COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (15)

their beginning to come to Jeſus Chriſt: [gap] might not he, yea, in all probability he [gap] (between the firſt S[gap]ep he took, and the laſt▪ which he accompliſhed that Journey) many Thought, both this way and that, as whet[gap] his Father would receive him or no? As th[gap] I ſaid, I would go to my Father; But how, [gap] when I come at him he ſhould ask me, Whe[gap] have all this while been? What muſt I ſay th[gap] Alſo if he ask me what is become of the Portio[gap] Goods that he gave me? What ſhall I ſay then, if [gap] ask me, who have been my C[gap]mpanions? What ſha[gap] ſay then; if he alſo ſh[gap]uld ask me, what hath been [gap] Preferment [gap]n all the time if my abſence from hi[gap] What ſhall I ſay th[gap]; Yea, and [gap]f he ask, why [gap] came home no ſ[gap]oner? What ſhall I ſay then? Th[gap] I ſay, might he reaſon with himſelf; & be[gap] conſcious to himſelf, that he could give bu[gap] bad Anſwer to any of theſe Interrogatories, [gap] marvel if he ſtood in need firſt of all, of a [gap] from his Father's Lips. For had he anſwere[gap] the firſt in Truth, he muſt ſay, I have been [gap] Haunter of Taverns, and Ale houſes: and f[gap] my Portion, I ſpent it in Riotous Living; [gap] companions were Whores and Drabs: As fo[gap] my Preferment, the higheſt was, that I becam[gap] a H[gap]g Herd; & as for my not coming hom[gap] till now, Could I have made ſhift to ſtay abro[gap] any longer, I had not lain at thy Feet for mercy now.

I ſay theſe things conſidered, and conſiderin[gap] again, how prone poor Man is to give wa[gap] truly awakened [gap]o Deſpondings, to give wa[gap] miſgivings; no marvel if he did ſink in [gap] Mind, between the time of his firſt ſetting [gap] and that of his coming to his Father.

But Thirdly, Methinks I have, for the Con [gap]mation of this Truth, the Conſent of all the [gap]ints that are under Heaven, to wit, That they [gap] are coming to Jeſus Chriſt, are oft-times [gap]artily afraid that he will not leave them.

Queſt. But what ſhould be the Reaſon?

I will anſwer to this Queſtion thus.

Firſt, It is not for want of the revealed Will of [gap]od, that manifeſted Grounds for the contra [gap]; for of that there was a Sufficiency; yea, the [gap]ext it ſelf hath lain a ſufficient Foundation [gap] Encouragement for them that are coming to [gap]eſus Chriſt.

And him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt [gap]ut.

Secondly, It is not for want of an Invitation [gap]o come, for that is full and plain, Come unto [gap]e all ye that Labour, and are heavy laden, and I will [gap] you rest, Mat. 11 28.

Thirdly, It is not for want of a ſolemn Oath [gap]nd Ingagement to ſave them that come; For [gap]ecauſe he could ſwear by no greater, He ſwore [gap]y himſelf. That by two immutable things, in which [gap]t was impoſſibble that God ſhould lye, we might have [gap]trong Conſolation, who have fled▪ for refuge, to lay hold on the hope ſet before us, Heb 6.15, 16, 17, 19.

Fourthly, Neither is it for want of great Examples of God's Mercy, that have come to Jeſus Chriſt, of which we read moſt plentifully in the word.

Therefore it muſt be concluded, it was for want of that which follows.

Firſt, It is for want of Knowledge in Chriſt. Thou knoweſt but little of the Grace & Kindneſs that is in the Heart of Chriſt Thou knoweſt but little of the Merit and Virtue of his Blood.

Thou knoweſt [gap] little of the Willingneſs th[gap] is in his heart to ſave thee: And this is t[gap] reaſon of the Fear that ariſeth in thy Heart, [gap] cauſeth th[gap]e to doubt▪ that Chriſt will not r[gap] ceive thee Unbelief is the Daughter of Ign[gap] rance: Therefore Chriſt ſaith, O Fools and ſlow [gap] Heart to believe Luke 24 25.

Slowneſs of Heart to believe flows from th[gap] Fooliſhneſs in the things of Chriſt; This [gap] evident to all that are acquainted with the[gap] ſelves, and are ſeeking after Jeſus Chriſt: T[gap] more Ignorance, the more Unbelief; the mo[gap] Knowledge of Chriſt, the more faith. They th[gap] know thy Name, will put their truſt in thee, Pſal. [gap] 10. He therefore that began to come to Chri[gap] the other Day, and hath yet but little Knowledge of him, he fears that Chriſt will not r[gap] ceive him. But he that hath been longer [gap] quainted with him, he is ſtrong, and hath ow[gap] come the wicked one, 1 John 2.

