The Right Receiving of Christ, Preface · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Hindrances to be removed by ſuch as will receive Chriſt.
FIrſt, All ſuch things muſt be removed that hinder the ſoule from Receiving Chriſt. There is no man that receives not Chriſt, but there is ſomething that holds him off. We reade of a man in the Goſpel that had a withered arme. Now if a man would have offered him money upon condition that hee would have received it with his hand, he could not have received it, becauſe his arme was withered. So God offers Chriſt to be received, and men receive him not, becauſe their armes are withered. A Palſey ſhaking hand may receive an almes, but a withered hand cannot. Now there is one thing or other that withers the hand of the ſoule, that it cannot ſtretch out it ſelfe to receive Chriſt. Men muſt therefore firſt conſider, what that is which withers their hand & arme, and muſt get that firſt removed, before they can receive Chriſt. When Antichriſt was to come into the world, he could not be received untill that which hindred were taken out of the way, 2 Theſ. 2. 7. when Chriſt would and ſhould be received, there is ſtill ſome one thing or other, that lets and hinders it. And he cannot be received, till that which hinders be taken out of the way. Let us ſee what thoſe hindrances are, that muſt be firſt taken out of the way. They are theſe.
Firſt, An over-good conceit of a 1.mans own condition and eſtate, wherein he is for the preſent. Such a conceit diſconceits a man of the neceſſitie of Chriſt, and makes him regardleſſe of him when offered. Offer to a man a thing that he needs not, and he will not be at the paines to reach forth his hand to receive it. What cares he to receive a thing he needs not? Offer an almes to a rich man, and he ſcornes it, what he take an almes, that hath money of his owne in his purſe? he thinkes it an abuſe, a diſgrace, and a diſparagement to him for one of his ranke and repute, to have an almes offered him. But offer it to a poore man, to a needy perſon, his heart is gladded at the offer, and hee thankfully receives it. A man that thinkes highly well of his eſtate already, he thinkes meanly of Chriſt. The whole need not the Phyſitian, need no Phyſicke, and therefore care neither for Phyſicke, nor Phyſitian. Men that are ſtrongly poſſeſt with the conceit of the preſent goodneſſe of their eſtates, and conditions, Chriſt is vile in their eyes. A man therefore that would ever receive Chriſt, muſt firſt emptie his heart of all ſuch conceits, and be under the ſence and under the pinch too of ſelfe-emptineſſe. A man that would receive Chriſt, muſt come with an empty hand. The full ſtomack deſpiſes the honey-combs of the Goſpel, and the full hand will never receive Chriſt offered. Stout-hearted perſons are farre from righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 46. 12. Hearken unto mee yee ſtout-hearted, that are far from righteouſneſſe, I bring neere my righteouſneſſe. God brings Chriſt, and his righteouſneſſe neere to men, he offers it them in the miniſtry of the Goſpel, and yet though it be brought neere, they are farre from it, becauſe they doe not receive it. And why doe they not receive it, when it is brought ſo neere unto them? Becauſe they are ſtout-hearted. They have a conceit, that their eſtate is good already, and they build and reſt upon a righteouſneſſe of their own in their moralities and performances; and this conceit makes them ſo ſtouthearted, that they will not ſubmit themſelves to the righteouſneſſe of God, Rom. 10. 3. Wee are Lords, wee will not come unto thee, Jer. 2. 31. Beggers will come and receive Gods offers, and his almes, but whileſt men conceit themſelves to be Lords, to have Lords eſtates, they will neither come, nor receive Gods offers. If therefore wee would receive Chriſt, wee muſt away with all theſe ſwelling conceits, wee muſt away with our Lordſhips, with our ſtoutneſſe, and fulneſſe, and labour to ſee our curſed and damnable condition by nature, the emptineſſe and vanitie of all wee have, and doe, we muſt be in a periſhing condition, Luk. 15. 17. in a loſt condition, Luk. 19. 10. He that will be Chriſts diſciple, and receive him for his Lord, muſt deny himſelfe. The Apoſtle, Phil. 3. counts all things dung, that he may winne and receive Chriſt. And Chriſt before he offers Laodicea Gold, Rayment, and eye-ſalve, he firſt convinces her of her poverty, beggery, nakedneſſe, and labours, to empty her of her ſelfelove, and ſelfe-conceitedneſſe that ſhee was rich, and needed nothing. Thereby giving to underſtand, that it is a moſt dangerous hindrance that keepes men from receiving Chriſt, to have an overgood conceit of a mans owne naturall eſtate, of what he hath, and doth. As ever therefore thou wilt receive Chriſt, away with it. Such as goe downe to the duſt, and in the ſence of their wretchedneſſe are laid in the duſt; That cannot keepe alive their owne ſoules, and ſee no way but death, they they are, that will bow to Chriſt, and receive him with all their ſoules, Pſal. 22. 29.