Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

CONSIDER therefore his Infinite Condescension, Grace, and Love herein: Why all this towards you? doth he stand in need of you? Have you deserved it at his hands? Did you love him first? Cannot he be happy and blessed without you? Hath he any Design upon you, that he is so earnest in calling you unto him? Alas, it is nothing but the overflowing of Mercy, Compassion, and Grace that moves and acts him herein. Here lies the entrance of innumerable Souls into a Death and Condemnation far more severe than those contained in the Curse of the Law, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. In the contempt of this Infinite Condescension of Christ, in his Holy Invitation of Sinners to himself, lies the sting and poison of Unbelief, which unavoidably gives over the Souls of Men unto Eternal Ruin: And who shall once pity them to Eternity who are guilty of it? Yea but,

CONSIDER therefore his Infinite Condescention, Grace, and Love herein: Why all this towards you? doth he stand in need of you? Have you deserved it at his hands? Did you love him first? Cannot he be happy and blessed without you? Hath he any Design upon you, that he is so earnest in calling you unto him? Alas, it is nothing but the overflowing of Mercy, Compassion, and Grace that moves and acts him herein. Here lyes the entrance of innumerable Souls into a Death and Condemnation far more severe than those contained in the Curse of the Law, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. In the contempt of this Infinite Condescention of Christ, in his Holy Invitation of Sinners to himself, lies the sting and poyson of Unbelief, which unavoidably gives over the Souls of Men unto Eternal Ruine: And who shall once pity them to Eternity who are guilty of it? Yea but,

5. PERHAPS if you should on his Invitation begin to look to him, and resolve to come to him, you are greatly afraid that when it comes to the ⟨p. 8⟩Trial he will not receive you; for no Heart can conceive, no Tongue can express what wretched, vile, and provoking Sinners you have been. That the Lord Christ will receive unto him such as we are, we have no hopes, or that ever we shall find Acceptance with him: I say, it is not amiss when Persons come so far, as to be sensible of what Discouragements they have to conflict withal, what difficulties lye in their way, and what objections do arise against them, for the most do perish in a senseless stupidity; they will not consider how it is with them, what is required of them, nor how it will be in the latter end; they doubt not but that either they do believe already, or can do so when they please; but when any come so far as to charge the failure of their Acceptance with Christ on their own unworthiness, and so are discouraged from coming unto him, there are Arguments for their Conviction and Persuasion, which nothing but the Devil and Unbelief can defeat: Wherefore, that which is now proposed unto consideration in answer hereunto, is the Readiness of Christ to receive every Sinner, be he who or what he will, that shall come unto him: And hereof we have the highest Evidences that Divine Wisdom and Grace can give unto us. This is the Language of the Gospel, of all that the Lord Christ did or suffered, which is recorded therein. This is the Divine Testimony of the Three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and of the Three that bear witness in Earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, all give their joint Testimony, that the Lord Christ is ready to receive all Sinners that come to him; they who receive not this Testimony,