houſe, and [gap] tation there; and to have a ſhare in the [gap] ledges of elect Angels.

Theſe Words therefore, I will not caſt [gap] will prove great Words one Day, to the[gap] come to Jeſus Chriſt, 2. Peter 2.4. John [gap] Luke 20.35.

Secondly. And more Particularly.

Firſt, Chriſt hath everlaſting Right[gap] to cloath them with, that come to him, [gap] ſhall be covered with it as with a Garm[gap] the reſt ſhall be found in the filthy Rags [gap] own ſtinking Pollutions, and ſhall be w[gap] in them as in a Winding Sheet, and ſo be[gap]

[gap]ame before the Lord, and alſo before the An [gap]ls, Dan. 2.24 Iſa. 57. 2. Rev. 3 4, 18 ch. 15.16.

[gap]hirdly. Chriſt hath precious Blood, that like [gap] open Fountain, ſtands free for him to waſh in, [gap]at comes to him for Life. And he will in no [gap]ſe caſt him out. But they that come not to [gap]m, are rejected from a ſhare therein, and are [gap]t to ireful Vengeance for their Sins, Zech. 13 [gap] 1 Pet. 1.11, 19 John 13 8 chap. 3, 36.

Fourthly, Chriſt hath precious Promiſes, and [gap]ey ſhall have a ſhare in them that come to [gap]m for Life. For he will in no wiſe caſt them [gap]t: but they that come not, can have no ſhare [gap] them, becauſe they are true only in him: For [gap] him, and only in him, all the Promiſes are [gap]ea and Amen. Wherefore they that come [gap]t to him are no whit the better for them, Pſal. [gap] 16. 2 Cor. 1.20, 21.

Fifthly, Chriſt hath alſo fulneſs of Grace in [gap]mſelf, for them that come unto him for Life. [gap]d he will in no wiſe caſt them out. But thoſe [gap] come not unto him, are left in their grace [gap] State, & as Chriſt leaves them, Death, Hell▪ [gap] Judgment finds them. He that findeth Me, [gap]ith Chriſt) findeth Life, and ſhall obtain [gap] our of the Lord. But he that Sins againſt Me, [gap]ngeth his own Soul. All that hate Me, [gap]e Death, Prov. 8.33, 34, 36.

[gap]ixthly, Chriſt is an Interceſſor, and ever [gap]eth to make Interceſſion for them that come [gap] God by him. But their Sorrows ſhall be [gap]iplied, that haſten after another (or other) [gap]s, (their Sins and Luſts.) Their Drink-Of [gap] [gap]s will he not offer, nor take up their Names [gap] his Lips, [gap]ſal. 16 4. Heb. 7.25.

[gap]eventhly. Chriſt hath wonderful Love, Bowels,

and Compaſſion for thoſe that come to him: For he will in no wiſe caſt them out. By the reſt will find him a Lyon rampant; b[gap] will one Day tear them in pieces. Now co[gap] ſider this (ſaith he) ye that forget God, leſt [gap] tear you in pieces, and there be none to del[gap]t[gap] you, Pſal 50.22.

Eighthly, Chriſt is known by, & for who [gap] ſake, thoſe that come to him, have their Pe[gap] ſons and Performances accepted of the F[gap] ther: And he will in no wiſe caſt them out B[gap] the reſt muſt fly to the Rocks & Mountai[gap] for ſhelter, but all in vain, to hide them fro[gap] his Face and Wrath, Rev. 6.15.