Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

Christ he keeps open house, but some are so fearful, and so modest, that unless they have a special invitation, they are ashamed to come to Christ; they reason thus, if my case were an ordinary mans, I should come, but I am so vile and wretched, that I am ashamed to come; my sins have been so many, and so heavy, that I am not able to bear so great a weight, they are more in number ⟨p. 406⟩then the hairs of my head; and yet alas they are crying ones too: But hearken here a second word; Dost thou think thy case more heavy because thou art out of measure sinful. Lo, it pleaseth God to send thee a special invitation, who findest thy self discouraged with the great bulk and burden of thy sins. It pleaseth God, I say, to send thee a special invitation. See Mat. 11.28. Though all apply it not to this use, Come unto me all you that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. You of all others, are they that Christ looks for. Those that can walk bolt upright in their sins, that desire to live and die in them: they will not look upon me, and I will not look upon them; they scorn me, and I scorn them: but you that are heavy laden, and feel the burden of your sins, are invited by Christ. Let not Satan then cozen you of the comfort of this word; that which Christ makes the latch to open the door to let himself in, we do usually by our foolishness make the bolt to shut him out. Let thy wound be never so great, thou hast a warrant to come, and be cured: be of good comfort then, as it was said to blind Bartemeus, so is it to thee, Lo, he calleth thee. When Christ bids thee come, and gives thee his Word that he will heal thee, Come, let not the Devil or thy corruptions hinder thee, or make thee stay back: hast thee to this City of Refuge: he hath engaged his Word for thee, and he will ease thee: But now after all this there is a

Christ he keeps open house, but some are so fearfull, and so modest, that unless they have a special invitation, they are ashamed to come to Christ; they reason thus, if my case were an ordinary mans, I should come, but I am so vile and wretched, that I am ashamed to come; my sins have been so many, and so heavy, that I am not able to bear so great a weight, they are more in number ⟨p. 406⟩then the hairs of my head; and yet alas they are crying ones too: But hearken here a second word; Dost thou think thy case more heavy because thou art out of measure sinfull. Lo, it pleaseth God to send thee a special invitation, who findest thy self discouraged with the great bulk and burthen of thy sins. It pleaseth God, I say, to send thee a special invitation. See