Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, Part 6
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 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, Joh. 1. 29. Heb. 10. Joh. 14.
What shall I say to thee? thou comest to a full Christ, thou canst not want any thing, 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 Dannits 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.
First, He is full of Grace. Grace is sometimes taken for love, and take it so here. He is full of love; never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathans 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 cloth 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, unthankfull 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 commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us. Much more then being now justified, we shall be saved by his life. 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, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Secondly, 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. Hence it is said, that his words be true, and that he is the faithfull God that keepeth covenant. And hence it is also that his promise is called Truth, Thou wilt fulfill thy truth unto Jacob, and thy mercy to 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 Scriptures of Truth, thy Word is Truth, thy Law is the Truth, and my mouth, aith he, shall speak truth, Joh. 14. 6. Dan. 10. 21. Joh. 17. 17. 2 Sam. 7. 28. Pro. 8. 7. Psal. 119. 142. Eccles. 12. 10. Isa. 25. 1. Mal. 2. 6. Acts 26. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 12, 13.
Now I say, his word is truth, and he is full of truth, to fulfill his truth even to a Thousand Generations. Coming sinner, he will not deceive thee, come boldly to Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, He is full of Wisdome, He is made unto us of God Wisdome, Wisdome 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. Ephes. 1. Because he manages all things that are in the world by his Wisdom, for the good of his Church; all mens Actions, all Satans Temptations, all Gods Providences, all Crosses, Disappointments; all things what ever, 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.
Fourthly, 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 mans 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, Joh. 3. 34. Tit. 3. 5, 6. Acts 1. Joh. 7. 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.
Fifthly, He is indeed a store-house, full of all the graces of the Spirit. Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 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, John 1. 16.
Sixthly, 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 thine Infirmities, he can affectionately forgive thy Transgressions, he can heal thy Back slidings, and Love thee Freely. His Compassions fail not: And he will not break a bruised Reed, nor quench the smoaking Flax: He can pity them, that no Eye pities, and be afflicted in all thy Afflictions; Mat. 26. 41. Heb. 5 2. Chap. 2. 18, 19. Mat 9. 2. Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 5, 6. Isa. 63. 9. Psal. 78. 38. Psal. 86. 15. Psal. 111. 4. Psal. 112. 4. Lam. 3. 22. Isa. 42. 3.
Seventhly, 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 Designes for thy Help: He can break all Snares laid for thee in the Way: He can lift thee out of all Difficulties, where-with thou may'st be surrounded. He is Wise in Heart, and Mighty in Power. Every Life under Heaven is in his Hand; yea, the Faln Angels tremble before him: And he will save thy Life, Coming-Sinner; 1 Cor. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 28. 18. Rev. 15. Psal. 19. 3. Psal. 27. 4, 5, 6. Job 9. 4. Joh. 17. 2. Mat. 8. 29. Luk 8. 28. Jam. 2. 19.
Eighthly, Coming-Sinner, The Jesus to whom thou art coming, is Lowly in Heart; He despiseth not any: 'Tis not thy outward Meanness, nor thy inward Weakness; 'tis 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: Mat. 11. 29. Luk. 14. 21. Prov. 9. 4, 5, 6. Isa. 38. 14, 15. Song 5. 16. Joh. 4. 27. Mark 12 33, 34. Jam. 5. 11.
Now, Is not this a Blessed Christ, Coming-Sinner? Art thou not like to fair well, when thou hast Embraced him, Coming-Sinner! But,
Secondly Thou hast yet another Advantage by Jesus Christ, that 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 openhanded. Let me in a few Particulars shew thee this:
First, 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. Psal. 50. 15. Mat. 7. 7, 8, 9.
Secondly, He doth not only bid thee Come, but tells thee, He will heartily do thee Good; Yea, he will do it with Rejoycing: I will rejoyce over them to do them Good, with my whole Heart, and with my whole Soul, Jer. 32. 41.
