I come now to make ſome General Uſe and Application of the whole, and ſo to draw towards a [gap] ſi[gap]n. (1)

THe fi[gap]ſt Uſe A Uſe of information And it informeth us, Tha[gap] Men by Nature are far off from Chriſt.

Let me a little improve this Uſe, by ſpeaking to [gap]heſe three Queſtions.

1 Where is he that is coming to Jeſus Chriſt?

2. What is he that is coming to Jeſus Chriſt?

3 Whither is he to go that cometh not to Jeſus Chriſt?

Firſt, Where is he?

1. Anſw He is far from God, he is without him, [gap]ven alienate from him, both in his Underſtanding, Will, Aff[gap]ctions Judgment & Conſcience, Eph. 2.1[gap].

2. He is far from Jeſus Chriſt, who is the only deliverer of Men from Hell-Fire, Pſal. 37.27.

3. He is far from the work of the Holy Ghoſt▪ the [gap]o[gap]k of Regeneration & a ſecond Creation▪ without which no man ſhall ſee the Kingdom of Heaven Joh 3.3.

4. He is far from being Righteous from that Righteouſneſs that ſhould make him acceptable in [gap]'s ſight Iſa. 64 14

5. He is under the Power and Dominion of Sin, in reigneth in and over him; it dwelleth in every [gap]ac[gap]lty of his Soul and member of his Body: So [gap]hat from Head to Foot there is no place clean, Iſa. [gap]6 Cor 8 9 10 11 12, 13 14 &c.

6. He is the P[gap]ſt Houſe with Ʋz[gap]iah and ex [gap]luded the Camp of Iſrael with the Lepers, 2 Chron. [gap]5.21 Numb. 5.2

7. His Life is among the unclean▪ He is in the [gap]ill of Bitterneſs, and in the Bond of Iniquity, Joh. 3.[gap]4 Acts 8 23.

8. He is in Sin, in the Fleſh in Death, in th[gap] [gap]hare of the Devil and is taken Captive by him at [gap] will 1 Cor. 1[gap].17. Rom 8 8 1 Joh 3.14. 2 Tim. 2 [gap]8.

9. He is under the Curſe of the Law, and the Devil

dwells in him▪ and hath the maſtery of him, Gal 3.13. Eph 2 2 [gap].

10. He is Darkneſs▪ and walketh in Darkneſs, an[gap] know not whither he goes, for Darkneſs has blinde[gap] his Eyes.

11. He is in the broad way that leadeth to Deſtruction: and holding on, he will aſſuredly go in [gap] the broad Gate, and down the Stairs to Hell.

Secondly What is he that cometh to Jeſus Chriſt

1. He is counted one of God's Enemies▪ Luk. 19 [gap]

2. He is a Child of the Devil and of Hell ſo th[gap] Devil begat him, as to his ſinful Nature▪ and He[gap] muſt ſwallow him at laſt, becauſe he cometh no[gap] to Jeſus Chriſt John 8.44.

3. He is a Child or Wrath, an Heir of it, 'ti[gap] his Portion, and God will repay it him to [gap] Face, Eph. 2.1.

4. He is a Self murderer, he wrongeth his o[gap] Soul, and is one that loveth Death, Prov. 1.18.

5. He is a Companion of Devils, and damn [gap]d Men, Prov. 21.16.

Thirdly, Whither is he like to go, that comet[gap] not to Jeſus Chriſt?

1. He that cometh not to him, is like to go farther from him. So every Sin is a ſtep farther from Jeſus Chriſt, Hoſea 11.

2. As he is in Darkneſs, ſo is he like to go on i[gap] it. For Chriſt is the Light of the World, and b[gap] that comes not to him, walketh in Darkneſs John 18.82.

3. He is like to be removed at laſt, as far from God, and Chriſt, and Heaven, and all Felicity, [gap] an infinite God can move him, Mat. 12.41.

But Secondly, This Doctrine of coming to Chri[gap] informeth us, Where poor deſtitute Sinners ma[gap] find Life for their Souls, and that is in Chriſt. Th[gap] Life is in his Son; he that hath the Son hath Li[gap] And again, Whoſo findeth me, findeth Life, a[gap] ſhall obtain favour of the Lord, Prov. 8.

Now for farther enlargement, I will alſo h[gap] propound three more Queſtions.

• 1. What Life is in Chriſt?

-

2. Who may have it?

• 3. Upon what Terms?

Firſt, What Life is in Jeſus Chriſt?

