The Second Uſe: of Examination.

WE come to a Uſe of Examination. Sin[gap] thou haſt heard of the neceſſity of [gap]

[gap] to Chriſt; alſo of the wil[gap]ingneſs of Chriſt [gap]ceive the coming Soul; together with the [gap]rofit [gap]hat they by him ſhal[gap] ha[gap], tha[gap] indeed [gap]ne to him Put thy ſelf now upon [gap] [gap]rious [gap]quiry, Am I indeed come in Jeſus Chriſt

Mo[gap]ives plenty I might here [gap], to prevail [gap]h thee to a conſciencious [gap]erformance of this [gap]y: As,

[gap]. Thou art in Sin, in the Fleſh, in Death, in [gap] Snare of the Devil, and under the Curſe of [gap] Law, if you are not coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

[gap]. There is no way to be deliver'd from theſe [gap] by coming to Jeſus Chriſt.

3. If thou comeſt, Jeſus Chriſt will receive thee, [gap]d will in no wiſe caſt thee out.

4. Thou wilt not repent it in the Day of [gap]dgment, if thou now comeſt to Jeſus Chriſt.

5 But wil[gap] thou ſurely mourn at laſt, it now [gap]ou ſha[gap]t refuſe to come: And,

Laſtly, Now thou haſt been invited to come; [gap] will thy Judgment o[gap] greater, and the Da[gap]

[gap]ion more fearful, if thou ſhalt yet re[gap] [gap] thou hadſt never heard of coming [gap]

Obj[gap] But we [gap]ope we a[gap]e come [gap]

Anſw 'Tis well if it pro[gap]e [gap] [gap]uld'ſt ſpeak without ground, [gap] int[gap] Hell F[gap]e; let us examine a [gap].

Firſ[gap] Art thou indeed a coming to Jeſu[gap] C[gap]iſt? [gap] thou left behind thee? [gap] thou [gap] away [gap]m in, thy coming to J[gap]ſu[gap] Ch[gap]ſt.

Wh[gap]n L[gap] come out of S[gap]om, he [gap] the [gap] behind him, Gen 19.

W[gap]en Abraham came out of Cha[gap], [gap] left [gap] kindred and Country behind him [gap]

When Ruth c[gap]me to put her truſt [gap] [gap]he [gap]ngs of the Lord God of Iſrael; ſhe left her [gap]er and Mother, her Gods and the Land of

her Nativity behind her, Ruth 1.15. &c.

When Peter came to Chriſt he left the N[gap] behind him, Matthew. [gap].

When Matthew came to Chriſt, he left t[gap] Receipt of Cuſtom behind him. Luke. 18.

When Paul came to Chriſt, he left his ow[gap] Righteouſneſs behind him. Phil. 3.7, 8.

When thoſe that uſed curious Arts came [gap] Jeſus Chriſt, they took their curious Books [gap] burned them, tho' in another Man's Eye, th[gap] were counted worth fifty thouſand Piece[gap] Silver, Acts 19.18, 19, 20.

What ſay'ſt thou, Man? Haſt thou left th[gap] d[gap]rling Sins, thy Sodomitiſh Pleaſu[gap]s, thy A[gap] quaintance, and vain Companions, thy unla[gap]f[gap] Gain, thy Idol Gods, thy Righteouſneſs, & t[gap] unlawful curious Arts behind thee? If any [gap] theſe be with thee, & thou with them in thy Hea[gap] & Life, thou art not yet come to Jeſus Chriſt.

Secondly, Art thou come to Jeſus Chriſt? P[gap] [gap]ee tell me what moved thee to come to Jeſ[gap] Chriſt? Men do not uſually come or [gap] to this or that Place, before we have a movi[gap] cauſe▪ or rather, [gap] cauſe moving them theret[gap] No more do they come to Jeſus Chriſt, (I do [gap] ſay) before they have a cauſe, but before th[gap] cauſe moveth them to come; What ſay'ſt tho[gap] Haſt thou a cauſe moving thee to come? To [gap] at preſent in a ſtate of Condemnation, is ca[gap] ſufficient for Men to come to Jeſus Ch[gap] [gap]o[gap] Life; but that will not do, except the Ca[gap] move them; the which it will never [gap] until their eyes be opened, to ſee themſelves [gap] [gap]hat Condition. For it is not in Man's be[gap] [gap] wrath, but his ſeeing it, that moveth [gap] come to Jeſus Chriſt: Alas! All Men by [gap]

are under Wrath; yet but few of them. All come to Jeſus Chriſt; and the reaſon i[gap], becauſe they do not ſee their Condition; who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come, Mat 3.7. Until Men are warned, and alſo to receive the Warning, they will not come to Jeſus Chriſt,.

