Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

CHAP. XVIII.

Christs Invitation of Sinners, laid down in these words, Come unto me. Opened in five Particulars. 1 It is to look to Christ as an All-sufficient Saviour. 2 It implieth an unsettledness upon the Creature. 3 A stirring of the heart after Christ. 4 A laying of all our burdens upon Christ. 5 A leaving of the Soul with Christ for life.

Christs Invitation of Sinners, laid down in these words, Come unto me. Opened in five Particulars. 1 It is to look to Christ as an All-sufficient Savior. 2 It implieth an unsetledness upon the Creature. 3 A stirring of the heart after Christ. 4 A laying of all our burdens upon Christ. 5 A leaving of the Soul with Christ for life.

NOW then we come to the Invitation it self, Come to me, saith Christ, Come to me; that is, Believe in me: For among many other expressions of believing in Christ, or of accepting of the Condition of the Covenant of Grace; the Holy Ghost doth express this believing and acceptation of the Covenant of Grace, by coming to Christ. Believing in Christ is expressed very often by coming to Christ: In John 5.40. You will not come to me that ye might have life. They did come to Christ in his outward presence, Christ conferred with them, and they with him; but yet saith Christ, ye will not come to me that ye might have life. And so in John 6.37. Those that the Father hath given to me, come to me, and I will in no wise cast them out. All that the Father hath from Eternity given me to redeem, they come to me, that is, they believe in me. And in verse 44. None can come to me except God the Father draw him: That is, none believes in me except my Father draw them: and so, He that hath heard and learned of the Father comes to me: That is, believes in me. And that is the meaning of the 55. of Isai. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come to the waters, buy wine and milk without money, and without price: that is, believe in me, that is the meaning.