1. There is Juſtifying Life in Chriſt: Man by [gap]n is Dead in Law, and Chriſt only can deliver [gap]em, by his Righteouſneſs & Blood from this Death, [gap]nto a ſtate of Life. For God ſent his Son into the World, the[gap] we might live through him, 1 John 4. [gap] That is, thro' the Righteouſneſs which he ſhould accompliſh, and the Death that he ſhould Die.

2 There is Eternal Life in Chriſt, Life tha'ts [gap]ndleſs: and this Life is in his ſon▪ 1 John 5.

Now Juſtification eternal Salvation being both [gap]n Chriſt, and no where elſe to be had for Men, who would not come to Jeſus Chriſt?

Secondly, Who may have this Life?

I anſwer, poor, helpleſs, miſerable Sinners [gap]articularly.

1. Such as are willing to have it: Whoſoever will let him take the Waters of Life, Rev. 22.17.

2 He that thirſteth for it let them take the Wa [gap]ers of Life f[gap]eely; I will give to him that is a thirſt of the Fountain of the Waters of Life. Rev. 21.6.

3, He that is weary of his Sins. This is the reſt whereby you may cauſe the the weary to reſt, [gap]nd this is the refreſhing, Iſa. 28 12

4 He that is poor and needy. He ſhall ſpare the [gap]oor & needy, & ſhall ſave the Souls of the needy

5. He that followeth after him▪ cryeth for Life: [gap]e that follows me, ſhall not walk in Darkneſs, [gap]t ſhall have the Light of Life, John 8.12.

Thirdly, Upon what Terms may he have this Life;

Anſ Freely, Sinner doſt t[gap]ou hear? Thou may'ſt [gap]ave it freely: I will give him of the Fountain [gap] the Water of Life Freely; And when they had no [gap]hing to pay, he frankly forgave them both Luk. 7.

Freely, without Money, or without Price. H[gap] !

Eevery one that thirſteth, come ye to the Waters & that hath no Money, come, buy; & eat; Yea come buy Wine & Milk, without Money & without Price Iſ[gap] 55.1

Sinner, Art thou Thirſty? Art thou Weary? Art thou Willing? come then, & regard not your Stuff, for all the good that is in Chriſt, is offered to th[gap] Coming Sinner, without Money, & without Price He has Life to give away to ſuch as want it, & that have not a Penny to Purchaſe it, & he will give it freely. Oh, what a bleſſed Condition [gap] the coming Sinner in.

But Thirdly, This Doctrine of Coming to Jeſus Chriſt for Life, informeth us, That it is to be had no where elſe; might it be had any where elſe? the Text and him that ſpake it, would be but little ſet by; for what greater matter is there, in I will in no wiſe caſt out, if another ſtood by that would receive them? But here appears the Glory of Chriſt, that none but he can ſave And here appears his Love, that though none can ſave but He, yet he is not Coy in Saving; But him that comes to me ſayshel will in no wiſe caſt him out

That none can ſave but Jeſus Chriſt, is evident from Acts 4.12. Neither is there Salvation in any other; and he hath given us Eternal Life, & this Life is in his Son. If Life could have been had any where elſe it ſhould have been in the Law, no man living ſhall be juſtified; and i[gap] not juſtified, then no Life.

Therefore Life is no where to be had but in Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. 3.

Qu. But why would God ſo order it, that Life ſhould be had no where elſe, but in Jeſus Chriſt.

Anſ. There is reaſon for it, and that with reſpect to God and us

Firſt. With reſpect to God.

[gap]irſt, That it might be in way of Juſtice, as [gap] as Mercy. And in a way of Juſtice it could [gap] have been if it had not been by Chriſt, becauſe [gap] and he only, was able to anſwer the Demand of [gap] Law; and give for Sin, what the Juſtice there [gap] required. All Angels had been Cruſhed down [gap] Hell for ever, had that Curſe been laid upon [gap]em for our Sins, which was laid upon Jeſus [gap]hriſt, but 'twas laid upon him, and he bare it, [gap]d anſwered the Penalty, and redeemed his Peo [gap]e from under it with that ſatisfaction to Divine [gap]ſtice, that God himſelf doth now proclaim, [gap]ut he is faithful and juſt to forgive us, if by [gap]aith we ſhall venture to Jeſus, and truſt to [gap]hat he has done for Life, Rom 3.24, 25, 26. Joh. [gap].9.

Secondly, Life muſt be by Jeſus Chriſt, that God might be adored and magnified, for finding [gap]ut the Way. This is the Lord's doings, that in [gap]ll things he might be glorified through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.

Thirdly, It muſt be by Jeſus Chriſt, that Life [gap]ight be at God's diſpoſe who hath great Pity for [gap]he Poor, the Lowly, the Meek, the Broken in heart, [gap]nd for them that others care not for, Pſal. 34 6.

