Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
NOw to proceed, another Excuſe or Objection which poſſibly Perſons may ſecretly have in their own Minds againſt Heartily Accepting of Chriſt on Goſpel Terms, may be:
EXCUSE II. They think they are ſafe and well enough already.
They are ſo Righteous in their own Conceit, that …ey ſee no need of Really and Heartily ſubmitting to Chriſt on Goſpel Terms. I don't here ſuppoſe, that any Ordinarily who ſit under the Faithful Preaching of the Goſpel, and call themſelves Chriſtians, will directly Believe or Profeſs that they have no need of Chriſt, of Faith in Him, of Repentance of Sin, and the like; No, for they Profeſs to Repent of Sin, to Believe in Chriſt, to Obey God: And though they never Heartily Received Chriſt on Goſpel Terms, yet they Ignorantly Think they are ſo Righteous, as that they are Intitled to Salvation and ſhall ſurely Poſſeſs it. In a Word, the Fond, Ignorant Conceit they have of their own Righteouſneſs, keeps them from ſeeing their need of Christ's Righteouſneſs. The Conceit they have of their own Religion, keeps them from being Sincerely and Practically Religious. Thoſe mentioned in our Text who Refuſed to come to the Feaſt, had enough of their own as they thought: One was Able to Buy Land, another Oxen, another had Married a Wife and might think of Feaſting at Home. They made Light of the Invitation, one having a Farm, and another his Merchandize, (Mat. 22.5.) they were ſo well Supplyed themſelves, that they did not ſee their Need of what they were Freely Invited to. Alas, Self-Ignorance, Self-Conceitedneſs, Ruins Multitudes. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes, Prov. 12.15. There is a way that ſeemeth right unto a Man, but the end thereof are the ways of Death, Prov. 16.25. There is a Generation, that are Pure in their own Eyes, and yet is not waſhed from their Filthineſs, Prov. 30.12. Some Truſt in themſelves that they are Righteous, Luk. 18.9. They think themſelves ſomething when they are nothing, and ſo Deceive themſelves. On one Account or other (though they never Really Imbrac'd Chriſt on Goſpel Terms) they think themſelves ſafe and going to Heaven. Poſſibly they are thus Conceited of themſelves, becauſe they are the Children of the Covenant, were Born of Profeſſing Parents. The Jews were apt to Truſt in this, They had Abraham to their Father, Mat. 3.9. Or becauſe of their Doctrinal Knowledge. Rom. 2.17, 18, Behold thou art called a Jew, and resteſt in the Law, and makest thy …oaſt of God; and knowest his Will, and approvest the things that are more Excellent, being Inſtructed out of the Law, &c. Or becauſe of their Freedom from Groſs, Scandalous Immoralities, like the Phariſee, God I thank thee that I am not as other Men are, Extortioners, Unjuſt, Adulterers, or even as this Publican, Luk. 18.11. Or becauſe of their Outward Acts of Piety and External Obedience to the Law; they are ready to Plead, that they Pray, Faſt, give Tythes, &c. Luk. 18.10, 12. So the Generality of the Jews had a Zeal for God though not according to Knowledge, and being Ignorant of God's Righteouſneſs, and going about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs, they ſubmitted not themſelves to the Righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 10.2, 3. The Apoſtle Paul in his Phariſaical State was, Touching the Righteouſneſs of the Law Blameleſs, Phil. 3.6. And on this Account, he thought himſelf ſafe for Heaven. Therefore he ſays, Rom. 7.9. I was alive without the Law once. That is, before the Law in it's Spiritual Extenſive Nature, came Powerfully, and Efficaciouſly home to his Conſcience (ſhowing him his great Sinfulneſs and Guiltineſs) he thought himſelf alive to God, and in the way to Eternal Life. It's very likely that many who Periſh under the Goſpel, do Split upon this Rock. They Build much upon their Profeſſion, upon calling Chriſt Lord, Lord, Mat. 7.21. They Profeſs the True Religion, they Pray to God, Read His Word and Hear it Preached, keep Sabbaths, attend on Ordinances, are free from Scandalous Immoralities; and they think, ſurely they are in the Way to Heaven, ſurely God will ſave ſuch Righteous Perſons as they are; and yet poſſibly they never Heartily Imbrac'd Chriſt on Goſpel Terms. Indeed they do not ſee their Real Abſolute Need of Chriſt, but think themſelves Well as they are. Now that Perſons may no longer Deceive themſelves, no longer be thus Obſtructed from Heartily Receiving Chriſt on Goſpel Terms; the Way to be taken with them is, To Indeavour their Conviction, the Inlightening and Inſtructing of them, that they may not be Ruined by Self-Deceivings.
