my goodness is not for thee: but for the Saints that are in the earth, and for the excellent in whom is all my delight. They are my delight, and therefore what goodness I have from thee, I am willing to give it out again unto them, because all my delight is in them. Do you not think, that a man is willing to eat his meat when he is a hungry I ray look into the 4. chapter of John, and you shall see what was Christs meat (verse the 34.) Jesus faith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His Work. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me: What is that? Finish His Work: What is that? You read before in the, 61 Isaiah, That the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him: and God the Father had anointed Him to open the prison door. Now therefore (saith He) look how willing a man is to eat his meat when he is a hungry: So willing am I to relieve poor sinners, to open the prison door to poor captive souls. Tender hearted Mothers, are you willing to give your Children suck? to have your breasts drawn? Yes: Why so? Truly, not only because of my child, but the truth is, unless my breasts be drawn 'tis a pain to me: not only for my child therefore, but for my own ease also, you will say. Why, brethren, the Humanity of Jesus Christ, is (as I may so speak) the breasts of the Deity; by which we suck out all the holiness, and grace which we have: and if Jesus Christs breasts be not drawn, He counts it a pain to Him. And therefore He complains so in the Gospel:1 I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; They will not draw My ⟨p. 27⟩breasts; He counts it a pain to Him. Tell me, are you willing to receive grace? Yes: If you be willing to receive grace, Jesus Christ is willing to give it: for you cannot be willing, if He were not willing first, your willingness does come from His. But I pray, what grace are you willing to have Oh! says one, I am a poor ignorant creature: I would fain, I would fain have more knowledge. Oh! says one, I am one of great Passions, and of a disordered life; and, Oh! that I had my life better ordered. Oh! says another, I am a poor guilty soul; and I would have pardon, I would have pardoning grace. Now I'll appeal to you: Whether do you not think, that an honest man is willing to do the work of his office? Can a man be an honest man, and not be willing to do the work of his office? This is the Office of Jesus Christ.
my goodness is not for thee: but for the Saints that are in the earth, and for the excellent in whom is all my delight. They are my delight, and therefore what goodnesse I have from thee, I am willing to give it out again unto them, because al my delight is in them. Do you not think, that a man is willing to eat his meat when he is a hungry I ray look into the 4. chaptes of John, and you shall see what was Christs meat (verse the 34.) Jesus faith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His Work. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me: What is that? Finish His Work: What is that? You reade before in the, 61 Esay, That the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him: and God the Father had anointed Him to open the prison door. Now therefore (saith He) look how willing a man is to eat his meat when he is a hungry: So willing am I to releeve poor sinners, to open the prison dore to poor captive souls. Tender hearted Mothers, are you willing to give your Children suck? to have your breasts drawn? Yes: Why so? Truly, not only because of my child, but the truth is, unless my breasts be drawn 'tis a pain to me: not only for my child therefore, but for my own ease also, you will say. Why, brethren, the Humanity of Jesus Christ, is (as I may so speak) the breasts of the Deity; by which we suck out all the holiness, and grace which we have: and if Jesus Christs breasts be not drawn, He counts it a pain to Him. And therefore He complains so in the Gospel:1 I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; They will not draw My ⟨p. 27⟩breasts; He counts it a pain to Him. Tell me, are you willing to receive grace? Yes: If you be willing to receive grace, Jesus Christ is willing to give it: for you cannot be willing, if He were not willing first, your willingness does come from His. But I pray, what grace are you willing to have Oh! saies one, I am a poor ignorant creature: I would fain, I would fain have more knowledge. Oh! saies one, I am one of great Passions, and of a disordered life; and, Oh! that I had my life better ordered. Oh! saies another, I am a poor guilty soul; and I would have pardon, I would have pardoning grace. Now I'le appeal to you: Whether do you not think, that an honest man is willing to do the work of his office? Can a man be an honest man, and not be willing to do the work of his office? This is the Office of Jesus Christ.
- 1Joh. 1.11.
