COME and WELCOME TO JESUS CHRIST. (16)

Thus I ſay, doth the greatneſs of the things [gap] fired, quite daſh and overthrow the Minds of th[gap] deſire: Oh, it is too big! it is too big! it is [gap] [gap]reat a Mercy,

But, Coming Sinner, let me reaſon with thee▪ Thou-ſay'ſt it is too big, too great. Well, will [gap]hings that are leſs ſatisfie thy Soul; will a leſs [gap]hing than Heaven, than Glory and eternal Life, [gap]nſwer thy Deſires? No, nothing leſs, yet I fear [gap]hey are too big and too good for me ever to ob [gap]ain. Well as big and as good as they are, God gi [gap]eth them to ſuch as thou; they are not too big for God to give. No not too big for God to give [gap]reely, be content, let God give like Himſelf; He [gap] that Eternal God, & giveth like Himſelf. When Kings give, they do not uſe to give as poor Men do. Hence it is ſaid that Nabal made a Feaſt in his Houſe like the Feaſt of a King: And again, All theſe [gap]hings did A[gap]anah, as a King gave unto David, 1 Sam. [gap]5 2 Sam 24. Now God is a great King, let him give like a King, nay let him give himſelf, and do [gap]hou receive like thy ſelf. He hath all, & thou haſt nothing God told his People of old▪ that he would ſave them in Truth and Righteouſneſs, & that they [gap]hould return to, and enjoy the Land, which before for their Sins had ſpued them out. And then adds under a Suppoſition of their counting the Mercy too [gap]ood or too big. Is it he marvell[gap]us in the Eyes of the Remnant of this People in theſe Days, ſhould it alſo be marvellous in mine Eyes? ſaith the Lord of H[gap]ſts, Zech. 8 9,

As who ſhould ſay, They are now in Captivity, and li[gap]t[gap]e in their own E[gap]es, therefore they think the Mercy too marvellouſly big for them to enjoy, but if it be ſo in their Eyes, it is not ſo in mine. I will do for them like God, if they all but receive my Bounty like Sinners.

Coming Sinner, God can give his heavenly Canaan, and the Glory of it to thee: yea none ever had them, but as a Gift, a free Gift. He has given us his Son, How ſhall he not them, with him freely give us all things?

It was not the worthineſs of Abraham, Moſes, or David, or Peter, or Paul, but the Mercy of God that made them Inheritors of Heaven. If God thinks thee worthy, [gap]dge not thy ſelf unworthy, bu[gap] take it, and be thankful. And it is a good ſign

he intends to give thee, if he has drawn out t[gap] heart to ask. O Lord, thou haſt heard the deſi[gap] of the humble, thou wilt prepare their hearts, th[gap] wilt incline thine Ear, Pſal. 10.17.

When God is ſaid to incline his Ear, it implies [gap] Intention to beſtow the Mercy deſired. Take [gap] therefore, thy Wiſdom will be to receive, not ſti[gap] ing at thy own unworthineſs. It is ſaid, He raiſe[gap] up the Poor out of the Duſt, and lifteth up the Be[gap] gar out of the Dunghill, to ſet them among Prin[gap] and to make them inherit the Throne of Glo[gap] Again, he raiſeth up the poor out of the Duſt. [gap] lifteth ſome Needy out of the Dunghil that he [gap] ſet him with Princes, even with the Princes of [gap] People. Sam 4 28. Pſal. 113 7, 8.

You ſee alſo, when God made a Wedding [gap] his Son, he called not the Great, nor the Rich, [gap] the Mighty▪ but the Poor▪ the Maimed▪ the Halt▪ [gap] the Blind, Mat. 22 Luke 14

Fifthly, Thy Fears that Chriſt will not recei[gap] thee, may ariſe f[gap]om the hideous Roaring of th[gap] Devil, who purſues thee, He that hearts him rou[gap] muſt be a mighty Chriſtian if he can at that tim[gap] deliver himſelf from Fear. He is called a roa[gap]i[gap] Lion; and then to allude to that in Iſaiah, If on[gap] look into them, they have Darkn[gap]ſs, and Sorro[gap] and the Light is Darkneſs to their▪ very Heav[gap] a [gap] 3.8 Iſa. [gap].30.

There are two things among many, that Satan uſeth to roar out after them that are coming [gap] Jeſus Chriſt.

1. That they are not Elected, Or,

2. That they have▪ ſinned the Sin againſt [gap] Holy Ghoſt.

To both theſe I anſwer briefly.

