I say not that he commandeth all the former, or any directly to believe in Christ; but it must be understood, that all men are many degrees distant from Christ, before he draweth them effectually to himself. Now the Pagans are more degrees from him than professed Christians (mostly:) It is not Christs way to bring men to himself per saltum, but by those Degrees of Recovery, which are the particular cure of their degrees of distance. One wicked man knows of Christ and doth half entertain him, but sticks at some pleasing Sin. Another knows not that he is miserable by sin, nor ever considered how to be recovered, nor ever prayed God to show him a way to escape his wrath, nor ever heard of Christ: This latter must receive much of Christs mercy before he be brought so near to Christ as the former. Christ loved one wicked man as not being far from the Kingdom of God; and some with Agrippa, are almost persuaded to be Christians. Those that be not come so far must (ordinarily) by degrees be brought to this, before they can go further. If you be in a higher room, and call your Servants to you, you intend they shall come up the stairs step by step; and if one be two stories distant from you, and another but one, the former must go up all the first stairs before he come as near you as the latter is. The Gentiles that believed not, are further off, and more strangers to God than the common Jews were. Now God hath not given them that hear not of Christ sufficient means or help to Believe (nor hath he given any believer sufficient Grace for Salvation, till he saveth him.) But he prescribeth some means to all men in the World ⟨p. 123⟩which they are to use, to bring them nearer Christ and Faith, and to remove impediments: As to consider of what the Book of Nature and daily providences teach them of God: To study him in his mercies and Judgments. To study their own hearts till they find their Sin and misery: To use all their interest and utmost endeavours to enquire what remedy God hath revealed to the World: To continue in Prayer, fasting and Alms deeds as Cornelius did, and to break off their Sins by repentance. These are their duties: And for not doing these, in the improvement of their Talents, they shall be condemned by Christ the Redeemer at the Bar of grace, (as opposed to that of Justice according to the sole Law of works.)
I say not that he commandeth all the former, or any directly to believe in Christ; but it must be understood, that all men are many degrees distant from Christ, before he draweth them effectually to himself. Now the Pagans are more degrees from him than professed Christians (mostly:) It is not Christs way to bring men to himself per saltum, but by those Degrees of Recovery, which are the particular cure of their degrees of distance. One wicked man knows of Christ and doth half entertain him, but sticks at some pleasing Sin. Another knows not that he is miserable by sin, nor ever considered how to be recovered, nor ever prayed God to shew him a way to escape his wrath, nor ever heard of Christ: This latter must receive much of Christs mercy before he be brought so near to Christ as the former. Christ loved one wicked man as not being far from the Kingdom of God; and some with Agrippa, are almost perswaded to be Christians. Those that be not come so far must (ordinarily) by degrees be brought to this, before they can go further. If you be in a higher room, and call your Servants to you, you intend they shall come up the stairs step by step; and if one be two stories distant from you, and another but one, the former must go up all the first stairs before he come as near you as the latter is. The Gentiles that believed not, are further off, and more strangers to God than the common Jews were. Now God hath not given them that hear not of Christ sufficient means or help to Believe (nor hath he given any believer sufficient Grace for Salvation, till he saveth him.) But he prescribeth some means to all men in the World ⟨p. 123⟩which they are to use, to bring them nearer Christ and Faith, and to remove impediments: As to consider of what the Book of Nature and daily providences teach them of God: To study him in his mercies and Judgments. To study their own hearts till they find their Sin and misery: To use all their interest and utmost endeavours to enquire what remedy God hath revealed to the World: To continue in Prayer, fasting and Alms deeds as Cornelius did, and to break off their Sins by repentance. These are their duties: And for not doing these, in the improvement of their Talents, they shall be condemned by Christ the Redeemer at the Bar of grace, (as opposed to that of Justice according to the sole Law of works.)
