1. That there is no unworthiness of any sinner, be he what he will be, before this invitation, that is sufficient to hinder, Why? Because Christ doth not say you that have been thus vild and wretched, you shall do thus and thus first, and then come to me. No, Whatever you have been, the first thing that Christ requires to ease, Rest and peace, is, to come to him. It is true, there are some things in the Nature of coming required that must needs be done, before the complete act of coming; as I must know what Christ is, and know my self, &c. these things of necessity are required not because these are any condition of the Gospel, but because the other cannot be done without them. For I would open it thus to follow the former Metaphor. Suppose the King should tell a Traitor, that upon condition that you come to such a place at such a time, you shall have your pardon. Well, all that is required for his pardon is but coming to that place, how if this man be at a great distance from that place, and many difficulties that hinder him, Storms, Tempestuous weather, and many friends to hinder him, this is implied, that he must have such a deep apprehension of the worth of his pardon, and of his miserable condition if he be not pardoned, that there must be a strong resolution in him to go through all difficulties whatsoever. But mark, this resolution of his and the difficulties that he meets withal in the way, these are no part of the condition of the pardon; all the condition of the pardon is, but to be at such a place, such a time, but yet the other things they follow of themselves, that if he doth come, and there be such difficulties in the way, then he must have such a sense and apprehension of the good of his pardon as may stir up in him such resolutions, to pass through all difficulties. But the first thing that brings him his pardon is his being there. So it is here with the ⟨p. 132⟩Soul, its true, the thing that bring• my Soul and yours to pardon. Rest and Peace with God, it is our coming to Christ, but now because there is a great distance between Christ and us, many difficulties in the way, many things that would keep us from Christ, the wickedness of our Hearts, this temptation and that lust.
1. That there is no unworthiness of any sinner, be he what he will be, before this invitation, that is sufficient to hinder, Why? Because Christ doth not say you that have been thus vild and wretched, you shal do thus and thus first, and then come to me. No, Whatever you have been, the first thing that Christ requires to ease, Rest and peace, is, to come to him. It is true, there are some things in the Nature of comming required that must needs be done, before the compleat act of coming; as I must know what Christ is, and know my self, &c. these things of necessity are required not because these are any condition of the Gospel, but because the other cannot be done without them. For I would open it thus to follow the former Metaphor. Suppose the King should tel a Traitor, that upon condition that you come to such a place at such a time, you shall have your pardon. Well, all that is required for his pardon is but coming to that place, how if this man be at a great distance from that place, and many difficulties that hinder him, S•ormes, Tempestuous weather, and many friends to hinder him, this is implyed, that he must have such a deep apprehension of the worth of his pardon, and of his miserable condition if he be not pardoned, that there must be a strong resolution in him to go through all difficulties whatsoever. But marke, this resolution of his and the difficulties that he meets withal in the way, these are no part of the condition of the pardon; all the condition of the pardon is, but to be at such a place, such a time, but yet the other things they follow of themselves, that if he doth come, and there be such difficulties in the way, then he must have such a sense and apprehension of the good of his pardon as may stir up in him such resolutions, to pass through all difficulties. But the first thing that brings him his pardon is his being there. So it is here with the ⟨p. 132⟩Soul, its true, the thing that bring• my Soul and yours to pardon. Rest and Peace with God, it is our coming to Christ, but now because there is a great distance between Christ and us, many difficulties in the way, many things that would keep us from Christ, the wickedness of our Hearts, this temptation and that lust.
