4. A Propenseness and readiness in §4Christ to give out his fullness: Isa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, buy and not, &c. Behold here, at what a low price doth God set his heavenly blessings! it is but thirsting, bring but desires. Behold the Propenseness in Christ to ••spense and give out his fullness: buy without money; a strange kind of buying! there's bounty in Christ as well as beauty. As he is all fullness, so he is all sweetness, of a noble and generous disposition; he doth not only invite us, but charge us upon pain of death to come in and believe: he threatens us if we will not lay hold of mercy: he waits to be gracious*: This is the lenocinium, and enticer of the affections: this draws the eyes and heart of a sinner after him: what are the blessed Promises but Christs golden Sceptre held forth? what are the ⟨p. 234⟩motions of the Spirit, but Jesus Christ coming a wooing? and such a knowledge and sight of Christ is necessary to usher in faith: now the soul begins to move towards him; he sees all this variety of excellency in Christ, and withal sees a possibility, nay, a probability of mercy: there is nothing that hinders him, God doth not exclude him unless he exclude himself: Then he thinks thus, What is it keeps me off from Christ? is it my unworthiness? behold, there is merit in Christ: is it my wants? there is enough in the fountain, and Jesus Christ doth not expect that I should carry any thing to him, but rather that I should bring something from him: he doth not expect that I should carry water to the well, only an empty vessel: why then should not this fullness in Christ be for me as well as others? While he is thus parleying with himself, the Spirit works a kind of persuasion, ⟨p. 235⟩that Christ is willing that he in particular should taste of this mercy; then follows the second act which faith puts forth, and that is consent; Well, I will have Christ whatever it cost me.
4. A Propensenesse and readinesse in §4Christ to give out his fulnesse: Isa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no mony, buy and not, &c. Behold here, at what a low price doth God set his heavenly blessings! it is but thirsting, bring but desires. Behold the Propensenesse in Christ to ••spense and give out his fulnesse: buy without money; a strange kind of buying! there's bounty in Christ as well as beauty. As he is all fulnesse, so he is all sweetnesse, of a noble and generous disposition; he doth not only invite us, but charge us upon pain of death to come in and believe: he threatens us if we will not lay hold of mercy: he waits to be gracious*: This is the lenocinium, and enticer of the affections: this draws the eyes and heart of a sinner after him: what are the blessed Promises but Christs golden Scepter held forth? what are the ⟨p. 234⟩motions of the Spirit, but Jesus Christ coming a wooing? and such a knowledge and sight of Christ is necessary to usher in faith: now the soul begins to move towards him; he sees all this variety of excellency in Christ, and withall sees a possibility, nay, a probability of mercy: there is nothing that hinders him, God doth not exclude him unlesse he exclude himself: Then he thinks thus, What is it keeps me off from Christ? is it my unworthinesse? behold, there is merit in Christ: is it my wants? there is enough in the fountain, and Jesus Christ doth not expect that I should carry any thing to him, but rather that I should bring something from him: he doth not expect that I should carry water to the well, only an empty vessel: why then should not this fulnesse in Christ be for me as well as others? While he is thus parlying with himself, the Spirit works a kind of perswasion, ⟨p. 235⟩that Christ is willing that he in particular should taste of this mercy; then follows the second act which faith puts forth, and that is consent; Well, I will have Christ whatever it cost me.
- *Isa. 30.18