Touching Election, out of which thou [gap] thou art excluded. Why, coming Sinner, even [gap] Text it ſelf affordeth thee help againſt this [gap] and that by a double Argument.

Firſt, That coming to Chriſt, is by Virt[gap] [gap] the Gift, Promiſe, and Drawing of the Father; In thou act a coming, therefore God hath given that

[gap]iſed thee, and is a Drawing thee to Jeſus Chriſt. [gap]ing Sinner, hold to this, and when Satan begins our again, anſwer But I feel my heart moving af [gap] [gap]ſus Chriſt. But that would not be if it were not [gap] by Promiſe, and Drawing to Chriſt by the [gap] of the Father

[gap]condly, Jeſus Chriſt hath Promiſed, That him [gap] cometh to him, he will in no wiſe caſt out, [gap] if he hath ſaid it, will he not make it good. I [gap] even thy Salvation? For as I have ſaid al [gap] [gap]y, not to caſt out, is to receive and admit to [gap] fit of Salvation. If then the Father has [gap]n thee, as is manifeſted by thy coming and if [gap]iſt will receive thee▪ thou coming Soul, as 'tis [gap]in he w[gap]ll, be cauſe he hath ſaid. He well in no [gap]e caſt thee out. Then be confident▪ & let thoſe [gap]ncluſions that as naturally flow from the [gap]ne, [gap] Light from the Sun, or Water from the Foun [gap]n ſtay thee.

If Satan therefore objecteth, But thou art not [gap]ected; anſwer, But I am coming, Satan, I am [gap]ming; and that I could not be, but that the [gap]ther draws; and I am coming to ſuch a Lord [gap]ſus as will in no wiſe caſt me out. Farther, [gap]tan, were I not the Elect, the Father would not [gap]w me; nor would the Son ſo graciouſly open [gap]s Boſome to me. I am perſawded that not [gap]e of the Non-elect ſhall ever be able to ſay [gap]o not in the Day of Judgment) I did ſincerely [gap]ome to Jeſus Chriſt, Come they may, feignedly [gap] Judas and S[gap]mon Magus did; but that is not [gap]ur Queſtion. Therefore O thou honeſt-hearted [gap]ming Sinner! be not afraid, but come.

As to the ſecond Part of the Objection about [gap]ing that Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt; the [gap]e Argument alſo overthrows that alſo. But [gap] will argue thus.

Firſt, Coming to Chriſt is by virtue of a ſpe [gap] Gift of the Father; but the Father giveth

no ſuch Gift to them that have ſinned that Si[gap] therefore thou that art coming haſt not co[gap] mitted that Sin that the Father giveth no ſu[gap] Gift to them that have ſinned that Sin is evide[gap]

1. Becauſe they have ſinned themſelves out [gap] God's Favour; they ſhall never have forgi[gap] neſs, Mat 12 32. But it is a ſpecial Favour [gap] God to give unto a Man, to come to Jeſ[gap] Chriſt; becauſe thereby he obtaineth Forgi[gap] neſs Therefore he that cometh, hath not [gap] ned that Sin.

2. They that have ſinned the Sin againſt [gap] H[gap]ly G[gap]oſt, have ſinned themſelves out of [gap] intereſt in the ſacrifice of Chriſt's Body & Blo[gap] There remains for ſuch no more ſacrifice for S[gap]

But God giveth not G[gap]ace to any of them [gap] c[gap]me to Chriſt, that have no ſhare in the S[gap] crifice of his B[gap]dy and Blood; Therefore [gap] that art coming to him, haſt not ſinned th[gap] Sin, Heb. 19 26.

Secondly, Coming to Chriſt, is by the ſpecia[gap] drawing of the Fa[gap]her. No man cometh to M[gap] except the Father wh[gap]ch hath ſent me draw him. But the Father draweth not him to Chriſt fo[gap] whom he hath not allotted Forgiveneſs by hi[gap] Blood. Therefore, they that are coming to Jeſus Chriſt, have not ſinned that Sin, becauſe he hath allotted them Forgiveneſs by his Blood▪ John 6.44.

That the Father cannot draw them to Jeſu[gap] Chriſt, for whom he hath not allotted Forgiveneſs of Sin, is manifeſt to Senſe; for that wou[gap] be a plain Mockery, a Flam neither becomi[gap] his Wiſdom, Juſtice, Holineſs, nor Goodneſs.

