A44342:590
The application of redemption by the effectual work of the word, and spirit of Christ, for the bringing home of lost sinners to God ... by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
No: God forbid: There is no allowance for unbelief at any time. It's his duty for ever to […] it, the Ministers duty to exhort unto it, and require it. Believe […] he can: but that he will never be able to do it, to be married to Christ and sin also, to be under the […] of corruption, and […] command of the Lord Jesus; to grow upon two stocks at one and the same time tis not possible. And when the Lord in his word so strictly enjoins it, and his […] call upon men to believe, the aim and intendment of both is, to […] them to use […] means and take that […] whereby they may come and believe: First to make room for Faith, before they can receive Faith; first go out of themselves and […] before they can go unto a Saviour: and therefore this is not to hinder the work of Believing, but to further it, and that unto the utmost according to the mind of God.
No: God forbid: There is no allowance for unbeleef at any time. It's his duty for ever to 〈…〉 it, the Ministers duty to exhort unto it, and require it. Beleeve 〈…〉 he can: but that he will never be able to do it, to be married to Christ and sin also, to be under the 〈…〉 of corruption, and 〈…〉 command of the Lord Jesus; to grow upon two stocks at one and the same time tis not possible. And when the Lord in his word so strictly enjoyns it, and his 〈…〉 call upon men to beleeve, the aim and intendment of both is, to 〈…〉 them to use 〈…〉 means and take that 〈…〉 whereby they may come and beleeve: First to make room for Faith, before they can receive Faith; first go out of themselves and 〈…〉 before they can go unto a Savior: and therefore this is not to hinder the work of Beleeving, but to further it, and that unto the utmost according to the mind of God.
A Third sort who miss the way to the Lord Jesus, are such who indeed attend […] work in the right place, but spoil it in the doing; make an entrance but never come to any perfection, yea pervert it […] by their rash and unskilful proceeding: There be some quarrels and babbles raised between the soul and a mans sinful distempers, they begin to be at odds and contention, and therefore upon a push they purpose to part dwellings, because of some hard measure that they find unexpectedly from their beloved lusts: the venom thereof vexeth his spirit, and the sting of those terrors, and the righteous plagues which are now deserved and so presented before the view of the soul, makes him fall out with his corruptions, as having expected other and more pleasing dealing at their hands, and that upon their […] and pretences made, but ⟨p. 195⟩[…] he feels the bitterness thereof, and therefore can […] judg of them by his own sense and experience. and thus the terror and trouble and hart-smart which his sin hath wrought in him, sets him busily and resolutely to the reformation and amendment of it. and in this turn, there may be no Sin, he Sees or knows, but in his own apprehension, he would renounce all; no Service or duty but he doth approve and practise all: self-terror sets him a work for […] own honour or quiet; and pitch him at what narrowness you will he will Come to it. And as the dint of the blow is, and the power and strength of the ordinances under which he lives, and the Constant holding himself to the use and exercise of holy duties continue, this may continue long, and cause both Confidence and comfort with it. And this is a dangerous and desperate mistake being a preparative for a Child of the law i. e. to a legal reformation, not for the implantation of the soul into Christ: and here millions perish.