Take three or Four Inſtances for this.

1. Adam and Eve came not to Jeſus Chriſt, until they received the Alarm, the Conviction of the[gap] undone State by Sin. Gen. 3.

2 The Children of Iſrael cryed not out for a Mediator, before they ſaw themſelves in danger of Death by the Law, Exod. 20▪ 18.

3. Before the Publican came, he ſaw himſelf loſt, and undone. Luke 18 13.

4. The Prodigal came not, until he ſaw Death a[gap] the Door ready to devou[gap] him Luke 15, 17, 18.

5 The Three Thouſand came not, until they [gap]ew not what to do to be ſaved, Acts 2 37 38 39.

6 Paul came not, until he ſaw himſelf loſt and undone. Acts 9 3, 4 5 6 7.11.

7 Laſt[gap] Before the [gap] [gap]ame he ſaw himſelf [gap] Acts 1[gap] 29 30 31. And [gap] tell thee, it is, [gap] Man to go to [gap] a Man without [gap] [gap] than i[gap] is to perſwade▪ [gap] Man that ſees not his Soul [gap] to come to Jeſus Chriſt; the whole have no need [gap] a Phyſician. Then why ſhould they go to him? The full Pitcher can hold no more▪ Then why ſhould it go to the Fountain? And if thou comeſt full, thou comeſt not aright, and be ſure Chriſt, will ſend thee empty away but he b[gap]eth the broken in heart, & bindeth up their Wounds. Mark 2.17.

Thirdly, Art thou coming to Jeſus Chriſt▪ Pri [gap]hee tell me, what ſeeſt thou in him to allure thee. to forſake all the World to come to him? I ſay, What haſt thou ſeen in him? Men muſt ſee ſomething in J[gap]ſus Chriſt, [gap]ſe they will not come to him.

1. What Comelineſs haſt thou ſeen in his Perſon?

Thou comeſt not if thou [gap]ſt no Form not Comelineſs in him Iſa 45, 1.2 3.

2. Until thoſe mentioned in the Song, were con[gap] convinc'd that there was more Beaut[gap], Comelineſs and D[gap]ſi[gap]bleneſs in Chriſt, than in Ten Thouſand I they did not ſo much as ask where he was no incline to turn [gap] him, Song 5 ch. 6.

T[gap]re be many things on this ſide Heaven, that [gap] and do carry away the Heart, and ſo will do ſo long as thou liv[gap]ſt if thou ſhalt [gap]e kept Blind and not be admitted to ſee the Beauty of the Lord J[gap]ſ[gap]

Fourthly, Art thou come to the Lord Jeſus? what haſt thou found in him ſince thou cameſt t[gap] him.

[gap] found with him the Word of eternal Life J[gap]hn 6.88.

They thet Peter make mention of, found him a living Stone even ſuch a living Stone, as communicate[gap] Life to them, 2 Pet. 2.

He ſaith [gap]mſelf, they that come to him &c. [gap] find reſt unto their ſouls? Haſt thou found re[gap] in him for thy Soul? Mat. 11.

Let us go the times of the Old Teſtament.

Firſt Abraham found that in him that made [gap] leave his Country for him, and become for his [gap] a Pilgrim and a Stranger in the Earth▪ G[gap]. 12. Heb. [gap]

Secondly, Moſes found that in him, that made h[gap] forſake a Crown, a Kingdom for him too.

Thirdly, David found ſo much in him that h[gap] counted to be in his Houſe one Day, was better than a Thouſand[gap] yea to be, a Door-keeper therein, wa[gap] better E[gap]teem, than to dwell in the tents of wickedneſs, Pſal. 84 10.

Fourthly W[gap]a[gap] did Daniel, and the three Children [gap] to make them run the Hazzard of [gap], and the D[gap] of Lyons, for hi[gap] ſake▪ D[gap] 6 23.

L[gap] come down to the Martyrs.

1 Steph[gap]n found that in him, that made him joyful, & quietly [gap]ield up his Life for his name. Act. 17

2. Ignatius found that to him, that made him

chuſe to go through the Torments of the Devil and Hell it ſelf, rather than not to have him, Acts and Monuments▪ Vol 4 page 25.

3. What ſaw Roman[gap] in Chriſt, when he ſaid to the [gap]aging Emperor I joyfully embrace, and refuſe not to be ſacrificed By as cruel torments as thou canſt invent, Page 16.