When Joſeph's Brethren came into Egypt t[gap] buy Corn it is ſaid, Joſeph knew his Brethren▪ but his Brethren knew not him. What follows? Why, great miſtruſt of Heart about their ſpeeding well; eſpecialy if Joſeph did but anſwe[gap] them roughly, calling them Spies, and queſtioning the Truth and the like And obſerve it ſ[gap] long as their Ignorance about their Brother remained, with them, whatſoever Joſeph did they put the worſt Senſe upon it: For Inſtance, Joſeph upon a time, bids the Steward of the Houſe to bring them home to Dine with him, to Din[gap] even Joſeph's Houſe: And how is this reſented by them? Why they are afraid: And tha[gap] Men were afraid, becauſe they were brought unto (their Brother) Joſeph's Houſe. And they

[gap]d, He ſeeketh occaſion againſt us & will fall [gap]on, us, and take us for Bond Men, and our [gap]ſes, Gen 4[gap]. and Chap. 43. What afraid to go [gap] Joſeph's Houſe? He was their Brother; He [gap]ended to Feaſt them, and Feaſt with them [gap] but they were ignorant that he was their [gap]rther: And ſo long as their Ignorance laſted, [gap]long their Fear terrified them Juſt thus it [gap] with the Sinner, that but of late is coming to [gap]us Chriſt. He is ignorant of the Love and [gap] that is in Chriſt to coming Sinners. There [gap]e he doubts, therefore he Fears, therefore his [gap]eart miſgives him.

Coming Sinner, Chriſt inviteth thee to Dine [gap]d Sup with him: He inviteth thee to a Ban [gap]et of Wine, yea to come into his Wine-celler; [gap] his Banner over the ſhall be Love, Rev. 30.20. [gap]t. 2. Chap. 5. But I doubt it, ſays the Sinner' [gap] its anſwer'd, He calls thee, invites thee to [gap] Banquet: Flaggons, Apples, to his Wine, & [gap] the Juice of his Pomegrana[gap]e. O I fear, I [gap]ubt, I miſtruſt, I tremble in expection of the [gap]ntrary! Come out of the Man thou daſtardly [gap]gnorance. Be not afraid, Sinner, only beleive, [gap] that cometh to Chriſt, He will [gap]n no wiſe caſt out ▪ Let the Coming Sinner, [gap]herefore ſeek after [gap] [gap]re of the good Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt: [gap]eſs after it, ſeek it as Silver, and Dig for it as [gap] hid Treaſure: This will embolden thee; [gap] is will make thee wa[gap] Stronger and Stronger. [gap] now when I have believed, I know him ſaid [gap]. And what follows? Why, and I am per [gap]ed, that he is able to keep that which I [gap] commited to him againſt that Day. 2▪ [gap] 19 13.

What had Paul committed to Jeſus Chriſt?

The Anſwer is, he had committed to him b[gap] Soul But why did he commit to him [gap] Soul? Why, becauſe he knew him: He kne[gap] him to be Faithful, to be kind: He knew [gap] would not fail him, nor forſake him, & the[gap] fore he laid his Soul down at his feet, and co[gap] mitted to him to keep againſt that Day. [gap]

Secondly, Thy Fears that Chriſt will not [gap] ceive thee may be alſo a Conſequent of [gap] earneſt and ſtrong Deſires after thy Salvati[gap] by him, For this I obſerve that ſtrong Deſi[gap] to have, are attended with ſtrong fears of [gap] ſing. What man moſt ſets his Heart upon, [gap] what his Deſires are moſt after, (he oft-time[gap] moſt fears he ſhall not obtain. So the M[gap] Ruler of the Synagogue had a great Deſire th[gap] his Daughter ſhould live; and that Deſire [gap] attended with fear that ſhe would not; Wh[gap] fore Chriſt ſaith unto him, Be not afraid, M[gap] 5.36,

Suppoſe a Young Man ſhould have his He[gap] much ſet upon a Virgin to have her to Wife, ever he fears he ſhall not obtain, it is when [gap] begins to Love. Now, thinks he ſome bo[gap] will ſtep in betwixt my Love and the Obje[gap] of it; either they will find fault with my P[gap] ſon, my Eſtate, my Condition, or ſomethin[gap]

Now Thoughts begin to Work, he doth [gap] like me, or ſomething. And thus it is with [gap] Soul, at firſt coming to Jeſus Chriſt; Thou it [gap] him, and thy Love produceth Jealouſie, and [gap] Jealouſie oft times beget Fears.