A Third sort who miss the way to the Lord Jesus, are such who indeed attend 〈…〉 work in the right place, but spoyl it in the doing; make an entrance but never come to any perfection, yea pervert it 〈…〉 by their rash and unskilful proceeding: There be some quarrels and babbles raised between the soul and a mans sinful distempers, they begin to be at ods and contention, and therefore upon a push they purpose to part dwellings, because of some hard measure that they find unexpectedly from their beloved lusts: the venom thereof vexeth his spirit, and the sting of those terrors, and the righteous plagues which are now deserved and so presented before the veiw of the soul, makes him sal out with his corruptions, as having expected other and more pleasing dealing at theirhands, and that upon their 〈…〉 and pretences made, but ⟨p. 195⟩〈…〉 he feels the bitterness thereof, and therefore can 〈…〉 judg of them by his owne sense and experience. and thus the terror and trouble and hart-smart which his sin hath wrought in him, setts him busily and resolutely to the reformation and amendment of it. and in this turn, there may be no Sinne, he Sees or knowes, but in his own apprehension, he would renounce all; no Service or duty but he doth approue and practise all: selfe-terror setts him a worke for 〈…〉 owne honor or quiet; and pitch him at what narrownes you will he will Come to it. And as the dint of the blow is, and the power and strength of the ordinances under which he lives, and the Constant houlding himselfe to the use and excercise of holy duties continue, this may continue long, and cause both Confidence and comfort with it. And this is a dangerous and desperate mistake being a preparatiue for a Child of the law i. e. to a legall reformation, not for the implantation of the soul into Christ: and here millions perish.
When by self terror occasioned by the sting of Sin, the Sinner is set upon reformation, and that with much violence, with a kind of thoroughness & strictness to procure his own safety, self love meeting with terror sets a man upon amendment of himself for self ends, as his own salvation and honour. That preparation which sets a soul upon reformation, so that he attains his end and ease there, so that there is deep silence about a Christ nor yet sight and sense of the need of him, its certain, its naught. for it issues only from this principle and when that fails, both his duties and comforts come to an end; This was the guise of that young man, Matth. 19. 20. who could say to our Saviour, I have kept all the commandments from my youth, what lack I yet? he lived in a reformed way and rested there when yet his heart was ⟨p. 196⟩not loosened from his […] Corruptions and therefore when he came to the trial he would rather part with […] and heaven and happiness then part with his […]. I his was also the frame of those hypocrites, Isay. 50 36. who fasted and afflicted their souls and yet did not loose the bonds of wickedness. A saving preparation though it be not a principle of life yet it makes way and room for the coming of a Christ that will […] a principle of life into the soul this is the end of it, and if it cease before it come […] it misseth its end.
When by self terror occasioned by the sting of Sin, the Sinner is set upon reformation, and that with much violence, with a kind of thorownes & stricktnes to procure his owne safetie, selfe loue meeting with terror setts a man upon amendment of himselfe for selfe ends, as his owne salvation and honor. That preparation which sets a soul upon reformation, so that he attayns his end and ease there, so that there is deep silence about a Christ nor yet sight and sence of the need of him, its certaine, its naught. for it issues only from this principle and when that failes, both his duties and comforts come to an end; This was the guise of that young man, Matth. 19. 20. who could say to our Saviour, I have kept all the commandements from my youth, what lack I yet? he lived in a reformed way and rested there when yet his heart was ⟨p. 196⟩
A fourth sort are such who have weltered long in §4their own sorrows and their own performances, and Services, and […] find (and therefore are forced to […]) there is neither power, nor pardon, nor peace there to be had, for their guilt and […], and distempers remain as before: and therefore they see all in […] Christ, know they must have it from him and are […] to expect it, therefore they ply him with […] […] prayers, yea, are contented that he should do all for them Only they would […] with him, […] […] in this proviso, that he must do it for them […] […] spoke of the Centurion. Luke. 7. 4. he is […] for whom thou shouldst do this. So they think of themselves, since they sorrow and seek and attend upon him according to his will, they cannot […] with patience to think they should miss. These men have not renounced their own worthiness, and would indeed […] in upon the privilege of the Lord and not make it free; and so not grace.
A fourth sort are such who have weltered long in §4their owne sorrowes and their owne performances, and Services, and 〈…〉 find (and therfore are forced to 〈…〉) there is neither power, nor pardon, nor peace there to be had, for their guilt and 〈…〉, and distempers remaine as before: and therfore they see all in 〈…〉 Christ, know they must have it from him and are 〈…〉 to expect it, therfore they ply him with 〈…〉 〈…〉 prayers, yea, are contented that he should doe all for them Only they would 〈…〉 with him, 〈…〉 〈…〉 in this proviso, that he must doe it for them spoke of the Centurion.
