Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, Objection 1 – Objection 2
Objection I.
Though I cannot deny, but my mind runs after Christ, and that too as being moved thereto from a sight, and consideration of my lost Condition (For I see without him I perish): yet I fear my ends are not right in coming to him.
Quest. Why? what is thine end, in coming to Jesus Christ?
Answer, My end, is, that I might have Life, and be saved by Jesus Christ.
This is thy Objection; well, let me tell thee, that to come to Christ for Life, and to be saved: though at prethou hast no other end, is a lawful, and good coming to Jesus Christ. This is evident, because Christ propoundeth Life, as the only Argument to prevail with sinners to come to him, and also blameth them because they come not to him for Life. And ye will not Come to me that ye might have Life, Joh. 5. Besides, there are many other Scriptures whereby he allureth Sinners to come to him▪ in which he propoundeth nothing to them but their safety. As, He that believeth in him, shall not perish; he that believeth, is passed from Death to Life. He that believeth, shall be Saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned. And believing, & coming, are all one. So that you see, to Come to Christ for Life, is a lawful coming, and good.
And let me add over and above, that for a man to come to Christ for Life, though he comes to him for nothing else but Life: he gives much honour to him.
First, He Honoureth the Word of Christ, and consenteth to the Truth of it, and that in these two general Heads.
1. He Consenteth to the Truth of all those sayings, that Testifieth that Sin is most abominable in it Self, dishonourable to God, and damnable to the Soul of Man, Jer. 44. 4. Rom. 2. 23. Chap. 6. 23. 2 Thes. 2. 12.
2. In that he believeth, as the Word hath said, that there is in the Worlds best things, Righteousness and all, Nothing but Death and Damnation, Rom. 7. 24, 25. Chap. 8. 2, 3. 2 Cor. 3. 6, 7, 8.
Secondly, He Honoureth Christs Person, in that he believeth, that there is Life in Him, and that he is able to Save him from Death, Hell, the Devil, and Damnation, Heb. 7. 24, 25.
Thirdly, He Honoreth him, in that he believeth that he is Authorized of the Father to give Life to those that come to him for it, (Joh. 5. 11, 12. Chap. 17. 1, 2, 3.)
Fourthly, He Honoureth the Priest-Hood of Jesus Christ.
1. In that he believeth, that he alone hath made Attonement for Sin, Rom. 5.
2. In that he believeth, that Christ hath more Power to Save from Sin by the Sacrifice that he hath Offered for it▪ than hath all Law, Devils, Death, or Sin to Condemn, Acts 13. 38. Heb. 2. 14, 15. Revel. 1. 17, 18.
Thirdly, In that he believeth that Christ, according to his office, will be most faithfull, and mercifull in the discharge of his office, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2, 3. Heb. 2. 17, 18.
Fourthly, Further, he that cometh to Jesus Christ for life, taketh part with him against Sin, and against all the ragged and imperfect righteousness of the world; yea, and against false Christs, and damnable errors that set themselves against the worthiness of his merits and sufficiency.
Fifthly, Therefore, as Noah, at Gods command, thou preparest this Ark, for the saving of thy self, by the which also thou condemnest the world, and art become Heir of the righteousness which is by faith, (Heb. 11. 7.) Wherefore coming sinner, be content; he that cometh to Jesus Christ, believeth too that he his willing to shew mercy to, and to have Compassion upon him (though unworthy) that comes to him for life. And therefore thy Soul lieth not only under a special Invitation to come, but under a Promise too of being accepted and forgiven Mat 11. 28.
All these particular parts, and qualities of faith, are in that Soul that comes to Jesus Christ for Life, as is evident to any indifferent Judgment.
For, will he that Believeth not the Testimony of Christ concerning the baseness of Sin, & the insufficiency of the Righteousness of the World, come to Christ for Life? No.
He that believeth not this Testimony of the word, comes not: He that believeth that there is Life any where else, comes not: He that questions whether the Father hath given Christ power to forgive, comes not: He that thinketh that there is more in Sin, in the Law, in Death, and the Devil, to Destroy, than there is in Christ to Save, comes not: He also that questions his faithful Management of his Office of Priesthood for the salvation of sinners, comes not.
