The Right Receiving of Christ, Preface · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
It is the duty of every one that will be a Chriſtian, to receive Chriſt.
A Man is never a Chriſtian indeed till this be done. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is to be received of us. God he offers Chriſt to us, he tenders him in the Goſpel, and as it is Gods mercy to offer him, ſo it is our duty, and ſhould be our wiſdome to receive him; for that is the end of all Gods offers. He doth not offer him only to ſhew that there is a Chriſt, or what kinde of Chriſt he is, hee doth not offer him to be ſeen, and ſhewed, but God offers him to this end, that he might be received. And therefore when God ſends his Miniſters to preach Chriſt, and to offer him unto people in their miniſtery, hee ſpeaks of Chriſt in this caſe, as Paul ſpeaks to the Philippians of Epaphroditus, Phil. 2. 29. Receive him with all gladneſſe, and hold him in reputation. And as God offers Chriſt to be received, ſo he himſelf alſo is willing to be received. Wee know what the Phariſees quarrell was with him, Luke 15. 2. This man receives ſinners. And it was true hee did ſo. But why did he ſo? Surely to let ſinners ſee how willing hee is that they ſhould receive him. His receiving of ſinners was but to invite them to the receiving of him. Yea, the errand he ſends his Miniſters upon, is but to perſwade men to receive him. Hee ſeeks to be received, Cant. 5. 2. Open unto mee my ſiſter, my love, &c. As if he had ſaid, Lo, here I am, I offer my ſelf unto thee, I ſue and ſeek unto thee to be received and entertained. Yea, hee complains of it, and takes it ill, when men receive him not, John 5. 43. I came in my Fathers Name, and yee received me not. Now if Chriſt were not willing, and deſirous to be received, he would not complain of it, and take it as an unkindneſs not to be received. Wee ought in their kind to receive godly men, John 3. 8. We therefore ought to receive ſuch. And if we ought to receive ſuch, then much more ought we to receive Chriſt himſelf.
As then wee would prove our ſelves Ʋſe 1.true Chriſtians indeed, ſo be we forward, and ready to receive Chriſt offered unto us. Wee ſhould do in this caſe as Zacheus did in that, Luke 19. 5, 6. Zacheus, ſayes Chriſt, Make haſte, and come down, for to day I muſt abide at thine houſe. Here was an offer, a fair offer of Chriſt; What doth Zacheus do? does he demurre and deliberate upon it, and take time to think of it? no ſuch matter, And he made haſt, ſayes the Text, and came down, and received him joyfully. Zacheus preſently imbraces the offer, & receives him haſtily, and joyfully. No ſooner ſhould Chriſt offer himſelf unto us, but with all readines & greedines ſhould he be received of us: There is a ſtrange perverſeneſſe of ſpirit in us, a ſtrange naturall untowardneſſe in us to receive Chriſt: See how Chriſt ſpeaks, Joh. 5. 43. I am come unto you in my Fathers name, and yee receive me not; if another come in his own name, him yee will receive. So it is ſtill with us: If Satan come with a tentation, if a luſt come with a motion, if a falſe teacher come with a novelty, if any thing come that ſhould not come, it is ſtrange to ſee with what readines and greedines we receive theſe: but if Chriſt come, with whom comes all good, how awke, and how backward are we to receive him? Men bleſſe themſelves with coming to Church, and receivng the Sacrament, and think all is well ſo long as this is done: But how many come to Church that come not to Chriſt, and how many receive the Sacrament, that yet receive not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? This therefore being a point of ſo great conſequence, and neceſſity as none greater; it will not be amiſſe to help to ſink it down with ſome conſiderations, as may make way for it into our hearts. Conſider therefore theſe three things.