" and shall shew it unto you."* Now he feels an ardent longing for an interest in Christ and all his blessings, and fears nothing so much as being rejected. Now he makes, trembling perhaps, his earnest application; "Behold he prayeth!" As a condemned criminal, a perishing sinner, he comes, he asks, he waits; he persists in waiting and praying; and, giving up every other hope, he says, "Lord, to whom shall I go? "thou hast the words of eternal life." Now he respects every instruction, observes every direction, uses every means, watches against every sin, attends to every duty; yet trusts in nothing but the free mercy of God through the redemption of his Son, whom he desires" to be made unto him, wisdom, and righteous

ness, and sanctification, and redemption." Now he is very apt to suspect that he does not ask and seek in a proper manner, and becomes jealous of himself lest he should be deceived: and though he longs for relief from the burden of his guilt, yet he fears a false peace; and still seeks for more earnestness and deeper humiliation. He will take no denial, yield to no discouragement, and be satisfied with nothing short of ALL that Christ died to purchase and is exalted to bestow: pardon, righteousness, holiness, liberty, victory, and eternal life. Thus all, whom the Father hath given unto Christ, being taught and drawn of God, come unto him, receive him, and walk in him.-But is this our experience, or is it not? It is for substance, though with circumstantial variations, I trust, the experience

* John xvi. 14, 15.

I fear that very many, who

of all true christians: and yet I fear that
are zealous for these doctrines, continue strangers to
this method of coming day by day to Christ for his
complete salvation.* I proceed,

IV. To observe that CHRIST WILL MOST CERTAINLY RECEIVE ALL WHO COME UNTO HIM. This is here most emphatically declared, "him that com"eth unto me, I will in no wise cast out;" and the double negation in the original is still more expressive. Had the vilest sinner, who ever trembled with the desperate apprehensions of having sinned beyond all reach of mercy, been allowed to draw up a clause for his own encouragement in coming to the Saviour, he could scarcely have worded it more favourably. Imagine the basest character, which ever disgraced humanity and scourged the world; one grown hoary in

As the godly consideration of predestination and our elec. tion in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the work<ing of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to • high and heavenly things; as well because it doth greatly es'tablish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: so for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the ❝ sentence of God's predestination, is a most dangerous downfal whereby the devil doth thrust them into desperation, or into wretchlessness of unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. (17th Article.)

*

1

multiplied rapines, murders, adulteries, rapes, and unnatural lusts; and breathing out perjuries and blasphemies, as if ambitious of pre-eminence in profane. ness: if even this man truly come to Christ," he will "in no wise cast him out." Suppose the most consummate villainy, to the very verge of life, carried on under the broad vizor of designed hypocrisy; or some wretch, emboldened in sin by the very gospel itself, who had given such scandal, that thousands in hell should curse him as the occasion of their perdition; or some vile apostate, some Judas, who had betrayed and sold his Lord. If even such persons really come to Christ, in the manner that hath been described, he will, he can " in no wise cast them out." He cannot alter the word, that is gone out of his lips. I determine not whether they ever do actually come, or whether it is much to be expected that they should; for "there "is a sin unto death," and "it is impossible to renew "some unto repentance." But did they come, even at the last hour, they should in no wise be cast out; foṛ there is nothing in the constitution of the gospel to exclude them from mercy. Should there then be one present, who is ready to despair, and trembles to approach the mercy-seat, because he expects and dreads a repulse; let him make the trial, and plead the promise, and wait the Lord's time in his way; and he shall find, that neither aggravated guilt, nor strong corruptions, nor inveterate evil habits, can exclude him from this full and free salvation.

No man has the least occasion in such circumstances to enquire previously, whether he be elect, which

he cannot possibly know in this stage of his experience. He needs only to ask himself; am I sincerely willing to be saved from sin, and all its consequences, in the humbling self-denying method of the gospel? do I believe that Jesus, and he alone, is able thus to save me? do I apply to him and trust in him for these things? and do I observe his directions, and use the means which he hath appointed for that end? Every approach to a temper and conduct so opposite to corrupt nature must be from some kind or degree of influence of the Holy Spirit; and whatever looks like it should be in a measure encouraged. But as many promising appearances are blighted, and the Scripture speaks of such as "had been partakers of the Holy "Ghost, and had tasted the good word of God, and "the powers of the world to come, who yet fell away:" we are constrained to add that not every operation of this kind is that good work, which distinguishes the chosen people of God.-Nay, probably few perish, where the word of God is fully preached, without many awakenings, many fears, many desires, yea, and many feeble endeavours, which are all subdued and extinguished" through the love of sin." "Strive to "enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, "shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Yet as far as there is any tendency to good in these things, they are to be ascribed to a good cause: and not only hating the light," and acting in defiance of their own consciences, but also "resisting the Holy Ghost," will be found among the aggravations of sin, in many that perish at the day of judgment.

Nor are they who are saved, free from the same guilt: but in them grace proves victorious; and though resisted, by invincible efficacy it gains the ascendancy. -This distinguishing work of God, will in time shew itself, and make it evident that the man was drawn and taught of God in coming to Christ. Hence, when all are invited, none will come but they who are willing: none are willing, but as made willing by God: he makes none willing but the elect: he would have all encouraged, who are willing: he will have all sinners left without excuse: no one can know his election, but by his vocation; nor his vocation, until he hath actually come to Christ: and there is no way to answer these ends, but by free and urgent invitations, connected with warnings, instructions, exhortations, and expostulations. If this style of address be not adopted, you "quench the smoking flax, and break the bruised "reed:" for the trembling sinner will be apt to say, 'if any poor sinner, may not come, how can I know that I may? for I know not that I am elected: But if every one is invited then I may come, and now I am heartily willing, and this gives me encouragement."

Many are zealous for the system, who do not understand the arguments, by which it is maintained; but he that does, will allow that this question is the very knot of the whole controversy; Who makes man willing to be saved in the method of the gospel?* If any

I say, in the method of the gospel: For every man is willing to be saved from misery and made happy, if it may but be in some way of his own, either favourable to his pride, or to his love of sin.