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Come and Welcome Written By J O H N.B U N Y A N, Author of "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS." "And they shall come which were ready to perish." –Isaiah 27:13. L O N D O N, 1681. Published seven years before John Bunyan's death. |
[USE AND APPLICATION.]
come now to make some GENERAL USE AND APPLICATION OF THE WHOLE,
and so to draw towards a conclusion.
USE FIRST. —The first use —A USE OF INFORMATION; and,
First, It informeth us that men by nature are far off from Christ. Let me a little
improve this use, by speaking to these three questions. 1. Where is he that is coming
[but has not come], to Jesus Christ? 2. What is he that is not coming to Jesus Christ?
3. Whither is he to go that cometh not to Jesus Christ?
1. Where is he?
[Answ.] (1.) He is far from God, he is without him, even alienate from him both in
his understanding, will, affections, judgment, and conscience (Eph 2:12; 4:18). (2.)
He is far from Jesus Christ, who is the only deliverer of men from hell fire (Psa
73:27). (3.) He is far from the work of the Holy Ghost, the work of regeneration,
and a second creation, without which no man shall see the kingdom of heaven (John
3:3). (4.) He is far more righteous, [19] from that righteousness that should make
him acceptable in God's sight (Isa 46:12,13). (5.) He is under the power and dominion
of sin; sin reigneth in and over him; it dwelleth in every faculty of his soul, and
member of his body; so that from head to foot there is no place clean (Isa 1:6; Rom
3:9-18). (6.) He is in the pest-house with Uzziah and excluded the camp of Israel
with the lepers (2 Chron 26:21; Num 5:2; Job 36:14). (7.) His "life is among
the unclean." He is "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity"
(Acts 8:28). (8.) He is "in sin," "in the flesh," "in death,"
"in the snare of the devil," and is "taken captive by him at his will"
(1 Cor 15:17; Rom 8:8; 1 John 3:14; 2 Tim 2:26). (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 2:2,3;
Acts 26:18). (10.) He is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knows not whither
he goes; for darkness has blinded his eyes. (11.) He is in the broad way that leadeth
to destruction; and holding on, he will assuredly go in at the broad gate, and so
down the stairs to hell.
2. What is he that cometh not to Jesus Christ?
[Answ.] (1.) He is counted one of God's enemies (Luke 19:14; Rom 8:7). (2.) He is
a child of the devil, and of hell; for the devil begat him, as to his sinful nature,
and hell must swallow him at last, because he cometh not to Jesus Christ (John 8:44;
1 John 3:8; Matt 23:15; Psa 9:17). (3.) He is a child of wrath, an heir of it; it
is his portion, and God will repay it him to his face (Eph 2:1-3; Job 21:29-31).
(4.) He is a self-murderer; he wrongeth his own soul, and is one that loveth death
(Prov 1:18; 8:36). (5.) He is a companion for devils and damned men (Prov 21:16;
Matt 25:41).
3. Whither is he like to go that cometh not to Jesus Christ?
[Answ.] (1.) He that cometh not to him, is like to go further from him; so every
sin is a step further from Jesus Christ (Hosea 11). (2.) As he is in darkness, so
he is like to go on in it; for Christ is the light of the world, and he that comes
not to him, walketh in darkness (John 8:12). (3.) He is like to be removed at last
as far from God, and Christ, and heaven, and all felicity, as an infinite God can
remove him (Matt 12:41). But,
Second, This doctrine of coming to Christ informeth us where poor destitute sinners
may find life for their souls, and that is in Christ. This life is in his Son; he
that hath the Son, hath life. And again, "Whoso findeth me findeth life, and
shall obtain favour of the Lord" (Prov 8:35). Now, for further enlargement,
I will also here propound three more questions: 1. What life is in Christ? 2. Who
may have it? 3. Upon what terms?
1. What life is in Jesus Christ?
[Answ.] (1.) There is justifying life in Christ. Man by sin is dead in law; and Christ
only can deliver him by his righteousness and blood from this death into a state
of life. "For God sent his Son into the world, that we might live through him"
(1 John 4:9). That is, through the righteousness which he should accomplish, and
the death that he should die. (2.) There is eternal life in Christ; life that is
endless; life for ever and ever. "He hath given us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son" (1 John 5:11). Now, justification and eternal salvation being
both in Christ, and nowhere else to be had for men, who would not come to Jesus Christ?
2. Who may have this life?
I answer, Poor, helpless, miserable sinners. Particularly, (1.) Such as are willing
to have it. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life" (Rev 22:17).
(2.) He that thirsteth for it. "I will give unto him that is athirst of the
fountain of the water of life" (Rev 21:6). (3.) He that is weary of his sins.
