CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Secondly, This receiving is not a bare receiving, but such as is with embracement: As Heb. 11.2. These embraced the promises; Even as Simeon took Christ with joy in his arms: So that there is great delight and cordial joy in laying hold on Christ: Even as the Church said after she had lost her Beloved, yet finding him at last, she would lay hold on him, and not let him go, as Ruth to Naomi, thus she cleaveth to Christ: So that as a man receiveth with dearest embracements some choice and precious friend he longed to see: Thus it is with the humbled sinner: Oh this is the beloved of many thousands, whom my soul hath long prayed for, long sought for? What have I found thee, Oh thou chiefest of many thousands? Hence it is that Christ compareth himself to a Bridegroom, and Husband, and his Church to a wife, to show what real affections are in the heart of an humbled sinner, for to lay hold on him: Hence it's called, Believing with the whole heart, and with joy unspeakable, 1 Pet. 1.8. There was great feasting and joy for the finding of a lost son: But oh the unspeakable joy, for discovering a Christ, that ⟨p. 551⟩we thought was for ever lost, as to us! What meltings? what ravishments are there at the meeting of him? Oh how often, saith the humbled soul, did I think, I should never find thee? How many times did I conclude, that I should perish in my lusts and fears? but Christ at last appeareth, as he did to those women after his death, who thought there was no hope.

¹Secondly, This receiving is not a bare receiving, but such as is with imbracement: As Heb. 11.2. These imbraced the promises; Even as Simeon took Christ with joy in his arms: So that there is great delight and cordial joy in laying hold on Christ: Even as the Church said after she had lost her Beloved, yet finding him at last, she would lay hold on him, and not let him go, as Ruth to Naomi, thus she cleaveth to Christ: So that as a man receiveth with dearest imbracements some choice and precious friend he longed to see: Thus it is with the humbled sinner: Oh this is the beloved of many thousands, whom my soul hath long prayed for, long sought for? What have I found thee, Oh thou chiefest of many thousands? Hence it is that Christ compareth himself to a Bridegroom, and Husband, and his Church to a wife, to shew what real affections are in the heart of an humbled sinner, for to lay hold on him: Hence it's called, Believing with the whole heart, and with joy unspeakable,