Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

CHAP. 1.

Wherein, There's 1. The Dependence of this verse upon the former, with the Scope of the Holy Ghost herein. 2. The Meaning of the words. 3. The Division thereof into three parts.

Wherein, There's 1. The Dependance of this verse upon the former, with the Scope of the Holy Ghost herein. 2. The Meaning of the words. 3. The Division thereof into three parts.

Having opened unto you that great Doctrine of ^*Reconciliation with God in Christ, and of the willingness of God and Christ to be Reconciled to Sinners; sending his Messengers to invite, entreat, and beseech in his Name; though there was something else followed in the Chapter that I could ⟨p. 2⟩willingly have handled: yet because I would press on what hath been delivered about our Reconciliation with God in Christ, and urge it further with a suitable argument; I have pitched upon this text, wherein we have set forth the willingness of Christ to be Reconciled to Sinners: and a most gracious invitation of Jesus Christ to poor Sinners to come in unto him, that they might have Rest for their Souls. A Text that breatheth forth nothing but mercy and goodness to Sinners, a Heart melting invitation. In Jer. 31.12. we have a prophecy, that Sinners shall come and flow together to the goodness; Or to the bountifulness, of the Lord, (as some of your books have it) surely if there be any Scripture, that holds forth the goodness, and bountifulness of the Lord to Sinners, so as to melt their hearts that they may flow unto it, it is this in the Text. This invitation of Christ, Come unto me, ye that are Weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Rest, is that which hath been the Comfort of many a wounded Conscience, of many a troubled Sinner having fastened upon it, their Souls have been stayed, and they have been kept from sinking into the bottomless Gulf of despair thereby. A Text that hath been of as great use unto afflicted Consciences, as any in all the Book of God; If ever there were a Heart breaking Scripture, certainly here it is; Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy Laden, &c. It is in it self an entire sentence if we take the 28. verse, and no more; it is full of abundance of sweetness, and filled up to the top with the Grace and goodness of the Lord. But ow, if you observe the dependence of these words on the former, (the words that go before) then you will see, that there is indeed, a soul satisfying fullness of Mercy, and goodness in the Lord, held forth from this text: and though many of you (I question not) have heard this Text often quoted; Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Rest; yet (perhaps) few of you have observed how these words come in, and have a