"This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the
refreshing" (Isa 28:12). (4.) He that is poor and needy. "He shall spare
the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy" (Psa 72:13). (5.)
He that followeth after him, crieth for life. "He that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).
3. Upon what terms may he have this life?
[Answ.] Freely. Sinner, dost thou hear. Thou mayest have it freely. Let him take
the water of life freely. I will give him of the fountain of the water of life freely.
"And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both" (Luke
7:42). Freely, without money, or without price. "Ho! every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come,
buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isa 55:1). Sinner, art thou
thirsty? art thou weary? art thou willing? Come, then, and regard not your stuff;
for all the good that is in Christ is offered to the coming sinner, without money
and without price. He has life to give away to such as want it, and that hath not
a penny to purchase it; and he will give it freely. Oh what a blessed condition is
the coming sinner in! But,
Third, This doctrine of coming to Jesus Christ for life, informeth us, that it is
to be had nowhere else. Might it be had anywhere else, the text, and him that spoke
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 could 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," says he, "I will in no wise cast 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 to us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11). If life could have been had anywhere
else, it should have been in the law. But it is not in the law; for by the deeds
of the law, no man living shall be justified; and if not justified, then no life.
Therefore life is nowhere to be had but in Jesus Christ (Gal 3).
[Quest.] But why would God so order it, that life should be had nowhere else but
in Jesus Christ?
[Answ.] There is reason for it, and that both with respect to God and us.
1. With respect to God.
(1.) That it might be in a way of justice as well as mercy. And in a way of justice
it could not have been, if it had not been by Christ; because he, and he only, was
able to answer the demand of the law, and give for sin what the justice thereof required.
All angels had been crushed down to hell for ever, had that curse been laid upon
them for our sins, which was laid upon Jesus Christ; but it was laid upon him, and
he bare it; and answered the penalty, and redeemed his people from under it, with
that satisfaction to Divine justice that God himself doth now proclaim, That he is
faithful and just to forgive us, if by faith we shall venture to Jesus, and trust
to what he has done for life (Rom 3:24-26; John 1:4). (2.) Life must be by Jesus
Christ, that God might be adored and magnified, for finding out this way. This is
the Lord's doings, that in all things he might be glorified through Jesus Christ
our Lord. (3.) It must be by Jesus Christ, that life might be at God's dispose, who
hath great pity for the poor, the lowly, the meek, the broken in heart, and for them
that others care not for (Psa 34:6; 138:6; 25; 51:17; 147:3). (4.) Life must be in
Christ, to cut off boasting from the lips of men. This also is the apostle's reason
in Romans 3:19,27 (Eph 2:8-10).
2. Life must be in Jesus Christ with respect to us.
(1.) That we might have it upon the easiest terms, to wit, freely: as a gift, not
as wages. Was it in Moses' hand, we should come hardly at it. Was it in the pope's
hand, we should pay soundly for it. [20] But thanks be to God, it is in Christ, laid
up in him, and by him to be communicated to sinners upon easy terms, even for receiving,
accepting, and embracing with thanksgiving; as the Scriptures plainly declare (John
1:11,12; 2 Cor 11:4; Heb 11:13; Col 3:13-15). (2.) Life is in Christ FOR US, that
it might not be upon so brittle a foundation, as indeed it would had it been anywhere
else. The law itself is weak because of us, as to this. But Christ is a tried stone,
a sure foundation, one that will not fail to bear thy burden, and to receive thy
soul, coming sinner. (3.) Life is in Christ, that it might be sure to all the seed.
Alas! the best of us, was life left in our hand, to be sure we should forfeit it,
over, and over, and over; or, was it in any other hand, we should, by our often backslidings,
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 way; 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 it is sure to all the seed. But,
Fourth, 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 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
easily, because it doth it with a wile.
[Of the Sin of Unbelief.] —This sin may be called the white devil, for it oftentimes,
in its mischievous doings in the soul, shows as if it was an angel of light: yea,
it acteth like a counsellor of heaven. Therefore a little to discourse of this evil
disease.
1. It is that sin, above all others, that hath some show of reason 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 humility, want
of a more broken heart.
2. It is the sin that most suiteth with the conscience: the conscience of the coming
sinner tells him that he hath nothing good; that he stands inditeable for ten thousand
talents; that he is a very ignorant, blind, and hard-hearted sinner, unworthy to
be once taken notice of by Jesus Christ. And will you, says Unbelief, in such a case
as you now are, presume to come to Jesus Christ?
3. It is the sin that most suiteth with our sense of feeling. The coming sinner feels
the workings of sin, of all manner of sin and wretchedness in his flesh; he also
feels the wrath and judgment of God due to sin, and ofttimes 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 that sin, above all others, that most suiteth with the wisdom of our flesh.