To this End let it be Conſider'd,
1. That all meer Men are Sinners, and ſo are liable to Eternal Death and Miſery. All have Sinned and come ſhort of the Glory of God. By one Man Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin; and ſo Death hath paſſed upon all Men, for that all have Sinned, Rom. 3.23. and 5.12. All Men as coming from Fallen Apoſtate Adam, are Born Sinners, Sharers in the Guilt of Adam's Firſt Sin, have Hearts full of Enmity and Rebellion againſt God: They are Children of Wrath by Nature (Eph. 2.3.) Condemned by God's Holy Law to ſuſtain Eternal Miſeries.
2. Men cannot poſſibly be Justify'd before God, and Saved, by any Inherent Perſonal Righteouſneſs of their own. They Deſerve Death by the Righteous Law of God, and are not able by any Works of their own whatſoever, to Satisfie His Juſtice for the Crimes they are Guilty of; nor to Purchaſe, Merit or Deſerve His Favour. By the Deeds of the Law, there ſhall no Fleſh be Juſtifyed in his ſight, Rom. 3.20. Indeed we Owe our ſelves, all that we are and have to God, and ſhould Glorify Him with our Bodies and Spirits, with all our Inward and Outward Abilities, with our Whole Man we ſhould page missing duplicate page Rom. 4.…, 6. But to him that Worketh not, but Believeth on him that Juſtifieth the Ungodly; his Faith is counted for Righteouſneſs. — Unto whom God imputeth Righteouſneſs without Works.
Therefore,
4. A Perſon must be Convinced that his own Righteouſneſs can never Save him, elſe he will not Truſt in Christ's Righteouſneſs for Juſtification. Chriſt came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance: the Whole need not a Phyſician but the Sick. Every Month muſt be ſtopped, and all the World become Guilty before God, Rom. 3.19. Men muſt ſee Sin to be a Load and Burden, elſe they will not come to Chriſt for Reſt, Mat. 11.28. They muſt ſee themſelves in Danger of God's Devouring Vengeance, elſe they will not fly for Refuge to the Hope ſet before them, Heb. 6.18. If they are not Convinced, that they are Wretched, Poor, Miſerable, Blind and Naked, they will not come to Chriſt for Tryed Gold, and White Raiment, Rev. 3.17, 18. Indeed Particular Perſons muſt ſee themſelves Sinful, Guilty, Obnoxious to Divine Revenging Juſtice, that their own Works or Righteouſneſs can never Juſtifie or Save them, elſe they will never go out of themſelves, Renounce all Confidence in the Fleſh, count their own Righteouſneſs as Flthy Rags, and Truſt Wholly and Only in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs for Juſtification before God. The Goſpel Way of Saving Sinners, takes away all Matter of Boaſting and Glorying from Men, and Aſcribes the whole Glory to the Sovereign Grace of God in Chriſt. 'Tis of God's meer Mercy and Grace, that He Imputes Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to us, on our Believing in Him, and ſo Juſtifies and Saves us. Not by Works of Righteouſneſs which we have done, but according to his Mercy he ſaved us, Tit. 3.5. By Grace ye are ſaved, through Faith; and that not of your ſelves, it is the Gift of God. Not of Works, leſt any Man ſhould boast, Eph. 2.8, 9. If Abraham had been Juſtified before God by his own Works, he would have had whereof to Glory, but the Scripture tells us, He had not whereof to Glory before God, Rom. 4.2. Boaſting is excluded — by the Law of Faith, Rom. 3.27. No Man has any Perſonal Works or Righteouſneſs of his own to Boaſt or Glory of before God; but to the Believing Sinner, Chriſt is of God made Wiſdom Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption; that he that Gloryeth might Glory in the Lord, 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. Theſe things do prove, that a meer External, Religious, Blameleſs Courſe of Life, a Freedom from Groſs Scandalous Immoralities, is no ſure Evidence of a Perſon's being Intereſted in God's Reconciled Favour, and ſo Intitled to Eternal Life. Some Outwardly appear Righteous before Men, who are Inwardly full of Iniquity and Hypocriſy, Mat. 23.28. Therefore notwithſtanding all our own Works (the beſt of which are Imperfect, and have Sin mixed with them) notwithſtanding all our External, Religious Priviledges or Performances; we muſt yet ſee, that in and of our ſelves we are Sinful and Guilty, that we Deſerve Eternal Damnation, that our own Works can never Justifie or Save us; and that we muſt Heartily Repent of Sin, Truſt in Christ's Righteouſneſs alone for Juſtification, as ever we expect to be Saved. Thus we muſt Receive Chriſt, or we can't be Happy. And if we have long ſince thus Truſted in Him, yet we ought to continue ſo doing as long as we live. And if we have ſuch Faith as is True and of the Right Kind, 'twill Purifie the Heart, — and work by Love, (Act. 15.9. Gal. 5.6.) and put us upon yielding Steady, Unfeigned Obedience unto God. And yet if we have performed never ſo many Acts of ſuch Obedience, they are not to be Trusted in, but Chriſt's Righteouſneſs Only, as Meritorious of God's Favour. When we have done our Beſt, we muſt count our ſelves Unprofitable Servants. Again, ſome are ready to Excuſe themſelves from coming to Chriſt, or Object againſt their Receiving of Him on Goſpel Terms:
EXCUSE III. Becauſe they Doubt there is no Saving Mercy to be had, for ſuch Vile, Abominable Sinners as they are.