Now thou feareſt the Sins of thy Youth▪ Sins of thine Old Age, the Sins of thy Call[gap] the Sins of thy Chriſtian Duties, the Sins o[gap] Heart or ſomething, thou thinkeſt ſomethin[gap]

[gap]er will alienate the Heart and Affections of [gap]ſus Chriſt from thee, thou thinkeſt he ſees [gap]ething in thee, for the ſake of which he will [gap] uſe thy Soul.

But be content, a little more Knowledge of [gap] will make thee take better Heart; thy ear [gap]t Deſiers ſhall not be attended with ſuch burn [gap] Fears; thou ſhalt hereafter ſay, This is my [gap]mity, Pſal. 77.

Thou art ſick of Love; a very ſweet Diſeaſe, and [gap] every Diſeaſe has ſome weakneſs attending [gap] yet I wiſh this Diſtemper (if it be lawful to [gap] it ſo) was more Epidemical. I would glad [gap] die of this Diſeaſe; 'tis better than Life it [gap]f, though it be attended with Fears. But thou [gap] out, I cannot obtain it. Well, be not too [gap]ſty in making Concluſions: If Jeſus Chriſt had [gap]t put his Finger in at the Hole of the Lock [gap] Bowels would not have been troubled for him [gap] Song 5.) Ma[gap]k how the Prophet hath it. They [gap]l walk after the Lord, He ſhall roar like a Lion: [gap]hen he ſhall roar, the Children ſhall tremble from the [gap], they ſhall tremble like a Bird out of of Egypt, and [gap]n Dove out of the Land of Aſſyria, Hoſ 11 10 11. When God roars (as oft times the coming [gap]l hears him roar) What Man, that is com [gap]g can do otherwiſe but tremble? (Amos 3.8.) [gap]t trembling he comes, He ſprang in, and came [gap]mbling and fell down before Paul and Silas Acts 16 [gap]hould you ask him that we mentioned but [gap], How long is it, ſince you began to fear you [gap]ld miſs of this Damſel you love ſo? The An [gap] will be Ever ſince I began to love her. But [gap] you not fear it before? No nor ſhould I fear [gap] but that I moſt vehemently love Her. Come [gap]r, let us apply it; How long is it ſince thou began'ſt

to fear, that Jeſus Chriſt will n[gap]t recei[gap] thee? thy anſwer is, ever ſince I began to deſi[gap] Chriſt? then I began to come. And the m[gap] my Heart burns in deſires after him, the more [gap] feel my heart fear, I ſhall nor be ſaved by him

See now did I not tell thee that thy Fea[gap] were but the Conſequence[gap] of ſtrong D[gap]ſire[gap] Well, fear not. Coming Sinner, Thouſands [gap] Coming Souls are in thy condition; and [gap] they will get ſafe into Chriſt's Boſome. [gap] (ſaith Chriſt) to them that are of a fearful Hea[gap] Be ſtrong, fear not; Your God will come a[gap] ſave you, Iſa. 35. 4 Chap. 63.

Thirdly, thy fear that Chriſt will not rece[gap] thee, may ariſe from a fence of thine own [gap] worthineſs. Thou ſeeſt what a poor, ſo[gap] wretched, worthleſs Creature thou art! A[gap] ſeeing this, thou feareſt Chriſt will not rec[gap] thee: Alas, ſayeſt thou, I'm the V[gap]l[gap]ſt of all M[gap] A Town Sinner! A Ring-leading Sinner! I a[gap] not only a Sinner my ſe[gap]f, but have made oth[gap] two-fold [gap]rſe the Children of Hell alſo! [gap] ſide, now I am underſome Awakening & ſtirri[gap] of Mind after Salvation, even now I find my h[gap] Rebellious, Carnal, Hard, Treacherous. Deſp[gap] rate prone to Unbelief & Deſpair: It forgette[gap] the Word; it wa[gap]e[gap]eth, it runneth to the [gap] of the Earth. There is not (I am perſwade[gap] one in all the World, hath ſuch a deſperate [gap] ked Heart us mine [gap] My ſoul is careleſs to [gap] Good, but none m[gap]e earneſt to do that which is [gap]

Can ſuch a man as I am live in Glory i[gap] an Holy, a Juſt, and a Righteous GOD, [gap] think (with Honour to his Name) of ſa[gap] ſuch a Vile Creature as I am? Truly I ſe[gap] Will he ſhew Wonder to ſuch a Dead D[gap] am? I doubt it.

