The Best Interest, Chapter 3 · Section 8 – Section 9
Sect. 8. Doubts and ſcruples about our being under the offer of Chriſt, an hinderance to our cloſing with Chriſt; Theſe doubts anſwered.
It may be ſome will ſay, if I ſaw and knew that God offered Chriſt, and Salvation by Chriſt to me, I would accept of him on any terms: but I have many doubts and ſcruples upon my mind, whether God offers Chriſt to me, as my unworthyneſs, the greatneſs of my ſins, my being ſo little affected with my ſin and miſery, my long neglect of Chriſt, and the like, and I can't tell how to think that God ſhould offer Chriſt to ſuch an unworthy creature, to ſuch a great ſinner, to ſuch an hard hearted creature as I am, to one that have neglected and ſtood out ſo long as I have done. For ſatisfying theſe ſcruples I ſhall lay down theſe following propoſitions, about the offer of Chriſt, and Salvation by Chriſt, to all ſorts of ſinners, on the terms of Faith and Repentance.
1. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all his ſaving benefits, is offered to the meaneſt and moſt worthleſs perſons in the whole world, (when the Goſpel comes) that find their want of Chriſt, and are willing to receive him, though they have no mony, that is nothing of any value to commend them to God, yet they may have Chriſt, and all his benefits freely. Iſa 55.1. Ho! every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no mony, come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy Wine and Milk without mony, and without price.
2. There is an offer of Chriſt, and Salvation by Chriſt, to all ſorts of Sinners; The poor, and the lame, and the blind, and the halt, were called to the Marriage Supper; Perſons of the loweſt condition, ſuch as are in by-lanes, high-ways and hedges, and ſuch as are moſt deſpicable in the eye of the world, the maimed and the blind are to be called and entreated with all earneſtneſs to come to Chriſt. Luk. 14.21, 23. Go out quickly into the ſtreets and lanes of the City, and bring in hither the poor and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind— Go out into the High-ways and Hedges, and compell them to come in. We ſee here all ſorts of ſinners, even ſuch as are moſt deſpicable in their own eyes, and the eyes of the world, the poor, the maimed, the halt the blind, ſinners in all places, the High-ways, Hedges, Streets, Lanes, all are called, and that with ſuch importunity, as if they were compelled, for this compelling is to be underſtood of earneſt entreaties, and uſing prevailing arguments; As Luk. 24.29.
3. Jeſus Chriſt, and Salvation by Chriſt, is offered freely to the greateſt and chiefeſt of ſinners, if they will accept of him, and repent of their ſins. 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the World to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief. Prov. 28.13. Whoſo confeſſeth und forſaketh ſhall find Mercy. Adam, all circumſtances conſidered, was one of the chiefeſt of ſinners, for he was the cauſe of the death of all the men that ever lived. 1 Cor. 15.22. In Adam all dye. He brought ſin into the World, and death, and by his diſobedience made all men ſinners, and corrupted all Mankind. Rom. 5. By one man ſin entered into the World, and death by ſin, and ſo death paſſed upon all men. ver. 19. By one man's diſobedience many were made ſinners; Yet Chriſt and Salvation by Chriſt was offered to Adam in that promiſe. The Seed of the woman ſhall bruiſe the Serpent's head. Gen. 3.15. It may be ſome are in a deſpairing way, becauſe they have not only been ſinners themſelves, but they have corrupted and made others ſinners, and have not only made others ſinners, but have been the occaſion of the death of many perſons. Though this be a wofull caſe, yet not deſperate; By Adam's diſobedience many were made ſinners, Hundreds, Thouſands, yea all Mankind, Chriſt only excepted; And Adam was the cauſe of the death of Hundreds, Thouſands, Millions of Men, Women and Children, yea in Adam all dye, yet Salvation by Chriſt was offered to Adam.
4. Chriſt Jeſus with his ſaving benefits is offered to children and old men, bond and free, male and female; He is willing that little Children ſhould come unto him for Life and Salvation. Mar. 10.14. Suffer the little Children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of ſuch is the Kingdom of God. The giving of the Spirit, which is one of the ſaving benefits of Chriſt, is promiſed to all ſorts of perſons, Young and Old, Male and Female, Bond and Free, Men-ſervants and Maid-ſervants. Joel 2.28, 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all fleſh, and your Sons and your Daughters ſhall Propheſie, your Old Men ſhall dream Dreams, your Young Men ſhall ſee Viſions; And alſo upon the Servants, and upon the Hand-maids, in thoſe days will I pour out my Spirit. By dreaming Dreams, ſeeing Viſions, and Propheſying, we may underſtand that God in the days of the Goſpel, would reveal his mind and will to all ſorts of Perſons by his Word and Spirit, as he did in old times to ſome peculiar Perſons by Dreams and Viſions.