Fourthly, Life muſt be in Chriſt to cut off Boaſ [gap]ing from the Lips of Men. This alſo is the Apoſtle's Reaſon, Rom 3.20, 27.

Fifthly, Life muſt be in Jeſus Chriſt, with [gap]eſpect to us.

Firſt, That we might have it upon the eaſieſt Terms, to wit Freely; as a Gift, not as Wages: was it in Moſes's hand, we ſhould come hardly at it. Was it in the Pope's hand, we ſhould pay ſoundly [gap]or it. But thanks be to God, it is in Chriſt laid [gap]p in him, and by him to be communicated to [gap]ners upon eaſie Terms, even ſo receiving, ac [gap]pting▪ and embracing with Thanksgiving, as the Scripture plainly declare, Job. 1.11.

Secondly, Life is in Chriſt for us, that it might [gap]at be upon ſo b[gap]ttle a Foundation, as indeed it [gap]ould, [gap]d i[gap] been any where elſe. The Law it

ſelf is weak, becauſe of us to this; but Chriſt is tr[gap] ed Stone, a ſure founda[gap]ion one that will not fa[gap] to bear thy Burthen, and to receive thy Soul, coming Sinner.

Thirdly, Life is in Chriſt, that it might be ſu[gap] to be the Seed. Alas! the beſt of us▪ was Life lef[gap] in our hands▪ to be ſure we ſhould forfeit it, over and over, and over. Or, was it in any other hand we ſhould by our often Backſliding ſo offend him▪ that at laſt he would ſhut up his Bowels in everlaſting Diſpleaſure againſt us. But now it is in Chriſt it is with one that can pity, pray for Pardon yea▪ multiply Pardons. It is with one that can have Compaſſion upon us, when we are out of the wa[gap] ▪ with one that hath an heart to fetch us again when we are gone aſtray: with one that can Pardon without upbraiding. Bleſſed be God that Life is in Chriſt! For now 'tis ſure to all the Seed.

But Fourthly. This Doctrine of coming to Jeſus Chriſt for Life, informs us of the Evil of Unbelief, that wicked thing that is the only, or chief hindrance to the coming Sinner▪ Doth the Text ſay, Come? Doth it ſay, And him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out? Then what an Evil is that keepeth Sinners from coming to Jeſus Chriſt? And that Evil is Unbelief. For by Faith we come. By Unbelief we keep away. Therefore it is ſaid to be that, by which a Soul is ſaid to depart from God, becauſe it was that which at firſt cauſed the World to go off from him▪ and that alſo that keeps them from him to this day, And it doth it the more eaſtly, becauſe it doth it with a Wile.

This Sin may be called, The White Devil, for it oftentimes in its miſchievous doing in the Soul ſhews as it was an Angel of Light, yet it acteth like a Counſellor of Heaven. Therefore, a little to D[gap] courſe of this Diſeaſe.

1. It is that Sin, above all others that hath ſome ſhew of Reaſons in its Attempts. For it keeps the Soul from Chriſt, by pretending its preſent unfitneſs and unpreparedneſs, as want of more ſenſe of Sin, want of more Repentance, want of more Hu [gap]ility,

want of a more broken Heart.

2. It is the Sin that moſt ſuiteth with the Con [gap]ence. The Conſcience of the coming ſinner tells [gap]m, that he hath nothing Good; that he ſtands [gap]dictable for Ten thouſand Talents; that he is a [gap]y ignorant, blind, and hard hearted Sinner, un [gap]orthy to be once taken notice of by Jeſus Chriſt. [gap]nd will you (ſays Unbelief) in ſuch a caſe as now [gap]ou are, preſume to come to Jeſus Chriſt.

3. It it the Sin that moſt ſuits with our Senſe of feeling. The coming Sinner feels the Working of [gap]n▪ of all manner of Sin and Wretchedneſs in his [gap]leſh; he alſo feels the Wrath and Judgment of God due to ſin▪ and oftimes ſtaggers under it. Now, ſays Unbelief▪ you may ſee you have no Grace for that which works in you is Corruption. You may alſo perceive that God doth not love you, becauſe the ſenſe of his wrath abides upon you. Therefore how can you bear the Face to come to Jeſus Chriſt.

4. It is ſin above all others, that moſt ſuiteth the Wiſdom of our Fleſh. The Wiſdom of our Fleſh thinks it Prudence to queſtion a while, to hearken to both ſides a while, and not to be raſh ſudden, or unadviſed, in too bold a preſuming upon Jeſus Chriſt. And this Wiſdom Unbelief falls in with.