I answer in two things. 1. If it […] snarl at Gods1 dealings, and quarrel with his […], and privily […] and repine when they see others have more and better then they: I see others have been humbled ⟨p. 197⟩and pardoned, and comforted; but I go on still in a disconsolate way: the Saints of God have sought the Lord, and found him gracious to their souls; they have used the means, and found a blessing upon them: but I pray and fast, and use all the means of Grace, and yet I feel no power, receive no profit, nor benefit to my own soul, and there is a secret conceit that God doth them wrong: As she said, If it be so, Why am I thus? Gen. 25. 22.
I answer in two things. 1. If it 〈…〉 snarle at Gods1 dealings, and quarrell with his 〈…〉, and privily 〈…〉 and repine when they see others have more and better then they: I see others have been humbled ⟨p. 197⟩and pardoned, and comforted; but I go on still in a disconsolate way: the Saints of God have sought the Lord, and found him gracious to their souls; they have used the means, and found a blessing upon them: but I pray and fast, and use all the means of Grace, and yet I feel no power, receive no profit, nor benefit to my own soul, and there is a secret conceit that God doth them wrong: As she said, If it be so, Why am I thus? Gen. 25. 22.
2. We may know it by a sinking discouragement of heart. When the soul wearied with delays and differings, and expectation, sits down in a […] condition; because he cannot have what he will, he will cast away what he hath, and conceives he may be careless of what he might attain. As David said, I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul, 1 Samuel, 27. 1. All men are liars, Psal. 116. 11. Alas! Jam not fit to Pray or to Hear; I find my heart worse after it, none was ever in such a case as I: better never to use the means, than never to have benefit by them; better never to enjoy the Ordinances and Privileges of God, than to get no good by them: How now! Better never use the means? It would be better, and best of all, if you were deeply humbled and abased in the sight of your own vileness. As the Apostle says, What if God will not? What […] he will never pardon your sins or show mercy to your soul? If he give you nothing, doth he […] you any thing? You think your worthiness is not attended, you secretly think the Lord hath forgot himself, your parts and performances, your […] and prayers, diligence and endeavours, ought upon due, to be remembered and recompensed.
2. We may know it by a sinking discouragement of heart. When the soul wearied with delayes and differings, and expectation, sits down in a 〈…〉 condition; because he cannot have what he will, he will cast away what he hath, and conceaves he may be careless of what he might attain. As David said, I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul, 1 Samuel, 27. 1. All men are lyars, Psal. 116. 11. Alas! Iam not fit to Pray or to Hear; I find my heart worse after it, none was ever in such a case as I: better never to use the means, than never to have benefit by them; better never to enjoy the Ordinances and Priviledges of God, than to get no good by them: How now! Better never use the means? It would be better, and best of all, if you were deeply humbled and abased in the sight of your own vileness. As the Apostle saies, What if God will not? What 〈…〉 he will never pardon your sins or shew mercy to your soul? If he give you nothing, doth he you any thing? You think your worthiness is not attended, you secretly think the Lord hath forgot himself, your parts and performances, your and prayers, diligence and endeavors, ought upon due, to be remembered and recompenced.
No: Thank your proud heart; you are not prepared for the presence, the peace, the comfort; the coming of a Saviour, and therefore you want him. Do ⟨p. 198⟩you think your self worthy to be condemned when you think it much to be denied, deserted, punished, nay, but delayed in the dispensation of Gods goodness: He must please your palate and suit your mind and humour at a beck: No, no, mend your self if you be in so hasty a mood, the Lord will make you know that you are unworthy of mercy: He will not bribe you, nor be beholding to you to wait upon him for his mercy, yea, be thankful to him that you may wait; and wonder that you are not past praying, hearing, and waiting, and all.
