5. Wherein you are impotent, God doth offer grace to enable you. I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, Prov. 1. 24. What though you are plunged into the ditch of that misery, from which you can never get out? Christ offereth to help you out; he stretcheth his hand to you, and if you perish, it is ⟨p. 165⟩for refusing his help. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man open to me, I will come in, Rev. 3. 20. What though you are poor, and wretched, and blind, and naked, Christ offereth a cure for your blindness, a cover for your nakedness, a remedy for your poverty, he tendereth you his righteousness, his graces, I counsel thee to buy of me gold, that thou mayst be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayst be clothed, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayst see, Rev. 3. 17, 18. Do you say the condition is impossible, for I have not wherewith to buy? You must know, that this buying is without money, and without price, Isa. 55. 1. This buying is by begging, and seeking with diligence and constancy in the use of God's means, Prov. 2. 3, 4. God commandeth thee to know him, and to fear him. Dost thou say, Yea but my mind is blinded, and my heart is hardened from his fear? I answer, God doth offer to enlighten thy mind• and to teach thee his fear: that is presented to thy choice, Prov. 1. 29. For […] hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. So that now, if men live in ignorance and estrangement from the Lord, it is because they will not understand, and desire not• •e knowledge of his ways, Job 21. 14. If thou criest after knowledge, if thou sea•e•t her as Silver, &c. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. Is not here a fair offer? Turn you at my reproof. Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you, Prov. 1. 23. Though of your selves you can do nothing, yet you may do all through his Spirit enabling you, and he doth offer assistance to you. God bids you wash and make you clean, Isa. 1. 16. you say you are unable as much as the Leopard to wash out his spots, Jer. 13. 23. yea but the Lord doth offer to purge you, so that if you be filthy still, 'tis through your own wilfulness, Ezek. 24. 13. I have purged thee, and thou ⟨p. 166⟩wast not purged, Jer. 13. 27. O Jerusalem, wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
5. Wherein you are impotent, God doth offer grace to enable you. I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, Prov. 1. 24. What though you are plunged into the ditch of that misery, from which you can never get out? Christ offereth to help you out; he stretcheth his hand to you, and if you perish, it is ⟨p. 165⟩for refusing his help. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man open to me, I will come in, Rev. 3. 20. What though you are poor, and wretched, and blind, and naked, Christ oftereth a cure for your blindness, a cover for your nakedness, a remedy for your poverty, he tendreth you his righteousness, his graces, I counsel thee to buy of me gold, that thou mayst be rich, and white rayment, that thou mayst be cloathed, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayst see, Rev. 3. 17, 18. Do you say the condition is impossible, for I have not wherewith to buy? You must know, that this buying is without money, and without price, Isa. 55. 1. This buying is by begging, and seeking with diligence and constancy in the use of God's means, Prov. 2. 3, 4. God commandeth thee to know him, and to fear him. Dost thou say, Yea but my mind is blinded, and my heart is hardened from his fear? I answer, God doth offer to enlighten thy mind• and to teach thee his fear: that is presented to thy choice, Prov. 1. 29. For 〈…〉 hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. So that now, if men live in ignorance and estrangement from the Lord, it is because they will not understand, and desire not• •e knowledge of his ways, Job 21. 14. If thou cryest after knowledge, if thou sea•e•t her as Silver, &c. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5