They Reckon the … Sinn'd ſo much, ſo long, ſo grievouſly, that there is no Mercy for them. They Deſpair of Salvation, they Think it would be in vain for them to Hope or Truſt in Chriſt, Reckoning they ſhould Gain nothing by it if they did; and ſo they Think they had as good take their Pleaſure in their own Sinful Ways as long as they can. Thus 'tis ſaid of ſome, Pſal. 78.22. They Believed not in God, they Trusted not in his Salvation. So we Read of others who ſaid, Jer. 2.25. There is no Hope, No, for I have loved Strangers, and after them I will go. Jer. 18.12. They ſaid, there is no Hope, but we will walk in our own Devices, and we will every one do the Imagination of his Evil Heart. Now to Anſwer and Remove this Wicked Deſpairing Objection, the Beſt Way is, Plainly to ſet forth what the Scripture ſays, about God's Readineſs to Save the Worſt of Sinners that Penitently Believe in Chriſt Jeſus. We have already ſhewed, that wherever the Goſpel is Faithfully Preached, Salvation is Offered to all Sorts of Sinners that will come to Chriſt; all Things are Ready on His Part. Yet in Reply to the preſent Objection, we may here Diſtinctly Conſider,
1. That Chriſt Died on Purpoſe to ſave Sinners. The only Begotten Eternal Son of God, took our Nature into Perſonal Union which Himſelf, and in our Nature Died on the Croſs a Sacrifice to God's Juſtice, on purpoſe to ſave Sinners. He gave himſelf a Ranſom for all, 1 Tim. 2.6. He once ſuffered, the Juſt for the Unjuſt that he might bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. The Apoſtle Paul ſays, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt came to ſave Sinners, of whom I am chief. Tis a moſt true and faithful ſaying (as well as moſt weighty) worthy to be Credited, Believ'd, Rely'd on by all that ever hear it, that Chriſt came to ſave Sinners, even chief Sinners. Chriſt came into the World and Died, on purpoſe to ſave poor, vile, abominable Sinners, ſuch as deſerv'd no favour, ſuch as deſerv'd nothing but terrible deſtructive Wrath and Vengeance from God. Do you Doubt whether Chriſt will ſave vile Sinners? Why He Died on purpoſe to ſave ſuch.
2. God ſent His Son Chriſt Jeſus into the World on this very Errand, even to ſave Sinners. Joh. 3.16. God ſo loved the World, as to give His only Begotten Son; that whoſoever believeth in Him, ſhould not periſh, but ſhould have Everlaſting Life. God was juſtly Offended with Sinners, yet of His own Heart He had pity on them, a love for their Welfare: therefore that He might without any reflection on His Juſtice and Holineſs make them happy, He ſent His own Eternal Son on purpoſe to purchaſe Salvation for them. As to Sinners, this was God's End and Deſign, the thing He aim'd at, even their Salvation; tho' as to Himſelf, the Supream End He aim'd at was, the Glory of His own Sovereign Grace. Eph. 1.6. To the praiſe of the glory of His Grace. Now ſince twas God's declared End, Aim, Deſign in ſending His Son into the World; Namely, that all who Believe in Him ſhould be Saved, why ſhould any Doubt of His Willingneſs to ſave ſuch? Even Men, dont care to be put by what they ſtudiouſly aim at and deſign; and ſurely God does not.
