Yet deceive not thy self, the matter is not ⟨p. 66⟩1whether thy humiliation be more or less, only come. The promise is made to all that come, they shall be refreshed. Indeed thou wilt not come till thou art somewhat humbled, Thou wilt not fly to the City of refuge till thou art pursued by the avenger of blood. But if thou come at all, God will fulfil his promise. Stick not so much on the degree of thy humiliation. Take a man that hath committed high Treason, for which he is condemned and brought to the place of execution, ready to suffer, but then there is a pardon offered him: And take another guilty of the same fact, but as yet not condemned, and bring him a pardon, he is even as joy full as the other, for he saw his case was even as bad, only it was not so far gone, and he hath not lived so long in sorrow. So some mens sins are grosser, and their sorrow more violent, other sins are less, but yet such as they see them like to damn them; they therefore are humbled as truly, though not so violently. Therefore though thou hast not had so much sorrow as others, nor felt those terrors of the Almighty, yet if thou hast so much as will bring thee to Christ, and make thee stick close unto him, so as thou wouldest not leave him for any thing in the world; it is enough, thou shalt have him. Why then stick you? what hinders your faith? The impediments must be on Gods part, or on your part: But it is not on Gods part, for his promise is full, and large, most free; neither is there any on thy part, for there is nothing required in thee, for which he shall set ⟨p. 67⟩his love upon thee. There are no merits desired on thy part, only accept him, receive him, he will afterwards put some lines upon thee. Art thou willing to take Christ for thy husband, for better and worse, with a crown of Thorns, as well as Glory? then the match is concluded, thou mayest be sure that Christ will be thine.
Yet deceive not thy selfe, the matter is not ⟨p. 66⟩1whether thy humiliation be more or lesse, only come. The promise is made to all that come, they shall be refreshed. Indeede thou wilt not come till thou art somewhat humbled, Thou wilt not flye to the City of refuge till thou art pursued by the avenger of blood. But if thou come at all, God will fulfill his promise. Sticke not so much on the degree of thy humiliation. Take a man that hath committed high Treason, for which he is condemned and brought to the place of execution, ready to suffer, but then there is a pardon offered him: And take another guilty of the same fact, but as yet not condemned, and bring him a pardon, he is even as joy full as the other, for he saw his case was even as bad, onely it was not so farre gone, and he hath not lived so long in sorrow. So some mens sinnes are grosser, and their sorrow more violent, other sinnes are lesse, but yet such as they see them like to damne them; they therefore are humbled as truly, though not so violently. Therefore though thou hast not had so much sorrow as others, nor felt those terrours of the Almighty, yet if thou hast so much as will bring thee to Christ, and make thee sticke close unto him, so as thou wouldest not leave him for any thing in the world; it is enough, thou shalt have him. Why then stick you? what hinders your faith? The impediments must be on Gods part, or on your part: But it is not on Gods part, for his promise is full, and large, most free; neither is there any on thy part, for there is nothing required in thee, for which hee shall set ⟨p. 67⟩his love upon thee. There are no merits desired on thy part, onely accept him, receive him, hee will afterwards put some lines upon thee. Art thou willing to take Christ for thy husband, for better and worse, with a crowne of Thornes, as well as Glory? then the match is concluded, thou maist be sure that Christ will be thine.
- 1Answ.