Thirdly, It appeareth that he is Free, because he giveth without Twitting: He gives to all men Liberally, and upbraideth not; Jam. 1. 5. There are some, that will not deny to do the Poor a Pleasure, but they will mix their Mercies with so many Twitts, 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; Thy Sins and Iniquities he will remember no more: Isa. 38. 17. Heb 8. 12.
Fourthly, 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, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not? Matth. 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; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel; 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 comes not; he is displeased, if thou callest not upon him.
Hark, Coming-Sinner, once again; When Jerusalem would not come to him for Safe-guard, He behold the City, and wept over it, saying; If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the Things that belong to thy Peace; but now they are hid from thine Eyes, Luk. 19. 41.
Fifthly, Lastly, He is open and Free Hearted to do thee Good, as is seen by the Joy and Rejoycing, that he manifesteth at the coming home of poor Prodigals: He receives the lost Sheep with Rejoycing; the lost Groat with Rejoycing: Yea, when the Prodigal came home, what Joy and Mirth, what Musick and Dancing, was in his Father's House? Luk. 15.
Thirdly, Coming-Sinner, I will add another Encouragement for thy Help.
First, God hath prepared a Mercy-Seat, a Throne of Grace to Sit on; that thou may'st 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, Exod. 25. 22.
As who should say; Sinner, When thou comest to me, thou shalt find me upon the Mercy Seat; where also I am alwayes found of the Undone, Coming, Sinner: Thither I bring my Pardons; there I Hear, and Receive their Petitions, and Accept them to my Favour.
Secondly, 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 shew what Worth it is of in God's Account: For this Golden Altar, is Jesus Christ; This Altar sanctifies thy Gift, and makes thy Sacrifices 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. Mat. 23. 19. Heb. 10. 10, 15. 1 Pet. 2. 5.
Thirdly, God hath Strowed 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 Lillies, lye round about thee; (Take heed, that thou doest not tread them under foot, Sinner!) With Promises, did I say? Yea, he hath mixed all those with his Own Name, his Sons Name; also, with the Name of Mercy, Goodness, Compassion, Love, Pity, Grace, Forgiveness, Pardon, and what not, that may encourage the coming Sinner.
Fourthly, He hath also, for thy En-couragement, laid up the Names, and set forth the Sins, of those that have been Saved: In his Book they are fairly written, that thou through Patience, and Comfort of the Scriptures, mightst have Hope.
1. In this book is Recorded Noah's Name, 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, Gidion, Sampson, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul; with the Nature of their Sins, and how God had Mercy upon them: And all to Encourage thee, Coming-Sinner.
Fourthly, 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 Vertue of God's Call. Thou art Called; Calling goes before Coming: Coming is not of Works, but of him that Calleth. He went up into a Mountain, and called to him whom he would, and They came to him, Mark 3. 13.
Secondly, Art thou coming? This is also by Vertue 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 Bar-Jona! for Flesh and Blood hath at Revealed it unto thee (said Christ) but my Father which is in Heaven; Matth. 16. 15, 16.
Thirdly, Art thou coming, this is because God has 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, (Psal. 110. 3.) Bless God for slaying the enmity of thy mind; had he not done it, thou wouldest, as yet, have hated thine own Salvation.
Fourthly, 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. 'Tis God that 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 aditional 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 ways of thy Commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my Heart. Will to come, and power to pursue thy will, is a double Mercy, coming Sinner.
Fifthly, 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 sometimes, 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 thy self, beyond the most of thy prayers, and also above all thy fears and temptations.
Sixthly, coming Sinner, hast thou not, now and then, a kiss of the sweet lips of Jesus Christ? I mean, some blessed word droping like an Honey-Comb upon thy Soul to revive thee, when thou art in the midst of thy dumps.
Seventhly, Does not Jesus Christ sometimes give thee a glimps of himself, though perhaps, thou seest him not so long a time as while one may tell twenty?
Eighthly, Hast thou not sometimes as it were the very warmth of his wings over-shadowing the face of thy Soul, that gives thee as it were a gload upon thy Spirit, as the bright beams of the Sun do upon thy body, when it suddenly breaks out in the midst of a cloud, though presently all is gone again?
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.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
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End of the text · John Bunyan, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ (1678)