3. The Scripture plainly declares Christ's Ability and Willingneſs, to ſave all thoſe that trust in Him. Heb. 7.25. He is Able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by Him. Chriſt is an Able Saviour, a Mighty Saviour, an Almighty Saviour. There's no Caſe can come before Him, that's too difficult for Him. There's Vertue enough in His Blood, to cleanſe from the moſt heinous Tranſgreſſions that are truly Repented of, even from Scarlet Crimſon-coloured Sins, Iſai. 1.18. His Blood cleanſeth from all Sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. And He is as Willing as He is Able, to ſave all that truſt in Him. He has expreſly ſaid, Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe cast out. Him that comes, be he who or what he will, if the greateſt Criminal in the World; if he comes to Chriſt by true Faith, ſhall by no means be rejected, but ſhall moſt certainly be Saved. Why then ſhould any Doubt in this Caſe?
4. Great Sinners are ſtrongly Invited to Chriſt, and Mercy promis'd to them if they'll come. Iſai. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no Money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price. This is an Invitation to Sinners, to come to Chriſt and accept Salvation freely Offer'd to them; tho' they have no Money (nor Money's worth) no Price to lay down for the Bleſſings Offer'd. Our Lord Redeemer ſaid, Joh. 7.37. If any Man thirſt (any Man, any Sinner whatſoever, tho' never ſo Vile and Criminal; if he thirſt, thirſteth after Salvation in the Goſpel way) let him come unto me and drink. So, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. All whoſe Sins are grievous and burthenſom to them, are Invited to come unto Chriſt by Faith; and He promiſeth them reſt if they'l come. Rev. 22.17. — Let him that is athirſt come. And whoſoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. What Invitation can be more Kind, General or Extenſive? Whoſoever will, tho' never ſo great a Sinner, yet if he'll come to Chriſt he ſhall be fully and freely Saved. Does not this Invitation reach to the worſt of Sinners, that will accept it? Yes indeed. If one ſhould ſay to you, Here's Gold enough, Silver enough, whoever will let him come and take of it, and ſupply himſelf; I ſay, If any one ſhould ſeriouſly make ſuch an Offer, Doubtleſs none of you would think your ſelves Excluded. Well, the Goſpel Invitation is as General and Extenſive, and tis an Invitation to better things than Gold and Silver. Why then ſhould any Deſpair? If the worſt of Sinners will heartily come to Chriſt, they ſhall certainly be Saved. Iſai. 55.7. Let the wicked forſake his way and the unrighteous Man his thoughts; and let him turn to the Lord, and He will have Mercy upon him, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon. The Wicked, the Unrighteous, (without any Limitation, and therefore) tho' never ſo groſly and ſcandalouſly Wicked and Unrighteous, are call'd upon to turn to God. And here's God's Word for it, that He will abundantly pardon ſuch if they do turn. And the God who ſays theſe things, is a God of Unchangible Truth, He cannot Lye, Tit. 1.2.
5. Very great Sinners have found Mercy and Favour with God, upon their turning to Him. Manaſſeh was a very great Sinner, ſcarce any like him for wickedneſs, and great Afflictions were brought on him for his wickedneſs; yet when he humbled himſelf greatly and beſought the Lord, the Lord was Intreated of him, 2 Chron. 33.12, 13. Paul was a very great Sinner, a Blaſphemer, a fierce and bloody Perſecutor; yet upon his Penitently truſting in Chriſt, he obtained Mercy. He admires the Saving Mercy of Chriſt to himſelf a chief ſinner, 1 Tim. 1.15. Great Sinners among the Corinthians, ſuch as Idolaters, Adulterers, Thieves, Drunkards, &c. obtain'd Pardoning Saving Mercy with God thro' Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6.9. — 11.
6. None were ever known to be Rejected, that came to Chriſt for pardoning Mercy. The Lord has ſaid, He would caſt out none that come, Joh. 6.37. And twas never known that He acted contrary to this. There was never known ſo much as any one Perſon, in any Place, or Nation, or Age of the World, that ever came to Chriſt; that came Repenting of Sin and Truſting in Him, and was yet Rejected and ſent away Unpardoned. There cannot be given ſo much as any one Inſtance, of any Perſon thus Rejected, among all the Millions of Perſons that have been from the beginning of the World to this very day.