The wisdom of our flesh thinks it prudent to question awhile, to stand back awhile,
to hearken to both sides awhile; 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 that sin, above all other, that continually is whispering the soul in the
ear with mistrusts of the faithfulness of God, in keeping promise to them that come
to Jesus Christ for life. It also suggests mistrust about Christ's willingness to
receive it, and save 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, by some evasion, 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 weakness our prayers, our faith, our love,
our diligence, our hope, and expectations: it even taketh the heart away from God
in duty.
8. Lastly, This sin, as I have said even now, it appeareth in the soul with so many
sweet pretences to safety and security, that it is, as it were, counsel sent from
heaven; bidding the soul be wise, wary, considerate, well-advised, and to take heed
of too rash a venture upon believing. Be sure, first, that God loves you; take hold
of no promise until you are forced by God unto it; neither be you sure of your salvation;
doubt it still, though the testimony of the Lord has been often confirmed in you.
Live not by faith, but by sense; and when you can neither see nor feel, then fear
and mistrust, then doubt and question all. This is the devilish counsel of unbelief,
which is so covered over with specious pretences, that the wisest Christian can hardly
shake off these reasonings.
[Qualities of unbelief as opposed to faith.] —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 unbelief questioneth the certainty of the
same (Psa 106:24).
2. Faith believeth the Word, because it is true; but unbelief doubteth thereof, because
it is true (1 Tim 4:3; John 8:45).
3. Faith sees more in a promise of God to help, than in all other things to hinder;
but unbelief, notwithstanding God's promise, saith, How can these things be? (Rom
4:19-21; 2 Kings 7:2; John 3:11,12).
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 (Matt 15:22,28; Num 13; 2 Chron 14:3).
5. Faith will help the soul to wait, though God defers to give; but unbelief will
take huff and throw up all, if God makes any tarrying (Psa 25:5; Isa 8:17; 2 Kings
6:33; Psa 106:13,14).
6. Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears; but unbelief causeth fears in the
midst of comfort (2 Chron 20:20,21; Matt 8:26; Luke 24:26,27).
7. Faith will suck sweetness out of God's rod; but unbelief can find no comfort in
his greatest mercies (Psa 23:4; Num 21).
8. Faith maketh great burdens light; but unbelief maketh light ones intolerably heavy
(2 Cor 4:1; 14-18; Mal 1:12,13).
9. Faith helpeth us when we are down; but unbelief throws us down when we are up
(Micah 7:8-10; Heb 4:11).
10. Faith bringeth us near to God when we are far from him; but unbelief puts us
far from God when we are near to him (Heb 10:22; 3:12,13).
11. Where faith reigns, it declareth men to be the friends of God; but where unbelief
reigns, it declareth them to be his enemies (John 3:23; Heb 3:18; Rev 21:8).
12. Faith putteth a man under grace; but unbelief holdeth him under wrath (Rom 3:24-26;
14:6; Eph 2:8; John 3:36; 1 John 5:10; Heb 3:17; Mark 16:16).
13. Faith purifieth the heart; but unbelief keepeth it polluted and impure (Acts
15:9; Titus 1:15,16).
14. By faith, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us; but by unbelief, we are
shut up under the law to perish (Rom 4:23,24; 11:32; Gal 3:23).
15. Faith maketh our work acceptable to God through Christ; but whatsoever is of
unbelief is sin. For without faith it is impossible to please him (Heb 11:4; Rom
14:23; Heb 6:6).
16. Faith giveth us peace and comfort in our souls; but unbelief worketh trouble
and tossings, like the restless waves of the sea (Rom 5:1; James 1:6).
17. Faith maketh us to see preciousness in Christ; but unbelief sees no form, beauty,
or comeliness in him (1 Peter 2:7; Isa 53:2,3).
18. By faith we have our life in Christ's fullness; but by unbelief we starve and
pine away (Gal 2:20).
19. Faith gives us the victory over the law, sin, death, the devil, and all evils;
but unbelief layeth us obnoxious to them all (1 John 5:4,5; Luke 12:46).
20. Faith will show us more excellency in things not seen, than in them that are;
but unbelief sees more in things that are seen, than in things that will be hereafter;.
(2 Cor 4:18; Heb 11:24-27; 1 Cor 15:32).
21. Faith makes the ways of God pleasant and admirable; but unbelief makes them heavy
and hard (Gal 5:6; 1 Cor 12:10,11; John 6:60; Psa 2:3).
22. By faith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob possessed the land of promise; but because
of unbelief, neither Aaron, nor Moses, nor Miriam could get thither (Heb 11:9; 3:19).
