The Greatest Sinners Exhorted and Encouraged, Question 1
Quest. 1. Who are Comers to Christ? or what is meant by coming to Him?
Answ. The Comer to Christ is the same with the Beleever. In the thirty fifth verse of the Chapter, Christ saith He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. So in ver. 44, 45, 65, Believing on Christ, is called a coming to Him. There are various Metaphors whereby Faith is set forth in the Scripture: There is the Eye of Faith, hence Beleeving is called a Looking on Christ Zech. 12. 10. There is the Ear of Faith, so Beleeving is called Hearing; Hear and your souls shall live. there is the Mouth of Faith, thus Beleeving is expressed by that of eating Christ, Joh. 6. 57. He that eateth me shall live by me. There is the Hand of Faith, thence Beleeving is said to be a Receiving of Christ, Joh. 1. 12. And there is the Foot of Faith, thence Beleeving on Christ is said to be a Going to him and Coming to him: As Ʋnbeliefe is expressed by that of not coming to Him Joh. 5. 40. Ye will not come to me that you might have life. i. e. you will not beleive. And Unbeleif is said to be a Departing from the Lord, Heb. 3. 12. so Faith is Coming to Him; Not a meer bodily Coming to Christ, for so these Capernaits and many others came to him, who had no true faith; but a coming to him with the Soul. The Gospel calls upon men to forsake all for Christ, he whose heart and soul does obey that Call is a true Believer. Particularly,
1. The Believer Cometh to Christ as the most excellent Person his soul can desire. 1. Pet 2. 7. To you that believe He is precious. The Jews followed Christ for his Loaves, and not for his Person, Joh. 6. 26. Notwithstanding the Miracles done by Christ, which were enough to convince any one that he is the Son of God; yet they did not beleeve Him to be so, and therefore were not right Followers of him, or Comers to Him. When God brings a man home to Christ, He lets him see that surpassing Excellency in his Person, as to cause the soul to fall in love with Him, and to choose Christ rather than any other p… Cant. 5. 9, 10, 16. What is thy beloved …re than anothers beloved? my beloved is the chiefest among ten thousand, yea he is altogether lovely. This is the Language of the real comer to Christ. The beleeving soul seeth Christ to be a lovely Christ indeed, and therefore cometh to Him as being enamoured with Him. Joh. 6. 40. He that seeth the Son and beleeveth on him. Men must see a beauty and excellency in the Son of God, or they will not beleeve on Him.
2. The Beleever cometh to Christ for Salvation. He seeth that Christ is in himself lovely; and from that consideration goeth to Him. Moreover, he seeth all that life and Salvation in Christ which his soul stands in need of, and therefore cometh to Him. It's true (as was intimated) that in closing with Christ, respect is to be had to His Person, and not to His bebenefits only. Nevertheless a man in Coming to Christ may and should have respect to his own Salvation. It is a very needless scruple which some have concerning their Coming to Christ, as if it were not right, because Desire of Salvation-puts them upon it; so it may be, and so it should be. Christ Himself calls upon men from that very Consideration to come unto Him. Joh. 7. 37. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink. A man may and should come to Christ that so he may drink, that he may from and by Christ receive the waters of life for his soul. The Believer cometh to Christ as to a Priest, who has by the Sacrifice of himself purchased life for every comer to him. He looketh for Reconciliation with God only by the Sacrifice which Christ has offer'd for that end: He casts his soul and all the eternal Concerns thereof, upon the Merit and Mediation of Jesus Christ. He looketh for all Acceptance with God, for the Pardon of all sins, for eternal life in another world, for the alone sake of Christ and His Righteousness; thus does he come to Him.
3. The Beleever cometh to Christ to be Instructed by Him. Unto this the words of my Text have a peculiar respect. He that cometh to me (saith Christ) h. e. he that cometh to me to be my Scholar, my Disciple, as long as he is really willing to learn of me, I will not turn him out of doors. When the woman of Samaria acquainted the Citizens that she had met with one who told her all things that ever she did, they went out of the City and came to Him. Thus 'tis with the Beleever; he has heard report of Christ's being the great Prophet of God, and therefore he cometh to Him for instruction: he believes that Christ knowes the mind of God fully, and he is willing that Christ should reveal unto him whatever God would have him to beleeve or to practise in order to Salvation. His soul thirsteth after the wholsome waters of Truth, and he comes to Christ that he may receive thereof. Isa. 55. 1. This then is implyed in Coming to Christ, even a Closing with Him in respect of His prophetical Office, a being subject to the Teachings of His Word and Spirit.
4. A Beleever cometh to Christ to be ruled by him. Many are ready to declare their willingness to have Christ to be their Saviour, who have no mind to have Him to be their Ruler; They do not desire to be under the strict and holy Government of Christ, whereas true Faith implies a closing with Christ in respect of his Kingly Office. Hence tis expressed by that of receiving Christ Jesus the Lord. Col. 2. 6. He that cometh to Christ with an unfeigned desire to be His Servant, and a Resolution to comply with all His holy commands, is such a Comer to Him as He will in no wise cast out. Luk. 6. 46. Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings and doeth them. Hence beleevers are styled the Servants of Christ. 1. Cor. 2. 22. Gal, 1. 10. There is a Covenant between Christ and them, as there is a Covenant between Master and Servant. Beleevers are under a Promise, yea, an Oath of Fidelity to Christ, to be His, and His only, and His forever.
We proceed therefore to the second Inquiry, VIZ.