5. It is the ſin, above all others, that continually is whiſpering the Soul in the Ear with Miſtruſts of the Faithfulneſs of God in keeping Promiſe to 'em that come to Jeſus Chriſt for Life. It alſo ſuggeſts Miſtruſt about Chriſt's willingneſs to receive it. And no ſin can do this ſo artificially as Unbelief.

6. It is alſo that ſin which is always at hand, to enter an Objection againſt this or that Promiſe, that by the ſpirit of God is brought to our Heart to comfort us. And if the poor coming Sinner is not aware of it, it will, b[gap] ſome Exaction, Slight▪ Trick or Cavil, quickly wreſt from him the Promiſe again, and he ſhall have but little benefit of it.

7. It is that, above all other ſins, that weakens our Prayers, one Faith, our Love, our Diligence,

our Hope and Expectations. It even taketh th[gap] Heart away from God in Duty.

8. La[gap]tly This ſin, as I have ſaid, even now i[gap] appears in the Soul with ſo many ſweet Pretences t[gap] ſafety and ſecurity, that it is, as it were, Counſe[gap] ſent from Heaven: bidding the Soul be wiſer, wary[gap] conſiderate▪ well adviſed, and to make heed of to raſh a venture upon Believing. Be ſure firſt tha[gap] God loves you: take hold of no Promiſe, un[gap] you are forced by God unto it: neither be you ſur[gap] of your Salvation doubt it ſtill, though the Teſtimony of the Lord has often been confirmed i[gap] you? Live not by Faith but by Senſe; and when you can neither ſee no[gap] feel, then fear and miſtruſt▪ then doubt and queſtion all. This is the D[gap]viliſh Counſel of Unbelief which is to covered over with ſpecious Pretences▪ that the wiſeſt Chriſtian can hardly ſhake off theſe Reaſonings.

But to be brief: Let me here give thee Chriſtian Reader, a more particular Deſcription of the Qualities of Unbelief, by oppoſing Faith unto it, in theſe Twenty five Particulars.

1. Faith believeth the Word of God, but Unbe [gap] queſtioneth the Certainty [gap]f the ſame, Pſ. 106 4.

[gap] Faith believeth the Word, becauſe it is true; the Unbelief doubteth thereof, becauſe it is true, 1 Tim. 3.4.

3 Faith ſees more in a Promiſe of God to help, th[gap] all other things to hinder: but Unbelief notwithſtanding God's Promiſe, ſaith. How can theſe things be▪ Rom. 4.19 20, 21 2 King. 7.2.

4. Faith will make thee ſee Love in the Heart of Chriſt▪ when with his Mouth he giveth Reproofs▪ but Unbelief will imagine Wrath in his Heart, when with his Mouth and Word he ſaith, he loves us, Mat. 15▪22 23.24 25 26, 27 23. Numb. 3.2.

5 Faith will help the Soul to wait▪ though God deſires to give? but Unbelief will take ſnuff and throw up all if God makes any carrying, Pſal. 2[gap].[gap]. Iſa. 8 16. 2 King 6 33 Pſal. 100.13.14

6 Faith will give Comfort in the midſt of Bears▪ But Unbelief cauſeth Fears in the midſt of

[gap]mfort, 2 Chron. 20, 21. Mat. 8.26 Luke. 24. [gap] 37.

[gap] Faith will ſuck Sweetneſs out of God's Rod; [gap] Unbelief can find no comfort in his greateſt [gap]cies. Pſalm 23 4.

[gap] Faith maketh great Burthens light; but Un [gap]ef makethh light ones intolerable heavy, 2 Cor. [gap] 15 16, 17.18.

[gap] Faith helpeth us when we are down: but belief throws us down when we are up, Mich. [gap] 9 10.

10 Faith bringeth us near to God, when we are [gap] from him; but Unbelief puts us far f[gap]om God, [gap]en we are near to him Heb. 10 22 ch, 3 12 13.

11. Where Faith reigns, it declareth Men to be [gap] Friends of God; but where Unbelief reigns [gap] declareth them to be his Enemies, Jam. 5 23. [gap]eb 3.18.

12 Faith putteth a man under Grace; but Un [gap]lief holdeth him under wrath, Rom. 3 24.25, [gap] Chap. 14 16. Eph 2.8 John 3.39. 1 John [gap] 10 Heb 3.17 Mark 16.16.

13 Faith purifieth the Heart; but Unbelief [gap]epeth it polluted and impure. Acts 15▪ 9. [gap]t 1.15.16.