23. By faith the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea; but by unbelief the
generality of them perished in the wilderness (Heb 11:29; Jude 5).
24. By faith Gideon did more with three hundred men, and a few empty pitchers, than
all the twelve tribes could do, because they believed not God (Judg 7:16-22; Num
14:11,14).
25. By faith Peter walked on the water; but by unbelief he began to sink (Matt 14:28-30).
Thus might many more be added, which, for brevity's sake, I omit; beseeching every
one that thinketh he hath a soul to save, or be damned, to take heed of unbelief;
lest, seeing there is a promise left us of entering into his rest, any of us by unbelief
should indeed come short of it.
USE SECOND. The second use —A USE OF EXAMINATION.
We come now to a use of examination. Sinner, thou hast heard of the necessity of
coming to Christ; also of the willingness of Christ to receive the coming soul; together
with the benefit that they by him shall have that indeed come to him. Put thyself
now upon this serious inquiry, Am I indeed come to Jesus Christ?
Motives plenty I might here urge, to prevail with thee to a conscientious performance
of this duty. As, 1. Thou art in sin, in the flesh, in death, in the snare of the
devil, and under the curse of the law, if you are not coming to Jesus Christ. 2.
There is no way to be delivered from these, but by coming to Jesus Christ. 3. If
thou comest, Jesus Christ will receive thee, and will in no wise cast thee out. 4.
Thou wilt not repent it in the day of judgment, if now thou comest to Jesus Christ.
5. But thou wilt surely mourn at last, if now thou shalt refuse to come. 6. And lastly,
Now thou hast been invited to come; now will thy judgment be greater, and thy damnation
more fearful, if thou shalt yet refuse, than if thou hadst never heard of coming
to Christ.
Object. But we hope we are come to Jesus Christ.
Answ. It is well if it proves so. But lest thou shouldst speak without ground, and
so fall unawares into hell-fire, let us examine a little.
First, Art thou indeed come to Jesus Christ? What hast thou left behind thee? What
didst thou come away from, in thy coming to Jesus Christ?
When Lot came out of Sodom, he left the Sodomites behind him (Gen 19). When Abraham
came out of Chaldea, he left his country and kindred behind him (Gen 12; Acts 7).
When Ruth came to put her trust under the wings of the Lord God of Israel, she left
her father and mother, her gods, and the land of her nativity, behind her (Ruth 1:15-17;
2:11,12). When Peter came to Christ, he left his nets behind him (Matt 4:20). When
Zaccheus came to Christ, he left the receipt of custom behind him (Luke 19). When
Paul came to Christ, he left his own righteousness behind him (Phil 3:7,8). When
those that used curious arts came to Jesus Christ, they took their curious books
and burned them; though, in another man's eye, they were counted worth fifty thousand
pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-20).
What sayest thou, man? Hast thou left thy darling sins, thy Sodomitish pleasures,
thy acquaintance and vain companions, thy unlawful gain, thy idol-gods, thy righteousness,
and thy unlawful curious arts, behind thee? If any of these be with thee, and thou
with them, in thy heart and life, thou art not yet come to Jesus Christ.
Second, Art thou come to Jesus Christ? Prithee tell me what moved thee to come to
Jesus Christ?
Men do not usually come or go to this or that place, before they have a moving cause,
or rather a cause moving them thereto. No more do they come to Jesus Christ —I do
not say, before they have a cause, but —before that cause moveth them to come. What
sayest thou? Hast thou a cause moving thee to come? To be at present in a state of
condemnation, is cause sufficient for men to come to Jesus Christ for life. But that
will not do, except the cause move them; the which it will never do, until their
eyes be opened to see themselves in that condition. For it is not a man's being under
wrath, but his seeing it, that moveth him to come to Jesus Christ. Alas! all men
by sin are under wrath; yet but few of that all come to Jesus Christ. And the reason
is, because they do not see their condition. "Who hath warned you to flee from
the wrath to come?" (Matt 3:7). Until men are warned, and also receive the warning,
they will not come to Jesus Christ.
Take three or four instances for this. Adam and Eve came not to Jesus Christ until
they received the alarm, the conviction of their undone state by sin. (Gen 3) The
children of Israel cried not out for a mediator before they saw themselves in danger
of death by the law (Exo 20:18,19). Before the publican came, he saw himself lost
and undone (Luke 18:13). The prodigal came not, until he saw death at the door, ready
to devour him (Luke 15:17,18). The three thousand came not, until they knew not what
to do to be saved (Acts 2:37-39). Paul came not, until he saw himself lost and undone
(Acts 9:3-8,11). Lastly, Before the jailer came, he saw himself undone (Acts 16:29-31).
