If Faith cometh for all to Christ,1 and fetcheth all from him, then never be discouraged because thou hast nothing to bring unto him; let all thy wants and miseries be arguments and motives therefore to come unto him, Revel. 3.17, 18. Because thou art poor and naked, nay because thou knowest it not, and art not affected with it, therefore come unto me, and buy eye-salve, and gold, and white raiment. Lord pardon my sin, saith David, 2because it is great: have mercy upon me, for I am consumed with grief, and am in trouble. 3Let mercy and truth continually preserve me, for innumerable evils have compassed me round about. 4Let us return unto the Lord, because he hath wounded us. I am a dog, therefore let me have crumbs, said the woman of Canaan: oh this is cross to sense and reason, and we cannot believe while we are so exceeding poor, empty, vile, that the Lord should look upon us; but beloved, you little think what wrong you do to your selves, & the Lord Jesus hereby: for by this means Christ is not so much exalted, nor the creature humbled, both which concurring in faith, make those acts of faith most precious; for while you stand upon something, and would have something to bring to Christ, you hereby exalt your selves; but when you come with sense of nothing ⟨p. 210⟩else but woes and wants, and see Christ now making of you welcome, oh this is not only mercy, but ravishing mercy. If you should come with sense of somewhat to Christ, and to see his love to you; you might glorify mercy in the height, and length, and breadth of it, but not in the depth of it, unless you see it reaching its hand to you, when you are fallen into so low and poor a condition as nothingness and emptiness, and misery it self. And therefore do not come to Christ only for the benefits of the covenant, but for the condition of it also, when you feel a want of faith it self; as Hezekiah did, Isay 38.14. Lord I am oppressed, undertake for me. 1 Kings 8.57, 58. Do not undertake to fulfil any part of the covenant or any condition in it, or any duty required of thee, of thy self, but go empty to Christ, and say as David, Lord I will run the ways of thy salvation, if thou wilt set my heart at liberty. Psal. 119.32, 33. Quicken me, and I will call upon thy name. Psal. 80.18. Be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might, but not of thine own.
If Faith commeth for all to Christ,1 and fetcheth all from him, then never be discouraged because thou hast nothing to bring unto him; let all thy wants and miseries be arguments and motives therefore to come unto him, Revel. 3.17, 18. Because thou art poore and naked, nay because thou knowest it not, and art not affected with it, therefore come unto me, and buy eye-salve, and gold, and white rayment. Lord pardon my sinne, saith David, 2because it is great: have mercy upon me, for I am consumed with griefe, and am in trouble. 3Let mercy and truth continually preserve me, for innumerable evills have compassed mee round about. 4Let us returne unto the Lord, because hee hath wounded us. I am a dogge, therefore let me have crums, said the woman of Canaan: oh this is crosse to sense and reason, and we cannot beleeve while we are so exceeding poore, empty, vile, that the Lord should look upon us; but beloved, you little think what wrong you doe to your selves, & the Lord Jesus hereby: for by this means Christ is not so much exalted, nor the creature humbled, both which concurring in faith, make those acts of faith most precious; for while you stand upon something, and would have something to bring to Christ, you hereby exalt your selves; but when you come with sense of nothing ⟨p. 210⟩else but woes and wants, and see Christ now making of you welcome, oh this is not only mercy, but ravishing mercy. If you should come with sense of somewhat to Christ, and to see his love to you; you might glorify mercy in the height, and length, and breadth of it, but not in the depth of it, unlesse you see it reaching its hand to you, when you are fallen into so low and poor a condition as nothingnesse and emptinesse, and misery it selfe. And therefore doe not come to Christ only for the benefits of the covenant, but for the condition of it also, when you feele a want of faith it selfe; as Hezekiah did, Isay 38.14. Lord I am oppressed, undertake for me. 1 Kings 8.57, 58. Doe not undertake to fulfill any part of the covenant or any condition in it, or any duty required of thee, of thy selfe, but goe empty to Christ, and say as David, Lord I will run the wayes of thy salvation, if thou wilt set my heart at liberty.
- 1Answ.
- 2Ps. 25.11. & 31.9.
- 3Psal. 40.11, 12.
- 4Hos. 6.1, 2
