The fullness of Christ for us A sermon preached at the court before King…The fulnesse of Christ for vs A sermon preached at the court before King…

But it will be said,¹ this is an hard case, although a man would repent, yet he cannot, although he desire to serve God, yet it is impossible except he receive it. To remove ⟨p. 46⟩move this scruple we must know,² that God is exceeding free and open handed in giving grace, if it be taken in time. And if ye will not believe it, St John comes here and tells you, I have received of his fullness, and not I only, but we, that is, I, and all the Saints that either are, or have been, and since St Johns time many thousands, and shall not such a cloud of witnesses persuade us? If a Beggar hear of an open house kept, or a great dole given, it affecteth him, and invites him to go; but when he sees many coming from it with arms full, & laps full, is he then confident, this addeth wings to him So if a sick man do but hear. of a famous ⟨p. 47⟩Physician, or an healing well, it stirs him up to go and try; but if he meet with many hundreds, and thousands coming from thence, and saying, I have been with him and am cured, I have been there, and am healed, then he makes no question. So doth Saint John here, all we have received grace for grace, therefore come. As a bird that hath received from a full heap, calls his fellows: so do we one another. Say not therefore, Alas my sins are so great, my wants so many, that I shall not be supplied: but rather think thus, if there was grace for so many, then surely there is enough for me. Only be sure to receive it in an acceptable ⟨p. 48⟩³time, when it is offered in the hour of salvation, ⁴least often grieving the spirit,⁵ God suffer his spirit to strive no longer, & then though ye strive to enter ye be not able, ⁶