7. God is greatly pleaſed with thoſe that Truſt in Him, and pleaſed in ſhowing Favour to them. God is ſo far from Rejecting any, that Penitently Truſt in His Mercy through Chriſt; that indeed He is Pleas'd which them, and takes Pleaſure in doing them Good. He takes pleaſure in them that Hope in his Mercy, Pſal. 147.11. God is Angry with thoſe who Truſt not in His Salvation, Pſal. 78.21, 22. But He is moſt Pleas'd with thoſe who moſt Humbly and Firmly Hope in His Mercy in Chriſt. Abraham's ſtrong Faith Glorifyed God, Rom. 4.20. God takes Pleaſure and Delight in Extending of His Grace and Goodneſs in a Goſpel Way; He Glorifies Himſelf in doing it. When Moſes Pray'd to God ſaying, I beſeech thee ſhew me thy Glory; God ſaid, I will make all My Goodneſs paſs before thee, and will Proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee; and will be Gracious to whom I will be Gracious: and will ſhew Mercy on whom I will ſhew Mercy, Exod. 33.18, 19. Moſes deſired to ſee God's Glory, and God tells Him He will make all His Goodneſs paſs before Him, and will be Gracious, &c. God Glorifies Himſelf Abundantly, in Extending of His Grace and Goodneſs to Returning Sinners. Therefore when God Proclaimed His Name to Moſes, 'twas this, Exod. 34.6, 7. The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, longſuffering, and abundant in goodneſs and truth, keeping Mercy for Thouſands, forgiving Iniquity, Tranſgreſſion and Sin. This is God's Name, Men are commonly known by their Names; God would be always known by this Name of His, even by His readineſs to forgive Iniquity Tranſgreſſion and Sin, to all Penitent Believing Sinners. God won't deny His Name, He would be known by it. To ſay, that God won't Pardon the Penitent Believing Sinner; is to Blot and Raſe out His Name, and to hinder Him from being known a-right in the World. God will never Deny His Name, nor will He ever Break His Word, or Act contrary to His Oath. He has given His Word and His Oath, th… He will Pardon and Save all Penitent Believing Sinners. Heb. 6.18. That by Two Immutable things, in which it was Impoſſible for God to Lie, we might have ſtrong Conſolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope ſet before us. The Apoſtle ſays, He that Believeth not God, hath made him a Liar, becauſe he Believeth not the Record that God gave of His Son, 1 Joh. 5.10. And as ſuch an one makes God a Liar, that is, carries it to Him as if He were a Liar; ſo he makes Him Falſe to His Oath too, that is, carries it as if He really were ſo. Oh how Vile is this! No, God won't Deny His Name, Break His Word or Oath, but will ſurely Pardon all True Penitents. He takes Pleaſure in doing it. Micah. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that Pardoneth Iniquity, and paſſeth by the Tranſgreſſion of the Remnant of his Heritage; he retaineth not his Anger for ever, becauſe he delighteth in Mercy. Zeph. 3.17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is Mighty: He will ſave, he will …ejoyce over thee with Joy: He will reſt in his Love, he will Joy over thee with Singing. Thus Pleaſed, Satisfied, Delighted God is, in Extending of His Saving Mercy to thoſe who Sincerely Truſt in Him. Men can't poſſibly Pleaſe and Glorifie God in any thing, like Penitently Hoping in His Mercy through Chriſt for Salvation: When they do thus, they Approve, Acknowledge and Glorifie His Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Grace, Faithfulneſs, even all His Attributes Shining in the Great Affair of Redemption; God takes Abundant Pleaſure in Extending His Saving Mercy to ſuch.
Theſe Things being Seriouſly Conſider'd and laid together, may ſuffice to ſhow, that there is no Ground at all for Sinners (even the Chief of them) to Deſpair of God's Pardoning Mercy in Chriſt, if they will Penitently Truſt in Him for it. They have no reaſon to fear, but that if they Penitently Truſt in Chriſt for Salvation, they ſhall ſurely have it. To proceed, ſome would Excuſe themſelves from coming to Chriſt:
EXCUSE IV. By Pleading their own Inability.
They ſay, they can't by any Power of their own Convert themſelves; no Man can come to the Son except the Father draws him. They Plead their own Inability, and ſo think to Excuſe themſelves from Heartily Submitting to Chriſt.
