Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

1. In his Doctrine, Christ lays it down expressly,¹ Come unto me all ye that labour and are Heavy laden, and I will give you rest. It is no more but come, and welcome. The Gospel shuts none out of Heaven, but those that by unbelief lock the door against their own souls. Again, All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me, ²and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out; here is laid down the full intent and purpose of God and Christ to pardon and receive sinners; the Father is willing, and the Son is willing. 1. The Father is willing, This is the Fathers will which hath sent me, ³that of all which he hath given me, I should lose none; the Father is engaged, in that first he sent Christ on that errand, to receive sinners. Secondly, in that he gave unto Christ all that he would have to be saved by Christ, with a charge to lose none. Sinners were given to Christ by his Father as so many Jewels to look to, and to save. 2. The Son is willing, for he that cometh unto me (saith Christ) I will in no wise cast out. Christ is so willing to receive sinners, as that he sets all his doors open, he keeps open house, and he casts out none that will but come in; and why so?⁴ For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 1. I came down from Heaven, it was a great journey from heaven to earth, and this great journey I undertook for no other purpose but to save sinners. Great actions (as one says well) must needs have great ends; now this was the greatest thing that ever was done,⁵ that the Son of God should come down from Heaven; and what was the end, but the Reception and Salvation of sinners? For the Son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost: had not Christ come down, sinners could not have gone up into Heaven, and therefore that they might ascend, he descends. 2. I come down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, ⁶but the will of him that sent me; his Father had sent him on purpose to receive, and to save sinners; and to this purpose, he is called the Apostle of our profession, — who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house: His Father could not send him on any errand, but he was sure to do it; his Fathers mission was a strong demonstration, that Christ was willing to receive those sinners that would but come to him.