Consider of those tenders and offers of Christ, those entreaties and beseechings to accept of Christ, which are made in the Gospel. What is the Gospel? or what is the sum of all the Gospel, but this? O take Christ, and life in Christ, that thou mayest be saved: what mean these free offers, Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters, and whosoever will, let him take of the Waters of Life freely: and God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. God is the first suitor and solicitor, he first prays the Soul to take Christ. Hark at the door! who is it that knocks there? who is it that calls now,1 even now? open unto me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Undefiled, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night? See him through the windows, this can be none but Christ: his sweet language of Sister, Love, and Dove, bespeaks him Christ; his suffering language, that his head is filled with dew, and his locks with the drops of the Night? bespeaks him Christ; But hearken the motion he makes to thy Soul; Soul! consider what price I have given to save thee; this my body was crucified, my hands and feet nailed, my heart pierced, and through anguish I was forced to cry, my soul is heavy, heavy unto death, and now what remains for thee but only to believe? See all things ready on my part, remission, justification, sanctification, salvation; I will be thy God and thou shalt be of the number of my People; I offer now my self and merits, and benefits flowing there-from, and I entreat thee accept of this offer. O take Christ, and Life, and Salvation in Christ What is this the voice of my beloved? are these the entreaties of Jesus? and O my soul, wilt thou not believe? wilt thou not accept of this Gracious offer of Christ? O consider who is this that proclaimeth, inviteth, beseecheth? if a poor man should offer thee mountains of gold thou mightest doubt of performance, because he is not of that Power; if a covetous rich man should offer thee thousands of silver, thou mightest doubt of performance, because it is contrary to his nature; but Christ is neither poor, nor covetous; as he is able, so his Name is gracious, and his nature is to be faithful in performance; his Covenant is sealed with his blood, and confirmed by his oath, that all shall have pardon that will but come in, and believe:
Consider of those tenders and offers of Christ, those intreaties and beseechings to accept of Christ, which are made in the Gospel. What is the Gospel? or what is the sum of all the Gospel, but this? O take Christ, and life in Christ, that thou may'st be saved: what mean these free offers, Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters, and whosoever will, let him take of the Waters of Life freely: and God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. God is the first suitor and solicitor, he first prayes the Soul to take Christ. Hark at the door! who is it that knocks there? who is it that calls now,1 even now? open unto me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Ʋndefiled, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night? See him through the windows, this can be none but Christ: his sweet language of Sister, Love, and Dove, bespeaks him Christ; his suffering language, that his head is filled with dew, and his locks wih the drops of the Night? bespeaks him Christ; But harken the motion he makes to thy Soul; Soul! consider what price I have given to save thee; this my body was crucified, my hands and feet nailed, my heart pierced, and through anguish I was forced to cry, my soul is heavy, heavy unto death, and now what remains for thee but onely to believe? See all things ready on my part, remission, justification, sanctification, salvation; I will be thy God and thou shalt be of the number of my People; I offer now my self and merits, and benefits flowing there-from, and I intreat thee accept of this offer. O take Christ, and Life, and Salvation in Christ What is this the voice of my beloved? are these the intreaties of Jesus? and O my soul, wilt thou not believe? wilt thou not accept of this Gracious offer of Christ? O consider who is this that proclaimeth, inviteth, beseecheth? if a poor man should offer thee mountains of gold thou mightest doubt of performance, because he is not of that Power; if a covetous rich man should offer thee thousands of silver, thou mightest doubt of performance, because it is contrary to his nature; but Christ is neither poor, nor covetous; as he is able, so his Name is gracious, and his nature is to be faithful in performance; his Covenant is sealed with his blood, and confirmed by his oath, that all shall have pardon that will but come in, and believe:
- 1Cant. 5.2
