Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, Part 4
I come now to make some General Use and Application of the whole, and so to draw towards a Conclusion.
THe First Use, a Use of Information. And 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 not coming to Jesus Christ?
2. What is he, that is not coming to Jesus Christ?
3. Whether 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; even alienate from him, both in his Understanding, Will, Affections, Judgment, and Conscience; Ephes. 2. 12. chap. 4. 18.
2. He is far from Jesus Christ, who is the only Deliverer of Men from Hell-Fire; Psal. 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; Joh. 3. 3.
4. He is far from Righteousness, from that Righteousness that should make him Acceptable in God's Sight; Isa. 46. 14.
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, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
6. He is in the Pest-house, with Uzziah; and excluded the Camp of Israel, with the Leapers; 2 Chron. 26. 21. Numb. 5. 2.
7. His Life is among the Unclean; He is in the Gall of Bitterness, and in the Bond of Iniquity, Job 36. 14. Act. 8. 23.
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 Joh. 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 36. 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.
Secondly, What is he, that cometh not to Jesus Christ?
1. He is counted one of God's Enemies; Luk. 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; Joh. 8. 44. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Mat. 23. 15. Psal. 9. 17.
3. He is a Child of Wrath, an Heir of it; 'tis his Portion, and God will repay it him to his Face; Ephes. 2. 1, 2, 3. Job 21. 29, 30, 31.
4. He is a Self-Murder; he wrongeth his own Soul, and is one that loveth Death; Prov. 1. 18. Chap. 8. 35, 36.
5. He is a Companion for Devils, and Damned Men; Prov. 21. 16. Mat. 25. 41.
Thirdly, Whither is he like to go, that cometh not to Jesus Christ?
1. He that cometh not To him, is like to go Further from him; for every Sin, is a Step further from Jesus Christ; Hos. 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, Joh. 8. 12.
3. He is like to be removed at last, as far from God, and Christ, and Heaven, and all Felicity, as an Infinitie God can remove him; Mat. 12. 41.
But, Secondly, 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 Favor of the Lord, Prov. 8.
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?
First, What Life is in Jesus Christ?
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 Joh. 4. 9. That is, through the Righteousness which▪ he should accomplish, and the Death that he should dye.
2. There is Eternal Life in Christ: Life that's endless; Life for ever, and ever. He hath given us Eternal Life; and this Life is in his Son, 1 Joh. 5.
Now, Justification, and Eternal Salvation, being both in 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: Particularly,
1. Such as are willing to have it; Whosoever will, Let him take the Water of Life, Revel. 22. 17.
2. He that Thirsteth for it: I will give to him that is a Thirst, of the Fountain of the Water of Life, Revel. 21. 6.
3. He that is weary of his Sins. This is the Rest, whereby 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.
5. He that followeth after him, crying for Life. He that follows me, shall not walk in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life, Joh. 8. 12.
Thirdly, Upon what Terms may he have this Life?
Answ. Freely: Sinner, Dost thou hear? Thou may'st 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, Luk. 7.
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 Mony, 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 Mony, and without Price. He has Life to give away, to such as want it, and that have not a Penny to purchase it; and he will give it Freely: Oh, What a blessed Condition is 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 spoke it, would be but little set-by: For, What great Matter is there in, I will in no wise cast out, if another stood by that could Received 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 (saith 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 us Eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son. If Life could have been had any where 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 Justifyed; and if not Justifyed, then no Life. Therefore, Life is no where to be had, but in Jesus Christ; Gal. 3.
Quest. But why would God so order it, that Life should be had no where else, but in Jesus Christ?
Answ. There is Reason for it; and that both with Respect to God, and to Us.
First, With Respect to God.
First, That it might be in a way of Justice, as well as Mercy: And in away 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 'twas 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 on Jesus, and trust to what he has done for Life; Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26. 1 Joh. 1. 9.
Secondly, Life must be by Jesus Christ, that God might be Adored, and Magnifyed, for finding out this Way. This is the Lord's Doings, that in all Things he might be Glorifyed, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thirdly, 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, Psal. 34. 6. Psal. 138. 6. Psal. 25. Psal. 51. 17. Psal. 147. 3.
Fourthly, Life must be in Christ, to cut off boasting from the lips of men. This also is the Apostles reason, in Rom. 3. 26, 27. And Ephes. 2. 8, 9, 10.
Secondly, Life must be in Jesus Christ, with respect to us.
First, That we might have it upon the easiest Termes, to wit, Freely, as a gift, not as wages; was it in Moses hand, we should come hardly at it. Was it in the Popes hand, we should pay soundly for it: but thanks be to God, it is in Christ, laid up in him, and by him, to be communicated to sinners upon easie Termes, even for receiving, accepting and imbraceing with Thanksgiving. As the Scriptures plainly declare, Joh. 1. 11, 12. 2 Cor. 11. 4. Heb. 11. 13. Col. 3. 13, 14, 15.
Secondly, Life is in Christ for us, that it might not be upon so brittle a foundation, as indeed it would, had it been any where else. The Law it self is weak because of us, as to this: But Christ is a tryed stone, a sure foundation, one that will not fail to bear thy burden, and to receive thy Soul; coming sinner.