Thirdly, Coming to Jeſus Chriſt, lays a [gap] under his Interceſſion: For he ever liveth [gap]

[gap]ke Interceſſion for them that come, Heb 7.25. [gap]herefore he that is coming to Jeſus Chriſt, [gap]nnot have ſinned that Sin

Chriſt has forbidden the People to Pray for them [gap]at have ſinned that Sin, & therefore will not Pray [gap]r them himſelf, but he prays for them that come.

Fourthly, He that hath ſinned that Sin Chriſt is [gap]o him of no more Worth, than it a Man that is [gap]ead. For he hath crucified to him the Son of God▪ Yea, & hath alſo counted his precious Blood as an [gap]nholy thing Heb 6 10. Now he that hath this low [gap]ſteem of Chriſt, will never come to him for Life, [gap]ut the Coming Man has an high Eſteem of his Per [gap]on, Blood and Merits. Therefore he that is coming has not committed that Sin.

Fifthly, If he that hath ſinned this Sin might yet come to Jeſus Chriſt then muſt the truth of God be overthrown, which ſaith in one place. He hath never Forgiveneſs. And [gap]n another, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Therefore that he may never have Forgiveneſs, he ſhall never have an Heart to come [gap]o Jeſus Chriſt. It is impoſſible that ſuch an one ſhould be renewed either to, or by Repentance▪ Heb. 6. Wherefore, never trouble thy Head nor Heart about this matter. He that cometh to Jeſus Chriſt, cannot have ſinned againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

Sixthly, Thy Fears that Chriſt will not receive thee, may ariſe from thine own Folly, in inventing yea, in the chalking out to God a way to bring thee Home to Jeſus Chriſt. Some Souls that are coming to Jeſus Chriſt are great Tormentors of themſelves upon this account. They conclude, that if their coming to Jeſus Chriſt is right, they muſt needs be brought home thus and thus. As to inſtance.

1. Says one, if God be bringing of me to Jeſus Chriſt, then will he load me with the Guilt of Sin, [gap]till he make me roar again.

2. If God be indeed bringing me home to Jeſus Chriſt, then muſt I be aſſaulted with dreadful Temptations of the Devil.

3. If God be indeed a bringing me to Jeſus

Chriſt then even when I come at [gap]ll n[gap] I ſhall n[gap] wonderful Revelations of him.

This is the way that ſome Sinners appoint [gap] God. But perhaps he will not walk herein, et he [gap] b[gap]ing the unto Jeſus Chriſt. But now becauſe t[gap] come not in the way of their own chalking o[gap] therefore they are at a loſs. They look for a h[gap] vy lord and burthen; but perhaps God gives th[gap] a ſight of their loſt Condition and addeth [gap] that heavy weight and burthen. They look for[gap] fearful Temptations of Satan but God ſees t[gap] yet they are not fit for them? Nor is the [gap] come, that he ſhould be honoured by them in [gap] a Condition. They look for Great and Glorio[gap] Revelations of Chriſt, Grace, and Mercy. [gap] perhaps God only takes the Yoke from off the Jaws, and lays Meat before them. And now age they are at a Loſs yet a coming to Chriſt: I dre[gap] (ſaith God) with the Cords of a Man, with th[gap] Bands of Love: I took the Yoke from of thei[gap] Jaws, and ſaid Meat unto them, Heb. 1.14.

Now I ſay, if God brings thee to Chriſt, and [gap] by the way that thou haſt appointed, then th[gap] art a loſs; and for thy being at a loſs thou may [gap] thank thy ſelf, God hath more ways than tho[gap] knoweſt of, to bring a Sinner to Jeſus Chriſt. Bu[gap] he will not give thee before hand an Account h[gap] which he will bring thee to Chriſt, Iſa. 40.12. Joh 43.13.

Sometimes he hath his Way in the Whirl wind, but ſometimes the Lord is not there. Neh. 13. 1 Kin 10.11.

If God will deal more gently with thee, tha[gap] with others of his Children, grudge not at it▪ refuſ[gap] to the Waters of the Rivers▪ ſtrong and many, ev[gap] theſe two ſmoaking Fire Brands the D[gap] and Guilt of Sin▪ I[gap]a 8 6 7.8 He ſaith to P[gap] ter follow me. And what Thunder did Zac[gap]

[gap]us hear or ſee? Zacheus Come down, ſaid Chriſt [gap] he came town, (ſays Luke) and received H[gap] joyfully.

