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

9. Consider Christ's reception of sinners. He sent forth his Apostles to call them in, and if they would but come, how ready was he to receive them?¹ This was Christ's errand from Heaven, this was the work he came to do; I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that sent me; and this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing. He must receive all his Father gives him, but he must lose none;² Christ must give an account to God the Father of all which he hath given him, and this will be his account; Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost. Ah poor Soul! why shouldst thou despair because of sin? look on Christ as spreading out both his arms to receive thee to him; look on the Gracious Nature and Disposition that is in Christ; look on the Office of Christ, it's an office of saving, and showing mercy, that Christ hath undertaken;³ it's an Office to receive sinners; yea to seek, and to save that which was lost; to bring home straying souls to God; to be the great peace-maker between God and man; to reconcile God to man; and man to God, and so to be the Head, and Husband of his people, Certainly the Devil strangely wrongeth many a poor troubled Soul, that he can bring them to have hard thoughts, and suspicious thoughts of Jesus Christ, how can they more contradict the Office of Christ? how can they more contradict the Gospel-description of Christ, than to think him a destroyer of his Creatures; one that watcheth for their haltings, and one that hath more mind to hurt, than help them? Away, away with all prejudicate opinions! resolve O my soul to throw thy self on him for life and for Salvation; why, if thou wilt but come, he hath promised freely to make thee welcome; all the day long he stretcheth out his arms, and would fain gather thee, and all others into his sweet embraces.

9. Consider Christ's reception of sinners. He sent forth his Apostles to call them in, and if they would but come, how ready was he to receive them?¹ This was Christ's errand from Heaven, this was the work he came to do; I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that sent me; and this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing. He must receive all his Father gives him, but he must lose none;