For the other sort, that are kept off by their own fears, they are wont to allege; It is true, there is mercy in Christ for sinners, but Christ doth not call them: My Brethren, what do you look for? an audible voice to speak to you, Thou John, thou Thomas, &c. In the tenders of the Gospel you are included as well as others, and why will you exclude your selves? If God say, Sinners, you should subsume and reply, I am chief. I remember it is said, Joh. 10. 3. Christ calleth his sheep by name, and leadeth them forth: How doth Christ call them by name? By speaking expressly to their case, as if he did strike them upon the shoulders, and say, Here is comfort for thee. As at a feast, when there is a dish that we affect set upon the table, though all the company be free to make use of it, yet we say, Here is a dish for me: So should you apply and take to your selves your own portion; though it be propounded generally, yet when God directeth the tongue of his Messengers to speak so expressly to your case, that is all the calling by name which you can look for, since Oracles are ceased, and therefore you should say, This was a dish provided for my hungry Conscience, intended to me, &c. But they will reply, Sure there is no mercy for me, I am so unworthy: I answer, The invitation taketh no notice of worth, but of thirst, Rev. 22. 17. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely: Thou art not worthy, but thou art thirsty, or else whence come these groans? And by the way take notice of the pride that is in legal dejection: men are loth to be beholding to Christ, they would be worthy before they will come to him; and therefore the Apostle useth that expression, [Greek or Hebrew] ▪ Rom. 10. 3. They have not SUBMITTED to the righteousness of God: A proud creature would fain establish a righteousness in himself, and is loth to submit to take all from another: As an outward proud man preferreth a russet coat of his own before a silken garment that is borrowed or given him by another. But they are such sinners, &c. Ans. The more need to come to Christ; he came to call sinners, Mat. 9. 13. It is no matter what thou hast been, but what thou wouldst be; Christ doth not call us because we are holy, but ⟨p. 15⟩that we may be holy. Is it a rational plea in outward cases, I am too poor to take alms?
For the other sort, that are kept off by their own fears, they are wont to alledg; It is true, there is mercy in Christ for sinners, but Christ doth not call them: My Brethren, what do you look for? an audible voyce to speak to you, Thou John, thou Thomas, &c. In the tenders of the Gospel you are included as well as others, and why will you exclude your selves? If God say, Sinners, you should subsume and reply, I am chief. I remember it is said, Joh. 10. 3. Christ calleth his sheep by name, and leadeth them forth: How doth Christ call them by name? By speaking expresly to their case, as if he did strike them upon the shoulders, and say, Here is comfort for thee. As at a feast, when there is a dish that we affect set upon the table, though all the company be free to make use of it, yet we say, Here is a dish for me: So should you apply and take to your selves your own portion; though it be propounded generally, yet when God directeth the tongue of his Messengers to speak so expresly to your case, that is all the calling by name which you can look for, since Oracles are ceased, and therefore you should say, This was a dish provided for my hungry Conscience, intended to me, &c. But they will reply, Sure there is no mercy for me, I am so unworthy: I answer, The invitation taketh no notice of worth, but of thirst, Rev. 22. 17. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely: Thou art not worthy, but thou art thirsty, or else whence come these groans? And by the way take notice of the pride that is in legal dejection: men are loth to be beholding to Christ, they would be worthy before they will come to him; and therefore the Apostle useth that expression, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 ▪ Rom. 10. 3. They have not SUBMITTED to the righteousness of God: A proud creature would fain establish a righteousness in himself, and is loth to submit to take all from another: As an outward proud man preferreth a russet coat of his own before a silken garment that is barrowed or given him by another. But they are such sinners, &c. Ans. The more need to come to Christ; he came to call sinners, Mat. 9. 13. It is no matter what thou hast been, but what thou wouldst be; Christ doth not call us because we are holy, but ⟨p. 15⟩that we may be holy. Is it a rational plea in outward cases, I am too poor to take alms?