[gap]t had Peter or Zacheus made the Obi[gap]cti [gap] [gap]ha[gap] thou haſt made, and directed the Spirit [gap]e Lord, as thou haſt done, they might have [gap]ed long enough, before they had found [gap]mſelves coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

[gap] ſides, I will tell thee, that the greatneſs of [gap]f Sin, the hideous R[gap]a[gap]ing of the D[gap]vil, [gap] and abundance of Revelations, will not [gap]re that God is bringing the Soul to J[gap]ſus [gap]riſt: As Balaam, Cain, Judas, and others can [gap]neſs.

Farther, Conſider, that what thou haſt not of [gap]ſe things here thou may[gap]ſt have another time, [gap]d that thy Deſtruction: Wherefore inſtead [gap] being Diſcontent, becauſe thou art not in [gap]e Fire; becauſe thou heareſt not the Sound of [gap]e Trumpet, and Alarm of War; Pray that [gap] enter not into Temptation; Yea, come [gap]dly to the Throne of Grace, & obtain Mer [gap] & find Grace to help in that time of need? [gap]l. 88 15 Mat 40.41. Heb 4 16.

Poor Creature! Thou cry'ſt, if I were temp [gap]d, I could come faſter, and with more Confi [gap]nce to Jeſus Chriſt; Thou ſay'ſt thou know'ſt [gap]ot what. What ſays Job, Withdraw thy Hand [gap]n me, and let n[gap]t thy Dread make me afraid; [gap]en call thou, and I will anſwer; or let me ſpeak, [gap]d anſwer thou me, J[gap]b 11.31 It is not the [gap]ver [gap]avy Load of Sin, but the Diſcovery of Mer [gap]; not the Roaring of the Devil, but the [gap]awing of the Father, that makes a man come [gap] J[gap]ſus Chriſt, I my ſelf know all theſe things [gap] True, ſometimes (yea, moſt an end) they [gap]t come to Jeſus Chriſt, come the way that [gap]m deſi[gap]eſt; the Loading, Tempted Way; [gap]t the Lord alſo leads ſome by the Waters of

Comfort. If I was to chuſe, when to go a [gap]o[gap] Journey; to wit, Whether I would go it in [gap] Dead of Winter, or in the Pleaſant Spri[gap] (though it was a very profitable Journey; [gap] that of coming to Chriſt is) I would chuſe [gap] go through Fire and Water, before I would [gap] the Benefit. But I ſay, if I chuſe the time, [gap] would chuſe to go it in the pleaſant Spring, [gap] cauſe the way would be more delightſome, [gap] Days longer and warmer, the Nights ſho[gap] and no ſo cold. And it is obſervable, that th[gap] very Argument that thou uſeſt, to weaken [gap] ſtrength in the way, that very Argument Ch[gap] Jeſus uſeth to encourage his beloved to come[gap] him: Ariſe (ſaith he) my Love, my fair One, [gap] come away; (Why) For lo, the Winter is past, [gap] Rain is over and gone, the Flowers appear or [gap] Earth, the time of the Singing of Birds is come, [gap] the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our land. [gap] Fig-tree putteth forth for green Fi[gap]s, and the Vi[gap] with her tender Grapes, give a good ſmell: Ariſe[gap] Love, my fair One, and come away, Song 2.10.

Trouble not thy ſelf, Coming Sinner, if th[gap] feeſt thy loſt Condition by thy original & ac[gap] al Sin. If thou ſeeſt thy need of the ſpoi[gap] Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; If thou art [gap] ling to be found in him, and to take up [gap] Croſs and follow him, then Pray for a [gap] Wind and good Weather, and come a way. [gap] no longer in a Muſe or Doubt about things [gap] come away to Jeſus Chriſt: Do it, I ſay, [gap] thou tempt God to lay the Sorrows of a tra[gap] ling Woman upon thee. Thy Folly in [gap] thing, makes him to do it. Mind what foll[gap] The Sorrows of a travelling Women ſhall, [gap] upon him: Why? He is an unwiſe Son,

[gap] ſhould not ſtay long in the breaking forth of [gap]ildren, Hoſ. 13.13.

Seventhly, Thy Fears that Chriſt will not re [gap]ve thee, may riſe from thoſe Decays that [gap]ou findeſt in thy Soul, even while thou art [gap]ing to Him: Some, even as they are com [gap]g to Jeſus Chriſt, do find themſelves grow [gap]rſe and worſe: And this is indeed, a fore [gap]yal to the poor coming Sinner.