1. Of Christ, he here professeth himself willing to entertain all that will come to him, [He that will come to me, I will in no wise cast out.] Which words are not to be understood, as if spoken only of casting out them that are already come unto him, as if they were only a promise against being cast off after being received; and so intended against fears of falling away: but they are chiefly intended as an invitement to all that are not yet come, that they would come to him, and so, to express how ready and willing he is to entertain all comers, as one who sets his doors open, keeps open house, and beats back none that would come in, [Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.] And though it may seem to be but a slender and sparing expression of his readiness to entertain such, to say only [I will not cast them out,] yet though he speaks with the least, yet he will do with the most, he being abundant in goodness and truth, and one that is better then his word in the performance. As when he says, he will not despise a broken heart, is that all the ⟨p. 5⟩esteem he will manifest to such a heart? Oh no, it is the most welcome thing, and endeared frame of spirit that can be in any creature. His meaning is to show what he elsewhere says of a meek spirit (which is all one with a broken heart) that, with God it is of great price, for so in Isaiah he expresseth himself, I that inhabit eternity, with whom will I dwell? with a spirit that is broken and contrite. He useth also this expression of not casting them out, in relation, and for a more direct answer unto the fear which he knew usually possesseth the hearts of poor sinners when they are about to come to him; they fear he may reject them, they know not their entertainment, their welcome. To meet with this Scruple, he says, [I will not cast such out] choosing rather thus to remove the doubt that is in their hearts, then to express the fullness of his own: the Scriptures speaking potius ad cor nostrum quam cor suum, rather unto our hearts, then fully what is in his own, (which can never be done.)
1. Of Christ, he here professeth himself willing to entertain all that will come to him, [He that will come to me, I will in no wise cast out.] Which words are not to be understood, as if spoken only of casting out them that are already come unto him, as if they were only a promise against being cast off after being received; and so intended against feares of falling away: but they are chiefly intended as an invitement to all that are not yet come, that they would come to him, and so, to expresse how ready and willing he is to entertain all commers, as one who sets his doores open, keeps open house, and beats back none that would come in, [Him that commeth to me, I will in no wise cast out.] And though it may seem to be but a slender and sparing expression of his readines to entertain such, to say only [I will not cast them out,] yet though he speaks with the least, yet he will do with the most, he being abundant in goodnesse and truth, and one that is better then his word in the performance. As when he sayes, he will not despise a broken heart, is that all the ⟨p. 5⟩esteem he will manifest to such a heart? Oh no, it is the most welcome thing, and endeared frame of spirit that can be in any creature. His meaning is to shew what he elsewhere sayes of a meek spirit (which is all one with a broken heart) that, with God it is of great price, for so in Isaiah he expresseth himself, I that inhabit eternity, with whom will I dwell? with a spirit that is broken and contrite. He useth also this expression of not casting them out, in relation, and for a more direct answer unto the feare which he knew usually possesseth the hearts of poor sinners when they are about to come to him; they fear he may reject them, they know not their entertainment, their welcome. To meet with this Scruple, he sayes, [I will not cast such out] choosing rather thus to remove the doubt that is in their hearts, then to expresse the fulnesse of his own: the Scriptures speaking potius ad cor nostrum quam cor suum, rather unto our hearts, then fully what is in his own, (which can never be done.)
