A sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemn fast,…A sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemne fast,…

do thou take it for granted, without any further dispute, as a principle after to be made good, that Christ hath thoughts of grace and peace concerning thee, and do but now husband well the grace offered, lay hold on Christ aye while he put thee away from him, and if there be any question concerning Gods intention of saving thee, let Christ first move the doubt, but do not thou be the first mover.

doe thou take it for granted, without any further dispute, as a principle after to be made good, that Christ hath thoughts of grace and peace concerning thee, and doe but now husband well the grace offered, lay hold on Christ aye while he put thee away from him, and if there be any question concerning Gods intention of saving thee, let Christ first move the doubt, but doe not thou be the first mover.

3. Assertion. It is true, your Christian name, John, Peter, Anne, Mary, are not in the New Testament, but here is as ⟨p. 30⟩good and better, and a more individual designation then your Christian name, if thou bring sin with thee to Christ, and there be no man but he hath this name, bring a lost soul with thee. Luke 19. 10. The son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. Matthew 9. 13. Christ saith, I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance. Then if it be said, What is thy name, who layest hold on Christ? there is an answer, My name is a sinner. 2. Leave, behind thee, righteousness when thou comest to Christ, thou mayest easily leave true righteousness behind thee, and come without it, because true righteousness of thy own is a non-ens, and just nothing, and nothing is the proper heritage of the poor; bring want and poverty with thee, and there is another name, say, Lord Jesus, my name is not in the royal promise of grace made to Traitors and Rebels against the Crown of Heaven, but my name is poverty, they call me want and necessity; and all men hitherto hath these two names, sinners, poor and unrighteous; but three bring some feeling and sense; come wearied and laden, and then thou hast a third name. This is harder, yet it is amongst the most easy things required of thee; the Law which worketh (if it were felt and heard) will work this in thee, and though then thou want it, thou hast that which is nearest to it, even sin; for these two be of one blood almost, to wit, want of clothing, and nakedness, a heavy load, and a wearied body; and nakedness is a near friend to shame and cold, and poverty is very near of kindred to hunger; hunger is come of that same stock and house; and if thou canst say, O Physician Jesus, my right name is sickness; O rich Jesus, they call me want; O bread of life, they call me hunger; it is enough.