Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, Part 2
I come now to the next Observation, and shall speak a little to that; to wit,
THat Jesus Christ would Not have them, that in truth are coming to him, Once think, That he will cast them out.
The Text is full for this: For, he saith; And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Now, if he saith, I will not, he would not have us think, He will.
This is yet further manifest by these Considerations:
First, Christ Jesus did forbid even them, that as yet, were not coming to him, Once to think him such an one: Do not think (said he) that I will accuse you to the Father, Joh. 5. 45.
These (as I said) were such, that as yet, were not coming to him: For he saith of them a little before; And ye will not come to me: For the Respect they had to the Honour of Men, kept them back. Yet, I say, Jesus Christ gives them to understand, that though he might Justly reject them, yet he would not; but bids them not Once to think, that he would accuse them to the Father. Now, not to Accuse (with Christ), is to Plead for: For Christ in these things, stands not Neuter between the Father and Sinners. So then, If Jesus Christ would not have them think, that Yet will not come to him, that he will Accuse them; then he would not that they should think so, that in truth are coming to him. And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.
Secondly, When the Woman taken in Adultery, (even in the very Act) was brought before Jesus Christ: So he carryed it, both by Words and Actions, that he evidently enough made it manifest, that Condemning, and Casting-out, were such Things; for the Doing of which, he came not into the World.
Wherefore, when they had set her before him, and had laid to her charge her Heinous Fact, he stooped down, and with his Finger wrote upon the Ground, as though he heard them not. Now, What did he do by this his Cariage, but testify plainly, That he was not for Receiving Accusations against poor Sinners, who-ever accused by? And observe; Though they continued asking, thinking at last to force him to Condemn her; yet then he so answered, as that he drove all Condemning Persons from her. And then he adds, for her Encouragement to come to him; Neither do I Condemn thee; go, and Sin no more, Joh. 8. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Not but that he indeed abhorred the Fact; but he would not Condemn the Woman for the Sin, because that was not his Office: He was not sent into the World, to condemn the World, but that the World through Him might be saved, Joh. 3. 17. Now, if Christ, though urged to it, would not Condemn the Guilty Woman, though she was far at present from coming to him; he would not that they should Once think, that he will cast them out, that in truth are coming to him: And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.
Thirdly, Christ plainly bids the Turning Sinner, Come; and forbids him to Entertain any such Thought, as that He will cast him out. Let the Wicked forsake his Ways, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts; and let him Turn unto the Lord, and he will have Mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly Pardon, Isa. 55. 7.
The Lord, by bidding the Unrighteous forsake his Thoughts; doth in special forbid, as I have said, (to wit) those Thoughts, that hinder the Coming-Man in his Progress to Jesus Christ; His Unbelieving Thoughts.
Therefore, he bids him, not only forsake his Ways, but his Thoughts: Let the Wicked forsake his Ways, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts. 'Tis not enough to forsake one, if thou wilt come to Jesus Christ; because the other will keep thee from him. Suppose a Man forsakes his wicked Wayes, his debauched and filthy Life; yet if these Thoughts, That Jesus Christ will not Receive him, be entertained and nourished in his heart; them Thoughts will keep him from coming to Jesus Christ.
Sinner, Coming-Sinner; Art thou for coming to Jesus Christ? Yes, sayes the Sinner. Forsake thy wicked Wayes then. So I do, sayes the Sinner. Why comest thou then so slowly? Because I am hindred. What hinders? Has God forbidden thee? No. Art thou not willing to come faster? Yes: Yet I cannot. Well, prethee be plain with me, and tell me the Reason and Ground of thy Discouragement: Why? (saith the Sinner) though God forbids me not, and though I am willing to come faster; yet there naturally ariseth this, and that, and the other Thought in my Heart, that hinders my Speed to Jesus Christ. Sometimes, I think, I am not Chosen; sometimes, I think, I am not Called; sometimes, I think, I come too late; and sometimes, I think, I know not what it is to Come. Also, One while I think, I have no Grace; and then again, that I cannot Pray; and then again, I think, that I am a very Hypocrite: And these Things keep me from coming to Jesus Christ.
Look ye now! Did not I tell you so? There are Thoughts yet remaining in the Heart, even of those that have forsaken their wicked Wayes; and with those Thoughts they are more plagued, than with any thing else; because they hinder their Coming to Jesus Christ: For the Sin of Unbelief, (which is the Original of all these Thoughts) is that which besets a Coming-Sinner more easily, than doth his Wayes; Heb. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4.
But now, since Jesus Christ commands thee to forsake these Thoughts; forsake them, Coming-sinner: And if thou forsake them not, thou Trangressest the Commands of Christ, and abidest thine own Tormentor, and keepest thy self from Establishment in Grace: If ye will not Believe, ye shall not be Established, Isa. 7. 9.
Thus you see, how Jesus Christ setteth himself against such Thoughts, that any way discourage the Coming-Sinner; and thereby, truly vindicates the Doctrine we have in hand; To wit, That Jesus Christ would not have them, that in truth are coming to him, Once think, that he will cast them out. And him that cometh to me, I will in No wise cast out.