4. What ſaw Man as the Egyptian in Chriſt, when he ſaid, under moſt cruel Torments, there is nothing in my Mind that can be compared to the Kingdom of Heaven▪ neither is all the wo[gap]ld, if it was weighed in a Ballance, to be preferred with [gap]he p[gap]ice of one ſoul. Who is able to ſeparate us [gap]rom the Love of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, And I have learned of my Lord and King, not to fear 'em that [gap]ll the Body &c. Page [gap]1 17.

5. What did E[gap]laliah ſee in Chriſt▪ when ſhe ſaid when they were pulling her one joynt from another, Behold, O Lord, I will not forget thee. What a pleaſure is it for them O Chriſt [gap] That remembreth thy triumphant victory, Page 1[gap].

6. What think you did Agnus ſee in Chriſt, when [gap]ejoycingly ſhe went to meet the [gap]oldier, that was [gap] pointed to be her Executioner. I will willingly [gap]id ſhe) receive into my Papa the length of him [gap]rd, & into my Breaſt will draw the force there [gap] even to the Hilt, that thus I being married to [gap]hriſt, my ſpouſe may ſurmount and eſcape all the [gap]arkneſs of this World, page 123.

7. What did you think did Juſtitia ſee in Chriſt, [gap]hen at the Emperor's telling of her, that except ſhe would worſhip the Gods ſhe ſhould never have pro [gap]ection, Laws Judgments, nor Life, ſhe replied Farewel Life, welcome Death; Farewel Riches, welcome [gap]overty. All that I have, if it were a thouſand times [gap]ore, would I give, rather than to ſpeak one wicked [gap] blaſphemous Word againſt my Creator, pag. 123

8. What did Marcus Arethuſius ſee in Chriſt, whe[gap] [gap]ter his Enemies had cut his Fleſh, anointed it [gap]th Honey, and hanged him up in a [gap]asket, for [gap] and Bees to feed on, he would not give (to [gap] bold Idolatry) one Half-p[gap]ny to ſave his Life,

9. Wha[gap] [gap]id Conſtantine ſee in [gap] when ſhe uſed to Kiſs the Wounds of them that ſuffered for him? page 135.

20. But what need I give this particular Inſtance of Works & ſmaller Actions, when by theſe Laws, their Blood, their even en[gap]u[gap]ing Hunger. Sword, Fire, pulling aſunder, and all Torments that the Devil and Hell can de[gap]ſie for the Love they bear to Chriſt after they were come to him?

What haſt thou found in him, Sinner?

What! come to Chriſt and find nothing in him (when all things that are worth ſeeking for, are in him) or if any thing yet not enough to wean thee from thy ſinful Delights & fleſhly Luſts? Away, Thou art not come to Jeſus C[gap]riſt.

He that is come to Jeſus Chriſt hath found in him that as I ſaid, that it is not to be found any where elſe. As,

1. He▪ that is come to Chriſt, hath found God in him, reconciling the World unto himſelf, not imputing their Treſp[gap]ſſes to them, and ſo God is not to be found in Hea[gap]n & Earth beſides 2 Cor 5.19 20.

2. He that is come to Jeſus Chriſt hath found in him a Fountain of Grace, ſufficient not only to pardon Sin, but to ſanctifie the Soul, and to preſerve [gap] from falling in this evil World.

3. He that is come to Jeſus Chriſt, hath found Vertue in him▪ that Vertue▪ that if be does but touch thee with his word, or thou him by Faith, Life in forthwith conveyed into thy Soul▪ It makes thee Wake, as one that is waked out of his Sleep. It awakes all the Powers of the Soul▪ Pſal. 30.11, 12.

4. Art thou come to Jeſus Chriſt? Thou haſt found Glory in him, Glory that formmounts & goes beyond: Thou art more Glorious than the Mountains of Prey, Pſal. 76.4.

5. What ſhall I ſay, Thou haſt found Righteouſneſs in him, thou haſt found Reſt, Peace, Delight, Heaven, Glory and Eternal Life.

Sinner, be adviſed; ask thy Heart again, ſaying Ar[gap] I come to Jeſus Chriſt? For upon this one, Queſtion, am I come, or am I not, hangs heaven &

Hell▪ as to [gap] I am come▪ & God [gap]ll a[gap]prove o[gap] [gap] ſ[gap]yi[gap]g Happy, happy M[gap]n art [gap]hou [gap] what can make thee happy? Yea, what can make that Man happy, that [gap]or his not coming to Jeſus Chriſt for Life, muſt [gap]e damned to Hell.