And I tell thee, it is an easier thing to persuade a well man to go to the physician
for cure, or a man without hurt to seek for a plaster to cure him, than it is to
persuade a man that sees not his soul-disease, to come to Jesus Christ. The whole
have no need of the 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 healeth
the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds" (Mark 2:17; Psa 147:3; Luke
1:53).
Third, Art thou coming to Jesus Christ? Prithee 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 Jesus Christ, else they
will not come to him. 1. What comeliness hast thou seen in his person? thou comest
not, if thou seest no form nor comeliness in him (Isa 53:1-3). 2. Until those mentioned
in the Song were convinced that there was more beauty, comeliness, and desirableness
in Christ, than in ten thousand, they did not so much as ask where he was, nor incline
to turn aside after him (Song 5, 6).
There be many things on this side heaven that can and do carry away the heart; and
so will do, so long as thou livest, if thou shalt be kept blind, and not be admitted
to see the beauty of the Lord Jesus.
Fourth, Art thou come to the Lord Jesus? What hast thou found in him, since thou
camest to him?
Peter found with him the word of eternal life (John 6:68). They that Peter makes
mention of, found him a living stone, even such a living stone as communicated life
to them (1 Peter 2:4,5). He saith himself, they that come to him, &c., shall
find rest unto their souls; hast thou found rest in him for thy soul? (Matt 11:28).
Let us go back to the times of the Old Testament.
1. Abraham found THAT in him, that made him leave his country for him, and become
for his sake a pilgrim and stranger in the earth (Gen 12; Heb 11).
2. Moses found THAT in him, that made him forsake a crown, and a kingdom for him
too.
3. David found so much in him, that he counted to be in his house one day was better
than a thousand; yea, to be a door-keeper therein was better, in his esteem, than
to dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psa 84:10).
4. What did Daniel and the three children find in him, to make them run the hazards
of the fiery furnace, and the den of lions, for his sake? (Dan 3, 6).
Let us come down to martyrs.
1. Stephen found that in him that made him joyful, and quietly yield up his life
for his name (Acts 7).
2. Ignatius found that in Christ that made him choose to go through the torments
of the devil, and hell itself, rather than not to have him. —Fox's Acts and Monuments,
vol. 1, p. 52, Anno. 111. Edit. 1632.
3. What saw Romanus in Christ, when he said to the raging Emperor, who threatened
him with fearful torments, Thy sentence, O Emperor, I joyfully embrace, and refuse
not to be sacrificed by as cruel torments as thou canst invent? —Fox, vol. 1, p.
116.
4. What saw Menas, 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 world, if it was weighed in a balance, to be preferred with the price
of one soul? Who is able to separate us from the love of Jesus Christ our Lord? And
I have learned of my Lord and King not to fear them that kill the body, &c. P.
117.
5. What did Eulalia see in Christ, when she said, as they were pulling her one joint
from another, Behold, O Lord, I will not forget thee. What a pleasure it is for them,
O Christ! that remember thy triumphant victory? P. 121.
6. What think you did Agnes see in Christ, when rejoicingly she went to meet the
soldier that was appointed to be her executioner. I will willingly, said she, receive
into my paps the length of this sword, and into my breast will draw the force thereof,
even to the hilts; that thus I, being married to Christ my spouse, may surmount and
escape all the darkness of this world? P. 122.
7. What do you think did Julitta see in Christ, when, at the Emperor's telling of
her, that except she would worship the gods, she should never have protection, laws,
judgments, nor life, she replied, Farewell life, welcome death; farewell riches,
welcome poverty: all that I have, if it were a thousand times more, would I rather
lose, than to speak one wicked and blasphemous word against my Creator? P. 123.
8. What did Marcus Arethusius see in Christ, when after his enemies had cut his flesh,
anointed it with honey, and hanged him up in a basket for flies and bees to feed
on, he would not give, to uphold idolatry, one halfpenny to save his life? P. 128.
9. What did Constantine see in Christ, when he used to kiss the wounds of them that
suffered for him? P. 135.
10. But what need I give thus particular instances of words and smaller actions,
when by their lives, their blood, their enduring hunger, sword, fire, pulling asunder,
and all torments that the devil and hell could devise, for the love they bare 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 looking
after are in him! —or if anything, yet not enough to wean thee from thy sinful delights,
and fleshly lusts! Away, away, thou art not coming to Jesus Christ.
He that has come to Jesus Christ, hath found in him, that, as I said, that is not
to be found anywhere else. As,
1. He that is come to Christ hath found God in him reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them. And so God is not to be found in heaven and
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 sanctify the soul, and to preserve it from falling,
in this evil world.
3. He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found virtue in him; THAT virtue, that if
he does but touch thee with his Word, or thou him by faith, life is 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 (Psa 30:11,12; Song 6:12).