Thou then that art indeed the comeing Sinner, believest all this. True, perhaps thou dost not believe with that full Assurance: nor hast thou leisure to take Notice of thy Faith as to these Distinct acts of it: But yet all this Faith is in him that cometh to Christ for Life. And the Faith that thus Worketh, is the Faith of the best and purest kind; because this Man comes alone as a Sinner, and as seeing that Life is, and is to be had, only in Jesus Christ.
Before I conclude my Answer to this Objection, take into thy consideration these two things.
First, That the Cities of Refuge, were Erected for their sakes that were dead in Law, and that yet would live by grace; even for those that were to fly thither for life from the avenger of blood that pursued after them. And it is worth your Noting, that those that were upon their flight thither, are in a peculiar manner called the people of God. Cast ye up, Cast ye up, saith God, prepare ye the way, take up the stumbling blocks out of the Way of My people, Isa. 57. 14. This is meant of preparing the way to the City of refuge, that the slayers might escape thither, and live; which slayers are here by way of speciality called the people of God: even those of them that escaped thither for life.
Secondly, Consider that of Ahab, when Benhadad sent to him for life, saying, Thus saith thy Son Benhadad, I pray thee let me live. Though Benhadad had sought the Crown Kingdom, yea and also the life of Ahab; yet how effectually doth Benhadad prevaile with him. Is Benhadad yet alive? said Ahab, he is my brother; yea, go, ye, bring him to me: so he made him ride in his Chariot 1 King. 20 chap.
Coming Sinner what thinkest thou? if Jesus Christ, had as little Goodness in him as Ahab, he might grant an humble Benhadad life; thou neither beggest of him his Crown or Dignity: Life, eternal life will serve thy turn: how much more then shalt thou have it, since thou hast to deal with him who is goodness and mercy it self; yea since thou art also called upon, yea greatly encourraged by a promise of life, to come to him for Life. Read also these Scriptures, Numb. 35. 11, 14, 15. Josh. 20. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Heb. 6. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Objection 2.
When, I say, I only seek my self, I mean, I do not find that I do design Gods Glory in mine own Salvation by Christ, and that makes me fear, I do not come aright.
Answer, Where doth Christ Jesus require such a Qualification, of those that are coming to him for Life? come thou for Life, and trouble not thy head with such Objections against thy Self, and let God and Christ alone to Glorify themselves in the Salvation of such a worm as thou art. The Father saith to the Son, Thou art my Servant, O Israel, in whom I will be Gloryfied. God, propoundeth Life to Sinners, as the argument to prevail with them to come to him for Life; and Christ sayes plainly, I am come, that ye might have Life, John 10. 10. He hath no need of thy designes, though thou hast need of his. Eternal Life, pardon of Sin, and Deliverance from Wrath to come, Christ propounds to thee, and these be the things that thou hast need of; besides, God will be gracious, and merciful to worthless, undeserving wretches; come then as such an one. Therefore lay no stumbling blocks in thy way to him, but come to him for life, & live, Joh. 5. 34. Chap. 10. 10. Chap. 3. 36. Mat. 1. 21. Prov. 8. 36, 37. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joh. 11. 25, 26.
The Jayler was only for knowing at first, what he should do to be Saved: But Paul did not so much as once ask him, what is your End, in this Question; do you design the Glory of of God in the Salvation of your Soul? He had more wit; he knew that such Questions as these would have bin but Fools bables about, instead of a sufficient salve, to so weighty a Question, as this was. Wherefore since this poor wretch lacked Salvation by Christ; I mean, to be saved from Hell and Death, which he knew (now) was due to him for the sins that he had committed: Paul bids him, like a poor condemned sinner as he was, to proceed still in this his way of self-seeking: saying, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. Acts 16. 30, 31, 32.
I know, that afterwards, thou wilt desire to glorifie Christ, by walking in the way of his precepts; but at present thou wantest life; the avenger of blood is behind thee, and the devil like a Lyon is roaring against thee: well, come now, and obtain life from these; and when thou hast obtained some comfortable perswasion that thou art made partaker of life by Christ, then, and not tell then, thou wilt say, Bless the Lord O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from distruction, and Crowneth thee with loving kindness, and tender mercies. Psal. 103. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.