No: Thank your proud heart; you are not prepared for the presence, the peace, the comfort; the coming of a Savior, and therefore you want him. Do ⟨p. 198⟩you think your self worthy to be condemned when you think it much to be denyed, deserted, punished, nay, but desayed in the dispensation of Gods goodness: He must please your pallat and suit your mind and humor at a beck: No, no, mend your self if you be in so hasty a moode, the Lord will make you know that you are unworthy of mercy: He will not bribe you, nor be beholding to you to wait upon him for his mercy, yea, be thankful to him that you may wait; and wonder that you are not past praying, hearing, and waiting, and all.
A ground of Encouragement to a poor distressed1 sinner, when Devils assault, […] grow strong, Conscience accuse, and the venom of the vengeance of the Almighty drinks up a mans spirits, so that the sinner knows not how to bear his condition, nor yet how to help himself out of it: so that he is at his wits end: His Friends pity him, and the Parents conceive their Child is undone, they never thought to have seen this day: Why so? It is the best day that ever his eyes saw; he is now in Gods way, the Lord now seems to lay hold upon him, and to intend good to him; be not afraid of the work, but be afraid he should miss and spoil in the working. As in Child-bed, when throws come thick and strong, there is most hope of a speedy and happy delivery, but when her throws leave her, her life leaves her, so it is in the new Birth. Stormy gales at Sea toss a man most, but soonest land him. Therefore do not so much fear the blow, as be thankful and be willing to follow the blow; nor so much desire to be eased, as not to be deceived; not so much to have the work over, as to have it made good upon thy soul; labour to get into, and keep in that frame prophesied of in all […] Converts, Jer. 50. 4. Going and […] with their faces towards Zion, they shall […] the Lord their God.
A ground of Encouragement to a poor distressed1 sinner, when Devils assault, 〈…〉 grow strong, Conscience accuse, and the venome of the vengeance of the Almighty drinks up a mans spirits, so that the sinner knows not how to bear his condition, nor yet how to help himself out of it: so that he is at his wits end: His Friends pitty him, and the Parents conceave their Child is undone, they never thought to have seen this day: Why so? It is the best day that ever his eyes saw; he is now in Gods way, the Lord now seems to lay hold upon him, and to intend good to him; be not afraid of the work, but be afraid he should miss and spoil in the working. As in Child-bed, when throws come thick and strong, there is most hope of a speedy and happy delivery, but when her throws leave her, her life leaves her, so it is in the new Birth. Stormy gales at Sea toss a man most, but soonest land him. Therefore do not so much fear the blow, as be thankful and be willing to follow the blow; nor so much desire to be eased, as not to be deceived; not so much to have the work over, as to have it made good upon thy soul; labor to get into, and keep in that frame prophesied of in all Converts,
Exhortation. Suffer then the Exhortation of1 the Baptist, the voice of him that cries in the Wilderness to sound in your ears, and to sink into […] hearts; Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. As ever we […] to share in the Merits of our Saviour to enjoy him, and his presence and everlasting happiness by him; address we our selves, bestir our souls in the use of all means to […] a Saviour, and then we may […] expect him, and we shall not miss of our expectation. There is no lack on his part, he is willing and ready, He that stands and knocks at the door that he may come in: 2Rev. 3. 20. If the door was open, he would come in without question: If the way was prepared he hath 3promised to come speedily, and certainly he would not delay his coming. I know this manner of entertainment seems hard to flesh and blood, loath we are to dislodge so many gainful guests, so many special friends, darling pleasures, and sweet contentments, which we have contrived to our selves out of the earthly comforts of this life. Hence many are content the King would go another way, and secretly wish they had nothing to do with the Lord Jesus; there is so much privy search to be made, so much examination to be used, such a sight of our sins and unworthiness; yea, that which is worst of all to the corrupt hearted, they must vomit up all their sweet morsels, shake hands, and break league with their beloved darling delights, which they tender as their lives, they must thrust world, and ease, prosperity, and pomp, credit, and applause by the head and shoulders out of the doors, and turn them going: […] therefore I am afraid, many […] that in secret in their own hearts, which the Devils openly professed, What have we to do with thee Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come to […] us before ⟨p. 200⟩the time, to deprive us of our profits, to pluck away our pleasures, and to dislodge those sweet lusts that we harboured so long in our bosoms and bowels; learn we then to press some sound Arguments upon our own hearts, that we may persuade and prevail with them if it be possible, to set about this work which is so necessary.