4. Art thou come to Jesus Christ? Thou hast found glory in him, glory that surmounts
and goes beyond. "Thou art more glorious - than the mountains of prey"
(Psa 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, Am I come to Jesus Christ? For upon
this one question, Am I come, or, am I not? hangs heaven and hell as to thee. If
thou canst say, I am come, and God shall approve that saying, happy, happy, happy
man art thou! But if thou art not come, what can make thee happy? yea, what can make
that man happy that, for his not coming to Jesus Christ for life, must be damned
in hell?
USE THIRD. —The third use —A USE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
Coming sinner, I have now a word for thee; be of good comfort, "He will in no
wise cast out." Of all men, thou art the blessed of the Lord; the Father hath
prepared his Son to be a sacrifice for thee, and Jesus Christ, thy Lord, is gone
to prepare a place for thee (John 1:29; Heb 10). What shall I say to thee?
[First,] Thou comest to a FULL Christ; thou canst not want anything for soul or body,
for this world or that to come, but it is to be had in or by Jesus Christ. As it
is said of the land that the Danites went to possess, so, and with much more truth,
it may be said of Christ; he is such an one with whom there is no want of any good
thing that is in heaven or earth. A full Christ is thy Christ.
1. He is full of grace. Grace is sometimes taken for love; never any loved like Jesus
Christ. Jonathan's love went beyond the love of women; but the love of Christ passes
knowledge. It is beyond the love of all the earth, of all creatures, even of men
and angels. His love prevailed with him to lay aside his glory, to leave the heavenly
place, to clothe himself with flesh, to be born in a stable, to be laid in a manger,
to live a poor life in the world, to take upon him our sicknesses, infirmities, sins,
curse, death, and the wrath that was due to man. And all this he did for a base,
undeserving, unthankful people; yea, for a people that was at enmity with him. "For
when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more, then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to
God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life" (Rom 5:6-10).
2. He is full of truth. Full of grace and truth. Truth, that is, faithfulness in
keeping promise, even this of the text, with all other, "I will in no wise cast
out" (John 14:6). Hence it is said, that his words be true, and that he is the
faithful God, that keepeth covenant. And hence it is also that his promises are called
truth: "Thou wilt fulfil thy truth unto Jacob, and thy mercy unto Abraham, which
thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." Therefore it is said
again, that both himself and words are truth: "I am the truth, the Scripture
of truth" (Dan 10:21). "Thy word is truth," (John 17:17; 2 Sam 7:28);
"thy law is truth," (Psa 119:142); and "my mouth," saith he,
"shall speak truth," (Prov 8:7); see also Ecclesiastes 12:10, Isaiah 25:1,
Malachi 2:6, Acts 26:25, 2 Timothy 2:12,13. Now, I say, his word is truth, and he
is full of truth to fulfil his truth, even to a thousand generations. Coming sinner,
he will not deceive thee; come boldly to Jesus Christ.
3. He is full of wisdom. He is made unto us of God wisdom; wisdom to manage the affairs
of his church in general, and the affairs of every coming sinner in particular. And
upon this account he is said to be "head over all things," (1 Cor 1; Eph
1), because he manages all things that are in the world by his wisdom, for the good
of his church; all men's actions, all Satan's temptations, all God's providences,
all crosses, and disappointments; all things whatever are under the hand of Christ
—who is the wisdom of God —and he ordereth them all for good to his church. And can
Christ help it — and be sure he can —nothing shall happen or fall out in the world,
but it shall, in despite of all opposition, have a good tendency to his church and
people.
4. He is full of the Spirit, to communicate it to the coming sinner; he hath therefore
received it without measure, that he may communicate it to every member of his body,
according as every man's measure thereof is allotted him by the Father. Wherefore
he saith, that he that comes to him, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of
living water" (John 3:34; Titus 3:5,6; Acts 2; John 7:33-39).
5. He is indeed a storehouse full of all the graces of the Spirit. "Of his fullness
have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16). Here is more faith,
more love, more sincerity, more humility, more of every grace; and of this, even
more of this, he giveth to every lowly, humble, penitent coming sinner. Wherefore,
coming soul, thou comest not to a barren wilderness when thou comest to Jesus Christ.
6. He is full of bowels and compassion: and they shall feel and find it so that come
to him for life. He can bear with thy weaknesses, he can pity thy ignorance, he can
be touched with the feeling of thy infirmities, he can affectionately forgive they
transgressions, he can heal thy backslidings, and love thee freely. His compassions
fail not; "and he will not break a bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax;
he can pity them that no eye pities, and be afflicted in all thy afflictions"
(Matt 26:41; Heb 5:2; 2:18; Matt 9:2; Hosea 14:4; Eze 16:5,6; Isa 63:9; Psa 78:38;
86:15; 111:4; 112:4; Lam 3:22; Isa 42:3).
