Secondly, they offend on the other side, who after invitation come not, through a kind of unmannerly modesty, or a bashful despair; Some there are, that may perhaps go so far as to acknowledge their sins, and to confess, that without Christ they are utterly undone, and everlastingly damned, that may be ravished with the thoughts and apprehensions of this invitation of Christ, and would ever think themselves happy if they had their hungry souls filled with Christ Jesus; but yet so it is, that (considering their manifold grievous sins, sins of a scarlet die, of an horrid strain against knowledge, against conscience, and that which troubles them most, for all these sins their sorrow being so little, and poor, and scant, and in no proportion answerable to them, they cannot, dare not; will not meddle with any mercy, or believe that Christ Jesus in any ways belongs unto them. To these I speak or rather let them hear our Saviour himself speak to them:1 Whosoever will (saith he) let him come, and drink of this water of Life freely: yea, those that think themselves furthest off, he bids them come,2 Come all that are weary and heavy laden: if they find sin a burden, then Christ invites them, they (whosoever they are) that stand at the staffs end, he desires them to lay aside their weapons and come in; or if they will not do it, he lays his charge on them, for this is his Commandment, 3that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ: nay, he counts it a sin worse then the sin of Sodom, a crying sin, not to come in when the Gospel is proclaimed; and therefore let them never pretend their sins are great and many, but rather (because of his offer, invitation, and command, it being without any restraint of person, or sin, (except that against the holy Ghost) if they will not come in, and cast themselves upon Christ, let them say, it is not the greatness of their sin, but a willingness to be still in their sins, which hinders them; or otherwise let them know, that sins, when men are truly sensible of them, should be the greatest encouragement, (rather then discouragement) to bring them in to our Saviour:4 Those that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick: is it not for the honour of a Physician to cure great diseases?
Secondly, they offend on the other side, who after invitation come not, through a kind of unmannerly modestie, or a bashfull despair; Some there are, that may perhaps go so farre as to acknowledge their sinnes, and to confesse, that without Christ they are utterly undone, and everlastingly damned, that may be ravisht with the thoughts and apprehensions of this invitation of Christ, and would ever think themselves happie if they had their hungrie souls filled with Christ Jesus; but yet so it is, that (considering their manifold grievous sinnes, sinnes of a scarlet die, of an horrid strain against knowledge, against conscience, and that which troubles them most, for all these sinnes their sorrow being so little, and poor, and scant, and in no proportion answerable to them, they cannot, dare not; will not meddle with any mercy, or believe that Christ Jesus in any wayes belongs unto them. To these I speak or rather let them hear our Saviour himself speak to them:1 Whosoever will (saith he) let him come, and drink of this water of Life freely: yea, those that think themselves furthest off, he bids them come,2 Come all that are weary and heavy laden: if they find sinne a burthen, then Christ invites them, they (whosoever they are) that stand at the staffs end, he desires them to lay aside their weapons and come in; or if they will not do it, he layes his charge on them, for this is his Commandment, 3that we should believe on the Name of his Sonne Jesus Christ: nay, he counts it a sinne worse then the sinne of Sodom, a crying sinne, not to come in when the Gospel is proclaimed; and therefore let them never pretend their sinnes are great and many, but rather (because of his offer, invitation, and command, it being without any restraint of person, or sinne, (except that against the holy Ghost) if they will not come in, and cast themselves upon Christ, let them say, it is not the greatnesse of their sinne, but a willingnesse to be still in their sinnes, which hinders them; or otherwise let them know, that sinnes, when men are truly sensible of them, should be the greatest incouragement, (rather then discouragement) to bring them in to our Saviour:4 Those that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick: is it not for the honour of a Physician to cure great diseases?
- 1Revel. 21.
- 2Matt. 11.28.
- 31 John 3.23.
- 4Matt. 9.12.