Consider then, First, Who we be that must […]; And Secondly, For whom.
Consider then, First, Who we be that must 〈…〉; And Secondly, For whom.
First, Let us consider our selves, a company §1of poor, miserable, sinful, and damned Creatures, sinful dust and ashes, dead dogs. Consider of this and think with thy self, Will the Lord of Heaven come down? will Christ dwell in my heart? will he vouchsafe to look in, yea, to call in (as he goes by) upon such a sinful Creature? And let this move thee to prepare for his coming. We are not worthy (as the Centurion said) that the Lord should come under our […]. 1 King. 8. 27. There Solomon saith, Will the Lord indeed dwell on earth? Will he dwell in a house made with hands? As if he should say, Is it possible? Can it be imagined that thou Lord being the great God of heaven, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, shouldest once […] to dwell in a house made with hands, in the Temple which I have builded! And what may we say, Is it so? Can it be? Shall it be that God will come and dwell under our roof? that he will come and dwell under our rotten and sinful hearts, that he will dwell in our […] and sinful souls? Why? he will, he hath said it, he hath […] it, he will perform it; and therefore let us consider our own unworthiness ⟨p. 201⟩to receive Christ, as a motive to stir us up to make preparation for Christ; for the baser the place is that should entertain him, the greater the preparation should be. We ought to wonder that the Lord will vouchsafe to come into our sinful souls, and therefore we had need prepare the more for his coming: The Lord hath promised to come into our souls, if we humble them, and make them fitting to entertain his Majesty; therefore sweep your hearts, and cleanse those rooms, cleanse every sink, and brush down every cobweb, and make room for Christ; for if thy heart be prepared and divorced from all Corruptions, then Christ will come and take possession of it.
First, Let us consider our selves, a company §1of poor, miserable, sinful, and damned Creatures, sinful dust and ashes, dead dogs. Consider of this and think with thy self, Will the Lord of Heaven come down? will Christ dwell in my heart? will he vouchsafe to look in, yea, to call in (as he goes by) upon such a sinful Creature? And let this move thee to prepare for his coming. We are not worthy (as the Centurion said) that the Lord should come under our .
A Second Motive that may stir us up to prepare §2for the Lord Jesus, is, To consider who it is that we are to prepare for: Here we have Three Things.
1 Consider the worthiness of the Person, in regard of whom all preparation may seem too little; you are not to entertain an ordinary person, it is not a man, it is not a King, it is not an earthly Monarch, but it is the King of Kings that will come into your souls to comfort them; yea, his holy and blessed Spirit will remain with you for ever: Therefore do all that possible may be done to prepare for his coming and for the entertainment and welcoming of him, when he comes. In Psal. 24. 7. David calls […] his own soul (for so the words are to be expounded) Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lifted up you everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. As who should say, Be enlarged, Love, Joy. Hope, Desire, and All that is within me, set open, give way, for the Lord is coming; But who is the Lord? It is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, vers. 8. And with that he knocks again, Lift up ⟨p. 202⟩your heads O ye gates, and be ye […] ye everlasting doors, for the King of […] shall come […], vers. 9. As if he should say, What! Shall the Lord knock? Shall the King of Glory stand? Open […] and make all preparation: Did David do thus? Why do you do […] then? Christ knocks by Promises, he knocks by Judgements, he knocks by Threats; yea, he speaks this day unto your souls, and labours this day to make way for himself: Make therefore all preparation, let nothing be wanting, that when he comes he may take […] of your souls, and be a God unto you for ever.
