1. Christ must be purchased, by parting with all those strong lusts that keep us off from Christ, Isa. 55 7. v. 1. having bidden us buy without money, he tells us then what it is that we must lay out for Christ; why, Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him forg•e his secret and open sins, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon, upon this point sundry have broken off from Christ; Jehu was carried with ambition to rule, and when he saw it would hazard his Kingdom to forsake his golden Calves, he would rather part with God, then with his Kingdom, 2 Kings 10.29, 30. and therefore he is said, Not to regard the Commandments of the Lord, and therefore because he cut short his reformation, and did it not fully, therefore v. 33. the Lord began to cut short Israel in his days, so tha• Hazael cut off many of the out parts of his Kingdom; if we cut short with God▪ God will cut short with us: so Herod heard John Baptist gladly and did many things, but when he would not cut off his lust of uncleanness, but rather cut off Johns head that reproved him, it's said he added this above all his other evils, that he shut up John in Prison; they that will not be cut off from their sinful lusts, they cut themselves short of mercy; Demas a forward Christian, yet the love of the world so prevailed with him, that he fell off from the Lord, and embraced this present world▪ if we would have Christ our lusts must be parted with, Judg. 10.10. to 16. the people were in great distress by their enemies, they come and cry unto God for help, God bids them go to the gods that they had chosen, to see if they would help them, I will deliver you no more, upon this they put away all their gods, and then the soul of the Lord was grieved for them, and he raised up a deliverer for them; when he saw they were willing to part with their gods for him, then God had compassion on them; so when men are willing to forgo their honourable and profitable sins, which stick as close to a man as his very heart, if God see men willing to rend out their dearest lusts for him; why, then Gods soul is grieved for them, Hos. 14.23. then the Church cries unto God, Take away our iniquities and receive us graciously; and that's not all, but they go about to reform their ways, Ashur shall not save us, neither will we ride upon Horses; Why then v. 4.
1. Christ must be purchased, by parting with all those strong lusts that keep us off from Christ, Isa. 55 7. v. 1. having bidden us buy without money, he tells us then what it is that we must lay out for Christ; why, Let the wicked forsake his wayes, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him forg•e his secret and open sins, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon, upon this poynt sundry have broken off from Christ; Jehu was carried with ambition to rule, and when he saw it would hazard his Kingdome to forsake his golden Calves, he would rather part with God, then with his Kingdome, 2 Kings 10.29, 30. and therefore he is said, Not to regard the Commandements of the Lord, and therefore because he cut short his reformation, and did it not fully, therefore v. 33. the Lord began to cut short Israel in his dayes, so tha• Hazael cut off many of the out parts of his Kingdome; if we cut short with God▪ God will cut short with us: so Herod heard John Baptist gladly and did many things, but when he would not cut off his lust of uncleanesse, but rather cut off Johns head that reproved him, it's said he added this above all his other evils, that he shut up John in Prison; they that will not be cut off from their sinful lusts, they cut themselves short of mercy; Demas a forward Christian, yet the love of the world so prevailed with him, that he fell off from the Lord, and embraced this present world▪ if we would have Christ our lusts must be parted with, Judg. 10.10. to 16. the people were in great distresse by their enemies, they come and cry unto God for help, God bids them go to the gods that they had chosen, to see if they would help them, I will deliver you no more, upon this they put away all their gods, and then the soul of the Lord was grieved for them, and he raised up a deliverer for them; when he saw they were willing to part with their gods for him, then God had compassion on them; so when men are willing to forgoe their honourable and profitable sins, which stick as close to a man as his very heart, if God see men willing to rend out their dearest lusts for him; why, then Gods soul is grieved for them, Hos. 14.23. then the Church cryes unto God, Take away our iniquities and receive us graciously; and thats not all, but they goe about to reform their ways, Ashur shall not save us, neither will we ride upon Horses; Why then v. 4.
