Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

III. Another Consequence that may be drawn is this: Hence then we may see the reason that many people, their vows and Covenants to live better then they have done, doth so often come to nothing; our Sanctification is in Christ, our overcoming of corruption it is by virtue of Christ, then from hence, I say, we see plainly the reason, why the vows and covenants of so many people, that do promise in the time of their sickness, or when they are in any danger at sea to live better. Oh, say they, if ever God restore us, they will never live as they have done, they will live better then heretofore they have done, ⟨p. 334⟩and though they do not speak thus for the present to deceive people, but speak what they do intend, their hearts are fully resolved to leave their sins, and to live better, yet when they are restored they live as before, when they come to land, whatever promise they made at sea yet they live as before. What is the reason of this? Because they are not acquainted with the mystery of Godliness, they know not how to fetch strength from Christ to enable them to keep their resolutions, they do not know where the stock of grace lies. They depend upon their own resolutions and promises, they do not see the strength that should come from Christ, and hence it is that all their vows and covenants come to nothing. As we read of Sampson, he said, after his strength was gone from him, that he would go forth as before, but the Lord was departed from him: So you think, if God restore you, you will live better, and overcome your corruptions, you will not live as before, I but the strength of Christ is not with you, you do not know that the strength of Christ is departed from you.

III. Another Consequence that may be drawn is this: Hence then we may see the reason that many people, their vowes and Covenants to live better then they have done, doth so often come to nothing; our Sanctification is in Christ, our overcoming of corruption it is by virtue of Christ, then from hence, I say, we see plainly the reason, why the vowes and covenants of so many people, that do promise in the time of their sickness, or when they are in any danger at sea to live better. Oh, say they, if ever God restore us, they wil never live as they have done, they wil live better then heretofore they have done, ⟨p. 334⟩and though they do not speake thus for the present to deceive people, but speake what they do intend, their hearts are fully resolved to leave their sins, and to live better, yet when they are restored they live as before, when they come to land, whatever promise they made at sea yet they live as before. What is the reason of this? Because they are not acquainted with the mistery of Godliness, they know not how to fetch strength from Christ to inable them to keep their resolutions, they do not know where the stock of grace lies. They depend upon their owne resolutions and promises, they do not see the strength that should come from Christ, and hence it is that al their vowes and covenants come to nothing. As we reade of Sampson, he said, after his strength was gone from him, that he would go forth as before, but the Lord was departed from him: So you think, if God restore you, you wil live better, and overcome your corruptions, you wil not live as before, I but the strength of Christ is not with you, you do not know that the strength of Christ is departed from you.