1 Consider the worthiness of the Person, in regard of whom all preparation may seem too little; you are not to entertain an ordinary person, it is not a man, it is not a King, it is not an earthly Monarch, but it is the King of Kings that will come into your souls to comfort them; yea, his holy and blessed Spirit will remain with you for ever: Therefore do all that possible may be done to prepare for his comming and for the entertainment and welcoming of him, when he comes. In Psal. 24. 7. David calls 〈…〉 his own soul (for so the words are to be expounded) Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lifted up you everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. As who should say, Be enlarged, Love, Joy. Hope, Desire, and All that is within me, set open, give way, for the Lord is coming; But who is the Lord? It is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battel, vers. 8. And with that he knocks again, Lift up
2 Consider all that good that Jesus Christ brings with him, and that should move you; for all the good that we need or can desire to make us happy, he will bring with him when he comes to take […] of the Soul: The Lord comes into our Souls not to trouble us and charge us, no, he comes to bring everlasting Salvation and happiness to our Souls; Look what Christ said to […], Luke 19. 5. 8, 9. when he went up into a Sycamore-tree to see him, Make haste and come down Zacheus (saith he) for I must abide with thee in thy house: Zacheus makes no cavilling, nor no tarrying, but made haste and came down and received him joyfully: And mark what Christ said unto him, This day Salvation is come to thy house. So likewise it shall be with you, when Christ comes, everlasting Happiness and Salvation comes with him; and therefore if you do not make preparation for him, you refuse Salvation and Happiness that is offered to your Souls by him. Amos 4. 12. when the Lord had sent many Plagues and Judgments upon Jerusalem, he saith, Thus will I do unto thee Oh Israel, and because I will do thus unto thee, therefore prepare to meet thy God O Israel: I will do thus unto thee, that is, I will send Mildews, ⟨p. 203⟩and Pestilence, and War, and Famine amongst you, I will draw you out with Hooks, and your Posterity with Fish-hooks: And what followeth? Prepare to meet thy God Oh Israel. If God come against us to plague us, we must prepare to meet him; Reason then with your own Souls; Should the Lord come in Judgement to punish us, if we ought to prepare to meet him, then what preparation ought we to make for his coming, when he shall not come thus in Judgement to condemn us, but in mercy to save us, in his goodness to enrich us, in his compassion to comfort us? Then now if ever, prepare to meet thy God O Israel: Let every heart persuade it self in this particular, Is Christ so gracious and so merciful, doth he send from Heaven unto us, and say he will come in, Behold (says he) I stand at the door and 1knock, and if any man will hear my voice and open unto me, my Father and I will come in, and sup with him: He will come in himself, and bring all the good things of Grace and Glory with him for the everlasting refreshing of our Souls: Why! Where are your hearts in the mean time? Therefore if ever, now prepare to meet the Lord Jesus bringing Salvation with him.
3 Consider again, How the Lord Jesus entreats you, and beseeches you to receive him, he that might command you, and condemn you for refusing; beseeches you to entertain him, 2 Cor. 5. 20. We as Ambassadors in Christs stead, beseech you that you would be reconciled to God: that is, That you would prepare to meet God willing to be reconciled to you in Christ, and that you would come to his terms.
3 Consider again, How the Lord Jesus entreats you, and beseeches you to receive him, he that might command you, and condemne you for refusing; beseeches you to entertain him, 2 Cor. 5. 20. We as Ambassadors in Christs stead, beseech you that you would be reconciled to God: that is, That you would prepare to meet God willing to be reconciled to you in Christ, and that you would come to his terms.