Anſw. Though Sinners can't by their own Power Convert themſelves; yet,
1. They may if …ey will, avoid many things which tend to … their Converſion. When Perſons allow themſelves in Groſs Crimes, in Bad Company-Keeping, in Repeated Acts of known Sin, &c. This tends to Harden them in Sin more and more. Now they may avoid ſuch Things as theſe if they will.
2. They may if they will do many Things which have a Tendency to promote their Converſion. They may if they will, Diligently Read God's Word, and hear it Preached: Diligently Examine themſelves, Conſider how Matters are between God and their Souls, and how 'tis like to fare with them. They may carefully chuſe Good Company, and ſhun bad, may ſtudiouſly promote Pious Diſcourſe, Speaking about the Nature and Neceſſity of Faith, Repentance, forgiveneſs of Sin; about the glories of Heaven and the torments of Hell. They may diligently and ſtudiouſly do theſe things if they will, and theſe have a proper Tendency to promote their Spiritual Saving Good.
3. They ſhould Pray earneſtly to God for Concerting Grace. He can take away the heart of Stone, and give an heart of Fleſh: can create a clean heart and renew a right ſpirit within them: God can give them true Faith and Repentance. Surely then, ſince their Eternal Salvation is a matter of the greateſt weight that poſſibly can be, all other Matters are meer nothing compar'd to it; I ſay, ſince tis thus, they ſhould moſt Earneſtly and Importunately Pray to God for Converting Grace. They ſhould Pray, as Hoſ. 14.2. Take away all iniquity and receive us graciouſly. Yea they ſhould continue Praying till they do obtain. If they have Pray'd ſeveral times and not obtain'd, yet they ſhould not give over Praying. Thoſe who ſought Corn of Joſeph in time of Famine, they muſt wait his leiſure for their obtaining it. If they had waited ſometime and were not ſupplied, yet they muſt not go away in a pet, and think they would wait no longer. What would they have got by this? Why they muſt have gone without Corn, and ſtarv'd and periſh'd, for none but Joſeph could ſupply them. Gen. 41.53 — 57. So Sinners ſhould keep waiting on and Praying to God, for His Grace. Our Lord ſpake a Parable to this end, that Men ought always to Pray and not to faint, Luk. 1….1. Surely then, Sinners ſhould never Excuſe their neglecting of Chriſt, under a pretence of their Inability to Convert themſelves. Whatever they pretend of their Inabillity, yet they have Unwillingneſs at the bottom. Chriſt ſaid to the Jews, Joh. 5.40. Ye will not come unto me that ye might have Life. Well, Pray to God, that He would work in you both to will and to do of his own good pleaſure, Phil. 2.13. Was it ever known that any Sinner who did all he could for the ſaving of his Soul, and Importunately and Unweariedly Pray'd to God for Coverti… Grace; did yet miſs of Salvation? There's … Inſtance can be given of this. Be Incouraged therefore to Pray. God has ſaid, Prov. 8.17. They that ſeek me early ſhall find me. Mat. 7.…. Ask and it ſhall be given you: ſeek and ye ſhall find: knock and it ſhall be opened to you. From the readineſs of Parents, to give good things to their Children that ask them; Our Lord ſays, Luk. 11.13. How much more, ſhall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Do theſe Scriptures ſtand for Cyphers in your Bibles? Is there no incouragement in them? You ſay you can't Convert your ſelves, Well, the more you ſee your need of the Strength and Grace of God, ſo much the more Importunately and Inceſſantly Pray for it; and dont neglect Duty under a pretence of Inability. Surely if you periſh, your deſtruction will be of your ſelves: God and His Throne will be fear for ever. If you would do as much for the ſaving of your Souls, as you do to get Outward good things, your caſe would look hopeful. By all your Contrivance and Diligence, you can't obtain an Harveſt from the Seed you ſow, nor indeed can you obtain one Meals Meat, or have any good by what you do Eat, without the Bleſſing of God. And yet you will Think, Plot, Contrive, Labour and Toil for Outward good things; tho' you can't get one of them without Gods bleſſing. Surely then, If you ſhould neglect Chriſt under a pretence of your own Inability, and ſo periſh for ever; You will be condemn'd out of your own Mouths. Samſon Pray'd for Strength to overthrow the houſe on which the Philiſtines were; and then try'd to exert the Strength Pray'd for, Judg. 16.28, 29. So, Pray that God would help you heartily to Repent and Believe; and then in his Strength ſet about theſe Duties. Ezek. 33.11. — Turn ye, turn ye from your evil wayes; for why will ye die, O houſe of Iſrael.