7. Coming soul, the Jesus that thou art coming to, is full of might and terribleness
for thy advantage; he can suppress all thine enemies; he is the Prince of the kings
of the earth; he can bow all men's designs for thy help; he can break all snares
laid for thee in the way; he can lift thee out of all difficulties wherewith thou
mayest be surrounded; he is wise in heart, and mighty in power. Every life under
heaven is in his hand; yea, the fallen angels tremble before him. And he will save
thy life, coming sinner (1 Cor 1:24; Rom 8:28; Matt 28:18; Rev 4; Psa 19:3; 27:5,6;
Job 9:4; John 17:2; Matt 8:29; Luke 8:28; James 2:19).
8. Coming sinner, the Jesus to whom thou art coming is lowly in heart, he despiseth
not any. It is not thy outward meanness, nor thy inward weakness; it is not because
thou art poor, or base, or deformed, or a fool, that he will despise thee: he hath
chosen the foolish, the base, and despised things of this world, to confound the
wise and mighty. He will bow his ear to thy stammering prayers he will pick out the
meaning of thy inexpressible groans; he will respect thy weakest offering, if there
be in it but thy heart (Matt 11:20; Luke 14:21; Prov 9:4-6; Isa 38:14,15; Song 5:15;
John 4:27; Mark 12:33,34; James 5:11). Now, is not this a blessed Christ, coming
sinner? Art thou not like to fare well, when thou hast embraced him, coming sinner?
But,
Second. Thou hast yet another advantage by Jesus Christ, thou art coming to him,
for he is not only full, BUT FREE. He is not sparing of what he has; he is open-hearted
and open-handed. Let me in a few particulars show thee this:
1. This is evident, because he calls thee; he calls upon thee to come unto him; the
which he would not do, was he not free to give; yea, he bids thee, when come, ask,
seek, knock. And for thy encouragement, adds to every command a promise, "Seek,
and ye shall find; ask, and ye shall have; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
If the rich man should say thus to the poor, would not he be reckoned a free-hearted
man? I say, should he say to the poor, Come to my door, ask at my door, knock at
my door, and you shall find and have; would he not be counted liberal? Why, thus
doth Jesus Christ. Mind it, coming sinner (Isa 55:3; Psa 50:15; Matt 7:7-9).
2. He doth not only bid thee come, but tells thee, he will heartily do thee good;
yea, he will do it with rejoicing; "I will rejoice over them, to do them good
- with my whole heart, and with my whole soul" (Jer 32:41).
3. It appeareth that he is free, because he giveth without twitting. [21] "He giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not" (James 1, 5). There are some that
will not deny to do the poor a pleasure, but they will mix their mercies with so
many twits, that the persons on whom they bestow their charity shall find but little
sweetness in it. But Christ doth not do so, coming sinner; he casteth all thine iniquities
behind his back (Isa 38:17). Thy sins and iniquities he will remember no more (Heb
8:12).
4. That Christ is free, is manifest by the complaints that he makes against them
that will not come to him for mercy. I say, he complains, saying, "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt 23:37). I say, he speaks
it by way of complaint. He saith also in another place, "But thou hast not called
upon me, O Jacob" (Isa 43:22). Coming sinner, see here the willingness of Christ
to save; see here how free he is to communicate life, and all good things, to such
as thou art. He complains, if thou comest not; he is displeased, if thou callest
not upon him. Hark, coming sinner, once again; when Jerusalem would not come to him
for safeguard, "he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace;
but now they are hid from thine eyes" (Luke 19:41,42).
5. Lastly, He is open and free-hearted to do thee good, as is seen by the joy and
rejoicing that he manifesteth at the coming home of poor prodigals. He receives the
lost sheep with rejoicing; the lost goat with rejoicing; yea, when the prodigal came
home, what joy and mirth, what music and dancing, was in his father's house! (Luke
15).
Third. Coming sinner, I will add another encouragement for thy help.
1. God hath prepared a mercy-seat, a throne of grace to sit on; that thou mayest
come thither to him, and that he may from thence hear thee, and receive thee. "I
will commune with thee," saith he, "from above the mercy- seat" (Exo
25:22). As who shall say, sinner, When thou comest to me, thou shalt find me upon
the mercy-seat, where also I am always found of the undone coming sinner. Thither
I bring my pardons; there I hear and receive their petitions, and accept them to
my favour.