Exhortation. Suffer then the Exhortation of1 the Baptist, the voyce of him that cries in the Wilderness to sound in your ears, and to sink into 〈…〉 hearts; Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths streight. As ever we 〈…〉 to share in the Merits of our Savior to enjoy him, and his presence and everlasting happiness by him; address we our selves, bestir our souls in the use of all means to 〈…〉 a Savior, and then we may 〈…〉 expect him, and we shall not miss of our expectation. There is no lack on his part, he is willing and ready, He that stands and knocks at the door that he may come in: 2Rev. 3. 20. If the door was open, he would come in without question: If the way was prepated he hath 3promised to come speedily, and certainly he would not delay his coming. I know this manner of entertainment seems hard to flesh and blood, loath we are to dislodge so many gainful guests, so many special friends, darling pleasures, and sweet contentments, which we have contrived to our selves out of the earthly comforts of this life. Hence many are content the King would go another way, and secretly wish they had nothing to do with the Lord Jesus; there is so much privy search to be made, so much examination to be used, such a sight of our sins and unworthiness; yea, that which is worst of all to the corrupt hearted, they must vomit up all their sweet morsels, shake hands, and break league with their beloved darling delights, which they tender as their lives, they must thrust world, and ease, prosperity, and pompe, credit, and applause by the head and shoulders out of the doors, and turn them going: 〈…〉 therefore I am afraid, many 〈…〉 that in secret in their own hearts, which the Devils openly professed, What have we to do with thee Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come to 〈…〉 us before ⟨p. 200⟩the time, to deprive us of our profits, to pluck away our pleasures, and to dislodge those sweet lusts that we harbored so long in our bosoms and bowels; learn we then to press some sound Arguments upon our own hearts, that we may perswade and prevaile with them if it be possible, to set about this work which is so necessary.
2 Consider all that good that Jesus Christ brings with him, and that should move you; for all the good that we need or can desire to make us happy, he will bring with him when he comes to take 〈…〉 of the Soul: The Lord comes into our Souls not to trouble us and charge us, no, he comes to bring everlasting Salvation and happiness to our Souls; Look what Christ said to 〈…〉, Luke 19. 5. 8, 9. when he went up into a Sycamore-tree to see him, Make haste and come down Zacheus (saith he) for I must abide with thee in thy house: Zacheus makes no cavilling, nor no tarrying, but made haste and came down and received him joyfully: And mark what Christ said unto him, This day Salvation is come to thy house. So likewise it shall be with you, when Christ comes, everlasting Happiness and Salvation comes with him; and therefore if you do not make preparation for him, you refuse Salvation and Happiness that is offered to your Souls by him. Amos 4. 12. when the Lord had sent many Plagues and Judgments upon Jerusalem, he saith, Thus will I do unto thee Oh Israel, and because I will do thus unto thee, therefore prepare to meet thy God O Israel: I will do thus unto thee, that is, I will send Mildews, ⟨p. 203⟩and Pestilence, and War, and Famine amongst you, I will draw you out with Hooks, and your Posterity with Fish-hooks: And what followeth? Prepare to meet thy God Oh Israel. If God come against us to plague us, we must prepare to meet him; Reason then with your own Souls; Should the Lord come in Judgement to punish us, if we ought to prepare to meet him, then what preparation ought we to make for his coming, when he shall not come thus in Judgement to condemne us, but in mercy to save us, in his goodness to enrich us, in his compassion to comfort us? Then now if ever, prepare to meet thy God O Israel: Let every heart perswade it self in this particular, Is Christ so gracious and so merciful, doth he send from Heaven unto us, and say he will come in, Behold (saies he) I stand at the door and 1knock, and if any man will hear my voyce and open unto me, my Father and I will come in, and sup with him: He will come in himself, and bring all the good things of Grace and Glory with him for the everlasting refreshing of our Souls: Why! Where are your hearts in the mean time? Therfore if ever, now prepare to meet the Lord Jesus bringing Salvation with him.
