Making light of Christ and salvation too oft the issue of gospel invitations manifested…

10. Christ and Salvation are made light of because of this disjunctive Presumption, either that he is sure enough theirs already, and God that is so merciful, and Christ that hath suffered so much for them, is surely resolved to save them, or else it may easily be obtained at any time, if it be not yet so. A conceited facility to have a part in Christ and Salvation at any time, doth occasion men to make light of them. It is true, that Grace is free, and the Offer is universal, according to the extent of the preaching of the Gospel; and it is true that men may have Christ when they will; that is, when they are willing to have him on his terms; but he that hath promised thee Christ, if thou be willing, hath not promised to make thee willing: and if thou art not willing now, how canst thou think thou shalt be willing hereafter? If thou canst make thine own Heart willing, why is it not done now? Can you do it better when sin hath more hardened it, and God may have given thee over to thy self? Oh sinners! you might do much, tho' you are not able of your selves to come in, if you would now subject your selves to the working of the Spirit, and set in while the gales of grace continue; but did you know what a hard and impossible thing it is to be so much as willing to have Christ and Grace, when the Heart is given over to it self, and the Spirit hath withdrawn its former invitations, you would not be so confident of your own strength to believe and repent: nor would you make light of Christ upon such foolish confidence. If indeed it be so easy a matter as you imagine for a sinner to believe and repent at any time; how comes it to pass that it is done by so few, but most of the World do perish in their impenitency, when they have all the helps and means that we can afford them? It is true, the thing is very reasonable and easy in it self to a pure nature; but while Man is blind and dead, these things are in a sort impossible to him, which are never so easy to others. It is the easiest and sweetest ⟨p. 12⟩life in the World to a gracious soul to live in the love of God, and the delightful thoughts of the life to come, where all their hope and happiness lieth: But to a worldly carnal Heart it is as easy to remove a Mountain, as to bring them to this. However, these Men are their own condemners;

10. Christ and Salvation are made light of because of this disjunctive Presumption, either that he is sure enough theirs already, and God that is so merciful, and Christ that hath suffered so much for them, is surely resolved to save them, or else it may easily be obtained at any time, if it be not yet so. A conceited facility to have a part in Christ and Salvation at any time, doth occasion men to make light of them. It is true, that Grace is free, and the Offer is universal, according to the extent of the preaching of the Gospel; and it is true that men may have Christ when they will; that is, when they are willing to have him on his terms; but he that hath promised thee Christ, if thou be willing, hath not promised to make thee willing: and if thou art not willing now, how canst thou think thou shalt be willing hereafter? If thou canst make thine own Heart willing, why is it not done now? Can you do it better when sin hath more hardned it, and God may have given thee over to thy self? Oh sinners! you might do much, tho' you are not able of your selves to come in, if you would now subject your selves to the working of the Spirit, and set in while the gales of grace continue; but did you know what a hard and impossible thing it is to be so much as willing to have Christ and Grace, when the Heart is given over to it self, and the Spirit hath withdrawn its former invitations, you would not be so confident of your own strength to believe and repent: nor would you make light of Christ upon such foolish confidence. If indeed it be so easie a matter as you imagine for a sinner to believe and repent at any time; how comes it to pass that it is done by so few, but most of the World do perish in their impenitency, when they have all the helps and means that we can afford them? It is true, the thing is very reasonable and easie in it self to a pure nature; but while Man is blind and dead, these things are in a sort impossible to him, which are never so easie to others. It is the easiest and sweetest