Thirdly, If you would be good betimes, then you must know betimes that there is a marvellous willingness & readiness in Christ, to embrace, to entertain, to welcome returning sinners, and to show mercy and favour to them. 1The young Prodigal did but think of returning to his father, and he ran and met him, and instead of kicking or killing him, he kissed him, and embraced him; his bowels rolled within him, and his compassions flowed out freely to him. 2Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat, yea, come buy wine, and milk, without money, and without price. Nazianzen improveth this place thus, Oh this easy way of contract, he giveth more willingly than others sell, if thou wilt but accept, that's all the price, though you have no merits, though you have nothing in your selves to encourage you, yet will you accept? if ⟨p. 235⟩you will, all is freely yours; the waters shall be yours to cleanse you, and the milk yours to nourish you, and the bread yours to strengthen you, and the wine yours to comfort you; here poor Sinners are called three times to come; come saith Christ, come, come, to show how marvellous ready and willing he is, that poor sinners should taste of Gospel delicates, so in that John 7.37. Jesus stood and cried, if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. So in that Rev. 22.17. Let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely; so in that Rev. 3.20. 3Behold; I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me; and so in that Luk. 14.21. The Master of the house, said to his Servant, go out quickly into the streets, and lanes of the City, and bring in hither the Poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and ⟨p. 236⟩the blind. Here is no man of quality, of dignity, of worldly pomp, or glory, or of any self-sufficiency, that is invited to the feast, but a company of poor raged, deformed, slighted, neglected, impoverished, wounded sinners, these are invited to feast with Christ.
Thirdly, If you would be good betimes, then you must know betimes that there is a marvellous willingness & readiness in Christ, to imbrace, to entertain, to welcome returning sinners, and to shew mercy and favour to them. 1The young Prodigal did but think of returning to his father, and he ran and met him, and instead of kicking or killing him, hee kist him, and imbrac't him; his bowels rolled within him, and his compassions flowed out freely to him. 2Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and hee that hath no money, come yee, buy, and eat, yea, come buy wine, and milk, without mony, and without price. Nazianzen improveth this place thus, Oh this easy way of contract, hee giveth more willingly than others sell, if thou wilt but accept, that's all the price, though you have no merits, though you have nothing in your selves to incourage you, yet will you accept? if ⟨p. 235⟩you will, all is freely yours; the waters shall be yours to cleanse you, and the milk yours to nourish you, and the bread yours to strengthen you, and the wine yours to comfort you; here poor Sinners are called three times to come; come saith Christ, come, come, to shew how marvellous ready and willing hee is, that poor sinners should taste of Gospel delicates, so in that John 7.37. Jesus stood and cryed, if any man thirst, let him come to mee and drink. So in that Rev. 22.17. Let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely; so in that Rev. 3.20. 3Behold; I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and hee with mee; and so in that Luk. 14.21. The Master of the house, said to his Servant, go out quickly into the streets, and lanes of the City, and bring in hither the Poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and ⟨p. 236⟩the blinde. Here is no man of quality, of dignity, of worldly pomp, or glory, or of any self-sufficiency, that is invited to the feast, but a company of poor raged, deformed, slighted, neglected, impoverished, wounded sinners, these are invited to feast with Christ.
- 1Luk. 15.20, 21, 22.
- 2Isa. 55.1 The meaning is, sell thy self, thine own wit, reason, self-worth, and that is all Christ desires, saith Augustin upon the words.
- 3Cant. 2.8 Christ comes leaping upon the Mountains, and skipping upon the hills; to show his readiness and willingness to do good to souls.Cant. 2.8 Christ comes leaping upon the Mountains, and skipping upon the hills; to shew his readinesse and willingness to do good to souls.