[gap] am caſt out to the lo[gap]hing of my Perſon, [gap], [gap] hath my ſelf, I ſtink in mine Noſtrils. How can [gap] accepted us a Holy & Sin abhorring Gods [gap]l 38 5 67. Ez[gap]k [gap]. Chap. [gap]0 42 43 44 Saved I would [gap] who is the [gap] would not, were they in [gap] Condi[gap]ion? Indeed I wonder at the Madneſs & [gap]ully of others, when I ſee them leap and skip ſ[gap] [gap]re[gap] ſl[gap] about the Mourn of Hell! Behold Sinner, [gap] da[gap]eſt thou tempt God▪ by laughing at the [gap]reach of his holy Law [gap] But alas! they are not ſo [gap]nd one way, but I am worſe another▪ I wiſh my [gap] were any Body but my ſelf▪ And yet here again [gap] know not what to wiſh. When I ſee ſuch I be [gap]eve are coming to Jeſus Chriſt▪ I b[gap]eſs them; but [gap] am confounded in my ſelf to ſee how unlike (as [gap] think) I am to every good Man in the World: They can hear, read, pray, remember, repent, be [gap]umble, and do every thing better than ſo Vile a Wretch as I.

I Vile Wretch! Am good for nothing but to burn [gap]n Hell fire; and when I think of that, I am con [gap]ounded too.

Thus the ſenſe of Unworthineſs creates & heigh[gap]-[gap] Fears in the Hearts of them that are coming to [gap]eſus Chriſt; but indeed it ſhould not, for who [gap]eds the Phyſician, but the Sick? Or, who did Chriſt come into the World to ſave, but the Chief [gap] Sinners? (Mat 1 17. 1 Tim 1 15) Wherefore, th[gap] [gap]ore thou ſeeſt thy Sins, the faſte[gap] fly thou to Jeſus Chriſt; and let the ſenſe of thine own unworthineſs, [gap]revail with thee yet to go faſter. As it is with the Man that carrieth his broken Arm in a Sling to the Bone-ſetter, ſtill as he thi[gap]es of his broken Arm, and [gap]s he feels the Pain and Anguiſh, he haſtens his pace [gap]o the Man. And if Satan meets thee, and asketh, Whither goeſt thou? Tell him, Thou art maimed; and art going to the Lord Jeſus. If he Objects thine [gap]wn Unworthineſs, tell him, That even as the Sick [gap]ke In the Phyſician, as he that hath broken Bone[gap] [gap]ks him that can ſet them, ſo thou art going to Jeſus Chriſt for Care & Healing for thy ſick Soul.

But it oft times happeneth to him that flies [gap] his Life, he deſpairs of eſcaping, and therefore d[gap] vers himſelf up into the hand of the Purſuer. [gap] up, up Sinner; be of good Cheer▪ Chriſt came [gap] ſave the unworthy One. Be not faithleſs but [gap] lieve. Come away Man, the Lord Jeſus calleth ſaying, And him that co[gap]eth to me, I will in wiſe caſt out

Fourthly. Thy Fear that Chriſt will not rece[gap] thee, may ariſe from a ſenſe of the exceeding Me[gap] of being ſaved. Sometimes Salvation is in the [gap] of him that deſires ſo great, ſo huge: So wonde[gap] a thing▪ that the very Thoughts of the Excelle[gap] of it, ingenders unbelief about obtaining it, in [gap] Heart of thoſe that unfeignedly deſire it. Serm[gap] it to you (ſaith David) a light thing to be the Kin[gap] Son in Law 1 1 Sam 18.23 So the Thoughts of [gap] Greatneſs and Glory of the Thing propounded, [gap] Heaven, Eternal Life, Eternal Glory; to be [gap] God and Chriſt, & Angels: Theſe are great th[gap] things too good (ſaith the Soul that is little [gap] own Eyes.) Things too Rich (ſaith the Soul the [gap] truly poor in ſpirit) for me.

Beſides, The Holy Ghoſt hath a way to great [gap] Heavenly Things to the Underſtanding of t[gap] Coming Sinner; yea and at the ſame time [gap] greaten too the Sin and Unworthineſs of that Si[gap] ner. Now the Soul ſtaggeringly wonders, ſa[gap] ing, What, to be made like Angels, like Chriſt [gap] for Angels, & for them that can walk like Angels.

And it is a Wonder then to ſee a Soul that [gap] drowned in the ſenſe of Glory, and a ſenſe of [gap] own Nothingneſs, to be confounded in it ſelf, an[gap] to fear that the Glory apprehended, is too grea[gap] too good, and too rich for ſuch an one.

That thing, Heaven and eternal Glory, it [gap] great, and I that would have it ſo ſmall, ſo ſor[gap] a Creature, that the Thoughts of obtaining it co[gap] founds me.