2. God hath also prepared a golden altar for thee to offer thy prayers and tears
upon. A golden altar! It is called a "golden altar," to show what worth
it is of in God's account: for this golden altar is Jesus Christ; this altar sanctifies
thy gift, and makes thy sacrifice acceptable. This altar, then, makes thy groans
golden groans; thy tears golden tears; and thy prayers golden prayers, in the eye
of that God thou comest to, coming sinner (Rev 8; Matt 23:19; Heb 10:10; 1 Peter
2:5).
3. God hath strewed all the way, from the gate of hell, where thou wast, to the gate
of heaven, whither thou art going, with flowers out of his own garden. Behold how
the promises, invitations, calls, and encouragements, like lilies, lie round about
thee! take heed that thou dost not tread them under foot, sinner. With promises,
did I say? Yea, he hath mixed all those with his own name, his Son's name; also,
with the name of mercy, goodness, compassion, love, pity, grace, forgiveness, pardon,
and what not, that may encourage the coming sinner.
4. He hath also for thy encouragement laid up the names, and set forth the sins,
of those that have been saved. In this book they are fairly written, that thou, through
patience and comfort of the Scriptures, mightest have hope. (1.) In this book is
recorded Noah's maim and sin; and how God had mercy upon him. (2.) In this record
is fairly written the name of Lot, and the nature of his sin; and how the Lord had
mercy upon him. (3.) In this record thou hast also fairly written the names of Moses,
Aaron, Gideon, Samson, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, with the nature of their sins;
and how God had mercy upon them; and all to encourage thee, coming sinner.
Fourth. I will add yet another encouragement for the man that is coming to Jesus
Christ. Art thou coming? Art thou coming, indeed? Why,
1. Then this thy coming is by virtue of God's call. Thou art called. Calling goes
before coming. Coming is not of works, but of him that calleth. "He goeth up
into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would; and they came unto him"
(Mark 3:13).
2. Art thou coming? This is also by virtue of illumination. God has made thee see;
and, therefore, thou art coming. So long as thou wast darkness, thou lovedst darkness,
and couldst not abide to come, because thy deeds were evil; but being now illuminated
and made to see what and where thou art, and also what and where thy Saviour is,
now thou art coming to Jesus Christ; "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee," saith Christ, "but my Father
which is in heaven" (Matt 16:17).
3. Art thou coming? This is because God hath inclined thine heart to come. God hath
called thee, illuminated thee, and inclined thy heart to come; and, therefore, thou
comest to Jesus Christ. It is God that worketh in thee to will, and to come to Jesus
Christ. Coming sinner, bless God for that he hath given thee a will to come to Jesus
Christ. It is a sign that thou belongest to Jesus Christ, because God has made thee
willing to come to him (Psa 110:3). Bless God for slaying the enmity of thy mind;
had he not done it, thou wouldst as yet have hated thine own salvation.
4. Art thou coming to Jesus Christ? It is God that giveth thee power: power to pursue
thy will in the matters of thy salvation, is the gift of God. "It is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do" (Phil 2:13). Not that God worketh will
to come, where he gives no power; but thou shouldest take notice, that power is an
additional mercy. The church saw that will and power were two things, when she cried,
"Draw me, we will run after thee" (Song 1:4). And so did David too, when
he said, "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my
heart" (Psa 119:32). Will to come, and power to pursue thy will, is double mercy,
coming sinner.
5. All thy strange, passionate, sudden rushings forward after Jesus Christ, coming
sinners know what I mean, they also are thy helps from God. Perhaps thou feelest
at some times more than at others, strong stirrings up of heart to fly to Jesus Christ;
now thou hast at this time a sweet and stiff gale of the Spirit of God, filling thy
sails with the fresh gales of his good Spirit; and thou ridest at those times as
upon the wings of the wind, being carried out beyond thyself, beyond the most of
thy prayers, and also above all thy fear and temptations.
6. Coming sinner, hast thou not now and then a kiss of the sweet lips of Jesus Christ,
I mean some blessed word dropping like a honey-comb upon thy soul to revive thee,
when thou art in the midst of thy dumps?
7. Does not Jesus Christ sometimes give thee a glimpse of himself, though perhaps
thou seest him not so long a time as while one may tell twenty.
8. Hast thou not sometimes as it were the very warmth of his wings overshadowing
the face of thy soul, that gives thee as it were a gload[22] upon thy spirit,
as the bright beams of the sun do upon thy body, when it suddenly breaks out of a
cloud, though presently all is gone away? Well, all these things are the good hand
of thy God upon thee, and they are upon thee to constrain, to provoke, and to make
thee willing and able to come, coming sinner, that thou mightest in the end be saved.
[FIRST, THE TEXT TREATED BY WAY OF EXPLICATION.]
[SECOND, THE TEXT TREATED BY WAY OF OBSERVATION.]
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