5. Jeſus Chriſt offers himſelf, and all his ſaving benefits, even to ſuch as have for a long time neglected and rejected the offers of grace, made to them in the Goſpel, and notwithſtanding all former neglects and refuſals, if now they will come in, they ſhall be accepted. Rom. 10.21. But to Iſrael he ſaith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a rebellious and gain-ſaying people. The ſtretching forth the hands ſignifie the offers of grace made in the Goſpel, the offer of Pardon and Salvation upon their Faith and Repentance, and this offer was made and continued from time to time, to a rebellious and gain-ſaying people. To the Jews that had refuſed Chriſt, and preferred a Murderer before him, yea, and had not only refuſed, but killed him that came to ſave their lives: there is a promiſe of forgiveneſs of their ſins upon their Repentance. Acts 3.14, 19. Ye denyed the holy one and the juſt, and deſired a Murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of Life— Repent ye, and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out— Another inſtance of Chriſt's offering himſelf, and his ſaving benefits to ſuch as have neglected former offers of grace: We have Rev. 3.20. Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and ſup with him, and he with me. This is part of the Epiſtle ſent to the Church of Laodicea, where there were many luke-warm perſons, that deſerved to be ſpued out of Chriſt's Mouth. ver. 15. And many ſelf-conceited perſons, that thought their Eſtate good, when they were in a moſt miſerable condition. ver. 17. And notwithſtanding their luke-warmneſs, and ſelf-conceitedneſs, he makes a gracious offer of himſelf to them, Behold I ſtand at the door and knock— The Greek word is foreign in the Praeter-perfect Tenſe, which is uſed for the Preſent. I have ſtood— and I am not gone though neglected, though the door be kept ſhut, I ſtand there ſtill, and knock and call, if any man hear my voice. One paraphraſeth thus on the words; Siquis qualiſcunque fuerit, peccator, hypocrita, qui diu obſtitit Evangelio, &c. What manner of man ſoever he hath been, though he hath been a vile ſinner, though he hath been a hypocrite though one that hath long rejected the offers of grace in the Goſpel. If any man hear my voice and open the door, that is, accept of the offers of grace in the Goſpel, conſent to receive me on the terms of the Goſpel, no former neglects or refuſals of Chriſt ſhall hinder ſuch a man's Salvation, for it follows, I will come into him, and ſup with him, and he with me, that is, I will beſtow my ſelf and all my ſaving benefits upon any man that openeth unto me, whoſoever he be, and whatſoever he hath formerly been or done againſt me.
6. Remiſſion of ſins, and Salvation are offered by Chriſt to backſliding, revolting ſinners, upon their Repentance, though they have beakſlidden often, and done very heinous things after their backſliding from God Jer. 3.1.5, 22. Thou haſt played the harlot with many lovers, yet return again unto me ſaith the Lord— Behold thou haſt ſpoken, and done evil things as thou couldſt— Return ye back-ſliding children, and I will heal your back-ſlidings.
But ſome may ſay, I once had the offer of Salvation by Chriſt, but I did not embrace it, I fear now it is too late, and that my day of grace is paſt, and ſo there is no hope for my Soul, that ever I ſhould be made partaker of Chriſt.
A. No man ought to conclude his day of grace and Salvation to be paſt as long as he is in the Land of the living. If Chriſt be not accepted before we dye, then we ſhall miſs of him for ever. The day of grace, and the day of Salvation is gone for ever, if Chriſt be not embraced before Death comes. But as long as we are in the land of the living, there is a door of hope ſtands open to us. Eccl. 9.5. To him that is joyned to all the living, there is hope. As long as we are under the Preaching of the Goſpel, which is the Miniſtry of Reconciliation, it is an accepted time, and a day of Salvation. 2 Cor. 5.20. Compared with 2 Cor. 6.2. Now then we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead, be ye reconciled to God — Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the Day of Salvation. While God is treating with us by his Embaſſadors, who do in Chriſt's ſtead pray us to be reconciled to God, ſo long 'tis an accepted time, and a day of Salvation. Upon the laſt day of the Feaſt, when the people were to be diſmiſſed, and ſent to their own home, the Lord Jeſus made an offer of himſelf to all that did thirſt after him. Joh 7.37. In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cryed, ſaying, if any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. This Feaſt was the Feaſt of Tabernacles, ver. 2. which Feaſt laſted many days. Lev. 23.34, 36. Their dwelling in Tabernacles while in the VVilderneſs, till they came to Canaan, was an Emblem of our Frailty, whilſt we remain in the Body, which is called a Tabernacle. 2 Cor. 5.1. 2 Pet. 1.14. I muſt put of this my Tabernacle, that is, my body; As our Lord Jeſus offered himſelf to every one that was a thirſt on the laſt day of the Feaſt of the Tabernacles, ſo he doth offer himſelf to us, even to the laſt day of our continuance in our Earthly houſe of this Tabernacle. The penitent thief who embraced Chriſt, the laſt day of his being in this Earthly Tabernacle, upon the day of his death, was accepted of him.