Thirdly, Life is in Christ, that it might be sure to all the seed. Alas! the best of us, was life left 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 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 '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, …? Doth it say, And him that cometh, 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. This sin may be called, The White Devil; for it often-times in its Mischievous doings in the Soul, shews 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.
First, It is that sin, above all others, that hath some shew 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.
Secondly, 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 inditable for Ten Thousand Tallents; that he is a very ignorant, blind, and hardhearted 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?
Thirdly, 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 Judgement of God due to sin, and oft-times staggers under it: Now, sayes 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?
Fourthly, It is the sin, above all others, that most Suiteth with the Wisdom of our flesh: the Wisdom of our flesh, thinks it prudence to question a while, to stand back 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.
Fifthly, 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 suggesteth mistrust▪ about Christs willingness to receive it, and save it. And no sin can do this so Artificiently as Unbelief.
Sixthly, 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, slite, trick or cavil, quickly wrest from him the Promise again, and he shall have but little benefit of it.
Seventhly, It is that above all other sins, that weakens our Prayers, our faith, our love, our diligence, our hope and expectations: It even taketh the heart away from God in duty.
Eightly, 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 if it were, Counsel sent from Heaven. Biding the Soul be wise, wary, considerate, well advised, and to take heed of too rash a venture upon Believing. Besure first, that God loves you; take hold of no promise untill 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.
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.
First. Faith, believeth the word of God, but Unbelief questioneth the certainly of the same, Psal. 106. 24.
Secondly. Faith, believeth the word, because it is true; but Unbelief doubteth thereof, because it is true, 1 Tim. 4. 3. Joh. 8. 45.
Thirdly. Faith, sees more in a promise of God to help, than in all other things to hinder: But Unbelief, notwithstanding Gods promise, saith, How can these things be? Rom. 4. 19, 20, 21. 2 King. 7. 2. Joh. 3. 4, 12. Fourthly,
Fourthly, 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, 28. Numb. 13. 2. chap. 14. 3.
Fifthly, Faith will help the Soul to wait, though God deferres to give: but Unbelief will take snuff, and throw up all, if God make any tarrying, Psal. 25. 5. Isa. 8. 17. 2 King. 6. 33. Psal. 106. 13, 14.
Sixthly, Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears; but Unbelief causeth fears in the midst of comfort, 2 Chro. 20. 20, 21. Mat. 8. 26. Luk. 24. 36, 37.
Seventhly, Faith will suck sweetness out of Gods rod; but Unbelief can find no comfort in his greatest mercies, Psal. 23. 4. Numb. 21. 5.
Eighthly, Faith maketh great burdens light; but Unbelief maketh light ones intollerably heavy, 2 Cor. 4. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Mal. 1. 2, 13.
Ninethly, Faith helpeth us up when we are down; but Unbelief throws us down, when we are up, Mich. 7. 8, 9, 10. Heb. 4. 11.
Tenthly, 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. Chap. 3. 12, 13.
Eleventhly, Where Faith reigns, it declareth Men to be the Friends of God; but where Unbelief reigns, it declareth them to be his Enemies: Jam. 5. 23. Heb. 3. 18. Rev. 21. 8.
Twelfthly, Faith putteth a Man under Grace; but Unbelief holdeth him under Wrath: Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26. Chap. 4 16. Ephes. 2. 8. Joh. 3. 36. 1 Joh. 5. 10. Heb. 3. 17. Mark 16. 16.
Thirteenthly, Faith purifieth the Heart; but Unbelief keepeth it polluted and impure: Acts 15. 9. Tit. 1. 15, 16.
Fourteenthly, 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. Chap. 11. 32. Gal. 3. 23.
Fifteenthly, 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. 11. 6.
Sixteenthly, 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. Jam. 1. 6.
Seventeenthly, Faith makes us see Preciousness in Christ; but Unbelief sees no Form, Beauty, or Comlyness in him: 1 Pet. 2. 7. Isa. 53. 1, 2, 3.
Eighteenthly, By Faith we have our Life in Christ's Fulness; but by Unbelief, we starve and pine away: Gal. 2. 20.
Nineteenthly, Faith giveth us the Victory over the Law, Sin, Death, the Devil, and all Evils; but Unbelief layeth us Obnoxious to them all: 1 Joh. 5. 4, 5. Luk. 12. 46.
Twentyeth, Faith will shew us more Excellency in Things not seen, than in them that are; but Unbelief sees more in Things that are here, than in Things that will be here-after: 2 Cor. 4. 18. Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26, 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32.
Twenty-First, Faith maketh the Ways of God pleasant, and amiable; but Unbelief maketh them heavy, and hard: Gal. 5. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 10, 11. Joh. 6. 60. Psal. 2. 3.
Twenty-Second, By Faith, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, possessed the Land of Promise; But because of Unbelief, neither Aaron, nor Moses, nor Mirian, could get thither: Heb. 11. 9. Heb. 3. 19.
Twenty-Third, 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.
Twenty-Fourth, By Faith, Gidion 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Numb. 14. 11, 44.
Twenty-Fifth, By Faith, Peter walked on the Water; but by Unbelief, he began to sink: Mat. 14. 21, 22, 23, 24
Thus might many more be added, which, for brevity 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.