But ſome may ſay again, the weary, and the thirſty, and the heavy laden, and ſuch as are of a broken heart, and are burdened with their ſins, are invited to come to Chriſt, but I am not affected as I ought to be, with my ſin and miſery, I am not humbled for my ſins, but I have an hard, dead, inſenſible heart, and therefore I am afraid Chriſt is not offered to me.
A. 1. Even ſuch as are not affected with their ſin and miſery, but have high thoughts of their own excellencies, when as in truth they are wretched and miſerable, are invited to come to Chriſt for good and white rayment and eye Salve, whereby they may have a true ſight of their own ſtate, and be made ſenſible of their ſin and miſery. Rev. 3.17, 18. Becauſe thou ſayeſt I am rich, and encreaſed with goods, and have need of nothing, and knoweſt not that thou art wretched, and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked— I counſel thee to buy of me Gold and white Rayment— and anoint thine eyes with eye ſalve, that thou mayeſt ſee— VVe ſee the pooreſt and moſt miſerable, which are not affected as they ought with their ſin and miſery, are called upon to repair to Chriſt, and to be dealing with Chriſt, for the choiceſt of his benefits, Gold, white Rayment, eye ſalve, that they might ſee, and be made rich, and have their nakedneſs covered.
2. As Chriſt was ſent to bind up, and heal the broken in heart; Iſa. 61.1. So he was exalted to give Repentance to hard hearted ſinners. Act. 5.31. And it is his work to take away the ſtony heart from thoſe that have ſtony hearts, and give them hearts of fleſh; For it is the Lords promiſe to take away the ſtony heart, and to give an heart of fleſh. Ezek. 36.26. And it belongs to Chriſt, as he is Mediator and ſurety of the new Covenant, to ſee this as well as other promiſes of the Covenant fulfilled.
3. Sleepy and ſecure ſinners are called upon by the Goſpel, to awake out of their ſleep, and to look to Chriſt for light and life. Eph. 5.14. Wherefore he ſaith, awake thou that ſleepest, and ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee light.
4. Though you do not find ſuch an hunger and thirſt, ſuch a wearineſs and burdened condition as others find, yet if you are willing to have Chriſt on the terms of the Goſpel, willing to be ruled and ſaved by him in his own way, you need not doubt but Chriſt with all his ſaving benefits is offered freely to you, as freely as to any other perſon, for he is offered freely to every one whoſoever he be, that is willing to have him. Rev. 22.17. Whoſoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Sect. 9. Doubting of Chriſt's willingneſs to receive us, an hinderance of our cloſing with Chriſt. This doubt removed.
It may be ſome will ſay, I am willing to accept of Chriſt on the terms of the Goſpel, but I doubt whether Chriſt will accept of me becauſe I have been ſuch a vile and ſinfull creature, and ſtill find in my ſelf ſuch an unſanctified heart, and ſuch a corrupt nature.
A. They that are willing to accept of Chriſt on the terms of the Goſpel, may lay aſide all their doubts of Chriſt's accepting them, of what nature ſoever they be; And that on ſuch grounds as theſe.
1. We have Chriſt's own word and promiſe, to aſſure that if we come to him, he will in no wiſe caſt us out. Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Him, without exception of any perſon or any ſin, him whoſoever he be, and whatſoever he hath done, that cometh to me, that is, that believeth on me, that receiveth me as I am offered in the Goſpel, that in the ſenſe of his loſt and periſhing condition, cometh to me to ſave him, I will in no wiſe caſt out; foreign Two Negatives, I will not, I will not caſt him out; I will in no wiſe— no accuſation that Satan ſhall bring againſt him, for the multitude or greatneſs of his ſins, or his long continuance in his ſins, or any other accuſation ſhall prevail with me, to caſt him out; I will in no wiſe caſt him out, that is, I will graciouſly accept him. Nonrepellam a me, a ſocietate mea & communione bonorum; I will beſtow my ſelf and all my benefits upon him, I will not caſt him out, that is, out of my Kingdom, I will receive him to be with me where I am.
2. Though we have been ſinners, yet if we be penitent ſinners, the Lord Jeſus will receive us upon our coming to him. 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. When Chriſt was on earth, he received thoſe that came to him, though they had been great ſinners, and though he incurred the cenſures of the Phariſees thereby. Luk. 15.2. The Phariſees and the Scribes murmured, ſaying, this man receiveth ſinners, and eateth with them. And he is not leſs mercifull now he is in Heaven, than he was while he was on Earth.
3. The parable of the prodigal Son may ſatisfie us, that our Lord Jeſus will not only not reject penitent ſinners, though they have been the chiefeſt of ſinners, but will receive them willingly and joyfully. Luk. 15, 20, 24, 25. The Father received his Son with all joy, when he returned home penitent, and yet he had been a vile wretch, he had ſpent all his eſtate on harlots and riotous living. ver. 13.30. And would have ſubmitted to a baſe, low employment, rather than return to his Father; It was pure want that drove him to go to his Father, becauſe he was ready to periſh with hunger, yet this vile wretch that was unworthy of the name of a Son, was entertained and received with great joy.